Non-return valve system with electronic control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11280359-B2
Application number	US-202016749614-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 22, 2020
Priority date	Feb 22, 2019
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

A valve unit includes a first piston, which has a first opening and a control chamber. A fluid connection between a first and a second port is closed or, in a position defined by the first piston, is held open in the event that a hose which is connected to the first port bursts. A pilot valve (48) is present, which has a core and a coil, and a fluid flow from the control chamber to the first port can be regulated by an electric current in the coil. The current is regulated by a logic unit which is suitable for receiving signals from at least one sensor, in particular a pressure sensor, an inertia detector and/or position sensor and for regulating the electric current in the coil.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valve system, comprising:
a valve unit comprising:
a movable first piston;
a housing having a first valve seat that is closable by the movable first piston so as to form a first valve, the housing defining a first port and a second port, the first port being connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the second port by the first valve, and a pressure at the first port presses the first piston away from the first valve seat, the first piston defining a first opening and being configured to constantly regulate the first opening by a movement of the first piston, the first piston delimiting a control chamber, a pressure in the control chamber pressing the first piston against the first valve seat, and the second port being connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the control chamber by the first opening; and
a second valve, which includes a core at least partially surrounded by a coil, the second valve configured to regulate a fluid flow from the control chamber to the first port with an electric current in the coil; and

a logic unit configured to:
receive signals from at least one sensor;
regulate the electric current in the coil;
receive signals from a device for inputting commands; and
during passage of fluid from the second port to the first port, alternatively function (i) in a purely monitoring mode, in which the logic unit is configured to determine a fixed opening of a passage between the second port and the first port, and (ii) in an active control mode, in which the logic unit regulates an opening of the passage as a reaction to the signals received from the device for inputting commands.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of pressure sensors integrated in the valve unit and configured to measure the pressure at the first port and the pressure at the second port.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor further includes a position sensor configured to sense a position of a member in the valve unit.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes one of an inertia detector and a position sensor, which are associated with an actuator or cylinder or a machine which comprises the actuator or cylinder.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first piston defines a third opening, which can be constantly regulated by the movement of the first piston,
the third opening is situated between the first port and the first valve in relation to a fluid flow path between the first port and the first valve, and
an open region of the third opening increases when the first piston is moved in a direction away from the first valve seat.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein:
the first piston has a tubular end portion, which defines at least one radial bore that delimits the third opening, and
a circumferential surface of the first piston includes at least one lug that delimits the first opening.

7. The system according to claim 6 , in which the at least one radial bore and at least one lug are situated on opposite sides of the first valve seat.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a pressure sensor, an inertia detector and a position sensor.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the fixed opening is a maximal opening.

10. A valve system, comprising:
a valve unit comprising:
a movable first piston;
a housing having a first valve seat that is closable by the movable first piston so as to form a first valve, the housing defining a first port and a second port, the first port being connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the second port by the first valve, and a pressure at the first port presses the first piston away from the first valve seat, the first piston defining a first opening and being configured to constantly regulate the first opening by a movement of the first piston, the first piston delimiting a control chamber, a pressure in the control chamber pressing the first piston against the first valve seat, and the second port being connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the control chamber by the first opening; and
a second valve comprising:
a core at least partially surrounded by a coil, the second valve configured to regulate a fluid flow from the control chamber to the first port with an electric current in the coil;
a second valve seat, which is closable by a second movable piston that is coupled to the core, the second piston being pressed against the second valve seat by a spring, wherein movement of the second piston is constantly regulated by the electric current in the coil; and
a third valve seat, which is closable by a third movable piston; and

a logic unit configured to receive signals from at least one sensor and to regulate the electric current in the coil,
wherein a first flow path of fluid is defined from the control chamber through a second opening, further through the second valve seat to the first port,
wherein a second flow path of the fluid is defined from the control chamber through the third valve seat to the first port, the second flow path of the fluid bypassing the second valve seat, so that the third valve seat is not part of the first flow path,
wherein a pressure between the second opening and the second valve seat presses the third piston against the third valve seat,
wherein the second valve seat is situated at the third piston, and
wherein the second and third valve seats are situated on opposite sides of the third piston.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the logic unit is further configured to receive signals from a device for inputting commands.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the logic unit is further configured, during passage of fluid from the second port to the first port, to alternatively function (i) in a purely monitoring mode, in which the logic unit is configured to determine a fixed opening of a passage between the second port and the first port, and (ii) in an active control mode, in which the logic unit regulates an opening of the passage as a reaction to the signals received from the device for inputting commands.

13. The system according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a fourth valve seat, which is closable by a movable closure body, the fourth valve seat arranged in the first flow path of the fluid and in the second flow path of the fluid, wherein the movable closure body and the third piston have opposite opening directions in relation to the fluid flow.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the fourth valve seat is arranged, in relation to the fluid flow, between the third valve seat and the first port.

15. The system according to claim 10 , wherein:
the housing has a first outer surface, a second outer surface, and a third outer surface, each of which is flat and mutually orthogonal in pairs,
the first port is situated on the first outer surface, the second port is situated on the second outer surface,
the first piston is movable perpendicularly to the first outer surface, and
the second and the third pistons are movable perpendicularly to the third outer surface.

16. A valve system, comprising:
a valve unit comprising:
a movable first piston; and
a housing having a first valve seat that is closable by the movable first piston so as to form a first valve, the housing defining a first port and a second port, the first port being connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the second port by the first valve, and a pressure at the first port presses

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Bello Felice
• Dotti Francesco
• Brucker Marcel
• Ferraresi Paolo

Classifications

• F15B13/023

  Excess flow valves, e.g. for locking cylinders in case of hose burst · CPC title

• F15B13/02

  Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors · CPC title

• F15B20/005 Primary

  Leakage; Spillage; Hose burst · CPC title

• F16K31/046

  with electric means, e.g. electric switches, to control the motor or to control a clutch between the valve and the motor (F16K31/041 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F15B2211/6309

  the pressure being a pressure source supply pressure · CPC title