Electronic expansion valve and refrigeration equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses an electronic expansion valve and refrigeration equipment, and relates to the technical field of refrigeration equipment, the electronic expansion valve comprises a shell, a valve seat and a nut, an installation cavity is formed in the shell, a valve cavity is formed in the valve seat, the valve seat is welded to the shell and located at the opening of the installation cavity, and the nut is connected with the installation cavity. A limiting groove is formed in the cavity wall of the valve cavity, a limiting protrusion corresponding to the limiting groove in position is arranged on the peripheral wall of the nut, the peripheral wall of the nut is in interference fit with the interior of the cavity wall of the valve cavity, at least part of the nut is located in the installation cavity, and the limiting protrusion is limited in the limiting groove; according to the technical scheme, the production efficiency of the electronic expansion valve is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of refrigeration equipment, and in particular to an electronic expansion valve and refrigeration equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the nut of an electronic expansion valve is a component. The metal sheet and the plastic nut are pre-molded together to form the nut assembly. During installation, the metal sheet in the nut assembly is fixed to the inner wall of the valve seat by laser welding, and the outer wall step of the valve seat is fixed to the metal shell by laser welding. This requires two welding processes, which is relatively complex and reduces production efficiency. In addition, the welding heat is large, which can easily cause defects such as sample deformation. Utility Model Content

[0003] The main purpose of this invention is to propose an electronic expansion valve and a refrigeration device, which aims to improve the production efficiency of the electronic expansion valve.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the electronic expansion valve proposed in this utility model includes:

[0005] A housing having an installation cavity formed within it;

[0006] A valve seat, wherein a valve cavity is formed within the valve seat, the valve seat is welded to the housing and located at the opening of the mounting cavity, and a limiting groove is provided on the cavity wall of the valve cavity; and

[0007] The nut has a limiting protrusion on its outer peripheral wall that corresponds to the position of the limiting groove, and the nut is at least partially located in the mounting cavity, with the limiting protrusion limited to the limiting groove.

[0008] In one embodiment, the limiting protrusion has an arc-shaped cross-section along the radial direction of the nut.

[0009] In one embodiment, the outer circumferential surface of the nut is provided with a plurality of limiting protrusions at intervals, the plurality of limiting protrusions are distributed along the circumference of the nut, and the limiting groove is arranged in a ring.

[0010] In one embodiment, both the limiting protrusion and the limiting groove are annular, and the limiting protrusion is annularly disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the nut.

[0011] In one embodiment, the outer peripheral wall of the nut is interference-fitted into the cavity wall of the valve chamber.

[0012] In one embodiment, the outer peripheral wall of the valve seat is provided with a notch, and the housing is welded and fixed to the wall of the notch.

[0013] In one embodiment, the nut includes a first nut segment, a second nut segment, and a third nut segment connected in sequence. The first nut segment is located inside the mounting cavity, and the valve seat is sleeved on the outer circumferential surface of the second nut segment. The outer diameters of the first nut segment, the second nut segment, and the third nut segment are R1, R2, and R3, respectively, where R1 < R3 < R2.

[0014] In one embodiment, the second nut segment is provided with a through hole, the valve seat is provided with a valve port, the mounting cavity is connected to the valve port through the through hole, and the shortest distance from the through hole to the axis of the second nut segment is s, where s > R3.

[0015] In one embodiment, a plurality of through holes are provided, and the plurality of through holes are spaced apart along the outer circumferential direction of the nut.

[0016] In one embodiment, the valve seat and the housing are made of metal, and the nut is made of plastic.

[0017] This utility model also proposes a refrigeration device, including the electronic expansion valve as described above.

[0018] In this invention, the valve seat is welded to the housing and located at the opening of the mounting cavity. A limiting groove is provided on the wall of the valve cavity, and a limiting protrusion is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the nut. The thread is limited within the limiting groove by the limiting protrusion, thus achieving the connection of the nut. Compared to the prior art method of fixing the metal sheet in the nut assembly to the inside of the valve seat by laser welding, this invention uses the cooperation of the limiting protrusion and the limiting groove to install and fix the nut, reducing one welding step and simplifying installation, thereby improving the production efficiency of the electronic expansion valve. Furthermore, this invention eliminates the need for welding the nut, thus avoiding the problem of excessive heat during welding, reducing the probability of deformation during the processing of the electronic expansion valve, and improving the yield rate of the electronic expansion valve. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic expansion valve in an existing technical solution;

[0021] Figure 2A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electronic expansion valve provided by this utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of embodiment one of the middle nut;

[0023] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of embodiment two for the middle nut;

[0024] Figure 5 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the middle valve seat;

[0025] Figure 6 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the nut.

[0026] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0027] 10. Housing; 11. Mounting cavity; 20. Valve seat; 21. Valve cavity; 22. Limiting groove; 23. Notch groove; 24. Valve port; 30. Nut; 31. First nut section; 32. Second nut section; 321. Limiting protrusion; 322. Through hole; 33. Third nut section; 41. Valve stem; 42. Magnetic rotor; 50. Metal plate.

[0028] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this utility model will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0030] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0031] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this utility model involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0032] Reference Figure 1 Currently, the nut 30 of the existing electronic expansion valve is a component. The metal sheet 50 and the plastic nut 30 are injection molded together to form the nut 30 component in advance. During the installation process, the metal sheet 50 in the nut 30 component is fixed to the inner wall of the valve seat 20 by laser welding. The outer wall step of the valve seat 20 is then fixed to the metal shell by laser welding. This requires two welding processes, which is relatively complicated and reduces production efficiency. In addition, the welding heat is large, which can easily cause defects such as sample deformation.

[0033] Reference Figures 2 to 5 Therefore, this utility model proposes an electronic expansion valve, comprising:

[0034] Housing 10, wherein an installation cavity 11 is formed within the housing 10;

[0035] A valve seat 20, wherein a valve cavity 21 is formed within the valve seat 20, the valve seat 20 is welded to the housing 10 and located at the opening of the mounting cavity 11, and a limiting groove 22 is provided on the cavity wall of the valve cavity 21; and

[0036] Nut 30, the outer peripheral wall of nut 30 is provided with a limiting protrusion 321 corresponding to the position of the limiting groove 22, the outer peripheral wall of nut 30 is interference fit to the cavity wall of valve cavity 21, and nut 30 is at least partially located in the mounting cavity 11, the limiting protrusion 321 is limited to the limiting groove 22.

[0037] In this invention, the valve seat 20 is welded to the housing 10 and is located at the opening of the mounting cavity 11. A limiting groove 22 is provided on the cavity wall of the valve cavity 21, and a limiting protrusion 321 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the nut 30. The nut 30 is limited within the limiting groove 22 by the limiting protrusion 321, thus achieving the connection of the nut 30. Compared to the prior art solution where the metal piece 50 in the nut 30 assembly is fixed to the inside of the valve seat 20 by laser welding, this invention uses the cooperation of the limiting protrusion 321 and the limiting groove 22 to install and fix the nut 30, thereby reducing one welding process, simplifying installation, and improving the production efficiency of the electronic expansion valve. Furthermore, this invention eliminates the need for welding the nut 30, thus avoiding the problem of excessive heat during welding, reducing the probability of deformation during the processing of the electronic expansion valve, and improving the yield rate of the electronic expansion valve.

[0038] Specifically, the limiting protrusion 321 has an arc-shaped cross-section along the radial direction of the nut 30. It can be understood that the interference fit between the nut 30 and the valve seat 20 is achieved by pressing the nut 30 into the valve seat 20 through a thread. Therefore, setting the cross-section of the limiting protrusion 321 to an arc shape facilitates the pressing of the nut 30 into the valve seat 20. At the same time, it also facilitates the removal of the nut 30 from the valve seat 20 when it needs to be disassembled.

[0039] In Embodiment 1, the outer circumferential surface of the nut 30 is provided with a plurality of limiting protrusions 321 spaced apart, and the plurality of limiting protrusions 321 are distributed along the circumference of the nut 30. When the nut 30 is subjected to vibration, pressure changes, etc. during assembly or in actual operation, the nut 30 may be subjected to uneven force in a certain direction, which can easily lead to local wear or loosening. The even distribution of the plurality of limiting protrusions 321 can distribute the pressure to each protrusion, thereby improving the stability of the overall connection.

[0040] The electronic expansion valve also includes a valve stem 41 and a magnetic rotor 42. A valve port 24 is provided on the valve seat 20. The magnetic rotor 42 is fixedly connected to the valve stem 41 via connecting plates or other connecting parts. The rotation of the magnetic rotor 42 drives the valve stem 41 to rotate synchronously. A nut 30 is located within the cavity of the magnetic rotor 42, but the nut 30 is not directly connected to the magnetic rotor 42; instead, the nut 30 is screwed to the valve stem 41. When the magnetic rotor 42 rotates, the valve stem 41 moves axially through the threads in the nut 30. The valve core at the front end of the valve stem 41 engages with the valve hole on the valve seat 20. The up-and-down movement of the valve stem 41 changes the gap between the valve core and the valve hole, thereby regulating the refrigerant flow rate.

[0041] By making the limiting groove 22 annular, the installation process of the nut 30 and valve seat 20 does not require precise alignment of the limiting protrusion 321 and the limiting groove 22. The nut 30 simply needs to be compressed into the valve seat 20, simplifying the installation process and improving the production efficiency of the electronic expansion valve. Furthermore, making the limiting groove 22 annular eliminates the need for a single grooving process, significantly reducing processing complexity and time. If multiple limiting grooves 22 are spaced apart, each groove requires a grooving process. Additionally, if multiple limiting grooves 22 are spaced apart, the limiting protrusion 321 and the limiting groove 22 must be aligned before pressing the nut 30 into the valve seat 20, increasing the assembly steps between the valve seat 20 and the nut 30 and thus reducing the production efficiency of the electronic expansion valve.

[0042] In the second embodiment, both the limiting protrusion 321 and the limiting groove 22 are annular, with the limiting protrusion 321 circumferentially disposed around the outer circumferential surface of the nut 30. In this case, precise alignment of the valve seat 20 and the nut 30 is not required when the nut 30 is pressed into the valve seat 20, making the installation simple and convenient. Similarly, the limiting groove 22 does not circumferentially limit the limiting protrusion 321; the principle is the same as above and will not be repeated here.

[0043] During normal operation of the electronic expansion valve, the force on the nut 30 is mainly transmitted by the valve stem 41. That is, the motor pushes the valve stem 41 up or down through the transmission mechanism. Due to the threaded fit between the valve stem 41 and the nut 30, axial friction and pressure are generated. The friction is mainly the circumferential friction of the valve stem 41, while the pressure is the axial force of the valve stem 41. The friction is generally small, meaning that the nut 30 is mainly subjected to the axial force from the valve stem 41. Therefore, in one embodiment, the outer peripheral wall of the nut 30 is interference-fitted into the cavity wall of the valve cavity 21. This is because the limiting groove 22 mainly limits the nut 30 in the axial direction through the limiting protrusion 321, while the circumferential limiting of the nut 30 is mainly achieved through the interference fit between the nut 30 and the valve seat 20. It should be noted that the limiting protrusion 321 can also play a circumferential limiting role for the nut 30 when it is inserted into the limiting groove 22. However, in order to further improve the stability of the nut 30, the nut 30 is further interference-fitted with the valve seat 20, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the electronic expansion valve.

[0044] Specifically, the valve seat 20 has a notch 23 on its outer peripheral wall, and the housing 10 is welded and fixed to the wall of the notch 23. By providing the notch 23, the welding area between the housing 10 and the valve seat 20 is increased, thereby increasing the stability and reliability of the weld between them. Simultaneously, the notch 23 also makes the outer peripheral wall of the valve seat 20 flush with the outer peripheral wall of the housing 10, improving the sealing between them and reducing the risk of refrigerant leakage from the electronic expansion valve, thus enhancing its stability and reliability. Furthermore, the notch 23 makes the structure between the valve seat 20 and the housing 10 more compact, reducing the additional space required by the housing 10 and facilitating the miniaturization of the electronic expansion valve.

[0045] Reference Figures 3 to 6 In one embodiment, the nut 30 includes a first nut segment 31, a second nut segment 32, and a third nut segment 33 connected in sequence. The first nut segment 31 is located inside the mounting cavity 11. The valve seat 20 is sleeved on the outer circumferential surface of the second nut segment 32. The outer diameters of the first nut segment 31, the second nut segment 32, and the third nut segment 33 are R1, R2, and R3, respectively, where R1 < R3 < R2. The inner circumferential surface of the first nut segment 31 is provided with a threaded structure for threaded engagement with the external thread of the valve stem 41. Simultaneously, the outer circumferential wall of the second nut segment 32 is used for interference fit with the valve seat 20, and a limiting protrusion 321 is provided inside the second nut segment 32. The inner circumferential walls of the second nut segment 32 and the third nut segment 33 are adapted to the screw, serving to guide the screw, thereby enabling the screw to accurately seal the valve port 24 on the valve seat 20, thus achieving precise control of the refrigerant flow and opening / closing. By setting the outer diameter of the second nut section 32 to the maximum, the connection area between the nut 30 and the valve seat 20 is increased, thereby increasing the stability and reliability of the nut 30.

[0046] In one embodiment, the second nut segment 32 is provided with a through hole 322, and the valve seat 20 is provided with a valve port 24. The mounting cavity 11 is connected to the valve port 24 through the through hole 322. The shortest distance from the through hole 322 to the axis of the second nut segment 32 is s, where s > R3, thereby connecting the through hole 322 to the valve cavity 21. First, when the electronic expansion valve is working, the pressure in the inner cavity of the housing 10 and the inner cavity of the valve seat 20 may be uneven due to factors such as temperature changes. The through hole 322 allows the pressure in the mounting cavity 11 and the valve cavity 21 to be transmitted to each other, maintaining balance and preventing additional axial or radial forces from being generated on components such as the valve stem 41 and valve core due to pressure differences, affecting their normal movement and sealing performance, and ensuring the accuracy and stability of valve regulation. Second, during installation, a positioning tool can be inserted into the through hole 322 to assist in the positioning and installation of the nut 30, ensuring its correct fit with other components. During disassembly, the nut 30 can be easily separated from components such as the valve stem 41 by applying appropriate force through the through hole 322. Finally, the valve stem 41 and nut 30 require lubrication during threaded engagement. The through hole 322 serves as a channel for grease, allowing it to enter the mating area, reducing friction and wear, and extending the service life of the components. Simultaneously, the components generate heat during operation, and the through hole 322 helps dissipate this heat, preventing overheating that could lead to performance degradation or damage. If s < R3, then the through hole 322 needs to penetrate the sidewall of the third nut section 33, increasing the depth of the through hole 322 and consequently increasing the machining difficulty.

[0047] It should be noted that when the through hole 322 is used as a lubrication channel, the lubricating oil generally adheres to the surface of the parts that need to be lubricated. Its fluidity is poor, so it generally will not enter the refrigerant system through the through hole 322, valve chamber 21 and valve port 24. Of course, even if a small amount of lubricating oil enters the refrigerant system, an oil separator is generally installed in the entire refrigerant system to reduce the amount of lubricating oil and other oily substances mixed in the refrigerant system.

[0048] Specifically, multiple through holes 322 are provided, and these multiple through holes 322 are spaced apart along the outer periphery of the nut 30. By providing multiple through holes 322, the pressure balance between the valve chamber 21 and the mounting chamber 11 is increased, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the electronic expansion valve.

[0049] In one embodiment, the valve seat 20 and the housing 10 are made of metal, while the nut 30 is made of plastic. By making the valve seat 20 and housing 10 metal, the welding strength between the housing 10 and the valve seat 20 is increased, thereby increasing the connection strength between them. Furthermore, making the nut 30 plastic reduces its weight, contributing to the lightweight design of the electronic expansion valve. Simultaneously, the welding process between the valve seat 20 and the housing 10 generates a significant amount of heat; the plastic nut 30 effectively blocks heat transfer, preventing damage and aging due to overheating, thus extending the service life of the electronic expansion valve. Moreover, plastic has excellent insulation properties, preventing short circuits and other safety issues caused by contact between the internal electrical components of the electronic expansion valve and the metal valve seat 20, ensuring normal operation and safe use of the equipment. Finally, the plastic nut 30 has a certain degree of elasticity and shock absorption, reducing vibration and noise during operation of the electronic expansion valve, improving equipment stability and comfort, and reducing noise pollution.

[0050] This utility model also proposes a refrigeration device, which can be divided into compression refrigeration devices, absorption refrigeration devices, vapor jet refrigeration devices, heat pump refrigeration devices, and electric heating refrigeration devices, etc. The refrigeration device mainly includes a motor, compressor, electronic expansion valve, evaporator, condenser, accessories, and piping. Examples include refrigerators and air conditioners. The specific structure of the electronic expansion valve is as described in the above embodiments. Since the refrigeration device in this utility model adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it possesses at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0051] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of the present utility model and the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An electronic expansion valve, characterized in that, include: A housing having an installation cavity formed within it; A valve seat, wherein a valve cavity is formed within the valve seat, the valve seat is welded to the housing and located at the opening of the mounting cavity, and a limiting groove is provided on the cavity wall of the valve cavity; and The nut has a limiting protrusion on its outer peripheral wall that corresponds to the position of the limiting groove, and the nut is at least partially located in the mounting cavity, with the limiting protrusion limited to the limiting groove.

2. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting protrusion has an arc-shaped cross-section along the radial direction of the nut.

3. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer circumferential surface of the nut is provided with a plurality of limiting protrusions at intervals, the plurality of limiting protrusions are distributed along the circumference of the nut, and the limiting groove is arranged in a ring.

4. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Both the limiting protrusion and the limiting groove are annular, and the limiting protrusion is annularly disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the nut.

5. The electronic expansion valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The outer peripheral wall of the nut is interference-fitted into the cavity wall of the valve chamber.

6. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer peripheral wall of the valve seat is provided with a notch, and the housing is welded and fixed to the groove wall of the notch.

7. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The nut includes a first nut segment, a second nut segment, and a third nut segment connected in sequence. The first nut segment is located inside the mounting cavity. The valve seat is sleeved on the outer circumferential surface of the second nut segment. The outer diameters of the first nut segment, the second nut segment, and the third nut segment are R1, R2, and R3, respectively, where R1 < R3 < R2.

8. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The second nut segment has a through hole, the valve seat has a valve port, the mounting cavity is connected to the valve port through the through hole, and the shortest distance from the through hole to the axis of the second nut segment is s, where s > R3.

9. The electronic expansion valve as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The nut has multiple through holes, which are spaced apart along the outer periphery of the nut.

10. The electronic expansion valve as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The valve seat and the housing are made of metal, and the nut is made of plastic.

11. A refrigeration device, characterized in that, Includes the electronic expansion valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

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