Sliding switching valve

Abstract

The present invention provides a sliding switching valve. By improving the sliding switching valve, the flatness of the plate-shaped valve seat member with which the valve core slides in contact is corrected to suppress warping, thereby obtaining good sealing performance, and the tightness with the valve body is improved to ensure the fixing strength. The sliding switching valve includes a plate-shaped valve seat member (4) that is fixed to the valve body (1) and with which the valve core (2) slides in contact. The valve seat member (4) is formed in an overall plate shape and is formed with a plurality of valve ports (4C, 4S, 4E) arranged along the sliding direction of the valve core (2). The surface of the valve body (2) of the valve seat member (4) that slides in contact with the inner side of the valve body (1) is defined as the valve seat surface (4A), that is, the sliding contact surface, and the surface fixed to the valve body (1) on the side opposite to the valve seat surface (4A) is defined as the fixing surface (4B). Concavities (41) and other uneven portions are provided on the fixing surface (4B).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sliding switching valve suitable for use in a refrigeration cycle system such as an air conditioner. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a switching valve for switching the refrigerant flow path in a refrigeration cycle or the like, there is known a sliding switching valve (Patent Document 1) including a cylindrical valve body, a bowl-shaped valve element slidably disposed inside the valve body, a valve seat member fixed to the valve body and connected with a plurality of joint pipes, and a plate-shaped sealing plate fixed to the valve seat member and having a plurality of valve ports. The plate-shaped sealing plate has: a sliding contact surface that slidably contacts the valve element on the inner side of the valve body; and a fixing surface that is fixed to the valve seat member on the side opposite to the sliding contact surface.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Document 1: Chinese Patent Publication No. 107781455

[0005] In the above-described conventional switching valve, with respect to the plate-shaped sealing plate, warpage inherent in the raw material plate sometimes remains after forming, and it is difficult to obtain flatness. Therefore, it may be impossible to obtain stable sealing performance between the sealing plate and the valve element. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to suppress warpage by correcting the flatness of a plate-shaped sliding contact member that slidably contacts a valve element in a sliding switching valve, thereby obtaining good sealing performance and improving the adhesion to the valve body to ensure the fixing strength.

[0007] The sliding switching valve of the present invention includes: a hollow cylindrical valve body; a valve element slidably disposed inside the valve body; and a plate-shaped sliding contact member fixed to the valve body and slidably contacting the valve element. The sliding switching valve is characterized in that the sliding contact member is formed as an integral plate shape and has: a plurality of valve ports arranged along the sliding direction of the valve element; a sliding contact surface that slidably contacts the valve element on the inner side of the valve body; and a fixing surface fixed to the valve body on the side opposite to the sliding contact surface, and uneven portions are provided on substantially the entire surface of the fixing surface of the sliding contact member.

[0008] At this time, it is preferable that the sliding switching valve is characterized in that the uneven portions are constituted by a plurality of concave portions in the shape of concave pits discretely provided.

[0009] In addition, it is preferable that the sliding switching valve is characterized in that the uneven portions are constituted by a plurality of annular grooves surrounding the valve ports.

[0010] In addition, a sliding switching valve is preferably characterized in that the uneven portions are constituted by a plurality of linear grooves that do not extend linearly continuously with the valve port.

[0011] In addition, a sliding switching valve is preferably characterized in that the uneven portions are constituted by a plurality of linear grooves that do not extend linearly continuously with the valve port, a plurality of intersecting grooves intersecting the linear grooves, or a plurality of branch grooves branching from the linear grooves.

[0012] In addition, a sliding switching valve is preferably characterized in that a chamfer is provided on the sliding contact surface side of the inner periphery of the valve port.

[0013] In addition, a sliding switching valve is preferably characterized in that the sliding contact member is fixed to the valve body by adhesion of an adhesive.

[0014] In addition, a sliding switching valve is preferably characterized in that the valve body is formed by resin molding.

[0015] In addition, a sliding switching valve is preferably characterized in that the sliding contact member is integrated with the valve body by insert molding.

[0016] The effects of the present invention are as follows.

[0017] According to the sliding switching valve of the present invention, since unevenness is provided on the fixing surface of the sliding contact member, it is possible to correct the flatness of the sliding contact surface to obtain good sealing performance with the valve core, and it is possible to improve the adhesion between the sliding contact member and the valve body to ensure the fixing strength. In addition, by improving the adhesion to the valve body, it is possible to suppress internal leakage from the fixing portion between the sliding contact member and the valve body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the first state of the sliding switching valve according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the second state of the sliding switching valve according to the embodiment.

[0020] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of

[0021] Figure 4 is a top view of the fixing surface of the valve seat member (sliding contact member) of the sliding switching valve according to the embodiment.

[0022] Figure 5 is a view showing a modified example of the fixing surface of the valve seat member (sliding contact member) of the sliding switching valve according to the embodiment.

[0023] Figure 6It is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve seat member (sliding contact member) of the sliding switching valve of the embodiment.

[0024] In the figure: 1-valve body, 1A-valve chamber, 11-side wall portion, 12-bottom portion, 13E-first port, 13C-second port, 13S-outlet port, 13D-inlet port, 2-valve core, 21-bulging portion, 23-guide shaft, 23a-internal thread portion, 3-disc spring (biasing member), 31-base portion, 32-folded-back portion, 4-valve seat member (sliding contact member), 4A-valve seat surface (sliding contact surface), 4B-fixed surface, 41-dent (concave-convex portion), 42-annular groove (concave-convex portion), 43-annular groove (concave-convex portion), 44-linear groove (concave-convex portion), 45-linear groove (concave-convex portion), 46-branch groove (concave-convex portion), 5-housing, 51E-housing side flow path, 51C-housing side flow path, 51S-housing side flow path, 51D-housing side flow path, 6-bracket portion, 61-valve guide portion, 62-bearing portion, 63-fixed cover, 7-magnetic rotor, 71-rotor shaft, 71a-external thread portion, 8-stator coil. Detailed Embodiment

[0025] Next, an embodiment of the sliding switching valve of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the first state of the sliding switching valve of the embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second state of the sliding switching valve of the embodiment, Figure 3 It is Figure 1 a cross-sectional view taken along the A-A direction of Figure 4 It is a top view of the fixed surface of the valve seat member (sliding contact member) of the sliding switching valve of the embodiment. Figure 5 It is a view showing a modified example of the fixed surface of the valve seat member (sliding contact member) of the sliding switching valve of the embodiment. Figure 6 It is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve seat member (sliding contact member) of the sliding switching valve of the embodiment. In addition, the concept of "up and down" in the following description corresponds to the up and down in the Figure 1 and Figure 2 accompanying drawings.

[0026] As Figure 1 shown, the sliding switching valve includes a valve body 1, a valve core 2, a disc spring 3 as a "biasing member", a valve seat member 4 as a "sliding contact member", a housing 5, a bracket portion 6, a magnetic rotor 7, and a stator coil 8.

[0027] The valve body 1 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape by resin molding, and has a substantially cylindrical valve chamber 1A inside thereof. In addition, the valve body 1 has a side wall portion 11 parallel to the sliding direction of the valve element 2, and a bottom portion 12 intersecting with the side wall portion 11, wherein the sliding direction of the valve element 2 is parallel to the axis X. And, a first port 13E, an outlet port 13S, and a second port 13C are provided on the side wall portion 11 of the valve body 1, and an inlet port 13D is provided on the bottom portion 12 of the valve body 1. In addition, the first port 13E, the outlet port 13S, and the second port 13C are arranged in a straight line along a part of the side wall portion 11 in the sliding direction of the valve element 2. In addition, an engaging projection 1B is formed on the outer side surface of the valve body 1, and the rotational position of the valve body 1 relative to the housing 5 is restricted by engaging with an engaging groove 5B. Thereby, it is possible to easily perform alignment of the relative positions of the first port 13E, the outlet port 13S, and the second port 13C of the valve body 1 and the housing-side flow paths 51E, 51S, 51C on the housing 5 side described later, and the assembly of the valve body 1 relative to the housing 5. In addition, the rotational position of the valve body 1 relative to the housing 5 can also be restricted by providing an engaging groove on the valve body 1 side and an engaging projection on the housing 5 side. In addition, in this embodiment, the material is a resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), but in addition to this, it can also be made of an appropriate material such as metal such as brass, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, etc.

[0028] The valve element 2 has a bulging portion 21 and a hook portion 22 extending from the bulging portion 21 toward the bracket portion 6 side, and a bowl-shaped concave portion 21A is formed inside the bulging portion 21. And, the valve element 2 Figure 1 At the end position of the switching on the lower side (first state), the outlet port 13S is communicated with the first port 13E through the bowl-shaped concave portion 21A. At this time, the second port 13C is communicated with the inlet port 13D in the valve chamber 1A. In addition, the valve element 2 Figure 2 At the end position of the switching on the upper side (second state), the outlet port 13S is communicated with the second port 13C through the bowl-shaped concave portion 21A. At this time, the first port 13E is communicated with the outlet port 13D in the valve chamber 1A.

[0029] In addition, the hook portion 22 of the valve element 2 is engaged with the end portion of a rounded prism-shaped guide shaft 23 extending along the axis X. That is, the guide shaft 23 is inserted into the bracket portion 6 and has an engaging groove 231 on the outer periphery on the valve element 2 side, and the hook portions 22 of a pair of valve elements 2 are engaged with the engaging groove 231. And, an internal thread portion 23a and its threaded hole coaxial with the axis X are formed at the center of the guide shaft 23. In addition, on the upper portion of the bulging portion 21 of the valve element 2, a leaf spring 3 as a "biasing member" is installed through a boss portion 21a of the bulging portion 21.

[0030] The leaf spring 3 has a base portion 31 with the sliding direction of the valve spool 2 (the direction along the axis X) as the longitudinal direction, and a pair of folded-back portions 32 that are folded back from both ends of the base portion 31 in a direction crossing the sliding direction. Moreover, convex portions 33 are respectively provided on the folded-back portions 32, and the convex portions 33 are in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the valve body 1 by the elastic force of the folded-back portions 32. Thus, as Figure 3 shown, the valve spool 2 is pressed by the valve seat surface 4A of the valve seat member 4 described later.

[0031] In the valve chamber 1A of the valve body 1, there is provided a valve seat member 4 as a "sliding contact member" which is composed of a thin metal plate bonded and fixed to the valve body 1 by an adhesive or the like, or integrally molded and fixed together with the valve body 1, and is processed by stamping or the like. And a housing 15 is fixed to the end portion of the valve body 1 on the side opposite to the bottom portion 12. The surface on the axis X side of the valve seat member 4 becomes the valve seat surface 4A which is the "sliding contact surface" in sliding contact with the valve spool 2, and a valve port 4E opposed to the first port 13E, a valve port 4S opposed to the outlet port 13S, and a valve port 4C opposed to the second port 13C are formed on the valve seat member 4. In addition, Figure 6 is Figure 1 a partial enlarged cross-sectional view indicated by a single-dot chain line circle P in, for example, showing an example around the valve port 4S opposed to the outlet port 13S. In addition, the valve ports 4E and 4C also have the same structure as the valve port 4S. An R surface 4a shown in Figure 6 (A) or a conical surface 4b shown in Figure 5 (B) is formed as a "chamfer" on the edge on the valve seat surface 4A side of the valve port 4S. Thus, when the valve spool 2 slides on the valve seat surface 4A, the valve spool 2 will not be caught by the edges of the valve ports 4S, 4E, and 4C and can obtain stable operation. And the surface on the side opposite to the valve seat surface 4A of the valve seat member 4 becomes a fixing surface 4B fixed to the valve body 1, and uneven portions are provided on the fixing surface 4B as described later. In addition, the valve ports 4S, 4E, 4C of the valve seat member 4, the "chamfer" of the valve seat surface 4A, and the uneven portions of the fixing surface 4B can also be all formed by stamping. At this time, the "chamfer" is preferably a collapsed edge surface formed by shearing processing such as stamping. In addition, the "chamfer" can also be formed by appropriate methods such as cutting processing based on machining, plastic processing by pressing with a jig, etc. after the stamping of the valve port and the "uneven portions" described later. The material of the valve seat member 4 may be appropriately composed of metals such as brass, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, etc. In addition, in addition to stamping, the plate material can also be processed by cutting.

[0032] The housing 5 is made of die-cast aluminum and has a storage chamber 5A with a generally cylindrical shape centered on the axis X. The valve body 1 is stored in the storage chamber 5A. The housing 5 has an engagement groove 5B on its inner circumference that engages with the engagement protrusion 1B of the valve body 1. In addition, between the valve body 1 and the housing 5, it is sealed by an O-ring 10 at a predetermined position. Further, on the housing 5, housing-side flow paths 51E, 51S, and 51C that open in the side wall portion of the storage chamber 5A are formed and communicate with the first port 13E, the outlet port 13S, and the second port 13C on the valve body 1 side, respectively, via the gap between the valve body 1 and the housing 5. In addition, a housing-side flow path 51D is formed at a position of the housing 5 that faces the bottom 12 of the valve body 1 and communicates with the valve chamber 1A via the inlet port 13D.

[0033] The bracket portion 6 is mainly made of resin and is composed of a generally cylindrical valve guide portion 61, a bearing portion 62 formed at the upper end portion of the valve guide portion 61, and a metal and generally disc-shaped fixing cover 63 provided on the outer circumference of the valve guide portion 61 by insert molding. And the bracket portion 6 is fixed to the upper end portion of the outer shell 15 via the fixing cover 63, where the outer shell 15 is fixed to the valve body 1. In addition, a C-ring 20 that fixes the housing 5 and the valve body 1 is fitted between the upper end portion of the housing 5 and the fixing cover 63. A guide hole 61a that is coaxial with the axis X and has a rounded prism-shaped cavity is formed in the valve guide portion 61. And a guide shaft 23 that engages with the hook portion 22 of the valve core 2 is inserted through the guide hole 61a.

[0034] In addition, a gland 64 that seals the valve chamber 1A of the valve body and the inside of the outer shell 15 is fixed to the fixing cover 63. A magnetic rotor 7 is stored in the gland 64. A rotor shaft 71 is installed at the center of the magnetic rotor 7. An external thread portion 71a that is threadedly engaged with the internal thread portion 23a of the guide shaft 23 that engages with the valve core 2 is formed on the outer circumference of the rotor shaft 71 on the valve core 2 side. In addition, the rotor shaft 71 is supported by the bearing portion 62 of the bracket portion 6. Thus, the magnetic rotor 7 is rotatably supported in the gland 64. In addition, sliding washers 66 and 67 are provided between the bearing portion 62 and the flange portion 72 of the rotor shaft 71, and between the magnetic rotor 7 and the bearing portion 62, at the upper part of the guide hole 61a.

[0035] The stator coil 8 is formed by winding and installing coils 82A and 82B on a resin bobbin 81, thereby laminating a pair of coil portions in the axial direction of the axis X. A yoke 83 having a magnetic pole tooth 83a is integrally assembled on the bobbin 81 by molding. In addition, the stator coil 8 has a cylindrical insertion hole 8H centered on the axis X at the center, and a magnetic pole tooth 83a of the yoke 83 is arranged on a part of the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 8H. And the stator coil 8 is installed on the valve body 1 by inserting the gland 64 of the valve body 1 into the insertion hole 8H. Thus, the magnetic pole tooth 83a of the stator coil 8 is arranged opposite to the outer peripheral surface of the gland 64.

[0036] With the above structure, by applying a pulse output to the coils 82A and 82B of the stator coil 8, magnetic lines of force are generated in the coils 82A and 82B. Thus, the magnetic poles (N and S poles) of the magnetic pole teeth 83a change alternately, generating a magnetic attractive force and a magnetic repulsive force on the magnetic rotor 7, and rotating the magnetic rotor 7 and the rotor shaft 71. Thus, through the screw feed mechanism composed of the external thread portion 71a of the rotor shaft 71 and the internal thread portion 23a of the guide shaft 23 engaged with the valve element 2, the guide shaft 23 is moved in the axial direction of the axis X, and the valve element 2 slides in the axial direction of the axis X together with the guide shaft 23. And, from Figure 1 the first state to Figure 2 the second state, or from Figure 2 the second state to Figure 1 the first state to switch the flow path. In this way, the rotor shaft 71, the magnetic rotor 7, and the screw feed mechanism constitute a "drive unit".

[0037] The housing side flow path 51D is connected to the discharge port of the compressor, and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is introduced into the valve chamber 1A of the valve body 1. The housing side flow path 51S is connected to the suction port of the compressor to return the refrigerant to the compressor. In addition, the housing side flow path 51E communicates with the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle, and the housing side flow path 51C communicates with the condenser of the refrigeration cycle. And, in Figure 1 the first state, the high-temperature refrigerant flowing in from the inlet port 13D flows through the valve chamber 1A to the second port 13C. In Figure 2 the second state, the high-temperature refrigerant flowing in from the inlet port 13D flows through the valve chamber 1A to the first port 13E.

[0038] Figure 4It is a top view of the fixing surface 4B of the valve seat member 4. On this fixing surface 4B, there are concave depressions 41 serving as "concave-convex portions" machined during the stamping forming of the valve seat member 4. A plurality of these depressions 41 are discretely provided around the valve ports 4C, 4S, and 4E. Thus, since there are concavities and convexities on the fixing surface 4B of the valve seat member 4 which is a sliding contact member, the flatness of the plate-shaped valve seat member 4 can be corrected, and good sealing performance between the valve seat surface 4A (sliding contact surface) and the valve element 2 can be obtained. In addition, the tight contact degree of the valve seat member 4 with respect to the valve body 1 during bonding or insert molding with the valve body 1 is improved, and the fixing strength can be ensured. Therefore, by increasing the tight contact degree with the valve body 1, internal leakage from the fixing portion between the fixing surface 4B of the valve seat member 4 and the valve body 1 can be suppressed.

[0039] Figure 5 It is a view showing a modified example of the concave-convex portion of the valve seat member 4. Figure 5 (A) Modified example 1 is an example in which a circular groove 42 serving as a "concave-convex portion" is formed on the fixing surface 4B. This circular groove 42 is composed of a plurality of circular grooves surrounding the valve ports 4C, 4S, and 4E. Figure 5 (B) Modified example 2 is an example in which a polygonal circular groove 43 serving as a "concave-convex portion" is formed on the fixing surface 4B. This circular groove 43 is composed of a plurality of circular grooves surrounding the valve ports 4C, 4S, and 4E. In these modified examples 1 and 2, in addition to Figure 4 the effects of the embodiment, a labyrinth effect formed by a plurality of circular grooves can also be obtained, so that the generation of internal leakage from the fixing portion between the fixing surface 4B of the valve seat member 4 and the valve body 1 can be further suppressed.

[0040] Figure 5 (C) Modified example 3 is an example in which a plurality of linearly extending straight grooves 44 serving as "concave-convex portions" are formed on the fixing surface 4B. These straight grooves 44 are not formed continuously with the valve ports 4C, 4S, and 4E. Figure 5 (D) Modified example 4 is an example in which a plurality of straight grooves 45 and a plurality of branch grooves 46 branching from the straight grooves 45 are formed on the fixing surface 4B. These straight grooves 45 and branch grooves 46 are not formed continuously with the valve ports 4C, 4S, and 4E. In addition, regarding modified example 4, in this embodiment, it is formed by a plurality of branch grooves 46 branching from the straight grooves 45, but it can also be formed by a plurality of cross grooves penetrating the straight grooves 45, or a combination of a plurality of branch grooves and cross grooves can be formed. In these modified examples 3 and 4, in addition to Figure 4In addition to the effects of the embodiments, since the creepage distance from the outer edge of the valve seat member 4 to the valve ports 4C, 4S, 4E via the grooves becomes longer, generation of internal leakage from the fixing surface 4B of the valve seat member 4 and the fixing portion of the valve body 1 can be further suppressed. Although there are complex "concave and convex portions" in the above modification, as described above, they are formed by a forming die during stamping, so machining can be easily performed.

[0041] Regarding the "concave and convex portions" of the valve seat member 4, it is preferable that the depth of the recess 41, the depths of the annular grooves 42, 43, the linear grooves 44, 45, the branch groove 46, etc. are about 3% to 80% of the plate thickness of the valve seat member 4. In addition, the recess diameter of the recess 41, the groove widths of the annular grooves 42, 43, the linear grooves 44, 45, the branch groove 46, etc. are preferably about 0.25 to 2 mm. Further, regarding the ratio (interval) of the area of the groove portion to the convex portion around it, it is preferable that the groove portion is about 30 to 60%.

[0042] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific structure is not limited to these embodiments, and design changes and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

Claims

1. A sliding switching valve, comprising: a hollow cylindrical valve body; a valve core slidably disposed inside the valve body; and a plate-shaped sliding contact member fixed to the valve body and in sliding contact with the valve core. The sliding switching valve is characterized in that the sliding contact member is formed in an integral plate shape and has: a plurality of valve ports arranged along the sliding direction of the valve core; a sliding contact surface where the valve core slides and contacts on the inner side of the valve body; and a fixing surface fixed to the valve body on the side opposite to the sliding contact surface, a concavo-convex portion is provided on substantially the entire surface of the fixing surface of the sliding contact member, the recess or groove of the concavo-convex portion is formed on the outer side of the fixing surface without being continuous with the valve port.

2. The sliding switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the concavo-convex portion is composed of a plurality of discrete concave-shaped recesses.

3. The sliding switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the concavo-convex portion is composed of a plurality of annular grooves surrounding the valve port.

4. The sliding switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the concavo-convex portion is composed of a plurality of linearly extending straight grooves.

5. The sliding switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the concavo-convex portion is composed of a plurality of linearly extending straight grooves, a plurality of intersecting grooves intersecting with the straight grooves, or a plurality of branching grooves branching from the straight grooves.

6. The sliding switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that a chamfer is provided on the sliding contact surface side of the inner periphery of the valve port.

7. The sliding switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding contact member is fixed to the valve body by bonding with an adhesive.

8. The sliding switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the valve body is formed by resin molding.

9. The sliding switching valve according to claim 8, characterized in that the sliding contact member is integrated with the valve body by insert molding.

Images