CN119604714A - Control valve, in particular an electrically controllable control valve - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control valve, in particular to an electrically controllable control valve, the control valve comprising: a receiving part, in which a valve closing element is arranged, the valve closing element closes the valve seat in the closed position and is lifted away from the valve seat in the working position; a driving device (14), which is used to control the stroke movement of the valve closing element, the driving device comprising a motor, the motor having a stator and a rotor that can be driven to rotate by the stator, the stator being arranged to be fixed to the receiving part, and the rotor being arranged in a separating cap-shaped part, the separating cap-shaped part being fixed to the receiving part; a spindle transmission device, which comprises a spindle nut and a spindle, the stroke movement of the valve closing element can be controlled by the spindle transmission device, a ball-spindle transmission device is arranged between the rotor and the spindle transmission device, and the ball-spindle transmission device has at least one lower end stop for achieving the closed position of the valve closing element and/or an upper end stop for achieving the fixed position of the rotor, so as to limit the stroke movement of the valve closing element.

Description

Control valve, in particular electrically controllable control valve

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a control valve, and more particularly, to a control valve capable of being electrically controlled.

Background

A motor operated valve is known from JP 2006-348962A. The valve includes a receptacle having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. A regulating chamber is arranged between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. Within the regulating chamber, the valve closing member is actuated to move up and down.

An electric actuator is provided to control the stroke movement of the valve closing element. The electric drive comprises a fixed stator and a rotor arranged in a separating cap, which rotor is driven to rotate by the stator. A spindle drive comprising a spindle and a spindle nut is arranged in the separating cap. The spindle holding the rotor is mounted in the separating cap such that the spindle rotates but is stable in the separating cap. The spindle nut guided in the fixed guide in the axial direction holds the spindle, so that the rotational movement of the rotor and the spindle is converted into an axial movement. In order to limit the travel movement of the valve closing element, a spring element is provided, which is fixed to the adjustment chamber and surrounds the guide on the outside. A stop element is provided along the coil of the elastic element, which stop element rotates relative to the elastic element. The stop element is firmly connected to the guide. Stops are provided at the upper and lower ends of the resilient element. When the stop is reached, it limits the up-and-down movement of the stop element relative to the entire travel path by stopping the rotational movement of the rotor.

A control valve is also known from CN101769389 a. The control valve also has an electric actuator having a fixed stator and a rotor rotatably driven by the stator and located within the separating cap. In this embodiment, the spindle is firmly connected to the rotor such that the rotor moves up and down with the spindle during the rotational movement. The stroke movement of the rotor and the spindle is limited by a similar elastic element having an upper stop and a lower stop as well as by a stop element guided in the stroke movement, as described in the related art cited above.

A disadvantage of this travel limitation is that during the up-and-down movement, increased friction may occur between the stop element and the coil of the elastic element. Further, the upper stopper and the lower stopper at the end of each coil cannot be precisely aligned due to temperature influence.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to produce a control valve that can be operated safely.

This object is achieved by a control valve, in particular an electrically controllable control valve, comprising a housing in which a valve closing member is arranged, which closes a valve seat in a closed position and is lifted off the valve seat in an operating position. The drive means for controlling the stroke movement of the valve closing member comprises an electrically controlled motor comprising a stator and a rotor which can be driven into rotation by the stator. The stator is fixed to the housing and the rotor is arranged within a separate cap which is attached to the housing and preferably closes the housing from the outside. A spindle drive is provided to control the stroke movement of the valve closure element, the spindle drive (SPINDLEDRIVE) comprising a spindle nut (spindle nut) and a spindle. Ball-spindle drives (ball-SPINDLEDRIVE) are provided. The ball-spindle drive acts between the spindle drive and the rotor. The advantage of this ball spindle drive is that at least one upper end stop and/or lower end stop can be formed on or by the ball spindle drive in order to control the travel movement of the valve closing element along the travel path and to limit the travel movement of the rotor and/or valve closing element in the event of a motor false actuation.

The ball spindle drive for such a control valve preferably comprises a ball track section with a pitch between the spindle nut and the rotor, and a ball which can be moved along the pitch and guided by a guide, wherein the guide extends at least over the entire length of the ball track section. The ball spindle drive is therefore of simple design. In one aspect, the ball may be guided up and down along the guide. On the other hand, the ball can roll along the ball track portion. This enables a simple ratio (force ratio) and/or a low friction ratio.

The guide of the ball-spindle drive may be provided on an inner circumferential portion of the rotor, and the track portion for the ball of the ball-spindle drive may be provided on an outer circumferential portion of the spindle nut. Alternatively, this arrangement may be reversed.

Furthermore, preferably, the longitudinal axis of the guide extends parallel to the rotational axis of the track portion for the ball. Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the longitudinal axis of the guide is arranged at right angles to the pitch portion of the track portion for the ball. Such an arrangement may provide improved force ratios compared to the arrangements described above.

According to an alternative embodiment, it may be provided that the guide is formed by a ball guide, preferably a ball guide with a U-shaped longitudinal groove, which ball guide is rotatably mounted on the spindle nut. Alternatively, it may be provided that the guide is rotatably mounted on the spindle nut and the inserted bushing, or rotatably mounted on the spindle nut and the separating cap. The ball guide rotatably mounted on the spindle nut has the advantage that the rotor can be of simple design and the assembly of the valve is simplified.

Further, the ball guide preferably has upper (upper bearing point) and lower bearing features that are mounted on the upper and lower guide portions of the spindle nut. These upper and lower support features may at least partially surround the upper and lower guide portions. In particular, the ball guide may be rotatably positioned on the spindle nut. Advantageously, the upper support feature may have an annular design, which is attached to the top of the upper guide portion of the spindle nut. In particular, the lower support feature may have a clip-shaped design (clip-SHAPED DESIGN) such that it may be fitted onto the lower guide portion of the spindle nut and/or mounted on another adjacent component. Preferably, the upper bearing position is designed to act as a radial bearing and the lower bearing position is designed to act as a radial bearing.

The ball guide, in particular the U-shaped longitudinal groove, advantageously extends along the entire length of the ball track. This allows the ball of the ball-spindle drive to move between the upper and lower stops of the ball track.

The rotor interacting with the ball guide advantageously has a web on the inner circumferential portion of the rotor, which web extends parallel to the axis of rotation and, depending on the direction of rotation of the rotor, rests against one or the other leg of the U-shaped longitudinal groove of the ball guide for driving the ball guide into rotation. The design of such a rotor is simplified. Furthermore, this may enable the rotor to be driven for rotation of less than 360 °, in particular in the range 320 ° to 359 °, before the rotational movement is transmitted to the spindle nut via the ball. This makes it possible to reduce the pitch length of the track portion for the ball.

In particular, the design of the ball guide and its rotatable mounting around the spindle nut allows the rotor to have a length that is shorter than the length of the ball guide. This may reduce costs, since the rotor is made of a magnetic material, in particular rare earth. In addition, a reduction in rotor weight can be achieved, which can also reduce drive torque or inertial forces as the rotor accelerates and/or decelerates.

In particular, it is conceivable that the guide of the ball-spindle drive is formed by two webs in parallel, between which a groove is arranged. The grooves may have a semicircular or rectangular cross section. Preferably, the distance between the webs is only slightly greater than the diameter of the ball or is designed to be a clearance fit with the diameter of the ball.

Further, it may be provided that the track portion for the ball has a notched portion corresponding to the diameter of the ball, and preferably has an arcuate circumferential portion of 120 ° to 180 ° in cross section. Alternatively, the slotted portion may also be rectangular in cross section. The arcuate peripheral portion only requires that the ball be securely guided in the ball track portion. Preferably, the slotted portion is helical.

The track portion for the ball may be made of plastic or metal. The advantage of a plastic design is that the ball-spindle drive can be designed to be weight-saving, in particular when the spindle nut has a track portion for the ball made of plastic.

In particular, end stoppers are provided at the upper and lower ends of the track portion for the ball. This makes it easy to restrict the rolling movement of the ball in the ball-use rail portion, thereby stopping the driving movement for the stroke movement of the valve closing element as well.

In the case of a track portion for the ball made of plastic, an end stop made of a harder material than plastic may advantageously be provided. The end stop may be pressed against the ball track portion, into the ball track portion, glued to the ball track portion, or the end stop and the ball track portion may be in the form of a composite member. The end stop may be made of metal.

In this embodiment, it is conceivable to create a space-saving arrangement in terms of height for controlling the stroke movement of the valve closing element.

The spindle nut of the spindle drive is preferably connected in a non-rotatable manner to the receptacle, in particular to an opening in the receptacle, into which the valve closing element can be inserted. The separating cap may be arranged to seal the opening of the receptacle. Alternatively, the separating cap may also be arranged on the receiving element such that it surrounds the opening.

In particular, it may be provided that the spindle nut is connected to the receptacle, in particular to the opening of the receptacle, in a rotationally fixed manner by means of a form-fit connection and/or a force-fit connection and/or a material-fit connection. This enables, on the one hand, the rotor to be driven in rotation relative to the spindle nut, and, on the other hand, the rotational movement of the rotor can be transmitted to a spindle which is arranged to move up and down within the spindle nut.

The spindle nut, which is preferably made of plastic, may have a metal insert which connects the spindle nut to the receiving member such that the spindle nut cannot rotate. The insert may be incorporated, for example, by an injection molding process during manufacture of the spindle nut. In this way, a metallic connection can be established between the insert and the receptacle and an axial fastening of the spindle nut is achieved, while retaining the weight-saving design of the plastic spindle nut.

The spindle nut of the spindle drive preferably has an internal thread, by means of which the spindle with an external thread engaging the internal thread can be controlled for the stroke movement.

The rotational movement of the spindle is advantageously controlled by a transfer element (transmission element) which is engaged with the rotor and is firmly connected to the spindle. This allows a simple connection to be established between the rotor and the spindle.

The receptacle may preferably be designed as a screw-in bushing (screen-in bushing), a press-fit bushing or a plug-in bushing. The insert bush may have an insert or a pressed-in valve seat provided therein. The front end portion of the insert bush provided with the valve seat may be inserted into the passage of the connecting device via the connecting opening of the connecting device. On the one hand, this makes it easy to manufacture the receiving part as a plug-in receiving part. On the other hand, the insert bush allows differently designed valve closing elements and/or valve seats and/or passages in the valve seats to be inserted into the same connecting device.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the spindle of the spindle drive comprises a valve closing element holder (valve closing element holder) into which the valve closing element can be inserted against the force of the storage element. This can prevent thermal deformation that may occur when the closing force increases and subsequently the valve seat is heated due to environmental conditions.

The valve closing element is preferably mounted in a rotationally decoupled manner (rotationally decoupled) in a holder for the valve closing element. This allows the valve closing element to rest in the valve seat with a predetermined closing force. This prevents damage in the event of an increase in the pressure of the valve closure element against the valve seat.

Furthermore, it may be provided that the receptacle, the valve closing member, the spindle drive, the ball spindle drive and the rotor, and preferably the separating cap, may be inserted as a mounting unit into the connecting device. This makes the installation and assembly of such a regulating valve with the electric actuator simple and quick. After inserting the mounting unit into the connection device, it may still be necessary to attach and fasten the separating cap, as well as to arrange and fasten the stator to the connection device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the control valve, the solution is provided that the rotor is controlled to rotate counter-clockwise for controlling the stroke movement of the valve closing member towards the working position when the valve closing member is arranged in the closed position and the ball of the spindle drive is arranged at the upper end stop of the ball recirculation path and the spindle drive is designed with a right-hand thread. On the one hand, the rotor moves upwards relative to the spindle nut, and on the other hand, the spindle also moves upwards within the spindle nut. Further, the ball and the spindle move in opposite directions.

Alternatively, when the valve closing member is arranged in the closed position and the ball of the spindle drive is arranged at the upper end stop of the ball track portion and the spindle drive is designed with a left-hand thread, the rotor may be controlled to rotate clockwise to initiate the stroke movement of the valve closing member towards the working position. In this embodiment, the rotor and spindle also move upward relative to the spindle nut. Further, the ball and the spindle move in opposite directions.

According to an alternative embodiment of the control valve, it can be provided that the valve closing element is arranged in the closed position and that the ball of the ball-spindle drive is in contact with the lower end stop of the ball track, and that in the case of a spindle drive designed with a right-hand thread the rotor is driven in a clockwise direction for controlling the stroke movement of the valve closing element towards the working position. The ball and the spindle move in the same direction. In this embodiment, a shortened rotor may be provided.

As an alternative to the above-described embodiment, it may be provided that, with the valve closing element arranged in the closed position and the ball of the ball-spindle drive resting against the lower end stop of the track portion for the ball, and with the spindle drive designed with a left-hand thread, the rotor is actuated in a counter-clockwise direction to control the stroke movement of the valve closing element towards the operating position of the valve closing element. A shortened rotor may also be provided in this embodiment.

The above embodiments show that, on the one hand, the ball of the ball spindle drive can be arranged at the upper end stop or at the lower end stop in the closed position of the valve closing element and that in both cases the stroke movement of the valve closing element can be controlled. An interchangeable arrangement of spindle drives with right-hand or left-hand threads may also be provided.

Drawings

The invention and other advantageous and further embodiments thereof will be described and explained in more detail below with reference to the examples shown in the drawings. The features from the description and the drawings may be used alone or in any combination according to the invention. The drawings show:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a control valve with a drive unit,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the control valve according to fig. 1, wherein the stator of the drive device is not shown,

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the control valve according to fig. 1, wherein the valve closing member is in a closed position,

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the control valve according to fig. 1, wherein the valve closing member is in an operating position,

Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the control valve according to fig. 1, wherein the valve closing member is in a fixed position,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the spindle nut of the control valve and the ball track portion of the ball-spindle drive,

Figure 7 is a cut-away perspective view of the rotor and the guide of the ball-spindle drive,

Figure 8 is a cut-away perspective view of the ball-spindle drive between the rotor and spindle nut,

Figure 9a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of figure 3,

Fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the alternative embodiment according to fig. 9, wherein the valve closing member is in a fixed position,

Figure 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the ball-spindle drive of the control valve,

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the spindle drive shown in figure 11,

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a spindle nut of the spindle drive according to figure 11,

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a ball guide according to the ball-spindle drive of figure 11,

Fig. 15 is a cut-away perspective view of a rotor for the ball-spindle drive according to fig. 11.

Detailed Description

The control valve 11 is shown in a perspective view in fig. 1. The control valve 11 is arranged on the connecting device 5. The control valve 11 comprises a drive means 14. The drive means 14 comprise an electrical connector 15, in particular a plug-in connector, which electrical connector 15 can be connected to a control system, which is not shown in detail. The drive 14 comprises an electric motor 17, also called a split-cap motor (SEPARATING CAP motor), and a mounting device 16, in particular a mounting flange. The drive means 14 is preferably detachably attached to the connection means 5 by means of a mounting flange 16, which drive means 14 is in particular a receptacle and a stator 18. The motor 17 comprises a stator 18 arranged in a fixed position in the housing of the drive device 14 and a rotor 19 (fig. 3) which is driven in a rotatable manner. A separating cap (SEPARATING CAP) 21 is provided between the stator 18 and the rotor 19. The separating cap 21 is arranged to be arranged in a medium-tight manner to the connecting means 5 or to be arranged in a medium-tight manner to a connecting opening of the connecting means 5.

Fig. 2 shows a connection device 5 to which a receiving piece 12 of a control valve 11 is detachably attached, and to which a separating cap 21 is attached to the receiving piece 12. The components of the control valve 11 are inserted into the connecting device 5 and are sealed off from the outside by a separating cap 21. Preferably, the separating cap 21 is brazed or welded to the upper part of the container 12, in particular to an annular collar (collar) of the container 12. The stator 18 and the receiving members of the driving means 14 receiving the stator 18 can then be mounted on the connecting means 5 to complete the control valve 11.

The control valve 11 as shown in fig. 1 can be used in a connection 5 of a refrigeration circuit, in which connection for example the refrigerants R134a, R1234y or the like are used. The control valve 11 may also be used for the refrigerant CO ₂. The connection means 5 may be, for example, an internal heat exchanger, a cooler or a connection block.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the control valve 11 as shown in fig. 1. The connecting means 5 may for example be made of aluminium. In particular, the connection device 5 may be an extruded profile, such that the connection device 5 may be manufactured by cutting the profile to final dimensions. The connection means 5 comprise a feed opening 6 and a discharge opening 7, the feed opening 6 and the discharge opening 7 being connected to each other by a channel 8. On the outside of the connection means 5 there is provided a connection opening 9, which connection opening 9 extends into the connection means 5 and ends in the channel 8. The channel 8 is thus accessible from the outside via the connection opening 9.

The control valve 11 comprises a receptacle 12, the receptacle 12 being designed, for example, as a screw-in socket 31. The screw-in socket part 31 may be designed to be inserted into the connection opening 9. A screw-in bushing (bush) 31 is sealed against the connection opening 9 by means of a sealing element 13. A valve closing member 43 may be provided in the screw-in bush 31 such that the valve closing member 43 can move up and down. In a simple design of the receptacle 12 or of the screw-in bush 31, the screw-in bush 31 is used only for fixing in the connecting device 5. The valve closing member 43 may close a valve seat 32 provided in the passage 8 or pressed into the passage 8. As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the pod 12 may have an end portion that includes an inlet opening 24 and an outlet opening 26, the inlet opening 24 and the outlet opening 26 being interconnected by a through passage 27. The through passage 27 extends within the valve seat 32. An adjusting chamber 29 is arranged between the valve seat 32 and the inlet opening 24.

The screw-in bushing 31 may preferably have a sealing element 23, which sealing element 23 extends around the outside of the front end portion between the inlet opening 24 and the outlet opening 26, so that the end portion of the receptacle 12 is isolated from the channel 8.

The valve seat 32 in the receiving element 12 can be formed in the insert bush 31 as a single piece or as a press-fit piece. Alternatively, the valve seat 32 may also be arranged in a height-adjustable manner in the screw-in bushing 31 by means of a screw.

The receiving member 12 receives the spindle drive 34. The spindle drive 34 is arranged opposite to the front end portion of the receiving element 12, which can be inserted into the connection opening 9. The spindle drive 34 includes a spindle nut 36 and a spindle 37. The internal and external threads 38, 39 cooperate between the spindle nut 36 and the spindle 37 to cause relative movement of the spindle 37 and the spindle nut 36. Spindle 37 is rotatable about longitudinal axis 35 of spindle nut 36.

Spindle nut 36 is preferably made of plastic. The spindle nut 36 has an insert 41. The insert 41 serves to axially fix the spindle 37 to the receptacle 12. The insert 41 is preferably made of metal. The insert 41 is non-rotatably connected to the portion 42, in particular to the housing 12 or to the annular portion of the insert bush 31. The insert 41 may be designed as an annular disk. The attachment to portion 42 may be by flanging, welding, pressing, friction coupling, adhesive, etc.

The spindle 37 has a valve closing member receptacle portion 44 at a lower end portion directed toward the valve seat 32. The valve closing member is flexibly and/or rotationally decoupled on the longitudinal axis of the spindle 37 by means of the valve closing member receptacle 44. A force storage element 45 is provided in the valve closing member receptacle portion 44, the force storage element 45 transferring the valve closing member 43 to the initial position. In this starting position, the circumferential shoulder 46 of the valve closure member 43 rests against the annular collar 47 of the valve closure member retainer 44.

The transmitting element 51 is fixed at the upper end portion of the main shaft 37 or is fixed opposite to the valve closing member 43. The transfer element 51 forms a connection between the spindle 37 and the rotor 19. Thus, the rotor 19 is non-rotatably connected to the spindle 37. At the same time, the rotor 19 is fixed in position relative to the spindle 37 by the transfer element 51. If the spindle 37 is moved upward relative to the spindle nut 36, the rotor 19 is also moved upward.

A support 40 is provided between the upper end of the spindle 37 and the external thread 39 of the spindle 37, by means of which the stroke movement of the spindle 37 relative to the spindle nut 36 is guided. The axial guidance of the spindle 37 in the spindle nut 36 via the bearing 40 prevents the rotor 19 from being subjected to a wobble movement during its rotational movement. This results in a very small gap between the outer circumferential portion of the rotor 19 and the separating cap 21, which in turn results in an improved power transmission from the stator 18 to the rotor 19.

A ball spindle gear 55 is arranged between the rotor 19 and the spindle gear 34, in particular between the rotor 19 and the spindle nut 36. The ball spindle drive 55 serves to limit the travel movement of the valve closure member 43 from the closed position 48 shown in fig. 3 to the operating position 57 shown in fig. 4 and the fixed position 58 (securing position) shown in fig. 5. The closed position 48 is defined by a lower end stop 66 on the spindle nut 36. The securing position 58 is defined by an upper end stop 67 on the spindle nut 36. The ball-spindle drive 55 includes a ball track portion 61, and the ball track portion 61 is provided on the outer circumferential portion of the spindle nut 36. The ball-spindle drive 55 comprises a ball 62 and a guide 63, which guide 63 is preferably arranged on the inner circumference of the rotor 19.

The separating cap 21 surrounds the rotor 19, the ball spindle drive 55, the spindle nut drive 34 and is fastened in a medium-tight manner to the end face of the insert bush 31 or the connecting device 5. One of the receiving members of the driving unit 14 has an opening. A separating cap 21 is provided in the aperture. The stator 18 and the rotor 19 are thus separated by a separating cap 21. The stator 18 and the rotor 19 are disposed at substantially the same height. The rotor 19 may comprise a plurality of segments positioned with their north and south poles alternating and in rows. By activating the stator 18, the rotor 19 can be rotated. The stroke of the valve closing element 43 can be controlled by a predetermined number of revolutions of the rotor 19.

In the closed position 48, the valve closure element 43 closes the valve seat 32, and according to the embodiment in fig. 3, the ball 62 is positioned in contact with the lower end stop 66.

In fig. 4, the valve closing member 43 is moved to the operating position 57. The operating position 57 is located between the closed position 48 shown in fig. 3 and the fixed position 58 in fig. 5. By controlling the motor 17 by a predetermined number of steps or revolutions, the valve closing member 43 is lifted from the closed position 48 relative to the valve seat 32 and releases the passage 27. With the activation of the opening stroke of the valve closing member 43, the valve closing member 43 may be in the operating position 57. Fig. 5 shows the valve closure member 43 in a fixed position 58. The valve closing member 43 is lifted to a position with respect to the valve seat 32. After the stroke movement of the valve closing member 43 is initiated by the motor 17, the ball 62 of the ball-spindle drive 61 is located at the upper end stop 67. Thus, the stroke movement of the valve closing member 43 is restricted in the opening direction. During normal operation, the fixed position 58 or the upper stop position is not employed. If the motor 18 controlled in a step-by-step manner is out of step, i.e. the position of the motor is lost, the opening movement of the valve closing element 43 is limited by this fixed position 58 and the control valve 11 remains in operation.

Such a control valve 11 as shown in fig. 3 to 5 can be designed as follows for the spindle drive 34 and the ball spindle drive 55. The valve closing element 43 is in the closed position 48 and thus the spindle 37 is in the lower position. In this lower position of the spindle 37, the rotor 19 is also in the lower position. Further, in this embodiment, the ball 62 is arranged in a lower position of the track portion 61 for ball.

If the spindle driver 34 is designed with a right-hand thread and the ball-use rail portion 61 is designed to rotate clockwise, the rotational direction of the rotor 19 is controlled to the left to open the valve closing member 43.

If the spindle drive 34 is designed with a left-hand thread and the ball-use rail portion 61 is rotated counterclockwise in the above-described embodiment, the rightward rotation direction of the rotor 19 is activated to move the valve-closing member 43 toward the open position.

In both embodiments, the ball 61 and the spindle 67 move in the same direction. This has the advantage that the rotor 19 can be formed with a reduced length, so that the overall height of the separating cap 21 can be reduced.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the spindle nut 36 with the upper end stop 67. The spindle nut 36 includes a ball rail portion 61, and the ball rail portion 61 is formed with, for example, a right-handed thread on an outer circumferential portion. The extended surface of the track portion 61 for the ball is adapted to the diameter of the ball 62. Preferably, the diameter of the ball 62 and thus the pitch of the ball track portion 61 is adapted to the travel distance that the valve closure member 43 must overcome from the closed position 48 to the operating position 57. The upper end stopper 67 may be formed of a cross-sectional surface that blocks the ball rail portion 61. Alternatively, a pin-shaped stop or the like may also be provided. Such pin-shaped stops can also be designed as inserts when the spindle nut 36 is designed as a plastic part. One end of the spindle 37 protrudes from the upper end of the spindle nut 36. The connection portion 41 is provided on the opposite side on the spindle nut 36. The connection portion 41 may be made of metal. The spindle nut 36 and the connecting portion 41 may be designed as a composite component. Which in turn is connected to the portion 42 of the receptacle 12 or the insert bush 31.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic cross-section of the rotor 19. The rotor 19 is shaped like a sleeve member. The transfer element 51 is attached to one end of the sleeve member of the rotor 19. The transfer element 51 may also be cast-in. Alternatively, the transfer element may also be attached to the rotor 19 by adhesive, press fit, threaded connection or other connection means. A guide 63 is formed on an inner circumferential portion of the rotor 19. The guide 63 comprises two webs 64 spaced apart parallel to each other with a groove 65 formed between the webs 64. The distance between the webs 64 or the width of the grooves 65 corresponds to the diameter of the balls 62 or is slightly larger than the diameter of the balls 62. The length of the guide 63 may be greater than the distance between the upper end stop 66 and the lower end stop 67. In the case where the screw direction of the spindle 37 and the ball track portion 61 is the same, the guide 63 may be smaller than the distance between the upper end stopper 66 and the lower end stopper 67. The guides 63 on the rotor 19 may be made of plastic or metal.

Fig. 8 shows a cut-away perspective view of the ball-spindle drive 55. The ball 62 shown in a semi-sectional view is held by the guide 63 of the rotor 18 on the one hand and guided into the ball track portion 61 by the guide 63 on the other hand. Clockwise rotation of the rotor relative to the spindle nut 36 is blocked by the upper stop 67. The ball 62 then contacts the upper stop 67. As does the lower stop 66.

In the ball-spindle drive 55 of the control valve 11 according to fig. 3 to 5, the ball 62 of the ball-spindle drive 55 is arranged at the lower end stop 66 when the valve closing member 44 is positioned in the closed position 48. The ball-spindle drive 55 may, for example, have a ball track portion 61 with a pitch of 2.5mm per turn and four turns. Thus, when the valve closing member 43 is transferred from the closing position 48 in fig. 3 to the fixed position 58 in fig. 5, the rotor 19 is moved by a stroke of 10 mm. For example, the threads may have a pitch of 0.5mm between spindle nut 36 and spindle 37. For the same number of revolutions of the spindle 37, which is limited by the ball track portion 61 on the spindle nut 36, the valve closing member 43 travels through a 2mm travel path when the spindle 37 rotates four turns relative to the spindle nut 36, in particular according to the embodiment example. This results in a total travel of the rotor 19 of 8mm from the closed position 48 to the locked position 58.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the control valve 11. This cross-sectional view corresponds to the view shown in fig. 3, except that the ball 62 of the ball-spindle drive 55 is positioned at the upper end stop 67 of the spindle nut 36 when the valve closing member 43 is arranged in the closed position 48. Alternative arrangements for actuating the stroke movement of the valve closing member 43 are also possible. In this embodiment, the rotational direction of the ball track portion 61 or the female screw 38 of the spindle 37 is changed, in particular, from clockwise rotation to counterclockwise rotation, as compared with the embodiment in fig. 3.

When the opening movement of the valve closing member 43 is activated, the ball 62 moves in the ball track portion 61 toward the lower end stopper 66 of the spindle nut 36. The valve closing member 43 may be in an operating position 57 corresponding to the position shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 10 shows the fixed position 58 of the control valve 11 with the ball 62 resting against the lower end stop 66 of the spindle nut 36.

In this embodiment of the control valve 11 shown in fig. 9 and 10, the following configurations of the spindle drive 34 and the ball-spindle drive 55 may be provided. Spindle drive 34 may have right-hand threads and ball-spindle drive 55 may have left-hand rotating ball track portion 61. Thus, the rotation direction of the rotor 19 for opening the valve closing member 43 is counterclockwise.

Alternatively, the spindle driver 34 may have a left-hand thread, and the ball-spindle driver 55 may include a ball track portion 61 that rotates clockwise, so that clockwise rotation of the rotor 19 is controlled to open the valve closing member 43.

In both alternative embodiments, the ball 62 moves from the upper end stop 67 in a direction toward the lower end stop 66.

To transfer the valve closing element 43 from the closing position 48 shown in fig. 9 to the fixed position 58 shown in fig. 10, the rotor 19 is preferably also actuated for four rotations. However, this results in a total travel of 12mm. Thus, the total travel of this embodiment is 4mm greater than the embodiment of fig. 3 and 4. This is due to the positioning of the ball 62 relative to the lower end stop 66 or the upper end stop 67 of the ball-spindle drive 55.

Fig. 11 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a ball-spindle drive 55. Fig. 12 shows an enlarged perspective view of the ball-spindle drive 55. This embodiment of the ball-spindle drive 55 differs from the previous embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 10 in the design of the rotor 19 and the guide 63. In this embodiment, a ball guide 71 is provided between the spindle nut 36 and the rotor 19. The ball guide 71 is designed separately from the rotor 19 or as a separate component with respect to the rotor 19. The ball guide 71 is rotatably attached to the spindle nut 36 about the same rotation axis 35. The ball guide 71 is preferably designed to be separated from the spindle nut 36. The ball guide 71 shown in fig. 14 is a separate member from the spindle nut 36 and the rotor 19. The ball guide 71 includes a U-shaped longitudinal groove 72. The width and depth of the longitudinal groove 72 are adapted to the size of the ball 62 or vice versa, such that the ball 62 can be moved up and down along the longitudinal groove 72 by interacting with the track portion 61 for the ball. Upper and lower support features 73, 74 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the ball guide 71. Upper and lower support features 73, 74 are connected to the upper and lower ends of the longitudinal groove 72, preferably in an integral manner to the upper and lower ends of the longitudinal groove 72. The upper support feature 73 is designed, for example, as a closed loop. The lower support feature 74 is designed, for example, as an open ring. The lower support feature 74 may be designed as an attachable clamp.

An upper guide portion 76 is provided on the spindle nut 36 and at an upper end portion of the spindle nut 36 for rotatably holding the ball guide 71. The lower guide portion 77 is disposed opposite the upper guide portion. The spindle nut 36 and the connecting portion 41 are preferably designed as one piece made of plastic. Fig. 13 shows one such embodiment. The upper end stopper 67 and the lower end stopper 66 of the track portion 61 for the ball are arranged between the upper guide portion 76 and the lower guide portion 77. The upper guide portion 76 may be designed as an annular portion having a smaller diameter than the outer circumferential portion of the spindle nut 36. The lower guide portion 77 may be designed as a U-shaped recess. In this way, after attaching the ball guide 71 to the spindle nut 36, the ball guide 71 can be firmly mounted with respect to the spindle nut 36. The ball guide 71 is axially fixed with respect to the spindle nut 36 by the lower guide portion 77. The ball guide 71 can be rotated 360 ° with respect to the spindle nut 36.

Fig. 15 shows a cut-away perspective view of the rotor 19. The rotor 19 differs from the embodiment in fig. 7 in that only one web 64 is provided on the inner circumferential portion of the rotor 19. In the embodiment of the rotor 19 shown in fig. 15, the web 64 is not designed as a guide for the ball 62, but as a driver. The web 64 rotates the ball guide 71 with respect to the spindle nut 36. The web 64 is in contact with the outer side of the longitudinal groove 72 of the ball guide 71.

The design of the web 64 acts as a drive on the rotor 19 such that when the rotor 19 is driven in one rotational direction, the web 64 is free to rotate through almost 360 ° and then the web 64 contacts the longitudinal groove 72 to rotate the ball guide 71. Since the transfer element 51 of the rotor 19 is non-rotatably connected with the spindle 37, the rotational movement of the spindle 37 can already be triggered by the rotation of the rotor 19 without driving the ball guide 71 and without the ball 62 moving along the ball track portion 61. This design makes it possible to control a larger stroke path in the embodiment shown in fig. 11 to 15, while the pitch and the number of turns of the track portion 61 for the ball are the same as those in the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 10 described above.

Claims (26)

1. A control valve, in particular a control valve which can be controlled electrically,

Said control valve having a receptacle (12),

-A valve closing member (43) is provided in the housing (12), the valve closing member (43) closing the valve seat (32) in a closed position (48), and the valve closing member (43) being lifted off the valve seat (32) in an operating position (57),

The control valve having a drive means (14), the drive means (14) being used for controlling the stroke movement of the valve closing member (43), the drive means (14) comprising a motor (17) having a stator (18) and a rotor (19), the rotor (19) being drivable in rotation by the stator (18), the stator (18) being arranged to be fixed to the receptacle (12) and the rotor (19) being arranged within a separate cap (21) fixed to the receptacle (12),

The control valve has a spindle drive (34), the spindle drive (34) comprising a spindle nut (36) and a spindle (37), the stroke movement of the valve closing member (43) being controllable by the spindle drive (34),

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

-A ball-spindle drive (55) acting between the rotor (19) and the spindle drive (34), and

-The ball-spindle drive (55) has at least one lower end stop (66) for realizing the closed position (48) of the valve closing member (43) and/or an upper end stop (67) for realizing the fixed position (58) of the rotor (19) for limiting the travel movement of the valve closing member (43).

2. A control valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the ball-spindle drive (55) comprises a ball track portion (61) with a pitch, that a ball (62) is guided along the ball track portion (61) between the spindle nut (36) and the rotor (19) so as to be movable through a guide (63), and that the guide (63) is arranged parallel to the rotational axis of the ball track portion (61), and that preferably the guide (63) extends tangentially at least along the entire length of the ball track portion (61).

3. The control valve according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide (63) is provided on an inner circumferential portion of the rotor (19) and the ball track (61) is provided on an outer circumferential portion of the spindle nut (36), or the guide (63) and the ball track (61) are provided in an interchangeable arrangement.

4. A control valve according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the longitudinal axis of the guide (63) is aligned with the rotational axis of the ball track portion (61), in particular the longitudinal axis of the guide (63) is parallel to the rotational axis or parallel to a pitch portion, in particular the longitudinal axis of the guide (63) is at right angles to a pitch portion.

5. Control valve according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the guide (63) is formed by two webs (64), preferably the guide (63) is formed by two webs (64) in parallel, a groove (65) being provided between the two webs (64), the width of the groove (65) corresponding to the diameter of the ball (62) or the width of the groove (65) being larger than the diameter of the ball (62).

6. Control valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide (63) is formed by a guide (71) for a ball, preferably the guide (71) for a ball has a U-shaped longitudinal groove (72), the U-shaped longitudinal groove (72) being rotatably mounted on the spindle nut (36) or on the spindle nut (36) and the screw-in bushing (31) or on the spindle nut (6) and the separating cap (21).

7. A control valve according to claim 6, characterized in that the ball guide (71) has an upper bearing feature (73) and a lower bearing feature (74), which upper bearing feature (73) and lower bearing feature (74) are rotatably mounted on an upper guide part (76) and a lower guide part (77) of the spindle nut (36), preferably the upper bearing feature (73) and the lower bearing feature (74) are mounted on an upper guide part (76) and a lower guide part (77) of the spindle nut (36) in such a way that they at least partly surround the spindle nut (36).

8. A control valve according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the ball guide (71) extends along the entire pitch of the ball track portion (61).

9. Control valve according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the rotor (19) has a web (64) on its inner circumferential portion, in particular in that the rotor (19) has a web (64) on its inner circumferential portion extending parallel to the rotation axis (35), which web (64) bears against one or the other leg of the U-shaped longitudinal groove (72) of the ball guide (71) for driving the ball guide (71) into rotation, depending on the direction of rotation of the rotor (19).

10. The control valve according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the rotor (19) has a length shorter than the length of the ball guide (71).

11. The control valve according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the track portion (61) for the ball has a grooved portion corresponding to the diameter of the ball (62), and preferably the grooved portion comprises a circumferential portion between 120 ° and 180 ° as seen in cross section, and preferably the grooved portion has a helical path.

12. A control valve according to any one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the ball track portion (61) is made of plastic or metal.

13. The control valve according to one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the upper end stop (67) and the lower end stop (66) are provided at an upper end and a lower end of the ball track portion (61).

14. A control valve according to claim 13, characterized in that the ball track portion (61) made of plastic comprises end stops (66, 67) made of metal.

15. Control valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spindle nut (36) is non-rotatably connected to the receptacle (12), in particular the spindle nut (36) is non-rotatably connected to an opening (22) of the receptacle (12), into which opening (22) the valve closing member (43) can be inserted.

16. The control valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spindle nut (36) is non-rotatably connected to the receptacle (12) by at least one of a form-fit connection or a non-form-fit connection or a material-locking connection.

17. Control valve according to one of claims 2 to 16, characterized in that the spindle nut (36) and the ball-shaped track part (61) are made of plastic and that the spindle nut (36) comprises a metal insert (41), which metal insert (41) is connected to the receptacle (12) in a rotationally fixed manner, in particular in that the metal insert (41) is connected to the opening (22) of the receptacle (12) in a rotationally fixed manner.

18. Control valve according to one of claims 2 to 17, characterized in that the spindle nut (36) comprises an internal thread (38), by means of which internal thread (38) the spindle (37) with an external thread (39) engaging the internal thread (38) can be controlled for controlling the stroke movement of the valve closing member (43), the rotation of the spindle (37) being controllable by a transmission element (51) engaging on the rotor (19) and firmly connected with the spindle (37).

19. Control valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a valve seat (32) which can be inserted or pressed in is provided in the receiving element (12).

20. Control valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spindle (37) comprises a valve-closing-member receptacle (44), the valve-closing member (43) being insertable into the valve-closing-member receptacle (44) against the force of a storage element (45), and the valve-closing member (43) being mounted in the valve-closing-member receptacle (44) in a rotationally decoupled manner.

21. Control valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) comprises an inlet opening (24) and an outlet opening (26), the inlet opening (24) and the outlet opening (26) being connected to each other by a through channel (27), and in that the housing (12) comprises a regulating chamber (29) between the inlet opening (24) and the outlet opening (26), in which regulating chamber the valve closing member (43) is arranged.

22. Control valve according to one of claims 2 to 21, characterized in that the receptacle (12) is designed as a plug-in bushing (31) and the valve closing member (43), the spindle drive (34), the ball-spindle drive (55), the rotor (18) and the separating cap (21) which preferably seals the opening (22) of the receptacle (12) are designed as a mounting unit and can be plugged into a connecting device (5).

23. Control valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, with the valve closing member (43) arranged in the closed position (48) and the spindle drive (34) having a right-hand thread and the ball track portion (61) of the spindle nut (36) having a left-hand thread, wherein the ball (62) of the ball-spindle drive (55) rests against an upper end stop (67), the rotor (19) can be controlled to rotate counter-clockwise for actuating the stroke movement of the valve closing member (43) towards the working position (57).

24. Control valve according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that with the valve closing member (43) arranged in the closed position (48) and the spindle drive (34) having a left-hand thread and the ball-for-track portion (61) of the spindle nut (36) having a right-hand thread, wherein the ball (62) of the ball-spindle drive (55) rests against an upper end stop (67), the rotor (19) can be driven clockwise to control the stroke movement of the valve closing member (43) towards the working position (57).

25. Control valve according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that, with the valve closing member (43) arranged in the closed position (57) and the spindle drive (34) having a right-hand thread and the ball track portion (61) of the spindle nut (36) having a right-hand thread, wherein the ball (62) of the ball-spindle drive (55) rests in a lower end stop (66), the rotor (19) is actuated counter-clockwise for controlling the stroke movement of the valve closing member (43).

26. Control valve according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that with the valve closing member (43) arranged in the closed position (57) and the spindle drive (34) having a left-hand thread and the ball track portion (61) of the spindle nut (36) having a left-hand thread, wherein the ball (62) of the ball-spindle drive (55) rests in a lower end stop (66), the rotor (19) is actuated clockwise to control the stroke movement of the valve closing member (43).