Valve device

Abstract

A valve device (10) is provided with a fixed disc (14), a driving portion (16), a shaft (18), and a rotor (20). The valve device is provided with a housing (12) having a boss portion (124c) through which the shaft passes, and a ring-shaped sealing member (124e) that seals a gap between the shaft and the boss portion. The shaft has a support portion (182) including an abutting portion (184) that abuts against the sealing member. The support portion is composed of a high molecular material containing reinforcing fibers in a resin, at least the abutting portion extends in the axial direction of the shaft, and a front end portion (183) at an end portion on one side in the axial direction of the support portion is linked to a gear portion (162) of the driving portion. A trace portion (183b) of an injection gate of the high molecular material is formed at the front end portion of the support portion.

Description

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application is made based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-071792, filed on April 21, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to valve devices. Background Technology

[0004] Currently, there are known valve devices that adjust the opening of a flow passage orifice formed on a second valve plate by changing the relative positional relationship between a first valve plate connected to a shaft and a second valve plate that is non-rotatably disposed in a housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0005] Prior art literature

[0006] Patent documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2017-211311 Summary of the Invention

[0008] However, in temperature control devices, such as those used for cabin air conditioning and battery temperature control in electric vehicles, the flow rate of the fluid used to adjust the temperature of the cabin and battery needs to be adjusted frequently, which increases the number of times the valve device used to adjust the flow rate of the fluid is operated.

[0009] Therefore, in order to improve the durability of the valve device, the inventors investigated a scheme to construct the shaft using a polymer material made by containing reinforcing fibers such as glass in the resin. While this ensures the strength of the shaft, a contradiction exists: the sealing component that seals the shaft and the housing is prone to wear due to the reinforcing fibers. This was discovered by the inventors through careful research.

[0010] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a valve device that can achieve improved durability.

[0011] According to one point of view in this disclosure

[0012] The valve device includes:

[0013] A plate-shaped fixed disk having at least one flow path hole for fluid passage;

[0014] The drive unit outputs rotational force;

[0015] A shaft that rotates around a predetermined axis by a rotational force;

[0016] The rotor, which increases or decreases the opening of the flow path orifice as the shaft rotates;

[0017] A housing having a boss through which a shaft passes; and

[0018] An annular sealing member that seals the gap between the shaft and the boss portion.

[0019] The shaft has a support portion, which includes an abutment portion that abuts against the sealing member.

[0020] The support portion is made of a polymer material containing reinforcing fibers in the resin. At least the contact portion extends along the axial direction of the shaft, and the front end of the support portion located on one side in the axial direction is connected to the gear portion of the drive portion. A trace portion of the polymer material ejection gate is formed at the front end.

[0021] When molten resin is poured into a mold to create a molded article of a desired shape, the reinforcing fibers are oriented in the direction of resin flow. That is, the orientation of the reinforcing fibers (i.e., the length direction) is consistent with the direction of resin flow. Therefore, if a polymer material ejection gate is provided at the front end of the support portion to manufacture the support portion, the molten resin flows along the axial direction of the shaft to the contact portion. Thus, at least at the contact portion, the reinforcing fibers are oriented in a manner that aligns the orientation of the reinforcing fibers with the axial direction of the shaft, making it less likely for the reinforcing fibers to protrude from the surface of the shaft, thereby suppressing wear on the sealing member. Consequently, the durability of the valve device can be improved.

[0022] According to another point of view in this disclosure

[0023] The valve device includes:

[0024] A plate-shaped fixed disk having at least one flow path hole for fluid passage;

[0025] The drive unit outputs rotational force;

[0026] A shaft that rotates around a predetermined axis by a rotational force;

[0027] The rotor, which increases or decreases the opening of the flow path orifice as the shaft rotates;

[0028] A housing having a boss through which a shaft passes; and

[0029] An annular sealing member that seals the gap between the shaft and the boss portion.

[0030] The shaft has a support portion, which includes an abutment portion that abuts against the sealing member.

[0031] The support portion is made of a polymer material containing reinforcing fibers in resin, and at least the contact portion extends along the axial direction of the shaft, and the reinforcing fibers are oriented such that the orientation of the reinforcing fibers at at least the contact portion is consistent with the axial direction of the shaft.

[0032] Therefore, compared to cases where the shaft support is made solely of resin, the shaft's strength can be ensured. Furthermore, the reinforcing fibers are less likely to be exposed on the shaft surface, thereby suppressing wear on the sealing components. Consequently, the durability of the valve device can be improved.

[0033] In addition, the parenthesized reference symbols used to annotate each constituent element, etc., indicate an example of the correspondence between that constituent element, etc., and the specific constituent elements, etc., described in the embodiments described later. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 This is a front view of the valve device according to the first embodiment.

[0035] Figure 2 From Figure 1 The arrow shown in II is an observed bottom view of the valve device.

[0036] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Section III-III.

[0037] Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the fixed plate.

[0038] Figure 5 It is a top view of the assembly of the shaft, rotor, and rod.

[0039] Figure 6 From Figure 5 The arrow in VI shows a three-dimensional view of the assembly of the shaft, rotor, and rod.

[0040] Figure 7 From Figure 5 The perspective view of the assembly of the shaft, rotor and rod observed by the arrow shown in VII.

[0041] Figure 8 yes Figure 5 Sectional view of VIII-VIII.

[0042] Figure 9 This is a top view of the rotor.

[0043] Figure 10 This is a top view of the drive disk.

[0044] Figure 11 It is a top view showing the state where the drive disk is superimposed on the fixed disk.

[0045] Figure 12 This is a side view of an assembly with shafts and other components assembled on the main body cover.

[0046] Figure 13This is a cross-sectional view of the shaft before it is fitted into the support section.

[0047] Figure 14 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the manufacturing method of the support for the shaft used as a comparative example.

[0048] Figure 15 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the manufacturing method of the shaft support used in the valve device of the first embodiment.

[0049] Figure 16 yes Figure 15 A schematic enlarged view of the XVI section.

[0050] Figure 17 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the manufacturing method of the shaft used in the valve device of the second embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0051] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, parts that are the same or equivalent to those described in previous embodiments will be labeled with the same reference numerals, and their descriptions may sometimes be omitted. Additionally, in embodiments where only a portion of the constituent elements is described, the constituent elements described in previous embodiments can be applied to other portions of the constituent elements. The following embodiments can be partially combined with each other as long as they fall within a range where there are no particular obstacles to combination, even without explicit indication.

[0052] (First Implementation)

[0053] based on Figures 1 to 16 The first embodiment of this disclosure will be described. In this embodiment, an example of applying the valve device 10 of this disclosure to a temperature regulating device for both cabin air conditioning and battery temperature regulation in an electric vehicle will be described. The valve device 10 used in a temperature regulating device for an electric vehicle requires fine adjustments to the temperatures corresponding to the cabin and the battery, respectively. Compared to the case in the case of a cooling water circuit for an internal combustion engine, the flow rate of the fluid needs to be adjusted with high precision.

[0054] Figure 1 The valve device 10 shown is suitable for circulating a fluid circulation loop for a fluid (cooling water in this example) used to regulate the temperature of the vehicle interior and battery. The valve device 10 can increase or decrease the flow rate of the fluid in the circulation loop via the flow path of the valve device 10, and can also cut off the flow of the fluid in that flow path. For example, LLC, including ethylene glycol, can be used as the fluid. LLC is an abbreviation for Long Life Coolant.

[0055] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the valve device 10 has a housing 12 that forms a fluid passage for fluid flow inside. The valve device 10 is composed of a three-way valve having an inlet 12a for fluid inflow, a first outlet 12b for fluid outflow, and a second outlet 12c for fluid outflow on the housing 12. The valve device 10 not only functions as a simple flow path switching valve, but also functions as a flow regulating valve to adjust the flow rate ratio of the fluid flowing from the inlet 12a to the first outlet 12b and the fluid flowing from the inlet 12a to the second outlet 12c.

[0056] The valve device 10 is configured as a disc valve in which the valve opening and closing action is performed by rotating a disc-shaped valve core around the axis CL of the shaft 18 (described later). Furthermore, in this embodiment, the direction along the axis CL of the shaft 18 (described later) is defined as the axial direction DRa, and the direction orthogonal to this axial direction DRa and extending radially from the axis CL is defined as the radial direction DRa. Additionally, in this embodiment, the direction around the axis CL is defined as the circumferential direction DRc, and various structures are described accordingly.

[0057] like Figure 3 As shown, the valve device 10 houses a fixed plate 14, a shaft 18, a rotor 20, a compression spring 26, a first torsion spring 28, a second torsion spring 30, etc., inside the housing 12. Additionally, the valve device 10 has a drive unit 16, etc., arranged on the outside of the housing 12.

[0058] The housing 12 is a non-rotating component that does not rotate. The housing 12 is formed, for example, from a resin material. The housing 12 has: a main body portion 120 with a bottom cylindrical shape extending along the axial direction DRa; and a main body cover portion 124 that closes the opening 120a of the main body portion 120.

[0059] The main body 120 has a bottom wall portion 121 forming a bottom surface and a side wall portion 122 surrounding an axis CL. The bottom wall portion 121 and the side wall portion 122 are integrally formed into a single molded part.

[0060] The bottom wall portion 121 is provided with a height difference to match the flow path holes 141, 142 of the fixing plate 14 (described later). That is, the portion of the bottom wall portion 121 that faces the flow path holes 141, 142 of the fixing plate 14 (described later) has a larger distance from the main body cover portion 124 compared to the portion that does not face the flow path holes 141, 142 of the fixing plate 14.

[0061] The bottom wall portion 121 has opposing portions 121a that are opposite to the flow holes 141, 142 of the fixed disk 14, and non-opposing portions 121b that are not opposite to the flow holes 141, 142 of the fixed disk 14. In the bottom wall portion 121, the opposing portions 121a are significantly away from the fixed disk 14, and the non-opposing portions 121b are close to the fixed disk 14.

[0062] On the side wall portion 122, an inlet portion 12a is formed at a position closer to the opening portion 120a than to the bottom wall portion 121, and a first outlet portion 12b and a second outlet portion 12c are formed at positions closer to the bottom wall portion 121 than to the opening portion 120a. The inlet portion 12a, the first outlet portion 12b, and the second outlet portion 12c are composed of tubular members with flow paths formed on their inner sides.

[0063] On the inner side of the side wall portion 122, between the portion where the inlet portion 12a is formed and the portions where the outlet portions 12b and 12c are formed, a mounting portion 122a for mounting the fixing plate 14 is provided. The mounting portion 122a is a portion that abuts against the back side of the opening surface 140 in the fixing plate 14. The mounting portion 122a is formed in the side wall portion 122 at a portion where the inner diameter changes. Specifically, the mounting portion 122a is a flat portion that extends radially DRr. A receiving groove 122b for accommodating the washer 15, which will be described later, is formed in the mounting portion 122a.

[0064] In addition, the side wall portion 122 has a first disk opposing portion 122c that is opposite to the fixed disk 14 in the radial direction DRr and a second disk opposing portion 122d that is opposite to the drive disk 22 in the radial direction DRr.

[0065] Although not shown in the diagram, a storage feature is formed on the first tray-opposing portion 122c. Figure 4 The fixed disk 14 shown has a receiving groove for the anti-rotation protrusion 144. Alternatively, the anti-rotation of the fixed disk 14 can also be achieved by, for example, an anti-rotation pin, instead of the anti-rotation protrusion 144.

[0066] The inner diameter Dh of the first disc opposing portion 122c is larger than the outer diameter Dd of the portion of the fixed disc 14 excluding the anti-rotation protrusion 144. Therefore, when the fixed disc 14 is positioned on the mounting portion 122a, a gap is formed between the fixed disc 14 and the side wall portion 122. In other words, the fixed disc 14 is not positioned by the side wall portion 122.

[0067] The inner diameter of the second disc opposing portion 122d is larger than the inner diameter of the first disc opposing portion 122c. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the second disc opposing portion 122d is larger than the outer diameter of the drive disc 22. This creates a gap between the drive disc 22 and the side wall portion 122. That is, the drive disc 22 does not contact the side wall portion 122 and is not positioned by the side wall portion 122. Additionally, the outer diameter of the drive disc 22 is approximately equal to the outer diameter Dd of the fixed disc 14.

[0068] The inner side of the housing 12 is divided into an inlet space 12d and an outlet space 12e by a fixed plate 14. The inlet space 12d is the space inside the housing 12 that communicates with the inlet portion 12a. The outlet space 12e is the space inside the housing 12 that communicates with the first outlet portion 12b and the second outlet portion 12c.

[0069] Although not shown in the figure, a plate-shaped partition is provided on the inner side of the main body 120 to divide the outlet side space 12e into a first outlet side space communicating with the first flow path hole 141 and a second outlet side space communicating with the second flow path hole 142. The partition is provided in such a way that it traverses the outlet side space 12e along the radial direction DRr.

[0070] The main body cover 124 is a cover member that covers the opening 120a of the main body 120. The main body cover 124 is composed of a plate portion 124a, a rib portion 124b, a boss portion 124c, and a spring guide portion 125. The plate portion 124a, the rib portion 124b, the boss portion 124c, and the spring guide portion 125 are integrally formed into a single molded part.

[0071] Plate portion 124a is an annular portion extending radially along DRr. Plate portion 124a, together with side wall portion 122 and fixing plate 14, forms entrance side space 12d in main body cover portion 124.

[0072] Rib 124b is the portion of the main body cover 124 that is embedded in the opening 120a of the main body 120. Rib 124b is formed in a cylindrical shape and is provided on the outer periphery of the plate portion 124a. Rib 124b is provided in such a way that it protrudes from the plate portion 124a toward the bottom wall portion 121. An O-ring 124d is disposed between rib 124b and side wall portion 122 to seal the gap between the main body portion 120 and the main body cover 124.

[0073] The boss portion 124c is the part through which the shaft 18 passes on the inner side. The boss portion 124c is formed in a cylindrical shape and is provided on the inner circumference of the plate portion 124a. The boss portion 124c protrudes from the plate portion 124a toward the axial direction DRa. The boss portion 124c has a shaft seal 124e on its inner side and an O-ring 124f on its outer side to seal the gap between it and the drive portion 16. In addition, a bearing portion 124g that supports the shaft 18 for rotation is arranged on the inner side of the boss portion 124c.

[0074] Here, the shaft seal 124e is an annular sealing member that seals the gap between the shaft and the shaft 18. The shaft seal 124e is fixed to the inside of the boss portion 124c by pressing or the like. The portion of the shaft seal 124e that protrudes toward the shaft 18 is in sliding contact with the shaft 18. As a result, fluid infiltration from between the shaft 18 and the boss portion 124c toward the drive portion 16 can be suppressed.

[0075] The spring guide 125 is a guide member that restricts the first torsion spring 28 in a proper position so that the first torsion spring 28 can function properly. The spring guide 125 is arranged inside the first torsion spring 28 in a manner that surrounds the axis CL.

[0076] The fixed disk 14 is composed of a disc-shaped component. The fixed disk 14 is disposed inside the housing 12 with the axial direction DRa as the thickness direction. The fixed disk 14 has an opening surface 140 that serves as a surface for the drive disk 22 to slide. The opening surface 140 is a contact surface that contacts the sliding surface 220 of the drive disk 22, which will be described later.

[0077] It is desirable that the fixing disk 14 be formed of a material with a smaller coefficient of linear expansion and superior wear resistance compared to the material constituting the housing 12. The fixing disk 14 is made of a high-hardness material with a higher hardness than the housing 12. Specifically, the fixing disk 14 is made of ceramic. The fixing disk 14 is a powder-molded body obtained by forming ceramic powder into the desired shape using a stamping machine. Alternatively, the fixing disk 14 may be formed only of a material such as ceramic with a smaller coefficient of linear expansion and superior wear resistance compared to the material constituting the housing 12, where the opening surface 140 is formed.

[0078] Furthermore, the fixed plate 14 constitutes a flow path forming part that forms flow path holes 141, 142 for fluid to pass through. Therefore, in the valve device 10 of this embodiment, the fixed plate 14, which is the flow path forming part, is configured as a component that is not part of the housing 12.

[0079] like Figure 4 As shown, a first flow path hole 141 and a second flow path hole 142 for fluid passage are formed in the fixed disk 14. The first flow path hole 141 and the second flow path hole 142 are formed in the fixed disk 14 at positions away from the axis CL of the shaft 18, without overlapping with the axis CL. The first flow path hole 141 and the second flow path hole 142 are sector-shaped through holes, functioning as connecting paths that connect the inlet-side space 12d and the outlet-side space 12e. Alternatively, the first flow path hole 141 and the second flow path hole 142 can also be circular, elliptical, or other shapes.

[0080] Specifically, a first flow path 141 is provided in the fixed disk 14 at a location corresponding to the first outlet side space, communicating with the first outlet side space. Similarly, a second flow path 142 is provided in the fixed disk 14 at a location corresponding to the second outlet side space, communicating with the second outlet side space.

[0081] A mounting hole 143 is formed approximately at the center of the mounting plate 14. The mounting hole 143 is a fixed-side through hole through which the shaft 18 passes. The inner diameter of the mounting hole 143 is formed to be larger than the diameter of the shaft 18 in a manner that prevents the shaft 18 from slipping.

[0082] A washer 15 is disposed between the fixed disk 14 and the mounting portion 122a to seal the gap between the fixed disk 14 and the mounting portion 122a. The washer 15 is made of rubber. The washer 15 is received in a receiving groove 122b formed in the mounting portion 122a. The washer 15 has two or more protrusions on the sealing surface opposite to the fixed disk 14 and on the sealing surface opposite to the mounting portion 122a. Specifically, the washer 15 has two protrusions protruding toward the axial direction DRa. Such a washer 15 can be obtained, for example, by a simple method such as forming a recess in a flat sealing surface.

[0083] like Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, shaft 18 is a rotating shaft that rotates around a predetermined axis CL under the action of the rotational force output from drive unit 16. Shaft 18 extends along the axial direction DRa. Both sides of shaft 18 in the axial direction DRa are rotatably supported on housing 12. That is, shaft 18 is a two-end support structure. Shaft 18 passes through fixed disk 14 and drive disk 22 and is rotatably supported on housing 12. Specifically, one side of shaft 18 in the axial direction DRa is supported by a bearing portion 124g provided inside the main body cover portion 124 so that it can rotate. In addition, the other side of shaft 18 in the axial direction DRa is supported by a bearing hole portion 121c formed in the bottom wall portion 121 of the main body portion 120. The bearing hole portion 121c is made of a sliding bearing. Alternatively, the bearing hole portion 121c may not be a sliding bearing, but may be made of a ball bearing or the like.

[0084] like Figure 3 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown, the shaft 18 includes a metal shaft portion 181 and a resin support portion 182 connected to the shaft portion 181. The shaft portion 181 and the support portion 182 are connected to each other in a manner that allows them to rotate integrally.

[0085] The shaft portion 181 includes the shaft center CL of the shaft 18 and extends along the axial direction DRa. The shaft portion 181 is the part that serves as the rotation center of the rotor 20. The shaft portion 181 is constructed of a metal rod member to ensure straightness.

[0086] The support portion 182 is connected to one side of the shaft portion 181 along the axial direction DRa. The support portion 182 is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape. The shaft portion 181 is connected to the inner side of the front end portion of the support portion 182 along the axial direction DRa. In other words, the end portion of the shaft portion 181 along the axial direction DRa is located inside the front end portion of the support portion 182. The front end portion of the support portion 182, which protrudes outward from the housing 12, is connected to the gear portion 162 of the drive portion 16.

[0087] The inner diameter of the support portion 182 increases progressively from one side of the axial direction DRa towards the other. Specifically, the support portion 182 includes a shaft connection portion 183 located on one side of the axial direction DRa, an intermediate portion 184 connected to the shaft connection portion 183, a small-diameter portion 185 connected to the intermediate portion 184, and a large-diameter portion 186 connected to the small-diameter portion 185. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the support portion 182 increases in the order of shaft connection portion 183, intermediate portion 184, small-diameter portion 185, and large-diameter portion 186.

[0088] The shaft connection portion 183 is the front end portion located on one side in the axial direction DRa. The shaft connection portion 181 is connected to the shaft connection portion 183. A shaft gear 183a that meshes with a part of the gear portion 162 is formed on the outer portion of the shaft connection portion 183 that protrudes outward from the boss portion 124c. The outer portion of the shaft connection portion 183 located inside the boss portion 124c is supported by the bearing portion 124g.

[0089] The intermediate portion 184 is located inside the boss portion 124c. The intermediate portion 184 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 181. A shaft seal 124e, serving as a sealing member, is disposed on the outer side of the intermediate portion 184. The intermediate portion 184 forms an abutment portion that abuts against the shaft seal 124e, which serves as a sealing member.

[0090] The intermediate portion 184 extends along the axial direction DRa. Specifically, the intermediate portion 184 is formed into a cylindrical shape centered on the axis CL. The inner diameter of the intermediate portion 184 is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the axis 181 in such a way that its inner side does not contact the axis 181. As a result, the intermediate portion 184 is thin-walled.

[0091] The small-diameter portion 185 has a space formed on its inner side for arranging the compression spring 26, which will be described later. The small-diameter portion 185 has an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the intermediate portion 184. The connecting end face 185a that connects the intermediate portion 184 and the small-diameter portion 185 becomes a contact portion for one end of the compression spring 26 to contact. The large-diameter portion 186 is connected to the outer side of the small-diameter portion 185.

[0092] The large-diameter portion 186 is located outside the radial DRr of the small-diameter portion 185. The large-diameter portion 186 has an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the small-diameter portion 185. The large-diameter portion 186 has a cylindrical body 186a, a first large-diameter locking portion 186b, a second large-diameter locking portion 186c, a first flange portion 187, and a second flange portion 188.

[0093] The first large-diameter locking part 186b is a hook locking part for locking the hook part 282 of the first torsion spring 28, which will be described later. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the first large-diameter locking portion 186b is provided on the outer side of the body 186a, on one side in the axial direction DRa. The first large-diameter locking portion 186b protrudes from the body 186a toward the outer side in the radial direction DRa in such a way that it faces the hook portion 282 of the first torsion spring 28 in the circumferential direction DRc.

[0094] The second large-diameter locking part 186c is a hook locking part for locking the hook part 301 of the second torsion spring 30, which will be described later. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the second large-diameter locking portion 186c is located on the outer side of the body 186a, on the side opposite to the first large-diameter locking portion 186b in the axial direction DRa. The second large-diameter locking portion 186c protrudes from the body 186a toward the outer side of the radial direction DRa in such a way that it faces the hook portion 301 of the second torsion spring 30 in the circumferential direction DRc.

[0095] The first flange portion 187 and the second flange portion 188 are locking pieces that engage the shaft 18 with the engaging portion of the rod 24, which will be described later. The first flange portion 187 and the second flange portion 188 are located on the outer side of the body 186a, on the side opposite to the second large-diameter locking portion 186c in the axial direction DRa, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the first flange portion 187 and the second flange portion 188 have a shape that is approximately point-symmetrical to each other with respect to the axis CL of the shaft 18. The first flange portion 187 and the second flange portion 188 protrude from the body 186a toward the outer side of the radial DRr in such a way that they face the engaging portion of the rod 24 in the circumferential direction DRc.

[0096] The bracket portion 182, thus configured, bears the forces of the first torsion spring 28 and the second torsion spring 30 through its first large-diameter locking portion 186b and second large-diameter locking portion 186c. Furthermore, the bracket portion 182, having a first flange portion 187 and a second flange portion 188, allows the shaft 18 to contact the rod 24 at different locations along the circumferential DRc. That is, the contact portions of the shaft 18 with the rod 24 are located at different locations along the circumferential DRc.

[0097] Additionally, a rotation limiting part 189 is provided on the support portion 182 to limit the rotational drive range of the shaft 18 on the circumferential DRc. The rotation limiting part 189 is located below the middle portion 184 of the support portion 182. The rotation limiting part 189 is composed of a protrusion that protrudes radially into DRr. The rotational drive range of the shaft 18 on the circumferential DRc is limited by the contact between the rotation limiting part 189 and the limiting part of the housing 12 (not shown).

[0098] The rotor 20 rotates around the axis CL of the shaft 18 via the output of the drive unit 16. The rotation of the shaft 18, in turn, increases or decreases the opening of the flow path holes 141 and 142 of the fixed disk 14. For example... Figure 9 As shown, the rotor 20 has a drive disc 22 that serves as a valve core and a rod 24 that connects the drive disc 22 to the shaft 18.

[0099] Figure 9 , Figure 10 , Figure 11 The drive disc 22 shown is a valve core that increases or decreases the opening degree of the first flow path orifice 141 and the second flow path orifice 142 in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft 18. The opening degree of the first flow path orifice 141 refers to the extent to which the first flow path orifice 141 is open, represented by fully opening 100% and fully closed 0%. Fully opening the first flow path orifice 141 means, for example, that the first flow path orifice 141 is not blocked by the drive disc 22 at all. Fully closing the first flow path orifice 141 means, for example, that the first flow path orifice 141 is completely blocked by the drive disc 22. The opening degree of the second flow path orifice 142 is the same as the opening degree of the first flow path orifice 141.

[0100] The drive disk 22 is composed of a disc-shaped component. The drive disk 22 is disposed inside the housing 12 with its axial direction DRa as its thickness direction. The drive disk 22 is disposed in the inlet-side space 12d facing the fixed disk 14 in the axial direction DRa. The drive disk 22 has a sliding surface 220 that faces the opening surface 140 of the fixed disk 14. The sliding surface 220 is a sealing surface that seals the opening surface 140 of the fixed disk 14.

[0101] It is desirable that the drive disk 22 be formed of a material with a smaller coefficient of linear expansion and superior wear resistance compared to the material constituting the housing 12. The drive disk 22 is made of a high-hardness material with a higher hardness than the housing 12. Specifically, the drive disk 22 is made of ceramic. The drive disk 22 is a powder-molded body obtained by forming ceramic powder into the desired shape using a stamping machine. Alternatively, the drive disk 22 may be formed only of a material such as ceramic with a smaller coefficient of linear expansion and superior wear resistance compared to the material constituting the housing 12, where the sliding surface 220 is formed.

[0102] Here, ceramic is a material with a small coefficient of linear expansion and minimal dimensional change due to water absorption, and it also exhibits excellent wear resistance. If the drive disc 22 is made of ceramic, the relative positional relationships between the drive disc 22 and the shaft 18, and between the drive disc 22 and the housing 12, are stable. As a result, precise flow control of the fluid can be ensured, and accidental fluid leakage can be suppressed.

[0103] On the drive disk 22, a rotor hole 221 is formed at a position eccentric to the axis CL of the shaft 18. The rotor hole 221 is a through hole that extends along the axial direction DRa. The rotor hole 221 is formed at a location on the drive disk 22 that coincides with the first flow path hole 141 and the second flow path hole 142 in the axial direction DRa when the drive disk 22 is rotated about the axis CL of the shaft 18.

[0104] A shaft insertion hole 223 is formed approximately at the center of the drive disk 22. The shaft insertion hole 223 is a drive-side insertion hole through which the shaft 18 passes. The inner diameter of the shaft insertion hole 223 is formed to be larger than the diameter of the shaft 18 to prevent the shaft 18 from slipping. A first pressing groove 224 and a second pressing groove 225 are formed on the drive disk 22 for pressing a portion of the rod 24 into it.

[0105] When the drive disc 22 is rotated to a position where the rotor bore 221 and the first flow path bore 141 coincide in the axial direction DRa, the valve device 10 opens the first flow path bore 141. Additionally, when the drive disc 22 is rotated to a position where the rotor bore 221 and the second flow path bore 142 coincide in the axial direction DRa, the valve device 10 opens the second flow path bore 142.

[0106] The drive disk 22 is configured to adjust the flow rate ratio of the fluid passing through the first flow path orifice 141 to the fluid passing through the second flow path orifice 142. That is, the drive disk 22 is configured to decrease the opening of the second flow path orifice 142 as the opening of the first flow path orifice 141 increases.

[0107] The lever 24 is a connecting component that connects the drive disk 22 to the shaft 18. The lever 24 is fixed to the drive disk 22 and connects the drive disk 22 and the shaft 18 so that they can rotate as a single unit while allowing the drive disk 22 to be displaced along the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18.

[0108] Specifically, such as Figure 9 As shown, the rod 24 has a disc portion 241, a first arm portion 242, and a second arm portion 243. The disc portion 241, the first arm portion 242, and the second arm portion 243 are integrally formed into a single molded part.

[0109] The disc portion 241 has a central through hole 241a formed at its approximately central portion for the shaft 18 to pass through. The disc portion 241 is sized to not coincide with the shaft through hole 223 in the axial direction DRa. A first arm portion 242 and a second arm portion 243 are connected to the disc portion 241.

[0110] The first arm 242 and the second arm 243 protrude from the disk portion 241 toward the outer side of the radial DRr, respectively. The first arm 242 and the second arm 243 protrude in opposite directions to each other.

[0111] Specifically, a first engaging claw 242a and a second engaging claw 242b protruding in the axial direction DRa are provided on the side opposite to the opposing surface of the drive disk 22 in the first arm portion 242. The first engaging claw 242a engages with the first flange portion 187 of the shaft 18. The second engaging claw 242b is a hook-locking portion that engages with the hook portion 302 of the second torsion spring 30.

[0112] On the other hand, a third engaging claw 243a and a fourth engaging claw 243b protruding in the axial direction DRa are provided on the side opposite to the opposing surface of the drive disk 22 in the second arm portion 243. The third engaging claw 243a and the fourth engaging claw 243b are configured in a substantially similar manner to the first engaging claw 242a and the second engaging claw 242b. The third engaging claw 243a engages with the second flange portion 188 of the shaft 18.

[0113] Here, although not shown, the first engaging claw 242a and the third engaging claw 243a engage with the flanges 187 and 188 with a gap between them in the axial direction DRa. Thus, the rod 24 and the drive disk 22 are connected to the shaft 18 in a manner that allows displacement along the axial direction DRa. Furthermore, protrusions are formed on the opposing surfaces of the first arm 242 and the second arm 243 opposite to the drive disk 22. Each protrusion protrudes toward the drive disk 22 in such a way that it can be pressed into the first pressing groove 224 and the second pressing groove 225 formed on the drive disk 22.

[0114] The rod 24, constructed in this way, is fixed to the drive disk 22 by pressing the protrusions into the respective pressing grooves 224, 225. In this embodiment, the first arm 242 and the second arm 243 of the rod 24 are formed in a point-symmetric manner with respect to the central through hole 241a, and are made into approximately the same shape. Thus, even when the rod 24 is rotated 180° in the circumferential direction DRc, it can still be assembled to the shaft 18 and the drive disk 22.

[0115] Figure 3 , Figure 8 The compression spring 26 shown is a force-applying member that applies force to the rotor 20 against the fixed disk 14. The compression spring 26 elastically deforms along the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18. The compression spring 26 is arranged inside the housing 12 in a compressed state along the axial direction DRa, with one end of the compression spring 26 connected to the shaft 18 and the other end of the compression spring 26 connected to the rotor 20. Specifically, the compression spring 26 is arranged with one end of the compression spring 26 connected to the connecting end face 185a of the inner side of the support portion 182 and the other end of the compression spring 26 connected to the disk portion 241. The compression spring 26 is not fixed relative to at least one of the rotor 20 and the shaft 18, so that the compression spring 26 does not function as a torsion spring.

[0116] By using the compression spring 26 to press the rotor 20 onto the fixed disk 14, the contact state between the opening surface 140 of the fixed disk 14 and the sliding surface 220 of the drive disk 22 can be maintained. This contact state refers to the state in which the opening surface 140 of the fixed disk 14 and the sliding surface 220 of the drive disk 22 are in surface contact. That is, the valve device 10 can maintain the position of the drive disk 22 in a position where it is in contact with the fixed disk 14.

[0117] Specifically, the compression spring 26 is configured to surround the axis CL of the shaft 18. In other words, the shaft 18 is located inside the compression spring 26. Accordingly, the phenomenon that the load of the compression spring 26 on the drive disk 22 is biased on the circumferential DRc of the shaft 18 can be suppressed, thus making it easier to maintain the contact state between the sliding surface 220 and the opening surface 140.

[0118] The first torsion spring 28 is a spring that applies force to the shaft 18 in the circumferential direction DRc about the axis CL of the shaft 18 relative to the housing 12. The first torsion spring 28 is disposed between the housing 12 and the shaft 18. Specifically, the first torsion spring 28 has hook portions 282 protruding radially outward at both ends in the axial direction DRa. For ease of explanation, the hook portion on one side in the axial direction DRa will be referred to as the first hook portion and the hook portion 282 on the other side in the axial direction DRa will be referred to as the second hook portion 282. In this embodiment, the first hook portion constitutes a locking hook portion that engages with the housing 12.

[0119] Although not shown, the first hook engages with a body-side locking portion formed on the main body cover 124. The body-side locking portion is composed of a protrusion formed on the inner side of the rib 124b.

[0120] like Figure 12 As shown, the second hook 282 is engaged with the first large-diameter locking portion 186b of the support portion 182. Since the second hook 282 is engaged with the first large-diameter locking portion 186b, which is a rotating member, the position of the second hook 282 changes in the circumferential direction DRc when the rotor 20 rotates.

[0121] The first torsion spring 28 is used essentially in a state where it has undergone elastic deformation due to torsion along the circumferential direction DRc. The force of the first torsion spring 28 acts on the shaft 18 whether the shaft 18 is rotating or stationary. Furthermore, the force of the first torsion spring 28 is transmitted as a rotational force from the gear portion 162 of the drive unit 16 to the motor 161 via the shaft 18. Therefore, by distributing the first torsion spring 28 between the housing 12 and the shaft 18, loosening in the circumferential direction DRc between the drive unit 16 and the shaft 18 can be suppressed. In addition, the first torsion spring 28 is only torsion along the circumferential direction DRc, and not compressed along the axial direction DRa.

[0122] The second torsion spring 30 is a spring that applies a force to the rod 24 in the circumferential direction DRc relative to the shaft 18. The second torsion spring 30 is disposed between the shaft 18 and the rod 24. Compared with the first torsion spring 28, the second torsion spring 30 has smaller dimensions in the axial direction DRa and in the radial direction DRR.

[0123] The second torsion spring 30 has hook portions 301 and 302 protruding outward in the radial direction DRa at both ends. For ease of explanation, the hook portion 301 on one side of the axial direction DRa will be referred to as the third hook portion 301, and the hook portion 302 on the other side of the axial direction DRa will be referred to as the fourth hook portion 302.

[0124] like Figure 7 As shown, the third hook portion 301 of the second torsion spring 30 is engaged with the second large-diameter locking portion 186c of the bracket portion 182. Additionally, as... Figure 6 As shown, the fourth hook 302 is engaged relative to the second engaging claw 242b of the rod 24.

[0125] The second torsion spring 30 is used essentially in a state where it has undergone elastic deformation due to torsion along the circumferential direction DRc. The force of the second torsion spring 30 acts on the rod 24 whether the shaft 18 is rotating or stationary. Furthermore, the force of the second torsion spring 30 is transmitted as a rotational force to the drive disk 22 via the rod 24. Therefore, by placing the second torsion spring 30 between the shaft 18 and the rod 24, loosening along the circumferential direction DRc between the shaft 18 and the rod 24 can be suppressed. Moreover, since the rod 24 is fixed to the drive disk 22, loosening along the circumferential direction DRc between the shaft 18 and the drive disk 22 can be suppressed using the second torsion spring 30. In addition, the second torsion spring 30 is only torsion along the circumferential direction DRc, and not compressed along the axial direction DRa.

[0126] With the second torsion spring 30 sandwiched between the shaft 18 and the rod 24, the valve device 10 engages the flanges 187 and 188 of the shaft 18 with the rod 24, thereby subdividing the three components.

[0127] The drive unit 16 is a device for outputting rotational force. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the device includes a motor 161 as a drive source and a gear section 162 as a power transmission member that transmits the output of the motor 161 to the shaft 18. The motor 161 rotates according to a control signal from a motor control section 163 electrically connected to the motor 161. The gear section 162 is a speed reducer that reduces the output of the motor 161. The gear section 162 is composed of a gear mechanism including an output gear. The output gear is a gear that meshes with the shaft gear 183a.

[0128] Here, as Figure 13 As shown, the shaft 18 in this embodiment is a component formed by integrating a separately manufactured shaft core portion 181 and a support portion 182. The shaft 18 integrates the shaft core portion 181 and the support portion 182 by pressing or the like to fit the shaft core portion 181 into the inside of the support portion 182. Specifically, the shaft 18 integrates the shaft core portion 181 and the support portion 182 in such a way that the end of the shaft core portion 181 in the axial direction DRa is located inside the front end of the support portion 182 and the shaft core portion 181 passes through the middle portion 184.

[0129] The shaft 18, constructed in this way, bears the rotational force from the drive unit 16, the force of the compression spring 26, and the forces of the torsion springs 28 and 30. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the strength of the shaft 18.

[0130] To improve the strength of shaft 18, in this embodiment, the support portion 182 of shaft 18 is made of a polymer material containing reinforcing fibers in resin. The reinforcing fibers are a reinforcing substrate that strengthens the resin. The reinforcing fibers are high-strength glass fibers. The support portion 182 is a molded article obtained by flowing molten polymer material into a mold and shaping it into a desired form.

[0131] here, Figure 14 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the manufacturing method of the support portion 182 of the shaft CE, which serves as a comparative example. For ease of explanation, the parts of the shaft CE in the comparative example that correspond to the shaft 18 of this embodiment are labeled with the same symbols as in this embodiment.

[0132] For example, consider as Figure 14 In the comparative example shown, a polymer material ejector gate G is provided at a position corresponding to the end on the other side of the support portion 182 in the axial direction DRa, similar to the shaft CE, to manufacture the support portion 182. The ejector gate G is an inlet for molten resin to flow into the mold from which the support portion 182 is to be formed.

[0133] However, as Figure 14 As indicated by the arrow, the polymer material tends to flow in a direction inclined relative to the axis CL. When the polymer material tends to flow in a direction inclined relative to the axis CL, the orientation of the reinforcing fibers of the polymer material tends to be inclined relative to the axis CL. Furthermore, when the orientation of the reinforcing fibers of the polymer material is inclined relative to the axis CL, a portion of the reinforcing fibers tends to be exposed on the surface of the shaft 18.

[0134] Especially at the middle portion 184 of the support portion 182, the polymer material tends to flow in various directions, and a portion of the reinforcing fibers is easily exposed on the surface of the shaft 18. In this case, the shaft seal 124e is prone to wear due to the reinforcing fibers exposed on the surface of the shaft 18. This was discovered by the inventors through careful study.

[0135] Taking the above findings into account, in the valve device 10 of this embodiment, such as Figure 15 As shown, the support portion 182 is manufactured by setting a polymer material ejection gate G at a position corresponding to the front end of one side in the axial direction DRa of the support portion 182.

[0136] When the support portion 182 is manufactured by setting the polymer material ejection gate G at the front end of the support portion 182, such as Figure 15 As indicated by the arrow, the molten resin readily flows along the axial direction DRa of axis 18. Thus, at least at the middle portion 184, as... Figure 16As shown, the reinforcing fiber RF is oriented such that its orientation aligns with the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18. In other words, the reinforcing fiber RF is oriented such that it extends along the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18. As a result, the reinforcing fiber RF is less likely to be exposed on the surface of the shaft 18.

[0137] In this embodiment, the support portion 182 has a trace portion 183b for the ejection gate G of polymer material formed at its front end on one side in the axial direction DRa. Specifically, the trace portion 183b is a concave portion formed on one end face of the shaft connection portion 183 in the axial direction DRa. In addition, the shape of the trace portion 183b is not limited to a concave shape, and may also be a convex shape, for example.

[0138] Next, the operation of the valve device 10 in this embodiment will be explained. For example... Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the valve device 10 is configured such that fluid flows into the inlet-side space 12d from the inlet portion 12a as indicated by arrow Fi. Furthermore, when the first flow path orifice 141 is open, fluid flows from the inlet-side space 12d through the first flow path orifice 141 to the first outlet-side space. The fluid flowing into the first outlet-side space flows out from the first outlet-side space through the first outlet portion 12b to the outside of the valve device 10 as indicated by arrow F1o. In this case, the flow rate of the fluid through the first flow path orifice 141 is determined by the opening degree of the first flow path orifice 141. That is, the larger the opening degree of the first flow path orifice 141, the larger the flow rate of the fluid flowing from the inlet portion 12a through the first flow path orifice 141 to the first outlet portion 12b.

[0139] On the other hand, when the second flow path orifice 142 is open, fluid flows from the inlet-side space 12d through the second flow path orifice 142 into the second outlet-side space. The fluid flowing into the second outlet-side space flows out from the second outlet-side space through the second outlet portion 12c to the outside of the valve device 10 as shown by arrow F2o. In this case, the flow rate of the fluid through the second flow path orifice 142 is determined by the opening degree of the second flow path orifice 142. That is, the larger the opening degree of the second flow path orifice 142, the larger the flow rate of the fluid flowing from the inlet portion 12a through the second flow path orifice 142 to the second outlet portion 12c.

[0140] The support portion 182 of the shaft 18 in the valve device 10 described above is made of a polymer material containing reinforcing fibers in resin. In the support portion 182, at least the intermediate portion 184 that abuts against the shaft seal 124e extends along the axial direction DRa. The front end of the end of the support portion 182 located on one side along the axial direction DRa is connected to the gear portion 162 of the drive portion 16, and a trace portion 183b of a polymer material ejection gate G is formed at this front end.

[0141] The support portion 182 configured in this way oriented the reinforcing fibers such that the direction of the reinforcing fibers at least at the middle portion 184 is aligned with the axial direction DRa. As a result, the reinforcing fibers are less likely to be exposed on the surface of the shaft 18, thereby suppressing wear on the shaft seal 124e. Therefore, both increased strength of the shaft 18 and suppressed wear on the shaft seal 124e can be achieved, thereby improving the durability of the valve device 10.

[0142] In addition, the valve device 10 of this embodiment can achieve the following effects, for example.

[0143] (1) A first torsion spring 28 is disposed between the housing 12 and the shaft 18, applying force to the shaft 18 in the circumferential direction DRc around the axis CL relative to the housing 12. This suppresses loosening in the circumferential direction DRc between the drive unit 16 and the shaft 18, thereby suppressing opening deviations of the flow path holes 141, 142 caused by such loosening. In particular, in the valve device 10 of this embodiment, the support portion 182 of the shaft 18 is made of a polymer material containing reinforcing fibers in a resin. Therefore, even if the torque acting on the shaft 18 increases due to the addition of the first torsion spring 28, the durability of the shaft 18 can be ensured.

[0144] (2) The rotor 20 includes a plate-shaped drive disk 22 that slides relative to the fixed disk 14 and a rod 24 that connects the drive disk 22 to the shaft 18 so that the drive disk 22 can be displaced along the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18 and can rotate integrally. A compression spring 26 is arranged between the support portion 182 and the rotor 20 to apply force to the rotor 20 toward the fixed disk 14. As a result, the load pressing the rotor 20 toward the fixed disk 14 can be sufficiently ensured. Therefore, the contact state between the drive disk 22 and the fixed disk 14 can be maintained, thereby preventing accidental leakage of fluid from between the drive disk 22 and the fixed disk 14.

[0145] (3) The reinforcing fiber is glass fiber. This ensures the strength of shaft 18.

[0146] (4) The shaft 18 is configured such that the core portion 181 extends through the intermediate portion 184. Therefore, compared to the case where the shaft 18 is made solely of polymer material, the wall thickness of the intermediate portion 184 can be reduced. In particular, the intermediate portion 184 in this embodiment has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the core portion 181. Therefore, compared to the case where the intermediate portion 184 has an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the core portion 181, the wall thickness of the intermediate portion 184 is reduced. This smaller wall thickness of the intermediate portion 184 has the following advantages: it can suppress turbulence of the molten resin that is prone to occur when the wall thickness of the intermediate portion 184 is large, and it is easier to align the orientation of the reinforcing fibers at the intermediate portion 184 with the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18.

[0147] (5) The shaft 18 includes: a metal shaft core 181 containing a shaft core CL and extending along the axial direction DRa; and a resin support portion 182 connected to the shaft core 181 and bearing the force of each torsion spring 28, 30. Accordingly, compared with the case where the shaft 18 is entirely made of resin material, the rigidity and accuracy (i.e., straightness) of the shaft 18 can be ensured. In addition, by making the support portion 182 made of resin, a lightweight and complex-shaped shaft 18 can be achieved. In particular, by ensuring the straightness of the shaft 18, the clearance of the bearing portion 124g, etc., can be reduced, and thus the positional displacement of the shaft 18 in the radial direction (i.e., radial DRr) can be suppressed.

[0148] (6) Shaft 18 passes through the fixed disk 14 and the drive disk 22 and is rotatably supported on the housing 12. Thus, if the structure is configured such that shaft 18 passes through both the fixed disk 14 and the drive disk 22, the fixed disk 14 and the drive disk 22 can be aligned using shaft 18, which is a single component. This suppresses radial displacement of the fixed disk 14 and the drive disk 22. This is effective in suppressing opening deviations of the flow path holes 141 and 142.

[0149] (7) In the valve device 10, the drive disc 22 is connected to the shaft 18 in a state that allows it to be displaced along the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18. Therefore, even if a second torsion spring 30 is provided between the shaft 18 and the rod 24, the sliding surface 220 of the drive disc 22 and the surface contact of the fixed disc 14 can be maintained well.

[0150] (8) Here, if a single torsion spring is used to suppress loosening on the circumferential DRc from the drive unit 16 to the rotor 20, the force of the torsion spring becomes too large, thus increasing the load on the drive unit 16 cannot be avoided. In contrast, if a structure is adopted to suppress loosening on the circumferential DRc from the drive unit 16 to the rotor 20 using both the first torsion spring 28 and the second torsion spring 30, the force of each torsion spring 28 and 30 can be suppressed. As a result, the increase in the load on the drive unit 16 can be suppressed.

[0151] (Second Implementation)

[0152] Next, refer to Figure 17 The second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the shaft 18 is manufactured by insert molding, which differs from the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0153] like Figure 17As shown, the shaft 18 is an inlaid molded part consisting of a core portion 181 and a support portion 182 integrally formed. The shaft 18 is integrated with the support portion 182 such that one end of the core portion 181 in the axial direction DRa is located inside the front end portion, and the core portion 181 passes through the intermediate portion 184. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the intermediate portion 184 is in contact with the core portion 181. That is, the inner diameter of the intermediate portion 184 is equal to the outer diameter of the core portion 181.

[0154] Everything else is the same as in the first embodiment. The valve device 10 of this embodiment can achieve the same effects as the first embodiment achieved by a structure common to or equivalent to that of the first embodiment.

[0155] (1) The shaft 18 in this embodiment is configured as follows: Figure 17 As indicated by the arrow, the molten resin flows along the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18 at the central portion 181. Thus, at least at the middle portion 184, the reinforcing fiber RF is oriented such that its orientation aligns with the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18. In other words, the reinforcing fiber RF is oriented along the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18. Therefore, the reinforcing fiber RF is less likely to be exposed on the surface of the shaft 18.

[0156] Furthermore, the shaft 18 is configured such that the central portion 181 extends through the intermediate portion 184. Therefore, compared to the case where the shaft 18 is made solely of polymer material, the wall thickness of the intermediate portion 184 can be reduced. This smaller wall thickness of the intermediate portion 184 offers the following advantages: it suppresses turbulence of the molten resin that is prone to occur when the wall thickness of the intermediate portion 184 is large, and it makes it easier for the orientation of the reinforcing fibers at the intermediate portion 184 to align with the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18.

[0157] (Other implementation methods)

[0158] The above describes representative embodiments of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Furthermore, the components of the valve device 10 are not limited to the components described above, and may differ from the components described above.

[0159] It is desirable that the shaft 18 has a metal core portion 181 and a resin support portion 182 as described in the above embodiment, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the shaft 18 may also be configured such that the core portion 181 and the support portion 182 are made of either a metal material or a resin material. Alternatively, the shaft 18 may be configured by adding a structure equivalent to the core portion 181 to the support portion 182.

[0160] It is desirable that the support portion 182 is made of a polymer material containing glass fiber as described in the above embodiment, but it is not limited thereto, and may also be made of a polymer material containing reinforcing fibers other than glass fiber.

[0161] It is desirable that the valve device 10 includes each torsion spring 28, 30 as described in the above embodiment, but it is not limited thereto, and each torsion spring 28, 30 may be omitted.

[0162] In the above embodiment, a structure is illustrated in which both ends of the shaft 18 are rotatably supported on the housing 12, but the valve device 10 is not limited to this. For example, the valve device 10 may also be configured such that one end of the shaft 18 is rotatably supported on the fixed plate 14. Alternatively, the valve device 10 may also be configured such that only one end of the shaft 18 is rotatably supported on the housing 12.

[0163] In the above embodiment, a compression spring 26 applies force to the rotor 20 against the fixed disk 14, but the valve device 10 is not limited to this. For example, the valve device 10 may also utilize a cylindrical elastic body that elastically deforms along the axial direction DRa of the shaft 18 to apply force to the rotor 20 against the fixed disk 14. Alternatively, the valve device 10 may utilize the pressure difference between the inlet-side space 12d and the outlet-side space 12e to apply force to the rotor 20 against the fixed disk 14. As shown above, the compression spring 26 is not an essential component in the valve device 10.

[0164] It is desirable that the valve device 10 has a locking part on the rod 24 that engages with the shaft 18 when the second torsion spring 30 is sandwiched between the rod 24 and the shaft 18, as in the embodiment described above. However, it is also possible that the locking part is not provided.

[0165] In the above embodiments, the valve device 10 is exemplified as a structure composed of a three-way valve, but the valve device 10 is not limited to a three-way valve. The valve device 10 of this disclosure may also be configured as a flow regulating valve or an on / off valve having one fluid inlet and one fluid outlet. In this case, a flow path orifice is formed in the fixed plate 14. The valve device 10 of this disclosure may also be configured as a multi-way valve having one fluid inlet and three or more fluid outlets, a multi-way valve having three or more fluid inlets and one fluid outlet, or a multi-way valve having multiple fluid inlets and multiple fluid outlets, etc.

[0166] In the above embodiments, an example of applying the valve device 10 of this disclosure to a vehicle control valve mounted on a vehicle has been described, but the valve device 10 can also be applied to control valves of other devices besides vehicles.

[0167] In the above embodiments, the elements constituting the embodiments are not necessarily essential elements, except where they are specifically stated to be necessary or are clearly considered to be necessary in principle.

[0168] In the above embodiments, when referring to the number, value, quantity, range, or other values ​​of the constituent elements of the embodiments, they are not limited to that specific number, except where they are specifically indicated as necessary or where they are clearly limited to a specific number in principle.

[0169] In the above embodiments, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc. of the constituent elements, the shape, positional relationship, etc. are not limited to such shape, positional relationship, etc., except as specifically stated or as limited to a specific shape, positional relationship in principle.

Claims

1. A valve device, characterized by have: A plate-shaped fixed disk having at least one flow path hole for fluid passage; The drive unit outputs rotational force; A shaft that rotates about a predetermined axis center by the rotational force; The rotor, which increases or decreases the opening of the flow path orifice in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft; A housing having a boss through which the shaft passes; as well as An annular sealing member seals the gap between the shaft and the boss portion. The shaft has a support portion, which includes an abutting portion that abuts against the sealing member. The support portion is made of a polymer material containing reinforcing fibers in the resin. At least the abutting portion extends along the axial direction of the shaft, and the front end of the support portion located on one side in the axial direction is connected to the gear portion of the drive portion. A trace of the polymer material ejection gate is formed at the front end. The shaft includes a metal core portion that contains the shaft center and extends along the direction of the shaft center.

2. The valve device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end of one side of the shaft portion in the axial direction is located inside the front end portion, and the shaft is an inlaid molded product in which the shaft portion and the support portion are integrally formed in such a way that the shaft portion passes through the abutment portion.

3. The valve device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A torsion spring is disposed between the housing and the shaft, which exerts a force on the shaft in the circumferential direction relative to the housing about the axis.

4. The valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The rotor includes: a plate-shaped drive disk that slides relative to the fixed disk; and a rod fixed to the drive disk, which connects the drive disk and the shaft so as to be able to rotate integrally while allowing the drive disk to be displaced along the axial direction. A compression spring is disposed between the support portion and the rotor to apply force from the rotor to the fixed plate.

5. The valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The reinforcing fiber is glass fiber.

6. A valve device, characterized in that, have: A plate-shaped fixed disk having at least one flow path hole for fluid passage; The drive unit outputs rotational force; A shaft that rotates about a predetermined axis center by the rotational force; The rotor, which increases or decreases the opening of the flow path orifice in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft; A housing having a boss through which the shaft passes; as well as An annular sealing member seals the gap between the shaft and the boss portion. The shaft has a support portion, which includes an abutting portion that abuts against the sealing member. The support portion is made of a polymer material containing reinforcing fibers in a resin, at least the abutting portion extends along the axial direction of the shaft, and the reinforcing fibers are oriented such that at least at the abutting portion, the orientation of the reinforcing fibers is consistent with the axial direction. The shaft includes a metal core portion that contains the shaft center and extends along the direction of the shaft center.

7. The valve device according to claim 6, characterized in that, A torsion spring is disposed between the housing and the shaft, which exerts a force on the shaft in the circumferential direction relative to the housing about the axis.

8. The valve device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The rotor includes: a plate-shaped drive disk that slides relative to the fixed disk; and a rod fixed to the drive disk, which connects the drive disk and the shaft so as to be able to rotate integrally while allowing the drive disk to be displaced along the axial direction. A compression spring is disposed between the support portion and the rotor to apply force from the rotor to the fixed plate.

9. The valve device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The reinforcing fiber is glass fiber.

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