Electrically powered valve and refrigeration appliance

Abstract

The utility model discloses an electric valve and refrigeration equipment relates to refrigeration control technical field, wherein, electric valve includes valve body subassembly and valve element subassembly, valve body subassembly includes lower valve seat, upper valve seat and casing, and the upper valve seat and lower valve seat enclose and form valve cavity, and the other end enclose and form the installation cavity with casing, and the end part recessed with guide groove of upper valve seat to valve mouth, and the first intercommunication channel of intercommunication installation cavity and guide groove, valve element subassembly includes the valve element of installable activity in guide groove, and valve element has lower limit position and upper limit position, and the second intercommunication channel is arranged on valve element subassembly, through setting the first intercommunication channel and the second intercommunication channel of mutual cooperation between valve element subassembly and upper valve seat, through spacing structure, make valve element still can keep the air pressure intercommunication between installation cavity and valve cavity when in upper limit position, thereby effectively avoid the valve element dithering problem caused by the instantaneous pressure difference release of valve element separation upper valve seat in traditional structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of refrigeration control technology, and in particular to an electric valve and a refrigeration device. Background Technology

[0002] In existing electronic expansion valve structures, to achieve pressure balance of the valve core as it moves towards or away from the valve port, a fluid channel is typically provided between the valve core and the upper valve seat. This structural design ensures that the mounting cavity (used to house the drive assembly) formed by the upper valve seat and valve body maintains air pressure communication with the valve cavity formed between the upper and lower valve seats, thereby reducing resistance changes caused by pressure differences on both sides of the valve core during movement and improving control accuracy.

[0003] However, in practical applications, it has been found that when the valve core moves to its upper limit position, and the valve needs to close, at the moment the valve core begins to move downwards away from the upper valve seat, there is a problem of valve core jitter, which affects the stability and reliability of the valve closing action. This problem, to some extent, limits the application performance of electronic expansion valves in high-precision flow control applications. Therefore, there is an urgent need to propose an improved structural solution to solve the valve core jitter problem in existing technologies and improve the smoothness and response characteristics of the valve opening and closing process. Utility Model Content

[0004] The main purpose of this invention is to propose an electric valve and a refrigeration device, which aims to solve the problem of valve core vibration that occurs at the moment of valve closing stroke in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the electric valve proposed in this utility model includes:

[0006] The valve body assembly includes a lower valve seat, an upper valve seat, and a housing. The upper valve seat and the lower valve seat enclose a valve cavity, and the other end of the upper valve seat encloses the housing to form a mounting cavity. The lower valve seat is provided with a valve port, and the end of the upper valve seat facing the valve port is recessed with a guide groove and a first communicating channel connecting the mounting cavity and the guide groove.

[0007] A valve core assembly includes a valve core movably mounted in the guide groove in a direction approaching and away from the valve port, having a lower limit position for closing the valve port and an upper limit position away from the valve port. The valve core assembly is provided with a second communication channel, wherein in the upper limit position, the second communication channel is capable of communicating with the first communication channel and the valve cavity.

[0008] A limiting structure is provided between the valve core and the upper valve seat. The limiting structure is used to limit the valve core to the upper limit position when the valve core moves from the lower limit position to the upper limit position.

[0009] In one embodiment, the valve core extends at least partially out of the guide groove;

[0010] The limiting structure includes a first limiting protrusion disposed on the outer side wall of the valve core. The first limiting protrusion is located outside the guide groove and is used to cooperate with the lower end face of the upper valve seat to stop the valve core when it moves away from the valve port, so as to limit the valve core to the upper limit position.

[0011] In one embodiment, at the upper limit position, a cavity is defined between the valve core and the inner wall of the guide groove;

[0012] The first connecting channel connects the mounting cavity and the empty cavity, and the second connecting channel connects the empty cavity and the valve cavity.

[0013] In one embodiment, both end faces of the first limiting protrusion and the upper valve seat that mutually stop each other are set as planes.

[0014] In one embodiment, the two mating surfaces of the first limiting protrusion and the upper valve seat that mutually stop each other are set as annular, and the annular width of the abutting area of ​​the mating surfaces is W, 0.35mm≤W≤2mm.

[0015] In one embodiment, at least one of the two end faces of the first limiting protrusion and the upper valve seat that mutually stop each other is configured as a curved surface.

[0016] In one embodiment, the bottom of the guide groove is provided with a mounting hole extending along the axis of the upper valve seat;

[0017] The electric valve further includes a rotor assembly mounted in the mounting cavity, the rotor assembly including a rotor and a lead screw connected to the rotor, the lead screw extending from the end of the mounting hole away from the valve port into the mounting hole; and,

[0018] The valve core assembly also includes a nut installed at one end of the valve core. The nut extends into the mounting hole and is threaded into the lead screw. When the lead screw rotates, the nut can drive the valve core to move along its axial direction in the direction approaching and away from the valve port.

[0019] In one embodiment, the valve core is recessed at the end opposite to the nut, and a through hole is provided at the bottom of the recess.

[0020] The nut passes through the through hole, and a second limiting protrusion is provided on the outer side wall of one end of the nut located in the receiving groove. The second limiting protrusion is used to limit the axial movement of the nut and is movably disposed relative to the valve core.

[0021] The valve core assembly also includes a spring and a limiting sleeve disposed in the receiving groove. The spring is disposed between the limiting sleeve and the spring, and the spring is used to provide a reverse force when the nut moves toward the groove opening of the receiving groove.

[0022] In one embodiment, the limiting sleeve has a limiting groove recessed at one end facing the spring, and the spring is installed in the limiting groove.

[0023] In one embodiment, a first connecting hole is provided through the bottom of the limiting groove;

[0024] A first communicating groove is defined between the outer wall of the nut and the hole wall of the valve core, and the first communicating groove connects the cavity and the limiting groove.

[0025] The second connecting channel includes the first connecting hole, the limiting groove, and the first connecting slot.

[0026] In one embodiment, the second limiting protrusion is arranged in a ring shape, and at least one venting groove is provided on the second limiting protrusion. The first connecting groove includes the through hole and the venting groove.

[0027] In one embodiment, the limiting groove includes a first groove segment and a second groove segment arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside. The second groove segment is arranged to expand outward in a direction away from the first groove segment so as to make way when the nut moves toward the groove opening of the limiting groove.

[0028] In one embodiment, the inner wall of the mounting hole is provided with an anti-rotation part, and the outer wall of the nut is provided with a mating part that engages with the anti-rotation part to restrict the circumferential rotation of the nut.

[0029] This utility model also proposes a refrigeration device, which includes an electric valve, the electric valve comprising:

[0030] The valve body assembly includes a lower valve seat, an upper valve seat, and a housing. The upper valve seat and the lower valve seat enclose a valve cavity, and the other end of the upper valve seat encloses the housing to form a mounting cavity. The lower valve seat is provided with a valve port, and the end of the upper valve seat facing the valve port is recessed with a guide groove and a first communicating channel connecting the mounting cavity and the guide groove.

[0031] A valve core assembly includes a valve core movably mounted in the guide groove in a direction approaching and away from the valve port, having a lower limit position for closing the valve port and an upper limit position away from the valve port. The valve core assembly is provided with a second communication channel, wherein in the upper limit position, the second communication channel is capable of communicating with the first communication channel and the valve cavity.

[0032] A limiting structure is provided between the valve core and the upper valve seat. The limiting structure is used to limit the valve core to the upper limit position when the valve core moves from the lower limit position to the upper limit position.

[0033] In one embodiment, the refrigeration equipment includes an air conditioner.

[0034] In the technical solution of this utility model, by setting a first connecting channel and a second connecting channel that cooperate with each other between the valve core assembly and the upper valve seat, and by using a limiting structure, the air pressure between the mounting cavity and the valve cavity can still be maintained when the valve core is in the upper limit position. This effectively avoids the valve core vibration problem caused by the release of pressure difference when the valve core is separated from the upper valve seat in the traditional structure, and improves the stability and response accuracy of the valve closing process. Attached Figure Description

[0035] 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.

[0036] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electric valve provided by this utility model with the valve core located at the lower limit position;

[0037] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electric valve provided by this utility model with the valve core in the upper limit position;

[0038] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Assembly diagram of the upper valve seat and lead screw;

[0039] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Assembly diagram of the middle valve core assembly;

[0040] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the middle valve core assembly;

[0041] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the nut structure.

[0042] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0043] 100. Electric valve; 10. Valve body assembly; 11. Lower valve seat; 11a. Valve port; 12. Upper valve seat; 12a. Guide groove; 12b. First connecting channel; 12c. Mounting hole; 121. Anti-rotation part; 13. Housing; a. Valve cavity; b. Mounting cavity; 20. Valve core assembly; 20a. Second connecting channel; 21. Valve core; 211. First limiting protrusion; 21a. Receiving groove; 21b. Through hole; c. Cavity; 22. Nut; 221. Second limiting protrusion; 221a. Vent groove; 222. Mating part; 23. Spring; 24. Limiting sleeve; 24a. Limiting groove; 24a1. First groove segment; 24a2. Second groove segment; 24b. First connecting hole; 24c. First connecting groove; 30. Rotor assembly; 31. Rotor; 32. Lead screw.

[0044] 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

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] In existing technology, when the valve core moves to its upper limit position, its top end abuts against the end face of the upper valve seat to limit its further upward movement. At this time, a relatively closed chamber is formed between the outer peripheral wall of the valve core and the inner wall of the upper valve seat. This chamber is isolated from the valve cavity, creating a pressure difference between the two. When the valve needs to close and the valve core begins to move downward away from the upper valve seat, this pressure difference is rapidly released, applying a momentary impact force to the valve core, thereby causing valve core vibration and affecting the stability and reliability of the valve closing action. The above problems limit the application performance of electronic expansion valves in high-precision flow control applications to a certain extent. Therefore, it is urgent to propose an improved structural solution to solve the pressure imbalance and the resulting valve core vibration problem in existing technology, and improve the smoothness and response characteristics of the valve opening and closing process.

[0049] This utility model proposes an electric valve to solve the problem of valve core vibration that occurs at the moment of valve closing stroke in the prior art.

[0050] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment of this utility model, the electric valve 100 includes a valve body assembly 10 and a valve core assembly 20. The valve body assembly 10 includes a lower valve seat 11, an upper valve seat 12, and a housing 13. The upper valve seat 12 and the lower valve seat 11 enclose a valve cavity a, and the other end encloses the housing 13 to form a mounting cavity b. The lower valve seat 11 is provided with a valve port 11a, and the end of the upper valve seat 12 facing the valve port 11a is recessed with a guide groove 12a and a first communicating channel 12b connecting the mounting cavity b and the guide groove 12a. The valve core assembly 20 includes a valve core 21, which is located near and away from the valve. The valve port 11a is movably mounted in the guide groove 12a to have a lower limit position for closing the valve port 11a and an upper limit position away from the valve port 11a. The valve core assembly 20 is provided with a second communication channel 20a. In the upper limit position, the second communication channel 20a can connect the first communication channel 12b and the valve cavity a. A limiting structure is provided between the valve core 21 and the upper valve seat 12. The limiting structure is used to limit the valve core 21 to the upper limit position when the valve core 21 moves from the lower limit position to the upper limit position.

[0051] It is understood that the valve body assembly 10 includes a lower valve seat 11, an upper valve seat 12, and a housing 13. The upper valve seat 12 and the lower valve seat 11 enclose a valve cavity a for controlling the flow of fluid. The other end of the upper valve seat 12 and the housing 13 enclose a mounting cavity b for mounting a drive component. The lower valve seat 11 is provided with a valve port 11a for fluid flow. The upper valve seat 12 is recessed with a guide groove 12a at one end facing the valve port 11a. A first connecting channel 12b is provided on the side wall or bottom wall of the guide groove 12a, which connects the mounting cavity b with the inside of the guide groove 12a.

[0052] The valve core assembly 20 includes a valve core 21, which can slide in a guide groove 12a in a direction close to or away from the valve port 11a, thereby having a lower limit position that closes the valve port 11a and an upper limit position that is away from the valve port 11a. The valve core assembly 20 is also provided with a second connecting channel 20a. When the valve core 21 moves to the upper limit position, the second connecting channel 20a can connect with the first connecting channel 12b, thereby realizing the air pressure balance between the mounting cavity b and the valve cavity a, so as to reduce the influence of the pressure difference on the valve core 21 during the movement on the stability of the action.

[0053] It should be noted that during the movement of the valve core 21 from the lower limit position to the upper limit position, regardless of its position, the second connecting channel 20a always remains connected to the first connecting channel 12b. Alternatively, in some embodiments, even at the upper limit position, a cavity c is formed between the valve core 21 and the upper valve seat 12, and the second connecting channel 20a is indirectly connected to the first connecting channel 12b through this cavity c. This ensures that the gas flow path between the mounting cavity b and the valve cavity a is unobstructed. At the moment when the valve core 21 begins to move downward away from the upper valve seat 12, the air pressure remains balanced, avoiding the problem of valve core 21 shaking due to sudden release of pressure difference.

[0054] In addition, to ensure that the valve core 21 can stay stably in the upper limit position, the present invention also provides a limiting structure between the valve core 21 and the upper valve seat 12. The limiting structure can position the valve core 21 when it moves to the upper limit position, preventing it from leaving the upper limit position in advance due to vibration or other external forces.

[0055] It should be noted that the limiting structure can take various forms. For example, in one embodiment, the limiting structure includes a limiting protrusion on the top of the valve core 21 and a limiting groove on the end face of the upper valve seat 12. The two engage with each other when the valve core 21 reaches the upper limit position to achieve the limiting function. In another embodiment, the limiting structure can also be a magnetic adsorption structure. For example, a permanent magnet can be provided at the top of the valve core 21, and a magnetic attractor can be provided at the corresponding position on the upper valve seat 12. The valve core 21 can be stably held in the upper limit position by magnetic force. All of the above limiting forms can effectively improve the stability of the valve core 21 in the upper limit position, and at the same time, they can be selected and adjusted according to actual application requirements.

[0056] The electric valve 100 provided by this utility model provides a first connecting channel 12b and a second connecting channel 20a that cooperate with each other between the valve core assembly 20 and the upper valve seat 12. Through the limiting structure, the valve core 21 can still maintain the air pressure connection between the mounting cavity b and the valve cavity a when it is in the upper limit position. This effectively avoids the valve core 21 shaking problem caused by the release of pressure difference when the valve core 21 is separated from the upper valve seat 12 in the traditional structure, and improves the smoothness and response accuracy of the valve closing process.

[0057] In this embodiment, please continue to refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The valve core 21 extends at least partially out of the guide groove 12a; the limiting structure includes a first limiting protrusion 211 disposed on the outer side wall of the valve core 21. The first limiting protrusion 211 is located outside the guide groove 12a and is used to cooperate with the lower end face of the upper valve seat 12 to stop the valve core 21 when it moves away from the valve port 11a, so as to limit the valve core 21 to the upper limit position.

[0058] The valve core 21 extends at least partially out of the guide groove 12a to achieve a limiting engagement with the upper valve seat 12 when it is in the upper limit position. The limiting structure includes a first limiting protrusion 211 disposed on the outer wall of the valve core 21. The first limiting protrusion 211 is located outside the guide groove 12a. During the movement of the valve core 21 toward the upper limit position, when the valve core 21 reaches the predetermined position, the first limiting protrusion 211 can make a stop contact with the lower end face of the upper valve seat 12, thereby limiting the valve core 21 from moving further upward and keeping it stably in the upper limit position.

[0059] Specifically, when the valve core 21 is in the upper limit position, a mechanical limiting structure is formed between the first limiting protrusion 211 and the lower end face of the upper valve seat 12. This limiting cooperation prevents the valve core 21 from deviating from the set position due to external vibration or fluid impact, while ensuring that the valve core 21 maintains a stable high position without being driven by force, providing an accurate starting position basis for subsequent valve opening or closing actions.

[0060] The design of the above-mentioned limiting structure is not only simple and easy to manufacture, but also exhibits good limiting reliability and action consistency in actual operation, making it particularly suitable for the use of electric valve 100 under frequent opening and closing conditions.

[0061] By setting the first limiting protrusion 211 on the outer wall of the valve core 21 and arranging it outside the guide groove 12a, the limiting effect occurs outside the guide groove 12a, avoiding interference with the sliding process of the valve core 21 within the guide groove 12a, thereby ensuring the smoothness of the valve core 21's movement and the guiding accuracy. Furthermore, this limiting method achieves reliable limiting function without additional power components, helping to simplify the overall structure and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0062] Specifically, in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 At the upper limit position, a cavity c is defined between the valve core 21 and the inner wall of the guide groove 12a; the first connecting channel 12b connects the mounting cavity b and the cavity c, and the second connecting channel 20a connects the cavity c and the valve cavity a.

[0063] When the valve core 21 moves to the upper limit position, a cavity c structure is defined between its outer wall and the inner wall of the guide groove 12a. The cavity c can be the gap formed between the top of the valve core 21 and the bottom of the guide groove 12a, or it can be an annular area or circumferential gap located between the top of the valve core 21 and the bottom surface of the guide groove 12a. The specific shape can be adapted to the mating structure of the valve core 21 and the upper valve seat 12.

[0064] Based on this, the first connecting channel 12b is set on the upper valve seat 12 and connects the mounting cavity b with the cavity c, while the second connecting channel 20a is set on the valve core assembly 20 to connect the cavity c with the valve cavity a, thereby forming a complete gas flow path between the mounting cavity b, the cavity c and the valve cavity a, and realizing the gas pressure balance among the three.

[0065] Compared to the direct alignment of the first connecting channel 12b and the second connecting channel 20a, using the cavity c as an intermediate transition channel is more flexible and easier to implement in terms of structural design and manufacturing process. This is especially true when the valve core 21 has a complex shape or requires multi-directional sealing, thus avoiding the increased manufacturing difficulty and cost caused by excessively high channel alignment accuracy requirements.

[0066] With the above structure, even when the valve core 21 is in its upper limit position, and there is a certain contact pressure or assembly deviation between it and the upper valve seat 12, effective communication between the first connecting channel 12b and the second connecting channel 20a can still be achieved through the cavity c, ensuring the stable operation of the air pressure balance function. Simultaneously, the presence of the cavity c makes the gas flow more uniform, reducing the vibration problem of the valve core 21 that may be caused by local airflow disturbances, further improving the smoothness and response performance during valve closing.

[0067] In addition, this design also helps to simplify the channel arrangement between the valve core 21 and the upper valve seat 12, and reduce the impact of assembly errors on the air circuit connectivity.

[0068] In the first embodiment, both end faces of the first limiting protrusion 211 and the upper valve seat 12 that stop each other are set as planes.

[0069] When the valve core 21 moves to the upper limit position, the first limiting protrusion 211 provided on its outer side wall engages with the lower end face of the upper valve seat 12 to stop the valve core 21 in that direction.

[0070] To improve the stability and uniformity of the limiting fit, the two end faces of the first limiting protrusion 211 and the upper valve seat 12 that are in contact with each other are both constructed as planar structures, so that when they are in contact, they can form a surface-to-surface fit, rather than point contact or line contact, thereby significantly improving the load-bearing capacity and force balance during the limiting process.

[0071] Using a flat surface as the stop mating surface effectively avoids problems such as unevenness, jamming, or wear caused by uneven contact surfaces or insufficient contact area when the valve core 21 is pushed by the drive component or subjected to external vibration. This helps extend the service life of the components and improve the reliability of valve operation. In addition, the flat structure is easier to process and assemble than curved or other complex shapes, which can reduce manufacturing costs while ensuring limit accuracy, making it particularly suitable for quality control requirements under mass production conditions.

[0072] By setting the stop mating surface to a plane, the response consistency at the moment of limit can be further improved, so that the valve core 21 can obtain a stable positioning effect each time it reaches the upper limit position, thereby providing an accurate initial state for subsequent opening or closing actions and enhancing the overall controllability and stability of the electric valve 100.

[0073] Specifically, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 In this embodiment, the two mating surfaces of the first limiting protrusion 211 and the upper valve seat 12 that stop each other are set as annular, and the annular width of the abutting area of ​​the mating surfaces is W, 0.35mm≤W≤2mm.

[0074] The two mating surfaces of the first limiting protrusion 211 and the upper valve seat 12 that stop each other are set as annular structures. The annular mating surfaces are evenly distributed around the axis of the valve core 21, so that the limiting action occurs synchronously in the entire circumferential direction, thereby further improving the uniformity of force and the stability of action during the limiting process.

[0075] The circumferential width of the mating area of ​​the mating surfaces is W, and it satisfies the size range of 0.35mm≤W≤2mm. Within this range, it can ensure that the first limiting protrusion 211 and the upper valve seat 12 have sufficient contact area to withstand the impact force and positioning pressure generated during the limiting process, ensuring the limiting stability and structural strength. At the same time, it can minimize the relative sliding friction between the valve core 21 and the valve core 22 when the valve core 21 performs the valve closing action, that is, when it moves downward from the upper limit position and is accompanied by a certain rotational action, so as to avoid affecting the response speed of the valve core 21 or increasing the load on the drive components due to excessive friction.

[0076] If the ring width W is too small, it may result in insufficient contact area, causing local stress concentration on the limiting mating surface when subjected to limiting impact, reducing the durability and reliability of the limiting structure; at the same time, it will also weaken the stability of the limiting fit, which may easily cause the valve core 21 to shift or rebound in the limiting position.

[0077] However, if the ring width W is too large, it will significantly increase the contact area and friction between the mating surfaces. When the valve core 21 disengages from the limiting state, it needs to overcome greater resistance, which not only affects the valve's instantaneous closing response but may also cause additional energy consumption or even jamming of the drive components. Therefore, controlling the ring width within the aforementioned preferred range can achieve a good balance between the limiting function and motion performance, which is beneficial to improving the overall smoothness, response speed, and service life of the electric valve 100.

[0078] To improve the response sensitivity and motion performance during the limiting process, in another embodiment, at least one of the two end faces of the first limiting protrusion 211 and the upper valve seat 12 that stop each other is set as a curved surface.

[0079] It should be noted that the two end faces are set as curved surfaces, such as arc surfaces or conical surfaces, so that they form a line contact rather than a surface contact when they are in limiting contact. Since the contact area of ​​the line contact is relatively small, the frictional force generated at the moment of limiting is also reduced accordingly. This not only helps to reduce the resistance that the valve core 21 needs to overcome when it is out of the limiting state and improves the action response speed, but also effectively reduces the additional load on the drive components caused by excessive friction.

[0080] Specifically, in the structure where the electric valve 100 uses a threaded transmission mechanism to drive the valve core 21 to move up and down, when there is a large frictional force between the limiting mating surfaces, it will be transmitted to the threaded pair through the valve core 21, manifesting as a reverse locking torque, which affects the smoothness of the threaded transmission and the control accuracy of the drive motor. However, by setting at least one stop end face as a curved surface, the two maintain a low frictional force during the limiting process, thereby significantly reducing the additional locking effect on the threaded pair, which helps to improve the smoothness of the transmission system's operation and the stability of its control.

[0081] In addition, this design helps to mitigate the effects of assembly errors. Even with slight eccentricity or axial deviation, it can still ensure the reliable implementation of the limiting function, while avoiding localized wear or structural damage caused by concentrated contact stress.

[0082] Specifically, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the bottom of the guide groove 12a is provided with a mounting hole 12c extending along the axis of the upper valve seat 12; the electric valve 100 also includes a rotor assembly 30 installed in the mounting cavity b, the rotor assembly 30 including a rotor 31 and a lead screw 32 connected to the rotor 31, the lead screw 32 extending from the end of the mounting hole 12c away from the valve port 11a into the mounting hole 12c; the valve core assembly 20 also includes a nut 22 installed at one end of the valve core 21, the nut 22 extending into the mounting hole 12c and threadedly engaging with the lead screw 32, so that when the lead screw 32 rotates, the nut 22 can drive the valve core 21 to move along its axial direction in the direction approaching and away from the valve port 11a.

[0083] The lead screw 32 only rotates without axial movement; the axial displacement is handled solely by the nut 22. This transmission method not only simplifies the overall structure and improves transmission efficiency, but more importantly, it ensures that the rotor 31 maintains a constant relative position with the peripheral coil assembly throughout the entire operation, thereby guaranteeing a highly stable magnetic field distribution and force generated by the electromagnetic system. Compared to the traditional method of using the lead screw 32 to move up and down, this design avoids magnetic circuit misalignment or electromagnetic force fluctuations caused by changes in the position of the lead screw 32, contributing to improved control accuracy and response consistency of the electric valve 100 during continuous adjustment. Furthermore, since the lead screw 32 does not participate in axial movement, its cooperation with the bearings or support structures is more stable, further enhancing the smoothness of the transmission system's operation and its service life.

[0084] Furthermore, to improve the sealing stability of the valve core assembly 20 in the closed state, especially to address the sealing failure issue that may occur due to material thermal expansion and contraction under high-temperature conditions, in this embodiment, please refer to... Figure 4 and Figure 5 The valve core 21 has a recessed receiving groove 21a at one end away from the nut 22, and a through hole 21b is provided at the bottom of the receiving groove 21a; the nut 22 passes through the through hole 21b, and a limiting protrusion is provided on the outer side wall of the end of the nut 22 located inside the receiving groove 21a. The limiting protrusion is used to limit the axial movement of the nut 22 and is movably disposed relative to the valve core 21; the valve core assembly 20 also includes a spring 23 and a limiting sleeve 24 disposed in the receiving groove 21a. The spring 23 is disposed between the limiting sleeve 24 and the nut 22, and the spring 23 is used to provide a reverse force when the nut 22 moves toward the groove opening of the receiving groove 21a.

[0085] Understandably, a receiving groove 21a is recessed at the end of the valve core 21 facing away from the nut 22, and a through hole 21b is formed through the bottom of the receiving groove 21a for the nut 22 to pass through. After the nut 22 passes through the through hole 21b, a limiting protrusion is provided on the outer wall of the end of the nut 22 located in the receiving groove 21a. This limiting protrusion limits the axial movement range of the nut 22 on the valve core 21 on the one hand, and allows the nut 22 to undergo axial displacement relative to the valve core 21 within a certain range on the other hand.

[0086] In addition, the valve core assembly 20 also includes a spring 23 and a limiting sleeve 24. The spring 23 is disposed between the limiting sleeve 24 and the nut 22 and is located inside the receiving groove 21a. When the nut 22 drives the valve core 21 to move toward the valve port 11a and completes the closing action, the spring 23 is compressed to store elastic potential energy and applies a force to the nut 22 that is always toward the valve port 11a, so that the valve core 21 can fit more tightly against the periphery of the valve port 11a and improve the sealing performance.

[0087] This structural design is particularly suitable for electric valve applications in high-temperature environments. In existing technologies, when an electric valve is in the closed state and experiences a high-temperature environment, the valve port (usually made of plastic material) may expand due to heat, pushing the valve core assembly upwards and causing a small gap to appear in the originally closed valve port. After the temperature returns to normal, the valve port material shrinks, but due to the gap between the threaded joint between the lead screw and the nut, the valve core assembly may not be able to automatically return to the initial closed position, resulting in poor sealing or even leakage.

[0088] In this invention, since the spring 23 is always in a compressed state during the closing process of the valve core assembly 20, it can provide continuous preload under any temperature change conditions. This not only helps to enhance the sealing pressure between the valve core 21 and the valve port 11a under normal conditions, but also automatically compensates for the displacement deviation caused by the threaded pair clearance through the elastic restoring force of the spring 23 after high temperature retraction, so that the valve core 21 always maintains good contact with the periphery of the valve port 11a, ensuring stable and reliable sealing performance.

[0089] Furthermore, in order to improve the assembly accuracy and stress stability of the spring 23 within the receiving groove 21a, and to prevent it from shifting, tilting, or even dislodging during compression or rebound, thereby affecting the sealing performance and action response of the valve core assembly 20, in this embodiment, please refer to... Figure 4 The limiting sleeve 24 has a limiting groove 24a recessed at one end facing the spring 23, and the spring 23 is installed in the limiting groove 24a.

[0090] It should be noted that the shape and size of the limiting groove 24a are adapted to most of the structure along the length of the spring 23, allowing one end of the spring 23 to be embedded and stably installed within the limiting groove 24a. The limiting groove 24a not only serves to axially position the spring 23, preventing unnecessary displacement during assembly or operation, but also provides a certain guiding function when the spring 23 undergoes compression deformation, ensuring that it is evenly stressed along a predetermined direction, thereby improving the stability and consistency of elastic force transmission.

[0091] The design of the limiting groove 24a simplifies the assembly process of the spring 23, allowing operators to quickly position and install the spring 23 without the need for additional tools, thus improving overall assembly efficiency and product consistency. Compared to existing technologies where the spring 23 may be freely placed or rely on external structural constraints, this invention directly positions and guides the spring 23 through the limiting groove 24a on the limiting sleeve 24. This results in a compact structure with a clear function, significantly improving the sealing stability and responsiveness of the electric valve 100 during long-term operation.

[0092] Specifically, in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The bottom of the limiting groove 24a is provided with a first connecting hole 24b; the outer wall of the nut 22 and the hole wall of the valve core 21 define a first connecting groove 24c, which connects the cavity c and the limiting groove 24a; the second connecting channel 20a includes the first connecting hole 24b, the limiting groove 24a and the first connecting groove 24c.

[0093] It should be noted that the first connecting groove 24c connects the cavity c to the limiting groove 24a, so that the gas can enter the limiting groove 24a through the cavity c, the first connecting groove 24c, and the first connecting hole 24b in sequence, and finally connect with the valve cavity a, so as to achieve the gas pressure balance between the mounting cavity b, the cavity c and the valve cavity a.

[0094] The first connecting hole 24b, the limiting groove 24a, and the first connecting groove 24c together constitute the specific structural form of the second connecting channel 20a. Its design is not only compact and easy to process, but also ensures that the gas flow path remains unobstructed during the movement of the valve core 21, effectively avoiding pressure imbalance caused by local blockage or structural interference.

[0095] By specifically constructing the second connecting channel 20a as a composite air passage structure consisting of the first connecting hole 24b, the limiting groove 24a and the first connecting groove 24c, a reliable air pressure balance function can be achieved by making full use of the existing fitting clearance and structural features inside the valve core assembly 20 without adding extra complex processing technology.

[0096] Specifically, in this embodiment, please refer to Figure 6 The second limiting protrusion 221 is arranged in a ring shape, and at least one vent groove 221a is provided on the second limiting protrusion 221. The first connecting groove 24c includes the through hole 21b and the vent groove 221a.

[0097] The second limiting protrusion 221 is configured as an annular structure surrounding the outer wall of the nut 22. This structure can provide a stable and uniform stopping and limiting effect on the upward movement of the nut 22 in its axial direction, avoiding the phenomenon of deflection or jamming caused by uneven local force, thereby improving the reliability and repeatability of the limiting action.

[0098] Furthermore, at least one vent groove 221a is provided through the annular structure. This vent groove 221a is used to realize the gas flow function between the through hole 21b and the limiting groove 24a, thereby providing a smooth air path for the entire air pressure balance system. The vent groove 221a can take various forms, such as a through hole structure that directly penetrates the thickness direction of the second limiting protrusion 221, or a groove-shaped structure that extends circumferentially and passes through both ends while also laterally penetrating its outer wall. The specific form can be selected according to the processing technology and spatial layout requirements.

[0099] By providing a vent groove 221a on the second limiting protrusion 221, not only is the limiting function achieved, but the need for air passage connectivity is also effectively taken into account, allowing gas to flow smoothly between the various chambers inside the valve core assembly 20, thereby maintaining the pressure balance between the mounting chamber b, the cavity c, and the valve chamber a. Especially when the valve core 21 is in the upper limit position, even if a closed chamber is formed between the valve core 21 and the upper valve seat 12, the air pressure can still be maintained through the air passage formed by the vent groove 221a, preventing vibration that occurs when the valve core 21 detaches from the upper valve seat 12 due to pressure difference release.

[0100] Further, please refer to Figure 4 In this embodiment, the limiting groove 24a includes a first groove segment 24a1 and a second groove segment 24a2 arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside. The second groove segment 24a2 is arranged outward in a direction away from the first groove segment 24a1 to make way when the nut 22 moves toward the groove opening of the limiting groove 24a.

[0101] The limiting groove 24a includes a first groove segment 24a1 and a second groove segment 24a2 arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside. The first groove segment 24a1 is located close to the spring 23 to achieve stable installation of the end of the spring 23. The second groove segment 24a2 has an outward expansion structure in the direction away from the first groove segment 24a1, that is, its cross-sectional area gradually increases along the groove depth direction to provide sufficient room for the nut 22 to move towards the groove opening of the limiting groove 24a, so as to avoid affecting the smooth movement of the valve core assembly 20 due to structural interference.

[0102] Specifically, when the nut 22 moves upward driven by the lead screw 32, the part of it that enters the limiting groove 24a will gradually approach the groove opening as it moves. At this time, the second groove section 24a2 in the form of outward expansion can effectively provide clearance space to prevent jamming or increased resistance caused by insufficient fitting clearance, thereby ensuring the smooth operation and consistent response of the valve core assembly 20 throughout the entire stroke range.

[0103] Furthermore, to ensure that when the lead screw 32 rotates relative to the nut 22, the nut 22 only produces linear motion along its axial direction to drive the valve core 21 to open or close the valve port 11a, and to avoid transmission failure or control instability caused by the nut 22's own circumferential rotation, in this embodiment, please refer to... Figure 3 and Figure 6 The inner wall of the mounting hole 12c is provided with an anti-rotation part 121, and the outer wall of the nut 22 is provided with a mating part 222 that engages with the anti-rotation part 121 to restrict the circumferential rotation of the nut 22.

[0104] An anti-rotation part 121 is provided on the inner wall of the mounting hole 12c, and correspondingly, a mating part 222 that mates with the anti-rotation part 121 is provided on the outer wall of the nut 22. This anti-rotation mating structure can effectively restrict the circumferential degree of freedom of the nut 22 after assembly, so that it can only move axially under the guidance of the guide groove 12a.

[0105] Specifically, the anti-rotation part 121 can be one or more limiting protrusions protruding from a local area of ​​the inner wall of the mounting hole 12c, while the mating part 222 is a groove or planar structure correspondingly provided on the outer wall of the nut 22. The two are adapted to each other to form an anti-rotation mating relationship.

[0106] As another implementation, the cross-sectional shape of at least one segment of the mounting hole 12c can be designed to be non-circular, such as an elongated hole or other irregularly shaped hole with a limiting function. Correspondingly, the outer peripheral part of the nut 22 that mates with the segment of the hole is also machined to match the cross-sectional shape, so that the nut 22 cannot rotate around its own axis after being inserted into the mounting hole 12c, but can still slide freely along the axial direction of the hole.

[0107] Through the design of the anti-rotation structure, during the operation of the electric valve 100, when the lead screw 32 rotates under the drive of the motor, the nut 22 cannot rotate synchronously due to the restriction of the anti-rotation structure. Therefore, it can only move along the axial direction under the drive of the lead screw 32, thereby pushing or pulling the valve core 21 to make linear reciprocating motion in the guide groove 12a, so as to achieve precise control of the opening degree of the valve port 11a.

[0108] This utility model also proposes a refrigeration device, which can be an air conditioner or a refrigerator, etc. The refrigeration device includes a heat exchanger and an electric valve 100. The specific structure of the electric valve 100 is as described in the above embodiments. Since this refrigeration device adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0109] 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 electric valve, characterized in that, include: The valve body assembly includes a lower valve seat, an upper valve seat, and a housing. The upper valve seat and the lower valve seat enclose a valve cavity, and the other end of the upper valve seat encloses the housing to form a mounting cavity. The lower valve seat is provided with a valve port, and the end of the upper valve seat facing the valve port is recessed with a guide groove and a first communicating channel connecting the mounting cavity and the guide groove. A valve core assembly includes a valve core movably mounted in the guide groove in a direction approaching and away from the valve port, having a lower limit position for closing the valve port and an upper limit position away from the valve port. The valve core assembly is provided with a second communication channel, wherein in the upper limit position, the second communication channel is capable of communicating with the first communication channel and the valve cavity. A limiting structure is provided between the valve core and the upper valve seat. The limiting structure is used to limit the valve core to the upper limit position when the valve core moves from the lower limit position to the upper limit position.

2. The electric valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The valve core extends at least partially out of the guide groove; The limiting structure includes a first limiting protrusion disposed on the outer side wall of the valve core. The first limiting protrusion is located outside the guide groove and is used to cooperate with the lower end face of the upper valve seat to stop the valve core when it moves away from the valve port, so as to limit the valve core to the upper limit position.

3. The electric valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that, At the upper limit position, a cavity is defined between the valve core and the inner wall of the guide groove; The first connecting channel connects the mounting cavity and the empty cavity, and the second connecting channel connects the empty cavity and the valve cavity.

4. The electric valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Both end faces of the first limiting protrusion and the upper valve seat that stop each other are set as planes.

5. The electric valve as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The two mating surfaces of the first limiting protrusion and the upper valve seat are set as annular, and the annular width of the abutting area of ​​the mating surfaces is W, 0.35mm≤W≤2mm.

6. The electric valve as described in claim 2, characterized in that, At least one of the two end faces of the first limiting protrusion and the upper valve seat that stop each other is set as a curved surface.

7. The electric valve according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The bottom of the guide groove is provided with a mounting hole extending along the axis of the upper valve seat; The electric valve further includes a rotor assembly mounted in the mounting cavity, the rotor assembly including a rotor and a lead screw connected to the rotor, the lead screw extending from the end of the mounting hole away from the valve port into the mounting hole; and, The valve core assembly also includes a nut installed at one end of the valve core. The nut extends into the mounting hole and is threaded into the lead screw. When the lead screw rotates, the nut can drive the valve core to move along its axial direction in the direction approaching and away from the valve port.

8. The electric valve as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The valve core is recessed at one end away from the nut, and a through hole is provided at the bottom of the recess. The nut passes through the through hole, and a second limiting protrusion is provided on the outer side wall of one end of the nut located in the receiving groove. The second limiting protrusion is used to limit the axial movement of the nut and is movably disposed relative to the valve core. The valve core assembly also includes a spring and a limiting sleeve disposed in the receiving groove. The spring is disposed between the limiting sleeve and the spring, and the spring is used to provide a reverse force when the nut moves toward the groove opening of the receiving groove.

9. The electric valve as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The limiting sleeve has a limiting groove recessed at one end facing the spring, and the spring is installed in the limiting groove.

10. The electric valve as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The bottom of the limiting groove is provided with a first connecting hole; A cavity is defined between the valve core and the inner wall of the guide groove; A first communicating groove is defined between the outer wall of the nut and the hole wall of the valve core, and the first communicating groove connects the cavity and the limiting groove. The second connecting channel includes the first connecting hole, the limiting groove, and the first connecting slot.

11. The electric valve as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, The second limiting protrusion is arranged in a ring shape, and at least one vent groove is provided on the second limiting protrusion. The first connecting groove includes the through hole and the vent groove.

12. The electric valve as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The limiting groove includes a first groove segment and a second groove segment arranged sequentially from the inside to the outside. The second groove segment is arranged to expand outward in a direction away from the first groove segment so as to make way when the nut moves toward the groove opening of the limiting groove.

13. The electric valve as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The inner wall of the mounting hole is provided with an anti-rotation part, and the outer wall of the nut is provided with a mating part that cooperates with the anti-rotation part to restrict the circumferential rotation of the nut.

14. A refrigeration device, characterized in that, Including the electric valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The refrigeration equipment as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The refrigeration equipment includes an air conditioner.

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