Hydraulically controllable globe valve

• US 20030047153A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Knud Lembke, Michael Kubel, Rudolf Thom, Ulrich Letsche
• Inventors: Thom, Rudolf, Lembke, Knud, Letsche, Ulrich, Kubel, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,601,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/90.12
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/10 by fluid means, e.g. hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1221 one side of the piston being spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 137/906 Valves biased by fluid "springs"

Abstract

A hydraulically controllable globe valve having a stem piston to which pressure can be applied by a spring connected to a pressure source, with the stem piston being able to move from a first end position in the direction of a second end position. Pressure control means are provided which maintain a constant pressure of the hydraulic spring means on the stem piston while the latter moves from the first end position in the direction of the second end position by connecting the hydraulic spring means to a pressure source during a variable portion of the valve lift. The valve can be used, for example, as a gas exchange valve in a reciprocating engine.

Claims

1. A hydraulically controllable globe valve, comprising:

a stem piston capable of being moved from a first end position in a direction of a second end position;

a hydraulic spring arrangement connected to a pressure source and for applying a pressure to the stem piston; and

a pressure control arrangement for maintaining constant the pressure applied by the hydraulic spring arrangement on the stem piston while the stem piston moves from the first end position in the direction of the second end position by connecting the hydraulic spring arrangement to the pressure source during a variable portion of a valve lift operation.

2. The globe valve according to claim 1, wherein the globe valve corresponds to a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine.

3. The globe valve according to claim 1, further comprising:

a valve housing surrounding the stem piston; and

a pressure channel, wherein;

the stem piston includes a control groove,

the pressure control arrangement includes, in order to connect the hydraulic spring arrangement to the pressure source;

a first annular space provided in the valve housing and capable of being connected to the pressure source, and

a further annular space capable of being connected to the hydraulic spring arrangement via the pressure channel, and

the further annular space is connected to the first annular space via the control groove during the variable portion of the valve lift operation.

4. The globe valve according to claim 1, further comprising:

a valve housing surrounding the stem piston, wherein;

the stem piston includes a control groove and a pressure channel,

the pressure control arrangement includes, in order to connect the hydraulic spring arrangement to the pressure source, a first annular space provided in the valve housing and capable of being connected to the pressure source,

the control groove is capable of being connected to the hydraulic spring arrangement via the pressure channel, and

the control groove is connected to the first annular space during the variable portion of the valve lift operation.

5. The globe valve according to claim 3, further comprising:

a non-return valve for preventing the pressure from decreasing in the hydraulic spring arrangement via the pressure channel, the non-return valve being arranged in the pressure channel.

6. The globe valve according to claim 3, further comprising:

a hydraulic actuator for simultaneously triggering a movement of the stem piston from the first end position in the direction of the second end position, wherein the first annular space is capable of being connected to the pressure source via the hydraulic actuator.

7. The globe valve according to claim 3, further comprising:

a control line; and

a pressure sink, wherein the pressure control arrangement includes a shutoff element arranged according to one of the following arrangements;

in order to connect the hydraulic spring arrangement to the pressure source,

the shutoff element opens and closes the pressure channel, and

the shutoff element is connected hydraulically to the pressure source and the pressure sink at the first end via the control line and is held open during the variable portion of the valve lift operation.

8. The globe valve according to claim 7, further comprising:

a resetting spring associated with the shutoff element, wherein;

the resetting spring operates in a closing direction of the shutoff element, and

the shutoff element is connected to the hydraulic spring arrangement in order to open the pressure channel against a force of the resetting spring.

9. The globe valve according to claim 7, further comprising:

a hydraulic actuator for simultaneously triggering a movement of the stem piston from the first end position in the direction of the second end position, wherein the control line is capable of being connected to the pressure source and the pressure sink via the hydraulic actuator.

10. The globe valve according to claim 9, further comprising:

a throttle; and

an on-off valve, wherein the control line is connected to the pressure source via the throttle and to the pressure sink via the on-off valve.

11. The globe valve according to claim 1, wherein the pressure control arrangement variably defines a portion of the valve lift operation during which the pressure control arrangement maintains constant the pressure on the hydraulic spring arrangement as a function of a counter-pressure acting upon the globe valve.