Machining method of four-way valve assembly and four-way valve assembly

Abstract

The invention provides a four-way valve assembly machining method which comprises the following steps that a four-way valve and an aluminum pipe are provided, and the four-way valve is provided with an aluminum connecting part; the four-way valve and the aluminum piping are assembled; one end of the aluminum piping is connected with the aluminum connecting part in a matched mode; and the four-way valve and the aluminum piping which are assembled are welded and fixed through flame brazing or high-frequency welding. The four-way valve is provided with an aluminum connecting part, so that welding connection of the four-way valve and the aluminum piping is facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of refrigeration technology, and specifically relates to a processing method for a four-way valve assembly and the four-way valve assembly. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, copper pipes are mostly used in refrigeration systems. Copper pipes are expensive, and the connection between copper pipes and other refrigeration components generates a large amount of carbon dioxide during manufacturing, leading to environmental pollution. To alleviate the cost pressure on air conditioner manufacturers and avoid excessive consumption of copper pipes and environmental pollution from carbon dioxide emissions, aluminum pipes are used instead of copper pipes. However, the piping layout in refrigeration systems is complex and varied, and how to connect four-way valves to aluminum piping is a problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a processing method for a four-way valve assembly to address the above problems. The specific solution is as follows:

[0004] A method for manufacturing a four-way valve assembly, the method comprising the following steps:

[0005] A four-way valve and aluminum piping are provided, wherein the four-way valve is equipped with aluminum connecting components;

[0006] Assemble the four-way valve and the aluminum piping: Connect one end of the aluminum piping to the aluminum connecting component;

[0007] The assembled four-way valve and the aluminum piping are fixed by flame brazing or high-frequency welding.

[0008] The processing method of the four-way valve assembly provided in this application includes an aluminum connecting component for the four-way valve, which facilitates the welding connection between the four-way valve and the aluminum piping. The four-way valve is welded to the aluminum piping via the aluminum connecting component, and the aluminum connecting component and the aluminum piping are welded together by flame brazing or high-frequency welding. The aluminum connecting component and the aluminum piping are made of the same material, which facilitates welding. The brazing properties between the same materials are stronger, which is more conducive to improving the welding quality and reducing the occurrence of problems such as poor joint.

[0009] This application also provides a four-way valve assembly, the specific solution of which is as follows:

[0010] A four-way valve assembly includes a four-way valve and an aluminum pipe. The four-way valve includes a valve body, a steel connecting pipe, and an aluminum connecting component. One end of the steel connecting pipe is welded to the valve body, and the other end is welded to the aluminum connecting component. The end of the aluminum connecting component away from the valve body is welded to the aluminum pipe.

[0011] The four-way valve assembly provided in this application, by setting an aluminum connecting component at the end of the steel connecting pipe of the four-way valve, makes it easier for the four-way valve to be connected to the aluminum piping through the aluminum connecting component. The aluminum connecting component and the aluminum piping are made of the same material, which has stronger brazing properties and is more conducive to improving welding quality and reducing the occurrence of problems such as poor joint. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the four-way valve assembly;

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic projection of the first embodiment of the four-way valve assembly;

[0014] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of the image;

[0015] Figure 4 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the four-way valve assembly without piping;

[0016] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the four-way valve assembly without piping;

[0017] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the four-way valve assembly without piping;

[0018] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the four-way valve assembly;

[0019] Figure 8 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the four-way valve assembly without piping;

[0020] Figure 9 This is a schematic projection of the second embodiment of the four-way valve assembly without piping.

[0021] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cooling device;

[0022] 100. Four-way valve; 1. Valve body; 2. Steel connecting pipe; 3. Aluminum connecting component; 4. Aluminum piping; 41. First end; 31. First connecting end; 32. Second connecting end; 5. Cooling device; 6. Refrigeration component; 7. Reversing mechanism; 30. Main body; 301. First interface; 302. Second interface; 303. Third interface; 304. Fourth interface; 305. Fifth interface; 306. Sixth interface; 9. Pilot valve body; 91. Capillary tube; 92. Adaptor pipe; 21. First steel connecting pipe; 22. Second steel connecting pipe; 23. Third steel connecting pipe; 310. First flanged hole; 26. Protrusion; 25. First connecting end; 41. First pipe section; 42. Second pipe section; Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0024] See appendix Figure 1 - Appendix Figure 10 This application provides a four-way valve assembly 100, which is used to form a refrigerant circulation system in an air conditioning unit. The four-way valve assembly 100 includes a four-way valve 10 and an aluminum pipe 4. The four-way valve 10 includes a valve body 1, a steel connecting pipe 2, and an aluminum connecting component 3. A reversing mechanism is provided inside the valve body 1. The reversing mechanism can be a reversing slider, generally made of nylon or plastic. The reversing slider is prone to heat melting and deformation. One end of the steel connecting pipe 2 is welded to the valve body 1, and the other end is welded to the aluminum connecting component 3. The end of the aluminum connecting component 3 away from the valve body 1 is welded to the aluminum pipe 4. This arrangement, by setting the aluminum connecting component 3 at the end of the steel connecting pipe 2, facilitates the welding connection between the connecting pipe and the aluminum pipe 4, thereby improving the connection strength.

[0025] The manufacturing process of one embodiment of the four-way valve assembly 100 is briefly described below to illustrate how the aluminum connecting component 3 facilitates the welding connection between the four-way valve 10 and the aluminum piping 4. Specifically:

[0026] When the four-way valve assembly 100 is installed in a refrigeration system, it needs to be connected to refrigeration components such as the compressor and outdoor heat exchanger via aluminum piping 4. In this embodiment, the number of aluminum piping 4 is the same as the number of connecting pipes. The steel connecting pipe is made of steel, and the aluminum piping is made of aluminum. Tunnel furnace brazing is preferred for welding different materials, which helps to improve the welding quality. The aluminum piping 4 in the refrigeration system has a complex and varied routing to meet the needs of the main unit customer, and its large size makes it inconvenient to weld in a tunnel furnace, and it is also difficult to pre-fix it before welding. In addition, the routing of the aluminum piping 4 is complex and varied. Therefore, in order to solve the above technical problems, an aluminum connecting component 3 is provided at the end of the steel connecting pipe 2 of the four-way valve 10. The aluminum connecting component 3 is small in size. The aluminum connecting component 3 and the steel connecting pipe 2 can be brazed together first to obtain the four-way valve 10. Then, the aluminum connecting component and the aluminum piping 4 are welded by manual flame brazing or high-frequency welding to obtain the four-way valve assembly 100.

[0027] The four-way valve assembly 100 includes a four-way valve 10, which includes a valve body 1, a steel connecting pipe 2, and an aluminum connecting component 3. (See attached document.) Figure 5 The four-way valve 10 has a reversing mechanism 7 inside its valve body 1, such as a reversing slider. The reversing slider 7 is typically made of plastic or nylon, which is prone to heat-induced deformation. It should be noted that the reversing mechanism 7 is located in the attached... Figure 5This is only an illustration; the reversing mechanism can move along the axial direction of the valve body 1. When machining the four-way valve 10, the valve body 1 and steel connecting pipe 2 can be assembled and then brazed. This can be done using tunnel furnace brazing, flame brazing, or high-frequency welding. For the brazing of the valve body 1 and the connecting pipe, tunnel furnace welding is preferred as it improves welding quality and strength. Then, the steel connecting pipe 2 and aluminum connecting component 3 are assembled and brazed together. This can also be done using tunnel furnace brazing, flame brazing, or high-frequency welding. After welding, the reversing mechanism 7 is installed, and the valve body 1 is welded and sealed to obtain the four-way valve 10. The installation process of the capillary tube 91 and the pilot valve body 9 is omitted here. Finally, the aluminum connecting component 3 is welded to the aluminum piping 4 to obtain the four-way valve assembly 100. The aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum piping 4 are both made of aluminum and can be welded using manual flame brazing or high-frequency welding. By setting the aluminum connecting component 3 at the end of the steel connecting pipe 2 of the four-way valve 10, it is convenient to weld the four-way valve 10 to the aluminum piping 4. While solving the above problems, it also makes it convenient for main unit customers to weld the system aluminum pipes to the aluminum piping 4 in the four-way valve assembly, further reducing the cost of the refrigeration system; in addition, the four-way valve 10 can be provided as a standard part to multiple main unit customers. The pipe end of the four-way valve 10 is equipped with an aluminum connecting part 3, which makes it very convenient for main unit customers to weld it to the aluminum piping 4 by flame brazing or high frequency welding.

[0028] See Figures 1-10 The aluminum connecting component has the following implementation method:

[0029] On the one hand, the number of aluminum connecting parts 3 is the same as the number of steel connecting pipes 2. The aluminum connecting parts 3 and the steel connecting pipes 2 are connected by brazing in a one-to-one correspondence. The brazing method can be tunnel furnace brazing, flame brazing, or high frequency welding. Tunnel furnace welding is preferred. The aluminum connecting parts 3 connect the steel connecting pipes to the corresponding aluminum pipes 4.

[0030] On the other hand, there are four steel connecting pipes, one of which is located on one side of the valve body 1, and the other three are arranged side by side on the other side of the valve body 1. These three connecting pipes are welded to an aluminum connecting component 3. The aluminum connecting component 3 includes a main body 30 and six interface portions integrally formed with the main body 30. Three interface portions are located on one side of the main body 30 and are welded to the parallel steel connecting pipes 2 accordingly; the other three interface portions are located on the other side of the main body 30 and are welded to the aluminum pipes 4 accordingly. The aluminum connecting component 3 connects the steel connecting pipes 2 and the corresponding aluminum pipes 4. Specifically, the aluminum connecting component 3 includes a main body 30 and a first interface portion 301, a second interface portion 302, and a third interface portion 303 integrally formed with the main body 30. The first interface portion 301 is welded to the first steel connecting pipe 21, the second interface portion 302 is welded to the second steel connecting pipe 22, and the third interface portion 303 is welded to the third steel connecting pipe 23. The aluminum connecting component 3 is an integral structure, and also includes a fourth interface portion 304, a fifth interface portion 305, and a sixth interface portion 306 integrally formed with the main body 30. The fourth interface portion 304, the fifth interface portion 305, and the sixth interface portion 306 are respectively connected to aluminum pipes 4. The first interface portion 301, the second interface portion 302, and the third interface portion 303 are arranged side-by-side at intervals on one side of the main body 30, while the fourth interface portion 304, the fifth interface portion 305, and the sixth interface portion 306 are arranged side-by-side at intervals on the other side of the main body 30. The first interface portion 301 and the fourth interface portion 304 are arranged opposite each other on both sides of the main body 30 and are interconnected; the second interface portion 302 and the fifth interface portion 305 are arranged opposite each other on both sides of the main body 30 and are interconnected; the first interface portion 301 and the sixth interface portion 306 are arranged opposite each other on both sides of the main body 30 and are interconnected. This arrangement reduces the number of installation steps during manufacturing and further improves the connection strength and reliability. It should be noted that the aluminum connecting component 3 in this embodiment can have a circular, rectangular, square, trapezoidal, or other similar shape projected along the axis of the valve body 1, as long as it allows for easy installation of interfaces for connection with the steel connecting pipe 2 and the aluminum piping 4. (See also...) Figure 9 The inner diameter of the interface connecting to the aluminum pipe 4 should be larger than the inner diameter of the interface connecting to the connecting pipe. Specifically, the inner diameter of the fourth interface 304 is larger than the inner diameter of the first interface 6301; the inner diameter of the fifth interface 305 is larger than the inner diameter of the second interface 302; and the inner diameter of the sixth interface 306 is larger than the inner diameter of the third interface 303. This arrangement can ensure that the inner diameter of the fluid flowing through the pipeline is consistent as much as possible, which can relatively reduce the influence of the inner diameter of the flow path on the pressure of the fluid.

[0031] Furthermore, the refrigeration system is equipped with multiple aluminum pipes 4. One end of the aluminum connecting component 3 is welded to the steel connecting pipe 2, and the other end is welded to the aluminum pipe 4. The steel connecting pipe 2 and the aluminum connecting component 3 are connected by brazing, and the welded area between the steel connecting pipe 2 and the aluminum connecting component 3 is filled with aluminum solder. The aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum pipe 4 are connected by flame brazing or high-frequency welding, and the welded area between the aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum pipe 4 is filled with aluminum solder. Aluminum solder has a low melting point, requiring a lower welding temperature during welding. Using aluminum solder not only allows for easier adhesion to aluminum pipes, but also reduces the impact of welding temperature on the steel connecting pipe 2 and the reversing mechanism 7 due to aluminum's poor thermal conductivity, thus improving the lifespan and reliability of the four-way valve 10. Commonly used aluminum solders include aluminum-silicon, aluminum-magnesium, aluminum-manganese, and aluminum-sodium. Flux is generally added to the solder. Because aluminum has a very strong surface oxidation ability, it easily forms an oxide scale in the air, leading to oxidation and burn-through problems during welding. Therefore, flux is needed when welding aluminum materials, and it can also lower the melting point of aluminum, making welding easier.

[0032] Furthermore, to improve the welding strength between the aluminum connecting component 3 and the steel connecting pipe 2, the lap length L between them needs to be appropriate. A length L that is too long wastes solder, while a length that is too short will result in insufficient welding strength. Let the outer diameter of the steel connecting pipe 2 be d. The lap length L between the steel connecting pipe 2 and the aluminum connecting component 3 must satisfy: L ≥ 1.2d. The lap length L is a prerequisite for ensuring a reliable welding length. Generally, the lap length is greater than or equal to the welding length. It should be noted that the welding length in this article refers to the length through which the solder fills the weld or weld joint.

[0033] One end of the aluminum connecting component 3 is welded to the steel connecting pipe 2, and the other end is welded to the aluminum piping 4. The steel connecting pipe 2 and the aluminum connecting component 3 are first connected by brazing, and then the aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum piping 4 are connected by flame brazing or high-frequency welding. When welding the aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum piping 4, the welding temperature will be transferred through the aluminum connecting component 3 to the welding point between the aluminum connecting component 3 and the steel connecting pipe 2, causing the solder at the welding point to melt. To solve the above problem, along the axial direction of the aluminum connecting component 3, the axial length L2 of the aluminum connecting component 3 satisfies: L1≥3L. This setting can relatively reduce the impact of the heat generated when welding the aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum piping 4 on the welding point between the connecting component 3 and the steel connecting pipe 2. Furthermore, one end of the aluminum connecting component 3 is connected to the steel connecting pipe 2, and the other end is connected to the aluminum piping 4. This arrangement not only reduces the impact of heat generated during welding of the aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum piping 4 on the weld joint, but also ensures sufficient welding length when welding the aluminum connecting component 3 to both the aluminum piping 4 and the steel connecting pipe 2. Further, an axial space is provided between the end of the steel connecting pipe 2 connected to the aluminum connecting component 3 and the end of the aluminum piping 4 connected to the aluminum connecting component 3. This axial space further reduces the impact of heat generated during welding of the aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum piping 4 on the weld joint of the aluminum connecting component 3 and the steel connecting pipe 2. During welding, the molten solder moves axially along the aluminum connecting component 3 under the action of a capillary. The axial space interrupts the capillary, further preventing the solder from flowing towards the steel connecting pipe 2. Therefore, the reduced solder at the weld joint of the aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum piping 4 does not affect the weld quality and strength.

[0034] Furthermore, a second steel connecting pipe 22 is disposed between the first steel connecting pipe 21 and the third steel connecting pipe 23. The second steel connecting pipe 22 includes a first flanged hole 310 disposed on its side wall. The four-way valve 10 includes a connecting pipe 92 made of copper material. One end of the connecting pipe 92 is inserted into the first flanged hole 310 and welded to the inner wall of the first flanged hole 310. The welding method is tunnel furnace welding. The four-way valve 10 also includes a capillary tube 91 made of copper material and a pilot valve body 9. The capillary tube 91 is mainly used to connect the valve body 1 and the pilot valve body 9. The other end of the connecting pipe 92 is welded to the capillary tube 91 by flame brazing or high-frequency welding. In order to reduce the influence of the heat generated by welding the connecting pipe 92 and the capillary tube 91 on the welding part of the aluminum connecting component 3 and the second steel connecting pipe 22, and on the aluminum connecting component 3, the outer diameter of the second steel connecting pipe 22 is d, and the distance L3 between the end face of the aluminum connecting component 3 relatively close to the first flanged hole 310 and the center line of the first flanged hole 310 is 3. Satisfies: L3≥1.2d.

[0035] Furthermore, the end where the steel connecting pipe 2 connects to the aluminum connecting component 3 is the first connecting end 25, and the end where the aluminum connecting component 3 connects to the steel connecting pipe 2 is the second connecting end 32. In order to improve the welding strength between the connecting pipe and the aluminum connecting component, at least a portion of the outer wall of the first connecting end 25 is welded to at least a portion of the inner wall of the second connecting end 32, and a protrusion 26 is provided on at least a portion of the outer wall of the first connecting end 25 or at least a portion of the inner wall of the second connecting end 32; or, at least a portion of the inner wall of the first connecting end 25 or at least a portion of the outer wall of the second connecting end 32 is welded to at least a portion of the inner wall of the first connecting end 25 or at least a portion of the outer wall of the second connecting end 32. Because of the presence of the protrusion 26, there is a fitting gap between the first connecting end 25 and the second connecting end 32. The molten solder flows into the fitting gap and then solidifies, welding the first connecting end 25 and the second connecting end 32 together. The protrusion 26 improves the connection strength between the two. The protrusions 26 here can be obtained by drawing, extrusion or other methods. Preferably, the protrusions 26 are evenly distributed on the outer wall of the first connecting end 25; or, evenly distributed on the inner wall of the second connecting end 32; or, evenly distributed on the inner wall of the first connecting end 25; or, evenly distributed on the outer wall of the second connecting end 32. Furthermore, the extending direction of the protrusions 26 is the same as the axis of the first connecting end 25, or the same as the axis of the second connecting end 32.

[0036] In the above text, the aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum pipe 4 are connected by high-frequency welding or flame brazing. This is because high-frequency welding or flame brazing has an extremely fast heating speed, and aluminum solder is used at the welding part. Both the aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum pipe 4 are made of aluminum, which has a low melting point. Therefore, aluminum can absorb heat and melt quickly in a very short time. The aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum pipe 4 are thermally fused together by aluminum solder. This can significantly shorten the welding time and prevent a large amount of heat from accumulating and being conducted to the valve body 1 due to excessive welding time. This avoids the thermal melting and deformation of components such as the reversing mechanism 7 in the valve body 1, so as to ensure that the four-way valve assembly 100 can still operate normally after welding.

[0037] Furthermore, the refrigeration system will be equipped with various refrigeration components 6 as needed. The refrigeration system may also include a filter to remove impurities from the refrigeration cycle and protect the lifespan of components. Additionally, a silencer can be installed on the piping to eliminate or reduce noise generated by the refrigerant flow. Multi-way connectors can also be configured to form multi-pipe connections. Refrigeration components 6 can be filters, silencers, multi-way connectors, distributors, etc. Refrigeration components 6 are installed on the loop of the aluminum piping 4, either between the two ends of the aluminum piping 4 or at the end of the aluminum piping 4 relatively far from the steel connecting pipe 2. The filters, silencers, and multi-way connectors can be made of stainless steel, aluminum, etc. In other words, the refrigeration components 6 are either aluminum or steel components. Specifically, taking a silencer as an example, the aluminum connecting component 3 is welded to the aluminum piping 4. The aluminum piping 4 includes a first pipe section 41 and a second pipe section 2. The silencer is located between the first pipe section 41 and the second pipe section 42. The two ends of the silencer are welded to the first pipe section 41 and the second pipe section 42 respectively. The welding method can be tunnel furnace welding, flame brazing, or high-frequency welding. The material of the silencer can be the same as that of the aluminum piping 4, made of aluminum, such as aluminum or aluminum alloy; or it can be a different material, made of steel, such as stainless steel.

[0038] To further enhance the corrosion resistance of the four-way valve assembly 100, the aluminum connecting parts 3 are made of zinc-aluminum-distilled material; and / or, the aluminum piping 4 is made of zinc-aluminum-distilled material; and / or, the refrigeration components 6 are made of zinc-aluminum-distilled material. This arrangement improves the overall corrosion resistance and reliability of the four-way valve assembly 100, and even helps improve the corrosion resistance of the refrigeration system. To explain: zinc-aluminum-distillation is a protective layer formed on the aluminum surface through a zinc-distillation process. This process is a chemical heat treatment process that improves the corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the workpiece by distilling zinc into its surface.

[0039] Currently, most system connections in refrigeration systems use copper pipes. To further reduce system costs, aluminum pipes are being used instead of copper pipes. This reduces both cost and weight. However, in refrigeration systems, to meet system performance and customer requirements, the piping routing becomes complex and diverse. Steel connecting pipes are made of steel, while aluminum piping is made of aluminum. Tunnel furnace brazing is the preferred method for welding different materials, as it helps improve weld quality. The aluminum piping in the refrigeration system has a complex and diverse routing to meet the needs of the main unit customer, and its large size makes it inconvenient to weld in a tunnel furnace. Furthermore, it is difficult to pre-fix it before welding. Therefore, to solve the above technical problems, this application also provides a method for processing a four-way valve assembly, including the following steps:

[0040] A four-way valve 10 and an aluminum pipe 4 are provided, wherein the four-way valve 10 is provided with an aluminum connecting component 3;

[0041] Assemble the four-way valve 10 and the aluminum pipe 4: Connect one end of the aluminum pipe 4 to the aluminum connecting component 3.

[0042] The assembled four-way valve 10 and the aluminum pipe 4 are fixed by flame brazing or high-frequency welding.

[0043] The four-way valve assembly produced by this processing method has an aluminum connecting part 3, which facilitates the welding connection of the four-way valve and 10 through the aluminum connecting part 3 and the aluminum pipe 4. The aluminum connecting part 3 and the aluminum pipe 4 are connected by flame brazing or high frequency welding. The aluminum connecting part and the aluminum pipe are made of the same material, which makes welding convenient. The brazing properties between the same materials are stronger, which is more conducive to improving the welding quality and reducing the occurrence of problems such as poor joint.

[0044] Furthermore, the four-way valve 10 can be purchased externally or manufactured in-house. The valve body 1 of the four-way valve 10 contains a reversing mechanism 7, such as a reversing slider. The reversing slider 7 is typically made of plastic or nylon, which is prone to heat-induced deformation. Therefore, to address the aforementioned issues, the manufacturing process of the four-way valve 10 involves the following steps:

[0045] Provide valve body 1 and steel connecting pipe 2;

[0046] Assemble valve body 1 and steel connecting pipe 2;

[0047] Set the brazing temperature to A, and connect the assembled valve body 1 and the steel connecting pipe 2 by brazing.

[0048] Provide aluminum connecting parts 3;

[0049] Assemble the aluminum connecting component 3 and the steel connecting pipe 2;

[0050] Set the brazing temperature to B, so that B < A, and then connect the assembled aluminum connecting component 3 to the aluminum component by brazing.

[0051] A reversing mechanism 7 is provided and is disposed within the valve body 1.

[0052] The reversing mechanism 7 of the four-way valve 10 includes a reversing slider, which is generally made of plastic or nylon and is prone to deformation when heated. Therefore, the valve body 1 and the steel connecting pipe 2 are first connected by brazing, and then the aluminum connecting component 3 is connected to the steel connecting pipe 2 by brazing. The temperatures of the two brazings are different, with the first brazing temperature set higher than the second. Then, the reversing mechanism 7 is installed into the valve body 1. This avoids the reversing mechanism 7 being affected by the heat of brazing. Further, let's explain why the four-way valve 10 requires two brazings at different temperatures during processing: In the processing of the four-way valve 10, one end of the steel connecting pipe 2 is first assembled and brazed to the valve body 1. The welding area is filled with copper solder, which can be bronze or copper. The melting temperature of the solder is between 1000℃ and 1150℃, so the brazing temperature must be set to melt the solder but not the base material. Then, the steel connecting pipe 2 and the aluminum connecting component 3 are assembled and brazed a second time. Since the welding area is filled with aluminum solder, and the solder melts at a temperature between 500℃ and 700℃, the brazing temperatures for the two brazing operations are different. Let's assume the first brazing temperature is A, and the second brazing temperature is B. The following conditions must be met: A > B. A can be set between 1000℃ and 1150℃, or even higher, but lower than the melting points of copper and stainless steel. B can be set between 500℃ and 700℃, or even higher, but lower than the melting point of aluminum. Brazing methods can include tunnel furnace brazing, flame brazing, and high-frequency welding. For the brazing of the valve body 1 and the steel connecting pipe 2, tunnel furnace welding is preferred as it improves welding quality and strength.

[0053] Furthermore, the four-way valve 10 also includes an adapter 92 and a capillary tube 91. The capillary tube 91 and the adapter 92 are connected by flame brazing or high-frequency welding, and the welded area is filled with copper solder. The capillary tube 91 and the adapter 92 are made of copper. The processing method of the four-way valve assembly also includes the following steps:

[0054] Provides an adapter 92 made of copper.

[0055] Assemble the adapter 92 and the steel connecting pipe 2;

[0056] The assembled adapter 92 and steel connecting pipe 2 are welded and fixed in a tunnel furnace.

[0057] Provides capillary tubes 91 made of copper.

[0058] Assemble the capillary tube 91 and the adapter 92;

[0059] The assembled capillary tube 91 and the adapter 92 are fixed together by flame brazing or high-frequency welding.

[0060] Specifically, when assembling the adapter 92 and the steel connecting pipe 2, the adapter 92 is inserted into the first flanged hole 310 on the side wall of the second connecting pipe 31, and then brazed. The brazing method is the same as the welding method of the valve body 1 and the steel connecting pipe 2, preferably tunnel furnace welding. If tunnel furnace welding is used, the welding of the adapter 92 and the steel connecting pipe 2 is carried out simultaneously with the welding of the valve body 1 and the steel connecting pipe 2. Then, the copper capillary tube 91 is inserted into the copper adapter 92, and the copper capillary tube 91 and the copper adapter 92 are welded together by flame brazing or high-frequency welding. To reduce the impact of the heat generated during the welding of the copper capillary tube 91 and the copper adapter 92 on the solder at the welding point between the connecting tube and the aluminum adapter, the outer diameter of the second connecting tube 31 is d. When machining the connecting hole 310, the following requirement must be met: along the axial direction of the second connecting tube 31, the axial distance L2 between the end face of the aluminum adapter relatively close to the connecting hole 310 and the center line of the connecting hole 310 must satisfy: L2≥1.2d.

[0061] After the four-way valve 10 is manufactured, the aluminum piping 4 and the aluminum connecting component 3 are welded together to connect the four-way valve 10 and the aluminum piping 4. The welding method of the aluminum piping 4 and the aluminum connecting component 3 is flame brazing or high-frequency welding.

[0062] When welding the four-way valve 10 and the aluminum pipe 4, the aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum pipe 4 need to be assembled first. The assembly process also includes the following steps:

[0063] The aluminum conduit (4) and the aluminum connecting component (3) are nested together. Specifically, the first end 41 of the aluminum conduit 4 is inserted inside the second end 31 of the aluminum connecting component 3; or, the first end 41 of the aluminum conduit 4 is sleeved outside the first connecting end 31 of the aluminum connecting component 3. In order to improve the welding strength of the aluminum conduit 4 and the aluminum connecting component 3, the wall thickness of the aluminum conduit 4 is defined as h, and the wall thickness of the aluminum connecting component 3 is defined as h1, so that the overlap length L1 of the first end 41 and the first connecting end 31 satisfies: L1≥1.5h; or, L1≥1.5h1. The overlap length L1 is a prerequisite for ensuring a reliable welding length. Generally, the overlap length is greater than or equal to the welding length. Here, it should be noted that the welding length in this article refers to the length of the weld or weld joint where the solder fills the weld.

[0064] During the welding of the four-way valve 100 and the aluminum piping 4, heat is transferred to the valve body 1 of the four-way valve through the steel connecting pipe 2 when the aluminum connecting component 3 is welded to the aluminum piping 4. This heat can affect the reversing mechanism 7 of the valve body 1. To reduce the impact of the heat generated during the welding of the aluminum connecting component 3 and the aluminum piping 4 on the reversing mechanism 7 in the valve body 1, the following measures are taken during welding:

[0065] Provide cooling device 5;

[0066] The valve body 1 of the four-way valve 10 is cooled by the cooling device 5; or, the valve body 1 of the four-way valve 10 and at least part of the steel connecting pipe 2 are cooled by the cooling device 5.

[0067] The cooling device 5 here can be a cooling pool filled with coolant; or it can be a cooling coil filled with coolant. The cooling device 5 serves the functions of heat insulation and heat dissipation.

[0068] Furthermore, the refrigeration system will be equipped with various refrigeration components 6 as needed. The refrigeration system may also include a filter to remove impurities from the refrigeration cycle and protect the lifespan of components. Additionally, silencers can be installed on the piping to eliminate or reduce noise generated by the refrigerant flow. Multi-way connectors can also be configured to create multi-pipe connections. Refrigeration components can include filters, silencers, multi-way connectors, distributors, etc. The refrigeration components 6 are installed on the loop of the aluminum piping 4 and are made of aluminum or steel. The step of providing the aluminum piping 4 also includes the following steps:

[0069] Provide refrigeration devices made of aluminum or steel;

[0070] Assemble the refrigeration unit 6 and the aluminum piping 4, and connect them by brazing. The brazing method can be tunnel furnace, flame brazing, or high-frequency welding.

[0071] Furthermore, the operating environment of the refrigeration system requires the four-way valve assembly 100 to have strong corrosion resistance. In order to further improve the corrosion resistance of the aluminum connecting parts 3, aluminum piping 4, and refrigeration devices 6, and to improve the lifespan and reliability of the system, the processing method of the four-way valve assembly 100 also includes the following steps:

[0072] The aluminum connecting component 3 is made by zinc-aluminum diffusion;

[0073] And / or, the aluminum piping 4 is made by zinc-aluminum diffusion;

[0074] And / or, the refrigeration device 6 is made of zinc-aluminum or steel.

[0075] Here's an explanation: Zinc-aluminum diffusion is a protective layer formed on the surface of aluminum through a zinc diffusion process. This process is a chemical heat treatment that improves the corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the workpiece by infiltrating zinc into its surface.

[0076] The embodiments described above are merely examples of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and controls without departing from the concept of this application, and these modifications and controls all fall within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method for processing a four-way valve assembly, the method comprising the following steps: A four-way valve (10) and aluminum piping (4) are provided, wherein the four-way valve (10) is provided with an aluminum connecting component (3); Assemble the four-way valve (10) and the aluminum pipe (4): Connect one end of the aluminum pipe (4) to the aluminum connecting component (3); The assembled four-way valve (10) and the aluminum pipe (4) are fixed by flame brazing or high-frequency welding.

2. The processing method according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes the following steps: Provide valve body (1) and steel connecting pipe (2); Assemble the valve body (1) and the steel connecting pipe (2); The brazing temperature is set to A, and the assembled valve body (1) and the steel connecting pipe (2) are connected by brazing. Provide aluminum connecting components (3); Assemble the aluminum connecting component (3) and the steel connecting pipe (2); Set the brazing temperature to B, so that B < A, and connect the assembled aluminum connecting component (3) to the brazing connection. A reversing mechanism (7) is provided and assembled into the valve body (1).

3. The four-way valve assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, It also includes the following steps: Provide an adapter (92) made of copper; Assemble the adapter (92) and the steel connecting pipe (2); The assembled adapter (92) and steel connecting pipe (2) are fixed by brazing. A capillary tube made of copper is provided (91). Assemble the capillary tube (91) and the adapter (92); The assembled capillary tube (91) is fixed to the adapter (92) by flame brazing or high-frequency welding.

4. The processing method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The assembly of the four-way valve (10) and the aluminum piping (4) also includes the following steps: The first end (41) of the aluminum pipe (4) is inserted into the inner side of the first connecting end (31) of the aluminum connecting pipe component (3); or, the first end (41) of the aluminum pipe (4) is sleeved on the outer side of the first connecting end (31) of the aluminum connecting pipe component (3). The wall thickness of the aluminum pipe (4) is defined as h, and the wall thickness of the aluminum connecting pipe component (3) is defined as h1, such that the overlap length L1 of the first end (41) and the first connecting end (31) satisfies: L1≥1.5h; or, L1≥1.5h1.

5. The processing method according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that: The steps of welding the four-way valve (100) and the aluminum piping (4) also include the following steps: Provide a cooling device (5); The valve body (1) of the four-way valve (10) is cooled by the cooling device (5); or the valve body (1) of the four-way valve (10) and at least part of the steel connecting pipe (2) are cooled by the cooling device (4).

6. The processing method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The process of providing aluminum piping also includes the following steps: Provide refrigeration devices made of aluminum or steel (6); Assemble the refrigeration device (6) and the aluminum pipe (4) and connect them by brazing.

7. The processing method according to any one of claims 2-6, characterized in that, It also includes the following steps: The aluminum connecting component (3) is made by zinc-aluminum diffusion; And / or, the aluminum piping (4) is made by zinc-aluminum diffusion.

8. A four-way valve assembly (100), characterized in that: The four-way valve assembly (100) includes a four-way valve (10) and an aluminum pipe (4). The four-way valve (10) includes a valve body (1), a steel connecting pipe (2) and an aluminum connecting component (3). One end of the steel connecting pipe (2) is welded to the valve body (1), and the other end is welded to the aluminum connecting component (3). The end of the aluminum connecting component (3) away from the valve body (1) is welded to the aluminum pipe (4).

9. The four-way valve assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that: The wall thickness of the aluminum pipe (4) is defined as h, the wall thickness of the aluminum connecting pipe component (3) is defined as h1, the aluminum pipe (4) and the aluminum connecting component (3) are nested together, and the overlap length L1 of the aluminum pipe (4) and the aluminum connecting component (3) satisfies: L1≥1.5h; or, L1≥1.5h1.

10. The four-way valve assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The aluminum connecting component (3) is made of zinc-aluminum alloy; and / or the aluminum piping (4) is made of zinc-aluminum alloy.

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