Valve device

Abstract

To provide a valve device which can suppress the deformation of a valve body.SOLUTION: A solenoid valve 1A includes a valve body 2 having a valve chest 2a inside, a valve seat member 3 provided on the valve body 2, and a valve element 5 which can change the opening of a valve port 30 of the valve seat member 3, the valve body 2 having a cylinder part 20 formed in a cylindrical shape, a bottom part 25 having a second valve opening part 27 to which the valve seat member 3 is mounted, and a connection part 22 connecting the cylinder part 20 and the bottom part 25, and being formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. To the valve body 2, a reinforcing member 7 is fixed ranging from the connection part 22 to the bottom part 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve device.

Background Art

[0002] A valve device for controlling the flow rate of a fluid is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The valve devices (electric valves) described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 include a valve body (valve chamber forming member) having a valve chamber inside, a valve seat member (valve seat) provided on the valve body and having a valve port, a valve body provided so as to be able to change the opening degree of the valve port of the valve seat member, and a drive unit (stepping motor) for driving the valve body. In this electric valve, the valve body has a cylindrical tubular portion and a bottom portion continuous with the tubular portion, and the valve seat member is attached to the opening of the bottom portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in recent years, as a fluid to be controlled by a valve device, such as a refrigerant used in a refrigeration cycle system, a very high-pressure fluid such as CO2 may be used. For this reason, if the valve body is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape from a thin plate by pressing or the like, the valve body may be deformed by the pressure of the fluid. In this case, for example, if the bottom portion of the valve body is deformed in the axial direction of the valve body, the relative position of the valve port with respect to the valve body changes, and the performance of controlling the flow rate of the fluid may change, or it may cause valve leakage.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a valve device capable of suppressing deformation of a valve body.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the valve device of the present invention is a valve device including a valve body having a valve chamber inside, a valve seat member provided on the valve body, and a valve element capable of changing the opening degree of a valve port of the valve seat member. The valve body has a cylindrical tube portion, a bottom portion having an opening to which the valve seat member is attached, and a connecting portion connecting the tube portion and the bottom portion, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. A reinforcing member is fixed to the valve body from the connecting portion to the bottom portion. According to such a present invention, the valve body can be reinforced by the reinforcing member fixed from the connecting portion of the valve body to the bottom portion of the valve body, and the pressure resistance strength of the valve body can be improved. Therefore, even when, for example, an ultra-high pressure CO2 refrigerant or the like is used as a control target of the valve device, deformation of the valve body can be suppressed. And according to this configuration, by suppressing deformation of the valve body, a change in the relative position of the valve port with respect to the valve element is suppressed. Thereby, the fluid controllability of the valve device can be stabilized. Further, by suppressing a change in the relative position of the valve port with respect to the valve element, for example, in a valve device in which the valve element can close the valve port, generation of valve leakage when the valve is closed can be suppressed. It should be noted that it is also conceivable to improve the strength of the valve body by, for example, increasing the wall thickness of the valve body without using a reinforcing member. However, in this configuration, it becomes difficult to press-process the valve body itself, and there arises a problem that the processing man-hours and costs increase significantly. On the other hand, according to this configuration, since it is not necessary to increase the wall thickness of the valve body, the pressure resistance strength of the valve body can be improved while maintaining the ease of forming the valve body.

[0007] Also, at this time, the connecting portion has a cross-sectional R shape that bulges outward from the starting portion continuous with the cylindrical portion to the ending portion continuous with the bottom portion. The bottom portion has a flat portion continuous with the connecting portion and a bent portion continuous with the opening from the inner edge of the flat portion. The reinforcing member is fixed at least between the starting portion and the inner edge. According to such a configuration, by fixing the reinforcing member at least between the starting portion of the connecting portion and the inner edge of the flat portion, deformation of the valve body can be easily and surely suppressed.

[0008] Also, the reinforcing member may be fixed inside the valve chamber. According to such a configuration, by housing the reinforcing member inside the valve chamber, the valve body can be reinforced without affecting the appearance of the valve body, and the pressure resistance performance of the valve body can be improved.

[0009] Also, the valve seat member and the reinforcing member may be integrally formed. According to such a configuration, by integrating the reinforcing member and the valve seat member, it is not necessary to separately prepare a reinforcing member and fix it to the valve body. Further, according to this configuration, when fixing the valve seat member and the reinforcing member to the valve body, since it is not necessary to separately position and fix the valve seat member and the reinforcing member, the fixing can be facilitated.

[0010] Also, the reinforcing member may be fixed outside the valve body. According to such a configuration, compared with the structure in which the reinforcing member is fixed inside the valve chamber, the attachment of the reinforcing member to the valve body can be facilitated.

Effects of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, a valve device capable of suppressing deformation of the valve body can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The valve device according to the present embodiment is, for example, an electric valve 1A that constitutes a part of a refrigeration cycle in an air conditioner such as a package air conditioner or a room air conditioner. As shown in FIG. 1, the electric valve 1A includes a valve body 2, a valve seat member 3, a support member 4, a valve element 5, and a stepping motor 6. In the following description, the direction along the axis L of the valve body 2 is referred to as the "axis L direction", the lower side in the axis L direction in FIGS. 1 to 6(A) is referred to as "one side L1", and the upper side is referred to as "the other side L2". Further, the direction orthogonal to the axis L direction is referred to as the "radial direction X". Also, the side where the axis L is located in the radial direction X is referred to as the "inner side in the radial direction X", and the opposite side of the inner side is referred to as the "outer side in the radial direction X". These definitions of directions are for the convenience of explanation only and do not necessarily limit the directions in the usage state of the electric valve 1A or the like.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 2, the valve body 2 has a valve chamber 2a inside, and is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape (bottomed tube shape) by pressing a thin plate member made of a metal such as stainless steel. The valve body 2 includes a cylindrical portion 20 extending in the direction of the axis L. The cylindrical portion 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape around the axis L. A first valve opening 21 penetrating in the radial direction X is formed on the side surface of the cylindrical portion 20, and a first joint pipe 21a extending in the radial direction X is inserted into the first valve opening 21 and connected by brazing, welding, or the like. As shown in Fig. 3, a connecting portion 22 is formed at the end of one side L1 of the cylindrical portion 20. The connecting portion 22 includes a starting portion 23 continuous with the end of one side L1 of the cylindrical portion 20 and an ending portion 24 located on the inner side in the radial direction X with respect to the starting portion 23, and has a cross-sectional R shape convex outward (outward) from the starting portion 23 to the ending portion 24. A bottom portion 25 is continuously formed on the ending portion 24. The bottom portion 25 includes a disk-shaped flat portion 26.

[0015] The flat portion 26 is continuous with the ending portion 24 of the connecting portion 22 and extends inward in the radial direction X. Further inward in the radial direction X of the flat portion 26, a second valve opening 27 (opening) penetrating in the direction of the axis L is formed. Due to the formation of the second valve opening 27, a circular inner edge 26a centered on the axis L is formed at the central portion of the flat portion 26. And a bent portion 28 that bends to one side L1 over the entire circumference is formed on the inner edge 26a. The bent portion 28 is continuously formed from the inner edge 26a of the flat portion 26 to the second valve opening 27. A cylindrical small-diameter portion 29 extending in the direction of the axis L is formed at the end of one side L1 of the bent portion 28. The inner peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 29 also constitutes the second valve opening 27. A second joint pipe 29a extending in the direction of the axis L is inserted into the end of one side L1 of the second valve opening 27 and connected by brazing, welding, or the like.

[0016] On one side, a valve seat member 3 is attached to the end of the other side L2 of the second valve opening 27. The valve seat member 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction L using a metallic material such as stainless steel, and is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the second valve opening 27 by brazing or the like. A valve port 30 penetrating in the axial direction L is formed at the center of the valve seat member 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the valve port 30 communicates with the inside of the valve chamber 2a and the second joint pipe 29a. Further, the valve port 30 communicates with the inside of the first joint pipe 21a via the valve chamber 2a. As shown in FIG. 1, a support member 4 formed using a resin material such as polyphenylene sulfide is fixed to the end of the other side L2 of the valve body 2. The support member 4 includes a cylindrical holder portion 41 extending in the axial direction L. A flange portion 42 protruding outward in the radial direction X is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the holder portion 41.

[0017] An annular fixing fitting 43 is integrally formed with the flange portion 42 by insert molding, and one end face of the fixing fitting 43 on the side L1 is fixed to the end face of the other side L2 of the cylindrical portion 20 of the valve body 2 by welding or the like. A female screw portion 44 is formed at the central portion in the axial direction L on the inner peripheral surface of the holder portion 41, and together with a male screw portion 54 described later, constitutes a screw feed mechanism S. A first guide portion 45 having an inner diameter larger than that of the female screw portion 44 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the holder portion 41 at a portion on the other side L2 with respect to the female screw portion 44. The first guide portion 45 guides a guided portion 55 described later of the valve element 5 in the axial direction L. A second guide portion 46 having an inner diameter smaller than that of the female screw portion 44 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the holder portion 41 at a portion on the side L1 with respect to the female screw portion 44. The second guide portion 46 guides a needle portion 51 described later of the valve element 5 in the axial direction L. A fixed stopper protrusion 47 protruding outward in the radial direction X is formed at the end of the other side L2 of the support member 4.

[0018] The end of the other side L2 of the fixed stopper projection 47 protrudes on the other side L2, and this protruding portion constitutes the fixed-side stopper 48. The fixed-side stopper 48 abuts against the movable-side first stopper 56a, which will be described later, in the circumferential direction around the axis L in a state where the valve body 5 has moved to the one side L1 and is located at the extreme end position of the one side L1 shown in FIG. 1. By this abutment, the movement of the magnet rotor 61, the rotor shaft 53, and the valve rod 50 in the one side L1 (valve closing direction) described later is restricted. Inside the support member 4, the valve body 5 is installed. The valve body 5 includes a valve rod 50 extending in the direction of the axis L. The valve rod 50 is formed in a cylindrical shape using a metallic material such as stainless steel. At the end of the valve rod 50 on the one side L1, a needle portion 51 having a reduced diameter toward the one side L1 is formed, and the needle portion 51 approaches or separates from the valve port 30 of the valve seat member 3. By this approach and separation, the size of the gap in the radial direction X between the inner peripheral surface of the valve port 30 and the outer peripheral surface of the needle portion 51 changes, so that the opening degree of the valve port 30 can be changed.

[0019] The outer peripheral surface of the valve rod 50 is guided in the direction of the axis L by the second guide portion 46 of the support member 4 described above. At the end of the valve rod 50 on the other side L2, a diameter-expanded portion 52 having a larger diameter than other portions of the valve rod 50 is formed. On the other side L2 portion of the valve rod 50, a cylindrical rotor shaft 53 extending in the direction of the axis L and covering the valve rod 50 in the circumferential direction is installed. The rotor shaft 53 is formed using a resin material such as polyphenylene sulfide. On the one side L1 portion of the outer peripheral surface of the rotor shaft 53, a male screw portion 54 is formed. The male screw portion 54 is screwed into the female screw portion 44 of the support member 4 and constitutes a screw feed mechanism S together with the female screw portion 44. By providing the screw feed mechanism S, when the valve rod 50 rotates around the axis L, the valve body 5 is screw-fed in the direction of the axis L, and it can rotate around the axis L and move forward and backward in the direction of the axis L.

[0020] On the other side L2 portion of the outer peripheral surface of the rotor shaft 53, a guided portion 55 having a larger diameter than the portion where the male screw portion 54 is formed is formed. The guided portion 55 is guided in the axial direction of the axis L by the first guiding portion 45 of the support member 4. On the outer peripheral surface of the guided portion 55, a movable stopper projection 56 protruding outward in the radial direction X is formed. One end of the movable stopper projection 56 on one side L1 protrudes on one side L1, and this protruding portion constitutes a movable side first stopper 56a. The movable side first stopper 56a abuts against the fixed side stopper 48 in the circumferential direction around the axis L in a state where the valve body 5 moves to one side L1 and is located at the outermost end position of one side L1 shown in FIG. 1. On the inner peripheral surface of the rotor shaft 53, a first accommodating portion 57 for guiding the valve rod 50 in the axial direction of the axis L is formed in the one side L1 portion. On the other hand, on the inner peripheral surface of the rotor shaft 53, a second accommodating portion 58 having an inner diameter larger than that of the first accommodating portion 57 is formed in the other side L2 portion.

[0021] The enlarged diameter portion 52 of the valve rod 50 described above is accommodated in the second accommodating portion 58. The end portion of the second accommodating portion 58 on the other side L2 opens to the other side L2, and a metal fixture 59 for closing the opening is installed in this opening portion. A valve spring 59a is installed so as to be compressed and interposed between the end surface facing one side L1 of the fixture 59 and the end surface facing the other side L2 of the enlarged diameter portion 52 of the valve rod 50, and the valve rod 50 is biased toward one side L1 by the valve spring 59a. Due to the biasing force of the valve spring 59a, the enlarged diameter portion 52 of the valve rod 50 is pressed against the stepped portion that is the boundary between the first accommodating portion 57 and the second accommodating portion 58. The valve body 5 configured in this way is driven by a stepping motor 6 as a driving unit. The stepping motor 6 includes a case 60 that closes the opening on the other side L2 of the valve body 2. The case 60 is formed in a cap shape that opens to one side L1 using a metal material such as stainless steel, and the opening end surface is fixed to the end surface on the other side L2 of the fixing fitting 43 of the support member 4 by welding or the like. By fixing the case 60, the inside of the valve body 2 is sealed.

[0022] Inside the case 60, a magnet rotor 61 formed in a cylindrical shape using a magnetic material is installed. The magnet rotor 61 is fixed to the rotor shaft 53 by the above-described fixture 59 with the inner peripheral surface of the central portion in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotor shaft 53 of the valve body 5. By this fixation, the magnet rotor 61, the rotor shaft 53, and the valve rod 50 are integrated and can rotate around the axis L and can move forward and backward in the direction of the axis L. On the inner peripheral surface of the magnet rotor 61, a movable-side second stopper 62 protruding inward in the radial direction X is formed. The movable-side second stopper 62 abuts against the fixed-side stopper 48 in the circumferential direction around the axis L when the valve body 5 moves to the other side L2 from the state shown in FIG. 1 and is located at the extreme position (not shown) on the other side L2. By this abutment, the movement of the magnet rotor 61, the rotor shaft 53, and the valve rod 50 to the other side L2 (valve opening direction) is restricted.

[0023] Outside the case 60, a stator coil 63 surrounding the magnet rotor 61 in the circumferential direction is installed. A pulse signal is supplied to the stator coil 63 from a power source controlled by appropriate control means. When a pulse signal is supplied to the stator coil 63, the magnet rotor 61, the rotor shaft 53, and the valve rod 50 rotate around the axis L according to the number of pulses. By this rotation, the male screw portion 54 is screw-fed into the female screw portion 44, and the valve body 5 moves forward and backward in the direction of the axis L. At this time, the valve body 5 moves to the one side L1 until the movable-side first stopper 56a abuts against the fixed-side stopper 48. Also, the valve body 5 moves to the other side L2 until the movable-side second stopper 62 abuts against the fixed-side stopper 48. By such forward and backward movement, the opening degree of the valve port 30 is adjusted, and the flow rate of the fluid flowing from the first joint pipe 21a to the second joint pipe 29a or the flow rate of the fluid flowing from the second joint pipe 29a to the first joint pipe 21a is controlled.

[0024] In the electric valve 1A formed as described above, a reinforcing member 7 for suppressing deformation of the valve body 2 is attached. The reinforcing member 7 is formed by bending a plate member made of a metal such as stainless steel or brass. As shown in FIG. 2, the reinforcing member 7 is disposed inside the valve body 2 and is formed in a shape along the inner surface shapes of the cylindrical portion 20, the connecting portion 22, and the bottom portion 25 of the valve body 2. Specifically, the reinforcing member 7 includes an R-shaped curved portion 70 along the starting portion 23 to the ending portion 24 of the connecting portion 22, and a flat plate portion 71 along the bottom portion 25. An opening 71a penetrating in the direction of the axis L is formed at the center of the flat plate portion 71, and the valve seat member 3 is disposed in the opening 71a. In the present embodiment, the end portion 70a on the other side L2 of the curved portion 70 of the reinforcing member 7 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 20. On the other hand, the opening edge 71b of the opening 71a of the flat plate portion 71 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve seat member 3. The reinforcing member 7 thus disposed is brazed using a brazing material 72, and the gap between the reinforcing member 7 and the valve body 2 is sealed and fixed to the valve body 2.

[0025] By providing the reinforcing member 7, even if a high pressure is applied to the valve chamber 2a of the valve body 2, displacement in the direction of the axis L and the radial direction X is suppressed at the one-side L1 portion of the valve body 2. In the present embodiment, the opening edge 71b of the reinforcing member 7 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve seat member 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the opening edge 71b may not be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve seat member 3. Further, the reinforcing member 7 disposed from the connecting portion 22 to the bottom portion 25 of the valve body 2 may be fixed at least between the starting portion 23 of the connecting portion 22 and the inner edge 26a of the bottom portion 25. In the present embodiment, the reinforcing member 7 is fixed to the valve body 2 by brazing, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the reinforcing member 7 may be fixed to the valve body 2 by welding or the like.

[0026] In this case, for example, the end portion 70a of the curved portion 70 or a part of the opening edge 71b may be partially welded (i.e., spot welded). However, as in this embodiment, since the gap between the reinforcing member 7 and the valve body 2 is not sealed by the brazing material 72, it is conceivable that high-pressure fluid may enter the gap. Therefore, it is necessary to manage so as to sufficiently maintain the welding strength so that the welded portion is not damaged and the valve body 2 is not deformed by the fluid that has entered the gap. On the other hand, the end portion 70a of the reinforcing member 7 may be welded to the cylindrical portion 20 of the valve body 2 over the entire circumference, and the opening edge 71b of the reinforcing member 7 may be welded to the inner edge 26a of the valve body 2 or the outer circumference of the valve seat member 3 over the entire circumference. In this case, since the gap between the reinforcing member 7 and the valve body 2 or the valve seat member 3 is sealed by welding, it is possible to prevent fluid from entering the gap. For this reason, it is preferable because the management burden of the welding strength is reduced.

[0027] As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the valve body 2 can be reinforced by the reinforcing member 7 fixed from the connecting portion 22 of the valve body 2 to the bottom portion 25 of the valve body 2, and the pressure resistance strength of the valve body 2 can be improved. Therefore, even if, for example, an ultra-high pressure CO2 refrigerant or the like is used as the control target of the electric valve 1A (valve device), deformation of the valve body 2 can be suppressed. And according to this configuration, by suppressing the deformation of the valve body 2, a change in the relative position of the valve port 30 with respect to the valve element 5 is suppressed. Thereby, the controllability of the refrigerant (fluid) of the electric valve 1A can be stabilized. Further, by suppressing a change in the relative position of the valve port 30 with respect to the valve element 5, for example, in a valve device in which the valve element 5 can close the valve port 30, the occurrence of valve leakage when the valve is closed can be suppressed.

[0028] Further, according to the above-described embodiment, by fixing the reinforcing member 7 between at least the start portion 23 of the connecting portion 22 in the valve body 2 and the inner edge 26a of the flat portion 26 in the valve body 2, deformation of the valve body 2 can be easily and surely suppressed.

[0029] Further, according to the above embodiment, by housing the reinforcing member 7 inside the valve chamber 2a, the valve body 2 can be reinforced without affecting the appearance of the valve body 2, and the pressure resistance performance of the valve body 2 can be improved.

[0030] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electric valve 1B according to the second embodiment cut along the axis L of the valve body 2. The electric valve 1B includes a valve seat member 3B corresponding to the above-described valve seat member 3. The valve seat member 3B includes a cylindrical portion 31 extending in the direction of the axis L toward one side L1. The cylindrical portion 31 is located within the second valve opening 27 of the valve body 2. A valve port 30 penetrating in the direction of the axis L is formed at the center of the cylindrical portion 31. A flange 32 protruding outward in the radial direction X is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the other side L2 of the cylindrical portion 31. The flange 32 includes a horizontal surface 33 extending in the radial direction X along the flat portion 26 at the bottom 25 of the valve body 2, an inclined surface 34 inclined so as to be located on the other side L2 as it goes outward in the radial direction X from the end on the outer side in the radial direction X of the horizontal surface 33, a vertical surface 35 extending in the direction of the axis L along the cylindrical portion 20 including the starting portion 23 at the connecting portion 22 of the valve body 2, and a valve seat surface 36 connecting the ends on the other side L2 of the vertical surface 35.

[0031] The valve seat member 3B formed in this way is fixed to the valve body 2 by brazing or the like. During brazing, the gap between the valve body 2 is sealed with a brazing material 72, and in this state, the valve seat member 3B is fixed to the valve body 2. And according to the second embodiment, the flange 32 is arranged inside the valve body 2 from the connecting portion 22 to the bottom 25 and is fixed at least between the starting portion 23 and the inner edge 26a. Therefore, the flange 32 functions as the above-described reinforcing member 7. That is, the valve seat member 3B and the reinforcing member 7 are integrally formed.

[0032] According to such a second embodiment, by integrating the reinforcing member 7 and the valve seat member 3B, it is not necessary to separately prepare the reinforcing member 7 and fix it to the valve body 2. Further, according to this configuration, when fixing the valve seat member 3B and the reinforcing member 7 to the valve body 2, it is not necessary to separately position and fix the valve seat member 3B and the reinforcing member 7, so that the fixing can be facilitated.

[0033] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electric valve 1C according to the third embodiment taken along the axis L of the valve body 2. The electric valve 1C includes a reinforcing member 7C corresponding to the above-described reinforcing member 7. The reinforcing member 7C is almost the same in shape as the reinforcing member 7, but is different from the reinforcing member 7 in that it is fixed to the outer surface (outside) of the valve body 2 by brazing or welding.

[0034] According to such a third embodiment, compared with the structure in which the reinforcing member 7 is fixed inside the valve chamber 2a, the attachment of the reinforcing member 7C to the valve body 2 can be facilitated, and the pressure resistance strength of the valve body 2 can be improved.

[0035] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6(A) is a cross-sectional view of the electric valve 1D according to the fourth embodiment taken along the axis L of the valve body 2, and FIG. 6(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 6(A). As shown in FIG. 6(A), in the fourth embodiment, a reinforcing member 7D corresponding to the reinforcing member 7 is provided. The reinforcing member 7D is different from the above-described embodiment in that the opening edge 71b of the flat plate portion 71 does not contact the outer peripheral surface of the valve seat member 3, and a predetermined gap G in the radial direction X is formed between the reinforcing member 7D and the valve seat member 3. According to this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B), the brazing material 72 easily penetrates along the entire circumference of the gap between the opening edge 71b, the inner peripheral surface of the bent portion 28, and the outer peripheral surface of the valve seat member 3.

[0036] According to the above-described fourth embodiment, the brazing material 72 can surely penetrate from the gap G between the reinforcing member 7D and the valve seat member 3 into the gap between the reinforcing member 7D and the valve body 2, and the sealing by the brazing material 72 can be surely performed. Note that a space other than the gap G may be formed between the reinforcing member 7D and the valve seat member 3. For example, in a configuration where the opening edge 71b of the flat plate portion 71 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve seat member 3, a space other than the gap G may be formed between the reinforcing member 7D and the valve seat member 3 by forming a notch or the like in the flat plate portion 71. FIGS. 7(A) and (B) are cross-sectional views showing a modified example of the electric valve 1D according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7(A), three arc-shaped notches 73 that open inward in the radial direction X and protrude outward in the radial direction X are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction around the axis L at the opening edge 71b of the flat plate portion 71 of the reinforcing member 7D. Further, as shown in FIG. 7(B), four rectangular notches 74 that open inward in the radial direction and are substantially rectangular in a cross-sectional view are formed at the opening edge 71b of the flat plate portion 71 of the reinforcing member 7D. The arc-shaped notches 73 and the rectangular notches 74 function in the same manner as the gap G between the reinforcing member 7D and the valve seat member 3 described above, and facilitate the penetration of the brazing material 72 between the reinforcing member 7D and the valve body 2.

[0037] According to such a present invention, compared with a configuration in which a gap G is formed over the entire circumference between the reinforcing member 7D and the valve seat member 3, it is easy to secure the contact area of the reinforcing member 7D with respect to the valve seat member 3. Therefore, in particular, deformation of the valve body 2 in the radial direction X can be further suppressed. In the form of FIG. 7(A), the number of the arc-shaped notches 73 is three, and in the form of FIG. 7(B), the number of the rectangular notches 74 is four. However, the number is not limited to this and may be changed as appropriate.

[0038] The embodiments described above merely show typical forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, various modifications can be made and implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the configuration of the valve device of the present invention is provided by such modifications, it is of course included in the scope of the present invention. For example, in the description of the present embodiment, as the valve device, the electric valve 1A used in the refrigeration cycle is exemplified. However, the valve device does not necessarily have to be used in the refrigeration cycle, and the present invention may be used for valve devices that control the flow rate of various fluids. Further, the valve device is not limited to the electric valve 1A or the like, and may be a solenoid valve including a solenoid coil and a plunger. Further, the valve device may be a mechanical expansion valve as a throttling device, a mechanical pressure regulating valve that drives a pressure-sensitive member connected to a valve member in response to pressure fluctuations, or a manual on-off valve provided with an operating portion that moves a valve body forward and backward.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0039] 1A Electric valve (valve device) 2 Valve body 2a Valve chamber 3 Valve seat member 5 Valve body 7 Reinforcing member 20 Cylindrical portion 22 Connection portion 25 Bottom portion 27 Second valve opening (opening) 30 Valve port

Claims

1. A valve device comprising a valve body having a valve chamber inside, a valve seat member provided on the valve body, and a valve element capable of changing the opening degree of a valve port of the valve seat member, wherein the valve body has a cylindrical tubular portion, a bottom portion having an opening to which the valve seat member is attached, and a connecting portion connecting the tubular portion and the bottom portion, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a reinforcing member is fixed to the valve body from the connecting portion to the bottom portion. The valve device is characterized by this.

2. The connecting portion has a cross-sectional R shape convex outward from a starting portion continuous with the tubular portion to an ending portion continuous with the bottom portion, the bottom portion has a flat portion continuous with the connecting portion and a bent portion continuous from an inner edge of the flat portion to the opening, and the reinforcing member is fixed at least between the starting portion and the inner edge. The valve device according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

3. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reinforcing member is fixed inside the valve chamber.

4. The valve device according to claim 3, wherein the valve seat member and the reinforcing member are integrally formed.

5. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reinforcing member is fixed outside the valve body.

Images