Valve island module

Abstract

The application discloses a valve island module, which comprises a valve block and a control valve. A communication channel is formed in the valve block, and a first interface and a second interface which are in communication with the communication channel are formed on the surface of the valve block. The control valve is arranged on the valve block to control the communication state of the communication channel. The valve block is configured as a plurality of valve blocks. The communication channels of at least two valve blocks are connected by a connecting pipe, so that the space occupation of the pipeline can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning, and in particular to a valve island module. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, the piping system of an air conditioner outdoor unit includes multiple devices that are connected by pipes. However, since the pipes are connected by welding sections together, each section must have a straight section and a bending radius. Both the straight section and the bending radius have a minimum size, which prevents the piping system from being made more compact. Therefore, this connection method uses long pipes, occupies a lot of space, and is costly. At the same time, the connection of various devices through pipes makes the piping system complex and has many welding points. Therefore, how to reduce the space occupied by the pipes has become the technical problem to be solved in this application. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application aims to at least address one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, one objective of this application is to provide a valve island module that can reduce the space occupied by piping.

[0004] According to an embodiment of this application, a valve island module includes: a valve block, wherein a communication channel is formed inside the valve block and a first interface and a second interface communicating with the communication channel are formed on the surface of the valve block; a control valve, wherein the control valve is disposed on the valve block for controlling the conduction state of the communication channel; the valve block is constructed in multiple ways, and at least two valve blocks are connected to each other by a connecting pipe through which the communication channels of the two valve blocks are connected.

[0005] According to the valve island module of this application embodiment, by setting valve blocks and setting connecting channels inside the valve blocks, and setting a first interface and a second interface on the surface of the valve blocks that are connected to the connecting channels, a fluid passage is formed instead of the traditional multi-section welded pipe. There is no need to reserve the minimum straight section and bending radius required for pipe bending, and the transition pipe section connecting the pipe and the device is eliminated, thereby reducing the space occupied by the pipeline system. Multiple valve blocks make the arrangement of the valve island module more flexible and the space utilization rate is higher. At the same time, by setting the control valve in the valve block, the integration of the control valve and the connecting channel is improved, avoiding the additional joint connection between the control valve and the pipeline in the traditional structure, reducing the number of welding points, and simplifying the pipeline system assembly process, reducing the risk of leakage and controlling costs.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present application, the valve island module has a first sidewall and a second sidewall in the thickness direction, and a peripheral wall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall; wherein the first interface and the second interface are both disposed on the first sidewall, the second sidewall, or the peripheral wall; or; the first interface is disposed on the first sidewall and the second interface is disposed on the second sidewall; or; the first interface is disposed on one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and the second interface is disposed on the peripheral wall.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the valve island module of this application, the first interface is constructed as one or more; the second interface is constructed as one or more.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present application, the valve island module has a control mounting port formed on the first side wall, the second side wall, or the peripheral wall, and the control mounting port is connected to the communication channel; wherein at least a portion of the control valve is housed in the communication channel for controlling the connection state between the first interface and the second interface.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the valve island module of this application, the end of the connecting pipe is connected to the first interface or the second interface; wherein at least a portion of the connecting pipe connected to the valve block is perpendicular to the first side wall, the second side wall or the peripheral wall.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present application, in the valve island module, the end of the connecting pipe is housed within the communicating channel.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the valve island module of this application, the length of the end of the connecting pipe housed in the communicating channel is L1 and satisfies: L1≥5mm.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present application, the valve island module includes a connecting pipe comprising: a straight pipe section, one end of which is connected to and communicates with the first interface or the second interface; and a bent section, which is disposed at the other end of the straight pipe section and extends in a direction intersecting the straight pipe section.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the valve island module of this application, the length of the end of the connecting pipe housed in the communicating channel is L1, and the closest distance between the bent section and the surface of the valve block is L2, satisfying: L1+L2≥10mm.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the valve island module of this application, the valve block is constructed as a cube with a thickness of A, the diameter of the connecting channel is D, and the thickness A of the valve block satisfies: A≥D+6mm.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present application, in the valve island module, at least a portion of the control valve is housed within a communication channel.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the valve island module of this application, the plurality of valve blocks are configured to be staggered in the height direction.

[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a perspective structural diagram of the valve island module according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a perspective structural diagram according to another embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a perspective structural diagram according to another embodiment of the present application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the flow path integration module according to an embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure label: 100. Valve island module; 1. Valve block; 11. Connecting channel; 12. First interface; 13. Second interface; 14. First sidewall; 15. Second sidewall; 16. Peripheral wall; 17. Control mounting port; 18. Capillary tube; 2. Control valve; 3. Connecting pipe; 31. Straight pipe section; 32. Bend section; 33. Filter; 200. Flow path integration module.

[0020] 10. Four-way valve; 20. High-pressure valve; 30. Low-pressure valve; 40. Gas-liquid separator; 50. Compressor; 60. Oil-liquid separator; Detailed Implementation The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0021] The following is for reference. Figures 1-4 This application describes a valve island module 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0022] According to an embodiment of this application, the valve island module 100 includes: a valve block 1 and a control valve 2. The valve block 1 has a communication channel 11 formed inside and a first interface 12 and a second interface 13 connected to the communication channel 11 are formed on the surface of the valve block 1. The control valve 2 is disposed on the valve block 1 to control the conduction state of the communication channel 11. The valve block 1 is constructed in multiple ways, and at least two valve blocks 1 are connected to each other by a connecting pipe 3 through the communication channel 11 of the two valve blocks 1.

[0023] In related technologies, the piping system of an air conditioner outdoor unit includes multiple devices that are connected by pipes. However, since the pipes are connected by welding sections of pipe together, each section of pipe must have a straight section and a bending radius. Both the straight section and the bending radius have a minimum size, which makes it impossible to make the piping system more compact. Therefore, this connection method uses long pipes, occupies a lot of space, and has high costs. At the same time, the connection of various devices through pipes makes the piping system complex and has many welding points.

[0024] It is understood that the valve island module 100 in this application embodiment achieves a significant reduction in space occupation through the integration of valve block 1. Specifically, the connecting channel 11 formed inside the valve block 1 can be directly used as a fluid transmission path, and the first interface 12 and the second interface 13 on the surface of the valve block 1 are both connected to the connecting channel 11, so that the fluid path does not need to rely on the traditional multi-section pipe splicing, but completes the transmission through the channel inside the valve block 1. Unlike traditional pipes, there is no need to reserve a minimum straight section and bending radius for each pipe bend, which compresses the overall space requirement of the fluid path and makes the internal space arrangement of the air conditioner outdoor unit more efficient.

[0025] Moreover, the connecting channel 11 inside the valve block 1 is an integral structure with the valve block 1, eliminating the need for welding to form a passage. This reduces the number of welding points caused by connecting multiple pipe sections and connecting the control valve 2 to the pipes in traditional piping systems. Due to the reduction in the number of welding points, it is not necessary to weld each pipe section and test the sealing performance point by point, reducing the dependence on the precision of the assembly process, thereby improving production efficiency and simplifying the assembly process. At the same time, it also reduces the risk of leakage and avoids the sealing problems caused by process deviations, material fatigue and other factors in the welded parts of traditional piping systems. This enhances the long-term operational stability of the piping system and meets the requirements of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner for the sealing performance and reliability of the air conditioning piping.

[0026] Since the connecting channel 11 inside the valve block 1 replaces the traditional multi-section welded pipeline, the material consumption of the pipeline body is directly reduced. At the same time, the reduction in the number of weld points reduces the cost of auxiliary materials such as welding wire required in the welding process. It also saves the investment in special equipment and labor costs required for traditional welding processes, thus reducing the overall production and manufacturing cost of the pipeline system.

[0027] Furthermore, multiple valve blocks 1 are connected to each other via connecting pipes 3 through communication channels 11. Compared to a one-piece structure, the number and relative placement of valve blocks 1 can be flexibly adjusted according to the size and layout of the installation space and the location of surrounding devices. The connecting pipes 3 only need to meet the connection requirements of the communication channels 11 of adjacent valve blocks 1, without the need to adapt to complex spatial bends and length reservations, making the overall layout of the valve island module more flexible. At the same time, the communication channels 11 inside the valve blocks 1 replace some of the external pipelines that need to be welded. The connecting pipes 3 are only used for short-distance connection between valve blocks, avoiding the extra space occupied by the minimum straight section and bending radius required by traditional pipelines due to bends, reducing the total length of external pipelines and the number of welding points. Multiple valve blocks are arranged compactly and connected by short-distance connecting pipes, making the overall structure of the valve island module 100 more compact, effectively reducing space occupation and further improving space utilization.

[0028] In short, the valve island module 100 according to the embodiments of this application, by setting a valve block 1 and a connecting channel 11 inside the valve block 1, and providing a first interface 12 and a second interface 13 on the surface of the valve block 1 that are connected to the connecting channel 11, replaces the traditional multi-section welded pipeline to form a fluid passage. It eliminates the need to reserve the minimum straight section and bending radius required for pipeline bending, and saves the transition pipe section connecting the pipeline and the device, thereby reducing the space occupied by the pipeline system. At the same time, by at least partially accommodating the control valve 2 in the connecting channel 11, the integration of the control valve 2 and the connecting channel 11 is improved, avoiding the additional joint connection between the control valve 2 and the pipeline in the traditional structure, reducing the number of welding points, and simplifying the pipeline system assembly process, reducing the risk of leakage and controlling costs.

[0029] It should be noted that the control valve 2 controls the conduction state of the connecting channel 11, which means that the control valve 2 can control the opening and closing of the connecting channel 11, or the flow rate in the connecting channel 11, or further control the flow rate or opening and closing of the connecting channel 11 according to the linkage and synchronization of other devices.

[0030] According to some embodiments of the present application, the valve island module 100 has a first sidewall 14 and a second sidewall 15 in the thickness direction, and a peripheral wall 16 connecting the first sidewall 14 and the second sidewall 15; wherein the first interface 12 and the second interface 13 are both disposed on the first sidewall 14, the second sidewall 15, or the peripheral wall 16; or; the first interface 12 is disposed on the first sidewall 14, and the second interface 13 is disposed on the second sidewall 15; or; the first interface 12 is disposed on one of the first sidewall 14 and the second sidewall 15, and the second interface 13 is disposed on the peripheral wall 16.

[0031] The valve block 1 has a first sidewall 14, a second sidewall 15 in the thickness direction, and a peripheral wall 16 connecting the two. The first interface 12 and the second interface 13 can be configured in various combinations: they can both be located on the same sidewall or peripheral wall 16 of the first sidewall 14 and the second sidewall 15, respectively, or one of the first sidewall 14 / second sidewall 15 and the peripheral wall 16. These multiple interface configurations allow the valve island module 100 to interface with the compressor 50 and other components inside the air conditioner outdoor unit, depending on the actual spatial arrangement, size, and installation direction of the external device. Choosing the optimal interface setting scheme is understandable. When the space area corresponding to a certain side wall is blocked by other devices, the interface can be adjusted to the other side wall or the peripheral wall 16 without obstruction to avoid interference between the interface and the external device in the installation space. If the external device needs to connect to the fluid passage from both sides of the valve block 1 thickness direction, the first interface 12 can be set on the first side wall 14 and the second interface 13 can be set on the second side wall 15 to achieve bidirectional connection without occupying the space on the same side. If there is a lot of free space around the peripheral wall 16, one of the interfaces can also be set on the peripheral wall 16 to further expand the range of selection for the connection space.

[0032] Compared to a fixed and single interface setting, this application, through the flexible configuration of the aforementioned interface positions, can actively adapt to the complex spatial environment inside the air conditioner outdoor unit without changing the overall structure of the valve block 1 and the design of the internal connecting channel 11. It eliminates the need to adjust the installation position of external devices or add transition connectors to avoid the interfaces, thereby reducing assembly difficulties caused by spatial interference and avoiding the increased space occupation caused by transition connectors. Ultimately, it achieves a compact and orderly arrangement of the valve island module 100 and surrounding devices, further enhancing the space optimization effect of the entire piping system. It also provides more possibilities for the rational utilization of the overall space inside the air conditioner outdoor unit, improving the flexibility and integration of the air conditioner outdoor unit design.

[0033] In some embodiments of this application, the first interface 12 is configured as an inlet and the second interface 13 is configured as an outlet.

[0034] According to some embodiments of the present application, the valve island module 100 has one or more first interfaces 12 and one or more second interfaces 13.

[0035] When the air conditioner outdoor unit needs to achieve single fluid path control, the first interface 12 and the second interface 13 can both be constructed as one. Through the cooperation of the internal connecting channel 11 of the valve block 1 and the control valve 2, basic single-path fluid transmission and control can be completed. However, when the air conditioner outdoor unit has multiple devices that need to establish fluid connection with the valve island module 100 at the same time, the first interface 12 or the second interface 13 can be constructed as multiple. The first interface 12 can be constructed as multiple to connect to different external liquid supply devices, and the second interface 13 can be constructed as one to collect the fluid to the target device, or the second interface 13 can be constructed as multiple to achieve multi-path distribution of fluid. At this time, the internal connecting channel 11 of the valve block 1 can be configured according to the number of interfaces and the connection requirements of external devices. At the same time, the control valve 2 can realize independent or linkage control of the fluid paths between multiple first interfaces 12 and second interfaces 13 through its own multi-path control function.

[0036] According to some embodiments of the present application, in the valve island module 100, the valve block 1 has a control mounting port 17 formed on the first side wall 14, the second side wall 15 or the peripheral wall 16, and the control mounting port 17 is connected to the communication channel 11; wherein at least a portion of the control valve 2 is housed in the communication channel 11 for controlling the connection state between the first interface 12 and the second interface 13.

[0037] Understandably, the control mounting port 17 can be selectively set on multiple side walls, allowing the control valve 2 to be installed on a side wall without interference, depending on the spatial arrangement of the devices surrounding the valve island module 100. If other components obstruct the first side wall 14, the control mounting port 17 can be set on the spacious peripheral wall 16 or the second side wall 15, without adjusting the overall installation position of the valve block 1, thus reducing the risk of spatial interference during assembly. At the same time, the control mounting port 17 is directly connected to the connecting channel 11. After the control valve 2 is installed through the control mounting port 17, at least part of it can directly extend into the connecting channel 11 without the need for additional connecting pipes 3 or connectors to connect with the connecting channel 11. This shortens the distance between the control valve 2 and the fluid passage, reduces pressure loss of the fluid during transmission, and allows for more direct control of the fluid flow between the first interface 12 and the second interface 13, improving control response speed and accuracy.

[0038] Furthermore, the structure in which the control valve 2 is at least partially housed within the connecting channel 11 significantly improves the spatial integration of the valve island module 100. Compared to an externally mounted control valve 2 connected to the fluid passage via pipelines, the partial structure of the control valve 2 in this application is embedded inside the connecting channel 11, making the overall space occupied by the control valve 2 and valve block 1 more compact and avoiding the problem of externally mounted control valve 2 and connecting pipe 3 occupying additional space. At the same time, it reduces the number of connection nodes between the control valve 2 and the connecting channel 11, eliminating the need for sealing joints or transition fittings between them. This reduces the risk of leakage due to excessive connection nodes and simplifies the assembly process. The control valve 2 only needs to be installed and fixed through the control mounting port 17 to complete the docking with the connecting channel 11, without the need for additional pipeline welding or joint installation, thus improving production and assembly efficiency. In addition, the control mounting port 17 is located on the side wall of the valve block 1, allowing the control valve 2 to be directly removed from the corresponding side wall during later maintenance without disassembling the entire valve block 1 or surrounding pipelines, providing convenience for maintenance operations and indirectly improving the operation and maintenance economy of the valve island module 100.

[0039] According to some embodiments of the present application, in the valve island module 100, the end of the connecting pipe 3 is connected to the first interface 12 or the second interface 13; wherein at least a portion of the connecting pipe 3 connected to the valve block 1 is perpendicular to the first side wall 14, the second side wall 15 or the peripheral wall 16.

[0040] The end of the connecting pipe 3 is connected to either the first interface 12 or the second interface 13, serving as a fluid transition passage between the valve island module 100 and external devices such as the compressor 50. The pipe section connecting the connecting pipe 3 to the valve block 1 is perpendicular to the corresponding side wall, allowing the extension direction of the connecting pipe 3 to remain perpendicular to the side wall of the valve block 1. This controls the initial direction of the connecting pipe 3 extending from the valve block 1, avoiding irregular space occupation caused by pipe section tilting. When the interface of the external device is perpendicular to the interface of the valve block 1, the vertically extending connecting pipe 3 can be directly connected without additional bending adjustments, reducing the redundant space required for pipe section bending. According to some embodiments of the present application, in the valve island module 100, the end of the connecting pipe 3 is housed within the communication channel 11.

[0041] The end of the connecting pipe 3 extends directly into the interior of the connecting channel 11, so that the mating part of the connecting pipe 3 and the connecting channel 11 is located inside the cavity of the connecting channel 11 inside the valve block 1. This can significantly shorten the gap path between the connecting pipe 3 and the connecting channel 11, reducing the possibility of fluid leakage from the mating gap. At the same time, the inner wall of the connecting channel 11 can form a radial constraint on the end of the connecting pipe 3, preventing the mating position of the connecting pipe 3 from shifting due to external vibration or assembly deviation, ensuring that the sealing surface of the mating part always remains in contact, further reducing the risk of leakage, and ensuring the sealing and reliability of the fluid passage.

[0042] According to some embodiments of the present application, in the valve island module 100, the length of the end of the connecting pipe 3 housed in the communication channel 11 is L1 and satisfies: L1≥5mm.

[0043] Understandably, when L1 ≥ 5mm, sufficient containment length ensures that the end of the connecting pipe 3 and the inner wall of the connecting channel 11 form a sufficient sealing contact area, avoiding the problem of concentrated sealing pressure and easy wear of the sealing parts due to insufficient contact area, and effectively blocking the path of fluid leakage from the mating gap; if L1 is less than 5mm, insufficient containment length will make the sealing contact section too short, and the sealing surface will be difficult to bear the fluid pressure evenly. During long-term operation, the sealing will be prone to failure due to local aging of the sealing parts or pressure fluctuations, increasing the risk of leakage.

[0044] Furthermore, the length limitation of L1≥5mm significantly enhances the connection stability between the connecting pipe 3 and the valve block 1, preventing displacement or detachment of the connecting pipe 3 due to external forces or vibrations. The radial support length of the inner wall of the connecting channel 11 for the connecting pipe 3 is sufficient, which can effectively offset the radial force generated by the external extension of the connecting pipe 3 due to its own weight, vibration, or assembly stress, preventing the connecting pipe 3 from bending or shifting at the docking point. If L1 is less than 5mm, the radial support length is insufficient, and the connecting pipe 3 is prone to tilting with the docking point as the fulcrum, resulting in uneven stress on the sealing surface, or even causing the connecting pipe 3 to detach from the interface. The design of L1≥5mm, through sufficient support length, distributes the stress of the connecting pipe 3 to a longer contact section, reduces stress concentration at the docking point, and ensures the long-term stability of the connection structure.

[0045] According to some embodiments of the present application, the valve island module 100 includes a connecting pipe 3 comprising a straight pipe section 31 and a bent section 32. One end of the straight pipe section 31 is connected to and connected to the first interface 12 or the second interface 13. The bent section 32 is disposed at the other end of the straight pipe section 31 and its extension direction intersects with that of the straight pipe section 31.

[0046] One end of the straight pipe section 31 is connected to the first interface 12 or the second interface 13. The straight structure ensures a stable connection between the connecting pipe 3 and the valve block 1 interface, avoiding connection deviations caused by pipe bends. The bent section 32 is located at the other end of the straight pipe section 31. By changing the extension direction, the final connection direction of the connecting pipe 3 can be adjusted according to the actual installation position of the external device. When the external device interface and the valve block 1 interface are not on the same straight line, the bent section 32 can change the fluid transmission path through a preset intersection angle, so that the connecting pipe 3 can be connected to the external device without the need for additional welded pipe sections. This avoids the increased space occupation caused by splicing multiple pipe sections and ensures the accuracy of the connection direction.

[0047] In some embodiments of this application, the first interface 12 is configured as an inlet, and a filter 33 is provided on the connecting pipe connecting the first interface 12. The filter 33 can filter the medium flowing through it, preventing impurities from entering the downstream connecting channel 11 of the connecting pipe 3. Since the connecting channel 11 is the passage for medium transmission and control within the valve island module 100, the cross-sectional dimensions of the connecting channel 11 need to match the medium flow rate and the control accuracy of the control valve 2. If large impurities enter the connecting channel 11, they are prone to accumulate in the narrow section of the connecting channel 11, causing blockage. The pre-positioning of the filter 2 cuts off the path for impurities to enter the connecting channel 11, ensuring that the medium flowing into the connecting channel 11 is filtered, guaranteeing the smooth flow of the connecting channel 11, and avoiding medium transmission interruption or control valve 2 jamming caused by blockage of the connecting channel 11.

[0048] In some other embodiments of this application, the first sidewall 14 is constructed as a sidewall with a higher thickness. The valve island module 100 is also provided with a capillary tube 18, which is disposed on the first sidewall 14 and is connected to the connecting channel 11 to throttle and reduce the pressure of the medium flowing through the connecting channel 11. The direct connection between the capillary tube 18 and the connecting channel 11 ensures the stability and accuracy of the throttling and pressure reduction effect. Specifically, as a sidewall with a higher thickness, the first sidewall 14 has more installation space than other sidewalls, which can stably accommodate the overall structure of the capillary tube and avoid the problem of excessive bending or interference with other components due to insufficient installation space for the capillary tube 18.

[0049] According to some embodiments of the present application, in the valve island module 100, the length of the end of the connecting pipe 3 housed in the communicating channel 11 is L1, and the closest distance between the bent section 32 and the surface of the valve block 1 is L2, satisfying: L1+L2≥10mm.

[0050] It is understandable that L1+L2 is the total length from the bend in the connecting pipe 3 to the end of the connecting pipe 3. The bend in the connecting pipe 3 is the part that changes the direction of fluid transmission. The distance between the bend in the connecting pipe 3 and the surface of the valve block 1 affects the adaptability of the bend in the connecting pipe 3 and the surrounding space. When L1+L2≥10mm, a safe gap is formed between the bend in the connecting pipe 32 and the surface of the valve block 1, that is, the minimum safe distance is 5mm. This can prevent the bend in the connecting pipe 32 from colliding or rubbing against the surface of the valve block 1 due to being too close during processing or assembly, prevent the bend in the connecting pipe 32 from deforming due to external pressure, ensure that the preset angle and flow cross-sectional size of the bend in the connecting pipe 32 remain stable, and thus ensure the smoothness of fluid transmission.

[0051] If L1+L2 is less than 10mm, meaning the distance between the bent section 32 and the surface of the valve block 1 is less than 5mm, the gap between the bent section 32 and the surface of the valve block 1 is insufficient. This may cause interference between the bent section 32 and the surface of the valve block 1, making it difficult to assemble the connecting pipe 3. It is necessary to forcibly adjust the bending angle to avoid the valve block 1, resulting in stress concentration in the bent section 32. During long-term operation, it is prone to fatigue cracking due to vibration or temperature changes. At the same time, an excessively small gap will limit the minimum bending radius of the bent section 32, which may cause the outer wall thickness of the pipe at the bend to become thinner and the inner wall to wrinkle, reducing the pressure resistance of the connecting pipe 3 and increasing the risk of fluid leakage. However, if L1+L2 ≥ 10mm, by reserving sufficient gap, the structural integrity and processing feasibility of the bent section 32 are ensured, and a space buffer is provided for the arrangement of the connecting pipe 3 and the surrounding components of the valve block 1, avoiding spatial interference between the bent section 32 and other components, and further improving the compactness and reliability of the overall layout of the valve island module 100.

[0052] In some embodiments of this application, the valve block 1 is constructed as a cube with a thickness of A, a length of B, and a width of C, wherein 0 ≤ |AB| ≤ 20 mm or 0 ≤ |AC| ≤ 20 mm or 0 ≤ |BC| ≤ 20 mm.

[0053] It is understandable that 0≤|AB|≤20mm, 0≤|AC|≤20mm, and 0≤|BC|≤20mm refer to the fact that the difference in the length of each side of valve block 1 is ≤20mm.

[0054] Specifically, the cubic structure is symmetrical, and the difference in the length of each side is ≤20mm, which further ensures that the valve block 1 will not be too long or too short in one direction. This makes the installation position of the valve block 1 inside the air conditioner outdoor unit more flexible and can adapt to the spatial layout requirements of different directions. There is no need to reserve narrow or irregular spaces due to the size of a certain direction. At the same time, it is easy to connect with the surrounding components that are arranged in a regular manner, reducing space waste.

[0055] Meanwhile, the cubic structure of the valve block 1 results in more uniform stress distribution on each side wall, and the difference in side length ≤20mm avoids local structural weakness caused by excessively small dimensions in one direction. If the dimension in one direction is much smaller than in other directions, the deformation resistance of the valve block 1 in that direction will decrease significantly, and it is prone to local cracking when subjected to fluid pressure or external vibration for a long time. The balanced design of each side length can distribute the stress on the valve block 1 as a whole, making it more resistant to deformation and ensuring the stability of the cross-sectional dimensions of the internal connecting channel 11, thus avoiding channel blockage or sealing failure due to deformation of the valve block 1.

[0056] According to some embodiments of the present application, the valve island module 100 has a diameter of D in the connecting channel 11 and a thickness A of the valve block 1 that satisfies: A≥D+6mm.

[0057] It is understandable that the connecting channel 11, as a fluid transmission path, will be subjected to the high-pressure fluid pressure in the air conditioning piping system for a long time. The pressure will generate an outward expansion force on the inner wall of the connecting channel 11. The thickness of the valve block 1 determines the wall thickness from the outer wall of the connecting channel 11 to the surface of the valve block 1. When A≥D+6mm, the wall thickness on both sides of the outer wall of the connecting channel 11 (the remaining dimension after subtracting the diameter D of the connecting channel 11 from the total thickness A) can be evenly distributed to at least 3mm on each side. This part of the wall thickness can effectively offset the expansion force of the fluid pressure on the inner wall of the connecting channel 11 and prevent local stress concentration caused by insufficient wall thickness. If A<D+6mm, the wall thickness from the outer wall of the connecting channel 11 to the surface of the valve block 1 is insufficient and cannot fully withstand the expansion force generated by the fluid pressure. During long-term operation, fatigue stress is likely to form around the connecting channel 11, which will cause the valve block 1 to crack, resulting in fluid leakage and affecting the operational safety of the entire piping system.

[0058] Furthermore, this size limitation not only ensures the static strength of valve block 1, but also enhances its dynamic tolerance to pressure fluctuations. Specifically, during the operation of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, the fluid pressure in the connecting channel 11 will fluctuate with changes in operating conditions (such as start-up, shutdown, and load adjustment). The pressure peak may briefly exceed the normal operating pressure. The reserved wall thickness of A≥D+6mm can serve as a buffer margin for pressure fluctuations. Even under peak pressure conditions, sufficient wall thickness can absorb instantaneous pressure shocks and prevent valve block 1 from suddenly cracking due to a sudden increase in pressure. Conversely, if the wall thickness is insufficient (A<D+6mm), the instantaneous impact force during pressure fluctuations is likely to exceed the structural bearing limit of valve block 1, causing cracks to appear on the outer wall of the connecting channel 11. These cracks will repeatedly expand with pressure fluctuations, eventually leading to structural failure.

[0059] According to some embodiments of the present application, in the valve island module 100, at least a portion of the control valve 2 is housed within the communication channel 11.

[0060] At least a portion of the control valve 2 is housed within the connecting channel 11, eliminating the need for additional transition joints or short pipes to connect the control valve 2 to the connecting channel 11. This reduces the number of weld points generated in traditional piping systems due to the connection of multiple pipe sections and the docking of the control valve 2 with the pipes. As the number of weld points is reduced, there is no need to weld each pipe section and test the sealing performance point by point, reducing the dependence on the precision of the assembly process, thereby improving production efficiency and simplifying the assembly process. It also reduces the risk of leakage and avoids the sealing problems caused by process deviations, material fatigue, and other factors at the welded parts in traditional piping systems. This enhances the long-term operational stability of the piping system and meets the requirements of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner for the sealing and reliability of the air conditioning piping.

[0061] According to some embodiments of the present application, in the valve island module 100, a plurality of valve blocks 1 are configured to be staggered in the height direction.

[0062] Understandably, the staggered arrangement in the vertical direction avoids the problem of large horizontal space occupation caused by the need to reserve independent installation areas for valve blocks 1 on the same horizontal plane and maintain sufficient gaps between valve blocks 1 to avoid interference when valve blocks 1 are arranged side by side in a plane. The staggered arrangement in the vertical direction can shift some valve blocks 1 upwards or downwards, so that different modules form staggered positions in the vertical direction, eliminating the need to reserve a complete area for each module in the horizontal direction, thus greatly reducing the horizontal space occupation.

[0063] The flow path integration module 200 according to an embodiment of this application is briefly described below.

[0064] The air conditioner according to the embodiments of this application includes a valve island module 100 of any of the above embodiments. Since the air conditioner according to this embodiment is provided with a valve island module 100 of any of the above embodiments, and the valve island module 100 is constructed as a plurality of valve island modules and is connected to each other by a connecting pipe 3, any two valve islands 1 of the two valve island modules 100 can be connected. Therefore, the flow path integration module 200 according to this application can increase or decrease the number of valve island modules 100 according to the flow path requirements, thereby improving the flexibility of flow path configuration and adapting to the fluid control requirements under different working conditions. Each valve island module 100 replaces the traditional welded pipe through the internal connecting channel 11. When multiple valve island modules 100 are combined, space can be further saved. There is no need to reserve redundant space for pipe bending. The valve island modules 100 can be connected through the connecting pipe 3, avoiding the scattered arrangement and a large number of weld points of the traditional multi-section welded pipe. The overall space occupation of the flow path integration module 200 is further optimized, while reducing the number of weld points, reducing the risk of leakage, and simplifying the overall assembly and maintenance process.

[0065] In some embodiments of this application, each valve island module 100 in the flow path integration module 200 can independently complete pre-assembly welding and leak detection processes, which can reduce the number of weld points and leakage risks during the final assembly stage. Specifically, the internal structure of the valve island module 100 (such as the partial connection between the connecting channel 11 and the connecting pipe 3) can be pre-assembled and welded separately before final assembly. During the pre-assembly process, leak detection can be performed on the welded parts of each valve island module 100 to ensure that the sealing performance of the welded joints of a single valve island module 100 meets the standards before it is connected to the flow path integration system as a whole. This means that during the final assembly stage, only the connection between each valve island module 100 needs to be completed, eliminating the need for on-site welding of a large number of pipe sections and significantly reducing the number of weld points in the final assembly. In contrast, traditional flow path systems require on-site welding of multiple pipe sections during final assembly, resulting in a large number of weld points. Furthermore, due to space constraints during final assembly, some weld points are difficult to fully detect leaks, which can easily leave potential leakage hazards. This application eliminates sealing problems of individual modules in advance by pre-installing leak detection, and at the same time reduces the number of assembly solder points, thus doubly reducing the total leakage rate of the flow path integrated module 200 and ensuring the long-term sealing reliability of the system.

[0066] In other embodiments of this application, the integration of the valve island module 100 effectively reduces the problems of increased pipe resistance and pressure drop caused by excessively long pipes in the prior art after the flow path integration module 200 is connected to the system. Traditional flow path systems rely on multiple welded pipes to connect various functional components. The total length of the pipes increases significantly with the number of components. During long-distance transmission, the frictional resistance between the fluid and the pipe wall continues to accumulate, leading to an increase in pipe resistance and a decrease in fluid pressure along the flow path, affecting the heat exchange efficiency and operating performance of the air conditioner. In this application, each valve island module 100 replaces the traditional multiple short pipes with an internal connecting channel 11. The fluid passage inside the module can be precisely designed according to requirements without the need for additional reserved pipe bending redundancy sections, which greatly shortens the fluid transmission path within a single module. When multiple valve island modules 100 are connected to the system, the total length of the overall flow path is significantly shortened compared to the traditional system. The number of pipe sections through which the fluid flows is reduced, the frictional resistance is reduced accordingly, and the problem of increased pipe resistance is alleviated. This reduces pressure loss, ensures stable fluid pressure in the flow path, and ensures that the air conditioner can maintain efficient fluid circulation under different operating conditions, avoiding a decrease in operating efficiency due to insufficient pressure.

[0067] In some other embodiments of this application, the flow path integration module 200 is further provided with a four-way valve 10, a high-pressure valve 20, a low-pressure valve 30, a gas-liquid separator 40, a compressor 50, and an oil-gas separator 60. The above devices are connected to each other through connecting pipes 3 and are connected to the valve island module 100.

[0068] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0069] In the description of this application, "first feature" and "second feature" may include one or more of the features.

[0070] In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more.

[0071] In the description of this application, the first feature being "above" or "below" the second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or the first and second features being in contact through another feature between them.

[0072] In the description of this application, the terms "above," "over," and "on top" for the first feature and the second feature include the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicate that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature.

[0073] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0074] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A valve island module, characterized in that, include: A valve block (1) has a connecting channel (11) inside and a first interface (12) and a second interface (13) connected to the connecting channel (11) on the surface of the valve block (1). Control valve (2), the control valve (2) is disposed on the valve block (1) for controlling the conduction state of the communication channel (11); The valve block (1) is constructed in multiple ways, and at least two valve blocks (1) are connected by a connecting pipe (3) through the connecting channel (11) of the two valve blocks (1).

2. The valve island module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve block (1) has a first sidewall (14) and a second sidewall (15) in the thickness direction, and a peripheral wall (16) connecting the first sidewall (14) and the second sidewall (15); wherein The first interface (12) and the second interface (13) are both disposed on the first sidewall (14), the second sidewall (15), or the peripheral wall (16); Alternatively; the first interface (12) is disposed on the first sidewall (14), and the second interface (13) is disposed on the second sidewall (15); Alternatively; the first interface (12) is disposed on one of the first sidewall (14) and the second sidewall (15), and the second interface (13) is disposed on the peripheral wall (16).

3. The valve island module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first interface (12) is constructed as one or more; the second interface (13) is constructed as one or more.

4. The valve island module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The valve block (1) has a control mounting port (17) formed on the first side wall (14), the second side wall (15), or the peripheral wall (16), and the control mounting port (17) is connected to the communication channel (11); wherein At least a portion of the control valve (2) is housed within the communication channel (11) for controlling the conduction state between the first interface (12) and the second interface (13).

5. The valve island module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The end of the connecting pipe (3) is connected to the first interface (12) or the second interface (13); wherein At least a portion of the connecting pipe (3) connected to the valve block (1) is perpendicular to the first side wall (14), the second side wall (15), or the peripheral wall (16).

6. The valve island module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The end of the connecting pipe (3) is housed within the communicating channel (11).

7. The valve island module according to claim 6, characterized in that, The length of the end of the connecting pipe (3) housed in the connecting channel (11) is L1 and satisfies: L1≥5mm.

8. The valve island module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The connecting pipe (3) includes: A straight pipe section (31), one end of which is connected to and connected to the first interface (12) or the second interface (13); A bend (32) is provided at the other end of the straight pipe section (31) and its extension direction intersects with that of the straight pipe section (31).

9. The valve island module according to claim 8, characterized in that, The length of the end of the connecting pipe (3) housed in the connecting channel (11) is L1, and the closest distance between the bent section (32) and the surface of the valve block (1) is L2, satisfying: L1+L2≥10mm.

10. The valve island module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve block (1) is constructed as a cube with a thickness of A, the diameter of the connecting channel (11) is D, and the thickness A of the valve block (1) satisfies: A≥D+6mm.

11. The valve island module according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least a portion of the control valve (2) is housed within the communication channel (11).

12. The valve island module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple valve blocks (1) are configured to be staggered in the height direction.

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