Switching valve with operating lever

Abstract

A switching valve with an operating lever, the switching valve comprising: a valve body part in which a spool valve is housed in a valve hole communicating with a plurality of ports so as to be movable in an axial direction, and in which a plurality of switching positions, in which the connection states of the plurality of ports are different, can be changed by moving the spool valve; a detent mechanism arranged coaxially with the spool valve and capable of holding the spool valve in any of the plurality of switching positions; and an operating part that releases the position holding by the detent mechanism and allows the spool valve to selectively move to another switching position by a tilting operation of an operating lever, wherein the operating part comprises: a connecting part connected between a distal end of the operating lever in a central axis direction and an end of the valve body part in the axial direction, and converting the tilting of the operating lever into a linear movement along the axial direction; and a locking mechanism that locks the tilting of the operating lever in a state where the spool valve is held in the switching position by the detent mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a rod member housed in the operating lever so as to be movable in the direction of the central axis; a pin member provided in the rod member in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the central axis; a plurality of engaging grooves fixedly provided in the valve body member and with which the pin member is detachably engaged according to the plurality of switching positions; a spring member constantly urging the rod member in a direction to insert the pin member into the engaging groove; and a rod operating part operated against the pressure of the spring member to move the rod member in a direction to remove the pin member from the engaging groove.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a switching valve with an operating lever in which a spool valve is movably accommodated in a valve hole (valve opening) which is in communication with a plurality of ports, wherein a plurality of different switching positions at which the connection states between the plurality of ports are different are switched by moving the spool valve by means of a tilting operation of the operating lever, and the spool valve moved to a switching position can be held in position by a locking mechanism. State of the art

[0002] Various types of switching valves with an operating lever are known, in which a spool valve is movably housed in a valve hole communicating with a plurality of ports. A plurality of different switching positions, in which the connection states between the plurality of ports are different, are switched by moving the spool valve through a tilting operation of the operating lever. The spool valve moved to a switching position can be held in position by a detent mechanism. In the conventional switching valve as described in PTL 1, the detent mechanism is provided at one end in the axial direction of the spool valve, and the operating lever is tiltably connected to the other end in the axial direction.

[0003] In a conventional switching valve, if an unintentional force is applied to the operating lever while the spool valve is held in a switching position by the detent mechanism, tilting the operating lever can release the lock and switch the spool valve from the switching position to another switching position. Patent literature

[0004] PTL 1: US Patent No. 3602245 Summary of the inventionTechnical problem

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide, in a switching valve having an operating lever capable of holding a spool valve, which is moved to a switching position by a tilting operation of an operating lever, in position with a locking mechanism, the switching valve capable of locking the operating lever to prevent the spool valve from moving out of the switching position even if an unintentional force is applied to the operating lever while the spool valve is held in the switching position, and capable of realizing this with a simple structure. Solution to the task

[0006] To achieve the above object, a switching valve with an operating lever according to the present invention comprises: a valve body part in which a spool valve (spool valve) is housed in a valve hole (valve opening) communicating with a plurality of ports so as to be movable in an axial direction, and in which a plurality of switching positions in which the connection states of the plurality of ports are different can be changed by moving the spool valve; a detent mechanism arranged coaxially with the spool valve and capable of holding the spool valve in any of the plurality of switching positions; and an operating part that releases the position holding by the detent mechanism and allows the spool valve to selectively move to another switching position by a tilting operation of an operating lever.The operating part includes: a connecting part connected between a distal end of the operating lever in a central axis direction and an end of the valve body part in the axial direction, and converting the tilting of the operating lever into a linear movement along the axial direction; and a locking mechanism that locks the tilting of the operating lever in a state where the spool valve is held in the switching position by the detent mechanism.The locking mechanism includes: a rod member housed in the operating lever so as to be movable in the direction of the central axis; a pin member provided in the rod member in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the central axis; a plurality of engaging grooves fixedly provided in the valve body member and with which the pin member is detachably engaged according to the plurality of switching positions; a spring member constantly urging the rod member in a direction to insert the pin member into the engaging groove; and a rod operating member operated against the force of the spring member to move the rod member in a direction to remove the pin member from the engaging groove.

[0007] In this case, it is preferable that: a head part is provided at the end of the valve body part in the axial direction; the head part is hollow, a rotary shaft extending in a direction orthogonal to the central axis direction is fixedly provided in the head part, and a distal end of the operating lever is supported so as to be rotatable about the rotary shaft; the plurality of engaging grooves are provided in the head part above the rotary shaft so as to open downward; and the pin member moves in a direction in which it is removed from the engaging groove when the rod operating part is pushed in the direction of the central axis and the rod part moves downward.

[0008] Furthermore, preferably, the rod operating part is connected to a base end of the rod part in the direction of the central axis inside the operating lever, and in a non-operated state, a part thereof projects from a base end of the operating lever due to the pressing of the spring member.

[0009] Furthermore, preferably, the pin member extends in a direction orthogonal to the axis and the central axis and projects from both sides of the distal end of the rod member; and the multiple engagement grooves with which each of the two ends of the pin member can be engaged are provided in the operating part on both sides of the central axis.

[0010] Furthermore, it is preferable that the connecting part is provided in the operating part so as to be movable in the axial direction; and the detent mechanism comprises a detent shaft provided coaxially with the spool valve so as to protrude from one end of the connecting part opposite to the spool valve and having a plurality of annular grooves corresponding to the plurality of switching positions in an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a snap ring engageable with and disengageable from each of the plurality of annular grooves in the detent shaft. Advantageous effects of the invention

[0011] As described above, the switching valve according to the present invention includes a locking mechanism that locks the tilting of an operating lever in a state where a spool valve is held in a switching position by a detent mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a rod member movably provided in the operating lever, a pin member provided at a distal end of the rod member, a plurality of engaging grooves fixedly provided in a valve body portion and with which the pin member is removably engaged according to a plurality of switching positions, a spring member that constantly urges the rod member in a direction in which the pin member is inserted into the engaging groove, and a rod operating member that is operated against the pressure of the spring member to move the rod member in a direction in which the pin member is removed from the engaging groove.Therefore, it is possible to equip the switching valve with the operating lever which can lock the operating lever to prevent the spool valve from moving from the switching position even if an unintentional force is applied to the operating lever while the spool valve is held in the switching position, and which can realize this with a simple structure. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a front view of a switching valve with an operating lever according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the switching valve with the operating lever. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the switching valve with the operating lever, along the line III-III in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the switching valve with the operating lever, along the line IV-IV in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the switching valve with the operating lever, taken along the line VV in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the switching valve with the operating lever. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the relevant part of the Fig. 5 shown switching valve. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the switching valve when the rod operating part is pushed in a state where the spool valve has been moved to a first switching position. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the relevant part of the switching valve in the Fig. 8, showing the relationship between a pin member and engagement grooves. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the switching valve in a state where the rod operating part is pushed and the operating lever is inclined to the left. Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the relevant part of the switching valve in the Fig. 10, showing the relationship between the pin member and the engagement grooves. Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the switching valve in the Fig. 11 in a state in which the operation of a rod pressure part is canceled. Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the relevant part of the switching valve in the Fig. 12, showing the relationship between the pin member and the engagement grooves. Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the switching valve in a state where the operation of the rod pressing part is canceled and the operation lever is inclined to the right. Description of the embodiments

[0012] The following describes an embodiment of a switching valve with an operating lever according to the present invention. The switching valve with the operating lever of this embodiment is described using the example of a three-position switching valve in which the fluid flowing through the switching valve is compressed air and the spool valve can be switched to three switching positions. Hereinafter, the "switching valve with the operating lever" is simply referred to as the "switching valve."

[0013] As in the Fig. 1 to 4, the switching valve 1 includes: a valve body part 5 in which a spool valve 4 is housed so as to be movable in a direction of the axis L1 in a valve hole (valve opening) 3 communicating with a plurality of ports, and in which a first switching position (switching position) 81, a second switching position (switching position) 82, and a third switching position (switching position) 83, in which the connection states between the plurality of ports are different, can be switched by the movement of the spool valve 4; a detent mechanism 60 arranged coaxially with the spool valve 4 and capable of holding the spool valve 4 in any of the three first to third switching positions 81 to 83; and an operating part 20 that releases the position holding by the detent mechanism 60 and selectively moves the spool valve 4 to another switching position by a rocking operation of the operating lever 40.

[0014] For convenience of description, a longitudinal direction may be referred to as a left-right direction, a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction may be referred to as an up-down direction, and a direction orthogonal to the left-right direction and the up-down direction may be referred to as a front-back direction.

[0015] The valve body part 5 is a known three-position switching valve, the configuration of which will be described below. The valve body part 5 includes a valve body 6 extending in the left-right direction (longitudinal direction) and constituting a body of the valve body part 5, and a cover part 8 attached to the right end of the valve body 6. The valve body 6 is provided with a valve hole 3 communicating with a plurality of ports and extending therethrough in the direction of the axis L1 (the left-right direction). The spool valve 4 is inserted into the valve hole 3 so as to be slidable in the direction of the axis L1. The spool valve 4 is shaped to be slightly longer than the valve hole 3 in the direction of the axis L1.The right end of the slide valve 4 can be inserted into and removed from a recess 8a formed in the left end surface of the cover member 8, and the left end of the slide valve 4 protrudes from the left end of the valve hole 3.

[0016] In this embodiment, the slide valve 4 is in a first switching position P1 (see Fig. 4), in which its right end face 4a is substantially flush with the right end face 6a of the valve body 6, a second switching position P2 (see Fig. 10), in which the right end face 4a of the slide valve 4 is inserted into the recess 8a of the cover part 8, and a third switching position P3 (see Fig. 14), in which the right end surface 4a of the spool valve 4 is located to the left of the right end surface 6a of the valve body 6. The switching valve 1 is configured to switch the communication state between the multiple ports by moving the spool valve 4 to each of the three first to third switching positions P1, P2, and P3.

[0017] As in the Fig. 4 to 6, the operating part 20 includes a head part 21 connected to the left end of the valve body part 5; an operating lever 40 pivotally supported in a left-and-right manner around a rotary shaft 22 fixed in the head part 21 and extending upward; and a locking mechanism 70 that locks the pivoting of the operating lever 40 in a state where the spool valve 4 has been moved to each of the three switching positions. In this embodiment, the head part 21 is formed in a hollow box shape, and an upwardly projecting tubular part 23 is provided on the top of the head part 21. The rotary shaft 22 is fixed in a state of extending in the front-to-rear direction in the upper part of the head part 21.

[0018] The head part 21 is fixed in a state where it is positioned with respect to the valve body 6 in the up and down and left and right directions by fastening a plurality of screws 25 inserted through the head part 21 into the valve body 6 in a state where a bottom surface 24a of a positioning member 24 screwed to an outer periphery of the tubular part 23 abuts against an upper surface 6c of the valve body 6 and where a right end surface 21a of the head part 21 abuts against a left end surface 6b of the valve body 6.

[0019] A space part 26 is formed in the head part 21. The space part 26 is formed to include an upper space part 26a formed in the tubular part 23 and a lower space part 26b communicating with the lower part of the upper space part 26a and extending in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the upper space part 26a is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the up-down direction, and the lower space part 26b is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. The upper end of the upper space part 26a is open at the upper end of the tubular part 23, and the right end of the lower space part 26b is open at the right end surface 21a of the head part 21.

[0020] A connecting part 30 is housed in the lower space part 26b (operation part) so as to be movable in the left-right direction. Furthermore, a communication hole part 28 extending in the direction of the axis L1 is provided in the lower left part of the head part 21, and the communication hole part 28 communicates with the lower space part 26b. Note that the opening at the upper end of the upper space part 26a is referred to as the upper opening 26a1, and the opening at the right end of the lower space part 26b is referred to as the right opening 26b1. A left end of the spool valve 4 is inserted into the right opening 26b1, and a detent shaft 61, which is part of the detent mechanism 60 described below, is inserted into the connecting hole part 28.

[0021] The connecting part 30 includes a joint body 31 extending in the left-right direction and having a cylindrical shape; a connecting part 34 provided at the right end of the joint body 31 and connected to the left end of the spool valve 4; and the detent shaft 61 provided to protrude from the left end of the joint body 31.

[0022] A hole portion 32 extending up and down is provided at the center of the joint body 31 in the left-right direction. The lower end portion (distal end) of the operating lever 40 is slidably fitted into the hole portion 32 from above. The lower end portion has a spherical portion 42 whose surface is spherically curved. When the lower end portion of the operating lever 40 is tilted in the left-right direction around the rotary shaft 22, the connecting portion 30 moves in the left-right direction, allowing the spool valve 4 to move. In this embodiment, the rotary shaft 22 is arranged at a position above the joint body 31 and crosses the inside of the lower space portion 26b. The upper portion of the hole portion 32 is enlarged in diameter so that it tilts outward toward the top in the left-right direction.Therefore, even if the lower end portion of the operating lever 40 is inclined in the left-right direction, there is no possibility that this lower end portion comes into contact with the upper part of the hole part 32.

[0023] As in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, the operating lever 40 extends in the up-down direction with respect to the rotary shaft 22. In this embodiment, the operating lever 40 includes a lever body 41 tiltably supported by the rotary shaft 22 and extending in the up-down direction, and a grip part 50 connected to an upper end portion of the lever body 41 and used for gripping.

[0024] The lever body 41 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the up-down direction and is provided at its lower end portion with a spherical part 42 slidably inserted into the hole part 32 of the connecting part 30. The upper end portion of the lever body 41 is inserted into and fixed to the lower end portion of the handle part 50. The rotary shaft 22 is inserted through the lower end portion of the lever body 41 at a position above the spherical part 42. Furthermore, a hole part 43 extending along a central axis L2 of the operating lever 40 is provided inside the lever body 41. The hole part 43 extends upward in the direction of the central axis L2 from a position above the position where the rotary shaft 22 is inserted. The hole part 43 receives a rod part 71 of the locking mechanism 70 (described below).

[0025] The handle part 50 includes a connecting part 51 to which the lever body 41 is connected, and a handle body part 52 that is continuous with the upper end portion of the connecting part 51 and extends upward to be used for the tilting operation. In this embodiment, the connecting part 51 is cylindrically shaped, and the handle body part 52 is cylindrically shaped and has a larger diameter than the connecting part 51. The shape of the handle part 50 is not limited to a cylindrical shape as long as an operator can grasp it, and may have a shape in which the outer diameter of the handle part 50 gradually increases toward the top.

[0026] At an upper end portion of the handle body portion 52, an upper surface 53 is formed, extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the central axis L2, and the handle portion 50 is provided with a through-hole portion 54 penetrating therethrough in the direction of the central axis L2. In this embodiment, the through-hole portion 54 includes a lower hole portion 54a formed at the lower end portion of the handle portion 50, an intermediate hole portion 54b formed at the intermediate portion of the handle portion 50, and an upper hole portion 54c formed at the upper end portion of the handle portion 50. The lower hole portion 54a is open at the lower end of the handle portion 50, and the upper end portion of the lever body 41 is inserted into the lower hole portion 54a through this opening. The middle hole part 54b is connected to the upper end portion of the lower hole part 54a and has a smaller diameter than the lower hole part 54a.The upper hole part 54c is continuous with the upper end portion of the intermediate hole part 54b and has a larger diameter than the intermediate hole part 54b, and the upper end portion of the upper hole part 54c is open at the upper surface 53 of the handle part 50.

[0027] Between the lower end portion of the operating lever 40 and the upper end portion of the positioning member 24, a bellows member 56 is provided which can expand, contract and incline to cover the upper opening 26a1 in the head part 21.

[0028] Next, the locking mechanism 70 is described. As shown in the Fig. 6 to 8, the locking mechanism 70 includes: a rod member 71 housed in the operating lever 40 so as to be movable in the direction of the central axis L2; ​​a pin member 78 provided in the rod member 71 along the front-to-back direction orthogonal to the direction of the central axis L2; ​​a first engaging groove 81, a second engaging groove 82, and a third engaging groove 83 fixedly provided in the head part 21 (operating part) and with which the pin member 78 is detachably engaged according to the three switching positions P1 to P3; a compression spring 76 (spring member) that constantly urges the rod member 71 in a direction in which the pin member 78 is inserted into one of the engaging grooves 81 to 83; and a rod actuating member 73 which is actuated against the pressure of the compression spring 76 to move the rod member 71 in the direction in which the pin member 78 is removed from the engaging grooves 81 to 83.

[0029] In this embodiment, the rod part 71 includes a lower rod part 71a inserted into the hole part 43 in the lever body 41, and an upper rod part 71b inserted into the intermediate hole part 54b of the operating lever 40 and having a larger diameter than the lower rod part 71a. The axial length of the lower rod part 71a is substantially equal to the length of the hole part 43, the axial length of the upper rod part 71b is greater than the length of the intermediate hole part 54b, and the upper end portion of the upper rod part 71b protrudes from the intermediate hole part 54b into the upper hole part 54c.

[0030] The rod operating part 73, which is provided to merge into the upper end portion (base end) of the upper rod part 71b, is cylindrical in shape, has a larger diameter than the upper rod part 71b, and is slidably housed in the upper hole part 54c. The compression spring 76 is provided between the bottom surface of the upper hole part 54c and the lower end portion of the rod operating part 73. One end of the compression spring 76 is in contact with the lower surface of the upper hole part 54c, and the other end is in contact with the lower surface of the lower end portion of the rod operating part 73 to constantly push the rod part 71 and the rod operating part 73 upward.

[0031] The pin member 78, which penetrates in the front-to-back direction, is provided at the distal end of the lower rod portion 71a. The pin member 78 protrudes from both sides of the distal end of the lower rod portion 71a. Both ends of the pin member 78 are detachably connected to the first to third engagement grooves 81 to 83 provided in the head portion 21. In this embodiment, both ends of the pin member 78 protrude through elongated holes 44 (see Fig. 6) project outwardly, which are provided in both the front and rear side surfaces of the lever body 41. Locking plates 80 are provided with the three first to third engagement grooves 81 to 83, with which both ends of the pin member 78 can be engaged. In this embodiment, the locking plates 80 are arranged to extend in the left-right direction orthogonal to the pin member 78.

[0032] The locking plates 80 are formed in an inverted U-shape with open bottoms and have the three first to third engagement grooves 81 to 83 arranged in a row in the left-right direction in the inner surfaces of the upper end portions thereof. In this embodiment, each locking plate 80 is provided with the second engagement groove 82, the first engagement groove 81, and the third engagement groove 83 in this order from the left side to the right side. The engagement grooves 81 to 83 are formed in an inverted U-shape with open bottoms, and the depth of each of the engagement grooves 81 to 83 is smaller than the diameter of the pin member 78 and larger than the radius of the pin member 78.Therefore, even if an unintentional force is applied to the operating lever 40 in a state where the pin member 78 is engaged with one of the engaging grooves 81 to 83, the side surface of the pin member 78 comes into contact with the inner surface of one of the engaging grooves 81 to 83 in the left-right direction, and thus it is possible to lock the inclination of the operating lever 40.

[0033] The locking plates 80 are attached to the inside of the guide blocks 85. The guide blocks 85 are crescent-shaped in plan view and extend in the up-down direction. Receiving recesses 86 with open lower end portions are provided in the inner surfaces of the guide blocks 85 facing inward. The locking plates 80 are mounted in the receiving recesses 86. The guide blocks 85 are arranged such that the inner surfaces of the guide blocks 85 face the elongated holes 44 provided in the side surfaces of the lever body 41. The ends of the pin member 78 projecting from the elongated holes 44 engage with one of the first to third engagement grooves 81 to 83.

[0034] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the guide blocks 85 are arranged on a pair of steps 21c formed in the inner surface of the tubular portion 23 of the head portion 21 at positions facing each other in the front-to-rear direction. Projections 87 projecting from the curved outer surfaces of the guide blocks 85 are inserted into locking hole portions 88 provided in the inner surface of the tubular portion 23, so that the guide blocks 85 are fixed in the head portion 21.

[0035] As in the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, in a state where the pin member 78 is engaged with one of the engaging grooves 81 to 83, there is no possibility of the rod part 71 provided with the pin member 78 moving in a direction (downward) in which the pin member 78 is removed from one of the engaging grooves 81 to 83 because the rod operating part 73, which is provided to be continuous therewith, is constantly urged upward by the compression spring 76. Therefore, even if an unintentional force is applied to the operating lever 40 in a state where the pin member 78 is engaged with the engaging grooves 81 to 83, there is no possibility of the operating lever 40 tilting because the operating lever 40 is in a locked state.

[0036] Movement space parts 89 are provided below the engagement grooves 81 to 83 in the locking plates 80, which allow movement of the pin element 78 in response to tilting of the operating lever 40.

[0037] Regarding the rod operating part 73, in a state where the pin member 78 is engaged with one of the engaging grooves 81 to 83, the upper end portion of the rod operating part 73 protrudes from the upper end of the handle body part 52 of the operating lever 40. The length by which the upper end portion of the rod operating part 73 protrudes from the upper end of the handle body part 52 corresponds to the amount of movement required to remove the pin member 78 from one of the engaging grooves 81 to 83. Therefore, the pin member 78 can be easily removed from the engaging grooves 81 to 83 by moving the upper end of the rod operating part 73 into the same plane as the upper surface 53 at the upper end of the handle body part 52.

[0038] Next, the locking mechanism 60 is described. As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 7, the locking mechanism 60 includes the locking shaft 61 protruding from the joint body 31, three annular grooves 62 annularly formed in the outer peripheral surface of the locking shaft 61, and a retaining ring 63 engaged with the annular grooves 62. In this embodiment, the locking shaft 61 extends coaxially with the spool valve 4 and is movable in the direction of the axis L1 with respect to the communication hole portion 28. The distal end of the locking shaft 61 is movably fitted into a recess 35a provided in the right end surface of a cap member 35 fitted into the left end of the head portion 21.

[0039] The cap member 35 is cylindrically shaped and fits into a cavity 21b provided at the left end of the head portion 21. A receiving recess 35b for receiving the retaining ring 63 is provided at the right end of the cap member 35. When the cap member 35 is inserted into the cavity 21b with the retaining ring 63 received in the receiving recess 35b, the retaining ring 63 is clamped between the bottom surface of the cavity 21b and the bottom surface of the receiving recess 35b, and the retaining ring 63 is fixed in the receiving recess 35b.

[0040] The three annular grooves 62 of this embodiment are provided in a row in the direction of the axis L in the outer peripheral surface of the detent shaft 61. The distance between the annular grooves 62 corresponds to the distance between the first to third switching positions P1, P2, and P3 of the spool valve 4.

[0041] Additionally with reference to Fig. 6, the retaining ring 63 is formed by bending a spring wire and includes a small-diameter ring portion 63a engaged with the periphery of the engaging groove 62, and a large-diameter ring portion 63b annularly disposed on the outside of the small-diameter ring portion 63a. The small-diameter ring portion 63a presses the annular groove 62 radially inward with a predetermined pressure while engaging the annular groove 62. Thus, the spool valve 4 can be held in position by the retaining ring 63 even when the spool valve 4 is moved to any one of the first to third switching positions P1, P2, and P3.In addition, in the spool valve 4 held in one of the first to third switching positions 81 to 83, when the operating lever 40 is inclined against the pressure of the locking ring 63, the locking by the locking mechanism 60 is released, whereby the spool valve 4 can move to another switching position.

[0042] Next, in the switching valve 1, the operation of switching the spool valve 4 from the first switching position P1 to the second switching position P2 is described with reference to the Fig. 5 and 7 to 13. As described in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, in a state where the spool valve 4 is moved to the first switching position P1, the operating lever 40 is extended upward, the spool valve 4 is held in the first switching position P1 by the detent mechanism 60, and the pin member 78 of the locking mechanism 70 is engaged with the first engaging groove 81 to lock the tilting of the operating lever 40.

[0043] As in the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the pin member 78 moves downward and is removed from the first engagement groove 81, whereby the operating lever 40 can be tilted when the rod operating part 73 is pushed downward from this state. As shown in the Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, when the operating lever 40 is tilted to the left against the pressure of the locking ring 63 of the locking mechanism 60 while maintaining the pressure of the rod operating part 73, the lock is released and the pin element 78 moves to the left together with the operating lever 40. At the same time, the spool valve 4 moves to the second switching position P2. As shown in the Fig. 12 and Fig. 13, when the pressing operation is released, the rod operating part 73 moves upward by the urging force of the compression spring 76, and the pin member 78 is inserted into and engaged with the second engaging groove 82 to lock the tilting of the operating lever 40.

[0044] The function when switching the slide valve 4 from the first switching position P1 to the third switching position P3 (see Fig.14) is similar to the operation when switching the slide valve 4 from the first switching position P1 to the second switching position P2. Therefore, a description is omitted.

[0045] As described above, in the switching valve 1 according to this embodiment, simply by canceling the operation of the rod operating part 73, the compression spring 76 moves the rod part 71 in the direction in which the pin member 78 engages with the engaging grooves 81 to 83. Therefore, it is possible to lock the operating lever 40. Accordingly, the present invention can provide a switching valve 1 having an operating lever that can lock the operating lever 40 to prevent the spool valve 4 from moving from a switching position even when an unintentional force is applied to the operating lever 40, and can realize this with a simple structure.

[0046] In the above-described embodiment, the spool valve 4 is movable in the three switching positions 81 to 83. However, the spool valve 4 is not limited to this and may be movable in two switching positions. In the above-described embodiment, the rod operating part 73 is arranged coaxially with and connected to the rod part 71. However, the structure is not limited to this, and the rod operating part 73 may be supported in a tiltable manner with respect to the side surface of the handle part 50, and the rod part 71 may move downward when the rod operating part 73 is tilted toward the side surface of the handle part 50. In this case, it is preferable that the rod operating part 73 be returned to the original position by the compression spring 76 when the operation of the rod operating part 73 is released.In the above-described embodiment, the switching valve 1 through which compressed air can flow was described. However, the switching valve is not limited to this, and a switching valve to which hydraulic pressure acts may be used. List of reference symbols 1 switching valve (switching valve with one operating lever) 3 valve holes 4 slide valve 5 Valve body part 20 Actuating part 21 Headboard 22 Rotating shaft 30 connecting part 40 operating levers 43 hole part 60 locking mechanism 61 locking shaft 62 ring groove 63 Retaining ring 70 Locking mechanism 71 Rod part 73 Rod operating part 76 compression spring (spring element) 78 pin element 81 First engagement groove (engagement groove) 82 Second engagement groove (engagement groove) 83 Third engagement groove (engagement groove) L1 axis L2 central axis P1 First switching position (switching position) P2 Second switching position (switching position) P3 Third switching position (switching position) QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 3602245

[0004]

Claims

[1] Switching valve with an actuating lever, the switching valve comprising: a valve body part in which a spool valve is housed in a valve hole which is connected to several ports so that it is movable in an axial direction and in which several switching positions, in which the connection states of the several ports are different, can be changed by moving the spool valve; a detent mechanism which is arranged coaxially to the spool valve and which can hold the spool valve in each of the several switching positions; and an actuating part which releases the position hold by the detent mechanism and enables the spool valve to move selectively to another switching position by tilting an actuating lever, wherein the actuating part comprises: a connecting part which is connected between a distal end of the actuating lever in a central axis direction and an end of the valve body part in the axial direction and which converts the tilting of the actuating lever into a linear movement along the axial direction; and a locking mechanism which locks the tilting of the actuating lever in a state in which the slide valve is held in the switching position by the detent mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a rod part which is housed in the actuating lever so that it is movable in the direction of the central axis; a pin element which is provided in the rod part in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the central axis; several engagement grooves which are fixedly provided in the valve body part and with which the pin element is releasably engaged according to the several switching positions; a spring element which constantly pushes the rod part in a direction in which the pin element is inserted into the engagement groove; and a rod actuating part which is actuated against the pressure of the spring element in order to move the rod part in a direction in which the pin element is removed from the engagement groove. [2] Switching valve with an actuating lever according to claim 1, wherein A head section is provided at the end of the valve body part in the axial direction, the head section is hollow, a rotating shaft extending in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the central axis is fixedly provided in the head section, and a distal end of the actuating lever is mounted in such a way that it can rotate around the rotating shaft, the multiple engagement grooves in the head section above the rotating shaft are designed to open downwards, and the pin element moves in a direction in which it is removed from the engagement groove when the rod actuating part is pressed towards the central axis and the rod part moves downwards. [3] Switching valve with the actuating lever according to claim 2, wherein the rod actuating part is connected to a base end of the rod part in the direction of the central axis inside the actuating lever and in a non-actuated state a part of it protrudes from a base end of the actuating lever due to the pressing of the spring element. [4] Switching valve with the actuating lever according to claim 1, wherein the pin element extends in a direction orthogonal to the axis and the central axis and projects from both sides of the distal end of the rod part, and the multiple engagement grooves, with which each of the two ends of the pin element can be engaged, are provided in the actuating part on both sides of the central axis. [5] Switching valve with the actuating lever according to claim 1, wherein the connecting part in the actuating part is designed so that it is movable in the axial direction, and The detent mechanism comprises a detent shaft which is provided coaxially with the slide valve such that it projects from one end of the connecting part opposite the slide valve and has several annular grooves corresponding to the several switching positions in an outer circumferential surface thereof; and a retaining ring which can be engaged with and released from each of the several annular grooves in the detent shaft.

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