Motorized valve

Abstract

The application discloses an electric valve, which comprises a driving sleeve, a slider and a core shaft, the driving sleeve is in driving connection with the core shaft through the groove cooperation of the slider, the lower end of the driving sleeve is provided with a step part, the lower end of the spring is in abutment with the step part, the driving part can drive the driving sleeve to rotate, the driving sleeve drives the core shaft to rotate through the groove of the slider, the pressure of the spring on the valve block is relatively small during the rotation process, the rotation torque of the valve block is small, which is favorable for reducing the abrasion of the reducer gear, when the valve block rotates to the limit position of the limiting groove, the matching part of the driving sleeve slides out from the bottom of the groove, the pressure of the spring on the valve block is increased, and the sealing performance of the valve block is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive air conditioning, and in particular to an electric valve. Background Technology

[0002] Prior art, such as Chinese invention application 202320882635.3, discloses an electric valve including a drive component, a reduction mechanism, a valve body, and a valve block. The electric valve has a cavity, and the valve block is disposed within the cavity. The drive component can drive the reduction mechanism to actuate, and the reduction mechanism can drive the valve block to actuate. The electric valve also includes a thrust bearing and a spring. The thrust bearing is located in the valve cavity, along its axial direction, between the top of the valve cavity and the valve block. The lower end of the thrust bearing abuts against the upper end of the spring. To ensure the sealing performance of the valve block, the spring exerts a relatively large pressure on the valve block, resulting in a relatively large rotational torque of the drive component and severe wear of the reducer gears. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide an electric valve.

[0004] The technical solution of this invention is: an electric valve, comprising a driving component, a valve body, and a valve block. The electric valve has a valve cavity, and the valve block is disposed within the valve cavity. The driving component is capable of driving the valve block to move. The electric valve includes a valve seat integrally formed with or relatively fixed or limited by the valve body. The valve seat is located at the bottom of the valve cavity. The valve seat is provided with a first through hole, a second through hole, a third through hole, a fourth through hole, and a fifth through hole. The electric valve is provided with a first interface, a second interface, a third interface, a fourth interface, and a fifth interface. The first and fifth interfaces are respectively connected to the first, second, third, and fourth through holes and the fifth through hole; the valve block is movable relative to the valve seat, and the valve block slides against the valve seat on the side facing the valve seat. The valve block has first and second grooves on the side opposite to the valve seat. By rotating the valve block, when the second and third interfaces are connected, the fourth interface is connected to the fifth interface; when the first and second interfaces are connected, the third interface is connected to the fourth interface. The rotation of the valve block controls the first groove to connect the second... When the through hole is connected to the third through hole, the second groove connects the fourth through hole to the fifth through hole. When the first groove is controlled by the rotation of the valve block to connect the first through hole to the second through hole, the second groove connects the third through hole to the fourth through hole. The electric valve also includes a limiting post and a limiting groove, the limiting post and the limiting groove cooperating to limit the position of the valve block. The electric valve further includes a thrust bearing and a spring, the thrust bearing is located in the valve cavity, along the axial direction of the thrust bearing, the thrust bearing is located between the top of the valve cavity and the valve block, and the lower end of the thrust bearing is connected to the spring. The upper end abuts against the valve block; the electric valve also includes a drive sleeve, a slider, and a spindle. The spindle is fixedly connected to the valve block. The spindle includes a stop protrusion. The slider includes a stop recess that circumferentially cooperates with the stop protrusion. The upper end face of the slider includes a groove. The drive sleeve is driven to connect with the spindle through the groove of the slider. The slider, drive sleeve, and spindle maintain a predetermined gap in the radial direction. The spring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the drive sleeve. The lower end of the drive sleeve has a stepped portion. The lower end of the spring abuts against the stepped portion. The drive component can drive the drive sleeve to rotate.

[0005] Furthermore, the groove cross-section of the slider is circular or triangular.

[0006] Furthermore, the mating part where the drive sleeve mates with the groove of the slider is arc-shaped.

[0007] Furthermore, the mating part where the drive sleeve mates with the groove of the slider is a cylindrical pin.

[0008] Furthermore, when the second and third interfaces are connected, and the fourth and fifth interfaces are connected, the valve block closes the first through hole to cut off the first interface; when the first and second interfaces are connected, and the third and fourth interfaces are connected, the valve block closes the fifth through hole to cut off the fifth interface.

[0009] Furthermore, the valve block has a disc structure, and the valve block is divided into a disc part that rotates and seals with the valve seat and a flow part with first and second grooves inside. The disc part of the valve block on the side opposite to the valve seat is provided with a first blind hole, a second blind hole, a third blind hole and a fourth blind hole. The first blind hole and the second blind hole are connected to the first groove, and the third blind hole and the fourth blind hole are connected to the second groove.

[0010] Furthermore, the valve block is divided into an independent disc portion that rotates and seals with a valve seat and a flow portion with first and second grooves inside, and the disc portion and the flow portion are fixedly connected.

[0011] Furthermore, the inner side of the flow section is arc-shaped to avoid the spring.

[0012] Furthermore, the valve cavity is formed by the valve body and the valve seat being fixedly connected.

[0013] Furthermore, the electric valve also includes a reducer, which is at least a single-stage planetary gear reducer, including a sun gear, planet gears, a fixed gear ring, a moving gear ring, an upper fixed plate, a positioning cylinder, a support disc, and a short shaft. The sun gear is fixedly connected to the drive component, and the sun gear meshes with three planet gears. The three planet gears mesh with the fixed gear ring and the moving gear ring, and the output is provided by the moving gear ring.

[0014] Furthermore, the three planetary gears are connected as a whole with the upper fixed plate and the positioning cylinder through the short shaft, and are axially supported and positioned by the support plate. The support plate is supported by the moving gear ring. The upper fixed plate is directly axially limited by the step and the positioning cylinder. The positioning cylinder is provided with a notch in the circumference so that the three planetary gears mesh with the fixed gear ring and the moving gear ring.

[0015] Furthermore, the drive component also includes an isolation sleeve, an adapter seat, a pressure ring, a sleeve, a bearing bracket, and a bearing. The isolation sleeve is welded to the outer side of the adapter seat and is assembled on the top of the valve body through the pressure ring. The sleeve is interference-fitted to the inner side of the adapter seat. The sleeve sequentially supports the fixed gear ring and the bearing bracket. The bearing and the bearing bracket are fixedly connected, and the bearing mates with the sun gear.

[0016] In the electric valve of the present invention, the drive sleeve is driven to connect with the spindle through the groove of the slider. The lower end of the drive sleeve has a stepped portion, and the lower end of the spring abuts against the stepped portion. The drive component can drive the drive sleeve to rotate. The drive sleeve drives the spindle to rotate through the groove of the slider. During the rotation, the pressure of the spring on the valve block is relatively small, and the rotational torque of the valve block is small, which helps to reduce the wear of the reducer gear. When the valve block rotates to the limit position of the limit groove, the drive sleeve mating part slides out from the bottom of the groove, and the pressure of the spring on the valve block increases, ensuring the sealing performance of the valve block. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electric valve of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is the present invention. Figure 1 Exploded view of the main components excluding the drive unit and valve body;

[0019] Figure 3 This is the present invention. Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure viewed from below;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the valve seat structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the valve block disc structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 6 This is an exploded structural diagram of the reducer and some drive components according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below through embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0024] See Figures 1 to 6 As shown, this embodiment discloses an electric valve that can be applied to refrigerant circuits in automotive air conditioning systems, etc. The electric valve includes a valve body 1 and a drive component 4. The valve body 1 includes a valve cavity with one open end, and a valve seat 2 and a valve block 3 are disposed within the valve cavity. The drive component 4 drives a reducer 7 to rotate, and the reducer 7 drives the valve block 3 to rotate. The rotation center of the output end of the drive component 4 and the rotation center of the valve block 3 are located on the same axis. The valve seat 2 is located at the bottom of the valve cavity. The open end of the valve cavity of the valve body 1 is connected to the valve seat 2 by screws, welding, or other methods, or the valve seat can be integrated with the valve body. The drive component 4 is a claw-pole stepper motor structure with a built-in rotor 41 and an external coil 42. Furthermore, the planetary gear reduction mechanism is placed inside the rotor, making the structure more compact and eliminating the need for a shaft seal assembly, thus reducing friction between the shaft and the valve block. The reduction mechanism drives the valve block to move.

[0025] The valve seat is provided with a first through hole 201, a second through hole 202, a third through hole 203, a fourth through hole 204, and a fifth through hole 205. The electric valve is provided with a first interface 01, a second interface 02, a third interface 03, a fourth interface 04, and a fifth interface 05. The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth interfaces are respectively connected to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth through holes. The centers of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth through holes are equidistant from the rotation center of the valve seat, and the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth through holes are evenly distributed circumferentially around the rotation center of the valve seat. The valve block 3 is capable of rotating relative to the valve seat, and the valve block slides against the valve seat on the side facing the valve seat. The valve block 3 has a first groove 301 and a second groove 302 on the side opposite to the valve seat 2.

[0026] In use, by rotating the valve block, when the second interface 02 and the third interface 03 are connected, the fourth interface 04 is connected to the fifth interface 05; when the first interface 01 and the second interface 02 are connected, the third interface 03 is connected to the fourth interface 04. Specifically, when rotating the valve block, the first groove 301 connects the second through hole 202 to the third through hole 203, and the second groove 302 connects the fourth through hole 204 to the fifth through hole 205, the valve block 3 closes the first through hole 201, cutting off the first interface. When rotating the valve block, the first groove 301 connects the first through hole 201 to the second through hole 202, and the second groove 302 connects the third through hole 203 to the fourth through hole 204, the valve block 3 closes the fifth through hole 205, cutting off the fifth interface. The valve block can rotate counterclockwise or clockwise, and can continuously rotate to switch adjacent through holes. Using multiple grooves and five interfaces allows for more switching functions, and it can also simultaneously close one interface.

[0027] This embodiment of the electric valve has 5 ports, but it can also be configured with 4 ports by removing the fifth port 05. Alternatively, it can be configured with 6 ports by adding a sixth port. Correspondingly, the valve seat has corresponding through holes, and the valve block has corresponding flow sections.

[0028] Combination Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5As shown, the valve block 3 has a disc structure, divided into a disc portion 31 that rotates and seals with the valve seat, and a flow portion 32 with a first groove 301 and a second groove 302 inside. The disc portion opposite the valve seat has a first blind hole 311, a second blind hole 312, a third blind hole 313, and a fourth blind hole 314. The first and second blind holes connect to the first groove 301, and the third and fourth blind holes connect to the second groove 302. It should be noted that a blind hole specifically refers to a hole that does not penetrate the flow portion but only the disc portion. The valve block 3 is divided into an independent disc portion that rotates and seals with the valve seat and a flow portion with the first and second grooves inside. The disc portion and the flow portion are fixedly sealed by welding, or they can be a single integrated structure. Sealing seats 206 are installed in multiple through holes, including the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth through holes. For through holes with low sealing requirements, sealing seats may not be used. In the illustration, sealing seats are installed in four through holes, and the sealing seats are made of rubber or plastic. There is an isolation between the first blind hole and the second blind hole on the disc portion of the opposite side of the valve seat, and there is also an isolation between the third blind hole and the fourth blind hole on the disc portion of the opposite side of the valve seat. In this way, the diameter of the blind hole matches the diameter of the through hole, ensuring good sealing performance and flow capacity.

[0029] In this embodiment, the electric valve is further provided with a thrust bearing 8 and a spring 9. The thrust bearing 8 is located in the valve cavity along the axial direction of the valve cavity and between the top of the valve cavity and the valve block 3. The electric valve also includes a drive sleeve 10, a spindle 6, and a slider 5. The spindle 6 is fixedly connected to the valve block 3 and includes a stop protrusion 61. The slider 5 includes a stop recess 51 that circumferentially cooperates with the stop protrusion. The upper end surface of the slider includes a groove 52. The drive sleeve 10 is driven to connect with the spindle 6 through the groove 52 of the slider. The slider, drive sleeve, and spindle maintain a predetermined gap radially. The spring 9 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the drive sleeve 10. The lower end of the drive sleeve 10 has a stepped portion 1001. The lower end of the spring 9 abuts against the stepped portion 1001. The thrust bearing 8 is sleeved on the outer side of the drive sleeve 10, and the lower end of the thrust bearing 8 abuts against the upper end of the spring. The drive component 4 drives the reducer 7 to rotate, the reducer 7 drives the drive sleeve 10 to rotate, the drive sleeve 10 drives the spindle 6 to rotate, and the spindle 6 drives the valve block 3 to rotate. The inner side of the valve block's flow section is arc-shaped to avoid the drive sleeve and spring, making the valve block very compact. The spring applies a certain preload to the valve block to ensure sealing performance. The valve block has a disc structure, which is beneficial for balancing the spring pressure and prevents partial sealing failure due to skewed pressure. In this embodiment, the cross-section of the groove 52 of the slider is arc-shaped, or it can be triangular. The mating part between the drive sleeve and the groove 52 of the slider is a cylindrical pin 1002, or it can be an arc-shaped contact part integrated with the drive sleeve. In this embodiment, a guide hole is provided at the top of the valve cavity of the valve body, and the drive sleeve is guided by the guide hole. A center hole is provided in the center of the valve seat, and the spindle is guided by the center hole. Because the slider maintains a predetermined gap with the drive sleeve and spindle radially, typically above 0.5mm, even if the center hole of the valve seat and the guide hole of the valve body are not perfectly aligned, it does not affect the rotation of the valve block. During rotation, the spring exerts relatively low pressure on the valve block, resulting in a small required torque for the valve block, which helps reduce wear on the reducer gears. When the valve block reaches the limit position of the limit groove, it stops rotating, but the drive sleeve continues to rotate. The drive sleeve mating part slides out from the bottom of the groove, increasing the spring pressure on the valve block and ensuring its sealing performance.

[0030] In this embodiment, combined with Figure 6The reducer 7 is a single-stage planetary gear reducer, including a sun gear 701, planet gears 702, a fixed gear ring 703, a moving gear ring 704, an upper fixed plate 705, a positioning cylinder 706, a support plate 707, and a short shaft 708. The sun gear 701 is fixedly connected to the rotor and meshes with the three planet gears 702. The three planet gears 702 mesh with the fixed gear ring 703 and the moving gear ring 704, and the output is provided by the moving gear ring 704. The three planet gears 702 are connected to the upper fixed plate 705 and the positioning cylinder 706 as a whole through the short shaft 708, and are axially supported and positioned by the support plate 707. The support plate 707 is supported by the moving gear ring 704. The upper fixed plate 705 is directly axially limited by a step and the positioning cylinder 706. The positioning cylinder 706 has a circumferential notch to allow the three planet gears 702 to mesh with the fixed gear ring 703 and the moving gear ring 704. The support plate is generally made of wear-resistant material to reduce wear between the two parts. The drive component 4 also includes an isolation sleeve 43, an adapter 44, a pressure ring 45, a sleeve 46, a bearing bracket 47, and a bearing 48. The isolation sleeve 43 is welded to the outer side of the adapter 44 and assembled to the top of the valve body via the pressure ring 45. The sleeve 46 is interference-fitted to the inner side of the adapter 44. The sleeve 46 sequentially supports the fixed gear ring 703 and the bearing bracket 47. The bearing 48 is fixedly connected to the bearing bracket 47 and mates with the sun gear 701. The sleeve 46 has a notch, and the fixed gear ring 703 has a radial protrusion that mates with this notch to prevent rotation and to prevent the interference fit from affecting the gear's accuracy.

[0031] The electric valve also features a limiting post 33 and a limiting groove (not shown). The limiting post is located on the disc portion, avoiding the flow portion. The limiting post is fixedly connected to the side of the valve block away from the valve seat via a blind hole interference fit or welding. The limiting groove is located at the top of the valve cavity, and the limiting post 33 mates with the limiting groove at the top of the valve cavity. The limiting groove is a conventional arc shape, limiting the rotation angle of the valve block at both ends. Alternatively, the limiting post can be located on the valve seat side of the valve block, and the limiting groove can be located at the top of the valve seat; these are both commonly used methods for limiting the rotation angle of the valve block. The limiting post can also be fixed to the valve body or valve seat, with the limiting groove on the valve block to further limit the rotation angle of the valve block.

[0032] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "surface", "around", "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this invention and 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0033] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electric valve, comprising a drive component, a valve body, and a valve block, wherein the electric valve has a valve cavity, the valve block is disposed within the valve cavity, the drive component is capable of driving the valve block to move, the electric valve includes a valve seat integrally formed with or relatively fixed or limitedly disposed with the valve body, the valve seat being located at the bottom of the valve cavity, the valve seat having a first through hole, a second through hole, a third through hole, a fourth through hole, and a fifth through hole, the electric valve having a first interface, a second interface, a third interface, a fourth interface, and a fifth interface, the first interface, the second interface, the third interface, the fourth interface, and the fifth interface respectively communicating with the first through hole, the second through hole, the third through hole, the fourth through hole, and the fifth through hole, respectively; the valve block is capable of moving relative to the valve seat, and the valve block slides against the valve seat on the side facing the valve seat, the valve block having a first groove and a second groove on the side opposite to the valve seat, the rotation of the valve block controlling the second interface and the third interface to communicate, the fourth interface and the fifth interface to communicate, and controlling the first interface and the second interface to communicate, the third interface and the fourth interface to communicate; wherein, When the first groove is controlled by rotating the valve block to connect the second through hole and the third through hole, the second groove connects the fourth through hole and the fifth through hole. When the first groove is controlled by rotating the valve block to connect the first through hole and the second through hole, the second groove connects the third through hole and the fourth through hole. The electric valve also includes a limiting post and a limiting groove, the limiting post and the limiting groove cooperating to limit the position of the valve block. The electric valve further includes a thrust bearing and a spring, the thrust bearing being located in the valve cavity, along the axial direction of the thrust bearing, the thrust bearing being located between the top of the valve cavity and the valve block. The lower end of the bearing abuts against the upper end of the spring; the electric valve also includes a drive sleeve, a slider, and a spindle, the spindle being fixedly connected to the valve block, the spindle including a stop protrusion, the slider including a stop recess circumferentially cooperating with the stop protrusion, the upper end face of the slider including a groove, the drive sleeve being driven connected to the spindle through the groove of the slider; the slider, the drive sleeve, and the spindle maintain a predetermined gap radially, the spring being sleeved on the outer periphery of the drive sleeve, the lower end of the drive sleeve having a stepped portion, the lower end of the spring abutting against the stepped portion, and the drive component being able to drive the drive sleeve to rotate.

2. The electric valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The groove cross-section of the slider is circular or triangular.

3. The electric valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mating part between the drive sleeve and the groove of the slider is arc-shaped.

4. The electric valve according to claim 3, characterized in that, The mating part between the drive sleeve and the groove of the slider is a cylindrical pin.

5. The electric valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve block has a disc structure, which is divided into a disc part that rotates and seals with the valve seat and a flow part with first and second grooves inside. The disc part of the valve block on the side opposite to the valve seat is provided with a first blind hole, a second blind hole, a third blind hole and a fourth blind hole. The first blind hole and the second blind hole are connected to the first groove, and the third blind hole and the fourth blind hole are connected to the second groove.

6. The electric valve according to claim 5, characterized in that, The valve block is divided into an independent disc portion that rotates and seals with a valve seat and a flow portion with first and second grooves inside, and the disc portion and the flow portion are fixedly connected.

7. The electric valve according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The inner side of the flow section is arc-shaped to avoid the spring.

8. The electric valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electric valve also includes a reducer, which is at least a single-stage planetary gear reducer, including a sun gear, planet gears, a fixed gear ring, a moving gear ring, an upper fixed plate, a positioning cylinder, a support plate, and a short shaft. The sun gear is fixedly connected to the drive component, and the sun gear meshes with three planet gears. The three planet gears mesh with the fixed gear ring and the moving gear ring, and the output is provided by the moving gear ring.

9. The electric valve according to claim 8, characterized in that, The three planetary gears are connected to the upper fixed plate and the positioning cylinder by the short shaft and are axially supported and positioned by the support plate. The support plate is supported by the moving gear ring. The upper fixed plate is directly axially limited by the step and the positioning cylinder. The positioning cylinder is provided with a notch in the circumference so that the three planetary gears mesh with the fixed gear ring and the moving gear ring.

10. The electric valve according to claim 9, characterized in that, The drive component also includes an isolation sleeve, an adapter seat, a pressure ring, a sleeve, a bearing bracket, and a bearing. The isolation sleeve is welded to the outer side of the adapter seat and is assembled on the top of the valve body through the pressure ring. The sleeve is interference-fitted to the inner side of the adapter seat. The sleeve sequentially supports the fixed gear ring and the bearing bracket. The bearing and the bearing bracket are fixedly connected, and the bearing mates with the sun gear.

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