regulator

Abstract

In a regulator for reducing and adjusting fluid pressure, the aim is to enable it to accommodate different pressure requirements while also facilitating manufacturing and management. [Solution] A regulator comprising a body 10 having a fluid inlet 12 and a fluid outlet 13, and a pressure regulating valve that partitions a primary pressure chamber 1 on the fluid inlet 12 side and a secondary pressure chamber 2 on the fluid outlet 13 side, enabling the extraction of fluid adjusted to a predetermined pressure from the fluid outlet 13, wherein the pressure regulating valve has a cylindrical valve body that is reciprocating in the axial direction and connects the primary pressure chamber 1 and the secondary pressure chamber 2 when the valve is open, a valve seat mounted on the body 10 on which the valve body sits when the valve is closed, and a valve body moving means that reciprocates the valve body in the axial direction, wherein the valve body is made up of a head that sits on the valve seat when the valve is closed and a body that reciprocates in the axial direction by the valve body moving means.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a regulator for reducing and adjusting fluid pressure.

Background Art

[0002] As a regulator that discharges a high-pressure fluid such as gaseous fuel while reducing and adjusting it to a predetermined pressure, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a piston-type pressure regulating valve that adjusts the pressure of the discharged fluid by balancing the load due to the pressure of the fluid acting on the piston and the load due to the pressure regulating spring acting on the piston using a pressure regulating spring and a piston is used.

[0003] When introducing and decompressing gaseous fuel stored in a cylinder at a relatively high pressure (20 MPa) such as CNG while maintaining that high pressure, the temperature drops during adiabatic expansion to an extremely low temperature of around -200°C. Therefore, the valve seat and valve body of the pressure regulating valve need to be made of a material and have a shape that can withstand such low temperatures.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] That is, for example, when decompressing and adjusting CNG, a pressure regulating valve with a specification for decompressing from a pressure of 20 MPa with relatively high pressure requirements and a specification for decompressing from a pressure of 5 MPa that has already been decompressed and has relatively low pressure requirements must be prepared respectively. Therefore, there is a problem that manufacturing and management become complicated.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a regulator for reducing and adjusting fluid pressure that can cope with different pressure requirements and facilitate manufacturing and management. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a regulator comprising a body having a passage through which a fluid passes, with one end of the passage serving as a fluid inlet and the other end as a fluid outlet, and a pressure regulating valve provided on the passage that divides a primary pressure chamber on the fluid inlet side and a secondary pressure chamber on the fluid outlet side, thereby enabling the extraction of fluid adjusted to a predetermined pressure from the fluid outlet, The pressure regulating valve has a cylindrical valve body that is reciprocable in the axial direction and connects the primary pressure chamber and the secondary pressure chamber when the valve is open, a valve seat mounted on the body on which the valve body sits when the valve is closed, and a valve body moving means for reciprocating the valve body in the axial direction. The valve body is characterized by comprising a head that sits on the valve seat when the valve is closed, and a body that reciprocates in the axial direction by the valve body moving means, which are joined together. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a regulator that can accommodate different pressure requirements and is easy to manufacture and manage. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a regulator, which is the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (a) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the head portion 21a and body portion 21b that constitute the valve body 21A of the regulator shown in Figure 1, and (b) is a partial cross-sectional view showing a head portion 21a and body portion 21b of a different shape. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows the assembly process (1) of the regulator. [Figure 4] Figure 1 shows the assembly process (2) of the regulator. [Figure 5] Figure 1 shows the assembly process (3) of the regulator. [Figure 6] A longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a regulator, which is a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] A diagram showing the assembly process (2) of the regulator shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] A diagram showing the assembly process (3) of the regulator shown in FIG. 6.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <First Embodiment> The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a regulator 100A which is the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The regulator 100A is assumed to be used as a pressure reducing means for delivering gas fuel while reducing the pressure of the gas fuel to a predetermined pressure mainly in a supply system of gas fuels such as CNG, LPG or hydrogen gas, and this first embodiment is suitable when the pressure requirement is relatively low.

[0013] The regulator 100A includes a body 10 formed with a passage 11 through which a fluid passes, and a pressure regulating valve 20 provided on the passage 11, and is an electronically controlled regulator having an electric motor 40.

[0014] The body 10 has a cylindrical shape, with one end of the passage 11 serving as a fluid inlet 12 and the other end of the passage 11 serving as a fluid outlet 13.

[0015] An inlet cover 14 is attached to the fluid inlet 12 side, and an outlet cover 15 is attached to the fluid outlet 13 side.

[0016] The pressure regulating valve 20 is provided on the passage 11 and partitions a primary pressure chamber 1 on the fluid inlet 12 side and a secondary pressure chamber 2 on the fluid outlet 13 side.

[0017] Also, a pressure control unit 3 is provided between the primary pressure chamber 1 and the secondary pressure chamber 2 to reduce and adjust the pressure of the discharged fluid to a set pressure by operating a pressure regulating valve 20.

[0018] The pressure regulating valve 20 includes a cylindrical valve body 21A that can reciprocate in the axial direction, a valve seat 22A that contacts and separates from the valve body 21A to open and close the valve, a valve body moving means 30 that reciprocates the valve body 21A in the axial direction, an electric motor 40 that operates the valve body moving means 30, and a pressure sensor 50 that detects the fluid pressure on the secondary pressure chamber 2 side.

[0019] When the valve body 21A is separated from the valve seat 22A and the valve is open, the primary pressure chamber 1 on the fluid inlet 12 side and the secondary pressure chamber 2 on the fluid outlet 13 side are communicated through the internal communication hole 23, and the fluid is moved from the primary pressure chamber 1 to the secondary pressure chamber 2.

[0020] Conversely, when the valve body 21A seats on the valve seat 22A and the valve is closed, the movement of the fluid from the primary pressure chamber 1 to the secondary pressure chamber 2 is restricted.

[0021] The valve body 21A has an end on the side that seats on the valve seat 22A as a tip 211A, and the opposite end as a rear end 212A.

[0022] At an intermediate position of the passage 11, a first reduced-diameter portion 16a with a reduced inner diameter and a second reduced-diameter portion 16b with a smaller inner diameter than the first reduced-diameter portion 16a and located on the secondary pressure chamber 2 side are continuously formed.

[0023] An annular collar 17 and an O-ring 18 located on the primary pressure chamber 1 side of the collar 17 are mounted on the first reduced-diameter portion 16a.

[0024] The collar 17 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the valve body 21A, and has a role of guiding the reciprocating movement of the valve body 21A in the axial direction while preventing the valve body 21A from directly contacting the body 10.

[0025] The material of the collar 17 can be formed of, for example, synthetic resin, and particularly those with good lubricity such as PTFE are suitable.

[0026] The O-ring 18 serves to airtightly seal the first reduced-diameter portion 16a and the valve body 21A.

[0027] The collar 17 and O-ring 18 are held in place by the second diameter reduction portion 16b and the retaining member 19 attached to the primary pressure chamber 1 side, preventing them from falling out of the first diameter reduction portion 16a.

[0028] The valve seat 22A is formed in an annular shape and is fixed to the valve seat retaining member 24A by means of adhesive or insert molding. The valve seat retaining member 24A is fitted between the inlet cover 14 and the body 10.

[0029] The material of the valve seat 22A can be an elastic material such as rubber, and hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) is particularly preferred.

[0030] A piston 25, which receives the fluid pressure in the secondary pressure chamber 2, is fixed near the rear end 212A of the valve body 21A.

[0031] By providing the piston 25, when the electric motor 40 stops, the fluid pressure in the secondary pressure chamber 2 pushes the piston 25, pressing the valve body 21A against the valve seat 22A, thereby closing the valve.

[0032] The electric motor 40 consists of a stator 41 that supports the windings 42, and a rotor 43 on which magnets 44 are arranged, and is controlled by a driver 45. As the electric motor, for example, an AC servo motor or a DC brushless motor can be used.

[0033] The valve body moving means 30 consists of a trapezoidal male screw 31 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the valve body 21A, a trapezoidal female screw 32 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the rotor 43 that engages with the trapezoidal male screw 31, and a rotation stopper 33 provided on the rear end side of the valve body 21A, and is a feed screw mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the electric motor 40 into linear motion.

[0034] The anti-rotation device 33 consists of an anti-rotation projection 34 that protrudes circumferentially outward from the rear end 212A of the valve body 21A, and an anti-rotation guide 35 that protrudes axially (towards the fluid discharge port 13) from the piston 25 so as to sandwich the anti-rotation projection 34.

[0035] When the electric motor 40 is driven, the rotational motion of the rotor 43 is transmitted to the valve body 21A via the trapezoidal female screw 32 and the trapezoidal male screw 31. However, the rotational motion of the valve body 21A is restricted by the contact between the anti-rotation projection 34 on the valve body 21A side and the anti-rotation guide 35 on the piston 25 side, and is converted into linear motion in the axial direction.

[0036] In this case, the tensioning force of the sealing member 26 attached to the outer circumference of the piston 25 is greater than the motor torque, and furthermore, when pressure is applied, a load is also added that presses the valve body 21A against the valve seat 22A, so the piston 25 and the valve body 21A do not rotate simultaneously.

[0037] The pressure sensor 50 detects the fluid pressure on the secondary pressure chamber 2 side. Note that the pressure sensor is not limited to this location; for example, it may be installed elsewhere, and the fluid pressure value input to the vehicle's ECU may be used.

[0038] In this embodiment, the pressure regulating structure operates the pressure regulating valve 20 by controlling the electric motor 40 based on the fluid pressure on the secondary pressure chamber 2 side detected by the pressure sensor 50, thereby activating the valve body moving means 30.

[0039] Then, by changing the lift amount of the valve body 21A, the flow rate of the fluid passing through the communication hole 23 from the primary pressure chamber 1 to the secondary pressure chamber 2 is changed, and the pressure of the discharged fluid is automatically adjusted to be equal to the set pressure.

[0040] The present invention is characterized in that the valve body 21A is formed by joining together two parts: a head portion 21a and a body portion 21b.

[0041] The head portion 21a is located on the tip 211A side of the valve body 21A and has the role of seating on the valve seat 22A when the valve is closed.

[0042] The body portion 21b is located on the rear end 212A side of the valve body 21A and has the role of reciprocating in the axial direction by the valve body moving means 30, and the trapezoidal male screw 31 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the body portion 21b.

[0043] The head portion 21a and the body portion 21b are shaped to be interlocked. The head portion 21a, which has a convex shape, is press-fitted into the concave tip of the body portion 21b to temporarily fix them in place, and then they are joined together integrally by laser welding to form the valve body 21A.

[0044] Figure 2(a) is a partial cross-sectional view of the head 21a and body 21b that constitute the valve body 21A, and Figure 2(b) is a partial cross-sectional view of the head 21a and body 21b with different shapes.

[0045] As shown in Figure 2(b), the concave and concave parts of the spigot fitting may be reversed, and the concave head part 21a may be press-fitted into the convex tip of the convex body part 21b.

[0046] Furthermore, at least one of the head portion 21a and the body portion 21b has a tapered portion formed at its outer circumference, and the head portion 21a and the body portion 21b are joined together using the tapered portion as a welding point.

[0047] In the configuration shown in Figure 2(a), a tapered portion 214b is formed on the outer peripheral end 213b of the body portion 21b, and in the configuration shown in Figure 2(b), a tapered portion 214a is formed on the outer peripheral end 213a of the head portion 21a.

[0048] The method of joining the head 21a and the body 21b is not limited to laser welding; conventionally known joining methods other than laser welding, such as welding, press-fitting, fitting, crimping, and bonding, can also be used.

[0049] In this embodiment, the head portion 21a has a straight shape with the same diameter as the body portion 21b.

[0050] In this embodiment, the valve body 21A and the valve seat 22A are in contact on a flat surface, and when the valve body 21A is pressed against the valve seat 22A, which is made of an elastic material such as rubber, the valve seat 22A exhibits elasticity and can make close contact with the valve body 21A.

[0051] Therefore, good sealing performance can be obtained when the pressure requirements are relatively low, for example, when introducing gas fuel at a moderate pressure of about 5 MPa.

[0052] Figures 3 to 5 show the assembly steps (1) to (3) of the valve body 21A in the first embodiment shown in Figure 1.

[0053] Figure 3 shows the assembly process (1). The body portion 21b constituting the valve body 21A is inserted from the fluid discharge port 13 side while rotating, and moves forward toward the fluid inlet 12 side while screwing the trapezoidal male thread 31 and trapezoidal female thread 32 together.

[0054] The parts shown in Figure 3 are all parts common to the second embodiment described later, and the present invention enables the commonality of parts between different specifications, thereby facilitating manufacturing and management.

[0055] Figure 4 shows the assembly process (2). The body portion 21b advances a predetermined amount toward the fluid inlet 12, and after the tip of the body portion 21b passes through the first diameter reduction portion 16a, the head portion 21a is inserted from the fluid inlet 12 side and press-fitted into the body portion 21b.

[0056] Figure 5 shows the assembly process (3). After the head 21a is pressed into the body 21b, the mating surfaces (indicated by the black arrows) are welded by laser welding to create an inseparable joint.

[0057] As shown in Figure 2(a), in this embodiment, a tapered portion 214b is formed on the outer peripheral end 213b of the body portion 21b, and the head portion 21a and the body portion 21b are joined together using the tapered portion 214b as a welding point.

[0058] This prevents the welded joints of the head 21a and body 21b from protruding without requiring any special post-processing, and the welded joints are shaped to be less likely to come into contact with the collar 17 and O-ring 18, thus avoiding adverse effects on sliding properties and sealing properties.

[0059] <Second Embodiment> A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0060] Figure 6 shows a regulator 100B, which is a second embodiment of the present invention. Since this regulator 100B has the same configuration as regulator 100A except for the structure of the valve body 21B and valve seat 22B, the same reference numerals are used for similar components and their descriptions are omitted.

[0061] The regulator 100B is primarily intended to be used as a pressure reducing means in gas fuel supply systems such as CNG, LPG, or hydrogen gas, to deliver gas fuel while reducing its pressure to a predetermined level. This second embodiment is suitable when the pressure requirements are relatively high.

[0062] The valve body 21B is made up of two parts joined together: a head portion 21c and a body portion 21b.

[0063] The head portion 21c is located on the tip 211B side of the valve body 21B and has the role of seating on the valve seat 22B when the valve is closed. Its shape is funnel-shaped with a cylindrical portion and an expanding portion, and the tip 211B has an inverse taper shape with a larger diameter than the body portion 21b.

[0064] The body portion 21b is located on the rear end 212B side of the valve body 21B and plays a role in reciprocating in the axial direction by the valve body moving means 30, and the trapezoidal male screw 31 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the body portion 21b.

[0065] The valve seat 22B is formed in an annular shape with a rounded outer edge and is fixed to the valve seat retaining member 24B by a fixing screw 28 inserted through the central hole 27. The valve seat retaining member 24B is fitted between the inlet cover 14 and the body 10.

[0066] The material of the valve seat 22B can be a material with cold resistance and appropriate flexibility, such as synthetic resin, and polyimide (PI) is particularly preferred.

[0067] In this embodiment, the valve body 21B and the valve seat 22B are arranged in such a way that the inner circumferential surface of the valve body 21B and the outer circumferential edge of the valve seat 22B are in contact with each other at a curved surface. By strongly pressing the valve body 21B against the valve seat 22B, which is made of a material such as synthetic resin, the valve seat 22B can come into close contact with the valve body 21B.

[0068] Therefore, when the pressure requirements are relatively high, for example when introducing gas fuel at a high pressure of around 20 MPa, good sealing performance can be obtained by strongly pressing the valve body 21B against the valve seat 22B.

[0069] Furthermore, when the pressure is reduced to near atmospheric pressure, the pressure regulating valve 20 is exposed to extremely low temperatures of around -200°C due to adiabatic expansion. However, by using materials such as synthetic resin, it exhibits higher cold resistance than rubber and can function as a valve even in extremely low-temperature environments.

[0070] Figures 7 and 8 show the assembly steps (2) to (3) of the valve body 21B in the second embodiment shown in Figure 6. Assembly step (1) of the valve body 21B is the same as assembly step (1) of the valve body 21A shown in Figure 3.

[0071] As shown in Figure 3, the body portion 21b constituting the valve body 21B is inserted from the fluid discharge port 13 side while rotating, and advances toward the fluid inlet port 12 side while screwing the trapezoidal male thread 31 and trapezoidal female thread 32 together.

[0072] Then, as shown in Figure 7, the body portion 21b constituting the valve body 21B advances a predetermined amount toward the fluid inlet 12 side, and after the tip of the body portion 21b passes through the first diameter reduction portion 16a, the head portion 21c is inserted from the fluid inlet 12 side and press-fitted into the body portion 21b.

[0073] Figure 8 shows the assembly process (3) of the valve body 21B. After the head 21c is pressed into the body 21b, the mating surfaces (indicated by the black arrows) are welded by laser welding to create an inseparable joint.

[0074] The tip diameter of the head 21c, which has an inverse taper shape, is larger than the diameters of the first reduced diameter portion 16a and the second reduced diameter portion 16b of the body 10, making it impossible to assemble if the valve body is formed from a single part.

[0075] On the other hand, by constructing the valve body 21B from two parts, a head 21c and a body 21b, and inserting and engaging them from the fluid discharge port 13 side and the fluid inlet port 12 side respectively, the valve body 21B can be assembled and completed inside the body 10.

[0076] As described above, according to the present invention, in a regulator for reducing and adjusting fluid pressure, it is possible to standardize parts across different specifications, thereby facilitating manufacturing and management.

[0077] Furthermore, regarding the valve body, which is a relatively long cylindrical shape and has both a threaded portion and a valve portion, making it difficult to manufacture, it is now possible to manufacture each component using different manufacturing methods suited to each part, such as machining the head and rolling the body, thus offering advantages in terms of manufacturing.

[0078] Although the first and second embodiments of the present invention are electronically controlled regulators having an electric motor, the same can be implemented with piston-type regulators having a pressure regulating spring and a piston. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 100A Regulator 100B Regulator 1 Primary pressure chamber 2 Secondary pressure chamber 3. Pressure Control Unit 10 Body 11 aisles 12 Fluid inlet 13 Fluid outlet 14 Entrance cover 15. Outlet cover 16a 1st reduced diameter section 16b 2nd reduced diameter section 17 colors 18 O-rings 19 Retaining member 20 Pressure Regulating Valve 21A, 21B valve body 21a,21c head 21b Torso 22A,22B Valve seat 23 Communication hole 24A, 24B Valve seat retaining member 25 pistons 26. Sealing member 27 Center hole 28 Fixing screws 30 Valve body moving means 31 Trapezoidal male screw 32 trapezoidal female threads 33 Anti-rotation device 34 Anti-rotation protrusions 35 Anti-rotation guide 40 Electric motors 41 stata 42 windings 43 Rotors 44 Magnets 45 drivers 50 Pressure Sensors 211A,211B Tip 212A,212B rear end 213a,213b Outer edge 214a, 214b Tapered section

Claims

1. A body having a passage through which a fluid passes, with one end of the passage serving as a fluid inlet and the other end serving as a fluid outlet, The system includes a pressure regulating valve provided on the aforementioned passage, which separates a primary pressure chamber on the fluid inlet side from a secondary pressure chamber on the fluid discharge side. A regulator that enables the extraction of fluid adjusted to a predetermined pressure from the fluid outlet, The pressure regulating valve is A cylindrical valve body that is capable of reciprocating in the axial direction and connects the primary pressure chamber and the secondary pressure chamber when the valve is open, A valve seat is attached to the body and on which the valve body sits when the valve is closed, The valve body has a means for moving the valve body back and forth in the axial direction, The valve body is, A head that sits on the valve seat when the valve is closed, A body that reciprocates in the axial direction by the valve body moving means is joined to the above-mentioned valve body moving means, A regulator characterized by the following features.

2. The shape of the head is, The entire structure is a straight shape with the same diameter as the body, or The tip has a reverse taper shape with a larger diameter than the body. The regulator according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a feature of the present invention.

3. The head and the body are shaped to be interlocked, and the head and body, interlocked, are joined by welding. The regulator according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a feature of the present invention.

4. At least one of the head and the body has a tapered portion formed at its outer circumference, and the head and the body are joined together with the tapered portion as a welding point. The regulator according to claim 3, characterized in that it is as described above.

5. The pressure regulating valve is A cylindrical valve body that is capable of reciprocating in the axial direction and connects the primary pressure chamber and the secondary pressure chamber when the valve is open, A valve seat is attached to the body and on which the valve body sits when the valve is closed, A valve body moving means for causing the valve body to reciprocate, An electric motor that operates the valve body moving means, It consists of a pressure sensor that detects the fluid pressure on the secondary pressure chamber side, The electric motor is controlled based on the fluid pressure in the secondary pressure chamber detected by the pressure sensor, thereby activating the valve body moving means and operating the pressure regulating valve. The regulator according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a feature of the present invention.

6. The valve body moving means is A trapezoidal male screw formed on the outer surface of the body portion, A trapezoidal female thread formed on the rotor of the electric motor, The valve body is equipped with a rotation stopper to prevent rotation, This is a feed screw structure that converts the rotational motion of the aforementioned electric motor into linear motion. The regulator according to claim 5, characterized in that it is a feature of the present invention.

Images