Valve device

Abstract

The present invention provides a valve device capable of stabilizing the fixed structure between a valve housing and a joint member. The outer peripheral surface (11A) of the first joint pipe (11) has: an opposing region (A2) that can oppose the inner peripheral surface of the first port (21) in a state of being inserted to a standard depth; and an inner region (A3) that is disposed in the main valve chamber (2R) at a position on the front end side relative to the opposing region (A2). A plurality of convex portions (111) extending in the X direction are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction in the opposing region (A2). Thus, the convex portion formed by the convex portions (111) easily abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the first port (21) of the valve housing (2), and the fixed structure between the valve housing (2) and the first joint pipe (11) can be stabilized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve device. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a valve device, an electric valve has been proposed in which a pipe for an inlet / outlet of a refrigerant is inserted and fixed to a side surface of a valve body portion that processes a tubular material (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). In the electric valve described in Patent Document 1, the reliability of joining is achieved by providing a recess at a position where the pipe in the pipe contacts the side wall of the valve body.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-329347 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In Patent Document 1, although the number of recesses (protrusions) formed in the pipe (joint member) inserted into the valve body portion (valve housing) is not described, in order to suppress the inclination of the joint member, it is preferable to provide a plurality of protrusions along the circumferential direction. However, in the case where an opening is formed in the side surface of the cylindrical valve housing, unlike the structure in which an opening is formed in a flat plate, the opening has a three-dimensional shape. Therefore, in the case where a plurality of protrusions are provided at a specified position in the extending direction of the joint member in a circumferentially arranged manner, although a part of the protrusions contact the inner peripheral surface of the opening, there is a possibility that other protrusions do not contact the inner peripheral surface of the opening. At this time, the function of the protrusions cannot be obtained, shaking of the joint member occurs, etc., and the fixing structure is likely to become unstable.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a valve device capable of stabilizing the fixing structure between a valve housing and a joint member.

[0009] Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The valve device of the present invention includes: a cylindrical valve housing having an opening formed in a side surface; a valve element provided in a valve chamber inside the valve housing; and a cylindrical joint member connected to the valve housing by being inserted through the opening. The valve device is characterized in that an outer peripheral surface of the joint member has: an opposed region that can be opposed to an inner peripheral surface of the opening in a state where the joint member is inserted to a standard depth; and an inner region disposed in the valve chamber on a front end side with respect to the opposed region. In at least the opposed region of the outer peripheral surface, a plurality of convex portions are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. Each of the convex portions is composed of one or more protrusions and extends along an extending direction of the joint member.

[0011] According to the present invention as described above, the convex portion extends along the extending direction of the joint member, and thus it is easy to come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion of the valve housing. That is, since the valve housing is cylindrical and has an opening portion formed on the side surface, when the joint member is inserted to the standard depth, the position (extending direction position) in the opposed area that actually opposes the inner peripheral surface depends on the circumferential position. In this way, even if the opposed position with the inner peripheral surface changes, the convex portion can cope by extending along the extending direction of the joint member. In this way, the convex portion is easily brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion, and thus the fixing structure of the valve housing and the joint member can be stabilized.

[0012] At this time, in the valve device of the present invention, it is preferable that, in a cross section of the valve housing cut along a plane orthogonal to the axial direction in such a manner that the size of the opening portion is the largest in the circumferential direction of the valve housing, a virtual line connecting the central portion in the wall thickness direction of one end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion and the central portion in the wall thickness direction of the other end portion of the valve housing intersects a virtual arc corresponding to the formation position of the opening portion on the inner peripheral surface of the valve housing. According to such a structure, when the virtual line intersects the virtual arc, that is, when the diameter of the opening portion is relatively large with respect to the diameter of the valve housing, even when the wall thickness of the valve housing is thin, it is easy to bring the convex portion into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion.

[0013] In addition, in the valve device of the present invention, it is preferable that the convex portion extends along the extending direction so as to cover at least the entire opposed area. According to such a structure, it is easy to bring the convex portion into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion.

[0014] In addition, in the valve device of the present invention, it may be that on the outer peripheral surface of the joint member, the convex portion and the concave portion are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, thereby forming a concavo-convex portion. According to such a structure, it is possible to more easily suppress the shaking of the joint member.

[0015] Effects of the Invention

[0016] According to the valve device of the present invention, the fixing structure of the valve housing and the joint member can be stabilized. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a valve device according to an embodiment as an example of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a connecting portion between the valve housing and the joint member in the valve device.

[0019] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the joint member.

[0020] Figure 4 It is a side view showing the joint component.

[0021] Figure 5 It is a front view showing the joint component in the valve device of the modified example.

[0022] Figure 6 It is a side view showing the joint component.

[0023] In the figure: 1 - electric valve (valve device), 2 - valve housing, 21 - first port (opening), 211 - one end, 211A, 212A - central part, 212 - the other end, 2R - main valve chamber (valve chamber), 4 - main valve element (valve element), 11, 13 - first joint pipe (joint component), 11A, 13A - outer peripheral surface, 111, 131 - convex part, 132 - concave part, 133 - concave-convex part, A2 - opposed area, A3 - inner area, L1 - imaginary line segment, C1 - imaginary circular arc. Specific embodiments

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The electric valve 1 of the valve device in this embodiment is used for, for example, the refrigeration cycle system of air conditioners such as packaged air conditioners and room air conditioners, as Figure 1 shown, and includes a valve housing 2, a guide member 3, a main valve element 4, a sub-valve element 5, and a drive unit 6. The main valve element 4 and the sub-valve element 5 are arranged to move along a specified axial direction. Hereinafter, this axial direction will be taken as the Z direction, the two directions orthogonal to the Z direction will be taken as the X direction and the Y direction, and the up and down in the Z direction will be Figure 1 used as a reference.

[0025] The valve housing 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape from, for example, brass, stainless steel, etc., and has a main valve chamber (valve chamber) 2R inside it. Here, the "cylindrical shape" includes not only a shape with a completely circular cross-section but also a shape slightly deformed from a completely circular shape. The valve housing 2 has a first port (opening) 21 opening on one side in the X direction and a second port 22 opening on the lower side in the Z direction on its side. A cylindrical first joint pipe (joint component) 11 extending in the X direction is connected to the first port 21, and a cylindrical second joint pipe 12 extending in the Z direction is connected to the second port 22. The first joint pipe 11 and the second joint pipe 12 communicate with the main valve chamber 2R. The first joint pipe 11 and the second joint pipe 12 can be fixed to the valve housing 2 by, for example, brazing.

[0026] At the lower end of the valve housing 2, a cylindrical main valve seat 23 protruding toward the main valve chamber 2R side (upward) with the Z direction as the axial direction is formed. The inside of the main valve seat 23 forms the main valve port 23a, and the main valve port 23a communicates with the second port 22. That is, the second joint pipe 12 is conducted to the main valve chamber 2R via the main valve port 23a. In the present embodiment, the electric valve 1 is used with the first port 21 as the primary side and the second port 22 as the secondary side, and the fluid (refrigerant) flowing into the main valve chamber 2R from the first joint pipe 11 flows out from the second joint pipe 12. However, the electric valve 1 can also be assembled in a circulation where the fluid can flow bidirectionally.

[0027] The guide member 3 is installed in the opening at the upper end of the valve housing 2 and has: a press-fitting portion 31 that is press-fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the valve housing 2; a substantially cylindrical guide portion 32 located inside the press-fitting portion 31; a holding portion 33 extending above the guide portion 32; a stopper portion 34 provided above the holding portion 33; and an annular flange portion 35 located on the outer periphery of the guide portion 32. The press-fitting portion 31, the guide portion 32, the holding portion 33, and the stopper portion 34 are formed as an integral resin member. In addition, the flange portion 35 is, for example, a metal plate made of brass, stainless steel, etc., and the flange portion 35 is integrally provided together with the resin press-fitting portion 31 and the holding portion 33 by insert molding.

[0028] The guide member 3 is assembled to the valve housing 2, and the flange portion 35 is fixedly connected to the upper end portion of the valve housing 2 by welding. In addition, on the guide member 3, a cylindrical guide hole 32a with the Z direction as the axial direction is formed in the guide portion 32, and an insertion hole 33a coaxial with the guide hole 32a is formed at the center of the holding portion 33. In addition, an internal threaded portion (threaded hole) 34a coaxial with the guide hole 32a and the insertion hole 33a is formed at the center of the stopper portion 34.

[0029] The main valve core 4 is disposed in the guide hole 32a of the holding portion 33 and is integrally formed in a cylindrical shape with the Z direction as the axial direction. The main valve core 4 integrally has: a partition portion 41 that extends along the XY plane and to which the sub-valve core 5 approaches or separates; a cylindrical portion 42 that extends from the partition portion 41 toward the side opposite to the main valve port 23a (upward); and a main valve portion 43 that approaches or separates from the main valve seat 23.

[0030] The partition portion 41 is a sub-valve seat portion provided at the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 42 and is formed in a plate shape with a predetermined plate thickness (Z direction dimension). A bottomed cylindrical portion is formed by the partition portion 41 and the cylindrical portion 42, and the inside of the bottomed cylindrical portion becomes the sub-valve chamber 4R. A sub-valve port 41a serving as a through hole is formed at the center of the partition portion 41.

[0031] The cylindrical portion 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and its inner peripheral surface forms a needle guide hole 42a. A washer 53 and a guide boss portion 54, which are described later and are mounted on the valve shaft 51, are inserted through the needle guide hole 42a in the cylindrical portion 42. And a ring-shaped retainer 44 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the cylindrical portion 42 by fitting and fixing or welding or the like. Further, a main valve spring 4a is disposed between the retainer 44 and the upper end portion of the guide hole 32a, and the main valve element 4 is urged by the main valve spring 4a in the direction of the main valve seat 23 (lower side in the Z direction; closing direction). A communication path 421 that communicates the inside and outside thereof is formed in the cylindrical portion 42, and the main valve chamber 2R, the sub-valve chamber 4R, the sub-valve port 41a, and the main valve port 23a communicate with each other.

[0032] The main valve portion 43 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape so as to extend the cylindrical portion 42 downward more than the partition portion 41. The main valve portion 43 is arranged so as to seat (abut) on the main valve seat 23 in the fully closed state.

[0033] The sub-valve element 5 is a needle valve, which is disposed at the lower end portion of a rotor shaft 61 described later, and integrally has a valve shaft 51 connected to the rotor shaft 61 side and a needle portion 52 connected to the lower end of the valve shaft 51. The sub-valve element 5 further has a ring-shaped washer 53 disposed on the valve shaft 51 and a guide boss portion 54 fixedly connected to the valve shaft 51. The guide boss portion 54 is fixedly connected to the valve shaft 51 separately, but the guide boss portion 54 may also be integrally formed with the valve shaft 51. The washer 53 and the guide boss portion 54 are inserted through the needle guide hole 42a in a slidable manner.

[0034] The drive portion 6 is disposed inside and outside a housing 24 fixedly connected to the upper end of the valve housing 2, and has a stepping motor 6A, a screw feed mechanism 6B that moves the sub-valve element 5 forward and backward by the rotation of the stepping motor 6A, and a stopper mechanism 6C that restricts the rotation of the stepping motor 6A. The housing 24 is fixedly connected to the valve housing 2 airtightly by welding or the like, for example.

[0035] The stepping motor 6A is composed of a rotor shaft 61, a magnetic rotor 62 rotatably disposed inside the housing 24, a stator coil (not shown) disposed opposite to the magnetic rotor 62 on the outer periphery of the housing 24, and other magnetic yokes, exterior components, etc. not shown. The rotor shaft 61 is mounted on the center of the magnetic rotor 62 via a bushing, and an external thread portion 61a is formed on the outer periphery of the rotor shaft 61 on the guide member 3 side. The external thread portion 61a is screwed with the internal thread portion 34a of the guide member 3, whereby the guide member 3 supports the rotor shaft 61 on the axis in the Z direction. And the internal thread portion 34a of the guide member 3 and the external thread portion 61a of the rotor shaft 61 constitute the screw feed mechanism 6B.

[0036] Here, the detailed opening and closing actions of the main valve element 4 and the sub-valve element 5 in the electric valve 1 will be described. When the magnetic rotor 62 and the rotor shaft 61 are rotated by driving the stepping motor 6A, the rotor shaft 61 moves in the Z direction through the thread feed mechanism 6B of the external thread portion 61a of the rotor shaft 61 and the internal thread portion 34a of the guide member 3. As a result, the sub-valve element 5 moves forward and backward in the Z direction to approach or separate from the sub-valve port 41a, and the valve opening degree of the sub-valve port 41a is controlled. In addition, the sub-valve element 5 (washer 53) engages with the main valve element 4 (holder 44), and the main valve element 4 moves together with the sub-valve element 5 to approach or separate from the main valve seat 23. Thereby, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing from the first joint pipe 11 to the second joint pipe 12 is controlled.

[0037] An externally threaded guide groove 34b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the stopper portion 34 of the guide member 3, and a slider 63 is provided in the guide groove 34b. The slider 63 abuts against the magnetic rotor 62 and rotates and moves up and down along the guide groove 34b as the magnetic rotor 62 rotates. And the slider 63 constitutes a stopper mechanism 6C that restricts the rotation of the magnetic rotor 62 by abutting against the upper end or the lower end of the guide groove 34b. Through this stopper mechanism 6C, the lowermost position and the uppermost position of the rotor shaft 61 and the magnetic rotor 62 are restricted.

[0038] Here, refer to Figures 2 - 4 The detailed connection structure between the valve housing 2 and the first joint pipe 11 will be described. In the valve housing 2, a circular first port 21 is formed when viewed from the X direction. Therefore, when the valve housing 2 is cut along a plane parallel to the XY plane, if the cutting position changes in the Z direction, the opening size (Y-direction size) of the first port 21 in the cross section changes. Figure 2 is the cross section where the opening size of the first port 21 is the largest. At this time, one end of the inner peripheral surface of the first port 21 on the Y-direction side (the upper side in the figure) is taken as one end portion 211, and the other end (the lower side in the figure) is taken as the other end portion 212. A hypothetical line segment L1 is set by hypothetically connecting the central portion 211A in the wall thickness direction of the valve housing 2 (the X direction in Figure 2 in the figure) of the one end portion 211 and the central portion 212A in the wall thickness direction of the valve housing 2 of the other end portion 212. In addition, a hypothetical circular arc C1 is set for the circular arc corresponding to the formation position of the first port 21 on the inner peripheral surface of the valve housing 2 (the portion existing before the formation of the first port 21, the extended portion of the circular arc other than the first port 21 in the valve housing 2). The hypothetical line segment L1 intersects the hypothetical circular arc C1.

[0039] When the first joint pipe 11 is inserted into the first port 21 of such a valve housing 2 to the standard depth, the outer peripheral surface 11A of the first joint pipe 11 is in Figure 4It faces the inner peripheral surface of the first port 21 in the opposed area A1 (the range surrounded by the single-dot chain line) shown. Although the opposed area A1 is formed in a curved strip shape, it does not reach the front end of the first joint pipe 11. Further, even when the first joint pipe 11 is viewed from the back side of the paper surface in the Y direction, the shape of the opposed area A1 is the same.

[0040] The range in the X direction including the entire opposed area A1 becomes the opposed area A2 (the range surrounded by the double-dot chain line) that can face the inner peripheral surface of the first port 21. That is, by rotating the first joint pipe 11 about the X axis, it is formed in a curved strip shape, and the actually opposed opposed area A1 changes. Therefore, the area that may become such an opposed area A1 becomes the opposed area A2. The outer peripheral surface 11A of the first joint pipe 11 also has an inner side area A3 disposed inside the main valve chamber 2R at a position closer to the front end side than the opposed area A1. The inner side area A3 is an area where the outer peripheral surface 11A is disposed throughout the entire circumference in the main valve chamber 2R (not facing the inner peripheral surface of the first port 21).

[0041] On the outer peripheral surface 11A of the first joint pipe 11, a plurality (three in this embodiment) of convex portions 111 extending along the extending direction (X direction) of the first joint pipe 11 are formed over the entire opposed area A2 and a part of the inner side area A3. That is, on the outer peripheral surface 11A, one convex portion 111 forms one convex portion extending along the X direction, and three convex portions are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. The convex portion 111 is a recess, and at the formation position, a concave portion 112 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first joint pipe 11. Further, in this embodiment, the convex portion 111 does not reach the end on the insertion side ( Figure 2 the left side in the figure) of the first joint pipe 11, but it may also be a structure in which the convex portion reaches the end on the insertion side of the first joint pipe (joint member). Further, the plurality of convex portions 111 are arranged at equal intervals (120° intervals in this embodiment) in the circumferential direction.

[0042] Since the convex portion 111 extends along the X direction and over the entire opposed area A1, no matter in which orientation (the rotation angle when the first joint pipe 11 is rotated about the X axis) the first joint pipe 11 is inserted, the entire inner peripheral surface of the first port 21 abuts against the convex portion 111. Thus, in a state where the inner peripheral surface of the first port 21 abuts against the convex portion 111, the first joint pipe 11 is fixed to the valve housing 2 by brazing.

[0043] On the other hand, consider the case where a plurality of dot-shaped convex portions are formed in a circumferentially arranged manner. These dot-shaped convex portions are arranged in the opposed area A2, but not all of the convex portions are limited to being arranged in the opposed area A1. Even if all the convex portions are arranged in the opposed area A1 in the first joint pipe 11 in a certain orientation, since the opposed area A1 changes as the orientation of the first joint pipe 11 changes, the convex portions may sometimes disengage from the opposed area A1.

[0044] According to the present embodiment described above, the convex portion 111 forms a convex portion that extends along the X direction, which is the extending direction of the first joint pipe 11, and thus it is easy to come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first port 21 of the valve housing 2. As a result, the fixing structure of the valve housing 2 and the first joint pipe 11 can be stabilized.

[0045] In addition, in the valve housing 2, even when the imaginary line segment L1 intersects the imaginary circular arc C1, the diameter of the first port 21 is relatively large with respect to the diameter of the valve housing 2, and the wall thickness of the valve housing 2 is relatively thin, it is easy to bring the convex portion formed by the convex portion 111 into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the valve port 41a.

[0046] In addition, the convex portion formed by the convex portion 111 extends along the X direction so as to cover the entire opposed area A2, and thus it is easy to bring the convex portion formed by the convex portion 111 into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first port 21.

[0047] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes other structures that can achieve the object of the present invention, and the following-described modifications and the like are also included in the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, three convex portions 111 form three convex portions and are arranged at intervals of 120°, but a plurality of convex portions may be formed in the joint member.

[0048] That is, as a modification example, as Figure 5 、 Figure 6 shown, on the outer peripheral surface 13A of the first joint pipe 13 as a joint member, convex portions 131 and concave portions 132 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, and thus uneven portions 133 can be formed. At this time, the convex portion 131 is not a concave pit, and no concave portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface side. In addition, in the first joint pipe 13, an opposed area, an opposed area, and an inner area similar to those of the first joint pipe 11 in the above-described embodiment are also formed.

[0049] According to such a modification example, by forming the uneven portions 133 on the outer peripheral surface 13A of the first joint pipe 13, it is possible to more easily suppress the shaking of the first joint pipe 13.

[0050] In addition, in the joint member, it is sufficient that a plurality of convex portions are formed in the circumferential direction, and the number of convex portions may be two or four or more. In addition, the plurality of convex portions may not be arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0051] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, one convex portion 111 constitutes one convex portion, and the convex portion 111 extends along the X direction. Accordingly, the convex portion also extends along the X direction, but one convex portion may be constituted by a plurality of convex portions. For example, a plurality of dot-shaped convex portions (such as pits) are arranged in a manner of being arranged along the extending direction of the joint member. Accordingly, the convex portion constituted by these convex portions may also extend in the extending direction of the joint member.

[0052] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the convex portion constituted by the convex portion 111 extends along the X direction so as to cover the entire opposed region A2, but the convex portion only needs to be formed in the opposed region and extend along the extending direction of the joint member, and may not cover the entire opposed region. Even when the convex portion does not cover the entire opposed region, it is possible to easily bring the inner peripheral surface of the opening into contact with the convex portion.

[0053] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the imaginary line L1 intersects the imaginary arc C1 in the valve housing 2, but even when the imaginary line and the imaginary arc do not intersect, for example, when the joint member is inserted relatively deeply and the convex portion extending along the extending direction of the joint member is formed at a position on the front end side of the joint member relative to the opposed region and disposed in the inner region in the valve chamber, it is formed as in the above-described embodiment.

[0054] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, as the valve device, the electric valve 1 including the main valve element 4 and the sub-valve element 5 and capable of adjusting the flow rate in two stages is exemplified, but the valve device is not limited thereto. That is, the valve device only needs to be a device that connects the joint member to the opening on the side surface of the cylindrical valve housing, and may be an electric valve including only one valve body and capable of adjusting the flow rate in one stage, or a valve device having other driving methods.

[0055] 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 valve device, comprising: a cylindrical valve housing having an opening formed on a side surface thereof; a valve element disposed in a valve chamber inside the valve housing; and a cylindrical joint member connected to the valve housing by being inserted through the opening. The valve device is characterized in that an outer peripheral surface of the joint member has: an opposed region that can be opposed to an inner peripheral surface of the opening in a state where the joint member is inserted to a standard depth; and an inner region disposed in the valve chamber on a front end side of the opposed region. In the outer peripheral surface, at least in the opposed region, a plurality of convex portions are formed at intervals in a circumferential direction. Each of the convex portions is composed of one or more protrusions and extends along an extending direction of the joint member. In a cross section of the valve housing cut along a plane orthogonal to an axial direction such that a dimension of the opening in a circumferential direction of the valve housing is maximum, a virtual line connecting a central portion in a wall thickness direction of one end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the opening and a central portion in the wall thickness direction of the other end portion intersects a virtual arc corresponding to a formation position of the opening in the inner peripheral surface of the valve housing. The convex portion extends along the extending direction so as to at least cover an entire area of the opposed region.

2. The valve device according to claim 1, characterized in that on the outer peripheral surface of the joint member, uneven portions are formed by alternately arranging the convex portions and concave portions in the circumferential direction.

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