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CN-122014893-A - Electromechanical actuator and actuator-valve unit

CN122014893ACN 122014893 ACN122014893 ACN 122014893ACN-122014893-A

Abstract

The invention relates to an electromechanical actuator (1), in particular for actuating a valve (101) which can be connected thereto, comprising a housing (2) having a housing interior (2.1), an electromagnetic actuating device (3) accommodated in the housing interior (2.1), and a seal (4) designed for sealing the housing interior (2.1) from the outside, wherein the housing (2) has at least one, in particular closable, leakage path (5) for checking the tightness of the seal (4), wherein the leakage path (5) enables a fluid exchange between the housing interior (2.1) and the outside (2.2) of the housing (2). The invention also relates to an actuator-valve unit (100) comprising an electromechanical actuator (1).

Inventors

  • Stephen Quaste
  • Wolfgang PETRI

Assignees

  • 托马斯马格尼特股份有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20250929
Priority Date
20241112

Claims (10)

  1. 1. Electromechanical actuator (1), in particular for actuating a valve (101) connectable to said electromechanical actuator, said electromechanical actuator comprising: A housing (2) having a housing interior (2.1); an electromagnetic actuating device (3) accommodated in the housing interior (2.1), and A seal (4) for sealing the housing interior (2.1) from the outside, wherein The housing (2) has at least one, in particular closable, leakage path (5) for checking the tightness of the seal (4), wherein the leakage path (5) enables a fluid exchange between the housing interior (2.1) and the exterior (2.2) of the housing (2).
  2. 2. The electromechanical actuator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the actuation means (3) comprises a coil (3.1) and an armature (3.2) electromagnetically moved by the coil (3.1), and wherein a portion of the leakage path (5) is formed between the coil (3.1) and the armature (3.2).
  3. 3. The electromechanical actuator (1) according to claim 2, wherein the actuation device (3) has a pole core (3.3) with at least one pole core groove (3.5) on a radially outer surface (3.4), which forms part of the leakage path (5), wherein the pole core groove (3.5) is in particular spiral-shaped.
  4. 4. An electromechanical actuator (1) according to claim 3, wherein the housing (2) has at least one housing recess (2.6) which forms part of the leakage path (5) and is in particular diametrically opposite the pole core groove (3.5).
  5. 5. An electromechanical actuator (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer end (5.2) of the leakage path (5) is formed by a through hole (2.5) in the housing (2), which is in fluid communication with the housing interior space (2.1).
  6. 6. The electromechanical actuator (1) according to claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the through hole (2.5) extends through a connection plug (2.3), a controller of the actuation device (3) being connectable to the connection plug (2.3).
  7. 7. Electromechanical actuator (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the through hole (2.5) has a fluid connection (2.4) which can be connected to a fluid supply for checking the tightness of the seal (4).
  8. 8. The electromechanical actuator (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a holding bracket (6) configured to secure the actuation means (3) in the housing (2), wherein the holding bracket (6) is at least partially clearance fitted with the actuation means (3) and/or has a recess (6.1) forming part of the leakage path (5).
  9. 9. Actuator-valve unit (100) comprising an electromechanical actuator (1) according to any of the preceding claims and a valve (101), wherein the valve (101) is connected to the leakage path (5) via the seal (4).
  10. 10. The actuator-valve unit (100) according to claim 9, wherein the seal (4) is configured to seal a housing interior (2.1) of the actuator (1) against the valve (101).

Description

Electromechanical actuator and actuator-valve unit Technical Field The invention relates to an electromechanical actuator and an actuator-valve unit. Background Conventional electromechanical actuators (also commonly referred to as "actuators") typically have a housing with a housing interior and an electromagnetic actuating device housed in the housing interior. Such conventional actuation devices typically include a coil and an electromagnetically movable component (e.g., an armature), wherein energizing the coil causes the component to move. Conventional actuators typically have a seal that seals the interior space of the housing from the outside. However, a disadvantage of these conventional arrangements is that the tightness of the seal is difficult to verify. The housing is typically sealed such that no fluid exchange takes place between the interior space of the housing and the exterior of the housing, especially the atmosphere, at locations other than the seal. For example, if in these solutions pressure is applied to the external interface of the housing (e.g. the interface of a valve) where the seal is provided to check its tightness, it is difficult to determine whether the seal is or only the housing is sealed. Disclosure of Invention The object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an electromechanical actuator that enables easy and reliable sealing tests. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an actuator-valve unit having these advantages. This problem is achieved by the features of the independent claims. The content of the dependent claims is a preferred embodiment of the invention. The object is achieved in particular by an electromechanical actuator according to claim 1. The actuator is specifically designed to actuate a valve connected thereto. The actuator has a housing with a housing interior. The actuator further has an electromagnetic actuating device accommodated in the housing interior. The actuator is furthermore provided with a seal for sealing the interior of the housing from the outside. The housing has at least one leakage path to check the tightness of the seal. The leakage path enables fluid exchange between the housing interior space and the housing exterior. As described above, the leakage path enables fluid exchange with the environment of the housing (e.g., the atmosphere). This means that during the above-mentioned leak test, if the seal is not tight and is subjected to (test) pressure, fluids such as air may escape from the housing. Thus, this pressure hardly increases or does not increase at all, so it can be concluded that the seal is not tight. In the opposite case, if the pressure increases accordingly, it can be concluded that the seal is tight, since the housing is deliberately leaky through the leak path. In other words, assuming a tight seal, fluid exchange is preferably only possible through the leakage path. Alternatively or in addition to the pressurization and pressure detection described above, it may be checked whether the respective fluid is present in the leakage path or is flowing through the path. The amount collected may also be used to determine the degree of leakage of the seal. In a preferred embodiment, at least one leakage path may be closed. In particular, it is reclosable and (non-destructively) reopened so that the leak test can be repeated. It should be noted that the leakage path in this sense is an intentional and well-formed leakage path and is not equivalent to manufacturing defects or wear caused by long term use/storage. The at least one leakage path that is currently present is to be understood in particular as an addition to such possible defects or wear. Alternative terms for the present leakage path are preferably "exhaust channel" or "exhaust path", wherein the fluid to be discharged is not necessarily air. The at least one leakage path is preferably fluidly connected to the seal. In other words, one end of the leakage path (hereinafter referred to as "first end") is sealed by the seal (provided that the seal is tight), and the other end (hereinafter referred to as "second end") is connected to the outside of the housing. In the sense of the present invention, "fluid exchange" preferably relates to fluid supplied from the outside through the tightness test device. For example, one such device is a fluid pump with a pressure sensor for recording and evaluating pressure curves. The device may be connected to the actuator on the outside of the housing opposite the seal and/or on the outside of the housing at one end of the leakage path (second end). In a preferred embodiment, the actuation means comprises a coil and at least one movable member. The movable part may be moved electromagnetically by a coil, for example an armature. The movable part or armature in turn causes a movement of the actuator unit, which in turn causes the actuati