Rotary valve

Abstract

To provide a rotary valve for preventing the leakage of fluid by suppressing the deformation of a seal material while reducing the size.SOLUTION: A rotary valve 100 includes a rotor 2 to be rotated around an axis AX to control the distribution of fluid F, a seal material 3 arranged on a radial outside DR2 of the rotor 2 and formed with a seal opening 31h through which the fluid F passes, a housing 1 storing the rotor 2 and the seal material 3, and a cover 4 arranged on the housing 1 so as to be opposed to the rotor 2 and the seal material 3 in an axial direction DX along the axis AX, the cover 4 having a pushing part 43 for pushing the seal material 3 in the state of being arranged on the housing 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary valve. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cylinder valve that can maintain watertightness for a long period of time. In detail, the cylinder valve includes a valve guide having an opening on a side surface, and a valve body that is fitted in the valve guide and has an opening on the side surface, and is configured to control the flow of fluid by adjusting the position of the opening of the valve body and the opening of the valve guide. In the valve guide, a recess is formed on the outer circumferential side surface of the opening, a seal member is fitted into the recess, and a pressing member is attached to the opening of the seal member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-11813 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, in the case where a seal member with an opening held down by a holding member is fitted into a recess, there is no risk of the seal member being deformed by the pressure of the fluid. However, in the case where a recess is formed in the valve guide and a holding member is attached, the size of the valve increases. In the case of a seal member in which a recess is not formed in the valve guide and the opening is not held down by a holding member or the like in order to reduce the size of the valve, there is a risk of the seal material being deformed by the pressure of the fluid.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a rotary valve that is compact and suppresses deformation of the sealing material to prevent fluid leakage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A rotary valve according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a rotor that controls the flow of fluid by rotating around an axis, a sealing material that is arranged radially outside the rotor and has an opening through which the fluid passes, a housing that accommodates the rotor and the sealing material, and a cover that is arranged on the housing so as to face the rotor and the sealing material in the axial direction along the axis, and the cover has a pressing portion that presses the sealing material when arranged against the housing.

[0007] According to this configuration, the cover having the pressing portion is disposed on the housing so as to face the sealing material in the axial direction, and when the cover is disposed on the housing, the pressing portion of the cover presses the sealing material, thereby preventing deformation of the sealing material in the axial direction. Also, since the sealing material is pressed by the pressing portion formed on the cover that closes the inside of the housing, it is possible to reduce the size compared to a configuration in which a seal receiving recess is formed on the housing or rotor and pressed by a separate member. This makes it possible to prevent fluid leakage by suppressing deformation of the sealing material while achieving miniaturization. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a rotary valve according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a rotary valve according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a rotor according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sealing material according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a configuration of a cover according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration in the vicinity of a protrusion according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, a rotary valve according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0010] [Basic configuration] 1 is a cross-sectional view (longitudinal cross-sectional view) along an axis AX of a rotary valve 100. In this embodiment, the rotary valve 100 is used to control a fluid F flowing to a device to be cooled, such as a battery or a motor mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. The fluid F is a cooling water such as a long-life coolant (LLC). The fluid F may also be a refrigerant such as an insulating oil such as paraffin, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), or a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO).

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the rotary valve 100 includes a housing 1, a rotor 2 accommodated in the housing 1, a sealant 3 disposed between the housing 1 and the rotor 2, a cover 4 disposed on the housing 1 so as to cover the rotor 2 and the sealant 3, and an actuator 5 connected to the rotor 2. The rotary valve 100 is mounted on a manifold (not shown) having an internal flow path formed therein through which a fluid F flows by the driving force of a pump (not shown). The actuator 5 transmits a rotational force to the rotor 2. The rotor 2 rotates about an axis AX by the rotational force from the actuator 5. The flow of the fluid F is controlled by the rotation of the rotor 2.

[0012] In the following, the direction along the axis AX of the rotor 2 is referred to as the "axial direction DX", the circumferential direction of the rotor 2 is referred to as the "circumferential direction DC", and the radial direction of the rotor 2 is referred to as the "radial direction DR". In addition, the side of the axial direction DX on which the cover 4 is arranged as viewed from the rotor 2 is referred to as the "one axial side DX1", the opposite side is referred to as the "other axial side DX2", the side of the axis AX in the radial direction DR is referred to as the "radial inner side DR1", and the opposite side is referred to as the "radial outer side DR2".

[0013] 〔housing〕 Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view (transverse cross-sectional view) of the rotary valve 100 cut along the radial direction DR. Fig. 2 is a view of the housing 1, rotor 2, and seal material 3 seen from the cover 4 side. As shown in Fig. 2, the housing 1 accommodates the rotor 2 and seal material 3. The housing 1 has a housing wall portion 11 that defines a space in which the rotor 2 and seal material 3 are accommodated.

[0014] The housing wall 11 has a circular shape when viewed along the axial direction DX. A plurality of ports 12 are formed in the housing wall 11 along the circumferential direction DC. The ports 12 penetrate the housing wall 11 along the radial direction DR and are connected to external flow paths connected to a battery, a motor, etc., via internal flow paths of a manifold (not shown).

[0015] [Rotor] Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the rotor 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the rotor 2 includes a shaft portion 20 coaxial with the axis AX, and a cylindrical valve portion 21 that can rotate integrally with the shaft portion 20. The rotor 2 is made of a material such as resin, and the shaft portion 20 and the valve portion 21 are integrally formed.

[0016] 2 and 3, a valve flow path L1 through which a fluid F flows is formed in the valve portion 21. The fluid F flows through the valve flow path L1 when the rotor 2 is oriented such that the valve flow path L1 faces the port 12 (see FIG. 2) in the radial direction DR.

[0017] [Sealing material] As shown in Fig. 2, the seal material 3 is disposed on the radial outside DR2 of the rotor 2. The seal material 3 is disposed over substantially the entire circumference of the rotor 2 in the circumferential direction DC, and prevents the fluid F from leaking out of the flow path. The seal material 3 is made of an elastically deformable member, and is compressed by the housing 1, the rotor 2, and the cover 4. This prevents the fluid F from leaking out of the flow path (flowing into another flow path). The seal material 3 is made of rubber such as nitrile rubber (NBR), fluororubber (FKM), and urethane rubber (U).

[0018] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the seal material 3. As shown in Fig. 4, the seal material 3 has a cylindrical seal main body 31. A plurality of (eight in this embodiment) seal openings 31h (one example of an opening) are formed in the seal main body 31. The plurality of seal openings 31h are arranged along the circumferential direction DC. The plurality of seal openings 31h are formed in positions and shapes corresponding to the plurality of ports 12 described with reference to Fig. 2.

[0019] The seal opening 31h penetrates the seal main body 31 in the radial direction DR. When the rotor 2 is oriented such that the valve flow path L1 and the port 12 face each other in the radial direction DR, the fluid F passes through the seal opening 31h and flows into or out of the valve flow path L1.

[0020] The seal material 3 also has a plurality of ribs 32 protruding in the radial direction DR from the seal body 31. In this embodiment, the ribs 32 protrude from the seal body 31 toward each of the radially inner side DR1 and the radially outer side DR2.

[0021] The plurality of ribs 32 are arranged to surround the seal opening 31h. More specifically, the rib 32 includes a plurality of circumferential ribs 34 and a plurality of axial ribs 36.

[0022] The multiple circumferential ribs 34 are disposed so as to face each other across the seal opening 31h in the axial direction DX, and each circumferential rib 34 extends (is provided continuously) along the circumferential direction DC.

[0023] The multiple axial ribs 36 are arranged to face each other across the seal opening 31h in the circumferential direction DC, and each axial rib 36 extends (is provided continuously) along the axial direction DX.

[0024] The circumferential rib 34 and the axial rib 36 are connected to each other outside the corner of the seal opening 31h. Hereinafter, the connecting portion between the circumferential rib 34 and the axial rib 36 is referred to as a "junction region P."

[0025] 〔cover〕 Fig. 5 is a diagram (plan view seen along the axial direction DX) showing the configuration of the cover 4. As shown in Fig. 5, the cover 4 is a flat plate having a substantially circular shape when seen along the axial direction DX. As shown in Fig. 1, the cover 4 is disposed on the housing 1 so as to face the rotor 2 and the seal material 3 in the axial direction DX.

[0026] The cover 4 has a base portion 41 that is circular (disk-shaped) when viewed along the axial direction DX, and an extension portion 42 that extends in the axial direction DX from the base portion 41 as a base end (see FIG. 1).

[0027] The base portion 41 has a first opposing surface 41S that faces the rotor 2. A through hole 41h is formed in the center of the base portion 41, penetrating the base portion 41 in the axial direction DX and through which the shaft portion 20 of the rotor 2 is inserted.

[0028] The extension portion 42 has a circular tubular (cylindrical) shape when viewed along the axial direction DX. The extension portion 42 is disposed along the outer edge of the base portion 41. The extension portion 42 engages with the housing 1, thereby fixing the cover 4 and the housing 1 to each other. For example, an engagement groove (e.g., a male screw) (not shown) is formed in a spiral shape centered on the axial direction DX on the radially outer side DR2 of the extension portion 42, and engages with an engaged groove (e.g., a female screw) (not shown) formed in the housing 1. This fixes the cover 4 and the housing 1 to each other.

[0029] [Deformation suppression section] The cover 4 has a deformation suppressing portion 43 (an example of a pressing portion) that suppresses deformation of the seal material 3 in the axial direction DX. In this embodiment, the deformation suppressing portion 43 is disposed on the radially inner side DR1 of the extending portion .

[0030] As shown in Fig. 6, the deformation suppression portion 43 includes a protrusion 431 that protrudes from the first opposing surface 41S to the other axial side DX2 (axial direction DX) as a base end. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration in the vicinity of the protrusion 431. Note that the extension portion 42 is omitted in Fig. 6.

[0031] The protrusion 431 comes into contact with the seal material 3 (seal main body portion 31) when the cover 4 is fixed to the housing 1. More specifically, the protrusion 431 is designed to press the seal material 3 toward the other axial side DX2 when the cover 4 is fixed to the housing 1, and elastically compresses the seal material 3.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, the deformation suppression portion 43 includes a plurality of (eight in this embodiment) protrusions 431. The plurality of protrusions 431 are arranged along the circumferential direction DC. The plurality of protrusions 431 are arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction DC. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of protrusions 431 are arranged so as not to contact the entire circumference of the seal material 3 (seal main body portion 31) but to contact only a part of the seal material 3 in the circumferential direction DC. By arranging the plurality of protrusions 431 so as to contact a part of the seal material 3 in the circumferential direction DC, partial elastic compression occurs as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, and excessive elastic compression of the seal material 3 can be avoided. This makes it possible to suppress deformation of the seal material 3.

[0033] 6, the protrusion 431 is disposed at a position corresponding to the seal opening 31h formed in the seal material 3 described with reference to Fig. 4. The protrusion 431 is disposed at a position facing the seal opening 31h formed in the seal material 3 in the axial direction DX. In other words, the seal material 3 is disposed at a position overlapping with the seal opening 31h when viewed from the axial direction DX.

[0034] That is, the protrusion 431 is disposed at a position in the axial direction DX that does not face the axial rib 36. Therefore, deformation (twisting) of the sealing material 3 due to deformation of the axial rib 36 can be avoided.

[0035] In this embodiment, when the cover 4 is fixed to the housing 1, the protrusion 431 is positioned at a position that overlaps in the axial direction DX with the central region 31C (a portion including the center in the circumferential direction DC) of the seal opening 31h in the circumferential direction DC.

[0036] Moreover, the protrusion 431 has a second opposing surface 431S (an example of an opposing surface) that faces the seal material 3. A groove 431m is formed in the second opposing surface 431S. More specifically, the protrusion 431 includes two recesses 431k recessed toward the first opposing surface 41S in the axial direction DX, and the groove 431m is configured by the two recesses 431k. Note that in this embodiment, the two recesses 431k are arranged line-symmetrically with respect to a virtual line L that passes through the center of the protrusion 431 as the axis of symmetry.

[0037] As described above, by forming the groove 431m in the protrusion 431, the seal main body 31 that receives pressure from the fluid F can enter the recess 431k of the groove 431m. This makes it possible to suppress deformation of the seal material 3 that avoids the protrusion 431 (deformation outside the protrusion 431). As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a gap between the seal material 3 and the seal surface (the surface of the housing 1 and / or the rotor 2 with which the seal material 3 contacts in a position that prevents leakage of the fluid F).

[0038] For example, when the seal material 3 is deformed to avoid the protrusion 431 under the fluid pressure of the fluid F, the joining region P where the circumferential rib 34 and the axial rib 36 intersect is pulled, and the axial rib 36 is inclined with respect to the axial direction DX, so that the entire seal material 3 is deformed, and a gap may be generated between the seal material 3 and the seal surface. When a gap is generated between the seal material 3 and the seal surface, leakage of the fluid F to the outside of the flow path occurs. However, according to this embodiment, the recess 431k can absorb the deformation of the seal material 3 toward one axial side DX1 (accommodate a part of the deformed seal material 3), so that the deformation of the seal material 3 to avoid the protrusion 431 can be suppressed. This makes it possible to avoid the generation of a gap between the seal material 3 and the seal surface, and to prevent the leakage of the fluid F to the outside of the flow path.

[0039] [Summary of the above embodiment] In the above embodiment, the following configurations are envisaged.

[0040] (1) The rotary valve 100 includes a rotor 2 which controls the flow of fluid F by rotating about an axis AX, a sealing material 3 which is arranged on the radial outside DR2 of the rotor 2 and has a sealing opening 31h through which the fluid F passes, a housing 1 which accommodates the rotor 2 and the sealing material 3, and a cover 4 which is arranged on the housing 1 so as to face the rotor 2 and the sealing material 3 in the axial direction DX along the axis AX, and the cover 4 has a deformation suppression portion 43 (pressing portion) which presses the sealing material 3 when arranged against the housing 1.

[0041] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the seal material 3 from deforming in the axial direction DX, thereby preventing leakage of the fluid F to the outside of the flow path. In addition, since the seal material 3 is pressed by the deformation suppression portion 43 (pressing portion) formed on the cover 4 that closes the inside of the housing 1, it is possible to achieve a smaller size than a configuration in which a seal accommodating recess is formed in the housing 1 or the rotor 2 and pressed by a separate member.

[0042] (2) In the rotary valve 100 of (1), it is preferable that the sealing material 3 has a plurality of seal openings 31h formed along the circumferential direction DC of the rotor 2, the deformation suppression portion 43 includes a plurality of protrusions 431 arranged along the circumferential direction DC, and each of the plurality of protrusions 431 is arranged at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of seal openings 31h.

[0043] According to this configuration, each of the multiple protrusions 431 is disposed at a position corresponding to each of the multiple seal openings 31h, so that deformation of the seal material 3 due to pressure from the fluid F passing through the seal openings 31h can be suppressed.

[0044] In the rotary valve 100 of (3)(2), it is preferable that the protrusion 431 is disposed at a position overlapping with the central region 31C in the circumferential direction DC of the seal opening 31h when viewed from the axial direction DX.

[0045] According to this configuration, the protrusion 431 is disposed at a position overlapping the central region 31C, where the pressure from the fluid F passing through the seal opening 31h is larger than that of other portions, when viewed from the axial direction DX. Therefore, deformation of the seal material 3 can be more effectively suppressed.

[0046] (4) In the rotary valve 100 of (2) or (3), it is preferable that the projection 431 has a second opposing surface 431S opposing the seal material 3, the second opposing surface 431S being formed with a groove 431m.

[0047] According to this configuration, the seal body 31 of the seal material 3 that receives pressure from the fluid F can enter the recess 431k of the groove 431m. This makes it possible to avoid deformation of the seal material 3 that avoids the protrusion 431 (deformation outside the protrusion 431). As a result, it is possible to prevent leakage of the fluid F to the outside of the flow path.

[0048] Other embodiments Next, other embodiments of the cooling module will be described.

[0049] (a) In the above embodiment, the deformation suppression portion 43 includes a plurality of (eight) protrusions 431, but the deformation suppression portion 43 may include only one protrusion 431. In this case, the one protrusion 431 may be, for example, an annular shape formed continuously along the circumferential direction DC. The number of the protrusions 431 may be appropriately changed depending on at least one of the number, shape, and position of the seal openings 31h of the seal material 3.

[0050] (b) In the above embodiment, the protrusion 431 faces the central region 31C in the axial direction DX. However, the protrusion 431 does not have to face the central region 31C in the axial direction DX.

[0051] (c) In the above embodiment, the groove 431m is configured with two recesses 431k, but the number of recesses 431k included in the groove 431m is not limited to two, and may be one, three or more. Also, the protrusion 431 may omit the groove 431m.

[0052] (d) The method for fixing cover 4 and housing 1 is not particularly limited, and they may be fixed by, for example, welding, fastening (fastening with fastening members such as screws and bolts), or the like. [Industrial Applicability]

[0053] The present invention can be used in rotary valves. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1: Housing 2: Rotor 3: Sealing material 4: Cover 31C: Central area 31h: Seal opening (opening) 100: Rotary valve 43: Deformation suppression part (pressing part) 431 : Protrusion 431m: ditch 431S: Second opposing surface (opposing surface) DC: Circumferential direction DR: Radial direction DR2: Radial outside DX: Axial direction F:Fluid AX: Axial center

Claims

1. A rotor that controls the flow of the fluid by rotating about an axis; a seal member disposed radially outward of the rotor and having an opening through which the fluid passes; a housing that accommodates the rotor and the seal material; a cover that is disposed on the housing so as to face the rotor and the seal material in an axial direction along the axis, The cover has a pressing portion that presses the sealing material when the cover is disposed on the housing.

2. The sealing material has a plurality of the openings formed along a circumferential direction of the rotor, The pressing portion includes a plurality of protrusions arranged along the circumferential direction, The rotary valve according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is disposed at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of openings.

3. The rotary valve according to claim 2 , wherein the protrusion is disposed at a position overlapping a central region of the opening in the circumferential direction when viewed in the axial direction.

4. 4. The rotary valve according to claim 2, wherein the projection has a groove formed on a surface facing the seal material.

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