A self-operated flow path switching valve and air conditioning system

Abstract

This utility model discloses a self-operated flow path switching valve and an air conditioning system. The self-operated flow path switching valve includes a valve body assembly with a switching chamber and a driving chamber. The switching chamber is connected to multiple flow channel interfaces. It also includes: a linear motion component slidably disposed within the valve body assembly and dividing the driving chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber; a pressure-guiding structure for transmitting fluid pressure at the flow channel interfaces to the first and second chambers; and an elastic reset member for applying a reset force to the linear motion component. When a change in fluid pressure at the flow channel interfaces causes a pressure difference to form between the first and second chambers, the linear motion component moves to change the connection between the flow channel interfaces and the switching chamber. Compared with the prior art, this utility model has a simple structure, requires no electronic control drive, and can automatically adapt to operating conditions to achieve flow direction switching.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fluid control and HVAC equipment technology, and in particular to a self-operated flow path switching valve and air conditioning system. Background Technology

[0002] With rapid economic and technological development, people's pursuit of a better life is increasing, and air conditioning, as a key technology for improving the living environment of modern people, plays an important role in this. Advances in air conditioning technology have led to increasingly higher demands from users, evolving from simple cooling and heating to a greater pursuit of energy efficiency, stability, and environmental adaptability.

[0003] Traditional variable frequency air-cooled units generally have limited environmental adaptability and are significantly affected by environmental conditions, while also increasing the space required for the unit casing. To cope with extreme environments and improve energy efficiency, air conditioning equipment based on refrigerant cooling technology has emerged. In refrigerant cooling systems, the cooling plates typically need to adjust the refrigerant flow direction according to the switching between cooling and heating modes to prevent backflow from causing a decrease in heat exchange efficiency or localized overcooling.

[0004] However, the refrigerant flow path switching process involves flow path reversal, which can easily lead to drastic temperature changes on the cooling plate surface, resulting in condensation and dripping. In severe cases, it can even cause short circuits and breakdowns of the control board, affecting the safe operation of the equipment. Existing technical solutions typically add an additional electronic expansion valve or complex valve group to the system flow path, switching the flow path by fully opening one of them. While this solution achieves basic switching functionality, it significantly increases the complexity of the piping and the cost of components. Furthermore, the addition of an electronic expansion valve necessitates corresponding drive circuits and control logic, increasing the complexity of the control system. In conventional refrigeration systems, the electronic expansion valve also experiences flow direction changes due to frequent reversals, ultimately altering the flow control accuracy of the equipment and increasing the difficulty of precise system control. Under high pressure differential environments, traditional electromagnetic or motor-driven methods also face reliability challenges, prone to jamming or incomplete operation.

[0005] Therefore, designing a device with a simple structure, requiring no additional electronic control drive, and capable of automatically adapting to system operating conditions to switch flow directions has become an urgent technical challenge. Utility Model Content

[0006] In view of the problem that the use of electronic expansion valves for flow path switching in the existing technology increases the complexity of the pipeline, and at the same time requires the addition of supporting drive circuits and control logic, which increases the complexity of the control system, this utility model proposes a self-operated flow path switching valve and air conditioning system.

[0007] The technical solution of this utility model is to propose a self-operated flow path switching valve, including a valve body assembly having a switching chamber and a driving chamber, wherein the switching chamber is connected to multiple flow channel interfaces, and further including: a linear motion assembly slidably disposed in the valve body assembly and dividing the driving chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber; a pressure-guiding structure for transmitting the fluid pressure at the flow channel interface to the first chamber and the second chamber; and an elastic reset member for applying a reset force to the linear motion assembly.

[0008] When the fluid pressure at the flow channel interface changes, causing a pressure difference to form between the first chamber and the second chamber, the linear motion component moves to change the connection between the flow channel interface and the switching chamber.

[0009] Furthermore, the linear motion assembly includes a slider disposed in the switching chamber, a piston located in the driving chamber, and a connecting rod connecting the slider and the piston, wherein the piston divides the driving chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber;

[0010] When the fluid pressure at the flow channel interface changes, causing a pressure difference to form between the first chamber and the second chamber, the piston overcomes the reset force of the elastic reset member under the drive of the pressure difference, and drives the slider to move through the connecting rod, thereby changing the connection between the flow channel interface and the switching chamber.

[0011] Furthermore, the valve body assembly includes: a switching valve body housing and a cross valve body pipe arranged perpendicularly to each other;

[0012] The switching valve body housing extends horizontally to form the drive chamber, and the cross valve body pipe penetrates vertically through the switching valve body housing to form the switching chamber.

[0013] Furthermore, the valve body assembly also includes end caps disposed at both ends of the switching valve body housing, the end caps being fixed to the switching valve body housing by welding to seal the ends of the drive chamber.

[0014] Furthermore, the valve body assembly also includes a valve plate disposed within the cross valve body pipe, and the slider slides against the surface of the valve plate.

[0015] Furthermore, the lower end of the slider is provided with a limiting structure, and the slider is kept on a preset motion trajectory within the switching cavity by the limiting structure.

[0016] Furthermore, the pressure-guiding structure includes multiple connecting pipes disposed outside the valve body assembly, one end of each connecting pipe being connected to one of the flow channel interfaces, and the other end of each connecting pipe being connected to the first chamber or the second chamber.

[0017] Furthermore, the elastic reset element is a helical spring, which is located inside the drive cavity, with one end abutting against the inner wall of the valve body assembly and the other end abutting against the piston.

[0018] Furthermore, the flow channel interface includes at least two parallel interfaces located on the same side of the valve body assembly, and a manifold interface located on the opposite side of the valve body assembly.

[0019] This utility model also proposes an air conditioning system, which includes a compressor, a four-way valve, a heat exchanger, and the aforementioned self-regulating flow path switching valve. The self-regulating flow path switching valve is used to automatically switch the internal flow path according to the changes in pipeline pressure under different operating modes of the air conditioning system.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0021] This invention utilizes the combination of valve body assembly, linear motion assembly, pressure-sensing structure, and elastic reset component to drive piston to move slider linearly by using the fluid pressure difference at the system flow channel interface, thereby achieving automatic flow path switching. It eliminates the need for additional motors or electromagnetic drive devices, simplifying the structure and reducing costs. At the same time, the pressure difference drive ensures the reliability of the switching action. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, 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 these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a self-operated flow path switching valve provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The left view;

[0025] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Cross-sectional view along the AA direction;

[0026] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Cross-sectional view in the middle BB direction;

[0027] Figure 5 An exploded structural diagram of the self-operated flow path switching valve provided for an embodiment of this utility model;

[0028] Figure 6A schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioning system provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0029] Among them, 1 is the compressor, 2 is the high-pressure switch, 3 is the four-way valve, 4 is the first heat exchanger, 5 is the motor, 6 is the distributor, 7 is the filter, 8 is the electronic expansion valve, 9 is the self-regulating flow path switching valve, 10 is the drive plate, and 11 is the second heat exchanger.

[0030] 201 is the outer shell of the switching valve body, 202 is the cross valve body pipe, 203 is the lower part of the cross valve body, 204 is the valve plate, 205 is the piston, 206 is the slider, 207 is the end cap, 208 is the connecting rod, 209 is the copper screw, 210 is the first connecting pipe, 211 is the second connecting pipe, and 212 is the spring. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model.

[0032] Therefore, a feature pointed out in this specification is used to describe one feature of one embodiment of the present invention, and does not imply that every embodiment of the present invention must have the described feature. Furthermore, it should be noted that this specification describes many features. Although certain features may be combined to illustrate possible system designs, these features may also be used in other combinations not explicitly stated. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, the described combinations are not intended to be limiting.

[0033] The principle and structure of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0034] Existing solutions typically involve adding electronic expansion valves or complex valve assemblies when reversing flow paths. While these solutions can achieve basic switching functions, they significantly increase the complexity of the pipeline and the cost of components. Furthermore, the addition of electronic expansion valves also means the need for corresponding drive circuits and control logic, further increasing the complexity of the control system.

[0035] Based on the above problems, the design concept of this utility model is to use the fluid pressure difference at the flow channel interface to drive the linear motion component to move, thereby changing the connection relationship of the flow channel interface and realizing automatic switching of the flow path without the need for an additional motor or electromagnetic drive device.

[0036] Based on this design concept, the self-operated flow path switching valve proposed in this utility model includes a valve body assembly with a switching chamber and a driving chamber. The switching chamber is connected to multiple flow channel interfaces. The valve body assembly is characterized by further including: a linear motion component that is slidably disposed in the valve body assembly and divides the driving chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber; a pressure-guiding structure for transmitting the fluid pressure at the flow channel interface to the first chamber and the second chamber; and an elastic reset component for applying a reset force to the linear motion component.

[0037] When the fluid pressure at the flow channel interface changes, causing a pressure difference between the first chamber and the second chamber, the linear motion component moves to change the connection between the flow channel interface and the switching chamber.

[0038] As can be seen from the above settings, this utility model is driven by fluid pressure difference when switching the flow path. It can achieve automatic switching of the flow path without the need for an additional motor or electromagnetic drive device. Compared with the traditional technical solution, this utility model does not require an additional motor or electromagnetic drive device, which simplifies the structure and reduces the cost. At the same time, the use of pressure difference drive ensures the reliability of the switching action.

[0039] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1 To be continued Figure 5 The specific structure of this utility model will be described;

[0040] Please see Figures 1 to 4 The valve body assembly forms the supporting frame and pressure vessel of the entire device. Specifically, the valve body assembly adopts a unique cross-shaped structure, including a switching valve body housing 201 extending in the horizontal direction and a cross-shaped valve body pipe 202 running through in the vertical direction.

[0041] The switching valve body housing 201 extends horizontally to form a drive chamber, and the cross valve body pipe 202 penetrates the switching valve body housing 201 vertically to form a switching chamber.

[0042] Specifically, the switching valve body housing 201 defines an elongated cavity inside, which is functionally divided into a switching cavity for accommodating the flow path switching mechanism and a driving cavity for providing driving force.

[0043] This valve body assembly forms the basis for the present invention. It not only provides a switching chamber and a driving chamber for subsequent linear motion components, pressure-sensing structures, and elastic reset components, but also connects to the flow channel interface for refrigerant flow and reversal.

[0044] End caps 207 are provided at both ends of the switching valve body housing 201. The end caps 207 are fixed to the port edges of the switching valve body housing 201 by welding process, thereby forming a high-pressure resistant sealing structure, which ensures the airtightness of the drive chamber under high refrigerant pressure environment.

[0045] In the vertical direction, the cross valve body pipe 202 is provided with multiple flow channel interfaces, which are connected to the system piping. In this embodiment, the flow channel interfaces are arranged in an asymmetrical design, including two parallel interfaces located on the lower side of the valve body assembly and a manifold interface located on the upper side. This arrangement facilitates docking with the four-way valve 3 and electronic expansion valve 8 piping in the air conditioning system.

[0046] Please see Figure 5 In order to achieve physical switching of flow path, a sliding linear motion component is set inside the valve body assembly. The linear motion component is a rigid motion unit composed of slider 206, piston 205 and connecting rod 208 connecting the two. Slider 206 is located in the area corresponding to the switching chamber. Its shape is adapted to the flow port inside the cross valve body pipe 202. The flow path of fluid is changed by covering or passing through different flow ports by slider 206.

[0047] The piston 205 is located inside the drive chamber, and its outer circumferential surface is sealed to the inner wall of the drive chamber, thereby spatially dividing the drive chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber that are not connected to each other.

[0048] One end of the connecting rod 208 is connected to the slider 206, and the other end is connected to the piston 205. In order to ensure the structural reliability under high frequency reciprocating motion, the piston 205 and the connecting rod 208 are rigidly fastened together by copper screws 209 or high-strength thread structure.

[0049] Based on the configuration of this linear motion component, when the fluid pressure at the flow channel interface changes, causing a pressure difference to form between the first chamber and the second chamber, the piston 205 overcomes the reset force of the elastic reset component under the drive of the pressure difference, and drives the slider 206 to move through the connecting rod 208, so as to change the connection relationship between the flow channel interface and the switching chamber.

[0050] In other words, by setting the above-mentioned linear motion component, this utility model can cooperate with the pressure-pressing structure and the elastic reset component to achieve the effect of automatic switching by using fluid pressure difference for driving.

[0051] To ensure sealing performance during flow path switching, the inside of the cross valve body pipe 202 is also equipped with a valve plate 204, namely the cross valve body valve plate. The slider 206 slides against the surface of the valve plate 204 to change the flow path of the fluid by covering or passing through different flow channels.

[0052] In addition, to prevent the slider 206 from rotating circumferentially or derailing during movement, a limit structure is designed at the lower end of the slider 206, which is used to keep the slider 206 moving back and forth on a preset straight trajectory.

[0053] The key to the "self-operated" action of this switching valve lies in its pressure-inducing structure, which is configured to directly introduce the fluid pressure at the selected flow channel interface into both sides of the drive chamber.

[0054] In this embodiment, the pressure-feeding structure consists of multiple metal connecting pipes disposed outside the valve body, including a first connecting pipe 210 and a second connecting pipe 211. One end of these connecting pipes is welded to a specific flow channel interface, and the other end is welded to the first chamber or the second chamber respectively.

[0055] The specific connection logic is as follows: the first connecting pipe 210 transmits the pressure of one of the flow channel interfaces to the first chamber, while the second connecting pipe 211 transmits the pressure of the other flow channel interface to the second chamber B;

[0056] This multi-point pressure tapping design ensures that the piston 205 can accurately sense the high-pressure and low-pressure sides of the system regardless of the system's operating conditions.

[0057] A spring 212, which serves as an elastic reset element, is also provided in the drive cavity. The spring 212 is a helical spring, which is coaxially sleeved in the drive cavity. One end abuts against the inner wall of the end cover 207, and the other end abuts against the end face of the piston 205.

[0058] The function of the spring 212 is to provide a constant restoring force for the linear motion component, defining the default position (standby position) of the valve in the absence of differential pressure (such as in the shutdown equilibrium state) or in a specific differential pressure direction.

[0059] In this embodiment, the flow channel interface adopts an asymmetrical design, including two parallel interfaces located on the lower side of the valve body assembly and a manifold interface located on the upper side. This layout facilitates docking with the four-way valve 3 and electronic expansion valve 8 pipelines in the air conditioning system.

[0060] The above describes the specific structural configuration of the self-operated flow path switching valve in this utility model. As can be seen from the above configuration and implementation principle, the driving force for flow path switching in this utility model mainly comes from the fluid pressure difference. Therefore, this utility model does not require additional motor or electromagnetic drive device.

[0061] In other words, based on the above-mentioned settings, this utility model can achieve the beneficial effects described above:

[0062] This invention utilizes the cooperation of a valve body assembly, a linear motion assembly, a pressure-sensing structure, and an elastic reset component to drive the piston 205 to move the slider 206 linearly by leveraging the fluid pressure difference at the system flow channel interface, thereby achieving automatic flow path switching. This eliminates the need for additional motors or electromagnetic drive devices, simplifying the structure and reducing costs. At the same time, the pressure difference drive ensures the reliability of the switching action.

[0063] Furthermore, the self-operated flow path switching valve proposed in this utility model can also be applied to air conditioning systems, such as... Figure 6 As shown, when the above-mentioned self-operated flow path switching valve is applied in an air conditioning system, the air conditioning system includes:

[0064] Compressor 1, which serves as the core power component of the system;

[0065] High-voltage switch 2, which serves as a safety protection device;

[0066] Four-way valve 3 is used to switch the flow direction of high and low pressure components in the system;

[0067] The components include the first heat exchanger 4, motor 5, flow divider 6, filter 7, electronic expansion valve 8, and the aforementioned self-operated flow path switching valve 9.

[0068] Among them, filter 7 is used to prevent foreign matter from entering the precision valve system. The second heat exchanger 11 and drive plate 10 are also components of the system. Here, the second heat exchanger 11 is a plate heat exchanger.

[0069] In actual system operation, the switching valve automatically switches the flow path according to the changes in pipeline pressure in different modes of the air conditioning system, without the need for intervention of the electrical control unit.

[0070] When the system is in standby mode or stopped, compressor 1 stops operating, and the high and low pressures in the system pipeline tend to balance. At this time, the pressures in the first and second chambers are basically the same. Under the reset force of spring 212, piston 205 is pushed to its initial position, causing slider 206 to move to the default flow path state. At this time, the valve body flow path is set so that the first chamber is connected to the low-pressure end and the second chamber is connected to the high-pressure end, ensuring safety when the system restarts.

[0071] When the system is turned on and enters cooling mode, the four-way valve 3 is in a de-energized or cooling state. The refrigerant flow direction causes the pressure distribution at the flow interface connected to the switching valve to present a specific state. For example, at the lower part 203 of the cross valve body, the left side is high pressure and the right side is low pressure. At this time, the pressure transmitted to both sides of the piston 205 through the pressure-sensing structure is maintained to keep the valve in the default open position. The refrigerant flow direction in the electronic expansion valve 8 is positive, and the system cools normally. Since no additional valve action is required, the flow path remains unobstructed, avoiding unnecessary pressure loss.

[0072] When the system switches to heating mode, the four-way valve 3 activates, causing the high and low pressure pipelines of the system to switch. The system flow direction changes from the first heat exchanger 4, drive plate 10, second heat exchanger 11, drive plate 10, and back to heat exchanger 4. At this time, the pressure distribution in the cross valve body pipe 202, specifically the lower part 203 of the cross valve body, reverses, becoming lower on the left and higher on the right. This pressure change is instantly transmitted to the drive chamber through the first connecting pipe 210 and the second connecting pipe 211, resulting in a large pressure difference between the first and second chambers. The force generated by this pressure difference overcomes the elastic force of the spring 212 and the friction of the slider 206, pushing the piston 205 to move rapidly in a straight line to the other end. The piston 205, through the connecting rod 208, drives the slider 206 to displace within the switching chamber, thereby changing the connection relationship between the flow channel interfaces. This switching action ensures that the refrigerant flowing through the electronic expansion valve 8 maintains the same direction as the refrigeration cycle in the heating cycle, achieving "co-current control".

[0073] This pressure differential-based adaptive switching mechanism not only eliminates the need for an expensive electronic expansion valve 8 and its drive circuit, but more importantly, it ensures that the electronic expansion valve 8 always operates in the optimal flow direction (co-current flow), avoiding the flow characteristic distortion and noise problems caused by counter-current operation, and significantly improving the system's control accuracy and heating efficiency. Simultaneously, due to the compact mechanical structure, this solution effectively solves the condensation problem caused by drastic temperature changes during refrigerant cooling plate switching, protecting the mainboard circuitry.

[0074] Furthermore, based on the concept of this utility model, alternative embodiments are also possible, namely, derivative schemes that improve the form, size, and external control on the basis of this utility model. For example, the size of the valve body assembly can be adjusted to adapt to pipeline systems with different pipe diameters, or auxiliary control valves can be added to the external pipeline to achieve more complex control logic, but the core is still to use the system pressure difference to achieve self-regulating switching.

[0075] In summary, this utility model, through the cooperation of the valve body assembly, linear motion assembly, pressure-sensing structure and elastic reset component, utilizes the fluid pressure difference at the system flow channel interface to drive the piston to move the slider linearly, thereby realizing automatic flow path switching. It eliminates the need for additional motors or electromagnetic drive devices, simplifying the structure and reducing costs. At the same time, the pressure difference drive ensures the reliability of the switching action.

[0076] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A self-operated flow path switching valve, comprising a valve body assembly having a switching chamber and a driving chamber, wherein the switching chamber is connected to multiple flow channel interfaces, characterized in that, It also includes: a linear motion assembly that is slidably disposed within the valve body assembly and divides the drive chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber; a pressure-guiding structure for transmitting the fluid pressure at the flow channel interface to the first chamber and the second chamber; and an elastic reset member for applying a reset force to the linear motion assembly. When the fluid pressure at the flow channel interface changes, causing a pressure difference to form between the first chamber and the second chamber, the linear motion component moves to change the connection between the flow channel interface and the switching chamber.

2. The self-operated flow path switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The linear motion assembly includes a slider disposed in the switching chamber, a piston located in the driving chamber, and a connecting rod connecting the slider and the piston. The piston divides the driving chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber. When the fluid pressure at the flow channel interface changes, causing a pressure difference to form between the first chamber and the second chamber, the piston overcomes the reset force of the elastic reset member under the drive of the pressure difference, and drives the slider to move through the connecting rod, thereby changing the connection between the flow channel interface and the switching chamber.

3. The self-operated flow path switching valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The valve body assembly includes: a switching valve body housing and a cross valve body pipe arranged perpendicularly to each other; The switching valve body housing extends horizontally to form the drive chamber, and the cross valve body pipe penetrates vertically through the switching valve body housing to form the switching chamber.

4. The self-operated flow path switching valve according to claim 3, characterized in that, The valve body assembly also includes end caps disposed at both ends of the switching valve body housing, the end caps being fixed to the switching valve body housing by welding to seal the ends of the drive chamber.

5. The self-operated flow path switching valve according to claim 3, characterized in that, The valve body assembly also includes a valve plate disposed within the cross valve body pipe, and the slider slides against the surface of the valve plate.

6. The self-operated flow path switching valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lower end of the slider is provided with a limiting structure, and the slider is kept on a preset motion trajectory within the switching cavity by the limiting structure.

7. The self-operated flow path switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure-guiding structure includes multiple connecting pipes disposed outside the valve body assembly, one end of each connecting pipe being connected to one of the flow channel interfaces, and the other end of each connecting pipe being connected to the first chamber or the second chamber.

8. The self-operated flow path switching valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The elastic reset element is a helical spring, which is located in the drive cavity. One end of the helical spring abuts against the inner wall of the valve body assembly, and the other end abuts against the piston.

9. The self-operated flow path switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow channel interface includes at least two parallel interfaces located on the same side of the valve body assembly, and a confluence interface located on the opposite side of the valve body assembly.

10. An air conditioning system, characterized in that, The system includes a compressor, a four-way valve, a heat exchanger, and a self-regulating flow path switching valve as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the self-regulating flow path switching valve is used to automatically switch the internal flow path according to the changes in pipeline pressure under different operating modes of the air conditioning system.

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