Valve Arrangement

Abstract

A valve arrangement for a fluidic supply of a fluid load, with several main valves designed for influencing fluid flows at the fluid ports, and with electrically controllable pilot valves designed for fluidic control of the main valves. A base body is assigned a connection plate lying opposite a connection face and having a fluid passage which leads into an operating port for the connection of a fluid load wherein, between the connection face and the connection plate there is provided a separate passage body which has at least one connection passage for a fluidically communicating link between at least one of the fluid ports and the operating port, and at least one connecting conduit for a fluidic coupling of at least two fluid ports.

Claims

1. A valve arrangement for a fluidic supply of a fluid load, with several main valves which are connected, with fluidic communication, to respectively assigned fluid ports and which are designed for influencing fluid flows at the fluid ports, wherein the fluid ports are located at least partly on a connection face of a base body, and with electrically controllable pilot valves (5, 6) which are designed for fluidic control of the main valves, wherein the base body is assigned a connection plate lying opposite the connection face and through which runs a fluid passage which leads into an operating port for the connection of a fluid load wherein, between the connection face and the connection plate there is provided a separate passage body which has at least one connection passage for a fluidically communicating link between at least one of the fluid ports and the operating port, and at least one connecting conduit for a fluidic coupling of at least two fluid ports.

2. The valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one main valve and/or at least one pilot valve have or has a preset preferred position.

3. The valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, in the connection plate, a further fluid passage is formed which opens out into a supply port or an air outlet port, and wherein, in the passage body there is formed a further connection passage and/or a further connecting conduit for a fluidically communicating connection between at least one of the fluid ports and the supply port or the air outlet port and/or for a fluidic coupling of at least two further fluid ports.

4. The valve arrangement according to claim 3, wherein there are formed in the passage body several connecting conduits, which are designed for presettable fluidic interconnection of the main valves with the operating port and the supply port and the air outlet port.

5. The valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the main valves, are similarly designed.

6. The valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein information interfaces corresponding to one another are located on the base body and on the passage body, and are designed for data interchange between an electronic memory device in the passage body and an electronic processing device in the base body.

7. The valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the base body includes the connection plate, and wherein a locating shaft for the passage body is formed between the connection face and the connection plate, wherein the passage body may be attached in at least one functional position for the fluidically communicating interconnection of the main valves with the operating port and the supply port and the air outlet port in the locating shaft.

8. The valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the separately formed connection plate is designed for attachment to the connection face and includes a locating shaft for the passage body, wherein the passage body may be attached in at least one functional position for the fluidically communicating interconnection of the main valves with the operating port and the supply port and the air outlet port in the locating shaft.

9. The valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connection passage and/or the connecting conduit is or are assigned at least one pneumatic component from the group: pressure-control valve, restrictor valve, control valve.

10. The valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connection passage and/or the connecting conduit are or is assigned at least one sensor means from the group: pressure sensor, flow sensor, temperature sensor.

11. The valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the operating port on the connection plate is assigned a valve plate including at least one control valve, which is designed to influence a fluid flow between a fluid source and a fluid load, wherein a fluidic control connection of the control valve is in fluidically communicating connection with the operating port and wherein the valve plate is assigned at least one sensor means from the group: pressure sensor, flow sensor, temperature sensor, position sensor, wherein the sensor means are electrically connected to the connection plate or are accommodated in the connection plate.

12. The valve arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the operating port is assigned on the connection plate a valve plate which includes at least one control valve, which is designed to influence a fluid flow between the operating port and a fluid load, wherein an electrical control connection of the control valve is connected to a control interface and wherein the control valve has a preferred position, preferably normally closed.

Description

[0019] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing, including in:

[0020] FIG. 1 a schematic plan view of a control unit including a valve arrangement with two pilot valves, four main valves, a passage body and a connection plate, which are mounted in a control housing, wherein the connection plate is assigned a valve plate

[0021] FIG. 2 an exploded view of the control unit according to FIG. 1

[0022] FIG. 3 a first embodiment of a valve plate

[0023] FIG. 4 a second embodiment of a valve plate

[0024] FIG. 5 a schematic connection diagram of a first embodiment of a valve arrangement

[0025] FIG. 6 a schematic connection diagram of a second embodiment of a valve arrangement, and

[0026] FIG. 7 a schematic connection diagram for the first embodiment of the valve plate.

[0027] A control unit 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided for fluidic supply of a fluid load, not shown, which may involve for example a pneumatic cylinder or a pneumatic swivel drive. The control unit 1 may be designed for autonomous operation without external control signals and/or for linking to a higher-level control unit, not shown, designed for the provision of control signals, which may involve in particular a programmable control system (PLC). The control unit 1 includes control electronics 2, which may be for example in the form of a printed circuit board or printed circuit equipped with electronic and electrical components such as for example a microprocessor. The control electronics 2 are designed for the processing of control commands provided either by a control program running on the control electronics 2 or by a higher-level control unit, and which are converted by a valve arrangement 3 into fluid flows at an operating port 4.

[0028] For reasons of simplification, the fluid passages required between the fluidic components described in detail below are not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. A detailed representation of the fluidic interconnection of these fluidic components is provided in the typical embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0029] The control electronics 2 are connected electrically to the two pilot valves 5, 6, which are by way of example solenoid valves, preferably 2/2-way valves, in particular 3/2-way valves, as shown. The pilot valves 5, 6 are supplied by the control electronics 2 with electrical power, in order to provide fluid flows at the main valves 7 to 10. Preferably the control electronics 2 and the pilot valves 5, 6 are designed for control via an analog current interface, preferably with a maximum amperage of 20 mA, in particular with a fraction thereof, and therefore meet the requirements frequently specified in process technology for “low power” terminal devices. The main valves 7 to 10 are fluidically controllable valves, for example fluidically piloted 3/2-way valves. Preferably it is provided that the main valves 7 to 10 are in the form of membrane-controlled pressure-compensated valves, making possible advantageous switching behaviour for the main valves 7 to 10. Fitted between the pilot valves 5, 6 and the main valves 7 to 10 is an adapter plate 11, through which pass recesses, not shown, in order to ensure a fluidically communicating connection between the exit ports, not shown, of the pilot valves 5, 6, and the inlet ports, not visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, of the main valves 7 to 10. By way of example, the adapter plate 11 may also be designed to provide a sealing effect between the pilot valves 5, 6 and the main valves 7 to 10.

[0030] By way of example it is provided that both the pilot valves 5, 6 and also the main valves 7 to 10 are cuboidal in shape and in flat sealing contact with one another, thus also forming the base body 14 in this embodiment of the valve arrangement.

[0031] At a surface 12 opposite the pilot valves 5, 6, the main valves 7 to 10 each have several valve ports 15, which are designed for the provision of fluid flows, described in detail below, through the respective main valves 7 to 10, and which therefore form the fluid ports of the base body 14.

[0032] Lying opposite the surface 12 of the main valves 7 to 10 is a passage body 16, which is preferably cuboidal in shape and provided for sealing contact at the surface 12. The passage body 16 has at least one connection passage and connecting conduit, not discernible in FIGS. 1 and 2, but shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. The passage body 16 is provided at a surface facing one of the main valves 7 to 10 and also at a surface 17 facing away from the main valves 7 to 10 with outlet openings 18, each bordered by an annular seal 19, wherein the connection passage leads into at least one of the outlet openings 18. The passage body 16 is by way of example provided for location in a connection plate 20, which in turn is by way of example basically cuboidal and has a recess, not visible in FIG. 2, which is so matched to the geometry of the passage body 16 that the passage body 16 may be located in the connection plate 20 at least almost completely flush-fitting.

[0033] Provided on the connection plate 20 are by way of example, besides the operating port 4, a supply port 21, an air outlet port 22 and a reserve port 23, wherein the reserve port 23, depending on the interconnections in the passage body 16, may also be in the form of a second operating port. At the same time, the supply port 21 is provided for fluidic coupling with a fluid source, not so shown, and thus for the fluidic supply of the control unit 1. The air outlet port 22 may be connected in particular to a silencer, not depicted, in order to convey exhaust air away from the control unit 1 as quietly as possible.

[0034] The connection plate 20 is provided for flat contact with a housing 24 of the control unit 1, and may be fixed to the housing 24 by mounting means, not shown, in particular screws. In the fixing of the connection plate 20 to the housing 24, the seals 19 on the passage body 16, together with further sealing means, not shown, between the pilot valves 5, 6 and the main valves 7 to 10, the adapter plate 11 and the passage body 16, are compressed, thereby ensuring fluidic sealing amongst one another so that, on application of a supply pressure at the supply port 21, no significant losses of fluid occur in the control unit 1. Preferably it is provided that fluid passages 44 pass through the connection plate 20 and ensure in each case fluidic connections between the operating ports 4, supply ports 21, air outlet ports 22 and reserve ports 23 formed on both sides of the connection plate 20.

[0035] The alternative embodiments of valve plates 25, 45 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be connected alternatively to the connection plate 20 and are provided with similar fluid ports as provided on the connection plate 20, i.e. an operating port 4, a supply port 21, an air outlet port 22 and a reserve port 23. For the valve plate 45, FIG. 7 shows a fluidic interconnection described in detail below. The valve plates 25 serve to extend the functional scope of the control unit 1, wherein the valve plate 25 is designed to reach a presettable safety level and in particular to realise preset safety functions such as fail-safe or fail-freeze for the control unit 1 equipped with it, while the valve plate 45 is designed for a high fluid flow rate.

[0036] Other valve plates, not depicted, may also be attached to the connection plate 20. By way of example t is provided that the relevant valve plate is screwed with sealing to the connection plate 20.

[0037] From the illustration of FIG. 5 one may gather how a typical fluidic interconnection of the pilot valves 5, 6 to the main valves 7 to 10 and the passage body 16 may be provided in the control unit 1. In the schematic view in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, connections between fluid ports, in particular between connecting conduits, are symbolised by circular dots. Fluidic interfaces at outer surfaces are symbolised by squares. Operating ports are symbolised by lying rectangles and electrical interfaces by standing rectangles.

[0038] By way of example it is provided that the pilot valves 5, 6 are in the form of electrically controlled solenoid valves, each connected via an electrical interface 28, 29 to the control electronics, not shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, by provision of a suitable control signal at the interface 28 or 29, a switching function of the respectively controlled pilot valve 5, 6 may be effected. By way of example, the pilot valves 5, 6 are each in the form of 3/2-way valves, wherein both pilot valves 5, 6 are biased mechanically in a preferred position, each by spring means 30 in particular in the form of a coil spring. In this preferred position of the pilot valves 5, 6, a fluidic connection between control ports 32 of the so main valves 7 to 10, by way of example fluidically controllable and a venting port 31 of the respective pilot valve 5, 6 is provided, so that the main valves 7 to 10, similarly each biased by spring means 33 in a preferred position, remain in this preferred position. It is also provided that the main valve 7 may be controlled by provision of a fluid flow from the pilot valve 5, while the main valve 8 may be controlled by provision of a fluid flow from the pilot valve 6.

[0039] The main valves 7 to 10 each have fluid ports 34 which are in sealing fluidically communicating connection with fluid ports 35 in the passage body 16. The task of the passage body 16 is to supply fluid flows provided to the main valves 7 to 10 and released by the main valves 7 to 10 in a suitable manner to the operating port 4 and the air outlet port 22 and, where applicable, to the reserve port 23. At the same time, the fluidic function of the control unit 1 is determined by the assignment of the connection passage 36 provided in the passage body 16 and the connecting conduits 37 provided in the passage body 16. As already described above, the passage body 16 may be interchanged, so that different fluidic functions may be preset for the control unit 1, as will be explained below in detail in conjunction with FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0040] By way of example, the passage body 16 is so designed and the preferred position of the main valve 7 so selected that, without fluidic control of the main valve 7, supply pressure applied to the supply port 21 is supplied with the aid of the main valve 7, via the connecting conduit 37, to the operating port 4. Moreover the preferred position of the main valve 8 is so selected that, without fluidic control of the main valve 8, fluidic connection between the operating port 4 and the air outlet port 22 is interrupted. Thus, without fluidic control of the main valves 7, 8, a fluid flow is facilitated from the supply port 21 via the main valve 7 and the connection passage 36 to the operating port 4.

[0041] As soon as the main valve 7 has been brought from the preferred position into a switch position, not shown, through provision of a fluid flow from the pilot valve 5, it is ensured by the fluidic interconnection of the connection passage 36 and the connecting conduits 37 in the passage body 16, that a fluidic connection between the supply port 21 and the operating port 4 is interrupted. In this case the fluid supplied to the fluid load, not shown, is as it were trapped, by which means the fluid load, for example in the form of a pneumatic cylinder, remains in a preset position and where applicable is able to provide a presettable force and the fluid load undergoes a change in state.

[0042] In a subsequent step it may be provided that main valve 8, by provision of a fluid flow from pilot valves 6, is brought from the preferred position into a switch position, not shown, in which a fluidically communicating connection is created between the operating port 4 and the air outlet port 22, so that the fluid supplied to the fluid load may flow away through the air outlet port 22.

[0043] By way of example there is provided in the passage body 16 a branch 39 from a supply passage 40, which connects the supply port 21 with the associated fluid port 34 of the main valve 7. The branch 39 is connected fluidically to a pressure-control valve 41 which is designed to reduce the fluid pressure applied to the supply port 21 and so to provide a reduced supply pressure at an assigned fluid port 34, 35. The supply pressure reduced by the pressure-control valve 41 is provided over a fluid line 42 to the two pilot valves 5, 6, and may be passed on by the two pilot valves 5, 6 as control pressure to the respective main valves 7 to 10.

[0044] By way of example the passage body 16 shown in FIG. 5 is provided for a fail-safe function in which, in the event of a failure of the electrical supply for the control electronics 2 and/or the pneumatic supply, defined status occurs for the fluid load, not shown, fluidically coupled to the control unit 1. In the event of failure of the electrical supply for the control electronics 2, the two pilot valves 5, 6 adopt the preferred position shown in FIG. 5, causing any control fluid pressurisation of the assigned main valves 7 to 10 to cease, with the main valves 7 to 10 similarly adopting their preferred position. In this case, the fluidic control represented in FIG. 5 of the fluid load, not shown, is available, with the latter being supplied with supply pressure provided at the supply port 21 via the main valve 7.

[0045] In the second embodiment of the passage body 66 shown in FIG. 6, the pilot valves 5, 6 and main valves 7 to 10 forming the base body 14 are fluidically interconnected in similar fashion to the illustration of FIG. 5. Accordingly, the same conditions as in FIG. 5 apply at the respectively assigned fluid ports 34. Varying from this, in FIG. 6 the base body 14 is also provided with a processing device 67, which is connected electrically to pressure sensors 69, 70, 71 by connection means 68, so shown only in schematic form. The connection means 68 may be for example electrical lines, not shown in detail, which pass through the base body 14 and, after passing through an electrical interface, not shown, in particular a plug connection, also pass through the passage body 66 and are connected to the respective pressure sensor 69, 70, 71. By way of example it is provided that the pressure sensors 69, 70, 71 each include a memory device, not shown in detail, for the storage of measured values and/or parameters. In addition or alternatively, the passage body may be provided with a memory device, not shown in detail, designed for example for storage of identification data of the passage plate 66. For example this memory device may be in the form of an RFID module (radio frequency identification device) for wireless information transmission to a suitable configured processing device in the base body 14. Also provided on the base body 14 is a data interface 72, which facilitates data interchange between the processing device 67 and the control electronics 2.

[0046] The pressure sensor 69 is by way of example assigned to the supply port 21, the pressure sensor 70 for example is assigned to the operating port 4, and the pressure sensor 71 is assigned for example to the reserve port 23. Through the integration of the pressure sensors 69, 70, 71 in the passage body 66 it is possible to carry out monitoring of the functioning of the main valves 7 to 10 and the upstream pilot valves 5, 6, enabling the control unit 1 thus equipped to satisfy where applicable a given safety level within a presettable safety standard.

[0047] In addition or as an alternative to the passage body 66, the control unit 1 may, to reach a given safety level within a presettable safety standard, also be equipped with the valve plate 25, which may be fitted with flat contact to the surface 43 of the connection plate 20, and which has on a surface facing the connection plate 20 fluid ports, not visible in the view of FIG. 3, which correspond to the fluid ports 4, 21, 22, 23 of the connection plate 20. At a surface 26 of the valve plate 25 facing the connection plate 20, the operating port 4, the 21, the air outlet port 22 and the reserve port 23 are likewise provided. Moreover, at a side face of the valve plate 25 there is formed a control connection 27. The control connection 27 provides for electrical control of a control valve, not shown and provided in the valve plate 25, with the aid of which the opening or closing of a fluidically communicating connection between the operating port 4 on the connection plate 20 and the operating port 4 on the valve plate 25 may be undertaken. At the same time it may be provided that a control signal provided at the control connection. 27 is supplied by a safety-oriented controller, not depicted.

[0048] As an alternative to this, for the valve plate 45 shown in FIG. 4, according to the illustration of FIG. 7, a switching valve 46 in the form for example of a 3/3-way valve is provided and interposed fluidically between the fluid ports formed on opposite surfaces 47, 48 of the valve plate 45, in particular the operating port 4, the supply port 21 and the air outlet port 22. The switching valve 46 is designed for high fluid volume flows and may be controlled with the aid of the control unit 1. By way of example it is provided that a first connection 49 of the switching valve 46 is connected fluidically to a fluid line 50 extending between the operating ports 4. A second connection 51 of the switching valve 46 is so connected to a fluid line 52, which extends between the air outlet ports 22. A third connection 53 of the switching valve 46 is connected fluidically via a fluid line 54 to the operating ports 4. Inserted in a sub-branch 55 of the fluid passage 54 is a restrictor 56, preferably adjustable, wherein the sub-branch 55 is guided at a control connection 57 of the fluidically controllable switching valve 46. Accordingly, control of the switching valve 46 may be effected both by a fluid flow from the control unit 1 via the operating port 4, and also by a fluid flow from the supply port 21 via the switching valve 46 and the sub-branch 55. This ensures in particular a self-retaining switch position for the switching valve 46 during supply of the fluid load, not shown, connected to the operating port 4. In a third switch position all connections 49, 51, 53 are closed, so that no fluid flow is possible via the switching valve 46. By way of example, the fluid line 54 is assigned a pressure sensor 58, which is connected via electrical connection means 59, not shown in detail, to the processing device 67 shown in FIG. 6, in which the pressure signal of the pressure sensor 58 is processed. Alternatively it may be provided in a variant, not shown, for the pressure sensor to be attached directly to the processing device and connected to the fluid line via a sensor line, also not shown in detail.