Fluid handling – Convertible – Units interchangeable between alternate locations
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-27
2004-11-23
Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Convertible
Units interchangeable between alternate locations
Reexamination Certificate
active
06820634
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a valve block for at least two valves fixable in a housing having an electric cabling to electrical terminals for the valves and a pneumatic cabling or ducting to pneumatic terminals for the valves, and is also directed to a set of valve blocks for producing such a valve block
A plurality of valves that also partly perform different functions are often employed in a higher-ranking unit, for example in motor vehicles. Disadvantageously, these valves have hitherto usually been individually assembled, which, in particular, complicates as well as lengthens assembly and thus causes the ultimate price of the higher-ranking unit to rise.
For example, EP 0 627 349 A1 discloses a valve block of the species wherein an intermediate plate for the electrical cabling is provided between a part containing solenoid valves and a cover that covers this part. The utilization of such an intermediate plate leads to a design that is complicated and, thus, also costly.
Another valve block of the species is disclosed by EP 0 686 239 B1, this reference discloses a base plate with a pneumatic cabling or ducting in the form of channels for intake and exhaust air from connection openings in an aperture pattern suitable for the attachment of specific valves to a user and with an electrical cabling comprising an electrical installation device placed in a shaft that proceeds parallel to the pneumatic cabling. Although this known valve block can be simply and quickly assembled, it nonetheless exhibits a limited range of employment or, respectively, must be completely redimensioned for every specific application. This again is cost-intensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to improve the valve block of the species such that the disadvantages of the Prior Art are overcome, particularly that manufacturing as well as assembly costs are reduced and the range of employment is widened.
This object is inventively achieved by an electrical plug proceeding wherefrom the electrical cabling extends to the electrical terminals and by an pneumatic plug proceeding wherefrom the pneumatic cabling or circuit extends to the pneumatic terminals, whereby the pneumatic cabling proceeds at least partly in a replaceable or exchangeable insert of the housing that can be selected dependent on the valves and/or their function and/or the pneumatic plug comprises at least one pneumatic plug connector selectable dependent on the valves and/or their function.
It can thereby be provided that the housing comprises a floor part, preferably in the form of an injection molded part, whereby the floor part encompasses the electrical plug, the electrical cabling, the electrical terminals, at least a part of the pneumatic plug, at least a part of the pneumatic cabling or circuit, preferably in the form of air delivery openings and/or air delivery channels and can be or, respectively, is firmly connectable to the replaceable insert.
Embodiments of the invention can be characterized in that the replaceable insert comprises air delivery openings and/or air delivery channels that can be closed with a first cover, preferably composed of an injection molded part, and particularly weldable with ultrasound.
It can also be provided that the replaceable insert is arranged at the outside of a region of the floor part and the valves are arranged at the inside of said region of the floor part.
In addition, the pneumatic cabling and/or the pneumatic terminals can comprise air delivery openings and/or air delivery channels having a respective cross-section of a range of 1 through 6 mm×1 through 6 mm, and preferably a range of 4 through 5 mm×4 through 5 mm.
In addition, ring seals can be provided at pneumatic interfaces.
At least one check valve can also be provided in the pneumatic cabling or circuit.
Preferred developments of the invention are characterized in that the pneumatic plug comprises two pneumatic plug-type connections, whereby a first pneumatic plug-type connection can be releasably as well as lockably attached, particularly via a tongue and groove connection, to the second pneumatic plug-type connection, which is preferably a component part of the injection molded part of the floor part.
It is also inventively preferred that the floor part, particularly the selectable pneumatic plug-type connection and/or the replaceable insert, comprises or, respectively, comprise a coding that is dependent on the valves and/or their function.
It can also be provided that the electrical plug and the pneumatic plug are arranged at outside walls of the floor part that lie opposite one another.
The invention also proposes that the floor part comprises at least one access opening for the insertion of the valves and the inside of the floor part together with the valves arranged therein can be cast out, particularly with a resin, and/or can be closed, particularly latched, with a second cover, preferably composed of an injection molded part.
At least one centering aid can also be inventively provided in the floor part for each valve.
In addition, embodiments can be provided with a fastening means, particularly as a component part of the injection molded part of the floor part, and/or with a damping element, preferably in interaction with the fastening means.
It is also inventively preferred that the valves are attached in the housing via a plug connection, whereby the pneumatic valve terminals of the valves are preferably pluggable into the pneumatic terminals in the form of air delivery openings in the floor part for the replaceable insert and/or the electrical terminals in the form of contacts projecting from the floor part are pluggable into openings for the electrical valve terminals of the valves.
Three valves can be arranged in the housing of an inventive valve block.
In addition, the invention offers a set of valve block units for the production of an inventive valve block.
It can thereby be provided that the valves, on the one hand, and the replaceable inserts and/or the pneumatic plug-type connections, on the other hand, comprise a coding matched to one another, so that a valve block having specific functions is producible dependent thereon.
The invention is thus based on the surprising perception that a plurality of valves can be attached in a housing, preferably via a simple plug-type connection, given simultaneous connection to a single electrical plug as well as to a single pneumatic plug. The inventive valve block can then be easily and quickly installed into any higher-ranking unit by connecting electric cables to the single electrical plug and air hoses to the single pneumatic plug.
Advantageously, a plurality of different pneumatic cablings or circuits of the valves of the valve block are possible by employing a selectable replaceable insert and/or a selectable pneumatic plug-type connection having specific air delivery openings and/or air delivery channels in the valve block, so that standardized valve blocks for different valves and/or functions can be manufactured in, so to speak, modular organization from a set of valve block units for further work simplification. The combination versatility of valves that are employable in an inventive valve block is thereby great due to the interchangeability of the replaceable inserts and/or pneumatic plug-type connections. It is not only the employment of different valves but also the implementation of different functions by the valves that is possible due to the flexibility in the pneumatic cabling.
In order to essentially prevent a malfunction of the valve block due to incorrect assembly, at least the replaceable inserts and/or pneumatic plug-type connections inventively comprise codings dependent on the desired overall function.
For example, an inventive valve block for utilization in a motor vehicle can comprise two electro-pneumatic transducers, the one thereof serving for adjustment of a vacuum actuator in the exhaust gas return system and the other thereof serving for the control of a vacuum act
Becker Claus-Jürgen
Reichert Uwe
Lee Kevin
Schiff & Hardin LLP
WOCO Franz-Josef Wolf & Co. GmbH
LandOfFree
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