Electric valve and electric valve body

Abstract

In axial-flow type electric valves, the stopping position of the valve body during tightening can be controlled with high precision. [Solution] The electric valve 1 comprises a valve body 10 having a cylindrical shape with a first pipe 8 connected to one end in the axial direction and a second pipe 9 connected to the other end; a rotor (magnetic rotor 30) disposed inside the valve body 10; a stator 60 disposed outside the valve body 10 and constituting a motor together with the rotor; a support member 12 disposed inside the valve body 10 at one end and converting the rotation of the rotor into linear motion along the axial direction; a valve seat member 13 disposed inside the valve body 10 on the opposite side of the rotor in the axial direction and having a valve seat 17; a valve body 41 connected to the rotor and moving linearly toward the valve seat 17 in accordance with the linear motion of the rotor; and a positioning member 70 disposed between the rotor and the valve seat member 13 and having a predetermined length along the axial direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric valve and an electric valve body.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as in Patent Document 1, a cylindrical electric valve (so-called axial flow type electric valve) incorporated in series in a linear flow path is known. The axial flow type electric valve is incorporated in, for example, an air conditioner and used to control the flow rate of a fluid such as a refrigerant.

[0003] In the axial flow type electric valve, the electric valve is mainly composed of a cylindrical electric valve body and a stator unit disposed around the electric valve body. Inside the electric valve body, for example, a magnet rotor is disposed. The stator unit has a stator disposed outside the electric valve body at the position of the magnet rotor. The magnet rotor and the stator constitute a stepping motor.

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the valve body is driven to approach or separate from the valve seat by the rotation of the magnet rotor, thereby realizing the opening and closing operation of the valve. A cap member is disposed around the valve body, and a coil spring is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the valve body. One end of the coil spring is attached to the side of the valve body inside the cap member, and the other end is attached to the inner wall surface of the cap member located on the side opposite to the valve body.

[0005] When closing the valve, the valve body projects outward along the axial direction from the cap member toward the valve seat. As the valve body projects, the coil spring extends, so a pulling force is applied to the valve body connected to one end of the coil spring inside the cap member. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the valve body is seated on the valve seat while receiving the pulling force from the coil spring.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-127256 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In electric valves, after the valve body has seated on the valve seat, a process called "retightening" is sometimes performed. This involves adding a predetermined angle of screw rotation to the magnetic rotor, causing the valve body to move more linearly towards the valve seat, thereby increasing the force pressing the valve body against the seat. This retightening can improve the sealing performance of the valve.

[0008] However, tightening can cause the valve body to bite into the valve seat unnecessarily too much after seating, resulting in a problem where the stopping position of the valve body, which moves linearly along the axial direction during tightening, differs each time the valve closing operation is repeated (i.e., the stopping position varies). If the stopping position of the valve body during tightening varies, the starting position of the valve body, which moves linearly away from the valve seat in the next valve opening operation after tightening, will also differ each time. Therefore, it becomes necessary to change the setting of the stepping motor's valve opening signal to correspond to the different starting positions, and the frequency of these changes increases. As a result, the burden of setting change work increases, as does the burden on the stepping motor.

[0009] In this regard, Patent Document 1 controls the movement of the valve body during seating by a coil spring. However, it does not specifically address the variation in the stopping position of the valve body due to the valve body biting into the valve seat during further tightening after seating. Therefore, Patent Document 1 has room for improvement in terms of technology for accurately controlling the stopping position of the valve body during further tightening.

[0010] In view of the above, this disclosure provides a technology that enables precise control of the stopping position of the valve body during tightening in an axial flow type electric valve. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The electric valve according to the first embodiment comprises a valve body having a cylindrical shape with a first pipe connected to one end in the axial direction and a second pipe connected to the other end; a rotor disposed inside the valve body; a stator disposed outside the valve body and constituting a motor together with the rotor; a support member disposed inside the valve body on the side of the one end and converting the rotation of the rotor into linear motion along the axial direction; a valve seat member disposed inside the valve body on the opposite side of the rotor in the axial direction and having a valve seat; a valve body connected to the rotor and moving linearly toward the valve seat in accordance with the linear motion of the rotor; and a positioning member disposed between the rotor and the valve seat member and having a predetermined length along the axial direction.

[0012] In the first embodiment, during tightening, the positioning member is sandwiched between the linearly moving rotor and the valve seat member. As a result, the stopping position of the valve body during tightening is determined by the length of the positioning member along the axial direction. That is, by adjusting the length of the positioning member, it is possible to suppress the valve body from unnecessarily biting into the valve seat after seating. As a result, the stopping position of the valve body during tightening can be controlled with high precision.

[0013] In the second embodiment, in the electric valve according to the first embodiment, one end of the positioning member in the axial direction is attached to one of the rotor and the valve seat member, and the other end of the positioning member in the axial direction extends toward the other of the rotor and the valve seat member.

[0014] In the second embodiment, a positioning member can be realized that is sandwiched between a linearly moving rotor and a valve seat member by using the portion of the positioning member that extends along the axial direction.

[0015] In the third embodiment, in the electric valve according to the second embodiment, the valve seat member has a cylindrical cover portion provided on the side to which the second pipe is connected, and a cylindrical support portion provided on the rotor side, continuous with the cover portion, and having a valve seat facing the valve body formed thereon, and having a smaller diameter than the cover portion, and one end of the positioning member is attached to the end face of the cover portion of the valve seat member on the rotor side, and the positioning member has a ring-shaped coil portion that is arranged between the one end and the other end and wound along the outer circumferential surface of the support portion.

[0016] In the third embodiment, the positioning member can be realized by, for example, a coil spring.

[0017] In the fourth embodiment, the electric valve according to the second or third embodiment further comprises a contact member which is positioned between the rotor and the valve seat member and opposite to the positioning member, and which has a contact surface that contacts the end face of the other end of the positioning member, and in accordance with the rotation direction of the rotor during tightening, the height of the contact surface measured along the axial direction gradually increases.

[0018] In the fourth embodiment, as the rotor moves linearly toward the valve seat during tightening, the distance between the contact surface of the contact member and the end face of the other end of the positioning member gradually decreases. As a result, even if the end face of the other end of the positioning member has a relatively sharp part, such as a burr, the positioning member can easily slide smoothly while in contact with the rotor or valve seat member during tightening. Therefore, it is easier to mitigate the impact caused by the contact between the positioning member and the rotor or valve seat member.

[0019] In the electric valve body according to the fifth aspect, there are provided a valve body having a cylindrical shape and having a first pipe connected to one end in the axial direction and a second pipe connected to the other end, a rotor disposed inside the valve body, a support member disposed inside the valve body on the one end side and converting the rotation of the rotor into linear motion along the axial direction, a valve seat member disposed inside the valve body on the other end side and having a valve seat, a valve body connected to the rotor and linearly moving toward the valve seat as the rotor linearly moves, and a positioning member disposed between the rotor and the valve seat member and having a preset length along the axial direction.

[0020] In the fifth aspect, similar to the first aspect, by adjusting the length of the positioning member, it is possible to suppress the valve body from unnecessarily biting into the valve seat after seating. As a result, it is possible to provide an electric valve body used together with a stator that constitutes an axial flow type electric valve capable of accurately controlling the stop position of the valve body during tightening.

Advantages of the Invention

[0021] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a technique capable of accurately controlling the stop position of the valve body during tightening in an axial flow type electric valve.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] <0开示の実施形態に係る電動弁の電動弁本体の開弁状態を、軸線を含む平面で一部を切断して説明する斜視図である。 [Figure 1] It is a perspective view for explaining an open valve state of an electric valve body of an electric valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure by cutting a part in a plane including an axis. [Figure 2] ​​​​​​​​​​​ [Figure 6] It is a cross-sectional view for explaining the valve opening state of the electric valve according to the modified example, cut along a plane including the axis. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view for explaining the valve closing state when the valve body is seated in the electric valve body of the electric valve according to the modified example, cut along a plane including the axis. [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view for explaining the valve closing state when the valve body is seated in the electric valve according to the modified example, cut along a plane including the axis. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view for explaining the valve closing state after tightening in the electric valve body of the electric valve according to the modified example, cut along a plane including the axis. [Figure 10] It is a cross-sectional view for explaining the valve closing state after tightening in the electric valve according to the modified example, cut along a plane including the axis. [Figure 11] It is a perspective view for explaining a contact member having a contact surface that contacts a positioning member.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0023] The present embodiment will be described below. In the description of the following drawings, the same parts and similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals or similar reference numerals. However, the drawings are schematic, and the relationship between the thickness and the planar dimensions, the ratio of the thicknesses of each device and each member, etc. may be different from the actual ones. Therefore, specific thicknesses and dimensions should be determined in consideration of the following description. Also, there may be parts where the dimensional relationships and ratios are different between the drawings. Further, unless otherwise specified in the specification, the number of each component of the present disclosure is not limited to one, and a plurality may exist.

[0024] Also, in this specification, each term indicating a shape such as "cylindrical" or "cylindrical column" is also used for a member or a part of a member that substantially has the shape of that term. For example, a "cylindrical member" includes a cylindrical member and a member substantially having a cylindrical shape. Also, in this specification, the term "the same" may include cases where they are exactly the same and cases where they are substantially the same.

[0025] <Configuration of the electric valve> The electric valve 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The electric valve 1 according to this embodiment is used, for example, to control the flow rate of a fluid in an automotive air conditioner. The fluid is, for example, a high-pressure refrigerant.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the electric valve 1 according to this embodiment comprises a valve body 10, a magnet rotor 30, a stator 60, a valve seat member 13, a support member 12, and a valve body unit 40. The electric valve 1 is, for example, incorporated in series into a straight pipe of an air conditioner and used to control the flow rate of refrigerant. The electric valve 1 of this embodiment is composed of an electric valve body 5 and a stator unit 6.

[0027] (Valve body) The valve body 10 has a cylindrical shape. As shown in Figure 2, the valve body 10 has a first pipe 8 connected to one end (the right end in Figure 2) in the axial direction (the left-right direction in which the axis L extends in Figure 2), and a second pipe 9 connected to the other end (the left end in Figure 2). The axial direction is the left-right direction in which the axis L extends in Figure 2. The valve body 10 has a case 11, a support member 12, and a valve seat member 13. The case 11, the support member 12, and the valve seat member 13 are made of metal, such as stainless steel or an aluminum alloy.

[0028] The case 11, support member 12, and valve seat member 13 form a valve chamber 18. The first pipe 8 is joined to the outer surface 12C (i.e., end face) of the support member 12. The first pipe 8 is connected to the valve chamber 18 through the flow path of the support member 12. The second pipe 9 is joined to the outer surface of the cover 14 located on the left side in Figure 1, as shown on the outer surface 14C of the cover 14 located on the right side in Figure 4, which will be explained later. The second pipe 9 is connected to the valve chamber 18 through the valve opening 16. The first pipe 8 and the second pipe 9 are pipes that form the flow path of the air conditioner.

[0029] (case) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the case 11 has a cylindrical shape. The case 11 is positioned along axis L.

[0030] (Support member) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the support member 12 is cylindrical overall. The support member 12 is located inside the valve body 10, at one end in the axial direction (the right side in Figure 2). The support member 12 integrally comprises a cover portion 12A and a support portion 12B.

[0031] The lid 12A has a disc shape or a cylindrical shape. The lid 12A is coaxially joined to one end of the case 11 on the right side in Figure 2. The lid 12A closes one end of the case 11 on the right side in Figure 2.

[0032] The support portion 12B has a cylindrical shape. The support portion 12B extends from the lid portion 12A toward the valve body unit 40. The support portion 12B is located inside the case 11. A male screw 12B1 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the support member 12.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, the support member 12 converts the rotation of the magnet rotor 30 into linear motion along the axial direction through a screw connection between the male thread 12B1 on the outer circumferential surface of the support member 12 and the female thread 33A on the third portion 33 of the magnet rotor 30. The support member 12 supports the magnet rotor 30 so that it can move back and forth along the axial direction. A screw feed mechanism is formed between the support member 12 and the magnet rotor 30.

[0034] A refrigerant flow path is formed inside the support member 12. The formed flow path penetrates the lid portion 12A and the support portion 12B. The opening 12D on the side of the flow path inside the support member 12 opposite the first pipe 8 faces the valve body unit 40 within the inner space 35. The opening 12D is provided at the tip of the support portion 12B located on the valve body unit 40 side. The opening 12D communicates with the first pipe 8 on one end (the right side in Figure 1). The lid portion 12A, the support portion 12B, and the opening 12D are arranged coaxially with each other.

[0035] (Valve seat member) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the valve seat member 13 is cylindrical overall. The valve seat member 13 is located inside the valve body 10, on the side opposite to the magnet rotor 30 in the axial direction (left side in Figure 2). The valve seat member 13 integrally includes a cover portion 14 and a support portion 15.

[0036] The valve seat member 13 has a valve opening 16 and a valve seat 17. The valve opening 16, which is the flow path for the refrigerant, penetrates the cover portion 14 and the support portion 15. The valve seat 17 is provided at the tip of the support portion 15 (the right end in Figure 2). The valve seat 17 communicates with the second pipe 9 on the other end. The valve seat 17 surrounds the valve opening 16. The cover portion 14, the support portion 15, the valve opening 16, and the valve seat 17 are arranged coaxially. The valve seat 17 faces the valve body 41.

[0037] The lid portion 14 has a disc shape or a cylindrical shape. The lid portion 14 is coaxially joined to the other end of the case 11. The lid portion 14 closes the other left end of the case 11 in Figure 2. In the valve seat member 13, the cylindrical lid portion 14 is provided on the side to which the second pipe 9 is connected.

[0038] The support portion 15 has a cylindrical shape. The support portion 15 extends from the lid portion 14 toward the support member 12. The support portion 15 is located inside the case 11. The support portion 15 is provided on the side of the magnet rotor 30, continuous with the lid portion 14. The support portion 15 has a smaller diameter than the lid portion 14.

[0039] (Magnetic rotor) In this embodiment, the magnetic rotor 30 is positioned inside the valve body 10, at one end (right side in Figure 2). The magnetic rotor 30 corresponds to the rotor in this disclosure. In this disclosure, it is not essential that the rotor be positioned inside the valve body 10, at one end. The rotor may be positioned inside the valve body 10, away from one end, for example, at the axial center.

[0040] The magnet rotor 30 has a cylindrical shape. The magnet rotor 30 is positioned in the valve chamber 18 coaxially with the axis L along the axis L. The magnet rotor 30 is rotatable about its axis relative to the valve body 10. The magnet rotor 30 has a first portion 31, a second portion 32, and a third portion 33, extending radially from the inside out. The first portion 31, the second portion 32, and the third portion 33 are fixed together as a single unit.

[0041] The first part 31 has a cylindrical shape. The first part 31 is made of, for example, ferrite. The first part 31 has multiple magnetic poles (at least multiple north poles and multiple south poles). The multiple north poles and multiple south poles are arranged alternately at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction. The multiple north poles and multiple south poles extend in a direction along the axis L. The first part 31 has, for example, 12 north poles and 12 south poles. The angle between two adjacent magnetic poles about the axis L is 15 degrees.

[0042] A projection 31B is provided along the entire circumference of the outer edge of the end face 31A on the valve seat 17 side of the cylindrical first portion 31. The projection 31B extends diagonally toward the axis L as it moves from the end face toward the valve seat 17. The outer edge of the first connecting portion 45 fits into the root region of the projection 31B on the end face 31A side in the inner space 35.

[0043] In other words, the valve body unit 40 is fixed to the magnet rotor 30 by the first connecting portion 45 being sandwiched between the protruding portion 31B and the end face 31A. To put it another way, the valve body 41 is connected to the magnet rotor 30. Therefore, the valve body 41 can move linearly toward the valve seat 17 in conjunction with the linear movement of the magnet rotor 30.

[0044] The second part 32 has a cylindrical shape and is positioned inside the first part 31, coaxially with the first part 31. The second part 32 is made of, for example, synthetic resin and is integrally molded with the first part 31. A step 32C is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second part 32. The second part 32 has a first cylindrical portion 32A located on the left side in Figure 2, and a second cylindrical portion 32B located on the right side in Figure 2, with the step 32C in between.

[0045] In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion 32A is smaller than the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 32B. Also, the outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion 32A is smaller than the inner diameter of the first portion 31. Therefore, a gap is formed between the first portion 31 and the second portion 32 at the position of the first cylindrical portion 32A. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion 32A is smaller than the inner diameter of the second cylindrical portion 32B. Between the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 32A and the inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion 32B, the bottom surface of the vertical step 32C is formed in Figure 2.

[0046] The third portion 33 has a cylindrical shape. The third portion 33 is positioned inside the second portion 32, coaxially with the first portion 31 and the second portion 32. The third portion 33 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. The outer circumferential surface of the third portion 33 is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion 32B of the second portion 32. The third portion 33 is positioned axially apart from the first cylindrical portion 32A of the second portion 32. A female thread 33A is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the third portion 33. The female thread 33A is screw-connected to a male thread 12B1 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the support member 12.

[0047] Inside the third part 33, an inner space 35 for the magnet rotor 30 is formed. The inner space 35 is a passage that connects to the first pipe 8, the internal flow path of the support member 12, the flow path of the valve body unit 40, the valve port 16, and the second pipe 9.

[0048] (Stator unit) The stator unit 6 is positioned along the axis L. The stator unit 6 is attached to the electric valve body 5. The stator unit 6 includes a stator 60 and a cover (not shown).

[0049] (Stator) The stator 60 is positioned radially outside the valve body 10. In this embodiment, the stator 60, together with the magnet rotor 30, constitutes a stepping motor. The rotor and stator of this disclosure may constitute a motor other than a stepping motor. The stator 60 has a stator core (not shown) and a plurality of coils (not shown).

[0050] The stator core is formed, for example, by stacking multiple thin electromagnetic steel sheets. The stator core includes a back yoke (not shown), multiple main poles (not shown), and multiple auxiliary poles (not shown).

[0051] The back yoke has a roughly cylindrical shape and, when viewed from a direction along the axis L, has a C-shape (i.e., an arc shape). Multiple main poles and multiple auxiliary poles protrude from the inner surface of the back yoke toward the axis L. Multiple coils are wound around the multiple main poles.

[0052] Although not shown in the illustration, the cover has a shape that conforms to the outer shape of the stator 60 and covers the stator 60. When viewed from a direction along the axis L, the cover has a C shape (i.e., an arc shape). The cover is made of synthetic resin and is integrally molded with the stator 60. The inner surface of the cover, together with the tips of the main pole and the auxiliary pole, forms the inner surface of the stator unit 6. In this disclosure, the cover may be omitted in the stator unit 6.

[0053] As shown in Figure 2, the stator unit 6 has an inner space 6S and an opening (not shown) for inserting the first pipe 8 or the second pipe 9 into the inner space 6S. The inner space 6S extends from one end face to the other end face in the axial direction of the stator unit 6. The opening is provided on the outer surface of the stator unit 6, extends from one end face to the other end face, and communicates with the inner space 6S. The inner space 6S is defined by the inner surface of the stator unit 6. The diameter of the inner space 6S is the same as the diameter of the motor valve body 5. The motor valve body 5 is positioned in the inner space 6S. The width of the opening is greater than the outer diameter of the first pipe 8 and the outer diameter of the second pipe 9.

[0054] In this embodiment, the central axes of the electric valve body 5, the stator unit 6, the first pipe 8, and the second pipe 9 all coincide in the direction along the axis L. The electric valve body 5 is composed of a valve body 10, a magnet rotor 30, and a valve body unit 40. The stator unit 6 is composed of an inner space 6S, a stator 60, and a cover.

[0055] When the stator unit 6 is attached to the electric valve body 5, first, the first pipe 8 and the second pipe 9 are connected to the electric valve body 5. Then, with the opening of the stator unit 6 facing the first pipe 8, the stator unit 6 is moved toward the first pipe 8.

[0056] The first pipe 8 is inserted into the inner space 6S through the opening of the stator unit 6. The first pipe 8 is coaxially positioned in the inner space 6S of the stator unit 6. By moving the stator unit 6 in the direction along the axis L, the electric valve body 5 can be inserted into the inner space 6S of the stator unit 6. Then, the stator unit 6 can be attached to the electric valve body 5 using a mounting mechanism (not shown).

[0057] (Valve body unit) As shown in Figure 2, the valve body unit 40 is positioned along the axis L in the inner space 35 of the magnet rotor 30. The valve body unit 40 includes a valve body 41 and a spring member 51.

[0058] The valve body 41 is made of a metal such as stainless steel or brass. The valve body 41 integrally comprises a main body 42, a valve portion 43, and a base 44. The main body 42 has a disc shape. The valve portion 43 has an overall cylindrical shape. The valve portion 43 extends from the main body 42 toward the valve seat member 13. The tip of the valve portion 43 on the valve seat 17 side has a tapered shape. The tip of the valve portion 43 faces the valve opening 16 and the valve seat 17. The base 44 has a cylindrical shape. The base 44 extends from the main body 42 toward the support member 12.

[0059] The spring member 51 in this embodiment is a leaf spring. The spring member 51 is manufactured, for example, by press-forming sheet metal. The spring member 51 has a first connecting portion 45, a cylindrical portion 47A, and a plurality of second connecting portions 47B.

[0060] The first connecting portion 45 has an annular plate shape. The first connecting portion 45 and the cylindrical portion 47A are arranged coaxially. The inner diameter of the first connecting portion 45 is larger than the outer diameter of the base portion 44 of the valve body 41. The inner diameter of the first connecting portion 45 is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 47A. A flow path is formed between the first connecting portion 45 and the cylindrical portion 47A.

[0061] Furthermore, the position of the cylindrical portion 47A in the axial direction L is closer to the support member 12 than the position of the first connecting portion 45 in the axial direction L. The position of the cylindrical portion in the axial direction L in this disclosure may be the same as the position of the first connecting portion 45 in the axial direction L. The first connecting portion in this disclosure may have a shape such as a C shape or a notch in part of an annular shape.

[0062] In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 47A is integrally molded with the spring member 51, but in this disclosure, the cylindrical portion and the spring member may be constructed separately. The cylindrical portion 47A has a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, the base portion 44 is rotatably inserted into the cylindrical portion 47A around its axis. Therefore, in this embodiment, the valve body 41 is rotatably supported around its axis. As a result, in the axial flow type electric valve 1, the resistance that the valve body 41 receives from the fluid flowing inside can be reduced. In this disclosure, the base portion 44 may be joined to the cylindrical portion 47A. That is, it is not essential that the valve body 41 is rotatable around its axis.

[0063] The main body 42, valve 43, base 44, and cylindrical portion 47A are arranged coaxially. The valve body 41 is located inside the magnet rotor 30. In this specification, “inside the magnet rotor” includes substantially the inside. In this disclosure, for example, a portion of the valve body may protrude from the magnet rotor 30. The valve body only needs to be located substantially inside the magnet rotor 30.

[0064] Each of the multiple second connecting portions 47B has a rectangular flat plate shape. Each of the multiple second connecting portions 47B connects the inner periphery of the first connecting portion 45 to the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 47A. Each of the multiple second connecting portions 47B is arranged at equal intervals around the axis L. The multiple second connecting portions 47B are elastically deformable. The flow path formed between the first connecting portion 45 and the cylindrical portion 47A is demarcated by the multiple second connecting portions 47B.

[0065] It should be noted that the spring member of this disclosure is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment described above. The shape of the spring member is arbitrary. The spring member of this disclosure may be a leaf spring having a strip shape or a cross shape.

[0066] (stopper) The stopper 48 is a C-shaped plate-like member. The stopper 48 has a base and a pair of arm portions arranged symmetrically on either side of the base. One end of each arm portion on the base side is attached to the base. The material of the stopper 48 in this embodiment is elastic. The base and the pair of arm portions are integrally formed.

[0067] The ends of each arm section opposite the base are separated by a gap. A notch is formed between the ends of the opposing arm sections. The base, one of the pair of arm sections, the notch, and the other of the pair of arm sections are arranged in this order in the circumferential direction. Both the outer and inner edges of the stopper 48 are arc-shaped. The inner diameter of the stopper 48 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical section 47A. The outer diameter of the stopper 48 is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical section 47A.

[0068] In this embodiment, the reduced diameter portion of the main body portion 42 of the valve body 41 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 47A. The inserted reduced diameter portion of the main body portion 42 is sandwiched between the portion to the left of the reduced diameter portion in the main body portion 42 in Figure 2, which is larger in diameter than the reduced diameter portion, and the stopper 48 located to the right of the cylindrical portion 47A.

[0069] Specifically, a groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the main body portion 42 in the area closer to the support member 12 than the cylindrical portion 47A. The stopper 48 can be inserted into the groove of the main body portion 42 using the notch of the stopper 48. The stopper 48 is fitted into the groove. The stopper 48 prevents the valve body 41 from falling out of the through hole in the cylindrical portion 47A towards the valve seat 17.

[0070] Therefore, the spring member 51 is fixed coaxially to the valve body 41, and the spring member 51 together with the valve body 41 constitutes the valve body unit 40. In this disclosure, the main body portion 42 of the valve body 41 may be press-fitted into the cylindrical portion 47A. Alternatively, the cylindrical portion 47A may be crimped or welded to the valve body 41.

[0071] (Positioning member) The positioning member 70 in this embodiment is a cylindrical rod-shaped member having a base portion 72 and a projection portion 74. That is, the positioning member 70 in this embodiment extends axially between the base portion 72 at one end and the projection portion 74 at the other end. As the rod-shaped member, any known member having a rod-shaped portion can be used as appropriate, such as a pin, a screw with the same diameter at the head and the same diameter at the shaft (in other words, a grub screw), or a ball screw nut. In this disclosure, it is not essential that the positioning member be a rod-shaped member. The shape of the positioning member can be set arbitrarily. Also, there is only one positioning member 70.

[0072] The positioning member 70 is positioned between the magnet rotor 30 and the valve seat member 13. In this embodiment, one end of the positioning member 70 in the axial direction is attached to the valve seat member 13. Specifically, the base portion 72 of one end of the positioning member 70 is attached to the end face of the cover portion 14 of the valve seat member 13 on the side facing the magnet rotor 30. The projection 74 of the other end of the positioning member 70 in the axial direction extends toward the magnet rotor 30.

[0073] The disclosure is not limited thereto, and one end may be attached to the magnet rotor 30 and the other end may extend toward the valve seat member 13. In the disclosure, one end of the positioning member 70 in the axial direction may be attached to one of the magnet rotor 30 and the valve seat member 13, and the other end in the axial direction may extend toward the other of the magnet rotor 30 and the valve seat member 13.

[0074] The positioning member 70 has a predetermined length along the axial direction. Specifically, first, the positioning member 70 functions as a stopper to which the approaching magnet rotor 30 makes contact while moving linearly. Next, the positioning member 70 determines the limit position of the linear motion of the magnet rotor 30, which can be tightened further while in contact with the positioning member 70, so as to prevent the valve body 41 from unnecessarily biting into the valve seat 17 after seating. The height of the projection 74 of the positioning member 70 protruding from the cover 14 is predetermined according to the distance between the positioning member 70 and the magnet rotor 30 and the linear motion distance of the valve body 43 added by the elastic deformation of the spring member 51.

[0075] <Operation of the electric valve> Next, the operation of the electric valve 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. First, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, in the open state, the refrigerant that enters the opening 12D from the first pipe 8 flows through the inner space 35 of the magnet rotor 30, the valve chamber 18, and the valve port 16, and flows to the second pipe 9. In the inner space 35, the refrigerant passes through the flow path formed between the first connecting portion 45 and the cylindrical portion 47A of the spring member 51.

[0076] (Transition from open to closed valve state) Next, by supplying current to the coil of the stator unit 6, the magnet rotor 30 rotates in one direction in the circumferential direction. As the magnet rotor 30 rotates in one direction, the feed screw action between the male thread 12B1 of the support member 12 and the female thread 33A of the magnet rotor 30 brings the magnet rotor 30 and the valve body unit 40 closer to the valve seat member 13. Then, the valve portion 43 of the valve body 41 seats on the valve seat 17, closing the valve opening 16. As a result, the closed state of the electric valve 1 is formed, as shown in Figure 3.

[0077] (Tighten further) Next, as a tightening measure, when the magnet rotor 30 rotates further in one direction, the spring member 51 elastically deforms, pressing the valve portion 43 against the valve seat 17. In other words, the elastic deformation of the spring member 51 generates an additional linear motion distance for the valve portion 43 after the valve body 41 has seated. This improves the sealing performance of the valve seat 17.

[0078] In this embodiment, the projection height of the projection 74 of the positioning member 70, which protrudes from the cover portion 14 of the valve seat member 13, is predetermined according to the linear motion distance of the valve portion 43 added by the elastic deformation of the spring member 51. This prevents the valve body 41 from unnecessarily biting into the valve seat 17 after seating. When the second portion 32 of the magnet rotor 30 comes into contact with the projection 74, the linear motion of the valve portion 43, which moves integrally with the magnet rotor 30 along the axial direction, is stopped. As a result, tightening is completed.

[0079] (Transition from closed to open state) When opening the valve after tightening is complete, the magnet rotor 30 rotates in the opposite direction by supplying current to the coil of the stator unit 6. The opposite direction is the opposite direction of rotation to the one direction in the circumferential direction. When the magnet rotor 30 rotates in the opposite direction, the magnet rotor 30 and the valve body unit 40 move away from the valve seat member 13 due to the feed screw action between the male screw 12B1 of the support member 12 and the female screw 33A of the magnet rotor 30. Then, the valve portion 43 of the valve body 41 moves away from the valve seat 17, and the valve port 16 opens.

[0080] As the magnetic rotor 30 rotates further in another direction, the valve portion 43 reaches the position furthest from the valve seat 17, forming the fully open state of the electric valve 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In the electric valve 1 according to this embodiment, the above open state and closed state are repeated.

[0081] (Effects of this embodiment) In the electric valve 1 according to this embodiment, the positioning member 70 is positioned between the magnet rotor 30 and the valve seat member 13 and has a predetermined length along the axial direction. Therefore, during tightening, the positioning member 70 is sandwiched between the linearly moving magnet rotor 30 and the valve seat member 13. As a result, the stopping position of the valve body 41 during tightening is determined by the axial length of the positioning member 70.

[0082] In other words, by adjusting the length of the positioning member 70, it is possible to suppress the valve body 41 from unnecessarily biting into the valve seat 17 after seating. As a result, the stopping position of the valve body 41 during tightening can be controlled with high precision. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide an electric valve body used together with a stator that constitutes an axial flow type electric valve capable of precisely controlling the stopping position of the valve body 41 during tightening.

[0083] Furthermore, in this embodiment, one end of the positioning member 70 in the axial direction is attached to one of the magnet rotor 30 and the valve seat member 13, while the other end of the positioning member 70 in the axial direction extends toward the other of the magnet rotor 30 and the valve seat member 13. Therefore, by using the portion of the positioning member 70 that extends along the axial direction, a positioning member 70 can be realized that is sandwiched between the linearly moving magnet rotor 30 and the valve seat member 13.

[0084] (modified version) Next, a modified electric valve 1A will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 10. In this embodiment, the positioning member 70 was a rod-shaped member, but the shape of the positioning member is not limited to this in this disclosure. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the modified positioning member 70A may be configured to have a ring-shaped coil portion 76. As shown in Figure 4, in the modified example as well, the base portion 72 located at one end of the positioning member 70A (the right end in Figure 4) is attached to the end face of the cover portion 14 of the valve seat member 13 on the side of the magnet rotor 30, similar to the case in this embodiment.

[0085] In other words, one end of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 was positioned on the right side of each figure, while one end of the modified example illustrated in Figures 4 to 10 is positioned on the left side of each figure. Similarly, the other end of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 was positioned on the left side of each figure, while the other end of the modified example illustrated in Figures 4 to 10 is positioned on the right side of each figure.

[0086] The coil portion 76 is positioned between the base portion 72 at one end of the positioning member 70A and the protruding portion 74 at the other end (the left end in Figure 4). The coil portion 76 is wound along the outer circumferential surface of the support portion 15. In a modified example, the base portion 72, the coil portion 76, and the protruding portion 74 are integrally formed as a single positioning member 70A by a single coil spring. In the positioning member 70A having the coil portion 76 of this disclosure, the base portion 72, the coil portion 76, and the protruding portion 74 may be manufactured separately, and then the manufactured base portion 72, coil portion 76, and protruding portion 74 may be joined together to form a single positioning member 70A.

[0087] As shown in Figure 5, a notch 32B1 is formed at the end of the second cylindrical portion 32B in the second part 32 of the magnet rotor 30 on the valve seat 17 side. In the modified example, the bottom surface of the notch 32B1 is parallel to the circumferential direction, and the side wall surface of the modified example extends along the axial direction. In this disclosure, the shape of the notch is not limited to this and can be changed as appropriate.

[0088] The circumferential opening width of the notch 32B1 is larger than the diameter of the projection 74. Therefore, the projection 74 can be accommodated inside the notch 32B1. Furthermore, the radial thickness of the notch 32B1 is set to such an extent that the projection 74 can rotate along the circumferential direction while in contact with it. In this disclosure, the structure capable of accommodating the projection is not limited to a notch. For example, any member that is provided on the end of the magnet rotor on the valve seat 17 side, facing the projection, and has a shape capable of housing or gripping the projection, may be used.

[0089] As shown in Figure 6, in the modified example, a groove 42A is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 42 of the valve body unit 40 in the region closer to the base 44 than the first connecting portion 45. A stopper 48 is fitted into the groove 42A. In the modified example, as in this embodiment, the valve body 41 is rotatably supported around its axis.

[0090] As shown in Figure 6, the diameter of the base 72 and the diameter of the projection 74 of the positioning member 70A are approximately the same. Furthermore, the base 72 and the projection 74 of the positioning member 70A are arranged coaxially. Figure 6 illustrates the maximum diameter R1 of the positioning member 70A in a cross-section of the electric valve A in the open state.

[0091] The modified positioning member 70A, like the positioning member 70 of this embodiment, has a predetermined length along the axial direction. Specifically, the positioning member 70A first functions as a stopper to which the approaching magnet rotor 30 comes into contact while moving linearly due to the elastic deformation of the spring member 51. In the modified example as well, the protrusion height of the projection 74 of the positioning member 70A from the cover portion 14 is predetermined according to the distance between the positioning member 70A and the magnet rotor 30 and the linear movement distance of the valve portion 43 added by the elastic deformation of the spring member 51.

[0092] However, in the modified example, if the length of the coil portion 76 measured along its axial direction is shortened by being pushed by the magnet rotor 30, which moves linearly toward the lid portion 14 while in contact with the protrusion 74, the position of the end face of the protrusion 74 moves closer to the lid portion 14 by the amount by which the coil portion 76 is shortened. In the modified example, the linear distance of the valve portion 43 added by the elastic deformation of the spring member 51 may include the shortening of the length of the coil portion 76. In other words, the positioning member 70A has the rigidity to maintain its length along its axial direction even when pushed by the magnet rotor 30.

[0093] <Operation of the electric valve> Next, the operation of the modified electric valve will be explained with reference to Figures 6 to 10. First, as shown in Figure 6, in the open state, the refrigerant that enters the opening 12D from the first pipe 8 flows through the inner space 35 of the magnet rotor 30, the valve chamber 18, and the valve port 16, and flows to the second pipe 9. In the inner space 35, the refrigerant passes through the flow path formed between the first connecting portion 45 and the cylindrical portion 47A of the spring member 51.

[0094] (Transition from open to closed valve state) Next, by supplying current to the coil of the stator unit 6, the magnet rotor 30 rotates in one direction. As the magnet rotor 30 rotates in one direction, the feed screw action between the male screw 12B1 of the support member 12 and the female screw 33A of the magnet rotor 30 causes the magnet rotor 30 and the valve body unit 40 to move closer to the valve seat member 13.

[0095] Then, the valve portion 43 of the valve body 41 seats onto the valve seat 17, closing the valve opening 16. As a result, the closed state of the electric valve 1 is formed, as shown in Figure 7. As shown in Figure 8, at the time of seating, the projection 74 of the positioning member 70A attached to the valve seat member 13 is located inside the notch 32B1 of the approaching magnet rotor 30. That is, the projection 74 is housed inside the notch 32B1. At the time of seating, the maximum diameter R1 of the positioning member 70A in the cross-section is the same as the maximum diameter R1 in Figure 6.

[0096] (Tighten further) Next, as shown in Figure 9, when the magnet rotor 30 rotates further in one direction as a tightening measure, the spring member 51 elastically deforms, pressing the valve portion 43 against the valve seat 17. In other words, the elastic deformation of the spring member 51 generates an additional linear motion distance for the valve portion 43 after the valve body 41 has seated. As a result, the sealing performance of the valve seat 17 is improved.

[0097] Furthermore, the protruding portion 74 rotates in one direction together with the magnet rotor 30 by being pressed against the side wall of the notch 32B1 inside the notch 32B1. As the protruding portion 74 rotates, the coil portion 76 is wound on the outer circumferential surface of the support portion 15. As a result, as shown in Figure 10, the inner edge of the ring-shaped coil portion 76 approaches the outer circumferential surface of the support portion 15. Due to the rotation during tightening, the protruding portion 74 is displaced along the circumferential direction so as to move away from the base portion 72, and the coil portion 76 is wound, so the maximum diameter R2 of the positioning member 70A in the cross section becomes shorter than the maximum diameter R1 before tightening.

[0098] In this modified example, the protrusion height of the projection 74 of the positioning member 70A from the cover 14 is predetermined, including the height of the coil portion 76 wound on the outer circumferential surface of the support portion 15, according to the linear motion distance of the valve portion 43 added by the elastic deformation of the spring member 51. This prevents the valve body 41 from unnecessarily biting into the valve seat 17 after seating. The bottom surface of the notch 32B1 of the second portion 32 of the magnet rotor 30 contacts the projection 74, stopping the linear motion of the valve portion 43, which moves integrally with the magnet rotor 30 along the axial direction. As a result, tightening is completed.

[0099] (Transition from closed to open state) When the valve is opened after tightening is complete, the magnet rotor 30 rotates in the opposite direction to the previous direction by supplying current to the coil of the stator unit 6. When the magnet rotor 30 rotates in the opposite direction, the feed screw action between the male thread 12B1 of the support member 12 and the female thread 33A of the magnet rotor 30 causes the magnet rotor 30 and the valve body unit 40 to separate from the valve seat member 13. Then, the valve portion 43 of the valve body 41 separates from the valve seat 17, and the valve port 16 opens.

[0100] As the magnet rotor 30 rotates further in another direction, the valve portion 43 reaches the position furthest from the valve seat 17, forming the fully open state of the electric valve 1, as shown in Figure 6. Similar to this embodiment, in the modified electric valve 1A, the above open and closed states are repeated. The other components of the modified electric valve 1A are the same as those of the electric valve 1 in this embodiment, so a redundant explanation is omitted.

[0101] (Effects of torture) In the modified electric valve 1A, similar to the embodiment, the valve body 41 does not unnecessarily bite into the valve seat 17 after seating by adjusting the length of the positioning member 70A. As a result, the stopping position of the valve body 41 during tightening can be controlled with high precision.

[0102] In the modified version, one end of the positioning member 70A is attached to the end face of the cover portion 14 of the valve seat member 13 on the side of the magnet rotor 30. The positioning member 70A also has a ring-shaped coil portion 76 that is positioned between the one end and the other and wound along the outer circumferential surface of the support portion 15. For this reason, the positioning member 70A can be realized by, for example, a coil spring. The other effects of the modified electric valve 1A are the same as those of the electric valve 1 according to this embodiment, so a redundant explanation will be omitted.

[0103] (Contact member) Next, a contact member 80 used in combination with a positioning member in the electric valve of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 11. The positioning member is not shown in Figure 11. As shown in Figure 11, the contact member 80 is positioned between the magnet rotor 30 and the valve seat member 13, facing the positioning member (for example, the positioning member 70A described in the modified example). The contact member 80 has a contact surface 80A that contacts the end face of the other end of the positioning member 70A. The contact surface 80A is sloped.

[0104] The contact member 80 is cylindrical or ring-shaped. The height of the contact surface 80A of the contact member 80, measured along the axial direction (left-right direction in Figure 11), gradually increases according to the rotation direction (e.g., one direction) of the magnet rotor 30 during tightening. In Figure 11, the one-way direction is illustrated by a clockwise arrow. In the contact member 80 illustrated in Figure 11, the end face opposite the contact surface 80A in the axial direction is flat.

[0105] For example, when the positioning member 70A is positioned on the side of the valve seat member 13, the end face of the contact member 80 opposite to the contact surface 80A (the right end face in Figure 11) is joined to the end face of the magnet rotor 30 on the valve seat 17 side. Therefore, the contact member 80 can rotate integrally with the magnet rotor 30. Also, when the positioning member 70A is positioned on the side of the magnet rotor 30, the end face of the contact member 80 opposite to the contact surface 80A is joined to the end face of the cover portion 14 of the valve seat member 13 on the magnet rotor 30 side. Therefore, the contact member 80 can rotate relative to the magnet rotor 30.

[0106] In the electric valve provided with the contact member 80 illustrated in Figure 11, as the magnetic rotor 30 moves linearly toward the valve seat 17 during tightening, the distance between the contact surface 80A of the contact member 80 and the other end face of the positioning member 70A gradually decreases. As a result, even if the other end face of the positioning member 70A has a relatively sharp part, such as a burr, the positioning member 70A can easily slide smoothly while in contact with the magnetic rotor 30 or valve seat member 13 during tightening. Therefore, the impact caused by the contact between the magnetic rotor 30 or valve seat member 13 and the positioning member 70A is easily mitigated.

[0107] Although this disclosure has been described by the embodiments disclosed above, the descriptions and drawings that constitute part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting this disclosure. For example, this disclosure may also be constructed by partially combining the configurations illustrated in the attached drawings. This disclosure includes various embodiments not described above, and the technical scope of this disclosure is determined solely by the inventive features of the claims that are reasonable from the above description. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0108] 1.1A…Electric valve 5…Electric valve body 6… Stator Unit 6S…Inner space 8…First tube 9…Second pipe 10… Valve body 11… Case 12…Support member 12A…Lid part 12B…Support part 12B1... Male screw 12C…External surface 12D…Aperture 13… Valve seat member 14...Lid part 14C…External surface 15...Support part 16… Valve opening 17... Valve seat 18… Valve chamber 30…Magnetic rotor (rotor) 31...first part 31A…End face 31B...Protruding part 32…Second part 32A...First cylindrical part 32B...Second cylindrical section 32B1... Notch 32C... step 33…Third part 33A...Female thread 35…Interior space 40… Valve body unit 41… Valve body 42...Main body 42A…Groove 43… Valve 44...Base 45...First connection part 47A…Cylinder part 47B…Second connection part 48... Stopper 51... Spring component 60... Stator 70, 70A… Positioning member 72...Base 74...Protruding part 76... Coil section 80... Contact member 80A…Contact surface L…Axis line R1...Maximum diameter R2…Maximum diameter

Claims

1. A valve body having a cylindrical shape, with a first pipe connected to one end in the axial direction and a second pipe connected to the other end, A rotor positioned inside the valve body, A stator, which is located outside the valve body and together with the rotor, constitutes a motor. A support member is positioned inside the valve body on the side of one end and converts the rotation of the rotor into linear motion along the axial direction, A valve seat member having a valve seat is located inside the valve body, on the opposite side of the rotor in the axial direction, A valve body connected to the rotor and moving linearly toward the valve seat in conjunction with the linear motion of the rotor, A positioning member disposed between the rotor and the valve seat member and having a predetermined length along the axial direction, An electric valve equipped with the following features.

2. One end of the positioning member in the axial direction is attached to one of the rotor and the valve seat member, and the other end of the positioning member in the axial direction extends toward the other of the rotor and the valve seat member. The electric valve according to claim 1.

3. The valve seat member has a cylindrical lid portion provided on the side to which the second pipe is connected, and a cylindrical support portion provided on the rotor side, continuous with the lid portion, and having a valve seat facing the valve body, and having a smaller diameter than the lid portion. One end of the positioning member is attached to the end face of the lid portion of the valve seat member on the rotor side. The positioning member has a ring-shaped coil portion that is positioned between one end and the other end and wound along the outer circumferential surface of the support portion. The electric valve according to claim 2.

4. The system further comprises a contact member positioned between the rotor and the valve seat member, facing the positioning member, having a contact surface that contacts the end face of the other end of the positioning member, wherein the height of the contact surface, measured along the axial direction, gradually increases according to the rotation direction of the rotor during tightening. The electric valve according to claim 2 or 3.

5. A valve body having a cylindrical shape, with a first pipe connected to one end in the axial direction and a second pipe connected to the other end, A rotor positioned inside the valve body, A support member is positioned inside the valve body on the side of one end and converts the rotation of the rotor into linear motion along the axial direction, A valve seat member having a valve seat is located inside the valve body, on the opposite side of the rotor in the axial direction, A valve body connected to the rotor and moving linearly toward the valve seat in conjunction with the linear motion of the rotor, A positioning member disposed between the rotor and the valve seat member and having a predetermined length along the axial direction, An electric valve body equipped with the above.

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