Valve reducing device, reducing four-way valve, heat pump water machine and reversing method

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve reducing device, a variable-diameter four-way valve, a heat pump water machine and a reversing method. The valve reducing device comprises a shell assembly and a reversing assembly, wherein a guide arc-shaped groove is formed in the shell assembly; the driving assembly is partially arranged in the shell assembly; the rotating telescopic assemblies are arranged in the shell assembly and comprise rotating transmission structures and rotating telescopic blades, each rotating transmission structure is provided with a blade connecting side located on the inner side, a transmission connecting side and a guide connecting side, the transmission connecting side and the guide connecting side are adjacent to the blade connecting side and opposite to each other, the blade connecting side is connected with the rotating telescopic blades, and the transmission connecting side is connected with the driving assembly; the guide connecting side is embedded in the guide arc-shaped groove; wherein the side edges of the multiple rotary telescopic blades are embedded and define an annular structure, the driving assembly is used for driving the rotary transmission structure to rotate along the guide arc-shaped groove so as to adjust the inner diameter of the annular structure, and the problem that in the reversing process of an existing four-way valve, a valve element clamping fault is prone to occurring, and reversing of the four-way valve fails can be solved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of heating and ventilation, and particularly relates to a valve reducing device, a variable-diameter four-way valve, a heat pump water machine and a reversing method. BACKGROUND

[0002] A four-way valve is a control valve with four interfaces in the hydraulic valve terminology, and belongs to a key component of a refrigeration device. The four-way valve is mainly used in a heat pump type air conditioner, a heat pump water heater and the like to realize switching of a refrigeration mode and a heating mode. The four-way valve drives a pilot spool to move by being powered or being powered off of an electromagnetic valve coil, changes a high-pressure gas flow direction, causes a pressure difference between two ends of a piston, and drives a main spool to displace, so as to switch a communication state of an exhaust pipe and different connection pipes (such as a connection pipe of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit), and realize mode conversion between a refrigeration cycle and a heating cycle. However, a valve core is prone to being stuck in a reversing process of the existing four-way valve, which causes the four-way valve to fail to reverse. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application provides a valve reducing device, a variable-diameter four-way valve, a heat pump water machine and a reversing method, and can solve the problem that the valve core is prone to being stuck in the reversing process of the existing four-way valve, which causes the four-way valve to fail to reverse.

[0004] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a valve reducing device, comprising: a shell assembly, which is provided with a guide arc-shaped groove; a driving assembly, part of which is arranged in the shell assembly; a plurality of rotating and telescoping assemblies, which are arranged in the shell assembly and comprise a rotating transmission structure and rotating and telescoping blades, the rotating transmission structure has a blade connection side located at an inner side, a transmission connection side adjacent to and oppositely arranged to the blade connection side, and a guide connection side, the blade connection side is connected with the rotating and telescoping blades, the transmission connection side is connected with the driving assembly, and the guide connection side is embedded in the guide arc-shaped groove; wherein side edges of the plurality of rotating and telescoping blades are embedded and combined to form an annular configuration, and the driving assembly is used to drive the rotating transmission structure to rotate along the guide arc-shaped groove, so as to adjust an inner diameter of the annular configuration.

[0005] In some embodiments, the shell assembly comprises: a lower shell, which has a lower annular groove plate and a lower connection pipe arranged at an inner side of the lower annular groove plate, and the lower annular groove plate is provided with the guide arc-shaped groove at a bottom thereof; an upper shell, which has an upper annular cover plate and an upper connection pipe arranged at an inner side of the upper annular cover plate, and the upper annular cover plate is arranged on the lower annular groove plate, and a shell annular accommodating cavity is formed between the upper annular cover plate and the lower annular groove plate.

[0006] In some embodiments, the bottom of the lower annular groove plate is provided with a guide annular plate, and the guide annular plate is provided with the guide arc-shaped groove.

[0007] In some embodiments, the driving assembly comprises: An electric actuator arranged on the housing assembly; An actuator transmission structure arranged in the annular accommodating cavity of the housing, one end of which is connected with the electric actuator, and the other end of which is connected with the rotary transmission structure; A sealing bearing structure arranged between the lower housing and the actuator transmission structure.

[0008] In some embodiments, the actuator transmission structure comprises: An actuator transmission shaft, one end of which is connected with the electric actuator, and the other end of which is arranged in the annular accommodating cavity of the housing; A driving gear arranged on the actuator transmission shaft away from the electric actuator; A driven gear having a driving gear meshing surface arranged axially along the driving gear and an adjusting tooth meshing surface, the driving gear meshing surface being meshed with the driving gear, and the adjusting tooth meshing surface being meshed with the rotary transmission structure.

[0009] In some embodiments, the sealing bearing structure comprises: A lower sealing bearing mechanism arranged between the actuator transmission structure and the lower housing; An upper sealing bearing arranged between the actuator transmission structure and the upper housing.

[0010] In some embodiments, the lower sealing bearing mechanism comprises: A lower sealing bearing arranged on the lower housing and sleeved on the actuator transmission structure; A lower bearing cover plate arranged on the end surface of the lower sealing bearing; A lower bearing sealing ring arranged between the lower sealing bearing and the actuator transmission structure.

[0011] In some embodiments, the rotary transmission structure comprises: An adjusting rack having a blade connecting side located on the inner side, a transmission connecting side and a guide connecting side arranged adjacent to and opposite to the blade connecting side, the blade connecting side being connected with the rotary telescopic blade, and the transmission connecting side being connected with the driving assembly; A guide protrusion arranged on the guide connecting side and embedded in the guide arc-shaped groove.

[0012] In some embodiments, a plurality of the rotary telescopic blades are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the housing assembly. The plurality of rotating telescopic vanes is six rotating telescopic vanes, and the top angle of the rotating telescopic vanes is 60°.

[0013] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a variable-diameter four-way valve, comprising: The four-way valve has an outdoor heat exchanger connecting pipe and an indoor heat exchanger connecting pipe. The valve diameter changing device according to any one of the first aspect is arranged on the outdoor heat exchanger connecting pipe and the indoor heat exchanger connecting pipe.

[0014] In a third aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a heat pump water machine, comprising the variable-diameter four-way valve according to the second aspect.

[0015] In a fourth aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a heat pump water machine four-way valve reversing method, applied to the heat pump water machine according to the third aspect, comprising: calculating a current intermediate push valve flow of the variable-diameter four-way valve; detecting a current system circulation flow of the heat pump water machine; if the current system circulation flow is less than the current intermediate push valve flow, calculating a current low flow difference value between the current system circulation flow and the current intermediate push valve flow; based on the current low flow difference value, reducing the inner diameter of the annular structure to reduce the current intermediate push valve flow; when the current intermediate push valve flow is less than the current system circulation flow, performing a reversing operation on the variable-diameter four-way valve.

[0016] In some embodiments, the calculation of the current intermediate push valve flow of the variable-diameter four-way valve comprises: obtaining an intermediate flow area when a slider of the variable-diameter four-way valve is in an intermediate position; calculating an intermediate flow of the variable-diameter four-way valve based on the intermediate flow area; obtaining the intermediate push valve flow based on the intermediate flow and a piston bowl pipe pressure difference.

[0017] In some embodiments, the reduction of the inner diameter of the annular structure based on the current low flow difference value to reduce the current intermediate push valve flow specifically comprises: determining a low flow target inner diameter of the annular structure based on the current low flow difference value and a current inner diameter of the annular structure; driving the rotating transmission structure by the driving assembly to reduce the current inner diameter of the annular structure to the low flow target inner diameter, so as to reduce the current intermediate push valve flow.

[0018] In some embodiments, the detection of the current system circulation flow of the heat pump water machine further comprises: if the current system circulation flow is greater than the current intermediate push valve flow, calculating a current high flow difference value of the current system circulation flow and the current intermediate push valve flow; if the current high flow difference value is greater than a high flow difference value threshold, increasing an inner diameter of the annular configuration based on the current high flow difference value to increase the current intermediate push valve flow and reduce the current high flow difference value; when the current high flow difference value is less than or equal to the high flow difference value threshold, performing a reversing operation on the variable-diameter four-way valve.

[0019] In some embodiments, the if the current high flow difference value is greater than a high flow difference value threshold, increasing an inner diameter of the annular configuration based on the current high flow difference value to increase the current intermediate push valve flow and reduce the current high flow difference value, specifically includes: if the current high flow difference value is greater than a high flow difference value threshold, determining a high flow target inner diameter of the annular configuration based on the current high flow difference value and a current inner diameter of the annular configuration; increasing the current inner diameter of the annular configuration to the high flow target inner diameter by driving the rotating transmission structure by the driving assembly to increase the current intermediate push valve flow and reduce the current high flow difference value.

[0020] In some embodiments, the reversing method of the four-way valve of the heat pump water machine further includes: detecting a mode switching state of the heat pump water machine; if the heat pump water machine switches from a refrigeration mode to a heating mode or a hot water mode, increasing a flow diameter of a connection pipe of the indoor heat exchanger and reducing a flow diameter of a connection pipe of the outdoor heat exchanger by the valve diameter changing device.

[0021] In some embodiments, the reversing method of the four-way valve of the heat pump water machine further includes: detecting a mode switching state of the heat pump water machine; if the heat pump water machine switches from a heating mode or a hot water mode to a refrigeration mode, reducing a flow diameter of a connection pipe of the indoor heat exchanger and increasing a flow diameter of a connection pipe of the outdoor heat exchanger by the valve diameter changing device.

[0022] The above technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application have the following advantages compared with the prior art: The valve reducing device, the variable-diameter four-way valve, the heat pump water machine and the reversing method provided by the embodiments of the present application can adjust the inner diameter of the annular configuration by embedding and surrounding the side edges of the plurality of rotating telescopic blades into the annular configuration and driving the rotating transmission structure to rotate along the guide arc-shaped groove by the driving assembly, so as to adaptively adjust the flow passage diameter when reversing, avoid the problem of jamming caused by local pressure mutation, and solve the problem that the valve core of the existing four-way valve is prone to jamming failure during reversing, thereby causing the reversing failure of the four-way valve. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] The drawings incorporated into the specification and constituting a part of the specification show embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or the prior art description will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained from these drawings without any creative labor.

[0025] One or more embodiments are exemplarily illustrated by the pictures in the drawings corresponding thereto, and these exemplary illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings represent similar elements, unless otherwise specified. The drawings in the drawings do not constitute a proportional limitation.

[0026] Figure 1 A front view of the valve reducing device provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 An A-A cross-sectional view of the valve reducing device provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 3 A C-C cross-sectional view of the valve reducing device provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 4 A B-B cross-sectional view of the valve reducing device provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 5 A perspective view of the variable-diameter four-way valve provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the variable-diameter four-way valve provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 7 A large-diameter schematic view of the variable-diameter four-way valve provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 8 A small-diameter schematic view of the variable-diameter four-way valve provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 9 A system diagram of the heat pump water machine provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 10 A flowchart illustrating a method for switching a four-way valve in a heat pump water heater according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the orifice diameter of a variable-diameter four-way valve before switching the cooling mode of a heat pump water system according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the diameter of a variable-diameter four-way valve after the refrigeration mode of a heat pump water system is switched according to an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure label: 100. Valve reducing device; 10. Housing assembly; 110. Lower casing; 1101. Lower annular groove plate; 1102. Lower connecting pipe; 1103. Guide ring plate; 120. Upper shell; 1201. Upper annular cover plate; 1202, upper connecting pipe; 20. Driver components; 210. Electric actuator; 220. Actuator transmission structure; 2201. Actuator drive shaft; 2202. Driving gear; 2203. Driven gear; 230. Sealed bearing structure; 2301. Lower sealed bearing; 2302. Lower bearing cover plate; 2303. Upper sealed bearing; 30. Rotary telescopic assembly; 310. Adjusting rack; 3101. Guide protrusion; 320. Rotary telescopic blades; 200. Four-way valve; 2001, Pilot valve; 2002, Four-way valve body; 2003, Piston Bowl; 2004, Four-way slider. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0029] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

[0030] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0031] A four-way valve is a control valve with four ports in hydraulic valve terminology. It is a key component of refrigeration equipment, mainly used in heat pump air conditioners, heat pump water heaters, and other equipment to achieve switching between cooling and heating modes. It uses the de-energization or energization of a solenoid valve coil to drive a pilot slide valve, changing the direction of high-pressure gas flow, creating a pressure difference across the piston, and thus moving the main slide valve. This switches the connection state of the exhaust pipe with different connecting pipes (such as indoor and outdoor unit pipes), realizing the mode conversion between cooling and heating cycles. Currently, for heat pump water heaters to meet the high performance and high energy efficiency requirements of heating, hot water, and cooling operations, existing technical solutions still have two core shortcomings: 1) The four-way valve is prone to jamming during defrosting, affecting the stability of heating / hot water production; during heating and hot water operation, the system relies on the four-way valve to switch directions for defrosting, but the axial movement structure of the valve core (or slider) of the traditional four-way valve is prone to jamming due to… Factors such as pressure imbalance often cause jamming during the reversal process, directly preventing the defrosting program from starting. This leads to a sharp drop in the thermal efficiency of the heat pump water heater and a decrease in its hot water production capacity, severely weakening the stability of the equipment operation. 2) During the switching phase between heating, hot water, and cooling modes, the system needs to complete the flow path switching through a four-way valve. However, the existing solution requires increasing the compressor operating frequency to ensure that the refrigerant flow rate is higher than the intermediate flow threshold of the four-way valve to guarantee the completion of the reversal. This frequent adjustment of the compressor frequency not only increases the system energy consumption but also causes the four-way valve to fail to switch due to insufficient pressure difference under low load conditions, further reducing the energy efficiency of the equipment and the reliability of the switching mode.

[0032] Firstly, such as Figures 1-4 As shown, to address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a valve reducing device 100, applied to a four-way valve, comprising: The housing assembly 10 has a guide arc groove on it; The drive assembly 20 is partially housed within the housing assembly 10; Multiple rotating telescopic components 30 are disposed within the housing assembly 10, including a rotating transmission structure and a rotating telescopic blade 320. The rotating transmission structure has a blade connecting side located on the inner side, a transmission connecting side adjacent to and opposite to the blade connecting side, and a guide connecting side. The blade connecting side is connected to the rotating telescopic blade 320, the transmission connecting side is connected to the drive assembly 20, and the guide connecting side is embedded in a guide arc groove. The side edges of multiple rotating telescopic blades 320 are interlocked and enclosed to form an annular configuration. The drive assembly 20 is used to drive the rotary transmission structure to rotate along the guide arc groove to adjust the inner diameter of the annular configuration.

[0033] It should be noted that by driving the rotary transmission structure along the guide arc groove through the drive component 20, multiple sets of rotary telescopic blades 320 can be synchronously linked, so that the inner diameter of the annular configuration formed by the blades can be continuously changed. This can accurately match the control requirements of different media flow rates and pressures, and improve the flexibility and accuracy of flow regulation. The side edges of multiple sets of rotary telescopic blades 320 interlock with each other, forming a continuous sealing surface on the inner wall of the annular flow channel, effectively reducing internal or external leakage of the media, and is suitable for high-pressure and high-precision fluid control scenarios. Moreover, the housing component 10 and the internal structure are modularly designed, which can be easily integrated into various valves (such as ball valves and butterfly valves) or fluid equipment (such as heat pumps and water pumps). The diameter change function can be realized without large-scale modification of the original equipment, and the expandability is high. The position and curvature of the guide arc groove can be set according to actual needs.

[0034] It should be noted that traditional four-way valves rely on the axial movement of the valve core (or slider) for reversing, which is prone to jamming due to pressure imbalance. This device, however, drives a rotary transmission structure to rotate along a guide arc groove, which in turn drives multiple sets of interlocking blades to adjust the inner diameter of the annular configuration. This avoids jamming during the reversing process and ensures stable start-up of the defrosting program in heating / hot water operation. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the annular configuration can be continuously adjusted, flexibly matching the refrigerant flow diameter according to different operating conditions of the heat pump water heater, such as heating, hot water, and cooling. It can increase the inner diameter to ensure flow rate under high load and adapt to low flow rate requirements under low load. It can maintain the pressure difference required for the four-way valve to reverse without frequent adjustment of the compressor frequency, reducing energy loss and preventing reversing failure.

[0035] In some embodiments, housing assembly 10 includes: The lower housing 110 has a lower annular groove plate 1101 and a lower connecting pipe 1102 disposed inside the lower annular groove plate 1101. The bottom of the lower annular groove plate 1101 is provided with a guide arc groove. The upper housing 120 has an upper annular cover plate 1201 and an upper connecting pipe 1202 disposed inside the upper annular cover plate 1201. The upper annular cover plate 1201 covers the lower annular groove plate 1101, and an annular receiving cavity of the housing is formed between the upper annular cover plate 1201 and the lower annular groove plate 1101.

[0036] It should be noted that the lower annular groove plate 1101 of the lower housing 110 integrates a guide arc groove, which provides precise motion trajectory constraint for the guide connection side of the rotary transmission structure, and avoids radial displacement of the rotary telescopic component 30 during the adjustment of the inner diameter; the upper annular cover plate 1201 of the upper housing 120 and the lower annular groove plate 1101 are fastened together to form an annular housing cavity, which can stably limit the drive component 20 and the rotary telescopic component 30 in the cavity, prevent the components from loosening or displacing due to fluid impact, and adapt to the high pressure and high speed flow environment of refrigerant in the four-way valve 200.

[0037] It should be noted that the lower connecting pipe 1102 and the upper connecting pipe 1202 are integrated into the inner side of the lower annular groove plate 1101 and the upper annular cover plate 1201, respectively, and can be directly connected to the internal flow channel (such as port C and port E) of the four-way valve 200 without the need for additional connecting pipes. This integrated design reduces the number of pipe interfaces, reduces the risk of refrigerant leakage, and shortens the assembly cycle of the valve reducing device 100 and the four-way valve 200, which facilitates the maintenance of subsequent equipment and the replacement of components.

[0038] In some embodiments, the bottom of the lower annular groove plate 1101 is provided with a guide annular plate 1103, and the guide annular plate 1103 is provided with a guide arc groove.

[0039] It should be noted that the guide annular plate 1103 provides an independent and flat mounting reference surface for the guide arc groove, avoiding the problems of groove deformation and dimensional deviation caused by directly slotting the bottom of the lower annular groove plate 1101. In addition, the guide annular plate 1103 can disperse the friction and impact forces generated during the movement of the rotary transmission structure, preventing the lower annular groove plate 1101 from wearing and cracking due to long-term stress. At the same time, the guide annular plate 1103 can be manufactured separately using wear-resistant materials (such as engineering plastics and stainless steel). Compared with the integrated structure of directly slotting the groove plate, it is more suitable for the flushing environment of high-pressure refrigerant in the four-way valve 200, extending the service life of the device. By making the guide annular plate 1103 an independent component, the guide arc groove can be precisely processed on special equipment, reducing the overall manufacturing difficulty of the lower housing 110. If the guide arc groove is worn or damaged, the guide annular plate 1103 can be directly replaced without scrapping the entire lower annular groove plate 1101, which greatly reduces the maintenance cost and the difficulty of later maintenance of the device.

[0040] In some embodiments, the driving component 20 includes: An electric actuator 210 is mounted on the housing assembly 10; The actuator transmission structure 220 is installed inside the annular cavity of the housing, with one end connected to the electric actuator 210 and the other end connected to the rotary transmission structure. A sealed bearing structure 230 is located between the lower housing 110 and the actuator transmission structure 220.

[0041] It should be noted that the electric actuator 210 can provide a stable and quantifiable driving force. In conjunction with the actuator transmission structure 220, it is directly connected to the rotary transmission structure, which can achieve precise driving of the rotary telescopic component 30. This allows for precise adjustment of the inner diameter of the annular flow channel (or annular configuration) formed by the blades. Compared with traditional manual or pneumatic adjustment methods, the electric drive mode has a faster response speed and higher adjustment accuracy. It can match the optimal flow channel diameter in real time according to the flow requirements of the four-way valve 200 under different operating conditions (defrosting, mode switching), avoiding reversing failure or energy efficiency loss due to adjustment lag.

[0042] It should be noted that by setting the sealed bearing structure 230 at the mating point between the lower housing 110 and the actuator transmission structure 220, it can, on the one hand, provide support and positioning for the transmission structure, reduce frictional resistance during its rotation, and reduce component wear; on the other hand, it can effectively isolate the refrigerant medium in the annular cavity of the housing, prevent it from leaking along the gap between the transmission structure and the housing, and at the same time prevent external impurities from entering the cavity and jamming the rotating telescopic component 30, thus adapting to the high-pressure, closed refrigerant flow environment of the four-way valve 200.

[0043] In some embodiments, the actuator transmission structure 220 includes: The actuator drive shaft 2201 is connected at one end to the electric actuator 210, and the other end is located in the annular cavity of the housing; The drive gear 2202 is located on the actuator drive shaft 2201 at the end away from the electric actuator 210; The driven gear 2203 has a driving gear meshing surface and an adjusting gear meshing surface arranged along the axial direction of the driving gear 2202. The driving gear meshing surface meshes externally with the driving gear 2202, and the adjusting gear meshing surface meshes internally with the rotary transmission structure.

[0044] It should be noted that the driven gear 2203 integrates the meshing surface of the driving gear and the meshing surface of the adjusting gear, and has a double meshing surface structure along the axial direction of the driving gear 2202. This allows for the simultaneous realization of the functions of "power input" and "multi-component drive". That is, after the driving gear 2202 drives the driven gear 2203 to rotate, the meshing surface of the adjusting gear can synchronously drive multiple sets of rotary transmission structures to move along the guide arc groove. There is no need to configure a separate drive source for each rotary telescopic component 30, which simplifies the overall structure of the device and reduces power loss. At the same time, the layered meshing layout avoids the interference problem in multi-gear transmission and ensures the smoothness of the transmission process. Typically, the size of the adjusting gear meshing surface is smaller than the size of the driving gear meshing surface and is located on the left side of the driving gear meshing surface.

[0045] In some embodiments, the sealed bearing structure 230 includes: The lower sealing bearing mechanism is located between the actuator transmission structure 220 and the lower housing 110; The upper sealed bearing 2303 is located between the actuator transmission structure 220 and the upper housing 120.

[0046] It should be noted that the sealed bearing has both sealing and supporting functions. It can radially position the actuator transmission structure 220, reduce the frictional resistance between the drive shaft and the housing during rotation, reduce power loss, and ensure that the driving force of the electric actuator 210 can be efficiently transmitted to the driven gear 2203 and the rotary telescopic component 30. At the same time, the bearing structure can distribute the radial load during the transmission process, prevent the drive shaft from bending and wearing due to long-term stress, and extend the service life of the drive component 20.

[0047] It should be noted that the sealed bearing structure 230 adopts a split design, with the lower sealed bearing mechanism and the upper sealed bearing 2303 installed independently and without interference. During assembly, the lower sealed bearing mechanism can be pre-assembled with the lower housing 110 first, then the actuator transmission structure 220 can be connected with the rotary telescopic component 30, and finally the upper housing 120 can be covered and the upper sealed bearing 2303 can be installed, simplifying the overall assembly process. During subsequent maintenance, the sealed bearing at one end can be selectively disassembled and replaced without disassembling the entire drive component 20, reducing maintenance costs.

[0048] In some embodiments, the lower sealing bearing mechanism includes: The lower sealed bearing 2301 passes through the lower housing 110 and is sleeved on the actuator transmission structure 220; The lower bearing cover plate 2302 is installed on the end face of the lower sealed bearing 2301; The lower bearing seal ring is located between the lower sealing bearing 2301 and the actuator transmission structure 220.

[0049] It should be noted that the lower sealing bearing 2301 serves as a basic support and sealing component, achieving initial sealing between the actuator transmission structure 220 and the lower housing 110. The lower bearing sealing ring is embedded between the lower sealing bearing 2301 and the actuator transmission structure 220, forming a secondary sealing barrier that can effectively block the gap leakage channel when the transmission shaft rotates. The lower bearing cover plate 2302 covers the end face of the lower sealing bearing 2301, which can prevent the bearing components from axially moving and block external impurities from entering the bearing, while further enhancing the sealing effect. The synergistic effect of the three-layer sealing structure can completely isolate the high-pressure refrigerant in the four-way valve 200, avoid leakage risks, and adapt to the working conditions of high-pressure refrigerant flow.

[0050] In some embodiments, the rotary transmission structure includes: The adjusting rack 310 has a blade connecting side located on the inner side, a transmission connecting side adjacent to and opposite to the blade connecting side, and a guide connecting side. The blade connecting side is connected to the rotating telescopic blade 320, and the transmission connecting side is connected to the drive assembly 20. The guide protrusion 3101 is located on the guide connection side and is embedded in the guide arc groove.

[0051] It should be noted that the adjusting rack 310 integrates three functional ends: the blade connection side, the transmission connection side, and the guide connection side. It achieves the three functions of "power reception, motion guidance, and blade drive" simultaneously without the need for additional connecting rods or adapters. The transmission connection side meshes internally with the driven gear 2203 of the drive assembly 20, directly converting the gear's rotational motion into the rack's directional motion. The blade connection side is rigidly connected to the rotating telescopic blade 320, synchronously driving the blade to adjust the inner diameter of the annular flow channel (annular configuration). This significantly simplifies the internal transmission structure of the device, reduces clearance errors in the cooperation of multiple components, and improves the response speed of flow regulation.

[0052] It should be noted that the guide protrusion 3101 on the guide connection side is fitted into the guide arc groove to form a sliding fit structure of "protrusion-groove body". This provides rigid constraint for the movement trajectory of the adjusting rack 310. The line contact fit between the protrusion and the groove body can reduce sliding friction resistance and prevent the adjusting rack 310 from radially deviating or jamming during movement. This ensures that multiple sets of rotating telescopic blades 320 open and close synchronously and evenly, ensuring the consistency of the inner diameter adjustment of the flow channel of the four-way valve 200 and avoiding flow channel blockage or sealing failure caused by asynchronous opening and closing of the blades.

[0053] In some embodiments, a plurality of rotating telescopic blades 320 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the housing assembly 10; There are six rotating telescopic blades 320, and the tip angle of each rotating telescopic blade 320 is 60°.

[0054] It should be noted that the six circumferentially distributed blades and the driven gear 2203 of the drive assembly 20 are symmetrically distributed at their meshing points. During the transmission process, the driving force of each blade is evenly distributed, which can achieve synchronous opening and closing. This avoids the problem of jamming or adjustment lag caused by uneven force on a single set of blades. It ensures that the inner diameter adjustment of the flow channel of the four-way valve 200 can quickly respond to system commands when switching operating conditions or defrosting. It can maintain the pressure difference required for switching without frequently adjusting the compressor frequency, further optimizing the operating efficiency and reliability of the heat pump water heater.

[0055] Secondly, such as Figures 5-8 As shown, this application provides a variable diameter four-way valve, comprising: The four-way valve 200 has an outdoor heat exchanger connection and an indoor heat exchanger connection; The valve reducing device 100, as described in any of the first aspects, is installed on the outdoor heat exchanger connection and the indoor heat exchanger connection.

[0056] It should be noted that the four-way valve 200 includes a four-way valve body 2002, a four-way slider 2004 (or valve core) disposed within the four-way valve body 2002, piston cups 2003 disposed at both ends of the four-way slider 2004, and a pilot valve 2001 disposed on the side of the four-way valve body 2002. The outdoor heat exchanger connection is pipe C, and the indoor heat exchanger connection is pipe E. Figure 7 , 8 As shown, by means of the valve reducing device 100 installed on the outdoor heat exchanger pipe and the indoor heat exchanger pipe, the flow area of ​​the outdoor heat exchanger pipe and the indoor heat exchanger pipe can be adjusted by adjusting the inner diameter of the annular configuration in the valve reducing device 100. This can avoid jamming during the reversal process and ensure that the defrosting process of the heat pump water heater starts stably under heating / hot water conditions.

[0057] Valve reducing device 100 includes: The housing assembly 10 has a guide arc groove on it; The drive assembly 20 is partially housed within the housing assembly 10; Multiple rotating telescopic components 30 are disposed within the housing assembly 10, including a rotating transmission structure and a rotating telescopic blade 320. The rotating transmission structure has a blade connecting side located on the inner side, a transmission connecting side adjacent to and opposite to the blade connecting side, and a guide connecting side. The blade connecting side is connected to the rotating telescopic blade 320, the transmission connecting side is connected to the drive assembly 20, and the guide connecting side is embedded in a guide arc groove. The side edges of multiple rotating telescopic blades 320 are interlocked and enclosed to form an annular configuration. The drive assembly 20 is used to drive the rotary transmission structure to rotate along the guide arc groove to adjust the inner diameter of the annular configuration.

[0058] It should be noted that by driving the rotary transmission structure along the guide arc groove through the drive component 20, multiple sets of rotary telescopic blades 320 can be synchronously linked, so that the inner diameter of the annular configuration formed by the blades can be continuously changed. This can accurately match the control requirements of different media flow rates and pressures, and improve the flexibility and accuracy of flow regulation. The side edges of multiple sets of rotary telescopic blades 320 interlock with each other, forming a continuous sealing surface on the inner wall of the annular flow channel, effectively reducing internal or external leakage of the media, and is suitable for high-pressure and high-precision fluid control scenarios. Moreover, the housing component 10 and the internal structure are modularly designed, which can be easily integrated into various valves (such as ball valves and butterfly valves) or fluid equipment (such as heat pumps and water pumps). The diameter change function can be realized without large-scale modification of the original equipment, and the expandability is high. The position and curvature of the guide arc groove can be set according to actual needs.

[0059] It should be noted that traditional four-way valves rely on the axial movement of the valve core (or slider) for reversing, which is prone to jamming due to pressure imbalance. This device, however, drives a rotary transmission structure to rotate along a guide arc groove, which in turn drives multiple sets of interlocking blades to adjust the inner diameter of the annular configuration. This avoids jamming during the reversing process and ensures stable start-up of the defrosting program in heating / hot water operation. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the annular configuration can be continuously adjusted, flexibly matching the refrigerant flow diameter according to different operating conditions of the heat pump water heater, such as heating, hot water, and cooling. It can increase the inner diameter to ensure flow rate under high load and adapt to low flow rate requirements under low load. It can maintain the pressure difference required for the four-way valve to reverse without frequent adjustment of the compressor frequency, reducing energy loss and preventing reversing failure.

[0060] In some embodiments, housing assembly 10 includes: The lower housing 110 has a lower annular groove plate 1101 and a lower connecting pipe 1102 disposed inside the lower annular groove plate 1101. The bottom of the lower annular groove plate 1101 is provided with a guide arc groove. The upper housing 120 has an upper annular cover plate 1201 and an upper connecting pipe 1202 disposed inside the upper annular cover plate 1201. The upper annular cover plate 1201 covers the lower annular groove plate 1101, and an annular receiving cavity of the housing is formed between the upper annular cover plate 1201 and the lower annular groove plate 1101.

[0061] It should be noted that the lower annular groove plate 1101 of the lower housing 110 integrates a guide arc groove, which provides precise motion trajectory constraint for the guide connection side of the rotary transmission structure, and avoids radial displacement of the rotary telescopic component 30 during the adjustment of the inner diameter; the upper annular cover plate 1201 of the upper housing 120 and the lower annular groove plate 1101 are fastened together to form an annular housing cavity, which can stably limit the drive component 20 and the rotary telescopic component 30 in the cavity, prevent the components from loosening or displacing due to fluid impact, and adapt to the high pressure and high speed flow environment of refrigerant in the four-way valve 200.

[0062] It should be noted that the lower connecting pipe 1102 and the upper connecting pipe 1202 are integrated into the inner side of the lower annular groove plate 1101 and the upper annular cover plate 1201, respectively, and can be directly connected to the internal flow channel (such as port C and port E) of the four-way valve 200 without the need for additional connecting pipes. This integrated design reduces the number of pipe interfaces, reduces the risk of refrigerant leakage, and shortens the assembly cycle of the valve reducing device 100 and the four-way valve 200, which facilitates the maintenance of subsequent equipment and the replacement of components.

[0063] In some embodiments, the bottom of the lower annular groove plate 1101 is provided with a guide annular plate 1103, and the guide annular plate 1103 is provided with a guide arc groove.

[0064] It should be noted that the guide annular plate 1103 provides an independent and flat mounting reference surface for the guide arc groove, avoiding the problems of groove deformation and dimensional deviation caused by directly slotting the bottom of the lower annular groove plate 1101. In addition, the guide annular plate 1103 can disperse the friction and impact forces generated during the movement of the rotary transmission structure, preventing the lower annular groove plate 1101 from wearing and cracking due to long-term stress. At the same time, the guide annular plate 1103 can be manufactured separately using wear-resistant materials (such as engineering plastics and stainless steel). Compared with the integrated structure of directly slotting the groove plate, it is more suitable for the flushing environment of high-pressure refrigerant in the four-way valve 200, extending the service life of the device. By making the guide annular plate 1103 an independent component, the guide arc groove can be precisely processed on special equipment, reducing the overall manufacturing difficulty of the lower housing 110. If the guide arc groove is worn or damaged, the guide annular plate 1103 can be directly replaced without scrapping the entire lower annular groove plate 1101, which greatly reduces the maintenance cost and the difficulty of later maintenance of the device.

[0065] In some embodiments, the driving component 20 includes: An electric actuator 210 is mounted on the housing assembly 10; The actuator transmission structure 220 is installed inside the annular cavity of the housing, with one end connected to the electric actuator 210 and the other end connected to the rotary transmission structure. A sealed bearing structure 230 is located between the lower housing 110 and the actuator transmission structure 220.

[0066] It should be noted that the electric actuator 210 can provide a stable and quantifiable driving force. In conjunction with the actuator transmission structure 220, it is directly connected to the rotary transmission structure, which can achieve precise driving of the rotary telescopic component 30. This allows for precise adjustment of the inner diameter of the annular flow channel (or annular configuration) formed by the blades. Compared with traditional manual or pneumatic adjustment methods, the electric drive mode has a faster response speed and higher adjustment accuracy. It can match the optimal flow channel diameter in real time according to the flow requirements of the four-way valve 200 under different operating conditions (defrosting, mode switching), avoiding reversing failure or energy efficiency loss due to adjustment lag.

[0067] It should be noted that by setting the sealed bearing structure 230 at the mating point between the lower housing 110 and the actuator transmission structure 220, it can, on the one hand, provide support and positioning for the transmission structure, reduce frictional resistance during its rotation, and reduce component wear; on the other hand, it can effectively isolate the refrigerant medium in the annular cavity of the housing, prevent it from leaking along the gap between the transmission structure and the housing, and at the same time prevent external impurities from entering the cavity and jamming the rotating telescopic component 30, thus adapting to the high-pressure, closed refrigerant flow environment of the four-way valve 200.

[0068] In some embodiments, the actuator transmission structure 220 includes: The actuator drive shaft 2201 is connected at one end to the electric actuator 210, and the other end is located in the annular cavity of the housing; The drive gear 2202 is located on the actuator drive shaft 2201 at the end away from the electric actuator 210; The driven gear 2203 has a driving gear meshing surface and an adjusting gear meshing surface arranged along the axial direction of the driving gear 2202. The driving gear meshing surface meshes externally with the driving gear 2202, and the adjusting gear meshing surface meshes internally with the rotary transmission structure.

[0069] It should be noted that the driven gear 2203 integrates the meshing surface of the driving gear and the meshing surface of the adjusting gear, and has a double meshing surface structure along the axial direction of the driving gear 2202. This allows for the simultaneous realization of the functions of "power input" and "multi-component drive". That is, after the driving gear 2202 drives the driven gear 2203 to rotate, the meshing surface of the adjusting gear can synchronously drive multiple sets of rotary transmission structures to move along the guide arc groove. There is no need to configure a separate drive source for each rotary telescopic component 30, which simplifies the overall structure of the device and reduces power loss. At the same time, the layered meshing layout avoids the interference problem in multi-gear transmission and ensures the smoothness of the transmission process. Typically, the size of the adjusting gear meshing surface is smaller than the size of the driving gear meshing surface and is located on the left side of the driving gear meshing surface.

[0070] In some embodiments, the sealed bearing structure 230 includes: The lower sealing bearing mechanism is located between the actuator transmission structure 220 and the lower housing 110; The upper sealed bearing 2303 is located between the actuator transmission structure 220 and the upper housing 120.

[0071] It should be noted that the sealed bearing has both sealing and supporting functions. It can radially position the actuator transmission structure 220, reduce the frictional resistance between the drive shaft and the housing during rotation, reduce power loss, and ensure that the driving force of the electric actuator 210 can be efficiently transmitted to the driven gear 2203 and the rotary telescopic component 30. At the same time, the bearing structure can distribute the radial load during the transmission process, prevent the drive shaft from bending and wearing due to long-term stress, and extend the service life of the drive component 20.

[0072] It should be noted that the sealed bearing structure 230 adopts a split design, with the lower sealed bearing mechanism and the upper sealed bearing 2303 installed independently and without interference. During assembly, the lower sealed bearing mechanism can be pre-assembled with the lower housing 110 first, then the actuator transmission structure 220 can be connected with the rotary telescopic component 30, and finally the upper housing 120 can be covered and the upper sealed bearing 2303 can be installed, simplifying the overall assembly process. During subsequent maintenance, the sealed bearing at one end can be selectively disassembled and replaced without disassembling the entire drive component 20, reducing maintenance costs.

[0073] In some embodiments, the lower sealing bearing mechanism includes: The lower sealed bearing 2301 passes through the lower housing 110 and is sleeved on the actuator transmission structure 220; The lower bearing cover plate 2302 is installed on the end face of the lower sealed bearing 2301; The lower bearing seal ring is located between the lower sealing bearing 2301 and the actuator transmission structure 220.

[0074] It should be noted that the lower sealing bearing 2301 serves as a basic support and sealing component, achieving initial sealing between the actuator transmission structure 220 and the lower housing 110. The lower bearing sealing ring is embedded between the lower sealing bearing 2301 and the actuator transmission structure 220, forming a secondary sealing barrier that can effectively block the gap leakage channel when the transmission shaft rotates. The lower bearing cover plate 2302 covers the end face of the lower sealing bearing 2301, which can prevent the bearing components from axially moving and block external impurities from entering the bearing, while further enhancing the sealing effect. The synergistic effect of the three-layer sealing structure can completely isolate the high-pressure refrigerant in the four-way valve 200, avoid leakage risks, and adapt to the working conditions of high-pressure refrigerant flow.

[0075] In some embodiments, the rotary transmission structure includes: The adjusting rack 310 has a blade connecting side located on the inner side, a transmission connecting side adjacent to and opposite to the blade connecting side, and a guide connecting side. The blade connecting side is connected to the rotating telescopic blade 320, and the transmission connecting side is connected to the drive assembly 20. The guide protrusion 3101 is located on the guide connection side and is embedded in the guide arc groove.

[0076] It should be noted that the adjusting rack 310 integrates three functional ends: the blade connection side, the transmission connection side, and the guide connection side. It achieves the three functions of "power reception, motion guidance, and blade drive" simultaneously without the need for additional connecting rods or adapters. The transmission connection side meshes internally with the driven gear 2203 of the drive assembly 20, directly converting the gear's rotational motion into the rack's directional motion. The blade connection side is rigidly connected to the rotating telescopic blade 320, synchronously driving the blade to adjust the inner diameter of the annular flow channel (annular configuration). This significantly simplifies the internal transmission structure of the device, reduces clearance errors in the cooperation of multiple components, and improves the response speed of flow regulation.

[0077] It should be noted that the guide protrusion 3101 on the guide connection side is fitted into the guide arc groove to form a sliding fit structure of "protrusion-groove body". This provides rigid constraint for the movement trajectory of the adjusting rack 310. The line contact fit between the protrusion and the groove body can reduce sliding friction resistance and prevent the adjusting rack 310 from radially deviating or jamming during movement. This ensures that multiple sets of rotating telescopic blades 320 open and close synchronously and evenly, ensuring the consistency of the inner diameter adjustment of the flow channel of the four-way valve 200 and avoiding flow channel blockage or sealing failure caused by asynchronous opening and closing of the blades.

[0078] In some embodiments, a plurality of rotating telescopic blades 320 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the housing assembly 10; There are six rotating telescopic blades 320, and the tip angle of each rotating telescopic blade 320 is 60°.

[0079] It should be noted that the six circumferentially distributed blades and the driven gear 2203 of the drive assembly 20 are symmetrically distributed at their meshing points. During the transmission process, the driving force of each blade is evenly distributed, which can achieve synchronous opening and closing. This avoids the problem of jamming or adjustment lag caused by uneven force on a single set of blades. It ensures that the inner diameter adjustment of the flow channel of the four-way valve 200 can quickly respond to system commands when switching operating conditions or defrosting. It can maintain the pressure difference required for switching without frequently adjusting the compressor frequency, further optimizing the operating efficiency and reliability of the heat pump water heater.

[0080] Thirdly, such as Figure 9 As shown, this application provides a heat pump water machine, including a variable diameter four-way valve as described in the second aspect.

[0081] It should be noted that a heat pump water heater consists of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes an indoor heat exchanger, a water pump, etc., while the outdoor unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger, a steam-water separator, a compressor, a variable diameter four-way valve, a filter, etc. The C-pipe of the variable diameter four-way valve (i.e., the outdoor heat exchanger connection) is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger through a pipeline, and the E-pipe of the variable diameter four-way valve (i.e., the indoor heat exchanger connection) is connected to the indoor heat exchanger through a pipeline. The outdoor heat exchanger can be a plate heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger can be a finned heat exchanger. Heating: The four-way valve has ports S and C open, and ports E and D open. High-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant flows from the compressor discharge port to ports D and E of the four-way valve. When it passes through the plate heat exchanger via the large valve pipe, the refrigerant condenses and releases heat, becoming a liquid refrigerant. After passing through a throttling device (such as an electronic expansion valve) to reduce pressure, it evaporates and absorbs heat in the finned heat exchanger, becoming a gaseous refrigerant. It then passes through ports C and S of the four-way valve, passes through the vapor separator, and returns to the compressor, completing the cycle. Meanwhile, circulating water is introduced into the other side of the plate heat exchanger. The inlet water temperature is low. It exchanges heat with the refrigerant through the plate heat exchanger, and the outlet water temperature rises. Then, it dissipates heat to the room through the terminal to achieve the heating effect. Hot water production: The four-way valve has ports S and C open, and ports E and D open. High-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant flows from the compressor discharge port to ports D and E of the four-way valve. When it passes through the plate heat exchanger via the large valve pipe, the refrigerant condenses and releases heat, becoming a liquid refrigerant. After passing through a throttling device (such as an electronic expansion valve) to reduce pressure, it evaporates and absorbs heat in the finned heat exchanger, becoming a gaseous refrigerant. It then passes through ports C and S of the four-way valve, passes through the vapor separator, and returns to the compressor, completing the cycle. Meanwhile, circulating water is introduced into the other side of the plate heat exchanger. The inlet water temperature is low. It exchanges heat with the refrigerant through the plate heat exchanger, and the outlet water temperature rises. Then, the water in the water tank is heated by the water tank coil to achieve the effect of making hot water. Refrigeration: Ports D and C of the four-way valve are open, and ports E and S are open. High-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant flows from the compressor discharge port to ports D and C of the four-way valve. When it passes through the finned heat exchanger, the refrigerant condenses and releases heat, becoming a liquid refrigerant. After passing through a throttling device (such as an electronic expansion valve) to reduce pressure, it evaporates and absorbs heat in the plate heat exchanger, becoming a gaseous refrigerant. Then, it passes through ports E and S of the four-way valve, passes through the vapor separator, and returns to the compressor, completing the cycle. Meanwhile, circulating water is introduced into the other side of the plate heat exchanger. The inlet water temperature is relatively high. It exchanges heat with the refrigerant through the plate heat exchanger, and the outlet water temperature decreases. Then, it absorbs the heat from the room through the terminal to achieve a cooling effect.

[0082] Fourthly, such as Figures 10-12 As shown, this application provides a method for switching a four-way valve in a heat pump water heater, applied to the heat pump water heater described in the third aspect, comprising: S101: Calculate the current intermediate push valve flow rate of the variable diameter four-way valve; S102: Detect the current system circulation flow rate of the heat pump water heater; S103: If the current system circulation flow rate is less than the current intermediate push valve flow rate, then calculate the current low flow difference between the current system circulation flow rate and the current intermediate push valve flow rate; S104: Based on the current low flow difference value, reduce the inner diameter of the annular configuration to reduce the current flow rate of the intermediate push valve; S105: When the current flow rate of the intermediate push valve is less than the current system circulation flow rate, the variable diameter four-way valve is reversed.

[0083] It should be noted that when a heat pump water heater switches between operating conditions under low load, the traditional switching method relies on increasing the compressor frequency to increase the system circulation flow rate to meet the flow rate requirement of the intermediate push valve of the four-way valve 200. However, under low load conditions, insufficient pressure difference can easily lead to switching failure. The embodiment of this application uses a closed-loop logic of flow prediction, difference calculation, and inner diameter adjustment to ensure that the system circulation flow rate Q is lower than the current intermediate push valve flow rate q. vaAt this time, the inner diameter of the annular configuration of the variable diameter four-way valve is directly reduced, thereby actively reducing the flow threshold of the intermediate push valve. The reversing conditions can be met without adjusting the compressor frequency, which can effectively avoid the reversing jamming and stuck problems under low load conditions, ensure the stable start of the defrosting program when the heat pump water heater is heating / producing hot water, and improve the reliability of operation under all conditions.

[0084] It should be noted that the method in this application embodiment calculates the "current system circulation flow Q" and the "current intermediate push valve flow q" in real time. va The difference between the two values ​​is used to dynamically adjust the inner diameter of the ring configuration, which can adapt to the flow requirements under different loads and ambient temperatures. Whether it is a large flow reversal during high-load heating or a small flow reversal during low-load insulation, the optimal reversal conditions can be quickly matched by adjusting the inner diameter. There is no need to set reversal parameters separately for different models or operating conditions, which improves the versatility and adaptability of the method.

[0085] In some embodiments, calculating the current intermediate push valve flow rate of the variable diameter four-way valve includes: Obtain the intermediate flow area of ​​the variable diameter four-way valve when the slider is in the middle position; The intermediate flow rate of the variable diameter four-way valve is calculated based on the intermediate flow area. The flow rate of the intermediate push valve is obtained based on the intermediate flow rate and the pressure difference between the piston and the bowl tube.

[0086] It should be noted that the above calculation method, through the step-by-step derivation logic of "intermediate flow area → intermediate flow rate → intermediate push valve flow rate", combines the structural parameters (flow area) of the variable diameter four-way valve with the system operating parameters (piston-bowl pressure difference). This avoids the limitations of traditional empirical estimation or fixed threshold setting, and accurately calculates the minimum push valve flow rate threshold (i.e., the intermediate push valve flow rate q) required for the four-way valve 200 to complete the switching when the slider is in the intermediate position. va =Intermediate flow rate q + Piston cup tube pressure difference K p), which provides a reliable decision benchmark for subsequent judgment on whether the system circulation flow meets the switching conditions, and avoids misjudgment caused by deviation in the flow threshold setting.

[0087] It should be noted that the calculation process is directly related to the core structural parameter (intermediate flow area) of the variable diameter four-way valve. This flow area changes synchronously with the adjustment of the inner diameter of the annular configuration. When the system circulation flow Q is insufficient, the intermediate flow area can be reduced by decreasing the inner diameter of the annular configuration, thereby reducing the flow threshold of the intermediate push valve. This linkage calculation logic of "structural parameter - flow threshold" matches the strategy of "inner diameter adjustment to reduce threshold" in the reversing method, ensuring that the reversing flow requirement can be quickly met under low load conditions without adjusting the compressor frequency, effectively solving the pain point of the traditional four-way valve 200 low load reversing failure.

[0088] In some embodiments, reducing the inner diameter of the annular configuration based on the current low flow difference value to decrease the current intermediate push valve flow rate specifically involves: The target inner diameter of the annular configuration is determined based on the current low flow difference and the current inner diameter of the annular configuration. The drive assembly 20 drives the rotary transmission structure to reduce the current inner diameter of the annular configuration to the low-flow target inner diameter, thereby reducing the current flow rate of the intermediate push valve.

[0089] It should be noted that the target inner diameter for low flow is calculated by combining the current low flow difference with the current inner diameter of the annular configuration. This replaces the traditional "empirical" or "step-based" adjustment method of valves, quantitatively linking the inner diameter adjustment with the flow demand. This allows for precise control of the annular configuration's contraction amplitude, ensuring the flow rate q of the intermediate push valve is maintained. va It can reduce the flow rate to a threshold that matches the current system circulation flow rate Q as needed, avoiding insufficient flow rate due to excessive inner diameter adjustment or failure to meet commutation conditions due to insufficient adjustment, thus greatly improving the accuracy of adjustment.

[0090] It should be noted that the adjustment process, through the rigid linkage between the drive component 20 and the rotary transmission structure, can quickly and accurately adjust the inner diameter of the annular configuration to the low-flow target value, thereby actively reducing the flow threshold of the intermediate push valve. Compared with the traditional method of increasing flow by increasing the compressor frequency, this step does not require changing the compressor operating parameters and can meet the switching conditions under low-load conditions. This fundamentally avoids the problem of the four-way valve 200 getting stuck due to insufficient pressure difference, ensuring the stable start of the defrosting program when the heat pump water heater is heating / hot water. Moreover, the inner diameter adjustment is directly applied to the rotary telescopic blades 320 through the drive component 20, which is an adjustment of the valve's own structural parameters. It does not require additional energy consumption operations such as compressor frequency increase or decrease, which can reduce the energy loss caused by frequent compressor load changes. At the same time, it avoids the energy efficiency degradation caused by system pressure fluctuations, ensuring that the heat pump water heater maintains a high-efficiency operating state under all operating conditions of cooling, heating, and hot water.

[0091] In some embodiments, detecting the current system circulation flow rate of the heat pump water heater further includes: If the current system circulation flow rate is greater than the current intermediate push valve flow rate, then calculate the current high flow difference between the current system circulation flow rate and the current intermediate push valve flow rate; If the current high flow difference value is greater than the high flow difference value threshold, the inner diameter of the annular configuration is increased based on the current high flow difference value to increase the current intermediate push valve flow rate and reduce the current high flow difference value. When the current high flow difference value is less than or equal to the high flow difference threshold, the variable diameter four-way valve is reversed.

[0092] It should be noted that, under high-flow conditions, the traditional reversing method requires reducing the compressor frequency to avoid excessive valve resistance μ and valve pressure differential caused by high system pressure. Insufficient pressure (p) ultimately leads to the jamming of the four-way valve 200 and system malfunction. This regulation logic replaces compressor frequency intervention by dynamically adjusting the inner diameter of the annular configuration: that is, when the system circulating flow rate Q is much greater than the intermediate push valve flow rate q. va When the flow difference exceeds the threshold, directly increase the inner diameter to increase the flow area. This can reduce flow resistance and alleviate system high pressure without reducing the compressor frequency, thus maintaining sufficient circulation flow and valve pressure difference. p, to ensure smooth switching of the four-way valve 200.

[0093] It should be noted that this logic achieves bidirectional coverage for both low and high flow conditions: at low flow rates, the inner diameter is reduced to lower the flow threshold of the intermediate push valve, satisfying the switching conditions without increasing the frequency; at high flow rates, the inner diameter is increased to balance pressure and differential pressure, avoiding excessive push valve resistance without reducing the frequency. This bidirectional adjustment strategy ensures that the four-way valve 200 remains in an optimal state of "sufficient differential pressure and moderate resistance" throughout the entire switching process of the heat pump water heater, including heating, hot water production, cooling, and defrosting, avoiding issues such as switching shocks and jamming, and significantly improving system operational stability.

[0094] In some embodiments, if the current high flow difference value is greater than a high flow difference value threshold, the inner diameter of the annular configuration is increased based on the current high flow difference value to increase the current intermediate push valve flow rate and decrease the current high flow difference value, specifically as follows: If the current high flow difference value is greater than the high flow difference value threshold, then the high flow target inner diameter of the annular configuration is determined based on the current high flow difference value and the current inner diameter of the annular configuration. The drive assembly 20 drives the rotary transmission structure to increase the current inner diameter of the annular configuration to the high-flow target inner diameter, thereby increasing the current intermediate push valve flow rate and reducing the current high-flow difference.

[0095] It should be noted that by calculating the target inner diameter of the high flow using the "current high flow difference + current inner diameter of the annular configuration", precise quantitative control of the inner diameter adjustment is achieved. When the system circulation flow is much greater than the intermediate push valve flow, there is no need to reduce the compressor frequency to avoid high pressure as in the traditional method. Instead, the inner diameter is precisely adjusted to the target value by the drive component 20. This can increase the flow area to reduce system pressure and push valve resistance μ, and simultaneously increase the flow threshold of the intermediate push valve, reduce the flow difference, and prevent the four-way valve 200 from jamming.

[0096] It should be noted that this adjustment method can adapt to high flow conditions simply by adjusting the structural parameters of the valve itself. There is no need to change the operating frequency of the compressor throughout the process, which allows the compressor to maintain a high-efficiency and stable operating range. This avoids the extra energy consumption caused by the compressor frequently reducing and increasing its frequency, and also prevents the system pressure instability caused by frequency fluctuations. This ensures the operating efficiency of the heat pump water heater under high-load heating and hot water conditions, thereby improving energy efficiency.

[0097] In some embodiments, the method for switching the four-way valve of the heat pump water heater further includes: Detect the mode switching status of the heat pump water heater; If the heat pump water heater switches from cooling mode to heating mode or hot water mode, the flow diameter of the indoor heat exchanger pipe is increased and the flow diameter of the outdoor heat exchanger pipe is decreased by the valve diameter reducing device 100.

[0098] It should be noted that, as Figure 11 , 12 As shown, traditional four-way valves (200mm diameter) are prone to problems such as large leakage flow, fluctuating valve push force, reversing impact, and cross-flow when switching. When switching from cooling to heating / hot water production, the refrigerant flow direction is reversed, and the indoor heat exchanger changes from an evaporator to a condenser, requiring a larger refrigerant flow to meet the heating demand. The outdoor heat exchanger, on the other hand, needs to be adapted to a relatively smaller flow. By increasing the flow diameter of the indoor heat exchanger pipe, the refrigerant flow resistance on the indoor side can be reduced, ensuring a large flow supply under heating / hot water production conditions and enhancing the indoor heat exchange effect. By decreasing the flow diameter of the outdoor heat exchanger pipe, the problem of excessively low refrigerant flow rate and insufficient heat exchange caused by an excessively large outdoor diameter can be avoided, achieving the optimal match of heat exchange efficiency between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers.

[0099] It should be noted that targeted diameter adjustment can precisely control the leakage flow during the switching process of the four-way valve, avoiding large flow fluctuations caused by diameter mismatch. At the same time, it can balance the pressure distribution of indoor and outdoor heat exchangers, optimize the valve push pressure difference during slider switching, reduce slider movement resistance, and fundamentally solve the air leakage problem caused by insufficient pressure difference in traditional four-way valves, ensuring the sealing performance of the system. Moreover, the diameter adjustment pre-optimizes the system's pressure and flow parameters, making the valve push force change more smoothly during the four-way valve slider switching process, reducing the impact and wear of sudden pressure difference on the valve body and pipeline, avoiding vibration and noise problems during switching, extending the service life of the four-way valve and the entire heat pump water heater, and improving the stability of operation under all conditions.

[0100] It should be noted that this adjustment strategy relies on the structural adjustment of the valve diameter changing device 100 to achieve the adaptation of flow and resistance. The compressor's operating parameters do not need to be changed throughout the process. Compared with the traditional method of adapting to mode switching by increasing / decreasing the compressor frequency, this avoids the extra energy consumption caused by frequent compressor load changes, and prevents system pressure instability caused by frequency fluctuations. This ensures that the heat pump water heater maintains a high-efficiency operating state before and after mode switching. Furthermore, by linking mode switching status detection with valve diameter adjustment, an integrated control logic of "mode recognition - automatic adjustment - smooth reversal" is constructed. The operating condition adaptation can be completed without manual intervention, simplifying the system control process, reducing operational complexity, and adapting to the unattended operation requirements of various scenarios such as home and commercial use.

[0101] In some embodiments, the method for switching the four-way valve of the heat pump water heater further includes: Detect the mode switching status of the heat pump water heater; If the heat pump water heater switches from heating mode or hot water mode to cooling mode, the flow diameter of the indoor heat exchanger pipe is reduced and the flow diameter of the outdoor heat exchanger pipe is increased by the valve diameter reducing device 100.

[0102] It should be noted that when the heat pump water heater switches from heating / hot water mode to cooling mode, the refrigerant flow reverses. The indoor heat exchanger changes from a condenser to an evaporator, requiring a relatively small refrigerant flow rate to ensure evaporative heat exchange efficiency. The outdoor heat exchanger, on the other hand, changes from an evaporator to a condenser, requiring a larger refrigerant flow rate to release heat. By reducing the flow diameter of the indoor heat exchanger's connecting pipe, problems such as insufficient heat exchange temperature difference and reduced cooling effect caused by excessive indoor flow can be avoided. Conversely, increasing the flow diameter of the outdoor heat exchanger's connecting pipe reduces the outdoor flow resistance, meeting the high-flow heat dissipation requirements of the condenser and achieving optimal heat exchange efficiency matching between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers under cooling conditions.

[0103] It should be noted that targeted pipe diameter adjustment can pre-optimize the pressure distribution of indoor and outdoor heat exchangers, keeping the pressure difference of the push valve stable during the four-way valve slider reversal process, reducing the slider movement resistance. Compared with the pressure difference fluctuation caused by the fixed pipe diameter in the traditional reversal method, this design can avoid refrigerant leakage caused by insufficient pressure difference, ensure system sealing, reduce the probability of reversal jamming and stuck, and improve the reliability of mode switching.

[0104] It should be noted that the flow rate adjustment makes the flow and pressure changes during the reversal process more stable, which greatly reduces the impact and wear of sudden pressure changes on the four-way valve body and pipe joints, reduces vibration and noise during reversal, extends the service life of the four-way valve, heat exchanger and pipeline, and improves the overall stability of the heat pump water heater.

[0105] It should be noted that the refrigerant circulation flow rate Q of the heat pump water heater system is the flow rate of refrigerant through the four-way valve under different operating conditions; the intermediate flow rate q of the four-way valve is the flow rate of high-pressure gas flowing between the slider and the valve seat when the slider is in the middle position (the intermediate flow rate depends on the size of the flow area); the intermediate push valve flow rate q va When the slider is in the middle position for startup reversal, gas flows between the four-way slider 2004 and the valve seat (or valve body). Due to local losses, a pressure difference is formed between the inlet and outlet pipes. The minimum flow rate that acts on the piston cups 2003 at both ends of the valve body to push the slider of the four-way valve to switch directions is called the intermediate push valve flow rate. The minimum push valve compressor frequency f0 is the minimum frequency at which the compressor provides the switching flow rate at the intermediate position of the four-way valve when the slider is in the intermediate position for startup switching. The minimum push valve compressor frequency can be calculated from the intermediate push valve flow rate. The calculation method for the minimum push valve compressor frequency f0 is as follows:

[0106] Where: q va V represents the airflow rate of the push valve in the intermediate position, in m³ / s. s This refers to the compressor's suction volume, expressed in m³ / cycle. The value of the air density at the inlet and outlet of the four-way valve under the tested air pressure (calculated from tables based on the ambient temperature and inlet / outlet air pressure during the test; the outlet pressure can be approximated as atmospheric pressure), is expressed in kg / m³; ρ r,s The density of the refrigerant at the compressor inlet (taken as the saturated gaseous density of the refrigerant at the worst ambient temperature of -20℃ during equipment operation), in kg / m³; The value is the average refrigerant density at the inlet and outlet of the four-way valve (the outlet refrigerant density and pressure are taken as the saturated gas phase density and pressure of the refrigerant at the worst ambient temperature of -20℃ during equipment operation; the inlet pressure is the sum of the saturated gas phase pressure of the refrigerant at -20℃ and the measured pressure difference at the midpoint of the four-way valve; the inlet density is calculated using the ideal gas law), unit kg / m³; λ is the production margin coefficient, which should be greater than 1, and 1.6 is recommended; from the above, the flow rate q of the intermediate push valve of the system is... va The flow rate q of the intermediate push valve is positively correlated with the compressor frequency f0 of the minimum push four-way valve. va The pressure difference between the valve pusher and the intermediate flow rate q of the four-way valve is greater than that of the four-way valve. The valve-pushing force N of p must be greater than the slider resistance μ, i.e., f≥f0, f0∝Q≥qva>q, and Only when p∝N>μ can the normal switching of the four-way valve 200 be guaranteed.

[0107] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” as used herein may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not construed as requiring them to be performed in a particular order described or illustrated unless the order of performance is explicitly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.

[0108] Although terms such as first, second, third, etc., may be used in this document to describe multiple elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or segment from another. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer, or segment discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or segment without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0109] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A valve diameter reducing device, characterized in that, include: The housing assembly has a guide arc groove on it; The drive assembly is partially disposed within the housing assembly; Multiple rotating telescopic components are disposed within the housing assembly, including a rotating transmission structure and rotating telescopic blades. The rotating transmission structure has a blade connecting side located on the inner side, a transmission connecting side adjacent to and opposite to the blade connecting side, and a guide connecting side. The blade connecting side is connected to the rotating telescopic blades, the transmission connecting side is connected to the drive assembly, and the guide connecting side is embedded in the guide arc groove. The side edges of the plurality of rotating telescopic blades are interlocked and enclosed to form an annular configuration. The driving assembly is used to drive the rotating transmission structure to rotate along the guide arc groove to adjust the inner diameter of the annular configuration.

2. The valve diameter changing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing assembly includes: The lower housing has a lower annular groove plate and a lower connecting pipe disposed inside the lower annular groove plate, and the bottom of the lower annular groove plate is provided with the guide arc groove; The upper housing has an upper annular cover plate and an upper connecting pipe disposed inside the upper annular cover plate. The upper annular cover plate covers the lower annular groove plate, and an annular receiving cavity of the housing is formed between the upper annular cover plate and the lower annular groove plate.

3. The valve diameter changing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bottom of the lower annular groove plate is provided with a guide annular plate, and the guide annular plate is provided with the guide arc groove.

4. The valve diameter changing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The driving component includes: An electric actuator is mounted on the housing assembly; The actuator transmission structure is installed inside the annular cavity of the housing, with one end connected to the electric actuator and the other end connected to the rotary transmission structure. A sealed bearing structure is disposed between the lower housing and the actuator transmission structure.

5. The valve reducing device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The actuator transmission structure includes: The actuator drive shaft is connected at one end to the electric actuator and at the other end is located in the annular cavity of the housing; The drive gear is located on the actuator drive shaft at the end away from the electric actuator; The driven gear has a driving gear meshing surface and an adjusting gear meshing surface arranged along the axial direction of the driving gear. The driving gear meshing surface meshes externally with the driving gear, and the adjusting gear meshing surface meshes internally with the rotary transmission structure.

6. The valve diameter changing device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sealed bearing structure includes: A lower sealed bearing mechanism is disposed between the actuator transmission structure and the lower housing; An upper sealed bearing is disposed between the actuator transmission structure and the upper housing.

7. The valve reducing device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lower sealing bearing mechanism includes: The lower sealed bearing passes through the lower housing and is sleeved on the actuator transmission structure; A lower bearing cover plate is provided on the end face of the lower sealed bearing; The lower bearing seal ring is disposed between the lower sealed bearing and the actuator transmission structure.

8. The valve diameter changing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotary transmission structure includes: The adjusting rack has an inner blade connecting side, a transmission connecting side adjacent to and opposite to the blade connecting side, and a guide connecting side. The blade connecting side is connected to the rotating telescopic blade, and the transmission connecting side is connected to the drive assembly. A guide protrusion is provided on the guide connection side and is embedded in the guide arc groove.

9. The valve reducing device according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The plurality of the rotating telescopic blades are evenly distributed along the circumference of the housing assembly; The plurality of the rotating telescopic blades are six rotating telescopic blades, and the tip angle of the rotating telescopic blades is 60°.

10. A variable diameter four-way valve, characterized in that, include: The four-way valve has both outdoor heat exchanger connection and indoor heat exchanger connection. The valve reducing device as described in any one of claims 1-9 is provided on the outdoor heat exchanger inlet and the indoor heat exchanger inlet.

11. A heat pump water heater, characterized in that, Includes the variable diameter four-way valve as described in claim 10.

12. A method for reversing a four-way valve in a heat pump water heater, characterized in that, Applied to the heat pump water system as described in claim 11, comprising: Calculate the current intermediate push valve flow rate of the variable diameter four-way valve; Detect the current system circulation flow rate of the heat pump water heater; If the current system circulation flow is less than the current intermediate push valve flow, then calculate the current low flow difference between the current system circulation flow and the current intermediate push valve flow. Based on the current low flow difference value, the inner diameter of the annular configuration is reduced to decrease the current flow rate of the intermediate push valve; When the current flow rate of the intermediate push valve is less than the current system circulation flow rate, the variable diameter four-way valve is reversed.

13. The method for switching the four-way valve of a heat pump water heater according to claim 12, characterized in that, The calculation of the current intermediate push valve flow rate of the variable diameter four-way valve includes: Obtain the intermediate flow area of ​​the variable diameter four-way valve when the slider is in the middle position; The intermediate flow rate of the variable diameter four-way valve is calculated based on the intermediate flow area. The flow rate of the intermediate push valve is obtained based on the intermediate flow rate and the pressure difference between the piston and the bowl tube.

14. The method for switching the four-way valve of a heat pump water heater according to claim 12, characterized in that, The method of reducing the inner diameter of the annular configuration based on the current low flow difference value to reduce the current flow rate of the intermediate push valve specifically includes: The target inner diameter of the annular configuration is determined based on the current low flow difference and the current inner diameter of the annular configuration. The drive assembly drives the rotary transmission structure to reduce the current inner diameter of the annular configuration to the low-flow target inner diameter, thereby reducing the current flow rate of the intermediate push valve.

15. The method for switching the four-way valve of a heat pump water heater according to claim 12, characterized in that, The detection of the current system circulation flow rate of the heat pump water heater also includes: If the current system circulation flow rate is greater than the current intermediate push valve flow rate, then calculate the current high flow difference between the current system circulation flow rate and the current intermediate push valve flow rate; If the current high flow difference value is greater than the high flow difference value threshold, the inner diameter of the annular configuration is increased based on the current high flow difference value to increase the current intermediate push valve flow rate and reduce the current high flow difference value. When the current high flow difference value is less than or equal to the high flow difference threshold, the variable diameter four-way valve is reversed.

16. The method for switching the four-way valve of a heat pump water heater according to claim 15, characterized in that, If the current high flow difference value is greater than the high flow difference value threshold, then the inner diameter of the annular configuration is increased based on the current high flow difference value to increase the current intermediate push valve flow rate and decrease the current high flow difference value, specifically: If the current high flow difference value is greater than the high flow difference value threshold, then the high flow target inner diameter of the annular configuration is determined based on the current high flow difference value and the current inner diameter of the annular configuration. The drive component drives the rotary transmission structure to increase the current inner diameter of the annular configuration to the high-flow target inner diameter, thereby increasing the current intermediate push valve flow rate and reducing the current high-flow difference.

17. The method for reversing the four-way valve of a heat pump water heater according to any one of claims 12-16, characterized in that, Also includes: Detect the mode switching status of the heat pump water heater; If the heat pump water heater switches from cooling mode to heating mode or hot water mode, the flow diameter of the indoor heat exchanger pipe is increased and the flow diameter of the outdoor heat exchanger pipe is decreased by the valve diameter reducing device.

18. The method for reversing the four-way valve of a heat pump water heater according to any one of claims 12-16, characterized in that, Also includes: Detect the mode switching status of the heat pump water heater; If the heat pump water heater switches from heating mode or hot water mode to cooling mode, the flow diameter of the indoor heat exchanger pipe is reduced and the flow diameter of the outdoor heat exchanger pipe is increased by the valve diameter reducing device.

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