Electronic Expansion Valve

Abstract

The electronic expansion valve includes a cover (1), a valve seat (2), and a nut seat (3), the valve seat (2) and the cover (1) forming a chamber (13), the valve seat (2) having a valve port (21) and a recess (22) provided corresponding to the valve port (21), the valve seat (2) further including a deformation portion (23) capable of deforming along a radial direction, and the nut seat (3) is provided within the chamber (13) and includes a sleeve portion (31) and a connecting portion (32) integrally provided on an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve portion (31) and protruding therefrom, at least a portion of the connecting portion (32) being provided within the recess (22) and being limited within the recess (22) by the deformation portion (23) along the axial direction.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Related Applications This disclosure claims priority to a patent application for “Electronic Expansion Valve”, application number 202220245983.5, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Office on January 28, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of refrigeration systems, and more particularly to electronic expansion valves. [Background technology]

[0003] With the spread of inverter air conditioners, the performance of the electronic expansion valve, which is a main component of the inverter air conditioner, has a great impact on the comfort and energy saving of the air conditioner. However, in the electronic expansion valve in the related art, both the valve seat and the nut seat are made of metal members and are connected by riveting. Or, the metal inserts of the valve seat and the nut seat are riveted. This causes problems such as complicated processing and high cost. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic expansion valve to solve the problems of complex processing and high cost existing in the related art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An electronic expansion valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cover, a valve seat, and a nut seat, the valve seat and the cover form a chamber, the valve seat has a valve port and a recess provided corresponding to the valve port, the valve seat further includes a deformation portion capable of deforming along a radial direction, and the nut seat is provided within the chamber, and includes a sleeve portion and a connecting portion integrally protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve portion, at least a portion of the connecting portion is provided within the recess and is limited within the recess by the deformation portion along an axial direction.

[0006] The above disclosed embodiments have at least the following advantages or beneficial effects.

[0007] In the electronic expansion valve of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the nut seat includes a sleeve portion and a connecting portion integrally protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve portion, at least a part of the connecting portion is provided in a recess of the valve seat, and the valve seat further includes a deformable deformation portion. When the nut seat is attached to the valve seat, the connecting portion and the deformable portion are connected to fix the nut seat and the valve seat in the axial direction. Compared with the connecting method of the nut seat and the valve seat in the related art, the nut seat of the embodiment of the present disclosure adopts an integral structure design, which has the advantage of being easy to process. In addition, the connecting portion and the sleeve portion are integrally structured, and no metal insert is required, which reduces material costs. In addition, the coaxiality of the connecting portion and the sleeve portion is also improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic expansion valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nut seat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a nut seat according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Next, exemplary embodiments will be described more comprehensively with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein, but rather, by providing these embodiments, the present disclosure will be comprehensive and complete, and the idea of ​​the exemplary embodiments can be comprehensively conveyed to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar structures, and therefore detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic expansion valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 2 is a partially enlarged view of a portion A in Figure 1.

[0011] The electronic expansion valve of the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cover 1 , a coil (not shown), a valve seat 2 , a nut seat 3 , a screw 4 , a valve needle 5 , and a magnetic rotor 6 .

[0012] It is to be understood that the terms "comprising" and "having," as well as any variations thereof, in the embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to be non-exclusive inclusive. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the recited steps or units, but optionally also includes steps or units that are not recited, or optionally includes other steps or components inherent to the process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0013] The coil is provided on the outer periphery of the cover 1. The valve seat 2 is connected to the cover 1 and forms a chamber 13 together with the cover 1. The valve seat 2 has a valve port 21 and a recess 22 provided corresponding to the valve port 21. The valve seat 2 further includes a deformation portion 23 that can be deformed along the radial direction. The nut seat 3 is provided in the chamber 13 and includes a sleeve portion 31 and a connection portion 32 integrally protruding from the outer periphery of the sleeve portion 31. At least a part of the connection portion 32 is provided in the recess 22 and is limited within the recess 22 by the deformation portion 23 along the axial direction. The screw 4 is provided in the chamber 13 and is screwed into the sleeve portion 31. The valve needle 5 is connected to the screw 4 and is used to adjust the opening degree of the valve port 21 in cooperation with the valve port 21. The magnetic rotor 6 is provided in the chamber 13, inductively coupled with the coil, and connected to the screw 4.

[0014] In the electronic expansion valve of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the nut seat 3 includes a sleeve portion 31 and a connecting portion 32 integrally protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve portion 31, and at least a part of the connecting portion 32 is provided in the recess 22 of the valve seat 2, and the valve seat 2 further includes a deformable deformation portion 23. When the nut seat 3 is attached to the valve seat 2, the connecting portion 32 and the deformable portion 23 are connected to each other, thereby fixing the nut seat 3 and the valve seat 2 in the axial direction. Compared with the connection method between the nut seat and the valve seat in the related art, the nut seat 3 of the embodiment of the present disclosure adopts an integral structure design, which has the advantage of being easy to process. In addition, the connecting portion 32 and the sleeve portion 31 are integral in structure, and no metal insert is required, which reduces material costs. In addition, the coaxiality between the connecting portion 32 and the sleeve portion 31 is also improved.

[0015] The cover 1 may include a pipe portion 11 and a cap 12, and the cap 12 is provided at one end of the pipe portion 11. As an example, the cap 12 and the pipe portion 11 may be connected by a welding method such as, but not limited to, laser welding.

[0016] The valve seat 2 is connected to the cover 1, and the valve seat 2 forms a chamber 13 together with the cover 1. Specifically, the valve seat 2 is connected to the other end of the pipe portion 11 by, for example, welding.

[0017] The valve seat 2 is further connected to a first connecting pipe 91 and a second connecting pipe 92. A valve port 21 of the valve seat 2 is provided between the first connecting pipe 91 and the second connecting pipe 92. When the valve needle 5 closes the valve port 21, the first connecting pipe 91 and the second connecting pipe 92 are not electrically connected to each other. When the valve needle 5 does not close the valve port 21, the first connecting pipe 91 and the second connecting pipe 92 are electrically connected to each other.

[0018] The deformation portion 23 is provided at the opening edge of the recess 22. Specifically, the recess 22 includes a bottom portion 221 and a side portion 222, and the side portion 222 surrounds the outer peripheral edge of the bottom portion 221 and extends upward in the axial direction. The deformation portion 23 is provided at an end of the side portion 222 that is separated from the bottom portion 221. Since the connection portion 32 of the nut seat 3 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve portion 31, when the connection portion 32 is installed in the recess 22, the deformation portion 23 can lock the connection portion 32 along the axial direction after moving radially inward, thereby restricting the connection portion 32 within the recess 22 and preventing the nut seat 3 from coming off the valve seat 2 along the axial direction.

[0019] In one embodiment, the deformation portion 23 has an annular structure and surrounds the outer periphery of the sleeve portion 31 of the nut seat 3 .

[0020] A through hole 25 is provided in the bottom 221 of the valve seat 2 along the thickness direction, and the valve needle 5 is inserted into the through hole 25.

[0021] In one embodiment, the valve seat 2 is a metallic member.

[0022] 1 and 2, the thickness of the side portion 222 is greater than the thickness of the deformed portion 23. This makes it easier for the deformed portion 23 to deform when connecting the nut seat 3 to the valve seat 2. Specifically, a method of press-fitting the nut seat 3 into the valve seat 2 and riveting can be used. When the connecting portion 32 is fitted into the recess 22 of the valve seat 2, the deformed portion 23 is pressed in the axial direction, so that the deformed portion 23 can be deformed in the radial direction, and finally the riveting is achieved.

[0023] The sleeve portion 31 includes a threaded portion 311, a first guide portion 312, and a second guide portion 313. The first guide portion 312 is provided at one end of the threaded portion 311, and the second guide portion 313 is provided at the other end of the threaded portion 311. The threaded portion 311 has a female thread, which is screwed into the male thread of the screw 4. When the coil is energized, the magnetic rotor 6 can rotate about its own axis, thereby driving the screw 4 to rotate synchronously. When the screw 4 and the threaded portion 311 of the sleeve portion 31 rotate relatively due to the thread structure, the screw 4 can move axially relative to the nut seat 3, which drives the valve needle 5 along the axial direction, thereby adjusting the opening degree of the valve port 21.

[0024] The screw 4 is inserted into the first guide portion 312 so as to be movable in the axial direction. The valve needle 5 is inserted into the second guide portion 313 so as to be movable in the axial direction. A part of the second guide portion 313 is inserted into the through hole 25 of the valve seat 2.

[0025] The screw 4 further includes an accommodating groove 41. The electronic expansion valve further includes an elastic member 81, which is disposed in the accommodating groove 41, with one end abutting against the groove bottom of the accommodating groove 41 and the other end abutting against the valve needle 5, thereby urging the valve needle 5 away from the screw 4. One end of the valve needle 5 is limited within the accommodating groove 41.

[0026] By providing the elastic member 81 between the screw 4 and the valve needle 5, the contact between the valve needle 5 and the screw 4 can be soft rather than hard. When the screw 4 drives the valve needle 5 to close the valve port 21, even if the screw 4 continues to move downward, the valve needle 5 does not continue to move downward but compresses the elastic member 81, so that the valve needle 5 is not locked to the valve port 21, and the screw 4 and the threaded portion 311 are not screwed. Therefore, when moving along the opposite direction, the screw 4 and the threaded portion 311 can still rotate easily to drive the valve needle 5 upward to open the valve port 21.

[0027] In one non-limiting embodiment, the elastic member 81 is a compression spring.

[0028] In one embodiment, the electronic expansion valve further includes a position limiting member 93, which is provided on the groove wall of the accommodating groove 41 and adjacent to the groove opening of the accommodating groove 41. One end of the valve needle 5 is provided with a flange, which cooperates with the position limiting member 93 to confine the end of the valve needle 5 having the flange within the accommodating groove 41, and prevents the valve needle 5 from leaving the accommodating groove 41.

[0029] As an example, the position restriction member 93 may be in the shape of a sleeve, the outer wall surface of which is connected to the groove wall of the accommodation groove 41 and fitted onto the outer periphery of the needle 5 .

[0030] The connecting portion 32 and the threaded portion 311 are misaligned in the axial direction. This makes it possible to prevent the threaded portion 311 from being deformed by being pressed when the connecting portion 32 is attached to the recess 22 of the valve seat 2.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the nut seat 3 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the nut seat 3 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The nut seat 3 further has a balance groove 82, which penetrates the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve portion 31 and the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion 32.

[0032] By providing the balance groove 82, the space within the valve seat 2 can be connected to the chamber 13, so that the valve needle 5 does not encounter resistance due to an imbalance in air pressure during axial movement.

[0033] A position restriction structure is further provided between the outer circumferential surface of the connection portion 32 and the recess 22, and the position restriction structure is used to restrict the rotation of the nut seat 3 and the valve seat 2 in the circumferential direction.

[0034] 1 and 3, in one embodiment, the position restriction structure includes a first plane 321, which is provided on the connecting portion 32 and fitted into the recess 22. By utilizing irregular deformation caused by the side portion 222 of the recess 22, the first plane 321 can be fitted into the first plane 312 to prevent rotation of the nut seat 3.

[0035] Of course, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the position restriction structure may include a protrusion and a groove cooperating with the protrusion. The protrusion may be provided on one of the connecting portion 32 and the recess 22, and the groove may be provided on the other of the connecting portion 32 and the recess 22.

[0036] In one embodiment, the nut seat 3 may be a plastic member and may be molded by injection molding. Because the nut seat 3 of the embodiment of the present disclosure does not have a metal insert, the injection molding process is more simplified.

[0037] In one embodiment, the nut seat 3 may be made of, but is not limited to, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).

[0038] The electronic expansion valve of the embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a locking assembly 7, which is disposed within the chamber 13 and connected to the cap 12, and is used to limit the axial movement range of the screw 4.

[0039] The locking assembly 7 includes a column 71, a spring guide rail 72, a locking ring 73, and a connecting member 74. One end of the column 71 is connected to the inner wall surface of the cap 12 and extends along the axial direction. The spring guide rail 72 is arranged spirally on the outer periphery of the column 71, and a first locking portion 76 and a second locking portion 75 are provided at both ends of the spring guide rail 72, respectively. The connecting member 74 is connected to the screw 4. The locking ring 73 abuts against the connecting member 74 and is arranged spirally on the outer periphery of the column 71. At the same time, the locking ring 73 can move spirally in the spiral groove formed by the spring guide rail 72.

[0040] When the screw 4 rotates around its own axis, the locking ring 73 revolves along the spiral groove of the spring guide rail 72. In the process of the screw 4 moving towards the cap 12, the locking ring 73 coming into contact with the first locking portion 76 indicates that the screw 4 has moved to the upper limit point, at which point the screw 4 can no longer continue moving upward. In the process of the screw 4 moving away from the cap 12, the locking ring 73 coming into contact with the second locking portion 75 indicates that the screw 4 has moved to the lower limit point, at which point the screw 4 can no longer continue moving downward.

[0041] It should be understood that each example / embodiment provided in the present disclosure can be combined with each other if no contradiction occurs, and therefore, not every example will be described here.

[0042] In the disclosed embodiments, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. The term "plurality" means two or more unless otherwise expressly limited. The terms "attached", "coupled", "connected", "fixed", and the like are all to be understood in a broad sense, for example, the term "connected" may mean a fixed, detachable, or integral connection, and the term "connected" may mean a direct connection or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the disclosed embodiments according to the context.

[0043] In describing the disclosed embodiments, it is to be understood that orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", etc. are based on orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended to facilitate and simplify the description of the disclosed embodiments only, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the devices or units referred to must be oriented in a particular way or be configured or operated in a particular orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limitations on the disclosed embodiments.

[0044] In the description of the specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "particular embodiments," and the like, mean that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the disclosed embodiment. In this specification, schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0045] The above is merely a preferred embodiment of the disclosed embodiment, and is not intended to limit the disclosed embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible for those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the disclosed embodiment shall be included in the protection scope of the disclosed embodiment.

[0046] The symbols are explained as follows. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 Cover 11 Pipe section 12 Cap 13. Chamber 2 Valve seat 21 Valve Orifice 22 Recess 221 Bottom 222 Side 23 Transformation section 25 Through hole 3 Nut seat 31 Sleeve section 311 Screw part 312 1st Information Department 313 2nd Information Department 32 Connection 321 1st plane 4 Screw 41 Storage Groove 5 Valve Needle 6 Magnetic rotor 7 Locking Assembly Column 71 72 Spring guide rail 73 Locking Ring 74 Connection parts 75 Second locking part 76 First locking part 81 Elastic member 82 Balance groove 91 First connecting pipe 92 Second connecting pipe 93 Position control member

Claims

1. Cover and a valve seat that forms a chamber together with the cover, the valve seat having a valve port and a recess that is provided corresponding to the valve port, and the valve seat further includes a deformation portion that is deformable along a radial direction; a nut seat provided within the chamber, the nut seat including a sleeve portion and a connecting portion integrally protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve portion, at least a portion of the connecting portion being provided within the recess and confined within the recess by the deformation portion along the axial direction.

2. a screw provided in the chamber and threadedly engaging with the sleeve portion; a valve needle connected to the screw and used to adjust the opening of the valve port in cooperation with the valve port; 2. The electronic expansion valve of claim 1, further comprising: a magnetic rotor disposed within the chamber, inductively coupled with a coil, and connected to the screw.

3. 2. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein the deformation portion is provided at an opening edge portion of the recess.

4. 4. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 3, wherein the recess includes a bottom and a side, and the thickness of the side is greater than the thickness of the deformation portion.

5. The sleeve portion is A threaded portion having a female thread, the female thread being screwed into a male thread of the screw; a first guide portion provided at one end of the threaded portion, the screw being inserted into the first guide portion so as to be movable along an axial direction; 3. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 2, further comprising: a second guide portion provided at the other end of the threaded portion, the valve needle being inserted into the second guide portion so as to be movable along an axial direction.

6. The screw further includes a receiving groove; 6. The electronic expansion valve as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an elastic member disposed in the accommodating groove, one end of the elastic member abutting against a groove bottom of the accommodating groove and the other end of the elastic member abutting against the valve needle, thereby urging the valve needle away from the screw, and one end of the valve needle being limited in the accommodating groove.

7. 6. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 5, wherein the connecting portion and the threaded portion are offset from each other along the axial direction.

8. 2. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1, further comprising a position restriction structure provided between an outer circumferential surface of the connection portion and the recess, the position restriction structure being used to restrict circumferential rotation of the nut seat and the valve seat.

9. 9. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 8, wherein the position restriction structure includes a first plane, the first plane being provided on the connecting portion and fitted into the recess.

10. The nut seat further includes a balance groove, the balance groove passing through the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve portion and the outer circumferential surface of the connection portion; and / or 2. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein the nut seat is made of a plastic material.

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