Mounting clip to mount an actuator unit to a valve unit and assembly having an actuator unit, a valve unit and a mounting clip

A mounting clip includes a valve unit housing and a flange. The actuator unit has an actuator unit housing and a shoulder. The mounting clip has first sections positioned in first level, that are straight and run parallel to each other within the first level and are configured to be inserted into grooves provided at the shoulder. A second section is positioned in a second level, is U-shaped, and is configured to be inserted into a recess provided at the flange. Third sections extend between each of the first sections and the second section, each of the third sections has first subsections being bent, a second subsection being bent, and a third subsection being straight or angled. The first subsections extend between the first sections and the third subsections. The second subsections extend between the second section and the third sub-sections.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase patent application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/059381 filed Apr. 12, 2021, which claims the benefit of and priority to European Patent Application No. 20169400.7, filed on Apr. 14, 2020, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD

The invention relates to a mounting clip to mount an actuator unit to a valve unit. Further on, the invention relates to an assembly having an actuator unit, a valve unit and a mounting clip.

BACKGROUND

DE 10 2017 209 459 B4 discloses an assembly comprising a valve unit having a valve unit housing and an actuator unit having an actuator unit housing. A flange of the valve unit housing has through holes. A shoulder of the actuator unit housing surrounds a control terminal of the actuator unit coaxially to a control axis of the control terminal. The shoulder of the actuator unit housing has bolts which extend in the direction parallel to the control axis of the control terminal away from the shoulder and which are configured to penetrate into the through holes in the flange of the valve unit housing so that the bolts upon attachment of the actuator unit on the flange of the valve unit housing protrude through the through holes in the flange of the valve unit housing. The assembly further comprises a mounting element to fix the actuator unit on the valve unit upon attachment of the actuator unit on the flange of the valve unit housing. This mounting element is provided by a fork-shaped splint. Such a fork-shaped splint is complex in manufacturing and expensive.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,458 B2 discloses a mounting clip for retaining an electrical connector in a coupled engagement. This mounting clip is not suitable to replace the known fork-shaped splint used to fix an actuator unit on a valve unit upon attachment of the actuator unit on the valve unit.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,222 A discloses a valve unit assembly with connection by a clip. This mounting clip is not suitable to replace the known fork-shaped splint used to fix an actuator unit on a valve unit upon attachment of the actuator unit on the valve unit.

The brochure “FIREFLY FIRE CLIPS, EL266/19023, Marshall-Tufflex Ltd” shows several different fire clips also not suitable to replace the known fork-shaped splint used to fix an actuator unit on a valve unit upon attachment of the actuator unit on the valve unit. The Product Information “Fire Clip External MMT2, Marshall-Tufflex Ltd, Dec. 9, 2019” shows details of one of said fire clips.

EP 3 015 767 B1, EP 1 008 804 A2 and EP 2 801 672 A1 show other mounting elements. EP 3 015 767 B1 shows a mounting element used to mount a gas valve unit to a gas/air mixer. EP 1 008 804 A2 shows a mounting element used to mount a gas duct to gas valve unit. EP 2 801 672 A1 shows a mounting element to mount housing sections of back flow preventers. All these mounting elements are not suitable to replace the known fork-shaped splint used to fix an actuator unit on a valve unit.

A novel mounting clip is needed allowing a simple and reliable fixation of an actuator unit on a valve unit upon attachment of the actuator unit on the valve unit being easy and cheap in manufacturing.

SUMMARY

Against this background, a novel mounting clip to mount an actuator unit to a valve unit is provided.

The novel mounting clip is configured to mount an actuator unit to a valve unit, the valve unit having a valve unit housing and a flange formed at the valve unit housing, the actuator unit having an actuator unit housing and a shoulder formed at the actuator unit housing.

The novel mounting clip has first sections positioned in first level, wherein said first sections are straight and run parallel to each other within said first level, and wherein said straight sections are configured to be inserted into grooves provided at the shoulder of the actuator unit.

The novel mounting clip has a second section positioned in a second level, wherein said second section is U-shaped, and wherein said second section is configured to be inserted into a recess provided at the flange of the valve unit.

The novel mounting clip has third sections extending between each of said first sections and the second section, wherein each of said third sections has a first subsections being bent, a second subsection being bent and a third subsection being straight or angled. The first subsections of the third sections extend between the first sections and the third subsections of the third sections. The second subsections of the third sections extend between the second section and the third subsections of the third sections.

The novel mounting clip allows a simple and secure fixation of an actuator unit on a valve unit upon attachment of the actuator unit on the valve unit being easy and cheap in manufacturing.

According to a first embodiment of the mounting clip, the third subsections of the third sections are positioned in a third level, said third level being positioned between said first level and said second level, wherein the first subsections of the third sections extend between the third level and said first level, and wherein the second subsections of the third sections extend between the third level and said second level. The third level may run parallel to the second level. The third level and the second level may enclose an acute angle with first level. The second subsections of the third sections may be positioned in fourth levels running perpendicular to the third level. The first subsections of the third sections may be positioned in fifth levels, wherein the fifth levels and the fourth levels enclose an acute angle, and wherein the fifth levels converge from the first level towards the third level. The first embodiment of the mounting clip is most preferred. The same is very easy and very cheap in manufacturing.

According to a second embodiment of the mounting clip, the third subsections of the third sections are positioned in said second level offset from said second section, wherein the first subsections of the third sections extend between the first level and said second level, wherein the second subsections of the third sections are positioned in a third level. The third level and the second level may enclose an obtuse angle. The first level and the second level may enclose an acute angle.

All sections of the mounting clip are made from one monolithic metal wire. The metal wire may have a diameter in a range between 1.0 mm and 3.5 mm, preferred in a range between 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm, most preferred in a range between 2.0 mm and 2.5 mm.

The assembly having an actuator unit, a valve unit and a mounting clip is de-fined in claim14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows an assembly having an actuator unit10, a valve unit20and a mounting clip30.

The valve unit10has a valve unit housing11and a flange12formed at the valve unit housing11, namely at an inlet section13of the valve unit housing11. The flange12of the valve unit housing11has openings14(seeFIG.1b).

The actuator unit20has an actuator unit housing21and a shoulder22formed at the actuator unit housing21. The shoulder22of the actuator unit housing21surrounds a control terminal23of the actuator unit21coaxially to a control axis of the control terminal23. The shoulder22of the actuator unit housing21has bolts24(seeFIG.1b). The bolts24extend in the direction parallel to the control axis of the control terminal23away from the shoulder22. The bolts24are configured to penetrate into the openings14in the flange12of the valve unit housing11so that the bolts24upon attachment of the actuator unit20on the flange12of the valve unit10protrude into the openings14in the flange12.

InFIG.1the mounting clip30shown inFIGS.2ato2eis used to fix the actuator unit20on the valve unit10upon attachment of the actuator unit20on the flange12of the valve unit housing11.

The mounting clip30has first sections31positioned in first level32, wherein said first sections31are straight and run parallel to each other within said first level32. Said first sections31are configured to be inserted into grooves25provided at the shoulder22of the actuator unit20.

The mounting clip30has a second section33positioned in a second level34, wherein said second section33is U-shaped. Said second section33is configured to be inserted into a recess15provided at the flange12of the valve unit11.

The mounting clip30has third sections35extending between each of said first sections31and the second section33.

Each of said third sections35has a first subsections35abeing bent, a second subsection35bbeing bent and a third subsection35cbeing straight.

The first subsections35aof the third sections35extend between the first sections31and the third subsections35cof the third sections35. The second subsections35bof the third sections35extend between the second section33and the third subsections35cof the third sections35.

The third subsections35cof the third sections35are positioned in a third level36. Said third level36is positioned between said first level32and said second level34. SeeFIG.2c. The distance between the third level36and the first level32is larger than the distance between the third level36and the second level34. A bending radius of the first subsections35ais greater than a bending radius of the second subsections35b.

The first subsections35aof the third sections35extend between the third level36and said first level32. The second subsections35bof the third sections35extend between the third level36and said second level34.

The third level36runs parallel to the second level34. The third level36and the second level34each enclose an acute angle (31with first level32. The acute angle (31may be between 2° and 20°, preferably between 5° and 15°.

The second subsections35bof the third sections35are positioned in fourth levels37running perpendicular to the third level36. The first subsections35aof the third sections35are positioned in fifth levels38. The fifth levels38and the fourth levels37enclose an acute angle (32. The acute angle (32may be between 5° and 25°.

The fifth levels38converge from the first level32towards the third level36and towards the second level34.

The first sections31being positioned in first level32have angled end sections31a.

All sections31,33,35of the mounting clip30are made from one monolithic metal wire. The monolithic metal wire may have a diameter in a range between 1.0 and 3.5 mm, preferred in a range between 1.5 and 3.0 mm, most preferred in a range between 2.0 and 2.5 mm.

The mounting clip40shown inFIGS.3ato3emay alternatively be used to fix the actuator unit20to or at the valve unit10upon attachment of the actuator unit20on the flange12of the valve unit housing11.

The mounting clip40has first sections41positioned in first level42, wherein said first sections41are straight and run parallel to each other within said first level42. Said first sections41are configured to be inserted into grooves25provided at the shoulder22of the actuator unit20.

The mounting clip40has a second section43positioned in a second level44, wherein said second section43is U-shaped. Said second section43is configured to be inserted into a recess15provided at the flange12of the valve unit11.

The mounting clip40has third sections45extending between each of said first sections41and the second section43.

Each of said third sections45has a first subsections45abeing bent, a second subsection45bbeing bent and a third subsection45cbeing angled.

The first subsections45aof the third sections45extend between the first sections41and the third subsections45cof the third sections45.

The second subsections45bof the third sections45extend between the second section43and the third subsections45cof the third sections45.

The third subsections45cof the third sections45are positioned in said second level44offset from said second section43. The second section43is positioned between the third subsections45cof the third sections45.

The first subsections45aof the third sections45extend between the first level42and said second level44. The second subsections45bof the third sections45are positioned in a third level46.

The third level46and the second level44enclose an obtuse angle a1. SeeFIG.3c. The obtuse angle a1 may be between 155° and 175°.

The first level42and the second level44enclose an acute angle a2. The acute angle a2 may be between 2° and 20°, preferably between 5° and 15°.

The first subsections45aof the third sections45are positioned in a fourth levels47. The fourth levels47run perpendicular to the first level42.

All sections41,43,45of the mounting clip40are made from one monolithic metal wire. The monolithic metal wire may have a diameter in a range between 1.0 and 3.5 mm, preferred in a range between 1.5 and 3.0 mm, most preferred in a range between 2.0 and 2.5 mm.

The invention provides a simple and reliable attachment and fixation of an actuator unit20and valve unit10. The solution provided by the novel mounting clip30,40is cheap, easy and reliable. The clip30,40is a spring type clip with preload in assembly.

The clip30,40is designed in the way that allows simple mounting and dis-mounting without a tool. The mounting and dismounting of the clip are toolless.

During the installation (pressing in) of the clip30,40the preload of the clip30,40provides haptic feedback to installer that end position is not reached. In moment of reaching end position the haptic feedback is provided to installer.

The force of the preload of an installed clip30,40provides secure coupling of actuator unit20and valve unit10.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS