Valve gear, motor valve, and refrigeration cycle system

Abstract

To provide a valve gear which enables reduction of vibration and noise when a drive part rotates, and to provide a motor valve and a refrigeration cycle system.SOLUTION: A valve gear 1 includes a valve body 10, a female screw member 40, and a male screw member 60. The female screw member 40 and the male screw member 60 are threadedly engaged to form a feeding screw mechanism. The female screw member 40 has a first female screw member 41 and a second female screw member 54 which are formed separately. Each of the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54 are threadedly engaged with the male screw member 60. The first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54 are connected in a manner that these female screw members cannot rotate around an axis L relative to each other and can move relative to each other in an axis L direction and biased to each other in the axis L direction by a coil spring 58.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve device, a motor-operated valve, and a refrigeration cycle system. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a valve device (motorized valve) that includes a valve body (valve housing) having an internal valve chamber, a support member (female thread holder) fixed to the valve body, a female thread member fixed to the support member, a male thread member (rotor shaft) that is rotationally driven by a drive unit (stepping motor), and a valve member (valve holder and valve body) that is connected to the tip side of the male thread member (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this valve device, a feed screw mechanism is formed that moves the valve member back and forth in the axial direction by rotating the male thread member that screws into the female thread member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-148643 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional valve devices as described above, for example, as in the motor-driven valve shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1, the threads of the mating female threaded member 31 and rotor shaft 41 (male threaded member) slide against each other, but a certain clearance is provided between the threads (sliding points) to stabilize operability, which causes vibrations and noise when the drive unit rotates.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a valve device, an electric valve, and a refrigeration cycle system that can reduce vibration and noise generated when a drive part rotates. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the valve device of the present invention is a valve device comprising a valve body having a valve chamber therein, a fixed screw member supported by the valve body, a drive screw member that is rotatably driven by a drive unit, and a valve member connected to the drive screw member, wherein the fixed screw member and the drive screw member are screwed together, and the drive screw member is driven to rotate to form a feed screw mechanism that moves the valve member back and forth in an axial direction, and one of the fixed screw member and the drive screw member is configured to have a first member and a second member that are separate from each other, and each of the first member and the second member is screwed together with the other of the fixed screw member and the drive screw member, and the first member and the second member are connected so as to be non-rotatable relative to each other but movable relative to each other in the axial direction, and are biased toward each other in the axial direction by a biasing means.

[0007] According to the present invention, the first and second members of the fixed screw member and the drive screw member are axially biased by the biasing means, so that the fixed screw member and the drive screw member slide relative to each other in the axial direction without any clearance, and a load due to the axial biasing force can be constantly applied to the sliding point between the fixed screw member and the drive screw member. The load generates a sliding resistance between the fixed screw member and the drive screw member, thereby reducing vibration and noise when the drive unit rotates. Therefore, a valve device can be provided that can reduce vibration and noise when the drive unit rotates.

[0008] In addition, at this time, it is preferable that the biasing means is provided between the first member and the second member, and biases the first member and the second member in a direction away from each other in the axial direction. In the motor-operated valve shown in FIG. 1 of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a compression coil spring 66 is provided between the upper end of the rotor shaft 41 and the upper end lower surface of the rotor case 44, thereby biasing the rotor shaft 41 toward the valve seat member 14 in the axial direction. According to this, a load is applied to the thread surface by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 66, and a sliding resistance is generated, thereby reducing vibration during operation of the drive unit and reducing vibration noise. However, in this configuration, since the compression coil spring 66 expands and contracts with the movement of the rotor shaft 41, it was necessary to secure a space for that. In addition, due to the expansion and contraction of this compression coil spring 66, the biasing force changes in accordance with the change in the opening degree of the valve port 13 in the motor-operated valve, for example, the spring load of the compression coil spring 66 increases as the opening degree of the valve port 13 increases, making it difficult to stably maintain the vibration suppression effect. However, according to the present configuration, the biasing means is provided between the first member and the second member, whose relative positional relationship is unlikely to change in the axial direction due to screwing, and biases the first member and the second member in a direction away from each other in the axial direction. Therefore, the biasing means is prevented from expanding or contracting in the axial direction with the advancement and retreat of the valve member, and there is no need to provide a space for the expansion or contraction. This contributes to space saving of the motor-operated valve. In addition, as described above, by preventing the biasing means from expanding or contracting in the axial direction with the advancement and retreat of the valve member, for example, even if the opening degree of the valve port of the motor-operated valve changes, the axial load by the biasing means can always be constant, and the effect of reducing vibration and noise as described above can be stably maintained. Therefore, in a valve device that can reduce vibration and noise when the drive unit rotates, space saving is realized and the state in which vibration and noise when the drive unit rotates can be stably maintained.

[0009] In this case, the biasing means may be provided across from an end face of the first member in the axial direction to an end face of the second member in the axial direction.

[0010] The biasing means may be a coil spring or a leaf spring combination.

[0011] The first member has a female thread and a guide portion inside the cylindrical member, the guide portion guides the second member in the axial direction, and the inner periphery of the guide portion and the outer periphery of the second member are fitted together so as not to rotate relative to each other around the axis. According to this configuration, the inner periphery of the guide portion and the outer periphery of the second member are fitted together so that the entire circumference of the second member around the axis is surrounded by the first member over the entire length in the axial direction. Therefore, the first member and the second member can be connected more reliably so as not to rotate relative to each other and to be movable relative to each other in the axial direction. According to this configuration, the second member is guided by the guide portion over the entire length in the axial direction, so that the inclination of the second member with respect to the axial direction can be suppressed compared to a configuration in which a part of the entire length of the second member in the axial direction is guided by the guide portion. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an unintended increase in sliding resistance between the fixed screw member and the drive screw member due to the inclination of the second member, which causes malfunction.

[0012] It is also preferable that a fitting portion formed of any one of a D-cut portion, a two-sided chamfered portion, a protrusion, a key groove, and a polygonal portion is provided on one of the inner periphery of the guide portion and the outer periphery of the second member, and a fitted portion fitted into the fitting portion is provided on the other of the inner periphery of the guide portion and the outer periphery of the second member. According to this configuration, the fitting portion is formed in various shapes such as a D-cut portion, a two-sided chamfered portion, a protrusion, a key groove, and a polygonal portion, and the fitting portion is fitted into the fitted portion, thereby connecting the first member and the second member so that they cannot rotate relative to each other and can move relative to each other in the axial direction.

[0013] The fixed screw member may have the first member and the second member, the first member being a first female screw member having a first female screw member and fixed to the valve body, the second member being a second female screw member having a second female screw member, and the drive screw member being a male screw member having a male screw member that screws into the first female screw member and the second female screw member. According to this configuration, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the fixed screw member is composed of the first female screw member and the second female screw member, and the drive screw member is a male screw member.

[0014] The fixed screw member may be a female screw member having a female screw and fixed to the valve body, and the drive screw member may have the first member and the second member, the first member being a first male screw member having a first male screw that screws into the female screw, and the second member being a second male screw member having a second male screw that screws into the female screw. According to this configuration, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the fixed screw member is a female screw member and the drive screw member is a first male screw member and a second male screw member.

[0015] The fixed screw member may be a male screw member having a male screw and fixed to the valve body, the drive screw member may have the first member and the second member, the first member being a first female screw member having a first female screw that screws into the male screw, and the second member being a second female screw member having a second female screw that screws into the male screw. According to this configuration, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the fixed screw member is a male screw member and the drive screw member is a first female screw member and a second female screw member.

[0016] The fixed screw member may have the first member and the second member, the first member being a first male screw member having a first male screw and fixed to the valve body, the second member being a second male screw member having a second male screw, and the drive screw member being a female screw member having a female screw that screws into the first male screw and the second male screw. According to this configuration, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the fixed screw member is composed of the first male screw member and the second male screw member, and the drive screw member is a female screw member.

[0017] In addition, the motor-operated valve of the present invention is characterized in that the drive unit in any of the valve devices described above includes an electric motor. With this configuration, in a motor-operated valve in which the drive unit includes an electric motor, it is possible to reduce vibration and noise generated when the drive unit rotates.

[0018] The present invention also provides a refrigeration cycle system including the motor-operated valve, which can reduce vibrations and noise generated when the drive unit rotates. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a valve device, an electric valve, and a refrigeration cycle system capable of reducing vibration and noise generated when a drive part rotates. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the axis of a needle portion. [Diagram 2] 6(A) to 6(D) are schematic views showing variations of the rotation restricting portion in the second female threaded member. [Diagram 3] 2 is an enlarged and simplified cross-sectional view of a main part of the valve device of FIG. 1; [Figure 4] 4(A) to (D) are schematic diagrams showing the assembly procedure of the valve device. [Diagram 5]5(E) to (G) are schematic diagrams showing steps subsequent to the step shown in FIG. 4(D) in the procedure for assembling the valve device. [Figure 6] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve device according to a second embodiment, taken along the axis of a needle portion. [Figure 7] 7 is an enlarged and simplified cross-sectional view of a main part of the valve device according to the second embodiment of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve device according to a third embodiment, taken along the axis of a needle portion. [Figure 9] 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of the valve device according to the third embodiment of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a refrigeration cycle system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] A valve device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. The valve device 1 is a device for controlling the flow rate of a fluid, and is used, for example, as an electric valve constituting a part of a refrigeration cycle system 100 (see Fig. 10). In the following description, the direction along the axis L of a needle portion 88 described later will be referred to as the "axis L direction", one side of the axis L direction will be referred to as the "one side L1", and the other side of the axis L direction will be referred to as the "other side L2". In addition, a direction intersecting the axis L direction will be referred to as the radial direction. This is merely for the convenience of description, and does not necessarily limit each direction in an actual use state of the valve device 1.

[0022] The valve device 1 includes a valve body 10 formed into a cylindrical shape by cutting a metal material such as stainless steel or brass. The inside of the valve body 10 forms a valve chamber 11. A first port 12 is formed in the side wall of the valve body 10, penetrating in the radial direction, and a primary coupling pipe 13 is attached to the side wall, the interior of which is in communication with the valve chamber 11 via the first port 12. A cylindrical second port 14 is formed in the bottom wall (wall portion of the other side L2) of the valve body 10, and opens into the valve chamber 11 with the axis L as the center. The opening periphery of the second port 14 on one side L1 (valve chamber 11 side) forms a valve seat portion 15. The second port 14 expands in diameter toward the other side L2, and the end of the other side L2 opens to the outside. A cylindrical portion 16 protruding toward the other side L2 is formed on the surface of the bottom wall of the valve body 10 on the other side L2, and a secondary coupling pipe 16a is attached inside the cylindrical portion 16. The inside of the secondary joint pipe 16 a communicates with the valve chamber 11 via the second port 14 .

[0023] An opening 17 is formed in the upper wall (wall portion of one side L1) of the valve body 10, penetrating in the axial L direction. A cylindrical valve guide member 18 is press-fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the opening 17 and fixed by crimping. A valve guide hole 18a is formed in the center of the valve guide member 18 penetrating in the axial L direction, and a needle portion 88 of a valve member 80 described later is inserted into the valve guide hole 18a. A cylindrical rim 19 rising toward the one side L1 is formed at the opening edge portion of the one side L1 of the opening 17. A support member 20 is assembled to the outer peripheral surface of the rim 19. The support member 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape using a metal material such as stainless steel or brass, and is fixed to the valve body 10 by crimping the rim 19 from the radially outward direction and brazing the end face of the other side L2 to the end face of the one side L1 of the valve body 10, or the like.

[0024] One side L1 of the support member 20 is open in the direction of the axis L, and a case 30 made of a metal material such as stainless steel and formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom is fixed airtightly to the open end surface by fixing the open end edge by welding or the like. A female screw member 40 (fixed screw member) is attached and supported on the inner peripheral surface of the opening of the one side L1 of the support member 20. The female screw member 40 includes a first female screw member 41 (first member) and a second female screw member 54 (second member). The first female screw member 41 includes a press-fit portion 42, a flange portion 43, a holder guide portion 44, and an axis guide portion 46 in this order from the other side L2 toward the one side L1.

[0025] The press-fit portion 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the direction of the axis L using a resin material, and is press-fitted into the inner circumferential surface of the opening on one side L1 of the support member 20. The flange portion 43 is formed in an annular shape using a metal material, and is integrated with the press-fit portion 42 by insert molding. The end face of the other side L2 of the flange portion 43 is fixed to the end face of the one side L1 of the support member 20 by welding or the like. The holder guide portion 44 is continuous with the press-fit portion 42 and extends to the one side L1 along the axis L. A holder guide hole 45 is formed in the inner center of the holder guide portion 44, penetrating the press-fit portion 42 and opening to the other side L2, and the one side L1 portion of the valve holder 81 described later is accommodated in the holder guide hole 45.

[0026] The shaft guide portion 46 is continuous with the holder guide portion 44, and is formed in a cylindrical shape extending along the axis L to one side L1. A spiral guide groove 47 is formed on the outer wall surface of the shaft guide portion 46, and a coil-shaped slider 48 is installed in the guide groove 47. A claw portion 49 protruding radially outward is formed on the slider 48, and the claw portion 49 can abut against a magnet protruding portion 63 of a magnet rotor 62 described later around the axis L. A first screw hole 50 extending in the axis L direction and opening on one side L1, and a guide portion 52 continuing from the first screw hole 50, extending in the axis L direction, and opening on the other side L2 are formed in the center of the shaft guide portion 46. A first female screw 51 (female screw portion) is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first screw hole 50. The first female screw 51 is screwed with a male screw 64 of a male screw member 60 (drive screw member) described later. The guide portion 52 is formed with an inner diameter larger than the first screw hole 50, and extends to the other side L2. The inner wall surface (inner circumference) of the guide portion 52 is shaped to follow the outer circumferential shape of the second female screw member 54, thereby forming a fitted portion 53 that fits into a rotation restricting portion 57 (fitting portion) described later.

[0027] The second female screw member 54 is provided separately from the first female screw member 41. The second female screw member 54 has a cylindrical tubular portion 54a extending in the axial direction L, and is housed in the guide portion 52. A second screw hole 55 penetrating in the axial direction L is formed in the center of the tubular portion 54a, and a second female screw 56 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the second screw hole 55. The second female screw 56 is screwed into the male screw 64, similar to the first female screw 51 described above. In this way, the female screw member 40 is configured to have the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54 which are separate from each other, and each of the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54 is screwed into the male screw member 60 as a drive screw member described later. A rotation restricting portion 57 (fitting portion) is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 54a of the second female threaded member 54 over the entire length in the direction of the axis L, thereby defining the outer circumferential shape of the second female threaded member 54. The rotation restricting portion 57 is a portion that restricts the rotation of the second female threaded member 54 about the axis L relative to the first female threaded member 41, and can be configured in various shapes to be fitted into the fitted portion 53 described above, as exemplified in Figures 2(A) to (D).

[0028] For example, as shown in FIG. 2(A), the rotation restricting portion 57 may be configured with a first surface 57a (D-cut portion, two-chamfered portion) along the axis L constituting the outer circumferential surface of the second female screw member 54, and a second surface 57b (D-cut portion, two-chamfered portion) in a circular arc shape extending around the axis L. That is, the second female screw member 54 may be chamfered in two faces to form a D-shape in a plan view to form the rotation restricting portion 57. As shown in FIG. 2(B), the rotation restricting portion 57 may be configured with a protrusion 57c protruding radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the second female screw member 54, or may be configured with a concave key groove 57d recessed radially inward as shown in FIG. 2(C). When the rotation restricting portion 57 is configured with the protrusion 57c, it is preferable to provide a key groove formed of a recess (not shown) corresponding to the protrusion 57c on the side of the fitted portion 53 described above. On the other hand, when the rotation restricting portion 57 is configured with the key groove 57d, a convex portion 53a that fits into the key groove 57d may be provided on the fitted portion 53 side as shown in Fig. 2(C). The rotation restricting portion 57 may be configured with a plurality of surfaces 57e along the axis L and have a polygonal shape as viewed from above as shown in Fig. 2(D). That is, the outer surface of the second female screw member 54 may be configured with a polygonal portion. In this case, a hole that is polygonal in top view is provided on the fitted portion 53 side, and the rotation restricting portion 57 that is polygonal in top view fits into this hole.

[0029] According to this configuration, the rotation restricting portion 57 fits into the fitted portion 53, thereby restricting the second female threaded member 54 from rotating about the axis L. That is, the inner periphery of the guide portion 52 and the outer periphery of the second female threaded member 54 fit together so as to be unable to rotate relative to each other about the axis L. The rotation restricting portion 57 is also configured to be in sliding contact with the fitted portion 53 in the direction of the axis L, thereby guiding the second female threaded member 54 in the direction of the axis L. In this way, the second female threaded member 54 is guided in the direction of the axis L by the guide portion 52, and the inner periphery of the guide portion 52 and the outer periphery of the second female threaded member 54 fit together so as to be unable to rotate relative to each other about the axis L. In this embodiment, the inner circumference of the guide portion 52 is the fitted portion 53, and the rotation regulating portion 57 is provided on the outer circumference of the second female threaded member 54. However, on the other hand, the rotation regulating portion 57 may be provided on the guide portion 52 side, and the shape of the outer circumference of the second female threaded member 54 may be shaped to conform to the rotation regulating portion 57.

[0030] That is, a rotation regulating portion 57 composed of a first surface 57a and a second surface 57b (D-cut portion, two-sided chamfered portion), a protrusion 57c, a key groove 57d, and a plurality of surfaces 57e (polygonal shaped portion) may be provided on one of the inner circumference of the guide portion 52 and the outer circumference of the second female thread member 54, and a fitted portion 53 that fits into the rotation regulating portion 57 may be provided on the other of the inner circumference of the guide portion 52 and the outer circumference of the second female thread member 54. In the above description, it is described that the inner circumference of the guide portion 52 and the outer circumference of the second female threaded member 54 are engaged with each other so that they cannot rotate relative to each other around the axis L. However, in reality, a small gap exists between the rotation regulating portion 57 and the engaged portion 53 due to the engagement, and the inner circumference of the guide portion 52 and the outer circumference of the second female threaded member 54 may rotate slightly relative to each other around the axis L due to the gap. However, this slight relative rotation is included in the “non-rotatable relative” in this embodiment.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, a coil spring 58 (biasing means) is disposed between the guide portion 52 and the second female screw member 54. The coil spring 58 mainly illustrated in FIG. 3 (or FIG. 7) is not illustrated in its actual spiral shape, but is illustrated as a schematic diagram. An end of one side L1 of the coil spring 58 abuts against an end face of the other side L2 of the guide portion 52, and an end of the other side L2 of the coil spring 58 abuts against an end face of one side L1 of the second female screw member 54. That is, the coil spring 58 is provided between the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54, from the end face of the first female screw member 41 in the axial line L direction to the end face of the second female screw member 54 in the axial line L direction. The coil spring 58 biases the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54 in a direction away from each other along the axial line L direction.

[0032] With the above configuration, the first female threaded member 41 and the second female threaded member 54 are connected so as not to rotate relative to each other around the axis L but to be movable relative to each other in the direction of the axis L, and are urged by the coil spring 58 in the direction of the axis L. Note that in this embodiment, the urging means is constituted by the coil spring 58, but this is not limited thereto, and the urging means may be constituted by, for example, a leaf spring combination in which leaf springs are combined. Note that in the above description, it is stated that the first female threaded member 41 and the second female threaded member 54 are connected so as to be movable relative to each other in the direction of the axis L, but this "movable relative to each other" has the following meaning. In other words, when a force resisting the spring load of the coil spring 58 is generated, the first female threaded member 41 and the second female threaded member 54 are "relatively movable" in the direction of the axis L by the amount of thread play between the first female threaded portion 51 of the first female threaded member 41 and the male thread 64 of the male threaded member 60 described below, or by the amount of thread play between the second female thread 56 of the second female threaded member 54 and the male thread 64.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the male screw member 60 (drive screw member) is screwed and connected to the female screw member 40. The male screw member 60 is a drive shaft that is rotated around the axis L by the drive unit 70, and extends in the direction of the axis L through the first screw hole 50 and the second screw hole 55. A magnet rotor 62 is attached to an end of one side L1 of the male screw member 60 via a cylindrical bush 61. The magnet rotor 62 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the direction of the axis L, and constitutes an electric motor together with a stator coil (not shown) installed outside the above-mentioned case 30, and serves as a drive unit 70 of the valve device 1. The magnet rotor 62 is rotated and driven to rotate around the axis L together with the male screw member 60 and to move in the direction of the axis L. A magnet protruding portion 63 is formed on a part of the inner peripheral surface of the magnet rotor 62 as a protruding shape that protrudes radially inward. The claw portion 49 of the slider 48 described above can abut against the magnet protruding portion 63 around the axis L.

[0034] With this configuration, when the magnet rotor 62 rotates, the slider 48 rotates around the axis L in response to the rotation, and is guided by the guide groove 47 to move to one side L1 or the other side L2. When the slider 48 abuts against the upper end of the guide groove 47 or the lower end of the guide groove 47, it cannot rotate any further, and the rotation of the magnet rotor 62 stops. A male screw 64 that screws into the first female screw 51 and the second female screw 56 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the male screw member 60. In this way, the first female screw 51 and the second female screw 56 (fixed screw member) screw into the male screw 64 (male screw member 60, drive screw member), and the male screw member 60 is driven to rotate, thereby forming a feed screw mechanism that moves the valve member 80, which will be described later, forward and backward in the direction of the axis L.

[0035] A flange portion 65 protruding radially outward is formed at the lower end of the male screw member 60, and the male screw member 60 is connected to the valve member 80 via the flange portion 65. The valve member 80 includes a valve holder 81 connected to the flange portion 65 and a needle valve 86 connected to the valve holder 81. The valve holder 81 is formed in a cylindrical shape and extends in the direction of the axis L. The outer diameter of the valve holder 81 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the holder guide hole 45, so that the outer peripheral surface of the valve holder 81 can slide on the inner peripheral surface of the holder guide hole 45. A mounting hole 82 penetrating in the direction of the axis L is formed in the wall portion of one side L1 of the valve holder 81, and the lower end of the male screw member 60 including the flange portion 65 is inserted into the mounting hole 82. An annular washer 83 is installed between the inner surface of the wall portion of one side L1 of the valve holder 81 and the end face of one side L1 of the flange portion 65.

[0036] A columnar spring bearing 84 is installed inside the valve holder 81. An end face of one side L1 of the spring bearing 84 abuts against an end face of the other side L2 of the washer 83. A spring 89 is installed around the spring bearing 84 to cover the spring bearing 84 in the circumferential direction. An end face of one side L1 of the spring 89 abuts against an end face of the other side L2 of the spring bearing 84, and an end face of the other side L2 of the spring 89 abuts against an end face of one side L1 of a flange 87 described later. With this configuration, the needle valve 86 is biased toward the other side L2. An end face of the other side L2 of the valve holder 81 opens in the axial line L direction, and an annular retaining member 85 is fixed to this opening. The needle valve 86 includes a flange 87 and a needle portion 88. The flange 87 is located within the valve holder 81, and the end face of the other side L2 abuts against the end face of the one side L1 of the retaining member 85 when the needle portion 88 is not seated on the valve seat portion 15. The needle portion 88 is formed in a cylindrical shape and extends in the axial L direction through the valve guide hole 18a of the valve guide member 18 described above into the valve chamber 11. The end of the needle portion 88 on the other side L2 is formed in a substantially conical shape whose diameter decreases toward the other side L2.

[0037] Next, the assembly of the female screw member 40 and the male screw member 60 in the valve device 1 will be described. FIGS. 4(A) to 4(D) are schematic diagrams showing the assembly procedure of the valve device 1. FIGS. 5(E) to 5(G) are schematic diagrams showing the procedure after the procedure shown in FIG. 4(D) in the assembly procedure of the valve device 1. First, as shown in FIG. 4(A), the first female screw member 41 is arranged in such a direction that the other side L2 is located on the upper side in FIG. 4. Next, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the coil spring 58 is inserted into the first female screw member 41 from the holder guide hole 45 side and arranged in the guide portion 52, and then the second female screw member 54 is inserted into the first female screw member 41. At this time, the second female screw member 54 is urged toward the other side L2 by the urging force of the coil spring 58, so that the second female screw member 54 is not arranged in the guide portion 52 just by inserting the second female screw member 54 into the first female screw member 41. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4(C), the second female screw member 54 is pressed into the guide portion 52 using a rod-shaped first pressing jig 45a extending in the axial direction L.

[0038] Specifically, the male screw 45b formed at the end of the first holding jig 45a on one side L1 is screwed into the second female screw 56 of the second female screw member 54 to integrate the first holding jig 45a and the second female screw member 54, and in this state, the second female screw member 54 is pushed into the one side L1. As a result, the rotation restricting portion 57 of the second female screw member 54 is fitted into the fitted portion 53 of the guide portion 52, and the second female screw member 54 is positioned inside the guide portion 52. In this state, the second holding jig 45c is installed to restrict the displacement of the second female screw member 54 to the other side L2. As shown in FIG. 4(C), the second holding jig 45c is formed by bending a metal material into a U-shape, and each of the two tip portions is inserted into each of a pair of jig insertion holes 45d that penetrate the holder guide hole 45. When the second holding jig 45c is inserted into the jig insertion hole 45d, as shown in Figure 4 (D), even if the second female screw member 54 attempts to displace to the other side L2, the displacement is restricted by abutting against the second holding jig 45c.

[0039] Therefore, after the second holding jig 45c is inserted into the jig insertion hole 45d, the first holding jig 45a may be removed from the second female-threaded member 54. Next, as shown in FIG. 5(E), the male-threaded member 60 integrated with the valve member 80 via the flange portion 65 is connected to the female-threaded member 40. First, the male-threaded member 60 is positioned so that the end of one side L1 of the male-threaded member 60 is located on the lower side in FIG. 5, and is moved toward the female-threaded member 40 along the axis L direction. Then, the male thread 64 of the male-threaded member 60 is screwed into the second female thread 56 and the first female thread 51 in that order, and the male-threaded member 60 is moved to the one side L1 until the end of the one side L1 of the male-threaded member 60 protrudes to the one side L1 of the female-threaded member 40 and the one side L1 portion of the valve holder 81 is accommodated in the holder guide hole 45 as shown in FIG. After the attachment of the male threaded member 60 to the female threaded member 40 is completed, the second pressing jig 45c is removed from the jig insertion hole 45d as shown in Fig. 5(G). This completes the assembly of the female threaded member 40 and the male threaded member 60 in the valve device 1.

[0040] Next, the operation of the valve device 1 will be described. In the valve device 1 configured as above, when the electric motor of the drive unit 70 is driven, the magnet rotor 62 rotates around the axis L, and the male screw 64 is screw-fed by the feed screw mechanism, so that the magnet rotor 62 and the male screw member 60 move forward and backward in the direction of the axis L. Then, with the forward and backward movement of the male screw member 60, the valve member 80 moves forward and backward in the direction of the axis L. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the needle portion 88 moves (separates) from a state in which it is seated (or closest to) the valve seat portion 15 to one side L1, and the opening degree of the second port 14 increases. As a result, the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the primary joint pipe 13, the first port 12, the valve chamber 11, the second port 14, and the secondary joint pipe 16a increases. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54 are urged in a direction in which they move away from each other in the direction of the axis L. As a result, the female thread member 40 (first female thread member 41, second female thread member 54) and the male thread member 60 can slide against each other in the direction of the axis L without any clearance, and a load due to a biasing force in the direction of the axis L can always be applied to the sliding points between the female thread member 40 and the male thread member 60.

[0041] When the magnet rotor 62 is rotated in the opposite direction from this state, the male screw 64 is screw-fed by the feed screw mechanism, so that the magnet rotor 62 and the male screw member 60 move to the other side L2, and the needle portion 88 seats on the valve seat portion 15. This closes the second port 14. Note that in this embodiment, when the needle portion 88 is displaced furthest to the other side L2, the needle portion 88 seats on the valve seat portion 15 to close the second port 14, but this is not limiting, and the present configuration can also be applied to a normally open valve device 1 in which the needle portion 88 approaches the valve seat portion 15 but does not seat on it.

[0042] Next, the refrigeration cycle system 100 of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the refrigeration cycle system of the present invention. In Fig. 10, reference numeral 1 denotes an expansion valve using the above-mentioned valve device 1 (motorized valve), 200 denotes an outdoor heat exchanger mounted on an outdoor unit, 300 denotes an indoor heat exchanger mounted on an indoor unit, 400 denotes a flow path switching valve constituting a four-way valve, and 500 denotes a compressor. The valve device 1 (expansion valve), the outdoor heat exchanger 200, the indoor heat exchanger 300, the flow path switching valve 400, and the compressor 500 are each connected by a conduit as shown in the figure, constituting a heat pump type refrigeration cycle. Note that an accumulator, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and the like are omitted from the illustration.

[0043] The flow path of the refrigeration cycle is switched between two flow paths, one for cooling operation and the other for heating operation, by the flow path switching valve 400. During cooling operation, as shown by solid arrows in Fig. 10, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 500 flows from the flow path switching valve 400 into the outdoor heat exchanger 200, which functions as a condenser, and the liquid refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 200 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 300 through the valve device 1 as an expansion valve, which functions as an evaporator. On the other hand, during heating operation, as shown by dashed arrows in Fig. 10, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 500 circulates from the flow path switching valve 400 to the indoor heat exchanger 300, the valve device 1 as an expansion valve, the outdoor heat exchanger 200, and the compressor 500 in that order, with the indoor heat exchanger 300 functioning as a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger 200 functioning as an evaporator.

[0044] According to the above-described embodiment, the first female screw member 41 (first member) and the second female screw member 54 (second member) of the female screw member 40 (fixed screw member) and the male screw member 60 (drive screw member) are biased in the axial direction L by the coil spring 58 or the leaf spring combination (biasing means). Therefore, the female screw member 40 and the male screw member 60 can slide against each other in the axial direction L without any clearance, and a load due to a biasing force in the axial direction L can be constantly applied to the sliding portion between the female screw member 40 and the second female screw member 54. The load can generate a sliding resistance between the female screw member 40 and the male screw member 60, thereby reducing vibration and noise when the drive unit 70 rotates.

[0045] Furthermore, according to the present configuration, the coil spring 58 is provided between the first female threaded member 41 and the second female threaded member 54, whose relative positional relationship is unlikely to change in the axial L direction due to screwing, and urges the first female threaded member 41 and the second female threaded member 54 in a direction moving them away from each other in the axial L direction. Therefore, even if the male threaded member 60 is rotated and the valve member 80 is moved back and forth in the axial L direction to change the opening degree of the second port 14, the coil spring 58 is prevented from expanding and contracting in the axial L direction due to the forward and backward movement, and there is no need to provide space for such expansion and contraction. For example, in the structure of the valve device 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, if the coil spring 58 is disposed between the upper end of the male screw member 60 and the lower surface of the upper end of the case 30 as shown in FIG. 1 of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 and biased to the other side L2, it is necessary to extend the case 30 in the axial direction L and increase the overall length of the valve device 1 in consideration of the space for the expansion and contraction of the coil spring 58. However, in this configuration, the coil spring 58 biases the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54 in a direction away from each other between the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54, so there is no need to increase the overall length of the valve device 1. This contributes to space saving of the valve device 1. In addition, as described above, the coil spring 58 is suppressed from expanding and contracting in the axial direction L in association with the forward and backward movement of the valve member 80. Therefore, for example, even if the opening degree of the second port 14 changes, the load in the axial direction L by the coil spring 58 can be always kept constant, and the effect of reducing vibration and noise as described above can be stably maintained. Therefore, in the valve device 1 capable of reducing vibration and noise when the drive part 70 rotates, it is possible to realize space saving and stably maintain a state in which vibration and noise when the drive part 70 rotates is reduced. As described above, the coil spring 58 can be provided particularly from the end face in the axial direction of the first female thread member 41 to the end face in the axial direction of the second female thread member 54.

[0046] According to the present embodiment, the inner periphery of the guide portion 52 and the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 54a of the second female screw member 54 are fitted together over the entire length of the cylindrical portion 54a in the axial direction L, so that the entire circumference of the second female screw member 54 around the axial direction L is surrounded by the first female screw member 41 over the entire length of the axial direction L. Therefore, the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54 can be more reliably connected so as to be non-rotatable relative to each other around the axial direction L and movable relative to each other in the axial direction L. According to this configuration, the cylindrical portion 54a of the second female screw member 54 is guided by the guide portion 52 over the entire length of the axial direction L, so that the inclination of the second female screw member 54 with respect to the axial direction L can be suppressed compared to a configuration in which a part of the entire length of the cylindrical portion 54a in the axial direction L is guided by the guide portion 52. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an unintended increase in sliding resistance between the female threaded member 40 and the male threaded member 60 due to inclination of the second female threaded member 54, which would result in malfunction.

[0047] In addition, according to this embodiment, the rotation regulating portion 57 (fitting portion) is configured with various shapes such as a first surface 57a (D-cut portion, two-chamfered portion) and a second surface 57b (D-cut portion, two-chamfered portion), a protrusion 57c, a key groove 57d, and multiple surfaces 57e (polygonal-shaped portion), and by fitting this rotation regulating portion 57 into the fitted portion 53, the first female threaded member 41 and the second female threaded member 54 can be connected so that they cannot rotate relative to each other around the axis L but can move relative to each other in the direction of the axis L.

[0048] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the fixed screw member is constituted by the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54, and the drive screw member is the male screw member 60.

[0049] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in an electrically operated valve in which the drive unit 70 is equipped with an electric motor, it is possible to reduce vibration and noise generated when the drive unit 70 rotates. Note that in this embodiment, an electrically operated valve is exemplified as the valve device 1, but the electrically operated valve also includes, for example, an electronic expansion valve in which the second port 14 is opened and closed (or moved close to or away from the second port 14) by a stepping motor. Furthermore, the valve device 1 is not limited to being a electrically operated valve, and may be a solenoid valve in which a plunger is moved forward and backward by a solenoid coil, or a manual valve in which the valve member 80 is moved manually.

[0050] According to this embodiment, the refrigeration cycle system 100 can be configured using the valve device 1 that can reduce vibrations and noise generated when the drive part 70 rotates.

[0051] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve device 2 according to the second embodiment, cut along the axis L of the needle portion 88. FIG. 7 is an enlarged and simplified sectional view of the main part of the valve device 2 according to the second embodiment of FIG. 6. The valve device 2 includes a valve body 10'. The valve body 10' is formed with a valve guide portion 18'. The valve guide portion 18' is formed in a columnar shape and extends from the center of the upper wall of the valve body 10' to one side L1. The valve guide portion 18' corresponds to the valve guide member 18 of the first embodiment, but differs from the valve guide member 18 in that it is formed integrally with the valve body 10'. A valve guide hole 18a is formed in the center of the valve guide portion 18', and the needle portion 88 of the valve member 80 is inserted into the valve guide hole 18a. A support recess 18b opening to one side L1 is formed in the center of the upper end of the valve guide portion 18'. An end portion of the other side L2 of a male screw member 60', which will be described later, is inserted into and fixed in the support recess 18b. That is, in the second embodiment, the male screw member 60' is fixed to the valve body 10 to form a fixed screw member.

[0052] A support member 20 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the valve guide portion 18', and a case 30 is fixed to the opening edge of the support member 20. In the second embodiment, a support shaft 31 that protrudes along the axis L to the other side L2 is attached to the center of the bottom of the case 30 (a portion corresponding to the upper end of the valve device 1 in FIG. 6). A guide 32 that forms a spiral groove on the outer peripheral surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 31. A slider 33 that fits into the spiral groove is installed on the guide 32. A claw portion 34 that protrudes radially outward is formed on the slider 33, and the claw portion 34 abuts against a magnet protruding portion 63' of the magnet rotor 62' around the axis L. In the second embodiment, the magnet protruding portion 63' is formed extending from an end of the one side L1 of the magnet rotor 62' to the one side L1.

[0053] The male screw member 60' of the second embodiment is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction L. A male screw 64 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the male screw member 60'. A drive shaft 66 extending in the axial direction L and a valve member 80 are inserted inside the male screw member 60'. The drive shaft 66 extends in the axial direction L, and an end of one side L1 of the drive shaft 66 protrudes from the male screw member 60' to the one side L1. The valve member 80 includes a cylindrical main body portion 87' abutting on an end of the other side L2 of the drive shaft 66, and a needle portion 88 that is continuous with the main body portion 87' and extends in the axial direction L through the valve guide hole 18a into the valve chamber 11. The female screw member 40' is screwed and connected to the male screw member 60'. The female thread member 40' includes a first female thread member 41' (first member) and a second female thread member 54' (second member).

[0054] The first female screw member 41' is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape and opens to the other side L2. The outer peripheral surface of the first female screw member 41' is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the magnet rotor 62', so that the first female screw member 41' and the magnet rotor 62' are integrated. The first female screw member 41' has a first female screw 51' formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and the first female screw 51' is screwed into the male screw 64. A through hole 41'b is formed in the center of the bottom wall 41'a of the first female screw member 41', penetrating in the axial direction L, and an end of the drive shaft 66 on one side L1 is inserted into the through hole 41'b. The first female screw member 41' is connected to the drive shaft 66 by a connecting member 90. The connection member 90 includes a first support portion 91 disposed on the other side L2 of the bottom wall 41'a of the first female thread member 41', and a second support portion 94 disposed on one side L1 of the bottom wall 41'a of the first female thread member 41'. The first support portion 91 is fixed to be rotatable relative to the drive shaft 66 about the axis L, and includes a cylindrical portion 92 that circumferentially covers the drive shaft 66, and a flange 93 that radially protrudes from an end portion of the cylindrical portion 92 on the one side L1.

[0055] A spring 89' is provided between an end face of the other side L2 of the cylindrical portion 92 and an end face of one side L1 of the main body portion 87' of the valve member 80 described above, thereby biasing the valve member 80 to the other side L2. The end face of the one side L1 of the flange 93 abuts against an end face of the other side L2 of the bottom wall 41'a of the first female screw member 41'. The second support portion 94 is formed in a disk shape so as to circumferentially cover the end of the one side L1 of the drive shaft 66, and is fixed to the drive shaft 66 so as not to rotate relative to it around the axis L. The end face of the other side L2 of the second support portion 94 abuts against an end face of the one side L1 of the bottom wall 41'a of the first female screw member 41'. In this way, by sandwiching the bottom wall 41'a in the direction of axis L between the flange 93 of the first support part 91 and the second support part 94, the first female thread member 41' and the magnet rotor 62' are connected to the connecting member 90 and the drive shaft 66 so as to be able to rotate relatively around the axis L.

[0056] The second female screw member 54' is formed in a cylindrical shape separately from the first female screw member 41' and is accommodated in a guide portion 52' formed of a part of the inner circumferential surface of the magnet rotor 62'. A second female screw 56' is formed in the center of the second female screw member 54', and the second female screw 56' is screwed into the male screw 64. A coil spring 58 is disposed between the first female screw member 41' and the second female screw member 54'. An end of one side L1 of the coil spring 58 abuts against an end face of the other side L2 of the first female screw member 41', and an end of the other side L2 of the coil spring 58 abuts against an end face of one side L1 of the second female screw member 54'. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the coil spring 58 biases the first female screw member 41' and the second female screw member 54' in a direction away from each other along the axis L direction.

[0057] In the valve device 2 configured as above, when the electric motor of the drive unit 70 is driven, the magnet rotor 62' rotates around the axis L, and the female screw member 40' (first female screw member 41', second female screw member 54') is screw-fed by the feed screw mechanism, so that the magnet rotor 62' and the female screw member 40' move forward and backward in the direction of the axis L. Then, with this forward and backward movement, the connection member 90 and the drive shaft 66 move forward and backward in the direction of the axis L. Then, with the forward and backward movement of the drive shaft 66, the valve member 80 moves forward and backward, and the opening degree of the second port 14 changes. Thus, in the second embodiment, the female screw member 40' constitutes the drive screw member, and the drive screw member has the first member and the second member. Then, as described above, the male screw member 60' constitutes the fixed screw member. According to this second embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which the drive screw member is composed of a first female screw member 41' and a second female screw member 54', and the fixed screw member is a male screw member 60', and the same actions and effects as those of the first embodiment can be achieved.

[0058] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve device 3 according to the third embodiment, cut along the axis L of the needle portion 88. FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part of the valve device 3 according to the third embodiment of FIG. 8. The valve device 3 of the third embodiment includes a male screw member 600 and a female screw member 700. The male screw member 600 corresponds to the male screw member 60' of the second embodiment, and the female screw member 700 corresponds to the female screw member 40' of the second embodiment. The configuration other than the male screw member 600 and the female screw member 700 is the same as that of the second embodiment, so the description thereof will be omitted or simplified. As shown in FIG. 9, the male screw member 600 includes a first male screw member 601 (first member) and a second male screw member 604 (second member). That is, in the third embodiment, the fixed screw member side includes the first member and the second member. The first male screw member 601 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the axis L direction. A first male thread 602 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first male thread member 601, and the first male thread 602 is screwed into a female thread 701 of a female thread member 700 described below. A first recess 603 recessed toward one side L1 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the other side L2 of the first male thread 602.

[0059] The second male screw member 604 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the direction of the axis L. An end of the second male screw member 604 on the other side L2 is inserted and fixed in the support recess 18b of the valve guide portion 18' of the valve body 10'. A second male screw 605 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the second male screw member 604, and the second male screw 605 is screwed into the female screw 701 of the female screw member 700. A second recess 606 recessed to the other side L2 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of one side L1 of the second male screw member 604. A coil spring 58 is installed between the first recess 603 and the second recess 606. An end of the coil spring 58 on the one side L1 abuts against the bottom surface of the first recess 603, and an end of the coil spring 58 on the other side L2 abuts against the bottom surface of the second recess 606. As a result, the coil spring 58 biases the first male threaded member 601 and the second male threaded member 604 in directions away from each other along the axis L direction.

[0060] The first male screw member 601 and the second male screw member 604 are connected by a rotation prevention mechanism 607 so as to be non-rotatable around the axis L and movable in the direction of the axis L. Various configurations can be used for the configuration of the rotation prevention mechanism 607. For example, the rotation prevention mechanism 607 may be configured by providing one protrusion protruding to the other side L2 at the end of the other side L2 of the first male screw member 601, providing two protrusions protruding to the one side L1 at the end of the one side L1 of the second male screw member 604, and sandwiching one protrusion between the two protrusions. In contrast, the rotation prevention mechanism 607 may be configured by providing two protrusions protruding to the other side L2 at the end of the other side L2 of the first male screw member 601, providing one protrusion protruding to the one side L1 at the end of the one side L1 of the second male screw member 604, and sandwiching one protrusion between the two protrusions.

[0061] In addition, a convex portion protruding in the direction of the axis L may be provided on one of the end of the other side L2 of the first male screw member 601 and the end of the one side L1 of the second male screw member 604, and a concave portion recessed in the direction of the axis L may be provided on the other of the end of the first male screw member 601 and the second male screw member 604, and the anti-rotation mechanism 607 may be formed by concave-convex engagement. The number and arrangement of the above-mentioned protrusions, convex portions, and concave portions are not particularly limited, and for example, two sets of anti-rotation mechanisms 607 composed of convex portions and concave portions may be provided and arranged at positions 180° apart around the axis L. The female screw member 700 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape and opens on the other side L2. The outer peripheral surface of the female screw member 700 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the magnet rotor 62', whereby the female screw member 700 and the magnet rotor 62' are integrated. A female screw 701 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the female screw member 700, and the female screw 701 is screwed into the first male screw 602 and the second male screw 605. According to this third embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which the fixed screw member is composed of a first male screw member 601 and a second male screw member 604, and the drive screw member is a female screw member 700, and the same actions and effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be achieved.

[0062] Although the first, second and third embodiments have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention includes design changes within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the first embodiment, the fixed screw member is composed of the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54, and the driving screw member is composed of the male screw member 60. However, this is not limited to this, and the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54 as the fixed screw member may be combined into one, and the male screw member 60 as the driving screw member may be divided into two. Specifically, the second female screw member 54 shown in FIG. 1 may be omitted, and the fixed screw member may be composed of only the first female screw member 41.

[0063] The male screw member 60 shown in FIG. 1 is divided into a first male screw member fixed to the magnet rotor 62 and constituting one side L1, and a second male screw member connected to the valve member 80 and constituting the other side L2, and the first male screw of the first male screw portion and the second male screw of the second male screw portion are screwed into the female screw 56 of the first female screw member 41. Then, a coil spring 58 is interposed between the first male screw member and the second male screw member to integrate the first male screw member and the second male screw member. In this manner, the first male screw member and the second male screw member constitute a drive screw member. In this configuration, when the electric motor of the drive unit 70 is driven, the magnet rotor 62 rotates around the axis L, and the first male screw member and the second male screw member are screwed and fed by the feed screw mechanism, so that the magnet rotor 62, the first male screw member, and the second male screw member move forward and backward together in the direction of the axis L. As a result of this forward and backward movement, the valve member 80 approaches or moves away from the second port 14, and the opening degree of the second port 14 is changed.

[0064] In this way, the present invention may be applied to a configuration in which the fixed screw member is the first female screw member 41 and the driving screw member is the first male screw member and the second male screw member. In any case, one of the fixed screw member and the driving screw member is configured to have a first member and a second member that are separate from each other, and each of the first member and the second member may be screwed into the other of the fixed screw member and the driving screw member. In the first embodiment, the coil spring 58 or the like is disposed between the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54, and the coil spring 58 or the like biases the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54 in a direction away from each other in the direction of the axis L. However, this is not the only possible configuration, and the biasing means such as the coil spring 58 may be used in various arrangements as long as it is configured to bias the first female screw member 41 and the second female screw member 54 in the direction of the axis L. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] L axis 1 Valve gear 10 Valve body 40 Female thread member (fixed thread member) 41 First female thread member (first member) 54 Second female thread member (second member) 58 Coil spring (biasing means) 60 Male screw member (driving screw member) 70 Drive unit 80 Valve member

Claims

1. A valve device comprising: a valve body having a valve chamber therein; a fixed screw member supported by the valve body; a drive screw member rotatably driven by a drive unit; and a valve member connected to the drive screw member, The fixed screw member and the drive screw member are screwed together, and the drive screw member is rotationally driven to form a feed screw mechanism that moves the valve member back and forth in the axial direction, one of the fixed screw member and the drive screw member is configured to have a first member and a second member that are separate from each other, and each of the first member and the second member is screwed into the other of the fixed screw member and the drive screw member, The valve device according to the present invention is characterized in that the first member and the second member are connected to each other so as to be unable to rotate relative to each other but to be able to move relative to each other in the axial direction, and are biased toward each other in the axial direction by a biasing means.

2. 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means is provided between the first member and the second member and biases the first member and the second member in directions away from each other in the axial direction.

3. 3. The valve device according to claim 2, wherein the biasing means is provided across from an end face of the first member in the axial direction to an end face of the second member in the axial direction.

4. 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means is a coil spring or a leaf spring combination formed by combining leaf springs.

5. The valve device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first member has a female thread portion and a guide portion inside the cylindrically formed first member, the second member is guided in the axial direction by the guide portion, and the inner periphery of the guide portion and the outer periphery of the second member are fitted together so as not to rotate relative to each other around the axis.

6. The valve device according to claim 5, characterized in that a fitting portion consisting of any one of a D-cut portion, a two-sided chamfered portion, a protrusion, a key groove, and a polygonal portion is provided on one of an inner periphery of the guide portion and an outer periphery of the second member, and a fitted portion that fits into the fitting portion is provided on the other of the inner periphery of the guide portion and an outer periphery of the second member.

7. The fixing screw member has the first member and the second member, the first member is a first female thread member having a first female thread and fixed to the valve body, the second member is a second female threaded member having a second female thread, 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the drive screw member is a male screw member having a male screw thread that screws into the first female screw and the second female screw.

8. the fixing screw member is a female screw member having a female screw and fixed to the valve body, the drive screw member having the first member and the second member, the first member is a first male screw member having a first male screw thread that screws into the female screw; 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the second member is a second male screw member having a second male screw that screws into the female screw.

9. the fixing screw member is a male screw member having a male thread and fixed to the valve body, the drive screw member having the first member and the second member, the first member is a first female thread member having a first female thread that screws into the male thread, 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the second member is a second female thread member having a second female thread that screws into the male thread.

10. The fixing screw member has the first member and the second member, the first member is a first male screw member having a first male screw and fixed to the valve body, the second member is a second male threaded member having a second male thread, 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the drive screw member is an internally threaded member having an internal thread that screws into the first external thread and the second external thread.

11. 11. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit includes an electric motor.

12. A refrigeration cycle system comprising the motor-operated valve according to claim 11.

Images