Flow path switching valve

Abstract

To provide a flow path switching valve which can rotate a valve element with small torque.SOLUTION: A flow path switching valve includes: a valve body in which a valve chamber is formed and on which a plurality of inlets / outlets opened to the valve chamber are provided; a valve element which is arranged rotatably inside the valve chamber and in which a flow path is formed; an annular seat member which is arranged between the valve element and a wall face of the valve chamber on which the inlets / outlets are formed, and has an inner seal face which can be in a close contact with an outer peripheral seal face of the valve element on the valve element side; an annular support member which is arranged between the seat member and the wall face on which the inlets / outlets are formed; and a cam member which is arranged between the support member and the wall face on which the inlets / outlets are formed, and can move between a first position at which the support member can be pressed against the valve element side and a second position at which the pressing of the support member against the valve element side is canceled.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a flow path switching valve, and more particularly to a flow path switching valve that switches flow paths by rotating and sliding a valve element within a valve chamber. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART A type of flow path switching valve that switches flow paths by the rotational movement of a valve element is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In this type of flow path switching valve, the valve element is rotationally driven using a rotary drive unit including a motor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-223303 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the flow path switching valve of Patent Document 1, a pair of annular seat members are arranged in the valve chamber corresponding to a pair of outlet ports facing each other, and a ball-shaped valve body is arranged between the pair of seat members so as to be rotatable and slidable.

[0006] In this flow path switching valve, a compression coil spring is placed in a compressed state on the opposite side of the seat member from the valve body side, and the compression coil spring constantly presses the seat member against the valve body. This causes friction between the seat member and the valve body, and a large rotational force, i.e., a large torque, is required to rotate the valve body when switching the flow path, which leaves room for improvement.

[0007] In consideration of the above, the present disclosure has an object to provide a flow path switching valve that allows a valve element to be rotated with a small torque. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A flow path switching valve according to a first aspect includes a valve body having a valve chamber formed therein and having a plurality of inlets and outlets opening into the valve chamber; a valve disc rotatably disposed within the valve chamber and having flow paths formed therein; an annular seat member disposed between the valve disc and a wall surface of the valve chamber where the inlet and outlet are formed, the seat member having an inner seal surface on the valve disc side that can come into close contact with an outer peripheral seal surface of the valve disc; an annular support member disposed between the seat member and the wall surface where the inlet and outlet are formed; and a cam member disposed between the support member and the wall surface where the inlet and outlet are formed, the cam member being movable between a first position where the support member is pressed against the valve disc and a second position where the support member is released from pressing against the valve disc.

[0009] In the flow path switching valve according to the first aspect, by rotating the valve element, the communication state of the plurality of inlets and outlets of the valve chest can be selectively switched through the flow paths of the valve element.

[0010] When one inlet / outlet is connected to another inlet / outlet through the flow path of the valve disc and fluid is to flow between the one inlet / outlet and the other inlet / outlet, the cam member is moved to the first position to press the support member toward the valve disc with the cam member, bringing the inner sealing surface of the seat member into close contact with the outer sealing surface of the valve disc, thereby preventing fluid from leaking between the seat member and the valve disc.

[0011] When switching the communication state of the inlet and outlet, the cam member is moved to the second position before rotating the valve disc, releasing the cam member from pressing the support member. This prevents the inner sealing surface of the seat member from pressing against the outer sealing surface of the valve disc, allowing the valve disc to be rotated with a small torque.

[0012] The flow path switching valve of the second aspect is the flow path switching valve of the first aspect, wherein the cam member is movable in a first direction and a direction opposite to the first direction, and when the cam member moves in the first direction, it presses the support member toward the valve body.

[0013] In the flow path switching valve according to the second aspect, the support member can be pressed against the valve body by moving the cam member in a first direction, and the support member can be released from pressing against the valve body by moving the cam member in the direction opposite to the first direction.

[0014] In the flow path switching valve according to the second aspect, the support member can be easily pressed against the seat member and released from the pressing force by the simple action of moving the cam member in a first direction and then in the direction opposite to the first direction.

[0015] A flow path switching valve according to a third aspect is the flow path switching valve according to the second aspect, further comprising: a rotary shaft that rotates the valve element; a cylindrical shaft portion that is provided on the cam member and fitted onto the outside of the rotary shaft; a rotary nut having a male thread formed on the shaft portion and a female thread that screws onto the male thread; and the cam member moves in the first direction and a direction opposite to the first direction by forward and reverse rotation of the rotary nut.

[0016] In the flow path switching valve according to the third aspect, the valve element can be rotated by rotating the rotary shaft.

[0017] Furthermore, when the rotary nut is rotated, a cam member having a shaft portion formed with a male thread that screws into the female thread of the rotary nut can be moved linearly. In other words, by rotating the rotary nut forward or backward, the cam member can be moved in a first direction and a direction opposite to the first direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] As described above, according to the flow path switching valve of the present disclosure, it is possible to rotate the valve element with a small torque. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a flow path switching valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2]2 is a cross-sectional view of the flow path switching valve shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the flow path switching valve with the cam member moved to an upper limit position. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the flow path switching valve in which the orientation of the valve element is switched. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the flow path switching valve with the cam member moved to a lower limit position. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the flow path switching valve taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] A flow path switching valve 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0021] In each drawing, gaps formed between components, separation distances between components, etc. may be exaggerated to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure and for convenience in drawing. Furthermore, in this specification, descriptions indicating positions and directions such as up / down, left / right, front / back, etc. are based on the illustrations in the drawings and do not refer to positions and directions in actual use. As an example, the direction of arrow U indicates the upward direction, and the direction of arrow D indicates the downward direction.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a flow path switching valve 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2) of the flow path switching valve 10 shown in FIG.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flow path switching valve 10 of this embodiment is used as a rotary three-way switching valve that switches the flow path of a fluid flowing in multiple directions, for example, in the engine compartment of an automobile. The flow path switching valve 10 includes a cubic valve body 14 having a valve chamber 12 .

[0024] The valve body 14 of this embodiment comprises a box member 16 with an open top, a first cover member 18 that closes the top opening of the box member 16, and an annular second cover member 20 that is attached to the top opening of a cylindrical portion 18A formed in the center of the first cover member 18.

[0025] The box member 16, the first cover member 18, and the second cover member 20 are made of, for example, synthetic resin or metal. A valve chamber 12 is formed inside the valve body 14, and the box member 16 is provided with a lateral inlet 22, a first outlet 24, and a second outlet 26 that open into the valve chamber 12 on the horizontal directions indicated by arrows F, L, and R in the drawing.

[0026] The box member 16 accommodates a valve body 28, a rotary nut 30, a cam member 32, a seat member 34, and a support member 36, which will be described later.

[0027] The valve body 28 is formed in a ball shape from, for example, synthetic resin or metal, and has an L-shaped flow path (internal flow path) 38 formed inside to selectively connect the inlet 22, the first outlet 24, and the second outlet 26 provided in the valve body 14, in other words, to selectively switch the communication state of the inlet 22, the first outlet 24, and the second outlet 26.

[0028] A rotation shaft 28A, which is an example of a rotation shaft extending in the vertical direction, is integrally provided at the center of the upper part of the valve body 28. The rotation shaft 28A is connected to a first rotation drive device 40 including a motor (not shown) and the like, and the rotational force of the first rotation drive device 40 is transmitted to the valve body 28 via the rotation shaft 28A, causing the valve body 28 to rotate.

[0029] Annular seat members 34 made of synthetic resin (such as Teflon (registered trademark)) are disposed on the first outlet 24 side and the second outlet 26 side of the valve body 14. The seat members 34 have openings corresponding to the first outlet 24 and the second outlet 26. The valve element 28 is disposed between (inside) the seat members 34.

[0030] In the seat member 34, the portion around the opening on the inner circumference (surface) on the valve body 28 side is composed of a curved surface (part of a concave spherical surface), and is made into an inner circumference seal surface 34F that can slide against the outer circumference seal surface (curved surface) 28F of the valve body 28.

[0031] An O-ring groove 42 is formed on the outer side of the opening of the seat member 34 on the side opposite to the valve body 28. An O-ring 44 made of an elastic material is fitted into the O-ring groove 42. A portion of the O-ring 44 fitted into the O-ring groove 42 protrudes from the side surface of the seat member 34.

[0032] An annular plate-like support member 36 is disposed on the opposite side of the seat member 34 from the valve body 14 side.

[0033] The support member 36 is formed to have a constant thickness overall, but has a tapered surface 36T at the upper part of the side opposite the sheet member 34, which is formed so that the plate thickness gradually decreases upward.

[0034] Inside the valve chamber 12, a cam member 32 is provided above the valve body 14, the seat member 34, and the support member 36.

[0035] The cam member 32 includes a plate-like base 46 that is disposed horizontally above the valve body 14, the seat member 34, and the support member 36. A columnar portion 48, which serves as an example of a shaft portion, is integrally formed at the center of the upper portion of the base 46. A through-hole 50 that penetrates the columnar portion 48 and the base 46 is formed in the cam member 32, and the rotation shaft 28A passes through this through-hole 50. The formation of the through-hole 50 gives the columnar portion 48 a cylindrical shape.

[0036] A male screw 52 is formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 48, and the rotating nut 30 is threadedly engaged with this male screw 52.

[0037] On the underside of the base 46, a wedge-shaped tapered cam 49 is formed at the end portions on the arrow L direction side and the arrow R direction side so that the thickness of the plate gradually decreases downward. The tapered cam 49 of this cam member 32 is formed on the underside of the base 46 so as to face the tapered surface 36T of the support member 36.

[0038] Here, the rotary shaft 28A of the valve body 28 receives a driving force from a first rotary drive device 40 including a motor and the like, and is rotated in forward and reverse directions (clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) in FIG. 2).

[0039] The rotary nut 30 receives a driving force from a second rotary drive device 54 including a motor and the like, and is rotated in forward and reverse directions (clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) in FIG. 2).

[0040] As an example, when the rotating nut 30 rotates forward (clockwise in Figure 2), the cam member 32 moves upward without rotating, guided by the inner wall of the box member 16, and when the rotating nut 30 rotates reversely (counterclockwise in Figure 2), the cam member 32 moves downward without rotating. Note that Figure 1 shows a state in which the cam member 32 has been moved to the lowest position (first position), and Figure 3 shows a state in which the cam member 32 has been moved to the highest position (second position).

[0041] (Action, effect) Next, the operation and effects of the flow path switching valve 10 of this embodiment will be described. 1 and 2 show the flow path switching valve 10 in a state (first state) in which the inlet 22 and the first outlet 24 are connected by the flow path 38 of the valve element 28.

[0042] In the flow path switching valve 10 in which the inlet 22 and the first outlet 24 are connected, the cam member 32 is moved to the lower limit position as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this state, the support member 36 approaches the seat member 34, compressing the O-ring 44, and the seat member 34 is urged toward the valve body 28 by the elastic force of the O-ring 44.

[0043] As a result, the inner peripheral seal surface 34F of the seat member 34 is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral seal surface 28F of the valve body 28, and the gap between the seat member 34 and the support member 36 is sealed by the O-ring 44.

[0044] Next, the order of switching from a state in which the inlet 22 and the first outlet 24 are connected (first state) to a state in which the inlet 22 and the second outlet 26 are connected (second state) will be described.

[0045] First, the second rotation drive device 54 rotates the rotary nut 30 in the forward direction, and as shown in Fig. 3, the cam member 32 is raised to its upper limit position. By raising the cam member 32 to its upper limit position, the tapered surface 36T of the support member 36 slides against the inclined surface of the tapered cam 49 of the cam member 32. The support member 36, subjected to the elastic force of the O-ring 44, moves in a direction away from the seat member 34, and the seat member 34 is no longer biased toward the valve body 28 by the O-ring 44 (note that there are cases in which the O-ring 44 moves away from the side surface of the support member 36).

[0046] When the cam member 32 is raised to the upper limit position in this manner, the seat member 34 no longer presses the valve element 28, allowing the valve element 28 to be rotated with a small torque. In other words, the first rotation drive device 40 can be one that generates a small torque.

[0047] 4, the rotary shaft 28A is rotated by the first rotary drive device 40 so that the flow path 38 of the valve element 28 communicates between the inlet 22 and the second outlet 26 (second state). During this rotation, the seat member 34 does not press against the valve element 28, so the first rotary drive device 40 can rotate the valve element 28 with a small torque.

[0048] Next, from the state shown in FIG. 4, the second rotary drive device 54 rotates the rotary nut 30 in the reverse direction, and the cam member 32 is lowered to the lowest position.

[0049] When the cam member 32 is lowered to the lowest position, the support member 36 moves in a direction approaching the seat member 34, the O-ring 44 is compressed by the support member 36, and the seat member 34 is urged toward the valve body 28 side.

[0050] This causes the gap between the seat member 34 and the support member 36 to be sealed with the O-ring 44, and the inner sealing surface 34F of the seat member 34 to adhere to the outer sealing surface 28F of the valve body 28, thereby connecting the inlet 22 and the second outlet 26 (establishing the second state).

[0051] Furthermore, when the O-ring 44 is compressed between the seat member 34 and the support member 36, the inner sealing surface 34F of the seat member 34 is pressed tightly against the outer sealing surface 28F of the valve body 28, thereby suppressing leakage (valve leakage) between the valve body 28 and the first outlet 24, and between the valve body 28 and the second outlet 26.

[0052] In this way, in the flow path switching valve 10 of this embodiment, the seat member 34 can be easily pressed against and released from the valve body 28 by the simple operation of moving the cam member 32 up and down, and when switching the flow path, the valve body 28 can be rotated with a light torque.

[0053] [Other embodiments] The above describes one embodiment of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the O-ring 44 is attached to the O-ring groove 42 formed in the seat member 34, but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the O-ring groove 42 may be formed in the support member 36, and the O-ring 44 may be attached to the O-ring groove 42 formed in the support member 36.

[0055] In the above embodiment, a ball-shaped valve body (ball valve body) is used as the valve body 28, but as long as the flow path can be switched in response to rotation, a cylindrical valve body (cylindrical valve), for example, may be used instead of the ball-shaped valve body 28, and the shape of the internal flow path formed therein may of course be changed depending on the intended use, etc.

[0056] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the valve body 28 and the rotary shaft 28A are integrally formed, but the valve body 28 and the rotary shaft 28A may be configured as separate parts (separate bodies).

[0057] In the above embodiment, the rotating shaft 28A is rotated by the first rotary drive device 40, and the rotating nut 30 is rotated by the second rotary drive device 54, but the rotating shaft 28A and the rotating nut 30 can also be rotated separately using a single two-axis coaxial motor (also called a two-axis integrated motor) equipped with an inner rotating shaft and an outer rotating shaft.

[0058] It goes without saying that the number and arrangement of the inlets and outlets (inlet and outlet) formed in the valve body 14 can be changed as appropriate depending on the application location of the flow path switching valve 10. In the above embodiment, a three-way valve has been described as an example of the flow path switching valve 10, but it goes without saying that it may also be a two-way valve or a switching valve with four or more ways.

[0059] Furthermore, the flow path switching valve 10 in the above embodiment is intended to be used for switching flow paths in the engine compartment of a vehicle (such as an engine cooling circuit or an electronic device cooling circuit), but its use is not limited to this, and it can of course be used for switching flow paths in a hot water supply system, for example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] * 10. Flow path switching valve 12 Valve chamber 14 Valve body 28 Valve body 28A Rotating shaft 30 Rotating Nut 32 Cam member 34 Sheet material 36 Support member 48 Shaft 52 Male thread

Claims

1. a valve body having a valve chamber formed therein and a plurality of inlets and outlets opening into the valve chamber; a valve element rotatably disposed within the valve chamber and having a flow path formed therein; an annular seat member disposed between the valve body and a wall surface of the valve chamber in which the inlet / outlet is formed, the seat member having an inner seal surface on the valve body side that can come into close contact with an outer peripheral seal surface of the valve body; an annular support member disposed between the sheet member and the wall surface where the inlet / outlet is formed; a cam member that is disposed between the support member and the wall surface where the inlet / outlet is formed, and that is movable between a first position where the support member is pressed against the valve body and a second position where the support member is released from the pressing against the valve body; A flow path switching valve having the above structure.

2. the cam member is provided to be movable in a first direction and a direction opposite to the first direction, When the cam member moves in the first direction, the support member is pressed against the valve body. The flow path switching valve according to claim 1 .

3. a rotary shaft that rotates the valve body; a cylindrical shaft portion provided on the cam member and fitted onto the rotary shaft; a male screw formed on the shaft portion; a rotating nut having a female thread that screws onto the male thread; Equipped with the cam member moves in the first direction and in a direction opposite to the first direction in response to forward and reverse rotation of the rotary nut; The flow path switching valve according to claim 2 .

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