switching valve

Abstract

The present application provides a switching valve in which a valve body rotates smoothly. The switching valve includes a force applying member (31) that applies a force to the valve body (20) in a direction away from a valve seat (15), a retainer (32) disposed between the force applying member (31) and the valve body (20), and a restriction portion (33) that restricts movement of the retainer (32).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a switching valve, for example, to a switching valve that opens and closes a flow path for refrigerant flow and switches the flow path. Background Technology

[0002] In various industrial sectors, refrigerant circuits are used, which connect the refrigerant supply source to refrigerant working devices, heat exchangers, and other refrigerant loads via flow paths. In such refrigerant circuits, switching valves are sometimes installed to open and close the flow paths and switch between them.

[0003] For example, the switching valve in Patent Document 1 mainly consists of a valve box, a valve body, a lower cam, an upper cam, a spring, and a disc spring. Four valve holes are formed on the bottom surface of the valve box, and connecting pipes are connected to each valve hole. The valve body is arranged inside the valve box in a rotatable and vertically movable manner. Furthermore, a lower cam with a concave-convex shape in the vertical direction is formed on the upper surface of the valve body. An upper cam is arranged above the lower cam. The lower cam and its concave-convex portion are arranged opposite each other vertically. The spring is housed in a recess provided on the bottom surface of the valve box and applies upward force in the direction that separates the valve body from the valve seat surface on the bottom surface of the valve box. The disc spring is arranged between the upper cam and the upper surface of the valve box and applies downward force to the upper cam.

[0004] In the operating state of the refrigerant circuit, the protrusion of the lower cam rests on the protrusion of the upper cam. This means the disc spring is compressed, causing the upper cam to move upwards, and the spring is compressed, causing the valve body to move downwards. The lower surface of the valve body is in close contact with the valve seat surface. This creates a flow path connecting two valve holes from one of the four valve holes and a flow path connecting two valve holes from the other.

[0005] Furthermore, when switching the operating state of the refrigerant circuit, i.e., changing the valve port combination, the upper cam is rotated by a motor. When the upper cam rotates, the upper and lower cams approach each other due to the forces of the spring and disc spring, and their concave and convex shapes engage with each other. As a result, the force of the disc spring almost disappears, and the spring force takes precedence, causing the lower surface of the valve body to separate upwards from the valve seat surface. In this state, when the upper cam is further rotated, the valve body rotates together. This prevents excessive friction between the valve body and the valve seat surface during valve body rotation. Existing technical documents Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-44369 (page 4) Figure 1 ) Summary of the Invention The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] In the switching valve described in Patent Document 1, although it is possible to prevent large frictional forces between the valve body and the valve seat surface when the valve body rotates, the valve body abuts against the spring when it is under force. When the valve body rotates, the spring will tilt, creating resistance such as jamming between the valve body and the spring, which may hinder smooth rotation.

[0008] This invention was made in response to such problems, and its purpose is to provide a switching valve with smooth valve body rotation. Methods for solving problems

[0009] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the switching valve of the present invention comprises: The housing and a valve body rotatably disposed within the housing have an inlet port for fluid to flow into the housing, an outlet port for fluid to flow out of the housing, and a plurality of other ports for fluid to flow into or out of the housing. By rotating the valve body while it is moving away from the valve seat within the housing, the combination of the inlet port with the plurality of other ports and the combination of the outlet port with the plurality of other ports can be changed. The switching valve includes: a force-applying component that applies force to the valve body in a direction away from the valve seat; a retainer disposed between the force-applying component and the valve body; and a limiting portion that limits the movement of the retainer. Therefore, since the movement of the retainer is restricted by the limiting part, the posture of the force-applying component is stabilized, thus preventing the force-applying component from tilting when the valve body rotates, thereby ensuring smooth rotation of the valve body.

[0010] The valve body side end face of the retainer can be flat. As a result, the valve body can rotate smoothly along the valve body side face of the retainer.

[0011] The limiting part may be ring-shaped. This allows the holder to maintain a stable orientation.

[0012] The valve body is configured to rotate relative to a support shaft disposed within the valve chamber and to move axially relative to it. The retainer can be located in the housing at a position that overlaps with the support shaft in the axial direction. Therefore, regardless of the rotational position of the valve body, the valve body can be moved away from the valve seat through a retainer, a force-applying component, and a limiting part.

[0013] The housing may be provided with a recess, and the force-applying component, the retainer, and the limiting part may be disposed in the recess. Therefore, the assembly of the switching valve becomes simple.

[0014] The recess may be a port provided in the housing. Therefore, the port can be used to configure the force-applying component, the retainer, and the limiting part.

[0015] The recess may be formed with a stepped portion that abuts against the retainer at the retracted position of the retainer. Therefore, when the valve body is seated, the retainer is clamped between the valve body and the stepped portion, so the retainer's posture is stable and will not affect the valve body's sealing performance.

[0016] The limiting part may be a stop component fixed to the housing. Therefore, the movement of the retainer toward the valve body can be restricted by the stop component of the component that is separate from the housing, thus simplifying assembly.

[0017] The stop component may be provided with a rotation limiting part that interferes with the valve body to limit its rotation range. Therefore, the valve body can be precisely positioned at the desired rotation position by means of the rotation limiting part. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the refrigerant circuit of the switching valve of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the switching valve in Example 1. Figure 3 This refers to the state in which the valve body and housing are sealed in Example 1. Figure 2 AA sectional view. Figure 4 This refers to the state where the valve body is floating in Example 1. Figure 2 AA sectional view. Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A magnified view of a portion of it. Figure 6 This is a top view of the valve body in Embodiment 1 as it rotates from the first rotation position to the second rotation position. Figure 7 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the switching valve in Embodiment 2 of the present invention (see reference). Figure 2 (AA section position). Figure 8 (a) is a schematic diagram showing the valve body in the first rotational position in Embodiment 2. Figure 8 (b) is a schematic diagram showing the valve body in the second rotation position in Embodiment 2. Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing a variation of Example 1. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Hereinafter, the method of implementing the switching valve of the present invention will be described based on the embodiments. Example 1

[0020] Reference Figures 1 to 6 The switching valve of Example 1 will be described below. Figure 3 The up and down positions are used to explain the up and down positions of the switching valve.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, the switching valve V of the present invention is a four-way valve installed in the refrigerant circuit 1. In the refrigerant circuit 1, in addition to the switching valve V, a compressor C, a first load L1, and a second load L2 are also installed. The compressor C discharges the compressed, high-pressure refrigerant, i.e., the discharge fluid Pd, and attracts the depressurized, low-pressure refrigerant, i.e., the suction fluid Ps.

[0022] The switching valve V is provided with: an inflow port Pi, which serves as the inflow path and is connected to the discharge side of the compressor C via a discharge flow path 2; a first port P1, which is connected to the first load L1 via a first flow path 3; a second port P2, which is connected to the second load L2 via a second flow path 4; and an outflow port Pe, which serves as the outflow path and is connected to the suction side of the compressor C via an outflow flow path 5. The first load L1 and the second load L2 are connected via a third flow path 6.

[0023] The switching valve V is used to switch whether the discharge fluid Pd from the compressor C passes through in the order of first load L1, second load L2, as shown by the solid line, or in the order of second load L2, first load L1, as shown by the dashed line. The switching valve V will be described in detail below.

[0024] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the switching valve V mainly consists of a housing 10, a valve body 20, and an elastic mechanism 30 (see reference). Figure 3 ) and driver source 40 (refer to Figure 2 It consists of ) . In Figure 2 , Figure 3 In the middle, the valve body 20 is in the first rotation position, so that the inflow port Pi and the first port P1 (refer to) Figure 2 Connect the second port P2 (refer to) so that the second port P2 (refer to) is connected. Figure 3 ) and outflow port Pe (refer to Figure 3 Connect.

[0025] The housing 10 is mainly composed of the outer shell 11 and the stator 12.

[0026] Reference Figure 2The outer casing 11 is made of resin and consists of a main body 11a and a socket 11b. It should be noted that the outer casing 11 can also be made of metal, and the material can be changed appropriately.

[0027] The main body 11a is a top-mounted cylindrical shape with a downward opening, and has a stepped top plate that forms a D-shape when viewed from above, and a peripheral wall that extends downward from the periphery of the top plate.

[0028] An inflow port Pi is formed on the top plate of the main body 11a, which runs through the vertical direction.

[0029] A support hole 11c is formed in the top plate of the main body 11a, which is recessed from its lower end to the upper side (see reference). Figure 3 A support shaft 14 is inserted and fixed in the support hole 11c.

[0030] The socket 11b is a bottomed cylindrical shape that protrudes outward from the peripheral wall of the main body 11a. A drive source 40 is inserted into and fixed within the socket 11b. The socket 11b and the drive source 40 are sealed by a sealing element.

[0031] Furthermore, a through hole 11d is formed on the peripheral wall of the main body 11a and the bottom of the socket 11b, extending along the axial direction of the socket 11b. The rod 41, described later, is inserted into this through hole 11d, and its front end is disposed in the valve chamber 13.

[0032] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, a first port P1 is formed in the stator 12 (refer to...). Figure 2 ), second port P2 (refer to Figure 3 ) and outflow port Pe (refer to Figure 3 The first port P1, the second port P2, and the outflow port Pe all pass through the stator 12 in the vertical direction.

[0033] Furthermore, when viewing stator 12 from above, the first port P1, the second port P2, and the outlet port Pe are formed at the vertices of an isosceles triangle (see reference). Figure 6 The separation dimensions of the first port P1 and the outflow port Pe are approximately the same as those of the second port P2 and the outflow port Pe.

[0034] Reference Figure 3 The main body 11a and the stator 12 are fastened together by bolts (not shown). Additionally, a groove 12c is formed in the stator 12, recessed from its upper end to the lower side along its edge. The main body 11a is pressed against a seal 18 disposed in the groove 12c. A seal is formed between the main body 11a and the stator 12. The main body 11a and the stator 12 form a valve chamber 13.

[0035] Furthermore, the stator 12 has a groove 12d formed along the foot 27 of the valve body 20 when it stops at a first rotational position (described later) and the foot 27 of the valve body 20 when it stops at a second rotational position. This groove 12d is recessed downwards from the upper end of the stator 12. Additionally, a seal 15 serving as a valve seat is disposed in the groove 12d.

[0036] The valve body 20 is made of resin and has a cylindrical portion 21 that appears round when viewed from above and a rounded top portion 22 that appears oblong when viewed from above. It should be noted that the valve body 20 can also be made of metal, and the material can be changed appropriately.

[0037] The cylindrical portion 21 is in the shape of a bottomed cylinder and extends in the vertical direction. A bushing 16 is disposed on the inner diameter side of the cylindrical portion 21, and a support shaft 14 is inserted into the bushing 16.

[0038] The dome 22 is disposed below the cylindrical portion 21. A passage 26 is formed inside the dome 22. Specifically, the passage 26 is formed by dividing the inner surface of the dome 22 and the upper surface of the stator 12. An annular foot 27 is formed at the lower end of the dome 22, which is continuous along these edges and extends radially.

[0039] The support shaft 14 is positioned on the axis Ax of the outlet port Pe. The valve body 20 is axially movable along the support shaft 14 and rotatable about the support shaft 14.

[0040] like Figures 3 to 5 As shown, a stepped recess 17 is formed at the upper part of the outlet port Pe of the stator 12. In addition, the stepped recess 17 has a small diameter portion 17a and a large diameter portion 17b provided on the upper edge of the small diameter portion 17a.

[0041] An elastic mechanism 30 is provided in the stepped recess 17. The elastic mechanism 30 mainly consists of a spring 31 as a force-applying mechanism, a retainer 32, and a stop member 33 as a limiting part.

[0042] Spring 31 is a helical wave spring and is housed within the stepped recess 17, with its base 17c forming the small-diameter portion 17a. That is, the base 17c functions as the lower spring seat of spring 31. It should be noted that spring 31 can be an elastic body such as a helical spring, leaf spring, or rubber, and can be modified appropriately.

[0043] The retainer 32 is a cylindrical body made of resin. The retainer 32 consists of a vertically extending cylindrical portion 32a and an annular flange portion 32b extending from the lower edge of the cylindrical portion 32a towards the outer diameter side. It should be noted that the retainer 32 can also be made of metal, and the material can be appropriately changed.

[0044] The retainer 32 is positioned between the spring 31 and the valve body 20. Specifically, the upper end face 32c of the retainer 32 is flat and abuts against the portion of the lower surface of the foot 27 of the valve body 20 that is closer to the inner diameter than the contact portion with the seal 15. The upper end face 32c of the retainer 32 is substantially parallel to the lower surface of the foot 27 of the valve body 20.

[0045] The stop member 33 is a plate-shaped ring made of resin, which is pressed into and fixed to the large-diameter portion 17b of the stepped recess 17. The inner diameter of the stop member 33 is smaller than that of the small-diameter portion 17a, and it extends further inward than the sidewall portion constituting the small-diameter portion 17a. It should be noted that the stop member 33 can also be made of metal, and the material can be changed appropriately.

[0046] The cylindrical portion 32a of the retainer 32 is movably inserted into the stop member 33 in a vertical direction. The flange portion 32b of the retainer 32 is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of the stop member 33 and is positioned below the stop member 33. The retainer 32 is pushed upward by the spring 31, and the flange portion 32b contacts the lower surface of the stop member 33, thereby restricting the upward movement of the retainer 32.

[0047] like Figure 3 As shown, the valve body 20, which is stopped in the first rotational position, is pushed downward by the pressure of the discharge fluid Pd flowing into the valve chamber 13 from the inlet port Pi, thereby pressing the foot 27 against the seal 15. At this time, the retainer 32, which is disposed on its upper end face 32c, retracts against the force of the spring 31 to a retracted position at approximately the same height as the upper surface of the stator 12.

[0048] Thus, the switching valve V divides the passage 26 and the space in the valve chamber 13 that is outside the valve body 20, so that the inflow port Pi is connected to the first port P1, and the second port P2 is connected to the outflow port Pe.

[0049] On the other hand, when the flow of the discharged fluid Pd into the valve chamber 13 stops, the smaller the pressure difference between the refrigerant outside the valve body 20 in the valve chamber 13 and the refrigerant pressure in the passage 26, the smaller the force that causes the valve body 20 to move towards the stator 12. If this force is lower than the force of the spring 31 in the elastic mechanism 30, the valve body 20 will move from... Figure 3 The state shown initially moves as spring 31 extends, as... Figure 4 As shown, it separates from the seal 15, i.e., it floats up.

[0050] The valve body 20 stops floating when the flange 32b of the retainer 32 abuts against the lower surface of the stop member 33. It should be noted that when the flange 32b of the retainer 32 abuts against the lower surface of the stop member 33, the spring 31 is slightly compressed, thus suppressing vibration caused by the retainer 32 being clamped by the stop member 33 and the spring 31. It should also be noted that at this time, the bottom surface 21a of the cylindrical portion 21 is slightly separated vertically from the bottom surface 14a of the support shaft 14.

[0051] In this way, by rotating the valve body 20 to the second rotation position while it is in a floating state, the large frictional force generated between the valve body 20 and the seal 15 can be reduced. The rotation of the valve body 20 will be explained below.

[0052] It should be noted that the valve body 20 may sometimes float upwards due to the force of the spring 31, vibration, etc. In this case, the bottom surface 21a of the cylindrical portion 21 abuts against the bottom surface 14a of the support shaft 14, thereby preventing the valve body 20 from floating further. The position where the bottom surface 21a of the cylindrical portion 21 abuts against the bottom surface 14a of the support shaft 14 is called the upper limit position of the movable valve body 20. At the upper limit position of the movable valve body 20, the valve body 20 does not contact the rod 41 of the drive source 40. This prevents deformation of the rod 41, the generation of wear powder caused by the contact between the valve body 20 and the rod 41, and prevents malfunction of the rod 41.

[0053] First, the cylindrical portion 21 of the drive source 40 and the valve body 20 will be described.

[0054] The drive source 40 is a solenoid that extends rod 41 toward valve chamber 13 when energized. Additionally, the drive source 40 has a spring (not shown) that, by stopping energization, the spring force causes rod 41 to retract toward the drive source 40. It should be noted that the drive source can also have the following structure: retracting the rod when energized, and extending the rod when de-energized by the spring force.

[0055] like Figure 6 As shown, rod 41 is a cylinder having a first peak portion 42, a small-diameter shaft portion 43, and a second peak portion 44. It should be noted that... Figure 6 The diagram illustrates the state in which the valve body 20 moves from the first rotational position indicated by the double-dotted line to the second rotational position indicated by the solid line.

[0056] A recess 50, a long wall thick portion 51, and a short wall thick portion 52 are formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 21. The long wall thick portion 51 is half an arc when viewed from above, and the short wall thick portion 52 is one-eighth an arc when viewed from above.

[0057] When the valve body 20 is rotated from the first rotation position to the second rotation position, the valve body 20 is first floated up as described above.

[0058] When rod 41 extends, the first peak 42 abuts against the long wall thickness 51. The more the rod 41 extends, the more the long wall thickness 51, which is pushed by the extended rod 41, rotates clockwise.

[0059] As the rod 41 extends further, the first peak 42 separates from the long wall thickness 51, and the second peak 44 abuts against the short wall thickness 52. The further the rod 41 extends, the more the short wall thickness 52, which is pushed by the extended rod 41, rotates clockwise.

[0060] Furthermore, the valve body 20, which is integral with the cylindrical portion 21, also rotates clockwise integrally with the cylindrical portion 21. During this period, although the foot 27 of the valve body 20 slides along the upper end surface 32c of the retainer 32, in the state where the valve body 20 is floating, the flange portion 32b of the retainer 32 abuts against the stop member 33, restricting the retainer 32 from moving upward, and the valve body 20 is placed on the upper end surface 32c of the retainer 32. As a result, the force of the spring 31 does not act excessively on the valve body 20, thus reducing the friction between the valve body 20 and the retainer 32.

[0061] Furthermore, with the retainer 32 restricted from moving upwards, the force of the spring 31 acts on the stop member 33, thus minimizing the force of the spring 31 acting on the valve body 20. That is, even if the spring 31 is not designed to its natural length, the force of the spring 31 will not act on the valve body 20 when the retainer 32 is in contact with the stop member 33. Additionally, since the bottom of the inner part of the cylindrical portion 21 does not contact the lower surface of the support shaft 14, friction between the cylindrical portion 21 and the support shaft 14 can be suppressed.

[0062] Furthermore, through the contact between the retainer 32 and the stop member 33, the retainer 32 is clamped between the stop member 33 and the spring 31, thus locking the retainer 32 and stabilizing its posture. Therefore, even if the valve body 20 slides along the upper end face 32c of the retainer 32, it can suppress the retainer 32 from tilting and generating significant resistance, allowing the valve body 20 to rotate smoothly.

[0063] In addition, since the upper end face 32c of the retainer 32 is a flat surface, the valve body 20 can rotate smoothly along the upper end face 32c.

[0064] Furthermore, the upper surface of the flange portion 32b of the retainer 32 and the lower surface of the stop member 33 are annular flat surfaces and are arranged approximately parallel to each other, thus providing surface contact throughout the circumference and preventing the retainer 32 and the spring 31 from tilting relative to the stop member 33. As a result, the resistance generated by the retainer 32 and the spring 31 to the rotation of the valve body 20 can be effectively suppressed.

[0065] Then, rod 41 extends a predetermined distance, thereby stopping valve body 20 in the second rotation position. Then, by discharging the inflow of fluid Pd, it is pressed against seal 15 in the same manner as when stopped in the first rotation position.

[0066] The valve body 20, when stopped in the second rotational position, is pressed against the seal 15 in the same way as when stopped in the first rotational position. As a result, the switching valve V divides the passage 26 and the space in the valve chamber 13 that is outside the valve body 20, so that the inflow port Pi is connected to the second port P2, and the first port P1 is connected to the outflow port Pe.

[0067] When the valve body 20 is rotated from the second rotation position to the first rotation position, the valve body 20 is floated up in the same way as when it is stopped at the first rotation position.

[0068] When power to the drive source 40 is stopped and the rod 41 retracts via a spring (not shown), the first peak 42 abuts against the short wall thickness 52.

[0069] As the backward distance of rod 41 increases, the short wall thickness 52, which is pushed by the backward rod 41, rotates more counterclockwise.

[0070] In addition, the valve body 20, which is integral with the cylindrical part 21, also rotates in a counterclockwise direction integral with the cylindrical part 21.

[0071] Then, as Figure 6 As shown by the double-dotted line, rod 41 retracts a specified distance, that is, stops at the position where the retraction is at its maximum, so that valve body 20 stops at the first rotation position.

[0072] As explained above, when the valve body 20 floats, the spring 31 and retainer 32 that extend and retract with the valve V in this embodiment abut against the stop member 33, thereby stabilizing the posture.

[0073] That is, the switching valve V can reduce the resistance to the valve body 20 caused by the tilting of the spring 31 and the retainer 32. As a result, the valve body 20 can be positioned with high precision in the first rotation position and the second rotation position.

[0074] In addition, the retainer 32 is positioned to overlap with the support shaft 14 of the valve body 20 in the axial direction, i.e., it is positioned on the shaft Ax. Therefore, regardless of the rotational position of the valve body 20, the valve body 20 can be lifted off the seal 15 by an elastic mechanism 30.

[0075] Furthermore, since the elastic mechanism 30 is disposed within the stepped recess 17 provided on the stator 12, the assembly of the switching valve V is simplified compared to assembling it between the valve body 20 and the support shaft 14. Additionally, assembling the elastic mechanism between the valve body 20 and the support shaft 14 requires sealing between the support shaft 14 and the valve body 20, as well as sealing between the valve body 20 and the stator 12. However, the switching valve V of this embodiment only requires one seal 15, thus reducing fluid leakage between the valve chamber 13 and the passage 26.

[0076] In addition, since it is not necessary to provide recesses on the stator 12 for setting the spring 31, retainer 32 and stop member 33 respectively, there is no need to worry about the structural strength of the stator 12 being reduced.

[0077] Furthermore, since the stepped recess 17 is provided at the outlet port Pe, the elastic mechanism 30 can be configured using the outlet port Pe, thus simplifying the structure of the stator 12.

[0078] Furthermore, the stop member 33 is pressed into and fixed to the large-diameter portion 17b of the stepped recess 17. Thus, by pressing and fixing the stop member 33, which is separate from the stator 12, into the large-diameter portion 17b, a limiting part for restricting the movement of the retainer 32 can be formed, thereby simplifying the assembly of the switching valve V.

[0079] In addition, the upper surface of the stop member 33 is formed to be approximately flush with the upper surface of the stator 12, so that no radial gap is formed between the valve body 20 and the stop member 33, and the flow of fluid is not hindered by the gap. Example 2

[0080] Next, refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 The switching valve of Example 2 will be described below. It should be noted that descriptions of structures that are identical or repeated in Example 1 above are omitted.

[0081] like Figure 7 As shown in (a) and (b), the switching valve V2 of this embodiment 2 has an annular stepped recess 217 forming around the outlet port Pe in the stator 212. The stepped recess 217 opens upward. The stepped recess 217 has a small diameter portion 217a and a large diameter portion 217b provided on the upper edge of the small diameter portion 217a.

[0082] A spring 231 is disposed in the stepped recess 217. An annular retainer 232 is fixed to the upper end of the spring 231. The retainer 232 is disposed in the large diameter portion 217b of the stepped recess 217.

[0083] The stop member 233 includes a small diameter portion 233a, a flange portion 233b, and a stepped portion 233c. The small diameter portion 233a is pressed in from above and fixed to the inner peripheral surface that constitutes the outlet port Pe.

[0084] The flange portion 233b extends annularly from the upper edge of the small diameter portion 233a towards the outer diameter side. The flange portion 233b is positioned above the stepped recess 217. The outer diameter of the flange portion 233b is smaller than the outer diameter of the retainer 232. The portion on the outer diameter side of the flange portion 233b can abut against the foot portion 227 of the valve body 220. It should be noted that, in this embodiment 2, the foot portion 227 is formed with a downwardly opening groove in an annular shape, in which a sealing member 215 is pressed and fixed.

[0085] The stepped portion 233c is formed in an annular shape between the small-diameter portion 233a and the flange portion 233b. The outer diameter of the stepped portion 233c is formed to be smaller than the inner diameter of the retainer 232. That is, the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 233a, the lower surface of the stepped portion 233c, the outer peripheral surface of the stepped portion 233c, and the lower surface of the flange portion 233b are formed in a stepped shape that expands towards the outer diameter side when viewed in cross-section.

[0086] The stepped portion 233c abuts against the upper surface of the stator 212, and a space 218 is formed between the flange portion 233b and the upper surface of the stator 212, which is capable of accommodating the retainer 232.

[0087] like Figure 7 As shown in (a), when the pressure inside the valve chamber 213 is relatively higher than the force of the spring 231, the retainer 232 is pushed downward by the valve body 220 and positioned in a retracted position, and the seal 215 located on the foot 227 of the valve body 220 is pressed against the upper surface of the stator 212. In this state, the retainer 232 is held vertically by the valve body 220 and the stepped portion 217c forming the bottom of the large-diameter portion 217b. Therefore, the retainer 232 is stable in posture, preventing it from affecting the sealing performance of the valve body 220.

[0088] like Figure 7 As shown in (b), when the pressure inside the valve chamber 213 is relatively lower than the force of the spring 231, the retainer 232 rises, lifting the valve body 220, thus separating the seal 215 located at the foot 227 of the valve body 220 from the upper surface of the stator 212. In this state, the retainer 232 abuts against the lower surface of the flange 233b of the stop member 233, thereby limiting the rise of the retainer 232. Therefore, the force of the spring 231 does not act excessively on the valve body 220. That is, even if the spring 231 is not designed to be at its natural length, the force of the spring 231 will not act on the valve body 220 when the retainer 232 abuts against the stop member 233.

[0089] like Figure 8 As shown in (a) and (b), the stop member 233 has protrusions 233A and 233B that serve as rotation limiting parts.

[0090] When viewed from above, the protrusions 233A and 233B are roughly triangular in shape and have edges 233Aa and 233Ba that extend in the tangential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the stop member 233.

[0091] like Figure 8 As shown in (a), when the valve body 220 is in the first rotational position, the inner side 220a of the valve body 220 abuts against the edge 233Aa of the protrusion portion 233A.

[0092] like Figure 8 As shown in (b), when the valve body 220 is in the second rotation position, the inner side 220b of the valve body 220 abuts against the edge 233Ba of the protrusion portion 233B.

[0093] That is, when the valve body 220 rotates toward the first rotation position or the second rotation position, it will abut against the edge 233Aa of the protrusion portion 233A or the edge 233Ba of the protrusion portion 233B, thereby restricting its further rotation. Therefore, the valve body 220 can be configured in the desired rotation position with high precision.

[0094] In addition, since the stepped recess 217 of the spring 231 is set separately from the outlet port Pe of the stop member 233, the spring 231 is less likely to affect the fluid flowing at the outlet port Pe.

[0095] Next, refer to Figure 9 A modified example of the rotation restriction part will be explained.

[0096] like Figure 9 As shown, a pin 12A, serving as a rotation limiting part, is provided protruding upwards from the stator 12. Figure 9 As shown in (a), when the valve body 20 is in the first rotational position, the inner surface 20a of the valve body 20 abuts against the pin 12A, as... Figure 9 As shown in (b), when the valve body 20 is in the second rotational position, the inner surface 20b of the valve body 20 abuts against the pin 12A.

[0097] In this way, the valve body 20 can be precisely positioned at the desired rotational position with a simple structure. It should be noted that in this modified example, the application of pin 12A in Embodiment 1 has been described, but pin 12A can also be used instead of the tabs 233A and 233B in Embodiment 2.

[0098] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the specific structure is not limited to these embodiments, and any changes or additions that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

[0099] For example, in embodiments 1 and 2 above, the valve body side end face of the retainer is shown to be a flat surface, but it can also be convex or concave in the circumferential direction. This reduces the frictional force generated between the valve body and the valve body side end face of the retainer.

[0100] Furthermore, in the above embodiments 1 and 2, the limiting portion is illustrated as being formed in a ring shape, but this is not a limitation. It is sufficient to provide at least one limiting portion in the circumferential direction, but from the viewpoint of the stability of the retainer, it is preferable to form multiple limiting portions in the circumferential direction or to form a ring shape.

[0101] Furthermore, in the above embodiments 1 and 2, the force-applying mechanism is slightly compressed when the retainer and the limiting part are in contact. However, it is not limited to this. It is also possible that the force-applying mechanism is at approximately its natural length when the retainer and the limiting part are in contact.

[0102] Furthermore, in the above embodiments 1 and 2, the valve body is shown to rotate between the first rotation position and the second rotation position, but the valve body may have three or more rotation positions.

[0103] Furthermore, in the above embodiments 1 and 2, the elastic mechanism with a retainer is shown in a position that overlaps with the support shaft in the axial direction. However, it is not limited to this. The elastic mechanism can also be arranged at multiple circumferential parts of the housing at positions that can contact the valve body at each rotation position.

[0104] Furthermore, in the above embodiments 1 and 2, the limiting part is shown as a stop member that is separate from the stator, but the limiting part may also be integrally formed with the stator.

[0105] Furthermore, in the above embodiments 1 and 2, the structure of the drive source being a solenoid was described, but it is not limited to this. It can also be manual or a motor, and can be modified appropriately.

[0106] Furthermore, in the above embodiments 1 and 2, the so-called gear rack configuration that rotates the valve body by axial movement of the rod was described, but it is not limited to this. The valve body can also be rotated by a motor, and the drive mechanism for rotating the valve body can be appropriately modified.

[0107] In addition, in the above embodiments 1 and 2, it is described that the switching valve is a four-way valve, but it is not limited to this. The number of ports can be changed appropriately, and it can also be an on-off valve that opens and closes between the inflow path and the outflow path.

[0108] Furthermore, in Embodiment 1 above, the case where the seal between the valve body and the stator is disposed on the stator side was described, but this is not a limitation; the seal may also be disposed on the valve body side. Even with such a structure, the frictional force generated between the valve body and the stator can be reduced by allowing the seal to float together with the valve body and separate from the stator, or by reducing the contact area. In this case, the part of the stator that contacts the seal functions as a valve seat. That is, the part of the stator-side components that contacts the components on the valve body side functions as a valve seat.

[0109] Furthermore, in Embodiment 2 described above, the case where the seal is disposed on the valve body side was explained; however, the seal can also be disposed on the stator side. Even with such a structure, the frictional force generated between the valve body and the stator can be reduced by separating the seal from the valve body or reducing the contact area. It should be noted that in this case, the seal functions as a valve seat. That is, the component on the stator side that contacts the component on the valve body side functions as a valve seat. Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0110] 1: Refrigerant circuit; 10: Housing; 12: Stator; 13: Valve chamber; 14: Support shaft; 15: Seal (valve seat); 17: Stepped recess (recess); 20: Valve body; 26: Passage; 27: Foot; 30: Elastic mechanism; 31: Spring (force application mechanism); 32: Retainer; 32b: Flange; 32c: Upper end face; 33: Stopping component (restriction part); 217c: Stepped part; 233A: Protrusion part (rotation restriction part); 233B: Protrusion part (rotation restriction part); V: Switching valve.

Claims

1. A switching valve, wherein, The switching valve includes a housing and a valve body rotatably disposed within the housing. The housing has an inlet port for fluid to flow into the housing, an outlet port for fluid to flow out of the housing, and a plurality of other ports for fluid to flow into or out of the housing. By rotating the valve body while it is moving away from the valve seat within the housing, the combination of the inlet port with the plurality of other ports and the combination of the outlet port with the plurality of other ports can be changed. The switching valve includes: a force-applying component that applies force to the valve body in a direction away from the valve seat; A retainer is disposed between the force-applying component and the valve body; and a limiting portion restricts the movement of the retainer.

2. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein, The valve body side end face of the retainer is flat.

3. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein, The limiting part is ring-shaped.

4. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein, The valve body is configured to rotate relative to a support shaft disposed within the valve chamber and to move axially relative to it. The retainer is disposed in the housing at a position that overlaps with the support shaft in the axial direction.

5. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein, The housing has a recess, and the force-applying component, the retainer, and the limiting part are disposed in the recess.

6. The switching valve according to claim 5, wherein, The recess is a port provided in the housing.

7. The switching valve according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, A stepped portion is formed in the recess, which abuts against the retainer at the retracted position of the retainer.

8. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein, The limiting part is a stop component fixed to the housing.

9. The switching valve according to claim 8, wherein, The stop component is provided with a rotation limiting part that interferes with the valve body to limit its rotation range.

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