Valve device

Abstract

To provide a small-sized valve device.SOLUTION: A valve device comprises a housing including a communication path constituting a part of a route from an inlet to an outlet, and a valve body 50 provided to be rotatable around a predetermined shaft center inside of the housing. The valve body 50 includes a peripheral wall 52 opposed to a communication path port 42 in one end of the communication path and adjusts an opening area of the communication path port 42 in accordance with a rotation position. In a view in a radial direction, the communication path port 42 is formed in such a manner that a size in a circumferential direction becomes smaller as separated farther from a center Cp of the communication path port 42 in an axial direction. The peripheral wall 52 includes a closing part 60 capable of fully closing the communication path port 42 and a plurality of opening parts disposed while being separated from each other in the circumferential direction. The plurality of opening parts include a large opening part 63 and two small opening parts 61 and 62 smaller than the large opening part 63. Centers C1 and C2 of the small opening parts 61 and 62 are deviated in the axial direction with respect to a circumferential virtual line Lv.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve device. [Background technology]

[0002] The flow control valve disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a valve body that can rotate around a predetermined axis. The side wall of the valve body is formed with a relatively small first opening and a second opening, and a third opening that is larger than the second opening and large enough to almost fully open the inlet pipe and the bypass pipe. The flow control valve adjusts the flow rate of the fluid according to the opening area of ​​the communication passage defined by the opening of the valve body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-274521 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, each opening can independently open the communication passage, which allows constant control of the fluid flow rate. However, it is necessary to ensure circumferential spacing between each opening, which increases the required circumferential length of the side wall of the valve body, resulting in a problem of increased device size.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a valve device that is miniaturized. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The valve device of the present invention comprises a housing having a communication passage that constitutes part of a path from an inlet to an outlet, a valve body rotatably provided within the housing about a predetermined axis, and an actuator that rotates the valve body. The valve body has a peripheral wall portion facing a communication passage port at one end of the communication passage, and adjusts the opening area of ​​the communication passage port depending on the rotation position.

[0007] In the following, the direction parallel to the axis is defined as the axial direction, the direction perpendicular to the axis is defined as the radial direction, the direction around the axis is defined as the circumferential direction, and the imaginary line passing through the center of the connecting passage port and extending circumferentially is defined as the circumferential imaginary line. The area of ​​relative movement of the communication passage port in the circumferential direction that is permitted for maintaining the communication passage port in a fully closed state is defined as a first allowable movement area.

[0008] The communication passage port, as viewed from the radial direction, is shaped so that its circumferential size decreases with increasing axial distance from the center of the communication passage port. The peripheral wall portion has a closing portion capable of fully closing the communication passage port, and a plurality of openings arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. The plurality of openings includes a large opening and one or more small openings smaller than the large opening. The centers of the one or more small openings are offset in the axial direction from a circumferential virtual line. At least a portion of the circumferential extent of the predetermined small opening overlaps with the circumferential extent of the first permitted movement area.

[0009] This allows the small openings to be positioned closer together in the circumferential direction than in the conventional configuration in which the centers of the small openings coincide with the circumferential virtual line. This shortens the circumferential distance required for the small openings to pass through the communication passage port when the valve body rotates. This reduces the circumferential spacing between the openings required for the small openings to be able to open the communication passage port independently, and shortens the circumferential length of the peripheral wall of the valve body. This allows the valve device to be made smaller by reducing the outer diameter of the valve body. Furthermore, the shorter travel distance of the sliding portion of the valve body relative to the housing allows the load on the actuator to be reduced, and further reduces wear on the sliding parts involved in the sliding of the valve body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a valve device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2]Cross-sectional view of line II-II in Figure 1. [Diagram 3] 3 is a development of the outer circumferential surface of the annular portion of the valve body shown in FIG. 2, showing a fully closed state in which the communication passage port and the closed portion coincide with each other. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a development similar to FIG. 3, showing a first small opening state in which the communication passage port and the first small opening communicate with each other. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a development similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a second small opening state in which the communication passage port and the second small opening communicate with each other. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a development similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a fully opened state in which the communication passage port and the large opening communicate with each other. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 3 and shows an allowable movement area. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a development view of an outer circumferential surface of an annular portion in a valve device according to a first alternative embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a development view of an outer circumferential surface of an annular portion in a valve device according to a second alternative embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a development view of an outer circumferential surface of an annular portion in a valve device according to a third alternative embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a development view of an outer circumferential surface of an annular portion in a valve device of a comparative embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are used to designate substantially the same components among the embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0012] [One embodiment] A valve device according to one embodiment is provided in the middle of a cooling water circulation path in a cooling system to control the flow rate and path of the cooling water. As shown in Fig. 1, the valve device 10 includes a housing 20 having an inlet 12 and outlets 13 and 14, a valve element 50 provided rotatably around a predetermined axis O within the housing 20, and an actuator 70 that rotates the valve element 50.

[0013] Here, a direction parallel to the axis O is defined as an axial direction, a direction perpendicular to the axis O is defined as a radial direction, and a direction around the axis O is defined as a circumferential direction.

[0014] The housing 20 includes a main body 21, pipes 22, 23, and seal units 24, 25. The main body 21 has a cylindrical portion 26 and support portions 27, 28 arranged at both ends of the cylindrical portion 26. The support portions 27, 28 are arranged on an axis O. A bearing 31 is provided in the support portion 27, and a bearing 32 is provided in the support portion 28. The support portion 28 has an inlet hole 33 penetrating the main body 21 from the inside to the outside. One end of the inlet hole 33 is the inlet 12. The cylindrical portion 26 has a pipe installation hole 34 provided near the support portion 27 and a pipe installation hole 35 provided near the support portion 28. The pipe 22 is provided in the pipe installation hole 34, and the pipe 23 is provided in the pipe installation hole 35. The outer opening of the pipe 22 is the outlet 13, and the outer opening of the pipe 23 is the outlet 14.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the valve body 50 has a rotating shaft portion 51, a peripheral wall portion 52, and a connecting portion 53. The rotating shaft portion 51 is supported by bearings 31 and 32. An actuator 70 is connected to one end of the rotating shaft portion 51. The connecting portion 53 connects the rotating shaft portion 51 and the peripheral wall portion 52. The peripheral wall portion 52 is cylindrical and has annular portions 54 and 55 connected to be aligned in the axial direction. The outer circumferential surfaces of the annular portions 54 and 55 are spherical. The seal unit 24 is provided between the annular portion 54 and the pipe 22, and the seal unit 25 is provided between the annular portion 55 and the pipe 23.

[0016] The seal unit 24 and the annular portion 54 have the same configuration as the seal unit 25 and the annular portion 55. Below, the seal unit 24 and the annular portion 54 will be described as representatives of them.

[0017] The seal unit 24 has a seat 36, a sleeve 37, a spring 38, and a packing 39. The seat 36 is an annular seal member that abuts against the outer circumferential surface of the annular portion 54. The sleeve 37 is a cylindrical member that protrudes from inside the pipe 22 into the valve body accommodating space 29, and holds the seat 36. The spring 38 presses the seat 36 against the annular portion 54 via the sleeve 37. The packing 39 is provided between the pipe 22 and the sleeve 37. When the valve body 50 rotates, the annular portion 54 slides against the seat 36, thereby maintaining the sealing state provided by the seal unit 24.

[0018] The sheet 36 has a communication passage 41 in its center. The communication passage 41 communicates with the outlet 13 and constitutes part of the path from the inlet 12 to the outlet 13. An opening at one end of the communication passage 41 is a communication passage port 42 facing the peripheral wall portion 52. As shown in Fig. 3, the communication passage port 42 viewed from the radial direction is circular, and has a shape such that the circumferential size decreases with increasing distance from the center Cp of the communication passage port 42 in the axial direction.

[0019] As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the valve body 50 adjusts the opening area of ​​the communication passage port 42 according to the rotational position. Specifically, the annular portion 54 adjusts the opening area of ​​the communication passage port 42 using a blocking portion 60 that can fully close the communication passage port 42, and a plurality of openings 61, 62, and 63. The plurality of openings 61, 62, and 63 are arranged apart from each other in the circumferential direction. The plurality of openings 61, 62, and 63 include a large opening 63 that can almost fully open the communication passage port 42, and two small openings 61 and 62 that are smaller than the large opening 63. The small opening 61 is smaller than the small opening 62. The small opening 61 is arranged between the blocking portion 60 and the large opening 63, closer to the blocking portion 60. The small opening 62 is arranged between the blocking portion 60 and the large opening 63, closer to the large opening 63.

[0020] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the openings 61, 62, and 63 are arranged so that each opening can open the communication passage port 42. This allows constant control of the cooling water flow rate. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, when the circumferential position of the center C1 of the small opening 61 coincides with the circumferential position of the center Cp of the communication passage port 42, the other openings 62 and 63 are arranged away from the small opening 61 so that only the small opening 61 communicates with the communication passage port 42. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the same applies to the other openings 62 and 63.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, the openings 61, 62, 63 are arranged so as not to communicate with the communication passage 41 even if the valve body 50 stops at a position slightly shifted from the fully closed position. This makes it possible to maintain the fully closed state of the communication passage port 42 even if the stopping position accuracy of the valve body 50 decreases. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the openings 61, 62, 63 are arranged away from the blocking portion 60 so that the openings 61, 62, 63 do not communicate with the communication passage ports 42a0, 42b0 that have moved a predetermined distance in one direction and the other direction in the circumferential direction relative to the center C0 of the blocking portion 60. Hereinafter, the relative movement area of ​​the communication passage port 42 in the circumferential direction that is allowed to maintain the fully closed state is defined as a first allowable movement area A0 (see Fig. 7).

[0022] Furthermore, the openings 61, 62, and 63 are arranged so that even if the valve body 50 stops at a position slightly displaced from the predetermined position, the openings 61, 62, and 63 can open the communication passage port 42 by themselves (hereinafter, referred to as an independently opened state). As a result, even if the accuracy of the stopping position of the valve body 50 decreases, the opening area of ​​the communication passage port 42 does not change, and the flow rate of the cooling water can be made constant. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the other openings 62 and 63 are arranged away from the small opening 61 so that only the small opening 61 is completely connected to the communication passage ports 42a1 and 42b1 that are moved a predetermined distance in one direction and the other direction from the center C1 of the small opening 61. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the same is true for the other openings 62 and 63. Hereinafter, the relative movement area in the circumferential direction of the communication passage port 42 that is allowed to maintain the independently opened state by the openings 61, 62, and 63 is defined as second allowable movement areas A1, A2, and A3 (see FIG. 7).

[0023] Next, the features and advantages of the embodiment will be clarified by comparing the embodiment with a comparative embodiment. Hereinafter, a virtual line passing through the center Cp of the communication passage port 42 and extending in the circumferential direction is defined as a circumferential virtual line Lv.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 11, in the comparative embodiment, a blocking portion 90 and a plurality of openings 91, 92, 93 are provided that are the same size as the blocking portion 60 and the plurality of openings 61, 62, 63 in the embodiment. The small openings 91, 92 are disposed at the same axial position as the communication passage port 42, as are the blocking portion 90 and the large opening 93. That is, the centers C1, C2 of the small openings 91, 92 are disposed on the circumferential virtual line Lv. In this comparative embodiment, when considering "the shortening of the circumferential length of the peripheral wall portion 52 as much as possible while maintaining the fully closed state and the single open state even if the stop position is shifted by a predetermined distance," it is preferable to arrange the small opening 91 adjacent to the first allowable movement area A0, the small opening 92 adjacent to the second allowable movement area A1, and the large opening 93 adjacent to the second allowable movement area A2. However, the circumferential length of the peripheral wall portion 52 cannot be shortened any further.

[0025] 7, the small openings 61, 62 are disposed such that their centers C1, C2 are shifted in the axial direction with respect to the center Cp of the communication passage port 42. In other words, the centers C1, C2 of the small openings 61, 62 are shifted in the axial direction with respect to the circumferential virtual line Lv.

[0026] The allowable movement areas A0 and A1 are shaped so that the circumferential size decreases as the area moves away from the circumferential virtual line Lv in the axial direction, similar to the communication passage opening 42. Therefore, when considering "shortening the circumferential length of the peripheral wall portion 52 as much as possible while maintaining the fully closed state and the single open state even if the stop position is shifted by a predetermined distance," the small openings 61 and 62 can be arranged closer to the blocking portion 60 than in the comparative embodiment. As a result, the circumferential range R1 of the small opening 61 overlaps a part of the circumferential range Ra0 of the first allowable movement area A0 related to the blocking portion 60. In addition, the circumferential range R2 of the small opening 62 overlaps a part of the circumferential range Ra1 of the second allowable movement area A1 related to the small opening 61. In one embodiment, the circumferential length of the peripheral wall portion 52 is shortened by the amount by which the small openings 61 and 62 are moved closer to the blocking portion 60 than in the comparative embodiment, that is, by the amount by which the circumferential range R1 overlaps with the circumferential range Ra0 and the amount by which the circumferential range R2 overlaps with the circumferential range Ra1.

[0027] The small openings 61, 62 are arranged alternately on one side and the other side of the circumferential virtual line Lv in the circumferential direction. The deviation amount s1 of the center C1 from the circumferential virtual line Lv is different from the deviation amount s2 of the center C2 from the circumferential virtual line Lv. The small opening 61 is arranged in a position as far away as possible from the circumferential virtual line Lv in the overlapping area between the communication passage opening 42a1 and the communication passage opening 42b1, and outside the allowable movement area A0 and outside the allowable movement area A2. The small opening 62 is arranged in a position as far away as possible from the circumferential virtual line Lv in the overlapping area between the communication passage opening 42a2 and the communication passage opening 42b2, and outside the allowable movement area A1 and outside the allowable movement area A3.

[0028] (effect) As described above, in one embodiment, the communication passage port 42 viewed from the radial direction is shaped so that the circumferential size decreases as the distance from the center C0 of the communication passage port 42 in the axial direction increases. The centers C1, C2 of the small openings 61, 62 are offset in the axial direction from the circumferential virtual line Lv. As a result, compared to the conventional embodiment in which the centers C1, C2 coincide with the circumferential virtual line Lv, the small openings 61, 62 can be arranged closer to the blocking portion 60 side. Then, the circumferential distance required for the small openings 61, 62 to pass through the communication passage port 42 when the valve body 50 rotates is shortened. Therefore, the circumferential interval of each opening 61, 62, 63 required for the small openings 61, 62 to be able to open the communication passage port 42 by themselves is reduced, and the circumferential length of the peripheral wall portion 52 of the valve body 50 can be shortened. Therefore, the outer diameter of the valve body 50 can be reduced to reduce the size of the valve device 10. Furthermore, by shortening the distance traveled by the sliding portion of the valve body 50 relative to the housing 20, the load on the actuator 70 can be reduced, and wear on the sliding parts involved in the sliding movement of the valve body 50 can be reduced.

[0029] In one embodiment, the small openings 61, 62 are arranged alternately on one side and the other side in the axial direction with respect to the circumferential virtual line Lv in the circumferential direction. This allows the small openings 61, 62 to be spaced as far apart as possible from each other, thereby suppressing a decrease in the strength of the peripheral wall portion 52. If a relative movement area of ​​the communication passage port in the circumferential direction that is permitted in order to maintain the communication passage port in a fully closed state is defined as a first allowable movement area (A0),

[0030] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the circumferential range R1 of the small opening 61 overlaps with the circumferential range Ra0 of the first allowable movement area. Therefore, the circumferential length of the peripheral wall portion 52 is shortened by the amount by which the circumferential range R1 overlaps with the circumferential range Ra0.

[0031] In one embodiment, of the two small openings 61, 62 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, the circumferential range R2 of one small opening 62 overlaps with the circumferential range Ra1 of the second allowable movement area A1 for the other small opening 61. Therefore, the circumferential length of the peripheral wall portion 52 is shortened by the amount by which the circumferential range R2 overlaps with the circumferential range Ra1.

[0032] [Other embodiments] In other embodiments, the offset of the center of each of the small openings from the imaginary circumferential line may be the same.

[0033] In other embodiments, there may be one small opening as shown in Fig. 8. In other embodiments, there may be three small openings (i.e., small openings 61, 62, 64) as shown in Fig. 9, or four or more small openings may be provided. Also, a plurality of large openings 63 may be provided as shown in Fig. 10.

[0034] In other embodiments, two or more pipes may be provided corresponding to one annular portion. That is, one annular portion may be configured to open and close two or more outlets (or inlets). The locations of the outlets and inlets of the housing may be reversed. The housing may have one outlet and multiple inlets.

[0035] In other embodiments, the valve device is not limited to being used in a cooling system, and may be used in other systems. The object to be controlled by the valve device is not limited to a refrigerant such as cooling water, and may be other fluids.

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 10 valve device, 12 inlet, 13, 14 outlet, 20 housing, 41 Communication passage, 42 Communication passage port, 50 Valve body, 52 Surrounding wall, 60 Closure part, 61, 62, 64 small opening, 63 large opening, 70 actuator, C1, C2: Center of small opening, Cp: Center of communication passage port, Lv: circumferential imaginary line, O axis center.

Claims

1. a housing (20) having a communication passage (41) that constitutes a part of a path from an inlet (12) to an outlet (13, 14); a valve body (50) that is rotatably provided within the housing about a predetermined axis (O), has a peripheral wall portion (52) facing a communication passage port (42) at one end of the communication passage, and adjusts an opening area of ​​the communication passage port according to a rotational position; An actuator (70) that rotates the valve body; Equipped with The direction parallel to the axis is defined as the axial direction, A direction perpendicular to the axis is defined as a radial direction, The direction around the axis is defined as a circumferential direction, If an imaginary line passing through the center (Cp) of the communication passage port and extending in the circumferential direction is defined as a circumferential imaginary line (Lv), and an area of ​​relative movement of the communication passage port in the circumferential direction that is allowed to maintain the communication passage port in a fully closed state is defined as a first allowable movement area (A0), When viewed from a radial direction, the communication passage port has a shape such that a circumferential size thereof decreases as the communication passage port moves away from a center of the communication passage port in the axial direction, The peripheral wall portion has a closing portion (60) capable of completely closing the communication passage port, and a plurality of openings (61, 62, 63, 64) arranged apart from one another in the circumferential direction, The plurality of openings includes a large opening (63) and one or more small openings (61, 62, 64) smaller than the large opening; The centers (C1, C2) of one or more of the small openings are offset in the axial direction with respect to the circumferential imaginary line, A valve device, wherein at least a portion of a circumferential range (R1) of a predetermined small opening (61) overlaps with a circumferential range (Ra0) of the first allowable movement area.

2. A plurality of the small openings are provided, The valve device according to claim 1 , wherein the small openings are arranged alternately on one axial side and the other axial side with respect to the circumferential imaginary line in a circumferential order.

3. A plurality of the small openings are provided, A state in which the small opening portion alone opens the communication passage port is defined as an independently opened state, If the area of ​​relative movement of the communication passage port in the circumferential direction permitted for maintaining the single opening state is defined as a second allowable movement area (A1, A2, A3), 3. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a circumferential range (R2) of one of the small openings (62) of two small openings adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction overlaps with a circumferential range (Ra1) of the second allowable movement area for the other small opening (61).

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