Rotary valve

Abstract

A rotary valve is provided that can reduce the number of parts in a device. The rotary valve (30) includes: a cylinder (40) dividing a second air chamber (RM2) supplied with air from a pump; a valve body (70) having multiple connecting flow paths (77a, 77e) whose downstream ends are respectively connected to multiple air bladders and an opening surface (71b) for opening the upstream ends of the multiple connecting flow paths (77a, 77e); and a rotating member (160) that rotates in contact with the opening surface (71b) of the valve body (70) according to the increase and decrease of the pressure in the second air chamber (RM2), thereby sequentially switching the connecting flow paths (77a, 77e) connected to the supply air flow path (161). The rotating member (160) has a claw (178) that engages with the valve body (70), which restricts the up and down movement of the rotating member (160) while allowing the rotating member (160) to rotate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a rotary valve. Background Technology

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a massage chair that massages the body of a seated user. The massage chair includes: multiple airbags built into the seat cushion and backrest, a rotary valve that switches between the air supply and exhaust states of the multiple airbags, and a pump that serves as the air supply source for the multiple airbags.

[0003] The rotary valve comprises a lower housing, an upper housing, a rotating member, a rotary spring, and a pressing part. The lower housing has an air chamber from which air is supplied from a pump. The upper housing is stacked on top of the lower housing. The lower housing has multiple connecting flow paths and an opening surface, the downstream ends of which are connected to multiple air bladders respectively, and the opening surface for the upstream ends of the multiple connecting flow paths to open. The rotating member is housed in the upper housing. The rotating member has an internal flow path connected to the air chamber. The rotary spring is housed in the upper housing in a compressed state. The pressing part is disposed inside the upper housing between the rotating member and the rotary spring in the vertical direction. The pressing part presses the rotating member against the opening surface of the upper housing by the restoring force of the rotary spring.

[0004] In the rotary valve, a rotating component rotates about an axis extending vertically, in contact with the opening surface of the upper housing, according to the increase and decrease of the pressure in the air chamber. In this way, the rotating component sequentially switches the air bladders connected to the air chamber by sequentially switching the connection flow paths to the internal flow paths. As a result, multiple air bladders expand or contract sequentially.

[0005] Existing technical documents

[0006] Patent documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-146479 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The technical problem that the invention aims to solve

[0009] The rotary valve described above is configured to contain a large number of components. It is desirable to reduce the number of components in such a rotary valve.

[0010] Means for solving technical problems

[0011] A rotary valve that solves the above-mentioned technical problems causes multiple air bladders to expand and contract sequentially by switching the air supply method to multiple air bladders. The rotary valve comprises: a lower housing divided into an air chamber supplied with air from a pump; an upper housing stacked on top of the lower housing and having multiple connecting flow paths and an opening surface, the downstream ends of which are connected to the respective multiple air bladders, and the opening surface for the upstream ends of the multiple connecting flow paths to open; and a rotating member housed in the upper housing and having a supply air path connected to the air chamber. The rotating member rotates about an axis extending vertically in contact with the opening surface of the upper housing according to the increase and decrease of the pressure in the air chamber, thereby sequentially switching the connecting flow paths connected to the supply air path. One of the upper housing and the rotating member has a locking portion that locks against the other of the upper housing and the rotating member, restricting the vertical movement of the rotating member while allowing rotation about the axis extending vertically.

[0012] The effects of the invention

[0013] Rotary valves can reduce the number of parts that make up a device. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a seat equipped with a rotary valve.

[0015] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A 3D view of a rotary valve.

[0016] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the rotary valve.

[0017] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the rotary valve.

[0018] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the cylinder body of the rotary valve.

[0019] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the lower guide of the rotary valve.

[0020] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the upper guide of the rotary valve.

[0021] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 A half-sectional view of the valve body of the rotary valve.

[0022] Figure 9 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of the valve body of a rotary valve.

[0023] Figure 10 yes Figure 1 A partial enlarged view of the valve body of the rotary valve.

[0024] Figure 11 yes Figure 1 A top view of the nozzle holder and the upper nozzle of the rotary valve.

[0025] Figure 12 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the lower piston of the rotary valve.

[0026] Figure 13 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the central piston of the rotary valve.

[0027] Figure 14 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the rotating component of a rotary valve.

[0028] Figure 15 yes Figure 14 An exploded perspective view of the rotating component.

[0029] Figure 16 yes Figure 14 Top view of the rotating component.

[0030] Figure 17 yes Figure 16 Sectional view along line 17-17 of the rotating component.

[0031] Figure 18 yes Figure 16 The 18-18 line sectional view of the rotating part is an illustration of... Figure 9 A sectional view of the valve body installation method.

[0032] Figure 19 yes Figure 16 The 18-18 line sectional view of the rotating part is an illustration of... Figure 9 A sectional view of the valve body installation method.

[0033] Figure 20 yes Figure 1 A top view of the rotary valve.

[0034] Figure 21 yes Figure 20 A sectional view of the rotary valve along the AA line.

[0035] Figure 22 yes Figure 20 A BB-line sectional view of the rotary valve.

[0036] Figure 23It means Figure 22 A schematic diagram showing the location of the boss base of the rotary valve.

[0037] Figure 24 yes Figure 22 A sectional view along line 24-24 of the rotary valve.

[0038] Figure 25 Is Figure 20 A sectional view along the BB line when the lower piston rises in a rotary valve.

[0039] Figure 26 Is Figure 20 A BB-line sectional view of the rotary valve as the lower piston and central piston rise.

[0040] Figure 27 It means Figure 26 A schematic diagram illustrating the movement of the boss base of a rotary valve.

[0041] Figure 28 yes Figure 26 A sectional view along line 28-28 of the rotary valve.

[0042] Figure 29 Is Figure 20 A BB-line sectional view of the lower piston and central piston as they descend in a rotary valve.

[0043] Figure 30 It means Figure 29 A schematic diagram illustrating the movement of the boss base of a rotary valve.

[0044] Figure 31 yes Figure 29 A sectional view along line 31-31 of the rotary valve.

[0045] Figure 32 Is Figure 20 A CC-line cross-sectional view of the lower piston and central piston in a rotary valve as they descend.

[0046] Figure 33 Is Figure 20 A sectional view along line AA in the rotary valve when the pump drive stops.

[0047] Figure 34 Is Figure 20 A sectional view along line AA in the rotary valve when the pump drive stops.

[0048] Symbol Explanation

[0049] 20…Air pressure system, 21 (21a~21h)…Airbag, 24…Pump, 30…Rotary valve, 40…Cylinder body (lower housing), 50…Lower guide (upper housing), 60…Upper guide (upper housing), 70…Valve housing (upper housing), 71b…Opening surface, 72…Sliding wall, 72h…Insertion guide surface, 72i…Rotation guide surface, 72j…Retaining surface, 721…Peripheral wall, 722…Sliding protrusion, 723…Receiving groove, 77 (77a~77h)…Connecting flow path, 160…Rotating component, 161…Air supply flow path, 162…Exhaust flow path, 170…Rotating component body, 177…Elastic wall, 178…Claw, 178a…Inclined surface, 180…Opening and closing valve, RM2…Second air chamber (air chamber), SL4…Fourth seal (seal). Detailed Implementation

[0050] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, describes a seat equipped with a rotary valve. To ensure clarity in the sectional views, the shading lines used in the sectional views are not related to the material of the components; all lines used are metal-based.

[0051] <Structure of this embodiment>

[0052] like Figure 1 As shown, the seat 10 includes a seat cushion 11, a seat back 12, and an air pressure system 20. The seat 10 is, for example, a vehicle seat such as a driver's seat, front passenger seat, or rear seat. In other embodiments, the seat 10 may also be a massage chair used in facilities and homes.

[0053] <Air Pressure System 20>

[0054] The air pressure system 20 includes eight airbags 21 (21a-21h), eight connecting pipes 22, a supply pipe 23, a pump 24, and a rotary valve 30. The air pressure system 20 is preferably built into the seat 10.

[0055] Eight airbags 21 are integrated into the seat cushion 11 and the seat back 12. Specifically, three airbags 21a to 21c are integrated into the seat cushion 11, and five airbags 21d to 21h are integrated into the seat back 12. The three airbags 21a to 21c are designed to massage the buttocks and feet of the user seated on the seat 10. On the other hand, the five airbags 21d to 21h are designed to massage the back of the user seated on the seat 10. The airbags 21 inflate when supplied with air and contract when air is expelled. For example, the airbags 21 may be constructed by fusing the outer edges of two resin films together. In other embodiments, the number of airbags 21 can be appropriately varied.

[0056] Eight connecting pipes 22 connect eight airbags 21 to a rotary valve 30. A supply pipe 23 connects a pump 24 to the rotary valve 30. The connecting pipes 22 and the supply pipe 23 preferably have moderate elasticity to facilitate processing inside the seat 10. In other embodiments, the connecting pipes 22 and the supply pipe 23 can be resin pipes or steel pipes.

[0057] Pump 24 is any pump capable of delivering air. Pump 24 is powered by a battery (not shown). In the following description, the flow of air delivered by pump 24 is referred to as upstream and downstream. In this respect, pump 24 is located at the upstream end of the air pressure system 20.

[0058] <Rotary Valve 30>

[0059] The rotary valve 30 is a device that causes the eight air bladders 21 to expand and contract sequentially by switching the air supply mode to the eight air bladders 21.

[0060] like Figure 2 As shown, the rotary valve 30 is cylindrical. In the following description, the axial direction of the rotary valve 30 is referred to as the vertical direction Z, the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction Z is referred to as the first direction X, and the direction orthogonal to both the vertical direction Z and the first direction X is referred to as the second direction Y. Furthermore, the radial direction of the rotary valve 30 is simply referred to as radial, and the circumferential direction C of the rotary valve 30 is simply referred to as circumferential C. Moreover, circumferential C includes a first circumferential direction C1 and a second circumferential direction C2, which is the opposite direction of the first circumferential direction C1. Additionally, the rotary valve 30 has multiple constituent parts whose axial, radial, and circumferential directions C are identical to those of the rotary valve 30. Therefore, when describing these constituent parts, the axial, radial, and circumferential directions C of these constituent parts are simply referred to as axial, radial, and circumferential C.

[0061] The vertical direction Z of the rotary valve 30 is independent of the vertical direction Z of the seat 10 on which the rotary valve 30 is mounted. For example, when the rotary valve 30 is mounted on the seat 10, the vertical direction Z of the rotary valve 30 can be either the front-back direction of the seat 10 or the width direction of the seat 10.

[0062] like Figures 2-4 As shown, the rotary valve 30 includes a cylinder body 40, a lower guide member 50, an upper guide member 60, a valve housing 70, a nozzle holder 80, eight upper nozzles 90, and two clamps 100. Additionally, the rotary valve 30 includes a lower piston 110, a central piston 120, a boss base 130, a stop ring 140, a rotating member 160, a lower spring SP1, and a central spring SP2. In this embodiment, the cylinder body 40 corresponds to the "lower housing". Furthermore, the lower guide member 50, the upper guide member 60, and the valve housing 70 constitute the "upper housing".

[0063] <Cylinder Block 40>

[0064] like Figures 3-5 As shown, the cylinder body 40 includes a bottom wall 41, a peripheral wall 42, a lower nozzle 43, four lower clamp holders 44, four lower clamp guides 45, and two positioning protrusions 46. The cylinder body 40 is, for example, a resin molded article.

[0065] The bottom wall 41 is circular. The axial direction of the bottom wall 41 is vertical (Z). The bottom wall 41 has a connecting hole 41a. The peripheral wall 42 is cylindrical. The axial direction of the peripheral wall 42 is vertical (Z). The peripheral wall 42 extends upward from the outer edge of the bottom wall 41. The lower nozzle 43 extends downward from the center of the bottom wall 41 and from the lower surface of the bottom wall 41. The lower nozzle 43 is connected to the interior of the cylinder body 40 via the connecting hole 41a. The lower nozzle 43 is the portion connected to the downstream end of the supply pipe 23.

[0066] Four lower clamp holders 44 are disposed on the lower surface of the bottom wall 41. The four lower clamp holders 44 are arranged in pairs along the first direction X and the second direction Y. The lower clamp holders 44 are structures for holding the clamp 100. Four lower clamp guides 45 protrude from the bottom wall 41 along the first direction X. When the cylinder body 40 is viewed from the bottom surface, the four lower clamp guides 45 are arranged in pairs along the first direction X and the second direction Y. The lower clamp guides 45 are structures for holding the clamp 100 together with the lower clamp holders 44. Two positioning protrusions 46 protrude upward from the upper end of the peripheral wall 42. The two positioning protrusions 46 are arranged at equal intervals relative to the circumferential direction C.

[0067] <Lower guide component 50>

[0068] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, the lower guide member 50 includes a middle wall 51, an inner peripheral wall 52, a lower outer peripheral wall 53, and an upper outer peripheral wall 54. The lower guide member 50 is, for example, a resin molded article.

[0069] The intermediate wall 51 is a circular plate with a hole in the center. The thickness direction of the intermediate wall 51 is the vertical direction Z. The intermediate wall 51 has two positioning recesses 51a. The two positioning recesses 51a are recessed radially from the outer surface toward the axis of the intermediate wall 51. The two positioning recesses 51a are equally spaced relative to the circumferential direction C.

[0070] The inner peripheral wall 52 is cylindrical. The axial direction of the inner peripheral wall 52 is vertical (Z). The inner peripheral wall 52 extends upwards and downwards from the inner edge of the intermediate wall 51. The inner peripheral wall 52 has multiple lower sliding surfaces 52a and multiple lower limiting surfaces 52b. The number of lower sliding surfaces 52a and the number of lower limiting surfaces 52b are both the same as the number of airbags 21, "8". The eight lower sliding surfaces 52a and the eight lower limiting surfaces 52b are arranged alternately along the circumferential direction C. The lower sliding surfaces 52a are inclined downwards as they advance along the first circumferential direction C1. That is, the lower limiting surfaces 52b intersect both the vertical (Z) and circumferential (C) directions. The lower limiting surfaces 52b extend along the vertical (Z) direction. That is, the lower limiting surfaces 52b are orthogonal to the circumferential (C) direction. In this embodiment, the lower limiting surface 52b connects the front end on the first circumferential C1 of the lower sliding surface 52a adjacent to it on the circumferential C and the rear end on the first circumferential C1 of the lower sliding surface 52a.

[0071] The lower outer peripheral wall 53 and the upper outer peripheral wall 54 are cylindrical. The axial direction of the lower outer peripheral wall 53 and the upper outer peripheral wall 54 are in the vertical direction Z. The lower outer peripheral wall 53 extends downward from the intermediate wall 51, and the upper outer peripheral wall 54 extends upward from the intermediate wall 51. The inner diameter of the lower outer peripheral wall 53 and the inner diameter of the upper outer peripheral wall 54 are larger than the outer diameter of the inner peripheral wall 52. At this point, there is a space between the lower outer peripheral wall 53 and the inner peripheral wall 52 in the radial direction, and there is also a space between the upper outer peripheral wall 54 and the inner peripheral wall 52. The upper outer peripheral wall 54 has two positioning recesses 54a. The two positioning recesses 54a are recessed downward from the upper surface of the upper outer peripheral wall 54. The two positioning recesses 54a are equally spaced relative to the circumferential direction C. In the lower guide member 50, the formation positions of the two positioning recesses 51a and the two positioning recesses 54a are aligned in the vertical direction Z.

[0072] <Upper guide component 60>

[0073] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 7 As shown, the upper guide member 60 includes a middle wall 61, an inner peripheral wall 62, an outer peripheral wall 63, and two positioning protrusions 64. The upper guide member 60 is, for example, a resin molded article.

[0074] The intermediate wall 61 is a circular plate with a hole in the center. The thickness of the intermediate wall 61 is in the vertical direction (Z). The inner peripheral wall 62 is cylindrical. The axial direction of the inner peripheral wall 62 is in the vertical direction (Z). The inner peripheral wall 62 extends upward and downward from the inner edge of the intermediate wall 61. The inner diameter of the inner peripheral wall 62 is equal to the inner diameter of the inner peripheral wall 52 of the lower guide member 50.

[0075] The inner peripheral wall 62 has multiple upper sliding surfaces 62a and multiple upper limiting surfaces 62b. The number of upper sliding surfaces 62a and upper limiting surfaces 62b is the same as the number "8" in the airbag 21. The eight upper sliding surfaces 62a and eight upper limiting surfaces 62b are arranged alternately along the circumferential direction C. The upper sliding surfaces 62a are inclined upwards as they advance along the first circumferential direction C1. That is, the upper limiting surfaces 62b intersect both the vertical direction Z and the circumferential direction C. In the circumferential direction C, the length of the upper sliding surface 62a is equal to the length of the lower sliding surface 52a. The upper limiting surfaces 62b extend along the vertical direction Z. That is, the upper limiting surfaces 62b are orthogonal to the circumferential direction C. The upper limiting surfaces 62b connect the front end and the rear end of the upper sliding surface 62a on the first circumferential direction C1.

[0076] The outer peripheral wall 63 is cylindrical. The axial direction of the outer peripheral wall 63 is vertical (Z). The outer peripheral wall 63 extends upwards and downwards from the outer edge of the intermediate wall 61. The inner diameter of the outer peripheral wall 63 is larger than the outer diameter of the inner peripheral wall 62. The outer peripheral wall 63 has two positioning recesses 63c. The two positioning recesses 63c are recessed downwards from the upper end of the intermediate wall 61. The two positioning recesses 63c are equally spaced relative to the circumferential direction (C). Two positioning protrusions 64 protrude downwards from the lower end of the outer peripheral wall 63. The two positioning protrusions 64 are equally spaced relative to the circumferential direction (C).

[0077] <Valve housing 70>

[0078] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figures 8-10 As shown, the valve housing 70 includes an upper wall 71, a sliding wall 72, eight cylindrical walls 73, four upper clamping retainers 74, four locking protrusions 75, and two positioning protrusions 76. The valve housing 70 is, for example, a resin molded article.

[0079] The upper wall 71 is circular. The axial direction of the upper wall 71 is vertical (Z). The upper wall 71 has a shaft hole 71a and eight connecting flow paths 77 (77a to 77h). The shaft hole 71a and the eight connecting flow paths 77 extend through the upper wall 71 along its thickness. The shaft hole 71a and the eight connecting flow paths 77 are circular in a top view along the vertical (Z) direction. The shaft hole 71a is located at the center of the upper wall 71. When viewed along the vertical (Z) direction, the eight connecting flow paths 77 are evenly spaced relative to the circumferential direction (C). The distance from the axis of the valve housing 70 to the location where the eight connecting flow paths 77 are formed in the upper wall 71 is equal. The lower end, i.e., the upstream end, of the eight connecting flow paths 77 opens on the lower surface of the upper wall 71. On the other hand, the upper end, i.e., the downstream end, of the eight connecting flow paths 77 opens on the upper surface of the upper wall 71. In the following description, the lower surface of the upper wall 71 of the valve housing 70 will be referred to as the "opening surface 71b".

[0080] like Figures 8-10 As shown, the sliding wall 72 has a peripheral wall 721 and eight sliding protrusions 722. Additionally, the sliding wall 72 has a receiving groove 723. The peripheral wall 721 is cylindrical. The axial direction of the peripheral wall 721 is vertical (Z). The peripheral wall 721 extends downward from the outer edge of the upper wall 71. At this point, the sliding wall 72 extends downward from the outer edge of the upper wall 71. The eight sliding protrusions 722 project from the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 721 along its axis. The eight sliding protrusions 722 are arranged radially at equal intervals. The eight sliding protrusions 722 are rectangular plates. The thickness direction of the eight sliding protrusions 722 is radial.

[0081] like Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the sliding wall 72 has eight first sliding surfaces 72a, eight second sliding surfaces 72b, eight third sliding surfaces 72c, eight connecting surfaces 72d, eight insertion guide surfaces 72h, eight rotation guide surfaces 72i, and eight holding surfaces 72j. In other words, the peripheral wall 721 has eight first sliding surfaces 72a. Additionally, the sliding protrusion 722 has second sliding surfaces 72b, third sliding surfaces 72c, connecting surfaces 72d, insertion guide surfaces 72h, rotation guide surfaces 72i, and holding surfaces 72j.

[0082] The first sliding surface 72a and the third sliding surface 72c are surfaces that are arcs centered on the axis of the sliding wall 72. The radius of the arc constituting the first sliding surface 72a is greater than the radius of the arc constituting the third sliding surface 72c. In other words, the distance from the axis of the valve housing 70 to the first sliding surface 72a is longer than the distance from the axis of the valve housing 70 to the third sliding surface 72c. The second sliding surface 72b intersects both the radial and circumferential directions C. The second sliding surface 72b moves radially inward as it advances along the first circumferential direction C1. The second sliding surface 72b connects the first sliding surface 72a and the third sliding surface 72c, which are radially offset. The connecting surface 72d is a surface that extends radially. The connecting surface 72d connects the first sliding surface 72a and the third sliding surface 72c, which are radially offset. Thus, the first sliding surface 72a, the second sliding surface 72b, the third sliding surface 72c, and the connecting surface 72d are arranged sequentially along the first circumferential direction C1. In this respect, it can be said that the distance change of the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70 relative to the rotation direction of the rotating member 160 up to the rotation axis of the rotating member 160.

[0083] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram when one of the eight sliding protrusions 722 is viewed from the axis of the peripheral wall 721.

[0084] like Figure 10As shown, an insertion guide surface 72h is disposed at the top of the sliding wall 72. The insertion guide surface 72h forms the lower surface of the sliding protrusion 722. The insertion guide surface 72h is inclined upwards along the axis of the peripheral wall 721 in the radial direction. In other words, the insertion guide surface 72h is inclined close to the opening surface 71b of the upper wall 71 along the axis of the peripheral wall 721 in the radial direction. The insertion guide surface 72h connects the second sliding surface 72b and the connecting surface 72d in the circumferential direction C.

[0085] The rotary guide surface 72i and the retaining surface 72j constitute the upper surface of the sliding protrusion 722. The rotary guide surface 72i is inclined upwards as it advances along the first circumference towards C1. In other words, the rotary guide surface 72i is inclined as it approaches the opening surface 71b of the upper wall 71 as it advances along the first circumference towards C1. On the other hand, the retaining surface 72j is a surface parallel to the opening surface 71b of the upper wall 71. At this point, in the vertical direction Z, the distance between the retaining surface 72j and the opening surface 71b of the upper wall 71 is constant relative to the circumferential direction C. The retaining surface 72j is connected to the rotary guide surface 72i. The retaining surface 72j is located at a position from the rotary guide surface 72i advancing along the first circumference towards C1.

[0086] The receiving groove 723 is the gap between the eight sliding protrusions 722 in the vertical direction Z and the opening surface 71b of the upper wall 71. That is, the receiving groove 723 is provided at the base end of the sliding wall 72. In this embodiment, the receiving groove 723 is annular. Specifically, at the point where the eight sliding protrusions 722 are equally spaced along the circumferential direction C, the receiving groove 723 is interrupted along the circumferential direction C. At this point, the annular receiving groove 723 includes the receiving groove 723 interrupted along the circumferential direction C.

[0087] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 8 As shown, the cylindrical wall 73 is cylindrical. The axial direction of the cylindrical wall 73 is the vertical direction Z. The cylindrical wall 73 extends upward from the upper wall 71. In the top view in the vertical direction Z, eight cylindrical walls 73 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction C. In this embodiment, two adjacent cylindrical walls 73 in the circumferential direction C are integrally formed, but in other embodiments, two adjacent cylindrical walls 73 in the circumferential direction C may also be separately formed. In the internal space of the eight cylindrical walls 73, the upper ends of the eight connecting flow paths 77, i.e., the downstream ends of the eight connecting flow paths 77, are respectively open. That is, the internal space of one cylindrical wall 73 is connected to one connecting flow path 77.

[0088] Four upper clamping members 74 protrude from the sliding wall 72 in a first direction X. The four upper clamping members 74 are arranged in pairs in the first direction X and the second direction Y. The upper clamping members 74 are structures for holding the clamp 100. Four locking protrusions 75 protrude from the four upper clamping members 74 respectively. The protruding direction of the locking protrusions 75 from the upper clamping members 74 is the second direction Y. The length of the locking protrusions 75 in the protruding direction increases as they move downwards. Two positioning protrusions 76 protrude downwards from the lower end of the cylindrical wall 73. The two positioning protrusions 76 are arranged at equal intervals relative to the circumferential direction C.

[0089] <Nozzle holder 80>

[0090] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 11 As shown, the nozzle holder 80 has a retaining wall 81, a peripheral wall 82, four connecting walls 83, and four locking walls 84. The nozzle holder 80 is, for example, a resin molded article.

[0091] The retaining wall 81 is circular. The thickness direction of the retaining wall 81 is vertical (Z). The retaining wall 81 has eight support holes 81a. The eight support holes 81a extend through the retaining wall 81 along the thickness direction. The eight support holes 81a are evenly spaced relative to the circumferential direction (C). The retaining wall 81 supports eight upper nozzles 90 via the eight support holes 81a. With the upper nozzles 90 supported by the retaining wall 81, the upper nozzles 90 cannot move relative to the retaining wall 81 along the thickness direction. The peripheral wall 82 is cylindrical. The axial direction of the peripheral wall 82 is vertical (Z). The peripheral wall 82 extends downward from the outer edge of the retaining wall 81.

[0092] The four connecting walls 83 are plate-shaped. The thickness direction of the four connecting walls 83 is the vertical direction Z. When viewed from the vertical direction Z, the connecting walls 83 are triangular in shape. The four connecting walls 83 extend from the lower end of the peripheral wall 82 along the second direction Y. The four locking walls 84 are plate-shaped. The thickness direction of the four locking walls 84 is the second direction Y. The four locking walls 84 extend downward from the four connecting walls 83 respectively. The locking walls 84 have locking holes 84a. The locking holes 84a penetrate the locking walls 84 along the thickness direction. The locking holes 84a have a shape corresponding to the locking protrusions 75 of the valve body 70. In this embodiment, the locking holes 84a are rectangular when viewed from the second direction Y.

[0093] <Clamp 100>

[0094] like Figure 2 As shown, the clamp 100 is in the shape of a long rod. The clamp 100 is formed, for example, by bending a metal wire capable of elastic deformation. The elastic modulus of the clamp 100 is preferably the degree to which the assembly operator of the rotary valve 30 can elastically deform the clamp 100. Here, the assembly operator can be a human or a robot.

[0095] <Lower Piston 110>

[0096] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 12 As shown, the lower piston 110 includes a main body 111, a first seal SL1, and a second seal SL2. The main body 111 is formed of, for example, a resin material, and the first seal SL1 and the second seal SL2 are formed of, for example, an elastomer such as rubber.

[0097] The main body 111 has a bottom wall 112, an upper wall 113, an inner peripheral wall 114, an outer peripheral wall 115, a first support wall 116, and a second support wall 117.

[0098] The bottom wall 112 is in the shape of a circular plate. The axial direction of the bottom wall 112 is vertical (Z). The bottom wall 112 has a connecting flow path 112a. The connecting flow path 112a extends through the center of the bottom wall 112 along the thickness direction. The inner diameter of the connecting flow path 112a is larger than the inner diameter of the connecting hole 41a of the cylinder body 40. That is, the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting flow path 112a is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting hole 41a of the cylinder body 40. The location and number of connecting flow paths 112a can be appropriately changed. The upper wall 113 is in the shape of a circular plate with a hole in its center. The axial direction of the upper wall 113 is vertical (Z). The upper wall 113 is located above the bottom wall 112.

[0099] The inner peripheral wall 114 and the outer peripheral wall 115 are cylindrical. The axial direction of the inner peripheral wall 114 and the outer peripheral wall 115 is in the vertical direction Z. The inner peripheral wall 114 connects the outer edge of the bottom wall 112 and the inner edge of the upper wall 113 in the vertical direction Z. The inner diameter of the outer peripheral wall 115 is larger than the outer diameter of the inner peripheral wall 114. The outer peripheral wall 115 extends downward from the upper wall 113. There is a gap between the outer peripheral wall 115 and the inner peripheral wall 114 in the radial direction. The first support wall 116 is flanged. The thickness direction of the first support wall 116 is in the vertical direction Z. The first support wall 116 extends radially outward from the lower end of the outer peripheral wall 115. The second support wall 117 is annular. The axial direction of the second support wall 117 is in the vertical direction Z. The second support wall 117 protrudes upward from the upper wall 113.

[0100] The first seal SL1 is annular. The first seal SL1 is supported by the upper wall 113, the outer peripheral wall 115, and the first support wall 116. Specifically, the first seal SL1 is disposed in a region defined by the lower surface of the upper wall 113, the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 115, and the upper surface of the first support wall 116. The first seal SL1 is the outermost component in the lower piston 110 in the radial direction. The second seal SL2 is annular. The second seal SL2 is supported by the upper wall 113 and the second support wall 117 of the main body 111. At this time, the second seal SL2 is in contact with the upper surface of the upper wall 113 and the outer surface of the second support wall 117. The second seal SL2 is the uppermost component in the lower piston 110.

[0101] <Central Piston 120>

[0102] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 13 As shown, the central piston 120 includes a shaft portion 121, a sliding flange 122, a support flange 123, multiple reinforcing ribs 124, and two protrusions 125. Additionally, the central piston 120 has an internal flow path 126. The central piston 120 is, for example, a resin molded article.

[0103] The shaft portion 121 is cylindrical. An internal flow path 126 extends through the shaft portion 121 along the vertical direction Z. The cross-sectional area of ​​the internal flow path 126 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting flow path 112a of the lower piston 110. The axial direction of the shaft portion 121 is vertical (Z). The sliding flange 122 and the support flange 123 are circular plates. The thickness direction of the sliding flange 122 and the support flange 123 is vertical (Z). The sliding flange 122 extends radially outward from the lower end of the shaft portion 121. The outer diameter of the sliding flange 122 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylinder block 40. The support flange 123 extends radially outward from the middle portion of the shaft portion 121 in the vertical (Z) direction. The outer diameter of the support flange 123 is smaller than the outer diameter of the sliding flange 122.

[0104] Multiple reinforcing ribs 124 are plate-shaped. The thickness direction of the multiple reinforcing ribs 124 is orthogonal to the vertical direction Z. The multiple reinforcing ribs 124 connect the sliding flange 122 and the supporting flange 123 in the vertical direction Z. Two protrusions 125 protrude radially outward from the top end of the shaft portion 121. The two protrusions 125 are arranged at equal intervals relative to the radial direction.

[0105] <Boss base 130 and retaining ring 140>

[0106] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the boss base 130 is cylindrical. The axial direction of the boss base 130 is the vertical direction Z. The boss base 130 has six bosses 131. In addition, the boss base 130 has two engaging recesses 132. The boss base 130 is, for example, a resin molded article.

[0107] Six bosses 131 protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the boss base 130. The six bosses 131 are arranged circumferentially C. The six bosses 131 are formed in the same position in the vertical direction Z. When a boss 131 is viewed from the front in the protruding direction, the boss 131 is triangular in shape.

[0108] The boss 131 has a lower cam surface 131a, an upper cam surface 131b, and an abutment surface 131c as surfaces orthogonal to the protruding direction. The lower cam surface 131a is inclined downward as it advances along the first circumference towards C1. The upper cam surface 131b is inclined upward as it advances along the first circumference towards C1. The lower end of the upper cam surface 131b is connected to the upper end of the lower cam surface 131a. The abutment surface 131c extends in the vertical direction Z. The abutment surface 131c connects the lower end of the lower cam surface 131a and the upper end of the upper cam surface 131b. The inclination of the lower cam surface 131a relative to the vertical direction Z is the same as the inclination of the lower sliding surface 52a of the lower guide member 50 in the vertical direction Z. Similarly, the inclination of the upper cam surface 131b relative to the vertical direction Z is the same as the inclination of the upper sliding surface 62a of the upper guide member 60 relative to the vertical direction Z.

[0109] Two engaging recesses 132 are recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the boss base 130 toward the axis of the boss base 130. The two engaging recesses 132 are arranged along the vertical direction Z of the boss base 130. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the boss base 130 is separated by the two engaging recesses 132 in the circumferential direction C. The two engaging recesses 132 are arranged at equal intervals relative to the circumferential direction C.

[0110] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the stop ring 140 is annular. The axial direction and thickness direction of the stop ring 140 are both vertical (Z). The thickness of the stop ring 140 is constant. The stop ring 140 is, for example, a resin molded product.

[0111] <Rotating component 160>

[0112] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figures 14-17As shown, the rotating component 160 includes a rotating component body 170, an on / off valve 180, a torsion spring 200, a third seal SL3, and a fourth seal SL4. Additionally, the rotating component 160 has an air supply path 161 and an exhaust path 162. The third seal SL3 and the fourth seal SL4 are formed, for example, from an elastomer such as rubber. The fourth seal SL4 is equivalent to a "seal".

[0113] The rotating body 170 has a bottom wall 171, a lower shaft portion 172, an upper shaft portion 173, two support flanges 174, two transmission shafts 175, a flow path component 176, multiple elastic walls 177, and multiple claw portions 178. Additionally, the rotating body 170 has a connecting rod support shaft 179a, a first engaging shaft 179b, and a second engaging shaft 179c. The rotating body 170 is, for example, a resin molded product.

[0114] The bottom wall 171 is circular. The axial direction of the bottom wall 171 is vertical (Z). The lower shaft portion 172 and the upper shaft portion 173 are cylindrical. The axial directions of the lower shaft portion 172 and the upper shaft portion 173 are vertical (Z). The lower shaft portion 172 extends downward from the center of the lower surface of the bottom wall 171. Conversely, the upper shaft portion 173 extends upward from the center of the upper surface of the bottom wall 171. The axis of the upper shaft portion 173 is aligned with the axis of the lower shaft portion 172.

[0115] Two support flanges 174 extend radially outward from the lower shaft portion 172. The two support flanges 174 are positioned spaced apart in the vertical direction Z. A third seal SL3 is disposed between the two support flanges 174. The two support flanges 174 restrict the movement of the third seal SL3 relative to the rotating body 170 in the vertical direction Z. Two transmission shafts 175 extend downward from the lower surface of the bottom wall 171. The two transmission shafts 175 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction C.

[0116] The flow path component 176 extends upward from the upper surface of the bottom wall 171. The flow path component 176 has a groove 176a recessed downward from the upper surface of the flow path component 176. When the rotating body 170 is viewed from above, the groove 176a appears frame-shaped. A fourth sealing member SL4 is embedded in the groove 176a.

[0117] Multiple elastic walls 177 extend from the periphery of the bottom wall 171 along the thickness direction of the bottom wall 171. The extension direction of the multiple elastic walls 177 is upward. The multiple elastic walls 177 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction C. In this embodiment, the lengths of the multiple elastic walls 177 in the circumferential direction C are different, but in other embodiments, the lengths of the multiple elastic walls 177 in the circumferential direction C may be constant. In addition, since the rotating body 170 is a resin molded article, the elastic walls 177 are elastically deformable.

[0118] Multiple claw portions 178 constitute the outermost radial peripheral portion of the rotating member body 170. The multiple claw portions 178 extend radially outward from the flow path constitutive portion 176 and the multiple elastic walls 177, respectively. The multiple claw portions 178 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction C. The vertical length Z of the claw portions 178 gradually decreases as they extend radially outward. Specifically, each claw portion 178 has an inclined surface 178a and a locking surface 178b. The inclined surface 178a is the upper surface of the claw portion 178 and is inclined relative to the vertical direction Z. Specifically, the inclined surface 178a is inclined radially upward toward the axis of rotation of the rotating member 160. The locking surface 178b is the lower surface of the claw portion 178 and is a plane orthogonal to the vertical direction Z. Two claw portions 178 are provided in the flow path constitutive portion 176. In the flow path constitutive portion 176, the claw portions 178 are located near the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the flow path constitutive portion 176. Furthermore, the longer elastic wall 177 in the circumferential direction C is provided with two claw portions 178, while the shorter elastic wall 177 in the circumferential direction C is provided with one claw portion 178. In the elastic wall 177, the claw portion 178 is located near the upper end of the outer circumferential surface. In the flow path constitutive portion 176 and the plurality of elastic walls 177, the claw portions 178 in the vertical direction Z are formed at the same position. The claw portion 178 is equivalent to an "engaging portion".

[0119] The radial distance from the axis of rotation of the rotating member 160 to the top of the plurality of claws 178 is longer than the distance from the axis of the valve housing 70 to the third sliding surface 72c of the sliding wall 72. That is, radially, the outer diameter of the portion of the rotating member 160 provided with the plurality of claws 178 is larger than the inner diameter of the portion of the valve housing 70 provided with the third sliding surface 72c of the sliding wall 72.

[0120] The connecting rod support shaft 179a, the first engaging shaft 179b, and the second engaging shaft 179c are cylindrical. The axial direction of the connecting rod support shaft 179a, the first engaging shaft 179b, and the second engaging shaft 179c is vertical (Z). The connecting rod support shaft 179a, the first engaging shaft 179b, and the second engaging shaft 179c extend upwards from the bottom wall 171 at a position offset from the flow path component 176. When viewed from above, the rotating body 170 has the connecting rod support shaft 179a located between the first engaging shaft 179b and the second engaging shaft 179c. The second engaging shaft 179c is integrated with one of the plurality of elastic walls 177.

[0121] An air supply passage 161 is provided throughout the bottom wall 171, lower shaft portion 172, and flow path component 176 of the rotating body 170. The air supply passage 161 opens on the lower surface of the lower shaft portion 172 and the upper surface of the flow path component 176. Hereinafter, the upstream end of the air supply passage 161 opening on the lower surface of the lower shaft portion 172 will be referred to as the air supply port 161a, and the downstream end of the air supply passage 161 opening on the upper surface of the flow path component 176 will be referred to as the connection port 161b. When viewed from above, the connection port 161b of the air supply passage 161 is surrounded by the fourth seal SL4. An exhaust flow passage 162 is provided in the flow path component 176. The exhaust flow passage 162 is a flow path that connects the air supply passage 161 to external air. Hereinafter, the opening of the exhaust flow passage 162 connecting to external air will be referred to as the exhaust port 162a. The exhaust port 162a opens radially outward in the flow path configuration 176.

[0122] The on / off valve 180 has a valve core 181 and a connecting rod arm 190.

[0123] The valve core 181 is preferably made of an elastomer such as rubber or resin with moderate elasticity. The shape of the valve core 181 is only required to block the exhaust port 162a of the rotating body 170.

[0124] The linkage arm 190 has an arm body 191 and a sliding portion 196. In the linkage arm 190, the arm body 191 and the sliding portion 196 are integrally formed. The linkage arm 190 is, for example, a resin molded product. The linkage arm 190 is rod-shaped. In the direction orthogonal to the long side direction, i.e., the plate thickness direction, the external shape of the linkage arm 190 is approximately constant.

[0125] The arm body 191 constitutes most of the link arm 190. In this respect, the long side direction of the arm body 191 is the same as the long side direction of the link arm 190. The arm body 191 includes a lower arm surface 191a and an upper arm surface 191b, which are surfaces intersecting the plate thickness direction, and a first side surface 191c and a second side surface 191d, which are surfaces along the plate thickness direction.

[0126] Additionally, the arm body 191 includes a shaft hole 192, a receiving groove 193, a recess 194, and a retaining groove 195. The shaft hole 192 is located at the base end of the arm body 191 along its long side. The shaft hole 192 is recessed from the lower surface 191a of the arm towards the upper surface 191b of the arm. The shaft hole 192 is a circular hole. The receiving groove 193 is located from the base end of the arm body 191 towards the top end. The receiving groove 193 is recessed from the lower surface 191a towards the upper surface 191b of the arm. The receiving groove 193 is connected to the shaft hole 192. The recess 194 is recessed from the first side surface 191c of the arm body 191 towards the second side surface 191d. The recess 194 is connected to the receiving groove 193. The retaining groove 195 is located on the second side surface 191d of the arm body 191, closer to the top end than the base end of the arm body 191. The retaining groove 195 extends through the thickness direction of the arm body 191. A valve core 181 is embedded in the retaining groove 195. In this way, the connecting rod arm 190 retains the valve core 181.

[0127] A sliding portion 196 is disposed on the first side 191c of the arm body 191 and at the top end of the arm body 191. The sliding portion 196 protrudes from the arm body 191. The sliding portion 196 has a pressing surface 196a constituting the top end of the sliding portion 196 and a receiving surface 196b constituting the upper surface of the sliding portion 196. The pressing surface 196a is a convex curved surface relative to the protruding direction of the sliding portion 196. The receiving surface 196b is connected to the upper surface 191b of the arm. The receiving surface 196b is inclined relative to the protruding direction of the sliding portion 196. Therefore, the length of the sliding portion 196 in the thickness direction gradually decreases as it moves towards the protruding direction.

[0128] The on / off valve 180 is rotatably supported on the rotating body 170. Specifically, a connecting rod support shaft 179a of the rotating body 170 is inserted into the shaft hole 192 of the connecting rod arm 190. Thus, the on / off valve 180 can rotate about the axis of the connecting rod support shaft 179a. With the on / off valve 180 supported on the rotating body 170, the valve core 181 faces the exhaust port 162a of the rotating body 170 in the rotation direction of the connecting rod arm 190. Therefore, when the on / off valve 180 rotates with the valve core 181 approaching the exhaust port 162a, the valve core 181 is displaced to the closed position, closing the exhaust port 162a. Conversely, when the on / off valve 180 rotates with the valve core 181 moving away from the exhaust port 162a, the valve core 181 is displaced to the open position, opening the exhaust port 162a. In the following description, the direction of rotation of the on / off valve 180 from the open position to the closed position is referred to as the "closing direction," and the direction of rotation of the on / off valve 180 from the closed position to the open position is referred to as the "opening direction." The closing direction is the opposite of the opening direction. Furthermore, with the on / off valve 180 supported on the rotating body 170, in the rotation direction of the connecting rod arm 190, the recess 194 of the connecting rod arm 190 opens toward the second engagement shaft 179c of the rotating body 170.

[0129] The torsion spring 200 has a coil portion 201, a first arm 202 extending from a first end of the coil portion 201, and a second arm 203 extending from a second end of the coil portion 201. The length of the first arm 202 is equal to the length of the second arm 203. The torsion spring 200 is supported on a rotating body 170. Specifically, a connecting rod support shaft 179a of the rotating body 170 is inserted into the coil portion 201 of the torsion spring 200. The first arm 202 of the torsion spring 200 engages with a first engagement shaft 179b of the rotating body 170, and the second arm 203 of the torsion spring 200 engages with a second engagement shaft 179c of the rotating body 170. Furthermore, the base ends of the coil portion 201, the first arm 202, and the second arm 203 of the torsion spring 200 are received in a receiving groove 193 of the connecting rod arm 190.

[0130] When the opening / closing valve 180 rotates in the closing direction, the opening / closing valve 180 and the second arm 203 of the torsion spring 200 rotate together in the closing direction. That is, when the opening / closing valve 180 rotates in the closing direction, the torsion spring 200 elastically deforms. In this way, the opening / closing valve 180 is subjected to a force in the opening direction.

[0131] <Mounting method of rotating component 160 relative to valve body 70>

[0132] When assembling the rotary valve 30, the rotating component 160 is pre-installed on the valve housing 70. Hereinafter, refer to... Figure 18 and Figure 19 The mounting method of the rotating member 160 relative to the valve housing 70 will be described below. In the following description, attention will be paid to one of the multiple elastic walls 177 and multiple claw portions 178 of the rotating member 160, and to one of the eight sliding protrusions 722 of the valve housing 70. Furthermore, Figure 18 and Figure 19 The cross-section of the rotating part 160 shown is Figure 16 Section 18-18, Figure 18 and Figure 19 The cross-section of the valve housing 70 shown is consistent with... Figure 16 The section corresponding to the 18-18 view section.

[0133] like Figure 18 and Figure 19As shown, when the rotating member 160 is installed on the valve housing 70, with the axis of the valve housing 70 aligned with the axis of the rotating member 160, the rotating member 160 is inserted axially into the valve housing 70. The upper shaft portion 173 of the rotating member 160 is then inserted into the shaft hole 71a of the valve housing 70. As a result, the rotating member 160 is positioned relative to the valve housing 70 in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the rotating member 160. Next, the inclined surface 178a of the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 contacts the insertion guide surface 72h of the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70. Therefore, as the insertion depth of the rotating member 160 increases, the inclined surface 178a of the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 slides along the insertion guide surface 72h of the valve housing 70. As a result, the claw 178 of the rotating member 160 is guided toward the axis of the valve housing 70, and the elastic wall 177 of the rotating member 160 elastically deforms toward the axis of the valve housing 70.

[0134] As the insertion depth of the rotating member 160 increases further, the sliding of the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 along the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70 is completed. Then, due to the return of the elastic wall 177 of the rotating member 160, the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 is received in the receiving groove 723 of the valve housing 70. As a result, the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 is engaged with the retaining surface 72j of the valve housing 70. That is, in the vertical direction Z, the engaging surface 178b of the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 contacts the retaining surface 72j of the valve housing 70. In addition, in the state where the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 is engaged with the retaining surface 72j of the valve housing 70, the fourth sealing member SL4 of the rotating member 160 contacts the opening surface 71b of the valve housing 70 in an elastically compressed state. In this way, the rotating member 160 cannot move axially relative to the valve housing 70. On the other hand, the receiving groove 723 of the valve housing 70 that houses the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 is annular. That is, there are no parts in the circumferential direction C of the valve housing 70 that interfere with the claw portion 178. Therefore, the rotating member 160 can rotate relative to the valve housing 70 in the circumferential direction C.

[0135] Furthermore, with the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 locked to the retaining surface 72j of the valve housing 70, the upper part of the rotating member 160 is covered from the radially outward side by the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70. Additionally, the connection port 161b of the rotating member 160 faces the opening surface 71b of the valve housing 70.

[0136] <Interlocking Relationship of Components of Rotary Valve 30>

[0137] Reference Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 20 and Figure 21 The engagement relationship of the constituent parts of the rotary valve 30 will be explained. Figure 20 and Figure 21This indicates the assembled state of the rotary valve 30.

[0138] The engagement relationship of the components on the outer side of the rotary valve 30 will be explained.

[0139] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 21 As shown, the lower guide member 50 is stacked on top of the upper part of the cylinder body 40. Two positioning protrusions 46 of the cylinder body 40 are respectively inserted into the two positioning recesses 51a of the lower guide member 50. As a result, the lower guide member 50 cannot rotate circumferentially C relative to the cylinder body 40.

[0140] The upper guide member 60 and the upper part of the lower guide member 50 are stacked. The two positioning protrusions 64 of the upper guide member 60 are respectively inserted into the two positioning recesses 54a of the lower guide member 50. As a result, the upper guide member 60 cannot rotate circumferentially C relative to the lower guide member 50. Furthermore, the lower guide member 50 and the upper guide member 60 are... Figure 6 and Figure 7 The states are stacked as shown. Therefore, in the vertical direction Z, the plurality of upper sliding surfaces 62a of the upper guide 60 are opposite to the plurality of lower sliding surfaces 52a of the lower guide 50. Specifically, the upper sliding surfaces 62a of the upper guide 60 are offset relative to the lower sliding surfaces 52a of the lower guide 50 in the circumferential direction C. That is, in the vertical direction Z, one upper sliding surface 62a of the upper guide 60 is opposite to two lower sliding surfaces 52a of the lower guide 50. In other words, one lower sliding surface 52a of the lower guide 50 is opposite to two upper sliding surfaces 62a of the upper guide 60.

[0141] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 21 As shown, the valve housing 70 is stacked with the upper part of the upper guide member 60. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the two positioning protrusions 76 of the valve body 70 are respectively inserted into the two positioning recesses 63c of the upper guide member 60. As a result, the valve body 70 cannot rotate circumferentially C relative to the upper guide member 60.

[0142] like Figure 2As shown, two clamps 100 are engaged with the cylinder body 40 and the valve housing 70. Specifically, the lower end of the clamp 100 is engaged with two lower clamp retainers 44 and two lower clamp guides 45 of the cylinder body 40. On the other hand, the upper end of the clamp 100 is engaged with two upper clamp retainers 74 of the valve housing 70. Thus, the two clamps 100 clamp the stacked cylinder body 40, lower guide 50, upper guide 60, and valve housing 70 along the vertical direction Z. Here, no gaskets or other sealing components are placed between the stacked cylinder body 40, lower guide 50, upper guide 60, and valve housing 70 along the vertical direction Z. Therefore, a gap sufficient for air passage exists between the cylinder body 40, lower guide 50, upper guide 60, and valve housing 70.

[0143] like Figures 2-4 as well as Figure 21 As shown, the nozzle holder 80 is mounted on the upper part of the valve housing 70. Specifically, the four locking walls 84 of the nozzle holder 80 are respectively locked to the four locking protrusions 75 of the valve housing 70. That is, the four locking protrusions 75 of the valve housing 70 are respectively received in the four locking holes 84a of the nozzle holder 80. Thus, the nozzle holder 80 is mounted to the valve housing 70 via a so-called snap-fit ​​engagement. With the nozzle holder 80 mounted on the valve housing 70, the eight upper nozzles 90 are respectively inserted into the eight cylindrical walls 73 of the valve housing 70. Thus, the eight upper nozzles 90 are respectively connected to the eight connecting flow paths 77 of the valve housing 70.

[0144] like Figure 1 As shown, the rotary valve 30 is connected to the upstream ends of eight connecting pipes 22 via eight upper nozzles 90. As a result, the downstream ends of the eight connecting flow paths 77 are connected to eight airbags 21 via the eight upper nozzles 90 and the eight connecting pipes 22, respectively.

[0145] The engagement relationship of the constituent parts on the inner side of the rotary valve 30 will be explained.

[0146] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 21 As shown, the lower piston 110 is housed in the cylinder 40 in a manner that allows it to move vertically in the Z direction. The lower piston 110 is opposite to the bottom wall 41 of the cylinder 40 in the Z direction. The first seal SL1 of the lower piston 110 contacts the peripheral wall 42 of the cylinder 40. Thus, the lower piston 110 and the cylinder 40 together divide the first air chamber RM1. The first air chamber RM1 is connected to the connecting hole 41a and the connecting flow path 112a. Furthermore, Figure 21 The lower piston 110 shown is in the initial position PL0, which is the lowest position within its range of movement in the vertical direction Z. At the initial position PL0, the lower piston 110 contacts the bottom wall 41 of the cylinder 40. The first air chamber RM1 is equivalent to an "air chamber".

[0147] The central piston 120 is housed within the cylinder 40, lower guide 50, and upper guide 60, allowing it to move vertically in the Z direction. During the vertical movement of the central piston 120, at least a portion of the circumferential C of the sliding flange 122 slides along the peripheral wall 42 of the cylinder 40. However, a gap exists between the sliding flange 122 of the central piston 120 and the peripheral wall 42 of the cylinder 40, allowing air to pass through. Furthermore, the central piston 120 is positioned above the lower piston 110. The central piston 120 and the lower piston 110 divide a second air chamber RM2. The second air chamber RM2 is connected to the first air chamber RM1 via a connecting flow path 112a and to the internal flow path 126 of the central piston 120. Moreover, in… Figure 21 In the shown configuration, the lower piston 110 is positioned away from the central piston 120, thus connecting the second air chamber RM2 to the outside air. Specifically, the second air chamber RM2 is connected to the outside air via the gap between the cylinder block 40 and the lower guide member 50. Furthermore, Figure 21 The central piston 120 shown is located at the initial position PC0, which is the lowest position in the vertical Z-direction movement range. The second air chamber RM2 is equivalent to an "air chamber".

[0148] The lower spring SP1 is positioned in a compressed state in the vertical direction Z between the bottom wall 112 of the lower piston 110 and the sliding flange 122 of the central piston 120. That is, the lower spring SP1 exerts a force on the lower piston 110 and the central piston 120 in a direction that moves them away from each other. In other words, the lower spring SP1 exerts a force on the lower piston 110 in a direction that causes it to descend and reduces the volume of the first air chamber RM1. Additionally, the lower spring SP1 exerts a force on the central piston 120 in a direction that causes it to rise and increases the volume of the second air chamber RM2.

[0149] The central spring SP2 is positioned between the sliding flange 122 of the central piston 120 and the intermediate wall 51 of the lower guide member 50 in a compressed state in the vertical direction Z. That is, the central spring SP2 exerts a force on the central piston 120 in the direction of its descent and in the direction of the decrease in volume of the second air chamber RM2.

[0150] The boss base 130 and the retaining ring 140 are supported on the central piston 120. Specifically, the shaft portion 121 of the central piston 120 is inserted into the boss base 130 and the retaining ring 140. At this time, the boss base 130 contacts the support flange 123 of the central piston 120, and the retaining ring 140 engages with the two protrusions 125 of the central piston 120. Thus, the retaining ring 140 and the central piston 120 together clamp the boss base 130 in the vertical direction Z. As a result, the boss base 130 can move vertically in the vertical direction Z together with the central piston 120. In other words, the boss base 130 cannot move vertically in the vertical direction Z relative to the central piston 120. On the other hand, the boss base 130 can rotate circumferentially C relative to the central piston 120. The boss base 130 is located radially between the central piston 120 and the lower guide member 50 and the upper guide member 60. Although the illustration is omitted, the six bosses 131 of the boss base 130 are located in the vertical direction Z between the multiple lower sliding surfaces 52a of the lower guide member 50 and the multiple upper sliding surfaces 62a of the upper guide member 60.

[0151] The rotating member 160 is housed within the upper guide member 60 and the valve housing 70 in a manner that allows it to rotate circumferentially C. The lower shaft portion 172 of the rotating member 160 is inserted into the shaft portion 121 of the central piston 120. The third seal SL3 of the rotating member 160 contacts the inner circumferential surface of the shaft portion 121 of the central piston 120. Thus, the air supply passage 161 of the rotating member 160 is connected to the second air chamber RM2 via the internal flow passage 126 of the central piston 120.

[0152] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the two transmission shafts 175 of the rotating member 160 are respectively inserted into the two engaging recesses 132 of the boss base 130. Therefore, the rotating member 160 can rotate circumferentially C together with the central piston 120 and the boss base 130. In other words, the rotating member 160 cannot rotate relative to the central piston 120 and the boss base 130 in the circumferential direction C. On the other hand, the rotating member 160 can move vertically Z relative to the central piston 120 and the boss base 130. To be precise, the rotating member 160 is a structure that cannot move vertically Z, therefore the central piston 120 and the boss base 130 can move vertically Z relative to the rotating member 160.

[0153] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 21 as well as Figure 22As shown, the upper shaft portion 173 of the rotating member 160 is inserted into the shaft hole 71a of the valve housing 70. This allows the rotating member 160 to rotate circumferentially C relative to the valve housing 70 and the central piston 120. Furthermore, the rotating member 160 is engaged with eight sliding protrusions 722 of the valve housing 70 via multiple claw portions 178. This prevents the rotating member 160 from moving vertically Z relative to the valve housing 70. Moreover, when the rotating member 160 rotates, one of the claw portions 178 of the rotating member 160 slides sequentially along eight rotation guide surfaces 72i and eight holding surfaces 72j of the valve housing 70.

[0154] Here, the number of claw portions 178 formed in the rotating member 160 differs from the number of sliding protrusions 722 formed in the valve housing 70. Furthermore, the formation interval of the plurality of claw portions 178 in the rotating member 160 in the circumferential direction C differs from the formation interval of the eight sliding protrusions 722 in the valve housing 70. Moreover, the formation length of the claw portions 178 in the rotating member 160 in the circumferential direction C differs from the formation length of the sliding protrusions 722 in the valve housing 70. In this respect, regardless of the rotational position of the rotating member 160, not all claw portions 178 of the rotating member 160 are engaged with the valve housing 70. However, it is preferable that two or more claw portions 178, preferably three or more, are engaged with the valve housing 70, regardless of the rotational position of the rotating member 160. Furthermore, it is preferable that the engagement portions of the claw portions 178 with the valve housing 70 are evenly distributed relative to the circumferential direction C.

[0155] With the multiple claws 178 of the rotating member 160 locked to the valve housing 70, the fourth seal SL4 of the rotating member 160 is compressed and deformed between the retaining groove 195 of the rotating member 160 and the opening surface 71b of the valve housing 70. As a result, when the rotating member 160 rotates, the fourth seal SL4 of the rotating member 160 slides along the opening surface 71b of the valve housing 70.

[0156] Furthermore, the sliding portion 196 of the opening and closing valve 180 of the rotating member 160 exerts a force radially toward the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70. As a result, when the rotating member 160 rotates, the sliding portion 196 of the opening and closing valve 180 of the rotating member 160 slides along the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70.

[0157] <The function of this implementation method>

[0158] <Basic Operation of Rotary Valve 30>

[0159] Reference Figures 22-32 For the rotary valve 30 in the position Figure 22 The basic operation of the rotary valve 30 when pump 24 is started under the initial conditions shown will be explained. Furthermore, Figure 22The initial state of the rotary valve 30 shown is one example. The initial state of the rotary valve 30 can change depending on the state of the rotary valve 30 when the pump 24 stopped last time. Furthermore, Figure 23 , Figure 27 as well as Figure 31 It is a schematic diagram with a portion of the inner peripheral wall 52 of the lower guide member 50, a portion of the inner peripheral wall 62 of the upper guide member 60, and the boss 131 of the boss base 130 removed.

[0160] like Figure 22 As shown, in the initial state, the lower piston 110 is at its lowest initial position PL0 within its range of movement in the vertical direction Z. The lower piston 110 is in contact with the bottom wall 41 of the cylinder 40 at the initial position PL0.

[0161] In the initial state, the central piston 120 is at its lowest initial position PC0 within its vertical Z-direction movement range. Therefore, the boss base 130, which moves vertically along with the central piston 120, is also at its lowest position within its vertical Z-direction movement range. Figure 23 As shown, in the initial state, the boss 131 of the boss base 130 is in contact with both the lower sliding surface 52a and the lower limiting surface 52b of the lower guide member 50. Then, with the boss 131 of the boss base 130 in contact with both the lower sliding surface 52a and the lower limiting surface 52b of the lower guide member 50, the rotating member 160 is located... Figure 24 The position shown indicates that the sliding portion 196 of the on / off valve 180 is in contact with the third sliding surface 72c of the valve housing 70, thus the on / off valve 180 is in the closed position. In other words, the rotating member 160 is in a state where the exhaust flow path 162 is not connected to the outside air.

[0162] like Figure 22 As shown, in the initial state, the second air chamber RM2 is connected to an air bag 21h via the internal flow path 126 of the central piston 120, the air supply path 161 of the rotating member 160, the connecting flow path 77h of the valve housing 70, the upper nozzle 90, and the connecting pipe 22. Since the opening / closing valve 180 of the rotating member 160 is in the closed position, the air supply path 161 of the rotating member 160 is not connected to the outside air. On the other hand, since the lower piston 110 is not in contact with the central piston 120, the second air chamber RM2 is connected to the outside air. Therefore, in the initial state, the air bag 21h is connected to the outside air, and thus the pressure of the air bag 21h is the same as the outside air pressure. That is, in the initial state, the air bag 21h is contracted. Furthermore, in the initial state, the force exerted by the lower spring SP1 on the lower piston 110 is less than the force exerted by the central spring SP2 on the central piston 120.

[0163] like Figure 22As shown by the solid arrow, when pump 24 is driven, air is supplied to the first air chamber RM1 via the connecting hole 41a of cylinder 40. Then, air is supplied from the first air chamber RM1 to the second air chamber RM2 via the connecting flow path 112a of lower piston 110. Here, because the inner diameter of the connecting flow path 112a of lower piston 110 is small, the flow rate of air flowing into the second air chamber RM2 via the connecting flow path 112a is less than the flow rate of air flowing into the first air chamber RM1 via the connecting hole 41a. That is, the connecting flow path 112a of lower piston 110 restricts the flow rate of air flowing from the first air chamber RM1 to the second air chamber RM2. Therefore, the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 increases according to the elapsed time since pump 24 was driven. On the other hand, the air supplied to the second air chamber RM2 is discharged to the outside through the gap between lower piston 110 and central piston 120 and the gap between cylinder 40 and lower guide member 50. Therefore, the pressure in the second air chamber RM2 does not increase significantly.

[0164] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the inner diameter of the connecting hole 41a of the cylinder 40 is small, the flow rate of air flowing into the first air chamber RM1 through the connecting hole 41a is less than the flow rate of air delivered by the pump 24. That is, the connecting hole 41a of the cylinder 40 restricts the flow rate of air flowing into the first air chamber RM1.

[0165] As the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 increases, the lower piston 110 begins to rise when the upward force acting on it exceeds the downward force acting on it. Here, the upward force acting on the lower piston 110 is the product of the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 and the area of ​​the lower piston 110 subjected to that pressure. On the other hand, the downward force acting on the lower piston 110 is the sum of the pressure in the second air chamber RM2, the product of the area of ​​the lower piston 110 subjected to that pressure, and the force exerted by the lower spring SP1.

[0166] like Figure 25 As shown, when the lower piston 110 rises, the second seal SL2 of the lower piston 110 contacts the sliding flange 122 of the central piston 120. Subsequently, when the lower piston 110 rises further, the second seal SL2 of the lower piston 110 is compressed. That is, the second seal SL2 of the lower piston 110 is tightly pressed against the sliding flange 122 of the central piston 120. As a result, the second air chamber RM2 is isolated from the outside air.

[0167] When the lower piston 110 contacts the central piston 120, the air flowing into the second air chamber RM2 no longer flows outward. As a result, the air flowing into the second air chamber RM2 is supplied to an air bladder 21h via the internal flow path 126 of the central piston 120, the supply flow path 161 of the rotating member 160, the connecting flow path 77h of the valve housing 70, the upper nozzle 90, and the connecting pipe 22. That is, the air bladder 21h inflates. In addition, the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 and the second air chamber RM2 increases, and the pressure in the space and flow path connected to the second air chamber RM2 also increases. As described above, the connecting flow path 112a of the lower piston 110 restricts the flow rate of air flowing from the first air chamber RM1 to the second air chamber RM2. Therefore, the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 is maintained at a higher level than the pressure in the second air chamber RM2.

[0168] like Figure 26 As shown, with the increase of pressure in the first air chamber RM1, when the upward force acting on the lower piston 110 and the central piston 120 is greater than the downward force acting on them, the lower piston 110 and the central piston 120 rise together. Here, the upward force acting on the lower piston 110 and the central piston 120 is the product of the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 and the pressure-bearing area of ​​the lower piston 110. On the other hand, the downward force acting on the lower piston 110 and the central piston 120 is the force exerted by the central spring SP2. When the central piston 120 rises, the boss base 130 rises together with the central piston 120.

[0169] like Figure 27 As shown, when the boss base 130 is raised, the engagement state of the boss 131 of the boss base 130 with the lower guide member 50 is changed to the engagement state with the upper guide member 60. More specifically, as... Figure 27 As indicated by the double-dotted arrow, the state where the lower cam surface 131a of the boss base 130 contacts the lower sliding surface 52a of the lower guide member 50 changes to the state where the upper cam surface 131b of the boss base 130 contacts the upper sliding surface 62a of the upper guide member 60. After the upper cam surface 131b of the boss base 130 contacts the upper sliding surface 62a of the upper guide member 60, when the central piston 120 continues to rise, as... Figure 27 As shown by the solid arrow, the upper cam surface 131b of the boss base 130 slides along the upper sliding surface 62a of the upper guide member 60. That is, the boss base 130 rises while rotating along the first circumferential direction C1.

[0170] When the boss base 130 rotates, the rotating member 160 rotates together with the boss base 130. When the boss 131 of the boss base 130 moves to... Figure 27 When the position shown by the solid line is reached, the rotating part 160 rotates to... Figure 28 The position shown. Thus, the rotating member 160 rotates along the first circumference C1 as the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 and the pressure in the second air chamber RM2 increases.

[0171] like Figure 27 As shown, when the upper cam surface 131b of the boss base 130 slides along the upper sliding surface 62a of the upper guide member 60, as... Figure 28 As shown, the engagement relationship between the sliding portion 196 of the on / off valve 180 and the valve housing 70 changes. Specifically, the sliding portion 196 of the on / off valve 180 changes from a state where it is opposite to the third sliding surface 72c of the valve housing 70 to a state where it is opposite to the first sliding surface 72a, which is offset from the third sliding surface 72c along the first circumferential direction C1. At this time, the on / off valve 180 slides along the third sliding surface 72c as the rotating member 160 rotates along the first circumferential direction C1.

[0172] The third sliding surface 72c is a curved surface along the circumferential direction C, which is close to the rotation axis of the rotating member 160. Therefore, when the sliding portion 196 of the opening and closing valve 180 slides along the third sliding surface 72c, the opening and closing valve 180 remains in the closed position. As the rotating member 160 rotates along the first circumferential direction C1, when the sliding portion 196 of the opening and closing valve 180 no longer slides along the third sliding surface 72c, the opening and closing valve 180 rotates in the opening direction by the restoring force of the torsion spring 200. That is, the opening and closing valve 180 is displaced from the closed position to the open position. In this way, when the central piston 120 rises, the rotating member 160 switches from the gas supply state to the exhaust state, which connects the exhaust flow path 162 to the outside air. Furthermore, the switching of the rotating member 160 from the gas supply state to the exhaust state occurs before the boss 131 of the boss base 130 contacts the upper limiting surface 62b of the upper guide member 60.

[0173] like Figure 26 As shown, even when the on / off valve 180 is in the open position, the air supply path 161 of the rotating member 160 is still connected to the connection path 77h of the valve housing 70. That is, in Figure 28 In this configuration, the connecting flow path 77h is located inside the fourth seal SL4 of the rotating member 160. Therefore, the air supply path 161 of the rotating member 160 is connected to the air bladder 21h. Thus, air is discharged from the second air chamber RM2 and from the air bladder 21h. Air discharged from the exhaust flow path 162 of the rotating member 160 is discharged to the outside via the gap between the upper guide member 60 and the valve housing 70. As a result, the pressure in the second air chamber RM2 decreases, and the air bladder 21h contracts. Furthermore, the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 also decreases at the point where the pressure in the second air chamber RM2 decreases.

[0174] like Figure 29As shown, with the decrease in pressure in the first air chamber RM1, when the downward force acting on the lower piston 110 and the central piston 120 is greater than the upward force acting on them, the lower piston 110 and the central piston 120 descend together. Here, the upward force acting on the lower piston 110 and the central piston 120 is the product of the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 and the pressure-bearing area of ​​the lower piston 110. On the other hand, the downward force acting on the lower piston 110 and the central piston 120 is the force exerted by the central spring SP2. When the central piston 120 descends, the boss base 130 descends together with the central piston 120.

[0175] like Figure 30 As shown, when the boss base 130 is lowered, the boss 131 of the boss base 130 transitions from a state engaged with the upper guide member 60 to a state engaged with the lower guide member 50. More specifically, as... Figure 30 As indicated by the double-dotted arrow, the state changes from contact between the upper cam surface 131b of the boss base 130 and the upper sliding surface 62a of the upper guide member 60 to contact between the lower cam surface 131a of the boss base 130 and the lower sliding surface 52a of the lower guide member 50. After the lower cam surface 131a of the boss base 130 contacts the lower sliding surface 52a of the lower guide member 50, when the central piston 120 continues to descend, as... Figure 30 As shown by the solid arrow, the lower cam surface 131a of the boss base 130 slides along the lower sliding surface 52a of the lower guide member 50. That is, the boss base 130 rotates along the first circumferential direction C1 while descending.

[0176] When the boss base 130 rotates, the rotating member 160 rotates together with the boss base 130. When the boss 131 of the boss base 130 moves to... Figure 30 When the position shown by the solid line is reached, the rotating part 160 rotates to... Figure 31 The position shown. Thus, the rotating member 160 rotates along the first circumference C1 when the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 and the pressure in the second air chamber RM2 decreases.

[0177] like Figure 30 As shown, when the lower cam surface 131a of the boss base 130 slides along the lower sliding surface 52a of the lower guide member 50, as... Figure 31As shown, the engagement relationship between the sliding portion 196 of the on / off valve 180 and the valve housing 70 changes. Specifically, the state changes from one where the sliding portion 196 of the on / off valve 180 is opposite to the first sliding surface 72a of the valve housing 70 to one where it is opposite to the third sliding surface 72c, which is offset from the first sliding surface 72a along the first circumferential direction C1. At this time, the sliding portion 196 of the on / off valve 180 slides along the first sliding surface 72a, the second sliding surface 72b, and the third sliding surface 72c as the rotating member 160 rotates along the first circumferential direction C1.

[0178] The first sliding surface 72a is a curved surface along the first circumferential direction C1, and is a curved surface away from the rotation axis of the rotating member 160. Therefore, when the sliding portion 196 of the on / off valve 180 slides along the first sliding surface 72a, the on / off valve 180 remains in the open position. Next, the second sliding surface 72b is an inclined surface that approaches the rotation axis of the rotating member 160 as it advances along the first circumferential direction C1. Therefore, when the sliding portion 196 of the on / off valve 180 slides along the second sliding surface 72b, the on / off valve 180 rotates in the closing direction. During the sliding of the sliding portion 196 of the on / off valve 180 along the second sliding surface 72b, the displacement of the on / off valve 180 towards the closed position is completed. Next, the third sliding surface 72c is a curved surface along the first circumferential direction C1, and is a curved surface close to the rotation axis of the rotating member 160. Therefore, when the sliding portion 196 of the on / off valve 180 slides along the third sliding surface 72c, the on / off valve 180 remains in the closed position. Thus, as the central piston 120 descends, the rotating member 160 switches from the exhaust state to the supply state. Furthermore, the switching of the rotating member 160 from the exhaust state to the supply state occurs before the boss 131 of the boss base 130 contacts the lower limiting surface 52b of the lower guide member 50.

[0179] As the central piston 120 descends, when the boss 131 moves... Figure 30 When the position is indicated by the solid line, as Figure 29 and Figure 31 As shown, the air supply path 161 of the rotating component 160 is no longer connected to the connection path 77h of the valve housing 70. That is, in Figure 31 In this configuration, the connecting flow path 77h is no longer located inside the fourth seal SL4 of the rotating member 160. As a result, the air supply path 161 of the rotating member 160 is no longer connected to the airbag 21h via the connecting flow path 77h. On the other hand, as... Figure 31 and Figure 32 As shown, the air supply path 161 of the rotating member 160 is connected to the connection path 77a of the valve housing 70. That is, in Figure 31 In this configuration, the connecting flow path 77a is located inside the fourth seal SL4 of the rotating member 160. As a result, the air supply path 161 of the rotating member 160 is connected to the next airbag 21a via the connecting flow path 77a.

[0180] Figure 29 and Figure 32 The state shown, except for the rotating part 160 from Figure 25 The state shown is roughly the same except for the point where it is slightly rotated 45° towards C1 in the first circumference. Therefore, in Figure 29 In the indicated state, with the pump 24 continuing to operate, airbag 21a expands and then contracts. Subsequently, if the pump 24 continues to operate, airbag 21b expands and then contracts. Thus, the rotary valve 30 sequentially switches between expanding and contracting airbags 21. Through this process, in the rotary valve 30, the rotating member 160 sequentially switches between the air supply and exhaust states for the eight airbags 21 during one rotation. That is, the rotating member 160 sequentially switches between sixteen states during one rotation.

[0181] <Function of pump 24 when it stops>

[0182] Reference Figure 33 and Figure 34 The function of the rotary valve 30 when the pump 24 stops driving will be explained.

[0183] As described above, when air is supplied to the rotary valve 30 from the pump 24, the on / off valve 180 repeatedly shifts between the closed and open positions. Therefore, depending on when the pump 24 stops operating, the on / off valve 180 is sometimes in the closed position and sometimes in the open position. Furthermore, examples of when the pump 24 stops operating include the moment when the user disconnects the vehicle's power system and the moment when the user ends the massage performed by the air pressure system 20. In this respect, the moment when the pump 24 stops operating is unrelated to the position of the on / off valve 180.

[0184] For example, if the air supply from the pump 24 is stopped when the on / off valve 180 is in the closed position, air will no longer be discharged from the airbag 21 connected to the air supply passage 161 of the rotating member 160. That is, the airbag 21 connected to the air supply passage 161 of the rotating member 160 remains inflated. In this case, the user sitting on the seat 10 may experience a decrease in comfort. In addition, since the airbag 21 remains inflated for a long time, it may be prone to deterioration over time. Therefore, in the above situation, the rotary valve 30 discharges air from the airbag 21 as follows.

[0185] Figure 33This indicates that the pump 24 is stopped when the valve 180 of the rotating component 160 is in the closed position and one of the air bladders 21 is inflated. Immediately after the pump 24 stops, the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 is higher than the pressure in the second air chamber RM2. Furthermore, since the lower piston 110 is in contact with the central piston 120, the second air chamber RM2 is isolated from the outside air.

[0186] Here, if the lower piston 110 is considered as an integral part of the central piston 120, then the upward force acting on these pistons is balanced with the downward force acting on these pistons. That is, the product of the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 and the pressure-bearing area of ​​the lower piston 110 is equal to the force exerted by the central spring SP2 on the central piston 120.

[0187] Furthermore, if the lower piston 110 is considered as a separate structure from the central piston 120, then the upward force acting on the lower piston 110 is greater than the downward force acting on the lower piston 110. That is, the product of the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 and the pressure-bearing area of ​​the lower piston 110 acting on that pressure is greater than the sum of the pressure in the second air chamber RM2, the pressure-bearing area of ​​the lower piston 110 acting on that pressure, and the force exerted by the lower spring SP1.

[0188] Furthermore, if the central piston 120 is considered as a separate structure from the lower piston 110, then the upward force acting on the central piston 120 is less than the downward force acting on the central piston 120. That is, the sum of the pressure in the second air chamber RM2, the area of ​​the central piston 120 subjected to this pressure, and the force exerted by the lower spring SP1 is less than the force exerted by the central spring SP2.

[0189] After a certain period of time has elapsed since the pump 24 stopped, such as Figure 33 As shown by the solid arrow, air flows from the first air chamber RM1 into the second air chamber RM2. As a result, the pressure difference between the first air chamber RM1 and the second air chamber RM2 decreases. When the pressure difference between the first air chamber RM1 and the second air chamber RM2 decreases, the upward force acting on the lower piston 110 decreases, and the downward force acting on the lower piston 110 increases. Then, the upward force acting on the lower piston 110 is less than the downward force acting on the lower piston 110. As a result, as... Figure 34 As shown, the lower piston 110 is slightly lowered relative to the central piston 120. That is, by moving the lower piston 110 away from the central piston 120, the second air chamber RM2 is connected to the outside air.

[0190] When the second air chamber RM2 is connected to the outside air, such as Figure 34As indicated by the solid arrow, air is discharged from the second air chamber RM2 to the outside, thereby reducing the pressure in the second air chamber RM2. Therefore, the downward force acting on the lower piston 110 decreases. Consequently, the descent speed of the lower piston 110 slows down, or the lower piston 110 stops. Additionally, the upward force acting on the central piston 120 decreases. Therefore, the central piston 120 descends until it contacts the lower piston 110. That is, the second air chamber RM2 is once again isolated from the outside air.

[0191] During the descent of the lower piston 110 and the central piston 120, the pressure in the first air chamber RM1 is maintained higher than the pressure in the second air chamber RM2. Therefore, air flows from the first air chamber RM1 into the second air chamber RM2, thereby reducing the pressure difference between the two chambers. That is, as described above, after the lower piston 110 descends, the central piston 120 also descends in a manner that follows the lower piston 110. In this way, the lower piston 110 and the central piston 120 descend while repeatedly contacting and separating.

[0192] When the central piston 120 descends, the central piston 120 descends together with the boss base 130. That is, with... Figure 30 The situation is the same as shown, but the engagement relationship between the boss base 130 and the lower guide member 50 changes. Therefore, the boss base 130 descends without rotating in the circumferential direction C until the boss 131 of the boss base 130 contacts any lower sliding surface 52a of the lower guide member 50. Then, after the boss 131 of the boss base 130 contacts any lower sliding surface 52a of the lower guide member 50, the boss base 130 descends while rotating in the first circumferential direction C1. As a result, the rotating member 160 switches from an air supply state to an air exhaust state. Therefore, air is exhausted from the second air chamber RM2 and from the air bladder 21.

[0193] As the central piston 120 continues to descend, its descent ends at the initial position PC0 when the boss 131 of the boss base 130 contacts both the lower sliding surface 52a and the lower limiting surface 52b of the lower guide member 50. Therefore, after the central piston 120 descends to the initial position PC0, the lower piston 110 descends relative to the central piston 120. Thus, the lower piston 110 descends to the initial position PL0. Through this process, even when the rotating member 160 stops driving the pump 24 in a gas-supply state, the airbag 21 will not be placed in an inflated state.

[0194] <Effects of this implementation method>

[0195] (1) In the rotary valve 30, the rotating member 160 has a claw portion 178 that engages with the valve housing 70. This restricts the vertical movement of the rotating member 160 relative to the valve housing 70, while allowing rotation relative to the valve housing 70. In this respect, the rotary valve 30 does not require a new structure for pressing the rotating member 160 against the opening surface 71b of the valve housing 70. Therefore, the rotary valve 30 can reduce the number of parts constituting the device.

[0196] (2) When the rotating member 160 is installed on the valve housing 70, by temporarily elastically deforming the elastic wall 177 of the rotating member 160, the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 can be received in the receiving groove 723 of the valve housing 70. In other words, the rotating member 160 can be installed on the valve housing 70 by a so-called snap-fit ​​engagement. In this way, the rotary valve 30 can achieve a structure that restricts the up-and-down movement of the rotating member 160 while allowing the rotation of the rotating member 160 with a simple structure.

[0197] (3) The rotating member 160 has multiple claw portions 178. Therefore, the rotary valve 30 can increase the engagement portion between the claw portions 178 of the rotating member 160 and the valve housing 70 in the rotational direction of the rotating member 160. Therefore, the rotary valve 30 can easily restrict the vertical movement of the rotating member 160. In addition, when multiple claw portions 178 are provided on a single elastic wall 177, the length of the elastic wall 177 is relatively long in the rotational direction of the rotating member 160. In this case, when the rotating member 160 is housed in the valve housing 70, the elastic wall 177 may be difficult to elastically deform. In this respect, in the rotary valve 30, the rotating member 160 has multiple elastic walls 177 arranged at intervals in the rotational direction of the rotating member 160. Therefore, the rotary valve 30 can suppress the occurrence of the above-mentioned situation.

[0198] (4) The sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70 has receiving grooves 723 for receiving multiple claw portions 178 of the rotating member 160, and eight first sliding surfaces 72a, eight second sliding surfaces 72b, eight third sliding surfaces 72c, and eight connecting surfaces 72d for sliding of the on / off valve 180 of the rotating member 160. In other words, the valve housing 70 has the function of suppressing the up-and-down movement of the rotating member 160 while allowing the rotation of the rotating member 160, and the function of displacing the on / off valve 180 between the closed and open positions by sliding relative to the on / off valve 180. In this way, the rotary valve 30 can further reduce the number of parts constituting the device by giving the valve housing 70 multiple functions.

[0199] (5) The shapes of the upper shaft portion 173, the elastic wall 177, and the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 are configured to satisfy the following condition with respect to the shape of the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70. That is, the shape is configured such that when the rotating member 160 is installed on the valve housing 70, after the upper shaft portion 173 of the rotating member 160 is inserted into the shaft hole 71a of the valve housing 70, the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 contacts the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70. Therefore, the rotary valve 30 can prevent the rotating member 160 from being inserted into the valve housing 70 when the elastic wall 177 and the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 are tilted relative to the axis of the valve housing 70.

[0200] (6) The sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70 has an insertion guide surface 72h. Furthermore, the plurality of claws 178 of the rotating member 160 have inclined surfaces 178a. Therefore, when the rotating member 160 is installed on the valve housing 70, the rotary valve 30 can guide the plurality of claws 178 of the rotating member 160 toward the axis of the rotating member 160. Additionally, the rotary valve 30 can cause the plurality of elastic walls 177 of the rotating member 160 to elastically deform toward the axis of the rotating member 160. That is, the rotary valve 30 can prevent the rotating member 160 from being installed on the valve housing 70 in an inclined state. Furthermore, the rotary valve 30 can improve the operating efficiency when installing the rotating member 160 onto the valve housing 70.

[0201] (7) As described above, when the rotating member 160 rotates, the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 slides sequentially along the eight rotation guide surfaces 72i and the eight retaining surfaces 72j of the valve housing 70. Therefore, when the rotating member 160 rotates, after a certain claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 finishes sliding along the retaining surface 72j, it begins to slide along the rotation guide surface 72i, which exists at a position on the retaining surface 72j that advances along the first circumferential direction C1. Here, as Figure 10 As shown, the rotation guide surface 72i of the valve housing 70 is inclined toward the opening surface 71b of the valve housing 70 as it advances toward the first circumferential direction C1. Therefore, when the rotating member 160 rotates, a certain claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 is unlikely to interfere with the sliding protrusion 722 present on the first circumferential direction C1 of the retaining surface 72j after it finishes sliding along a certain retaining surface 72j. That is, when the rotating member 160 rotates, a certain claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160 smoothly transitions from a state of sliding along a certain retaining surface 72j to a state of sliding along the retaining surface 72j present on the first circumferential direction C1 of the retaining surface 72j. In this way, the rotary valve 30 can smoothly rotate the rotating member 160.

[0202] (8) The fourth seal SL4 is held in an elastically compressed state by being engaged with the valve housing 70 by the claw portion 178 of the rotating member 160. Therefore, compared with the case where the rotating member 160 is pressed against the opening surface 71b of the valve housing 70 by a coil spring or the like, it is easier to manage the compression margin of the fourth seal SL4. As a result, the rotary valve 30 can suppress the increase of sliding resistance between the rotating member 160 and the opening surface 71b of the valve housing 70, or suppress the decrease of sealing performance between the rotating member 160 and the opening surface 71b of the valve housing 70.

[0203] <Example of Change>

[0204] This embodiment can be modified as follows. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented together without technical inconsistencies.

[0205] The sliding protrusion 722 of the valve housing 70 may also not have an insertion guide surface 72h. That is, the lower surface of the sliding protrusion 722 of the valve housing 70 is a plane orthogonal to the vertical direction Z.

[0206] The sliding protrusion 722 of the valve housing 70 may also not have a rotation guide surface 72i. That is, the upper surface of the sliding protrusion 722 of the valve housing 70 may be composed only of the retaining surface 72j.

[0207] The rotating member 160 may also lack the claw portion 178, which serves as a "locking portion". In this case, the valve housing 70 preferably has a structure equivalent to a "locking portion". For example, it may be a structure in which the fourth seal SL4 of the rotating member 160 is pressed towards the opening surface 71b of the valve housing 70 by the "locking portion" of the valve housing 70 contacting the bottom wall 171 of the rotating member 160. In this case, the "locking portion" of the valve housing 70 may be integrally formed with the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70, or it may be separately formed from the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70.

[0208] In the rotating member 160, the plurality of elastic walls 177 may be cylindrical elastic walls. Additionally, the plurality of claws 178 may be annular claws. In this modified example, given that the elastic walls 177 of the rotating member are difficult to deform when the rotating member is mounted on the valve housing 70, a structure in which the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70 is easily deformable is preferred.

[0209] In the rotating member 160, the formation positions of the elastic wall 177 and the claw portion 178 can be appropriately changed. Furthermore, the formation position of the receiving groove 723 in the valve housing 70 can be appropriately changed according to the formation position of the claw portion 178 in the rotating member 160. In other words, it is not necessary to provide eight first sliding surfaces 72a, eight second sliding surfaces 72b, eight third sliding surfaces 72c, and eight connecting surfaces 72d on both sides of the sliding wall 72 of the valve housing 70 and the receiving groove 723.

[0210] The on / off valve 180 can be configured to move radially between a closed position and an open position.

[0211] In addition to the seat 10, the air pressure system 20 can also be installed on beds and mattresses.

[0212] <Summary of this implementation method>

[0213] A rotary valve that causes multiple air bladders to expand and contract sequentially by switching the air supply method to multiple air bladders, the rotary valve comprising: a lower housing divided into an air chamber supplied with air from a pump; an upper housing stacked on top of the lower housing and having multiple connecting flow paths and an opening surface, the downstream ends of the multiple connecting flow paths being connected to the multiple air bladders respectively, the opening surface being for the upstream ends of the multiple connecting flow paths to open; and a rotating member housed in the upper housing and having a supply flow path connected to the air chamber, the rotating member rotating about an axis extending in a vertical direction in contact with the opening surface of the upper housing according to the increase and decrease of the pressure in the air chamber, thereby sequentially switching the connecting flow paths connected to the supply flow path, one of the upper housing and the rotating member having a locking portion that locks the upper housing and the rotating member to the other, and restricting the vertical movement of the rotating member while allowing the rotating member to rotate about the axis extending in the vertical direction.

[0214] In a rotary valve, one of the rotating component and the upper housing has a locking part. This restricts the vertical movement of the rotating component relative to the upper housing while allowing rotation relative to the upper housing. That is, the rotary valve does not require a new structure for pressing the rotating component against the opening of the upper housing. Therefore, the rotary valve can reduce the number of parts constituting the device.

[0215] In a rotary valve, preferably, the rotating member has an elastic wall and a locking portion, the elastic wall extending along the vertical direction and capable of elastic deformation, the locking portion being a claw extending radially outward from the upper end of the elastic wall towards the rotating member, and the upper housing having a receiving groove for receiving the claw, the receiving groove being annular with the rotation direction of the rotating member as the circumference.

[0216] When the rotating component is housed in the upper housing, the claw portion of the rotating component can be housed in the receiving groove of the upper housing by temporarily elastically deforming the elastic wall of the rotating component. In this way, the rotary valve can achieve a structure that restricts the up-and-down movement of the rotating component while allowing the rotation of the rotating component with a simple structure.

[0217] In a rotary valve, preferably, the rotating member has a plurality of elastic walls and a plurality of claws, the plurality of elastic walls being spaced apart in the rotational direction of the rotating member, and the plurality of claws being spaced apart in the rotational direction of the rotating member.

[0218] A rotary valve can increase the engagement portion between the claw of the rotating component and the upper housing in the rotational direction of the rotating component. Therefore, the rotary valve can easily restrict the vertical movement of the rotating component. However, when multiple claws are provided on a single elastic wall, the length of the elastic wall is relatively long in the rotational direction of the rotating component. In this case, the elastic wall may be difficult to elastically deform when the rotating component is housed in the upper housing. In this respect, in the rotary valve with the above-described structure, the rotating component has multiple elastic walls spaced apart in the rotational direction of the rotating component. Therefore, the rotary valve can suppress the occurrence of the aforementioned situation.

[0219] In the rotary valve, preferably, the rotating member has an exhaust flow path and an on / off valve, the exhaust flow path connecting the supply flow path to the outside air, the on / off valve being displaced between a closed position (closing the exhaust port in the exhaust flow path as an opening for connection to the outside air) and an open position (opening the exhaust port), the upper housing having a sliding wall whose distance to the axis of rotation of the rotating member varies relative to the direction of rotation of the rotating member, the on / off valve being displaced between the closed position and the open position by sliding along the sliding wall of the upper housing accompanying the rotation of the rotating member, and the receiving groove being disposed in the sliding wall.

[0220] In a rotary valve, the sliding wall of the upper housing has the function of both suppressing the up-and-down movement of the rotating component and allowing the rotating component to rotate, and the function of displacing the on-and-off valve between the closed and open positions by sliding relative to the on-and-off valve. In this way, the rotary valve can further reduce the number of parts constituting the device by giving the upper housing multiple functions.

[0221] In a rotary valve, preferably, the rotating member has a seal that surrounds the opening of the air supply passage facing the opening face of the upper housing, and the seal is elastically compressed between the upper housing and the opening face of the rotating member when the locking portion of one of the upper housing and the rotating member is locked to the other of the upper housing and the rotating member.

[0222] The rotary valve can suppress air leakage between the air supply path of the rotating component and any connection path of the upper housing through a seal. Furthermore, the seal is elastically compressed by locking the upper housing and the rotating component together through a locking part on one side and the other side. Therefore, compared to cases where the rotating component is pressed against the opening of the upper housing by a coil spring or the like, the compression margin of the seal is less prone to variation.

[0223] In a rotary valve, preferably, the upper housing has an upper wall and a sliding wall, the upper wall including the opening surface and being circular, the sliding wall extending downward from the outer edge of the upper wall and covering the rotating member from the radially outer side, the receiving groove being disposed at the base end of the sliding wall, wherein the radial distance from the rotation axis of the rotating member to the top of the plurality of claws is longer than the distance from the rotation axis of the rotating member to the inner circumferential surface of the sliding wall, the sliding wall having an insertion guide surface disposed at the top of the sliding wall and inclined upward as it advances radially inward, and the plurality of claws having inclined surfaces inclined upward as they advance radially inward.

[0224] In a rotary valve, the rotating component can be housed within the upper housing by pressing it upwards relative to the upper housing. Here, the upper housing has an insertion guide surface, while the multiple claws of the rotating component have inclined surfaces. Therefore, when the rotating component is pressed upwards relative to the upper housing, the inclined surfaces of the multiple claws of the rotating component slide relative to the insertion guide surface of the upper housing, thereby allowing the multiple elastic walls of the rotating component to easily deform elastically towards the axis of the rotating component. Thus, the rotary valve can improve the operational efficiency when pressing the rotating component into the upper housing.

Claims

1. A rotary valve that causes multiple airbags to expand and contract sequentially by switching the air supply method to them, the rotary valve having: The lower housing is divided into an air chamber from which air is supplied from the pump; The upper housing is stacked on top of the lower housing and has multiple connecting flow paths and openings. The downstream ends of the multiple connecting flow paths are respectively connected to the multiple airbags, and the openings allow the upstream ends of the multiple connecting flow paths to open. as well as A rotating component, housed within the upper housing, has an air supply path connected to the air chamber. The rotating component rotates about an axis extending vertically, in contact with the opening surface of the upper housing, according to the increase and decrease in pressure within the air chamber. This sequentially switches the connection path connected to the air supply path. One of the upper housing and the rotating member has a locking part that locks into the other of the upper housing and the rotating member, and while restricting the vertical movement of the rotating member, allows the rotating member to rotate about an axis extending in the vertical direction.

2. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein, The rotating component has an elastic wall and a locking portion. The elastic wall extends along the vertical direction and is capable of elastic deformation. The locking portion is a claw-like portion that extends radially outward from the upper end of the elastic wall towards the rotating member. The upper housing has a receiving groove for receiving the claw, which is annular with the rotation direction of the rotating member as the circumferential direction.

3. The rotary valve according to claim 2, wherein, The rotating component has multiple elastic walls and multiple claw portions. The plurality of elastic walls are arranged at intervals in the rotational direction of the rotating member. The plurality of said claws are arranged at intervals in the rotational direction of the rotating member.

4. The rotary valve according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The rotating component has an exhaust flow path and an on / off valve. The exhaust flow path connects the supply flow path to external air. During the period when the supply flow path is connected to one of the connecting flow paths, the on / off valve shifts between a closed position, which closes the exhaust port in the exhaust flow path (the opening for connection to external air), and an open position, which opens the exhaust port. The upper housing has a sliding wall, the distance of which from the sliding wall to the axis of rotation of the rotating member varies with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotating member. The on / off valve is displaced between the closed position and the open position by sliding along the sliding wall of the upper housing in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating member. The receiving groove is disposed on the sliding wall.

5. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein, The rotating component has a seal that surrounds the opening of the air supply passage facing the opening surface of the upper housing. When the locking portion of one of the upper housing and the rotating member is locked to the other of the upper housing and the rotating member, the seal is elastically compressed between itself and the opening surface of the upper housing.

6. The rotary valve according to claim 3, wherein, The upper housing has an upper wall and a sliding wall. The upper wall includes the opening and is in the shape of a circular plate. The sliding wall extends downward from the outer edge of the upper wall and covers the rotating member from the radially outer side. The receiving groove is disposed at the base end of the sliding wall. In the radial direction, the distance from the axis of rotation of the rotating member to the tip of the plurality of claws is longer than the distance from the axis of rotation of the rotating member to the inner circumferential surface of the sliding wall. The sliding wall has an insertion guide surface disposed at the top of the sliding wall and inclined upwards as it advances radially inwards. The plurality of said claws have bevels that slope upward as they advance toward the radially inward side.

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