Priority valve assembly and method for operating a priority valve assembly

摘要

A priority valve assembly includes a fluid supply line, a first fluid discharge line, and a second fluid discharge line, both of which are to be supplied with fluid via the fluid supply line. A priority valve throttles a fluid flow from the fluid supply line into the second fluid discharge line to prioritize the supply of fluid to the first fluid discharge line over the supply of fluid to the second fluid discharge line if a control parameter which is characteristic for an inlet fluid pressure (pE) in the fluid supply line falls below a first predetermined threshold value (p2). The priority valve reduces the throttling of the fluid flow from the fluid supply line into the second fluid discharge line if the control parameter falls below a second predetermined threshold value (p4) which is smaller than the first predetermined threshold value (p2).

主权项

1. A priority valve assembly comprising:
a fluid supply line, a first fluid discharge line which is to be supplied with fluid by way of the fluid supply line, a second fluid discharge line which is to be supplied with fluid by way of the fluid supply line, and a priority valve which is structured (i) to allow a fluid flow from the fluid supply line into the second fluid discharge line if a control parameter which is characteristic for an inlet fluid pressure (pE) in the fluid supply line is greater than a first predetermined threshold value (p2), wherein the priority valve is further structured (ii) to throttle a fluid flow from the fluid supply line into the second fluid discharge line for the purpose of prioritising the supply of fluid to the first fluid discharge line over the supply of fluid to the second fluid discharge line if the control parameter which is characteristic for the inlet fluid pressure (pE) in the fluid supply line falls below the first predetermined threshold value (p2) and (iii) to maintain the throttling of the fluid flow from the fluid supply line into the second fluid discharge line as long as the control parameter which is characteristic for the inlet fluid pressure in the fluid supply line is greater than a second predetermined threshold value (p4), and wherein the priority valve is furthermore structured (iv) to reduce the throttling of the fluid flow from the fluid supply line into the second fluid discharge line if the control parameter which is characteristic for the inlet fluid pressure (pE) in the fluid supply line falls below the second predetermined threshold value (p4) which is smaller than the first predetermined threshold value (p2), wherein the priority valve includes a single one-piece valve body and a single spring that applies a force solely in one direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve body and wherein said inlet fluid pressure is applied parallel to said longitudinal axis from a single direction opposite to said force applied by said spring.