Valve mechanism

Abstract

To provide a valve device capable of suppressing generation of airflow sound.SOLUTION: A valve device configured to adjust the degree of opening of a fluid flow path comprises a shaft part, a valve body, a biasing part, and a rotation suppression part. The shaft part is configured to be fixed to the flow path. The valve body is rotatable with respect to the shaft part, and has an internal space. The biasing part is provided in the internal space of the valve body, has one end connected to the shaft part and the other end connected to the valve body, and biases the valve body so as to be rotationally displaced to a predetermined position. The rotation suppression part is provided on the shaft part and contacts the valve body or the biasing part to suppress rotation of the valve body beyond a preset range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a valve device provided in a fluid flow path. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a valve device that opens and closes an exhaust pipe through which exhaust gas from a vehicle engine flows. As an example, the valve device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an opening / closing lid that is biased by a spring in a closing direction perpendicular to the axis of the exhaust pipe. The opening / closing lid is held in a closed state by a stopper that protrudes into the exhaust pipe. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-180322 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the valve device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the stopper protrudes into the exhaust pipe, which causes the exhaust gas flow to become turbulent, resulting in the problem of airflow noise being easily generated. One aspect of the present disclosure provides a valve device capable of suppressing the generation of airflow noise. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is a valve device configured to adjust the opening of a fluid flow path, the valve device comprising a shaft portion, a valve body, a biasing portion, and a rotation suppressing portion. The shaft portion is configured to be fixed to the flow path. The valve body is rotatable with respect to the shaft portion and has an internal space. The biasing portion is provided in the internal space of the valve body, one end of which is connected to the shaft portion and the other end of which is connected to the valve body, and biases the valve body so as to rotate and displace to a predetermined position. The rotation suppressing portion is provided on the shaft portion and contacts the valve body or the biasing portion to suppress the valve body from rotating beyond a preset range. According to this configuration, by arranging the rotation suppressing portion, which serves as a stopper for the valve body, in the internal space of the valve body, it is possible to suppress turbulence of the flow of the fluid compared to a case in which the stopper for the valve body is arranged outside the valve body. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generation of airflow noise.

[0006] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the rotation suppression portion may be in contact with the biasing portion when the valve body rotates in the closing direction to reduce the opening degree, thereby suppressing the valve body from rotating in the closing direction beyond a preset position. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the valve body from rotating in the closing direction beyond a preset position.

[0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the rotation suppression portion may be in contact with the biasing portion when the valve body rotates in the opening direction to increase the opening degree, thereby suppressing the valve body from rotating in the opening direction beyond a preset position. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the valve body from rotating in the opening direction beyond a preset position.

[0008] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the shaft portion may have a first rod portion and a second rod portion that are arranged in a straight line with a gap therebetween and are fixed to the flow path, respectively. The biasing portion may be displaced with the rotation of the valve body and may be movable in the space between the first rod portion and the second rod portion. With this configuration, the biasing portion can be disposed in the internal space of the valve body, and the biasing portion can move in the internal space without being significantly hindered by the shaft portion, so that the space for the biasing portion to move can be formed in a position close to the shaft portion. Thus, the valve device can be made compact. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the muffler. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the valve device before the second housing is attached. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a front view of the valve device before the second housing is attached. [Figure 4] FIG. 4A is a side view of the valve device when the valve disc is in a closed position, FIG. 4B is a side view of the valve device when the valve disc is between the closed and open positions, and FIG. 4C is a side view of the valve device when the valve disc is in an open position. [Diagram 5] 5A is a side view of the valve device when the valve element is in a closed position, FIG. 5B is a side view of the valve device when the valve element is between the closed position and the open position, and FIG. 5C is a side view of the valve device when the valve element is in the open position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. Embodiment] [1-1. Configuration] The valve device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is mounted, for example, on a muffler shell or pipe (in other words, the exhaust gas flow path) through which exhaust gas flows from a vehicle engine. For example, the valve device 1 is provided on an inner pipe 50 of a muffler shell mounted on the exhaust gas flow path of the vehicle. The inner pipe 50 is, for example, a cylindrical member extending in a substantially straight line. The valve device 1 is configured to adjust the flow rate of exhaust gas flowing inside the inner pipe 50. The exhaust gas corresponds to an example of a fluid.

[0011] 2 and 3, the valve device 1 includes a shaft portion 2, a valve body 3, and an expandable member 4. Note that in Figs. 2 and 3, a second housing 32 of the valve device 1, which will be described later, is omitted from illustration.

[0012] The shaft portion 2 includes a first rod portion 21, a second rod portion 22, and an intermediate portion 23. The first rod portion 21, the second rod portion 22, and the intermediate portion 23 form a single elongated member. The first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22 are rod-shaped portions provided to penetrate the interior pipe 50. The first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22 are fixed to the interior pipe 50 and cannot rotate with respect to the interior pipe 50. The first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22 extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow direction of the exhaust gas in the interior pipe 50 and are arranged on the same straight line. The first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22 are arranged with a gap therebetween near the center of the interior pipe 50. Note that the vicinity of the center of the interior pipe 50 refers to the approximate center of a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the exhaust gas in the interior pipe 50. For example, the first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22 are preferably symmetrical to the center of the cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the exhaust gas in the interior pipe 50 and are preferably arranged at symmetrical positions.

[0013] The intermediate portion 23 connects the first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22. The intermediate portion 23 is fixed to the first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22, and cannot rotate relative to the first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22. The intermediate portion 23 includes a connecting portion 231 and a locking portion 232. The connecting portion 231 has a semi-cylindrical shape obtained by dividing a cylindrical shape formed concentrically with the first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22 by a plane extending in the length direction of the cylinder. The locking portion 232 is a portion for hooking one end of the expandable member 4. The locking portion 232 is a portion between two through holes aligned in the length direction (length direction of the shaft portion 2) in the connecting portion 231, and has a shape recessed inward of the connecting portion 231 formed in a vessel shape. Since the connecting portion 231 is of the semi-cylindrical type described above and is hollow inside, there is a space between the first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22, and nothing other than the intermediate portion 23 and the expandable member 4 is disposed therein.

[0014] The first rod portion 21 includes a first cylindrical portion 210, a first side portion 211, a first support portion 212, and a first extending portion 213. The first cylindrical portion 210, the first side portion 211, the first support portion 212, and the first extending portion 213 are arranged in this order in order of proximity to the intermediate portion 23. The first cylindrical portion 210 is configured in a cylindrical shape. The first side portion 211 is a cylindrical portion formed concentrically with the first cylindrical portion 210, and has a larger diameter than the first cylindrical portion 210. The first support portion 212 is a cylindrical portion formed concentrically with the first cylindrical portion 210, and has a larger diameter than the first side portion 211. The first extending portion 213 is a flat rod-shaped portion. A part of the first extending portion 213 protrudes to the outside of the interior pipe 50.

[0015] The second rod portion 22 includes a second cylindrical portion 220, a second side portion 221, a second support portion 222, and a second extending portion 223. The second cylindrical portion 220, the second side portion 221, the second support portion 222, and the second extending portion 223 are arranged in this order in order of proximity to the intermediate portion 23. The second cylindrical portion 220 is configured in a cylindrical shape. The second side portion 221 is a cylindrical portion formed concentrically with the second cylindrical portion 220, and has a larger diameter than the second cylindrical portion 220. The second support portion 222 is a cylindrical portion formed concentrically with the second cylindrical portion 220, and has a larger diameter than the second side portion 221. The second extending portion 223 is a flat rod-shaped portion. A part of the second extending portion 223 protrudes to the outside of the interior pipe 50.

[0016] The first support portion 212 and the second support portion 222 function as bearings, have at least one of a cushioning property and a sealing property, and are made of, for example, a wire mesh. The first support portion 212 and the second support portion 222 suppress the axial movement of the valve body 3 in the shaft portion 2. That is, the diameter of the first support portion 212 and the diameter of the second support portion 222 are larger than the width direction length of the hole portion 33 described later.

[0017] The valve body 3 is disposed between the first support portion 212 and the second support portion 222. The valve body 3 is a hollow part that is flat and has a substantially circular shape when viewed from the front. The valve body 3 is provided rotatably around the shaft portion 2. Hereinafter, the rotation direction of the valve body 3 that reduces the opening degree of the interior pipe 50 is referred to as the closing direction, and the rotation direction of the valve body 3 that increases the opening degree of the interior pipe 50 is referred to as the opening direction. The position of the valve body 3 when the flow rate of the exhaust gas flowing through the interior pipe 50 is the largest is referred to as the open position. As shown in FIG. 4C, the valve body 3 in the open position is arranged along the flow direction of the exhaust gas. More specifically, in the closed position described later, the surface that the exhaust gas hits (i.e., the second housing 32 described later) is arranged along the flow direction of the exhaust gas. On the other hand, the position of the valve body 3 when the flow rate of the exhaust gas flowing downstream of the valve body 3 in the interior pipe 50 is the smallest is referred to as the closed position. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4A, the valve body 3 in the closed position is arranged along a plane perpendicular to the flow direction of the exhaust gas in the interior pipe 50. More specifically, the second housing 32 is disposed in a direction along a plane perpendicular to the flow direction of the exhaust gas.

[0018] The valve body 3 includes a first housing 31 and a second housing 32. The first housing 31 is a thin-walled vessel-like portion, and has a portion curved in an arc shape when viewed from the side. The first housing 31 of this embodiment bulges toward the downstream side in the flow direction of the exhaust gas, and a space is formed inside. The second housing 32 is a portion disposed to cover the first housing 31, and is a plate-like portion with a central portion bulging slightly outward when viewed from the side. The valve body 3 is formed by joining the first housing 31 and the second housing 32 facing each other. The first housing 31 and the second housing 32 form an internal space 30. The first cylindrical portion 210, the second cylindrical portion 220, the middle portion 23, and most of the telescopic member 4 of the shaft portion 2 are accommodated in this internal space 30. Meanwhile, the first side portion 211, the second side portion 221, and the hook at the other end of the telescopic member 4 are located at the edge of the internal space 30 in the valve body 3. When the valve body 3 is in the closed position, the first housing 31 is located on the downstream side, and the second housing 32 is located on the upstream side.

[0019] 2 and 3, the valve body 3 has a hole 33. The hole 33 is a groove into which the shaft portion 2 can be inserted and into which the shaft portion 2 can move in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 2. The telescopic member 4 is a telescopic member, and is, for example, a tension coil spring. One end of the telescopic member 4 is connected to the shaft portion 2. More specifically, one end of the telescopic member 4 is hook-shaped and hooked on the locking portion 232. The other end of the telescopic member 4 is hook-shaped and connected to the valve body 3. More specifically, the hooks at the ends of the telescopic member 4 are hooked on two through holes 61 formed by cutting and bending the first housing 31 toward the internal space 30 side, below the first housing 31. Note that the downward direction refers to the direction in which the end of the valve body 3 that moves downstream when the valve body 3 moves from the closed position to the open position is located when it is in the closed position. The telescopic member 4 biases the valve body 3 to rotate in the closing direction. In addition, the telescopic member 4 is provided in the internal space 30 in a state where it is pulled more than its natural length, and generates a restoring force that shrinks the telescopic member 4. The elastic member 4 applies a load to the shaft portion 2 from the opening of the hole 33 toward a predetermined position of the hole 33 due to a restoring force that tries to shrink between one end and the other end. The predetermined position of the hole 33 is a position 33a in the hole 33 that is the farthest from the opening of the hole 33. In other words, the position 33a is the bottom part of the hole 33. Furthermore, the distance between the position 33a and the through hole 61 is the same as the natural length of the elastic member 4 or longer than the natural length of the elastic member 4 when the valve body 3 is in the closed position.

[0020] [1-2. Valve device operation] 4A to 4C, the operation of the valve device 1 when it moves from the closed position to the open position will be described. Note that the interior pipe 50 is omitted from the illustration of FIGS.

[0021] 4A to 4C, the expandable member 4 is displaced in accordance with the rotation of the valve body 3, and is capable of moving in the space between the first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22. More specifically, a first contact portion 41 which is a hook portion on the shaft portion 2 side of the expandable member 4, and a second contact portion 42 which is a coil portion on the shaft portion 2 side of the expandable member 4 rotate around the locking portion 232.

[0022] 4A, when the valve device 1 is in the closed position, the first contact portion 41 contacts the upstream wall 23a of the intermediate portion 23. Even if the valve body 3 attempts to rotate further in the closing direction from this position, the wall 23a and the first contact portion 41 are in contact with each other, so that the rotation is suppressed.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4B, when the valve device 1 is between the closed position and the open position, the first contact portion 41 and the second contact portion 42 are not in contact with the wall 23a and a wall 23b, which will be described later. 4C, when the valve device 1 is in the open position, the second abutment portion 42 abuts against the downstream wall 23b of the intermediate portion 23. Even if the valve body 3 attempts to rotate further in the opening direction from this position, the rotation is suppressed because the wall 23b and the second abutment portion 42 are in contact with each other.

[0024] [1-3. Effects] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (1a) When the valve body 3 undergoes a rotational displacement, the telescopic member 4 comes into contact with the middle portion 23, thereby preventing the valve body 3 from rotating in the closing direction more than a preset value. With this configuration, the middle portion 23 and the telescopic member 4 arranged in the internal space 30 of the valve body 3 function as a stopper that prevents the valve body 3 from rotating. Therefore, compared to a case where the stopper for the valve body 3 is arranged outside the valve body 3, it is possible to prevent the exhaust gas flow from being disturbed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the generation of airflow noise.

[0025] (1b) When the valve body 3 rotates in the closing direction, the intermediate portion 23 comes into contact with the first contact portion 41 of the expandable member 4, thereby preventing the valve body 3 from rotating in the closing direction more than a preset amount. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the valve body 3 from rotating beyond the closed position. Furthermore, even if the wall 23a and the first contact portion 41 come into contact with each other at high speed, the expandable member 4 is elastically deformable so as to bend, and therefore it is possible to absorb the impact of the contact.

[0026] (1c) When the valve body 3 rotates in the opening direction, the intermediate portion 23 comes into contact with the second contact portion 42 of the expandable member 4, thereby preventing the valve body 3 from rotating in the opening direction more than a preset amount. With this configuration, the valve body 3 can be prevented from rotating beyond the open position. Even if the wall 23b and the second contact portion 42 come into contact with each other at high speed, the expandable member 4 is elastically deformable so as to bend, and therefore the impact caused by the contact can be absorbed.

[0027] (1d) The telescopic member 4 is displaced with the rotation of the valve body 3, and is capable of moving in the space between the first rod portion 21 and the second rod portion 22. With this configuration, the telescopic member 4 can be disposed in the internal space 30 of the valve body 3, and the telescopic member 4 can move in the internal space 30 without being significantly hindered by the shaft portion 2, so that the space for the telescopic member 4 to move can be formed in a position close to the shaft portion 2. As a result, the valve device 1 can be made more compact.

[0028] [1-4. Correspondence] The expandable member 4 corresponds to the biasing portion, and the intermediate portion 23 corresponds to the rotation suppressing portion. 2. Other embodiments Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take various forms.

[0029] (2a) In the above embodiment, the intermediate portion 23 comes into contact with the first contact portion 41 of the telescopic member 4 when the valve body 3 rotates in the closing direction, thereby preventing the valve body 3 from rotating in the closing direction beyond a preset range. Also, the intermediate portion 23 comes into contact with the second contact portion 42 of the telescopic member 4 when the valve body 3 rotates in the opening direction, thereby preventing the valve body 3 from rotating in the opening direction beyond a preset range. However, the position where the movement of the valve body 3 is prevented is not limited to the closed position or the open position. It is sufficient that the valve body 3 is prevented from rotating beyond a preset range.

[0030] Furthermore, the portions that come into contact with the walls 23a and 23b are not limited to the first contact portion 41 and the second contact portion 42. A portion of the expandable member 4 other than the first contact portion 41 and the second contact portion 42 may come into contact with the walls 23a and 23b. Furthermore, the shape of the portion of the intermediate portion 23 that the expandable member 4 comes into contact with is not particularly limited.

[0031] Furthermore, instead of the expandable member 4, the valve body 3 may be configured to restrict the rotation range by abutting against the intermediate portion 23. For example, as shown in Figs. 5A to 5C, a third abutment portion 141 which is a part of the second housing 32 of the valve body 3 and a fourth abutment portion 142 which is a part of the first housing 31 of the valve body 3 may abut against the intermediate portion 23 to restrict the valve body 3 from rotating beyond a preset range.

[0032] 5A, when the valve device 1 is in the closed position, the third abutment portion 141 abuts against the upstream wall 23c of the intermediate portion 23. Even if the valve body 3 attempts to rotate further in the closing direction from this position, the rotation is suppressed because the wall 23c and the third abutment portion 141 are in contact with each other.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 5B, when the valve device 1 is between the closed position and the open position, the third contact portion 141 and the fourth contact portion 142 are not in contact with the wall 23c and a wall 23d, which will be described later. 5C, when the valve device 1 is in the open position, the fourth contact portion 142 contacts the upper wall 23d of the intermediate portion 23. Note that "upper" refers to the direction opposite to "lower." Even if the valve body 3 attempts to rotate further in the opening direction from this position, the rotation is suppressed because the wall 23d and the fourth contact portion 142 are in contact with each other.

[0034] (2b) The function of one component in the above embodiments may be distributed among multiple components, or the functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. Also, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1...valve device, 2...shaft portion, 3...valve body, 4...expandable member, 21...first rod portion, 22...second rod portion, 23...middle portion, 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d...wall, 30...internal space, 31...first housing, 32...second housing, 33...hole portion, 33a...position, 41...first abutment portion, 42...second abutment portion, 50...inner pipe, 61...through hole, 141...third abutment portion, 142...fourth abutment portion, 210...first cylindrical portion, 211...first side portion, 212...first support portion, 213...first extension portion, 220...second cylindrical portion, 221...second side portion, 222...second support portion, 223...second extension portion, 231...connecting portion, 232...locking portion.

Claims

1. A valve device configured to adjust the opening degree of a fluid flow path, a stem configured to be secured to the flow passage; A valve body rotatable about the shaft portion and having an internal space; a biasing portion provided in an internal space of the valve body, the biasing portion having one end connected to the shaft portion and the other end connected to the valve body, the biasing portion biasing the valve body so as to rotate and displace to a predetermined position; A rotation suppression portion provided on the shaft portion and contacting the valve body or the biasing portion to suppress rotation of the valve body beyond a preset range; The valve device comprises:

2. 2. The valve device according to claim 1, The rotation suppression portion suppresses the rotation of the valve body in the closing direction more than a preset amount by contacting the biasing portion when the valve body rotates in the closing direction to reduce the opening degree.

3. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, The rotation suppression portion suppresses the rotation of the valve body in the opening direction beyond a preset value by contacting the biasing portion when the valve body rotates in the opening direction to increase the opening degree.

4. A valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The shaft portion has a first rod portion and a second rod portion that are spaced apart from each other in a straight line and are fixed to the flow passage, The valve device, wherein the biasing portion is displaced in association with rotation of the valve body and is capable of moving in the space between the first rod portion and the second rod portion.

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