Throttle valve for adjusting the feeding of a gas to a fuel cell and electric drive vehicle including the throttle valve
A throttle valve for adjusting the feeding of a gas to a fuel cell, which includes: a valve body, divided into a first and a second portion; a gas feeding duct obtained in the first portion; a throttle plate arranged in the feeding duct; a shaft which is rotatably mounted in the first portion and supports the throttle plate; and an actuator which is mounted in the second portion and is configured to rotate the shaft. The throttle valve further comprises a magnetic joint, which transmits the motion from the actuator to the shaft and is divided into a first half coupled to the shaft, and a second half facing the first half and coupled to the actuator. The throttle valve also includes an insulating wall which insulates the first partition, in a pneumatically sealed manner, from the second portion of the valve body and is arranged between the two halves of the magnetic joint.
1. A throttle valve ( 10 ) for adjusting the feeding of a gas to a fuel cell ( 3 ); the throttle valve ( 10 ) comprises:
a valve body ( 12 ) including a first ( 12 A) and a second portion ( 12 B);
a gas feeding duct ( 14 ) obtained in the first portion ( 12 A) of the valve body ( 12 );
a throttle plate ( 15 ), arranged in the feeding duct ( 14 );
a shaft ( 16 ), which is rotatably mounted in the first portion ( 12 A) of the valve body ( 12 ) and supports the throttle plate ( 15 ); and
an actuator ( 8 ), which is mounted in the second portion ( 12 B) of the valve body ( 12 ) and is configured to rotate the shaft ( 16 );
the throttle valve ( 10 ) is characterized in that it comprises:
a magnetic joint ( 20 ), which transmits the motion from the actuator ( 8 ) to the shaft and comprises a first half ( 25 ) coupled to the shaft ( 16 ) and a second half ( 26 ) facing the first half ( 25 ) and coupled to the actuator ( 8 ); and
an insulating wall ( 27 ) which is configured to insulate the first portion ( 12 A) of the valve body ( 12 ), in a pneumatically sealed manner, from the second portion ( 12 B) of the valve body ( 12 ) and is arranged between the two halves ( 25 , 26 ) of the magnetic joint ( 20 ).
2. The throttle valve ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first half ( 25 ) of the magnetic joint ( 20 ) comprises a plurality of first magnetic elements ( 41 ); and
the second half ( 26 ) of the magnetic joint comprises a plurality of second magnetic elements ( 29 ).
3. The throttle valve ( 10 ) according to claim 1 and comprising a position sensor ( 40 ), which is arranged in the first portion ( 12 A) of the valve body ( 12 ), is coupled to the shaft ( 16 ) and is designed to detect the angular position of the shaft ( 12 ).
4. The throttle valve ( 10 ) according to claim 1 and comprising a return spring ( 34 ), which is arranged in the first portion ( 12 A) of the valve body ( 12 ), is coupled to the shaft ( 16 ) and is designed to rotate the shaft ( 16 ) towards a closing position.
5. The throttle valve ( 10 ) according to claim 1 and comprising a gear transmission ( 18 ), which is arranged in the second portion ( 12 B) of the valve body and is configured to connect the first half ( 25 ) of the magnetic joint ( 20 ) to the actuator ( 8 ).
6. The throttle valve ( 10 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the gear transmission ( 18 ) comprises:
a first gear ( 21 ), which is integral to a shaft of the actuator ( 8 );
a second gear ( 22 ), which meshes with the first gear ( 21 ); and
a toothed sector ( 23 ), which meshes with the second gear ( 22 ) and is arranged, relative to the second gear ( 22 ), on the side opposite the first gear ( 21 ).
7. The throttle valve ( 10 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the second gear ( 22 ) comprises a first larger toothed ring, which meshes with the first gear ( 21 ), and a second smaller toothed ring, which meshes with the toothed sector ( 23 ).
8. The throttle valve ( 10 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the toothed sector ( 23 ) is coaxial and directly fitted to the first half ( 25 ) of the magnetic joint.
9. An electric drive vehicle ( 1 ) comprising:
a reservoir ( 2 ) containing hydrogen;
a fuel cell ( 3 ), which uses hydrogen to generate electric energy;
a duct ( 4 , 5 ), which connects the reservoir ( 2 ) to the fuel cell ( 3 ); and
at least one electric motor ( 6 ) connected to drive wheels;
the electric drive vehicle ( 1 ) is characterized in that it comprises a throttle valve ( 10 ) according to claim 1 .