Title of Invention

ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE

Abstract Electromagnetic valve for a gas cylinder (1), In particular a gas cylinder (1) for gas-powered motor vehicles, having a valve body (4); a threaded portion of the valve body with an external thread (3), which is screwable into an internal thread (2) on the gas cylinder (1); a portion of the valve body (4) projecting into the gas cylinder (1); a shut-off piston (31); electromagnetic control elements (25, 28, 29) by which the shut-off piston (31) is movable from an open position to a closed position, wherein the valve body (4) for receiving the shut-off piston (31) and the electromagnetic control elements (25, 28, 29) has a cavity (15), which is disposed inside the threaded portion and/or the portion of the valve body (4) projecting into the gas cylinder (1), wherein a mouth of the cavity (15) is disposed on the head end (5) of the valve body (4) situated outside of the gas cylinder (1), and the shut-off piston (31) and the electromagnetic control elements (25, 28, 29) can be inserted into the cavity (15) through the mouth, characterized in that the electromagnetic valve comprises a manual shut-off vale (18) for interrupting the gas flow to the cavity (15).
Full Text Technical field
The invention relates to an electromagnetic valve for gas cylinder, in particular a gas cylinder for a gas-powered motor
vehicle.
Background and prior art
Such electromagnetic valves are known for example from the printed documents US 5,197, 710, US 5, 458,151 and
US 5, 452, 738.
US patent publications US 5, 458, 151 and US 2003/075700 are hereby incorporated in their entirety by way of
reference.
The document US 5,458,151 discloses a solenoid controlled valve that is mounted in a threaded opening of a pressure
vessel which contains compressed natural gas. The valve included a valve body having a head, which is exposed
outside of the pressure vessel, and a neck, which is located within the pressure vessel. A solenoid poppet valve is
mounted to inner end of the neck. A valve seat is mounted in a bore within the valve body. The orifice at an inner end
of the valve seat exposes a flow passage between the bore of the valve body and an outlet port, which is located in the
head of the valve body. The valve must be removed from the pressure vessel and taken apart in order to access the
functional elements. The document US 2003/0075700 A1 discloses a valve assembly comprising a first passageway
including a first port, a second port defining a restrictive orifice, a third port, and a first valve seat defining a first orifice,
a second passageway extending from the third port and including a minimum cross-sectional area defined by a
minimum orifice, and also including a second valve seat defining a second orifice, a first piston sealingly disposed in
the first passageway between (i) the first port and (ii) the second and the third ports, and configured to seal the first
orifice, and a second piston disposed in the second valve seat, and configured to seal the second orifice, wherein the
minimum cross-sectional area of the minimum orifice is larger than the cross-sectional area of the restrictive orifice,
and wherein the second orifice is characterized by a smaller cross-sectional area than that of the first orifice. This valve
assembly has two separate cavities accommodating the two pistons. The location a mouth of the second cavity is not
disclosed.
The known electromagnetically actuated valves or solenoid-actuated valves are used to control the flow of compressed
gases into the gas cylinder or out of the gas cylinder.
Gas cylinders for gas-powered vehicles hold the combustion gas at a pressure above atmospheric, for example
between 2 and 260 bar. The said electromagnefic valves allow a bi-directional gas stream, on the one hand, during
refuelling into the gas cylinder and, on the other hand, during driving mode of the engine out of the gas cylinder
towards the engine. During driving mode, the gas flows from the interior of the gas cylinder at high pressure through a
connection channel into the supply line to the pressure reducer, in which the pressure is reduced to the required
injection pressure of the engine, e.g. 2 to 8 bar. During refueling, the gas flows in the opposite direction fi-om a
refueling system though the same connection channel into the gas cylinder. During the refueling operation, the
refueling channel of the refueling system has a high internal pressure, e.g. 200 to 260 bar. The empty gas cylinder has
a lower internal pressure unfil it has been
completely filled with gas and reaches the pressure of the
refuelling system.
In addition to their function of reliably regulating the
gas flow in the two different operating situations, such
electromagnetic valves have to meet high safety standards.
For this reason, in the cited US patents it was proposed
that the cavity for receiving the shut-off piston and the
electromagnetic control elements of the valve be disposed
inside the threaded portion and/or the portion of the valve
body projecting into the gas cylinder. The valve body is
made of a relatively non-rigid material, for example brass,
whereas the gas cylinder is made of very hard material,
usually steel or composite material. By shifting the shut-
off piston and the control elements into portions of the
valve body that are situated inside the hard wall of the
gas cylinder, the safety of the valve in the event of a
crash, i.e. in the event of powerful impacts upon the valve
owing to an accident, is dramatically increased compared to
valves having functional elements situated outside of the
cylinder. To disassemble the valves for maintenance or
cleaning purposes, the valve body first has to be unscrewed
from the gas cylinder to gain access to the functional
elements of the valve, namely the shut-off piston and the
control elements, from the rear of the valve body situated
in the gas cylinder.
Disclosure of the invention
An object of the invention is to facilitate the disassembly
and assembly of a valve of the described type.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that
a mouth of the cavity is disposed at the head end of the
valve body situated outside of the gas cylinder, and the
shut-off piston and the electromagnetic control elements
are insertable into the cavity through the mouth.
By opening the cavity for the shut-off piston and the
electromagnetic control elements towards the front, i.e.
towards the end of the valve body situated outside, these
components may be disassembled and assembled while the
valve body is screwed in the gas cylinder. This
substantially facilitates the maintenance and cleaning work
at such valves. There is no need to remove the valve body
from the gas cylinder in order to disassemble the
functional elements of the valve. As a result, the time
needed for maintenance and cleaning is dramatically
reduced. The fact that the valve body is not removed from
the gas cylinder during maintenance work means that the
connection between valve and gas cylinder need not be
tested for leaks afterwards.
In the region of the mouth of the cavity it is possible in
practice to dispose an external thread, into which a screw
cap may be screwed. The screw cap seals off the cavity
from the environment and prevents dirt and moisture from
penetrating into the cavity and the functional elements of
the electromagnetic valve accommodated therein.
In practice, the cavity may have at the bottom end an
internal thread, into which an external thread of a sleeve
of the valve is screwable. Disposed inside the sleeve is
the shut-off piston with further functional elements of the
valve as well as the externally electromagnetically
adjustable armatures and further control elements of the
electromagnetic valve. The upper portion of the sleeve is
designed in the shape of a cylinder envelope. After
assembly of the sleeve, a coil is slipped onto a cylinder-
envelope -shaped portion of the sleeve inside the cavity-
The coil actuates the electromagnetic control elements,
i.e. the armatures. The screw cap protects the screwed-in
sleeve and the coil from moisture and soiling.
Electromagnetic valves, e.g. according to ECE RllO, in
practice have further elements. Such elements are for
example a manual shut-off valve, which may be used to
interrupt the gas flow through the electromagnetic valve
independently of the control status thereof. Further
provided are connecting pieces, which have a non-return
valve if these are provided for connection to the
refuelling system. Such a non-return valve prevents the
reflux of the gas from the gas cylinders through the
connector for the refuelling system in the event of a crash
and after removal of the tank fitting, A further
connecting piece without a non-return valve may be provided
for connecting the gas cylinder to the engine or to further
gas cylinders on the vehicle.
Of particular importance are safety elements on the valve.
First of all, a pressure relief device with a rupture
diaphragm should be provided. Such a pressure relief
device allows the gas to flow out in a situation where the
internal pressure of the gas cylinder has reached a
critical value. For example, in the event of a fire, the
gas in a gas cylinder may heat up to such an extent that
the cylinder threatens to explode. In such a situation, it
is preferable to discharge the gas in a controlled manner
in order to avoid an explosion. Thermal safety elements
may further be provided. Such safety elements generally
comprise fluid-filled glass bodies. The glass bodies burst
when the temperature of the liquid in the glass body
exceeds a critical value. Such a safety element prevents
the gas cylinder from exploding in the event of softening
of the outer skin thereof due to extreme heat.
In a practical embodiment of the valve according to the
invention, the valve body has at least one receiving space
for a further element, which may be one of the elements
described above. The receiving space has an opening
outside of the gas cylinder, through which opening the
further element is insertable. This then allows the said
further element, like the valve itself, to be fitted and
removed and hence maintained and cleaned while the valve
body is screwed in the gas cylinder.
In order to allow gas to flow out of or into the cylinder
interior through the cavity in the valve body, in which the
shut-off piston and the control elements are disposed, the
valve body preferably has at least one flow channel
connecting the cavity to at least one connection opening
outside of the gas cylinder. Coupling pieces are
preferably disposed on the connection opening and
connectable to an efflux line and/or afflux line.
Particularly for the connection of an afflux line by a
refuelling system, the coupling piece may be provided with
a non-return valve. As the connection openings are
situated likewise outside of the gas cylinder, such
coupling pieces are also detachable and attachable while
the valve body is fitted permanently in the gas cylinder.
In practice, the valve body may further comprise at least
one flow channel connecting the cavity to a mouth into the
interior of the gas cylinder. The valve body may
additionally comprise at least one flow channel connecting
the at least one receiving space to a mouth into the
interior. This is necessary for example when the receiving
space contains a safety element that is to bring about the
controlled discharge of the gas from the interior.
In practice, a flow restrictor may be disposed on the mouth
into the interior of the gas cylinder. The flow restrictor
has a closure body, which is displaceable counter to a
spring force. Given an atypically high pressure difference
between the front and the rear of this closure body, the
rate of efflux from the gas cylinder is reduced to such an
extent that for example hazardous flame formation outside
of the gas cylinder is avoided or reduced. In one
embodiment, all of the flow channels leading to the
interior of the gas cylinder may be connected to the same
mouth. The flow restrictor in said case acts equally to
restrict the flow in the event of damage to a line
supplying the gas to the engine. If, when the safety
elements are triggered, an unimpeded discharge of the
cylinder contents is desired, the safety elements may
alternatively be connected by separate channels without a
flow restrictor to the interior of the gas cylinder.
A filter may likewise be disposed on the mouth into the
interior of the gas cylinder. Preferably, both a filter
and a flow restrictor are disposed on the mouth. It is in
fact assumed that gas flowing into and out of a gas
cylinder is free of impurities. However, experience gained
from continuous operation shows that impurity particles and
corrosion particles may lead to contamination. Such
impurities may be removed from the gas stream by the said
filter.
In a practical embodiment, the head end of the valve body
situated outside of the gas cylinder is covered by a hard
protective plate. The protective plate may be made of the
same material as the gas cylinder. This is usually steel.
In this way, the protective plate protects the valve body
in regions where it is not surrounded by the casing or the
threaded portion of the gas cylinder.
In practice, the head end of the valve body may have
rounded edges. In the region of the rounding of the edges,
a small gap arises between the head end of the valve body
and the protective plate. This allows a spring deflection
of the protective plate in the event of an impact upon its
edge. The protective plate, in the region of connections
of the valve body, may moreover have support ribs that abut
against the head end of the valve body. This increases the
protective effect of the protective plate for the
connections that protrude from the valve body. Also, in
the region of at least one connection a cutout may be
disposed in the protective plate to provide improved access
e.g. for a screwing tool. Particularly in the case of the
support ribs, the protective plate regions laterally of the
cutout are strong enough to protect the connection from
impacts.
An elastic layer may be disposed between the protective
plate and the head end of the valve body. The elastic
layer in practice is made for example of a thermoplastic
polymer, in particular a rubber-like material. The elastic
layer, on the one hand, protects the head end of the valve
body from soiling and moisture and, on the other hand,
effects damping between the protective plate and the head
end. The damping reduces the effect of impacts against the
valve body.
In practice, the head end of the valve body may be designed
as a polygon, in particular a quadrilateral or hexagon.
This allows the application of a screwing tool for screwing
the valve body into the internal thread of the gas
cylinder.
When the gas cylinder is fitted on a motor vehicle with a
passenger compartment, the efflux openings of the safety
elements should as far as possible be disposed on the side
of the valve body remote from the passenger compartment.
In an emergency situation, in which a gas discharge is
triggered by one of the safety elements, the flammable gas
is thereby prevented from flowing directly towards the
passenger compartment.
The invention further relates to an electromagnetic valve
for a gas cylinder, in particular a gas cylinder for a gas-
powered motor vehicle engine having the features of the
preamble of claim 19.
Such a valve is known for example from the European patent
application EP 1 327 809 Al. Here, the shut-off piston is
pressed by means of a closing spring, which is supported
against the valve body, with its main seal against the main
seal seat. Upon opening of the pilot seal by the
electromagnetic control elements, a flow is allowed through
the pressure reduction channel in the shut-off piston.
During driving mode, the front mouth of the pressure
reduction channel situated at the bottom is connected to
the low-pressure side, i.e. to the supply lines to the
engine. At the rear of the shut-off piston a high pressure
prevails, which arises from a connection to the annular
space, which is connected to the high-pressure region in
the gas cylinder. Upon opening of the pressure reduction
channel, the high pressure suddenly drops. The voliometric
flow through the connection of the annular space to the
rear of the piston is smaller than the volumetric flow that
is able to flow off through the pilot seat.
Upon opening of the pressure relief channel, because of the
pressure difference between the high pressure in the
annular space and the low pressure, which arises at the
rear of the piston and corresponds substantially to the
pressure of the efflux through the connection channel, a
force for opening the shut-off piston arises and presses
the shut-off piston in the cited prior art counter to the
action of the closing spring away from the main seal seat.
During refuelling, on the other hand, the greatest pressure
arises in the region of the connection channel, which is
connected to the refuelling system. During refuelling,
this pressure opens the shut-off piston generally without
electromagnetic actuation of the pilot organs and fills the
cylinder until the internal pressure in the cylinder
corresponds to the pressure of the refuelling system.
Here, instabilities have been observed because of the
closing spring between shut-off piston and valve body. In
specific refuelling situations, the pressure difference is
insufficient to overcome the force of the closing spring.
In this case, the closing spring presses the piston into

the main seal seat and blocks the gas flow. Dynamic flow effects then cause the pressure in the middle
region to increase up to the pressure of the refueling system. When this pressure exceeds a specific limit
valve, the shut-off piston re-opens. These periodic operation may lead to unpleasant noise generation.
An object of the invention is to provide an electromagnetic valve of the described instabilities, in that the
shut-off piston is disposed in a substantially freely displaceable manner in the valve body and it is develops
a pretension force that presses the shut-off piston against the main seal seat.
The pretension force of the pretension spring for the pilot seal is significantly lower than the force of the
closing spring of the prior art. The reliable opening and closing of the shut-off piston is achieved
substantially by fluid dynamic effects.
The pressure reduction channel preferably opens out via small flow channels at the front of the shut-off
piston close to the main seal seat. In this region, when the shut-off piston is open, the smallest flow cross
section and hence the highest rate of flow occurs. As the rate of flow decreases again from this region
towards the connection channel, which has a larger cross section, in the said region with the highest rate of
flow the static pressure is at its lowest. Because of this fluid dynamic increase of the vacuum at the mouth of
the pressure

reduction channel, the pressure difference between the
front and the rear of the shut-off piston is increased and
a reliable opening is effected when the pilot seal releases
the pressure reduction channel.
Brief description of the drawings
There now follows a description of forms of construction of
the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The drawings show in:
Fig. 1 a side view of an upper cylinder portion with a
screwed-in electromagnetic valve.
Fig. 2 a front view of the arrangement of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 a plan view of the arrangement of Fig. 1,
Fig. 4 a sectional view of the arrangement along the
section line A-A in Fig. 3,
Fig. 5 a sectional view along the section line B-B of
Fig. 4,
Fig. 6 a sectional view of the electromagnetic valve
along the section line C-C in Fig. 5,
Fig. 7 a sectional view of the thermal safety
arrangement along the section line D-D in Fig. 5,
Fig. 8 a sectional view of a manual shut-off valve along
the section line E-E in Fig. 5,
Fig. 9 a sectional view of a pressure relief element
with rupture diaphragm along the section line F-F
in Fig. 5,
Fig. 10 a detail of the valve body with shut-off piston
and electromagnetic control elements disposed
thereon in a sectional view.

Fig. 11 a reduced representation of the assembled parts
of the electromagnetic valve of Fig. 10 in side
view.
Fig. 12 an enlarged view of the individual parts of the
thermal safety element of Fig, 7,
Fig. 13 a diagrammatic view of the individual parts of
the thermal safety element of Fig. 12,
Fig. 14 a sectional view of a flow restrictor and
Fig. 15 the side view of the flow restrictor of Fig. 14,
Fig. 16 a side view of a coupling piece with non-return
valve.
Fig. 17 a sectional view of a coupling piece with non-
return valve and
Fig. 18 the diagrammatic view of the coupling piece of
Figs. 16 and 17.
Figs. 1 to 4 show the upper portion of a gas cylinder 1, in
the cylinder neck of which an internal thread 2 is disposed
for receiving an external thread 3 on a valve body 4 (see
Fig A ) . The head end 5 of the valve body 4 situated
outside of the gas cylinder 1 may be seen in Figs. 1, 2 and
4. It is covered by a protective plate 6 made of steel.
The valve body 4 itself, in the present case, is made of
brass. The protective plate 6 is fastened by fastening
screws 63 (Fig. 3) to the valve body 4. Situated between
the protective plate 6 and the head end 5 of the valve body
4 is an elastic layer 7 of plastics material. The elastic
layer 7 damps impacts upon the protective plate 6 and seals
off the head end 5 of the valve body 4 from moisture.
As may be seen in particular in Figs. 4 and 5, all of the
openings for receiving spaces and the mouth of the cavity
15 for the shut-off piston and the electromagnetic control

elements of the valve are situated in the region of the
head end 5 of the valve body 4. Thus, the coupling piece 8
without a non-return valve is screwed into a receiving
space 9 provided with an internal thread 9 at the head end
5 of the valve body 4. The coupling piece 8 without a non-
return valve is used for the connection to the engine or to
a further gas cylinder 1. The coupling piece 10 in the
opposite receiving space 11 has a non-return valve and is
used for the connection to a refuelling system. Situated
in the region of the coupling pieces 8, 10 are openings of
flow channels 12, 13, 14, which are connected to the cavity
15 for receiving the electromagnetic control elements 25,
28, 29 and the shut-off piston 31. A further flow channel
16 connects the electromagnetic valve via a flow restrictor
17 to the interior of the gas cylinder 1. A manually
actuable shut-off valve 18 is disposed in the flow channel
16 to the flow restrictor 17 inside the gas cylinder 1. By
means of a suitable turning tool this manual shut-off valve
18 may be closed, thereby interrupting the gas flow to the
cavity 15. Further flow channels 19 lead from the interior
of the gas cylinder 1 to a pressure relief element in the
form of a rupture diaphragm 20, which bursts in the event
of an excessively high pressure inside the gas cylinder 1.
A flow channel 21 likewise leads from the interior of the
gas cylinder 1 to the thermal safety device 22.
The mode of operation of the electromagnetic valve is
apparent in particular from Fig. 10. The functional
elements of the valve are inserted into the cavity 15
inside the valve body 4. The cavity 15 is closed by means
of a screw cap 23, which is screwed into an internal thread
on the upper end of the cavity 15 and sealed by means of a
sealing ring 24. The coil 25 for actuating the electric

valve is inserted in the cavity 15. The coil 25 is
connected by a connection cable 26 to a non-illustrated
power source. Extending inside the coil 25 is a sleeve 27,
the bottom foot portion of which is screw-connected to
the lower portion of the cavity 15. The upper portion of
the sleeve 27 is cylinder-envelope-shaped and surrounds two
armatures 28, 29.
The first armature 28 is supported via a distance piece 30
against a shut-off piston 31, which is disposed
displaceably inside the sleeve 27. At the head end, there
is situated in the centre of the shut-off piston 31 a
pressure reduction channel 32, the upper opening of which
forms a pilot opening. Lying against the pilot opening is
a pilot seal 33, which is pressed by a plunger 34 against
the pilot opening by means of a spring 35, which is
supported against the upper cover wall 36 of the sleeve 27.
The closed state of the valve shown in Fig. 10 prevails
when there is no current applied in the coil. When current
is applied to the coil, the armature 29 is lifted and takes
the pilot seal 33 with it. This releases the flow through
the pressure reduction channel 32 and allows the opening
movement of the shut-off piston 31 for the controlled
removal of gas during driving mode.
The annular space 37, which is delimited partly by the
outer annular surface of the shut-off piston 31 and partly
by the lower portion of the sleeve 27, is connected to the
interior of the gas cylinder 1. Furthermore, gaps and
bores in the valve arrangement provide a connection of the
annular space 37 to the space inside the sleeve 27 that is
situated above and at the rear of the shut-off piston 31.

The connection channel 38 in front of the central region of
the piston 31 is connected by flow channels to the engine
and has a relatively low pressure.
In order to open the connection between the annular space
37 and the connection channel 38, the piston 31 has to be
lifted. Thus, a main seal 39 on the piston 31 is moved
away from a main seal seat 40 in the valve body 4 and a
flow cross section is opened between main seal 39 and main
seal seat 40. The main seal 39 is fastened to the piston
31 by means of a seal holder 41 screw-fastened to the
piston 31. The seal holder 41 is penetrated by the lower
portion of the pressure relief channel 32. The pressure
relief channel 32 opens outwards at the periphery of the
head of the seal holder 41 via two flow channels 42 of
small cross section. It may be seen that, when the shut-
off piston 31 is open, the flow channels 42 of small cross
section lie close to the smallest cross section between the
annular space 37 and the connection channel 38. In this
region the rate of flow is at its highest and consequently
the static pressure is at its lowest. When the shut-off
piston 31 is closed, the low pressure of the supply line to
the engine prevails in the connection channel 38. At the
rear of the shut-off piston 31, i.e. at the side of the
shut-off piston 31 facing the armatures 28, 29, via the
previously mentioned gaps the high pressure in the gas
cylinder 1 and in the annular gap 37 builds up. The
pressure difference between this high pressure and the low
pressure in the connection channel 38 leads to the shut-off
piston 31 being pressed into its illustrated closed
position.

When the pressure reduction channel 32 is opened through
lifting of the pilot seal 33 by means of the movable
armature 2 9, the high pressure flows from the rear of the
shut-off piston 31 through the pressure reduction channel
32 into the connection channel 38. The narrow gaps and
bores only allow gas to flow slowly out of the annular
space 37 towards the rear of the shut-off piston 31, so
that the pressure here, when the pressure reduction channel
is open, corresponds substantially to the low pressure in
the flow cross section between main seal 39 and main seal
seat 40. The pressure above atmospheric in the annular
space 37, which communicates with the interior of the gas
cylinder 1, presses the shut-off piston 31 into its upper
open position. This releases the said flow cross section
between the main seal 39 and the main seal seat 40. As
already mentioned, by virtue of the flow rate and the
deflection of the flow the pressure in the region of the
mouths of the efflux channels 42 is additionally reduced,
with the result that the pressure at the rear of the shut-
off piston 31 drops further. The shut-off piston 31
therefore remains in its open position when the pressure
reduction channel 32 is open.
For closure, the pilot seal 33 need merely, through de-
excitation of the coil 25, be pressed once more by means of
the pretension spring 35 against the mouth of the pressure
reduction channel 32. The flow of gas from the rear to the
front of the shut-off piston 31 is interrupted, and via the
previously mentioned gaps the high pressure from the
annular space 37 and the interior of the gas cylinder 1 may
build up at the rear of the piston 31. The pressure
difference compared to the low pressure in the connection
channel 38 drives the piston 31 into its closed position.
Further seals 43 to 45 are provided for preventing
uncontrolled gas flows. In the pressure reduction channel
32 a filter 46 is provided, which prevents soiling of the
electromagnetic control elements at the rear of the shut-
off piston 31.
During refuelling, flow through the arrangement occurs in
the opposite direction. In said case, the coil 25 is
generally de-excited, i.e. no current is applied, and the
shut-off piston 31 is in its closed position. Inside the
gas cylinder 1 only a slight pressure above atmospheric
prevails. There is attached from outside a refuelling
connection, which feeds gas at high pressure to the
connection channel 38. The high pressure above atmospheric
of this gas pushes the shut-off piston 31 into its open
position. In contrast to the prior art - with the
exception of the low spring force of the spring 35 for
closing the pilot seal 33 - no mechanical closing force
acts upon the shut-off piston 31. It is therefore pressed
into its open position as soon as there is a slight
pressure above atmospheric inside the connection channel
38. At this moment, gas from the refuelling system may
flow via the connection channel 38 through the annular
space 37 into the gas cylinder. As there is no
considerable mechanical closing force counteracting the
opening of the shut-off piston 31, unstable states, in
which such a closing force during.refuelling moves the
shut-off piston into the closed position, are avoided. The
throttle effect at the efflux channel 42 leads to a high
pressure difference between the connection channel 38 and
the space above the seal 44.

Fig. 11 shows a side view of the screw cap 23 with sealing
ring 24, coil 25 and the lower portion of the sleeve 27
with further sealing ring 43 and external thread 47.
Figs. 12 and 13 show the individual parts of the thermal
safety device 22. This comprises a cover 48, which is
screwed into a thread in a receiving space 49 of the valve
body 4 (see Fig. 7). The cover 48 presses against a glass
body 50. The glass body 50 holds a closing piston 51 in a
closed position, particularly when the gas passes through
the pilot seat into the space above the shut-off piston.
As Figure 7 reveals, in the closed position the lower
portion of the closing piston 51 is situated in the flow
channel 2l and seals off said flow channel by means of the
sealing ring 62 (Figure 12).
The glass body 50 is filled with a liquid and bursts in the
event of overheating. At this moment, the flow channel 21
opens (see Fig. 7) to allow the gas to escape from the gas
cylinder 1.
The efflux opening 59 of the thermal safety device may be
seen in Fig. 5. It is situated, like the efflux opening 60
of the safety element with rupture diaphragm 20, on the
lower part of the periphery of the head end 5 of the valve
body. The valve body 4 with the gas cylinder 1 is fitted
below the passenger compartment (not shown) of a vehicle so
that both efflux openings 59, 60 lie at the side remote
from the passenger compartment.
Figs. 14 and 15 show a known flow restrictor 17, which is
fitted on the mouth of the flow channel 16 (cf. Fig. 8).
The flow restrictor 17 by means of a blocking body 53 has

The effect that, in the event of a large pressure difference between the flow channel 16 and the interior of
the gas cylinder 1, the gas quantity flowing out is reduced by means of the blocking body 53. A filter 54 is
additionally provided, which prevents impurities from flowing into the flow channel 16. In an alternative
embodiment, the filter 54 may no longer apply.
Figs. 16 to 18 show a coupling piece 10 with non-return valve. The non-return valve may be seen in
particular in the sectional view of Fig. 17. It is used to connect the refueling connection to the as cylinder 1.
The non-return valve has substantially two active elements, namely a spherical blocking body 55 and a seat
56 for the blocking body.
The invention therefore provides an electromagnetic valve for a gas cylinder (1), in particular a gas cylinder
(1) for gas-powered motor vehicles, having a valve body (4); a threaded portion of the valve body with an
external thread (3), which is screwable into an internal thread (2) on the gas cylinder (1); a portion of the
valve body (4) projecting into the gas cylinder (1); a shut-off piston (31); electromagnetic control elements
(25,28,29) by which the shut-off piston (31) is movable from an open position to a closed position,
wherein the valve body (4) for receiving the shut-off piston (31) and the electromagnetic control elements
(25, 28, 29) has a cavity (15), which is disposed inside the threaded portion and/or the portion of the valve
body (4) projecting into the gas cylinder (1), a protective device against mechanteal actfens is provided on
the head end (5) of the valve body (4) situated outside of the gas cylinder (1) and
wherein a mouth of the cavity (15) is disposed on the head end (5) of the valve body (4) situated outside of
the gas cylinder (1), and the shut-off piston (31) and the electromagnetic control elements (25,28,29) can
be inserted into the cavity (15) through the mouth, characterized in that the electromagnetic valve comprises
a manual shut-off vale (18) for interaipting the gas flow to the cavity (15).

List of reference characters
1 gas cylinder
2 internal thread
3 external thread
4 valve body
5 head end
6 protective plate
7 elastic layer
8 coupling piece without a non-return valve
9 receiving space for coupling piece
10 coupling piece with non-return valve
11 receiving space for coupling piece
12 flow channel
13 flow channel
14 flow channel
15 cavity
16 flow channel
17 flow restrictor
18 manual shut-off valve
19 flow channel
20 rupture diaphragm
21 flow channel
22 thermal safety device
23 screw cap
24 sealing ring
25 coil
26 power cable
27 sleeve
28 armature
29 armature
30 distance piece
31 shut-off piston
32 pressure reduction channel
33 pilot seal
34 plunger
35 spring
36 cover wall
37 annular space
38 connection channel
39 main seal
40 main seal seat
41 seal holder
42 efflux channel
43-45 seals
46 filter
47 external thread
48 cover
49 receiving space
50 glass body
51 closing piston
52 pretension spring
53 blocking body
54 filter
55 blocking body
56 seat
57 support rib
58 cutout
59 efflux opening of thermal safety device
60 efflux opening of safety element with rupture
diaphragm
61 sealing ring
62 sealing ring
63 fastening screw

We claim:-
1. Electromagnetic valve for a gas cylinder (1), in particular a gas cylinder (1) for
gas-powered motor vehicles, having
• a valve body (4);
• a threaded portion of the valve body with an external thread (3), which is
screwable into an internal thread (2) on the gas cylinder (1);
• a portion of the valve body (4) projecting into the gas cylinder (1);
• a shut-off piston (31);
• electromagnetic control elements (25, 28, 29) by which the shut-off piston
(31) is movable from an open position to a closed position,
wherein the valve body (4) for receiving the shut-off piston (31) and the
electromagnetic control elements (25, 28, 29) has a cavity (15), which is
disposed inside the threaded portion and/or the portion of the valve body (4)
projecting into the gas cylinder (1), a protective device against mechanical
actions is provided on the head end (5) of the valve body (4) situated outside of
the gas cylinder (1) and
wherein a mouth of the cavity (15) is disposed on the head end (5) of the valve
body (4) situated outside of the gas cylinder (1), and the shut-off piston (31)
and the electromagnetic control elements (25, 28, 29) can be inserted into the
cavity (15) through the mouth, characterized in that the electromagnetic valve
comprises a manual shut-off valve (18) for interrupting the gas flow to the cavity
(15).

2. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 1, wherein disposed In the region
of the mouth of the cavity (15) is an external thread (3), Into which a screw
cap (23) Is screwable.
3. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve body
(4) has at least one receiving space for an additional element, and wherein
the additional element can be inserted into the receiving space through an
opening situated outside of the gas cylinder (1).
4. Electromagnetic valve according to one of the preceding claims, wherein
the at least one additional element is one of the following elements:
• a connection coupling (8) without a non-return valve,
• a connection coupling (10) with a non-return valve,
• a safety element with rupture diaphragm (20) for protecting against
excessively high pressure,
• a safety element (22) with a fluid-filled glass body (50) for thermal
protection.
.5. Electromagnetic valve according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the
valve body (4) has at least one flow channel (12, 13) connecting the cavity (15)
to at least one coupling piece (8,10) outside of the gas cylinder (1).

6. Electromagnetic valve according to one of the preceding claims wherein the
valve body (4) comprises at least one flow channel (14, 16) connecting the cavity
(15) to a mouth into the interior of the gas cylinder (1).
7. Electromagnetic valve according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the
valve body (4) comprises at least one flow channel (16, 19, 21) connecting the
at least one receiving space to a mouth into the interior of the gas cylinder (1).
8. Electromagnetic valve according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein a flow
restrictor (17) is disposed on the mouth into the interior of the gas cylinder (1).
9. Electromagnetic valve according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a
filter (54) is disposed on the mouth into the interior of the gas cylinder (1).
10. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 1, wherein the protective device is a
protective plate (6).
11. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 1, wherein the head end (5) of the
valve body (4) has rounded or chamfered edges.

12. Electromagnetic valve according to one of claims 1 and 10, wherein the
protective plate (6) has at least one support rib (57).
13. Electromagnetic valve according to claims 1 and 10, wherein disposed in the
protective plate (6) is at least one cutout (58), which is preferably situated close
to at least one support rib (57).
14. Electromagnetic valve according to claims 1, 10 and 11, wherein an elastic
layer (7) is disposed between the protective plate (6) and the head end (5) of
the valve body (4).
15. Electromagnetic valve according to claim 14, wherein the elastic layer (7) is
made of a thermoplastic polymer.
16. Electromagnetic valve according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the
head end (5) of the valve body (4) is designed as a polygon, in particular a
quadrilateral or hexagon.
17. Electromagnetic valve according to one of claims 4 to 16, wherein the gas
cylinder (1) can be attached to a motor vehicle with a passenger compartment,
the valve comprises a plurality of safety elements (18, 20, 22), which have an

efflux opening (59) situated outside of the gas cylinder (1), and wherein all of
the efflux openings are disposed on the valve body (4) at a side remote from the
passenger compartment.


Electromagnetic valve for a gas cylinder (1), In particular a gas cylinder (1) for
gas-powered motor vehicles, having a valve body (4); a threaded portion of the
valve body with an external thread (3), which is screwable into an internal thread
(2) on the gas cylinder (1); a portion of the valve body (4) projecting into the
gas cylinder (1); a shut-off piston (31); electromagnetic control elements (25,
28, 29) by which the shut-off piston (31) is movable from an open position to a
closed position,
wherein the valve body (4) for receiving the shut-off piston (31) and the
electromagnetic control elements (25, 28, 29) has a cavity (15), which is
disposed inside the threaded portion and/or the portion of the valve body (4)
projecting into the gas cylinder (1),
wherein a mouth of the cavity (15) is disposed on the head end (5) of the valve
body (4) situated outside of the gas cylinder (1), and the shut-off piston (31)
and the electromagnetic control elements (25, 28, 29) can be inserted into the
cavity (15) through the mouth, characterized in that the electromagnetic valve
comprises a manual shut-off vale (18) for interrupting the gas flow to the cavity
(15).

Documents:

001022-kolnp-2006 abstract.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 claims.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 correspondence others.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 description complete.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 drawings.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 form-1.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 form-2.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 form-3.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 form-5.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 international publication.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 international search authority report.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 pct form.pdf

001022-kolnp-2006 priority document.pdf

01022-kolnp-2006 correspondence-1.2.pdf

01022-kolnp-2006 form-18.pdf

01022-kolnp-2006-assignment.pdf

01022-kolnp-2006-correspondence others-1.1.pdf

01022-kolnp-2006-form-26.pdf

01022-kolnp-2006-form-6.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-ABSTRACT 1.1.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-ABSTRACT.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-CLAIMS 1.1.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-CLAIMS-1.2.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-DESCRIPTION COMPLETE 1.1.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-DRAWINGS 1.1.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-FORM 1 1.1.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-FORM 13.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-FORM 2 1.1.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-FORM 26.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-FORM 5 1.1.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-FORM 6 1.1.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-FORM-27-1.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-FORM-27.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-abstract.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-claims.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-correspondence.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-description (complete).pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-drawings.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-examination report.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-form 1.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-form 13.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-form 18.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-form 2.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-form 26.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-form 3.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-form 5.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-form 6.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-gpa.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-specification.pdf

1022-kolnp-2006-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT-1.1.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

1022-KOLNP-2006-TRANSLATED COPY OF PRIORITY DOCUMENT.pdf

abstract-01022-kolnp-2006.jpg


Patent Number 236161
Indian Patent Application Number 1022/KOLNP/2006
PG Journal Number 41/2009
Publication Date 09-Oct-2009
Grant Date 06-Oct-2009
Date of Filing 21-Apr-2006
Name of Patentee GM GOLBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS INC.
Applicant Address 300 RENAISSANCE CENTER, DETROIT, MI
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 PERTHEL, KLAUS RUE D'ANVERS 74
2 JAUSS, ANDREAS AM TRIFT 4, 56479 WESTEMOHE
PCT International Classification Number F16K 1/30,A61K 31/40
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2004/011913
PCT International Filing date 2004-10-21
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10361781.7 2003-12-31 Germany
2 10349378.6 2003-10-21 Germany