Electronic expansion valve

Abstract

The electronic expansion valve comprises a valve seat, the valve seat is provided with a valve port part, the valve port part is of an integrated structure or a split structure, the electronic expansion valve is provided with a valve cavity, the inner end of the valve port part is communicated with the valve cavity, the valve port part is provided with a matching section and a flaring section which are communicated in the axial direction, the matching section is closer to the valve cavity relative to the flaring section, and the flaring section comprises at least two stages of step holes. The diameter of the stepped hole is gradually increased in the direction away from the matching section. The flow channel structure for refrigerant flowing is improved, in the forward direction flowing state, when a refrigerant flows through the flaring section, the wall faces of the stepped holes play a role in continuously breaking and refining bubbles in the refrigerant, and throttling noise is reduced; when the refrigerant flows out of the valve port part, the diameter of the stepped hole is gradually increased to play a buffering role and reduce noise; in the reverse flowing state, the refrigerant flows through the flaring section, the diameter of the stepped hole is gradually reduced, sudden pressure drop is avoided, bubbles in the refrigerant are reduced, the wall face of the stepped hole plays a role in continuously breaking and refining the bubbles in the refrigerant, and throttling noise is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of valve technology, and more specifically to an electronic expansion valve. Background Technology

[0002] Refrigeration systems typically use electronic expansion valves as throttling elements to regulate the flow of refrigerant. An electronic expansion valve generally includes a first port and a second port. Refrigerant can flow in from the first port and out from the second port, or vice versa. Because the refrigerant contains both gas and liquid phases, some noise may be generated when it passes through the electronic expansion valve. Improving the noise level of the refrigerant passing through the electronic expansion valve is a problem that technical personnel specializing in electronic expansion valves and refrigeration systems urgently need to solve. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide an electronic expansion valve that improves the noise level of refrigerant passing through the electronic expansion valve.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides an electronic expansion valve, including a valve seat, the valve seat having a valve port portion, the valve port portion being an integral structure or a split structure, the electronic expansion valve having a valve cavity, the inner end of the valve port portion communicating with the valve cavity, the valve port portion including a mating section and a flared section communicating along the axial direction, the mating section being closer to the valve cavity than the flared section, the flared section including at least two stepped holes, the diameter of the stepped holes gradually expanding in the direction away from the mating section.

[0005] The advantages of the electronic expansion valve technology of this invention are as follows:

[0006] This invention improves the flow channel structure of the electronic expansion valve for refrigerant flow. The valve port includes a flared section with at least two stepped orifices. The diameter of the stepped orifices gradually expands away from the mating section. In the forward flow state, when the refrigerant flows through the multi-step flow channel of the valve port, the walls of each stepped orifice can continuously break up and refine the bubbles in the refrigerant, turning large bubbles into tiny bubbles, thereby reducing throttling noise. At the same time, when the refrigerant flows out of the valve port, the gradually expanding diameter of the stepped orifices prevents the refrigerant velocity from changing drastically when flowing out of the valve port, acting as a buffer and further reducing noise. In the reverse flow state, when the refrigerant flows through the multi-step flow channel of the valve port, the diameter of the stepped orifices gradually narrows rather than suddenly narrows, thus avoiding a sudden drop in pressure and reducing the generation of bubbles in the refrigerant. Simultaneously, the walls of each stepped orifice can continuously break up and refine the bubbles in the refrigerant, turning large bubbles into tiny bubbles, thereby reducing throttling noise.

[0007] In summary, the electronic expansion valve of the present invention, by improving the structure of the valve port, can play a buffering role when the refrigerant flows in either the forward or reverse direction, thereby reducing the noise of the refrigerant passing through the electronic expansion valve. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic expansion valve provided by the present invention in a first specific embodiment;

[0009] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of point I in the electronic expansion valve;

[0010] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of a section at point II;

[0011] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second specific embodiment of the electronic expansion valve provided by the present invention;

[0012] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A magnified view of a portion of point III in the electronic expansion valve;

[0013] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A magnified view of a section at point IV in the middle;

[0014] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a third specific embodiment of the electronic expansion valve provided by the present invention;

[0015] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A magnified view of a portion of point V in the electronic expansion valve;

[0016] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A magnified view of section VI in the middle;

[0017] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a third specific embodiment of the electronic expansion valve provided by the present invention;

[0018] Figure 11 for Figure 10 A magnified view of point VII in the electronic expansion valve;

[0019] in, Figures 1-11 The annotations in the accompanying drawings are explained as follows:

[0020] 1-Valve seat; 1A-Valve port; 1A1-Matching section; 1A2-Flanged section; O1-Stepped hole; 11-Valve seat body; 12-Flanged section; 2-Valve needle; 3-First connecting pipe; 4-Second connecting pipe; A-Valve cavity. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0022] The term "multiple" as used in this article usually refers to two or more components; and when "multiple" is used to indicate the quantity of certain components, it does not indicate the relationship between these components in terms of quantity.

[0023] Please refer to Figures 1-3 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic expansion valve provided by the present invention in a first specific embodiment; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of point I in the electronic expansion valve; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of section II in the middle.

[0024] This invention provides an electronic expansion valve, including a valve seat 1, the valve seat 1 having a valve port 1A, the valve port 1A being an integral structure or a separate structure, the electronic expansion valve having a valve cavity A, the inner end of the valve port 1A communicating with the valve cavity A, the valve port 1A including a mating section 1A1 and a flared section 1A2 communicating along the axial direction, the mating section 1A1 being closer to the valve cavity A than the flared section 1A2, the mating section 1A1 being used to mate with a valve needle 2, the valve needle 2 moving relative to the valve port 1A to change the opening degree of the valve port 1A, thereby realizing the refrigerant flow regulation, the flared section 1A2 including at least two-stage stepped holes O1, the diameter of the stepped holes O1 gradually expanding in the direction away from the mating section 1A1.

[0025] At the same time, such as Figure 1 As shown, the electronic expansion valve also includes a first connecting pipe 3 and a second connecting pipe 4. Both the first connecting pipe 3 and the second connecting pipe 4 are connected to the valve seat 1. The first connecting pipe 3 is connected to the valve cavity A, and the second connecting pipe 4 is connected to the outer end of the valve port 1A.

[0026] The present invention improves the flow channel structure of the electronic expansion valve for refrigerant flow. The valve port 1A includes a flared section 1A2, which includes at least two stepped holes O1. The diameter of the stepped holes O1 gradually expands away from the mating section 1A1. In the positive flow state, the refrigerant enters the first connecting pipe 3 and flows through the valve cavity A of the valve seat 1. By adjusting the valve needle 2 up and down, the refrigerant flows through the valve port 1A of the valve seat 1 to the second connecting pipe 4. When the refrigerant flows through the multi-step flow channel of the valve port 1A, the wall surface of each stepped hole O1 can continuously break and refine the bubbles in the refrigerant, turning large bubbles into small bubbles, thereby reducing throttling noise. At the same time, when the refrigerant flows out of the valve port 1A, as the diameter of the stepped holes O1 gradually expands, it can prevent the refrigerant flow rate from changing drastically when flowing out of the valve port 1A, playing a buffering role, thereby achieving the effect of reducing noise.

[0027] It is understandable that when the refrigerant flows from valve cavity A into valve port 1A in the positive direction, the flow cross section contracts, which increases the flow rate of the refrigerant and reduces the pressure. A small amount of liquid will evaporate into gas in a short time, which is one of the main sources of bubbles in the refrigerant. Another major source of bubbles in the refrigerant is the air mixed in the refrigerant.

[0028] In the flow channel structure of the electronic expansion valve of the present invention, under the reverse flow state, the refrigerant enters the valve port 1A through the second connector 4. When flowing through the multi-step flow channel of the valve port 1A, since the diameter of the step hole O1 gradually narrows rather than suddenly narrows, the sudden pressure drop can be avoided, and the generation of bubbles in the refrigerant can be reduced. At the same time, the wall surface of each step hole O1 can also play a role in continuously breaking and refining the bubbles in the refrigerant, turning large bubbles into small bubbles, thereby reducing throttling noise.

[0029] In summary, the electronic expansion valve of the present invention, by improving the structure of the valve port 1A, can play a buffering role when the refrigerant flows in either the forward or reverse direction, thereby reducing the noise of the refrigerant passing through the electronic expansion valve.

[0030] Please refer to Figures 4-6 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second specific embodiment of the electronic expansion valve provided by the present invention; Figure 5 for Figure 4 A magnified view of a portion of point III in the electronic expansion valve; Figure 6 for Figure 5 A magnified view of section IV in the middle.

[0031] In this embodiment, the valve port 1A is provided with two flared sections 1A2, which are symmetrically connected at both ends of the mating section 1A1.

[0032] When the refrigerant enters valve port 1A, the first flared section that it flows through is defined as the first flared section, and the second flared section that it flows through afterward is defined as the second flared section.

[0033] As configured above, regardless of whether the refrigerant flows in the forward or reverse direction, it will first flow through the first flared section when entering valve port 1A. Since the diameter of the stepped orifice O1 is gradually decreasing rather than suddenly decreasing, it can avoid the occurrence of a sudden pressure drop, reduce the generation of bubbles in the refrigerant, and the walls of each stepped orifice O1 can also continuously break and refine the bubbles in the refrigerant, turning large bubbles into small bubbles, thereby reducing throttling noise. When the refrigerant flows out of valve port 1A, it will flow through the second flared section. Since the diameter of the stepped orifice O1 is gradually increasing, it can prevent the refrigerant flow rate from changing drastically when flowing out of valve port 1A, playing a buffering role and further reducing throttling noise.

[0034] Therefore, it can be seen that the electronic expansion valve of this embodiment can reduce noise when the refrigerant flows into or out of the valve port 1A.

[0035] like Figure 3 As shown, in this invention, the diameter of the mating section 1A1 is φA, the minimum diameter of the stepped hole O1 is φB, that is, the diameter of the stepped hole O1 closest to the mating section 1A1 is φB, and 1.06≤φB / φA≤5.

[0036] As set above, by limiting the diameter ratio between the mating section 1A1 and the stepped hole O1 closest to the mating section 1A1, the flow area of ​​the mating section 1A1 and the flared section 1A2 will not change abruptly, the refrigerant flow will be smoother, pressure fluctuations will be reduced, and noise will be lowered.

[0037] Meanwhile, the maximum diameter of the stepped hole O1 is φC, and the range of φC is: φC≤7mm. This size limit is determined based on the properties of the electronic expansion valve.

[0038] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 3 and Figure 6 As can be seen, in the first two embodiments, the stepped holes O1 in the flared section 1A2 are continuously distributed along the axial direction.

[0039] Please refer to Figures 7-9 , Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a third specific embodiment of the electronic expansion valve provided by the present invention; Figure 8 for Figure 7 A magnified view of a portion of point V in the electronic expansion valve; Figure 9 for Figure 8 A magnified view of section VI in the middle.

[0040] In this embodiment, the flared section 1A2 also includes at least two transition holes O2, and two adjacent stepped holes O1 are connected through the transition holes O2. The diameter of the transition holes O2 gradually expands in the direction away from the mating section 1A1.

[0041] With the above configuration, when the refrigerant flows through the flared section 1A2, the conical surface of the transition hole O2 can act as a guide, making the refrigerant flow more smoothly and improving the flow field distribution.

[0042] Furthermore, by Figures 1-9 It can be seen that in the three embodiments mentioned above, the mating section 1A1 and the flared section 1A2 are integrally machined into the valve seat 1, with high machining accuracy and good consistency.

[0043] Please refer to Figures 10-11 , Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a third specific embodiment of the electronic expansion valve provided by the present invention; Figure 11 for Figure 10A magnified view of point VII in the electronic expansion valve.

[0044] In this embodiment, the valve seat 1 includes a valve seat body 11, which is provided with an axially connected first hole and a second hole. The first hole forms a mating section 1A1. The first hole is closer to the valve cavity A than the second hole. The diameter of the second hole is larger than the diameter of the first hole. The valve seat 1 also includes a flared portion 12, which is fixedly installed inside the second hole. A flared section 1A2 is disposed in the flared portion 12.

[0045] It is understandable that due to the structural limitations of the valve seat body 11, machining the complex flared section 1A2 on the valve seat body 11 presents certain machining difficulties. Based on this, in this embodiment, the valve seat 1 is configured as a separate structure of the valve seat body 11 and the flared section 12. The flared section 1A2 is machined and formed on the flared section 12, which reduces the machining difficulty and improves the machining efficiency. Subsequently, the valve seat body 11 and the flared section 12 can be assembled together.

[0046] The fixing method of the valve seat body 11 and the flared part 12 is not limited. For example, the flared part 12 can be fixed inside the second hole by interference fit, or it can be fixed by threaded connection, etc.

[0047] Figures 10-11 The diagram shows the case where only one flared section 1A2 is provided. When there are two flared sections 1A2, at least one flared section 1A2 can be manufactured as a separate piece. Specifically:

[0048] When both flared sections 1A2 are machined separately, the valve seat 1 includes a valve seat body 11, which has an axially connected first hole and a second hole. The first hole forms the mating section 1A1.

[0049] There are two second holes, located at both ends of the first hole. The valve seat 1 also includes two flared portions 12, which are fixedly installed inside the corresponding second holes. Flared sections 1A2 are disposed in the corresponding flared portions 12.

[0050] When one of the flared sections 1A2 is machined separately, the valve seat 1 includes a valve seat body 11, a mating section 1A1 and one of the flared sections 1A2 are integrally machined into the valve seat body 11, the valve seat body 11 is also provided with a mounting hole, the mounting hole is connected to the mating section 1A1, the valve seat 1 also includes a flared part 12, the flared part 12 is installed inside the mounting hole, and the other flared section 1A2 is disposed in the flared part 12.

[0051] It is understandable that when both flared sections 1A2 are machined separately, the required machining structure of the valve seat body 11 is simpler, reducing the machining difficulty and making it a more preferred technical solution.

[0052] It should be noted that the present invention mainly improves the refrigerant flow noise by modifying the flow channel structure. The other components and basic working principle of the electronic expansion valve are existing technologies well known to those skilled in the art, and will not be described in detail here.

[0053] The electronic expansion valve provided by this invention has been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principle and implementation of this invention. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core idea of ​​this invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications to this invention without departing from the principle of this invention, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this invention.

Claims

1. An electronic expansion valve, characterized in that, The valve includes a valve seat with a valve port portion, which may be an integral or separate structure. The electronic expansion valve has a valve cavity, and the inner end of the valve port portion is connected to the valve cavity. The valve port portion includes a mating section and a flared section that are connected axially. The mating section is closer to the valve cavity than the flared section. The flared section includes at least two stepped holes, and the diameter of the stepped holes gradually increases in the direction away from the mating section.

2. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve port is provided with two flared sections, which are symmetrically connected to both ends of the mating section.

3. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The diameter of the mating section is φA, and the minimum diameter of the stepped hole is φB, where 1.06≤φB / φA≤5.

4. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The maximum diameter of the stepped hole is φC, and the value range of φC is: φC≤7mm.

5. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The stepped holes in the flared section are continuously distributed along the axial direction.

6. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The flared section also includes at least two transition holes, with two adjacent stepped holes connected through the transition holes, and the diameter of the transition holes gradually widens in the direction away from the mating section.

7. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The mating section and the flared section are integrally formed.

8. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve seat includes a valve seat body, which has an axially connected first hole and a second hole. The first hole forms the mating section. The first hole is closer to the valve cavity than the second hole. The diameter of the second hole is larger than the diameter of the first hole. The valve seat also includes a flared portion, which is fixedly installed inside the second hole. The flared section is disposed in the flared portion.

9. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The valve seat includes a valve seat body, which has a first hole and a second hole that communicate axially, the first hole forming the mating section. The number of second holes is two, and the two second holes are located at both ends of the first hole. The valve seat also includes two flared portions, which are fixedly installed inside the corresponding second holes, and the flared section is disposed in the corresponding flared portion.

10. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The valve seat includes a valve seat body, the mating section and one of the flared sections are integrally formed on the valve seat body, the valve seat body is also provided with a mounting hole, the mounting hole is connected to the mating section, the valve seat also includes a flared portion, the flared portion is installed inside the mounting hole, and the other flared section is disposed in the flared portion.

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