An electrically operated valve

Abstract

The application provides an electric valve, which comprises a valve seat assembly, a valve core assembly, the valve seat assembly comprises a valve port part, the valve core assembly can be in abutting cooperation with the valve port part along the axial direction of the electric valve, the valve seat assembly further comprises a first channel and a second channel, and the first channel and the second channel can be communicated through the valve port of the valve port part; the valve core assembly has a balance channel, the balance channel can balance the pressure in the axial direction of the valve core assembly, the electric valve comprises a noise reduction structure, the noise reduction structure comprises a blocking part and / or a guiding part, at least part of the blocking part is located at the end of the valve core assembly, and the guiding part is located at the inner circumferential wall forming the balance channel; the arrangement of the blocking part and / or the guiding part can reduce the flow of the refrigerant directly flowing into the balance channel after throttling expansion, slow down the speed of the fluid flowing into the balance channel, avoid the generation of a resonance cavity and be beneficial to reducing the fluid noise.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of thermal management technology, specifically to an electric valve for an automotive thermal management system. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, electric valves include a valve seat assembly and a valve core assembly. The valve seat assembly has a valve seat portion and a valve port portion. The valve core assembly mates with the valve port portion and has a balance hole for balancing the pressure at both ends of the valve core assembly, reducing valve opening resistance. The outer peripheral wall of the valve core assembly has a tapered surface, with the outer diameter decreasing towards the end of the valve core assembly. This tapered surface is used to mate with the valve port portion to regulate the flow rate of the electric valve. When the opening degree of the electric valve is small, the refrigerant flowing through the valve port portion in the system has a high velocity. A portion of the refrigerant, with a relatively high velocity, flows along the tapered surface around the end of the valve core assembly and enters the balance hole, resulting in fluid noise. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this application is to provide an electric valve that helps reduce fluid noise.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0005] An electric valve includes a valve seat assembly and a valve core assembly. The valve seat assembly includes a valve port portion. Along the axial direction of the electric valve, the valve core assembly is capable of abutting against the valve port portion. The valve seat assembly further includes a first channel and a second channel, which are connected through the valve port portion. The valve core assembly has a balancing channel capable of balancing the axial pressure of the valve core assembly. The electric valve includes a noise reduction structure, which includes a blocking portion and / or a guiding portion. At least a portion of the blocking portion is located at the end of the valve core assembly, and the guiding portion is located on the inner peripheral wall forming the balancing channel.

[0006] In one technical solution provided in this application, the electric valve includes a valve seat assembly and a valve core assembly. The valve seat assembly includes a valve port portion. Along the axial direction of the electric valve, the valve core assembly can abut against the valve port portion. The valve seat assembly also includes a first channel and a second channel, which can communicate through the valve port portion. The valve core assembly has a balance channel, which can balance the axial pressure of the valve core assembly. The electric valve includes a noise reduction structure, which includes a blocking part and / or a guiding part. At least part of the blocking part is located at the end of the valve core assembly, and the guiding part is located on the inner peripheral wall forming the balance channel. The setting of the blocking part and / or the guiding part can reduce the flow rate of the refrigerant directly into the balance channel after throttling and expansion, and can also slow down the speed of fluid flowing into the balance channel, which can avoid the formation of a resonance cavity and help reduce fluid noise. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 This is a front view structural schematic diagram of the valve component provided in this application;

[0008] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view along plane AA of the first embodiment of the valve component shown;

[0009] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The diagram shows a partial cross-sectional view of the valve component at point A.

[0010] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of the valve component in a second embodiment shown at point A;

[0011] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the valve component shown at point A;

[0012] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the cylindrical portion of the valve component shown.

[0013] Figure 7 yes Figure 2 The fourth embodiment of the valve component shown is a partial cross-sectional view at point A. Detailed Implementation

[0014] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0015] Electric valves are widely used in automotive thermal management systems, such as vehicle air conditioning systems and vehicle battery cooling systems. In these systems, electric valves are generally used as throttling elements. This application uses an electric valve as an example of an electronic expansion valve with throttling function. The electric valve includes a valve component 1, a coil assembly (not shown in the figure), and a valve body (not shown in the figure). The coil assembly is located on the outer periphery of the valve component 1, and the two are sealed together to prevent moisture or other impurities from the external environment from entering the gap between the coil assembly and the valve component 1, thereby preventing corrosion or failure of the component. At least a portion of the valve component 1 is located in the inner cavity formed by the valve body. The valve component 1 is fixedly connected or limitedly connected to the valve body. The coil assembly is connected to the valve body by screws. Of course, in other embodiments, the coil assembly and the valve body can be connected by snap-fit ​​or other means.

[0016] refer to Figures 1-7In the embodiments provided in this application, the valve component 1 includes a rotor assembly 11, a valve seat assembly 12, a valve core assembly 13, a rod component 15, and a sleeve 16. The valve seat assembly 12 is located on the outer periphery of a portion of the rod component 15 and on the outer periphery of a portion of the valve core assembly 13. The valve seat assembly 12 is fixedly connected to the sleeve 16, and the fixing method includes welding, etc. The sleeve 16 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the rotor assembly 11. The rotor assembly 11 is fixedly connected or limited to one end of the rod component 15, and the fixing method includes welding, snap-fit, etc. The valve seat assembly 12 has a valve port 1211. The coil assembly includes a stator assembly (not shown in the figure). The stator assembly is located on the outer periphery of the sleeve 16. The sleeve 16 is used to isolate the working fluid located at the rotor assembly 11 from the contact between the stator assembly and the working fluid. When the rotor assembly 11 rotates circumferentially under the magnetic field excitation of the stator assembly, the rotor assembly 11 drives the rod member 15 to rotate. The rod member 15 is threadedly engaged with the valve core assembly 13. The rod member 15 can drive the valve core assembly 13 to perform linear reciprocating motion along the axial direction of the valve member 1. In this way, the valve core assembly 13 can adjust the opening of the valve port 1211 by moving closer to or further away from the valve port 1211, thereby adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant through the valve port 1211. The valve seat assembly 12 includes a first channel 1212 and a second channel 1213. The first channel 1212 and the second channel 1213 can communicate with each other through the valve port 1211. In this embodiment, the first channel 1212 can function as an inlet channel, and the second channel 1213 can function as an outlet channel. Of course, their flow directions can be opposite. In other embodiments, planetary gears or other transmission mechanisms can be used to drive the rotor assembly 11 to drive the valve core assembly 13.

[0017] Furthermore, valve component 1 also includes a bearing 18 and a nut 19. The bearing 18 is located on the outer periphery of the rod component 15, and its inner ring is fixedly connected to the rod component 15 by means of interference fit or welding. The outer ring of the bearing 18 is fixedly connected to or limited by the valve seat assembly 12 by means of riveting or welding. The nut 19 is located below the bearing 18 and is fixedly connected to or limited by the valve core assembly 13 by means of welding. The nut 19 is threadedly engaged with the rod component 15 for transmission. 9 can cooperate with the valve seat assembly 12 to drive the valve core assembly 13 to move axially, and the rod component 15 is axially limited by the bearing 18; the valve core assembly 13 includes a main body 131, the outer peripheral surface of the main body 131 has a tapered part 1311 whose diameter gradually decreases downward along the axial direction, the valve port part 1211 can seal with the tapered part 1311, thereby forming throttling or on / off at the valve port, the axial end of the tapered part 1311 is a certain distance from the balance channel 14, so that the end of the main body 131 is flat, which can control the flow and realize rapid valve opening. Specifically, the valve seat assembly 12 includes a circumferential anti-rotation portion 124, the inner cavity of which forms the upper cavity 12a of the valve seat. The nut part 19 includes a boss portion 191, which is located on the outermost radial side of the nut part 19. The outer diameter of the boss portion 191 is larger than the outer diameter of the main body portion 131. The boss portion 191 can be clearance-fitted or contact-fitted with the circumferential anti-rotation portion 124 to ensure that the nut part 19 will not rotate circumferentially relative to the valve seat assembly 12, but can only move axially relative to the valve seat assembly 12. The upper end face of the boss portion 191 can abut against the lower end face of the bearing 18 to stop movement.

[0018] In the embodiments provided in this application, the valve core assembly 13 includes a balance channel 14, which can balance the axial pressure of the valve core assembly 13. The valve component 1 also includes a noise reduction structure 17, which includes a blocking part 171 and / or a guiding part 172. At least part of the blocking part 171 is located at the end of the valve core assembly 13, and the guiding part 172 is located on the inner peripheral wall forming the balance channel 14. This arrangement can prevent the working medium from directly entering from the first channel 1212 and flowing directly into the balance channel 14 without obstruction after passing through the valve port 1211. At the same time, it can reduce the refrigerant flow rate into the balance channel 14 and slow down the refrigerant speed into the balance channel 14. This can reduce the noise generated by the refrigerant flowing directly into the balance channel 14 after throttling and expansion. It can also reduce the phenomenon of foreign particles entering the valve component 1 through the balance channel 14 and causing wear on the thread structure of the nut 19 and the rod 15, thereby improving the service life of the electric valve. In other embodiments, the balance channel 14 can function as a small valve port, that is, the valve core assembly 13 can be a dual valve needle configuration.

[0019] In the first embodiment of this application, reference is made to Figures 1-3The noise reduction structure 17 includes a guide portion 172. Specifically, the guide portion 172 can be a spiral groove or multiple evenly distributed axial grooves located on the inner peripheral wall of the balance channel 14. Here, axial refers to a general axial direction, specifically a threaded groove or a similar threaded groove. In this embodiment, the guide portion 172 can be formed by tapping, and the guide portion 172 extends axially upward along the lower end of the main body 131. The guide portion 172 has a simple structure, and with simple processing, the portion of the fluid flowing into the balance channel 14 after throttling is guided by the guide portion 172, thereby slowing down the speed of the refrigerant flowing through the balance channel 14 and preventing the fluid flowing into the balance channel 14 from generating eddies and forming a resonance cavity. This reduces the noise generated by the refrigerant flowing directly into the balance channel 14 after throttling and expansion. The direction of the working medium flow can be referenced. Figure 3 The direction indicated by the arrow in the curve.

[0020] refer to Figure 2The valve seat assembly 12 includes a first valve seat portion 121 and a second valve seat portion 122. The valve port portion 1211, the first channel 1212, and the second channel 1213 are all located in the first valve seat portion 121. The second valve seat portion 122 is close to and fixed to the sleeve 16. The first valve seat portion 121 and the second valve seat portion 122 are fixedly connected, and the connection method includes welding, riveting, etc. Both the first valve seat portion 121 and the second valve seat portion 122 are clearance-fitted with the valve core assembly 13, which can ensure the coaxiality of the valve core assembly 13 and the valve seat assembly 12, and ensure the valve core assembly... When valve core assembly 13 comes into contact with valve port 1211, it will not deviate, thereby reducing wear on valve port 1211; at the same time, a sealing assembly 123 is provided between the first valve seat 121 and the second valve seat 122. The sealing assembly 123 includes an annular plastic seal that dynamically seals with valve core assembly 13 and a rubber sealing ring that ensures the sealing of valve seat assembly 12. In this way, during the movement of valve core assembly 13, the rubber sealing ring is always in a compressed state, so that the sealing assembly 123 can achieve radial and axial sealing of valve core assembly 13 while guiding valve core assembly 13. The upper cavity 12a of the valve seat is located in the second valve seat portion 122, and the nut 19 and part of the valve core assembly 13 are located in the upper cavity 12a of the valve seat. The second valve seat portion 122 includes a first balance hole 1221, which radially penetrates part of the valve seat assembly 12, and the first balance hole 1221 connects the inner cavity formed by the rotor assembly 11 with the upper cavity 12a of the valve seat. The valve core assembly 13 also includes a second balance hole 132, which radially penetrates part of the valve core assembly 13, and the second balance hole 132 connects with the balance channel 14 and the upper cavity 12a of the valve seat, i.e., the second... The inner cavity formed by the channel 1213 and the rotor assembly 11 is connected, which can ensure that the pressure balance between the second channel 1213 and the cavity formed by the rotor assembly 11 can be achieved during the operation of the valve component 1. This helps to avoid contact with the low-pressure working fluid after throttling and pressure reduction. In this way, the high-pressure working fluid acts on the back pressure side of the valve core assembly 13, and the two sides of the valve core assembly 13 along its axial direction are subjected to working fluids with opposite directions and the same pressure. This helps to balance or tend to balance the forces on the valve core assembly 13, making the valve core assembly 13 run stably, which helps to reduce the valve opening resistance and thus reduce the driving force for the operation of the valve component 1.

[0021] In a second embodiment of this application, reference is made to Figure 4The noise reduction structure 17 includes a blocking part 171, which is a bent structure 171A located at the end of the main body 131. The bent structure 171A is bent towards the central axis L of the valve core assembly 13. The inner diameter of the bent structure 171A needs to take into account the size of the end of the tapered part 1311 to ensure that the main body 131 will not be easily deformed by force. With this setting, the structure is simple and only simple processing is required to block most of the fluid flowing in from the first channel 1212 by the bent structure 171A, thereby reducing the fluid flow into the balance channel 14, thereby reducing the phenomenon of eddy currents generated in the balance channel 14, forming a resonance cavity and generating abnormal noise. Of course, in other embodiments, a bending structure 171A and a guide portion 172 can be provided simultaneously. This allows the portion of the fluid flowing from the first channel 1212 into the balance channel 14 to be blocked by the bending structure 171A, while the portion flowing into the balance channel 14 is guided by the guide portion 172. This slows down the speed at which the refrigerant flows through the balance channel 14, preventing the fluid flowing into the balance channel 14 from generating eddies and forming a resonance cavity. This reduces the noise generated when the refrigerant flows directly into the balance channel 14 after throttling and expansion, and further reduces noise. The direction of the working medium flow can be referenced to the direction indicated by the arrowed curve in the figure.

[0022] refer to Figures 5-6 In the third embodiment of this application, the noise reduction structure 17 includes a blocking part 171, which is a cylindrical part 171B formed at the end of the main body part 131. The cylindrical part 171B is generally cylindrical and is fixedly connected to the main body part 131. The connection method includes welding, interference fit, etc. Specifically, in this embodiment, the valve core assembly 13 includes a mounting part 133, which includes a mounting part top wall 1331 and a mounting part side wall 1332. The outer peripheral wall of the cylindrical part 171B abuts against the mounting part side wall 1332, and the upper end face of the cylindrical part 171B abuts against the mounting part top wall 1331. At this time, the axial limit of the cylindrical part 171B can be set by setting a bending structure 171A, and the fluid flowing into the balance channel 14 can be blocked by the bending structure 171A, thereby slowing down the flow of fluid into the balance channel 14 and reducing noise.

[0023] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 171B includes an extension section 1711 and a protrusion section 1712. The protrusion section 1712 is located at the outermost radial periphery of the cylindrical portion 171B, and the extension section 1711 is located in the balance channel 14. The cylindrical portion 171B is fixedly connected to the valve core assembly 13, and the connection method includes welding, interference fit, or interference fit followed by welding. The cylindrical portion 171B also includes a connecting hole 1713, through which the second channel 1213 and the balance channel 14 are connected, which can ensure the axial pressure balance of the valve core assembly 13. In this embodiment, the protruding section 1712 has a limiting step 1712a, which has an upward-facing end face. The limiting step 1712a abuts against the lower end face of the main body 131. The cylindrical part 171B can be press-fitted and welded to the valve core assembly 13, which ensures a firm and reliable fixation. This allows for simple and convenient installation and positioning of the blocking part 171, and provides excellent impact resistance. In other embodiments, the cylindrical part 171B can be fitted with the wall clearance forming the balance channel 14, which reduces installation difficulty and ensures installation efficiency. 1712 extends axially along the tapered portion 1311 of the main body 131, forming a flow-guiding structure with the tapered portion 1311 and the protruding section 1712 at a near-obtuse angle. This allows most of the fluid flowing in from the first channel 1212 to be guided directly to the second channel 1213 by the aforementioned flow-guiding structure, further reducing the violent collisions and separation vortices that occur at the tail end of the valve core assembly 13. Simultaneously, the connecting hole 1713 can filter larger foreign particles in the working fluid, reducing the likelihood of foreign particles entering the valve component 1 through the balance channel 14 and affecting its operation. In other embodiments, the mounting portion 133 may be omitted, and the cylindrical portion 171 can be directly fixed to the valve core assembly 13 by welding. Of course, in other embodiments, the cylindrical portion 171B and the guide portion 172 can be provided simultaneously. This allows the fluid flowing from the first channel 1212 towards the balance channel 14 to be initially blocked by the aforementioned guiding structure, while the portion flowing into the balance channel 14 is guided by the guide portion 172. This slows down the refrigerant flow through the balance channel 14, preventing the fluid flowing into the balance channel 14 from generating eddies and forming a resonance cavity. This reduces the noise generated when the refrigerant directly flows into the balance channel 14 after throttling and expansion, further reducing noise. In this case, the axial height of the guide portion 172 is higher than the axial height of the cylindrical portion 171B, ensuring that the guide portion 172 further decelerates the passing fluid, reducing the risk of noise generation. The working medium flow direction can be referenced... Figure 5 The direction indicated by the arrow in the curve.

[0024] refer to Figure 7In the fourth embodiment of this application, the noise reduction structure 17 includes a porous structure 171C, which is columnar or cylindrical. The porous structure 171C can be made of a porous metal filter material. The porous metal filter material is mainly made of fine spherical powder metal sintered at high temperature. It has a large number of micron-sized pores distributed inside. The pores combine to form filter holes, which can permeate and filter liquids or gases. In other embodiments, the porous structure 171C can also be made of other filter materials. In this embodiment, the porous structure 171C is columnar, and the lower side of the porous structure 171C can be fixed by snap-fitting with a spring clip or by welding a structure similar to a gasket. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bent structure 171A abuts against the lower end face of the porous structure 171C, and the bent structure 171A can also act as an axial limiting structure for the porous structure 171C, so that the porous structure 171C can be stably set in the balance channel 14, avoiding displacement of the porous structure 171C within the balance channel 14 and affecting the noise reduction effect.

[0025] In this embodiment, the second channel 1213 and the balance channel 14 are connected through a porous structure 171C. The porous structure 171C not only ensures the axial pressure balance of the valve core assembly 13, but also disperses the eddies generated by the fluid entering the balance channel 14, avoiding the formation of a resonance cavity and the generation of abnormal noise. Simultaneously, it filters the fluid flowing into the balance channel 14, preventing foreign particles in the working fluid from entering the valve component 1 through the balance channel 14, thus preventing the valve component 1 from becoming blocked or jammed. Specifically, in this embodiment, the outer peripheral wall of the porous structure 171C abuts against the side wall 1332 of the mounting portion 133, and the upper end face of the porous structure 171C abuts against the top wall 1331 of the mounting portion 133. Combined with the bending structure 171A, the porous structure 171C is axially limited and fixed, which improves product consistency and performance. In other embodiments, the porous structure 171C can be directly fixed to the valve core assembly 13 by welding or interference fit. In other embodiments, the noise reduction structure 17 can be a separate porous structure 171C, or it can be a combination of the guide portion 172 and the porous structure 171C. It is necessary to ensure that the axial height of the guide portion 172 is higher than the axial height of the porous structure 171C. This ensures that most of the fluid entering from the first channel 1212 is blocked, while the fluid entering the balance channel 14 can be guided by the guide portion 172, further slowing down the passing fluid and reducing the generation of eddies, thereby reducing the risk of noise generation. The flow direction of the working medium can be referenced... Figure 7 The direction indicated by the arrow curve. Other basic structures of this embodiment or related structures that can be ported to this embodiment can be found in the previous embodiments of this application.

[0026] The embodiments described above are merely examples of several implementations of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications without departing from the inventive concept, and these modifications all fall within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An electric valve, characterized in that, The electric valve includes a valve seat assembly (12) and a valve core assembly (13). The valve seat assembly (12) includes a valve port (1211). Along the axial direction of the electric valve, the valve core assembly (13) can abut against the valve port (1211). The valve seat assembly (12) also includes a first channel (1212) and a second channel (1213). The first channel (1212) and the second channel (1213) can pass through the valve of the valve port (1211). The valve core assembly (13) has a balance channel (14) that can balance the axial pressure of the valve core assembly (13). The electric valve includes a noise reduction structure (17) that includes a blocking part (171) and / or a guide part (172). At least a portion of the blocking part (171) is located at the end of the valve core assembly (13), and the guide part (172) is located on the inner peripheral wall forming the balance channel (14).

2. The electric valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve core assembly (13) includes a main body (131), and the guide (172) is a spiral groove or a plurality of uniformly distributed axial grooves located on the inner peripheral wall of the balance channel (14), and at least part of the guide (172) extends to the end of the main body (131).

3. The electric valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The blocking part (171) is a bent structure (171A) located at the end of the valve core assembly (13), and the bent structure (171A) is bent toward the central axis L of the valve core assembly (13).

4. The electric valve according to claim 3, characterized in that, The noise reduction structure (17) includes a bent structure (171A) and a porous structure (171C), the porous structure (171C) being located in the balance channel (14), and the bent structure (171A) restricting the axial position of the porous structure (171C).

5. The electric valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The blocking part (171) is a porous structure (171C), at least a portion of the porous structure (171C) is located in the balance channel (14), and the porous structure (171C) is fixedly connected or limitedly connected to the valve core assembly (13).

6. The electric valve according to claim 3, characterized in that, The noise reduction structure (17) includes a bent structure (171A) and a cylindrical portion (171B), at least a portion of which is located in the balance channel (14), and the bent structure (171A) restricts the axial position of the cylindrical portion (171B).

7. The electric valve according to any one of claims 4-6, characterized in that, The valve core assembly (13) includes a mounting part (133), which includes a top wall (1331) and a side wall (1332). The outer peripheral wall of the blocking part (171) abuts against the side wall (1332) of the mounting part, and the upper end face of the blocking part (171) abuts against the top wall (1331) of the mounting part.

8. The electric valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The blocking part (171) includes a cylindrical part (171B), which includes an extension section (1711) and a protrusion section (1712). The extension section (1711) is located in the balance channel (14), and the protrusion section (1712) abuts against the lower end face of the valve core assembly (13). The cylindrical part (171B) is fixedly connected or limitedly connected to the valve core assembly (13).

9. The electric valve according to claim 8, characterized in that, The protruding section (1712) has a limiting step (1712a), the limiting step (1712a) has an upward-facing end face, the limiting step (1712a) abuts against the lower end face of the main body (131), the cylindrical part (171B) is press-fitted to the main body (131), and / or the cylindrical part (171B) is welded to the main body (131); the cylindrical part (171B) also includes a connecting hole (1713), the second channel (1213) and the balance channel (14) are connected through the connecting hole (1713).

10. The electric valve according to any one of claims 3-6 or 8, characterized in that, The axial height of the guide portion (172) is higher than the axial height of the blocking portion (171).

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