SWITCH VALVE FOR CONTROLLING A HYDRAULIC FLUID FLOW AND CONNECTING ROD WITH THE SWITCH VALVE

Abstract

A switch valve for controlling a hydraulic fluid flow, the switch valve comprising: a capture element that is arranged in a valve housing and that is displaceable into a first switching position or a second switching position and interlockable by a spring loaded interlocking element in the first switching position or the second switching position, wherein a first hydraulic connection is connected with a relief connection in the first switching position and a second hydraulic connection is connected with the relief connection in the second switching position, wherein a switching travel of the capture element is limited, wherein the interlocking element is at least partially arranged in a recess of the capture element, and wherein the valve housing includes a first groove that is oriented in an axial direction and limited in the axial direction wherein the interlocking element is arranged axially movable in the first groove.

Claims

1. A switch valve for controlling a hydraulic fluid flow, the switch valve comprising: a capture element that is arranged in a valve housing and that is displaceable into a first switching position or a second switching position and interlockable by a spring loaded interlocking element in the first switching position or the second switching position, wherein a first hydraulic connection is connected with a relief connection in the first switching position and a second hydraulic connection is connected with the relief connection in the second switching position, wherein a switching travel of the capture element is limited, wherein the interlocking element is at least partially arranged in a recess of the capture element, and wherein the valve housing includes a first groove that is oriented in an axial direction and limited in the axial direction wherein the interlocking element is arranged axially movable in the first groove.

2. The switch valve according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking element cooperates with an interlocking contour element which is arranged in or at the valve housing.

3. The switch valve according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking element is axially movable together with the capture element.

4. The switch valve according to claim 2, wherein an interlocking contour element is arranged in a portion of the first groove.

5. The switch valve according to claim 2, wherein an interlocking contour element includes at least two interlocking positions for the interlocking element.

6. The switch valve according to claim 2, wherein the valve housing includes a second groove in a portion of the first groove, wherein the interlocking contour element is arranged in the second groove.

7. The switch valve according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking element includes a spring that is arranged in an interlocking sleeve.

8. The switch valve according to claim 7, wherein the interlocking sleeve is movably arranged in the recess of the capture element and preloaded by the spring.

9. The switch valve according to claim 7, wherein the recess includes a stop for the interlocking sleeve.

10. The switch valve according to claim 2, wherein the interlocking contour element extends over at least a length of the first groove of the valve housing.

11. The switch valve according to claim 2, wherein the interlocking contour element is loosely arranged in the second groove.

12. The switch valve according to claim 7, wherein a preload of the spring is generatable by the interlocking contour element in a correctly mounted condition.

13. The switch valve according to claim 7, wherein the interlocking sleeve is configured as a deep drawn component.

14. The switch valve according to claim 2, wherein the interlocking contour element is configured as a stamped component.

15. A connecting rod for a variable compression internal combustion engine with an eccentrical element adjustment arrangement for adjusting an effective connecting rod length, wherein an adjustment travel of the eccentrical element adjustment arrangement is adjustable by the switch valve according to claim 1.

16. The connecting rod according to claim 15, wherein the eccentrical element adjustment arrangement (6) includes at least two hydraulic chambers, and wherein the first hydraulic chamber is connected with a relief conduit in a first switching position of the switch valve and the second hydraulic chamber is connected with the relief conduit in a second switching position of the switch valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Further advantageous embodiments and improvements can be derived from the subsequent figures. The details and features that can be derived from the figures are not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. Rather one or plural features can be combined with one or plural features from the description provided supra to form new embodiments. In particular the subsequent descriptions do not define limitations of the scope of the invention but they describe individual features and their possible cooperation, wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a connecting rod according to invention in an isometric view;

[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates a switch valve according to an embodiment of the invention in an isometric view;

[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates the switch valve according to FIG. 2 in a longitudinal sectional view;

[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates the switch valve according to FIG. 2 in a cross sectional view;

[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates the valve housing of the switch valve of FIG. 2 in an isometric view;

[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates the valve housing of FIG. 5 rotated by 90 in the longitudinal direction;

[0036] FIG. 7 illustrates the interlocking contour element of the switch valve in an isometric view;

[0037] FIG. 8 illustrates the capture element of the switch valve in an isometric view; and

[0038] FIG. 9 illustrates the capture element of FIG. 8 rotated in the longitudinal direction by 90.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] In the drawing figures identical or like components are designated with identical reference numerals. The drawing figures merely show embodiments and do not limit the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0040] FIGS. 2-9 illustrated two different embodiments and sectional views of the switch valve 11 according to the invention or of individual components of the switch valve 11 which is provided in particular for a known connecting rod 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 for a variable compression internal combustion engine. The connecting rod 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a connecting rod 1a and an adjustable eccentrical element adjustment arrangement 6 with an eccentrical element 10 that is at least partially arranged in a connecting rod bearing eye 2. The eccentrical element adjustment arrangement 6 is used for adjusting an effective connecting rod length leff. A distance of a center axis 3a of a crank bearing eye 3 from a center axis 8 of the connecting rod bearing eye 2 is defined as the connecting rod length leff.

[0041] A rotation of the adjustable eccentrical element adjustment arrangement 6 is initiated by an impact of mass and load forces of the internal combustion engine that become active during an operating stroke of the internal combustion engine upon the eccentrical element adjustment arrangement 6. During an operating stroke effective directions of forces impacting the eccentrical element adjustment arrangement 6 change continuously. The rotating movement or adjustment movement is supported by pistons that are loaded with hydraulic fluid, in particular with motor oil and that are integrated in the connecting rod 1 and not illustrated. Thus, the pistons prevent a resetting of the eccentrical element adjustment arrangement 6 due to varying force effective directions of forces that impact the eccentrical element adjustment arrangement 6.

[0042] The pistons are operatively connected by eccentrical element rods 4, 5 on both sides with an eccentrical element 9 of the eccentrical element adjustment arrangement 6. The pistons are movably arranged in hydraulic chambers and loaded through non-illustrated hydraulic fluid conduits from the crank bearing eye 3 with hydraulic fluid through non-illustrated check valves. The check valves prevent a flow back of the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic chambers into the hydraulic fluid conduits into a bearing shell of the crank bearing eye 3 and facilitate pulling hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic chambers. The hydraulic fluid conduits that are connected with the hydraulic chambers cooperate at least partially with the check valve 11 according to the invention. In a first switching position S1 of the switch valve 11 the first hydraulic chamber is connected with a non-illustrated relief conduit and in the second switching position 32 of the switch valve 11 the second hydraulic chamber is connected with the relief conduit. Thus, the relief conduit establishes a connection to a hydraulic fluid supply of the piston 1 e.g. through a groove in the crank bearing eye 3 of the connecting rod 1.

[0043] The subsequently described switch valve 11 can also be used for any other connecting rod of a variable compression internal combustion engine which includes an eccentrical element adjustment arrangement 6 for adjusting an effective connecting rod length and at least two hydraulic chambers. For example, the eccentrical element adjustment arrangement 6 of the connecting rod can be configured with a so called pivot motor system.

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates a switch valve 11 according to an embodiment of the invention in an isometric view. The switch valve 11 includes a capture element 13 that is arranged in a valve housing 12 and that is displaceable in an axial direction L into a first switching position S1 (illustrated in FIG. 2) or a second switching position S2 (illustrated in FIG. 3) and arrestable by a spring loaded interlocking element 14 optionally in the first switching position S1 or in second switching position S2. Thus, a first hydraulic connection 22 of the switch valve 11 is connected in the first switching position S1 with a relief connection 26 and in the second switching position S2 a second hydraulic connection 24 is connected with the relief connection 26. Like in known switch valves the first hydraulic chamber of the connecting rod 1 is connected with the relief conduit in the first switching position S1 and in the second switching position 32 the second hydraulic chamber of the connecting rod 1 is connected with the relief conduit.

[0045] As evident in particular from FIG. 3 which illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the switch valve 11 according to the invention the capture element 13 that is arranged in the valve housing 12 is interlockable in the first switching position S1 or the second switching position S2. According to the invention the interlocking element 14 and the spring 15 arranged in the interlocking element 14 are at least partially arranged in a transversal recess 16 of the capture element 13, wherein the valve housing 12 includes a first groove 17 that is oriented in an axial direction L and defined in the axial direction wherein the interlocking element 14 is arranged axially movable in the groove to define the shift travel and to provide rotation safety for the capture element 13. The at least partial arrangement of the capture element 14 in the recess 16 is advantageous since the support length of the movable interlocking element 14 can be significantly increased compared to known switch valves. A propensity for wedging and self-hemming can be reduced and safely reaching end positions under own power can be improved. Furthermore, the engineering design for the spring is non-critical since the installed length of the spring is much greater than according to the prior art.

[0046] The interlocking element 14 is additionally used as a stop element which can thus be omitted as an additional component. The interlocking element 14 is provided axially movable together with the interlocking element 14.

[0047] The interlocking element 14 cooperates with an interlocking contour element 18 with an interlocking contour 19 that is illustrated in FIG. 7 as an individual component that is arranged in or at the valve housing 12. The interlocking contour 19 that is necessary for the switching positions S1, 32 is thus not provided like according to the prior art at the capture element 13 but at a separate component, so that the capture element 13 is producible in a much simpler and cost effective manner. The interlocking contour element 18 can also be produced in a simple and cost effective manner e.g. as a stamped component. The interlocking contour element 18 advantageously includes at least two interlocking positions 28, 30 for the interlocking element 14 which implement the two switching positions S1 and 82 of the switch valve 11 by moving the capture element 13.

[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 3 in a longitudinal sectional view of the switch valve 11 the interlocking element 14 includes a spring 15 that is arranged and supported in an interlocking sleeve 32 and that can be easily arranged in the provided installation space. Due to the shape of the interlocking sleeve 32 the spring 15 can contact the interlocking sleeve in a contact point. In order to facilitate the interlocking function, the interlocking sleeve 32 is movable in the recess 16 of the capture element 13 and arranged preloaded by the spring 15. The recess 16 includes a stop 34 for the interlocking sleeve 32 so that the movement travel of the interlocking element 14 is limited. The interlocking sleeve 32 can thus be advantageously and economically configured as a deep drawn component.

[0049] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the valve housing of the switch valve 11 according to FIG. 2 in an isometric view respectively rotated in the longitudinal direction L by 90, As evident in FIG. 5 the valve housing 12 includes a first hydraulic connection 22 and a second hydraulic connection 24 that are symmetrically arranged relative to a relief connection 26. The two hydraulic connections 22, 24 are configured as bore holes, whereas the relief connection 26 is configured as a bore hole that is connected by a slot. Moving the capture element 13 that is arranged in the valve housing 12 facilitates establishing a hydraulic connection between one of the two hydraulic connections 22, 24 and the relief connection 26 in the two switching positions S1 and S2 by a switching channel 38 that is arranged on an outer circumference of the capture element 13.

[0050] The valve housing 12 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a second groove 20 at its outer contour in a portion of the first groove 17 that is configured as an axial groove, wherein the interlocking contour element 18 is arranged in the second groove and wherein the second groove extends with its axial length beyond the first groove 17 in order to reliably cover an entire length of the first groove 17. The interlocking contour element 18 is only loosely inserted into the groove 20 before mounting the switch valve 11 so that the spring preload (contact force between the interlocking element 14 and the interlocking contour element 18) is only taken over in installed condition by a connecting rod bore hole that receives the valve housing 12. Thus, the preload of the spring 15 is only generated by the interlocking contour element 18 in an assembled condition. The second groove 20 secures the interlocking contour element against linear movement. Thus, complicated attachment measures for the interlocking contour element 18 are not required.

[0051] It is an additional advantage that the sealing paths of the hydraulic fluid channels in the switch valve 11 can be increased by combining the functions of the interlocking element and the stop element. The hydraulic fluid channels for the reliefs can also be simplified significantly.

[0052] FIG. 7 illustrates the interlocking contour element 18 of the switch valve 11 in an isometric view. The interlocking contour element 18 that can be configured for example as a stamped component includes a central interlocking contour 19 that separates the two interlocking positions 28, 30 from one another. The interlocking positions 28, 30 can be configured as flat portions of the interlocking contour element 18 on both sides of the interlocking contour 19 as illustrated. Alternatively, the interlocking positions can also be provided as recesses in the interlocking contour element 18. With an interlocking contour element 18 of this type a control curve that is advantageous for the interlocking function can be advantageously provided.

[0053] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the capture element 13 of the switch valve 11 in an isometric view respectively rotated relative to each other by 90 in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 8 illustrates a recess 16 that is configured as a central bore hole in the capture element 13 into which the interlocking element 14, in particular the interlocking sleeve 32 with the spring 15 is insert able. FIG. 9 illustrates a T-shaped switching channel 38 on an outer circumference of the capture element 13, wherein the switching channel respectively hydraulically connects the first hydraulic connection 22 or the second hydraulic connection 24 with the relief connection 26 when moving the capture element 13 in the valve housing 12 into the switching positions S1 and S2.