Valve device in a motor vehicle

Abstract

A valve device for a fuel cell arrangement in a motor vehicle includes: a housing; a flow duct extending in the housing; a shaft mounted rotatably in the housing; a flap configured to influence the flow cross section of the flow duct, wherein the flap is arranged on the shaft, and coupled to an electric motor and a gear mechanism; a valve seat arranged in the flow duct; and a seal arranged on a radially encircling edge of the flap such that the seal is in contact with the valve seat when the flap is in a closed position, and such that the shaft penetrates the flap at an angle. The shaft with the flap arranged thereon is movable by the electric motor only via the gear mechanism and movement of the flap is blocked in all other cases due to a frictional force generated by the seal.

Claims

1-3. (canceled)

4. A valve device for a fuel cell arrangement in a motor vehicle, the valve device comprising: a housing; a flow duct extending in the housing; a shaft mounted rotatably in the housing; a flap configured to influence the flow cross section of the flow duct, wherein the flap is arranged on the shaft, and coupled to an electric motor and a gear mechanism; a valve seat arranged in the flow duct; and a seal arranged on a radially encircling edge of the flap such that the seal is in contact with the valve seat when the flap is in a closed position, and such that the shaft penetrates the flap at an angle, wherein the shaft with the flap arranged thereon is movable by the electric motor only via the gear mechanism and movement of the flap is blocked in all other cases due to a frictional force generated by the seal.

5. The valve device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the seal comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

6. The valve device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the seal comprises an elastomer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The invention is described in greater detail by an illustrative embodiment.

[0009] The single FIGURE shows: a valve device according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The valve device for a motor vehicle in the FIGURE comprises a housing 1, with a flow duct 2 arranged in the housing to allow a fluid to flow through. In the present case, it is an air flow that is controlled by the valve device. Arranged in the flow duct 2 is a shaft 3, which is supported in the housing 1 at both ends. A first bearing 4 is situated on the side of the housing 1 on which a gear mechanism 5 is arranged. On the output side, the gear mechanism 5 is connected to the shaft 3 and, on the input side, is connected to an electric motor (not shown), which is accommodated in a separate chamber 6 of the housing 1. A second bearing 7 for the shaft 3 is situated on the side of the flow duct 2 opposite from the gear mechanism 5. Arranged on the shaft 3 is a flap 8, which has a hole 9, through which the shaft 3 extends. To secure the flap 8 on the shaft 3, the flap 8 is screwed to the shaft 3 by a screw 13. The flap 8 furthermore has a radially encircling edge 10, on which a seal 11 is arranged. In the illustration shown, the flap 8 is in the closed position, and therefore the seal 11 interacts with that region of the flow duct 2 that acts as a valve seat 12 and completely closes the flow duct 2. The seal 11 is composed of PTFE and is of relatively stiff design, with the result that it generates a high frictional force.

[0011] 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.