ACTIVELY CONTROLLED VALVE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ACTIVELY CONTROLLED VALVE

• US 20100247359A1
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Burckhardt Compression Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Burckhardt Compression Holding AG
• Inventors: Lehmann, Markus, Voster, Alexandre, Friedl, Markus, Schlegel, Adreas, Hauri, Philipp
• Granted Patent: US 8,740,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/510
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/08 Actuation of distribution members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/085 the axis of supply passage and the axis of discharge passage being coaxial and parallel to the axis of rotation of the plates
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/003 operated without a stable intermediate position, e.g. with snap action F16K31/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/043 characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0682 with an articulated or pivot armature
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2007/1692 Electromagnets or actuators with two coils
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/121 Guiding or setting position of armatures, e.g. retaining armatures in their end position
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/145 Rotary electromagnets with variable gap with fixed gap or torque motors H02K26/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86743 Rotary

Abstract

The invention relates to an actively controlled valve (1) having a housing (6) and comprising a displaceably supported valve plate (4) having aperture openings (4a) and a counter plate (2) disposed in a fixed manner relative to the housing (6) and having aperture openings (2a), wherein the valve plate (4) is slidably supported relative to the counter plate (2), such that the penetration openings (2a, 4a) form an open or closed aperture (24), and comprising a drive device (8) driving the valve plate (4), wherein the valve plate (4) is connected to the drive device (8) by means of a drive spring (7), and an actuatable clamping device (10) is provided for fixing the location of the valve plate (4).

Claims

1. An actively controlled valve compromising a housing,

including a movably supported valve plate having passage openings and a counter-plate fixedly arranged with respect to the housing and having passage openings, wherein the valve plate is displaceably supported with respect to the counter-plate such that the passage openings form an open or closed passage,

and including a drive apparatus which drives the valve plate, wherein the valve plate is connected to the drive apparatus via a drive spring;

and a controllable holding apparatus is arranged to operate such that the position of the valve plate can be fixed.

2. A valve in accordance with claim 1, wherein the valve plate is rotatably supported about a longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the counter-plate.

3. A valve in accordance with claim 1, wherein the valve plate is displaceably supported in the direction of extent of the counter-plate.

4. A valve in accordance with claim 2, wherein the drive spring is designed as a torsion spring extending concentrically to the longitudinal axis.

5. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the valve plate is connected to the housing via an additional holding spring.

6. A valve in accordance with claim 5, wherein the holding spring extends concentrically to the longitudinal axis and is in particular designed as a hollow-bar torsion spring.

7. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the drive apparatus includes an armature which comprises an operative connection to the drive spring;

and in that the drive apparatus includes magnets which are arranged with respect to the armature such that they attract the armature.

8. A valve in accordance with claim 7, wherein the armature is fixedly connected to the drive spring and is rotatably supported about the longitudinal axis.

9. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the drive apparatus is designed as an electric motor which is fixedly connected to the housing.

10. A valve in accordance with claim 11, wherein the electric motor comprises a rotor which is arranged extending concentrically to the longitudinal axis and is fixedly connected to the drive spring.

11. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the holding apparatus comprises a piezoelectric drive.

12. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein a retaining part is connected to the valve plate or to the drive spring;

and in that the holding apparatus engages at the holding part.

13. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the holding apparatus is arranged in a floating manner in the housing.

14. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the drive apparatus is a controllable holding apparatus.

15. A valve in accordance with claim 1 wherein the valve plate includes a sealing plate having passage openings;

and the sealing plate is connected to the valve plate via spring elements.

16. A valve in accordance with claim 5 wherein the torque which can be generated as a maximum by the drive apparatus is smaller than the torque applied as a maximum to the holding spring.

17. A valve in accordance with claim 1 including a control apparatus as well as a position sensor for the measurement of the position of the valve plate;

as well as including a control program for the control apparatus which controls the drive apparatus such that the energy provided by the drive apparatus is accumulated in the holding spring.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein a holding spring has an operative connection between the counter-plate and the valve plate;

and in that the valve plate is moved step-wise and is held again such that a spring energy is accumulated in the holding spring which exceeds the energy provided by the drive apparatus.

18. A method for the operation of an actively controlled valve, the valve comprising a movably supported valve plate, a fixedly arranged counter-plate, a drive apparatus connected to the valve plate via a drive spring, and a controllable holding apparatus, the method comprising fixedly holding the valve plate in its position by the holding apparatus;

releasing the valve plate by the holding apparatus so that the valve plate is moved by the energy stored in the drive spring;

tensioning the drive spring is tensioned by the drive apparatus; and

holding the valve plate by the holding apparatus again when stationary or approximately stationary.

20. A piston compressor, a comprising a valve, the valve comprising a housing,

including a movably supported valve plate having passage openings and a counter-plate fixedly arranged with respect to the housing and having passage openings, wherein the valve plate is displaceably supported with respect to the counter-plate such that the passage openings form an open or closed passage,

and including a drive apparatus which drives the valve plate, wherein the valve plate is connected to the drive apparatus via a drive spring;

and a controllable holding apparatus is arranged to operate such that the position of the valve plate can be fixed.