Electrically powered valve and refrigeration appliance

Abstract

The utility model discloses an electric valve and refrigeration equipment relates to refrigeration control technical field, wherein, the electric valve includes lower valve seat, upper valve seat subassembly and valve core subassembly, upper valve seat subassembly includes upper valve seat, bearing and screw rod, the first end recessed with guide groove of upper valve seat, the groove bottom of guide groove is provided with the mounting hole of the second end of upper valve seat, the screw rod is worn in the mounting hole, and is installed in the second end of upper valve seat through bearing, valve core subassembly includes nut, valve core and sealing washer, valve core is installed in guide groove, and one end of valve core is installed with nut, through the direct forming of guide groove in upper valve seat, need not use guide sleeve, sealing washer is directly set up in the periphery of valve core and is formed integral whole with it, need not set up pressure sleeve and so on spacing component to fix sealing element, when pushing valve core subassembly into guide groove, the nut can be automatic extension into mounting hole and cooperate with screw rod, need not promote valve core subassembly and carry out the joint of screwing, to solve the problem that the electric valve structure of current and assembly process is complex.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of refrigeration control technology, and in particular to an electric valve and a refrigeration device. Background Technology

[0002] Existing large-diameter electronic expansion valves typically employ a split-assembly design. Specifically, the guide sleeve and upper valve seat must be molded separately before the guide sleeve is fitted into the inner cavity of the upper valve seat and assembled using a fixed connection. Subsequently, the valve core assembly, seals, pressure sleeve, and other components are sequentially installed. The valve core assembly must be lifted and screwed onto the screw, and finally, the upper valve seat is press-fitted into the lower valve seat. This structural design results in a large number of parts and complex assembly processes, increasing not only the difficulty of structural design and manufacturing processes but also production costs. Furthermore, the cumbersome assembly process affects product assembly efficiency and overall reliability, hindering market promotion and competitiveness. Utility Model Content

[0003] The main purpose of this utility model is to propose an electric valve and refrigeration equipment, which aims to solve the problems of complex structure and assembly process of existing electric valves.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the electric valve proposed in this utility model includes:

[0005] The lower valve seat has a valve port;

[0006] An upper valve seat assembly includes an upper valve seat, a bearing, and a lead screw. The upper valve seat and the lower valve seat enclose a valve cavity communicating with the valve port. The upper valve seat has a first end located inside the valve cavity and a second end located outside the valve cavity. The first end of the upper valve seat has a guide groove recessed therein. The bottom of the guide groove has a mounting hole penetrating the second end of the upper valve seat. The lead screw passes through the mounting hole and is mounted to the second end of the upper valve seat via the bearing, so that the lead screw is rotatably disposed relative to the upper valve seat.

[0007] The valve core assembly includes a nut, a valve core, and a sealing ring sleeved around the valve core. The valve core is movably mounted in the guide groove along the groove depth direction to open or close the valve port. The nut is installed at one end of the valve core and extends into the mounting hole to engage with the lead screw thread.

[0008] In one embodiment, the distance between the end face of the lead screw near the first end of the upper valve seat and the end face of the first end of the upper valve seat is L1;

[0009] The distance between the end face of the valve core facing away from the valve port and the outermost thread of the nut's internal thread at the first end away from the upper valve seat is L2, where L1 > L2.

[0010] In one embodiment, 0.5mm ≤ L1 - L2 ≤ 10mm.

[0011] In one embodiment, the inner wall of the mounting hole is provided with an anti-rotation part, and the outer wall of the nut is provided with a mating part that engages with the anti-rotation part to restrict the circumferential rotation of the nut.

[0012] In one embodiment, the outer wall of the valve core is recessed with a sealing groove along its circumference, and the sealing ring is installed in the sealing groove.

[0013] In one embodiment, the valve core is recessed at the end opposite to the nut, and a through hole is provided at the bottom of the recess.

[0014] The nut passes through the through hole, and a limiting protrusion is provided on the outer side wall of one end of the nut located in the receiving groove. The limiting protrusion is used to limit the axial movement of the nut and is movably arranged relative to the valve core.

[0015] The valve core assembly also includes a spring and a limiting sleeve disposed in the receiving groove. The spring is disposed between the limiting sleeve and the nut and is used to provide a reverse force when the nut moves toward the groove opening of the receiving groove.

[0016] In one embodiment, the receiving groove includes a first groove segment and a second groove segment arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside. The first groove segment is recessed relative to the second groove segment to form an outwardly facing first annular step surface between the first groove segment and the second groove segment.

[0017] The limiting sleeve is supported on the first annular step surface.

[0018] In one embodiment, the nut has a positioning groove recessed at the end facing the spring, and one end of the spring is positioned within the positioning groove.

[0019] In one embodiment, the limiting sleeve has a limiting groove recessed at one end facing the spring, and the spring is installed in the limiting groove.

[0020] In one embodiment, a guide slope is provided at the opening of the receiving groove.

[0021] In one embodiment, the limiting sleeve is welded to the valve core.

[0022] In one embodiment, the mounting hole includes a first hole segment and a second hole segment sequentially disposed in a direction near the second end of the upper valve seat. The first hole segment is recessed relative to the second hole segment to form a second annular stepped surface between the first hole segment and the second hole segment, which faces the second end of the upper valve seat. The bearing is supported on the second annular stepped surface.

[0023] In one embodiment, the electric valve further includes a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly including a fixed plate and a rotor connected to the periphery of the fixed plate, the fixed plate having a connecting hole through its center;

[0024] The lead screw extends at least partially out of the nut and passes through the connecting hole to be fixed to the fixing plate.

[0025] In one embodiment, the lead screw is welded to the fixed plate.

[0026] This utility model also provides a refrigeration device, the refrigeration device including an electric valve, the electric valve comprising:

[0027] The lower valve seat has a valve port;

[0028] An upper valve seat assembly includes an upper valve seat, a bearing, and a lead screw. The upper valve seat and the lower valve seat enclose a valve cavity communicating with the valve port. The upper valve seat has a first end located inside the valve cavity and a second end located outside the valve cavity. The first end of the upper valve seat has a guide groove recessed therein. The bottom of the guide groove has a mounting hole penetrating the second end of the upper valve seat. The lead screw passes through the mounting hole and is mounted to the second end of the upper valve seat via the bearing, so that the lead screw is rotatably disposed relative to the upper valve seat.

[0029] The valve core assembly includes a nut, a valve core, and a sealing ring sleeved around the valve core. The valve core is movably mounted in the guide groove along the groove depth direction to open or close the valve port. The nut is installed at one end of the valve core and extends into the mounting hole to engage with the lead screw thread.

[0030] In one embodiment, the refrigeration equipment includes an air conditioner.

[0031] In this invention, the guide groove is directly formed on the upper valve seat, eliminating the need for a guide sleeve structure or installation. The lead screw and bearing are integrated at the second end of the upper valve seat, eliminating the steps of separate manufacturing and assembly of the guide sleeve and upper valve seat in traditional structures. The sealing ring is directly fitted around the valve core and forms an integral structure with it, eliminating the need for additional pressure sleeves or other limiting components to fix the seal, further reducing the number of parts and simplifying the assembly process. Furthermore, when the valve core assembly is pushed into the guide groove, the nut automatically extends into the mounting hole and engages with the lead screw, eliminating the need to lift the valve core assembly for screwing. This significantly reduces assembly difficulty and process complexity, not only reducing the number of parts but also significantly shortening the assembly process, reducing production costs and process difficulty, thus solving the problem of complex structures and assembly processes in existing electric valves. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] Figure 1 A cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electric valve provided by this utility model;

[0034] Figure 2 and Figure 3 for Figure 1 Assembly diagram of the upper valve seat assembly;

[0035] Figure 4 and Figure 5 for Figure 1 Assembly diagram of the valve core assembly;

[0036] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the nut structure in the diagram;

[0037] Figure 7 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the assembly of the upper valve seat assembly and the valve core assembly.

[0038] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0039] 100. Electric valve; 1. Lower valve seat; a. Valve port; 10. Upper valve seat assembly; 11. Upper valve seat; 11a. Guide groove; 11b. Mounting hole; 11b1. First hole section; 11b2. Second hole section; 21. Anti-rotation part; 22. Second annular step surface; 12. Bearing; 13. Lead screw; 20. Valve core assembly; 21. Nut; 211. Mating part; 212. Limiting protrusion; 21a. Positioning groove; 22. Valve core; 22a. Sealing groove; 22b. Receiving groove; 22b1. First groove section; 22b2. Second groove section; 221. First annular step surface; 22c. Through hole; 222. Guide slope; 23. Sealing ring; 24. Spring; 25. Limiting sleeve; 25a. Limiting groove; 30. Rotor assembly; 31. Fixing plate; 31a. Connecting hole; 32. Rotor.

[0040] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this utility model will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0042] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0043] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this utility model involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0044] Existing large-diameter electronic expansion valves typically employ a split-assembly design. Specifically, the guide sleeve and upper valve seat must be molded separately before the guide sleeve is fitted into the inner cavity of the upper valve seat and assembled using a fixed connection. Subsequently, the valve core assembly, seals, pressure sleeve, and other components are sequentially installed. The valve core assembly must be lifted and screwed onto the screw, and finally, the upper valve seat is press-fitted into the lower valve seat. This structural design results in a large number of parts and complex assembly processes, increasing not only the difficulty of structural design and manufacturing processes but also production costs. Furthermore, the cumbersome assembly process affects product assembly efficiency and overall reliability, hindering market promotion and competitiveness.

[0045] This utility model proposes an electric valve 100, which aims to solve the problems of complex structure and assembly process of existing electric valves.

[0046] Please see Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 7 In one embodiment of this utility model, the electric valve 100 includes a lower valve seat 1, an upper valve seat assembly 10, and a valve core assembly 20. The lower valve seat 1 has a valve port a; the upper valve seat assembly 10 includes an upper valve seat 11, a bearing 12, and a lead screw 13. The upper valve seat 11 and the lower valve seat 1 enclose a valve cavity that communicates with the valve port a. The upper valve seat 11 has a first end located inside the valve cavity and a second end located outside the valve cavity. The first end of the upper valve seat 11 is recessed with a guide groove 11a, and the bottom of the guide groove 11a has a mounting hole 11b penetrating the second end of the upper valve seat 11. The lead screw 13 passes through the mounting hole 11b and is mounted on the second end of the upper valve seat 11 via the bearing 12, so that the lead screw 13 is rotatably disposed relative to the upper valve seat 11; the valve core assembly 20 includes a nut 21, a valve core 22, and a sealing ring 23 sleeved around the valve core 22. The valve core 22 is movably mounted in the guide groove 11a along the groove depth direction of the guide groove 11a for opening or closing the valve port a. The nut 21 is installed at one end of the valve core 22, and the nut 21 extends into the mounting hole 11b to thread with the lead screw 13.

[0047] Please refer to the following when assembling: Figure 2 and Figure 3First, the upper valve seat assembly 10 is assembled. This upper valve seat assembly 10 includes an upper valve seat 11, a bearing 12, and a lead screw 13. The upper valve seat 11 and the lower valve seat 1 together form a valve cavity for accommodating the movement of the valve core assembly 20. This valve cavity is connected to the valve port a on the lower valve seat 1. One end (the first end) of the upper valve seat 11 is provided with a guide groove 11a. The bottom of the guide groove 11a has a mounting hole 11b extending to the other end (the second end) of the upper valve seat 11. The lead screw 13 passes through the mounting hole 11b and is rotatably mounted to the inner side of the second end of the upper valve seat 11 via the bearing 12.

[0048] Specifically, during the assembly process, the bearing 12 is first sleeved around the lead screw 13 and fixedly connected to it. Then, the lead screw 13 is inserted into the mounting hole 11b from the first end of the upper valve seat 11, and the bearing 12 is securely installed on the inner side of the second end of the upper valve seat 11. The tight fit between the bearing 12 and the mounting hole 11b is ensured by fasteners or other fixing methods, thereby completing the construction of the upper valve seat assembly 10.

[0049] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5 Next, the valve core assembly 20 is assembled. The valve core assembly 20 includes a valve core 22, a nut 21, and a sealing ring 23. The valve core 22 is movably disposed in the guide groove 11a along the groove depth direction of the guide groove 11a to control the opening and closing of the valve port a.

[0050] It should be noted that the sealing ring 23 is usually made of a material with certain elasticity and temperature resistance, such as rubber or fluororubber, and is used to achieve a sealing fit between the valve core and the upper valve seat when the valve core closes the valve port.

[0051] When the valve core 22 moves towards valve port a and reaches the closed position under the drive of the lead screw 13 and nut 21, the sealing ring 23 is compressed and tightly fitted between the valve core 22 and the upper valve seat 11, effectively blocking the possibility of refrigerant leakage from the gap between them. Especially under high temperature or high pressure conditions, if this sealing structure is not provided, the refrigerant may flow along the gap between the outer wall of the valve core 22 and the guide groove 11a into the cavity communicating with the refrigerant inlet, thereby affecting the sealing performance of the electric valve and even causing external leakage or a decrease in system efficiency.

[0052] Nut 21 is installed at one end of valve core 22. It should be noted that nut 21 can be fixedly connected to valve core 22 by means of screwing, snap-fitting or sleeve connection, or it can be installed relatively sliding along the axis of valve core 22. The specific connection method is not limited.

[0053] In practice, please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 7First, the sealing ring 23 is directly fitted onto the outer periphery of the valve core 22 to form an integral structure. Then, the integral structure is pushed from one end of the guide groove 11a to the bottom of the guide groove 11a. At this time, the nut 21 is also inserted into the mounting hole 11b and gradually approaches the screw 13 during the pushing process. When the valve core 22 is fully installed, the nut 21 can automatically align with the screw 13 and form a threaded engagement. Unlike the existing technology, it is not necessary to lift the valve core assembly 20 and then screw it in, which greatly simplifies the assembly process.

[0054] Finally, the upper valve seat 11 is pressed onto the open end of the lower valve seat 1 so that the two fit together tightly, thereby forming a complete valve cavity and completing the overall assembly of the electric valve 100.

[0055] In the technical solution of this utility model, the guide groove 11a is directly formed on the upper valve seat 11, eliminating the need for a guide sleeve structure and installation of a guide sleeve. The lead screw 13 and bearing 12 are integrated at the second end of the upper valve seat 11, eliminating the steps of separate manufacturing and assembly of the guide sleeve and the upper valve seat 11 in the traditional structure. The sealing ring 23 is directly sleeved on the periphery of the valve core 22 and forms an integral structure with it, eliminating the need for additional pressure sleeves or other limiting components to fix the seal, further reducing the number of parts and simplifying the assembly process. Furthermore, when the valve core assembly 20 is pushed into the guide groove 11a, the nut 21 automatically extends into the mounting hole 11b and engages with the lead screw 13, eliminating the need to lift the valve core assembly 20 and screw it in, significantly reducing the assembly difficulty and process complexity. This not only reduces the number of parts but also significantly shortens the assembly process, reducing production costs and process difficulty, thus solving the problem of complex structure and assembly process of the existing electric valve 100.

[0056] Further, please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 7 In this embodiment, the distance between the end face of the lead screw 13 near the first end of the upper valve seat 11 and the end face of the first end of the upper valve seat 11 is L1; the distance between the end face of the valve core 22 away from the valve port a and the outermost thread of the internal thread of the nut 21 away from the first end of the upper valve seat 11 is L2, where L1 > L2.

[0057] It should be noted that the distance between the end face of the lead screw 13 near the first end of the upper valve seat 11 and the end face of the first end is defined as L1, while the distance between the end face of the valve core 22 away from the valve port a and the outermost thread of the internal thread of the nut 21 away from the first end of the upper valve seat 11 is defined as L2.

[0058] During actual assembly, when the valve core assembly 20 is pushed from the opening of the guide groove 11a to the bottom of the groove, the valve core 22 first slides into the mounting groove along the axial direction of the guide groove 11a, and simultaneously drives the nut 21 to extend into the mounting hole 11b of the upper valve seat 11. At this time, due to the design relationship that L1 is greater than L2, the nut 21 has not yet formed a threaded engagement with the lead screw 13 before the valve core 22 is fully inserted into the guide groove 11a, and only partially extends into the mounting hole 11b. Therefore, after the valve core 22 and the guide groove 11a have completed partial guiding engagement (see [link to assembly instructions]), the nut 21 is not yet threaded into the lead screw 13. Figure 7 (At point A in the diagram), then by rotating the lead screw 13 or the valve core assembly 20, the nut 21 is threaded into the lead screw 13 (see section A). Figure 7 (at point B in the diagram), thus achieving the transmission connection.

[0059] If L1 is set to be less than L2, the nut 21 and the screw 13 need to be screwed in for a certain stroke before the valve core 22 and the guide groove 11a are aligned and installed. However, since the threaded connection process involves relative rotational motion, the axial alignment between the valve core 22 and the guide groove 11a becomes difficult, especially in the absence of guide support, which can easily lead to skew or jamming, affecting assembly efficiency and consistency.

[0060] In this utility model, by reasonably setting the relationship between L1 and L2, the valve core 22 maintains linear motion during the process of entering the guide groove 11a. After it completes the initial positioning with the guide groove 11a, it begins to engage with the lead screw 13 by thread, thereby effectively avoiding assembly problems caused by misalignment during rotation.

[0061] Specifically, in order to ensure that the valve core assembly 20 can be smoothly guided and positioned during the assembly process before forming a threaded engagement with the lead screw 13, in this embodiment, 0.5mm≤L1-L2≤10mm.

[0062] The distance between the end face of the lead screw 13 near the first end of the upper valve seat 11 and that end face is defined as L1. The distance between the end face of the valve core 22 away from the valve port a and the outermost thread of the internal thread of the nut 21 away from the first end of the upper valve seat 11 is defined as L2. The difference between the two is limited to satisfying the relationship: 0.5mm≤L1-L2≤10mm. This range design ensures that during actual assembly, when the valve core 22 is pushed from the opening of the guide groove 11a to the bottom of the groove, the nut 21 has not yet immediately engaged with the lead screw 13, but has first completed a section of axial sliding, so that the movement of the valve core 22 in the guide groove 11a remains stable and without rotational interference, thereby achieving good guiding alignment.

[0063] Within the aforementioned size range, the structural design where L1 is slightly larger than L2 not only avoids assembly deviations caused by premature engagement of the nut 21 and the lead screw 13, but also provides reasonable guiding space for subsequent thread insertion. For example, when L1-L2 is less than 0.5mm, the valve core 22 may begin to engage with the lead screw 13 before fully entering the guide groove 11a, resulting in uncontrollable deviations or jamming during assembly. When L1-L2 exceeds 10mm, additional stroke may be required to complete the thread engagement, which would negatively impact assembly efficiency and increase structural dimensions. Therefore, controlling this difference between 0.5mm and 10mm ensures that the valve core assembly 20 has sufficient linear guiding length during its entry into the guide groove 11a, and allows for rapid and smooth threaded connection with the lead screw 13 after initial positioning, significantly improving assembly stability and consistency.

[0064] In addition, the selection of this size range also takes into account the actual needs of manufacturing tolerances and assembly errors, which helps to maintain consistent assembly performance across different batches of products, reduce defect rates, and improve production efficiency and product reliability.

[0065] Furthermore, to ensure that when the lead screw 13 rotates relative to the nut 21, the nut 21 only produces linear motion along its axis to drive the valve core 22 to open or close valve port a, and to avoid transmission failure or control instability caused by the nut 21's own circumferential rotation, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 2 and Figure 6 In this embodiment, the inner wall of the mounting hole 11b is provided with an anti-rotation part 21, and the outer wall of the nut 21 is provided with a mating part 211 that engages with the anti-rotation part 21 to restrict the circumferential rotation of the nut 21.

[0066] An anti-rotation part 21 is provided on the inner wall of the mounting hole 11b, and correspondingly, a mating part 211 that mates with the anti-rotation part 21 is provided on the outer wall of the nut 21. This anti-rotation mating structure can effectively restrict the circumferential degree of freedom of the nut 21 after assembly, so that it can only move axially under the guidance of the guide groove 11a.

[0067] Specifically, the anti-rotation part 21 can be one or more limiting protrusions protruding from a local area of ​​the inner wall of the mounting hole 11b, while the mating part 211 is a groove or planar structure correspondingly provided on the outer wall of the nut 21. The two are adapted to each other to form an anti-rotation mating relationship.

[0068] As another implementation, the cross-sectional shape of at least one segment of the mounting hole 11b can be designed to be non-circular, such as an elongated hole or other irregularly shaped hole with a limiting function. Correspondingly, the outer peripheral part of the nut 21 that mates with the segment of the hole is also machined to match the cross-sectional shape, so that the nut 21 cannot rotate around its own axis after being inserted into the mounting hole 11b, but can still slide freely along the axial direction of the hole.

[0069] Through the design of the anti-rotation structure, during the operation of the electric valve 100, when the lead screw 13 rotates under the drive of the motor, the nut 21 cannot rotate synchronously due to the restriction of the anti-rotation structure. Therefore, it can only move along the axial direction under the drive of the lead screw 13, thereby pushing or pulling the valve core 22 to make linear reciprocating motion in the guide groove 11a, so as to achieve precise control of the opening degree of the valve port a.

[0070] Compared to existing technologies that may require additional guide sleeves, connectors, or anti-rotation mechanisms to achieve similar functions, this invention integrates an anti-rotation fit structure directly between the mounting hole 11b and the nut 21. This not only results in a compact structure and fewer parts, but also facilitates assembly and maintenance, thereby improving the overall transmission stability and response accuracy.

[0071] Furthermore, to ensure the sealing performance between the valve core 22 and the upper valve seat 11, and to prevent the sealing ring 23 from shifting or affecting the smoothness of movement during the sliding of the valve core 22, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 1 and Figure 4 In this embodiment, the outer wall of the valve core 22 is recessed with a sealing groove 22a along its circumference, and the sealing ring 23 is installed in the sealing groove 22a.

[0072] A sealing groove 22a is recessed along the circumference of the outer wall of the valve core 22, and a sealing ring 23 is embedded in the sealing groove 22a. This structural design not only provides stable axial positioning for the sealing ring 23, preventing it from moving up and down or falling off during the reciprocating motion of the valve core 22, but also allows the sealing ring 23 to maintain reasonable compression deformation in its groove, thereby achieving a good sealing effect.

[0073] In addition, the groove depth of the sealing groove 22a is reasonably designed according to the cross-sectional diameter of the selected sealing ring 23, so that the sealing ring 23 only partially protrudes outside the groove opening of the sealing groove 22a after installation. This ensures effective contact pressure between the sealing ring 23 and the inner wall of the guide groove 11a, and avoids the problem of excessive sliding resistance or even jamming between the valve core 22 and the upper valve seat 11 due to excessive protrusion of the sealing ring 23.

[0074] Compared to existing technologies that may use compression sleeves or other limiting structures to fix the seal, this invention simplifies the assembly process, reduces the number of parts, and improves the compactness and reliability of the overall structure by directly setting a sealing groove 22a on the valve core 22 to accommodate the sealing ring 23. At the same time, this structure also helps to extend the service life of the sealing ring 23 and reduces the risk of leakage caused by misalignment or wear of the sealing ring 23, thereby enhancing the stability and sealing performance of the electric valve 100 during long-term operation.

[0075] Furthermore, to improve the sealing stability of the valve core assembly 20 in the closed state, especially to address potential sealing failures caused by material thermal expansion and contraction at high temperatures, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figures 4 to 6 In this embodiment, the valve core 22 has a recessed receiving groove 22b at one end away from the nut 21, and a through hole 22c is provided at the bottom of the receiving groove 22b; the nut 21 passes through the through hole 22c, and a limiting protrusion 212 is provided on the outer side wall of the end of the nut 21 located inside the receiving groove 22b. The limiting protrusion 212 is used to limit the axial movement of the nut 21 and is movably disposed relative to the valve core 22; the valve core assembly 20 also includes a spring 24 and a limiting sleeve 25 disposed in the receiving groove 22b. The spring 24 is disposed between the limiting sleeve 25 and the nut 21, and the spring 24 is used to provide a reverse force when the nut 21 moves toward the groove opening of the receiving groove 22b.

[0076] Understandably, a receiving groove 22b is recessed at the end of the valve core 22 away from the nut 21, and a through hole 22c is formed through the bottom of the receiving groove 22b for the nut 21 to pass through. After the nut 21 passes through the through hole 22c, a limiting protrusion 212 is provided on the outer wall of the end of the nut 21 located in the receiving groove 22b. The limiting protrusion 212 limits the axial movement range of the nut 21 on the valve core 22 on the one hand, and allows the nut 21 to undergo axial displacement relative to the valve core 22 within a certain range on the other hand.

[0077] In addition, the valve core assembly 20 also includes a spring 24 and a limiting sleeve 25. The spring 24 is disposed between the limiting sleeve 25 and the nut 21 and is located inside the receiving groove 22b. When the nut 21 drives the valve core 22 to move toward the valve port a and completes the closing action, the spring 24 is compressed to store elastic potential energy and applies a force to the nut 21 that is always toward the valve port a, so that the valve core 22 can fit more tightly against the periphery of the valve port a and improve the sealing performance.

[0078] This structural design is particularly suitable for applications of the electric valve 100 in high-temperature environments. In the prior art, when the electric valve 100 is in the closed state and experiences a high-temperature environment, the valve port a (usually made of plastic material) may expand due to heat and push the valve core assembly 20 upward, causing a small gap to appear in the originally closed valve port a. After the temperature returns to normal, the material of valve port a shrinks, but at this time, due to the gap between the threaded pair between the lead screw 13 and the nut 21, the valve core assembly 20 may not be able to automatically return to the initial closed position, causing problems such as poor sealing or even leakage.

[0079] In this invention, since the spring 24 is always in a compressed state during the closing process of the valve core assembly 20, it can provide continuous preload under any temperature change conditions. This not only helps to enhance the sealing pressure between the valve core 22 and the valve port a under normal conditions, but also automatically compensates for the displacement deviation caused by the threaded pair clearance through the elastic restoring force of the spring 24 after high temperature retraction, so that the valve core 22 always maintains good contact with the periphery of the valve port a, ensuring stable and reliable sealing performance.

[0080] In this embodiment, please continue to refer to Figure 4 The receiving groove 22b includes a first groove segment 22b1 and a second groove segment 22b2 arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside. The first groove segment 22b1 is recessed relative to the second groove segment 22b2 to form an outwardly facing first annular step surface 221 between the first groove segment 22b1 and the second groove segment 22b2. The limiting sleeve 25 is supported on the first annular step surface 221.

[0081] It is understood that the valve core 22 is recessed at one end away from the nut 21 with a receiving groove 22b. The receiving groove 22b is set with its overall opening facing the valve port a, so that the nut 21, spring 24 and limiting sleeve 25 can be sequentially installed into the groove from one side of the groove, so as to achieve convenient assembly.

[0082] The receiving groove 22b includes a first groove segment 22b1 and a second groove segment 22b2 arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside along the axial direction. The inner diameter of the first groove segment 22b1 is relatively small and has an inwardly converging structure, while the inner diameter of the second groove segment 22b2 is larger. At the connection between the two, a first annular step surface 221 facing outward is formed. The limiting pressure sleeve 25 is supported on this step surface, thereby achieving stable positioning within the receiving groove 22b.

[0083] The first groove 22b1 is mainly used to accommodate the limiting protrusion 212 of the nut 21 located on its outer side wall, so that the limiting protrusion 212 is restricted in the axial direction by the structure of the accommodating groove 22b, preventing the nut 21 from excessive displacement; while the second groove 22b2 mainly provides installation space for the limiting pressure sleeve 25, and with its large inner diameter design, it provides sufficient clearance space for the axial movement generated by the nut 21 in the process of driving the valve core 22 to close the valve port a, so as to avoid affecting the smoothness of the valve core 22's operation due to structural interference.

[0084] In addition, the function of the limiting sleeve 25 is to stably press the spring 24 inside the receiving groove 22b, so that it can maintain a good stress state in the compressed state and effectively transmit the elastic force to the nut 21.

[0085] It should be noted that the limiting sleeve 25 can be fixedly connected to the valve core 22 by means of interference fit or welding. Considering assembly efficiency and sealing performance, welding is preferred to firmly connect it to the valve core 22, ensuring that the limiting sleeve 25 will not loosen or fall off during long-term operation.

[0086] Thus, by using the segmented receiving groove 22b structure in conjunction with the limiting sleeve 25, the assembly stability of the spring 24 assembly inside the valve core 22 is improved, the overall assembly process is simplified, and the reliability and manufacturability of the product are enhanced.

[0087] Furthermore, to enhance the assembly stability of the spring 24 within the valve core assembly 20 and ensure that it accurately transmits the elastic force to the nut 21 during compression and rebound, please refer to [further details needed]. Figure 4 In this embodiment, the end of the nut 21 facing the spring 24 is recessed with a positioning groove 21a, and one end of the spring 24 is positioned in the positioning groove 21a.

[0088] Understandably, the shape of the positioning groove 21a is adapted to the end of the spring 24, allowing one end of the spring 24 to be embedded and positioned within the groove. This structural design not only helps improve the installation accuracy of the spring 24 within the receiving groove 22b, preventing the spring 24 from shifting or tilting during force application, thus affecting its elastic performance, but also effectively prevents the spring 24 from dislodging due to vibration or impact during long-term use, thereby improving the overall reliability and service life of the structure.

[0089] During actual assembly, when the spring 24 is pressed into the receiving groove 22b and engages with the limiting sleeve 25, its end near the nut 21 naturally embeds into the positioning groove 21a on the nut 21, forming a stable connection. This allows the spring 24 to act more evenly on the nut 21 when compressed, thereby causing the valve core 22 to tightly fit against the periphery of the valve port a. Furthermore, the positioning groove 21a simplifies the assembly process, allowing operators to install the spring 24 without the need for additional fixtures or auxiliary positioning structures, thus improving production efficiency and assembly consistency.

[0090] Furthermore, to improve the assembly accuracy and stress stability of the spring 24 within the receiving groove 22b, and to prevent it from shifting, tilting, or even dislodging during compression or rebound, thereby affecting the sealing performance and operational response of the valve core assembly 20, please refer to [further details needed]. Figure 4 In this embodiment, the limiting sleeve 25 is recessed at one end facing the spring 24 with a limiting groove 25a, and the spring 24 is installed in the limiting groove 25a.

[0091] It should be noted that the shape and size of the limiting groove 25a are adapted to most of the structure along the length of the spring 24, allowing one end of the spring 24 to be embedded and stably installed within the limiting groove 25a. The limiting groove 25a not only serves to axially position the spring 24, preventing unnecessary displacement during assembly or operation, but also provides a certain guiding function when the spring 24 undergoes compression deformation, ensuring that it is evenly stressed along a predetermined direction, thereby improving the stability and consistency of elastic force transmission.

[0092] The design of the limiting groove 25a simplifies the assembly process of the spring 24, allowing operators to quickly position and install the spring 24 without the need for additional tools, thus improving overall assembly efficiency and product consistency. Compared to existing technologies where the spring 24 may be freely placed or rely on external structural constraints, this invention directly positions and guides the spring 24 through the limiting groove 25a on the limiting sleeve 25. This results in a compact structure with a clear function, significantly improving the sealing stability and responsiveness of the electric valve 100 during long-term operation.

[0093] Furthermore, to improve the ease of assembly of the limiting sleeve 25 during installation into the valve core 22 receiving groove 22b, especially to avoid low assembly efficiency or unstable welding quality due to alignment difficulties in the subsequent process of welding the limiting sleeve 25 to the valve core 22, please refer to [further details needed]. Figure 4 In this embodiment, a guide slope 222 is provided at the opening of the receiving groove 22b.

[0094] The guide slope 222 is formed in the entrance area of ​​the inner wall of the receiving groove 22b. It can guide the limiting pressure sleeve 25 when it is axially inserted into the receiving groove 22b, so that it can enter the groove more smoothly under the action of external force and cooperate with the internal structure.

[0095] Since the outer peripheral wall of the limiting sleeve 25 and the inner peripheral wall of the receiving groove 22b are usually designed with an interference fit or a tight fit to ensure the sealing performance and structural strength after welding, the two have a high degree of dimensional matching. Without a guide structure, misalignment, jamming, or even damage to the surface of the parts can easily occur during assembly. However, by setting the guide slope 222, a certain tolerance space can be provided before the limiting sleeve 25 is fully inserted into the receiving groove 22b, allowing it to automatically correct its position during the advancement process, thereby improving the consistency of assembly and the convenience of operation.

[0096] Specifically, in this embodiment, the limiting sleeve 25 is welded to the valve core 22. The welding process firmly bonds the outer peripheral wall of the limiting sleeve 25 to the inner peripheral wall of the receiving groove 22b. This design not only effectively prevents the limiting sleeve 25 from loosening or falling off due to vibration or impact during long-term use, but also significantly improves the structural strength and sealing performance of the entire valve core assembly 20.

[0097] Welding can be performed on a localized area of ​​the contact surface between the limiting sleeve 25 and the valve core 22, for example using laser welding, resistance welding or other suitable small-area precision welding techniques, to ensure that the connection point has sufficient mechanical strength without affecting the function of other components.

[0098] Furthermore, to achieve stable support of the lead screw 13 on the upper valve seat 11 and ensure the structural reliability of its rotatable configuration, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the mounting hole 11b includes a first hole segment 11b1 and a second hole segment 11b2 arranged sequentially in the direction near the second end of the upper valve seat 11. The first hole segment 11b1 is recessed relative to the second hole segment 11b2, so that a second annular step surface 22 is formed between the first hole segment 11b1 and the second hole segment 11b2, which is directed toward the second end of the upper valve seat 11. The bearing 12 is supported on the second annular step surface 22.

[0099] Understandably, the first bore segment 11b1 is located on the side near the first end of the upper valve seat 11, with a relatively small inner diameter and an inwardly tapering structure, while the second bore segment 11b2 is located on the side near the second end of the upper valve seat 11, with a larger inner diameter. The two sections form a second annular stepped surface 22 extending towards the second end of the upper valve seat 11 at their connection point. This annular stepped surface provides a reliable support base for the axial positioning of the bearing 12 within the mounting hole 11b, allowing the bearing 12 to firmly abut against this stepped surface after assembly, thereby effectively preventing axial displacement or loosening during use.

[0100] After the bearing 12 is sleeved around the lead screw 13 and fixedly connected to the lead screw 13, it is inserted into the mounting hole 11b from the first end of the upper valve seat 11 and pushed along the hole to the position of the second annular step surface 22. At this time, the seat of the bearing 12 is stopped and supported on the step surface, thus completing the axial limit.

[0101] To further enhance the structural stability of the bearing 12 within the mounting hole 11b, the bearing 12 housing can be fixed to the second annular step surface 22 by welding, such as laser welding or other precision welding processes, so that the bearing 12 is firmly attached to the inside of the upper valve seat 11, avoiding loosening caused by vibration, impact or long-term operation.

[0102] Furthermore, in order to achieve effective integration of the lead screw 13 drive component and improve the overall structural compactness and transmission stability of the electric valve 100, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 1 In this embodiment, the electric valve 100 further includes a rotor assembly 30, which includes a fixing plate 31 and a rotor 32 connected to the periphery of the fixing plate 31. The fixing plate 31 has a connecting hole 31a in the middle. The lead screw 13 extends at least partially out of the nut 21 and passes through the connecting hole 31a to be fixed to the fixing plate 31.

[0103] In the actual assembly process, after one end of the lead screw 13 passes through the nut 21, it still extends at least partially beyond the nut 21, and then continues to pass through the connecting hole 31a on the fixing plate 31, and forms a firm connection with the fixing plate 31 by fastening, welding or other fixing methods.

[0104] Preferably, welding can be performed at the connection between the lead screw 13 and the fixed plate 31 to ensure sufficient connection strength and long-term operational reliability. This structural design not only enables the lead screw 13 to rotate synchronously with the rotor assembly 30, but also simplifies the complex transmission structure that may exist in the traditional electric valve 100, and improves the transmission efficiency and response accuracy when the motor drives the rotor 32 to rotate the lead screw 13.

[0105] In addition, by directly inserting the lead screw 13 through the connection hole 31a of the fixed plate 31 and fixing it thereto, it also helps to improve the coaxiality and assembly consistency between the rotor assembly 30 and the lead screw 13, reduce vibration and noise caused by eccentricity or looseness, thereby enhancing the smoothness and control accuracy of the electric valve 100 during operation.

[0106] This utility model also proposes a refrigeration device, which can be an air conditioner or a refrigerator, etc. The refrigeration device includes a heat exchanger and an electric valve 100. The specific structure of the electric valve 100 is as described in the above embodiments. Since this refrigeration device adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0107] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of the present utility model and the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An electric valve, characterized in that, include: The lower valve seat has a valve port; An upper valve seat assembly includes an upper valve seat, a bearing, and a lead screw. The upper valve seat and the lower valve seat enclose a valve cavity communicating with the valve port. The upper valve seat has a first end located inside the valve cavity and a second end located outside the valve cavity. The first end of the upper valve seat has a guide groove recessed therein. The bottom of the guide groove has a mounting hole penetrating the second end of the upper valve seat. The lead screw passes through the mounting hole and is mounted to the second end of the upper valve seat via the bearing, so that the lead screw is rotatably disposed relative to the upper valve seat. The valve core assembly includes a nut, a valve core, and a sealing ring sleeved around the valve core. The valve core is movably mounted in the guide groove along the groove depth direction to open or close the valve port. The nut is installed at one end of the valve core and extends into the mounting hole to engage with the lead screw thread.

2. The electric valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The distance between the end face of the lead screw near the first end of the upper valve seat and the end face of the first end of the upper valve seat is L1; The distance between the end face of the valve core facing away from the valve port and the outermost thread of the nut's internal thread at the first end away from the upper valve seat is L2, where L1 > L2.

3. The electric valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, 0.5mm≤L1-L2≤10mm.

4. The electric valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the mounting hole is provided with an anti-rotation part, and the outer wall of the nut is provided with a mating part that cooperates with the anti-rotation part to restrict the circumferential rotation of the nut.

5. The electric valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the valve core is recessed with a sealing groove along its circumference, and the sealing ring is installed in the sealing groove.

6. The electric valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The valve core is recessed at one end away from the nut, and a through hole is provided at the bottom of the recess. The nut passes through the through hole, and a limiting protrusion is provided on the outer side wall of one end of the nut located in the receiving groove. The limiting protrusion is used to limit the axial movement of the nut and is movably arranged relative to the valve core. The valve core assembly also includes a spring and a limiting sleeve disposed in the receiving groove. The spring is disposed between the limiting sleeve and the nut and is used to provide a reverse force when the nut moves toward the groove opening of the receiving groove.

7. The electric valve as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The receiving groove includes a first groove segment and a second groove segment arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside. The first groove segment is recessed relative to the second groove segment to form an outwardly facing first annular stepped surface between the first groove segment and the second groove segment. The limiting sleeve is supported on the first annular step surface.

8. The electric valve as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The nut has a recessed positioning groove at the end facing the spring, and one end of the spring is positioned in the positioning groove.

9. The electric valve as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The limiting sleeve has a limiting groove recessed at one end facing the spring, and the spring is installed in the limiting groove.

10. The electric valve as described in claim 6, characterized in that, A guide slope is provided at the opening of the receiving groove.

11. The electric valve as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that, The limiting sleeve is welded to the valve core.

12. The electric valve as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting hole includes a first hole segment and a second hole segment arranged sequentially in the direction near the second end of the upper valve seat. The first hole segment is recessed relative to the second hole segment to form a second annular step surface facing the second end of the upper valve seat between the first hole segment and the second hole segment. The bearing is supported on the second annular step surface.

13. The electric valve as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The electric valve also includes a rotor assembly, which includes a fixed plate and a rotor connected to the periphery of the fixed plate, and a connecting hole is provided in the middle of the fixed plate. The lead screw extends at least partially out of the nut and passes through the connecting hole to be fixed to the fixing plate.

14. The electric valve as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The lead screw is welded to the fixed plate.

15. A refrigeration device, characterized in that, Includes the electric valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. The refrigeration equipment as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The refrigeration equipment includes an air conditioner.

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