Valve for regulating fluids

• US 6,729,600 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch Bmbh
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Stoecklein, Wolfgang, Mattes, Patrick, Schmieder, Dietmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US10/216,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20030034466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 251/57, 251/62-63, 251/186, 251/190-191, 251/324-325
• US Class Current: 251/63.5
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2200/703 hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 45/04 with a small initial part , e.g. initial part for partial load and initial and main part for full load
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 47/027 Electrically actuated valves draining the chamber to release the closing pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 63/0026 using piezoelectric or magnetostrictive actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 63/0036 with spherical or partly spherical shaped valve member ends
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/007 Piezoelectric stacks

Abstract

A valve for regulating fluids includes a piezo-electric actor unit (9) for operating a valve member assembly. The valve member assembly has at least one first piston (13) guided in a valve body (10) and a second piston (14). A hydraulic chamber, acting as a hydraulic converter, is disposed between the first and second pistons (13, 14). The second piston operates a valve-closing member (15) disposed on an end facing away from the hydraulic chamber (16). The valve closing member (15) cooperates with at least one valve seat (17) formed on the valve body (10) and in a closed position, separates a system pressure region (18) of the valve (1) from a high pressure region (5). The second piston (14) is surrounded by and supported by an approximately casing-type spacer (22) on the valve body (10).

Claims

1. Valve for regulating fluids, comprising:

a piezo-electric actor unit (9) for operating a valve member assembly, said valve member assembly having a first piston (13) guided in a valve body (10) and a second piston (14), wherein a hydraulic chamber (16) acting as a hydraulic converter is disposed between said first and second pistons (13, 14), wherein the second piston operates a valve closing member (15) on an end of said second piston (14) facing away from the hydraulic chamber (16), wherein said valve closing member (15) cooperates with at least one valve seat (17) formed on the valve body (10) and in a closed position, said valve closing member (15) separates a system pressure region (18) from a high pressure region (5), wherein the second piston(14) in a direction of the hydraulic chamber (16) is surrounded by and supported by means of casing-type spacer (22) on the valve body (10).

2. Valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer (22) is disposed in a valve chamber (18) with a system pressure (p_sys), wherein said valve chamber (18) borders said at least one valve seat (17), said at least one valve seat (17) being displaceable by means of the valve closing member (15).

3. Valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer (22) is arranged between an offset section (23) of the second piston (14) and a contact surface (24) of the valve body (10).

4. Valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer (22) with reference to its length is elastically formed, wherein said spacer (22) has a length with which the valve closing member (15) in a resting state is minimally lifted from one of said at least one valve seat (17) associated with said valve closing member (15) by the second piston (14), and wherein said spacer (22) is elastically shortened in an operating state by pressure from sides of the valve closing member (15) until the valve closing member (15) contacts the associated at least one valve seat (17).

5. Valve as defined in claim 4, wherein the valve closing member (15) is lifted in its resting state up to 7 μ

m from the associated at least one valve seat (17).

6. Valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer (22) has a length such that the valve closing member (15) in an assembled state is minimally lifted from an associated one of said at least one valve seat (17) by said second piston (14), wherein the spacer (22) is deformed by action of force from sides of the valve closing member (15) until the valve closing member (15) contacts the associated valve seat (17).

7. Valve as defined in claim 6, wherein the valve-closing member (15) in an assembled state is lifted up to 7 μ

m from the associated valve seat (17).

8. Valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve is a component of a fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine, in particular, a common rail injector (1).