Manifold

Abstract

To provide a manifold that is not easily restricted by a height of a valve.SOLUTION: A manifold 300 is composed of a plurality of housings 310, 330 joined to each other, and comprises a resin manifold body 302 having a plurality of flow paths therein, and a rotary valve 340 that controls a flow of fluid through the flow paths. Of the plurality of housings 310, 330 that constitutes the manifold body 302, the first housing 310, which is one of the two housings having joint parts 324, 332 joined to each other, has a cylindrical valve accommodating part 316 that can accommodate and support the rotary valve 340. At least some of the valve accommodating part 316 protrudes toward the second housing 330, which is the other of the two housings, with respect to the joint parts 324, 332.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] In recent years, automobiles equipped with a motor as a driving source (such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)) have become widespread. Hereinafter, these automobiles are collectively referred to as electric vehicles. Electric vehicles have many devices that require cooling, such as the motor (including an internal combustion engine such as an engine), battery, air conditioner, and ECU, and these are cooled by configuring a cooling circuit that circulates coolant, refrigerant, and oil. In this case, by forming the flow path of the cooling circuit within a manifold, it is possible to eliminate the need for piping, simplify the flow path configuration, and also to make the cooling circuit smaller.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a manifold in which two housings are joined together, each housing has a valve accommodating portion formed therein, and a control valve is accommodated therein. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2023 / 104347 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the manifold of Patent Document 1, two housings are joined and a valve accommodating portion is formed in each housing to accommodate a control valve, so the height of the manifold needs to be equal to or greater than the height of the control valve. In other words, the height of the manifold is restricted by the height of the control valve, leaving room for improvement.

[0006] Therefore, a manifold that is not restricted by the height of the valves is desired. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One embodiment of a manifold according to the present invention comprises a resin manifold body consisting of a plurality of housings joined together and having a plurality of flow paths therein, and a rotary valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the flow paths, wherein a first housing, which is one of two of the multiple housings constituting the manifold body and having a joint portion joined together, has a cylindrical valve accommodating portion capable of accommodating and supporting the rotary valve, and at least a portion of the valve accommodating portion protrudes toward the second housing, which is the other of the two housings, beyond the joint portion.

[0008] According to this embodiment, at least a part of the valve accommodating portion formed in the first housing protrudes toward the second housing from the joint portion. This configuration allows the height of the manifold body to be lower than a configuration in which at least a part of the valve accommodating portion formed in the first housing does not protrude toward the second housing from the joint portion. This makes it possible to provide a manifold that is less restricted by the height of the rotary valve. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a manifold according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a manifold body. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the manifold secured to the support frame. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the manifold according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Therefore, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0011] [Manifold configuration] Manifold 300 according to this embodiment is used in electric vehicles, which are automobiles equipped with a motor as a driving source for traveling (such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)). Manifold 300 is an integrated unit that includes a flow path for circulating a coolant (one example of a fluid) for cooling devices that require cooling, such as the motor (including an internal combustion engine such as an engine), battery, air conditioner, and ECU of the electric vehicle, a rotary valve for controlling the flow of the coolant, and a water pump for pumping the coolant.

[0012] 1, the manifold 300 is configured to include a first rotary valve 340 (an example of a rotary valve), a second rotary valve 350 (an example of a rotary valve), a first water pump 360, a second water pump 370, and a manifold body 302 in which a plurality of flow paths 312 for circulating a coolant therethrough are formed. The manifold body 302 is formed by joining and integrating a plurality of housings by a method such as welding, and in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, it is formed by joining a first housing 310 (an example of a housing) and a second housing 330 (an example of a housing). The coolant is cooling water such as long-life coolant (LLC), or insulating oil such as paraffin.

[0013] 1 to 3 conceptually include both an inflow path for introducing the coolant into the first rotary valve 340 or the second rotary valve 350, and an outflow path for discharging the coolant from the first rotary valve 340 or the second rotary valve 350. In addition, the multiple flow paths 312 conceptually include all flow paths through which the coolant circulates inside the manifold body 302, such as a flow path formed only in the first housing 310, a flow path formed only in the second housing 330, and a flow path formed spanning from the first housing 310 to the second housing 330.

[0014] Among the flow paths 312 in this embodiment, the flow paths 312 having a portion protruding outward from the outer wall 310a of the first housing 310 are arranged in a direction along the rotation axis AX (one example of a central axis) of each of the first rotary valve 340 and the second rotary valve 350, with a plurality of (five in this embodiment) first flow paths 312a arranged on the side closer to the second housing 330 and a plurality of (four in this embodiment) second flow paths 312b arranged on the side farther from the second housing 330. The flow path 312 is a collective term for the first flow paths 312a and the second flow paths 312b. The protruding directions of these nine flow paths 312 are all perpendicular to the rotation axis AX (see FIG. 2). Hereinafter, the direction parallel to the rotation axis AX (height direction) is referred to as the "Z direction". In addition, in the Z direction, the direction of the first housing 310 relative to the second housing 330 is referred to as the Z1 direction, and the direction of the second housing 330 relative to the first housing 310 is referred to as the Z2 direction.

[0015] In the manifold body 302 of this embodiment, the first rotary valve 340, the second rotary valve 350, the first water pump 360, and the second water pump 370 are all attached to the first housing 310. The first rotary valve 340 and the first water pump 360 are disposed adjacent to each other, and the second rotary valve 350 and the second water pump 370 are disposed adjacent to each other. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotation axis AX of the first rotary valve 340 and the rotation axis AX of the second rotary valve 350 are parallel to each other, and the rotation axis BX of the first water pump 360 and the rotation axis BX of the second water pump 370 are parallel to each other. The rotation axis AX of the first rotary valve 340 and the second rotary valve 350 and the rotation axis BX of the first water pump 360 and the second water pump 370 are perpendicular to each other. In the second housing 330, only some of the multiple flow passages 312 are formed (see FIG. 3).

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first rotary valve 340 has a first actuator 341 (an example of a lid), a first valve body 342 (an example of a rotor), and a first seal material 343 (an example of a seal material). The second rotary valve 350 has a second actuator 351 (an example of a lid), a second valve body 352 (an example of a rotor), and a second seal material 353 (an example of a seal material). The first actuator 341 and the second actuator 351 are fixed to the first housing 310 in a state where they are exposed on the surface of the first housing 310. The first valve body 342 and the first seal material 343 are accommodated in a first valve chamber 316 (an example of a valve accommodating portion) formed in the first housing 310. The second valve body 352 and the second seal material 353 are accommodated in a second valve chamber 318 (an example of a valve accommodating portion) formed in the first housing 310. The first valve chamber 316 and the second valve chamber 318 are disposed in a central region 310b (see FIG. 3) located between a pair of opposing outer walls 310a of the first housing 310 and between the first water pump 360 and the second water pump 370.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of auxiliary chambers 314 are formed around each of the first valve chamber 316 and the second valve chamber 318 of the first housing 310. A plurality of auxiliary chambers 314 are formed between the flow passage 312 and the first valve chamber 316 and between the flow passage 312 and the second valve chamber 318, and the flow passage 312 and the first valve chamber 316 and the flow passage 312 and the second valve chamber 318 communicate with each other through the auxiliary chambers 314. The auxiliary chambers 314 are a concept including both an inflow auxiliary chamber connected to an inflow passage and an outflow auxiliary chamber connected to an outflow passage. In this embodiment, the auxiliary chambers 314 are arranged in all the flow passages 312 communicating with the first valve chamber 316 and all the flow passages 312 communicating with the second valve chamber 318. The plurality of flow passages 312 and the plurality of auxiliary chambers 314 are arranged radially so as to surround each of the first valve chamber 316 and the second valve chamber 318.

[0018] In the first housing 310, a first partition wall 324 (an example of a joint portion) is formed which partitions two adjacent ones of the flow passage 312, the first valve chamber 316, the second valve chamber 318, the auxiliary chamber 314, the first vortex chamber 320 (see FIG. 2), and the second vortex chamber 322. The first housing 310 is composed of only the flow passage 312, the first valve chamber 316, the second valve chamber 318, the auxiliary chamber 314, the first vortex chamber 320, the second vortex chamber 322, and the first partition wall 324.

[0019] The second housing 330 is formed with a second partition wall 332 (an example of a joint portion) that partitions two adjacent ones of the spare chambers 314 and some of the multiple flow paths 312 formed in the second housing 330. The manifold body 302 is formed by joining the first partition wall 324 of the first housing 310 and the second partition wall 332 of the second housing 330 by a method such as welding.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the first valve chamber 316 formed in the first housing 310 has a bottomed cylindrical shape having a first opening 316a (one example of an opening), a first side wall 316b, and a first bottom wall 316c (one example of a bottom wall) (see FIG. 4). The central axis of the first valve chamber 316 is coaxial with the rotation axis AX when the first rotary valve 340 is housed. That is, the central axis of the first valve chamber 316 is also the rotation axis AX. The inner diameter of the first valve chamber 316 is formed so as to become smaller from the first opening 316a toward the first bottom wall 316c. That is, the first side wall 316b has a tapered shape toward the Z2 direction. This allows the first valve body 342 and the first seal member 343 of the first rotary valve 340 to be smoothly inserted into the first valve chamber 316 from the first opening 316a. Moreover, the first valve body 342 and the first seal member 343 can be reliably positioned in the Z direction relative to the first valve chamber 316.

[0021] A part of the first side wall 316b and the first bottom wall 316c of the first valve chamber 316 protrude downward (in the Z2 direction) beyond the first partition wall 324. That is, a part of the first side wall 316b and the first bottom wall 316c protrude toward the second housing 330 beyond the first partition wall 324. A first through hole 334 is formed in a portion of the second housing 330 facing the first valve chamber 316, and by joining the first housing 310 and the second housing 330, a part of the first side wall 316b and the first bottom wall 316c of the first valve chamber 316 are fitted into the first through hole 334 of the second housing 330. The first bottom wall 316c does not protrude downward (in the Z2 direction) beyond the second housing 330.

[0022] Similarly, the second valve chamber 318 has a bottomed cylindrical shape having a second opening 318a (an example of an opening), a second side wall 318b, and a second bottom wall 318c (an example of a bottom wall). The central axis of the second valve chamber 318 is coaxial with the rotation axis AX when the second rotary valve 350 is housed. That is, the central axis of the second valve chamber 318 is also the rotation axis AX. The inner diameter of the second valve chamber 318 is also formed to become smaller from the second opening 318a toward the second bottom wall 318c. That is, the second side wall 318b has a tapered shape toward the Z2 direction. This allows the second valve body 352 and the second seal material 353 of the second rotary valve 350 to be smoothly inserted into the second valve chamber 318 from the second opening 318a. In addition, the Z direction positioning of the second valve body 352 and the second seal material 353 relative to the second valve chamber 318 can be reliably performed.

[0023] A part of the second side wall 318b and the second bottom wall 318c of the second valve chamber 318 protrude downward (in the Z2 direction) beyond the first partition wall 324. That is, a part of the second side wall 318b and the second bottom wall 318c protrude toward the second housing 330 beyond the first partition wall 324. A second through hole 335 is formed in a portion of the second housing 330 facing the second valve chamber 318, and by joining the first housing 310 and the second housing 330, a part of the second side wall 318b and the second bottom wall 318c of the second valve chamber 318 are fitted into the second through hole 335 of the second housing 330. The second bottom wall 318c does not protrude downward (in the Z2 direction) beyond the second housing 330.

[0024] In this embodiment, a part of the first side wall 316b and the first bottom wall 316c of the first valve chamber 316, and a part of the second side wall 318b and the second bottom wall 318c of the second valve chamber 318 protrude downward from the first partition wall 324. These protruding parts are fitted into the first through hole 334 and the second through hole 335 of the second housing 330, respectively, in a state in which the first housing 310 and the second housing 330 are joined together. With this configuration, the length (height) of the manifold body 302 along the Z direction can be shortened compared to a configuration in which the first valve chamber 316 and the second valve chamber 318 do not protrude downward from the first partition wall 324. This allows the manifold 300 to be made smaller in size.

[0025] In this embodiment, the first valve body 342 is accommodated in the first valve chamber 316 of the first housing 310, and the first actuator 341 is fixed to the first housing 310 to serve as a lid covering the first opening 316a. As a result, one end of the first rotating shaft 342a of the first valve body 342 is connected to the first actuator 341, and the other end is supported by the first bush 316f formed on the first bottom wall 316c (see FIG. 4). In this manner, by supporting both ends of the first rotating shaft 342a by the first actuator 341 fixed to the first housing 310 and the first bush 316f formed on the first housing 310, the rotation axis AX is more likely to be parallel to the Z direction than in a configuration in which the first rotating shaft 342a is supported by the first housing 310 and the second housing 330, and thus smooth rotation of the first valve body 342 is realized.

[0026] Further, the second valve body 352 is accommodated in the second valve chamber 318 of the first housing 310, and the second actuator 351 is fixed to the first housing 310 to serve as a lid covering the second opening 318a. As a result, one end of the second rotating shaft 352a of the second valve body 352 is connected to the second actuator 351, and the other end is supported by a second bush (not shown) formed on the second bottom wall 318c. In this manner, by supporting both ends of the second rotating shaft 352a by the second actuator 351 fixed to the first housing 310 and the second bush formed on the first housing 310, the rotation axis AX is more likely to be parallel to the Z direction than in a configuration in which the second rotating shaft 352a is supported by the first housing 310 and the second housing 330, and thus smooth rotation of the second valve body 352 is realized.

[0027] 1 to 3 and 5, the first housing 310 has a plurality of (four in this embodiment) stays 326 (an example of a fixing portion) that fix the manifold 300 to a support frame 380 of the electric vehicle. The stays 326 extend in the Z2 direction.

[0028] [Configuration of Rotary Valve] Next, the configurations of the first rotary valve 340 and the second rotary valve 350 will be described. In this embodiment, the first rotary valve 340 and the second rotary valve 350 have the same configuration except for the configurations of the first valve body 342 and the second valve body 352 that switch the flow path 312 (see FIG. 2). Therefore, hereinafter, only the configuration of the first rotary valve 340 will be described, and a detailed description of the configuration of the second rotary valve 350 will be omitted.

[0029] 4, in the first rotary valve 340, a first sealant 343 is disposed so as to contact the first side wall 316b and the first bottom wall 316c of the first valve chamber 316. In addition, a first valve body 342 is disposed radially inward of the first sealant 343 so as to contact the first sealant 343.

[0030] The first valve body 342 has a cylindrical shape (see FIG. 2), and a flow path is formed inside. The first rotating shaft 342a of the first valve body 342 is arranged so as to be coaxial with the rotation axis AX when the first valve body 342 is accommodated in the first valve chamber 316. One end of the first rotating shaft 342a is connected to the first actuator 341, and the first valve body 342 is rotated by driving the first actuator 341 to rotate the first rotating shaft 342a. The other end of the first rotating shaft 342a is supported by a first bush 316f formed on the first bottom wall 316c. By rotating the first valve body 342, the combination of the flow path 312 of the cooling water flowing into the first valve chamber 316 and the flow path 312 of the cooling water flowing out from the first valve chamber 316 can be changed. In this way, the first rotary valve 340 can control the flow of the cooling water flowing through the flow path 312. In the first rotary valve 340, when the first valve body 342 rotates, the first seal material 343 does not rotate. Since the first valve body 342 and the first seal material 343 are in contact with each other, the first valve body 342 rotates while sliding on the inner circumferential surface of the first seal material 343.

[0031] The first seal 343 is disposed over substantially the entire circumference of the first valve chamber 316 in the circumferential direction. To be precise, the first seal 343 is not disposed over the entire circumference of the first valve chamber 316 in the circumferential direction (it is not annular), and has a substantially C-shape that does not have a part of the circumferential direction in a plan view (Z direction view) (see FIG. 2). However, hereinafter, the term "over the entire circumference" also refers to the entire circumference of the first seal 343. The first seal 343 is elastically deformable, and is sandwiched between the first valve chamber 316 and the first valve body 342 and compressed in the radial direction to seal the flow path and prevent the coolant from leaking from the flow path. The first seal 343 is made of an elastically deformable rubber material such as nitrile rubber (NBR), fluororubber (FKM), and urethane rubber (U).

[0032] The first sealant 343 has a plurality of flow ports 343a formed at locations corresponding to a plurality of preliminary chambers 314 (flow paths 312) formed around the first valve chamber 316 of the first housing 310. This allows the flow of cooling water between the preliminary chambers 314 and the first valve body 342 while ensuring sealing performance.

[0033] An upper rib 344 and a lower rib 345 are formed around the entire circumference at both ends of the first seal material 343 in the Z direction (see FIG. 2). The upper rib 344 and the lower rib 345 extend along the Z direction and have a generally cylindrical shape when viewed in the Z direction. A plurality of rotation stoppers 345a extend in the Z2 direction from the tip of the lower rib 345. In this embodiment, the rotation stoppers 345a are arranged at approximately 120 degree intervals, for a total of three.

[0034] 4, a circular upper groove 341a (an example of a groove) is formed around the rotation axis AX as viewed in the Z direction on the surface of the first actuator 341 facing the first valve chamber 316. By inserting an upper rib 344 of the first seal material 343 into the upper groove 341a, the upper groove 341a sandwiches and holds the upper rib 344. The upper groove 341a does not have to be circular as viewed in the Z direction, and may be substantially C-shaped into which the upper rib 344 fits without any gaps.

[0035] A circular lower groove 316d (an example of a groove) is formed in the first bottom wall 316c of the first valve chamber 316 around the rotation axis AX as viewed in the Z direction. By inserting a lower rib 345 of the first seal member 343 into the lower groove 316d, the lower groove 316d sandwiches and holds the lower rib 345. The lower groove 316d does not have to be circular as viewed in the Z direction, and may be substantially C-shaped into which the lower rib 345 fits without any gaps.

[0036] A plurality of stopper grooves 316e (three in this embodiment) into which the rotation stopper 345a is inserted are formed at the bottom of the lower groove 316d formed in the first bottom wall 316c of the first valve chamber 316. The stopper groove 316e has a size such that the rotation stopper 345a fits without any gaps. By inserting the lower rib 345 into the lower groove 316d while aligning the rotation stopper 345a of the first seal material 343 with the stopper groove 316e of the first bottom wall 316c, the lower rib 345 and the rotation stopper 345a can be sandwiched and held between the lower groove 316d and the stopper groove 316e. At this time, the flow port 343a of the first seal material 343 faces the preliminary chamber 314 formed around the first valve chamber 316.

[0037] In the first rotary valve 340 of this embodiment, the first seal 343 has an upper rib 344 and a lower rib 345 at both ends along the Z direction, and the upper rib 344 and the lower rib 345 are sandwiched between the upper groove 341a and the lower groove 316d, respectively. This allows the first seal 343 to be positioned in the Z direction and prevents the first seal 343 from falling over due to an external force or the rotation of the first valve body 342. Furthermore, since the rotation stopper 345a fits into the stopper groove 316e, even if the first valve body 342 rotates while sliding on the inner circumferential surface of the first seal 343, the first seal 343 can be prevented from rotating with the first valve body 342.

[0038] [Fixing the manifold] Next, a method for supporting the manifold 300 inside the electric vehicle will be described with reference to Figure 5. The manifold 300 is supported by being fixed to a support frame 380 of the electric vehicle by a method such as fastening the stays 326 with bolts 382.

[0039] As described above, four stays 326 are arranged in the first housing 310 of the manifold body 302 (see FIG. 3). In this embodiment, various accessories such as a first rotary valve 340, a second rotary valve 350, a first water pump 360, and a second water pump 370 are attached to the first housing 310, while only some of the multiple flow paths 312 are formed in the second housing 330 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). Therefore, the first housing 310 to which the various accessories are attached is much heavier than the second housing 330.

[0040] If the stay 326 is disposed on the second housing 330 in the manifold 300, when the manifold 300 is fixed to the support frame 380 in the position shown in Fig. 5, the first housing 310 to which the various auxiliaries are attached is supported at a portion where the first partition wall 324 of the first housing 310 and the second partition wall 332 of the second housing 330 are joined by a method such as welding. In other words, since the center of gravity of the manifold 300 is closer to the first housing 310 than the portion where the first housing 310 and the second housing 330 are joined, a force that disengages the joint is applied to the joint due to the weight of the first housing 310 to which the various auxiliaries are attached. If vibrations, impacts, etc. act on the joint while the electric vehicle is running in this state, in the worst case, the joint may be disengaged and the first housing 310 may fall off.

[0041] However, in the manifold 300 of this embodiment, the stays 326 are disposed in the first housing 310 to which various accessories are attached, and therefore the heavy first housing 310 is directly fixed to the support frame 380. Therefore, the force acting on the joint between the first partition wall 324 of the first housing 310 and the second partition wall 332 of the second housing 330 in a direction to disengage the joint is only due to the weight of the lightweight second housing 330. Therefore, even if vibrations, shocks, and the like act on the joint while the electric vehicle is traveling, there is little risk that the joint will come loose and the second housing 330 will fall off. Therefore, the manifold 300 can be reliably fixed to the support frame 380.

[0042] Other embodiments <1> In the above embodiment, the first valve chamber 316 and the second valve chamber 318 are covered by the first actuator 341 and the second actuator 351, respectively, but they may be covered by something other than actuators. In this case, it is preferable to separately dispose an actuator for rotating the first valve body 342 and the second valve body 352 on the outside of the covers.

[0043] <2> In the above embodiment, the first through hole 334 and the second through hole 335 into which the first bottom wall 316c of the first valve chamber 316 and the second bottom wall 318c of the second valve chamber 318 of the first housing 310 fit are formed in the second housing 330, but they do not necessarily have to be through holes. Instead of through holes, a bottomed recess may be formed in the second housing 330, and the first bottom wall 316c and the second bottom wall 318c may be configured to fit into the recess.

[0044] <3> In the above embodiment, the first bottom wall 316c and the second bottom wall 318c are configured so as not to protrude downward from the second housing 330. However, they may be configured so as to protrude downward from the second housing 330.

[0045] <4> In the above embodiment, the first sealant 343 is fixed to the first valve chamber 316 by the upper rib 344 and the lower rib 345, but it may be configured to be fixed to the first valve chamber 316 by either the upper rib 344 or the lower rib 345. The same applies to the second sealant 353.

[0046] <5> In the above embodiment, the rotation stopper 345a of the first seal material 343 is formed only on the lower rib 345, but this is not limited to the above. The rotation stopper 345a may be configured to be formed on the upper rib 344 instead of the lower rib 345 or together with the lower rib 345. The same applies to the second seal material 353.

[0047] <6> In the above embodiment, the manifold body 302 is configured by the first housing 310 and the second housing 330, but it may be configured by combining three or more housings.

[0048] In the embodiment of manifold 300 described above, the following configurations are envisioned.

[0049] (1) One embodiment of a manifold (300) comprises a resin manifold body (302) made of a plurality of housings (310, 330) joined together and having a plurality of flow paths (312) therein, and rotary valves (340, 350) for controlling the flow of fluid through the flow paths (312). Of the plurality of housings (310, 330) constituting the manifold body (302), a first housing (310) which is one of two housings having joints (324, 332) joined together has a cylindrical valve accommodating portion (316, 318) capable of accommodating and supporting the rotary valve (340, 350), and at least a portion of the valve accommodating portion (316, 318) protrudes toward the second housing (330), which is the other of the two housings, beyond the joints (324, 332).

[0050] In this embodiment, at least a portion of the valve accommodating portion (316, 318) formed in the first housing (310) protrudes toward the second housing (330) beyond the joint portion (324, 332). This configuration allows the height of the manifold body (302) to be lower than in a configuration in which at least a portion of the valve accommodating portion (316, 318) formed in the first housing (310) does not protrude toward the second housing (330) beyond the joint portion (324, 332). This makes it possible to provide a manifold (300) that is less restricted by the height of the rotary valves (340, 350).

[0051] (2) In the manifold (300) of (1), the valve accommodating portion (316, 318) has an opening (316a, 318a) into which the rotary valve (340, 350) can be inserted and a bottom wall (316c, 318c) capable of supporting the rotary valve (340, 350), It is preferable that the inner diameter of the valve accommodating portion (316, 318) becomes smaller from the opening (316a, 318a) side toward the bottom wall (316c, 318c) side.

[0052] This enables the rotary valves (340, 350) to be smoothly inserted into the valve housings (316, 318) through the openings (316a, 318a).In addition, the rotary valves (340, 350) can be reliably positioned relative to the valve housings (316, 318).

[0053] (3) The manifold (300) of (2) further includes a cover (341, 351) that covers the openings (316a, 318a) and is fixed to the first housing (310). The rotary valve (340, 350) includes a rotor (342, 352) that controls the flow of the fluid by rotating about a central axis (AX) of the valve housing portion (316, 318), and a valve housing portion (316, 318) that is connected to the rotor (342, 352). At least one of the bottom wall (316c, 318c) of the valve accommodating portion (316, 318) and the lid (341, 351) has a groove (316d, 341a) around the central axis (AX), and the sealing material (343, 353) is preferably retained by being inserted into the groove (316d, 341a).

[0054] With this, at least one of the bottom wall (316c, 318c) of the valve accommodation portion (316, 318) of the first housing (310) and the lid (341, 351) has a groove (316d, 341a) around the central axis (AX), and the sealant (343, 353) of the rotary valve (340, 350) is held by being inserted into the groove (316d, 341a). As a result, the sealant (343, 353) is positioned in the height direction and can be prevented from falling over due to an external force, the rotation of the rotor (342, 352), etc.

[0055] (4) In the manifold (300) of any one of (1) to (3), it is preferable that the first housing (310) has a fixing portion (326) fixed to the support frame (380).

[0056] According to this, since the fixing portion (326) is disposed on the first housing (310) in which the rotary valves (340, 350) are accommodated, the first housing (310) is directly fixed to the support frame (380). Therefore, the only force acting on the joint between the first housing (310) and the second housing (330) in a direction to separate the joint is due to the weight of the second housing (330), which is lighter than the first housing (310). Therefore, even if unintended vibrations, impacts, or the like are applied to the joint, there is little risk of the joint being separated and the second housing (330) falling off, and the manifold (300) can be reliably fixed to the support frame (380). [Industrial Applicability]

[0057] The present invention can be used in a manifold. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 300: manifold, 302: manifold body, 310: first housing (housing), 312: flow path, 316: first valve chamber (valve accommodating portion), 316a: first opening (opening), 316c: first bottom wall (bottom wall), 316d: lower groove (groove), 318: second valve chamber (valve accommodating portion), 318a: second opening (opening), 318c: second bottom wall (bottom wall), 324: first partition wall (joint portion), 326: stay (fixing portion), 330: second housing (housing 332: second partition wall (joint), 340: first rotary valve (rotary valve), 341: first actuator (lid), 341a: upper groove (groove), 342: first valve body (rotor), 343: first seal material (seal material), 350: second rotary valve (rotary valve), 351: second actuator (lid), 352: second valve body (rotor), 353: second seal material (seal material), 380: support frame, AX: rotation axis (center axis)

Claims

1. a manifold body made of resin and including a plurality of housings joined together and having a plurality of flow paths therein; a rotary valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the flow path, a first housing, which is one of two housings having a joint portion joined to each other among the plurality of housings constituting the manifold body, has a cylindrical valve accommodating portion capable of accommodating and supporting the rotary valve, A manifold in which at least a portion of the valve accommodating portion protrudes beyond the joint portion toward a second housing, which is the other of the two housings.

2. the valve accommodating portion has an opening into which the rotary valve can be inserted and a bottom wall capable of supporting the rotary valve, The manifold according to claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the valve accommodating portion decreases from a side of the opening toward a side of the bottom wall.

3. a cover fixed to the first housing and covering the opening; The rotary valve includes a rotor that rotates about a central axis of the valve housing to control the flow of the fluid, and a seal member disposed between the rotor and the valve housing, At least one of the bottom wall and the lid of the valve accommodating portion has a groove around the central axis, The manifold according to claim 2 , wherein the seal material is held by being inserted into the groove.

4. The manifold according to claim 1 , wherein the first housing has a fixing portion that is fixed to a support frame.

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