Valve body and process valve

The invention relates to a valve body for a process valve, wherein an interior space of the valve body connects at least two ports to one another in a fluid-conducting manner, wherein at least one partition wall separates adjacent flow chambers of the interior space from one another, and wherein an outer shell and the at least one partition wall, at least in a blocking portion of the valve body extending essentially perpendicularly to a blocking axis, are made of a flexible material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2021 120 124.1 filed with the German Patent Office on Aug. 3, 2021, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to advances in the field of process valve technology.

SUMMARY

The problems of the prior art are solved by a valve body and by a process valve.

According to a first aspect of the description, a valve body for a process valve is provided, wherein an interior space of the valve body connects at least two ports to one another in a fluid-conducting manner, wherein at least one partition wall separates adjacent flow chambers of the interior space from one another, and wherein an outer shell and the at least one partition wall, at least in a blocking portion of the valve body extending essentially perpendicular to a blocking axis, are made of a flexible material.

The flow chambers allow the flow of the process fluid to be separated. A compressor acting on the blocking portion compresses the valve body. The division into a plurality of flow chambers improves a blocking or closing of the valve body as a result of the compression, because the plurality of flow chambers can be closed in a more controlled manner than a single flow chamber. Beyond that, the compression of the entire valve body is also reduced by the flow chambers that have been introduced. The service life of the valve body is thus increased by dividing it into flow chambers.

The process valve provided with the valve body can advantageously replace a tubing pinch valve.

An advantageous example is characterized in that the valve body is made in one piece from the flexible material, in particular an elastomer.

On the one hand, the one-piece design simplifies production, for example by 3-D printing. On the other hand, the one-piece design improves the sealing with respect to the outside, because the number of parts in contact with the process fluid is reduced.

An advantageous example is characterized in that an open cross section of the particular flow chamber is dimensioned larger perpendicularly to the blocking axis than along the blocking axis.

The travel of the compressor that is required to close the valve body is advantageously reduced in this way. On the other hand, this results in opposite contact surfaces of the flow chamber in the region of the blocking portion, which surfaces can shut off the flow more easily when pressed against one another. Furthermore, this dimensioning of the flow chambers allows an open cross section of the valve body in the region of the blocking portion to be structurally adjusted to the open cross section in the region of the ports.

The shape of the flow chambers or an imaginary elliptical contour of the flow chambers as a whole improves the control behavior of the process valve.

An advantageous example is characterized in that the particular flow chamber is delimited by two opposing contact surfaces which are convexly curved in cross section and, in particular, taper toward one another in a pointed manner.

The slot-shaped design of the flow chambers that is provided in this way provides sealing contours that improve the closing behavior.

An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one partition wall follows a plane perpendicular to the blocking axis.

The flow of process fluid is thus affected as little as possible by the partition wall when the valve body is open. If the compressor acts on the valve body from the outside, then it closes perpendicularly to the flow axis.

An advantageous example is characterized in that the valve body comprises an odd number of flow chambers, in particular three or five flow chambers.

Advantageously, a flow chamber that is on average larger and is surrounded by two or four flow chambers can thus be provided. The odd number of flow chambers allows the valve body to be designed in a space-optimized manner, for example by making the outer flow chambers smaller than the central flow chamber.

An advantageous example is characterized in that the at least one partition wall tapers, at least in some parts, in a longitudinal section in which the blocking axis lies, starting from the blocking portion.

On the one hand, the region of the partition wall in the blocking portion, which is thus designed to be thicker, can thus contribute to secure closing. On the other hand, the tapering of the partition wall reduces turbulence in the process fluid and thus the flow resistance of the valve body.

An advantageous example is characterized in that the particular flow chamber widens, in particular continuously, at least in some parts, in particular in a longitudinal section perpendicular to the blocking axis, toward the blocking portion.

Advantageously, the open diameter available for the flow in this way is not reduced. The enlargement in this longitudinal section compensates for the provision of the partition wall. The constant widening improves the flow behavior and in particular reduces the flow resistance compared to a stepped design.

An advantageous example is characterized in that a course of a distal edge of the partition wall follows a convex curvature oriented toward the blocking portion.

The edge is thus advantageously set back toward the central longitudinal axis or the flow axis, which has a positive effect on the flow of the process fluid into or out of the particular expanding chamber. In particular, the edge is thus positioned almost transversely to the particular direction of flow of the process fluid and reduces turbulence.

According to a second aspect of the description, a process valve comprising the valve body according to the first aspect is provided.

An advantageous example is characterized in that the process valve comprises: a receiving body, which has an interior space that at least in some parts follows a substantially non-compressed outer contour of the valve body, wherein the valve body is accommodated in the interior space of the receiving body; and a valve drive, which is arranged rigidly with respect to the receiving body, wherein a compressor driven by the valve drive and movable along the blocking axis presses on the blocking portion of the valve body.

An advantageous example is characterized in that the process valve comprises: a further valve drive, which is arranged rigidly with respect to the receiving body on the opposite side of the first drive, wherein a compressor driven by the further valve drive and movable along the blocking axis presses on the blocking portion of the valve body.

The additional second drive advantageously reduces the load on the valve body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1and2show a tubular valve body100for a process valve600in a relaxed state. The valve body100can also be designated as a hose portion. An interior space102of the valve body100connects at least two ports104,106to one another in a fluid-conducting manner. In the relaxed state, process fluid can therefore flow from one port104to the other port106. Partition walls110,114separate adjacent flow chambers108,112and112,116of the interior space102from one another. An outer shell120and the at least one partition wall110,114, which can also be called a lamella, are made of a flexible material, at least in a blocking portion122of the valve body100that extends essentially perpendicularly to a blocking axis A.

The valve body100is therefore manufactured in one piece from the flexible material, in particular an elastomer, at least in the blocking portion122or in its entirety.

Alternatively, a second material can be provided to provide the valve body as a whole with the elastomer. For example, in the region of the ports104,106, inserts are provided which are made more rigid than the flexible material in the blocking portion122, in order to make the ports104,106more rigid and thus to improve the fastening of the valve body100. Consequently, the valve body100, at least in a proximal region which is arranged between the ports104and106, is made of the flexible material.

The blocking portion122is arranged between two transition portions124and126which merge into the corresponding port104,106. The transition portions124,126comprise a particular change in the geometry of the interior space102along a central longitudinal axis M of the valve body100and the partitions110,114arranged therein.

FIG.3shows the blocking portion122of the valve body100in a yz section. The flow chambers108,112,116have a common opening cross section that is similar in size to the opening cross section of the corresponding port104,106. The valve body100comprises an odd number of flow chambers108,112,116, in particular, as shown, a number of three chambers or, in a form that is not shown, five or seven flow chambers. Of course, the number of flow chambers can also be even.

An open cross section of the particular flow chamber108,112,116perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis M is dimensioned larger perpendicular to the blocking axis A than along the blocking axis A. The particular flow chamber108,112,116is delimited by two opposing contact surfaces108a-b,112a-b,116a-b, which are convexly curved in cross section and in particular taper toward one another in a pointed manner. The opposing contact surfaces108a-b,112a-b,116a-bwithin the corresponding flow chamber108,112,116meet in cross section at an angle of less than 50°, in particular less than 40° and greater than 10°.

The particular partition wall110,114follows a particular plane that is perpendicular to the blocking axis A. The flow chambers108and116arranged toward the outside are delimited by the corresponding partition wall110,114and by an outer wall128,130. The centrally arranged flow chamber112is delimited by the partition walls110and114.

An outer contour132of the blocking portion122follows an ellipse in the section shown, wherein a main axis of the ellipse runs perpendicular to the blocking axis A.

FIG.4shows the valve body100in a longitudinal section along the central longitudinal axis M and along the blocking axis A. The at least one partition wall110,114tapers, at least in some parts, in a longitudinal section in which the blocking axis A lies starting from the blocking portion122. The flow chamber108,112,116increases in size along or parallel to the central longitudinal axis M starting from the blocking portion122. The flow chamber108,112,116tapers outward in a cross section along or parallel to the blocking axis A.

FIG.5shows the valve body100in a longitudinal section perpendicular to the blocking axis A. The particular flow chamber108,112,116widens, in particular in a longitudinal section that is perpendicular to the blocking axis A, toward the blocking portion122, at least in some parts, in particular continuously.

A course of a particular distal edge134,136of the partition wall110,114follows a convex curvature oriented toward the blocking portion122in each case.

FIG.6shows the process valve600in a section. A receiving body602has an interior space which, at least in some parts, follows a substantially non-compressed outer contour of the valve body100, wherein the valve body100is accommodated in the interior space of the receiving body602. A first valve drive604, which is pneumatic in this case, is rigidly connected to the receiving body602. Of course, another drive principle, such as an electric or magnetic drive, can also be used. A compressor610driven by the valve drive604and movable along the blocking axis A presses on the blocking portion122of the valve body100and thereby closes the valve body100. To open the valve body100, the compressor610pulls on the valve body100toward the associated drive.

A further valve drive, shown inFIG.9, is fixed rigidly to the receiving body602on the opposite side of the first drive604. A compressor driven by the further valve drive and movable along the blocking axis A presses on the blocking portion122of the valve body100and together with the compressor610thereby closes the valve body100. In order to close and open the blocking portion122, the compressor610and the additional compressor are operated simultaneously.

FIG.7shows the compressor610fromFIG.6in a plan view along or parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the valve body. A contact contour702for resting against a portion of the outer contour of the blocking portion of the valve body is convexly curved and suitable for operating the valve body by means of the drive fromFIG.6arranged on one side. The contact contour702follows a parabola, for example. In the region of the blocking portion, the valve body has a port contour which is arranged in a recess704of the compressor610. The port contour for a quick-change system, in deviation from the contour that is circular in cross section, can also have a bayonet closure portion, a thread, another positive locking contour, a button or a mushroom-shaped button top.

FIG.8shows, as an alternative to the compressor610fromFIG.6, a compressor810in a top view along or parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the valve body. A contact contour802follows a W-shape, wherein the contact contour702protrudes toward the valve body in the region of the recess704. The compressor810is suitable for operating the valve body by means of two drives arranged opposite one another.