DE20013360U1 - Valve block for a glass molding machine - Google Patents

Description

Valve block for a glass forming machine

The invention relates to a valve block according to the preamble of claim 1.

In a known valve block of this type (EP 0 893 609 A2), each valve unit is placed directly on a front surface of the base body. Each valve unit has a throttle valve on the supply air side and the exhaust air side. The valve body on the inlet side interacts with a control bushing that penetrates the entire base body. There are two different control bushings that establish the connection to either a high-pressure supply channel or a low-pressure supply channel. The throttle valve on the exhaust air side has a valve body that interacts with a valve seat in the base body. All throttle valve bodies are mounted in both the valve housing and the base body. A pneumatic pilot valve is flanged to one end face of each valve housing. If the valve or the associated pilot valve is damaged, the entire valve unit consisting of the valve and pilot valve must be dismantled. This and the internal division of the base body are complex and not very flexible.

The invention is based on the object of simplifying and shortening maintenance and assembly work and enabling more flexible use of the valve block.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The various mechanisms to be controlled in a glass forming machine are known per se. This can be, for example, a preform base mechanism. Compressed air is particularly suitable as a flowable medium, but also hydraulic fluid. The intermediate

.. .... .. .. .. ., August 2, 2000

Company HERMANN HEYE Il .* II '..· I i: : 954/249

The valve carrier offers several advantages. It is attached to the base body with just a few screws. By loosening these screws, the valve carrier can be removed with all the valve units attached to it. This means that the entire base body can be accessed very quickly for maintenance, programming and, if necessary, repair work. This means that the associated glass forming machine will only be down for a very short time.

According to claim 2, the valve carrier is particularly easy to manufacture.

&iacgr;&ogr; With the features of claim 3, on the one hand, the valve units can be quickly removed from the valve carrier and reassembled and, on the other hand, a quick assembly of the valve carrier to the base body is not hindered.

The features of claim 4 simplify the medium guidance in the base body and facilitate and accelerate the reprogramming from one medium pressure to another. After removing the valve carrier, the closure elements are very easy to reach and can be quickly installed in the required distribution.

According to claim 5, the reprogramming from one medium pressure to the other is particularly fast and safe.

The features of claim 6 offer the particular advantage that a setting of the throttle valves once selected is retained when the valve carrier with all valve units is removed from the base body.

The same advantage is obtained with the features of claim 7 on the outlet side. Normally, such a throttling is used either in the supply or in the discharge channel, but not in both channels at the same time.

.. ..i. .. ,. .. _&phgr; August 2, 2000

Company HERMANN HEYE &Idigr;'·.' I :'..· : :; *: 954/249

The features of claim 8 create a structural separation between the valve and its housing on the one hand and the pilot valve on the other. If the pilot valve is damaged, only the pilot valve needs to be replaced, while the valve unit remains in place, and vice versa.

According to claim 9, an outlet is created from the flange from which control medium can be taken for another control purpose if required.

&iacgr;&ogr; With the features of claim 10, a reliable supply of the pilot valves with pilot medium is achieved via the shortest possible route.

According to claim 11, the electrical connection is automatically interrupted when the pilot valve is removed and established when the pilot valve is attached.

According to claim 12, the electrical cables can be accommodated without additional effort.

The design according to claim 13 enables the cost-effective production of the base body.

According to claim 14, if required, additional consumers for pressurized flowable medium can be supplied with this medium. As long as and to the extent that this is not necessary, the connection openings that are not required can be closed off, for example with a screw plug.

The features of claim 15 lead to a particularly cost-effective and space-saving design of the base body.

The design according to claim 16 results in particularly low manufacturing costs.

·

·

....;. .. .. .. _#i August 2, 2000

Company HERMANN HEYE ''." II "..' : !t ! 954/249

According to claim 17, flowable medium of any pressure can be fed into the base body and thus into the connected valve units.

These and other features and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings. It shows

Fig. 1 a cross section through a valve block,

Fig. 2 the view according to line M-Il in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 the sectional view according to line III-III in Fig. 1 of a part of the valve block,

Fig. 4 the sectional view according to line IV-IV in Fig. 1 of a part of the valve block and

Fig. 5. The sectional view according to line V-V in Fig. 1 of a part of the valve block.

Fig. 1 shows a valve block 1 for use on a section 2 of an I.S. (Individual Section) glass forming machine 3. Due to the limited width of the section 2, the valve units 4 required to control mechanisms of the section 2 are arranged in two rows one above the other (cf. Fig. 2).

Each valve unit 4 has a valve 5 which is inserted into a vertical bore 7 of a housing 8 of the valve unit 4 on an operator side 6 of the section 2. The valve is designed as a 3-way/2-position valve and can be of any known design. Each housing 8 is screwed to a plate-like valve carrier 10 common to all valve units 4 by two screws 9 (see also Fig. 2). The valve carrier 10 is shown in Fig. 1

...... .. _s , ., _#&iacgr; August 2, 2000

HERMANN HEYE company; ; \,· \ . —',,*»'' 954/249

each provided with a flange 11 projecting to the right at the top and bottom. A pneumatic pilot valve 12 of a known type, in this case electrically actuated, is mounted on each flange 11 in vertical alignment with each housing 8.

The valve carrier 10 is detachably attached to a base body 14 by means of several screws 13 suitably distributed over its surface. The base body 14 is detachably attached to a connecting plate 16 by means of screws 15 and this in turn is detachably attached to section 2 by means of screws (not shown).

In the illustrated embodiment of the valve block 1, air serves as the flowable medium. The connection plate 16 and the base body 14 are in turn common to all valve units 4.

In the base body 14, common supply channels 17 and 18 for compressed air of, for example, 3.0 bar and 2.2 bar and a discharge channel 19 for the exhaust air from the mechanisms of section 2 are arranged for all valve units 4. The supply channel 17 is connected to the associated valve 5 via a connecting channel 20 in the base body 14 and the housing 8 and via an opening 21 in the valve carrier 10. In a similar way, the supply channel 18 can be connected to the associated valve 5 via a connecting channel 22 formed in the base body 14 and the housing 8 and the same opening 21 in the valve carrier 10. In the case of Fig. 1, however, the connecting channel 22 is blocked by a closure element 23 designed as a plug-in closure plug. An outer end 24 of the closure element 23 is supported on the valve carrier 10. When the valve carrier 10 has been removed from the base body 14 after loosening the screws 13, the closure elements 23 can be very quickly and easily pulled out of the connecting channel 22 and inserted into the other connecting channel 20. In the present example, the valve 5 can thus be supplied very quickly with compressed air of either 2.2 bar or 3.0 bar.

.. ..;. .. a ., _ti August 2, 2000

Company HERMANN HEYE · ' ·* · I *..* I Il '. 954/249

An edge 25 of the opening 21 of the valve carrier 10 common to the two connecting channels 20, 22 is designed as a valve seat for a throttle valve body 26 adjustably arranged in the housing 8 of the associated valve unit 4. For this purpose, a threaded shaft 27 of the throttle valve body 26 engages in a threaded bore 28 of the housing. The throttle valve body 26 can therefore also be adjusted from the operator side 6.

From each valve 5, an actuating channel 29 leads through the housing 8, a hole 30 in the valve carrier 10 and the base body 14. Each actuating channel 29 opens into a first surface 31 of the base body 14 facing away from the valve units 4. Each actuating channel 29 is also connected via a bridging channel 32 in the connection plate 16 to a connection channel 33 of section 2 of the glass forming machine 3 leading to the associated mechanism of section 2.

From each valve 5, a connecting channel 34 also extends through the housing 8, an opening 35 in the valve carrier 10 and through the base body 14 into the discharge channel 19. An edge 36 of the opening 35 is designed as a valve seat for a throttle valve body 37 adjustably arranged in the housing 8 of the associated valve unit. The throttle valve body 37 is adjustable from the operator side 6 in the same way as the throttle valve body 26.

In the embodiment shown, the lower valve units 4 are each supplied with compressed air at a pressure of selectable magnitude, whereby the level of pressure differs from the pressure in the supply channels 17, 18. For this purpose, a connecting channel 38 is formed in the base body 14 for each valve unit 4. Each connecting channel 38 begins at a connection opening 39 in a lower end face 40 of the base body 14 and opens into the associated connecting channel 20. A threaded connector 41 of a hose line 42 is inserted into the connection opening 39 according to Fig. 1.

.. .... .. _ti .. ,_ August 2, 2000

Company HERMANN HEYE '· * ·' i '.'.,''.ll'l 954/249

7"

which leads to a compressed air source of the desired pressure. If such compressed air with a pressure different from the compressed air in the supply channels 17, 18 is not required, one of the two closure elements 23 shown below in Fig. 4 can be re-inserted into the connecting channel 38.

A branch channel 43 in the connection plate 16 leads from the bridging channel 32 to a connection opening 44 in an end face 45 of the connection plate 16. Any consumer of γ control medium can be connected to the connection opening 44. As long as this is not the case, the connection opening 44 can be closed by a threaded plug 46. Alternatively, the bridging channel 32 can be closed by a threaded plug 47.

The two flanges 11 of the valve carrier 10 shown in Fig. 1 each lie opposite an end face 48 of the housing 8 of the adjacent valve units 4. The pilot valves 12 for controlling the valve 5 of the adjacent valve unit 4 are detachably mounted with screws 50 on a mounting surface 49 of each flange 11 facing away from the end face 48. A control channel 51 for a flowable pilot medium, in particular compressed air, extends from each pilot valve 12 through the flange 11, the valve carrier 10 and the housing 8 to the valve 5. A branch channel 52 connects the control channel 51 to a closable connection 53 in the mounting surface 49 of the flange 11. Pilot medium for a consumer arranged outside the valve block 1 can optionally be taken from the connection 53.

In each flange 11, a supply channel 54 for the pilot medium is formed which is common to all pilot valves 12 mounted on the respective flange 11. Each pilot valve 12 is connected to the supply channel 54 via a connecting channel 55 in the flange 11. Each pilot valve 12 is also electrically controllable. Between the flange 11 and each pilot valve 12, a quickly established and detachable electrical plug connection 56 is provided.

_t *» _t «i. ., ,, _{tt ti} August 2, 2000

Company HERMANN HEYE J | ·* » &idigr;'..* IHI 954/249

arranged. If the screws 50 of a pilot valve 12 have been loosened, this pilot valve 12 can be easily and quickly removed from the mounting surface 49. The plug connection 56 is then automatically released, and the socket 57 remains mounted in the flange 11. In reverse order, a new pilot valve 12 can be very quickly pressed with its plug into the associated socket 57 and then secured to the mounting surface 49 with the screws 50. The channels 51, 55 automatically couple with the housing connections (not shown) of the pilot valve 12. A cable channel 58 is formed in each flange 11, which accommodates electrical cables 59 that lead to

&iacgr;&ogr; the sockets 57 of the plug connection 56.

The valve carrier 10 is essentially plate-shaped and is detachably connected to a second surface 60 of the base body 14 opposite the first surface 31 by the screws 13. Seals can be arranged in a manner known per se between all surfaces of the valve block 1 that lie on top of one another during operation in order to seal the individual channels from one another and from the environment.

The supply channels 17, 18 and the discharge channel 19 of the base body 14 open into the first surface 31 of the base body 14 and are each connected to the outside of the connection plate 16 via a bore 61, 62 and 63 (see also Fig. 5) and a continuation channel 64 and 66 in the connection plate 16.

Fig. 2 shows how the valve units 4 are arranged in two rows one above the other. To simplify the channel routing in the base body 14, the two rows are offset from each other by half a pitch of the valve units 4.

Fig. 3 shows further details of the valve carrier 10 and the pilot valves 12 mounted on it.

.··.·*»· ♦· '* .. .. August 2, 2000

Company HERMANN HEYE : : ·* . · \\··\ _t \W\ 954/249

In Fig. 4 below, an example is shown that the hose line 42 is attached to one of the connecting channels 38 via the threaded connector 41. In this case, the connecting channels 20, 22 are each closed by a closing element 23.

It can be seen from Fig. 5 that the supply channels 17, 18 and the discharge channel 19 are common to all valve units 4 of the glass forming machine. Each of these channels 17 to 19 is connected to the front surface 45 of the connection plate 16 via one of the bores 61 to 63 and the associated extension channel 64 to 66 and can be connected there. Preferably, according to Fig. 5, the discharge channels 19 of all valve units 4 (Fig. 1) are arranged in a row next to one another in the longitudinal center of the discharge channel 19.

Claims (17)

1. Valve block ( 1 ) with several valve units ( 4 ) arranged adjacent to one another, each having a valve ( 5 ) for controlling mechanisms of a glass forming machine ( 3 ) with a flowable medium,
with a base body ( 14 ) common to all valve units ( 4 ),
with several valve units ( 4 ) common supply ( 17 ; 18 ) and discharge channels ( 19 ) of the base body ( 14 ) for the medium,
wherein each supply ( 17 ; 18 ) and discharge channel ( 19 ) can be connected to the associated valve ( 5 ) via a connecting channel ( 20 ; 22 ; 34 ) formed in the base body ( 14 ) and in a housing ( 8 ) of each valve unit ( 4 ),
with actuating channels ( 29 ), each of which is formed in the housing ( 8 ) of each valve unit ( 4 ) up to the associated valve ( 5 ) and in the base body ( 14 ), opens into a first surface ( 31 ) of the base body ( 14 ) facing away from the valve unit ( 4 ), and is connected to a connection channel ( 33 ) of the glass forming machine ( 3 ) leading to the associated mechanism,
characterized in that a valve carrier ( 10 ) common to all valve units ( 4 ) is arranged between the base body ( 14 ) and the housings ( 8 ) of the valve units ( 4 ),
and that the connecting channels ( 20 ; 22 ; 34 ) and the actuating channels ( 29 ) penetrate the valve carrier ( 10 ) with openings ( 21 ; 35 ; 30 ). 2. Valve block according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve carrier ( 10 ) is essentially plate-shaped and is detachably connected to a second surface ( 60 ) of the base body ( 14 ) opposite the first surface ( 31 ) by screws ( 13 ). 3. Valve block according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housings ( 8 ) of the valve units ( 4 ) are detachably connected to the valve carrier ( 10 ) by screws ( 9 ). 4. Valve block according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that several supply channels ( 17 , 18 ) are provided for medium of different pressures,
that for each valve ( 5 ) the sections of the connecting channels ( 20 , 22 ) of all supply channels ( 17 , 18 ) formed in the base body ( 14 ) open into a common opening ( 21 ) in the valve carrier ( 10 ),
that a common connecting channel section ( 20 , 22 ) leads from the common opening ( 21 ) to the valve ( 5 ),
and that all sections of the connecting channels ( 20 , 22 ) formed in the base body ( 14 ) except for an active section can be releasably closed by a closure element ( 23 ). 5. Valve block according to claim 4, characterized in that each closure element ( 23 ) is designed as a closure plug which can be inserted into the associated section, and that an outer end ( 24 ) of each closure plug is supported on the valve carrier ( 10 ). 6. Valve block according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that an edge ( 25 ) of the common opening ( 21 ) is designed as a valve seat for a throttle valve body ( 26 ) adjustably arranged in the housing ( 8 ) of the associated valve unit ( 4 ). 7. Valve block according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an edge ( 36 ) of the opening ( 35 ) of the connecting channel ( 34 ) to the discharge channel ( 19 ) is designed as a valve seat for a throttle valve body ( 37 ) adjustably arranged in the housing ( 8 ) of the associated valve unit ( 4 ). 8. Valve block according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the valve carrier ( 10 ) has at least one flange ( 11 ) opposite an end face ( 48 ) of the housings ( 8 ) of the valve units ( 4 ),
that a pilot valve ( 12 ) for controlling the valve ( 5 ) of the adjacent valve unit ( 4 ) is detachably mounted on a mounting surface ( 49 ) of the flange ( 11 ) facing away from the front side ( 48 ),
and that from each pilot valve ( 12 ) a control channel ( 51 ) for a flowable pilot medium extends through the flange ( 11 ), through the valve carrier ( 10 ) and through the housing ( 8 ) of the valve unit ( 4 ) to the valve ( 5 ). 9. Valve block according to claim 8, characterized in that a branch channel ( 52 ) connects the control channel ( 51 ) with a closable connection ( 53 ) of the flange ( 11 ). 10. Valve block according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that in each flange ( 11 ) a supply channel ( 54 ) for the pilot medium is formed which is common to all pilot valves ( 12 ) mounted on the flange ( 11 ), and that each pilot valve ( 12 ) is connected to the supply channel ( 54 ) via a connecting channel ( 55 ) in the flange ( 11 ). 11. Valve block according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that each pilot valve ( 12 ) is electrically controllable, and that a quickly producible and detachable electrical plug device ( 56 ) is arranged between the flange ( 11 ) and each pilot valve ( 12 ). 12. Valve block according to claim 11, characterized in that a cable channel ( 58 ) for electrical lines ( 59 ) leading to the plug devices ( 56 ) is formed in each flange ( 11 ). 13. Valve block according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the base body ( 14 ) is mounted with its first surface ( 31 ) on a connection plate ( 16 ) connected to the glass forming machine ( 3 ), and that each actuating channel ( 29 ) and the associated connection channel ( 33 ) are connected to one another by a bridging channel ( 32 ) formed in the connection plate ( 16 ). 14. Valve block according to claim 13, characterized in that a branch channel ( 43 ) in the connection plate ( 16 ) is guided from at least one bridging channel ( 32 ) to a connection opening ( 44 ) in an end face ( 45 ) of the connection plate ( 16 ). 15. Valve block according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that at least one supply channel ( 17 ; 18 ) and the discharge channel ( 19 ) open into the first surface ( 31 ) and are each connected to a continuation channel ( 64 to 66 ) in the connection plate ( 16 ) leading to the outside ( 45 ) of the connection plate ( 16 ). 16. Valve block according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that at least one supply channel ( 17 ; 18 ) and the discharge channel ( 19 ) are common to all valve units ( 4 ) of the glass forming machine ( 3 ). 17. Valve block according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that at least one ( 38 ) of the connecting channels opens into a connection opening ( 39 ) in an end face ( 40 ) of the base body ( 14 ), and that the connection opening ( 39 ) can be connected to a source of flowable medium under a pressure of selectable magnitude.