Valve device, connection structure, and connection method

Abstract

To provide a valve device, a connection structure, and a connection method that are easy to manufacture and assemble at low cost.SOLUTION: A valve device 100A is attached to and detached from the attachment hole 210 of the connector 200. The valve device 100A includes a valve element 1, a retaining ring 9 interposed between the valve element 1 and the attachment hole 210, and a pushing member 8 interposed between the retaining ring 9 and the valve element 1. The retaining ring 9 is provided with an abutted portion 92 protruding radially inward, and the pushing member 8 is provided with an abutting portion 64 protruding radially outward. The contact state and the non-contact state can be switched by relatively rotating the retaining ring 9 and the pushing member 8 around the axis of the retaining ring 9. In the contact state, the abutted portion 92 is pressed by the abutting portion 64 to expand the diameter of the retaining ring 9, so that the retaining ring 9 is engaged with the attachment hole 210 so as not to fall off.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve device, a connection structure, and a connection method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in systems for controlling the flow of refrigerant, cooling water, etc., methods for connecting a valve device (such as a valve) to a connecting body (such as a manifold) have been provided (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 5). Patent Document 1 discloses a cylindrical valve seat assembly 21 (valve device) that is connected in an inserted state to a first chamber 111 formed in a first valve body portion 11 (connecting body), as shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1. The valve seat assembly 21 is formed with a flange-shaped first seat body portion 232 that protrudes radially outward. The first seat body portion 232 is inserted into a cavity 117 formed in the inner wall of the first chamber 111, and displacement is restricted by an insertion fixing pin 161, thereby connecting the first valve body portion 11 and the valve seat assembly 21.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a cylindrical valve seat 10 (valve device) that is connected in an inserted state to an attachment port 31 formed in a bypass body 30 (connecting body), as shown in FIG. 2 or 3 of Patent Document 2. An internal thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the attachment port 31, and an external thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the valve seat 10, and the bypass body 30 and the valve seat 10 are connected by screwing the internal thread and the external thread together. Patent Document 3 discloses a cylindrical valve seat assembly 21 (valve device) that is connected in an inserted state to a first chamber 111 formed in a first valve body portion 11 (connecting body), as shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 3. The valve seat assembly 21 is provided with a flange-shaped first seat body portion 232 that protrudes radially outward, and an elastic limit arm 231 that serves as an elastic claw that extends along the outer periphery of the first seat body portion 232. The elastic limit arm 231 fits into a position limiting hole 151 formed in the inner wall of the through hole of the first valve body portion 11, thereby connecting the first valve body portion 11 and the valve seat assembly 21.

[0004] Patent Document 4 discloses a cylindrical solenoid valve 8 (valve device) that is connected in an inserted state to a through hole 72 formed in a connector block 1 (connecting body), as shown in FIG. 6 of Patent Document 4. A recess 102c recessed radially outward is formed on the inner surface of the through hole 72 of the connector block 1, and a protrusion 83 that protrudes radially outward is formed in the solenoid valve 8. The connector block 1 and the solenoid valve 8 are connected with the protrusion 83 inserted into the recess 102c. Patent Document 5 discloses a cylindrical expansion valve (valve device) that is connected in an inserted state to a hole 20 formed in a valve case 30 (connecting body), as shown in FIG. 23 of Patent Document 5. The expansion valve is prevented from coming off by a C-shaped retaining ring 39 interposed between the inner surface of the hole in the valve case 30 and the outer surface of the expansion valve, thereby connecting the valve case 30 and the expansion valve. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 109812594 [Patent Document 2] Chinese Utility Model No. 217898882 [Patent Document 3] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 109826971 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-079609 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-042981 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the method described in Patent Document 1, the laborious task of fastening the first seat body portion 232 with the insertion fixing pin 161 requires time to attach and detach the first valve body portion 11, increasing the manufacturing cost of the product. In the method described in Patent Document 2, threading is required on the bypass body 30 and the valve seat 10, increasing the manufacturing cost of the part. In the method described in Patent Document 3, cutting is required to form the elastic limit arm 231, increasing the manufacturing cost of the part. In the method described in Patent Document 4, the molding cost of the recess 102c and the protrusion 83 tends to be high, increasing the manufacturing cost of the part. In the method described in Patent Document 5, when using the retaining ring 39, a tool is required to temporarily reduce the diameter of the retaining ring 39, and connecting the parts takes time, increasing the manufacturing cost of the entire product.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a valve device, a connection structure, and a connection method that are easy to manufacture and assemble at low cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the valve device of the present invention is a valve device that is attached to and detached from a mounting hole of a connecting body that has a flow path, and includes: a valve body that has a valve port that communicates with the flow path; a valve disc that is close to or away from the valve port; a retaining ring that is interposed between the valve body and the mounting hole to prevent the valve body from slipping out of the mounting hole; and an extrusion member that is interposed between the retaining ring and the valve body, wherein the retaining ring has an abutment portion that protrudes radially inward, and the extrusion member has an abutment portion that protrudes radially outward, and by rotating the retaining ring and the extrusion member relatively around the axis of the retaining ring, it is possible to switch between an abutment state in which the abutment portion and the abutment portion abut against each other, and a non-abutment state in which the abutment portion and the abutment portion do not abut against each other, and in the abutment state, the abutment portion is pressed against the abutment portion, causing the retaining ring to expand in diameter, thereby engaging the retaining ring with the mounting hole so as not to fall off.

[0009] According to the present invention, the retaining ring can be expanded and engaged with the mounting hole with a simple configuration in which a pusher member is interposed between the retaining ring and the valve body and the retaining ring and the pusher member are rotated relative to each other. The retaining ring engaged with the mounting hole prevents the valve body from slipping out of the mounting hole. In other words, the retaining ring engaged with the mounting hole maintains the valve device connected to the connecting body. This makes it easier to manufacture the valve device and attach it to the connecting body than conventional valve devices that require threading or the creation of special recesses or special protrusions for connection to the connecting body, or that require tools to expand the retaining ring. Therefore, a valve device that is easy to manufacture and assemble at low cost can be provided.

[0010] In this case, it is preferable that the abutted portion constitutes a rotation guide portion that slides against the abutting portion in the circumferential direction. With this configuration, the retaining ring and the push-out member can be rotated relative to each other while the abutting portion is guided by sliding against the rotation guide portion, thereby enabling smooth switching between the abutting state and the non-abutting state.

[0011] Furthermore, it is preferable that the rotation guide portion has a spline shape with protrusions serving as the abutment portions provided intermittently in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the retaining ring. With this configuration, the intermittent protrusions forming the spline shape can guide the abutment portions by sliding them against each other, allowing the retaining ring and the pusher member to rotate relatively. Since each of the intermittent protrusions is an abutment portion, it is possible to select an abutment portion with which the abutment portion will abut from among a plurality of abutment portions. This improves the degree of freedom in selecting the positions of the pusher member and the retaining ring when they are in an abutting state.

[0012] The protrusion may include a guide surface that is inclined radially inward toward one side around the axis of the retaining ring, and the abutting portion may be in the abutting state by sliding against the guide surface toward the one side, and the abutting portion may be in the non-abutting state by climbing over the guide surface toward the one side. With this configuration, the abutting state and the non-abutting state can be easily switched by the simple action of rotating the pusher member in one direction relative to the retaining ring. Furthermore, with this configuration, the rotation angle of the pusher member when the abutting state is established can be set to various rotation angles.

[0013] The protrusion may also include a guide surface that is inclined radially inward toward one side of the retaining ring around the axis, and the abutting portion may enter the abutting state by sliding against the guide surface toward the one side, and enter the non-abutting state by moving away from the guide surface toward the other side around the axis. With this configuration, the rotation angle of the pusher member can be limited to one rotation angle when switching between the abutting state and the non-abutting state. This allows the rotation of the pusher member to be kept to a minimum. This is particularly advantageous, for example, when it is difficult to secure space for the pusher member to rotate.

[0014] Furthermore, it is preferable that the valve element is driven by an electromagnetic coil, a portion of which constitutes the pusher member, and that the pusher member is provided with a latched portion that latches with a latch portion provided on the inner peripheral surface of the retaining ring. According to this configuration, the number of parts can be reduced by configuring the pusher member with a portion of the electromagnetic coil. Furthermore, because the latched portion latches with the latch portion, displacement of the pusher member can be restricted, thereby preventing the pusher member from slipping out of the retaining ring, for example.

[0015] Preferably, the valve body accommodates a rotor driven by the electromagnetic coil unit, and one of the electromagnetic coil unit and the valve body is provided with one or more protruding portions around the axis that protrude radially in one direction about the axis, and the other of the electromagnetic coil unit and the valve body is provided with one or more recessed fitting portions around the axis into which the protruding portions can be fitted, the position of the electromagnetic coil unit relative to the rotor being determined by fitting the protruding portions with the fitting portions, and the abutting state is achieved when at least one of the protruding portions is fitted with one of the fitting portions. With this configuration, the position of the electromagnetic coil unit relative to the rotor is determined by fitting one protruding portion with one fitting portion, thereby reliably establishing the abutting state of the valve device and stably maintaining the abutting state. Furthermore, by engaging and releasing one protruding portion with one fitting portion, the abutting state and the non-abutting state can be easily and reliably switched.

[0016] Furthermore, it is preferable that the valve body is provided with a flange portion disposed on the bottom side of the retaining ring and protruding radially outward, and that the flange portion is provided with a rotation restricting portion that engages with an engaged portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the retaining ring to restrict rotation of the retaining ring. With this configuration, the rotation restricting portion provided on the flange portion of the valve body can be engaged with the engaged portion of the retaining ring to restrict rotation of the retaining ring. This makes it possible to stably maintain the above-mentioned abutting state and prevent the retaining ring from unintentionally rotating and causing a disengaged state, which would result in the valve device falling off the mounting hole.

[0017] Preferably, the flange portion includes a metal flange body and an insulating cover member covering at least a portion of the flange body, and the rotation restrictor is provided on the cover member. When the mounting hole inner wall and the flange portion are made of dissimilar metals, such as stainless steel and aluminum, electrolytic corrosion may occur at the contact point between the mounting hole inner wall and the flange portion, resulting in corrosion and deterioration of the contact point. However, with this configuration, by using an insulating cover member for at least a portion of the flange portion, the electrolytic corrosion and corrosion deterioration can be suppressed. This improves the durability of the valve device.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferable that the retaining ring is engaged with the inner wall of the mounting hole in the abutting state so as not to come off while being pressed radially outward against the inner wall of the mounting hole. With this configuration, the retaining ring can be pressed against the inner wall of the mounting hole in the abutting state, thereby stably maintaining the state in which the retaining ring is engaged with the mounting hole.

[0019] Furthermore, it is preferable that the valve body is provided with a fixing portion that is fixed to the connecting body, and that the fixing portion supports the valve body so that it cannot rotate around the axis of the retaining ring. According to this configuration, the provision of the fixing portion restricts rotation of the valve body, so that the valve body can be prevented from rotating together with the ejection member and the retaining ring when they rotate relative to each other.

[0020] Furthermore, a connecting structure of the present invention is a connecting structure that connects the valve device according to claim 1 and a connecting body, wherein the valve body is formed in a cylindrical shape, the connecting body is provided with a flow path that communicates with the valve port and a mounting hole that communicates with the flow path, the inner wall of the mounting hole is provided with an engagement groove that is recessed radially outward around the axis of the valve body, the inner wall of the engagement groove is provided with a tapered surface that decreases in diameter toward the opening side of the mounting hole, the retaining ring is provided with an inclined portion that can abut against the tapered surface, the retaining ring fits into the engagement groove in the abutting state, and when the retaining ring is fitted into the engagement groove, the tapered surface and the inclined portion abut against each other.

[0021] This configuration provides a connection structure that is low-cost and easy to manufacture and assemble. Furthermore, by fitting the retaining ring into the engagement groove in an abutting state, this configuration makes it even more difficult for the retaining ring to fall off from the mounting hole. In the expansion valve of Patent Document 5, for example, when the C-shaped retaining ring is used to secure the expansion valve to the valve case, there is so-called play in the axial direction of the expansion valve. After the expansion valve is secured, vibrations in an unpressurized state or high internal pressure can cause rattle, leading to the expansion valve falling off. However, with this configuration, when the retaining ring expands in diameter, the inclined portion abuts against the tapered surface, and the tapered surface generates a shear force that presses the valve body toward the side opposite the opening of the mounting hole. This prevents the valve body from falling off from the mounting hole due to, for example, vibrations or internal pressure.

[0022] Furthermore, the connection method of the present invention is a connection method for connecting the connector and the valve device that constitute the connection structure described above to each other, and includes an arrangement step of inserting the valve body into the mounting hole and interposing the retaining ring and the push-out member between the inner surface of the mounting hole and the outer surface of the valve body, and a switching step of rotating the push-out member relative to the retaining ring around the axis of the retaining ring to switch between the abutting state and the non-abutting state, wherein the switching step is characterized in that the abutting state and the non-abutting state are switched by performing one of a rotation operation of rotating the push-out member to one side around the axis of the retaining ring and a reciprocating operation of rotating the push-out member to one side and the other side around the axis.

[0023] This configuration provides a connection method that is low-cost and easy to manufacture and assemble. Furthermore, this configuration allows for easy switching between an abutting state and a non-abutting state through a simple rotational operation of rotating the pusher member in one direction relative to the retaining ring. This method allows for various rotational angles of the pusher member when the abutting state is achieved. Meanwhile, a reciprocating operation allows for the pusher member to be rotated toward one side around the axis of the retaining ring to achieve the abutting state, and then the pusher member to be rotated in the opposite direction to achieve the non-abutting state. This method allows for the rotational angle of the pusher member to be limited to one rotational angle when switching between the abutting state and the non-abutting state, thereby minimizing the amount of rotation of the pusher member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a valve device, a connection structure, and a connection method that can be manufactured and assembled easily at low cost. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1A is a cross-sectional view of a valve device that constitutes a connection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a connector that constitutes the connection structure. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] 4A is a perspective view of a cover member in the valve device viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the cover member viewed from diagonally below. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a coil case of an electromagnetic coil unit in the valve device. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the valve device shown in FIG. 1 taken in a direction intersecting the axis. [Figure 9] 9(A) is a cross-sectional view showing the valve device in a non-contact state, and FIG. 9(B) is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the retaining ring portion in FIG. 9(A) cut in a direction intersecting the axis. [Figure 10] 10(A) is a cross-sectional view showing the valve device in an abutting state, and FIG. 10(B) is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the retaining ring portion in FIG. 10(A) cut in a direction intersecting the axis. [Figure 11] 10A is a cross-sectional view of a coil case of an electromagnetic coil unit according to a first modified example, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of a retaining ring in the first modified example. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a valve device and a connector according to a second modified example. [Figure 13] 10A is a perspective view of a cover member according to a second modified example viewed from diagonally above, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the cover member according to the second modified example viewed from diagonally below. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a valve device and a connector according to a second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a coil case of an electromagnetic coil unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing variations of a pusher member according to a second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the valve device in a contact state according to the second embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the pusher member and the retaining ring when the valve device is in a contact state in the second embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a valve device according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. The vertical direction in the drawings corresponds to the vertical direction of the connection structure according to the embodiment. The connection structure is a structure for connecting a valve device 100A, such as a motor-operated valve, to a connection body 200, such as a manifold. FIG. 1(A) is a cross-sectional view of the valve device 100A constituting the connection structure, and FIG. 1(B) is a cross-sectional view of the connection body 200 constituting the connection structure. As shown in FIG. 1(A), the valve device 100A includes a valve body 1, a valve element 4, a drive unit 5, a push-out member 8, and a retaining ring 9. The valve body 1 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel (SUS). As shown in FIG. 2, the valve body 1 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with a disc-shaped bottom wall 10 and a side wall 11 extending from the bottom wall 10, and includes a valve chamber 12 therein. A mounting hole 13 is formed in the center of the bottom wall 10, penetrating in the direction of the axis L of the valve body 1, and a valve seat member 14 is attached to the mounting hole 13.

[0027] The valve seat member 14 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape using a metal material such as stainless steel (SUS), and is fixed to the valve body 1 by welding, brazing, or the like while fitted into the mounting hole 13. A first port 15 (valve port) is formed in the center of the valve seat member 14, penetrating in the direction of the axis L. The upper end of the first port 15 communicates with the valve chamber 12, and the lower end communicates with a first flow path 220 (flow path) of the connecting body 200 (described later). A groove 16 is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the valve seat member 14, recessed inward in the radial direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the radial direction) around the axis L (around the axis of a retaining ring 9 (described later)). A first ring 17 is installed in the groove 16. The first ring 17 is an O-ring made of an elastic resin material such as rubber, and provides a seal between the connecting body 200 and the valve device 100A.

[0028] A second port 18 is formed in the side wall 11 of the valve body 1, penetrating radially. The second port 18 has a radially inner end communicating with the valve chamber 12 and a radially outer end communicating with a second flow path 230 (described later) of the connector 200. A radially penetrating insertion hole 19 is formed in the side wall 11 above the second port 18. The insertion hole 19 is formed intermittently or continuously in the circumferential direction about the axis L (hereinafter simply referred to as the circumferential direction) within a range that does not completely encircle the outer circumferential surface of the valve body 1. A support member 2 is provided integrally with the valve body 1 formed in this manner by insert molding. The support member 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the direction of the axis L using a resin material such as PPS (polyphenylene sulfide). The support member 2 includes a cylindrical holder guide portion 20 extending in the direction of the axis L. A through resin portion 21 to be embedded in the insertion hole 19 of the valve body 1 described above is formed in the lower portion of the holder guide portion 20.

[0029] A resin molded portion 22 that protrudes radially outward is formed continuously at the radially outer end of the through-hole resin portion 21. The resin molded portion 22 is formed in an annular shape and circumferentially covers the outer periphery of the valve body 1. A flange portion 23 that protrudes radially outward is integrally formed on the upper portion of the holder guide portion 20 by insert molding. As shown in FIG. 3, the flange portion 23 includes a flange main body 24 that extends around the axis L. The flange main body 24 is formed in an annular plate shape using a metal material such as SUS (stainless steel). As shown in FIG. 2, a portion of its inner peripheral wall 24a is connected and fixed to the upper end of the valve body 1. As shown in FIG. 2, a case 25 is disposed on the upper surface of the flange main body 24. The case 25 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom using a metal material such as SUS, and its open edge is fixed to the upper surface of the flange main body 24 by welding or the like. This configuration maintains the interior of the case 25 airtight.

[0030] The outer peripheral surface of the case 25 is formed with dimples 26 (fitted portions) recessed radially inward. The dimples 26 are recessed portions into which protrusions 62 provided on a coil case 53 of the electromagnetic coil unit 51 (described later) can be fitted. The engagement between the dimples 26 and the protrusions 62 restricts the relative rotation of the valve body 1 and the electromagnetic coil unit 51 about the axis L, thereby determining the position of the electromagnetic coil unit 51 relative to a magnet rotor 52 (rotor) (described later) housed in the valve body 1. As shown in FIG. 3 , multiple dimples 26 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The number of dimples 26 can be set as appropriate. For example, this number may be set to be equal to the total number of abutting portions 64 and abutted portions 92 (described later). For example, in this embodiment, a total of 10 dimples 26 are formed at 36-degree intervals in the circumferential direction around the axis L. As shown in FIG. 2 , a cover member 27 is integrally provided on the lower surface and side surfaces of the flange body 24 by insert molding. The cover member 27 is made of a resin material such as PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), and includes an annular bottom plate 28. The bottom plate 28 covers the lower surface of the flange main body 24.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 4(A), a side plate 29 and a rotation restricting portion 30 are formed on the outer peripheral edge of the bottom plate 28. The side plate 29 is formed intermittently in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral edge of the bottom plate 28 and covers the side surface of the flange main body 24. Due to the configuration of the side plate 29 and the bottom plate 28 described above, an insulating cover member 27 is provided on the flange portion 23, covering at least a portion of the flange main body 24. The rotation restricting portion 30 is provided on a circumferential portion of the outer peripheral edge of the bottom plate 28 where the side plate 29 is not formed. An upper end 31 of the rotation restricting portion 30 protrudes above the upper end of the side plate 29. As shown in FIG. 10(A), this upper end 31 engages with an engaged portion 95 of a retaining ring 9 (described later) to restrict relative rotation of the valve main body 1 and the retaining ring 9 about the axis L and determine the position of the retaining ring 9. As shown in FIG. 4(A), a holding claw 32 protruding inward is formed on the inner surface of the upper end 31 of the rotation restricting portion 30.

[0032] The holding claws 32 fit into locking grooves 24b (see FIG. 3) recessed radially inward and formed on the radially outer end surface of the flange body 24 shown in FIG. 3. This improves the holding force of the cover member 27, and the flange body 24 and the cover member 27 are stably maintained together. The holding claws 32 may be omitted. As shown in FIG. 4(B), the cover member 27 is formed with a fixing portion 33 that protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the bottom plate 28. The fixing portion 33 is formed in a tapered column shape and is fixed to the connecting body 200 by fitting into a fixing portion accommodating portion 216 (see FIG. 1) of the connecting body 200, which will be described later. By fitting the fixing portion 33 into the fixing portion accommodating portion 216, the valve body 1 connected to the connecting body 200 is supported so as not to rotate around the axis L. As shown in FIG. 4(B), a facing portion 34 that protrudes downward is formed around the entire periphery of the inner edge of the lower surface of the cover member 27. 2, the facing portion 34 faces the above-mentioned resin molded portion 22 with a gap therebetween in the direction of the axis L. By forming the facing portion 34, an annular groove 35 is formed on the outer periphery of the valve body 1, the annular groove 35 being surrounded by the facing portion 34, the outer circumferential surface of the valve body 1, and the resin molded portion 22.

[0033] A second ring 36 is installed in the annular groove 35. The second ring 36 is an O-ring made of an elastic resin material such as rubber, and provides a seal between the connector 200 and the valve device 100A. As shown in FIG. 2 , a holder guide hole 37 is formed in the center of the holder guide portion 20, extending downward and opening. A valve holder 42 (described later) of the valve body 4 is inserted into the holder guide hole 37. A cylindrical shaft guide portion 38 is formed at the upper end of the holder guide portion 20, projecting upward. The shaft guide portion 38 is formed coaxially with the holder guide portion 20, and a female thread portion 38a is formed on its inner peripheral surface. The female thread portion 38a is threadedly engaged with a male thread portion 67 (described later) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 66. A shaft guide hole 38b, which communicates with the holder guide hole 37, is formed continuously at the lower end of the female thread portion 38a. The middle portion of the drive shaft 66 is slidable in the shaft guide hole 38b.

[0034] Next, the valve element 4 will be described. The valve element 4 is a needle valve that moves close to or away from the first port 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the valve element 4 has a needle portion 40 that is inserted into the first port 15. The needle portion 40 is formed in a columnar shape extending in the direction of the axis L, and its lower end is formed in a generally conical shape that decreases in diameter toward the bottom. A cylindrical large-diameter portion 41 is formed at the upper end of the needle portion 40. The large-diameter portion 41 is formed coaxially with the needle portion 40 and has a larger diameter than the needle portion 40, and extends in the direction of the axis L. The upper end of the large-diameter portion 41 is inserted into and fixed to the lower end of a cylindrical valve holder 42. The valve holder 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the direction of the axis L.

[0035] The outer diameter of the valve holder 42 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the holder guide hole 37, allowing the outer peripheral surface of the valve holder 42 to slide along the inner peripheral surface of the holder guide hole 37. A through-hole 43 penetrating the upper end of the valve holder 42 in the direction of axis L is formed, and the lower end 68 of the drive shaft 66 is inserted into the through-hole 43. A columnar spring retainer 44 extending in the direction of axis L is installed inside the valve holder 42. The spring retainer 44 faces the large diameter portion 41 with a gap in the direction of axis L, and a spring 45 is interposed between this spring retainer 44 and the large diameter portion 41. The installation of the spring 45 biases the needle portion 40 toward the first port 15.

[0036] Next, the drive unit 5 will be described. The drive unit 5 drives the valve element 4 in the direction of the axis L and includes a motor 50 as shown in FIG. 1. The motor 50 includes an electromagnetic coil unit 51 disposed outside the case 25 and a magnet rotor 52 disposed inside the case 25 and surrounded by the electromagnetic coil unit 51. The electromagnetic coil unit 51 collectively constitutes a stator coil and includes a coil case 53, a winding unit 54 disposed within the coil case 53, and a yoke and exterior member (not shown). As shown in FIG. 5, the coil case 53 includes a cylindrical main body 55 that houses the winding unit 54 and a connecting portion 56 connected to the lower end of the main body 55. The coil case 53 is detachably attached to the valve body 1 by rotating it around the axis L relative to the valve body 1. A fitting hole 57, coaxial with the axis L, is formed through the center of the main body 55. The case 25 of the valve body 1 is inserted into the fitting hole 57 from below.

[0037] The connecting portion 56 connects the valve body 1 and the electromagnetic coil unit 51 and is formed in a cylindrical shape that is coaxial with the main body unit 55 and has a smaller outer diameter than the main body unit 55. A first communicating hole 58 communicating with the insertion hole 57, a second communicating hole 59 communicating with the first communicating hole 58, and a third communicating hole 60 communicating with the second communicating hole 59 are formed inside the connecting portion 56 in this order from top to bottom. A fixing member 61 is installed in the first communicating hole 58. The fixing member 61 is formed in a ring shape that fits along the inner surface of the first communicating hole 58. A protruding portion 62 that protrudes radially inward is formed on a portion of the inner wall of the fixing member 61. The protruding portion 62 is a portion that fits into or comes out of the dimple 26 of the case 25 described above when the valve body 1 and the electromagnetic coil unit 51 rotate relatively around the axis L. The engagement of the protrusion 62 with the dimple 26 restricts the rotation of the electromagnetic coil portion 51 about the axis L relative to the valve body 1, and determines the position of the electromagnetic coil portion 51 relative to the magnet rotor 52. In this embodiment, a total of ten dimples 26 are formed, so that when the electromagnetic coil portion 51 is connected to the valve body 1, a total of ten positions of the electromagnetic coil portion 51 can be selected at 36-degree intervals in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, one protrusion 62 is provided, but this is not limiting, and one or more protrusions 62 may be provided.

[0038] The second communication hole 59 has an inner diameter smaller than the first communication hole 58 and the third communication hole 60, thereby forming a partition between the first communication hole 58 and the third communication hole 60. The third communication hole 60 has an inner diameter the same as the first communication hole 58, and a third ring 63 is installed on its inner wall surface. The third ring 63 is an O-ring made of an elastic resin material such as rubber, and provides a seal between the valve body 1 and the coil case 53. As shown in FIG. 5, an abutting portion 64 that protrudes radially outward is formed on the outer wall surface of the connection portion 56. The abutting portion 64 is a portion that can abut against an abutted portion 92 (described later) of the retaining ring 9, and as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of abutting portions 64 (five in this embodiment) are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. When the valve body 1 and the retaining ring 9 rotate relative to each other in the circumferential direction, the abutting portion 64 presses the abutted portion 92 (described later) of the abutted portion 92 radially outward, thereby expanding the diameter of the retaining ring 9.

[0039] Due to the configuration of the abutment portion 64, the connection portion 56 of the coil case 53 is interposed between the valve body 1 and the retaining ring 9 and allows the retaining ring 9 to expand in diameter, as shown in FIG. 1 . This allows the connection portion 56 to function as the ejector member 8 of the present invention. That is, a portion of the electromagnetic coil unit 51 functions as the ejector member 8. The electromagnetic coil unit 51 configured in this manner is connected to a control unit (not shown) and receives a pulse signal from the control unit. The electromagnetic coil unit 51 then rotates the magnet rotor 52 counterclockwise or clockwise about the axis L by a predetermined rotation angle corresponding to the received pulse signal. As shown in FIG. 2 , the magnet rotor 52 is formed into a cylindrical shape using a resin material mixed with magnetic powder and is housed in the case 25, i.e., the valve body 1. A bushing 65 is installed in the center of the magnet rotor 52 by insert molding, and a drive shaft 66 extending in the direction of the axis L is inserted through the center of the bushing 65.

[0040] The drive shaft 66 is a shaft portion that rotates around the axis L together with the magnet rotor 52 and moves in the direction of the axis L. The drive shaft 66 extends vertically along the axis L. A male thread portion 67 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 66. The male thread portion 67 is threadedly engaged with the female thread portion 38a of the support member 2. A lower end portion 68 of the drive shaft 66 is inserted into the through-hole 43 of the valve holder 42 and positioned within the valve holder 42, and a flange 69 that protrudes radially outward is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 66. A washer 70 is installed above the flange 69, and the drive shaft 66 is connected to the valve holder 42 by sandwiching the flange 69 in the direction of the axis L between the washer 70 and the spring bearing 44. The drive unit 5 configured in this manner is provided with a stopper mechanism 71 that restricts rotation of the magnet rotor 52.

[0041] The stopper mechanism 71 includes a guide portion 72 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft guide portion 38 of the support member 2 described above, and a slider 73 installed on the guide portion 72. The guide portion 72 is configured with spiral grooves aligned in the direction of the axis L. The slider 73 is threadedly engaged with the guide portion 72 and is movable in the direction of the axis L while rotating around the axis L along the guide portion 72. The slider 73 is formed with claw portions 74 that protrude radially outward. The claw portions 74 are capable of abutting around the axis L against magnet protrusions 52a that protrude radially inward from the inner surface of the magnet rotor 52. With this configuration, when the magnet rotor 52 rotates, the slider 73 rotates around the axis L in response to the rotation, and is guided by the guide portion 72 to move upward or downward. When the slider 73 reaches the upper or lower end of the guide portion 72, the slider 73 cannot rotate any further, and the rotation of the magnet rotor 52 stops.

[0042] Next, the retaining ring 9 will be described. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the retaining ring 9 constituting the connection structure, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6. The retaining ring 9 is a member interposed between the valve body 1 of the valve device 100A and a mounting hole 210 (described later) of the connecting body 200 to prevent the valve body 1 from slipping out of the mounting hole 210. It is formed in a substantially annular shape using a resin material such as PPS (polyphenylene sulfide). The retaining ring 9 includes a substantially arc-shaped main body 90 extending around an axis L. The main body 90 has one circumferential end 90a and the other circumferential end 90b extending so as to face each other with a gap therebetween around the axis L. Due to the gap as described above, the main body 90 can expand or contract in diameter by increasing or decreasing the gap. A rotation guide portion 91 constituting an inner wall is formed inside the main body 90. The rotation guide portion 91 is shaped to guide the rotation of the contact portion 64 by slidingly contacting the contact portion 64 of the above-mentioned connecting portion 56 (push-out member 8) in the circumferential direction.

[0043] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8 , the retaining ring 9 is attached to the valve body 1 so as to circumferentially surround the connecting portion 56 of the electromagnetic coil unit 51. At this time, the inner wall of the retaining ring 9 engages with the outer wall of the connecting portion 56, so that the rotation guide portion 91 has a fitting shape that conforms to the outer shape of the connecting portion 56, including the abutting portion 64. The rotation guide portion 91 is formed with a plurality of abutted portions 92, which are convex portions that protrude radially inward. The abutted portions 92 are formed intermittently at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, five abutted portions 92 are formed, the same number as the abutting portions 64. Due to the abutted portions 92 intermittently provided on the inner peripheral surface of the retaining ring 9, the rotation guide portion 91 has a so-called tooth-like spline shape. As shown in FIG. 6 , the abutted portions 92 have a guide surface 92a that is inclined radially inward toward one side about the axis L (clockwise in the plan view of FIG. 6 ). In this embodiment, the contact portion 92 has a roughly triangular shape when viewed in plan in Figure 6 due to the provision of the guide surface 92a, but is not limited to this, and the contact portion 92 may have a polygonal shape such as a square when viewed in plan, or may have an arc shape when viewed in plan.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 7 , an engaging portion 93 is formed on the outer wall surface of the retaining ring 9, protruding radially outward around the entire circumference. The engaging portion 93 is formed to protrude radially outward from the lower end of the outer wall of the retaining ring 9. The engaging portion 93 is a portion that fits radially into an engaging groove 212 (see FIG. 1 ), which will be described later, of the connecting body 200. An inclined portion 94 is formed on the upper end of the engaging portion 93, inclining radially inward as it extends upward. The inclined portion 94 is a portion that is pressed against a tapered surface 212a, which will be described later, formed in the engaging groove 212, and is formed so that its inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction is slightly smaller than that of the tapered surface 212a. An engaged portion 95, which is notched radially inward, is formed in a portion (outer peripheral surface) of the lower end of the outer wall of the engaging portion 93. The engaged portion 95 opens radially outward and downward. As described above, the upper end 31 of the rotation restricting portion 30 on the flange portion 23 of the valve body 1 engages with the engaged portion 95. This engagement restricts relative rotation around the axis L between the valve body 1 and the retaining ring 9.

[0045] Next, the connector 200 constituting the connection structure will be described. The connector 200 is a box-shaped member through which a fluid such as a refrigerant or cold water flows in a refrigeration cycle or the like. As shown in FIG. 1(B), the connector 200 includes a mounting hole 210 extending in the direction of the axis L, a first flow path 220 that continues to the lower side of the mounting hole 210 and communicates with the mounting hole 210, and a second flow path 230 that communicates radially with the mounting hole 210. The mounting hole 210 is a hole through which the valve device 100A is attached and detached, and includes, from top to bottom, an inlet 211, an engagement groove 212, a flange accommodating portion 213, a first accommodating portion 214, and a second accommodating portion 215. The inlet 211 is circular in plan view and opens upward. The engagement groove 212 is an undercut groove that is recessed radially outward and has a larger inner diameter than the inlet 211. The upper inner wall of the engagement groove 212 (the inner wall connecting the engagement groove 212 and the entrance 211) forms a tapered surface 212a whose diameter decreases toward the upper side (the opening side of the mounting hole 210). The flange accommodating portion 213 is a stepped portion having approximately the same inner diameter as the entrance 211, and communicates with the engagement groove 212.

[0046] A fixed portion accommodating portion 216 is formed in the bottom wall portion 213a of the flange accommodating portion 213 and is recessed downward. The inner wall of the fixed portion accommodating portion 216 is shaped to fit the outer shape of the fixed portion 33 of the flange portion 23, restricting displacement of the fitted fixed portion 33 around the axis L. The first accommodating portion 214 is a stepped portion having a smaller inner diameter than the flange accommodating portion 213 and is connected to the flange accommodating portion 213. The second accommodating portion 215 is a stepped portion having a smaller inner diameter than the first accommodating portion 214 and is connected to the first accommodating portion 214. The first flow path 220 is connected to the second accommodating portion 215 and extends in the direction of the axis L. The first flow path 220 is connected to the first port 15 of the valve device 100A attached to the mounting hole 210. The second flow path 230 is connected to the second accommodating portion 215 and extends radially. The second flow path 230 communicates with the second port 18 of the valve device 100A attached to the attachment hole 210.

[0047] Next, a method for connecting the valve device 100A and the connecting body 200 to each other will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1(A), the valve device 100A is assembled. Specifically, the electromagnetic coil unit 51 is attached to the valve body 1 to which the case 25 is fixed. At this time, the connecting portion 56 of the electromagnetic coil unit 51 is inserted into the retaining ring 9, connecting the electromagnetic coil unit 51 to the retaining ring 9. Then, the case 25 of the valve body 1 is inserted from the bottom to the top into the insertion hole 57 of the coil case 53. This insertion is completed when the lower end of the coil case 53 abuts against the flange main body 24 of the valve body 1. As a result, the flange portion 23 is positioned on the bottom side of the retaining ring 9. Next, the valve body 1 and the electromagnetic coil unit 51 are rotated relatively about the axis L, and the protrusion 62 of the electromagnetic coil unit 51 is fitted into the dimple 26 of the case 25. The position of the electromagnetic coil portion 51 relative to the valve body 1 is temporarily determined by fitting the protrusion 62 into the dimple 26. At this time, the third ring 63 seals the gap between the connection portion 56 and the flange portion 23, thereby restricting the intrusion of fluids and the like into the coil case 53.

[0048] Next, as shown in FIG. 9(A), the valve device 100A is inserted downward into the mounting hole 210 of the connecting body 200, and the retaining ring 9 and the pusher member 8 are interposed between the inner surface of the mounting hole 210 and the outer surface of the valve body 1 (arrangement step). At this time, the valve seat member 14 is inserted into the first flow path 220, and the first port 15 and the first flow path 220 are connected. The first ring 17 seals the gap between the first flow path 220 and the valve seat member 14. The side wall 11 of the valve body 1 is housed in the second housing portion 215, and the second port 18 and the second flow path 230 are connected. The resin molded portion 22 is located at the bottom of the first housing portion 214, and the second ring 36 seals the gap between the first housing portion 214 and the annular groove 35. Furthermore, the bottom of the cover member 27 abuts against the bottom wall 213a of the flange accommodating portion 213, and the fixing portion 33 fits into the fixing portion accommodating portion 216. This fitting restricts rotation around the axis L of the valve body 1. When the placement step is completed, as shown in FIG. 9(B), the outer wall of the connecting portion 56 as the pushing member 8 and the rotation guide portion 91 as the inner wall of the retaining ring 9 fit together so that the abutting portion 64 and the abutted portion 92 do not abut against each other. In this embodiment, this state is particularly referred to as a non-abutting state.

[0049] Next, the pusher member 8 and the retaining ring 9 are rotated relative to each other around the axis L (switching step). First, the coil case 53 is rotated to one side around the axis L, thereby rotating the connecting portion 56 (pusher member 8) to one side around the axis L relative to the retaining ring 9 (rotation operation). Specifically, the coil case 53 is rotated clockwise in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10(A). This rotation operation rotates the connecting portion 56. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10(B), the tip of the abutting portion 64 of the connecting portion 56 is guided by the guide surface 92a of the abutted portion 92 and slides against the abutted portion 92, thereby coming into abutment with the abutted portion 92. In this embodiment, this state is referred to as the abutting state. Due to this abutment, the abutted portion 92 is pressed against the abutting portion 64, causing the retaining ring 9 to expand radially outward.

[0050] 10(A), the retaining ring 9 fits into the engagement groove 212, which serves as an undercut groove, and vertical displacement is restricted. That is, in the abutting state, the abutted portion 92 is pressed against the abutting portion 64, expanding the diameter of the retaining ring 9, thereby engaging the retaining ring 9 with the mounting hole 210 so that it cannot fall off. In the abutting state, even if the valve device 100A attempts to come out of the mounting hole 210, the retaining ring 9 restricts the upward displacement of the flange portion 23, thereby restricting the coming out. Note that in this embodiment, in the abutting state, the inclined portion 94 of the retaining ring 9 is pressed against the tapered surface 212a of the engagement groove 212. At this time, as described above, the inclination angle of the inclined portion 94 with respect to the horizontal direction is slightly smaller than the inclination angle of the tapered surface 212a with respect to the horizontal direction, and therefore the tapered surface 212a applies a downward pressing force to the retaining ring 9, preventing rattling of the retaining ring 9.

[0051] The amount of expansion of the retaining ring 9 can be adjusted as appropriate by adjusting the protrusion amounts of the abutting portion 64 and the abutted portion 92. For example, even if the amount of expansion is adjusted to an extent that the inclined portion 94 does not abut against the tapered surface 212a, it is sufficient that the retaining ring 9 is expanded to an extent that it catches on the boundary between the entrance 211 and the engagement groove 212. In this case, the inclined portion 94 and the tapered surface 212a can be omitted. On the other hand, the retaining ring 9 may be pressed radially outward against the inner wall of the mounting hole 210 in the abutting state. In this case, as long as pressure resistance can be maintained, the retaining ring 9 may be fixed by this pressing alone, and the engagement groove 212 may be omitted.

[0052] When the coil case 53 is further rotated clockwise from this state in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10A, the abutting portion 64 moves clockwise (to one side) over the guide surface 92a, thereby again entering the non-abutting state shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. In the non-abutting state, the outer diameter of the retaining ring 9 returns to its original size before expansion, allowing the valve device 100A to be removed from the connecting body 200. In this manner, in the switching process, the retaining ring 9 and the pusher member 8 are rotated relative to each other about the axis L, thereby switching between an abutting state in which the abutted portion 92 and the abutting portion 64 abut each other and a non-abutting state in which the abutted portion 92 and the abutting portion 64 do not abut each other. In this embodiment, the non-abutting state and the abutting state are switched by performing the rotation operation described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the non-contact state and the contact state may be switched by, for example, performing a reciprocating operation of rotating the push-out member 8 to the right (one side) and left (the other side) about the axis L.

[0053] Specifically, first, by rotating the coil case 53 to one side about the axis L, the connecting portion 56 (push-out member 8) is rotated to one side about the axis L relative to the retaining ring 9. As a result, the abutting portion 64 is guided by the guide surface 92a and slides against the abutted portion 92, thereby achieving an abutting state. Next, by rotating the coil case 53 to the other side about the axis L (counterclockwise in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10(A)), the connecting portion 56 (push-out member 8) is rotated counterclockwise relative to the retaining ring 9. This rotation causes the abutting portion 64 to move away from the guide surface 92a counterclockwise (to the other side about the axis L), thereby achieving a non-abutting state. In this way, in the switching process, the abutting state and the non-abutting state are switched by performing one of a rotation operation that rotates the push-out member 8 to one side about the axis L and a reciprocating operation that rotates the push-out member 8 to one side and the other side about the axis L.

[0054] In addition, when the switching step is performed by a rotation operation, in this embodiment, since a total of ten dimples 26 are formed as described above, a total of ten positions of the electromagnetic coil section 51 can be selected at 36-degree intervals in the circumferential direction when the coil case 53 is rotated. That is, the positions of the electromagnetic coil section 51 can be selected as many times as the number of the abutting portions 64 and the abutted portions 92. For this reason, the abutting portion 64 and the abutted portion 92 may be set in an abutting state when one dimple 26 and the protrusion 62 (one protrusion) are fitted together, and the dimple 26 adjacent to the one dimple 26 and the protrusion 62 are set in a non-abutting state, and the abutting state and the non-abutting state may be switched every time the coil case 53 is rotated 36 degrees.

[0055] According to this configuration, the position of the electromagnetic coil unit 51 relative to the magnet rotor 52 is determined by the engagement of the one protrusion 62 with the one dimple 26, thereby ensuring that the valve device 100A is brought into a contact state and that the contact state can be stably maintained. Furthermore, by engaging and releasing the engagement between the one protrusion 62 and the one dimple 26, the contact state and the non-contact state can be easily and reliably switched.

[0056] As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the retaining ring 9 can be expanded and engaged with the mounting hole 210 with a simple configuration in which the ejector member 8 is interposed between the retaining ring 9 and the valve body 1 and the retaining ring 9 and the ejector member 8 are rotated relative to each other. The retaining ring 9 engaged with the mounting hole 210 prevents the valve body 1 from slipping out of the mounting hole 210. In other words, the retaining ring 9 engaged with the mounting hole 210 maintains the state in which the valve device 100A is connected to the connecting body 200. Therefore, compared to conventional valve devices that require threading or the manufacture of special recesses or special protrusions for connection to the connecting body 200, or conventional valve devices that require tools for expanding the diameter of the retaining ring 9, the valve device 100A can be easily manufactured and attached to the connecting body 200. Therefore, a valve device 100A that is easy to manufacture and assemble at low cost can be provided.

[0057] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the retaining ring 9 and the extrusion member 8 can be rotated relative to each other while the abutting portion 64 is guided by sliding it against the guide surface 92a of the abutted portion 92 that constitutes the rotation guide portion 91, so that the abutting state and the non-abutting state can be smoothly switched over.

[0058] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the contact portions 92, which are discontinuous convex portions forming a spline shape, can slide and guide the contact portions 64, allowing the retaining ring 9 and the pusher member 8 to rotate relatively. This configuration makes it possible to select the contact portion 92 with which the contact portion 64 comes into contact from among the multiple contact portions 92. This improves the freedom of selection regarding the positions of the pusher member 8 and the retaining ring 9 when they come into contact with each other.

[0059] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, for example, the pusher member 8 having the abutting portion 64 can be rotated toward one side about the axis L (one side about the axis of the retaining ring 9) to bring the abutting portion 64 into sliding contact with the guide surface 92a of the abutted portion 92, thereby achieving the abutting state. Further rotating the pusher member 8 in the same direction from this state causes the abutting portion 64 to move over the guide surface 92a, thereby achieving the non-abutting state. Therefore, the abutting state and the non-abutting state can be easily switched by the simple action of rotating the pusher member 8 in one direction relative to the retaining ring 9. Furthermore, according to this configuration, the abutting state and the non-abutting state are switched every time the coil case 53 is rotated 36 degrees, and the rotation angle of the pusher member 8 when the abutting state is achieved can be set to various rotation angles, such as 36 degrees, 72 degrees, or 144 degrees, from a provisionally determined position.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, for example, the pushing member 8 having the abutting portion 64 can be rotated toward one side about the axis L to bring the abutting portion 64 into sliding contact with the guide surface 92a of the abutted portion 92, thereby achieving an abutting state. Then, from this state, the pushing member 8 can be rotated in the reverse direction (i.e., toward the other side about the axis L) to move the abutting portion 64 away from the guide surface 92a, thereby achieving a non-abutting state. Therefore, when switching between the abutting state and the non-abutting state, the rotation angle of the pushing member 8 can be limited to one rotation angle. This allows the rotation of the pushing member 8 to be kept to a minimum. This is particularly advantageous, for example, when it is difficult to secure sufficient space for the pushing member 8 to rotate.

[0061] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the push-out member 8 is formed by the connection portion 56, which is a part of the electromagnetic coil portion 51, and therefore the number of parts can be reduced.

[0062] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the position of the electromagnetic coil section 51 (electromagnetic coil) relative to the magnet rotor 52 (rotor) is determined by fitting the one protrusion 62 with the one dimple 26 (fitted section), thereby enabling the valve device 100A to be reliably brought into an abutting state and the abutting state to be stably maintained. Furthermore, by fitting and releasing the fitting between the one protrusion 62 and the one dimple 26, the abutting state and the non-abutting state can be easily and reliably switched.

[0063] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the rotation restricting portion 30 provided on the flange portion 23 of the valve body 1 can be engaged with the engaged portion 95 of the retaining ring 9 to restrict rotation of the retaining ring 9. This allows the retaining ring 9 to be stably maintained in the abutting state described above in which the diameter of the retaining ring 9 is expanded, and prevents the valve device 100A from falling off the mounting hole 210 due to unintentional rotation of the retaining ring 9, which would result in a non-abutting state.

[0064] Furthermore, if the inner wall of mounting hole 210 and flange portion 23 are made of dissimilar metals, such as stainless steel and aluminum, electrolytic corrosion may occur at the contact point between the inner wall of mounting hole 210 and flange portion 23, resulting in corrosion and deterioration of the contact point. However, with this configuration, by using insulating cover member 27 for at least a portion of flange portion 23, the electrolytic corrosion and corrosion deterioration can be suppressed. This improves the durability of valve device 100A.

[0065] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the retaining ring 9 can be pressed against the inner wall of the mounting hole 210 in the abutting state. This allows the retaining ring 9 to be stably maintained in a state where it is engaged with the mounting hole 210.

[0066] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, by providing the fixing portion 33 on the flange portion 23, the valve body 1 can be fixed to the connecting body 200 via the fixing portion 33 and the fixing portion accommodating portion 216, and the valve body 1 can be prevented from rotating together when the extrusion member 8 and the retaining ring 9 rotate relative to each other.

[0067] Furthermore, the above-described embodiment provides a connection structure that is low-cost and easy to manufacture and assemble. According to the above-described embodiment, by fitting the retaining ring 9 into the engagement groove 212 in an abutting state, the retaining ring 9 is more unlikely to fall off from the mounting hole 210. In the expansion valve of Patent Document 5 and the like, when the C-shaped retaining ring 39 is used to secure the expansion valve to the valve case 30, there is so-called play in the axial direction of the expansion valve. After the expansion valve is secured, vibrations in an unpressurized state or large internal pressure can cause rattles, which can lead to the expansion valve falling off. However, according to the present configuration, when the retaining ring 9 expands in diameter, the tapered surface 212a generates a shear force that presses the valve body 1 downward (i.e., toward the side opposite the opening of the mounting hole 210). This can prevent the valve body 1 from falling off from the mounting hole 210 due to, for example, vibrations or internal pressure.

[0068] The above-described embodiment also provides a connection method that is low-cost and easy to manufacture and assemble. This configuration allows for easy switching between a contact state and a non-contact state through a simple rotational operation: rotating the pusher member 8 in one direction relative to the retaining ring 9. This method allows for various rotational angles of the pusher member 8 when the contact state is achieved. Meanwhile, the pusher member 8 can be rotated back and forth around the axis L of the retaining ring 9 to achieve the contact state, and then rotated in the opposite direction to achieve the non-contact state. This method allows for the rotational angle of the pusher member 8 to be limited to one rotational angle when switching between the contact state and the non-contact state, minimizing the amount of rotation of the pusher member 8.

[0069] Next, a first modified example of the connection structure will be described. Fig. 11(A) is a cross-sectional view of a coil case 53A in an electromagnetic coil unit 51 according to the first modified example, and Fig. 11(B) is a cross-sectional view of a retaining ring 9A in the first modified example. A locked portion 64a that protrudes radially outward is formed at the lower end of the abutting portion 64 of the coil case 53A. The locked portion 64a is configured as a protrusion formed in a substantially triangular shape in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 11(A). Meanwhile, a locking portion 96 that locks the locked portion 64a is formed at the lower end of the rotation guide portion 91 of the retaining ring 9A. The locking portion 96 is a notch formed by partially chamfering the lower end of the rotation guide portion 91, and is capable of abutting against the locked portion 64a. In the first modified example, when the coil case 53A is rotated to reach an abutting state, the locked portion 64a and the locking portion 96 come into contact with each other, and this contact causes the locked portion 64a to be locked to the locking portion 96, preventing the electromagnetic coil portion 51, i.e., the extrusion member 8, from slipping out upward relative to the retaining ring 9A.

[0070] Next, a second modified example of the connection structure will be described. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a valve device 100A and a connector 200 according to the second modified example. FIG. 13(A) is a perspective view of a cover member 27A according to the second modified example viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 13(B) is a perspective view of the cover member 27A according to the second modified example viewed obliquely from below. As shown in FIG. 12, a rotation restriction hole 24A1 penetrating in the plate thickness direction is formed in the flange main body 24A of the flange portion 23A, which corresponds to the flange portion 23 described above. As shown in FIG. 13(A), a total of three cylindrical bosses 39 protruding upward are formed in the bottom plate 28 of the cover member 27A. As shown in FIG. 12, the bosses 39 are fitted into the rotation restriction holes 24A1 of the flange main body 24A. The bosses 39 make it even more difficult for the cover member 27A to rotate relative to the flange main body 24A, making it less likely for the flange main body 24A and the cover member 27A to become misaligned. In the second modified example, the rotation restricting hole 24A1 does not have to penetrate through the flange main body 24A in the plate thickness direction. Specifically, the flange main body 24A may be provided with a recess that is recessed to an extent that the boss portion 39 fits into, and this recess may be used as the rotation restricting hole 24A1.

[0071] Next, a second embodiment of the connection structure will be described. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a valve device 100B and a connecting body 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a coil case 53B of an electromagnetic coil unit 51 according to the second embodiment. FIGS. 16(A) and 16(B) are diagrams illustrating variations of a pusher member 8B and a pusher member 8B' according to the second embodiment. The second embodiment differs from the above-described embodiment and variations in that, as shown in FIG. 14, the annular pusher member 8B is provided separately from the electromagnetic coil unit 51. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, the connecting portion 56 of the coil case 53B does not have an abutment portion 64. As shown in FIG. 16(A), the pusher member 8B has a disk-shaped bottom portion 80 and side portions 81 rising from the edge of the bottom portion 80. An insertion hole 82 is formed in the center of the bottom portion 80, through which the case 25 of the valve body 1 is inserted.

[0072] The inner wall of the side portion 81 has an inner wall surface 83 that is pentagonal in cross section as shown in FIG. 16(A). This forms a jig insertion section 84 surrounded by the bottom portion 80 and the inner wall surface 83 inside the extrusion member 8B. A jig (not shown) having an outer wall that abuts against each of the inner wall surfaces 83 is fitted into the jig insertion section 84. By rotating the fitted jig around the axis L, the rotational and reciprocating operations described above are possible. The structure for rotating the extrusion member 8B with a jig is not limited to this. For example, the inner wall surface 83 may be formed into a polygonal shape other than a pentagon in cross section as shown in FIG. 16(A). Alternatively, for example, as shown in FIG. 16(B), an extrusion member 8B' without the bottom portion 80 and inner wall surface 83 may be provided, and a through-hole 86 may be formed that vertically penetrates the extrusion member 8B'. A rod-shaped jig may be inserted into the through-hole 86 to perform the rotational and reciprocating operations. That is, the through hole 86 may serve as the jig insertion portion 84. The outer wall of the side portion 81 has a spline shape that corresponds to the outer wall of the above-described connecting portion 56. That is, on the outer wall of the side portion 81, abutment portions 85 that protrude radially outward are formed intermittently at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0073] In the second embodiment, when connecting the valve device 100B to the connecting body 200, first, as shown in FIG. 17 , the valve device 100B, with the electromagnetic coil portion 51 not connected to the valve body 1, is inserted into the mounting hole 210 of the connecting body 200. Next, the pusher member 8B is rotated around the axis L by a jig. As a result, as shown in FIG. 18 , the abutting portion 85 and the abutted portion 92 abut against each other, and the retaining ring 9 expands in diameter. Then, as shown in FIG. 17 , the expanded retaining ring 9 fits into the engagement groove 212, and the retaining ring 9 engages with the mounting hole 210. According to the second embodiment, the valve device 100B can be connected to the connecting body 200 without the electromagnetic coil portion 51 being attached to the valve body 1, making the connection process easier.

[0074] Next, a third embodiment of the connection structure will be described. Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of a valve device 100C according to the third embodiment. The third embodiment differs from the above embodiments and modifications in that the cover member 27C of the flange portion 23C does not have a fixing portion 33. According to this third embodiment, the fixing portion 33 and the fixing portion accommodating portion 216 can be omitted, which makes it easier to manufacture the parts and reduces the manufacturing costs of the valve device 100C and the connecting body 200.

[0075] The above-described embodiments and modifications merely illustrate typical aspects of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the above-described embodiments and modifications, the dimple 26 (fitted portion) is formed on the case 25 of the valve body 1, and the protrusion 62 that fits into the dimple is formed on the coil case 53 of the electromagnetic coil unit 51. However, this is not limiting, and the protrusion 62 may be formed on the valve body 1 side, such as the case 25, and the dimple 26 may be formed on the electromagnetic coil unit 51 side, such as the coil case 53. That is, one of the electromagnetic coil unit 51 and the valve body 1 may be provided with one or more protruding protrusions 62 that protrude radially in one direction around the axis L, and the other of the electromagnetic coil unit 51 and the valve body 1 may be provided with one or more dimples 26 (fitted portion) that can fit the protrusions 62 around the axis L.

[0076] Furthermore, while the valve device 100A has been described as an electrically operated valve including the electromagnetic coil unit 51, this is merely an example, and the valve device may also be a solenoid valve including a electromagnetic coil and a plunger. The valve device may also 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 that includes an operating unit that moves the valve element back and forth. Similarly, the present invention can be applied to various connecting bodies, such as a flow path block and a housing that include a flow path, in addition to the manifold exemplified in the above embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 15 First port (valve port) 1 Valve body 4 Valve body 9 Retaining ring 8 Extrusion member 92 Abutted part 64 Contact part 100A valve device 200 Connections 210 Mounting hole 220 First flow path (flow path)

Claims

1. A valve device that is attached to and detached from a mounting hole of a connecting body having a flow path, a valve body including a valve port communicating with the flow path; a valve body positioned close to or far from the valve port; a retaining ring interposed between the valve body and the mounting hole to prevent the valve body from slipping out of the mounting hole; a push-out member interposed between the retaining ring and the valve body, The retaining ring is provided with an abutment portion that protrudes radially inward, The push-out member is provided with a contact portion that protrudes radially outward, By rotating the retaining ring and the push-out member relatively around the axis of the retaining ring, it is possible to switch between an abutment state in which the abutted portion and the abutting portion abut against each other and a non-abutment state in which the abutted portion and the abutting portion do not abut against each other, In the abutting state, the abutted portion is pressed against the abutting portion, causing the retaining ring to expand in diameter, thereby causing the retaining ring to engage with the mounting hole so as not to fall off.

2. 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the contacted portion constitutes a rotation guide portion that slides against the contact portion in the circumferential direction.

3. 3. The valve device according to claim 2, wherein the rotation guide portion has a spline shape formed by convex portions as the abutted portions that are provided intermittently in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the retaining ring.

4. the protrusion includes a guide surface that is inclined so as to be positioned radially inward toward one side around the axis of the retaining ring, The abutting portion is brought into sliding contact with the guide surface toward the one side to be in the abutting state, The valve device according to claim 3, wherein the abutting portion moves over the guide surface to the one side to enter the non-abutting state.

5. the protrusion includes a guide surface that is inclined so as to be positioned radially inward toward one side around the axis of the retaining ring, The abutting portion is brought into sliding contact with the guide surface toward the one side to be in the abutting state, The valve device according to claim 3, wherein the abutting portion is in the non-abutting state by moving away from the guide surface to the other side around the axis.

6. an electromagnetic coil unit that drives the valve body; a part of the electromagnetic coil portion constitutes the pushing member, 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the push-out member is provided with a locked portion that is locked to a locking portion provided on an inner circumferential surface of the retaining ring.

7. The valve body accommodates a rotor that is driven by the electromagnetic coil portion, One of the electromagnetic coil portion and the valve body is provided with one or more protruding portions around the axis that protrude radially toward one side around the axis, the other of the electromagnetic coil unit and the valve body is provided with one or more recessed fitted portions around the axis into which the protrusion can be fitted, the position of the electromagnetic coil unit relative to the rotor is determined by the engagement between the protruding portion and the fitted portion; 7. The valve device according to claim 6, wherein the abutting state is achieved when at least one of the protruding portions and one of the fitted portions are fitted together.

8. The valve body is provided with a flange portion that is disposed on a bottom surface side of the retaining ring and that protrudes radially outward, 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the flange portion is provided with a rotation restricting portion that engages with an engaged portion provided on the outer circumferential surface of the retaining ring to restrict rotation of the retaining ring.

9. The flange portion includes a metal flange body and an insulating cover member that covers at least a portion of the flange body, The valve device according to claim 8, wherein the rotation restricting portion is provided on the cover member.

10. 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining ring is engaged with the inner wall of the mounting hole so as not to be disengaged, in the abutting state, while being pressed radially outward against the inner wall of the mounting hole.

11. The valve body is provided with a fixing portion that is fixed to the connecting body, 2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed portion supports the valve body so as not to rotate around the axis of the retaining ring.

12. A connection structure for connecting the valve device according to claim 1 to a connector, The valve body is formed in a cylindrical shape, the connector is provided with a flow path communicating with the valve port and a mounting hole communicating with the flow path; an inner wall of the mounting hole is provided with an engagement groove recessed radially outward around the axis of the valve body, and the inner wall of the engagement groove is provided with a tapered surface whose diameter decreases toward the opening side of the mounting hole; The retaining ring is provided with an inclined portion that can come into contact with the tapered surface, The retaining ring is fitted into the engagement groove in the abutting state, A connection structure characterized in that the tapered surface and the inclined portion abut against each other when the retaining ring is fitted into the engagement groove.

13. A connection method for connecting the connection body and the valve device that constitute the connection structure according to claim 12 to each other, comprising: an arrangement step of inserting the valve body into the mounting hole and interposing the retaining ring and the ejection member between the inner surface of the mounting hole and the outer surface of the valve body; a switching step of switching between the contact state and the non-contact state by rotating the push-out member relative to the retaining ring around the axis of the retaining ring, A connection method characterized in that in the switching process, the abutment state and the non-abutment state are switched by performing one of a rotation operation that rotates the extrusion member to one side around the axis of the retaining ring, and a reciprocating operation that rotates the extrusion member to one side and the other side around the axis.

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