Actively controlled valve and method for operating an actively controlled valve

A method for the operation of an actively controlled valve, the valve comprising a housing, said housing comprising,

• a valve plate,
• a counter-plate fixedly arranged with respect to the housing, wherein the valve plate is rotatable with respect to the counter-plate,
• a drive apparatus which rotates the valve plate about a longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the counter-plate,
• wherein the valve plate is connected to the housing via a hollow-bar torsion spring extending concentrically to the longitudinal axis, and the valve plate is connected to the drive apparatus via a torsion rod extending within the hollow-bar torsion spring concentrically to the longitudinal axis, wherein the torsion rod is configured to store and release torsional energy supplied by the drive apparatus, and transfer said torsion energy to said hollow-bar torsion spring via rotating said valve plate, and
• a controllable holding apparatus, the method comprising
• fixedly holding the valve plate in a first position by the holding apparatus;
• releasing the valve plate by the holding apparatus so that the valve plate is moved by the energy stored in the torsion rod thereby tensioning the torsion rod by the drive apparatus;
• and
• holding the valve plate in a second position by the holding apparatus when stationary or approximately stationary.

A piston compressor comprising a valve, the valve comprising a housing, said housing comprising,

• a valve plate having passage openings,
• a counter-plate fixedly arranged with respect to the housing and having passage openings, wherein the valve plate is rotatable with respect to the counter-plate such that the passage openings form an open or closed passage, and
• a drive apparatus which rotates the valve plate about a longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the counter-plate,
• wherein the valve plate is connected to the housing via a hollow-bar torsion spring extending concentrically to the longitudinal axis, and the valve plate is connected to the drive apparatus via a torsion rod extending within the hollow-bar torsion spring and concentrically to the longitudinal axis, wherein the torsion rod is configured to store and release torsional energy supplied by the drive apparatus, and transfer said torsion energy to said hollow-bar torsion spring via rotating said valve plate;
• and
• wherein a controllable holding apparatus operable such that the position of the valve plate can be fixed.