Electronic expansion valve throttle mechanism and electronic expansion valve

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of refrigerant flow control technology, and in particular to an electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism and an electronic expansion valve. The electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism includes a valve needle and a valve seat. The valve needle is mounted on the valve seat and has a moving path along the valve seat axis. The valve needle includes a first valve needle segment and a second valve needle segment from top to bottom, with the interface between the first and second valve needle segments forming a first cross-section. The valve seat includes a first valve seat segment and a second valve seat segment, with the interface between the first and second valve seat segments forming a second cross-section. The top of the first valve seat segment forms a first end face, and the bottom of the second valve seat segment forms a second end face. The first end face is provided with a first throttling outlet, and the second end face is provided with a second throttling outlet. A refrigerant inlet hole is provided on the side of the second valve seat segment. The present invention provides a single electronic expansion valve that can achieve throttling control of both large and small flow rates, and it has a simple structure, high modularity, and low cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigerant flow control technology, and in particular to an electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism and an electronic expansion valve. Background Technology

[0002] To provide a better driving experience for users of new energy vehicles, the refrigerant flow rate required in the refrigerant circuit of a new energy air conditioning system varies under different operating conditions. This means that the refrigerant circuit of a new energy air conditioning system needs both low-flow and high-flow control to achieve different cooling purposes. In existing technologies, to address the requirement of controlling both low-flow and high-flow refrigerant in the air conditioning system's refrigerant circuit, two parallel valves are typically installed: one with a low-flow regulating valve and the other with a high-flow regulating valve. However, this setup not only requires multiple valves for control, resulting in high costs, but also occupies a large amount of space. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide an electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism and an electronic expansion valve to alleviate the problems of high cost and large space occupation of the existing method of using two parallel valves to control the refrigerant flow rate.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution provided by the present invention is as follows:

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism, comprising: a valve needle and a valve seat, wherein the valve needle is mounted on the valve seat and has a movement path along the axial direction of the valve seat;

[0006] The valve needle includes a first valve needle segment and a second valve needle segment from top to bottom. The diameter of the first valve needle segment is larger than the diameter of the second valve needle segment, and the interface between the first valve needle segment and the second valve needle segment is a first cross section.

[0007] The valve seat includes a first valve seat section and a second valve seat section. The diameter of the first valve seat section decreases from top to bottom. The diameter of the second valve seat section is the same as the diameter of the bottom of the first valve seat section. The diameter of the first valve needle section is the same as that of the second valve seat section. The interface between the first valve seat section and the second valve seat section is a second cross section. The top of the first valve seat section forms a first end face, and the bottom of the second valve seat section forms a second end face. The first end face is provided with a first throttling outlet that penetrates the valve seat axially. The second end face is provided with a second throttling outlet that penetrates the valve seat axially. The side of the second valve seat section is provided with a refrigerant inlet hole.

[0008] When the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is not higher than the second end face or the first cross section is not higher than the second cross section, the electronic expansion valve is in the first operating condition; when the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is higher than the second end face or the first cross section is higher than the second cross section, the electronic expansion valve is in the second operating condition.

[0009] Furthermore, the first valve needle segment and the second valve needle segment are integrally formed or connected by segmental welding.

[0010] Furthermore, a sealing groove is provided at the bottom of the first valve needle section, and a valve needle sealing ring is installed in the sealing groove.

[0011] Furthermore, a sealing gasket groove is provided at the bottom of the second valve seat section, and a sealing gasket is installed in the sealing gasket groove. The sealing gasket is connected to the second valve seat section through a gasket.

[0012] Furthermore, a rotor assembly is connected to the upper end face of the first valve needle section, and the rotation of the rotor assembly drives the valve needle to move along the axial direction of the valve seat.

[0013] Furthermore, the valve seat has a first valve seat sealing groove on the outer wall of the first end face, and a first valve seat sealing ring is installed in the first valve seat sealing groove.

[0014] Furthermore, the valve seat has a second valve seat sealing groove on the outer wall of the second end face, and a second valve seat sealing ring is installed in the second valve seat sealing groove.

[0015] Furthermore, the second throttling outlet is located at the center of the bottom surface of the valve seat, and the first throttling outlet is located in the circumferential direction of the second throttling outlet.

[0016] Furthermore, the first throttling outlet has multiple outlets that are evenly distributed circumferentially along the second throttling outlet.

[0017] In a second aspect, the present invention provides an electronic expansion valve, including the electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism described in the first aspect.

[0018] The embodiments of the present invention bring the following beneficial effects:

[0019] This invention provides an electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism, comprising: a valve needle and a valve seat, wherein the valve needle is mounted on the valve seat and has a moving path along the axial direction of the valve seat; the valve needle includes a first valve needle segment and a second valve needle segment from top to bottom, the diameter of the first valve needle segment is larger than the diameter of the second valve needle segment, and the interface between the first valve needle segment and the second valve needle segment is a first cross section; the valve seat includes a first valve seat segment and a second valve seat segment, the diameter of the first valve seat segment decreases from top to bottom, the diameter of the second valve seat segment is the same as the diameter of the bottom of the first valve seat segment, the diameter of the first valve needle segment and the diameter of the second valve seat segment are the same, and the first valve seat segment and the second valve seat segment have the same diameter. The interface of the seat section is a second cross section. The top of the first valve seat section forms a first end face, and the bottom of the second valve seat section forms a second end face. The first end face is provided with a first throttling outlet that penetrates the valve seat axially, and the second end face is provided with a second throttling outlet that penetrates the valve seat axially. The side of the second valve seat section is provided with a refrigerant inlet hole. When the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is not higher than the second end face or the first cross section is not higher than the second cross section, the electronic expansion valve is in the first operating condition. When the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is higher than the second end face or the first cross section is higher than the second cross section, the electronic expansion valve is in the second operating condition.

[0020] Refrigerant flows into the valve seat through the refrigerant inlet. The valve needle moves along the valve seat axis. When the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is not higher than the second end face, or the position of the first cross-section is not higher than the second cross-section, the first and second valve needle sections block the flow channel of refrigerant from the valve seat to the first end face. The refrigerant can only flow out from the second throttling outlet and cannot flow out from the first throttling outlet. The electronic expansion valve is in the first operating condition of small flow control. When the valve needle moves to the point where the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is higher than the second end face, or the position of the first cross-section is higher than the second cross-section, the flow channel of refrigerant from the valve seat to the first end face opens. The refrigerant can flow out from both the second and first throttling outlets, and the electronic expansion valve is in the second operating condition of large flow control. By moving the valve needle along the valve seat axis, large and small flow rate regulation and control are achieved. The structure is simple, highly manufacturable, and a single electronic expansion valve can achieve large and small flow rate throttling control. It also has a high degree of modularity and low cost.

[0021] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments or related technologies of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electronic expansion valve provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A sectional view;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the valve needle's extreme position under the first operating condition provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the valve needle's extreme position under the second operating condition provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first throttling outlet provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0028] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first throttling outlet provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0029] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first throttling outlet provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 .

[0030] icon:

[0031] 1-Valve needle; 11-First cross-section; 2-Valve seat; 21-Second cross-section; 22-First end face; 221-First throttling outlet; 23-Second end face; 231-Second throttling outlet; 24-Refrigerant inlet hole; 3-Valve needle seal ring; 4-Sealing gasket; 5-Gasket; 6-Rotor assembly; 7-First valve seat seal ring; 8-Second valve seat seal ring. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0034] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Physical quantities in formulas, unless otherwise specified, should be understood as basic quantities in the International System of Units (SI), or derived quantities derived from basic quantities through mathematical operations such as multiplication, division, differentiation, or integration.

[0035] Furthermore, terms such as "horizontal," "vertical," and "sag" do not imply that components must be absolutely horizontal or suspended, but rather that they can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply means that its direction is more horizontal relative to "vertical," and does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted.

[0036] In the description of this invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0037] The following detailed description of some embodiments of the present invention is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features described herein can be combined with each other. Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electronic expansion valve provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A sectional view;

[0038] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the valve needle's extreme position under the first operating condition provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the valve needle's extreme position under the second operating condition provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first throttling outlet provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ; Figure 6A schematic diagram of the structure of the first throttling outlet provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ; Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first throttling outlet provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 .

[0039] Example 1

[0040] For existing air conditioning systems that require both low-flow and high-flow refrigerant control in their refrigerant circuits, two parallel valves are typically installed: one for low-flow regulation and the other for high-flow regulation. However, this setup not only requires multiple valves for control, resulting in high costs, but also occupies a large amount of space.

[0041] In view of this, embodiments of the present invention provide an electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism, comprising: a valve needle 1 and a valve seat 2, wherein the valve needle 1 is mounted on the valve seat 2 and has a moving path along the axial direction of the valve seat 2; the valve needle 1 includes a first valve needle segment and a second valve needle segment from top to bottom, the diameter of the first valve needle segment is larger than the diameter of the second valve needle segment, and the interface between the first valve needle segment and the second valve needle segment is a first section 11; the valve seat 2 includes a first valve seat segment and a second valve seat segment, the diameter of the first valve seat segment decreases from top to bottom, the diameter of the second valve seat segment is the same as the diameter of the bottom of the first valve seat segment, the diameter of the first valve needle segment and the diameter of the second valve seat segment are the same, and the interface between the first valve seat segment and the second valve seat segment is a second section 11. The first valve seat section has a first end face 22 at its top and a second end face 23 at its bottom. The first end face 22 has a first throttling outlet 221 that penetrates the valve seat 2 axially, and the second end face 23 has a second throttling outlet 231 that penetrates the valve seat 2 axially. The side of the second valve seat section has a refrigerant inlet hole 24. When the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is not higher than the second end face 23 or the first cross section 11 is not higher than the second cross section 21, the electronic expansion valve is in the first operating condition. When the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is higher than the second end face 23 or the first cross section 11 is higher than the second cross section 21, the electronic expansion valve is in the second operating condition.

[0042] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2Refrigerant flows into valve seat 2 through refrigerant inlet 24. Valve needle 1 moves along the axis of valve seat 2. When the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is not higher than the second end face 23 or the position of the first cross-section 11 is not higher than the second cross-section 21, the first and second valve needle sections block the flow channel of refrigerant from valve seat 2 to the first end face 22. Refrigerant can only flow out from the second throttling outlet 231 and cannot flow out from the first throttling outlet 221. The electronic expansion valve is in the first operating condition of small flow control. When valve needle 1 moves to the point where the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is higher than the second end face 23 or the position of the first cross-section 11 is higher than the second cross-section 21, the flow channel of refrigerant from valve seat 2 to the first end face 22 opens. Refrigerant can flow out from both the second throttling outlet 231 and the first throttling outlet 221. The electronic expansion valve is in the second operating condition of large flow control. The flow rate regulation and control are achieved by moving the valve needle 1 along the axis of the valve seat 2. The structure is simple, highly manufacturable, and a single electronic expansion valve can realize the throttling control of large and small flow rates. It is also highly modular and low in cost.

[0043] Figure 3 The extreme position of valve needle 1 under the first operating condition is shown. At this time, the bottom surface of the second valve needle section moves to the second end face 23, and the position of the first section 11 is located at the second section 21. The first valve needle section and the second valve needle section block the flow channel of refrigerant in the valve seat 2 to the first end face 22. The refrigerant can only flow out from the second throttling outlet 231 and cannot flow out from the first throttling outlet 221. Figure 4 The limit position of valve needle 1 under the second operating condition is shown. Due to the limitation of the limiting structure inside valve seat 2, valve needle 1 cannot continue to move upward. At this time, the position of the bottom surface of the second valve needle section moves to above the second end face 23, and the position of the first section 11 is higher than the second section 21. At this time, the flow channel of refrigerant in valve seat 2 to the first end face 22 is opened, and the refrigerant can flow out from the second throttling outlet 231 and also from the first throttling outlet 221.

[0044] In an optional embodiment, the first valve needle segment and the second valve needle segment are integrally formed or welded together in sections.

[0045] The first valve needle segment and the second valve needle segment can be integrally formed or connected by welding large and small diameter segments to ensure stable connection between the first valve needle segment and the second valve needle segment during the axial movement of the valve needle 1 along the valve seat 2, thereby increasing service life.

[0046] In an optional embodiment, a sealing groove is provided at the bottom of the first valve needle section, and a valve needle sealing ring 3 is installed in the sealing groove.

[0047] The valve needle seal ring 3 is located at the junction of the first valve needle section and the second valve needle section, i.e., at the first cross-section 11. This ensures the sealing performance of the first and second valve needle sections, and the position of the sealing surface of the valve needle seal ring 3 indicates whether the electronic expansion valve is in the first or second operating condition. When the position of the sealing surface of the valve needle seal ring 3 is not higher than the second cross-section 21, the electronic expansion valve is in the first operating condition of low flow control; when the position of the sealing surface of the valve needle seal ring 3 is higher than the second cross-section 21, the electronic expansion valve is in the second operating condition of high flow control.

[0048] Furthermore, the bottom of the second valve seat section is provided with a sealing gasket 4 groove, and a sealing gasket 4 is installed in the sealing gasket 4 groove. The sealing gasket 4 is connected to the second valve seat section through a gasket 5.

[0049] The sealing gasket 4 ensures the sealing performance at the bottom of the second valve seat section. The sealing gasket 4 is pressed and welded to the second valve seat section by the gasket 5.

[0050] Depending on the technical requirements, four implementation methods can be formed by combining the presence or absence of valve needle sealing rings 3 and sealing gaskets 4 in pairs. The first method is a combination design with no sealing ring between the first and second valve needle segments and a sealing gasket 4 in the valve seat 2; the second method is a combination design with a sealing ring between the first and second valve needle segments and no sealing gasket 4 in the valve seat 2; the third method is a combination design with no sealing ring between the first and second valve needle segments and no sealing gasket 4 in the valve seat 2; and the fourth method is a combination design with a sealing ring between the first and second valve needle segments and a sealing gasket 4 in the valve seat 2.

[0051] Furthermore, the valve seat 2 has a first valve seat sealing groove on the outer wall of the first end face 22, and a first valve seat sealing ring 7 is installed in the first valve seat sealing groove. The valve seat 2 has a second valve seat sealing groove on the outer wall of the second end face 23, and a second valve seat sealing ring 8 is installed in the second valve seat sealing groove.

[0052] The first valve seat sealing ring 7 and the second valve seat sealing ring 8 can improve the overall sealing performance of the electronic expansion valve and ensure the normal regulation and control of the large and small flow rates of the electronic expansion valve.

[0053] In an optional embodiment, the second throttling outlet 231 is located at the center of the bottom surface of the valve seat 2, and the first throttling outlet 221 is located in the circumferential direction of the second throttling outlet 231. The first throttling outlet 221 has multiple outlets and is evenly distributed along the circumference of the second throttling outlet 231.

[0054] Please see Figures 5 to 7 Depending on the technical requirements, the first throttling outlet 221 can be configured in different shapes, and the number of channels in the first throttling outlet 221 is set to N (N is a natural number ≥ 0). This can be... Figure 5The two arc-shaped first throttling outlets 221 shown in the figure can also be Figure 6 The four elliptical first throttling outlets 221 shown can also be used for Figure 7 The five fan-shaped first throttling outlets 221 are shown. Of course, the specific shape and number of channels are not limited; only different dimensions of the machined valve seat 2 need to be processed to meet the requirements. The shape and number of channels of the first throttling outlet 221 can be freely combined with the above-mentioned sealing method as needed.

[0055] It should also be noted that the upper end face of the first valve needle section is connected to the rotor assembly 6. The rotation of the rotor assembly 6 drives the valve needle 1 to move along the axial direction of the valve seat 2.

[0056] Example 2

[0057] This invention provides an electronic expansion valve, including the electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism described in Embodiment 1.

[0058] The electronic expansion valve provided in this embodiment has a simple structure, strong manufacturability, and a single electronic expansion valve can achieve throttling control of large and small flow rates. It also has a high degree of modularity and low cost.

[0059] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism, characterized in that, include: A valve needle and a valve seat, the valve needle being mounted on the valve seat and having a movement path along the axial direction of the valve seat; The valve needle includes a first valve needle segment and a second valve needle segment from top to bottom. The diameter of the first valve needle segment is larger than the diameter of the second valve needle segment, and the interface between the first valve needle segment and the second valve needle segment is a first cross section. The valve seat includes a first valve seat section and a second valve seat section. The diameter of the first valve seat section decreases from top to bottom. The diameter of the second valve seat section is the same as the diameter of the bottom of the first valve seat section. The diameter of the first valve needle section is the same as that of the second valve seat section. The interface between the first valve seat section and the second valve seat section is a second cross section. The top of the first valve seat section forms a first end face, and the bottom of the second valve seat section forms a second end face. The first end face is provided with a first throttling outlet that penetrates the valve seat axially. The second end face is provided with a second throttling outlet that penetrates the valve seat axially. The side of the second valve seat section is provided with a refrigerant inlet hole. When the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is not higher than the second end face or the first cross section is not higher than the second cross section, the electronic expansion valve is in the first operating condition; when the bottom surface of the second valve needle section is higher than the second end face or the first cross section is higher than the second cross section, the electronic expansion valve is in the second operating condition.

2. The electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first valve needle segment and the second valve needle segment are integrally formed or connected by segmental welding.

3. The electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bottom of the first valve needle section is provided with a sealing groove, and a valve needle sealing ring is installed in the sealing groove.

4. The electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bottom of the second valve seat section is provided with a sealing gasket groove, and a sealing gasket is installed in the sealing gasket groove. The sealing gasket is connected to the second valve seat section through a gasket.

5. The electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper end face of the first valve needle section is connected to a rotor assembly, and the rotation of the rotor assembly drives the valve needle to move along the axial direction of the valve seat.

6. The electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve seat has a first valve seat sealing groove on the outer wall of the first end face, and a first valve seat sealing ring is installed in the first valve seat sealing groove.

7. The electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that, The valve seat has a second valve seat sealing groove on the outer wall of the second end face, and a second valve seat sealing ring is installed in the second valve seat sealing groove.

8. The electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The second throttling outlet is located at the center of the bottom surface of the valve seat, and the first throttling outlet is located in the circumferential direction of the second throttling outlet.

9. The electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first throttling outlet has multiple outlets and is evenly distributed along the circumference of the second throttling outlet.

10. An electronic expansion valve characterized by, An electronic expansion valve throttling mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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