WO2006045172A1

WO2006045172A1 - Seal assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2006045172A1
Application number: PCT/BR2005/000225
Authority: WO
Inventors: João José Cardinali Ieda
Original assignee: Wahler Metalurgica Ltda
Current assignee: Wahler Metalurgica Ltda
Priority date: 2004-10-29
Filing date: 2005-10-31
Publication date: 2006-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-29
Also published as: BRMU8402656U

Abstract

The ring-carrier (11) of the seal system (12) is provided with a channel (15) destined to the housing of the seal ring (16) and has a protuberance (9) integrally molded in each lateral side for assembly of single- action and double-action springs, wherein said protuberances (9) are provided with tangential channels (14) to fit said springs; and said springs are conveniently folded such that they define a 'U'-shaped central part with a small conicity (3 and 6), and the extremities of the 'U' legs have a small extension that is folded perpendicularly forwardly (4 and 7) and afterwards they extend along to the sides (5 and 8) with a forward and downward alignment bypass, and having ends slightly curved upwardly, wherein the single-action spring (2) is directed to force the seal set (12) to a tangential direction when the rotor is in movement, and the double-action spring (1) is directed to force the seal set (12) to a radial direction when the passage of fluid to the heating system is blocked.

Description

SEAL ASSEMBLY

The present utility model patent refers to a new Arrangement Applied to the Rotor Set of the Water Flow Control Valve used in the automotive industry, more specifically in the cooling system and/or automotive air conditioning, which is a continuation of the object proposed in MU 8100181-9, and consists of a water flow control valve that presents a new possibility of assembly, as a variant of the project concerning this MU, which increases the efficiency of said valve and improves its performance, including other more technical, practical and functional advantages already existing.

The main novelty of the present invention is distinguished by the new constructive arrangement of springs and by their assembly in the O- ring-carrier used to seal the passage of fluid into the cooling system, such that it provides mechanical robustness and assures elastic characteristics under diverse regimes of temperature, pressure, impurities and cooling fluids.

Description

The water flow control valve was developed to control fluid flows, with application in the cooling system and/or automotive air conditioning, but it can have other applications that require flow controls of diverse fluids. This valve can be mechanically driven by handle or by any other system, or can be electrically driven by an electric motor of any nature, or by solenoid, which can also have a coupled magnetic or resistive position sensor to guarantee a better positioning and control of flows of desired fluids.

The main characteristic of this type of valve is in relation to the rotor set which has a system composed by the following components:

- Rotor

- Seal ring-carrier

- Internal lever - Seal ring

- Single-action spring (SA)

- Double-action spring (DA). Functioning

When the rotor set of the valve is driven, it presents a rotation movement within the carcass housing and, at the end of the course, it finds a physical barrier (end of course) located in the carcass and in the cover of the rotor set, such that it prevents that the ring-carrier of said rotor set continues turning. At this point, the ring-carrier stops, however, the rotor continues turning and, consequently, occurs the rotation movement of the internal lever which in turn, due to this angle of rotation, projects the ring-carrier against the internal wall of the rotor housing in the carcass, blocking the passage of fluid through the main way and assuring the tightness through the seal ring assembled in the ring-carrier.

The springs system made of metallic materials, the main object of the present utility model invention, is fundamental to promote the return of the internal lever and, consequently, the return of the ring-carrier to the recoil position, when it is necessary to open the passage of fluid through the main way, making possible the movement of the rotor set without attrition exceeding the applications needs, as well as provide perfect functioning of the system in which the water flow control valve is employed.

Constructive Materials

Said water flow control valve contains some elements assembled in a carcass, wherein all of them are made of injected plastic material or made of any other material and process that make necessary to the applications, for example, forming, injection and machining processes. In the current projects, the following configurations are being used: a) Carcass - PA66 with fiberglass or PPA with fiberglass; b) Magnetic or resistive position sensor manufactured in PBT, aluminum and electronic components; c) Covers - PA66 with fiberglass; d) Rotor — PA66 with fiberglass; e) Seal ring-carrier - PA66 with fiberglass; f) Internal Lever - PA66 or stainless steel; g) External Lever -PA66 with fiberglass or POM or PBT; h) Seal Rings of the type O, EPDM or HNBR or Fluorocarbon or Fluorosilicone or any other material necessary to the specified working fluid (seal system that is responsible for assuring that the fluid will not leak out of the valve, mainly in the assembly region); i) Rectangular seal ring with elliptical profile — EPDM or HNBR or Fluorocarbon or Fluorosilicone or any other material necessary to the specified working fluid, which is projected to ensure the characteristic of maximum internal leakage of 1.0 1/h with 1.5 bar of pressure through the main way; j) Springs made of stainless steel or any other material mechanically and chemically compatible with the applications, in order to assure the functioning of the rotor set and ensure minimum driving torques.

1) Driving - steel handle or DC electric motor.

Configurations

Among other applications, the valve can have:

- Three-way and two-position directional valve (On/Off);

- Three-way and two-position directional valve (On/Off), with return from the system;

- Three-way and infinite-position directional valve (flow control);

- Three-way and infinite-position directional valve (flow control), with return from the system;

- Two-way and two-position directional valve (On/Off);

- Two-way and infinite-position directional valve (flow control;

- Others - combination of all above mentioned, with diverse types of driven. For example, DC electric motor, solenoid, steel handle, etc.

Functional Characteristics

Valve Opening and Closing - the control of the working fluid flow is performed by opening and closing the main way through a rotationally moved rotor set that is driven by a handle or a DC electric motor.

Seal system - the seal ring is confined into a housing situated in the carcass and is forced to mold itself and to fill irregular surfaces.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from its description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the double-action spring (DA).

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the single-action spring (SA).

FIGURE 3 is frontal, lateral and superior views of the double- action spring (DA), wherein the arrow indicates the force direction (tangential).

FIGURE 4 is frontal, lateral and superior views of the single- action spring (SA), wherein title arrow indicates the force direction (radial).

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views, in diametrical and superior cutaway of the rotor, respectively, just for illustrative purposes.

FIGURES 8 and 9 are superior and frontal views of the ring- carrier of said rotor set. FIGURES 10, 11 and 12: are perspective, frontal and superior views, respectively, of the ring-carrier coupled to the seal ring and springs, the object of the present invention patent.

The water flow control valve, as disclosed in MU 8100181-9 above mentioned, comprises a carcass having a compartment for housing of the rotor and an adjacent cavity linked by an intermediate channel to bypass the fluid or return it to the motor, when it is not directed to the heating system. To the activation compartment of the motor, it is linked an inlet tubing to receive warm fluids from the motor, and an outlet opening to interconnect with the heating system. There is an outlet tubing linked to the adjacent cavity to deliver return fluids to the motor cooling system (radiator) and an inlet opening to receive fluids returned from the heating system.

The rotor (20) is composed by two extremities (21) joined by a partial sidewall (22) whose internal face incorporates several wings in different levels (23) and in opposite direction to this sidewall. Said extremities have a cut portion (24) that, by bottom edges, are joined by a vertical plan (25) in which has an integrally molded longitudinal protuberance with sectional configuration, resulting in a fitting system (26) to couple the seal set that is composed by O-ring (16) and its carrier (11), constituting, together with said sidewall, means to seal the fluid passage in direction to the heating system, when the heating of the vehicle cabin is not desired, and means to seal the bypass channel, when the heating of the vehicle cabin is desired; said fitting system (26) also has a housing (27) to hold a part of the joint lever, and, at the top of the rotor, there is an axial round pin (28) with squared prolongation (29) to couple the manually driven lever.

The ring-carrier (11) of the seal system (12) is provided with fitting elements (13) adjustable to the fitting system (26) of the rotor and with a channel in its extension (14) by which it is adjusted in oscillatory fashion, in the other part of the joint lever. At the anterior face, said ring-carrier (11) is provided with a channel (15) that extends along with the peripheral edges, following the contour of the part, and is destined to the housing of the seal ring (16). The internal face of the carrier defines a "bed "(17) to support the extensions of springs.

Carcass and rotor do not constitute characterization elements of the present utility model patent, but they are represented herein for explanatory purposes only, and as example of the flow valve set assembly.

The ring-carrier (11) of the seal system (12) is nearly similar to those described in MU 8100181-9, but in accordance with the present invention, with differences which consist of a integral molding of a protuberance (9) in each lateral side for assembly of springs, and said protuberances (9) are provided with tangential channels (14) to fit said springs; and it is different by the fact that it has an anterior face provided with a depression (18) with small blocks in high-relief (19).

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the double-action spring (1) made of metallic material is conveniently folded, such that it defines a "U"- shaped central part with a small conicity (3); the extremities of the "U" legs have a small folded extension that forwards perpendicularly (4), and afterwards they extend along to the sides (5) with a bypass of about 20° forwardly and about 10° downwardly, with ends slightly curved upwardly.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the single-action spring (2) made of metallic material is conveniently folded, such that it defines a "U"- shaped central part with a small conicity (6); the extremities of the "U" legs have a small folded extension that forwards perpendicularly (7) and afterwards they extend along to the sides (8) with a bypass of about of about 15° forwardly and about 40° downwardly, with ends slightly curved upwardly. Figures 10, 11, and 12 show clearly how the springs are assembled in the ring-carrier (11). Through the "U"-shaped central part (3 and 6), said springs (1 and 2) are inserted into tangential channels (10) of the protuberances (9) and their extensions (5 and 8) are elongated and faced to the internal face of said ring-carrier (11), where they will exert pressure on the "bed "(17) therein defined.

The single-action spring (2) is directed to force the seal set (12) to a tangential direction, when the rotor is in movement.

The double-action spring (1) is directed to force the seal set (12) to a radial direction, when the passage of fluid to the heating system is blocked.

Claims

1) ARRANGEMENT APPLIED TO THE ROTOR SET OF THE WATER FLOW CONTROL VALVE, wherein the ring-carrier (11) of the seal system (12) is provided with fitting elements (13) adjustable to the fitting system (26) of the rotor and with a channel in its extension (14) by which it is adjusted in oscillatory fashion in the other part of the joint lever, wherein at the anterior face, said ring-carrier (11) is provided with a channel (15) destined to the housing of the seal ring (16), extending along with the peripheral edges, following the contour of the part, and circumscribing a recessed sector (18) provided with a "bed "(17) where the extensions of springs are supported, characterized by the fact that said ring-carrier (11) of the seal system (12) has a protuberance (9) integrally molded in each lateral side for assembly of springs, wherein said protuberances (9) are provided with tangential channels (14) to fit said springs; and by the fact that said double- action spring (1) made of metallic material is conveniently folded such that it defines a "U"-shaped central part with a small conicity (3), and the extremities of the "U" legs have a small extension that is folded perpendicularly forwardly (4), and afterwards they extend along to the sides (5) with a bypass of about 20° forwardly and about 10° downwardly, and ends slightly curved upwardly; and by the fact that said single -action spring (2) made of metallic material is conveniently folded such that it defines a "U"-shaped central part with a small conicity (6), and the extremities of the "U" legs have a small extension that is folded perpendicularly forwardly (7), and afterwards they extend along to the sides (8) with a bypass of about 15° forwardly and about 40° downwardly, and ends slightly curved upwardly.

2) ARRANGEMENT APPLIED TO THE ROTOR SET OF THE WATER FLOW CONTROL VALVE, in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that springs are assembled in the ring-carrier (11) through the "U"-shaρed central parts (3 and 6) and are inserted into the tangential channels (10) of the protuberances (9) and have elongated extensions (5 and 8) faced to the internal face of said ring-carrier (11), where they will exert pressure on the "bed "(17) therein defined.

3) ARRANGEMENT APPLIED TO THE ROTOR SET OF THE WATER FLOW CONTROL VALVE, in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that the single-action spring (2) is directed to force the seal set (12) to a tangential direction when the rotor is in movement; and the double-action spring (1) is directed to force the seal set (12) in a radial direction when the passage of fluid to the heating system is blocked.