Sliding type switching valve

Abstract

The invention provides a sliding type switching valve, which is improved to improve the thermal efficiency of a refrigeration cycle using the sliding type switching valve. A sliding switching valve is provided with a hollow cylindrical valve body (1), a valve body (2) slidably provided inside the valve body, and a drive unit. The valve body is housed in a housing (3). The valve body is formed by resin molding. The valve main body is provided with a side wall part (11) along an axis (X), namely the sliding direction of the valve body. A bottom portion (12) intersecting the side wall portion is provided. A first port (13E), an outlet port (13S), and a second port (13C) are provided in a side wall portion of the valve body. An inlet port (13D) is provided at the bottom of the valve body. An inlet port through which the high-temperature refrigerant flows is provided at a position away from the first port, the outlet port, and the second port.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application; its parent application has the application number "2022101168381", the application date is February 7, 2022, and the invention title is "sliding switching valve". Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to a sliding switching valve suitable for use in refrigeration cycle systems such as air conditioners. Background Technology

[0003] Conventionally, as a switching valve for switching the flow path of refrigerant in refrigeration cycles, a sliding switching valve (Patent Document 1) is known, which has a cylindrical valve body, a bowl-shaped valve core that slides freely inside the valve body, and a housing that houses the valve body. The valve body and housing have four ports: inlet ports 23 and 61 for allowing high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor to flow into the valve chamber inside the valve body; outlet ports 23 and 63 for returning the refrigerant to the compressor; and first and second connection ports 25 and 62, and 26 and 64, respectively, connected to the condenser and evaporator. Furthermore, the valve core, which moves slidably, switches between connecting the outlet port to the first connection port or to the second connection port.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-23891

[0006] In the aforementioned conventional switching valve, four ports are arranged side-by-side on one side of the valve body and housing in the order of inlet port, first connection port, outlet port, and second connection port, with the inlet port and first connection port being relatively close. Therefore, when the outlet port is connected to the first connection port and the cooler refrigerant flows through the first connection port, the heat from the high-temperature refrigerant flowing at the inlet port is lost through the valve body and housing to the first connection port side. This could potentially reduce the operating efficiency of the refrigeration cycle due to the decrease in refrigerant temperature. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The objective of this invention is to improve the thermal efficiency of the refrigeration cycle by preventing the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant flowing at the inlet port from being taken away by the first port (or second port) and the outlet port side in a sliding switching valve.

[0008] The sliding switching valve of the present invention is housed in a housing chamber formed in a housing having a housing-side flow path. The sliding switching valve is characterized by comprising: a hollow cylindrical valve body; a valve core that is slidably disposed inside the valve body; and a drive unit that slides and drives the valve core. The valve body has a side wall portion parallel to the sliding direction of the valve core and a bottom portion intersecting the side wall portion. A first port, an outlet port, and a second port communicating with the housing-side flow path are provided on the side wall portion of the valve body, and an inlet port is provided on the bottom portion of the valve body.

[0009] At this point, a sliding switching valve characterized by the valve body being formed by resin molding is preferred.

[0010] Furthermore, a sliding switching valve is preferred, characterized in that the first port, the outlet port, and the second port are arranged in a straight line along the sliding direction of the side wall of the valve body, which is parallel to the sliding direction of the valve core.

[0011] The effects of this invention are as follows.

[0012] According to the sliding switching valve of the present invention, by providing an inlet port at the bottom of the housing, the first port, the outlet port and the second port provided on the side wall can leave from the inlet port, which can suppress the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant flowing at the inlet port from being taken away by the first port (or the second port) and the outlet port side through the valve body and the housing, making it easier to maintain the temperature of the high-temperature refrigerant and improve the thermal efficiency of the refrigeration cycle. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the first state of the sliding switching valve according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the second state of the sliding switching valve in the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 AA-direction sectional view.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a partial schematic view of the external perspective of the sliding switching valve according to the embodiment.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the housing of the sliding switching valve according to the embodiment.

[0018] Figure 6 This is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified example of the sliding switching valve of the embodiment.

[0019] In the diagram: 1—valve body, 1A—valve chamber, 11—side wall, 12—bottom, 13E—first port, 13C—second port, 13S—outlet port, 13D—inlet port, 2—valve core, 21—bulge, 22—guide shaft, 22a—internal thread, 3—outer shell, 31E—outer shell side flow path, 31C—outer shell side flow path, 31S—outer shell side flow path, 31D—outer shell side flow path, 4—support, 41—valve guide, 42—bearing, 43—fixed cover, 5—magnetic rotor, 51—rotor shaft, 51a—external thread, 6—stator coil. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Next, embodiments of the sliding switching valve of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the sliding switching valve in the first state according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the second state of the sliding switching valve according to the embodiment. Figure 3 yes Figure 1 AA-direction sectional view, Figure 4 This is a partial schematic view of the external perspective of the sliding switching valve according to the embodiment. Figure 5 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the housing of the sliding switching valve according to the embodiment. Additionally, the concept of "upper and lower" in the following description is different from... Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 The top and bottom correspondences in the attached diagram.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, the sliding switching valve includes a valve body 1, a valve core 2, a housing 3, a support 4, a magnetic rotor 5, and a stator coil 6.

[0022] The valve body 1 is formed into a generally cylindrical shape by resin molding, and has a generally cylindrical valve chamber 1A inside. The valve body 1 has a sidewall portion 11 parallel to the sliding direction of the valve core 2 and a bottom portion 12 intersecting the sidewall portion 11, wherein the sliding direction of the valve core 2 is parallel to the axis X. A first port 13E, an outlet port 13S, and a second port 13C are provided on the sidewall portion 11 of the valve body 1, and an inlet port 13D is provided on the bottom portion 12 of the valve body 1. Furthermore, the first port 13E, the outlet port 13S, and the second port 13C are arranged in a straight line along the sliding direction of the valve core 2 on a portion of the sidewall portion 11. Additionally, a valve seat component 14 made of a thin metal plate is embedded and fixed within the valve chamber 1A of the valve body 1, and a housing 15 is fixed to the end opposite to the bottom portion 12 of the valve body 1. The surface on the X-axis side of the valve seat component 14 becomes the valve seat surface 14A on which the valve core 2 slides. An opening 14E is formed on this valve seat component 14, opposite to the first port 13E, an opening 14S is formed opposite to the outlet port 13S, and an opening 14C is formed opposite to the second port 13C. Furthermore, a locking protrusion 1B, serving as a valve body-side locking portion, is formed on the outer surface of the valve body 1. This protrusion engages with a locking groove 3B, described later, serving as a housing-side locking portion, to restrict the rotational position of the valve body 1 relative to the housing 3. This allows for easy alignment of the relative positions of the first port 13E, outlet port 13S, and second port 13C of the valve body 1 with the housing-side flow paths 31E, 31S, and 31C, described later, on the housing 3 side, thus facilitating the assembly of the valve body 1 relative to the housing 3. Alternatively, the rotational position of the valve body 1 relative to the housing 3 can be restricted by providing a locking groove on the valve body 1 side and a locking protrusion on the housing 3 side.

[0023] The valve core 2 has a bulge 21 and a rounded prism extending along the axis X on one side of the bulge 21 (see reference). Figure 3 The guide shaft 22 of the valve core 2 has a bowl-shaped recess 21A formed on the inner side of the bulge 21. Furthermore, the valve core 2... Figure 1 The lower end of the valve core 2 is connected to the outlet port 13S and the first port 13E via a bowl-shaped recess 21A. At this time, the second port 13C is connected to the inlet port 13D within the valve chamber 1A. Additionally, the valve core 2... Figure 2 The upper end of the valve core 2 is connected to the outlet port 13S and the second port 13C via a bowl-shaped recess 21A. At this time, the first port 13E is connected to the outlet port 13D within the valve chamber 1A. In addition, an internal thread portion 22a and its threaded hole, coaxial with the axis X, are formed at the center of the guide shaft 22 of the valve core 2.

[0024] The outer casing 3 is made of die-cast aluminum and has a generally cylindrical housing 3A centered on axis X, within which the valve body 1 is housed. Figure 5 As shown, the outer casing 3 has an engagement groove 3B on its inner circumference that engages with the engagement protrusion 1B of the valve body 1. Furthermore, an O-ring 10 seals the valve body 1 and the outer casing 3 at a predetermined position. Additionally, outer casing 3 has outer casing-side flow paths 31E, 31S, and 31C formed on the outer casing 3, opening into the side wall of the receiving chamber 3A. These flow paths communicate with the first port 13E, the outlet port 13S, and the second port 13C on the valve body 1 side, respectively, via the gap between the valve body 1 and the outer casing 3. Furthermore, an opening on the receiving chamber 3A side, with an outer casing-side flow path 31D formed facing the receiving chamber 3A, is located opposite the bottom 12 of the valve body 1. Moreover, outer casing-side flow path 31E communicates with the first port 13E, outer casing-side flow path 31S communicates with the outlet port 13S, outer casing-side flow path 31C communicates with the second port 13C, and outer casing-side flow path 31D communicates with the inlet port 13D.

[0025] The support portion 4 is mainly made of resin and consists of a generally cylindrical valve guide portion 41, a bearing portion 42 formed at the upper end of the valve guide portion 41, and a generally disc-shaped metal fixing cover 43 formed by insert molding on the outer periphery of the valve guide portion 41. The support portion 4 is fixed to the upper end of the housing 15 of the valve body 1 by welding via the fixing cover 43. Additionally, a C-shaped ring 20 for fixing the housing 3 and the valve body 1 is fitted between the upper end of the housing 3 and the fixing cover 43. Figure 3 As shown, a guide hole 41a, which is coaxial with the axis X and has a rounded corner, is formed on the valve guide portion 41. Furthermore, the guide shaft 22 of the valve core 2 is inserted into the guide hole 41a.

[0026] Additionally, a cover 44 is fixed to the fixed cover 43 to seal the valve chamber 1A of the valve body and the interior of the housing 15, and the magnetic rotor 5 is housed within the cover 44. A rotor shaft 51 is mounted at the center of the magnetic rotor 5, and an external thread 51a is formed on the outer periphery of the rotor shaft 51 on the valve core 2 side, which is threaded to engage with the internal thread 22a of the guide shaft 22 of the valve core 2. Furthermore, the rotor shaft 51 is supported by the bearing portion 42 of the support portion 4. Thus, the magnetic rotor 5 is rotatably supported within the cover 44. In addition, sliding washers 46 and 47 are provided at the upper part of the guide hole 41a, between the bearing portion 42 and the flange portion 53 of the rotor shaft 51, and between the magnetic rotor 5 and the bearing portion 42.

[0027] The stator coil 6 is constructed by winding coils 62, 62 onto a resin winding tube 61, thereby stacking a pair of coil portions in the X-axis direction. A magnetic yoke 63 with magnetic pole teeth 63a is integrally assembled onto the winding tube 61 by molding. Furthermore, the stator coil 6 has a cylindrical insertion hole 6H centered on the X-axis, and the magnetic pole teeth 63a of the magnetic yoke 63 are arranged on a portion of the inner circumferential surface of this insertion hole 6H. The stator coil 6 is mounted to the valve body 1 by inserting a cover 44 into the valve body 1 within the insertion hole 6H. Thus, the magnetic pole teeth 63a of the stator coil 6 are arranged facing the outer circumferential surface of the cover 44.

[0028] Through the above structure, by applying a pulse output to the coil 62 of the stator coil 6, magnetic lines of force are generated in the coil 62. This causes the magnetic poles (N and S poles) of the magnetic pole teeth 63a to alternately change, generating magnetic attraction and repulsion forces on the magnetic rotor 5, causing the magnetic rotor 5 and the rotor shaft 51 to rotate. Consequently, through the threaded feed mechanism formed by the external thread 51a of the rotor shaft 51 and the internal thread 22a of the guide shaft 22 of the valve core 2, the valve core 2 slides along the X-axis and from... Figure 1 First state Figure 2 The second state, or from Figure 2 The second state towards Figure 1 The first state switching flow path. In this way, the rotor shaft 51, the magnetic rotor 5, and the threaded feed mechanism constitute the "drive unit".

[0029] The outer casing side flow path 31D is connected to the compressor's discharge port, introducing high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant into the valve chamber 1A of the valve body 1. The outer casing side flow path 31S is connected to the compressor's suction port, allowing the refrigerant to return to the compressor. Additionally, the outer casing side flow path 31E is connected to the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle, and the outer casing side flow path 31C is connected to the condenser of the refrigeration cycle. Furthermore, in... Figure 1 In the first state, the high-temperature refrigerant flowing in from inlet port 13D flows through valve chamber 1A to the second port 13C. Figure 2 In the second state, the high-temperature refrigerant flowing in from the inlet port 13D flows through the valve chamber 1A to the first port 13E.

[0030] As described above, according to this sliding switching valve, since an inlet port 13D is provided at the bottom 12 of the valve body 1, the positions of the first port 13E, the outlet port 13S, and the second port 13C provided on the side wall portion 11 can be moved away from the inlet port 13D. This prevents the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant flowing at the inlet port 13D from being lost through the valve body and outer casing to the first port 13E, the second port 13C, or the outlet port 13S. Therefore, it is easier to maintain the temperature of the high-temperature refrigerant, improving the thermal efficiency of the refrigeration cycle. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the valve body 1 is formed of a resin with high thermal resistance, further suppressing the loss of heat from the high-temperature refrigerant flowing at the inlet port 13D, thereby improving the thermal efficiency of the refrigeration cycle.

[0031] Figure 6 This is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified example of the sliding switching valve according to the embodiment, in which the... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The difference lies in the structure of the outer casing 3'. In this casing 3', a flow path for introducing refrigerant into the inlet port 13D of the valve body 1 is formed laterally. Even in this modified example, the effect of the valve body 1 in improving the thermal efficiency of the refrigeration cycle is the same as in the embodiment described above.

[0032] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the specific structure is not limited to these embodiments, and design changes that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

Claims

1. A sliding switching valve, housed within a housing chamber formed in a housing having a housing-side flow path, characterized in that it comprises: Hollow cylindrical valve body; The valve core, which is slidably disposed inside the valve body; and The drive unit slides and drives the valve core. The valve body has a sidewall portion parallel to the sliding direction of the valve core and a bottom portion intersecting the sidewall portion. The sidewall portion of the valve body is provided with a first port, an outlet port, and a second port communicating with the flow path on the outer casing side. The bottom of the valve body is provided with an inlet port. A valve body-side engaging portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the valve body, and a housing-side engaging portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the housing. The valve body-side engaging portion engages with the housing-side engaging portion.

2. The sliding switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve body described above is formed by resin molding.

3. The sliding switching valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first port, the outlet port, and the second port are arranged in a straight line along the sliding direction on the side wall of the valve body, which is parallel to the sliding direction of the valve core.

4. The sliding switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The aforementioned drive unit is configured to include: A magnetic rotor that rotates via stator coils; and The threaded feed mechanism drives the valve core to slide by rotating the magnetic rotor.

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