Valve Armature and Valve Cartridge for a Solenoid Valve

Abstract

A valve armature for a solenoid valve has a basic body consisting of a magnetically conductive metal. On one end of the basic body is arranged a depression which receives a tappet having a closing element. A tappet basic body consists of plastic and forms an interference fit with the basic body. A valve cartridge for a solenoid valve has such a valve armature, in which case, the basic body has an annular groove which is connected to the depression. The annular groove receives plastic deformations of the tappet basic body which form a form fit with the annular groove and fix the tappet basic body in the depression.

Claims

1. A valve armature for a solenoid valve, the valve armature comprising: a basic body of a magnetically conductive metal, a depression arranged on one end of the basic body, the depression configured to receive a tappet having a closing element; and a tappet basic body is composed of plastic and configured to form an interference fit with the basic body, wherein: the basic body has an annular groove, the annular groove is connected to the depression and is configured to receive plastic deformations of the tappet basic body, and the plastic deformations of the tappet basic body form a positive interlock with the annular groove and fix the tappet basic body in the depression.

2. The valve armature as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic is a thermoplastic.

3. The valve armature as claimed in claim 1, wherein the depression is a blind hole.

4. The valve armature as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular groove is arranged at the end of a contact zone between a wall of the depression and the tappet basic body.

5. The valve armature as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular groove forms an edge to the depression in the direction of an opening.

6. The valve armature as claimed in claim 5, wherein the edge between the annular groove and the depression has a right angle.

7. The valve armature as claimed in claim 1, wherein the depression has an insertion bevel.

8. The valve armature as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the tappet basic body comprises an annular shoulder, which the closing element is formed onto an end face of the annular shoulder, a further end face of the annular shoulder remote from the closing element is matched to the insertion bevel.

9. The valve armature as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the tappet basic body are matched to dimensions of the depression.

10. A valve cartridge for a solenoid valve, the valve cartridge comprising: a guide sleeve; a valve armature guided in its axial movement inside the guide sleeve between a closed position and an open position, against the force of a return spring, the valve armature including a tappet having a closing element; and a valve sleeve connected to the guide sleeve, the valve sleeve having a valve seat, which is arranged between at least one first flow opening and at least one second flow opening, wherein: the closing element in the closed position interacts with the valve seat to seal the valve seat and interrupts a fluid flow between at least the one first flow opening and at least the one second flow opening, the closing element in the open position is lifted off from the valve seat and allows the fluid flow between at least the one first flow opening and at least the one second flow opening, and the valve armature includes: a basic body of a magnetically conductive metal, a depression arranged on one end of the basic body, the depression configured to receive the tappet; and a tappet basic body composed of plastic and configured to form an interference fit with the basic body, the basic body having an annular groove, the annular groove connected to the depression and configured to receive plastic deformations of the tappet basic body, and the plastic deformations of the tappet basic body forming a positive interlock with the annular groove and fixing the tappet basic body in the depression.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective sectional representation of an exemplary embodiment of the valve cartridge according to the invention for a solenoid valve, with an exemplary embodiment of a valve armature according to the invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a schematic longitudinal section of the valve armature according to the invention in FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a representation of the detail III in FIG. 2.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view of the valve armature in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows a schematic longitudinal section of the basic body of the valve armature according to the invention in FIGS. 1 to 4.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0022] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the exemplary embodiment represented showing a valve cartridge 1 according to the invention for a solenoid valve comprises a pole core 2; a guide sleeve 4 connected to the pole core 2; a valve armature 10, which is guided in its axial movement inside the guide sleeve 4 between a closed position and an open position, against the force of a return spring 7, and which comprises a tappet 20 having a closing element 24; and a valve sleeve 6, connected to the guide sleeve 4 and having a valve seat 6.1, which is arranged between at least one first flow opening 6.2 and at least one second flow opening 6.3. On energizing of a solenoid assembly (not further represented), that is to say when an electrical current is applied to a coil winding of the solenoid assembly via electrical connections, the axially moveable valve armature 10 is moved inside the guide sleeve 4 by a magnetic force generated, against the force of the return spring 7. The maximum possible lift of the valve armature 10 or of the closing element 24 is predetermined by an air gap 3 between the pole core 2 and the valve armature 10. Equalizing grooves 18 are moreover provided, which connect the air gap 3 to a valve chamber. As can further be seen from FIG. 1, the closing element 24 in the closed position shown interacts with the valve seat 6.1 to seal the latter and interrupts a fluid flow between at least the one first flow opening 6.2 and at least the one second flow opening 6.3. In an open position (not shown further) the closing element 14 is lifted off from the valve seat 6.1 and allows the fluid flow between at least the one first flow opening 6.2 and at least the one second flow opening 6.3.

[0023] As can further be seen from FIGS. 1 to 5, a basic body 11, composed of a magnetically conductive metal, of the valve armature 10, at one end comprises a depression 14, which receives the tappet 20 having the closing element 24. A tappet basic body 22 is composed of plastic and forms an interference fit with the basic body 11. Here the basic body 11 comprises an annular groove 16, which is connected to the depression 14 and which receives plastic deformations of the tappet basic body 22, which form a positive interlock with the annular groove 16 and additionally fix the tappet basic body 22 in the depression 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown the tappet basic body 11 is produced from a thermoplastic as a plastic injection-molded part. The interference fit is designed so that an over-pressing occurs, which causes incipient flow in the softer plastic material of the tappet basic body 22, forming the plastic deformations.

[0024] As can further be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the basic body 11 of the valve armature 10 at the other end comprises a spring socket 12, on the base of which the return spring 7 is supported.

[0025] As can further be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the depression 14 is designed as a blind hole in the exemplary embodiment represented. Here the annular groove 16 is arranged at the end of a contact zone 23 between a wall of the depression 14 and the tappet basic body 22. The annular groove 16 moreover forms an edge 17 to the depression 14 in the direction of the opening 14.1. In the exemplary embodiment shown the edge 17 has a right angle between the annular groove 16 and the depression 14.

[0026] As can further be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the closing element 20 in the exemplary embodiment shown comprises a cylindrical basic body 22 having an annular shoulder 26, the dimensions of which are matched to the dimensions of the depression 14. A spherical cup-shaped closing element 24 is moreover formed onto an end face of the annular shoulder 26. Furthermore, the depression 14 has an insertion bevel 14.2, to which an end face of the annular shoulder 26 remote from the closing element is matched. Other suitable geometric shapes may obviously also be used for the depression 14 and the closing element 24. Thus, the closing element 24 may also be designed as a cone or truncated cone.

[0027] As can further be seen from FIG. 1, the valve cartridge 1 shown having the exemplary embodiment of the valve armature 10 may be calked by way of a valve bushing 5 in a corresponding seating bore of a fluid block, not represented in further detail. Moreover, a radial filter 8 for filtering dirt particles out of the fluid flow is arranged in the valve sleeve 6 in the area of at least the one second flow opening 6.3.

[0028] The exemplary embodiment shown relates to a valve cartridge 1 for a normally closed solenoid valve. The valve armature 10 may also be used, however, in a valve cartridge (not shown further) of a normally open solenoid valve.

[0029] Embodiments of the present invention provide a valve armature and a valve cartridge for a solenoid valve, which through an additional positive interlock between the tappet basic body and the basic body of the valve armature ensure that the tappet basic body is always pressed firmly in the basic body of the valve armature, regardless of any temperature fluctuations and different coefficients of thermal expansion.