Fluidic control element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9863543-B2
Application number	US-201615215639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2016
Priority date	Aug 10, 2015
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A fluidic control element comprising a housing in which a fluid space is formed makes provision that at least a first and a second flow channel open into said fluid space, at least one of the flow channels comprising a closable valve seat in the fluid space. A valve body which can be swiveled about an axle is able to be pivoted in the fluid space toward the valve seat. A drive system in the form of an electroactive polymer actuator is provided.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A fluidic control element comprising a housing in which a fluid space is formed, with at least a first and a second flow channel opening into said fluid space, at least one of the flow channels comprising a closable valve seat in the fluid space a valve body being able to be pivoted in the fluid space toward the valve seat about an axle in order to close the associated flow channel, and a drive system for pivoting the valve body being provided outside the fluid space, wherein the drive system is an electroactive polymer actuator, wherein the polymer actuator is firmly coupled to the valve body in both opposite swivel directions, a support part, which is substantially dimensionally stable, is mounted to the polymer actuator at a distance from an edge of the polymer actuator and is fastened to the valve body, wherein the support part is fastened to the valve body by means of at least one of a clamp connection, rivet connection or adhesive connection, and a clamping spring, surrounding the valve body at the periphery thereof, is detachably mounted to the valve body and also fastened to the support part.

2. The fluidic control element according to claim 1 , wherein the support part is situated in the center of the polymer actuator.

3. The fluidic control element according to claim 1 , wherein a drive chamber is provided in which the polymer actuator is positioned, the valve body extending from the fluid space into said drive chamber.

4. The fluidic control element according to claim 3 , wherein the fluid space is fluidically separated from the drive chamber.

5. The fluidic control element according to claim 4 , wherein the fluid space is fluidically separated from the drive chamber by a sealing ring through which the valve body extends in the area of the axle.

6. The fluidic control element according to claim 4 , wherein the valve body comprises a first arm which protrudes from the axle, is situated exclusively in the fluid space and can be pivoted toward the valve seat, as well as at least one second arm which protrudes from the axle, is situated exclusively outside the fluid space and has the polymer actuator coupled to it.

7. The fluidic control element according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second arms extend from the axle in the same direction.

8. The fluidic control element according to claim 3 , wherein the polymer actuator has its edge fastened to a wall of the drive chamber and projects between its fastening points into the interior of the drive chamber where it is coupled to the valve body.

9. The fluidic control element according to claim 8 , wherein the polymer actuator, when applying a voltage, protrudes further into the interior of the drive chamber from its fastening edge than without applying a voltage.

10. The fluidic control element according to claim 8 , wherein at least one second polymer actuator attached to the valve body is arranged in the drive chamber on the opposite side of the polymer actuator with respect to the valve body, and wherein the polymer actuators are applied with a voltage in opposite polarity.

11. The fluidic control element according to claim 1 , wherein a spring element is provided, preloading the valve body in a swivel direction.

12. The fluidic control element according to claim 11 , wherein the polymer actuator has its edge fastened to a wall of the drive chamber at more than one fastening points and projects between its fastening points into the interior of the drive chamber where it is coupled to the valve body and wherein the spring element is arranged between the wall of the drive chamber and the polymer actuator in the drive chamber in such a manner that it stretches the polymer actuator toward the interior of the drive chamber.

13. The fluidic control element according to claim 1 , wherein an adjustment device is provided by means of which at least an end position of the valve body can be adjusted.

14. The fluidic control element according to claim 13 , wherein the adjustment device is an adjustable wall of the drive chamber.

15. The fluidic control element according to claim 13 , wherein the polymer actuator is accommodated in a unit which can be shifted in the housing, said unit being coupled to the adjustment device on one side and being elastically biased on the opposite side.

16. The fluidic control element according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer actuator is a strip-type actuator comprising at least one layer.

Assignees

• Buerkert Werke Gmbh

Inventors

• Scheibe Ralf

Classifications

• Y10T137/86847

  Pivoted valve unit · CPC title

• F16K31/006

  having a free end · CPC title

• F16K11/044

  with movable valve members positioned between valve seats · CPC title

• F16K1/16

  with pivoted closure-members · CPC title

• F16K11/052 Primary

  with pivoted closure members, e.g. butterfly valves · CPC title