Switching valve and refrigeration cycle system

Abstract

To provide a switching valve which suppresses a significant difference of strength on directivity of external force, and a refrigeration cycle system.SOLUTION: A bracket 13 of a switching valve includes a pair of holding plates 131 as a pair of plate parts which is each erected on an outer face of a switching valve body and arranged opposed to a predetermined opposite direction D13, and fixed to the outer face of the switching valve body in an erection direction D14 crossing the outer face where one end side of each of the plate parts is set as a valve body side 13a of the bracket 13, while holding a pilot drive part at a pilot side 13b where the other end side is set as the pilot side 13b of the bracket 13, and a reinforcement part 132 extending in the opposite direction D13 and connecting the pair of holding plates 131 to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a switching valve used in a refrigeration cycle system of an air conditioner or the like for switching a flow path of a refrigerant, and to a refrigeration cycle system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been disclosed a switching valve in which a pilot drive unit that slides a slide valve inside the switching valve body is connected to the switching valve body via a bracket (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Among such brackets, there is a sheet metal processing type that has a pair of holding plates that are fixed at one end to the switching valve body and hold the pilot drive unit at the other end, and this type of bracket is used in the switching valve described in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-112437 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, the pair of retaining plates of the above-mentioned bracket have high resistance to external forces in the in-plane direction of each retaining plate, but the retaining plates tend to move easily in the out-of-plane direction and have low resistance. In other words, in a switching valve in which the switching valve body and the pilot drive unit are connected by the above-mentioned bracket, a significant difference in strength occurs depending on the direction of the external force, and there is room for improvement in terms of such a significant difference.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a switching valve and a refrigeration cycle system in which significant differences in strength depending on the direction of an external force are suppressed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The switching valve of the present invention comprises a switching valve body incorporating a slide valve and switching a flow path state in response to the sliding of the slide valve, a pilot drive unit sliding the slide valve, and a bracket connecting the pilot drive unit to the switching valve body, wherein the bracket is a pair of plate parts each erected on an outer surface of the switching valve body and arranged opposite to each other in a predetermined opposing direction, and comprises a pair of retaining plates each having one end side of each plate part fixed to the outer surface as the valve body side of the bracket and the other end side as the pilot side of the bracket in the erecting direction intersecting with the outer surface of the switching valve body, the pair of retaining plates holding the pilot drive unit on the pilot side, and a reinforcing part extending in the opposing direction connecting the pair of retaining plates to each other. A thin tube through which a driving fluid used for sliding the slide valve passes is connected to the pilot drive portion, and each plate portion of the pair of holding plates has a pair of side edges extending in the erecting direction and a pair of end edges extending in a width direction intersecting the erecting direction, and a first recess is provided on the pilot side end edge, recessed toward the valve body side, to receive a held portion adjacent to the connection portion of the thin tube in the pilot drive portion, and the reinforcing portion is formed in a band-like shape that connects at least one of the pair of side edges of each plate portion of the pair of holding plates with a connecting width from an end portion on the valve body side to a portion overlapping with the first recess in the erecting direction, and a second recess is provided on the pilot side end edge of the reinforcing portion, recessed toward the valve body side, so that the thin tube extending from the connection portion of the pilot drive portion passes inside. It is characterized by:

[0007] In addition, switching of the flow path state referred to here means a technical concept including switching of a flow path, that is, changing one flow path to another flow path, and switching between opening and closing a flow path, that is, closing or opening one flow path.

[0008] With this switching valve, the bracket provides high resistance to external forces in the in-plane direction of each retaining plate due to the shape of each retaining plate, and high resistance in the opposing direction of the pair of retaining plates, i.e., in the out-of-plane direction of each retaining plate, due to the reinforcing portion. In other words, by connecting the switching valve body and the pilot drive unit with such a bracket, it is possible to reduce significant differences in strength in the switching valve with respect to the directional application of external forces.

[0009] Here, it is preferable that each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates has a pair of side edges extending in the vertical direction and a pair of end edges extending in a width direction intersecting the vertical direction, and at least one of the pair of ends is curved concavely so as to form a shortest portion where the distance between the ends in the vertical direction is shortest, and the reinforcing portion is formed in the shape of a band plate connecting at least one of the pair of side edges in each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates with a connecting width that extends from the end portion on the valve body side to a portion on the pilot side in the vertical direction rather than the center of the vertical direction in the shortest portion.

[0010] According to this configuration, the reinforcing portion of the bracket supports the side edge of the retaining plate with a connection width from the end on the valve body side to a portion on the pilot side of the center of the vertical direction of the shortest portion. This reduces the length of the portion of the side edge of the retaining plate that is not supported by the reinforcing portion, and further reduces significant differences in strength due to the direction of external force.

[0011] Furthermore, it is preferable that a capillary tube through which a driving fluid used for sliding the slide valve passes is connected to the pilot drive portion, and the reinforcement portion is provided at a position in the vertical installation direction closer to the switching valve body than the pilot side of the pair of retaining plates that holds the pilot drive portion, and that the bracket receives and holds the connection portion of the capillary tube in the pilot drive portion at a position farther from the switching valve body than the reinforcement portion in the vertical installation direction, and that a holding space in which a capillary tube extension port is opened so that the capillary tube extending from the connection portion extends to the outside of the bracket while avoiding the reinforcement portion is partitioned by the pilot side of each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates.

[0012] The connection part of the thin tube in the pilot drive part may have a valve body disposed therein for changing the flow path state of the driving fluid through the thin tube, and it is desirable to protect it from external forces. According to the above configuration, the connection part of such thin tube can be received and firmly held in the holding space while effectively avoiding interference between the reinforcing part and the thin tube.

[0013] Further, a thin tube through which a driving fluid used for sliding the slide valve passes is connected to the pilot drive portion, and each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates has a pair of side edges extending in the vertical direction and a pair of end edges extending in a width direction intersecting the vertical direction, and the pilot side end edge is provided with a first recess that is recessed toward the valve body side and receives a held portion adjacent to the connection portion of the thin tube in the pilot drive portion, and the reinforcing portion is formed in a band plate shape that connects at least one of the pair of side edges of each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates with a connecting width from the end portion on the valve body side to a portion overlapping with the first recess in the vertical direction, and it is preferable that the pilot side end edge of the reinforcing portion is provided with a second recess that is recessed toward the valve body side and allows the thin tube extending from the connection portion of the pilot drive portion to pass inside.

[0014] According to this configuration, a first recess is provided on the pilot side edge of the retaining plate to receive a retained portion adjacent to the connection portion of the thin tube of the pilot drive unit. This allows the connection portion of the thin tube, which is desirably protected from external forces as described above, to be firmly held by the pair of retaining plates. In addition, the reinforcing portion connecting the side edges of the retaining plates supports the side edges of the retaining plates with a connection width from the end on the valve body side to the portion overlapping with the first recess, thereby increasing the holding strength of the pair of retaining plates. Furthermore, the reinforcing portion is provided with a second recess through which the thin tube passes inside, so that the reinforcing portion can effectively avoid interference between the thin tube and the reinforcing portion while increasing the holding strength.

[0015] It is also preferable that each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates has a pair of side edges extending in the vertical direction and a pair of end edges extending in a width direction intersecting the vertical direction, and that the bracket is provided with a pair of reinforcing portions between the pair of retaining plates so as to connect each of the pair of side edges of each plate portion.

[0016] According to this configuration, a pair of reinforcing portions that connect the pair of holding plates are provided so as to connect each of the pair of side edges, so that significant differences in strength due to the direction of external force can be further reduced.

[0017] It is also preferable that each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates has a pair of side edges extending in the vertical direction and a pair of end edges extending in a width direction intersecting the vertical direction, that the bracket is formed in the shape of a band extending in the opposing direction between the pair of retaining plates so as to connect the end edges of the pair of end edges of each plate portion that are on the valve body side, and that the bracket further comprises a body side fixing portion that is face-mounted and fixed to the outer surface of the switching valve body.

[0018] According to this configuration, the pilot drive portion can be firmly fixed to the switching valve body via the bracket by surface-to-surface fixing between the body-side fixing portion of the bracket and the outer surface of the switching valve body.

[0019] It is further preferable that the body side fixing portion is formed in a band shape connecting the valve body side end edges of each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates across the entire width of each plate portion, and the reinforcing portion is formed in a band shape connecting at least one of the pair of side edges of each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates with a connecting width from the end portion on the valve body side to a position at a predetermined height in the upright direction, and that the end edge connecting the valve body side ends is connected to the body side fixing portion.

[0020] With this configuration, the main body side fixing portion is formed across the entire width of the retaining plate, and the reinforcing portion is connected to this main body side fixing portion, thereby enhancing the support strength of the retaining plate by the reinforcing portion, and further reducing significant differences in strength in the switching valve in response to the directional application of external force.

[0021] Furthermore, it is even more preferable that the bracket has a pair of reinforcing portions between the pair of retaining plates so as to connect each of the pair of side edges of each plate portion, and that the bracket is integrally molded so as to form a rectangular box shape with the pilot side open, with the pair of retaining plates, the pair of reinforcing portions, and the main body side fixing portion as its outer walls.

[0022] According to this configuration, by integrally molding the bracket into a rectangular box shape, it is possible to further reduce the significant difference in strength of the switching valve against the directional external force. Also, since such a rectangular box-shaped bracket can be formed by press working, which has low processing costs, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing costs of the switching valve including the bracket.

[0023] The refrigeration cycle system of the present invention is characterized by comprising a compressor that compresses a refrigerant which is a fluid, a first heat exchanger that functions as a condenser in a cooling mode, a second heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator in the cooling mode, an expansion means that expands the refrigerant between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to reduce its pressure, and the above-mentioned switching valve.

[0024] According to this refrigeration cycle system, since the above-mentioned switching valve is provided, it is possible to suppress a significant difference in strength of the switching valve depending on the direction of the external force. Effect of the Invention

[0025] According to the switching valve and the refrigeration cycle system of the present invention, it is possible to suppress a significant difference in strength depending on the direction of an external force. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a three-view diagram showing an overall structure of a switching valve according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a refrigeration cycle system including the switching valve shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a diagram showing a bracket in the switching valve of FIG. 1 together with a pilot drive portion. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a three-view diagram showing the bracket shown in FIG. 3 together with a valve portion that the bracket holds in the pilot drive portion. [Diagram 5] 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views of the bracket shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a first modified example alongside the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second modified example and a third modified example side by side with the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 7 is a cross-sectional view of each part of a bracket according to a fourth modified example, similar to that of FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a view showing a bracket in a switching valve according to a second embodiment together with a pilot drive portion. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view of each part of the bracket shown in FIG. 9. FIG. [Figure 11] 13 is a view showing a bracket in a switching valve according to a third embodiment together with a pilot drive portion. FIG. [Figure 12] 12 is a cross-sectional view of each part of the bracket shown in FIG. 11. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional view of each part of the pilot joint shown in FIG. 12. FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is a cross-sectional view of each part of the main body joint shown in FIG. 12. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a view showing a bracket in a switching valve according to a fourth embodiment together with a pilot drive portion. [Figure 16] 16 is a cross-sectional view of each part of the bracket shown in FIG. 15. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a view showing a bracket in a switching valve according to a fifth embodiment together with a pilot drive portion. [Figure 18] 18 is a cross-sectional view of each part of the bracket shown in FIG. 17. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Hereinafter, a switching valve and a refrigeration cycle system according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs.

[0028] Fig. 1 is a three-view diagram showing the overall structure of a switching valve of a first embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a refrigeration cycle system including the switching valve shown in Fig. 1.

[0029] The switching valve 10 of this embodiment is a four-way switching valve that switches the communication state of four joint pipes, namely, D joint pipe 15d, E joint pipe 15e, S joint pipe 15s, and C joint pipe 15c, which will be described in detail later. The switching valve 10 switches the communication state of these four joint pipes, thereby switching the flow path of the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle system 1 shown in Fig. 2. The switching valve 10 includes a switching valve body 11, a pilot drive unit 12, and a bracket 13.

[0030] The switching valve body 11 incorporates a slide valve 112 inside a valve housing 111, and switches the flow path state by receiving the slide of the slide valve 112. In this embodiment, switching of the flow path state means switching of a flow path by changing one flow path to another flow path in a plurality of flow paths formed through four joint tubes. The valve housing 111 is a cylindrical member made of stainless steel with both ends closed, and the D joint tube 15d, the E joint tube 15e, the S joint tube 15s, and the C joint tube 15c are connected to the peripheral wall so as to communicate with the inside. The D joint tube 15d, the E joint tube 15e, the S joint tube 15s, and the C joint tube 15c are also made of stainless steel like the valve housing 111. The slide valve 112 and the valve seat 113 are installed inside the valve housing 111.

[0031] The slide valve 112 includes a pair of pistons 114L, 114R, a connecting plate 115, and a valve body 116. This slide valve 112 is installed inside the valve housing 111 to communicate two pairs of joint pipes among the above-mentioned multiple joint pipes, and switches the joint pipe to be communicated by sliding movement.

[0032] The pair of pistons 114L, 114R are disposed opposite each other and are capable of reciprocating movement while pressing the packing against the inner circumferential surface of the valve housing 111. As a result, the inside of the valve housing 111 is partitioned by the two pistons 114L, 114R into a high-pressure valve chamber 11a in the center, and a first working chamber 11b and a second working chamber 11c on either side of the valve chamber 11a.

[0033] The connecting plate 115 is made of a metal plate, and is installed between the pistons 114L, 114R so as to be disposed on the axis X of the valve housing 111, and holds a valve body 116 in its center. When the pistons 114L, 114R move, the valve body 116 slides on the valve seat 113 in conjunction with the connecting plate 115, and stops when the pistons 114L, 114R reach predetermined stopper positions at the left and right ends of the valve housing 111.

[0034] The valve seat 113 is disposed in the middle of the valve housing 111, and the D joint pipe 15d is attached as a high-pressure pipe that opens into the valve housing 111 at a position facing the valve seat 113 in the middle of the valve housing 111. In addition, the E joint pipe 15e and the C joint pipe 15c as a pair of conduits and the S joint pipe 15s as a low-pressure pipe are attached to the valve seat 113 in a straight line in the axial direction X of the valve housing 111. The valve body 116 has a bowl-shaped recess 116a formed on its inside. At the end position on the left side of FIG. 1, the valve body 116 communicates with the S joint pipe 15s and the E joint pipe 15e through the bowl-shaped recess 116a. At this time, the C joint pipe 15c communicates with the D joint pipe 15d through the valve chamber 11a. 1, the valve body 116 communicates the S joint pipe 15s and the C joint pipe 15c through the bowl-shaped recess 116a. At this time, the E joint pipe 15e communicates with the D joint pipe 15d through the valve chamber 11a.

[0035] In the refrigeration cycle system 1 shown in Fig. 2, the D joint pipe 15d is a high-pressure pipe connected to the discharge port of the compressor 1a, and the S joint pipe 15s is a low-pressure pipe connected to the suction port of the compressor 1a. The C joint pipe 15c is a conduit connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 1b (first heat exchanger), and the E joint pipe 15e is a conduit connected to the indoor heat exchanger 1c (second heat exchanger). The outdoor heat exchanger 1b and the indoor heat exchanger 1c are connected via a throttling device 1d (expansion means). The refrigeration cycle system 1 is composed of a flow path consisting of the C joint pipe 15c, the outdoor heat exchanger 1b, the throttling device 1d, the indoor heat exchanger 1c, and the E joint pipe 15e, and a flow path consisting of the S joint pipe 15s, the compressor 1a, and the D joint pipe 15d.

[0036] The pilot drive unit 12 is connected to the valve housing 111 via a bracket 13. The pilot drive unit 12 causes a drive fluid to flow through a pair of spaces, i.e., the first working chamber 11b and the second working chamber 11c, that sandwich the slide valve 112 in the axial direction D11 inside the valve housing 111, to slide the slide valve 112 in the axial direction D11. In this embodiment, the pilot drive unit 12 causes a fluid from a D joint pipe 15d as a high-pressure pipe to flow through one of the first working chamber 11b and the second working chamber 11c, and causes a fluid from an S joint pipe 15s as a low-pressure pipe to flow through the other, to slide the slide valve 112.

[0037] The pilot drive unit 12 is an electromagnetic valve having a structure similar to that of the switching valve 10, and when energized, slides an internal pilot valve body to switch the flow path of the driving fluid. The pilot valve body switches the connection destination of the low-pressure coupling thin tube 16s that communicates with the S coupling tube 15s as the low-pressure piping as follows. That is, the pilot drive unit 12 switches the connection destination of the low-pressure coupling thin tube 16s between the first housing thin tube 16L connected to the first working chamber 11b of the switching valve 10 and the second housing thin tube 16R connected to the second working chamber 11c. At the same time, the connection destination of the high-pressure coupling thin tube 16d that communicates with the D coupling tube 15d as the high-pressure piping is switched between the first housing thin tube 16L and the second housing thin tube 16R. This generates a pressure difference between the pressure in the first working chamber 11b and the pressure in the second working chamber 11c, and this pressure difference causes the slide valve 112 to slide in the axial direction D11 from the high pressure side to the low pressure side. This sliding movement switches the position of the valve body 116 in the slide valve 112, thereby switching the flow path of the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle system 1. The low pressure joint capillary tube 16s, the high pressure joint capillary tube 16d, the first housing capillary tube 16L, and the second housing capillary tube 16R are all made of stainless steel.

[0038] With the above configuration, the high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1a flows into the valve chamber 11a from the D joint pipe 15d, and in the cooling operation state (cooling mode), the high-pressure refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 1b from the C joint pipe 15c. In addition, in the heating operation state (heating mode) in which the position of the valve body 116 is switched, the high-pressure refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger 1c from the E joint pipe 15e. That is, in the cooling operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1a circulates from the D joint pipe 15d to the C joint pipe 15c to the outdoor heat exchanger 1b to the throttling device 1d to the indoor heat exchanger 1c to the E joint pipe 15e. In this case, the outdoor heat exchanger 1b functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 1c functions as an evaporator, and cooling is performed. The throttling device 1d expands the refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger 1b and the indoor heat exchanger 1c to reduce its pressure. During heating operation, the refrigerant is circulated in the reverse direction, the indoor heat exchanger 1c functions as a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger 1b functions as an evaporator, thereby providing heating.

[0039] Here, the bracket 13 for connecting the pilot drive portion 12 to the valve housing 111 is a member having the following structure.

[0040] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the bracket in the switching valve of Fig. 1 together with the pilot drive unit. Fig. 4 is a three-view diagram showing the bracket shown in Fig. 3 together with the valve portion held by the bracket in the pilot drive unit, and Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the bracket shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 in cross section. Fig. 5 shows cross sections of bracket 13 taken along lines V11-V11, V12-V12, and V13-V13 in Fig. 5.

[0041] First, the pilot drive unit 12 includes a main body portion 121 that slides the pilot valve body inside the cylindrical housing, and a coil portion 122 that is wound around the outer periphery of the housing to slide the pilot valve body. The main body portion 121 is configured such that a valve seat is provided inside a stainless steel valve portion 123 that is at one end of the main body portion 121, and the pilot valve body slides on the surface of the valve seat. The first housing capillary tube 16L, the second housing capillary tube 16R, and the low pressure joint capillary tube 16s are connected to the outer periphery of the valve portion 123 in the main body portion 121, and the valve seat is provided so that each capillary tube opens on the surface on which the pilot valve body slides. In addition, the high pressure joint capillary tube 16d is connected to a position on the outer periphery of the valve portion 123 that faces the valve seat so as to open toward the inside of the valve portion 123. The valve portion 123 has a pilot valve body and a valve seat disposed therein, and has a connection portion 123a, the outer circumferential surface of which is connected to the four thin tubes, at a central portion of the valve portion 123 in the axial direction D12 of the main body portion 121. A pair of portions of the valve portion 123 that sandwich the connection portion 123a in the axial direction D12 are held portions 123b that are held by the bracket 13 described below.

[0042] The bracket 13 in this embodiment is a stainless steel member that holds the valve portion 123 of the main body portion 121 of the pilot drive portion 12 and is fixed to the outer surface of the above-mentioned switching valve main body 11, thereby connecting the pilot drive portion 12 to the switching valve main body 11. One end side of the bracket 13 becomes the valve main body side 13a and is fixed to the outer surface of the switching valve main body 11, and the other end side becomes the pilot side 13b and holds the valve portion 123. This bracket 13 includes a pair of holding plates 131, a pair of reinforcing portions 132, and a main body side fixing portion 133.

[0043] The pair of holding plates 131 are a pair of plate parts that are erected on the outer surface of the switching valve body 11 and arranged to face each other in a predetermined facing direction D13. In this embodiment, the facing direction D13 of the pair of holding plates 131 is a direction along the axial direction D11 of the switching valve body 11. The pair of holding plates 131 are erected on the outer surface of the switching valve body 11 via a body side fixing part 133. The pair of holding plates 131 are fixed to the outer surface with one end side of each plate part as the valve body side 13a in the erecting direction D14 that intersects with the outer surface of the switching valve body 11. The pair of holding plates 131 are fixed to the outer surface with the other end side of each plate part as the pilot side 13b, and the pilot side 13b holds the valve part 123 of the pilot drive part 12.

[0044] Each holding plate 131 is formed in a strip shape having a pair of side edges 131a extending in the vertical direction D14 and a pair of end edges 131b extending in a width direction D15 intersecting the vertical direction D14. Of the pair of end edges 131b, an end edge 131b-1 on the valve body side 13a is curved concavely along the outer surface of the switching valve body 11, and an end edge 131b-2 on the pilot side 13b is curved concavely along the outer surface of the valve portion 123 in the pilot drive unit 12. As a result, a shortest part 131c is formed in each holding plate 131 at approximately the center of the width direction D15, where the distance between the end edges in the vertical direction D14 is the shortest. The end edge 131b-2 on the concave pilot side 13b is recessed toward the valve body side 13a over its entire length to form a first recess 131d that receives the held portion 123b adjacent to the connection portion 123a of the thin tube in the valve portion 123.

[0045] The reinforcing portion 132 is a portion that extends in the opposing direction D13 of the pair of holding plates 131 and connects the pair of holding plates 131 to each other. In the bracket 13 of this embodiment, a pair of reinforcing portions 132 is provided between the pair of holding plates 131 so as to connect each of the pair of side edges 131a of each plate portion to each other. Each reinforcing portion 132 is formed in a band shape that connects the side edges 131a to each other with the following connection width W11. That is, the connection width W11 of the reinforcing portion 132 is a width from an end portion 131a-1 on the valve body side 13a of the side edge 131a to a portion 131a-2 that is closer to the pilot side 13b than the center portion 131c-1 in the vertical installation direction D14 in the shortest portion 131c. Further, the portion 131a-2 of the pilot side 13b that determines this connection width W11 is a portion that overlaps with the first recess 131d in the retaining plate 131 in the vertical direction D14, more specifically, the upper end portion of the pilot side 13b in the first recess 131d.

[0046] Here, the pair of reinforcing parts 132 is composed of a high-pressure side reinforcing part 132a located on the connection side of the high-pressure joint capillary tube 16d in the valve part 123, and a low-pressure side reinforcing part 132b located on the connection side of the low-pressure joint capillary tube 16s. A high-pressure side second recess 132a-2 is provided on an end edge 132a-1 of the pilot side 13b of the high-pressure side reinforcing part 132a, which is recessed toward the valve body side 13a so that the high-pressure joint capillary tube 16d extending from the connection part 123a of the valve part 123 passes through the inside. On the other hand, a low-pressure side second recess 132b-2 is provided on an end edge 132b-1 of the pilot side 13b of the low-pressure side reinforcing part 132b so that three capillaries including the low-pressure joint capillary tube 16s pass through the inside. The high-pressure side second recess 132a-2 and the low-pressure side second recess 132b-2 are formed in the center in the width direction (i.e., the opposing direction D13 of the pair of holding plates 131) of each reinforcing portion 132. In addition, the low-pressure side second recess 132b-2, which passes three capillaries including the low-pressure joint capillary tube 16s, has a larger diameter than the high-pressure side second recess 132a-2, which passes only the high-pressure joint capillary tube 16d.

[0047] The body side fixing portion 133 is formed in a band-like shape extending in the opposing direction D13 between the pair of holding plates 131 so as to connect the ends 131b-1 of the valve body sides 13a of each plate portion, and is a portion which is fixed by surface contact to the outer surface of the switching valve body 11. In this embodiment, the body side fixing portion 133 has a curved shape along the outer surface of the switching valve body 11. The body side fixing portion 133 is fixed by brazing or welding in a state of being fixed by surface contact to the outer surface of the switching valve body 11.

[0048] Here, the body-side fixing portion 133 is in the form of a strip that connects, across the entire width of each plate portion, the end edges 131b-1 of the valve body side 13a of each plate portion of the pair of holding plates 131. In the reinforcing portion 132, the end edges 132a-3, 132b-3 that connect the end portions 131a-1 of the valve body side 13a of the side edges 131a of each holding plate 131 are connected to the body-side fixing portion 133.

[0049] The bracket 13 of this embodiment is integrally molded so as to have a rectangular box shape with the pair of holding plates 131, the pair of reinforcing parts 132, and the main body side fixing part 133 as outer walls and the pilot side 13b opening in the erection direction D14. The method for integrally molding the bracket 13 may be, for example, press processing, or may be joining the edges of the plate parts together by welding or brazing.

[0050] This bracket 13 is fixed to the valve portion 123 of the pilot drive portion 12 so that the pair of held portions 123b are received in the first recesses 131d of the pair of holding plates 131. At this time, the bracket 13 may be fixed to the valve portion 123 by crimping the end edges 132a-1, 132b-1 of the pilot side 13b of the pair of reinforcing portions 132 so as to reduce the diameter of the first recesses 131d and tighten the held portions 123b. Alternatively, the bracket 13 may be fixed to the valve portion 123 by joining the peripheral surface of the held portion 123b and the inner peripheral edge of the first recesses 131d over the entire length of the inner peripheral edge or a part of the inner peripheral edge by welding, brazing, or the like.

[0051] In the bracket 13 fixed to the valve portion 123 in this manner, a holding space 13c that receives and holds the connection portion 123a of the thin tube in the valve portion 123 is formed on the pilot side 13b of the pair of holding plates 131. In this holding space 13c, a pair of first recesses 131d that receive the held portion 123b are open in the facing direction D13 of the holding plate 131. In addition, in the width direction D15 of the holding plate 131, the high pressure side second recess 132a-2 and the low pressure side second recess 132b-2 are open as thin tube extension openings 13d through which the thin tube extending from the connection portion 123a extends to the outside of the bracket 13 while avoiding the reinforcing portion 132. In the bracket 13 of this embodiment, such a holding space 13c is partitioned by the pilot side 13b of the pair of holding plates 131 and the pair of reinforcing portions 132.

[0052] The switching valve 10 and refrigeration cycle system 1 of the first embodiment described above can provide the following effects. That is, according to this embodiment, in the bracket 13, high resistance to external forces is obtained in the in-plane direction of each holding plate 131 due to the shape of each holding plate 131. Also, in the opposing direction D13 of the pair of holding plates 131, that is, in the out-of-plane direction of each holding plate 131, high resistance is obtained due to the reinforcing portion 132. That is, by connecting the switching valve body 11 and the pilot drive unit 12 with such a bracket 13, it is possible to suppress significant differences in strength in the switching valve 10 with respect to the direction of external forces.

[0053] Here, in this embodiment, the reinforcing portion 132 has a connection width W11 that extends from an end portion 131a-1 on the valve body side 13a of the side edge 131a of the retaining plate 131 to a portion 131a-2 on the pilot side 13b beyond the central portion 131c-1 of the shortest portion 131c. According to a configuration in which a pair of retaining plates 131 are connected with such a connection width W11, the length of the portion of the side edge 131a of the retaining plate 131 that is not supported by the reinforcing portion 132 is reduced, and the significant difference in strength with respect to the direction of an external force can be further reduced.

[0054] In this embodiment, a first recess 131d that receives a held portion 123b of the valve portion 123 is provided at an end 131b-2 of the pilot side 13b of each holding plate 131. At this time, the connection width W11 of the reinforcing portion 132 is a width from an end 131a-1 of the valve body side 13a of the side edge 131a of the holding plate 131 to a portion 131a-2 that overlaps with the first recess 131d in the erecting direction D14. A high-pressure side second recess 132a-2 and a low-pressure side second recess 132b-2 are provided at the end edges 132a-1, 132b-1 of the pilot side 13b of the reinforcing portion 132 so that the thin tube passes inside.

[0055] According to this configuration, first, the connection portion 123a of the thin tube, which is desirably protected from external forces in the valve portion 123, can be firmly held by the pair of holding plates 131. In addition, the reinforcing portion 132 connecting the side edges 131a of the holding plates 131 supports the side edges 131a of the holding plates 131 with a connection width W11 leading to a portion overlapping with the first recess 131d, thereby increasing the holding strength of the pair of holding plates 131. Furthermore, the reinforcing portion 132 is provided with the high pressure side second recess 132a-2 and the low pressure side second recess 132b-2, so that the reinforcing portion 132 can effectively avoid interference between the thin tube and the thin tube while increasing the holding strength.

[0056] In the present embodiment, the bracket 13 is provided with a pair of reinforcing portions 132 that connect the pair of holding plates 131 to each other so as to connect the pair of side edges 131a. This configuration can further reduce the significant difference in strength with respect to the direction of the external force.

[0057] In this embodiment, the bracket 13 further includes a body-side fixing portion 133 that connects the ends 131b-1 of the valve body side 13a between the pair of retaining plates 131 and is fixed by surface contact to the outer surface of the switching valve body 11. According to this configuration, the valve portion 123, i.e., the pilot drive portion 12, can be firmly fixed to the switching valve body 11 via the bracket 13 by surface contact between the body-side fixing portion 133 of the bracket 13 and the outer surface of the switching valve body 11.

[0058] In this embodiment, the body side fixing portion 133 is formed in a band shape that connects across the entire width of the retaining plate 131, and the reinforcing portion 132 has its end edges 132a-3, 132b-3 connected to the body side fixing portion 133. According to this configuration, the support strength of the retaining plate 131 by the reinforcing portion 132 is strengthened, and the significant difference in strength in the switching valve 10 due to the direction of the external force can be further suppressed.

[0059] In this embodiment, the bracket 13 is integrally formed to have a rectangular box shape with the pair of retaining plates 131, the pair of reinforcing parts 132, and the main body side fixing part 133. This configuration can further reduce significant differences in strength against the direction of external force in the switching valve 10. In addition, such a rectangular box-shaped bracket 13 can be formed by press working, which has low processing costs, so the manufacturing costs of the switching valve 10 including the bracket 13 can be reduced.

[0060] The description of the first embodiment has now been completed. Next, a number of modifications to the first embodiment will be described.

[0061] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the first modified example alongside the first embodiment. Fig. 6(A) shows the first embodiment, and Fig. 6(B) shows the first modified example. In Fig. 6, each component is shown in a simplified schematic diagram, and the same reference numerals are used to designate the same components in the first modified example and the first embodiment.

[0062] In the first modified example, the mounting orientation of the stainless steel bracket 13-1 to the switching valve body 11 and the valve portion 123 of the pilot drive unit 12 differs from the mounting orientation of the bracket 13 in the first embodiment. In Fig. 6, the switching valve body 11 and the valve portion 123 are diagrammatically drawn as one rectangle, and the brackets 13-1, 13 are diagrammatically drawn as a pair of small rectangles representing a pair of retaining plates 131.

[0063] The bracket 13 of the first embodiment described above is attached to the switching valve body 11 and the valve portion 123 with the opposing direction D13 of the pair of retaining plates 131 oriented to coincide with the axial direction D11 of the switching valve body 11 and the axial direction D12 of the valve portion 123. In contrast, the bracket 13-1 of the first modified example is attached to the switching valve body 11 and the valve portion 123 with the opposing direction D13 of the pair of retaining plates 131 oriented perpendicular to the axial direction D11 of the switching valve body 11 and the axial direction D12 of the valve portion 123.

[0064] It goes without saying that the above-described first modified example can also suppress significant differences in strength depending on the direction of an external force, similar to the above-described first embodiment.

[0065] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the second and third modified examples side by side with the first embodiment. FIG. 7(A) shows the first embodiment, FIG. 7(B) shows the second modified example, and FIG. 7(C) shows the third modified example. In FIG. 7, each component is also shown in a simplified schematic diagram. In FIG. 7, the switching valve body 11 and the valve portion 123 are each depicted typically as a rectangle, and the brackets 13-2, 13-3, and 13 are depicted typically as a pair of small rectangles representing a pair of holding plates 131. In addition, the same reference numerals are used for the components of the second and third modified examples that are equivalent to those of the first embodiment.

[0066] In the above-described first embodiment, first, the bracket 13 is attached to the valve portion 123 of the pilot drive unit 12 so that the facing direction D13 of the retaining plate 131 coincides with the axial direction D12 of the valve portion 123. Then, the valve portion 123 is attached to the switching valve body 11 via this bracket 13 so that the axial direction D12 of the valve portion 123 and the axial direction D11 of the switching valve body 11 are parallel to each other.

[0067] In contrast, in the second modified example, the attachment direction of the stainless steel bracket 13-2 to the valve portion 123 of the pilot drive unit 12 is the same as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, the attachment direction of the valve portion 123 to the switching valve body 11 via the bracket 13-2 is different from that in the first embodiment. In the second modified example, the valve portion 123 is attached to the switching valve body 11 in such a manner that both the opposing direction D13 of the retaining plate 131 in the bracket 13-2 and the axial direction D12 of the valve portion 123 are perpendicular to the axial direction D11 of the switching valve body 11.

[0068] In the third modification, the mounting direction of the stainless steel bracket 13-3 to the valve portion 123 of the pilot drive unit 12 is different from that of the first embodiment and the second modification. The bracket 13-3 is mounted to the valve portion 123 at the tip of the axial direction D12 of the valve portion 123 such that the facing direction D13 of the retaining plate 131 is perpendicular to the axial direction D12. The valve portion 123 is mounted to the switching valve body 11 such that the facing direction D13 of the retaining plate 131 in the bracket 13-2 is parallel to the axial direction D11 of the switching valve body 11 and the axial direction D12 of the valve portion 123 is perpendicular to the axial direction D11 of the switching valve body 11. In this third modification, the valve portion 123 is mounted in an upside-down position to the switching valve body 11.

[0069] It goes without saying that the second and third modified examples described above can also suppress significant differences in strength depending on the direction of an external force, similar to the above-mentioned first embodiment.

[0070] Furthermore, the mounting direction of the bracket and the relative positional relationship between the pilot-operated valve portion and the switching valve body are not limited to the directions and positional relationships exemplified in the above-mentioned first embodiment and the first to third modified examples, and can be set arbitrarily depending on the installation environment of the switching valve, etc.

[0071] Fig. 8 is a view showing the bracket of the fourth modified example in the same cross section as Fig. 5. In Fig. 8, only the elements necessary for the explanation of the components equivalent to those of the bracket 13 of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 5 are shown with the same reference numerals as in Fig. 5. In the following, the duplicated explanation of the equivalent components will be omitted. Fig. 8 shows cross sections of the bracket 13-4 taken along lines V14-V14, V15-V15, and V16-V16 in Fig. 8.

[0072] The stainless steel bracket 13-4 in the fourth modified example differs from the first embodiment in the shape of a pair of reinforcing parts 132-4. The reinforcing parts 132-4 in this modified example connect the side edges 131a of the pair of holding plates 131 together in a state where the valve body side 13a is spaced from the body side fixing part 133 in the erection direction D14. The other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0073] It goes without saying that, in the fourth modified example described above, similarly to the above-mentioned first embodiment, the reinforcing portion 132-4 serves to suppress significant differences in strength with respect to the directionality of an external force.

[0074] Next, a second embodiment will be described. The refrigeration cycle system of this embodiment is the same as the refrigeration cycle system 1 of the first embodiment described with reference to Fig. 2, so illustration and description will be omitted. This point also applies to the third to fifth embodiments described later.

[0075] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a bracket in a switching valve of the second embodiment together with a pilot drive unit. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the bracket shown in Fig. 9 in cross section of each part. Fig. 10 shows cross sections of bracket 23 along lines V21-V21, V22-V22, and V23-V23 in Fig. 10. In Figs. 9 and 10, components equivalent to those of the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 are given the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 to 5, and duplicated explanations of those equivalent components will be omitted below.

[0076] In the switching valve 20 of the second embodiment, the shape of the stainless steel bracket 23 is different from that of the first embodiment. That is, the bracket 23 of this embodiment is provided with only one reinforcing portion 232 that connects the pair of holding plates 131 to each other. This reinforcing portion 232 connects only one of the pair of side edges 131a of each holding plate 131. Also in this embodiment, the reinforcing portion 232 is connected to the main body side fixing portion 133.

[0077] Further, the reinforcing portion 232 is provided at a position in the vertical installation direction D14 closer to the switching valve body 11 than the pilot side 13b that holds the valve portion 123 of the pilot drive portion 12 in the pair of holding plates 131. In the present embodiment, the bracket 23 is provided with a holding space 23c that receives and holds the thin tube connection portion 123a of the valve portion 123 at a position farther from the switching valve body 11 than the reinforcing portion 232 in the vertical installation direction D14. This holding space 23c is defined by the pilot side 13b of the pair of holding plates 131 in a state in which the thin tube extension opening 23d is opened so that the thin tube extending from the thin tube connection portion 123a extends to the outside of the bracket 23 while avoiding the reinforcing portion 232.

[0078] Of the thin tube extension ports 23d, the low-pressure side extension port 23d-1 from which the three thin tubes, the thin tube for the low pressure joint 16s, the thin tube for the first housing 16L, and the thin tube for the second housing 16R, extend is an opening on the side of the bracket 23 where the reinforcing portion 232 is not provided. This side of the bracket 23 is open over almost the entire surface in the vertical installation direction D14, and the pilot side 13b of this open portion is the low-pressure side extension port 23d-1 from which the three thin tubes including the thin tube for the low pressure joint 16s extend. On the other hand, the high-pressure side extension port 23d-2 from which the thin tube for the high pressure joint 16d (see FIG. 4) extends is a portion that opens at a position farther from the switching valve body 11 than the reinforcing portion 232 in the vertical installation direction D14 on the side of the bracket 23 where the reinforcing portion 232 is provided. The position of the reinforcing portion 232 is not limited to the high pressure side extension outlet 23d-2 side as in this embodiment, but the reinforcing portion 232 may be provided on the low pressure side extension outlet 23d-1 side.

[0079] According to the second embodiment described above, it goes without saying that the function of one reinforcing portion 232 makes it possible to suppress significant differences in strength with respect to the directionality of an external force, similar to the first embodiment described above.

[0080] In this embodiment, the reinforcing portion 232 is provided at a position biased toward the switching valve body 11. A holding space 23c that receives and holds the thin tube connection portion 123a is defined by the pilot sides 13b of the pair of holding plates 131 with the above-mentioned two thin tube extension ports 23d being open. With this configuration, the thin tube connection portion 123a, which is desirably protected from external forces, can be received and firmly held in the above-mentioned holding space 23c while effectively avoiding interference between the reinforcing portion 232 and the thin tube.

[0081] Next, a third embodiment will be described.

[0082] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a bracket in a switching valve of a third embodiment together with a pilot drive unit. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the bracket shown in Fig. 11 in cross section of each part. Fig. 12 shows cross sections of bracket 33 taken along lines V31-V31, V32-V32, and V33-V33 in Fig. 12. In Figs. 11 and 12, components equivalent to those in the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 are given the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 to 5, and duplicated explanations of these equivalent components will be omitted below.

[0083] The switching valve 30 of the third embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that the stainless steel bracket 33 is configured by combining two parts, a pilot joint 33-1 and a main body joint 33-2, in a vertical direction D14.

[0084] Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of each part of the pilot joint shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 13 shows cross sections of pilot joint 33-1 taken along lines V34-V34, V35-V35, and V36-V36 in Fig. 13. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the main body joint shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 shows cross sections of main body joint 33-2 taken along lines V37-V37, V38-V38, and V39-V39 in Fig. 14.

[0085] The pilot joint 33-1 constitutes the pilot side 13b of the bracket 33, and is a member that holds the valve part 123 of the pilot drive unit 12, and includes a pair of holding plates 131 and a pair of reinforcing parts 132 equivalent to those in the first embodiment. However, the holding plates 131 and the reinforcing parts 132 in this embodiment are slightly shorter in the vertical installation direction D14 than those in the first embodiment, because the valve body side 13a of the bracket 33 is configured by the body joint 33-2, which is a separate part. The reinforcing parts 132 are configured by the high pressure side reinforcing parts 132a and the low pressure side reinforcing parts 132b, as in the first embodiment. The pilot joint 33-1 includes an intermediate bottom plate 331 to which the respective edges of the valve body side 13a of the pair of holding plates 131 and the pair of reinforcing parts 132 are connected, and is integrally molded to form a rectangular box shape as a whole.

[0086] As described above, the main body joint 33-2 constitutes the valve main body side 13a of the bracket 33, and is fixed to the outer surface of the switching valve main body 11, and is a socket-shaped member that receives the pilot joint 33-1 and to which the pilot joint 33-1 is fixed. The pilot joint 33-1 is fixed to the main body joint 33-2 by brazing or welding. The main body joint 33-2 includes the main body side fixing part 133 equivalent to that of the first embodiment, and a peripheral wall part 332 erected on the outer periphery thereof, and is integrally molded to form a rectangular box shape as a whole.

[0087] It goes without saying that, in the third embodiment described above, the pair of reinforcing portions 132 in the pilot joint 33-1 function to suppress significant differences in strength with respect to the directionality of an external force, similarly to the first embodiment described above.

[0088] In this embodiment, the bracket 33 is composed of two parts, a pilot joint 33-1 and a main body joint 33-2. With this configuration, by adjusting the insertion amount of the pilot joint 33-1 into the main body joint 33-2 according to the size of the pilot drive unit 12, it is possible to connect the two while adjusting the support position of the valve portion 123 relative to the outer surface of the switching valve main body 11.

[0089] Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

[0090] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a bracket in a switching valve of the fourth embodiment together with a pilot drive unit. Fig. 16 is a diagram showing the bracket shown in Fig. 15 in cross section of each part. Fig. 16 shows cross sections of bracket 43 taken along lines V41-V41, V42-V42, and V43-V43 in Fig. 16. In Figs. 15 and 16, components equivalent to those in the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 are given the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 to 5, and duplicated explanations of these equivalent components will be omitted below.

[0091] In the switching valve 40 of the fourth embodiment, the reinforcing portion 432 of the stainless steel bracket 43 is different from that of the first embodiment. This reinforcing portion 432 is a round bar-shaped portion, not a plate. In this embodiment, one round bar-shaped reinforcing portion 432 is provided so as to connect the centers of the shortest portions 131e of a pair of holding plates 131 that support the valve portion 123 of the pilot drive portion 12 on the pilot side 13b in the vertical installation direction D14. On the other hand, the pair of holding plates 131, together with the body side fixing portion 133 fixed to the outer surface of the switching valve body 11, form a U-shaped bent shape in a side view of the reinforcing portion 432. In the pair of holding plates 131, a holding space 43c for the valve portion 123 is formed at a position farther from the valve body side 13a than the reinforcing portion 432 in the vertical installation direction D14.

[0092] It goes without saying that, in the fourth embodiment described above, the single round bar-shaped reinforcing portion 432 serves to suppress significant differences in strength with respect to the direction of an external force, similarly to the first embodiment described above.

[0093] Next, a fifth embodiment will be described.

[0094] Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a bracket in a switching valve of a fifth embodiment together with a pilot drive unit. Fig. 18 is a diagram showing the bracket shown in Fig. 17 in cross section of each part. Fig. 18 shows cross sections of bracket 53 taken along lines V51-V51, V52-V52, and V53-V53 in Fig. 18. In Figs. 17 and 18, components equivalent to those in the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 are given the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 to 5, and duplicated explanations of these equivalent components will be omitted below.

[0095] In the switching valve 50 of the fifth embodiment, the stainless steel bracket 53 is not provided with a bottom plate-like portion corresponding to the main body side fixing portion 133 in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, a recess is provided along the outer surface of the switching valve main body 11 at the end edge of the valve main body side 13a of a pair of holding plates 131 that support the valve portion 123 of the pilot drive unit 12 on the pilot side 13b. The bracket 53 is fixed by brazing or welding, with the recess of the end edge on the valve main body side 13a abutting against the outer surface of the switching valve main body 11. In this embodiment, the pair of reinforcing portions 532 are formed in a band-like shape that connects the side edges 131a extending in the vertical direction D14 of the holding plates 131 at a position where a gap is opened between the outer surface of the switching valve main body 11.

[0096] It goes without saying that, in the fifth embodiment described above, the pair of reinforcing portions 532 function to suppress significant differences in strength with respect to the direction of an external force, similarly to the first embodiment described above.

[0097] The above-described first to fifth embodiments and the first to fourth modified examples of the first embodiment merely show typical forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these. In other words, the present invention can be embodied in various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as such modifications still include the configuration of the switching valve and the refrigeration cycle system of the present invention, they are of course included in the scope of the present invention.

[0098] For example, in the above-mentioned first to fifth embodiments and first to fourth modified examples, the switching valves 10,...,50 are exemplified as four-way switching valves that switch the communication state of four joint pipes as an example of a switching valve. However, the switching valve is not limited to a four-way switching valve. The switching valve may be a three-way switching valve that switches the joint pipes to be communicated when a pair of joint pipes among three joint pipes are communicated using a slide valve body, as long as the switching valve switches the communication state of a plurality of joint pipes using a slide valve body. Alternatively, the switching valve may be a two-way switching valve that opens and closes between two joint pipes using a slide valve body. The number of joint pipes in the switching valve and the method of switching the communication state can be appropriately set depending on the application target of the switching valve.

[0099] In the above-mentioned first to third embodiments, the band-shaped reinforcement parts 132, 232 having the following connection width are exemplified as an example of the reinforcement part. That is, the connection width W11 of the reinforcement part 132 in the first embodiment is the connection width W11 from the end 131a-1 of the valve body side 13a of the side edge 131a of the holding plate 131 to the part 131a-2 on the pilot side 13b from the center 131c-1 of the shortest part 131c. The connection width of the reinforcement parts 132, 232 in the second and third embodiments is also similar to that of the first embodiment. However, the reinforcement part is not limited to these. The reinforcement part may be a band-shaped part having a narrow connection width where the valve body side 13a is separated from the body side fixing part 133 or the outer surface of the switching valve body 11, as exemplified in the fifth embodiment and the fourth modified example, for example. The reinforcing portion may be a strip-shaped portion having a narrow connecting width such that the pilot side 13b coincides with the center 131c-1 of the shortest portion 131c, or is closer to the valve body side 13a than the center 131c-1. Alternatively, the reinforcing portion does not have to be strip-shaped, and may be set to any shape, such as a round bar shape as exemplified in the fourth embodiment, a square bar shape, or the like. However, as described above, the strip-shaped reinforcing portion 132, 232 having the above-mentioned connecting width W11 can further reduce the significant difference in strength with respect to the direction of the external force.

[0100] In the first and third embodiments described above, a band-shaped reinforcement portion 132 having the following connection width is exemplified as an example of the reinforcement portion. That is, the connection width W11 of the reinforcement portion 132 in the first embodiment is a width from the end portion 131a-1 of the valve body side 13a of the side edge 131a of the holding plate 131 to the portion 131a-2 overlapping with the first recess 131d in the erection direction D14. The connection width of the reinforcement portion 132 in the third embodiment is also similar to that of the first embodiment. However, the reinforcement portion is not limited to these. For example, as exemplified in the second and fifth embodiments, the reinforcement portion may be a band-shaped portion having a narrow connection width in which the pilot side 13b is located closer to the valve body side 13a than the first recess 131d. In addition, the reinforcement portion may be a narrow band-shaped portion in which the valve body side 13a is separated from the body side fixing portion 133 or the outer surface of the switching valve body 11 as described above, or may be a portion having a shape other than a band. However, as described above, according to the band-shaped reinforcing portions 132, 232 having the above-mentioned connection width W11, it is possible to further reduce significant differences in strength with respect to the direction of the external force.

[0101] In the above-mentioned first and third embodiments and fourth modified example, the reinforcement portion 132-4 provided with a second recess such as the high pressure side second recess 132a-2 and the low pressure side second recess 132b-2 for passing the thin tube is exemplified as an example of the reinforcement portion. However, the reinforcement portion is not limited to these, and may be formed in a shape that avoids the thin tube without providing a second recess, for example, as exemplified in the second, fourth and fifth embodiments. However, as described above, according to the reinforcement portion 132-4 provided with the second recess, it is possible to further suppress a significant difference in strength while effectively avoiding interference between the reinforcement portion 132-4 and the thin tube.

[0102] In the second, fourth, and fifth embodiments described above, the reinforcement portion 232, 432, and 532 provided at a position closer to the switching valve body 11 than the pilot side 13b in the vertical installation direction D14 is exemplified as an example of the reinforcement portion. However, the reinforcement portion is not limited to these, and may be provided at a position overlapping with the pilot side 13b in the vertical installation direction D14, as exemplified in the first and third embodiments and the fourth modified example. However, as described above, interference between the reinforcement portion 132-4 and the thin tube can be effectively avoided by providing the reinforcement portion 232, 432, and 532 at a position closer to the switching valve body 11 than the pilot side 13b.

[0103] In the first, third, and fifth embodiments described above, the bracket 13, 33, and 53 are exemplified as an example of the bracket, each of which is provided with a pair of reinforcing parts 132 and 532. However, the bracket is not limited thereto, and may be provided with only one reinforcing part 232, 432, and 132-4, as exemplified in the second and fourth embodiments and the fourth modified example, for example. However, as described above, by providing a pair of reinforcing parts 132 and 532, the significant difference in strength with respect to the directionality of an external force can be further suppressed.

[0104] In the above-mentioned first to fourth embodiments and the fourth modified example, brackets 13,...,43,13-4 having a body side fixing portion 133 are exemplified as an example of a bracket. However, the bracket is not limited to this, and for example, as exemplified in the fifth embodiment, the valve body side 13a of the retaining plate 131 may be directly fixed to the outer surface of the switching valve body 11 without providing a body side fixing portion. However, as described above, by providing the body side fixing portion 133, the pilot drive unit 12 can be firmly fixed.

[0105] In the above-described first and second embodiments, the brackets 13 and 23 in which the end edges of the band-shaped reinforcing parts 132 and 232 are connected to the main body side fixing part 133 are exemplified as an example of the bracket. However, the bracket is not limited to this, and even if the reinforcing part 132-4 is formed in a band-like shape and the main body side fixing part 133 is provided, the bracket 13-4 may be formed by separating the two, as shown in the fourth modified example. However, as described above, by connecting the reinforcing parts 132 and 232 to the main body side fixing part 133, the significant difference in strength against the direction of the external force in the switching valve 10 can be further suppressed.

[0106] In the above-described first embodiment, the bracket 13 is integrally molded to have a rectangular box shape with a pair of holding plates 131, a pair of reinforcing parts 132, and a main body side fixing part 133. However, the bracket is not limited to this, and may be formed into a shape other than a rectangular box, for example, with the holding plates and reinforcing parts erected in a rib shape on the surface of the wider main body side fixing part. In this case, the holding plates and reinforcing parts are connected to the surface of the main body side fixing part by brazing or welding. However, as described above, the bracket 13 as an integrally molded part in a rectangular box shape can be formed by press processing, which has low processing costs, and therefore the manufacturing costs can be reduced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 1 Refrigeration cycle system 1a Compressor 1b Outdoor heat exchanger (first heat exchanger) 1c Indoor heat exchanger (second heat exchanger) 1d. Throttle device (expansion means) 10,20,30,40,50 Switching valve 11 Switching valve main 11a Valve chamber 11b First working chamber 11c Second working chamber 12 Pilot drive unit 13,13-1,13-2,13-3,13-4,23,33,43,53 Bracket 13a Valve body side 13b Pilot side 13c,23c,43c Holding space 13d,23d Thin tube outlet 15c C joint pipe 15d D joint pipe 15e E joint pipe 15s S joint pipe 16d High pressure fittings for small pipes 16s Low pressure joint thin tube 16L Thin tube for first housing 16R Thin tube for second housing 23d-1 Low pressure side outlet 23d-2 High pressure side outlet 33-1 Pilot joint 33-2 Main body joint 111 Valve housing 112 Slide valve 113 Valve seat 114L, 114R piston 115 Connecting plate 116 Valve body 116a Bowl-shaped recess 121 Main body part 122 Coil section 123 Valve part 123a Connection 123b Retained part 131 Holding plate 131a,132a-3,132b-3 Side edge 131a-1 End 131a-2 Part 131b,131b-1,131b-2,132a-1,132b-1,132a-3,132b-3 Edge 131c Shortest part 131c-1 Center 131d First recess 132-4,232,432,532 Reinforcement 132a High pressure side reinforcement 132a-2 High pressure side second recess 132b Low pressure side reinforcement 132b-2 Low pressure side second recess 133 Main body side fixing part 331 Intermediate bottom plate 332 Peripheral wall section D11,D12 Axial direction D13 Opposite direction D14 Vertical installation direction D15 width direction X axis

Claims

1. a switching valve body having a built-in slide valve and switching a flow path state in response to the sliding of the slide valve; A pilot drive portion for sliding the slide valve; a bracket that connects the pilot drive unit to the switching valve body; Equipped with The bracket is a pair of holding plates each of which is a pair of plate portions erected on an outer surface of the switching valve body and arranged opposite to each other in a predetermined opposing direction, with one end side of each plate portion being fixed to the outer surface as a valve body side of the bracket in the erecting direction intersecting with the outer surface of the switching valve body, and the other end side being a pilot side of the bracket and holding the pilot drive unit on the pilot side; A reinforcing portion extending in the opposing direction and connecting the pair of holding plates to each other; Equipped with A thin tube through which a driving fluid used for sliding the slide valve passes is connected to the pilot driving portion, each plate portion of the pair of holding plates has a pair of side edges extending in the vertical direction and a pair of end edges extending in a width direction intersecting the vertical direction, and the pilot side end edge is provided with a first recess that is recessed toward the valve body and receives a held portion adjacent to the connection portion of the thin tube in the pilot drive portion; a valve body having a connecting width extending from an end portion of the reinforcing portion on the pilot side to a portion overlapping with the first recess in the erection direction, the reinforcing portion being formed in a band-like shape that connects at least one of the pair of side edges of each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates with a connecting width extending from the end portion on the valve body side to a portion overlapping with the first recess in the erection direction, and the pilot side end edge of the reinforcing portion is recessed toward the valve body, and a second recess is provided so that the thin tube extending from the connection portion of the pilot drive portion passes inside the second recess.

2. Each plate portion of the pair of holding plates has a pair of side edges extending in the vertical direction and a pair of end edges extending in a width direction intersecting the vertical direction, and at least one of the pair of end edges is concavely curved so as to form a shortest portion at which the distance between the end edges in the vertical direction is shortest, 2. The switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing portion is formed in a band-like shape connecting at least one of the pair of side edges of each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates with a connecting width from the end portion on the valve body side to a portion that is on the pilot side in the vertical direction relative to the center of the shortest portion in the vertical direction.

3. A thin tube through which a driving fluid used for sliding the slide valve passes is connected to the pilot driving portion, the reinforcing portion is provided at a position closer to the switching valve body than the pilot side that holds the pilot drive portion in the pair of holding plates in the erecting direction, The switching valve as described in claim 1, characterized in that the bracket receives and holds the connection portion of the thin tube in the pilot drive portion at a position farther from the switching valve body than the reinforcement portion in the vertical installation direction, and a holding space in which a thin tube extension outlet is opened so that the thin tube extending from the connection portion extends outside the bracket, avoiding the reinforcement portion, is partitioned by the pilot side of each plate portion of the pair of holding plates.

4. Each plate portion of the pair of holding plates has a pair of side edges extending in the vertical direction and a pair of end edges extending in a width direction intersecting the vertical direction, 2. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is provided with a pair of reinforcing portions between the pair of holding plates so as to connect the pair of side edges of each plate portion to each other.

5. Each plate portion of the pair of holding plates has a pair of side edges extending in the vertical direction and a pair of end edges extending in a width direction intersecting the vertical direction, A switching valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bracket is formed in a band-like shape extending in the opposing direction between the pair of retaining plates so as to connect the ends of the pair of ends of each plate portion that are on the valve body side, and further comprises a body-side fixing portion that is face-fixed to the outer surface of the switching valve body.

6. the body-side fixing portion is formed in a strip shape connecting the valve body-side end edges of the respective plate portions of the pair of retaining plates over the entire width of each plate portion, The switching valve described in claim 5, characterized in that the reinforcing portion is formed in a band-like shape that connects at least one of the pair of side edges of each plate portion of the pair of retaining plates with a connecting width that extends from the end portion on the valve body side to a portion that is at a predetermined height in the vertical direction, and the edge connecting the ends on the valve body side is connected to the body side fixing portion.

7. The switching valve described in claim 6, characterized in that the bracket is provided with a pair of reinforcing portions between the pair of retaining plates so as to connect the pair of side edges of each plate portion to each other, and the bracket is integrally molded so as to have a rectangular box shape with the pair of retaining plates, the pair of reinforcing portions, and the main body side fixed portion as outer walls, and the pilot side is opened.

8. 13. A refrigeration cycle system comprising: a compressor that compresses a refrigerant which is a fluid; a first heat exchanger that functions as a condenser in a cooling mode; a second heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator in the cooling mode; an expansion means that expands the refrigerant between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to reduce its pressure; and the switching valve according to claim 1.

Images