Slide type switching valve

Abstract

To provide a slide type selector valve which enables a valve body to be driven by a drive force from a motor part to move forward or rearward while inhibiting increase of the number of components.SOLUTION: In a slide type selector valve 1, a drive part 5 drives a valve body 4 and has: a stepping motor 5a (a motor part); a male screw member 55; a female screw member 56; and a guide member 54 which guides forward or rearward movement of the female screw member 56. The female screw member 56 has connection arm parts 56b which extend in an axis L direction and are connected to the valve body 4. The guide member 54 has a rotation restriction part which restricts rotation around the axis L with the connection arm parts 56b inserted thereinto in the axis L direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide type switching valve. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, switching valves for switching the flow path of a fluid have been used as valve devices for use in refrigeration cycles, etc. Among such switching valves, there is a slide-type switching valve in which a valve seat having a valve port is provided in a cylindrical valve body, and the communication state of the valve port is switched by a valve element that is slidable in the axial direction on the valve seat.

[0003] Here, although it is not a slide-type switching valve, a valve device is known in which the valve element is driven to move back and forth in the axial direction to seat and unseat on the valve seat (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This valve device is an electric valve that drives the valve element electrically, and its drive unit includes a motor unit that generates a rotational drive force and a linear motion mechanism that converts the rotational drive force into a linear drive force. The linear motion mechanism is a screw feed mechanism that has a screw shaft (male screw) fixed to the rotor of the motor unit and a female screw portion that screws into the screw shaft. The screw shaft and the valve element in the screw feed mechanism are connected to transmit the drive force to the valve element, and the valve element is driven to move back and forth. At this time, the screw shaft and the valve element are indirectly connected via a ball bearing, so that the rotation of the screw shaft is not transmitted to the valve element. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-089870 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is conceivable that the drive unit as described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 could be applied to drive the valve element in a slide-type switching valve to drive the valve element for switching flow paths back and forth in the axial direction. However, the above-mentioned drive unit requires members and mechanisms, such as ball bearings, for the connection mechanism with the valve element to prevent the rotation of the screw shaft from being transmitted to the valve element, which tends to increase the number of parts.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a slide type switching valve in which the valve body can be driven back and forth by the driving force from a motor section while suppressing an increase in the number of parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A slide type switching valve that solves the above-mentioned problems is a slide type switching valve including a hollow cylindrical valve body, a valve seat portion having one or more valve ports provided in the valve body, a valve element that is provided inside the valve body so as to be slidable in the axial direction on the valve seat portion and switches the communication state of the valve port, and a drive unit that drives the valve element, wherein the drive unit includes a motor unit having a rotatable rotor, a male screw member that is fixed directly or indirectly to the rotor and extends in the axial direction, a female screw member that is screwed into the male screw member and can advance and retreat in the axial direction as the male screw member rotates, and a drive unit that drives the valve element. Inside and a guide member that is immovably disposed relative to a case that seals the male screw member and guides the female screw member forward and backward, wherein the female screw member has a connecting arm portion that extends in the axial direction and is connected to the valve body, the guide member has a rotation regulating portion that regulates rotation about the axis while inserting the connecting arm portion in the axial direction, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom on the side of the valve body, and a bearing portion that supports an end of the male screw member is provided on the bottom.

[0008] According to the above-mentioned slide type switching valve, when the valve body is driven back and forth by the driving force from the motor unit, the guide member serves both as the forward and backward guide for the female screw member and as the rotation restriction for the connecting arm unit, thereby suppressing an increase in the number of parts. In other words, according to the above-mentioned slide type switching valve, the valve body can be driven back and forth by the driving force from the motor unit while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0009] Also, As mentioned above, The guide member is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom on the side of the valve body, and the bottom ,before A bearing that supports the end of the male screw member Department It is provided do. According to this configuration, the guide member also serves as a support for the end of the male screw member, so that an increase in the number of parts can be further suppressed. It is also preferable that the bottom portion of the guide member is provided with an insertion hole through which the connecting arm portion is inserted to serve as the rotation restricting portion.

[0010] In addition, it is preferable that a contact portion capable of contacting the guide member is provided at a base end of the connecting arm of the female screw member, and that the contact portion functions as a positioning stopper that contacts the guide member when the valve element reaches a switching position away from the drive unit. With this configuration, it is possible to regulate the position of the valve element at the switching position without providing a stopper structure for the valve element in the valve body near the valve element, thereby preventing the structure of the valve body and the valve element from becoming complicated.

[0011] It is also preferable that a plurality of the connecting arms are provided on the female screw member, and the rotation restricting portion is configured with a plurality of insertion holes through which the plurality of the connecting arms are inserted in a distributed manner. According to this configuration, the rotation is restricted by inserting the plurality of connecting arms into a plurality of insertion holes in a distributed manner without providing a separate part, and therefore an increase in the number of parts can be further suppressed.

[0012] It is also preferable that the two connecting arms are provided on the female thread member so as to be plane symmetrical with respect to a plane including the axis, and the rotation restricting portion is provided at a position eccentric to the axis and is configured with a pair of insertion holes through which the two connecting arms are inserted one-to-one. With this configuration, the number of connecting arms and insertion holes related to rotation restriction is kept to a necessary minimum, thereby reducing the machining costs of the connecting arms and insertion holes, etc.

[0013] In addition, it is preferable that the female screw member and the valve body are connected via a shaft member that spans two of the connecting arms selected from the plurality of connecting arms, and at least one of the two connecting arms and the valve body is provided with a locking groove that locks the shaft member so that it cannot move in the axial direction but can move freely in the radial direction. According to this configuration, the connecting arms and the valve body are connected with a simple configuration in which the locking groove is engaged with the shaft member, so that assembly costs and the like related to the connection can be reduced.

[0014] It is also preferable to further include an opening restriction member that restricts the displacement of the multiple connecting arms in a direction away from each other. With this configuration, a situation in which a torsional load is applied to the multiple connecting arms of the female screw member as the male screw member rotates and causes them to move away from each other can be suppressed, thereby improving the drive accuracy of the female screw member and the valve body.

[0015] In addition, it is preferable that the opening restriction member is a fastening band that restricts the displacement by bundling a plurality of the connecting arms. With this configuration, the displacement of the connecting arms is restricted by a simple structure using an inexpensive part such as a fastening band, so that the cost of parts and assembly related to the displacement restriction can be reduced.

[0016] In addition, it is preferable that the opening restriction member is provided on the valve body so as to protrude in the axial direction toward the female screw member in a cylindrical shape, and includes a housing tube that houses the ends of the multiple connecting arms on the valve body side therein, and a through pin that penetrates a peripheral wall of the housing tube and the ends of the multiple connecting arms in a direction intersecting the axial direction, and the multiple connecting arms are connected to the valve body and the displacement is restricted by the housing of the ends in the housing tube and the penetration by the through pin. According to this configuration, a single configuration using the housing tube and the through pin in the valve body connects the connecting arms to the valve body and restricts the displacement of the connecting arms together, so that parts costs and assembly costs related to the connection and displacement restriction can be reduced.

[0017] In addition, it is preferable that the opening restriction member includes a housing tube that is provided on the valve body and protrudes in the axial direction toward the female screw member, and that houses the ends of the connecting arms on the valve body side therein, a clamped protrusion that is provided on the inside of the housing tube on the valve body and protrudes in the axial direction so as to be sandwiched between the ends of the connecting arms, and a C-ring that houses and tightens the ends of the connecting arms inside the housing tube with the clamped protrusions sandwiched between them, and the connecting arms are connected to the valve body and the displacement is restricted by the housing tube and the C-ring. According to this configuration, the connection between the connecting arms and the valve body and the displacement restriction of the connecting arms are performed together by a single configuration using the housing tube, the clamped protrusion, and the C-ring in the valve body, so that the parts costs and assembly costs related to the connection and the displacement restriction can be reduced.

[0018] It is also preferable that the valve body is formed with an elliptical bowl-shaped recess extending in the axial direction, an opening edge of the bowl-shaped recess is a seal portion, the seal portion is capable of sliding contact with a seal surface of the valve seat portion, and the valve port is provided in the valve seat portion so as to open onto the seal surface. With this configuration, even in a slide-type switching valve in which the communication state of the valve port is switched by a valve body having a bowl-shaped recess, the valve body can be driven back and forth by the driving force from a motor portion without increasing the number of parts. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the above-described slide type switching valve, the valve body can be moved back and forth by the driving force from the motor unit without increasing the number of parts. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a slide type switching valve according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the drive unit shown in FIG. 1 taken along line V11-V11 in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the valve body shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the female threaded member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Diagram 5] 1 and 2 for axially guiding the female screw member shown in FIG. 4 back and forth. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the fastening band shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing a first stage in a procedure for attaching the fastening band. [Figure 8] 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view equivalent to FIG. 1 showing second to fourth steps in a procedure for attaching the fastening band. [Figure 9] 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams showing first to third modified examples of the opening restricting member. [Figure 10] 13 is a schematic view showing a fourth modification of the opening restriction member. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE DISCLOSURE A slide type switching valve according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs.

[0022] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a slide type switching valve according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the drive unit shown in Fig. 1 in a cross section taken along line V11-V11 in Fig. 1. Also, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the valve body shown in Fig. 1.

[0023] The slide type switching valve 1 according to this embodiment is a slide type switching valve that is connected to a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser in a refrigeration cycle or the like, and switches the flow path of the refrigerant flowing through these devices. The slide type switching valve 1 includes a hollow cylindrical valve body 2, a valve seat portion 3 provided in the valve body 2 and having a plurality of valve ports, a valve body 4 provided inside the valve body 2 so as to be slidable in the axial line L direction, and a drive portion 5 that drives the valve body 4 to slide. In this embodiment, the up-down direction in Figs. 1 to 3 is the up-down direction of the slide type switching valve 1. That is, one side of the axial line L direction of the slide type switching valve 1 is the upper side, and the other side is the lower side. This is merely for convenience of explanation, and does not necessarily match the up-down direction in the actual use state of the slide type switching valve 1, and does not limit the up-down direction in the actual use state of the slide type switching valve 1.

[0024] The valve body 2 is formed of a resin material in a bottomed cylindrical shape so that the tip portion extends upward, and its interior constitutes the valve chamber 2a. An inlet port A communicating with the inside and outside of the valve chamber 2a is formed in the bottom wall of the valve body 2. The inlet port A is a port communicating with the discharge port of a compressor (not shown) via an inlet connection flow path 20 extending in the axial line L direction. This inlet port A constitutes an inlet when high-pressure refrigerant sent from the compressor flows into the valve chamber 2a. In the side wall of the valve body 2, a first connection flow path 21, an outlet connection flow path 22, and a second connection flow path 23 are formed in this order from the upper side along the axial line L direction as a plurality of cylindrical flow paths communicating with the inside and outside of the valve chamber 2a. The first connection flow path 21 is a flow path communicating with a first port 30 described later. This first connection flow path 21 is connected to a condenser (or an evaporator) and constitutes a flow path for a fluid flowing between the condenser (or the evaporator) and the valve chamber 2a.

[0025] The outlet connection flow path 22 is a flow path that communicates with an outlet port 31, which will be described later. This outlet connection flow path 22 is adapted to be connected to the suction port of the compressor, and constitutes a flow path when the low-pressure refrigerant that has returned to the valve chamber 2a through the first connection flow path 21 (or the second connection flow path 23) is sent to the compressor. The second connection flow path 23 is a flow path that communicates with a second port 32, which will be described later. This second connection flow path 23 is connected to the evaporator (or the condenser) and constitutes a flow path for the fluid that flows between the evaporator (or the condenser) and the valve chamber 2a. A metallic cylindrical lower cover 24 is fixed to the upper end of the valve body 2 by insert molding, and a metallic cylindrical upper cover 25 with a bottom wall on the upper side is fixed to the upper end of the lower cover 24.

[0026] The top cover 25 has a small diameter portion 25a extending upward in the direction of the axis L at the center of the bottom wall. A through hole 25b penetrating in the direction of the axis L is formed in the center of the small diameter portion 25a, and a guide member 54 described later is arranged in the through hole 25b. The valve body 2, the bottom cover 24, and the top cover 25 configured in this manner are accommodated in a housing (not shown). Note that the reference symbol G shown in FIG. 1 denotes grooves formed at a plurality of positions in the direction of the axis L at predetermined intervals on either the outer peripheral wall of the valve body 2 or the inner peripheral wall of the housing, and the reference symbol 26 denotes an O-ring arranged in the groove G. The O-ring 26 seals the gap between the valve body 2 and the housing. Note that in this embodiment, the valve body 2 is made of a resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), but may be made of other appropriate materials such as metals such as brass, iron, aluminum, and stainless steel.

[0027] The valve seat portion 3 is a portion of the side wall of the valve body 2 on which the first connection flow passage 21, the outlet connection flow passage 22, and the second connection flow passage 23 are formed, and is configured to have a plurality of valve ports (three in this embodiment). The valve seat portion 3 is formed of a thin metal plate and is fixed to the side wall of the valve body 2 by insert molding, bonding, welding, or the like. A first port 30 communicating with the first connection flow passage 21, an outlet port 31 communicating with the outlet connection flow passage 22, and a second port 32 communicating with the second connection flow passage 23 are formed on the plate surface of the valve seat portion 3. Each of the valve ports 30, 31, and 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an inner diameter smaller than that of the first connection flow passage 21, the outlet connection flow passage 22, and the second connection flow passage 23, and is arranged at a predetermined interval in the axial direction L. The surface of the valve seat portion 3 opposite to the side on which the connection flow passages 21, 22, and 23 are formed constitutes a seal surface 33 that comes into sliding contact with a seal portion of the valve body 4 described later. Therefore, the multiple valve ports 30 , 31 , 32 open to the sealing surface 33 .

[0028] The valve element 4 is mainly made of a resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and is provided inside the valve body 2 so as to be slidable in the direction of the axis L. The valve element 4 is configured with a bowl-shaped valve element main body 40 that seats on the valve seat portion 3 and communicates or blocks each of the inlet port A, the first port 30, the outlet port 31, and the second port 32. The valve element 4 blocks two valve ports, including the outlet port 31, of the first port 30, the outlet port 31, and the second port 32 in the valve seat portion 3 from the inlet port A and communicates them with each other as communication targets. The one valve port that is not a communication target of the valve element 4 is blocked from the two valve ports that are communication targets and is communicated with the inlet port A via the outside of the valve element 4 in the valve chamber 2a. The valve body 4 is provided on the valve seat 3 so as to be slidable in the direction of the axis L, and the sliding movement enables the changeover of the communication target, that is, the changeover of whether the first port 30 and the outlet port 31 are communicated or the second port 32 and the outlet port 31 are communicated. In this way, the valve body 4 is a part that switches the communication state of the three valve ports 30, 31, and 32 of the valve seat 3. The valve body main body 40 of this valve body 4 is configured with an elliptical opening edge portion 40a extending in the direction of the axis L provided so as to face the seal surface 33 of the valve seat 3, and a cup-shaped portion 40b protruding from the opening edge portion 40a to the side opposite to the side where the valve seat 3 is located. The inside of the cup-shaped portion 40b defines a cup-shaped recess 40c that serves as a fluid flow path. The dimension of the opening edge 40a of the bowl-shaped recess 40c in the axial direction L is set to a length sufficient to cover two adjacent ports among the first port 30, the outlet port 31, and the second port 32. In addition, the dimension of the opening edge 40a in the width direction intersecting the axial direction L is set to a length sufficient to cover one port among the first port 30, the outlet port 31, and the second port 32.

[0029] The opening edge 40a of the bowl-shaped recess 40c constitutes the seal portion S that can slide against the above-mentioned seal surface 33. When the seal portion S abuts against the seal surface 33, for example, the first port 30 and the outlet port 31 are surrounded by the bowl-shaped recess 40c and are cut off from the other ports A and 32. As a result, the first port 30 and the outlet port 31 are communicated, and the inlet port A and the second port 32 are communicated. Then, when the seal portion S slides downward while sliding on the seal surface 33, the outlet port 31 and the second port 32 are surrounded by the bowl-shaped recess 40c and are cut off from the other ports A and 30. As a result, the outlet port 31 and the second port 32 are communicated, and the inlet port A and the first port 30 are communicated. That is, the valve body 40 slides and the seal portion S comes into sliding contact with the seal surface 33, whereby the ports A, 30, 31, and 32 can be switched between communication and cut-off.

[0030] A seat 41 is formed on each side wall located at both ends in the width direction of the bowl-shaped recess 40c. A long fitting groove 41a is formed in each seat 41 in the axial direction L. A reinforcing member 6 is disposed in the bowl-shaped recess 40c so as to be fitted from one fitting groove 41a to the other fitting groove 41a. The reinforcing member 6 is a member that suppresses deformation of the side wall of the bowl-shaped recess 40c due to the pressure difference between the high-pressure valve chamber 2a and the low-pressure bowl-shaped recess 40c. The reinforcing member 6 is provided on the inside of both side walls in the width direction of the bowl-shaped recess 40c and across both side walls. The reinforcing member 6 is configured to include a rectangular flat portion 60 along the axial direction L and the width direction, and a pair of rising surface portions 61 rising from both ends in the width direction of the flat portion 60. The flat portion 60 and the rising surface portions 61 are integrally formed by a method such as press molding using a metal plate member. As shown in Fig. 1, the flat portion 60 is disposed so that its bottom surface faces the seal surface 33 while having a predetermined clearance in the opposing direction to the seal surface 33. The pair of upright surface portions 61 are provided along the inner surfaces of both side walls in the width direction of the bowl-shaped recess 40c. The upright surface portions 61 are formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the direction of the axis L so as to fit into the fitting groove 41a described above. When the upright surface portions 61 fit into the fitting groove 41a, the reinforcing member 6 is positioned in the bowl-shaped recess 40c.

[0031] A spring member 42 is provided at the top of the bowl-shaped portion 40b of the valve body 40 to bias the valve body 40 toward the valve seat portion 3. One end of the spring member 42 abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the valve body 2, and the other end abuts against the top of the valve body 40, and the spring member 42 is interposed between the valve body 2 and the valve body 40. A stopper 43 is formed at the lower end of the valve body 40, protruding downward in the direction of the axis L. The stopper 43 is a protrusion for restricting the sliding movement of the valve body 4, and the protruding end abuts against the surface of the bottom wall of the valve body 2 facing the valve chamber 2a to restrict the downward movement of the valve body 4. In other words, the stopper 43 and the surface of the bottom wall of the valve body 2 facing the valve chamber 2a define the limit position of the downward movement of the valve body 4.

[0032] An upwardly protruding connecting portion 44 is formed at the upper end of the valve body 40. The connecting portion 44 is formed in a hook shape so as to be connected to the drive unit 5. This connecting portion 44 will be described later together with the connection structure with the connecting portion 44 in the drive unit 5.

[0033] The driving unit 5 is a part that drives the valve body 4 to slide, and includes a stepping motor 5a (motor unit) as an electric motor having a rotatable rotor, and a linear motion mechanism 5b that converts the rotation of the stepping motor 5a into linear motion and transmits it to the valve body 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the stepping motor 5a includes a can 50 (a cylindrical case with a bottom), a magnet rotor 51 (rotor), and a stator coil 52. The can 50 is fixed to the small diameter portion 25a of the upper cover 25 and is a cylindrical part with a bottom made of metal that seals the inside of the driving unit 5. The magnet rotor 51 is a rotor built into the can 50, and the stator coil 52 is a stator that is arranged to surround the outer periphery of the magnet rotor 51 around the axis L with the can 50 in between. The can 50 is formed into a cylindrical shape with a bottom from a thin metal material, with the bottom wall disposed on the upper side and the tip portion fixed to the upper edge portion of the small diameter portion 25a of the above-mentioned upper cover 25 by welding or the like. That is, the can 50 is fixed to the valve body 2 via the top lid 25. By fixing the can 51 to the top lid 25 in this manner, the can 50 and the guide member 54 described later are arranged so that their central axes are coaxial with the axis L of the valve body 2. The linear motion mechanism 5b includes a bearing member 53, a guide member 54, a male screw member 55, and a female screw member 56. The bearing member 53 is arranged inside the bottom side (upper side) of the can 50, and the guide member 54 is fixed to the top lid 25. The male screw member 55 is a rotor shaft indirectly fixed to the center of the magnet rotor 51 via a fixing member 55a, and the female screw member 56 is a screw member having a female screw portion 56a1 that screws into a male screw portion 55d formed on the outer circumferential surface of the male screw member 55. That is, the linear motion mechanism 5b is configured as a screw feed mechanism having a male screw portion 55d and a female screw portion 56a1 that screw into each other. The drive unit that drives the valve body 4 to move forward and backward is not limited to the drive unit 5 of this embodiment in which the male screw member 55 is indirectly fixed to the magnet rotor 51. The drive unit may be one in which the male screw member is directly fixed to the rotor of the motor without any other parts. In other words, it is sufficient that the magnet rotor 51 and the male screw member 55 rotate integrally.

[0034] The bearing member 53 is a member that supports the male screw member 55 rotatably around the axis L. The bearing member 53 includes a cylindrical large diameter portion 53a, a cylindrical first small diameter portion 53b that protrudes upward from the center of the large diameter portion 53a, and a cylindrical second small diameter portion 53c that protrudes downward from the center of the large diameter portion 53a. The large diameter portion 53a, the first small diameter portion 53b, and the second small diameter portion 53c are integrally formed and are disposed in the can 50 so that their central axes are coaxial with the axis L.

[0035] The first small diameter portion 53b is a portion that restricts the bearing member 53 from moving upward, and is formed with a diameter smaller than that of the large diameter portion 53a. As shown in FIG. 1, when the bearing member 53 is inserted into the can 50, the upper end of the first small diameter portion 53b abuts against the inner surface of the bottom wall of the can 50, and is positioned. A first bearing hole 53c1 that opens downward is formed in the center of the bearing member 53, which is the axial center position of the male screw member 55. The first bearing hole 53c1 is a bottomed recessed hole that is provided so that the first shaft portion 55b described later can be inserted, and opens on the lower end surface of the second small diameter portion 53c, and extends in the axis L direction through the large diameter portion 53a to the inside of the first small diameter portion 53b.

[0036] The guide member 54 is a cylindrical member with a bottom, and is disposed in the through hole 25b of the upper cover 25 so that the bottom is located on the lower side and the tip side is located on the upper side. The guide member 54 has a fixing ring 57 integrally provided by insert molding at approximately the center in the axis L direction, and is fixed to the upper cover 25 by welding the fixing ring 57 to the upper edge of the small diameter portion 25a of the upper cover 25. In other words, the guide member 54 is immovably provided with respect to the case of the slide type switching valve 1 having the upper cover 25 and the can 50. The guide member 54 is disposed so that the central axis is coaxial with the axis L of the valve body 2, and due to this arrangement, the above-mentioned can 50, the bearing member 53, and the guide member 54 are all disposed so that the central axes are coaxial with the axis L of the valve body 2.

[0037] A second bearing hole 54a that opens upward is formed in the center of the bottom of the guide member 54, which is the axial center position of the male screw member 55. The second bearing hole 54a is a bottomed recessed hole that is provided so that a second shaft portion 55c described later can be inserted, and opens on the inner surface of the bottom of the guide member 54 and extends in the axial direction L. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of guide holes 54b are formed radially outward of the second bearing hole 54a in the bottom of the guide member 54, through which a connecting arm portion 56b of a female screw member 56 described later can be inserted in the axial direction L. The guide holes 54b are formed radially opposite each other across the second bearing hole 54a. The edge of the guide hole 54b has a shape that follows the outer wall surface of the connecting arm portion 56b. The female screw member 56 is accommodated in the guide member 54 so that the two connecting arms 56b pass through the pair of guide holes 54b. As a result, even if the female screw member 56 attempts to rotate about the axis L when advancing or retreating in the direction of the axis L, it cannot rotate because each connecting arm portion 56b abuts against the inner surface of the guide hole 54b. In other words, the guide member 54 is configured to guide the female screw member 56 forward and backward in the direction of the axis L while preventing it from rotating about the axis L.

[0038] The male screw member 55 is fixed to the center of the magnet rotor 51 by using a fixing member 55a, extends in the direction of the axis L, and is configured to rotate around the axis L together with the magnet rotor 51. The upper end of the male screw member 55 forms a cylindrical first shaft portion 55b (shaft portion), and the lower end of the male screw member 55 forms a cylindrical second shaft portion 55c (shaft portion), and a male screw portion 55d is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the portion between the first shaft portion 55b and the second shaft portion 55c. The first shaft portion 55b is fitted into the first bearing hole 53c1, and the second shaft portion 55c is fitted into the second bearing hole 54a, so that the male screw member 55 is supported in the first bearing hole 53c1 and the second bearing hole 54a so that the central axis is coaxial with the axis L so as to be rotatable around the axis L.

[0039] The female screw member 56 is configured to include a threaded tube portion 56a and two connecting arms 56b. The threaded tube portion 56a is a cylindrical portion that is accommodated in the guide member 54 and whose outer circumferential wall is in sliding contact with the inner circumferential wall of the guide member 54. The two connecting arms 56b are two arm-like portions that extend downward from the threaded tube portion 56a in the direction of the axis L and extend into the valve chamber 2a through the bottom of the guide member 54 as described later. The threaded tube portion 56a is formed so that its central axis is coaxial with the central axis of the guide member 54. A female screw portion 56a1 is formed along the axis L at the center of the threaded tube portion 56a of the female screw member 56. The female screw portion 56a1 is configured to be screwed into the male screw portion 55d. With this configuration, the female screw member 56 can advance and retreat in the direction of the axis L coaxially with the central axis as the male screw member 55 rotates. The connecting arms 56b are portions for connecting the drive unit 5 and the valve body 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the two connecting arms 56b are arranged to face each other in the radial direction of the threaded cylindrical portion 56a, and a shaft member 59 is attached to the lower end of each connecting arm 56b, extending in an axis intersecting direction intersecting with the axis L direction and spanning the two connecting arms 56b, for connecting the shaft member 59 to the connecting portion 44 of the valve body 4. To attach the shaft member 59, a female thread side locking groove 56c is formed in the lower end of each connecting arm 56b to lock the shaft member 59 so as to be immovable in the axis L direction but movable in the radial direction.

[0040] The hook-shaped connecting portion 44 provided on the valve body 40 of the valve body 4 engages with the shaft member 59 spanning the two connecting arms 56b as described above, thereby connecting the valve body 4 to the female screw member 56, that is, the drive unit 5. When the stepping motor 5a rotates in the drive unit 5, the rotation is converted into linear motion of the female screw member 56 in the linear motion mechanism 5b, and the valve body 4 is driven to slide in the axis L direction by this linear motion.

[0041] In the slide type switching valve 1 having such a configuration, the valve body 4 slides in the direction of the axis L to switch the flow path of the refrigerant. First, the drive unit 5 is driven to slide the valve body 4 downward to cover the second port 32 and the outlet port 31 with the valve body main body 40. This allows the second port 32 to communicate with the outlet port 31. Also, the inlet port A and the first port 30 are communicated with each other. At this time, high-pressure refrigerant flows into the valve chamber 2a through the inlet connection flow path 20 and the inlet port A, and the high-pressure refrigerant is sent to the condenser through the first port 30 and the first connection flow path 21. Meanwhile, low-pressure refrigerant sent from the evaporator flows into the bowl-shaped recess 40c through the second port 32 and the second connection flow path 23, and the low-pressure refrigerant is sent to the suction port of the compressor through the outlet port 31 and the outlet connection flow path 22. Next, the valve body 4 is slid upward to cover the outlet port 31 and the first port 30 with the valve body main body 40. This allows the outlet port 31 to communicate with the first port 30. Also, the inlet port A and the second port 32 are connected to each other. At this time, high-pressure refrigerant flows into the valve chamber via the inlet connection passage 20 and the inlet port A, and the high-pressure refrigerant is sent to the evaporator via the second port 32 and the second connection passage 23. Meanwhile, low-pressure refrigerant sent from the condenser flows into the bowl-shaped recess 40c via the first port 30 and the first connection passage 21, and the low-pressure refrigerant is sent to the suction port of the compressor via the outlet port 31 and the outlet connection passage 22.

[0042] The slide type switching valve 1 of this embodiment is generally configured as described above. Next, the connection structure between the connection part 44 of the valve body 4 and the female screw member 56 of the drive part 5 in this slide type switching valve 1 will be described in detail.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 3, the connecting portion 44 of the valve body 4 is formed in a rectangular box shape that opens on the top side of the bowl-shaped portion 40b. A valve body side locking groove 44b for locking the shaft material 59 spanning the two connecting arms 56b and connecting to the connecting portion 44 is cut into each of a pair of opposing side walls 44a extending in the axial L direction of this rectangular box from the open side of the rectangular box. Like the female thread side locking grooves 56c formed in each of the two connecting arms 56b, this valve body side locking groove 44b is also a locking groove that locks the shaft material 59 so as to be immovable in the axial L direction but movable in the radial direction.

[0044] Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the shaft member 59 includes a central thick shaft portion 59a, a pair of medium thick shaft portions 59b protruding from the thick shaft portion 59a in the axial direction of the shaft member 59, and a pair of thin shaft portions 59c protruding further in the axial direction from each of the medium thick shaft portions 59b. The pair of thin shaft portions 59c of the shaft member 59 are fitted and locked into the female thread side locking grooves 56c of the two connecting arms 56b of the female thread member 56. The connecting portion 44 of the valve body 4 accommodates the central thick shaft portion 59a inside the rectangular box, and locks the pair of medium thick shaft portions 59b so as to be fitted into the valve body side locking grooves 44b of the pair of opposing side walls 44a. In this way, the connecting portion 44 of the valve body 4 is connected to the two connecting arms 56b of the female thread member 56 via the shaft member 59. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the length of the medium thick shaft portion 59b is longer than the width of the valve body side locking groove 44b. This allows the valve body 4 and the female screw member 56 to move relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the shaft member 59, and can absorb any misalignment between the screw feed mechanism and the axis of the valve body 4 when the valve body 4 slides or moves.

[0045] Figure 4 is a detailed view of the female thread member shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4(A) shows a side view of the female thread member 56, a top view seen from the upper end side in the direction of the axis L, and a bottom view seen from the lower end side. Figure 4(B) shows a cross-sectional view of the female thread member 56 taken along the line V12-V12 in Figure 4(A).

[0046] As described above, the female screw member 56 is configured to include a cylindrical threaded tube portion 56a and two connecting arms 56b extending from the threaded tube portion 56a in the direction of the axis L. A female screw portion 56a1 that screws into the male screw portion 55d of the male screw member 55 is formed at the center of the threaded tube portion 56a, and a female screw side locking groove 56c that locks onto the shaft material 59 is formed at the end of each of the two connecting arms 56b. Each connecting arm 56b includes a curved outer surface 56b1 that is continuous with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical threaded tube portion 56a and a flat inner surface 56b2 that faces each other between the two connecting arms 56b. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the male threaded member 55, in which the male threaded portion 55d is screwed into the female threaded portion 56a1 and passes through the threaded tube portion 56a, extends toward the bottom of the guide member 54 within a space defined by the flat inner surfaces 56b2 of each connecting arm portion 56b and extending in the axial direction L.

[0047] 4(A) is formed on the lower end surface of each connecting arm 56b of the female screw member 56, and a rotation stopper 56d is formed on the upper end surface of the female screw member 56 protruding in the direction of the axis L adjacent to the opening of the female screw portion 56a1. When the female screw member 56 rises toward the motor side with the rotation of the stepping motor 5a, this rotation stopper 56d plays a role in stopping the rise of the female screw member 56 by interfering with a part of the rotating magnet rotor 51 and stopping the rotation of the magnet rotor 51. The position where the female screw member 56 stops due to the interference of the rotation stopper 56d is the upper limit position of the female screw member 56.

[0048] In addition, the opening 56c1 of the female thread side locking groove 56c in each connecting arm 56b is formed in a wide-mouth shape that widens toward the end edge of the connecting arm 56b, thereby improving the workability of inserting the thin shaft portion 59c of the shaft material 59 into the female thread side locking groove 56c.

[0049] Figure 5 is a detailed view of the guide member shown in Figures 1 and 2, which guides the female screw member shown in Figure 4 in the axial direction. Figure 5(A) shows a side view of the guide member 54, and a bottom view seen from the lower end side in the direction of the axis L. Figure 5(B) shows a cross-sectional view of the guide member 54 taken along the line V13-V13 in Figure 5(A).

[0050] As described above, the guide member 54 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and is fixed to the upper cover 25 of the valve body 2 via a fixing ring 57 embedded in the peripheral wall, with the bottom facing downward in the axial line L direction. In the center of this bottom, a second bearing hole 54a is formed as a bottomed recess into which the second shaft portion 55c of the male screw member 55 can be inserted. A pair of guide holes 54b through which the connecting arm portion 56b is inserted so as to be movable forward and backward in the axial line L direction are formed so as to face each other radially across the second bearing hole 54a. As described above, each guide hole 54b is an arc-shaped insertion hole according to the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial line L direction of the connecting arm portion 56b composed of the curved outer surface 56b1 and the flat inner surface 56b2. By inserting two connecting arms 56b one-to-one into the pair of guide holes 54b, the rotation around the axial line L is restricted while the two connecting arms 56b are inserted in the axial line L direction. In other words, in this guide member 54, the rotation control portion 54c, which inserts the connecting arm portion 56b in the direction of the axis L while controlling rotation around the axis L, is composed of a pair of guide holes 54b (insertion holes) through which the two connecting arms 56b are inserted one-to-one.

[0051] In this embodiment, the two connecting arms 56b of the female screw member 56 are provided so as to be symmetrical with respect to a plane P11 including the axis L, as shown in Fig. 4. The rotation restricting portion 54c is constituted by a guide hole 54b provided at a position radially eccentric from the axis L.

[0052] 4, the base end of the connecting arm portion 56b, which is the lower surface of the threaded cylindrical portion 56a in the female screw member 56, is provided with an abutment portion 56e that can abut against the bottom of the guide member 54 when the female screw member 56 descends in the direction of the axis L. This abutment portion 56e functions as a positioning stopper that abuts against the guide member 54 when the valve body 4 reaches a switching position on the side away from the drive unit 5 where the second port 32 and the outlet port 31 communicate with each other.

[0053] Here, in this embodiment, the connection points of the two connecting arms 56b, which pass through a pair of guide holes 54b in the guide member 54 and are connected to the connecting portion 44 of the valve body 4, are fastened and bundled with a fastening band 45 as shown in Figure 1.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the fastening band shown in FIG.

[0055] The fastening band 45 is not specified here, but may be, for example, a hose band used to fasten a resin hose to a water faucet or the like. The fastening band 45 is formed by rolling a strip-shaped metal plate into a circular ring shape, and the knobs 45a at both ends are gripped in a direction approaching each other to expand the ring. In this expanded state, the fastening object is placed inside the ring, and then the grip is released to reduce the ring diameter and tighten the fastening object. In this embodiment, the fastening band 45 is attached to the connection point between the two connecting arms 56b and the connecting portion 44. The fastening band 45 functions as an opening restriction member that restricts the displacement of the two connecting arms 56b in the separation direction D11 in which they separate from each other at the above-mentioned connection point. The procedure for attaching the fastening band 45 to the connection point between the two connecting arms 56b and the connecting portion 44 will be described below.

[0056] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing a first stage in the procedure for attaching the fastening band, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1 showing second to fourth stages in the procedure for attaching the fastening band.

[0057] First, in the first stage S11 shown in FIG. 7, the magnet rotor 51 of the stepping motor 5a is attached to the male screw member 55 of the linear motion mechanism 5b, and is housed in the can 50 together with the bearing member 53. In addition, the guide member 54, which houses the female screw member 56 screwed with the male screw member 55 and supports the male screw member 55 together with the bearing member 53, is fixed to the upper cover 25 of the valve body 2, and the can 50 housing the magnet rotor 51 and the like is fixed to this upper cover 25. In addition, a shaft member 59 is attached to the ends of the two connecting arms 56b that protrude through the guide hole 54b at the bottom of the guide member 54. Then, the fastening band 45 is attached to the structure assembled up to this point. The fastening band 45 is wrapped in an expanded state in the attachment direction D12 along the axis L from the ends of the two connecting arms 56b toward the guide member 54, and is reduced in diameter at the end of the wrapping and fastened. As shown in FIG. 7, the exterior at this stage is formed at a midway position beyond the shaft member 59, which is the connecting portion with the connecting portion 44 of the valve body 4, to the guide member 54.

[0058] 8, the connecting portion 44 of the valve body 4 is connected to the ends of the two connecting arms 56b to which the fastening bands 45 are fastened at their midpoints via the shaft 59. This connection is achieved by engaging the hook-shaped connecting portion 44 with the shaft 59, as described above. In addition, in this second stage S12, the valve body 4 is housed in the valve body 2 so as to rub against the valve seat 3.

[0059] In the next third step S13, the fastening band 45 is slid from the intermediate position to the connection point between the connecting arm 56b and the connecting part 44 of the valve body 4 and refastened. In this operation, the fastening band 45 at the intermediate position is expanded in diameter and slid in the moving direction D13 to the connection point, where it is reduced in diameter and fastened. Up to this third step S13, the top cover 25 is separated from the valve body 2. Then, when the fastening of the fastening band 45 at the connection point is completed, in the following fourth step S14, the top cover 25 is pushed in the moving direction D12 to a position where it contacts the valve body 2, and the top cover 25 is welded and fixed to the valve body 2. After this, the stator coil 52 of the stepping motor 5a is attached, and the slide type switching valve 1 shown in FIG. 1 is completed.

[0060] According to the slide type switching valve 1 of the embodiment described above, when the valve element 4 is driven back and forth by the driving force from the stepping motor 5a, the guide member 54 serves both as an advance / retract guide for the female screw member 56 and as a rotation restriction for the connecting arm portion 56b, thereby suppressing an increase in the number of parts. In other words, according to the slide type switching valve 1 described above, the valve element 4 can be driven back and forth by the driving force from the stepping motor 5a while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0061] In the present embodiment, the bottom of the guide member 54 is provided with a guide hole 54b through which the connecting arm 56b is inserted to serve as the rotation restricting portion 54c, and a second bearing hole 54a for the male screw member 55. With this configuration, the guide member 54 also serves as a support for the male screw member 55, further reducing the number of parts.

[0062] In this embodiment, the base end of the connecting arm 56b of the female screw member 56 is provided with an abutment portion 56e for contacting the guide member 54, and this abutment portion 56e functions as a positioning stopper for the valve element 4. According to this configuration, it is possible to regulate the position of the valve element 4 at the switching position without providing a stopper structure for the valve element 4 in the vicinity of the valve element 4 in the valve body 2, so that the structures of the valve body 2 and the valve element 4 can be prevented from becoming complicated.

[0063] In this embodiment, multiple connecting arms 56b, specifically two connecting arms 56b, are provided, and the rotation restricting portion 54c is configured with a pair of guide holes 54b through which the two connecting arms 56b are inserted one-to-one. With this configuration, rotation is restricted by inserting the two connecting arms 56b into the pair of guide holes 54b without providing any additional parts, and therefore an increase in the number of parts can be further suppressed.

[0064] In this embodiment, two connecting arms 56b are provided, which are symmetrical with respect to a plane P11 including the axis L, and the rotation restricting portion 54c is configured with a pair of guide holes 54b that correspond one-to-one to the connecting arms 56b. With this configuration, the number of connecting arms 56b and guide holes 54b related to rotation restriction is kept to a minimum, so that the processing costs of the connecting arms 56b and guide holes 54b can be reduced.

[0065] In this embodiment, the two connecting arms 56b and the valve body 4 are connected via a shaft member 59 that spans the two connecting arms 56b. The two connecting arms 56b are provided with female thread side locking grooves 56c that lock the shaft member 59 so as to be immovable in the axial direction L but movable in the radial direction, and a similar valve body side locking groove 44b is provided in the connecting portion 44 of the valve body 4. With this configuration, the connecting arms 56b and the valve body 4 are connected with a simple configuration in which the locking grooves are locked to the shaft member 59, so that assembly costs and the like relating to the connection can be reduced.

[0066] In this embodiment, a fastening band 45 is provided as an opening restriction member that restricts the displacement of the two connecting arms 56b in the separation direction D11 away from each other, bundling the two connecting arms 56b to restrict the displacement. This configuration prevents the two connecting arms 56b of the female screw member 56 from being subjected to a torsional load as the male screw member 55 rotates, causing them to separate from each other, thereby improving the drive accuracy of the female screw member 56 and the valve body 4. In addition, the displacement of the connecting arms 56b is restricted by a simple structure using inexpensive parts such as a fastening band, so that the parts costs and assembly costs related to the displacement restriction can be reduced.

[0067] In this embodiment, the valve body 4 is formed with a bowl-shaped recess 40c, and its opening edge 40a is capable of slidingly contacting the seal surface 33, which is provided with three valve ports in the valve seat 3 as the seal portion S. With this configuration, for the slide type switching valve 1 of this embodiment, which has the valve body 4 having the bowl-shaped recess 40c and the valve seat 3 provided with three valve ports, the valve body 4 can be driven to move forward and backward by the driving force from the stepping motor 5a while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0068] Next, as a modification of this embodiment, another example of an opening restricting member different from the fastening band 45 will be described.

[0069] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing first to third modified examples of the opening restricting member, Fig. 9(A) shows the first modified example, Fig. 9(B) shows the second modified example, and Fig. 9(C) shows the third modified example.

[0070] The opening restriction member 145 of the first modification includes a housing tube 145a provided on the valve body 140 as the connecting portion 144, and a pin clip 145b. The housing tube 145a is provided on the valve body 140 so as to protrude in a cylindrical shape toward the female screw member 156 in the axial line L direction, and is a portion that holds the ends of the two connecting arms 156b on the valve body 140 side inside. The pin clip 145b is a through pin that penetrates the peripheral wall of the housing tube 145a and the ends of the two connecting arms 156b in the cross direction D14 with respect to the axial line L direction. The pin clip 145b is engaged by pinching the peripheral wall and the connecting arms 156b between the outer side that passes through the peripheral wall of the housing tube 145a and the inner side that passes through the connecting arms 156b while surrounding the outer surface of the peripheral wall.

[0071] The opening restricting member 245 of the second modified example includes a storage tube 245a and a crimping pin 245b similar to those of the first modified example. The storage tube 245a holds the ends of the two connecting arms 256b inside. The crimping pin 245b is a rod-shaped through-pin that penetrates the peripheral wall of the storage tube 245a and the ends of the two connecting arms 156b in the cross direction D14. One end of the crimping pin has a head larger than the through-hole in the peripheral wall, and the other end passes through the peripheral wall of the storage tube 245a to the outside and is then crimped to be locked and fixed.

[0072] The opening restricting member 345 of the third modified example includes a storage tube 345a and a split pin 345b similar to those of the first modified example. The storage tube 345a holds the ends of the two connecting arms 356b inside. The split pin 345b is a through pin that penetrates the peripheral wall of the storage tube 245a and the ends of the two connecting arms 356b in the cross direction D14. This split pin 345b is formed by folding one metal pin, and the folded end portion has a shape that is larger than the through hole of the peripheral wall, and after the other end portion passes outward through the peripheral wall, it is folded and expanded toward the outer surface of the peripheral wall and engaged and fixed to the peripheral wall.

[0073] As described above, according to the three alternative examples of the opening restriction member 145, 254, 345 using the through pin, the connection and displacement restriction of the connection arm 156b, 256b, 356b are performed together by one configuration using the housing tube 145a, 245a, 345a and the through pin. As a result, it is possible to reduce the parts cost and assembly cost related to the connection and displacement restriction.

[0074] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a fourth modification of the opening restriction member.

[0075] The opening restriction member 445 of the fourth modified example includes a housing tube 445a, a clamped protrusion 445b, and a C-ring 445c similar to those of the first modified example. The housing tube 445a holds the ends of the two connecting arms 456b inside. The clamped protrusion 445b is a part provided on the inside of the housing tube 445a in the valve body, protruding in the direction of the axis L so as to be clamped between the ends of the two connecting arms 456b. The C-ring 445c is a metal ring-shaped fastening member with a part missing that holds and fastens the ends of the two connecting arms 456b inside the housing tube 445a with the clamped protrusion 445b clamped between them. A groove 456b1 into which the C-ring 445c is fitted is formed extending in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the end of each connecting arm 456b. In this fourth modified example, the two connecting arms 456b are connected to the valve body and their displacement in the separating direction D11 is restricted by receiving the ends in the receiving tube 445a and fastening with a C-ring 445b.

[0076] According to the fourth modified example of the opening restriction member 445, the connection between the connecting arm 456b and the valve body and the displacement restriction of the connecting arm 456b are performed simultaneously by a single configuration using the housing tube 445a of the valve body, the clamped projection 445b, and the C-ring 445c. This makes it possible to reduce the cost of parts and assembly costs related to the connection and the displacement restriction.

[0077] The above-described embodiment and the first to fourth examples merely show typical forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. 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 have the configuration of the slide type switching valve of the present invention, they are of course included in the scope of the present invention.

[0078] For example, in the above-described embodiment and the first to fourth alternative examples, the slide type switching valve 1 is exemplified as an example of the slide type switching valve, which is connected to a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser in a refrigeration cycle or the like and switches the flow path of the refrigerant flowing through these devices. However, the slide type switching valve is not limited to this, and can be applied to the main body parts of various valves that change the flow path.

[0079] In the above-described embodiment and the first to fourth modified examples, two connecting arms 56b are illustrated as an example of a connecting arm provided on the female screw member. In addition, a rotation restricting portion 54c constituted by a pair of guide holes 54b through which two connecting arms 56b are inserted one-to-one is illustrated as an example of a rotation restricting portion provided on the guide member and restricting the rotation of the connecting arm. However, the connecting arm and the rotation restricting portion are not limited to these, and may be constituted by three or more connecting arms or a plurality of insertion holes through which the multiple connecting arms are inserted. In addition, in a form in which three or more connecting arms are inserted into a plurality of insertion holes, as long as the multiple connecting arms are inserted into the plurality of insertion holes in a distributed manner, the form is not limited to one-to-one insertion, and may be, for example, two or more connecting arms are inserted into one insertion hole and the remaining connecting arms are inserted into another insertion hole. Alternatively, the number of each connecting arm and rotation restricting portion may be only one, and the shape may be such that rotation is prevented when the connecting arm and rotation restricting portion are inserted, such as a polygonal prism-shaped connecting arm or a polygonal through hole.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the female thread side locking groove 56c provided in the two connecting arms 56b and the valve body side locking groove 44b provided in the connecting portion 44 of the valve body 4 are exemplified as examples of locking grooves for locking the shaft material. However, the above locking grooves are not limited to these, and as long as they are provided in at least one of the two connecting arms and the valve body, they may be provided only in the connecting arms or only in the valve body. In these cases, the connecting arms and the valve body that do not have locking grooves may be provided with holes into which the ends of the shaft material fit, or the ends of the shaft material may be embedded and fixed.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the slide type switching valve 1 in which the shaft material 59 is provided on two connecting arms 56b provided on the female screw member 56 is exemplified as an example of the slide type switching valve. However, the slide type switching valve is not limited to this. The number of connecting arms in the female screw member may be any multiple number as described above, and as long as the shaft material is provided on two connecting arms selected from the multiple connecting arms, which connecting arm is selected to provide the shaft material can be set appropriately.

[0082] In the above-mentioned embodiment and the first to fourth modified examples, the valve seat portion 3 is provided with the first port 30, the outlet port 31, and the second port 32, and the valve body 4 slides on the valve seat portion 3, and the valve body 4 can switch the communication target by moving in the axial direction L, that is, the communication state can be switched such that the first port 30 and the outlet port 31 are communicated with each other, or the second port 32 and the outlet port 31 are communicated with each other. However, the switching form of the communication state by the valve body is not limited to this. The switching form of the communication state may be, for example, a form in which only two ports are formed on the valve seat portion, and the communication state is switched such that one of the ports is blocked and the other port is communicated with the inlet port, or the one port is communicated with the inlet port and the other port is blocked, by the sliding movement of the valve body on the valve seat portion. In addition, the communication state may be switched in such a manner that only one port is formed in the valve seat portion, and communication between the inlet port and the one port of the valve seat portion is switched between communication and cut-off by sliding the valve body over the valve seat portion.

[0083] In the above-described embodiment and the first to fourth modified examples, a slide type switching valve 1 is illustrated as an example of a slide type switching valve in which a plurality of valve ports are provided in a valve seat portion and the communication state of the plurality of valve ports is switched by a valve body. That is, a slide type switching valve 1 is illustrated that includes one valve body 4 that can switch the communication target by moving in the axial direction L and communicates two valve ports out of three valve ports 30, 31, and 32 provided in a valve seat portion 3 as communication targets. However, the slide type switching valve is not limited to this, and for example, the number of valve ports provided in the valve seat portion may be any number as long as it is three or more, and the number of valve ports that the valve body communicates with among the plurality of valve ports may also be any number as long as it is two or more. In addition, the number of valve bodies provided inside the valve body is not limited to one, and multiple valve bodies may be provided inside the valve body.

[0084] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1 Slide type switching valve 2 Valve body 3 Valve seat 4 Valve body 5 Drive unit 5a Stepping motor (motor section) 40 Valve body 44,144 Connecting part 45 Fastening band (opening restriction member) 50 Can (case) 51 Magnet rotor (rotor) 53 Bearing materials 53c1 First bearing hole 54 Guide member 54a Second bearing hole 54b Guide hole (insertion hole) 54c Rotation control part 55 Male threaded member 56 Female thread member 56b, 156b, 256b, 356b, 456b connecting wrist 59 shaft material L axis

Claims

1. A slide-type switching valve comprising: a hollow cylindrical valve body; a valve seat portion having one or more valve ports provided in the valve body; a valve element provided inside the valve body so as to be slidable in an axial direction on the valve seat portion and switching a communication state of the valve port; and a drive portion for driving the valve element, the drive unit includes a motor unit having a rotatable rotor, a male screw member fixed directly or indirectly to the rotor and extending in the axial direction, a female screw member that screws into the male screw member and can advance and retreat in the axial direction as the male screw member rotates, and a guide member that is immovably provided with respect to a case that seals the inside of the drive unit and guides the female screw member to advance and retreat, The female screw member has a connecting arm portion extending in the axial direction and connected to the valve body, The guide member has a rotation regulating portion that regulates rotation about the axis while inserting the connecting arm portion in the axial direction, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom on the valve body side, and a bearing portion is provided on the bottom to support an end of the male threaded member.

2. 2. The slide type switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the guide member is provided with an insertion hole through which the connecting arm portion is inserted to serve as the rotation restricting portion.

3. 3. The sliding type switching valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a contact portion capable of contacting the guide member is provided at a base end of the connecting arm of the female thread member, and the contact portion functions as a positioning stopper that contacts the guide member when the valve body reaches a switching position away from the drive unit.

4. A plurality of the connecting arms are provided on the female thread member, The slide type switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rotation regulating portion is composed of a plurality of insertion holes through which the plurality of connecting arm portions are inserted in a distributed manner.

5. The two connecting arms are provided on the female screw member so as to be symmetrical with respect to a plane including the axis, 5. The slide type switching valve according to claim 4, wherein the rotation restricting portion is provided at a position eccentric to the axis and is composed of a pair of insertion holes through which the two connecting arms are inserted in a one-to-one relationship.

6. The slide type switching valve according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the female screw member and the valve body are connected via a shaft member spanning two of the connecting arms selected from among the plurality of connecting arms, and at least one of the two connecting arms and the valve body is provided with a locking groove that locks the shaft member so that it cannot move in the axial direction but can move freely in the radial direction.

7. 7. The slide type switching valve according to claim 4, further comprising an opening restriction member that restricts the plurality of connecting arms from being displaced away from each other.

8. 8. The slide type switching valve according to claim 7, wherein the opening restriction member is a fastening band that restricts the displacement by bundling a plurality of the connecting arms.

9. The opening restriction member is a receiving tube provided on the valve body so as to protrude in the axial direction toward the female screw member and receiving therein end portions of the connecting arms on the valve body side; a through-pin penetrating through a peripheral wall of the housing cylinder and the ends of the connecting arms in a direction intersecting with the axial direction, 8. The slide type switching valve according to claim 7, wherein the connecting arms are connected to the valve body and the displacement is restricted by the end portions being housed in the housing cylinder and the penetration pin penetrating the connecting arms.

10. The opening restriction member is a receiving tube provided on the valve body so as to protrude in the axial direction toward the female screw member and receiving therein end portions of the connecting arms on the valve body side; a clamped protrusion provided on the inside of the housing cylinder of the valve body so as to protrude in the axial direction and be clamped between the ends of the multiple connecting arms; a C-ring that holds and fastens the ends of the connecting arms inside the housing cylinder with the clamped projections sandwiched between the C-rings, 8. The slide type switching valve according to claim 7, wherein the connecting arms are connected to the valve body and the displacement is restricted by receiving ends of the connecting arms in the receiving tube and fastening the connecting arms by the C-ring.

11. the valve body is formed with an elliptical bowl-shaped recess extending in the axial direction, an opening edge of the bowl-shaped recess is a seal portion, and the seal portion is capable of sliding contact with a seal surface of the valve seat portion, 11. The slide type switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve port is provided in the valve seat portion so as to open to the seal surface.

Images