Valve block assembly for several valves

Abstract

A valve block assembly for multiple valves, in particular expansion valves and/or shut-off valves, includes a valve block having a plurality of flow paths for fluids and a plurality of adjustment units with assigned drive units, wherein the valve block is designed as comprising two parts, these being a flow path element with the flow paths and a limiting element.

Claims

1. A valve block assembly comprising: a valve block including a flow path element and a limiting element disposed on the flow path element; a plurality of fluid connections formed in the flow path element; a plurality of refrigerant connections formed in the flow path element; a plurality of flow paths formed in the flow path element; a plurality of adjustment units disposed on the limiting element, wherein the limiting element is disposed between the plurality of adjustment units and the flow path element as a separate plate for sealing, wherein each of the plurality of adjustment units align with one of the plurality of flow paths, and wherein the plurality of adjustment units is disposed on opposing sides of the plurality refrigerant connections; and a plurality of drive units disposed on the limiting element and in kinematic communication with the plurality of adjustment units.

2. The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow path element is a plate.

3. The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fluid connections is formed at opposing ends of the flow path element, each of the plurality of fluid connections continuous with one of the plurality of flow paths.

4. The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of adjustment units has an adjustment element providing kinematic communication between the plurality of adjustment units and the plurality of drive units, and wherein the limiting element has a plurality of feed-through openings formed therein, each of the plurality of feed-through openings receiving one of the adjustment elements of one of the plurality of adjustment units.

5. The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein a seal is disposed intermediate the flow path element and the limiting element, and wherein the seal is one of an adhesive bond, a sealing strip, a metallic seal, and a soft surface seal.

6. The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow path element is a substantially rectangular block.

7. The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein opposing ends of each of the plurality of flow paths are each configured as a stepped bore, wherein a diameter of the stepped bore of each of the plurality of flow paths decreases from a corresponding end of the opposing ends to a center of the plurality of flow paths.

8. The valve block assembly of claim 7, wherein a plurality of openings is formed in the flow path element, each of the plurality of openings is perpendicular to and extends into one of the stepped bores and receives one of the plurality of adjustment units.

9. The valve block assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of openings is covered by the limiting element.

10. The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of drive units is coupled to the limiting element.

11. The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of adjustment units is configured as a substantially spherical valve.

12. The valve block assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of drive units is in signal communication with a LIN bus controller.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Additional details, features and advantages of embodiments of the invention are presented in the following description of embodiment examples, with reference to the attached set of drawings. The drawings show:

(2) FIG. 1: a perspective representation of a valve block assembly,

(3) FIG. 2: a perspective representation of a flow path element as part of the valve block,

(4) FIG. 3 a sectional representation of a plan view of the flow path element along the flow paths

(5) FIG. 4: a sectional representation of a side view of the flow path element along a flow path.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a valve block assembly 1 comprising the main components of an adjustment unit 2, a drive unit 3 and a valve block 4. The valve block 4 is constructed in two parts comprising a flow path element 6 and a limiting element 7. The flow path element 6 contains flow paths 5 for the fluids, and fluid connections 8 for corresponding fluid lines with the associated connecting ports provided at the outer margins of the flow path element 6. The illustrated embodiment shows the basic structural design of the flow path element 6 as a rectangular block and of the limiting element 7 as a cover element, with the adjustment units 2 and the drive units 3 of the individual valves being represented and arranged on the limiting element 7.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the flow path element 6 as part of the valve block 4. The flow path element 6 comprises a plurality of flow paths 5 which emerge at the outer margins of the flow path element 6 as fluid connections 8. On the upper side of the flow path element 6, openings 11 for receiving and for securing the adjustment unit 2 and the drive unit 3 are provided. In the embodiment shown, the openings 11 are designed as bores, which extend up to the stepped bores of the flow paths 5 that lie below said openings 11.

(8) FIG. 3 shows a sectional representation of a plan view of the flow path element 6 along the flow paths 5. The flow paths 5 are designed as stepped bores 9, with two stepped bores 9 in each case being disposed opposite one another and extending up to the center of the flow path element 6, and with the diameter of the stepped bores 9 progressively decreasing. Refrigerant connections 10 are provided on the side, lying coplanar with the stepped bores 9 and therefore with the flow paths 5.

(9) FIG. 4 shows a sectional representation from a side of the flow path element 6 along the flow path 5. In this diagram, the stepped bores 9 extend on opposite sides through the flow path element 6, and the openings 11 are introduced from the top as bores. The openings 11 serve to receive the adjustment units 2, which are not shown. Alternatively or in combination, these may also be implemented at the ends with the fluid connections 8.

(10) This representation shows the refrigerant connection 10 at the center of the flow path 5 in the flow path element 6.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(11) 1 valve block assembly 2 adjustment unit 3 drive unit 4 valve block 5 flow path 6 flow path element 7 limiting element 8 fluid connections 9 stepped bore 10 refrigerant connection 11 opening