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Patent Abstract
A fluid control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating
fluid includes a housing configured as a small, elongate body having
a pair of lengthwise sides and a pair of widthwise sides each relatively
shorter than either of the lengthwise sides, whereby the valve inlet
and the valve outlet are each disposed on a respective one of the
widthwise outer sides of the housing and the inlet/outlet flow direction
extends parallel to the housing longitudinal axis. The fluid control
servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating fluid also includes
a differential piston disposed in the housing such that its movement
is perpendicular to the housing longitudinal axis. The pilot valve
of the fluid control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating
fluid is dismountably secured on the respective smaller outer side
of the housing on which the valve outlet is located.
Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fluid control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating
fluid, in particular, for sanitary installations, wherein the fluid
control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating fluid
includes a valve housing having therein a valve inlet and a valve
outlet isolatable from one another in a sealed manner via the seating
of a valve flange in a valve closing position on a valve seat, whereby
the valve inlet and the valve outlet are located on two opposed
sides of the valve housing, a displaceable differential piston,
disposed in the valve housing, that supports thereon the valve flange,
wherein, on one side of the differential piston, there is a pressure
volume communicated with the valve inlet with the pressure volume
being selectively communicable via the valve seat with the valve
outlet while, on the other side of the differential piston, there
is a control volume that is selectively communicable with the valve
outlet via a relief bore that is closable by means of a closure
element associated with the plunger of an electro-magnetic pilot
valve, with the control volume being communicated via a control
channel with the pressure volume and the pressure volume being sealed
off relative to the control volume via a seal along the edge regions
of the differential piston, wherein the servo-solenoid valve further
comprises: a) the housing being configured as a small, elongate
body having a pair of lengthwise sides and a pair of widthwise sides
each relatively shorter than either of the lengthwise sides, whereby
the valve inlet and the valve outlet are each disposed on a respective
one of the widthwise outer sides of the housing and the inlet/outlet
flow direction E-A extends parallel to the housing longitudinal
axis L; b) the differential piston being disposed in the housing
1-such that its movement is perpendicular to the housing longitudinal
axis L; c) the pilot valve being dismountably secured on the respective
widthwise outer side of the housing on which the valve outlet is
located; and d) the relief bore being configured as a pilot valve
seat, closable by a closure element, and located between the valve
chamber of the pilot valve and an outflow channel communicated with
the valve outlet, whereby the valve chamber is communicated via
a discharge channel with the control volume.
2. A fluid control servo-solenoid valve according to claim 1, wherein
the housing is configured as a two-piece component having a base
body supporting the valve inlet and the valve outlet, and including
on one side an opening that provides access into the housing, the
opening being covered by a housing cover extending in the direction
of the housing longitudinal axis L over a portion of the longitudinal
extent of the housing.
3. A fluid control servo-solenoid valve according to claim 2, wherein
the differential piston as well as a hood covering the control volume
are each components of a unitary component deployable into the housing
interior via the opening in the housing.
4. A fluid control servo-solenoid valve according to claim 1, wherein
the housing is configured as a cylinder with substantially planar,
small widthwise end surfaces on its outer side.
5. A fluid control servo-solenoid valve according to claim 1, wherein
at least one of the valve inlet and the valve outlet is provided
with a respective pipe or hose communication element.
6. A fluid control servo-solenoid valve according to claim 1, wherein
the respective one of the widthwise sides of the valve on which
the valve inlet is located includes a threaded support through which
the valve inlet extends, the threaded support serving for threaded
securement of the valve in a valve receipt location.
7. A fluid control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating
fluid, in particular, for sanitary installations, wherein the fluid
control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating fluid
includes a valve housing having therein a valve inlet and a valve
outlet isolatable from one another in a sealed manner via the seating
of a valve flange in a valve closing position on a valve seat, whereby
the valve inlet and the valve outlet are located on two opposed
sides of the valve housing, a displaceable differential piston,
disposed in the valve housing, that supports thereon the valve flange,
wherein, on one side of the differential piston, there is a pressure
volume communicated with the valve inlet with the pressure volume
being selectively communicable via the valve seat with the valve
outlet while, on the other side of the differential piston, there
is a control volume that is selectively communicable with the valve
outlet via a relief bore that is closable by means of a closure
element associated with the plunger of an electromagnetic pilot
valve, with the control volume being communicated via a control
channel with the pressure volume and the pressure volume being sealed
off relative to the control volume via a seal along the edge regions
of the differential piston, wherein the servo-solenoid valve further
comprises: a) the housing having a housing longitudinal axis L and
being configured with the valve inlet and the valve outlet disposed
on respective opposite sides such that the inlet/outlet flow direction
E-A extends parallel to the housing longitudinal axis L; b) the
differential piston being disposed in the housing such that its
movement is not parallel to the housing longitudinal axis L; c)
the pilot valve being secured on the respective outer side of the
housing on which the valve outlet is located; and d) the relief
bore being configured as a pilot valve seat, closable by a closure
element, and located between the valve chamber of the pilot valve
and an outflow channel communicated with the valve outlet, whereby
the valve chamber is communicated via a discharge channel with the
control volume.
8. A fluid control servo-solenoid valve according to claim 7, wherein
the housing is configured as a small, elongate body having a pair
of lengthwise sides and a pair of widthwise sides each relatively
shorter than either of the lengthwise sides, whereby the valve inlet
and the valve outlet are each disposed on a respective one of the
widthwise outer sides of the housing.
9. A fluid control servo-solenoid valve according to claim 7, wherein
the differential piston is disposed in the housing such that its
movement is perpendicular to the housing longitudinal axis L.
10. A fluid control servo-solenoid valve according to claim 7,
wherein the pilot valve is dismountably secured on the respective
widthwise outer side of the housing on which the valve outlet is
located.
Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid control servo-solenoid
valve with self-contained actuating fluid, in particular, for sanitary
installations, the fluid control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained
actuating fluid comprising a valve housing having therein a valve
inlet and a valve outlet which can be isolated from one another
in a sealed manner via the seating of a valve flange in a valve
closing position on a valve seat, whereby the valve inlet and the
valve outlet are located on two opposed sides of the valve housing,
and the fluid control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating
fluid further comprising a displaceable differential piston, disposed
in the valve housing, that supports thereon the valve flange, wherein,
on one side of the differential piston, there is a pressure volume
communicated with the valve inlet and, additionally, selectively
communicated via the valve seat with the valve outlet while, on
the other side of the differential piston, there is a control volume
that is selectively communicated with the valve outlet via a relief
bore that is closable by means of a closure element associated with
the plunger of an electromagnetic pilot valve, the control volume
being communicated via a control channel with the pressure volume,
and the pressure volume being sealed off relative to the control
volume via a seal along the edge regions of the differential piston.
[0002] Valves having the afore-described features are conventionally
known such as are disclosed, for example, in EP 0 936 317 Al and
DE 29819 769.3 U.
[0003] In conventional valves of this type, pilot valves configured
as electromagnetic valves are integrated into the valve housing,
and the differential piston in a conventional arrangement of this
type is disposed in the valve housing such that the movement of
the differential piston is in a direction parallel to the inlet
flow and outlet flow directions of the fluid medium.
[0004] As a result of the configuration of the just-described conventional
arrangement, the pilot valve is not exchangeable without undertaking
further measures and, moreover, the valve in its entirety must be
configured relatively wide in its dimension transverse to the inlet
and outlet flow directions. Since these valves are often configured
as cartridge valves with a tapped or threaded section on the end
of the valve housing for threaded securement of the valve in a valve
receipt location, this valve receipt location must also be configured
relatively wide. This leads to installation difficulties and, in
particular, installation difficulties with respect to sanitary installations
whereat the spatial relationships are often narrow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention offers a solution to the challenge
of configuring a fluid control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained
actuating fluid having the above-noted features and being improved
in that the valve in its entirety is of a small dimension, as a
consequence of which its small width dimension takes up only relatively
little space, and being further improved in that the pilot valve
of the inventive valve is relatively easily exchanged into, or exchanged
out of, the inventive fluid control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained
actuating fluid.
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, the inventive
fluid control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating
fluid is characterized by the combination of the following features:
[0007] a) the housing is configured as a small, elongate body having
a pair of lengthwise sides and a pair of widthwise sides each relatively
shorter than either of the lengthwise sides, whereby the valve inlet
and the valve outlet are each disposed on a respective one of the
widthwise outer sides of the housing and the inlet/outlet flow direction
extends parallel to the housing longitudinal axis;
[0008] b) the differential piston is disposed in the housing such
that its movement is perpendicular to the housing longitudinal axis;
[0009] c) the pilot valve is dismountably secured on the respective
widthwise outer side of the housing on which the valve outlet is
located; and
[0010] d) the relief bore is configured as a pilot valve seat,
closable by a closure element, and located between the valve chamber
of the pilot valve and an outflow channel communicated with the
valve outlet, whereby the valve chamber is communicated via a balance
channel with the control volume.
[0011] Advantageous configurations and modifications of the inventive
valve are described in further detail hereinafter.
[0012] In accordance with one core concept of the present invention,
the differential piston, which has the valve flange associated therewith,
is disposed in the housing such that its movement is not parallel
but, instead, perpendicular, to the flow-through direction. A further
core concept of the present invention is that the pilot valve is
configured such that the movement of the closure element communicated
with the plunger is not, as is the case with conventional valves,
parallel to the movement of the differential piston but is, instead,
perpendicular to the direction of movement of the differential piston.
In this connection, the pilot valve is dismountably secured to the
respective outer side of the housing on which the valve outlet is
located. Since the housing is configured as a small, elongate body,
whose length is greater than its width, and the valve inlet and
valve outlet are disposed on the pair of the relatively smaller
widthwise outer sides of the housing, whereby the inlet/outlet flow
direction extends parallel to the housing longitudinal axis, the
inventive valve is, in its entirety, configured of a very small
dimension. The inventive valve can be dimensioned so small that
it can be integrated directly into the conduit leading to a sanitary
installation. As is illustrated hereinafter in connection with the
description of several embodiments of the inventive valve, the valve
can be provided, on its valve inlet and/or valve outlet, with pipe
or hose connections and, as well, the respective one of the widthwise
sides of the valve on which the valve inlet is located can be provided
with a threaded support, through which the valve inlet extends,
for threaded securement of the valve in a valve receipt location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Embodiments of the inventive valve of the present invention
are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the figures
of the drawings.
[0014] FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view of a fluid control
servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating fluid showing
a sectional view taken longitudinally along the longitudinal direction
of the valve housing;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an elevational view in partial section of the
one embodiment of the inventive valve shown in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the one embodiment of the
inventive valve of FIG. 1 and showing the valve at an orientation
offset by 90 degrees with respect to the view of the valve shown
in FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the one embodiment of the
inventive valve shown in FIG. 1 and showing an installed pipe piece
communicated with the valve outlet;
[0018] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the one embodiment
of the inventive valve shown in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 6 is an elevational sectional view of another embodiment
of the inventive valve in the present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
inventive valve shown in FIG. 6 and showing pipe pieces communicated
respectively with the valve inlet and the valve outlet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate one embodiment of the inventive fluid
control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating fluid
of the present invention. The inventive fluid control servo-solenoid
valve with self-contained actuating fluid comprises a valve housing
which is configured as a two-piece component and which includes
a base body 1 having, on one side, an opening that provides access
into the housing, the opening being covered by a housing cover 4
extending in the direction of the housing longitudinal axis L over
a portion of the longitudinal extent of the housing. The entire
housing is configured as a small, elongate, substantially cylindrical
body having a sleeve surface 1.1 as well as two small end surfaces
1.2 and 1.3 disposed on its outer side. A valve inlet 2 is located
in the region of one of the end surfaces 1.2 and the valve inlet
extends through a tapped or threaded support 1.4 which serves for
threaded securement of the valve in a valve receipt location.
[0022] A valve outlet 3 is disposed on the end surface 1.3 at an
offset from the housing longitudinal axis L. Moreover, a pilot valve
13 is secured on this end surface, the pilot valve being described
in more detail hereinafter.
[0023] A differential piston 5 is disposed in the interior space
of the valve housing, the differential piston being displaceable
in a direction perpendicular to the valve housing longitudinal axis
L. A pressure volume 8 is located on one side of the differential
piston, the pressure volume being communicated with the valve inlet
2 and being communicated via a valve seat 7 with the valve outlet
3 while a control volume 9 is located on the other side of the differential
piston 5.
[0024] The pressure volume 8 is sealed off relative to the control
volume 9 in the edge region of the differential piston 5 via a membrane
6 in which a valve flange 6.1 is integrated. The control volume
9 is communicated with the pressure volume 8 via a control channel
which is configured as a control bore 10 extending through the differential
piston 5 along a line eccentric or offset to the differential piston
center. A cleaning spring 10.1 is provided to ensure continuous
cleaning of this control bore 10.
[0025] The control volume 9 is, moreover, communicated with the
valve outlet 3 via a relief bore which is selectively collapsible
via a closure element. The relief bore is configured as a collapsible
pilot valve seat 13.6 in the pilot valve 13 located between the
valve chamber 13.7 of the pilot valve 13 and an outflow channel
14 communicated with the valve outlet 3. The valve chamber 13.7
is connected or communicated with the control volume 9 via a discharge
channel 12.
[0026] The pilot valve 13, which is configured as an electromagnetic
valve, comprises the conventional pilot valve components of a magnetic
coil 13.1, a magnetic yoke 13.2, a head piece 13.3 connected to
the magnetic yoke, and, as well, a moveable plunger 13.4. The plunger
13.4 has an end projecting out of the magnetic coil on which a pilot
valve flange 13.5 is mounted with the pilot valve flange being in
an arrangement in which it is in opposition to the pilot valve seat
13.6. The valve chamber 13.7 of the pilot valve 13 is located in
a coupling piece 13.8, the coupling piece 13.8 with the pilot valve
13 therein being deployable in a corresponding opening on the end
surface 1.3 of the base body 1. In the illustrated embodiment, a
pipe piece 16 is shown in an installed position in which it communicates
with the valve outlet 3. Electrical signals are conducted to the
pilot valve 13 via connection leads 15 communicated with a plug
15.1.
[0027] The pipe piece 16 is not shown in the respective views of
the one embodiment of the inventive valve shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 5 shows the one embodiment of the inventive valve in an exploded
view thereof. The differential piston 5, the membrane 6, and a hood
11 which closes off the control volume 9 are configured as an integrally
formed unitary component which can be inserted into the interior
space of the base body 1 through the opening to be covered by the
housing cover 4. Following installation of the unitary component
of the differential piston 5, the membrane 6, and the hood 11 within
the base body 1, the housing cover 4 is disposed onto the housing
and is secured thereonto via threaded securement bolts 4.1. The
portion of the discharge channel 12 defined by the border between
the cover 4 and the base body 1 is sealed by means of a seal 12.1.
The magnetic valve 13 is secured by means of threaded securement
elements 17 onto the base body 1.
[0028] The operation of the one embodiment of the inventive valve
shown in FIGS. 1-5 is as follows.
[0029] During the closed condition of the pilot valve 13, a pressurized
condition obtains in the control volume 9, which, due to the communication
of the control volume 9 with the valve inlet 2 via the control bore
10, maintains the membrane 6, with the therewith integrated valve
flange 6.1, seated on the valve seat 7. Upon the transmission of
an electrical signal to the magnetic coil 13.1 of the pilot valve,
the plunger 13.4 retracts and the closure element 13.5 lifts off
the pilot valve seat 13.6, which serves as the relief bore of the
inventive fluid control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained
actuating fluid. The pilot valve 13 is thus in an opened condition.
This condition, in which the control volume 9 is now communicated
with the valve outlet 3 via the discharge channel 12 and the outflow
channel 14, leads to a diminishment of the pressure in the control
volume 9. In connection therewith, the water pressure originating
from the valve inlet 2 against the respective side of the membrane
6 turned toward the pressure volume 8 lifts the valve flange 6.1
off the valve seat 7. In further connection therewith, the fluid
medium flows into the valve in the overall direction indicated by
the arrow E from the valve inlet 2 to the valve outlet 3 and, from
there, flows further in the direction of the arrow A via the pipe
piece 16 to a not-illustrated fixture outlet. If the pilot valve
13 is again closed, a corresponding counter pressure again builds
in the control volume 9 and the valve flange 6.1 is again seated
onto the valve seat 7.
[0030] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of the inventive
fluid control servo-solenoid valve with self-contained actuating
fluid of the present invention which differs from the one embodiment
of the inventive valve described with respect to FIGS. 1-5 only
in the respect that the valve housing is, on the side thereof at
which the valve inlet is located, not threadably secured in a valve
receipt location but, instead, is connected via a pipe connection
with an inlet or feed. Since the valve illustrated in FIG. 6 comprises
the same features as the valve of the one embodiment illustrated
in FIG. 1, the same corresponding components are denominated by
the same reference numerals as shown in FIG. 1 with each reference
numeral having, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the addition of a prime (') symbol.
Accordingly, these same corresponding components of the two embodiments
of the inventive valve are not further described herein.
[0031] The side of the valve inlet 2' of the embodiment of the
valve shown in FIG. 6 is not provided with a threaded securement
but comprises, instead, a pipe connection component to which a feed
or inlet pipe 18 can be threadably secured. The housing cover 4',
which covers an opening permitting access into the interior volume
of the housing, extends to the lower end surface 1.2' of the housing.
[0032] FIG. 7 is an illustration of the another embodiment of the
inventive valve shown in FIG. 6 and showing the connection thereof
to the feed pipe 18 and an outflow pipe 16'.
[0033] The operation of the inventive valve illustrated in FIGS.
6 and 7 is the same as the operation of the inventive valve described
with respect to FIGS. 1-5.
[0034] The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure
of German priority document 202 19 358.6 filed Dec. 13, 2002.
[0035] The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted
to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but
also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended
claims. |