阅读说明：本技术 止回阀装置和机动车辆真空泵 (Check valve device and motor vehicle vacuum pump ) 是由 斯特芬·施努尔 纳比尔·萨利姆·阿尔哈桑 斯坦尼斯劳斯·鲁斯 托比亚斯·格吕内 彼得拉·哈根 于 2018-11-22 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种止回阀装置(10),该止回阀装置包括：-阀壳体(12),该阀壳体径向地限定阀本体室(24)；-阀座部(14),该阀座部位于阀本体室(24)的第一轴向端部(28)处并且径向地围绕阀入口开口(26)；-阀行程限制器(16),该阀行程限制器位于阀本体室(24)的远离阀座部的第二轴向端部(36)；以及-盘形形状的阀本体(18),该阀本体松弛地布置在阀本体室(24)内,-其中,阀行程限制器(16)设置有：固定至阀壳体(12)的支撑环(30)、从支撑环(30)的面向阀座部的侧部轴向地突出的中央横向平台结构(32),以及将横向平台结构(32)与支撑环(30)轴向地连接的平台框架(34),其中,平台框架(34)设置有至少一个径向框架开口(52)。由于松弛地布置的阀本体(18),所以只需较低的致动力即可打开止回阀装置(10)。具有轴向突出的平台结构(32)的阀行程限制器(16)避免阀本体(18)的倾斜或堵塞,并且还允许沿正向的流动方向(F)的相对较高的流体通过量。本发明还涉及一种设置有这种止回阀装置的机动车辆真空泵。(The invention relates to a check valve device (10) comprising: -a valve housing (12) radially defining a valve body chamber (24); -a valve seat portion (14) located at a first axial end (28) of the valve body chamber (24) and radially surrounding the valve inlet opening (26); -a valve travel limiter (16) located at a second axial end (36) of the valve body chamber (24) remote from the valve seat; and-a disc-shaped valve body (18) loosely arranged within the valve body chamber (24), -wherein the valve stroke limiter (16) is provided with: a support ring (30) fixed to the valve housing (12), a central transverse platform structure (32) axially protruding from a side of the support ring (30) facing the valve seat portion, and a platform frame (34) axially connecting the transverse platform structure (32) with the support ring (30), wherein the platform frame (34) is provided with at least one radial frame opening (52). Due to the loosely arranged valve body (18), only a low actuation force is required to open the check valve device (10). A valve travel limiter (16) having an axially projecting platform structure (32) avoids tilting or jamming of the valve body (18) and also allows for relatively high fluid throughput in the forward flow direction (F). The invention also relates to a motor vehicle vacuum pump provided with such a check valve arrangement.)

1. A check valve device (10) comprising:

a valve housing (12) radially defining a valve body chamber (24),

a valve seat portion (14), the valve seat portion (14) being located at a first axial end (28) of the valve body chamber (24) and radially surrounding a valve inlet opening (26),

-a valve stroke limiter (16), the valve stroke limiter (16) being located at a second axial end (36) of the valve body chamber (24) remote from the valve seat portion, and

-a disc-shaped valve body (18), the valve body (18) being loosely arranged within the valve body chamber (24),

-wherein the valve stroke limiter (16) is provided with:

a support ring (30), the support ring (30) being fixed to the valve housing (12),

-a central transverse platform structure (32), the central transverse platform structure (32) axially protruding from the side of the support ring (30) facing the valve seat, and

-a platform frame (34), the platform frame (34) axially connecting the central transverse platform structure (32) with the support ring (30), wherein the platform frame (34) is provided with at least one radial frame opening (52).

2. The check valve device (10) of claim 1, wherein the platform frame (34) includes a plurality of axially extending platform posts (48) circumferentially defining a plurality of radial frame openings (52).

3. The check valve device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the platform structure (32) is shaped in a substantially star shape with a plurality of platform arms (46) extending radially outwardly from a central hub element (44).

4. A non-return valve device according to claims 2 and 3, wherein each radial platform arm (46) is fixed to the support ring (30) by a corresponding axial platform column (48).

5. The check valve device (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a circumferential width (W) of the platform arm (46) increases from the central hub element (44) towards a radial outside.

6. Non-return valve device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support ring (30) is provided with a plurality of axial support ring openings (40) arranged along the circumference of the support ring (30).

7. A motor vehicle vacuum pump having a check valve arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the check valve arrangement is provided at a suction port of the vacuum pump.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a check valve device, and particularly to a check valve device provided with a disk-shaped valve body. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle vacuum pump provided with such a check valve arrangement.

Background

WO 2017/036548 a1 discloses a motor vehicle vacuum pump provided with a check valve arrangement arranged in a suction port of the vacuum pump. The disclosed check valve device is provided with a valve housing radially defining a valve body chamber. The check valve arrangement includes an annular shaped valve seat portion located at the first axial end of the valve body chamber and radially surrounding the valve inlet opening. The check valve arrangement further includes an annularly shaped valve travel limiter located at a second axial end of the valve body chamber distal from the valve seat portion. The check valve device also includes a disc-shaped valve body disposed within the valve body chamber. The valve body is axially preloaded toward the valve seat portion to a closed position by a preload spring. If the check valve arrangement is loaded in a positive flow direction, fluid pressure within the check valve arrangement urges the valve body against the preload spring toward the valve travel limiter to an open valve position. However, a relatively large opening force is required to move the valve body to the open position against the preload spring. This reduces the pump performance of the vacuum pump.

EP 1927786B 1 and DE 102012200492 a1 both disclose check valve arrangements provided with loosely arranged valve bodies. If the check valve arrangement is loaded in a forward flow direction, fluid pressure within the check valve arrangement pushes the valve body toward the valve travel limiter to an open valve position, and if the check valve arrangement is loaded in a reverse direction, fluid pressure within the check valve arrangement pushes the valve body toward the seat to a closed valve position. However, a loosely disposed valve body may tilt within the valve body chamber and as a result may tilt or jam within the valve travel limiter. This avoids a reliable closing of the non-return valve arrangement if the flow direction is reversed. The check valve devices disclosed in EP 1927786B 1 and DE 102012200492 a1 also provide only a relatively low effective flow cross section, so that the check valve device only allows a relatively low fluid throughput in the open position.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a check valve device which requires only a relatively low opening force, which provides a relatively high fluid throughput in the forward flow direction and which reliably stops the fluid flow in the reverse flow direction.

This object is achieved by a check valve arrangement having the features of claim 1.

The check valve device according to the invention is provided with a valve housing radially defining a valve body chamber. Preferably, the valve housing is arranged to define a generally cylindrical valve body chamber.

The check valve device according to the present invention is further provided with a valve seat portion located at the first axial end portion of the valve chamber and radially surrounding the valve inlet opening. The valve seat part may be provided integrally with the valve housing, but may alternatively be provided as a separate element fixed at the valve housing. The valve seat portion is preferably disposed at or near an axial end of the valve housing.

The check valve arrangement according to the invention is further provided with a valve stroke limiter which is located at a second axial end of the valve body chamber remote from the valve seat portion, axially spaced from the valve seat portion. The valve travel limiter is located downstream of the valve seat portion in view of the desired forward flow direction of the check valve arrangement. The valve travel limiter may be provided integrally with the valve housing, but may alternatively be provided as a separate element which is fixed at the valve housing, for example by press fitting.

The check valve device according to the invention is further provided with a disc-shaped valve body which is loosely arranged within the valve body chamber, i.e. the valve body can move in an unrestricted manner within the valve body chamber. In particular, the valve body is not preloaded in any way by any kind of spring element or the like.

Preferably, the valve body is provided with a circular transverse geometry, but alternatively may be provided with any other transverse geometry. In any event, the valve body geometry corresponds to the valve seat geometry such that the valve body is capable of fluid-tightly closing the opening defined by the valve seat. Preferably, the valve body is provided with a sealing lip-shaped element.

Typically, the valve body is provided with a diameter that is significantly smaller than the inner diameter of the valve body chamber, so that fluid can flow axially around and effectively through the valve body in the open valve position of the check valve arrangement. The peripheral region of the valve body may also be provided with recesses or openings to minimise the cross-sectional area of the valve body. However, the cross-sectional area of the valve body must be large enough to ensure a reliable complete fluid closure of the valve seat opening.

The valve body is moved axially between an open valve position and a closed valve position by fluid pressure only. If the valve device is loaded in the positive flow direction, the valve body is moved into an open valve position in which it is axially pressed against the valve travel limiter. If the valve device is loaded in the positive flow direction, the valve body is moved into a closed valve position in which it is pressed axially against the valve seat. However, as long as the valve device is loaded in the reverse flow direction, the valve body is only pressed against the valve seat portion. Thus, if the valve device is loaded in the forward flow direction, little opening force is required to move the valve body away from the valve seat portion to the open position.

According to the invention, the valve travel limiter is provided with a support ring which is directly fixed to the valve housing. The support ring can be press-fitted in the valve housing, for example. The support ring provides a secure fixing of the valve travel limiter at the valve housing.

The valve travel limiter is further provided with a central transverse plateau formation which axially projects from the side of the support ring facing the valve seat. The platform structure provides a defined contact area for the valve body in the open valve position. In particular, the platform structure is designed such that tilting or jamming of the valve body within the valve travel limiter is reliably avoided. Preferably, the platform structure has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the valve body and/or the platform structure is provided with an axial incident flow opening. This ensures a defined incident flow at the back side of the valve body facing the restrictor in case of a reversed fluid flow direction. Thus, the valve stroke limiter according to the present invention ensures that the valve seat portion opening is closed if the fluid flow direction within the check valve device is reversed, so that the fluid flow in the reversed flow direction is immediately and reliably stopped.

The valve travel limiter is also provided with a platform frame which axially connects the central transverse platform structure with the support ring in order to fix the platform structure reliably at the support ring and thus at the valve housing. According to the invention, the platform frame is provided with at least one radial frame opening, which allows a radial fluid flow through the valve stroke limiter. By increasing the axial height of the platform frame, the flow cross section of the frame opening can be increased in a simple manner. Thus, the valve travel limiter may be designed such that the effective flow cross-section of the valve device is not limited by the valve travel limiter, but only by the valve body geometry. The check valve device according to the invention therefore allows a relatively high fluid throughput in the forward flow direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the platform frame comprises a plurality of axially extending platform posts circumferentially defining a plurality of radial frame openings between the platform arm end and the support ring. The platform columns are preferably equally spaced along the circumference of the platform structure and are provided with a relatively small circumferential width. The platform column provides a mechanically strong support of the platform structure at the support ring. However, the platform column covers only a relatively small circumferential area, so that the frame opening has a relatively large cross section and thus allows a high fluid throughput.

Preferably, the platform structure is formed with a plurality of platform arms extending radially outwardly from the central hub element in a generally star shape. The platform arms are preferably equally spaced along the circumference of the platform structure. The platform arm circumferentially defines a plurality of axial incident flow openings. The platform arm and the central hub element reliably avoid jamming or tilting of the valve body within the valve travel limiter. The incident flow opening between the platform arms ensures a defined axial incident flow at the valve body if the flow direction within the check valve device is reversed. This platform design thus ensures a reliable displacement of the valve body into the closed valve position and thus an immediate and reliable interruption of the reversed fluid flow.

More preferably, each radial platform arm is fixed to the support ring by a corresponding axial platform column. The platform arm and the platform column are preferably provided with the same axial width. This provides a mechanically robust valve travel limiter that allows for high fluid throughput in the forward flow direction and also ensures that the valve body moves reliably towards the closed valve position if the fluid flow direction is reversed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the circumferential width of the platform arm increases from the central hub element towards the radial outside. This reliably avoids tilting or jamming of the valve body within the platform structure and also allows incident flow at the back side of the valve body to pass relatively uniformly through the platform structure. This ensures that the valve body is reliably moved towards the closed valve position if the fluid flow direction is reversed.

Preferably, the support ring is provided with a plurality of axial support ring openings arranged along the circumference of the support ring. The support ring openings are preferably equally spaced along the circumference. The support ring openings increase the effective flow cross section of the valve travel limiter and thus increase the fluid throughput of the check valve arrangement in the forward flow direction.

The check valve device according to the invention can be arranged in a vacuum pump of a motor vehicle, wherein the check valve device is arranged at the suction opening of the vacuum pump. Vacuum pumps are used to provide vacuum to the pneumatic system of a motor vehicle as, for example, a pneumatic vehicle braking system. The check valve arrangement according to the invention allows a rapid and efficient decompression of the pneumatic system by means of the vacuum pump and reliably avoids vacuum break-up via the pump if the pump is stopped and inactive.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a non-return valve device according to the invention in an open valve position,

figure 2 shows the check valve device of figure 1 in a closed valve position,

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a valve travel limiter of the check valve device of FIG. 1, an

Figure 4 shows a simplified representation of a vacuum pump for a motor vehicle according to the invention, in which the non-return valve arrangement of figure 1 is provided at the suction opening of the vacuum pump.

Detailed Description

The check valve device 10 described includes a can-shaped valve housing 12 having an integral valve seat portion 14, a valve travel limiter 16 fixed within the valve housing 12, and a disc-shaped valve body 18 loosely disposed within the valve housing 12.

The valve housing 12 includes a cylindrical housing sidewall 20 and a transverse housing base 22. The housing sidewall 20 radially defines a valve body chamber 24, and the housing base 22 defines the valve body chamber 24 in a first axial direction. The housing base 22 is provided with a valve inlet opening 26 and defines a valve seat portion 14 radially surrounding the valve inlet opening 26. Thus, the valve seat portion 14 is located at the first axial end 28 of the valve body chamber 24.

The valve stroke limiter 16 includes a support ring 30, a platform structure 32 axially protruding from an axial side of the support ring 30 facing the valve seat portion, and a platform frame 34 axially connecting the platform structure 32 with the support ring 30. Valve travel limiter 16 is located at a second axial end 36 of valve body chamber 24 distal from the valve seat portion. Valve travel limiter 16 is press-fitted into valve housing 12 such that support ring 30 of valve travel limiter 16 engages into a circumferential support groove 38 provided at the radially inner side of housing side wall 20.

The support ring 30 is provided with a plurality of axial support ring openings 40 distributed along the circumference of the support ring 30. The radially outer side of the support ring 30 is provided with a mounting recess 42, which mounting recess 42 simplifies the press-fitting of the valve travel limiter 16 into the valve housing 12.

The platform structure 32 is provided with a central hub element 44 and a plurality of platform arms 46 extending radially outwardly from the central hub element 44 in a generally star-shaped shape. The platform arm 46 is provided such that a circumferential width W thereof continuously increases toward the radially outer side from the hub member 44. The platform arms circumferentially define a plurality of axial incident flow openings 47 that allow axial fluid flow through the platform structure 32. The hub element 44 is provided with an additional axial incident flow opening 49 located at the center of the hub element 44.

The platform frame 34 includes a plurality of axially extending platform posts 48, wherein each platform post 48 axially connects a platform arm end 50 with the support ring 30. The platform posts 48 circumferentially define a plurality of radial frame openings 52 between the platform arm ends and the support ring that allow radial fluid flow through the platform frame 34. The radial frame openings 52 of the platform frame 34 and the axial incident flow openings 47 of the platform structure 32 merge seamlessly into each other.

The disc-shaped valve body 18 is loosely disposed within a valve body chamber 24 that is axially defined by the valve seat portion 14 at a first axial end 28 and the valve travel limiter 16 at an opposite second axial end 36. The valve body 18 is provided with an annular shaped sealing lip-shaped element 54 at the axial side of the valve body 18 facing the valve seat.

The valve body 18 is able to move within the valve body chamber 24 in an unrestricted manner. If the check valve arrangement 10 is provided with fluid flow in the forward flow direction F, the fluid pressure pushes the valve body 18 against the valve travel limiter 16 to an open valve position, as shown in fig. 1. In the open valve position, valve body 18 is in contact with valve travel limiter 16 such that valve body 18 does not cover valve inlet opening 26. Thus, fluid may flow into the valve body chamber 24 via the valve inlet opening 26. Fluid may flow axially around the radially outer side of valve body 18 toward valve travel limiter 16 and may flow through valve travel limiter 16 toward valve outlet opening 56 via radial frame openings 52 and via axial support ring openings 40. The radial frame openings 52 and the axial support ring openings 40 provide a relatively large effective flow cross section, so that the check valve device 10 according to the invention allows a relatively high fluid throughput in the forward flow direction F.

If the check valve arrangement 10 is provided with fluid flow in the reverse flow direction I, the fluid pressure urges the valve body 18 against the valve seat 14 to a closed valve position, as shown in fig. 2. In the closed position, the valve body is pressed against valve seat portion 14 such that sealing lip element 54 fluidly seals the opening defined by valve seat portion 14 closed and thus prevents fluid flow from valve body chamber 24 toward valve inlet opening 26. The check valve device 10 according to the present invention reliably interrupts fluid flow in the reverse flow direction I because the valve body 18 does not tilt or jam within the valve travel limiter 16.

Fig. 4 shows a motor vehicle vacuum pump 110 comprising a pump unit 112 having a suction port 114 and a pressure port 116. The pump unit 112 may be, for example, an electrically or mechanically driven rotary vane pump. In the present embodiment of the invention, the suction port 114 is fluidly connected to a motor vehicle brake system 118 to provide a vacuum for actuating the brake system 118.

The vacuum pump 110 is provided with the check valve device 10 as described above. The check valve arrangement 10 is arranged within the suction opening 114, wherein the check valve arrangement 10 is arranged such that the forward flow direction F is directed towards the pump unit 112 and the reverse flow direction I is directed towards the brake system 118. Thus, the check valve arrangement 10 allows fluid flow from the brake system 118 into the pump unit 112, while preventing fluid flow from the pump unit 112 back into the brake system 118. Thus, in the event that the vacuum pump 110 is stopped and not activated, the check valve arrangement 10 avoids vacuum break-up within the brake system 118.

List of reference numerals

10 check valve device

12 valve housing

14 valve seat part

16 valve stroke limiter

18 valve body

20 side wall of the housing

22 housing base

24 valve body chamber

26 valve inlet opening

28 first axial end

30 support ring

32 platform structure

34 platform frame

36 second axial end

38 support groove

40 support ring opening

42 mounting recess

44 hub element

46 platform arm

47 incident flow opening

48 platform column

49 incident flow opening

50 platform arm end

52 frame opening

54 sealing lip element

56 valve outlet opening

58 vacuum pump

110 vacuum pump for motor vehicle

112 pump unit

114 suction port

116 pressure port

118 motor vehicle brake system

Direction of flow of F forward

I reverse flow direction

W circumferential platform arm width