ROTARY VALVE HAVING A SLIDING SEAL

Abstract

A rotary valve comprising a housing with a valve chamber, wherein the valve chamber has at least one inlet and at least one outlet, wherein the inlet and/or the outlet are at least partially closable, as required, by a valve body which is rotatable about an axis and is arranged in the valve chamber, wherein, on that side of the housing facing the valve body, the inlet and/or the outlet is enclosed by a sliding seal, and wherein the sliding seal bears sealingly, under elastic preload, against that surface of the valve body facing the housing.

Claims

1. A rotary valve, comprising a housing with a valve chamber having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, wherein the inlet and/or the outlet are at least partially closable, as required, by a valve body which is rotatable about an axis and is arranged in the valve chamber, wherein, on that side of the housing facing the valve body, the inlet and/or the outlet is enclosed by a sliding seal, wherein the sliding seal bears sealingly, under elastic preload, against that surface of the valve body facing the housing, wherein the sliding seal includes a sealing part and a moulded part, the moulded part having sealing regions of different stiffness, the sealing regions having different annular widths.

2. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing region has stiffening ribs.

3. The rotary valve according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening ribs are matched to the running height of the moulded part.

4. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the sealing region with stiffening ribs also has the largest width.

5. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the sealing region of low stiffness has a chamfer.

6. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the sealing part contains a spring in a U-shaped groove.

7. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the sliding seal is producible by plastics injection moulding from at least two plastics of different stiffness.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0023] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0024] The invention will be described in the following text by way of example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary rotary valve;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a view of the solution according to the invention;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a sliding seal according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a section through a sliding seal and a valve body;

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the sliding seal; and

[0030] FIGS. 6 and 7 in each case show a section through the sliding seal.

[0031] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a section through a rotary valve 1 having a housing 2 which surrounds a cylindrical valve body 3. In its outer circumference, the valve body 3 of tubular or cup-shaped design has openings 4 which interact with inflows or outflows 6 which are sealed via sliding seals 5 in a manner which bears against the cylindrical outer circumference of the valve body. In its inner region, the housing 2 is likewise of tubular or cylindrical design and then surrounds the valve body 3 which is received and is mounted rotatably, a gap being formed between the outer circumference of the valve body 3 and the inner wall of the housing 2. The valve housing 2 is closed by way of a cover 7 on the upper side. The cover 7 has an opening, through which a shaft which pivots the valve body 3 and is coupled to a drive (not shown) is guided.

[0035] The direction of the fluid flow is indicated by way of the arrow. The fluid leaves the valve (the valve housing 3) on its lower side via an outflow 10. The cup-shaped valve body 3 is inserted with the bottom part pointing upwards into the receptacle of the valve housing 2. The open lower side of the valve body 3 lies on a collar-shaped tapered portion within the housing. The said tapered portion has apertures 11, with the result that the fluid flows both within the valve body 3 and in the gap-shaped region outside the valve body 3.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows the valve body 3 in the region of one of the openings 4 of the valve body. The sliding seal 5 consists of two part regions, a moulded part 50 which runs in a manner which is adapted to the shape of the valve body, and a substantially cylindrical sealing part 51. The two part regions serve merely for an improved description of the sliding seal 5 which is a single-piece component. The moulded part 50 has different structural heights H, in order to be adapted in an optimum manner to the cylindrical outer face of the valve body 3.

[0037] The course of the structural heights becomes clear in FIGS. 6 and 7; here, the structural height H runs continuously from a lowest structural height H1 up to a greatest structural height H2.

[0038] The moulded part has a lower sealing face 52 and stiffening ribs 54 which extend from the lower sealing face 52 as far as the beginning of the sealing part 51.

[0039] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the sliding seal is divided into different regions. The lower sealing face which is illustrated in the figure as a structure which runs within the circle of the upper sealing edge 56 can be divided into the sealing regions 58 of a first width B1 and regions 59 of a second width B2. The two widths B1 and B2 are configured differently. The transition between the widths B1 and B2 is brought about at points of the constriction 60. In the sealing regions 58 which have the greater width B1, the lower sealing face 52 always bears against the outer wall of the valve body and does not pass into the region of the openings of the valve body. In contrast, the sealing regions 59 with the smaller width B2 overlap the openings of the valve body.

[0040] In the sealing regions 58 of width B1, stiffening ribs 54 which consist of a material with high stiffness are introduced within the sliding ring.

[0041] The construction ensures satisfactory sealing properties by way of a uniform surface pressure between the sliding seal and the rotary valve.

[0042] In addition, hooking of the sliding seal 5 on the rotary valve has to be prevented. This takes place by virtue of the fact that the stiffening ribs 54 are arranged only in the sealing region 58 and not in the sealing region 59. Furthermore, the lower sealing face 52 has a chamfer 55 which is provided in the non-reinforced, elastic sealing region 59. The chamfer 55 or flattened portion can be supported in the counterpiece (the valve body) by way of radii of the control slots.

[0043] There is a U-shaped or V-shaped groove, in which a spring 57 is arranged, in the sealing part 51 of the sliding seal. The axial force is introduced uniformly on the circumference as a prestressing force by way of the spring. The sealing part has a circular cross section which has an upper sealing edge 56. Furthermore, the sliding ring has lugs 53 which are used for correct positioning of the sliding ring during the assembly in a poka-yoke manner.

[0044] The sliding seal 5 is a single-piece component which is produced using injection moulding. Here, the stiffening structures are produced from a first material, and the elastic structures are produced from a second material. Here, the spring which is inserted is also overmoulded.

[0045] Multiple-component injection moulding allows inexpensive production and avoids further assembly steps for the sliding seal. The poka-yoke lugs determine the assembly position.

[0046] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0047] 1 Rotary valve [0048] 2 Housing [0049] 3 Valve body [0050] 4 Openings [0051] 5 Sliding seal [0052] 6 Inflow [0053] 7 Cover [0054] 10 Outflow [0055] 11 Aperture [0056] 50 Moulded part [0057] 51 Sealing part [0058] 52 Lower sealing face [0059] 53 Poka-yoke lug [0060] 54 Stiffening rib [0061] 55 Chamfer [0062] 56 Upper sealing edge [0063] 57 Spring [0064] 58 Sealing region of width B1 [0065] 59 Sealing region of width B2 [0066] 60 Constrictions [0067] H Height [0068] B Width