Switching valves and air conditioning systems

Abstract

The main valve (10) includes a main valve (10), a pilot valve (20), a pipe joint (30), and a first capillary tube (21). The main valve (10) includes a valve body (11), a first connecting pipe (12), a second connecting pipe (13), and a third connecting pipe (14). An exhaust hole (111) is drilled in the side wall of the valve body (11). One end of the first capillary tube (21) is connected to an end of the pilot valve (20), and a part of the other end is inserted into the pipe joint (30). The present invention discloses a switching valve (100) that satisfies B≦0.5A, where A is the longest distance between the outer surface of the first connecting pipe (12) and the outer surface of the third connecting pipe (14) along the axial direction of the valve body (11), and B is the shortest distance between the central axis of the second connecting pipe (13) and the central axis of the exhaust hole (111), thereby simplifying the process and reducing costs. The present invention also discloses an air conditioning system that uses this switching valve.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (Related Applications) This application claims priority to a Chinese patent application filed on February 1, 2023, bearing application number 202320186196.2 and entitled "Switching Valve and Air Conditioning System," the entire text of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and more particularly to a switching valve and an air conditioning system. [Background technology]

[0003] In an air conditioning system, a switching valve is mainly used to control the communication or blocking of a pipeline so that a fluid flows while changing its direction.

[0004] The switching valve includes a main valve with an inlet D connecting pipe through which high-pressure fluid flows, and a pilot valve. The switching valve further includes an inlet capillary tube connected to the end of the pilot valve and the periphery of the inlet D connecting pipe, respectively, to allow a portion of the high-pressure fluid to flow into the pilot valve. However, this connection method requires a long inlet capillary tube and multiple bending operations to achieve the connection, which complicates the process and increases costs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Various embodiments of the present application provide a switching valve and an air conditioning system that can reduce costs.

[0006] The switching valve includes a valve body, a first connecting pipe, a second connecting pipe, and a third connecting pipe, which are arranged side by side on one side of the valve body and are all connected to the valve body, and the second connecting pipe is located between the first connecting pipe and the third connecting pipe, and an exhaust hole is further drilled in the side wall of the valve body, the switching valve also includes a main valve, a pilot valve connected to the main valve, a fitting connected to the exhaust hole, and a first capillary tube located between the main valve and the pilot valve, one end connected to an end of the pilot valve and the other end partially inserted into the fitting and connected to the fitting, where A is defined as the farthest distance along the axial direction of the valve body between the outer surface of the first connecting pipe and the outer surface of the third connecting pipe, and B is defined as the shortest distance between the central axis of the second connecting pipe and the central axis of the exhaust hole, and B satisfies the relationship B≦0.5A.

[0007] In one embodiment, the central axis of the exhaust hole is perpendicular to the plane in which the first connecting pipe, the second connecting pipe, and the third connecting pipe are located.

[0008] In one embodiment, the first capillary is L-shaped.

[0009] In one embodiment, the fitting and the first capillary tube are made of the same material, and the fitting and the valve body are made of different materials.

[0010] In one embodiment, the valve body is made of stainless steel, and the fitting and the first capillary tube are made of copper.

[0011] In one embodiment, the valve body has a valve chamber, a flange is provided around the exhaust hole and extends in a direction away from the valve chamber, and a portion of the pipe fitting is inserted into the flange and connected to the flange.

[0012] In one embodiment, when the shortest distance from the end face of the pipe joint adjacent to the valve chamber to the inner wall of the valve body is L and the height of the flange is H, the relationship 0≦L≦H is satisfied.

[0013] In one embodiment, the valve chamber includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, and the switching valve further includes: a second capillary tube located between the pilot valve and the valve body, one end of which is connected to the pilot valve and the other end of which is connected to the first chamber; and a third capillary tube located between the pilot valve and the valve body, one end of which is connected to the pilot valve and the other end of which is connected to the third chamber, wherein the first capillary tube and the second chamber are connected to each other.

[0014] In one embodiment, the main valve further includes a fourth connecting pipe disposed on both sides of the valve body opposite the first connecting pipe, the second connecting pipe, and the third connecting pipe, and connected to the second chamber.

[0015] The present application further provides an air conditioning system including the above-mentioned switching valve.

[0016] The details of one or more embodiments of the application are set forth in the drawings and description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the application will become apparent from the description, drawings, and claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] To better describe and explain the embodiments and / or examples of the inventions disclosed herein, reference may be made to one or more drawings. Any additional details or examples used to illustrate the drawings should not be considered as limiting the scope of any of the disclosed inventions, the embodiments and / or examples described herein, and the best mode of these inventions as understood herein.

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a switching valve provided by the present application; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of a valve body provided by the present application. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a valve body provided by the present application. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a valve body provided by the present application. [Figure 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a partial structure of a switching valve provided by the present application; [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning system provided by the present application.

[0019] In the drawings, the meanings of the symbols are as follows: 100 switching valve, 10 main valve, 11 valve body, 111 exhaust hole, 112 valve chamber, 1121 first chamber, 1122 second chamber, 1123 third chamber, 113 flange, 12 first connecting pipe, 13 second connecting pipe, 14 third connecting pipe, 15 fourth connecting pipe, 20 pilot valve, 21 first capillary, 22 second capillary, 23 third capillary, 24 fourth capillary, 30 pipe joint, 200 air conditioning system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present application clearer and easier to understand, specific embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, various specific details are described to facilitate a thorough understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without going against the content of the present application, so the present application is not limited by the specific examples disclosed below.

[0021] It should be understood that when an assembly is referred to as being "fixed" or "mounted" to another assembly, it may be directly fixed to the other assembly, or there may be an intervening assembly present. When an assembly is referred to as being "connected" to another assembly, it may be directly connected to the other assembly, or there may be an intervening assembly present as well. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in the specification of this application are for descriptive purposes only and do not represent the only embodiments.

[0022] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or as implicitly designating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature qualified by "first" or "second" can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "plurality" means at least two, e.g., two, three, etc., unless explicitly and specifically limited.

[0023] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified or limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact with each other, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact with each other via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, a first feature being "above," "above," or "upper side" of a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," or "below" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the horizontal height of the first feature is lower than that of the second feature.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in the specification of this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art of this application. The terms used in the specification of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the application. The term "and / or" used in the specification of this application includes one or more of any and all combinations of the associated listed items.

[0025] 1, the present application provides a switching valve 100 including a main valve 10 and a pilot valve 20. The pilot valve 20 is connected to the main valve 10 and is used to control the operation mode of the main valve 10.

[0026] The main valve 10 includes a valve body 11, a first connecting pipe 12, a second connecting pipe 13, a third connecting pipe 14, and a fourth connecting pipe 15. The first connecting pipe 12, the second connecting pipe 13, and the third connecting pipe 14 are arranged side by side on one side of the valve body 11 and are all connected to the valve body 11, and the second connecting pipe 13 is located between the first connecting pipe 12 and the third connecting pipe 14. The fourth connecting pipe 15 is arranged opposite the first connecting pipe 12, the second connecting pipe 13, and the third connecting pipe 14 on both sides of the valve body 11.

[0027] Specifically, the switching valve 100 is connected to the air conditioning pipeline by a first connecting pipe 12, a second connecting pipe 13, a third connecting pipe 14, and a fourth connecting pipe 15. Here, the switching valve 100 has a first state in which the first connecting pipe 12 and the fourth connecting pipe 15 are connected to each other and the second connecting pipe 13 and the third connecting pipe 14 are connected to each other, and a second state in which the third connecting pipe 14 and the fourth connecting pipe 15 are connected to each other and the second connecting pipe 13 and the first connecting pipe 12 are connected to each other. The switching valve 100 changes the operating mode of the entire air conditioning system 200 by switching between the first state and the second state.

[0028] 1 and 2, an exhaust hole 111 is further drilled in the side wall of the valve body 11. The switching valve 100 further includes a pipe joint 30 and a first capillary tube 21. The pipe joint 30 is connected to the exhaust hole 111, and the first capillary tube 21 is located between the main valve 10 and the pilot valve 20. One end of the first capillary tube 21 is connected to an end of the pilot valve 20, and a portion of the other end of the first capillary tube 21 enters the pipe joint 30 and is connected to the pipe joint 30.

[0029] In the present application, the first capillary 21 can be connected to the valve disc 11 by drilling an exhaust hole 111 in the valve disc 11. As such, compared to the related art method in which the first capillary is directly connected to the fourth connecting pipe, the first capillary 21 in the present application is shorter and requires fewer bends, thereby reducing the difficulty of the process and reducing costs. Furthermore, because the valve disc 11 is connected via the first capillary 21, even if the fourth connecting pipe 15 is tilted or deformed due to a large force such as a collision, the problem of the first capillary 21 becoming detached due to a poor connection between the first capillary and the fourth connecting pipe in the related art can be avoided, reducing the risk of leakage and improving safety during use.

[0030] Furthermore, if the farthest distance along the axial direction of the valve body 11 between the outer surface of the first connecting pipe 12 and the outer surface of the third connecting pipe 14 is defined as A, and the shortest distance between the central axis of the second connecting pipe 13 and the central axis of the exhaust hole 111 is defined as B, then B≦0.5A is satisfied.

[0031] Since high-pressure fluid flows through the fourth connecting pipe 15, it can be understood that the chamber in the valve body 11 that is connected to the fourth connecting pipe 15 also contains high-pressure fluid. Specifically, a slider (not shown) and a piston assembly (not shown) are provided within the valve body 11, and the piston assembly is connected to the slider and can link the sliding of the slider, thereby switching the switching valve 100 from the first state to the second state, or from the second state to the first state. During the movement of the piston assembly and the slider, the area in the internal chamber of the valve body 11 through which the high-pressure fluid flows changes accordingly.

[0032] In this case, by making B≦0.5A, it is ensured that the exhaust port 111 can always communicate with the high-pressure fluid chamber, so that some of the high-pressure fluid can flow into the pilot valve 20 through the first capillary tube 21 connected to the exhaust port 111 to meet the operating requirements of the pilot valve 20. That is, the movement of the slider, piston assembly, or other components will not interfere with the exhaust port 111, and the operating performance of the switching valve 100 can be better met.

[0033] The shortest distance between the central axis of the second connecting pipe 13 and the central axis of the exhaust hole 111 can be reasonably set according to actual needs. For example, the shortest distance between the central axis of the second connecting pipe 13 and the central axis of the exhaust hole 111 may be set to 0.5A, 0.45A, 0.4A, 0.3A, etc.

[0034] 1 and 2, in one embodiment, the central axis of the exhaust hole 111 is perpendicular to the plane on which the first connecting pipe 12, the second connecting pipe 13, and the third connecting pipe 14 are located. The exhaust hole 111 is drilled on the side of the valve body 11 that is closest to the pilot valve 20. This shortens the length of the first capillary tube 21, reducing material costs. Furthermore, the first capillary tube 21 is easily connected and can be easily aligned with the mounting hole, achieving quick connection and improving installation efficiency.

[0035] 1, the first capillary tube 21 is L-shaped, which allows the connection between the pilot valve 20 and the valve body 11 of the main valve 10 to be achieved by bending it only once, making the operation easier and reducing the risk of the first capillary tube 21 breaking due to multiple bending.

[0036] Generally, the first capillary tube 21 and the valve body 11 are made of different materials. When welding, on the one hand, the welding strength requirement must be met, and on the other hand, the welding characteristics of different materials differ greatly. In some embodiments, the first capillary tube 21 has some parts that cannot withstand high temperatures, so direct welding is not easy. In this case, the provision of a pipe joint 30 makes it easy to connect the first capillary tube 21.

[0037] In one embodiment, the pipe fitting 30 and the first capillary tube 21 are made of the same material, and the pipe fitting 30 and the valve body 11 are made of different materials. During the assembly process of the switching valve 100, the pipe fitting 30 and the valve body 11 may be first connected by welding, as the pipe fitting 30 has a simple structure and can better meet welding needs. Next, the first capillary tube 21 is inserted into the pipe fitting 30 and welded. Because the first capillary tube 21 and the pipe fitting 30 are made of the same material, they can be directly welded, which reduces the difficulty of welding and improves welding efficiency.

[0038] In the present application, the first capillary tube 21 is inserted into the pipe fitting 30 and welded, thereby ensuring connection strength and improving workability. Specifically, because the first capillary tube 21 has a relatively small diameter, directly fitting the first capillary tube 21 into the pipe fitting 30 reduces the fluid flow rate, affecting the overall work efficiency of the switching valve 100. Therefore, the first capillary tube 21 typically needs to be enlarged, but this process is difficult and increases processing costs. In the present application, the pipe fitting 30 performs the enlargement process, thereby increasing the overall flow rate. By inserting the first capillary tube 21 into the pipe fitting 30, only the dimensions of the pipe fitting 30 need to be controlled, thereby satisfying the fluid flow requirements and reducing the overall processing difficulty. Furthermore, the first capillary tube 21 is inserted into the pipe fitting 30, resulting in a larger contact area and ensuring connection reliability.

[0039] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the valve body 11 is made of stainless steel, and the pipe fitting 30 and the first capillary tube 21 are made of copper. Thus, the valve body 11 made of stainless steel has superior strength and corrosion resistance, and is inexpensive. The copper first capillary tube 21 also has good corrosion resistance and ductility, making it difficult to break even when bent. Of course, the valve body 11, pipe fitting 30, and first capillary tube 21 may be made of other materials, such as aluminum, as long as they are easy to weld and provide the same benefits.

[0040] 3 and 4, the valve body 11 has a valve chamber 112, and a flange 113 extending in a direction away from the valve chamber 112 is provided around the exhaust hole 111, and a portion of the pipe fitting 30 extends into the flange 113 and is connected to the flange 113.

[0041] For example, the flange 113 is annular and is provided around the exhaust hole 111. In the related art, it is difficult to provide a flange 113 on the fourth connecting pipe 15 for connection, which reduces the connection strength between the first capillary tube 21 and the fourth connecting pipe 15. If the fourth connecting pipe 15 is tilted or deformed, problems such as poor connection are likely to occur, and there is a risk of leakage. In the present application, by providing the flange 113, the contact area between the pipe fitting 30 and the valve body 11 is further increased, ensuring connection reliability, improving the connection robustness of the first capillary tube 21, and reducing the risk of leakage.

[0042] In one embodiment, the flange 113 and the valve body 11 are molded integrally, which increases the connection strength and further ensures the connection stability of the pipe fitting 30. Of course, the flange 113 and the valve body 11 may be provided separately, and the present invention is not limited to this.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 5, if the shortest distance from the end face of the pipe fitting 30 adjacent to the valve chamber 112 to the inner wall of the valve body 11 is L and the height of the flange 113 is H, then 0≦L≦H is satisfied.

[0044] In this way, it is possible to prevent the pipe fitting 30 from extending too far into the flange 113 and entering the valve chamber 112, which would cause the pipe fitting 30 to interfere with other structures within the valve chamber 112 or affect the normal flow of fluid within the valve chamber 112, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the switching valve 100.

[0045] Furthermore, the valve chamber 112 includes a first chamber 1121, a second chamber 1122, and a third chamber 1123, the first capillary tube 21 is connected to the second chamber 1122, and the fourth connecting pipe 15 is connected to the second chamber 1122. In this way, the high-pressure fluid in the fourth connecting pipe 15 enters the second chamber 1122 and flows into the pilot valve 20 through the first capillary tube 21, thereby realizing a smooth flow of the high-pressure fluid.

[0046] The switching valve 100 further includes a second capillary tube 22 and a third capillary tube 23. The second capillary tube 22 is located between the pilot valve 20 and the valve body 11, with one end of the second capillary tube 22 connected to the pilot valve 20 and the other end communicating with the first chamber 1121. The third capillary tube 23 is located between the pilot valve 20 and the valve body 11, with one end of the third capillary tube 23 connected to the pilot valve 20 and the other end communicating with the third chamber 1123.

[0047] The switching valve 100 further includes a fourth capillary tube 24, both ends of which are connected to the pilot valve 20 and the second connecting pipe 13, respectively, and used to selectively discharge the fluid in the first chamber 1121 or the third chamber 1123.

[0048] In this way, the high-pressure fluid flowing into the pilot valve 20 from the first capillary tube 21 is controlled and regulated by the pilot valve 20 to flow into the first chamber 1121 through the second capillary tube 22 or into the third chamber 1123 through the third capillary tube 23, thereby controlling the pressure change across the piston assembly in the valve chamber 112. That is, the relatively high-pressure fluid in the second chamber 1122 is selectively directed to one end of the piston assembly, causing the other end of the piston assembly to be at a relatively low pressure, creating a pressure difference across the piston assembly and driving the piston to slide within the valve body, thereby switching the operating mode of the switching valve 100. Switching is simple and easy to operate.

[0049] When the pilot valve 20 connects the first capillary tube 21 and the second capillary tube 22, the switching valve 100 is in the first working mode, and the high-pressure fluid in the fourth connecting pipe 15 passes through the second chamber 1122, the pipe fitting 30, and the first capillary tube 21 in order into the pillow valve 20, and then through the second capillary tube 22 into the first chamber 1121. At this time, the fluid in the third chamber 1123 passes through the third capillary tube 23 into the pilot valve 20, and is guided by the fourth capillary tube 24 into the second connecting pipe 13 and discharged from the second connecting pipe 13. At this time, the pressure in the first chamber 1121 is relatively high, and the pressure in the third chamber 1123 is relatively low. The action of pressure drives the piston assembly to slide within the valve body 11, further pushing and moving the slider, at which point, depending on the position of the slider, the second connecting pipe 13 and the third connecting pipe 14 can be connected, and the fourth connecting pipe 15 and the first connecting pipe 12 are connected by the second chamber 1122, and the switching valve 100 is in the first state.

[0050] When the pilot valve 20 connects the first capillary tube 21 and the third capillary tube 23, the switching valve 100 is in the second working mode, and the high-pressure fluid in the fourth connecting pipe 15 passes through the second chamber 1122, the pipe fitting 30, and the first capillary tube 21 in order into the pillow valve 20, and then through the third capillary tube 23 into the third chamber 1123. The fluid in the first chamber 1121 passes through the second capillary tube 22 into the pilot valve 20, and is discharged through the fourth capillary tube 24 into the second connecting pipe 13, and then out of the second connecting pipe 13. At this time, the third chamber 1123 is at a relatively high pressure, and the first chamber 1121 is at a relatively low pressure. The action of pressure drives the piston assembly to slide within the valve body 11, further pushing and moving the slider, at which point the first connecting pipe 12 and the second connecting pipe 13 can be connected depending on the position of the slider, and the fourth connecting pipe 15 and the third connecting pipe 14 are connected by the second chamber 1122, and the switching valve 100 is in the second state.

[0051] 6, the present application further provides an air conditioning system 200 including the above-mentioned switching valve 100. The switching valve 100 is connected to the air conditioning pipeline by a first connecting pipe 12, a second connecting pipe 13, a third connecting pipe 14, and a fourth connecting pipe 15, and the switching valve 100 is used to control the communication or blocking of fluid in the air conditioning pipeline, thereby realizing switching of the function mode of the air conditioning system 200.

[0052] The technical features of the above-described embodiments can be combined in any desired manner, and for the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, any combination should be considered to be within the scope described in this specification.

[0053] The above examples merely illustrate some embodiments of the present application, and although the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be understood as limiting the scope of the claims of the present application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art may make some modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present application, and all of them will fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the patent of the present application shall be determined according to the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

1. a main valve including a valve body, a first connecting pipe, a second connecting pipe, and a third connecting pipe, the first connecting pipe, the second connecting pipe, and the third connecting pipe are arranged side by side on one side of the valve body and are all connected to the valve body, the second connecting pipe is located between the first connecting pipe and the third connecting pipe, and an exhaust hole is further drilled in a side wall of the valve body; a pilot valve connected to the main valve; a pipe fitting connected to the exhaust hole; a first capillary tube located between the main valve and the pilot valve, one end of which is connected to an end of the pilot valve, and the other end of which is partially inserted into the pipe joint and connected to the pipe joint; A switching valve in which, when the farthest distance along the axial direction of the valve body between the outer surface of the first connecting pipe and the outer surface of the third connecting pipe is defined as A and the shortest distance between the central axis of the second connecting pipe and the central axis of the exhaust hole is defined as B, B≦0.5A is satisfied.

2. 2. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein a central axis of the exhaust hole is perpendicular to a plane on which the first connecting pipe, the second connecting pipe, and the third connecting pipe are located.

3. 3. The diverter valve of claim 2, wherein the first capillary tube is L-shaped.

4. 2. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the pipe joint and the first capillary tube are made of the same material, and the pipe joint and the valve body are made of different materials.

5. 5. The switching valve according to claim 4, wherein said valve element is made of stainless steel, and said pipe joint and said first capillary tube are made of copper.

6. 2. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve body has a valve chamber, a flange is provided around the exhaust hole and extends in a direction away from the valve chamber, and a portion of the pipe fitting is inserted into the flange and connected to the flange.

7. 7. The switching valve according to claim 6, wherein the shortest distance from an end face of the pipe joint adjacent to the valve chamber to an inner wall of the valve body is defined as L, and the height of the flange is defined as H, where L is a relationship of 0≦L≦H.

8. The valve chamber includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber, and the switching valve includes: a second capillary tube located between the pilot valve and the valve body, one end of which is connected to the pilot valve and the other end of which is connected to the first chamber; a third capillary tube located between the pilot valve and the valve body, one end of the third capillary tube connected to the pilot valve and the other end of the third capillary tube connected to the third chamber; 7. The diverter valve according to claim 6, wherein the first capillary tube and the second chamber are in communication with each other.

9. The main valve is 9. The switching valve according to claim 8, further comprising a fourth connecting pipe provided on both sides of the valve body opposite the first connecting pipe, the second connecting pipe, and the third connecting pipe, and communicating with the second chamber.

10. An air conditioning system comprising the switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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