Motor-operated valve

Abstract

To provide a motor-operated valve that prevents abrasion of a seal material.SOLUTION: A motor-operated valve 10 includes: a valve seat 24A having a first opening 24A1; a drive shaft 22 extending in a direction orthogonal to the valve seat 24A, and rotating around an axis center offset from the first opening 24A1; a valve body 24D having a seal material 50 and disposed in the drive shaft 22, the valve body 24D opening and closing the first opening 24A1 via the seal material 50 by making rotary motion along the valve seat 24A with the rotation of the drive shaft 22; a spring member 26 for energizing the valve body 24D toward the valve seat 24A; and a conversion mechanism 60 for converting at least a rotary motion of the valve body 24D from a state in which the first opening 24A1 is closed by the seal material 50 to a state in which it is opened into a linear motion of the valve body 24D to a side where the seal material 50 is separated from the valve seat 24A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electric valve.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as in Patent Document 1, a needle valve type electric valve (hereinafter referred to as an electric needle valve) that adjusts the flow rate by moving a valve body up and down by a feed screw mechanism is known. The electric needle valve includes a valve body, a cylindrical can attached to the valve body, a rotor provided inside the can, and a stator disposed outside the can that rotates the rotor.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In an electric valve that closes an opening by rotating a valve body having a sealing material along the formation surface of the opening of the housing, in the conventional electric valve, since the sealing material is constantly pressed against the formation surface of the opening by a biasing portion, the sealing material wears out.

[0005] The present disclosure provides an electric valve in which wear of the sealing material accompanying opening and closing of the opening is suppressed as compared with a configuration in which the sealing material of the valve body is constantly pressed against the formation surface of the opening.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The electric valve according to the first aspect includes a housing having an opening, a shaft body extending in a direction orthogonal to the formation surface of the opening and rotating around a shaft center offset from the opening, a sealing member provided on the shaft body, and a valve body that rotates along the formation surface by the rotation of the shaft body and opens and closes the opening with the sealing member. The electric valve also includes a biasing portion that biases the valve body toward the formation surface, and a conversion mechanism that converts the rotational movement of the valve body from a state where at least the sealing member closes the opening to a state where the opening is opened into a linear movement of the valve body in a direction away from the formation surface by the sealing member.

[0007] In the electric valve according to the first aspect, when the valve body rotates from the state of closing the opening to the open side, the conversion mechanism converts the rotational movement of the valve body into a linear movement, and the sealing member acts on the side away from the formation surface of the opening. As a result, in this electric valve, compared with a configuration in which the sealing member of the valve body is constantly pressed against the formation surface of the opening, wear of the sealing member is suppressed.

[0008] The electric valve according to the second aspect is the electric valve according to the first aspect, wherein the conversion mechanism includes a convex portion that protrudes in a direction away from the formation surface of the opening and is disposed in the housing, and a plate portion that is disposed on a side of the valve body facing the convex portion, has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the formation surface of the opening, and moves along the inclined surface as the shaft body rotates.

[0009] In the electric valve according to the second aspect, the convex portion on the housing side contacts the plate portion on the valve body side by the biasing force of the biasing portion. When the inclined surface moves along the convex portion due to the rotation of the valve body, the rotational movement of the valve body is converted into a linear movement. In this electric valve, since the plate portion has an inclined surface with a complex shape, the direction of movement of the valve body changes with a simpler configuration compared to a configuration in which the inclined surface is disposed on the housing.

[0010] The electric valve according to the third aspect is the electric valve according to the second aspect, wherein both the convex portion and the inclined surface of the plate portion are disposed outward when viewed from the direction along the shaft center rather than the valve body.

[0011] In the electric valve according to the third aspect, compared with the configuration in which the convex portion and the inclined surface of the plate portion are arranged between the axis center of the shaft body and the outer edge of the valve body, the sealing material moves with a small load to the side away from the forming surface.

[0012] The electric valve according to the fourth aspect is the electric valve according to any one of the second aspect or the third aspect, wherein the plate portion has a pedestal surface that continues from the inclined surface in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the shaft body and is formed flat.

[0013] In the electric valve according to the fourth aspect, while the pedestal surface passes through the convex portion, the distance at which the sealing material of the valve body moves away from the forming surface of the opening is maintained. Therefore, compared with the configuration in which the plate portion has only the inclined surface, the power resisting the biasing force by the biasing portion is reduced.

[0014] The electric valve according to the fifth aspect is the electric valve according to the fourth aspect, wherein the plate portion is formed following the pedestal surface in a direction away from the forming surface of the opening than the pedestal surface and in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the shaft body, and has a reference surface along which the convex portion moves when the sealing material moves from the state of opening the opening to the state of closing the opening.

[0015] In the electric valve according to the fifth aspect, when the contact surface of the convex portion in the plate portion reaches the reference surface from the pedestal surface as the shaft body rotates, the sealing material comes into contact with the forming surface of the opening. Further, when the reference surface moves along the convex portion as the shaft body rotates, the sealing material moves from the state of opening the opening to the state of closing the opening. Thereby, in this electric valve, compared with the configuration in which the opening is closed when the contact surface of the convex portion reaches the reference surface from the pedestal surface with the sealing material overlapping the opening, cracking and chipping of the sealing material due to the edge of the opening are suppressed.

[0016] The electric valve according to the sixth aspect is the electric valve according to any one of the first aspect to the fifth aspect, wherein the conversion mechanisms are arranged in a pair symmetrically with respect to the axis center of the shaft body.

[0017] In the electric valve according to the sixth aspect, compared with the case where there is one conversion mechanism, the inclination generated in the conversion mechanism when converting the rotational movement of the valve body into the linear movement of the valve body in the direction away from the formation surface of the opening is suppressed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the electric valve according to the present disclosure, wear of the sealing material is suppressed as compared with a configuration in which the sealing material of the valve body is constantly pressed against the formation surface of the opening.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] The following describes this embodiment. In the following description of the drawings, the same parts and similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals or similar reference numerals. However, the drawings are schematic, and the relationship between the thickness and the planar dimensions, the ratio of the thicknesses of the respective devices and members, etc. are different from the actual ones. Therefore, specific thicknesses and dimensions should be determined with reference to the following description. Also, there are portions where the dimensional relationships and ratios are different between the drawings. Further, the H direction means the vertically downward direction for convenience.

[0021] <Configuration of Electric Valve> The electric valve 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. As shown in FIG. 1, the electric valve 10 includes a cam 12, a stator 14, a support member 16, a transmission shaft 18, a rotor 20, a drive shaft 22, a valve body 24, a spring member 26, and a conversion mechanism 60. Note that FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the electric valve 10 cut along a vertical plane including the axis center C.

[0022] (Cam) The cam 12 is a cylindrical member. The material of the cam 12 can be any material as long as the rotor 20 described later can rotate inside and the desired resistance to the fluid flowing inside is obtained. The cam 12 has a bottom portion 12A and a side wall portion 12B. The bottom portion 12A of the cam 12 is located on the upper side (opposite side to the H direction) in FIG. 1, and the opening of the cylindrical cam 12 is located on the lower side (H direction) opposite to the bottom portion 12A. In FIG. 1, an example of a state where the cam 12 is joined to the valve body 24 by fitting the upper portion of the valve body 24 into the opening of the cam 12 is illustrated.

[0023] (Stator) The stator 14 is provided outside the cam 12 and has a drive coil (not shown). The drive coil causes the rotor 20 described later to rotate. In FIG. 1, for ease of viewing, the details of the stator 14 are omitted.

[0024] (Support Member) The support member 16 is provided inside the can 12 on the side of the bottom 12A (the upper side in FIG. 1). A gap is formed between the support member 16 and the bottom 12A. The support member 16 has, in plan view, a first disk portion 16A that is a circular plate-like member, and a pressing portion 16B provided at the center of the first disk portion 16A. The material of the support member 16 can be arbitrary, such as resin or metal.

[0025] The outer diameter of the first disk portion 16A is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the cylinder of the can 12. The end face of the outer periphery of the first disk portion 16A fits with the inner surface of the side wall portion 12B of the can 12. The support member 16 is slidable along the axial direction (H direction, the vertical direction in FIG. 1) by a certain distance in a state where the first disk portion 16A is in contact with the inner surface of the side wall portion 12B of the can 12.

[0026] The pressing portion 16B is cylindrical. The opening of the cylindrical pressing portion 16B faces a rotor 20, which will be described later, and is located on the lower side of the pressing portion 16B in FIG. 1. The inner diameter of the cylindrical pressing portion 16B is substantially the same as the outer diameter of a transmission shaft 18, which will be described later. One end (the upper end in FIG. 1) of the transmission shaft 18 is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical pressing portion 16B, so that the inner surface of the bottom of the cylindrical pressing portion 16B contacts the end face (the upper surface in FIG. 1) of one end of the transmission shaft 18.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, a guide groove 16C is provided at the boundary between the first disk portion 16A and the pressing portion 16B on the surface of the support member 16 located on the side of the bottom 12A (the upper side in FIG. 1) of the can 12. The guide groove 16C is ring-shaped in plan view. The ring-shaped guide groove 16C circulates along the side wall of the pressing portion 16B. The bottom surface of the guide groove 16C is lower than the upper surface of the first disk portion 16A in FIG. 1.

[0028] A coil spring-like spring member 26, which will be described later, is disposed inside the guide groove 16C. The groove width of the guide groove 16C is substantially the same as the width of the spring material of the spring member 26. The lower part of the spring member 26 in FIG. 1 contacts the bottom surface of the guide groove 16C. Also, the upper part of the spring member 26 in FIG. 1 contacts the inner surface of the bottom 12A of the can 12.

[0029] (Transmission shaft) The transmission shaft 18 is a rod-shaped member. The transmission shaft 18 extends along the axial direction of the cam 12, that is, along the axis center C in FIG. 1, and transmits the biasing force of a spring member 26 described later to the valve body 24D. The material of the transmission shaft 18 can be arbitrary, such as resin or metal. One end of the transmission shaft 18 is supported by the support member 16. In the present embodiment, one end of the transmission shaft 18 is rotatably supported about the axis center C by the pressing portion 16B of the support member 16. That is, one end of the transmission shaft 18 is gently fitted inside the cylindrical pressing portion 16B so as to be rotatable. Further, the shape of the other end (the lower end in FIG. 1) of the transmission shaft 18 is hemispherical. The other end of the transmission shaft 18 is supported by a drive shaft 22 described later.

[0030] (Rotor) The rotor 20 includes a cylindrical support 20A, a sun gear 20B, a planetary gear 20C, a fixed gear 20D, and an output gear 20E. The sun gear 20B, the planetary gear 20C, the fixed gear 20D, and the output gear 20E are arranged inside the support 20A.

[0031] The support 20A is provided inside the cam 12. A through hole is formed at the center of the bottom of the cylindrical support 20A, and the transmission shaft 18 is rotatably inserted into the through hole. The sun gear 20B is rotatably attached to the transmission shaft 18. The planetary gear 20C meshes with the sun gear 20B, and the fixed gear 20D meshes with the planetary gear 20C. The output gear 20E is connected to the planetary gear 20C.

[0032] The sun gear 20B, the planetary gear 20C, the fixed gear 20D, and the output gear 20E integrally formed with the support 20A constitute a reduction gear 21. The reduction gear 21 of the present embodiment is a reduction gear having an amazing planetary gear mechanism that reduces the rotation of the rotor 20 and outputs it to a drive shaft 22 described later.

[0033] In the speed reduction device 21 having the mysterious planet gear mechanism, the output rotation from a drive coil (not shown) of the stator 14 is input, causing the sun gear 20B to rotate on its own axis. As the sun gear 20B rotates on its own axis, the planet gear 20C that meshes with the sun gear 20B and the fixed gear 20D revolves around the sun gear 20B while rotating on its own axis.

[0034] Also, the planet gear 20C meshes with an output gear 20E that has a shifted relationship with respect to the fixed gear 20D. For this reason, due to the rotation of the planet gear 20C, the output gear 20E can rotate at a very high reduction ratio, for example, a reduction ratio of about 50 to 1, relative to the fixed gear 20D according to the degree of shift (that is, the difference in the number of teeth).

[0035] In this embodiment, since the rotor 20 is disposed away from the support member 16, a gap is formed between the rotor 20 and the support member 16. Also, since the transmission shaft 18 is rotatably supported about the axis center C by the pressing portion 16B, even if the transmission shaft 18 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotor 20, the support member 16 does not rotate.

[0036] (Drive shaft) The drive shaft 22 is a columnar member whose axis is along the axis center C. The material of the drive shaft 22 can be arbitrary, such as resin or metal. One end (the upper end in FIG. 1) of the drive shaft 22 on the side of the transmission shaft 18 is connected to the output gear 20E and rotates in conjunction with the output gear 20E. As shown in FIG. 1, a support hole 22A is formed at one end of the drive shaft 22. The drive shaft 22 rotationally drives a valve body 24D described later. The drive shaft 22 is an example of a shaft body.

[0037] The support hole 22A opens to the side of the transmission shaft 18. In this embodiment, the shape of the support hole 22A is a hemispherical depression corresponding to the shape (hemispherical shape) of the other end of the transmission shaft 18.

[0038] The diameter of the support hole 22A is substantially the same as the diameter of the other end of the transmission shaft 18. By inserting the other end of the transmission shaft 18 into the support hole 22A, the transmission shaft 18 is rotatably supported. That is, the drive shaft 22 supports the other end in the axial direction of the transmission shaft 18 on one end side in the rotating state. In the present embodiment, the drive shaft 22 and a valve body 24D described later are integrally formed of the same member.

[0039] (Valve body) The valve body 24 is configured by housing a columnar member including a valve body inside a bottomed cylindrical member as a valve box, and is a main part that functions as a valve in the electric valve 10. Specifically, the valve body 24 has a valve seat 24A, a side wall 24B, a valve chamber 24C, a valve body 24D, a flow path 24E, and a pin hole 24F. The valve seat 24A and the side wall 24B are the main parts of the above-described cylindrical member having the valve chamber 24C, the flow path 24E, and the pin hole 24F. That is, the valve seat 24A and the side wall 24B are an example of a housing. The valve body 24D can rotate inside the cylindrical member. As the material of the valve body 24, any material can be used as long as the desired resistance to the flowing fluid is obtained.

[0040] ((Valve seat and side wall)) The valve seat 24A is formed as the bottom of the cylindrical member, and is provided along a plane orthogonal to the axis of the drive shaft 22 on the other end side (the lower side in FIG. 1) of the drive shaft 22. A circular first opening 24A1 that communicates the inside and the outside of the valve chamber 24C described later is formed in the valve seat 24A. The first opening 24A1 penetrates the valve seat 24A in the thickness (vertical in the figure) direction. Further, the first opening 24A1 is formed so as to be offset as a whole with respect to the axis of the drive shaft 22 in the valve seat 24A. The surface of the valve seat 24A on the drive shaft 22 side is an example of a formed surface. One end of a first pipe 30 having a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the first opening 24A1 is inserted into the valve seat 24A. The first opening 24A1 communicates with the inside of the first pipe 30. The material of the first pipe 30 is arbitrary, such as resin or metal.

[0041] The side wall 24B rises from the periphery of the valve seat 24A and extends toward the side of the rotor 20 (the upper side in FIG. 1). The side wall 24B has a second opening 24B1 and a third opening 24B2. One end of the second pipe 32 is inserted into the side wall 24B.

[0042] The second opening 24B1 communicates the inside and the outside of a valve chamber 24C, which will be described later. The second opening 24B1 communicates with the inside of the second pipe 32. The material of the second pipe 32 can be arbitrary, such as resin or metal. The first opening 24A1 and the second opening 24B1 form a flow path for the fluid to be flow-controlled between the first pipe 30 and the second pipe 32.

[0043] The third opening 24B2 communicates the inside and the outside of the valve body 24 to equalize the pressure between the inside and the outside of the valve body 24.

[0044] ((Hole for pin))

[0045] The pin hole 24F is a hole formed in the upper part of the side wall 24B and opens toward the support member 16 side parallel to the axis center C. A pin 62, which will be described later, is embedded in the pin hole 24F. The pin hole 24F fixes the pin 62. In the present embodiment, two pin holes 24F are symmetrically formed with respect to the axis center C. Further, the pin hole 24F is formed such that a part of the pin 62 is located outside the outer edge of a second disc portion 64, which will be described later.

[0046] ((Valve chamber)) The valve chamber 24C is a space surrounded by the valve seat 24A and the side wall 24B and is the internal space of the valve body 24 of the cylindrical member. The bottom of the valve chamber 24C is the valve seat 24A. The shape inside the valve chamber 24C changes according to the position of a valve element 24D, which will be described later, and allows fluid to flow between the first pipe 30 and the second pipe 32.

[0047] ((Valve element)) The valve body 24D is cylindrical with a sealing material 50 and a flow path 24E, and is integrally formed on the other end side (the lower side in FIG. 1) of the drive shaft 22. The valve body 24D is rotatable in accordance with the rotation of the drive shaft 22. By the rotation of the valve body 24D, the opening / closing state of the flow path between the first opening 24A1 and the second opening 24B1 is controlled. That is, by rotating along the upper surface of the valve seat 24A due to the rotation of the drive shaft 22 that rotates around the axis center C deviated from the first opening 24A1, the first opening 24A1 is opened and closed by the sealing material 50 as described later. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the valve body 24D of the present embodiment has a disk-shaped base portion 34 and an opposing portion 36 provided on the base portion 34 and having a fan-shaped bottom surface 36B1. The opposing portion 36 protrudes from the base portion 34 toward the valve seat 24A side (the lower side in FIG. 4(a)) and faces the upper surface of the valve seat 24A. The opposing portion 36 has a first adjustment portion 36A attached to the lower surface of the base portion 34 in FIG. 4(a) and a second adjustment portion 36B attached to the lower surface of the first adjustment portion 36A.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the first adjustment portion 36A is a short column type (block shape) having a substantially semi-circular fan-shaped bottom surface 36A1. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the central angle of the arc portion of the bottom surface 36A1 of the first adjustment portion 36A with respect to the axis center C of the drive shaft 22 is about 200 degrees. In the present disclosure, the central angle of the arc portion of the bottom surface of the first adjustment portion 36A can be changed as appropriate.

[0049] Also, as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the second adjustment portion 36B is a short column type (block shape) having a fan-shaped bottom surface 36B1 with a central angle of about 90 degrees. In the present disclosure, the central angle of the bottom surface 36B1 of the second adjustment portion 36B can be changed as appropriate.

[0050] The bottom surface 36B1 of the second adjusting part 36B faces the first opening 24A1. In FIG. 4(b), for convenience of explanation, the outer edge of the first opening 24A1 is shown by a dashed-dotted line inside the bottom surface 36B1 of the second adjusting part 36B. As shown in FIG. 4(b), according to the rotational position of the valve body 24D connected to the drive shaft 22, the area of the first opening 24A1 covered by the bottom surface 36B1 of the second adjusting part 36B changes. That is, an orifice as a throttling structure is formed by the first opening 24A1 of the valve seat 24A and the valve body 24D. Therefore, according to the rotation of the valve body 24D, the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the flow path is controlled.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 4(b), the position of the vertex where the two radius portions intersect on the bottom surface 36B1 of the second adjusting part 36B is outside the axis center C. That is, the axis center C of the rotation axis of the valve body 24D is located inside the fan-shaped bottom surface 36B1 of the second adjusting part 36B. In this embodiment, a support shaft portion protruding from the bottom surface 36B1 is rotatably supported around the axis center C in a support hole formed in the valve seat 24A.

[0052] The side surface 36A2 of the first adjusting part 36A and the side surface 36B2 of the second adjusting part 36B face the second opening 24B1.

[0053] In FIG. 4(a), for convenience of explanation, the opening range of the second opening 24B1 is illustrated by a bidirectional arrow extending in the vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the degree to which the second opening 24B1 is covered changes due to the rotation of the valve body 24D connected to the drive shaft 22.

[0054] Specifically, when the first opening 24A1 is at least partially open, the first opening 24A1 and the second opening 24B1 are at least partially in communication to form a flow path, and when the first opening 24A1 is open, the flow path is open. On the other hand, when the first opening 24A1 is entirely closed, the flow path is closed. Note that in this specification, the open state to the closed state does not refer only to the state from entirely open to entirely closed, but also includes the state from partially open to entirely closed.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 1, a columnar sealing material 50 for enhancing the sealing property of the first opening 24A1 is press-fitted into the second adjusting portion 36B in the valve body 24D from the bottom surface 36B1 side. The sealing material 50 has a diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the first opening 24A1. The sealing material 50 can be made using a known material. The material of the sealing material 50 is, for example, a fluororesin.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 1, the flow path 24E is a through hole formed in the valve body 24D along the axial center C, with a uniform hole diameter on the side wall 24B side of the drive shaft 22, and communicating the valve chamber 24C and the third opening 24B2. The flow path 24E equalizes the internal pressure of the valve body 24.

[0057] (Spring member) The spring member 26 applies a load to the valve body 24D in the axial direction of the drive shaft 22 toward the valve seat 24A. The spring member 26 is an example of a biasing portion. In the present embodiment, the spring member 26 is disposed between the bottom portion 12A of the can 12 and the support member 16. The spring member 26 applies a biasing force as a load to the valve body 24D via the transmission shaft 18 and the drive shaft 22 supported by the support member 16. In the present embodiment, the spring member 26 is a metal compression coil spring. In the present disclosure, the shape and material of the spring member 26 can be arbitrarily changed.

[0058] (Conversion mechanism) The conversion mechanism 60 has a pin 62 and a second disc portion 64. The conversion mechanism 60 converts the rotational motion of the valve body 24D into a linear motion of the valve body 24D. In the present embodiment, it is a mechanism that converts the rotational motion around the axial center C of the drive shaft 22 into a linear motion in the direction in which the sealing material 50 moves away from the valve seat 24A along the axial center C of the drive shaft 22 via the valve body 24D. The conversion mechanism 60 is fixed to the valve body 24. The material of the conversion mechanism 60 can be arbitrary, such as resin or metal.

[0059] ((Pin)) Pin 62 is a rod-shaped member and an example of a convex portion. In the present embodiment, two pins 62 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis center C of the drive shaft 22. With the lower portion of the pin 62 embedded in the pin hole 24F at the upper part of the side wall 24B of the valve body 24 in FIG. 1, the pin 62 is fixed to the valve body 24. Further, the upper portion of the pin 62 is exposed above the valve body 24 in FIG. 1. One end of the pin 62 is formed in an arc shape. The material of the pin 62 is, for example, SUS.

[0060] ((Second disk portion)) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second disk portion 64 is a disk having a through hole at the center and unevenness on one surface side. The second disk portion 64 is an example of a plate portion. The second disk portion 64 has a surface 64H with unevenness and a flat back surface 64T. The second disk portion 64 is fixed to the drive shaft 22 by fixing means (not shown) with the surface 64H facing the pin 62 side and the back surface 64T along the plane orthogonal to the axis center C, and rotates about the axis center C together with the valve body 24D. In this embodiment, the second disk portion 64 has a larger diameter than the valve body 24D (base portion 34) that fits within the side wall 24B, and covers the pin 62 embedded in the upper end of the side wall 24B at the outer edge side from above. In the present embodiment, a part of the pin 62 is located outside the outer edge of the second disk portion 64. As the contact position of the pin 62 changes as the valve body 24D rotates, the second disk portion 64 converts the rotational motion of the valve body 24D into a linear motion. This will be described in more detail below.

[0061] On the second disk portion 64, concavo-convex portions are formed from the outer edge of the second disk portion 64 continuously in a certain range W toward the back surface 64T side from the front surface 64H. The concavo-convex portions are composed in order of a reference surface 66C, a first inclined surface 66A, a pedestal surface 66B, a second inclined surface 66D, and an adjustment surface 66E in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the drive shaft 22. In the present embodiment, the range occupied by the reference surface 66C, the first inclined surface 66A, the pedestal surface 66B, the second inclined surface 66D, and the adjustment surface 66E is semi-circular (180°), and two cycles of the said range are formed in the range W. Here, the rotation direction of the drive shaft 22 refers to the clockwise direction when looking from the back to the front in the drawing in Fig. 3(b), and the direction opposite to the rotation direction refers to the counterclockwise direction (the direction indicated by the arrow R) when looking from the front to the back in the drawing in Fig. 3(b).

[0062] The reference surface 66C is an arcuate flat surface configured in parallel with the back surface 64T of the second disk portion 64. The reference surface 66C is disposed on the back surface 64T side rather than the front surface 64H in the plate thickness direction (H direction) of the second disk portion 64. While the reference surface 66C is positioned on the pin 62, the sealing material 50 of the valve body 24D described later is urged against the valve seat 24A.

[0063] The first inclined surface 66A is an arcuate inclined surface that is disposed following the reference surface 66C, along the outer edge of the second disk portion 64, and has a certain gradient toward the front surface 64H with the reference surface 66C as a reference. In the present embodiment, the central angle of the arc of the first inclined surface 66A is about 140°. While the first inclined surface 66A is positioned on the pin 62, the sealing material 50 of the valve body 24D is configured to receive a force from the displacement mechanism 60 toward the side away from the valve seat 24A. For example, while the middle portion of the first inclined surface 66A is positioned on the pin, the sealing material 50 of the valve body 24D is away from the valve seat 24A.

[0064] The pedestal surface 66B is an arcuate flat surface that is disposed following the first inclined surface 66A and along the outer edge of the second disk portion 64. While the pedestal surface 66B is positioned on the pin 62, the sealing material 50 of the valve body 24D is farthest from the valve seat 24A. The distance between the reference surface 66C and the pedestal surface 66B in the plate thickness direction of the second disk portion 64 is, for example, 0.1 mm.

[0065] The second inclined surface 66D is disposed following the pedestal surface 66B, is an arcuate inclined surface having a constant gradient along the outer edge of the second disk portion 64 and toward the reference surface 66C. The direction of the gradient of the second inclined surface 66D faces the opposite to the direction of the gradient of the first inclined surface 66A, and the absolute value of the gradient of the second inclined surface 66D (the inclination angle with respect to the reference surface) is larger than the absolute value of the gradient of the first inclined surface 66A. In the present embodiment, the central angle of the arc of the second inclined surface 66D is about 10°. While the second inclined surface 66D is positioned on the pin 62, the sealing material 50 of the valve body 24D is closer to the valve seat 24A than when the sealing material 50 is positioned on the pedestal surface 66B.

[0066] The adjustment surface 66E is a step disposed between the second inclined surface 66D and the reference surface 66C. The adjustment surface 66E mainly continues from the second inclined surface 66D and can also be said to be a wall surface along the axis center C, and the portion below the wall surface and continuing to the reference surface 66C is chamfered corresponding to the shape of one end of the pin 62.

[0067] With the reference surface 66C, the first inclined surface 66A, the pedestal surface 66B, the second inclined surface 66D, and the adjustment surface 66E described above, it can be considered that a cam surface in contact with the pin 62 is formed on the second disk portion 64 on the surface 64H and on the back surface 64T side from the surface 64H. This cam surface is pressed against the pin 62 by the biasing force of the spring member 26, and the pin 62 functions as a cam follower. That is, the conversion mechanism 60 is configured such that, as the valve body 24D rotates as described above, the circumferential and axial contact positions between the pin 62 on the surface 64H and on the back surface 64T side from the surface 64H change, thereby converting the rotational motion of the valve body 24D into a linear motion.

[0068] As shown in FIGS. 5(a1) to (f1), in the electric valve 10 according to the present embodiment, the opening / closing state of the first opening 24A1 by the sealing material 50 changes according to the position of each surface of the second disk portion 64 with respect to the pin 62. Specifically, when the rotor 20 rotates by the stator 14, the drive shaft 22, the transmission shaft 18, and the valve body 24D rotate integrally in conjunction with the rotation of the rotor 20. When the valve body 24D rotates, the second disk portion 64 rotates relative to the pin 62, and the sealing material 50 of the valve body 24D opens or closes the first opening 24A1. For the sake of convenience of explanation, in FIGS. (a1) to (f1), attention is paid to the movement of one pin 62, and the description and illustration of the other pins 62 are omitted.

[0069] In FIG. 5(a1), the reference plane 66C1 of the second disk portion 64 is located on the pin 62. The position of the sealing material 50 corresponding to this position is a position overlapping the first opening 24A1 as shown in FIG. 5(a2), and is a position closing the first opening 24A1 as shown in FIG. 5(a3). That is, the sealing material 50 is in a state of being urged against the valve seat 24A.

[0070] FIG. 5(b1) shows a state where the valve body 24D has rotated in the rotation direction of the drive shaft 22 from the state of FIG. 5(a1). Specifically, in FIG. 5(b1), the boundary between the reference plane 66C1 of the second disk portion 64 and the first inclined surface 66A1 is located on the pin 62. The position of the sealing material 50 corresponding to this position is a position shifted from the first opening 24A1 as shown in FIG. 5(b2), and the first opening 24A1 is open. In this state, the load on the spring member 26 of the sealing material 50 due to the contact between the sealing material 50 and the valve seat 24A is released. In other words, due to the rotational movement of the valve body 24D from FIG. 5(a1) to FIG. 5(b1), the valve body 24D starts linear movement along the axis center C.

[0071] Figure 5(c1) shows the state where the valve body 24D has rotated in the rotational direction of the drive shaft 22 from the state of Figure 5(b1). Specifically, in Figure 5(c1), the first inclined surface 66A1 of the second disk portion 64 is positioned on the pin 62. The position of the sealing material 50 corresponding to this position is a position away from the first opening 24A1, as shown in Figure 5(c2). And as shown in Figure 5(c3), the first opening 24A1 is open, and the sealing material 50 is in a state separated from the valve seat 24A. In this state, the load on the spring member 26 of the sealing material 50 due to the contact between the sealing material 50 and the valve seat 24A does not occur. In other words, the rotational movement of the valve body 24D from Figure 5(b1) to Figure 5(c1) is converted into a linear movement in the direction opposite to the H direction along the axis center C of the valve body 24D against the biasing force of the spring member 26.

[0072] Figure 5(d1) shows the state where the valve body 24D has rotated in the rotational direction of the drive shaft 22 from the state of Figure 5(c1). Specifically, in Figure 5(d1), the reference surface 66C2 of the second disk portion 64 is positioned on the pin 62. The position of the sealing material 50 corresponding to this position is a position away from the first opening 24A1, as shown in Figure 5(d2). And as shown in Figure 5(d3), the sealing material 50 is biased against the valve seat 24A on the opposite side of the first opening 24A1 with respect to the axis center C.

[0073] Figure 5(e1) shows the state where the valve body 24D has rotated approximately 150° in the rotational direction of the drive shaft 22 from the state of Figure 5(d1). Specifically, in Figure 5(e1), the pedestal surface 66B1 of the second disk portion 64 is positioned on the pin 62. The position of the sealing material 50 corresponding to this position is a position where a part overlaps with the first opening 24A1, as shown in Figure 5(e2). However, as shown in Figure 5(e3), the sealing material 50 is in a state separated from the valve seat 24A (open state). That is, the load on the spring member 26 of the sealing material 50 due to the contact between the sealing material 50 and the valve seat 24A does not occur.

[0074] FIG. 5(f1) shows a state where the valve body 24D has rotated in the rotational direction of the drive shaft 22 from the state of FIG. 5(e1). Specifically, in FIG. 5(f1), the reference plane 66C1 of the second disk portion 64 is positioned on the pin 62. More specifically, the second inclined surface 66D has come off the pin 62, and the reference plane 66C is positioned on the pin 62 with the side surface of the pin 62 along the adjustment surface 66E which is a wall surface. As shown in FIG. 5(f2), the position of the sealing material 50 corresponding to this position overlaps more with the first opening 24A1 than in the state of FIG. 5(e2), but the first opening 24A1 is slightly open.

[0075] When the valve body 24D rotates in the rotational direction of the drive shaft 22 from the state of FIG. 5(f1), it returns to the state of FIG. 5(a1).

[0076] As described above, the opening and closing state of the flow path is controlled by the rotation of the valve body 24D. That is, the flow rate is controlled.

[0077] <Operational Effect> The electric valve 10 according to the present embodiment includes a valve seat 24A having a first opening 24A1, a drive shaft 22 extending in a direction orthogonal to the valve seat 24A and rotating around an axis center offset from the first opening 24A1, a sealing material 50, a valve body 24D provided on the drive shaft 22 and configured to open and close the first opening 24A1 with the sealing material 50 by rotating along the valve seat 24A due to the rotation of the drive shaft 22, a spring member 26 that biases the valve body 24D toward the valve seat 24A, and a conversion mechanism 60 that converts the rotational movement of the valve body 24D from a state where at least the sealing material 50 closes the first opening 24A1 to a state of opening into a linear movement of the valve body 24D in a direction away from the valve seat 24A. In the electric valve 10, when the valve body 24D rotates from the state of closing the first opening 24A1 to the open side, the conversion mechanism 60 converts the rotational movement of the valve body 24D into a linear movement and the sealing material 50 acts on the side away from the valve seat 24A. Thereby, in the electric valve 10, wear of the sealing material 50 is suppressed as compared with a configuration in which the sealing material 50 of the valve body 24D is constantly pressed against the valve seat 24A.

[0078] In addition, in the electric valve 10 according to the present embodiment, the conversion mechanism 60 includes a pin 62 disposed on the side wall 24B and protruding in a direction away from the valve seat 24A, and a second disk portion 64 disposed on the side of the valve body 24D facing the pin 62 and having a first inclined surface 66A inclined with respect to the valve seat 24A. As the drive shaft 22 rotates, the pin 62 moves along the first inclined surface 66A. In the electric valve 10, the pin 62 on the side wall 24B side contacts the second disk portion 64 on the valve body 24D side by the biasing force of the spring member 26. When the first inclined surface 66A moves along the pin 62 due to the rotation of the valve body 24D, the rotational motion of the valve body 24D is converted into a linear motion. In the present electric valve 10, since the second disk portion 64 has the first inclined surface 66A with a complex shape, the direction of movement of the valve body 24D can be changed with a simpler configuration compared to a configuration in which an inclined surface is disposed on the side wall 24B or the base portion 34 of the valve body 24D.

[0079] In addition, in the electric valve 10 according to the present embodiment, both the pin 62 and the first inclined surface 66A of the second disk portion 64 are disposed outward when viewed from the direction along the axis center C rather than the valve body 24D. In the electric valve 10, compared to a configuration in which the pin 62 and the first inclined surface 66A of the second disk portion 64 are disposed between the axis center C of the drive shaft 22 and the outer edge of the valve body 24D, the sealing material 50 moves with a small load to the side away from the valve seat 24A.

[0080] In addition, in the electric valve 10 according to the present embodiment, the second disk portion 64 has a pedestal surface 66B that continues from the first inclined surface 66A in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the drive shaft 22 and is formed flat. In the electric valve 10, while the pedestal surface 66B passes through the pin 62, the interval at which the sealing material 50 of the valve body 24D moves away from the valve seat 24A is maintained. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the second disk portion 64 has only an inclined surface, the power resisting the biasing force of the spring member 26 is reduced.

[0081] Also, in the electric valve 10 according to the present embodiment, the second disk portion 64 is formed following the pedestal surface 66B in a direction away from the valve seat 24A from the pedestal surface 66B and in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the drive shaft 22, and has a reference surface 66C along which the pin 62 moves when the sealing material 50 moves from the state of opening the first opening 24A1 to the state of closing. In the electric valve 10, when the contact surface of the pin 62 in the second disk portion 64 reaches the reference surface 66C from the pedestal surface 66B as the drive shaft 22 rotates, the sealing material 50 contacts the valve seat 24A. Further, when the reference surface 66C moves along the pin 62 as the drive shaft 22 rotates, the sealing material 50 moves from the state of opening the first opening 24A1 to the state of closing. Thus, in the present electric valve 10, compared with the configuration in which the first opening 24A1 is closed when the contact surface of the pin 62 reaches the reference surface 66C from the pedestal surface 66B with the sealing material 50 overlapping the first opening 24A1, cracking and chipping of the sealing material 50 due to the edge of the first opening 24A1 are suppressed.

[0082] And, in the electric valve 10 according to the present embodiment, the conversion mechanisms 60 are arranged in a pair symmetrically with respect to the axis center of the drive shaft 22. In the present electric valve 10, compared with the case where there is one conversion mechanism 60, the inclination generated in the second disk portion 64 in the conversion mechanism 60 is suppressed when the conversion mechanism 60 converts the rotational movement of the valve body 24D into the linear movement of the valve body 24D toward the side away from the valve seat 24A by the sealing material 50.

[0083] Although the present disclosure has been described by the above-described disclosed embodiments, the discussions and drawings that form a part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting the present disclosure. For example, the present disclosure can also be configured by partially combining the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. The present disclosure includes various embodiments not described above, etc., and the technical scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the invention specifying matters of the valid claims from the above description.

[0084] <Modification Example> (Electric Valve) This modified example is different in that the second disk portion 64 and the output gear 20E in the above-described embodiment are integrated, and the other configurations are all the same. As shown in FIG. 6, in this modified example, unevenness is formed on one surface of the output gear 120E on the valve seat 24A side. Since this modified example changes the shape of the output gear 120E without adding the second disk portion 64, the number of parts is suppressed as compared with the configuration in which the second disk portion 64 is added.

[0085] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the drive shaft 22 is assumed to rotate in a fixed rotational direction, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the drive shaft 22 can also be rotated in the direction opposite to the rotational direction. In this case, by bringing the side surface of the pin 62 into contact with the adjustment surface 66E in the second disk portion 64, an initialization operation (homing) becomes possible.

[0086] (transmission shaft) One end of the transmission shaft 18 is rotatably and moderately loosely fitted inside the cylindrical pressing portion 16B, but it is not limited thereto. For example, one end of the transmission shaft 18 may be fixed inside the cylindrical pressing portion 16B. Also, the shape of the other end of the transmission shaft 18 is assumed to be hemispherical, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the other end of the transmission shaft 18 can be appropriately changed to a conical shape that tapers toward the drive shaft 22 side.

[0087] (speed reduction device) The speed reduction device 21 is assumed to be a wonder planetary gear mechanism, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the speed reduction device 21 may be a speed reduction device having a gear configuration other than the wonder planetary gear mechanism, such as a 2K-H multi-stage speed reduction device having two sun gears and one output gear. Also, in the above-described embodiment, a planetary gear mechanism is adopted as the rotor 20, but it is not limited thereto. As long as the drive shaft 22 can be rotated, a rotational transmission structure other than the planetary gear mechanism may be adopted.

[0088] (drive shaft) In the drive shaft 22, the shape of the support hole 22A is a hemispherical depression corresponding to the shape of the other end of the hemispherical transmission shaft 18, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the shape of the support hole 22A may be conical or the like as long as it is formed according to the shape of the other end of the transmission shaft 18. Further, although the drive shaft 22 and the valve body 24D are integrally formed by the same member, it is not limited thereto. For example, the drive shaft 22 and the valve body 24 may be manufactured as separate members and integrated by being connected to each other.

[0089] (Valve body) Although the first opening 24A1 and the second opening 24B1 form a flow path for the fluid to be flow-controlled between the first pipe 30 and the second pipe 32, it is not limited thereto. For example, at least one of the first pipe 30 and the second pipe 32 may be included in the flow path. Further, although the first opening 24A1 is circular, it is not limited thereto.

[0090] In this embodiment, the sealing member 50 is separated from the valve seat 24A, but it is not limited thereto. Even when the sealing member 50 is biased against the valve seat 24A, by varying the biasing force of the spring member 26 to such an extent that the sealing member 50 is elastically deformed, wear of the sealing member 50 is suppressed as compared with a configuration in which the biasing force does not vary.

[0091] (Spring member) Although the spring member 26 is a metal coil spring, it is not limited thereto. For example, the spring member 26 may be another spring member such as a leaf spring. Also, the number of turns of the coil spring as the spring member is about several turns, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the number of turns can be appropriately set according to the magnitude of the desired load.

[0092] (Conversion mechanism) Although the pin 62 is a rod-shaped member, it is not limited thereto. For example, the pin 62 may be an elliptical column, a square column, or other columnar members, or hemispherical, conical, pyramidal, frustum-shaped, or other convex members integrally or separately formed on the side wall 24B.

[0093] Although it has been described that the reference plane 66C, the first inclined surface 66A, the pedestal surface 66B, the second inclined surface 66D, and the adjustment surface 66E are arranged on the second disk portion 64, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, only a single first inclined surface 66A may be arranged on the second disk portion 64.

[0094] Also, although it has been described that the reference plane 66C, the first inclined surface 66A, the pedestal surface 66B, the second inclined surface 66D, and the adjustment surface 66E are arranged in this order for two cycles in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the drive shaft 22 on the second disk portion 64, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, these surfaces may be arranged for one cycle or three or more cycles on the second disk portion 64.

[0095] Also, although it has been described that each surface is arranged in a certain range W continuously from the outer edge of the second disk portion 64, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each surface may be arranged in a certain range from a position away from the outer edge of the second disk portion 64 toward the shaft center C side toward the shaft center C, or a chamfered portion may be provided at the outer edge of the second disk portion 64, and each surface may be arranged at the portion. When adopting these exemplified configurations, the pin 62 is configured at a position corresponding to each surface of the second disk portion 64.

[0096] Also, as long as it can convert the rotational motion of the valve body 24D into the linear motion of the valve body 24D together with the pin 62 as a part of the conversion mechanism 60, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the second disk portion 64 may be an elastic body that elastically deforms at least in the direction along the shaft center C, for example, a leaf spring.

[0097] Also, although a plurality of first inclined surfaces 66A are arranged at intervals of 180° in a predetermined range from the outer edge of the second disk portion, the present invention is not limited thereto. The first inclined surfaces 66A may be arranged offset from each other in the radial direction of the second disk portion 64, or a single first inclined surface 66A may be arranged on each of the plurality of second disk portions 64, and they may be stacked in the axial direction with the phases of the respective second disk portions 64 offset. When adopting these exemplified configurations, the pin 62 is configured at a position corresponding to each surface of the second disk portion 64.

[0098] Although the first inclined surface 66A is assumed to be an inclined surface having a constant gradient, it is not limited thereto. For example, the first inclined surface 66A may be an inclined surface whose gradient changes each time according to the position.

Explanation of Signs

[0099] 10 Electric valve 12 Cam 14 Stator 16 Support member 18 Transmission shaft 20 Rotor 21 Reduction gear 22 Drive shaft (an example of a shaft body) 24 Valve body 24A1 First opening (an example of an opening) 24A Valve seat (an example of a housing and a forming surface) 24B Side wall (an example of a housing) 24C Valve chamber 24D Valve element 26 Spring member (an example of a biasing portion) 50 Sealing material 60 Conversion mechanism 62 Pin (an example of a convex portion) 64 Second disk portion (an example of a disk portion) 64D Valve element 66A, 66A1 First inclined surface (an example of an inclined surface) 66B, 66B1 Pedestal surface 66C, 66C1, 66C2 Reference surface

Claims

1. A housing having an opening, a shaft body extending in a direction perpendicular to the formation surface of the opening and rotating around a shaft center offset from the opening, a valve body having a sealing material, provided on the shaft body, and opening and closing the opening with the sealing material by rotating along the formation surface due to the rotation of the shaft body, a biasing portion for biasing the valve body toward the formation surface, and a conversion mechanism for converting at least the rotational movement of the valve body from a state where the sealing material closes the opening to a state where the opening is released into a linear movement of the valve body in a direction away from the formation surface by the sealing material, An electric valve comprising the above.

2. The conversion mechanism is, a convex portion disposed on the housing and protruding in a direction away from the formation surface of the opening, a plate portion disposed on the side of the valve body facing the convex portion, having an inclined surface inclined with respect to the formation surface of the opening, and moving along the inclined surface as the convex portion moves with the rotation of the shaft body, The electric valve according to Claim 1, comprising the above.

3. Both the convex portion and the inclined surface of the plate portion are disposed outward when viewed from the direction along the shaft center rather than the valve body, The electric valve according to Claim 2.

4. The plate portion has a pedestal surface that continues from the inclined surface in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the shaft body and is formed flat, The electric valve according to Claim 3.

5. The plate portion is formed following the pedestal surface in a direction away from the formation surface of the opening rather than the pedestal surface and in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the shaft body, and has a reference surface along which the convex portion moves when the sealing material moves from a state where the opening is open to a state where the opening is closed, The electric valve according to Claim 4.

6. The conversion mechanism is arranged in a pair symmetrically with respect to the shaft center of the shaft body, The electric valve according to any one of Claims 1 to 5. ​

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