Method and device for controlling at least one valve

• US 20040025941A1
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Binder, Juergen, Schubert, Michael, Wuerth, Gebhard, Gottwick, Ulrich, Jahnz, Timo, Schanzenbach, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 6,860,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/487.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 15/00 Construction arrangement, or operation of valves incorporated in power brake systems and not covered by groups B60T11/00 or B60T13/00 valve structures responsive to a speed condition B60T8/34; valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/326 Hydraulic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/36 including a pilot valve responding to an electromagnetic force
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 25/00 Details relating to contact between valve members and seats movement of valve members other than for opening and closing F16K29/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 29/00 Arrangements for movement of valve members other than for opening and closing the valve, e.g. for grinding-in, for preventing sticking
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/02 electric F16K31/004 takes precedence; magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/2053 the plurality of throttling means comprising only a first throttling means acting on a higher pressure and a second throttling means acting on a lower pressure, e.g. the atmosphere
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/043 Valve or valve seat cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/776 Control by pressures across flow line valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve

Abstract

A method and a device for controlling at least one valve, in response to a detected leak in the system including the valve. An activation signal is generated which opens the valve briefly for flushing purposes and closes it again, or moves the valve ball at great speed onto the valve seat.

Claims

1. A method of controlling at least one valve, the valve being actuated by an activation signal, which represents the current through the valve coil, it being determined whether a leak, which may be related to a malfunction of the valve, arises in the control system which includes the at least one valve, wherein, in response to a detected leak, an activation signal of selected length and/or intensity and/or rate of change is output to activate the valve, thereby briefly opening the at least one valve and closing it again, or moving the valve ball onto the valve seat.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one valve is a seat valve which is brought into a position between the completely closed position and the completely open position by the activation signal in normal operation.

3. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein, to briefly open the at least one valve, an activation signal is determined which supplies a current of a selected intensity to the valve for a selected time.

4. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the activation signal for briefly opening the at least one valve is generated when the pressure differential across the valve exceeds a predefined quanity.

5. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the length and/or intensity of the activation signal is a function of the frequency with which the brief activation is performed.

6. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the activation of the valve is stored for diagnostic and/or regulating purposes.

7. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein, in response to a pressure differential across the valve which is less than the predefined quantity, current is briefly fed to or cut off from the valve, so that the valve ball is moved into its seat at high speed.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 or 7, wherein the magnitude of the change in the current and/or in the intensity of the current is a function of the frequency with which the activation is performed.

9. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the length and/or intensity of the brief opening of the valve and/or of the rapid activation of the valve are selected in such a way that, to the greatest extend possible, the effects on the behavior of the control system are kept to a minimum.

10. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein, in response to a small pressure differential, the inlet valve and the discharge valve are briefly opened.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein this takes place in response to a detected leak in a discharge valve.

12. A device for controlling at least one valve, comprising a control unit, which includes at least one computer element, which produces an activation signal, for actuating the at least one valve, the computer element including means which detect a leak which may be related to a malfunction of the valve in the system that includes the valve, wherein the computer unit also includes means which, in response to a detected leak, operate the valve, using an activation signal of a selected length and/or intensity and/or rate of change, so that the valve opens briefly and closes again or the valve ball moves onto the valve seat.