VALVE DEVICE

Abstract

Valve device (1), comprising: a power source (60); a valve body actuator element (50) which is rotated by a drive force from the drive source (60); a valve body (20) which is attached to an end face of the valve body drive element (50) in an axial direction and rotates integrally with the valve body drive element (50) in a circumferential direction; and a valve seat (15) having a valve seat surface (15u) on which the valve body (20) is arranged, wherein, if a surface of the valve body actuator element (50) facing the valve body (20) is defined as a lower surface (50I) of the valve body actuator element (50), a surface of the valve body (20) facing the valve body actuator element (50) is defined as an upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20), and an end surface opposite the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20) and located on the valve seat surface (15u) is defined as a lower surface (201) of the valve body (20), Fitting parts (251-253, 551-553) formed by concave sections (251-253) and convex sections (551-553) fitted to each other, are formed in the lower surface (50I) of the valve body actuator element (50) and the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20), wherein the fitting parts of the valve body (20) are the concave sections (251-253), the valve body (20) has a plurality of perforated parts (211-215) which extend through it in the axial direction of the valve body (20), wherein the perforated parts (211-215) are adapted to adjust a flow rate of a liquid, an opening part (4o), which is an inlet opening (36) or outlet opening (4) of a fluid, is formed in the valve seat surface (15u) of the valve seat (15), Grooved parts (211f-215f), which are flow channels that create a connection from an outer circumferential surface of the valve body (20) to the hole parts (211-215), are formed in the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20), the concave sections (251-253) and the groove parts (21lf, 212f, 214f, 215f) on two oppositely oriented sides of the valve body (20) have connecting parts (271, 272, 274, 275) that connect concave sections, where the concave sections (251-253) and the groove parts (211f, 212f, 214f, 215f) are continuously formed in the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20) without being separated by other elements that form the valve body (20).

Description

STATE OF THE ART Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve device. Related technology

[0002] Patent literature 1, referred to below, discloses a valve device arranged in refrigerant flow channels in a refrigerator and which adjusts the flow rate of the refrigerant through a valve body. [Literature of related technology][Patent literature]

[0003] Patent literature 1: JP 5 615 993 B1

[0004] JP 2012-047 327 A discloses a motor for driving a flow rate adjustment mechanism placed on a housing. A rotor of the motor is arranged in the housing. Gas is caused to pass through a section arranged with the rotor by placing an inlet section and an outlet section in opposing positions, with the rotor enclosed between them. A flow rate adjustment element is arranged either at the inlet section or at the outlet section.

[0005] JP 2015-014 294 A discloses a flow control valve with a valve rotatable about a valve shaft and a valve seat plate provided with an outlet opening. The valve has a sliding contact surface that slides on a surface of the valve seat plate. The sliding contact surface corresponds to an open end, at which a first end portion opens to a gap portion of the sliding contact surface, and has an arcuate groove superimposed on the outlet opening, extending a predetermined length from the open end due to the rotation of the valve.

[0006] DE 10 2004 015 541 A1 discloses a stepper motor comprising a stator and a rotor. The stator has a coil core. Winding wires are wound around the coil core. The rotor has a rotor shaft and a magnet attached to the rotor shaft. A holder is attached to the coil core. A bearing is located between the holder and the rotor shaft, such that the rotor shaft is rotatably supported by the coil core via the bearing and the holder. The bearing has an outer diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the rotor. SUMMARY [Problems to be solved]

[0007] The valve device described in patent literature 1 covers refrigerant outlets of a valve chamber with a disc-shaped valve body. The refrigerant outlets are opened and closed by rotating the valve body circumferentially. At each circumferential position of the valve body, a cutout is formed, exposing the entire refrigerant outlet in the valve chamber, or small holes of a small diameter are formed through it in the thickness direction of the valve body. The valve body adjusts the refrigerant flow rate by aligning the locations of the cutout or the small holes with the positions of the refrigerant outlets.

[0008] The refrigerant discharge rate can be more finely adjusted using the same configuration as the valve device described in patent reference 1, provided that a plurality of small holes of varying diameters are provided on the valve body. The upper limit of the number of small holes that can be formed in the valve body is determined by the diameter or an end face of the valve body. Flow channels (e.g., cut-out sections 73 on the gear side in patent reference 1) must be arranged on the upper surface of the valve body to connect the small holes to the valve chamber, or connecting elements (e.g., matching concave sections 70, 71, 72 in patent reference 1) of the valve body and an actuating element thereof must be arranged. Therefore, if the valve body is small, the space available for forming small holes is limited.

[0009] In view of these problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to create a valve device in which more small holes can be provided on a valve body and with which the flow rate of a fluid can be finely adjusted, even when a small valve body is used. [Means of solving the problems]

[0010] To solve the problem, the valve device according to claim 1 is provided. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims. The following disclosure serves to facilitate understanding of the invention. The disclosure comprises a valve device of the present invention, a drive source; a valve body drive element that is rotated by a drive force from the drive source; a valve body that is attached to an end face in an axial direction of the valve body drive element and rotates integrally with the valve body drive element in a circumferential direction; and a valve seat with a valve seat surface on which the valve body is arranged.If a surface of the valve body actuator facing the valve body is defined as a lower surface of the valve body actuator, a surface of the valve body facing the valve body actuator is defined as an upper surface of the valve body, and an end surface opposite the upper surface of the valve body and located on the valve seat surface is defined as a lower surface of the valve body, wherein mating parts are formed in the lower surface of the valve body actuator and the upper surface of the valve body, wherein the valve body has perforated parts formed through it in the axial direction of the valve body, and wherein opening parts, which are inlet or outlet openings of a fluid, are formed in the valve seat surface of the valve seat.Grooved parts, which are flow channels that create a connection from an outer circumferential surface of the valve body to the hole parts, are formed in the upper surface of the valve body, and the fitting parts and the grooved parts on one side of the valve body have connecting parts in which the fitting parts and the grooved parts are continuously formed in the upper surface of the valve body without being separated from other elements that form the valve body.

[0011] By continuously forming the fitting parts and the groove parts in the upper surface of the valve body, a space can be enlarged that is able to arrange the hole parts.

[0012] Furthermore, the fitting parts are preferably formed by concave sections and convex sections that are adapted to each other, and the fitting parts of the valve body are also preferably concave sections.

[0013] By defining the fitting parts of the valve body as concave sections, the shape of the upper surface of the valve body can be flattened, and the materials required for shaping the valve body can be reduced.

[0014] Furthermore, the concave sections, which are the fitting parts of the valve body, preferably partially overlap with the grooved parts.

[0015] Furthermore, the valve body preferably has a plurality of hole parts with different hole diameters, and the groove parts are formed in each of the hole parts in the upper surface of the valve body.

[0016] By arranging a large number of perforated parts with different hole diameters, a fine adjustment of the flow rate can be achieved.

[0017] Furthermore, the concave sections, which are the fitting parts on the side of the valve body, are preferably connected to a plurality of the groove parts.

[0018] By connecting a large number of grooved parts to the concave section, space can be provided for arranging further perforated parts.

[0019] Furthermore, preferably one of the multiple perforated parts is arranged in a position that is essentially a radius center on the upper surface of the valve body.

[0020] By arranging the perforated parts in the essentially radial center of the valve body, the sealing performance of the lower surface of the valve body and the valve seat surface can be further improved.

[0021] Furthermore, the fitting parts are preferably formed from a plurality of groups of concave sections and convex sections that are fitted to one another, and at least one of the plurality of concave sections, which are the fitting parts on the side of the valve body, has the connecting part.

[0022] By arranging a large number of groups of fitting parts, the valve body actuator and the valve body can be integrally rotated in a more reliable manner.

[0023] Furthermore, support parts which carry the lower surface of the valve body drive element are preferably arranged on an outer side in the radial direction of the concave sections which are formed in the upper surface of the valve body, and represent the fitting parts which have the connecting parts.

[0024] By arranging the support parts on the outside in the radial direction of the concave section, the sealing performance of the lower surface of the valve body and the valve seat surface can be further improved.

[0025] Furthermore, preferably a cut-out part, which is a flow channel obtained by cutting the lower surface of the valve body from the outer circumferential surface of the valve body to a central side in the radial direction, is formed in the lower surface of the valve body, and the cut-out part has a size that can expose all opening parts in the valve seat surface when the valve body reaches a predetermined angular position.

[0026] By arranging the cut-out part in the valve body, the fluid can circulate at a maximum flow rate while ignoring the flow rate limiting effect of the valve body.

[0027] Furthermore, among the multitude of concave sections which are the fitting parts of the valve body, the concave sections which are arranged in the upper surface of the valve body and in an upper part of a forming area of ​​the cut-out parts are preferably through holes which penetrate to one side of the cut-out part and the convex parts of the valve body actuator element which are attached to the concave sections which are the through holes are riveted to the side of the cut-out part and attached to the valve body.

[0028] By attaching the convex sections of the valve body actuator element to the valve body, chatter between the valve body actuator element and the valve body can be prevented.

[0029] Furthermore, the diameter of the valve body is preferably less than 10 mm, the perforated parts of the valve body have five different hole diameters, the grooved parts are formed in each of the perforated parts in the upper surface of the valve body, the mating parts are formed by a plurality of groups of concave and convex sections fitted to one another, wherein at least one of the plurality of concave sections, which are the mating parts on the side of the valve body, has the connecting part, a cut-out part, which is a flow channel obtained by cutting the lower surface of the valve body from the outer circumferential surface of the valve body to a central side in the radial direction, is formed in the lower surface of the valve body, wherein the cut-out part has a size capable of exposing the entire opening part in the valve seat surface.when the valve body reaches a predetermined angular position, and the valve body has a flat surface portion in its lower surface that closes all opening portions in the valve seat surface.

[0030] Depending on the configuration, the flow rate of a fluid can be finely adjusted, even when using a small valve body.

[0031] Furthermore, preferably fault-absorbing parts, which are concave sections that use the hole parts as radial centers and have diameters larger than the hole diameters of the hole parts, are formed in the lower surface of the valve body.

[0032] By incorporating the error-absorbing parts into the perforated parts, a slight deviation in the rotation angle of the valve body is absorbed, and the accuracy of the flow rate setting through the perforated parts is increased.

[0033] Furthermore, the diameter of each fault-absorbing part is preferably determined in accordance with the hole diameter of the corresponding hole part.

[0034] By forming the fault-absorbing part with a small diameter accordingly in the hole part with a small hole diameter and by forming the fault-absorbing part with a large diameter accordingly in the hole part with a large hole diameter, the area efficiency of the lower surface of the valve body is improved and more hole parts can be arranged in the valve body.

[0035] Furthermore, the depth of the fault-absorbing part is preferably deeper than the hole diameter of the corresponding hole part.

[0036] Since the fault-absorbing part is deeper than the hole diameter of the corresponding hole part, it can prevent the flow rate from being limited by the fault-absorbing part, and it can increase the accuracy of the flow rate setting by the hole part.

[0037] Furthermore, several groups of concave sections and convex sections, which form the fitting parts, are preferably arranged at unequal intervals in the circumferential direction of the valve body actuator element and the valve body.

[0038] By arranging a large number of groups of fitting parts at non-uniform intervals in the circumferential direction of the valve body actuator element and the valve body, incorrect assembly of the valve body actuator element and the valve body is avoided and the relative mounting angle of these elements can always be determined.

[0039] Furthermore, preferably at least one of the valve seat surfaces is ground from the valve seat and the lower surface of the valve body.

[0040] By grinding the valve seat surface and / or the lower surface of the valve body to smooth the surface, the sealing performance of the valve seat surface and the lower surface can be improved.

[0041] Preferably the drive source is a motor, wherein the valve body drive element is a gear element in which a tooth section is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the valve body drive element, and a drive force from the drive source is slowed down and transferred to the valve body drive element.

[0042] By defining the valve body drive element itself as a gear element, the number of components of the flow rate adjustment mechanism is reduced and the valve device can be miniaturized.

[0043] Furthermore, a polyphenylene sulfide resin is preferably used in the material of the valve body and a nylon resin is used in the material of the valve body actuator element.

[0044] Cost efficiency is increased by using polyphenylene sulfide resin, which has high formability and excellent abrasion resistance, in the material of the valve body, which influences the setting accuracy of the fluid flow rate, and on the other hand by using cheap nylon resin in the valve body actuator element, which does not require the same form accuracy as the valve body. [Effect]

[0045] According to the valve device of the present invention, more small holes can be arranged on the valve body and the flow rate of a fluid can be finely adjusted, even when a small valve body is used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerant valve device (hereinafter also referred to as "valve device") of an embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 is a bottom view of a refrigerant valve device. Fig. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerant valve device along a line XX in Fig. 2. Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the main parts of a flow rate adjustment mechanism of a refrigerant valve device. Fig. 5A and Fig. Figure 5B is a perspective exploded view of a valve body actuator, a valve body and a valve seat. Fig. 6A and Fig. Figure 6B shows a top view and a bottom view, which illustrate the structure of a valve body. Fig. 7A and Fig. Figure 7B shows a top view and a bottom view, which show the structure of a valve body actuator element. Fig. 8A and Fig. Figure 8B is a cross-sectional side view showing a connection state of a refrigerant valve device. Fig. Figure 9 is an explanatory drawing for controlling the operation of a refrigerant flow rate based on a refrigerant valve device. DESCRIPTION OF EXECUTION FORMS (Overall Configuration)

[0046] Next, a refrigerant valve device (hereinafter also referred to as "valve device"), which serves as an embodiment of a valve device of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a refrigerant valve device 1 of the embodiment. The refrigerant valve device 1 is arranged between a compressor and a condenser in refrigerant flow channels within a refrigerator and regulates the flow rate of a refrigerant circulating in the refrigerator. Additionally, the application of the valve device of the present invention is not limited to adjusting the refrigerant flow rate and is applicable to a wide range of machines with the aim of controlling the flow rate of a fluid.

[0047] The refrigerant valve device 1 comprises a valve body 2, an inlet pipe 3 that introduces a refrigerant, which is a fluid, into the valve body 2, an outlet pipe 4 that allows the introduced refrigerant to flow out of the valve body 2, a connector 7 that is electrically connected to an external control device, and a mounting plate 8 for securing the refrigerant valve device 1 in the refrigerator. In the following description, a direction parallel to the extension direction of the inlet pipe 3 and the outlet pipe 4 is defined as a vertical direction, with the side of the valve body 2 being defined as the top side and the side of the inlet pipe 3 and the outlet pipe 4 as the bottom side.

[0048] Fig. Figure 2 is a bottom view of the refrigerant valve device 1, viewed from the side of the inlet pipe 3 and the outlet pipe 4. A lower surface of a disc-shaped base 10 is exposed from the bottom section of the valve body 2. A valve seat 15 is attached to the base 10, the outlet pipe 4 is connected to an outlet port 40 of the valve seat 15, and the inlet pipe 3 is connected to an inlet port 30 of the base 10.

[0049] Fig. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view obtained by cutting the refrigerant valve device 1 along an XX line in Fig. 2 will be received. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the valve body 2 has within an outer housing 46 of the valve body 2 the base 10 and a sealing cover 11, which is a cup-shaped housing body that opens downwards and covers the base 10 from above.

[0050] The sealing cover 11 is an element formed by pressing a non-magnetic stainless steel sheet material. From top to bottom, the sealing cover 11 has a circular base section 31, a small-diameter tubular section 32 extending downwards from an outer circumference of the base section 31, a large-diameter tubular section 33 with a larger diameter than the small-diameter tubular section 32, and a cover-side flange 34 extending radially outwards from a lower end edge (opening edge) of the large-diameter tubular section 33.An annular section 35 is arranged between the small-diameter tubular sections 32 and the large-diameter tubular section 33. This annular section extends in a direction perpendicular to an axis L0 passing through the center of the base 10 and connects the small-diameter tubular section 32 to the large-diameter tubular section 33. A base-side flange 16, in which the thickness of the base 10 is reduced by lowering the surface position of the upper surface of the base 10 in a stepped manner, is formed on the circumferential section of the base 10. The gasket cover 11 and the base 10 are fixed in a position in which the cover-side flange 34 abuts the base-side flange 16. The inner surface of the gasket cover 11 and the upper surface of the base 10 define a valve chamber 36, which is a flow channel in which the refrigerant is stored.

[0051] Furthermore, a stepper motor 60, which is a drive source formed using the inner and outer parts of the sealing cover 11, is housed in the outer casing 46. A rotor 61 serves as an output part of the stepper motor 60, and a pinion 66 of the stepper motor 60 is arranged within the sealing cover 11. The rotor 61 includes a permanent magnet 63 in the outer circumferential surface of the rotor 61 and is rotatably supported by a rotor spindle 18. An upper end of the rotor spindle 18 is attached to the bottom section 31 of the sealing cover 11, and a lower end of the rotor spindle 18 is attached to the center of the base 10. An axis of the rotor spindle 18 coincides with axis L0 and extends parallel to an axis L1 of the spindle 19, which rotatably supports a valve body drive element 50 and the valve body 20, both of which are described below.

[0052] A stator 64 of the stepper motor 60 is arranged on the annular section 35 of the sealing cover 11 and is arranged circularly along the shape of the small-diameter tubular section 32 of the sealing cover 11. The stator 64 includes a coil 65, and the coil 65 faces the permanent magnet 63 of the rotor 61 through the small-diameter tubular section 32 of the sealing cover 11. The coil 65 is electrically connected to the connector 7, and the operations of the stepper motor 60 are controlled by an external control device connected through the connector 7. (Flow rate adjustment mechanism)

[0053] Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing main parts of a flow rate adjustment mechanism of the refrigerant valve device 1. Fig. 5A and Fig. Figure 5B is a perspective exploded view of the valve body actuator element 50, the valve body 20 and the valve seat 15. Fig. 5A is a drawing in which these parts are viewed from above, and Fig. 5B is a drawing in which these parts are viewed from below.

[0054] As in Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figures 5A-5B, the flow rate adjustment mechanism of the refrigerant valve device 1 is formed by the stepper motor 60, which is located in Fig. Figure 4 shows the rotor 61, the valve body actuator 50, the valve body 20, and the valve seat 15. The valve body actuator 50, the valve body 20, and the valve seat 15 are arranged sequentially from top to bottom along the axis line L1, which is a common axis line.

[0055] The valve body drive element 50 is a gear element with a toothed section 51 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the valve body drive element 50, and the toothed section 51 meshes with the pinion 66 of the stepper motor 60. The rotation of the stepper motor 60 is decelerated via the pinion 66 and the toothed section 51 and transmitted to the valve body drive element 50. The valve body drive element 50 of this embodiment is itself a gear element provided with the toothed section 51, thereby reducing the number of components of the flow rate adjustment mechanism and miniaturizing the refrigerant valve device 1.

[0056] Furthermore, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, an arm section 52, which projects radially outwards from a section in the circumferential direction of the valve body drive element 50, is formed on the valve body drive element 50. When the valve body drive element 50 rotates and reaches a predetermined angular position, the arm section 52 abuts a rotation regulating part 67, which is enclosed in the rotor 61, from one side or the other about the axis line L1 and limits the rotation angle of the valve body drive element 50 and the valve body 20 within a predetermined range.

[0057] Beneath the end surfaces of the valve body actuator 50, convex sections 551, 552, 553, which are mating elements projecting towards the side of the valve body 20, are formed at uneven intervals along the circumferential direction on a lower surface 50I, which is the surface facing the valve body 20. Hereinafter, the three convex sections are also generally referred to as the "convex section 55". Beneath the end surface of the valve body 20, on an upper surface 20u, which is the surface facing the valve body actuator 50, concave sections 251, 252, 253, which are mating elements to which the convex section 55 is adapted, are formed in positions corresponding to the convex section 55 of the valve body actuator 50. Hereinafter, the three concave sections are also generally referred to as the "concave section 25".By fitting the multiple groups of components, the valve body 20 rotates integrally with the valve body drive element 50 in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, by arranging the multiple groups of components along the circumferential direction of the valve body drive element 50 and the valve body 20 at unequal intervals, incorrect assembly of the valve body drive element 50 and the valve body 20 is prevented, and the relative mounting angle of these elements can always be fixed. In this way, the valve body 20 and the valve body drive element 50 of the embodiment are prevented from deviating in the circumferential direction by the axial overlap of at least one section of each with the other element.

[0058] Furthermore, beneath the concave section 25 of the valve body 20, the concave section 251 is formed as a through-hole that penetrates the side of the cut-out part 22. And in the convex section 551, which is adapted to the concave section 251, a front end section is exposed on the side of the cut-out part 22, and a front end section of the exposed convex section 551 is crimped onto the side of the cut-out part 22. Accordingly, the valve body 20 is attached to the lower surface 50I of the valve body actuator 50 without chatter, and the valve body actuator 50 can control the angular position of the valve body 20 with high accuracy.

[0059] The valve seat 15 is arranged below the valve body 20, and the valve body 20 is arranged on the valve seat 15. A valve seat mounting element 14, which is an opening element to which the valve seat 15 is attached, is formed in the base 10. The valve seat 15 is a substantially cylindrical element, and a valve seat surface 15u, consisting of a flat surface, is arranged on the upper surface of the valve seat 15. An outlet opening 4o, which is a penetrated opening element through which the refrigerant flows out, is formed in the valve seat 15 in a position that deviates radially outward from the axis line L1. The valve seat surface 15u forms part of the upper surface of the base 10.

[0060] The valve body 20 is a disc-shaped element with a diameter of 8 mm and is positioned on the valve seat 15 such that the lower surface 20I contacts the valve seat surface 15u. The valve body drive element 50 receives a drive force from the stepper motor 60 to rotate, thereby rotating the valve body 20's lower surface 20I while the lower surface 20I slides on the valve seat surface 15u. In this way, a switching action is performed between a state in which the outlet opening 4o of the valve seat surface 15u is blocked and a state in which all or part of the outlet opening 4o is in communication with the valve chamber 36.

[0061] The lower surface 20I of the valve body 20 and the valve seat surface 15u of the valve seat 15 are ground flat. This increases the sealing performance of the lower surface 20I of the valve body 20 and the valve seat surface 15u, preventing refrigerant from escaping through any gaps in the contact surface. Furthermore, when the valve body actuator 50 and the valve body 20 are fixed, a leading end of the convex section 551 is riveted by the cut-out portion 22, thus preventing riveting-induced wear or deformation of the lower surface 20I of the valve body 20. Additionally, in this embodiment, both the lower surface 20I of the valve body 20 and the valve seat surface 15u of the valve seat 15 are ground. However, the corresponding leakage protection effect is also achieved if only one of the surfaces is ground. (Structure of the valve body)

[0062] Next, the structure of the valve body 20 will be described with reference to the Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B is described in more detail. Fig. 6A and Fig. 6B are drawings showing the structure of the valve body 20. Fig. 6Aa is a top view of the valve body 20, and Fig. 6B is a bottom view of the valve body 20.

[0063] The valve body 20 has five small perforated parts 211, 212, 213, 214, and 215, which penetrate the valve body 20 in the axial direction. Hereinafter, these five small perforated parts are also generally referred to as "the small perforated part 21". The hole diameter of these small perforated parts 21 gradually increases from that of the small perforated part 211, such that the hole diameter of the small perforated part 211 is the smallest and the hole diameter of the small perforated part 215 is the largest. The valve body 20 of this embodiment can finely adjust the flow rate by incorporating a plurality of small perforated parts with different hole diameters.

[0064] Furthermore, the cut-out portion 22, which is a coolant flow channel obtained by cutting the lower surface 20I from the outer circumferential surface of the valve body 20 to the radial center, is formed in the lower surface 20I of the valve body 20. The cut-out portion 22 has a size that allows all outlet openings 4o in the valve seat surface 15u to be exposed when the valve body 20 reaches a predetermined angular position. The coolant can circulate through the valve body 20 containing the cut-out portion 22 at a maximum flow rate, ignoring the limiting effect of the valve body 20.

[0065] Grooved sections 211f, 212f, 213f, 214f, 215f, which are refrigerant flow channels connecting the outer circumferential surface of the valve body 20 to each small perforated section 21, are formed in the upper surface 20u of the valve body 20. Hereinafter, the five grooved sections are also generally referred to as "grooved section 21f". Connecting sections 271, 272, which are sections formed continuously without being separated by other elements forming the valve body 20 (sections where the concave section 252 and part of the grooved sections 211f, 212f overlap), are arranged between the concave section 252 and the grooved sections 211f, 212f and in the upper surface 20u of the valve body 20. Similarly, connecting parts 274 and 275 are arranged between the concave section 253 and the grooved parts 214f ​​and 215f. Hereinafter, the four connecting parts will also be generally referred to as "the connecting part 27".

[0066] In a conventional design concept, where concave sections or grooves are arranged in the upper surface of the valve body, as in the present invention, to ensure the tightness of the fit of the concave sections and to prevent damage to the stiffness of the valve body and the creation of a gap between the valve body and the valve seat, an examination is carried out of the arrangement of the concave sections and the grooves, which leave spaces around the concave sections so that the concave sections and the grooves do not connect. By intentionally and continuously forming the concave sections and the grooves in the upper surface of the valve body, the valve body of the present invention provides ample space for arranging small perforations and increases the degree of freedom in arranging these small perforations.

[0067] Support elements 252u, 253u, which support the lower surface 50I of the valve body actuator element 50, are arranged on the outside in the radial direction of the concave sections 252, 253 in the upper surface 20u of the valve body 20. In this embodiment, support elements 252u, 253u are also parts with a height that is flush with the upper surface 20u. Furthermore, each small perforated section 21 of the valve body 20 is arranged along a center line c of radius in the upper surface 20u of the valve body 20.In this way, although the valve body 20 of the embodiment is a compact valve body with a diameter of 8 mm, the sealing performance of the lower surface 20I of the valve body 20 and the valve seat surface 15u of the valve seat 15 is improved by arranging the support parts 252u, 253u on the outside in the radial direction of the concave sections 252, 253 with the connecting part 27 and by arranging each small hole part 21 along the center in the radius of the valve body, and by arranging each small hole part 21 along the center in the radius of the valve body.

[0068] Furthermore, a polyphenylene sulfide resin is used for the material of the valve body 20 of the embodiment, and a nylon resin is used for the material of the valve body actuator element 50. By using the polyphenylene sulfide resin, which exhibits high formability and excellent abrasion resistance, for the material of the valve body 20, which influences the setting accuracy of the refrigerant flow rate, and on the other hand by using inexpensive nylon resin in the valve body actuator element 50, which does not require the same dimensional accuracy as the valve body 20, cost-efficiency is increased and the disadvantages caused by the arrangement of the connecting part 27 are also reduced.

[0069] In the lower surface 20I of the valve body 20, error-absorbing parts 261, 262, 263, 264, 265 are formed. These are concave sections that use each small hole part 21 as a center in the radial direction and have a diameter larger than the hole diameter of each small hole part 21. Hereinafter, the five error-absorbing parts are also generally referred to as "the error-absorbing part 26". Each small hole part 21, which contains the error-absorbing part 26, absorbs a slight deviation in the rotation angle of the valve body 20, and the accuracy of the flow rate adjustment by the small hole part 21 is improved.

[0070] Here, the diameter of the fault-absorbing part 26 is determined in accordance with the hole diameter of the corresponding small hole part 21. That is, in the small hole part with a small hole diameter, a fault-absorbing part with a correspondingly small diameter is formed; in the small hole part with a large hole diameter, a fault-absorbing part with a correspondingly large diameter is formed, and the area efficiency of the lower surface 20I of the valve body is increased. As a result, the number of small hole parts that can be formed in the valve body 20 is maximized. Furthermore, the depth of the fault-absorbing part 26 is greater than the hole diameter of the corresponding small hole part 21, and the flow rate of the small hole part is not limited by the fault-absorbing part 26. (Operation of the refrigerant valve device)

[0071] Fig. 8A and Fig. Figure 8B shows cross-sectional side views illustrating a connection state of the refrigerant valve device 1. Using the small perforated part 213 as an example, it shows Fig. 8A a state in which a flow channel A1, which is a coolant flow channel, is formed that passes through the small hole part 21, and Fig. Figure 8B shows a state in which a flow channel A2, which is a coolant flow channel, is formed through the cut-out part 22.

[0072] When the stepper motor 60 is driven by an external control device, the drive force is transmitted via the pinion 66 and the tooth section 51 of the valve body drive element 50 to the valve body drive element 50. When the body drive element 50 rotates in the circumferential direction, the valve body 20 also rotates on the valve seat surface 15u in the same direction as the valve body drive element 50. If here, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 8A, the fault-absorbing part 26 formed in the lower surface 20I of the valve body 20 overlaps the outlet opening 40 in the direction of the axis line L1, forming the flow channel A1, which is sequentially connected from the valve chamber 36 to the outlet opening 40 via the grooved part 21f, the small hole part 21 and the fault-absorbing part 26. The refrigerant flow rate is determined according to the hole diameter of each small hole part 21 in the state in which the flow channel A1 is formed.

[0073] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 8B, when the cut-out part 22 of the valve body 20 and the outlet opening 40 overlap in the direction of the axis line L1, the flow channel A2 from the valve chamber 36 to the outlet opening 40 is formed by the cut-out part 22. Since the cut-out part 22 of the embodiment exposes the entire outlet opening 40 within the valve chamber 36, the flow channel A2 causes the refrigerant to flow out at a maximum flow rate, which is determined by the refrigerant valve device 1.

[0074] Fig. Figure 9 is an explanatory drawing of the refrigerant flow rate control operation. The diagram at the top is shown in the diagram. Fig. Figure 9 shows the flow rate of the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant valve device 1, where the vertical axis represents the circulation quantity and the horizontal axis represents the number of drive steps of the stepper motor 60. Furthermore, in Fig. 9. The valve body 20 receives the driving force of the stepper motor 60 from an initial position (0-step) and rotates in a CCW direction (counterclockwise). In the following description, the direction of rotation of the stepper motor 60 is defined as the direction of rotation that causes the valve body 20 to rotate in the CCW direction as a forward direction of rotation, and the direction of rotation that causes the valve body 20 to operate in the CW direction (clockwise) is defined as a reverse direction of rotation. The diagram on the lower page in Fig. Figure 9 shows a relationship between the arrangement state of the valve body 20 and the position of the outlet opening 40 when the stepper motor 60 is driven with a predetermined number of steps in the forward direction of rotation. Next, the control operation of the refrigerant flow rate by the refrigerant valve device 1 is described with reference to Fig. 9 described.

[0075] When the valve body 20 is in its initial position, the arm section 52 of the valve body drive element 50 is initially in a state where it rests against the rotation limiting part 67 of the rotor 61 in the CW direction. Therefore, rotation of the valve body 20 in the CW direction is limited in its initial position. At this point, the outlet opening 40 is closed by a flat surface section in the lower surface 20I of the valve body, unlike the section in which the cut-out part 22 or the fault-absorbing section 26 is formed, and the circulation of the refrigerant is blocked.

[0076] When the stepper motor 60 is driven 4 steps in the forward direction of rotation from the state in which the valve body 20 is in the origin position, the valve body 20 rotates slightly in the CCW direction, but the drain port 40 is still closed by the flat surface section in the lower surface 20I of the valve body and the circulation of the refrigerant is blocked.

[0077] When the stepper motor 60 is driven 31 steps in the forward direction of rotation from the state in which the valve body 20 is in its original position, the valve body 20 is arranged at an angle at which the small hole portion 211 overlaps the outlet opening 40 in the direction of the axis L1. This is the Fig. The condition shown in Figure 8A is formed, and the flow channel A1 is formed. Under the small perforated section 21, which is contained in the valve body 20, the small perforated section 211 has the smallest hole diameter, and the refrigerant valve device 1 causes the refrigerant to circulate at a minimum flow rate.

[0078] When the stepper motor 60 is driven 64 steps in the forward direction of rotation from the state in which the valve body 20 is in its original position, the valve body 20 is arranged at an angle at which the small hole portion 212 overlaps the outlet opening 40 in the direction of the axis L1. The positional relationship is also the one described in Fig. The condition shown in Figure 8A and the flow channel A1 are formed. Below the small perforated part 21 contained in the valve body 20, the small perforated part 212 has a hole diameter that is larger than the hole diameter of the small perforated part 211, and the refrigerant valve device 1 causes the refrigerant to circulate at a higher flow rate than the flow rate in the case of the small perforated part 211.

[0079] When the stepper motor 60 is driven 92 steps in the forward direction of rotation from the state in which the valve body 20 is in its original position, the valve body 20 is arranged at an angle at which the small hole portion 213 overlaps the outlet opening 40 in the direction of the axis L1. The positional relationship is also the one described in Fig. The condition shown in Figure 8A and the flow channel A1 are formed. Below the small perforated part 21 contained in the valve body 20, the small perforated part 213 has a hole diameter larger than the hole diameter of the small perforated part 212, and the refrigerant valve device 1 causes the refrigerant to circulate at a higher flow rate than the flow rate in the case of the small perforated part 212.

[0080] When the stepper motor 60 is driven 121 steps in the forward direction of rotation from the state in which the valve body 20 is in its original position, the valve body 20 is arranged at an angle at which the small hole portion 214 overlaps the outlet opening 40 in the direction of the axis L1. The positional relationship is also the one described in Fig. The condition shown in Figure 8A and the flow channel A1 are formed. Since the small perforated part 214, located under the small perforated part 21 contained in the valve body 20, has a hole diameter larger than the hole diameter of the small perforated part 213, the refrigerant valve device 1 causes the refrigerant to circulate at a higher flow rate than the flow rate in the case of the small perforated part 213.

[0081] When the stepper motor 60 is driven 155 steps in the forward direction of rotation from the state in which the valve body 20 is in its original position, the valve body 20 is arranged at an angle at which the small hole portion 215 overlaps the outlet opening 40 in the direction of the axis L1. The positional relationship is also the one described in Fig. The condition shown in Figure 8A and the flow channel A1 are formed. Under the small perforated part 21 contained in the valve body 20, the small perforated part 215 has the largest hole diameter, and the refrigerant valve device 1 causes the refrigerant to circulate at a flow rate greater than the flow rate in the case of the small perforated part 214.

[0082] When the stepper motor 60 is driven 195 steps in the forward direction of rotation from the state in which the valve body 20 is in its original position, the valve body 20 is arranged at an angle at which the cut-out part 22 overlaps the outlet opening 40 in the direction of the axis L1. This is the Fig.The condition shown in Figure 8B is formed, and the flow channel A2 is formed. The cut-out part 22 exposes the entire outlet opening 40 of the valve chamber 36, and the refrigerant valve device 1 causes the refrigerant to circulate at the maximum flow rate.

[0083] When the stepper motor 60 is driven 200 steps in the forward direction of rotation from the state in which the valve body 20 is in its original position, the arm section 52 of the valve body drive element 50 rests against the rotation limiting part 67 of the rotor 61 in the CCW direction, and further rotation of the valve body 20 in the CCW direction is limited. Even in this angular position, the cut-out part 22 of the valve body 20 overlaps the outlet opening 40 in the direction of the axis line L1, and the refrigerant valve device 1 causes the refrigerant to circulate at the maximum flow rate.

[0084] The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications can be made within a scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment, the fitting part on the side of the valve body 20 is the concave section 25; however, even if the fitting part is the convex part, space for increasing the number of small hole parts can still be provided by arranging the connecting part between the convex part and the grooved part. [Description of symbols] 1 Refrigerant valve device (valve assembly) 15 Valve seat 15u valve seat surface 20 valve bodies 20u upper surface of the valve body 20I lower surface of the valve body 211-215 small perforated part (perforated part) 211f-215f Grooved section 22 cut-out pieces 251-253 concave part (fitting part on valve body side) 252u, 253u carrier part 261-265 fault-absorbing part 271, 272, 274, 275 Connecting part 3 Inlet pipe 36 Valve chamber 4 Outflow pipe 40 Outlet 50 Valve body actuator element 50I lower surface of the valve body actuator part 51 teeth 551-553 convex section (fitting part on the side of the valve body actuator element) 60 stepper motor (drive source) 66 sprockets L1 axis line (axial direction)

Claims

[1] Valve device (1) comprising: a power source (60); a valve body actuator element (50) which is rotated by a drive force from the drive source (60); a valve body (20) which is attached to an end face of the valve body drive element (50) in an axial direction and rotates integrally with the valve body drive element (50) in a circumferential direction; and a valve seat (15) having a valve seat surface (15u) on which the valve body (20) is arranged, wherein, if a surface of the valve body actuator element (50) facing the valve body (20) is defined as a lower surface (50I) of the valve body actuator element (50), a surface of the valve body (20) facing the valve body actuator element (50) is defined as an upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20), and an end surface opposite the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20) and located on the valve seat surface (15u) is defined as a lower surface (201) of the valve body (20), Fitting parts (251-253, 551-553) formed by concave sections (251-253) and convex sections (551-553) fitted to each other, are formed in the lower surface (50I) of the valve body actuator element (50) and the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20), wherein the fitting parts of the valve body (20) are the concave sections (251-253), the valve body (20) has a plurality of perforated parts (211-215) which extend through it in the axial direction of the valve body (20), wherein the perforated parts (211-215) are adapted to adjust a flow rate of a liquid, an opening part (4o), which is an inlet opening (36) or outlet opening (4) of a fluid, is formed in the valve seat surface (15u) of the valve seat (15), Grooved parts (211f-215f), which are flow channels that create a connection from an outer circumferential surface of the valve body (20) to the hole parts (211-215), are formed in the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20), the concave sections (251-253) and the groove parts (21lf, 212f, 214f, 215f) on two oppositely oriented sides of the valve body (20) have connecting parts (271, 272, 274, 275) that connect concave sections, where the concave sections (251-253) and the groove parts (211f, 212f, 214f, 215f) are continuously formed in the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20) without being separated by other elements that form the valve body (20). [2] Valve device according to claim 1, wherein the concave sections (252, 253) which are arranged on the two oppositely oriented sides of the valve body partially overlap with the groove sections (211f, 212f, 214f, 215f). [3] Valve device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of hole parts (211-215) are formed with different hole diameters and the groove parts (21lf-215t) are formed in each of the hole parts (211-215) in the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20). [4] Valve device according to claim 3, wherein any one of the plurality of hole parts (211-215) is arranged in a position which is substantially a radius center on the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20). [5] Valve device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the concave sections (252, 253) which are formed continuously with the groove parts (211f, 212f, 214f, 215f) on the two oppositely oriented sides of the valve body (20) comprise the connecting parts (271, 272, 274, 275). [6] Valve device according to claim 4, wherein support parts (252u, 253u) which support the lower surface (50I) of the valve body drive element (50) are arranged on an outer side in the radial direction of the concave sections (252, 253) which are formed in the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20) and which are the fitting parts which have the connecting parts (271, 272, 274, 275). [7] Valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a cut-out part (22), which is a flow channel obtained by cutting the lower surface (201) of the valve body (20) from the outer circumferential surface of the valve body (20) to a central side in a radial direction, is formed in the lower surface (201) of the valve body (20), and the cut-out part (22) has a size that can expose the opening part (4o) in the valve seat surface (15u) when the valve body (20) reaches a predetermined angular position. [8] Valve device according to claim 7, wherein the concave sections (252, 253) which are continuously formed with the groove parts (211f, 212f, 214f, 215f) on the two oppositely oriented sides of the valve body (20), which have connecting parts (271, 272, 274, 275), Among the concave sections (251-253), which are the fitting parts of the valve body (20), the concave section (251), which is located in the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20) and in an upper part of a forming area of ​​the cut-out part (22), is a through hole that penetrates to one side of the cut-out part (22) and under the convex sections (251-253) of the valve body actuator element (50), the convex section (551), which is adapted to the concave section (251), which is the through-hole, is crimped on the side of the cut-out part and attached to the valve body. [9] Valve device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the valve body (20) is less than 10 mm, the perforated parts (211-215) that the valve body (20) has have five different hole diameters, the groove parts (211f-215f) are formed in each of the hole parts (211-215) in the upper surface (20u) of the valve body (20), the concave sections (252, 253) which are continuously formed with the groove parts (211f, 212f, 214f, 215f) on the two oppositely oriented sides of the valve body (20), which have connecting parts (271, 272, 274, 275), a cut-out part (22), which is a flow channel, is formed in the lower surface (201) of the valve body (20) by cutting the lower surface (201) of the valve body (20) from the outer circumferential surface of the valve body (20) to a central side in the radial direction, the cut-out part (22) has a size that can expose the opening part (4o) in the valve seat surface (15u) when the valve body (20) reaches a predetermined angular position, and the valve body (20) has a flat surface part in its lower surface (201) which closes the opening part (4o) in the valve seat surface (15u). [10] Valve device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein fault-absorbing parts (261-265), which are a plurality of concave bends or concave depressions of the hole parts (211-215) and have diameters larger than the hole diameters of the hole parts (211-215), are formed in the lower surface (201) of the valve body (20). [11] Valve device according to claim 10, wherein the valve body (20) has several hole parts with different hole diameters, the groove parts are formed in each of the hole parts in the upper surface of the valve body (20), and The diameter of each fault-absorbing part is determined in accordance with the hole diameter of the corresponding hole part. [12] Valve device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the depth of each fault-absorbing part (261-265) is deeper than the hole diameter of the corresponding hole part (211-215). [13] Valve device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of groups of concave sections (251-253) and convex sections (551-553) forming the fitting parts (251-253, 551-553) are arranged at unequal intervals in the circumferential direction of the valve body drive element (50) and the valve body (20). [14] Valve device according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein at least one of the valve seat surfaces (15u) of the valve seat (15) and the lower surface (201) of the valve body (20) is ground. [15] Valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the drive source is a motor, the valve body drive element (50) is a gear element in which a tooth section (51) is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the valve body drive element (50), and a driving force is slowed down from the drive source (60) and transferred to the valve body drive element (50). [16] Valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein a polyphenylene sulfide resin is used in a material of the valve body (20) and a nylon resin is used in a material of the valve body actuator element (50).

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