Electronic monitoring unit

• US 20060032537A1
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rexroth Mecman GmbH
• Original Assignee: Rexroth Mecman GmbH
• Inventors: Kalble, Tomas
• Application Number:
  US11/200,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032537A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/557
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/003 Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0025 Electrical or magnetic means F16K37/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0091 by measuring fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic monitoring unit (1) for a valve unit (2), including a plurality of valves (4) arranged side by side on a valve carrier body (3), having at least one electrically operable valve drive (6), said valve unit (2) comprising at least one feeding channel (7) and one vent channel (8), and each valve (4) having at least one working channel (5) associated with it.

According to the invention it is provided that a plurality of monitoring channels (9) extend within said monitoring unit (1) each associated with one working channel (5) of a valve (4), said monitoring channels (9) each being connectable with the associated working channel (5) and each comprising a sensor unit (10) to detect the pressure within the working channel (5).

Claims

1. An electronic monitoring unit (1) for a valve unit (2), including a plurality of valves (4) arranged side by side on a valve carrier body (3), having at least one electrically operable valve drive (6), said valve unit (2) comprising at least one feeding channel (7) and one vent channel (8), and each valve (4) having at least one working channel (5) associated with it, wherein a plurality of monitoring channels (9) extend within said monitoring unit (1) each associated with one working channel (5) of a valve (4), said monitoring channels (9) each being connectable with the associated working channel (5) and each comprising a sensor unit (10) to detect the pressure within the working channel (5).

2. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring unit (1) has a carrier body (11) which is integrally formed with the monitoring channels (9).

3. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit (10) is configured as a pneumatic-electronic pressure transducer.

4. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 3, wherein said sensor unit (10) is a piezo-resistive pressure sensor.

5. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit (10) is connected to a processor unit (12) arranged within said monitoring unit (1).

6. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 5, wherein said processor unit (12) is connectable with a control unit.

7. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 6, wherein said processor unit (12) is connectable with said control unit by wireless means.

8. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 7, wherein said wireless connection is a radio link.

9. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein a blocking valve can be brought into signal communication with the monitoring unit (1) to close off the feeding channel (7) in response to an error message from the monitoring unit (1).

10. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring channels (9) extend side by side and spaced from each other.

11. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein said carrier body (11) is of metal.

12. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein said valve (4) is a five-way, two-position directional control valve or a five-way, three-position directional control valve or a two times three-way, two-position directional control valve.

13. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring channel (9) has a first connecting section (13) capable of being attached at the working channel (5).

14. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 13, wherein monitoring channel (9) comprises a second connecting section (14) opposite the first connecting section (13) and capable of being connected to a pneumatic load.

15. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 13, wherein said first connecting section (13) is of metal and said second connecting section (14) is of plastic or metal.

16. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein said carrier body (11) comprises a printed circuit board (15) on which said sensor units (10) are mounted.

17. The electronic monitoring unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein said processor unit (12) evaluates signals of the sensor unit (10) and provides the signals for further processing.