Modular valve system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9910446-B2
Application number	US-201514856851-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2014
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

A modular valve system ( 10 ) to be mounted to a support, in particular a support in an electric control cabinet, comprises at least two individual valve modules ( 12 ) which can be fluidly connected to each other and to which at least one control valve unit ( 16 ) can be coupled in each case. The modular valve system ( 10 ) includes a process fluid section ( 90 ) comprising process fluid lines ( 78 ) through which a process fluid can flow, a control fluid section ( 32 ) comprising control fluid lines in at least some of the valve modules ( 12 ) through which a control fluid can flow, and a membrane ( 80 ) which is shared by at least some of the valve modules ( 12 ) and designed for controlling the process fluid in the process fluid section ( 90 ) while forming membrane valves ( 50 ) and for sealing off the control fluid section.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A modular valve system to be mounted on a support, comprising at least two individual valve modules which can be fluidly connected to each other and to which at least one control valve unit can be coupled in each case, the modular valve system having
a process fluid section comprising process fluid lines through which a process fluid can flow;
a control fluid section comprising at least one fluid control chamber and fluid control lines through which a control fluid can flow, and
a common membrane shared by at least two valve modules and designed for controlling the process fluid in the process fluid section while forming membrane valves and for sealing off the control fluid section, and wherein the common membrane seals off the at least one fluid control chamber and fluid control lines,
wherein the valve modules each comprise a fluid line body, with at least the control fluid lines of the associated valve module being formed in or on said fluid line body, wherein each fluid line body comprises a supply channel from which all supply lines of a valve module originate, and wherein the supply channels are formed as grooves and sealed by the common membrane.

2. The modular valve system according to claim 1 , wherein the control fluid lines comprise control chambers and activation lines opening into these, via which the control fluid can flow into the respective control chamber, for activating the respectively associated membrane valve and for moving an associated membrane portion.

3. The modular valve system according to claim 2 , wherein a central supply channel is provided for the control fluid and is a part of the control fluid section, with supply lines of at least one valve module, originating from said central supply channel.

4. The modular valve system according to claim 2 , wherein the control chambers are closed by the common membrane.

5. The modular valve system according to claim 1 , wherein a central supply channel is provided for the control fluid and is a part of the control fluid section, with supply lines of at least one valve module originating from said central supply channel, wherein the central supply channel supplies the control fluid to control chambers of individual valve modules and wherein the central supply channel is sealed off by the common membrane.

6. The modular valve system according to claim 5 , wherein each control chamber has at least one discharge line associated with it, which is a part of the control fluid lines and originates from an interface of the associated control valve unit.

7. The modular valve system according to claim 6 , wherein the discharge lines extend to or open into one of a common collecting channel and a central sound absorber being provided on or in the collecting channel.

8. The modular valve system according to claim 5 , wherein coupling portions are formed at ends of each supply channel of the valve modules, wherein the coupling portions of one valve module can be coupled to the coupling portions of neighboring valve modules such that a continuous control fluid supply of all valve modules is obtained.

9. The modular valve system according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane is arranged between at least one process fluid line and at least one control fluid line.

10. The modular valve system according to claim 1 , wherein each valve module is a part of at least one membrane valve which comprises a valve seat for each control valve unit.

11. The modular valve system according to claim 1 , wherein the control fluid section is of modular design, each of the valve modules comprise a control fluid section part, and the control fluid section parts of the respective valve modules are able to be set in fluidic communication with one another.

12. The modular valve system according to claim 1 , wherein a central supply channel is provided for the control fluid and is a part of the control fluid section, with supply lines of at least one valve module, originating from said central supply channel, and wherein the supply channels of the valve modules each comprise coupling portions via which the supply channels of neighboring valve modules can be fluidly connected to form the central supply channel.

13. The modular valve system according to claim 1 , wherein each fluid line body comprises a contact area on an end face against which the common membrane rests, wherein trough-shaped portions on the end face facing the membrane are closed by the membrane to form fluid-carrying lines or chambers, the trough-shaped portions and/or chambers being limited and bordered by protruding webs having an end face that is contacted by the membrane.

14. A modular valve system to be mounted on a support, comprising at least two individual valve modules which can be fluidly connected to each other and to which at least one control valve unit can be coupled in each case, the modular valve system having
a process fluid section comprising process fluid lines through which a process fluid can flow;
a control fluid section comprising at least one fluid control chamber and fluid control lines through which a control fluid can flow, and
a common membrane shared by at least two valve modules and designed for controlling the process fluid in the process fluid section while forming membrane valves and for sealing off the control fluid section, and wherein the common membrane seals off the at least one fluid control chamber and fluid control lines,
wherein a connection element is provided which has process fluid ports for the process fluid and/or at least one control fluid port for the control fluid formed thereon and on which the membrane rests at least in part,
wherein a central supply channel is provided for the control fluid and is a part of the control fluid section, with supply lines of at least one valve module, originating from said central supply channel, and that the central supply channel is formed as a trough in the connection element and is closed by the common membrane.

15. The modular valve system according to claim 14 , wherein valve seats are formed on the connection element and are sealed by the membrane in their closed position.

16. The modular valve system according to claim 14 , wherein the connection element extends over all valve modules on the side of the common membrane which is opposite the valve modules.

17. The modular valve system according to claim 16 , wherein a central supply channel is provided for the control fluid and is a part of the control fluid section, with supply lines of at least one valve module, originating from said central supply channel, wherein junction lines are provided in the connection element, which connect the supply channels of the individual valve modules to one another while forming the central supply channel.

Assignees

• Buerkert Werke Gmbh

Inventors

• Hamm Thomas
• Tasch Michael
• Walther Jochen

Classifications

• F15B13/0825 Primary

  the modular elements being mounted on a common member, e.g. on a rail · CPC title

• F16K27/003

  Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements · CPC title

• G05D7/0113 Primary

  the sensing element acting as a valve · CPC title

• F16K7/12

  with flat, dished, or bowl-shaped diaphragm · CPC title

• F15B13/0871

  Channels for fluid · CPC title