Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
  • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F15B13/00—Details of servomotor systems ; Valves for servomotor systems
  • F15B13/02—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors
  • F15B13/04—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors for use with a single servomotor
  • F15B13/0401—Valve members; Fluid interconnections therefor
  • F15B13/0405—Valve members; Fluid interconnections therefor for seat valves, i.e. poppet valves
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
  • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F15B13/00—Details of servomotor systems ; Valves for servomotor systems
  • F15B13/02—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors
  • F15B13/06—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors for use with two or more servomotors
  • F15B13/08—Assemblies of units, each for the control of a single servomotor only
  • F15B13/0803—Modular units
  • F15B13/0878—Assembly of modular units
  • F15B13/0882—Assembly of modular units using identical modular elements
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K27/00—Construction of housing; Use of materials therefor
  • F16K27/02—Construction of housing; Use of materials therefor of lift valves
  • F16K27/0236—Diaphragm cut-off apparatus
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
  • A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses
  • A47C27/081—Fluid mattresses of pneumatic type
  • A47C27/083—Fluid mattresses of pneumatic type with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C31/00—Details or accessories for chairs, beds, or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass, e.g. upholstery fasteners, mattress protectors, stretching devices for mattress nets
  • A47C31/12—Means, e.g. measuring means, for adapting chairs, beds or mattresses to the shape or weight of persons
  • A47C31/123—Means, e.g. measuring means, for adapting chairs, beds or mattresses to the shape or weight of persons for beds or mattresses
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
  • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F15B13/00—Details of servomotor systems ; Valves for servomotor systems
  • F15B13/02—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors
  • F15B13/04—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors for use with a single servomotor
  • F15B13/042—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors for use with a single servomotor operated by fluid pressure
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
  • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F15B13/00—Details of servomotor systems ; Valves for servomotor systems
  • F15B13/02—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors
  • F15B13/04—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors for use with a single servomotor
  • F15B13/0401—Valve members; Fluid interconnections therefor
  • F15B2013/041—Valve members; Fluid interconnections therefor with two positions
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
  • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F15B2211/00—Circuits for servomotor systems
  • F15B2211/80—Other types of control related to particular problems or conditions
  • F15B2211/875—Control measures for coping with failures
  • F15B2211/8757—Control measures for coping with failures using redundant components or assemblies

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of pneumatic and/or hydraulic actuation systems.
• the invention relates to a "soft" valve for controlling a fluid flow.
• the invention relates to an actuation system comprising a plurality of soft valves.
• CN111232076A some embodiments are described of a soft valve comprising two chambers separated by a bistable membrane capable of deforming in relation to the pressure difference between the two chambers, managed by respective control tubes.
• the flow channels are connected in such a way that the displacement of the membrane, occluding one or the other channel, allows the passage of fluid along a first path or along a second path.
• EP1715229A2 describes a valve device for managing gaseous flows comprising two main valves having respective closing elements fluidically operated by a pilot valve.
• the two main valves comprise respective membranes which move as the pressure in the working chambers of the valves decreases, allowing the flow to pass from the inlet to the outlet.
• this solution is not very compact and difficult to implement within a wider pneumatic actuation system.
• the device of EP1715229A2 is difficult to manufacture in elastic or elastoplastic materials, such as elastomers for example.
• a device for controlling a fluid flow comprising:
• a second channel fluidically connected to a second opening arranged to allow the passage of the fluid flow between the second channel and the inner chamber, in the second channel a pressure P T2 being present;
• a first elastic membrane comprising a first inner face and a first outer face, the first outer face being oriented towards the first opening, the first elastic membrane arranged to pass between a locking configuration, where the first elastic membrane obstructs the first opening, and a unlocking configuration, where the first elastic membrane does not obstruct the first opening;
• a second elastic membrane comprising a second inner face and a second outer face, the second outer face being oriented towards the second opening, the second elastic membrane arranged to pass between a locking configuration, where the second elastic membrane obstructs the second opening, and a unlocking configuration, where the second elastic membrane does not obstruct the second opening; the device being configured in such a way that:
• the first channel is hydraulically connected with the second channel by the inner chamber
• the device according to the present invention is more reliable and durable than the devices of the prior art.
• fluidic connection is meant a pneumatic or hydraulic connection.
• fluidic connection we preferably mean pneumatic connection.
• a first control chamber is also provided fluidically connected to at least one first control channel, the first control channel being configured for maintaining a first control pressure P C1 in the first control chamber.
• the first elastic membrane is arranged to fluidically separate the first control chamber from the inner chamber and from the first channel orienting the first inner face towards the first control chamber, the first elastic membrane arranged to deform elastically, passing between the locking configuration and the unlocking configuration, in response to a suitable variation of the first control pressure P C1 .
• the first control pressure P C1 acts on a surface S C1 of the first inner face
• a second control chamber is also provided fluidically connected to at least one second control channel, the second control channel being configured for maintaining a second control pressure P C2 in the second control chamber.
• the second elastic membrane is arranged to fluidically separate the second control chamber from the inner chamber and from the second channel orienting the second inner face towards the second control chamber, the second elastic membrane arranged to deform elastically, passing between the locking configuration and the unlocking configuration, in response to a suitable variation of the second control pressure P C2 .
• first control chamber and the second control chamber are interposed between the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane.
• the first control chamber and the second control chamber are arranged one above the other and separated from a septum.
• the inner chamber comprises two lateral channels arranged laterally with respect to the first elastic membrane and at the second elastic membrane.
• the device is completely made of deformable materials.
• such deformable material are selected from the group consisting of:
• such materials can be polymers such as silicones or rubbers, foams, gels, composite materials.
• At least one electromechanical actuator is provided arranged to make at least one among the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane to pass between the locking configuration and the unlocking configuration .
• the actuator can be a chemical, magnetic, electromagnetic, hydraulic, piezoelectric or other actuator.
• a system for managing fluid flows comprising a number n*m of devices for controlling a fluid flow, the devices arranged according to a reticular geometry forming n lines and m columns and being connected to each other in such a way that:
• each device for the system for managing fluid flows comprises:
• first elastic membrane comprising a first inner face and a first outer face, the first outer face being oriented towards the first opening, the first elastic membrane arranged to pass between a locking configuration, where the first elastic membrane obstructs the first opening, and an unlocking configuration, where the first elastic membrane does not obstruct the first opening;
• a second elastic membrane comprising a second inner face and a second outer face, the second outer face being oriented towards the second opening, the second elastic membrane arranged to pass between a locking configuration, where the second elastic membrane obstructs the second opening, and an unlocking configuration, where the second elastic membrane does not obstruct the second opening;
• each device being configured in such a way that: - when the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane are arranged in the respective unlocking configurations, the first channel is hydraulically connected with the second channel by the inner chamber; - when at least one among the first elastic membrane and the second elastic membrane is in the locking configuration, the first channel is not hydraulically connected with the second channel by the inner chamber.
• each second channel of a respective device is fluidically connected to a respective pneumatic actuator arranged to vary its own volume in response to the fluid flow passing through the device.
• each pneumatic actuator comprises a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure acting on an outer surface of the pneumatic actuator.
• the fluid flows managed by the devices according to the present invention are air flows and all the fluidic connections between the channels and chambers described above, both within each device and in the system, are pneumatic connections.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows the device for controlling a flow of fluid according to the present invention, with both elastic membranes in the unlocking configuration;
• FIG. 2 schematically shows the device for controlling a flow of fluid according to the present invention, with both elastic membranes in the locking configuration;
• - Figs. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D show the possible locking/unlocking combinations of the two elastic membranes and the relative behaviour of the fluid flow;
• - Figs. 4, 5A and 5B show three different cross- sections of a preferred embodiment of the device for controlling a fluid flow;
• FIG. 6A shows in top view a preferred embodiment of the system for managing fluid flows comprising a plurality of devices similar to that shown in
• FIG. 6B shows a perspective view of the system for managing fluid flows of Fig. 6A;
• Fig. 7 shows a cross section of a system for managing fluid flows similar to that of Figs. 6A and 6B;
• FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the system for managing fluid flows wherein pneumatic actuators operated by respective devices for controlling a flow of fluid are present.
• the device 100 comprises an inner chamber 105 where a pressure P I is present and two channels 110 and 120 wherein respective pressures P T1 and P T2 are present.
• the two channels 110 and 120 are fluidically connected to respective openings 111 and 121 arranged to allow, at opposite sides, the movement of fluid between the channels 110 and 120 and the inner chamber 105.
• the device 100 then comprises two elastic membranes 115 and 125, each membrane being configured to pass between an unlocking configuration and a locking configuration.
• Fig. 1 both the membranes 115 and 125 are in the respective unlocking configurations
• Fig. 2 both the membranes 115 and 125 are in the respective locking configurations .
• the elastic membranes 115 and 125 are diagrammatically shown as non-deformable walls connected to springs and the passage between the locking and unlocking configurations is shown as a translation of these walls.
• the elastic membranes 115 and 125 are intended to be made of deformable materials and the transition between the locking and unlocking configurations is to be understood as being achieved by deformation of said membranes 115 and 125.
• the device 100 is configured in such a way that, when at least one of the membranes 115 and 125 is in the locking configuration, the channels 110 and 120 are not fluidically connected to each other, preventing the passage of fluid through the device 100.
• both the membranes 115 and 125 are in the unlocking configuration, as shown in Fig. 3D, the channels 110 and 120 are fluidically connected to each other and the fluid can pass through the device 100.
• the present invention provides that the elastic membranes 115 and 125 can pass between the respective locking and unlocking configurations by means of actuation systems selected from the various solutions present in the prior art.
• the actuators can be of the electromechanical, chemical, magnetic, electromagnetic, piezoelectric or other type.
• the device 100 provides for the pneumatic or hydraulic actuation of the membranes 115 and 125, in order to avoid the presence of rigid or semi-rigid components inside the device itself.
• the device 100 also comprises a first control chamber 131, fluidically connected to a first control channel 131' configured for maintaining a first control pressure P C1 in the first control chamber 131, and a second control chamber 132, fluidically connected to a second control channel 132' configured for maintaining a second control pressure P C2 in the second control chamber 132.
• the first elastic membrane 115 is arranged to fluidically separate the first control chamber
• the second elastic membrane 125 is adapted to fluidically separate the second control chamber
• the first control pressure P C1 acts on a surface S C1 of the first inner face 115a;
• the pressure P T1 acts on a surface S T1 of the first outer face 115b; the pressure P I acts on a surface S I1 of the first outer face 115b; the second control pressure P C2 acts on a surface
• the device 100 is configured in such a way that the first elastic membrane 115 passes from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration when the following condition occurs:
• F 11 and F 12 are the internal forces in the first elastic membrane 115 dependent on the displacements d 11 and d 12 effected, respectively, by the first inner face 115a and by the first outer face 115b.
• the device 100 is configured in such a way that the second elastic membrane 125 passes from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration when the following condition occurs:
• F 21 and F 22 are the internal forces in the second elastic membrane 125 dependent on the displacements d 21 and d 22 effected, respectively, by the second inner face 125a and by the second outer face 125b.
• such deformable material are selected from the group consisting of:
• such materials can be polymers such as silicones or rubbers, foams, gels, composite materials.
• the membranes 115 and 125 comprise conical protuberances suitable, in the locking configurations, to occlude the respective openings 111 and 121.
• the inner chamber 105 is formed by four channels suitable for connecting the openings 111 and 121 together, so that, when both membranes 115 and 125 are in the unlocking configuration, the device 100 allows the passage of fluid between the channels 110 and 120.
• control channels 131' and 132' of each device 100 are arranged orthogonally to each other, to integrate a plurality of devices 100 within the matrix system 10 shown in Figs. 6A to 8.
• the structure is modular and the values of the rows and columns can be varied in relation to specific needs.
• the reticular geometry is configured in such a way that the devices 100 arranged along a same line are fluidically connected to each other by means of respective first control channels 131' and have a same control pressure P C1 in the respective first control chambers 131, and the devices 100 arranged along a same column are fluidically connected to each other by means of respective second control channels 132' and have a same control pressure P C2 in the respective second control chambers 132.
• the devices 100 arranged along a same line are fluidically connected to each other by means of respective first control channels 131' and have a same control pressure P C1 in the respective first control chambers 131
• the devices 100 arranged along a same column are fluidically connected to each other by means of respective second control channels 132' and have a same control pressure P C2 in the respective second control chambers 132.
• the system 10 is configured for maintaining in the channels 131' and 132' a pressure such that all the first membranes 115 and the second membranes 125 are in the respective locking configurations, i.e. they occlude the respective openings 111 and 121 preventing the fluid present in the first channels 110 from passing through the devices 100.
• this system 10 for managing fluid flows can comprise a plurality of pneumatic or hydraulic actuators 200, each of which is fluidically connected to a respective device 100 which allows its activation by means of the matrix logic described above.
• each actuator 200 can comprise a respective pressure sensor adapted to measure the pressure acting on the external surface of the actuator 200 itself.
• the fluid flows managed by the devices 100 according to the present invention are air flows and all the fluidic connections between the channels and chambers described above, both within each device 100 and in the system 10, are pneumatic connections.
• the system 10 can have numerous technological applications.
• a preferred application concerns the sector of so-called intelligent mattresses, i.e. capable of varying the pressure acting on the surface in relation to the position or weight of a user.
• the system 10 can be configured to vary the force expressed by the actuators 200 in relation to the pressures measured by the aforementioned pressure sensors.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=76269985

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2022
  • 2022-03-28 EP EP22718779.6A patent/EP4314571A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2022-03-28 WO PCT/IB2022/052836 patent/WO2022201131A1/en not_active Ceased

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