EXPANSION VALVE HAVING A SEALING RING HOLDER FOR SIMPLIFIED ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve, in particular an expansion valve, for controlling a fluid flow, having a valve housing with an accommodation space and at least two fluid ducts connected to the accommodation space, having an opening which runs perpendicularly to the fluid ducts and opens into the accommodation space, wherein a sealing ring holder with a valve means is situated in the accommodation space, wherein the sealing ring holder with the valve means held therein can be inserted into the accommodation space through the opening, and wherein the valve means is positioned rotatably in the sealing ring holder by means of at least two sealing rings. The invention also relates to a sealing ring holder.

Claims

1. A valve (1) for controlling a fluid flow (F), the valve (1) having a valve housing (2) with an accommodation space (6) and at least two fluid ducts (8, 9) connected to the accommodation space (6), the valve housing (2) having an opening (4) which opens into the accommodation space (6), wherein a sealing ring holder (10) with a valve means (14) is situated in the accommodation space (6), wherein the sealing ring holder (10) with the valve means (14) held therein is configured to be inserted into the accommodation space (6) through the opening (4), and wherein the valve means (14) is positioned rotatably in the sealing ring holder (10) by at least two sealing rings (22).

2. The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein a respective O-ring (26) is arranged on each of the at least two sealing rings (22) and is held in position by the sealing ring holder (10).

3. The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) is configured in one part or in two parts.

4. The valve as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) is configured in two parts (16, 17) connected by a plug connection, an adhesive connection, a welded connection, or by a positive interaction of the two parts with walls (28) of the accommodation space (6) for positioning the valve means (14).

5. The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) has a cuboidal shape and is configured as a receiving cage for the valve means (14).

6. The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) consists of a plastics or a metal and is configured to be produced by an injection-molding method, a 3D-printing method or a casting method.

7. The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) has at least two through-openings (11) for connecting to the fluid ducts (8, 9), wherein in each case a sealing ring (22) and an O-ring (26) are configured to be inserted into the through-openings (11).

8. The valve as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sealing ring (22) and the O-ring (26) are configured to be inserted by a positive connection, a frictional connection or a non-positive connection into the through-openings (11) of the sealing ring holder (10).

9. The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve means (14) is configured to be connected in an anti-rotational manner via a shaft receiver (18) to a shaft via the opening (4) of the valve housing (2).

10. The valve as claimed in claim 9, wherein the valve means (14) has a flattened portion (20) on a side opposing the shaft receiver (18).

11. (canceled)

12. The valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve (1) is an expansion valve.

13. The valve as claimed in claim 12, wherein the opening (4) runs perpendicularly to the fluid ducts (8, 9).

14. A sealing ring holder (10) for receiving a valve means (14), wherein the sealing ring holder (10) is configured for use in a valve (1) for controlling a fluid flow (F), the valve (1) having a valve housing (2) with an accommodation space (6) and at least two fluid ducts (8, 9) connected to the accommodation space (6), the valve housing (2) having an opening (4) which opens into the accommodation space (6), wherein the sealing ring holder (10) with the valve means (14) is configured to be situated in the accommodation space (6), wherein the sealing ring holder (10) with the valve means (14) held therein is configured to be inserted into the accommodation space (6) through the opening (4), and wherein sealing ring holder (10) is configured to have the valve means (14) positioned rotatably in the sealing ring holder (10) by at least two sealing rings (22).

15. The sealing ring holder as claimed in claim 14, wherein a respective O-ring (26) is arranged on each of the at least two sealing rings (22) and is held in position by the sealing ring holder (10).

16. The sealing ring holder as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) is configured in one part or in two parts.

17. The sealing ring holder as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) is configured in two parts (16, 17) connected by a plug connection, an adhesive connection, a welded connection, or by a positive interaction of the two parts with walls (28) of the accommodation space (6) for positioning the valve means (14).

18. The sealing ring holder as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) has a cuboidal shape and is configured as a receiving cage for the valve means (14).

19. The sealing ring holder as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) consists of a plastics or a metal and is configured to be produced by an injection-molding method, a 3D-printing method or a casting method.

20. The sealing ring holder as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sealing ring holder (10) has at least two through-openings (11) for connecting to the fluid ducts (8, 9), wherein in each case a sealing ring (22) and an O-ring (26) are configured to be inserted into the through-openings (11).

21. The sealing ring holder as claimed in claim 20, wherein the sealing ring (22) and the O-ring (26) are configured to be inserted by a positive connection, a frictional connection or a non-positive connection into the through-openings (11) of the sealing ring holder (10).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to highly simplified schematic views. In the drawings:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view through a valve according to one embodiment,

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through a valve housing of FIG. 1,

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an opening of the valve of FIG. 1 and

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a sealing ring holder according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In FIG. 1 a sectional view through a valve 1 according to one embodiment is shown. The valve 1 is designed as an expansion valve and has a valve housing 2 which consists of an aluminum alloy.

[0038] An opening 4 which opens into a substantially cuboidal accommodation space 6 is incorporated in the valve housing 2. Moreover, two fluid ducts 8, 9 are configured in the valve housing 2. The fluid ducts 8, 9 are cylindrically shaped and open into the accommodation space 6. The fluid ducts 8, 9 extend by way of example perpendicularly to the opening 4. The fluid ducts 8, 9 are arranged such that a fluid flow F is conducted from a first fluid duct 8 via the accommodation space 6 into a second fluid duct 9.

[0039] According to a development of the invention, at least one of the fluid ducts 8, 9 may also extend transversely or parallel or slightly obliquely to the opening 4. In particular, at least one of the fluid ducts may extend at a flat or acute angle to the opening 4. Preferably, an angle of between 45 and 135 degrees, preferably of between 80 and 100 degrees, for example between 85 and 95 degrees, is formed between the fluid ducts and the opening 4.

[0040] A sealing ring holder 10 is arranged in the accommodation space 6. The sealing ring holder 10 has a shape which corresponds to a shape of the accommodation space 6.

[0041] A valve means 14 is positioned in an internal receiving region 12 of the sealing ring holder 10. The sealing ring holder 10 in this case consists of two parts 16, 17 which encompass the valve means 14.

[0042] The valve means 14 is of substantially spherical design and has a shaft receiver 18 in the region of the opening 4 and a flattened portion 20 on a side opposing the opening 4. By means of the flattened portion 20 the valve means 14 may bear against a bottom 7 of the accommodation space 6 and may be secured against tilting or twisting. Alternatively, this function may be undertaken by two sealing rings 22.

[0043] The valve means 14 has a connecting channel 13. The connecting channel 13 may be used to connect the fluid ducts 8, 9 together in a fluid-conducting manner. Preferably, the connecting channel 13 extends perpendicularly to an opening direction of the opening 4 through the valve means 14.

[0044] According to a development, the connecting channel 13 has a transverse extension relative to an opening direction of the opening 4 through the valve means 14. In particular, the angle between the opening direction and the longitudinal extension of the connecting channel is configured to be between 45 and 135 degrees, preferably between 80 and 100 degrees.

[0045] The fluid ducts 8, 9 run through the sealing rings 22 and through the valve housing 2 and open directly onto the valve means 14.

[0046] The sealing rings 22 are introduced into through-openings 11 of the sealing ring holder 10 and form with the through-openings 11 receiving grooves 24 for O-rings 26.

[0047] In a state arranged in the accommodation space 6, the O-rings 26 are pressed by the valve means 14 and the sealing rings 22 against walls 28 of the accommodation space 6. As a result, it is possible to configure a seal which acts axially in the direction of the fluid flow F.

[0048] The valve means 14, the sealing rings 22 and the O-rings 26 are held together by the sealing ring holder 10 and thus may be pushed in one step through the opening 4 into the accommodation space 6 of the valve housing 2.

[0049] FIG. 2 illustrates in a sectional view the construction of the valve housing 2 for a valve of FIG. 1. In this case, in particular, the accommodation space 6 is illustrated with a rectangular cross section or with a rectangular bottom surface. The opening 4 of the valve housing 2 has dimensions which correspond to the dimensions of the accommodation space 6 and thus also of the sealing ring holder 10, or which exceed these dimensions.

[0050] The accommodation space 6 is laterally defined by walls 28. These walls 28 serve at the same time as sealing surfaces for the O-rings 26.

[0051] In FIG. 3 a perspective view of an opening 4 of the valve 1 of FIG. 1 is shown. The cuboidal sealing ring holder 10 which is arranged in the accommodation space 6 is illustrated. The sealing ring holder 10 is inserted positively in the accommodation space 6. The valve means 14 is positioned in the receiving region 12 on the inside of the sealing ring holder 10. The valve means 14 may be rotated through the opening 4 of the valve housing 2 on the shaft receiver 18 along the rotational axis D in order to achieve a control of the fluid flow F.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the sealing ring holder 10 according to one embodiment. The sealing ring holder 10 is designed in two parts and consists of two equal-sized parts 16, 17 which together encompass a receiving region 12.

[0053] Each part 16, 17 has a through-opening 11 into which a sealing ring 22 and an O-ring 26 may be inserted. The through-openings 11 thus permit a sealed transition between the fluid ducts 8, 9 and the connecting channel 13 of the valve means 14.

[0054] The parts 16, 17 of the sealing ring holder 10 may be produced by an injection-molding method and have reinforcing ribs 30 in order to increase a mechanical stability.

[0055] “Slightly obliquely” is to be understood to mean that an angle of, in particular, up to 20 degrees, preferably up to 5 degrees, for example up to 3 degrees, is formed. Preferably, the angle is the deviation relative to a perpendicular configuration. In particular, the angle with a slightly oblique configuration between at least one fluid duct 8, 9 and the opening 4 is, in particular, between 70 and 110 degrees, preferably between 85 and 95 degrees, for example between 87 and 93 degrees.