Sealing device and sealing structure for flow path switching control valve

Abstract

A seal device and a seal structure of a flow path switching control valve capable of improving stability of sealing are provided. The seal device includes an elastomer portion having a first face (33) and a second face (32) facing away from each other, formed of an elastic material, and a PTFE layer formed on the second face. The elastomer portion (35) includes a plurality of ribs (34) formed on the first face and extending in a first direction (D1) and arranged at a prescribed interval in a second direction (D2) orthogonal to the first direction, and a plurality of flow path holes (31) passing through from the first face to the second face between a pair of ribs (34, 35) adjacent to each other in the second direction. In the elastomer portion (35), a first region (R1) in which the flow path holes are not formed and a second region (R2) in which the flow path holes (31) are formed are divided, and a first thickness (T1) of the elastomer portion of the first region is smaller than a second thickness (T2) of the elastomer portion of the second region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a sealing device and sealing structure for a flow path switching control valve. Background Technology

[0002] For example, an electric vehicle may incorporate a flow path switching control valve that switches the flow path of coolant used to suppress heat generation in the drive motor or other electronic equipment. The flow path switching control valve, for instance, has a seal attached to the inner circumferential surface of a housing to seal one or more flow path holes formed in the housing extending circumferentially about an axis. The seal has one or more flow path holes corresponding to the flow path holes in the housing. A generally cylindrical core is disposed on the inner circumferential side of the seal in a manner rotatable about an axis. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0004] In the seals of such flow path switching control valves, the seals extend with a constant thickness in the circumferential direction. The degree of contact with the housing differs between areas where flow path orifices are formed and areas where they are not. For example, in areas where flow path orifices are not formed, the seals are less prone to deformation. As a result, the precision of the seal's adhesion to the inner circumferential surface of the housing becomes uneven.

[0005] The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a sealing device and sealing structure for a flow path switching control valve that can improve the stability of the seal.

[0006] Methods for solving problems

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the sealing device of the flow path switching control valve of the present invention includes: an elastomer portion having a first surface and a second surface facing away from each other, and formed of an elastic material; and a PTFE layer formed on the second surface of the elastomer portion, the elastomer portion including: a plurality of ribs formed on the first surface and extending along a first direction, and arranged at predetermined intervals along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a plurality of flow path holes penetrating from the first surface to the second surface between a pair of adjacent ribs along the second direction, dividing the elastomer portion into a first region without the flow path holes and a second region with the flow path holes, the first thickness of the elastomer portion in the first region being less than the second thickness of the elastomer portion in the second region.

[0008] In the sealing device of the flow path switching control valve of the present invention, a pair of ribs adjacent to the two sides of the flow path hole in the second direction bend toward the flow path hole.

[0009] In the sealing device of the flow path switching control valve of the present invention, in the cross section of a pair of ribs adjacent to the second direction of the flow path hole and orthogonal to the first direction, the first inclination angle formed by the first inclined surface defined from the vertex of the highest rib of the first surface toward the flow path hole side with respect to the perpendicular line from the vertex to the first surface is smaller than the second inclination angle formed by the second inclined surface defined from the vertex toward the side opposite to the flow path hole with respect to the perpendicular line.

[0010] In the sealing device of the flow path switching control valve of the present invention, the second thickness of the elastic portion in the second region is constant.

[0011] In the sealing device of the flow path switching control valve of the present invention, the elastomer portion includes a plurality of additional ribs that are adjacent to the flow path orifice in the first direction and extend in the second direction.

[0012] The sealing structure of the flow path switching control valve of the present invention includes a sealing device fixed to the inner circumferential surface of a housing extending circumferentially about an axis. The sealing device includes: an elastomer portion having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface facing away from each other and formed of an elastic material; and a PTFE layer formed on the inner circumferential surface of the elastomer portion. The elastomer portion includes: a plurality of ribs formed on the outer circumferential surface, extending in a direction along the axis and contacting the inner circumferential surface of the housing, and arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction; and a plurality of flow path holes penetrating from the outer circumferential surface to the inner circumferential surface between a pair of adjacent ribs in the circumferential direction. A first region without flow path holes and a second region with flow path holes are defined in the elastomer portion, wherein a first thickness of the elastomer portion in the first region is less than a second thickness of the elastomer portion in the second region.

[0013] Invention Effects

[0014] According to the present invention, a sealing device and sealing structure for a flow path switching control valve that can improve the stability of the seal can be provided. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view that roughly shows a portion of the construction of a flow path switching control valve 1 in a specific example.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a top view that schematically illustrates the structure of a sealing device 3 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of line 3-3.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a partially enlarged top view of a section of the elastomer part 35.

[0019] Figure 5 It is along Figure 4 The cross-sectional view of line 5-5. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view that roughly shows a portion of the construction of a flow path switching control valve 1 in a specific example. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the flow path switching control valve 1 includes a core 2 with a defined axis x, a sealing device 3 disposed on the outer periphery of the core 2, and a housing 4 disposed on the outer periphery of the sealing device 3. In this example, the core 2 is integrally formed into a cylindrical shape with the axis x as its central axis, but a portion is missing in the circumferential direction. The sealing device 3 and the housing 4 are formed into a cylindrical shape with the axis x as its central axis, but like the core 2, a portion is missing in the circumferential direction.

[0021] The housing 4 has one or more flow passage holes 41 formed around the axis x. In this example, multiple flow passage holes 41 are formed at a predetermined angle around the axis x. The flow passage holes 41 extend from the outer peripheral surface 42 of the housing 4 to the inner peripheral surface 43 in a radial direction orthogonal to the axis x. A sealing device 3 is installed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 4. The sealing device 3 has flow passage holes 31 at a predetermined angle around the axis x, each corresponding to a flow passage hole 41 of the housing 4. The flow passage holes 31 extend from the outer peripheral surface (first surface) 32 of the sealing device 3 to the inner peripheral surface (second surface) 33. The sealing device 3 has multiple first ribs 34 protruding radially outward from the outer peripheral surface 32. Each first rib 34 contacts the inner peripheral surface 43 of the housing 4 around the flow passage holes 31.

[0022] The core 2 has multiple connecting passages (not shown) that connect any one of the flow passages 41 and 31 in the housing 4 and the sealing device 3 to other flow passages 41 and 31. By rotating the core 2 about the axis x, it is possible to switch which flow passage 41 and 31 are connected to which flow passage 41 and 31. When the core 2 rotates about the axis x, the outer peripheral surface 21 of the core 2 slides on the inner peripheral surface 33 of the sealing device 3. At this time, the outer peripheral surface 21 of the core 2 presses the sealing device 3 toward the inner peripheral surface 43 of the housing 4. As a result, the first rib 34 of the outer peripheral surface of the sealing device 3 contacts the inner peripheral surface 43 of the housing 4. In another example, the flow passages 41 and 31 are formed by elongated holes extending in the direction along the axis x.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a top view that schematically illustrates the structure of a sealing device 3 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 It is along Figure 2A cross-sectional view along line 3-3. Furthermore, in Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 The diagram shows the sealing device 3 unfolded flat along a plane. See also... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen, the sealing device 3 includes: an elastomer portion 35 having an outer peripheral surface 32 and an inner peripheral surface 33 facing away from each other; and a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) layer 36 formed on the inner peripheral surface 33 of the elastomer portion 35. In this example, the PTFE layer 36 extends across the entire inner peripheral surface 33 of the elastomer portion 35. The elastomer portion 35 is formed, for example, from a synthetic rubber such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer). The sealing device 3 is integrally formed using a molding die through cross-linking (vulcanization) molding.

[0024] In this example, a first rib 34 formed on the outer peripheral surface 32 of the elastomer portion 35 extends from one end of the elastomer portion 35 to the other end in the first direction D1. The elastomer portion 35 is divided into multiple sections S1 to S9 in the second direction D2, which is orthogonal to the first direction D1, and surrounded by a pair of first ribs 34 and 35. In this example, flow passage holes 31 are formed in sections S2 and S6 to S9. Multiple additional second ribs 37 are formed on the outer peripheral surface 32 of the elastomer portion 35, extending adjacent to the flow passage holes 31 in the first direction D1. The second ribs 37 extend from one end of the elastomer portion 35 to the other end in the second direction D2. A pair of second ribs 37 and 38 are formed on both sides of the flow passage holes 31 in the first direction D1. The second ribs 37 protrude from the outer peripheral surface 32 of the elastomer portion 35. In addition, in this example, the height of the first rib 34 from the outer peripheral surface 32 is the same as the height of the second rib 37.

[0025] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the elastomer portion 35 is divided into a first region R1 (partitions S1, S3 to S5) where the flow path holes 31 are not formed, and a second region R2 (partitions S2, S6 to S9) where the flow path holes 31 are formed. Figure 3 It can be seen that the first thickness T1 of the elastic body portion 35 in the first region R1 (in this example, partitions S3 to S5) is less than the second thickness T2 of the elastic body portion 35 in the second region R2 (partitions S2, S6 to S9). Specifically, the first thickness T1 is the smallest in partition S4, and decreases towards partition S4 in partitions S3 and S5. On the other hand, the second thickness T2 is constant in partitions S2, S6 to S9. In this example, in partition S1, the first thickness T1 and the second thickness T2 are the same. Furthermore, the first thickness T1 and the second thickness T2 are defined between the outer peripheral surface 32 and the inner peripheral surface 33 of the elastic body portion 35.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a partially enlarged top view of a section S2 of the elastomer portion 35. See also... Figure 2 as well as Figure 4 It can be seen that a pair of adjacent first ribs 34, 34 on the second direction D2 of the flow path 31 are respectively bent protruding towards the flow path 31 in the second direction D2. In this example, each first rib 34 approaches the flow path 31 at a midpoint towards the flow path 31 in the first direction D1. Figure 2 It can be seen that in the second region R2 (partitions S2, S6 to S9), the pair of first ribs 34, 34 adjacent to the flow path hole 31 in the second direction D2 are bent protruding towards the flow path hole 31 in the second direction D2. That is, the pair of first ribs 34, 34 are bent protruding towards each other. In this example, the most protruding part of each first rib 34 is separated from the flow path hole 31 in the second direction D2 by a predetermined distance.

[0027] Figure 5 It is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of line 5-5. (See diagram below.) Figure 5 As shown, in a section orthogonal to the first direction D1 of the first rib 34 adjacent to the second direction D2 of the flow path 31, the first inclination angle θ1 formed by the first inclined surface P1 from the vertex V of the highest first rib 34 on the outer peripheral surface 32 toward the flow path 31 relative to the perpendicular line from vertex V to the outer peripheral surface 32 is smaller than the second inclination angle θ1 formed by the second inclined surface P2 from vertex V toward the side opposite to the flow path 31 relative to the perpendicular line. That is, vertex V is biased toward the flow path 31. In this example, the vertex V of the first rib 34 is biased toward the direction away from the outer peripheral surface 32 ( Figure 1 The vertex of the curved surface protruding from the radial outer periphery is defined. Furthermore, in the first region R1 (partitions S1, S3 to S5), the first tilt angle θ1 is set to be equal to the second tilt angle θ2.

[0028] In the flow path switching control valve 1 described above, the sealing structure of the flow path switching control valve 1 is constituted by the sealing device 3 and the housing 4. In this sealing structure, in particular, the first thickness T1 of the elastic body portion 35 in the continuous sections S3 to S5 where the flow path orifice 31 is not formed is smaller than the second thickness T2 of the elastic body portion 35 in the sections S2, S6 to S9 where the flow path orifice 31 is formed. According to this structure, for example in the continuous sections S3 to S5 where the flow path orifice 31 is not formed, due to the reduction in its thickness, the elastic body portion 35 can easily elastically deform in a way that it fits tightly against the inner circumferential surface 43 of the housing 4. As a result, the tightness of the fit between the elastic body portion 35, i.e., the sealing device 3, and the housing 4 as a whole can be improved.

[0029] Furthermore, in the second region R2 (sections S2, S6 to S9) where the flow passage 31 is formed, a pair of first ribs 34, 34 adjacent to the flow passage 31 are bent protruding towards the flow passage 31. Additionally, in the cross-section of each first rib 34, the first inclination angle θ1 of the first inclined surface P1 is set to be smaller than the second inclination angle θ of the second inclined surface P2. For example, when the sealing device 3 is mounted on the inner circumferential surface 43 of the housing 4, the elastic portion 35 of the outer circumferential surface 34 deforms more significantly than the inner circumferential surface 33 of the sealing device 3. Based on the bending of the first rib 34 towards the flow passage 31 and the setting of the inclination angle of the inclined surface in the cross-section, deformation of the first rib 34 in the direction away from the flow passage 31 in the circumferential direction can be suppressed. As a result, the sealing stability of the sealing device 3 relative to the housing 4 can be improved.

[0030] Furthermore, the height of the first rib 34 in partitions S3 to S5 from the outer peripheral surface 32 is preferably set to be greater than the height of the first rib 34 from the outer peripheral surface 32 in partitions S1, S2, and S6 to S9. For example, when the sealing device 3 is in Figure 3 In the case of a flat state, all the vertices V of the first rib 34 can also be configured to be in the same plane.

[0031] The present invention has been described above through the above embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. As can be seen from the claims, such modifications or improvements are also included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0032] The embodiments described above are for ease of understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit or explain the present invention. Furthermore, the above embodiments do not limit the scope of application of the present invention; the present invention can include all applicable objects. The constituent elements, their arrangement, materials, conditions, shapes, and dimensions, etc., provided in the above embodiments are not limited to the examples shown and can be appropriately modified. For example, the present invention includes differences arising from manufacturing tolerances, etc. Furthermore, within the scope of technical non-contradiction, the constituent elements shown in different embodiments can be partially substituted or combined with each other. Additionally, the structures can be appropriately and selectively combined to achieve at least a portion of the aforementioned problems and effects.

[0033] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0034] 1. Flow path switching control valve

[0035] 2-core

[0036] 3 Sealing device

[0037] 31 flow path hole

[0038] 32. Outer peripheral surface (first surface)

[0039] 33 Inner circumferential surface (second surface)

[0040] 34 First Rib

[0041] 35 Elastomer Part

[0042] 36 PTFE layers

[0043] 37 Second Rib

[0044] 4 housings

[0045] 41 flow path hole

[0046] 42 outer perimeter

[0047] 43 Inner circumferential surface

[0048] D1 First Direction

[0049] D2 Second Direction

[0050] P1 First Inclined Surface

[0051] P2 Second Inclined Surface

[0052] R1 First Area

[0053] R2 Second Region

[0054] S1~S9 partitions

[0055] T1 First Thickness

[0056] T2 second thickness

[0057] θ1 First tilt angle

[0058] θ2 second tilt angle

[0059] x-axis.

Claims

1. A sealing device for a flow path switching control valve, characterized in that, include: The elastomer portion has a first surface and a second surface facing away from each other, and is formed of an elastic material; and A PTFE layer is formed on the second surface of the elastomer portion. The elastomer portion includes: Multiple ribs are formed on the first surface and extend along a first direction, and the multiple ribs are arranged at predetermined intervals in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and Multiple flow holes extend from the first surface to the second surface between a pair of adjacent ribs in the second direction. Within the elastomer portion, a first region without the flow path holes and a second region with the flow path holes are defined. The first thickness of the elastomer portion in the first region is smaller than the second thickness of the elastomer portion in the second region.

2. The sealing device of the flow path switching control valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pair of ribs adjacent to the two sides of the flow path hole in the second direction bend toward the flow path hole.

3. The sealing device of the flow path switching control valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, In a cross section of a pair of ribs adjacent to the second direction of the flow path orifice, the first inclination angle of a first inclined surface defined from the vertex of the highest rib on the first surface toward the flow path orifice relative to the perpendicular line from the vertex to the first surface is smaller than the second inclination angle of a second inclined surface defined from the vertex toward the side opposite to the flow path orifice relative to the perpendicular line.

4. The sealing device of the flow path switching control valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second thickness of the elastomer portion in the second region is constant.

5. The sealing device of the flow path switching control valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The elastomer portion includes a plurality of additional ribs that are adjacent to the flow path orifice in the first direction and extend along the second direction.

6. A sealing structure for a flow path switching control valve, characterized in that, It has a sealing device, which is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the housing extending circumferentially about its axis. The sealing device includes: The elastomer portion, formed of an elastic material, has an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface that face away from each other; and A PTFE layer is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the elastomer portion. The elastomer portion includes: Multiple ribs, formed on the outer peripheral surface and extending along the axis, contact the inner peripheral surface of the housing, the multiple ribs being arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction; and Multiple flow holes extend from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface between a pair of adjacent ribs in the circumferential direction. Within the elastomer portion, a first region without the flow path holes and a second region with the flow path holes are defined. The first thickness of the elastomer portion in the first region is smaller than the second thickness of the elastomer portion in the second region.

7. The sealing structure of the flow path switching control valve as described in claim 6, characterized in that, A pair of ribs adjacent to the two circumferential sides of the flow path hole bend toward the flow path hole.

8. The sealing structure of the flow path switching control valve as described in claim 7, characterized in that, In a cross section of a pair of ribs adjacent to the circumferential sides of the flow path hole, orthogonal to the direction along the axis, the first inclination angle of a first inclined surface defined from the vertex of the highest rib on the outer peripheral surface toward the flow path hole relative to the perpendicular line from the vertex to the outer peripheral surface is smaller than the second inclination angle of a second inclined surface defined from the vertex toward the side opposite to the flow path hole relative to the perpendicular line.

9. The sealing structure of the flow path switching control valve as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The second thickness of the elastomer portion in the second region is constant.

10. The sealing structure of the flow path switching control valve as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The elastomer portion includes a plurality of additional ribs that are adjacent to the flow passage in the direction along the axis and extend in the circumferential direction.

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