Valve having an improved sealing element and an improved valve seat support

Abstract

A sealing element of a valve, e.g., a gas valve, for controlling a medium includes a base body having a sealing surface, the sealing surface either (i) being inclined in relation to a center axis of the sealing element or (ii) having at least one inclined area. In addition, a valve seat support of the valve for controlling a medium includes: a first ring-shaped valve seat in a first valve seat plane; a second ring-shaped valve seat in a second valve seat plane; and a passage aperture situated between the first valve seat and the second valve seat, the first and second valve seat planes being perpendicular to a center axis of the valve seat support.

Claims

1. A gas valve for controlling a medium, comprising: an armature; a solenoid enabling the armature to be actuated; a closing element, which is fastened on the armature at one axial end; a sealing element, which is situated on the closing element; and a valve seat support, wherein the closing element closes a passage aperture, which is formed in the valve seat support; wherein the valve seat support includes: a first ring-shaped valve seat in a first valve seat plane and having a first valve seat height, wherein the first valve seat height is measured proceeding from a base plane on the valve seat support in the direction of a center axis of the valve seat support; and a second ring-shaped valve seat in a second valve seat plane and having a second valve seat height, wherein the second valve seat height is measured proceeding from the base plane on the valve seat support in the direction of the center axis of the valve seat support; wherein the sealing element rests on the first valve seat and on the second valve seat in a closed state of the valve, wherein the passage aperture is situated between the first valve seat and the second valve seat, wherein the first and second valve seat planes are perpendicular to the center axis of the valve seat support, wherein the second valve seat height is greater than the first valve seat height, and wherein a circumference of the first valve seat is greater than a circumference of the second valve seat, and wherein the passage aperture is situated in an annular area between the first valve seat and the second valve seat, so that it is only surrounded by the first valve seat.

2. The gas valve as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second valve seats are each configured as an annular bead.

3. The gas valve as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one depression is provided adjacent to at least one of the first valve seat and the second valve seat.

4. The gas valve as recited in claim 2, wherein a distance between the first valve seat plane and the second valve seat plane is 10 m and 50 m.

5. The gas valve as recited in claim 1, wherein the sealing element has a disk-shaped base body having a sealing surface inclined in relation to a center axis of the sealing element, and wherein the sealing surface is situated in a plane which is at an acute angle in relation to the plane perpendicular to the center axis.

6. The gas valve as recited in claim 5, wherein the angle is between about 1 and 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a gas valve according to one first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a valve having a sealing element according to one first exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the closed state.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the valve from FIG. 2 in the opened state.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a valve having a sealing element according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a closed state.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the valve from FIG. 4 in an opened state.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of a valve according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the closed state.

(7) FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view of a valve according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the closed state.

(8) FIG. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of a valve according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the closed state.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a schematic sectional view of a valve according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the opened state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) A gas valve 1 according to one first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in detail hereafter with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3.

(11) Gas valve 1 of the first exemplary embodiment is an injection valve for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber. Gas valve 1 includes a valve housing 10, an armature 12, a solenoid 13, and a closing spring 14. A setting bolt 16 is provided to set a restoring force of closing spring 14. The gas is supplied in the axial direction (arrow H) and conducted through a filter 11. Solenoid 13 is fixed on valve housing 10 with the aid of a plastic injection mold. An electrical plug connection 18 is provided laterally on gas valve 1.

(12) A closing element 3, on which a sealing element 7 is situated, is fastened on armature 12 at one axial end. Closing element 3 closes passage apertures 6, which are formed in a valve seat support 2. FIG. 1 shows the closed state of gas valve 1. Arrows G indicate a flow direction of the gaseous fuel when the gas valve is open, the gas being injected through a chamber 19 in valve housing 10 and through passage apertures 6 into a combustion chamber. Furthermore, a central aperture 31 (cf. FIG. 2) is provided in closing element 3, via which gas may also flow to passage apertures 6.

(13) FIGS. 2 and 3 show a gas valve 1 having a sealing element 7 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention in detail. FIG. 2 shows the closed state of the valve, and FIG. 3 shows the opened state of the valve.

(14) Gas valve 1 includes a disk-shaped valve seat support 2, which has multiple passage apertures 6. Passage apertures 6 are situated in a ring shape and multiple webs (not shown) connect an outer area 21 to an inner area 22 of valve seat support 2. A first bead-like valve seat 4 is provided along the outer circumference of passage apertures 6, and a second bead-like valve seat 5 is provided along the inner circumference of passage apertures 6. The shape of the two valve seats 4, 5 is formed identically in section. The two valve seats 4, 5 are also spaced apart equally proceeding from a base plane 23 of valve seat support 2.

(15) Furthermore, gas valve 1 includes closing element 3, on which sealing element 7 is situated. Sealing element 7 includes a base body 73 and an inner flange area 74, which protrudes into central aperture 31 in closing element 3. Sealing element 7 may be fastened simply and securely on closing element 3 by inner flange area 74 on base body 73.

(16) A sealing surface 70 of sealing element 7 is inclined in relation to a center axis X-X of gas valve 1, which also forms a center axis of the sealing element. A first sealing area 71 and a second sealing area 72 (cf. FIG. 3) are provided on sealing surface 70. The two sealing areas 71, 72 rest on first and second valve seats 4, 5 in the closed state of the valve (cf. FIG. 2).

(17) Furthermore, a stop 32 on closing element 3 may be provided in a simple way on the radial outer end area of sealing element 7.

(18) As is apparent from FIG. 3, a thickness D1 of sealing element 7 on first sealing area 71 is greater in this case than a thickness D2 of second sealing area 72. A rear side 75 of the sealing element is situated perpendicularly to center axis X-X. Since sealing surface 70 is inclined in relation to center axis X-X, base body 73 of the sealing element therefore tapers outward in the radial direction.

(19) In this case, sealing element 7 has a taper in such a way that a thickness of the sealing element on the radial outermost area of base body 73 is less by 10 m than a thickness on the thickest area of base body 73.

(20) Due to this different geometric design of sealing areas 71, 72, gas valve 1 has different closing forces on the first and second sealing areas in the closed state. Different contact surfaces on first and second sealing areas 71, 72 also result in conjunction with first and second valve seats 4, 5. In this way, in particular at low temperatures, in which sealing element 7, which is manufactured from an elastomeric material, is less elastic than at higher temperatures, more rapid and easier opening of the valve is made possible. In this exemplary embodiment, the opening procedure begins at first valve seat 4, the pressurized medium additionally assisting the opening procedure itself shortly after the beginning of the opening procedure.

(21) Therefore, lesser opening forces are required overall for the opening procedure of gas valve 1, in particular at temperatures below 0 C., since the opening procedure takes place by a type of peeling off of sealing element 7 initially from first valve seat 4 and then from second valve seat 5. In addition, a lesser tendency to wear is also achieved by sealing element 7 according to the present invention, which significantly lengthens the service life of sealing element 7. The improved opening characteristic, in particular at low temperatures, is achieved according to the present invention without a geometrically complicated sealing element 7 having to be provided. No difference from the previously used sealing elements results in this case, in particular with regard to the manufacturing costs of sealing element 7. The concept according to the present invention of situating sealing surface 70 at an angle to center axis X-X, which is not equal to a right angle, solves the opening problem of elastomeric seals in gas valves at low temperatures below 0 C. in a surprisingly simple way. The sealing surface is preferably situated at an angle of 1 to 10 in relation to a plane perpendicular to center axis X-X.

(22) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a gas valve having a sealing element 7 according to a second exemplary embodiment, which essentially corresponds to the first exemplary embodiment. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, however, in sealing element 7 of the second exemplary embodiment, sealing surface 70 is inclined inward. In this way, the opening procedure begins at second valve seat 5, the gaseous medium being able to be supplied to assist the opening procedure via passage aperture 31 in closing element 3. Angle of inclination of sealing surface 70 in relation to a plane perpendicular to the center axis X-X is preferably in the range from 1 to 10.

(23) FIG. 6 shows a gas valve having a valve seat support 2 according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to the preceding exemplary embodiments, in valve seat support 2 of the third exemplary embodiment, a height of valve seats 4, 5 is different. In this case, first valve seat 4 has a height H1 in the direction of center axis X-X perpendicular to a base plane 23 on valve seat support 2. Second valve seat 5 has a height H2 proceeding from base plane 23. Height H2 is clearly greater than height H1. Height H2 is preferably at least 10 m taller than height H1. Due to this geometric measure H1<H2, valve seats 4, 5 of valve seat support 2 lie in a first and a second valve seat plane V1, V2, which are perpendicular to center axis X-X. Different pressure forces and different contact surfaces of sealing element 7 on the two valve seats 4, 5 are thus also achieved in the closed state. Base body 73 of sealing element 7 may be formed having a constant thickness in the radial direction, or alternatively, as in the first exemplary embodiment, designed to taper outward in the opening direction of closing element 3, or alternatively, as in the second exemplary embodiment, designed to taper inward in the opening direction of closing element 3.

(24) FIG. 7 shows a gas valve having a valve seat support 2 according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to the third exemplary embodiment, in valve seat support 2 of the fourth exemplary embodiment, first valve seat 4 is taller than second valve seat 5, proceeding from base plane 23 of valve seat support 2 (H1>H2). Base body 73 of sealing element 7 may again be designed having a constant thickness or tapering inward or tapering outward or having an inclined sealing surface 70 with constant thickness.

(25) FIG. 8 shows a gas valve according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which first valve seat 4 and second valve seat 5 are situated at the same height proceeding from a base plane 23 of valve seat support 2. Sealing element 7 has a base body 73, which has a constant thickness D3. Furthermore, a first recess 8 is formed radially outside first valve seat 4 and a second recess 9 is formed radially inside second valve seat 5 in valve seat support 2. Recesses 8, 9 prevent sealing element 7 from coming into direct contact with a surface of valve seat support 2 in the closed state. It may thus be ensured that opening forces for opening closing element 3 do not become excessively high due to a large contact surface of sealing element 7.

(26) FIG. 9 shows a gas valve 1 according to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this exemplary embodiment, precisely one first valve seat 4 is provided on valve seat support 2. As is apparent from FIG. 9, ring-shaped valve seat 4 has subareas of different heights in the circumferential direction. A height difference H between a highest point P1 (maximum) in the direction of center axis X-X and a lowest point P2 (minimum) in the direction of center axis X-X is at least 10 m. Single valve seat 4 has four maxima P1 and four minima P2 in the circumferential direction in this case, the overall geometric shape of valve seat 4 being wavelike. Sealing element 7 is a sealing disk having a constant thickness T in this exemplary embodiment. Thickness T of sealing element 7 is selected in such a way that the sealing element also presses against minima P2 in the closed state. Height H is shown exaggerated in FIG. 8 for clarification, height H being 10 m in this exemplary embodiment.

(27) Furthermore, it is also to be noted in regard to the sixth exemplary embodiment that the wavy valve seat may also be used, of course, in gas valves which have a first and a second valve seat 4, 5, as shown in the exemplary embodiments 1 through 5. The wavy valve seat may also be combined with all described sealing elements 7, which have an inclined sealing surface 70 in relation to a plane perpendicular to center axis X-X, as described in the preceding exemplary embodiments.

(28) Furthermore, it is to be noted that all valve seats 4, 5 of the described exemplary embodiments may be combined arbitrarily with all sealing elements 7 of the described exemplary embodiments. The combinations are to be selected in such a way that if two valve seats 4, 5 are present, different sealing forces are provided in each case on the two valve seats in the closed state.

(29) If the valve seat has a wavelike shape, sealing elements 7 are to be selected in such a way that different closing forces are provided along the circumference of the valve seat in the closed state, so that during the opening procedure, a peeling-off procedure of sealing element 7 from the wavelike valve seat assists the opening procedure.

(30) According to the present invention, in a gas valve, at least one of the sealing partners, sealing element 7 and/or valve seat support 2, has a sealing area in at least two planes which are parallel to one another on one or more sealing seats, the planes being perpendicular to a center axis X-X of the sealing partners.