Valve and valve arrangement

US11054053B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ALFMEIER PRÄZISION SE · DE

Inventors

• Matthias Mitzler · Graben, DE
• Erich Dörfler · Treuchtlingen, DE
• Klaus Beetz · Karlsruhe, DE
• Wolfgang Beyerlein · Mitteleschenbach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 18, 2018
• Grant date: Jul 6, 2021
• Expiry date: Jan 7, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16K1/205
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A valve has a valve housing with a lid, bottom, and an intermediate housing portion between the lid bottom. The valve housing encloses a valve chamber, a flow chamber, and an actuation chamber, with at least one valve opening leading from the flow chamber to the actuation chamber. Inside the actuation chamber at least one axially movable actuator movable between a closing position to close the valve opening and an opening position to release the valve opening, one wire- or band-shaped SMA element made of a shape memory alloy to activate the actuator in the opening direction, one return element to move the actuator in closing direction, and one printed circuit board. The SMA element is attached to the actuator at a middle section and is electrically connected at its ends to the printed circuit board to be supplied with an electrical current.