Valve device in a motor vehicle

Abstract

A valve device for a fuel cell arrangement in a motor vehicle includes: a housing; a flow channel that extends in the housing; a spindle mounted rotatably in the housing; a flap fastened to the spindle, the flap being arranged in the flow channel and configured to close off the flow channel, the flap having a bore via which bore the spindle penetrates the flap; a drive configured to drive the flap via the spindle; a valve seat arranged in the flow channel, the valve seat, in a closed position of the flap, being in contact with the flap, wherein the spindle penetrates the flap at an angle and openings of the bore each lead to one side of the flap; and a seal arranged In the bore between the flap and the spindle.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A valve device for a fuel ceil arrangement in a motor vehicle, the valve device comprising; a housing; a flow channel that extends in the housing; a spindle mounted rotatably in the housing; a flap fastened to the spindle, the flap being arranged in the flow channel and configured to close off the flow channel, the flap having a bore via which bore the spindle penetrates the flap; a drive configured to drive the flap via the spindle; a valve seat arranged in the flow channel, the valve seat, in a closed position of the flap, being in contact with the flap, wherein the spindle penetrates the flap at an angle and openings of the bore each lead to one side of the flap; and a seal arranged in the bore between the Hap and the spindle.

9. The valve device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the seal is arranged radially on the spindle or in the bore, the seal being configured to seal off against formation of a flow path between the spindle and the flap.

10. The valve device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the seal is arranged in a receptacle arranged in a groove of the spindle or arranged in a groove of the bore.

11. The valve device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a screw bore configured to fasten the flap on the spindle; and an opening of the bore in the flap, wherein the seal is arranged between the screw bore and the opening of the bore in the flap, and wherein the opening leads to a side of the flap having only one opening.

12. The valve device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the seal comprises an adhesive bond configured to connect the flap to the spindle.

13. The valve device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the seal comprises a weld connecting the flap to the spindle.

14. The valve device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the drive comprises an electric motor and a gear mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention will be discussed in more detail on the basis of an exemplary embodiment. In the figures:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a valve device according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0018] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the valve device of FIG. 1 in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a throttle valve connector having a housing l, having situated in the housing 1 a flow channel 2 in which a disk-shaped flap 3 is arranged. The flap 3 is fixedly connected to a spindle 4 and the spindle 4 is mounted rotatably in the housing The spindle 4 is driven by an electric motor 5 arranged in the housing 1. A gear mechanism 6 is interposed between the spindle 4 and the electric motor 5.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows, in section, part of the flow channel 2 according to FIG. 1. The disk-shaped flap 3 is connected rotationally fixedly to the spindle 4 by a schematically illustrated screw connection 7. For holding the spindle 4, the flap 3 has a bore 8 in which the spindle 4 is arranged, such that the spindle 4 penetrates the flap 3 at an angle α. In the illustration shown, the flap 3 closes off the flow channel 2. For sealing off the flow channel 2, a first seal 10 is arranged on the radially circumferential edge 9 of the flap 3. The first seal 10 prevents the flap 3 being flowed around. Besides flowing around the flap 3 on the main flow path, it is also possible for the fluid to flow through the flap 3 through the bore 8. The secondary flow path forms due to tolerances in the fit between the spindle 4 and the flap 3. In order to prevent flow through the flap 3 through the bore 8, the spindle 4 has a radially circumferential groove 11 in which there is arranged a second seal 12 configured as an O-ring. Here, the second seal 12 is arranged so that it is closer to the opening 13 than the opening 14 of the bore 8. Since the spindle 4 is fitted to the flap 3 via the opening 13, relatively simple fitting therefore results. The valve device according to FIG. 3 differs from the valve device according to FIG. 2 in that it can be used for even low leakage rates. In addition to the first secondary flow path, which extends through the entire bore 8, a second secondary flow path forms through the bore 15 of the screw connection, via which path fluid can flow through the flap 3. In the illustration shown, the lower side of the flap thus has two openings 13, 15, whereas the upper side of the flap has only one opening 14. With the arrangement of the O-ring seal 12 in this embodiment being between the screw connection 15 and the opening 14 of the bore 8, wherein the opening 14 is the opening leading to that side of the flap which has only one opening, both secondary flow paths can be sealed off.

[0021] Thus, while there have been shown, and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.