Solenoid valve

Abstract

The present invention provides a solenoid valve that eliminates the need for screw fastening when assembling the sleeve to the electromagnetic part, and further prevents deterioration of assembly ease. [Solution] The solenoid valve 100 according to the present invention comprises a spool 102, an electromagnetic unit 104 for driving the spool, a sleeve 106 that houses the spool and supports it so that it can slide, an input port 132, an output port 134, and a tank port 136 provided on the sleeve and arranged in order from the electromagnetic unit side, a first flange 116 formed on the end 114 of the sleeve on the electromagnetic unit side, an annular adapter 108 that is fitted onto the sleeve and engages with the first flange, and a second flange 120 formed on the end 118 of the adapter on the electromagnetic unit side, wherein the body 128 of the electromagnetic unit has an open end 130 with a diameter larger than the second flange of the adapter, and the sleeve is fixed to the body via the adapter by crimping the second flange with the open end.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a solenoid valve including a spool driven by an electromagnetic part.

Background Art

[0002] As an example, a solenoid valve includes a sleeve in which a plurality of ports are formed, a spool slidably supported inside the sleeve, and an electromagnetic part for driving the spool. Such a solenoid valve displaces the spool by the suction force generated when the solenoid coil of the electromagnetic part attached to the end of the sleeve is excited, and outputs a predetermined control pressure.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a solenoid valve including a solenoid (electromagnetic part) and a sleeve connected to the solenoid. The sleeve has an input port formed on the solenoid side and is further screwed to the solenoid.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a solenoid valve including a solenoid component (electromagnetic part) and a valve component (sleeve) connected to the solenoid component via a connecting member. The valve component has an input port formed on the solenoid component side and is further caulked and fixed to the connecting member. The solenoid component is also caulked and fixed to the connecting member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the solenoid valves described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, an input port is formed on the electromagnetic part side of the sleeve. Therefore, if the sleeve is simply pressed into the electromagnetic part or connecting member, for example, the pressure from the input port may cause the sleeve to detach from the electromagnetic part or connecting member.

[0007] Therefore, in the solenoid valve described in Patent Document 1, the sleeve is screw-fixed to the electromagnetic part, but this requires a screw-machining process for the parts, which increases costs. Also, in the solenoid valve described in Patent Document 2, the electromagnetic part and sleeve are crimped to the connecting member, but this requires two crimping processes during assembly, which worsens the ease of assembly.

[0008] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a solenoid valve that eliminates the need for screw fastening when assembling the sleeve to the electromagnetic part, and further prevents deterioration of assembly ease. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the solenoid valve according to the present invention comprises a spool, an electromagnetic unit for driving the spool, a sleeve that houses the spool and supports the spool so that it can slide, an input port, an output port, and a tank port provided on the sleeve and arranged in order from the electromagnetic unit side, a first flange formed on the end of the sleeve on the electromagnetic unit side, an annular adapter fitted onto the sleeve and engaging with the first flange, and a second flange formed on the end of the adapter on the electromagnetic unit side, wherein the body of the electromagnetic unit has an open end with a larger diameter than the second flange of the adapter, and the sleeve is fixed to the body via the adapter by crimping the second flange with the open end.

[0010] The electromagnetic part described above preferably has a stopper that contacts the first flange of the sleeve and the second flange of the adapter, and a groove for inserting an O-ring is formed at the joint of the first flange, the adapter, and the stopper.

[0011] Preferably, a chamfer is formed on the stopper-side corner of the first flange described above, and a groove is formed by the chamfer.

[0012] Preferably, the first flange described above includes a relief hole formed on the input port side and communicating with the inside of the sleeve, a spring that biases the spool toward its initial position, a spring chamber formed inside the sleeve for housing the spring, through holes communicating with both axial ends of the spool, and a second tank port formed in the spring chamber.

[0013] Preferably, the sleeve described above has a circumferential polishing relief formed on the input port side of the first flange, and the relief hole is formed within the polishing relief. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a solenoid valve that eliminates the need for screw fixing when assembling the sleeve to the electromagnetic part, and further prevents deterioration of assembly ease. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is an overall diagram of the solenoid valve in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows the main components of the solenoid valve shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the procedure for assembling the sleeve of the solenoid valve shown in Figure 1 into the electromagnetic section. [Figure 4] This figure shows the flow of pressurized oil between the sleeve and adapter of the solenoid valve in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in such embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0017] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a solenoid valve 100 in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing a main part of the solenoid valve 100 in FIG. 1. FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are respectively an exploded perspective view and an exploded cross-sectional view of the main part of the solenoid valve 100.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the solenoid valve 100 includes a spool 102, an electromagnetic part 104 for driving the spool 102, a sleeve 106, and an adapter 108.

[0019] The sleeve 106 is a substantially cylindrical member as shown in FIG. 2(a). The sleeve 106 houses the spool 102 inside as shown in FIG. 1 and supports the spool 102 slidably. A spring 112 is built into one end 110 of the sleeve 106. The spring 112 biases the spool 102 toward the electromagnetic part 104, that is, toward the initial position.

[0020] A first flange 116 is formed at the other end of the sleeve 106, that is, at the end 114 on the electromagnetic part side, as shown in FIG. 2(b). The adapter 108 is an annular member as shown in FIG. 2(a). The adapter 108 is externally inserted into the sleeve 106 as shown in FIG. 1 and engages with the first flange 116. A second flange 120 is formed at the end 118 of the adapter 108 on the electromagnetic part side, as shown in FIG. 2(b).

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the electromagnetic unit 104 has a coil 122 and a plunger 124. When the coil 122 is excited, the plunger 124 is moved to move the spool 102 toward the spring 112. A stopper 126 is provided on the spool 102 side of the electromagnetic unit 104 and abuts against and contacts the first flange 116 of the sleeve 106 and the second flange 120 of the adapter 108 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0022] In the electromagnetic unit 104, the coil 122, the plunger 124, and the stopper 126 are arranged inside a cylindrical body 128. The body 128 of the electromagnetic unit 104 has an open end 130 with a diameter larger than that of the second flange 120 of the adapter 108 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2(b).

[0023] In the solenoid valve 100, as shown in FIG. 1, the sleeve 106 is assembled to the electromagnetic unit 104 by caulking the second flange 120 of the adapter 108 at the open end 130 of the body 128 of the electromagnetic unit 104 (described later). FIG. 2(b) shows the electromagnetic unit 104 before the open end 130 of the body 128 is caulked.

[0024] The sleeve 106 is provided with a plurality of ports arranged in order from the electromagnetic unit 104 side, that is, an input port 132 to which hydraulic oil is supplied, an output port 134 that outputs hydraulic oil when the solenoid valve 100 is open, and a first tank port 136 that returns hydraulic oil to a tank (not shown).

[0025] Also, the inner diameter around the spring 112 arranged at one end 110 of the sleeve 106 is widened, and this is called a spring chamber 138. The spring chamber 138 is a space in the sleeve 106 where the spring 112 is accommodated. The spring 112 abuts against an adjuster 140 that partitions the spring chamber 138 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] The adjuster 140 is, for example, screwed onto the open end 110 of the sleeve 106, and by rotating it, the amount of compression of the spring 112 is adjusted, thereby adjusting the load of the spring 112. The adjuster 140 also has a second tank port 142 formed therein for discharging hydraulic fluid to the outside.

[0027] The sleeve 106 has a relief hole 144 formed on the input port 132 side of the first flange 116. As shown in Figures 1 and 2(b), the relief hole 144 is provided at an angle toward the inside of the sleeve 106 and communicates with the inside of the sleeve 106.

[0028] Furthermore, a taper (chamfer 146) is formed on the corner of the first flange 116 on the stopper 126 side, as shown in Figure 2(b). As a result, in the solenoid valve 100, a groove 150 for inserting an O-ring 148 is formed at the joint between the chamfer 146 of the first flange 116 of the sleeve 106, the second flange 120 of the adapter 108, and the stopper 126 of the electromagnetic part 104, as shown in Figure 4(a).

[0029] Furthermore, the spool 102, which is slidably supported inside the sleeve 106, has a through hole 152 formed therein, as shown in Figure 1. The through hole 152 communicates with both axial ends of the spool 102, namely one end 154 on the spring chamber 138 side and the other end 156 on the electromagnetic part 104 side.

[0030] Furthermore, the through hole 152 includes a side hole 152a and a central hole 152b (see Figures 4(a) and 4(b)). The side hole 152a is formed at the other end 156 of the spool 102 on the electromagnetic part 104 side and communicates with the relief hole 144 inside the sleeve 106. The central hole 152b communicates with the side hole 152a, extends in the axial direction of the spool 102 and further communicates with the spring chamber 138.

[0031] Figure 3 shows the procedure for assembling the sleeve 106 of the solenoid valve 100 shown in Figure 1 to the electromagnetic part 104. First, as shown in Figure 3(a), the annular adapter 108 is fitted onto the sleeve 106 and the adapter 108 is engaged with the first flange 116 of the sleeve 106.

[0032] Next, the sleeve 106 with the adapter 108 externally attached is brought into contact with the electromagnetic part 104, and the second flange 120 of the adapter 108 is aligned with the open end 130 of the body 128 of the electromagnetic part 104.

[0033] Next, as shown in Figure 3(b), the first flange 116 of the sleeve 106 and the second flange 120 of the adapter 108 are brought into contact with the stopper 126 of the electromagnetic part 104. Then, the second flange 120 of the adapter 108 is crimped by the open end 130 of the body 128 of the electromagnetic part 104, which has a larger diameter than the second flange 120 of the adapter 108. In this way, the sleeve 106 is fixed to the body 128 of the electromagnetic part 104 via the adapter 108. In this manner, the sleeve 106 can be assembled to the electromagnetic part 104 in the solenoid valve 100.

[0034] Therefore, with the solenoid valve 100, even if an input port 132 is formed on the electromagnetic part 104 side of the sleeve 106 as shown in Figure 1, the sleeve 106 will not detach from the electromagnetic part 104 due to the input port pressure.

[0035] Furthermore, in the solenoid valve 100, screw fastening is not required when assembling the sleeve 106 to the electromagnetic part 104, thus eliminating the need for a screw machining process for the parts and reducing cost increases. In addition, during assembly, the second flange 120 of the adapter 108 is crimped at the open end 130 of the body 128 of the electromagnetic part 104, so the crimping process is completed in one step, preventing deterioration of assembly efficiency.

[0036] Figure 4 shows the flow of pressurized oil between the sleeve 106 and adapter 108 of the solenoid valve 100 in Figure 1. In the figure, the flow of pressurized oil (oil under excessive pressure) is indicated by arrows.

[0037] In the solenoid valve 100, as shown in Figure 4(a), a groove 150 for inserting an O-ring 148 is formed at the joint between the chamfer 146 of the first flange 116 of the sleeve 106, the second flange 120 of the adapter 108, and the stopper 126 of the electromagnetic part 104. As a result, fluids that enter from the outside between, for example, the open end 130 of the body 128 and the second flange 120 of the adapter 108 are sealed by the O-ring 148 inserted in the groove 150. Therefore, the solenoid valve 100 can prevent fluids that enter from the outside from entering the electromagnetic part 104.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4(a), the pressurized oil that enters between the sleeve 106 and the adapter 108 enters the interior of the sleeve 106 through the relief hole 144 of the sleeve 106. Then, inside the sleeve 106, the pressurized oil enters the central hole 152b through the side hole 152a of the through hole 152 of the spool 102, which communicates with the relief hole 144.

[0039] The sleeve 106 also has a grinding relief 145 as shown in Figure 4(a). The grinding relief 145 is formed circumferentially on the input port 132 side of the first flange 116. The relief hole 144 is formed inside the grinding relief 145 and communicates from the grinding relief 145 to the inside of the sleeve 106. Therefore, no matter where the pressurized oil enters through the gap between the sleeve 106 and the adapter 108, the pressurized oil will pass through the grinding relief 145 formed on the circumference of the sleeve 106 and reach the relief hole 144. In other words, the grinding relief 145 is also part of the oil passage. The number of relief holes 144 is not particularly limited and may be one or more.

[0040] Next, as shown in Figure 4(b), the pressurized oil enters the spring chamber 138 through the central hole 152b of the through hole 152 of the spool 102. The pressurized oil is then discharged from the spring chamber 138 to the outside through the second tank port 142 formed in the adjuster 140.

[0041] In this way, the solenoid valve 100 can release the pressurized oil that has entered between the sleeve 106 and the adapter 108 to the outside through the second tank port 142. As a result, excessive pressure is not applied to the O-ring 148, and pressurized oil can be reliably prevented from entering the electromagnetic part 104.

[0042] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these examples. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these will naturally also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0043] The present invention can be used as a solenoid valve equipped with a spool driven by an electromagnetic unit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] 100...Solenoid valve, 102...Spool, 104...Electromagnetic part, 106...Sleeve, 108...Adapter, 110...One end of sleeve, 112...Spring, 114...End of sleeve on the electromagnetic part side, 116...First flange of sleeve, 118...End of adapter on the electromagnetic part side, 120...Second flange of adapter, 122...Coil, 124...Plunger, 126...Stopper, 128...Body, 130...Open end of body, 132 …Input port, 134…Output port, 136…First tank port, 138…Spring chamber, 140…Adjuster, 142…Second tank port, 144…Relief hole, 145…Grinding relief, 146…Chamfer of first flange, 148…O-ring, 150…Groove, 152…Through hole of spool, 152a…Side hole of through hole, 152b…Center hole of through hole, 154…One end of spool on the spring chamber side, 156…The other end of spool on the electromagnetic side

Claims

1. Spool and An electromagnetic unit that drives the spool, A sleeve that houses the spool inside and supports the spool so that it can slide, The sleeve is provided with an input port, an output port, and a tank port, which are arranged in order from the electromagnetic unit side, A first flange formed at the end of the sleeve on the electromagnetic side, An annular adapter that is fitted onto the sleeve and engages with the first flange, The adapter comprises a second flange formed at the end of the adapter on the electromagnetic side, The solenoid valve is characterized in that the body of the electromagnetic part has an open end with a diameter larger than the second flange of the adapter, and the sleeve is fixed to the body via the adapter by crimping the second flange with the open end.

2. The electromagnetic part has a stopper that the first flange of the sleeve and the second flange of the adapter abut against, The solenoid valve according to claim 1, characterized in that a groove for inserting an O-ring is formed in the joint between the first flange, the adapter, and the stopper.

3. A chamfer is formed on the corner of the first flange on the stopper side. The solenoid valve according to claim 2, characterized in that the groove is formed by the chamfering.

4. A relief hole formed on the input port side of the first flange and communicating with the inside of the sleeve, A spring that biases the spool toward its initial position, A spring chamber formed within the sleeve for housing the spring, The spool has through holes that communicate with both axial ends, A solenoid valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a second tank port formed in the spring chamber.

5. The sleeve has a circumferential polishing relief formed on the input port side of the first flange, The solenoid valve according to claim 4, characterized in that the relief hole is formed within the polishing relief.

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