Four-way valve and outdoor unit

Abstract

The present invention provides a four-way valve and an outdoor unit. The four-way valve is disposed on the outdoor unit. A compressor is disposed below the outdoor unit, and an electrical control structure is disposed above the compressor. The four-way valve is horizontally disposed between the compressor and the electrical control structure, and is used to switch refrigerant between different flow paths. The four-way valve of the present invention is disposed horizontally to fully utilize the internal space of the outdoor unit, resulting in a compact structure. A buffer is provided to prevent direct contact between the valve core and the valve body, while simultaneously applying a counteracting force to the valve core, ensuring smooth switching of the horizontally disposed four-way valve. Furthermore, heat exchange between high-pressure and low-pressure refrigerants during switching of the four-way valve is reduced, ensuring stable and reliable operation of the compressor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of air conditioning, and in particular to a four-way valve and an outdoor unit. Background Art

[0002] As living standards improve, people's demands for living environments are becoming increasingly demanding. Air conditioners are becoming increasingly popular as home appliances for regulating indoor environments. The refrigerant is converted between low-temperature, low-pressure and high-temperature, high-pressure through compression by the compressor and throttling by the throttling element. A four-way valve changes the flow path from the compressor to the heat exchanger to achieve cooling or heating. Specifically, when the refrigerant from the compressor exhaust port is first introduced into the indoor heat exchanger, the air conditioner operates in heating mode; when the refrigerant from the compressor exhaust port is first introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger, the air conditioner operates in cooling mode.

[0003] Conventional technology typically places a copper four-way valve vertically between the compressor and the electronic control box to ensure stable switching, but this often occupies a large space. Furthermore, when high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerants and low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerants simultaneously pass through the copper four-way valve, heat leakage can occur, affecting the air conditioner's operating efficiency.

[0004] It can be seen from this that a four-way valve and an outdoor unit need to be provided to solve the deficiencies of the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One problem solved by the present invention is that the existing four-way valve takes up a large installation space; another problem solved by the present invention is that the existing four-way valve is prone to heat leakage, thereby affecting the operating efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0006] To address the above issues, the present invention provides a four-way valve installed in an outdoor unit. The outdoor unit has a compressor located below it and an electronic control structure located above it. The four-way valve is positioned horizontally between the compressor and the electronic control structure to switch refrigerant between different flow paths. This arrangement fully utilizes the internal space of the outdoor unit and achieves a compact structure.

[0007] Preferably, the four-way valve is made of stainless steel. This configuration can reduce heat dissipation caused by heat conduction and improve the energy efficiency of the four-way valve.

[0008] Preferably, the four-way valve includes a valve body with a first port disposed on one side of the valve body and a second port, a third port, and a fourth port disposed sequentially on the other side of the valve body. A valve core movable leftward and rightward is disposed within the valve body to control the connection between the first port and one of the second, third, and fourth ports. This arrangement is simple in structure and ensures stable and reliable switching of the four-way valve.

[0009] Preferably, the second interface and / or the third interface and / or the fourth interface are provided with a heat-insulating structure. This arrangement can reduce heat exchange between high-pressure and low-pressure refrigerants when the four-way valve is switched, effectively preventing the refrigerant temperature entering the compressor inlet from being too high, and ensuring stable and reliable operation of the compressor.

[0010] Preferably, the heat-resistance structure includes a first annular gap disposed on the outer periphery of the third interface and a thermal resistance layer, wherein the first gap is disposed on the outer periphery of the third interface, and the thermal resistance layer is disposed in contact with the inner wall surface of the third interface. This arrangement effectively prevents heat carried by the refrigerant flowing through the third interface from diffusing and conducting within the valve body, inhibiting heat transfer between different flow paths, thereby improving cooling and heating capabilities and enhancing the energy efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0011] Preferably, the heat-insulating structure includes a flow guide disposed within the third interface. The flow guide is annular, and the gap between the flow guide and the third interface gradually increases from top to bottom. This arrangement guides the refrigerant to the center of the third interface, reducing heat conduction with adjacent interfaces. A gap is also formed between the flow guide and the third interface, cooperating with the first gap to reduce heat conduction and loss.

[0012] Preferably, the inner wall of the flow guide is provided with flow-guiding ribs, which are arranged in a spiral pattern along the central axis of the flow guide. This arrangement causes the refrigerant to flow in a spiral pattern as it passes through the flow guide, increasing the flow velocity at the lower portion and creating a drag effect, thereby forming a gap between the flow guide and the valve body, achieving a better heat-insulating effect.

[0013] Preferably, the drainage ribs are multiple and non-overlapping in the projection direction. This arrangement facilitates mold ejection and effectively prevents the spiraling refrigerant from colliding with each other and generating resistance. Preferably, the drainage ribs are 0.2-0.4 mm thick; if the thickness is too thin, the spiral flow will not form, while if the thickness is too thick, the refrigerant will not flow smoothly.

[0014] Preferably, the first interface and the third interface are connected to the exhaust end and the intake end of the compressor respectively, the second interface is connected to the heat exchanger, and the fourth interface is connected to the indoor heat exchanger.

[0015] The valve core includes a first partition, a second partition and a third partition are arranged below the first partition, and a connecting portion is provided on the side of the first partition away from the second partition, which is used for connecting or disconnecting the first interface with the third interface; the first partition is provided with a first opening and a second opening, and the first opening and the second opening are respectively located on both sides of the connecting portion, which are used for connecting or disconnecting the first interface with the second interface or the fourth interface.

[0016] Preferably, the four-way valve further includes a buffer member disposed between the valve body and the valve core, wherein one end of the buffer member is connected to the valve body or the valve core, and the other end is suspended in the air. When the valve core slides from one end of the valve body to the other end, the buffer member prevents the valve core from directly contacting the inner wall of the valve body, and simultaneously applies a force in the opposite direction to the valve core, thereby facilitating the reversal of the valve core.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the four-way valve described in the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1) By horizontally arranging the four-way valve, the internal space of the external unit can be fully utilized, and the structure is compact; 2) by arranging a buffer part, direct contact between the valve core and the valve body is avoided, and at the same time, a reverse force is applied to the valve core to ensure smooth switching of the horizontally arranged four-way valve; 3) by arranging heat-resistant structures such as the first gap, the thermal resistance layer, and the guide part, the heat exchange between the high-pressure and low-pressure refrigerants when the four-way valve is switched can be reduced, thereby ensuring stable and reliable operation of the compressor.

[0018] The present invention further provides an outdoor unit comprising the above-mentioned four-way valve. The outdoor unit has the same beneficial effects as the above-mentioned four-way valve, which will not be described in detail here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is a partial schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the four-way valve according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second interface according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 Schematic cross-sectional view of the flow guide member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Description of reference numerals:

[0024] 1-Four-way valve; 11-Valve body; 111-First interface; 112-Second interface; 113-Third interface; 114-Fourth interface; 115-Heat-resistance structure; 116-First gap; 117-Thermal resistance layer; 118-Flow guide; 119-Flow guide rib; 1191-First end; 11911-First side; 11912-Second side; 1192-Extension; 1193-Second end; 12-Valve core; 121-Connecting part; 122-First partition; 1221-First opening; 1222-Second opening; 123-Second partition; 124-Third partition; 13-Buffer; 2-Compressor; 3-Electronic control structure; 4-Gas-liquid separator; 5-Heat exchanger; 6-Base. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the following describes in detail the specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0026] The "connectivity" relationship described in the embodiments of the present invention refers to the connection relationship between different internal structures of the four-way valve 1 or between the four-way valve 1 and other devices through pipes for transmitting refrigerant, and the refrigerant can flow between the interconnected structures.

[0027] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features being referred to. Therefore, features specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present invention, "plurality" means at least two, such as two or three, unless otherwise specifically defined. In the present invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified or defined, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediary. Furthermore, "above," "above," and "above" a first feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "below" a first feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0028] Example 1

[0029] The outdoor unit of the conventional air conditioner includes a base 6, on which a heat exchanger 5 and a compressor 2 are arranged, a gas-liquid separator 4 is arranged on one side of the compressor 2, and an electric control structure 3 is arranged on the upper part of the compressor 2; to ensure smooth switching, a four-way valve 1 is usually vertically arranged between the compressor 2 and the electric control structure 3 and is respectively connected to the gas-liquid separator 4, the compressor 2 and the air intake three-way pipe (not shown in the figure).

[0030] In order to solve the problem of low space utilization of the external machine in the existing technology, such as Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment proposes a four-way valve 1, which is arranged on an outdoor unit. The outdoor unit includes a compressor 2, and an electric control structure 3 is arranged on the upper part of the compressor 2. The four-way valve 1 is horizontally arranged between the compressor 2 and the electric control structure 3 to switch the flow path of the refrigerant. The "horizontal arrangement" means that the four interfaces of the four-way valve 1 are on the same horizontal plane. This arrangement can make full use of the internal space of the outdoor unit and has a compact structure. Preferably, the four-way valve 1 is made of stainless steel, which is not easy to dissipate heat to the outside or cause heat leakage, and has high energy efficiency.

[0031] Example 2

[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, a four-way valve 1 includes a valve body 11, in which a valve core 12 is provided. By adjusting the pressure difference acting on both sides of the valve core 12, the valve core 12 can move from one end of the valve body 11 to the other end, thereby controlling the flow direction of the refrigerant and switching the operating mode of the air conditioner. A first interface 111 is provided on one side of the valve body 11, and a second interface 112, a third interface 113, and a fourth interface 114 are provided on the other side of the valve body 11 in sequence. As an example of the present invention, the first interface 111 is used to connect to the exhaust end of the compressor 2, and the second interface 112, the third interface 113, and the fourth interface 114 are used to connect to the heat exchanger 5, the suction end of the compressor 2, and the indoor evaporator (not shown in the figure), respectively.

[0033] As an example of the present invention, the valve core 12 includes a horizontally arranged first partition 122, and the lower part of the first partition 122 is provided with a vertically placed second partition 123 and a third partition 124 in sequence. The first partition 122 is provided with a connecting portion 121 on the side away from the second partition 123, and the connecting portion 121 is provided between the second partition 123 and the third partition 124, and is used for connecting or disconnecting the first interface 111 and the third interface 113; the first partition 122 is provided with a first opening 1221 and a second opening 1222, and the first opening 1221 and the second opening 1222 are respectively located on both sides of the connecting portion 121, and are used for connecting or disconnecting the first interface 111 and the second interface 112 or the fourth interface 114. When the valve core 12 is on the right side of the valve body 11, the first interface 111 and the second interface 112 are connected through the first opening 1221, the third interface 113 and the fourth interface 114 are connected, and the air conditioner is in cooling operation; when the valve core 12 is on the left side of the valve body 11, the second interface 112 and the third interface 113 are connected through the first opening 1221, and the first interface 111 and the fourth interface 114 are connected through the second opening 1222, at which time the air conditioner 100 is in heating operation; when the valve core 12 is in the middle position of the valve body 11, the first interface 111 is connected to the second interface 112 through the connecting portion 121 or the third interface 113 is disconnected from the connection with the other interfaces, so that when the compressor 2 is stopped, the exhaust port and the return air port (not shown in the figure) of the compressor 2 can be quickly connected to achieve pressure balance, so as to facilitate rapid restart.

[0034] Considering that heat exchange occurs between high-pressure and low-pressure refrigerants when the four-way valve 1 switches the flow path, the heating performance is reduced. At the same time, the temperature of the refrigerant entering the compressor 2 is too high, which leads to a significant decrease in its operating efficiency and an increase in energy consumption. To this end, the applicant has made the following structural improvements. Figure 3 、 Figure 4 As shown, the third interface 113 is provided with a heat-resistant structure 115. As an example of the present invention, the heat-resistant structure 115 includes a first gap 116, which is provided on the outer periphery of the third interface 113. This arrangement also effectively prevents the heat carried by the refrigerant flowing through the third interface 113 from diffusing and conducting within the valve body 11, suppressing heat transfer between different flow paths, improving cooling and heating capabilities, and enhancing the energy efficiency of the air-conditioning device. Preferably, the heat-resistant structure 115 also includes a thermal resistance layer 117 provided along the inner wall surface of the third interface 113. This arrangement can prevent direct contact between the refrigerant and the third interface 113 and suppress heat conduction. Preferably, the length of the thermal resistance layer 117 and the height of the first gap 116 are L and H1, respectively, where L = 1.5-3.5H2. This arrangement can take into account both the tightness of the connection between the third interface 113 and the valve body 11 and the heat loss caused by heat exchange.

[0035] In order to further avoid heat conduction between the third interface 113 and the second interface 112 or the fourth interface 114, a guide member 118 is further provided in the third interface 113. The guide member 118 is annular and the gap between the guide member 118 and the third interface 113 gradually increases from top to bottom. This setting can guide the refrigerant to always be in the middle position of the third interface 113, reducing heat conduction between adjacent interfaces; at the same time, a gap is also formed between the guide member 118 and the third interface 113, cooperating with the first gap 116 to reduce heat conduction and loss. Preferably, the height of the guide member 118 is H2, and the thickness of the valve body 11 is H3, where H1+H2>H3. Preferably, the second interface 112 and the fourth interface 114 have the same structure as the third interface 113, and will not be described in detail here.

[0036] As an example of the present invention, the interior of the guide member 118 is hollow to form a cylindrical channel, and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical channel is provided with a drainage rib 119, and the drainage rib 119 is spirally arranged along the central axis direction of the guide member 118. This arrangement enables the refrigerant to flow in a spiral shape when passing through the guide member 118, making the flow velocity in the lower part faster and forming a drag effect, thereby forming a gap between the guide member 118 and the valve body 11, which has a good heat insulation effect. Preferably, there are multiple drainage ribs 119 and they do not overlap with each other in the projection direction. This arrangement facilitates mold demolding and effectively prevents the spirally flowing refrigerant from colliding with each other to generate resistance. Preferably, the thickness of the drainage rib 119 is 0.2-0.4mm; if the thickness is too thin, a spiral water flow cannot be formed, and if the thickness is too thick, the refrigerant will not flow smoothly.

[0037] As an example of the present invention, the drainage rib 119 includes a first end 1191, an extension portion 1192, and a second end 1193 connected to each other. The first end 1191 is arranged close to the side of the valve core 12, and the second end 1193 is arranged away from the side of the valve core 12. Preferably, the first end 1191 includes a first side portion 11911 and a second side portion 11912 arranged in connection with each other. The first side portion 11911 and the second side portion 11912 are both chamfered, and their chamfer radii are R1 and R2 respectively, where R1 < R2. This setting makes the first end 1191 rounded without a platform, which has low resistance to the incoming refrigerant and a strong drag effect. As an example of the present invention, R2 = 0.4mm, R1 = 0.12mm; the right side of the extension portion 1192 is arranged to bulge outward, forming a working drainage line that enables the water flow to produce an adsorption effect. The horizontal gaps between adjacent first ends 1191, adjacent extensions 1192, and adjacent second ends 1193 are M1, M2, and M3, respectively, where M3 < M2 < M1. This arrangement allows the flow rate at second ends 1193 to be greater than that at first ends 1191, creating a drag effect on the refrigerant within flow guide 118.

[0038] Preferably, the slope of the drainage rib 119 is L = 0.7-0.9 mm. The slope refers to the horizontal distance between the leftmost end of the second side portion 11912, located on the right side of the drainage rib 119, and the rightmost end of the drainage rib 119. In other words, it is the horizontal distance between the intersection of the first side portion 11911 and the second side portion 11912 and the rightmost end of the second end 1193. If the slope is too large, the drainage rib 119 will easily block an excessively large area, resulting in resistance. If the slope is too small, the refrigerant will not flow in a spiral, and it will be difficult to form a gap between the refrigerant and the valve body 11, resulting in poor heat insulation.

[0039] Example 3

[0040] In order to enable smooth switching, the four-way valve 1 also includes a horizontally arranged buffer 13, which is arranged between the valve body 11 and the valve core 12; preferably, one end of the buffer 13 is connected to the valve body 11 or the valve core 12, and the other end is suspended. When the valve core 12 slides from one end of the valve body 11 to the other end, the valve core 12 will not directly contact the inner wall of the valve body 11 due to the buffering of the buffer 13, and at the same time, a force in the opposite direction is applied to the valve core 12, which facilitates the switching of the valve core 12. The buffer 13 can be a coil spring or a wave spring. Preferably, there are two buffers 13, which are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the valve core 12.

[0041] The present invention also provides an outdoor unit, which can be a cabinet air conditioner, a wall-mounted air conditioner, a ceiling-mounted air conditioner, etc., preferably a wall-mounted air conditioner; for the outdoor unit, in addition to including a horizontally arranged four-way valve 1, it also includes air-conditioning components such as cross-flow blades and fans. Since the specific structure and specific assembly relationship of its related components are all existing technologies, they will not be elaborated here.

[0042] Although the present invention is disclosed as above, the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A four-way valve, provided on an outdoor unit, wherein a compressor (2) is provided at the lower portion of the outdoor unit, and an electric control structure (3) is provided at the upper portion of the compressor (2), characterized in that: The four-way valve (1) is horizontally arranged between the compressor (2) and the electric control structure (3) and is used for switching the refrigerant between different flow paths; the four-way valve (1) comprises a valve body (11), a first interface (111) is provided on one side of the valve body (11), and a second interface (112), a third interface (113), and a fourth interface (114) are provided on the other side of the valve body (11); a valve core (12) movable leftward and rightward is provided in the valve body (11) and is used for controlling the first interface (111) and the second interface (112), the third interface (113), and the fourth interface (114). One of the ports (114) is connected, and the second port (112) and / or the third port (113) and / or the fourth port (114) are provided with a heat-resisting structure (115), and the heat-resisting structure (115) includes a flow guide (118) provided in the third port (113), the flow guide (118) is annular, and the gap between the flow guide (118) and the third port (113) gradually increases from top to bottom, and the inner wall of the flow guide (118) is provided with a flow guide rib (119), and the flow guide rib (119) is spirally arranged along the central axis direction of the flow guide (118).

2. The four-way valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The four-way valve (1) is made of stainless steel.

3. The four-way valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat-resistance structure (115) comprises a first gap (116) arranged in an annular shape and a heat-resistance layer (117); the first gap (116) is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the third interface (113); and the heat-resistance layer (117) is arranged in contact with the inner wall surface of the third interface (113).

4. The four-way valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first interface (111) and the third interface (113) are respectively connected to the exhaust end and the intake end of the compressor (2); the second interface (112) is connected to the heat exchanger (5); and the fourth interface (114) is connected to the indoor evaporator.

5. The four-way valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The four-way valve (1) further comprises a buffer member (13) arranged between the valve body (11) and the valve core (12); one end of the buffer member (13) is connected to the valve body (11) or the valve core (12), and the other end is suspended.

6. An outdoor unit, characterized in that: It comprises the four-way valve (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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