Operating valve

Abstract

To provide an operation valve which prevents forgetting to lock.SOLUTION: An operation valve 100 includes: a valve 131 which controls circulation of a fluid; a housing body 130 which houses the valve; a mandrel 170 which controls opening / closing of the valve; an operation lever 110 which operates rotation of the mandrel in a circumferential direction; an operation cover 150 which is operated to switch a state of the valve between a lock state in which the rotation is restricted to keep the valve in a closed state and an unlock state in which the lock state is released; and an elastic body 160 which biases the operation cover in a direction such that the lock state is maintained.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation valve.

Background Art

[0002] An oil pan is provided at the bottom of an engine mounted on a two-wheeler, an automobile, a heavy machine, etc. The oil pan stores oil for lubricating the pistons of the engine. The oil is replaced regularly. When replacing the oil, an operation is performed to remove the screw cap of the drain port provided at the bottom of the oil pan using a tool such as a spanner.

[0003] When the screw cap of the drain port is removed, oil spurts out at the same time. As a result, the operator's body may be soiled with oil. Also, when closing the drain port with the screw cap after draining the oil, the screw cap and the tool may be covered with oil, and it may take time to attach the screw cap to the drain port.

[0004] As a device for solving such inconveniences associated with oil replacement, an operation valve that can be attached to the drain port in the same manner as a screw cap is known. This operation valve is used while being constantly attached to the drain port, and the opening and closing of the valve can be operated by rotating an operation lever. In the normal state, the operation lever is maintained in a closed state where the valve is closed. When the operation lever is rotated, the valve shifts to an open state where the valve is open, and the oil is discharged. Note that the rotation can also be locked (regulated) when the valve is closed (see Patent Documents 1 to 3 above).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] By the way, when the valve is opened to drain the oil and then closed again, the operator rotates the operation lever from the open state to the closed state, and then locks the rotation of the operation lever. Thereby, the unintentional rotation of the operation lever by the operator can be prevented.

[0007] However, it is assumed that some operators will feel relieved that the valve is closed and forget to lock it. Also, some operators may forget to lock it due to insufficient working time. When such a lock is forgotten, the operation lever rotates regardless of the operator's intention, and the oil stored in the oil pan may flow out to the surroundings.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an operation valve that prevents forgetting to lock.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The operation valve according to the present invention includes a valve that controls the flow of a fluid, a housing that houses the valve, a spindle that controls the opening and closing of the valve, an operation lever that operates the rotation of the spindle in the circumferential direction, an operation cover that switches between a locked state that restricts the rotation in the state where the valve is closed and an unlocked state where the locked state is released, and an elastic body that biases the operation cover in a direction to maintain the locked state. and the operation cover switches the locked state to the unlocked state when the operation cover is displaced in the fluid discharge direction. .

Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the operation valve of the present invention, forgetting to lock can be prevented.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the operation valve 100 is attached to the drain port 11 provided at the bottom of the oil pan 10. The oil pan 10 is a container for storing oil. The drain port 11 is an opening for discharging the oil stored in the oil pan 10. The oil is lubricating oil for lubricating pistons of engines mounted on motorcycles, automobiles, heavy machinery, etc. An adapter mechanism (not shown) for mechanically coupling the operation valve 100 is provided on the inner peripheral back side (i.e., the inner side of the oil pan 10) of the drain port 11.

[0014] By rotating the operation lever or operation cock (hereinafter simply referred to as the operation lever) 110 provided on the operation valve 100, the opening and closing of the operation valve 100 can be operated. In the normal state where the oil pan 10 stores oil, the operation lever 110 is maintained in the closed state. When the operation lever 110 is rotated from the closed state to the open state, the oil in the oil pan 10 is discharged through the operation valve 100.

[0015] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the details of the operation valve 100 will be described. In FIG. 2, the operation valve 100 is maintained in the closed state.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 2(a) to (c), the operation valve 100 includes a housing 130 and a cap 140. As shown in FIG. 2(c), the housing 130 houses a valve (specifically, a ball valve) 131. The valve 131 controls the flow of oil. Also, as shown in FIG. 2(c), the housing 130 is cylindrical and has an oil flow path 132 inside. In FIG. 2(c), a state where the valve 131 is closed and the flow path 132 is blocked is shown.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2(a) to (c), a cam groove 133 is provided in the plug portion 135 located at one end of the storage body 130. Therefore, if the above-described adapter mechanism includes a protrusion guided by the cam groove 133, the protrusion of the adapter mechanism and the cam groove 133 are mechanically coupled. Thereby, the operation valve 100 can be attached to the oil pan 10. The oil in the oil pan 10 flows into the interior of the storage body 130 through a plurality of inlets 134 provided in the plug portion 135. For this reason, when the valve 131 is opened, the oil that has flowed into the interior of the storage body 130 flows through the flow path 132 and the flow path 142 of the cap 140 (see FIG. 2(c)) and is discharged from the discharge port 145 of the cap 140.

[0018] When attaching the operation valve 100 to the drain port 11, for example, hold the two protruding portions 136 and 137 protruding radially from the storage body 130 with two fingers of one hand, insert the plug portion 135 of the storage body 130 into the drain port 11, and rotate it in either one of the circumferential directions. Thereby, the protrusion of the adapter mechanism is guided by the cam groove 133, and the protrusion and the cam groove 133 are fastened. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the operation valve 100 can be attached to the drain port 11. Although details will be described later, an operation lever 110 is attached to the protruding portion 136.

[0019] The valve 131 can be opened and closed by rotating the operation lever 110. For example, when the operation lever 110 is rotated counterclockwise with the valve 131 closed, the valve 131 opens. Thereby, the oil discharged from the drain port 11 is discharged via the operation valve 100. Conversely, when the operation lever 110 is rotated clockwise with the valve open, the valve 131 closes. As a result, the oil that was being discharged from the drain port 11 stays in front of the valve 131 in the flow path 132 of the storage body 130. As a result, the discharge of oil from the operation valve 100 stops.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 3, in addition to the storage body 130, valve 131, and cap 140 described above, the operation valve 100 includes an operation cover 150 including a cylindrical portion and a spring (specifically, a coil spring) 160 provided in the axial direction of the operation valve 100. Further, in addition to the operation lever 110 described above, the operation valve 100 includes a mandrel (stem) 170, an O-ring 180, and an E-clip 190 arranged in the protruding direction of the protruding portion 136 provided on the storage body 130. As shown in Fig. 2(c), the mandrel 170 is mechanically coupled to the valve 131.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2(c), the operation cover 150 partially covers the outer peripheral surface of the storage body 130. As shown in Figs. 2(c) and 3, a step 151 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the operation cover 150. That is, the operation cover 150 has a first inner diameter equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the spring 160 and a second inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the spring 160. Therefore, when the spring 160 is accommodated inside the cylindrical portion of the operation cover 150, the spring 160 is caught by the step 151 without passing through the operation cover 150. That is, the spring 160 cannot penetrate the operation cover 150.

[0022] The cap 140 includes a discharge portion 146 including a discharge port 145 and a connection portion 147 including the flow path 142 described above inside and having a male thread provided on the outer periphery. The discharge portion 146 has a disk-shaped bottom cover portion and a pedestal portion located between the bottom cover portion and the connection portion 147 and provided integrally with the bottom cover portion and the connection portion 147. The outer diameter of the pedestal portion is equal to the inner diameter of the spring 160. The outer diameter of the bottom cover portion is equal to the outer diameter of the spring 160.

[0023] Thus, since the outer diameter of the bottom cover portion is larger than that of the pedestal portion, the cap 140 side of the spring 160 housed inside the operation cover 150 can be placed on the bottom cover portion. The male screw provided on the outer periphery of the connecting portion 147 is screwed together with the female screw provided on the inner periphery of the connected portion 138 located on the opposite side of the plug portion 135 of the housing 130. Thereby, the cap 140 can be attached to the housing 130 with the spring 160 housed inside the operation cover 150. In this state, the spring 160 in its natural length is compressed and has a restoring force that biases the operation cover 150 toward the housing 130 side.

[0024] On the plug portion 135 side of the cylindrical portion in the operation cover 150, two curved walls 152 and 153 with arcuate sides are provided so as to face the cylindrical portion integrally. The two curved walls 152 and 153 are arranged on the cylindrical portion in a state of being separated from each other. The shapes of the two curved walls 152 and 153 are common. Since the sides of the two curved walls 152 and 153 are both arcs, a gap is formed between the two curved walls 152 and 153. The clearance length corresponding to the arc of one gap between the two curved walls 152 and 153 is equal to the circumferential length of the protruding portion 136. The clearance length corresponding to the arc of the other gap between the two curved walls 152 and 153 is equal to the circumferential length of the protruding portion 137. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2(a), the protruding portion 136 fits into one gap between the two curved walls 152 and 153, and the protruding portion 137 fits into the other gap between the two curved walls 152 and 153.

[0025] Also, as shown in Fig. 3, on the plug portion 135 side of the cylindrical portion in the operation cover 150, in the gap into which the protruding portion 136 fits, a locking mechanism 154 is integrally provided. The locking mechanism 154 includes a protrusion 155 that protrudes toward the plug portion 135 side. Although details will be described later, the protrusion 155 fits into a groove 172 provided on the outer periphery of the mandrel 170.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the mandrel 170 includes a lever coupling portion 171 that protrudes in a direction away from the housing 130. The lever coupling portion 171 is inserted into an opening 113 provided in the rotating portion 112 of the operating lever 110. Thereby, the mandrel 170 and the operating lever 110 are coupled. The operating lever 110 integrally includes a handle 111 that is bent at a right angle from the rotating portion 112. The handle 111 is a portion that is directly touched by the fingers of the operator. For example, the operator can pinch the handle 111 with several fingers and push down or pull up the handle 111. The operator may also push down or push up the handle 111 with one finger without pinching the handle 111. Thereby, the rotating portion 112 rotates, and the mandrel 170 rotates through the lever coupling portion 171.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, a valve coupling portion 173 is provided on the side of the mandrel 170 opposite to the lever coupling portion 171 side. The valve coupling portion 173 is coupled to the valve groove 139 of the valve 131. Therefore, when the mandrel 170 rotates, the valve 131 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the mandrel 170, and the valve 131 opens and closes. That is, the mandrel 170 controls the opening and closing of the valve 131. An O-ring 180 can be disposed between the lever coupling portion 171 and the valve coupling portion 173 (see also FIG. 2(c)). The sealing performance of the mandrel 170 can be improved by the O-ring 180, and oil leakage can be suppressed.

[0028] Here, the rotating portion 112 of the operation lever 110 is inserted into the inside of the protruding portion 136 from the notch 136A provided on the cap 140 side of the protruding portion 136. On the other hand, the mandrel 170 is housed inside the housing 130 through the flow path 132 of the housing 130 with the O-ring 180 attached. Then, the rotating portion 112 and the lever coupling portion 171 are coupled inside the housing 130. Since the protruding portion 136 includes a circular through-hole 136B orthogonal to the flow direction of the flow path 132, a part including the center of the rotating portion 112 is exposed from the through-hole 136B. A clip groove is provided in the circumferential direction on the inner circumference of the protruding portion 136 corresponding to a part of the outer circumference of the through-hole 136B. The clip groove has a width equivalent to the thickness of the E-clip 190. Therefore, the E-clip 190 can be attached to this clip groove (see also FIGS. 2(a) to (c)).

[0029] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the locked state in which the rotation of the mandrel 170 is restricted with the valve 131 closed will be described.

[0030] First, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the handle 111 of the operation lever 110 maintains a posture pointing in a direction different from the oil discharge direction in the locked state. For example, if the oil discharge direction is the vertical direction, the handle 111 maintains a posture pointing in the horizontal direction. If the handle 111 maintains a posture pointing in a direction different from the oil discharge direction, the operator can immediately grasp that the valve 131 is in the closed state.

[0031] When the valve 131 is closed, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the protrusion 155 of the lock mechanism 154 fits into the groove 172 of the mandrel 170. Thereby, the rotation of the mandrel 170 is maintained in the locked state in which the valve 131 is restricted to the closed state. In the locked state, since the rotation of the mandrel 170 is restricted, the operation lever 110 cannot be rotated. If the protrusion 155 fitted in the groove 172 is detached from the groove 172, the mandrel 170 can be rotated via the operation lever 110.

[0032] Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, the unlocked state in which the locked state is released and the open state of the operation valve 100 will be described.

[0033] As described above, the spring 160 is accommodated inside the operation cover 150. Therefore, the operation cover 150 can be displaced in the oil discharge direction. When the operation cover 150 is displaced and the locking mechanism 154 is displaced in conjunction with this displacement, the protrusion 155 disengages from the groove 172. For example, when an operator grasps the operation cover 150 with the fingers of one hand (e.g., the left hand) and pulls the operation cover 150 in the oil discharge direction to the compression limit of the spring 160, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) to (c), the operation cover 150 is displaced from its original position. When the operation cover 150 is displaced, the protrusion 155 of the locking mechanism 154 disengages from the groove 172 of the mandrel 170 in conjunction with the displacement of the operation cover 150. As a result, the state shifts from the locked state to the unlocked state. That is, the operation cover 150 can be used to switch between the locked state and the unlocked state. When the state shifts to the unlocked state, the operation lever 110 can be rotated.

[0034] When the state shifts to the unlocked state, while the operator keeps the operation cover 150 displaced with one hand, the operator pinches and presses down the handle 111 of the operation lever 110 with the fingers of the other hand (e.g., the right hand) to rotate the operation lever 110. As a result, the rotating portion 112 of the operation lever 110 rotates counterclockwise, and as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and (b) and FIG. 6(a), the posture of the handle 111 changes from its original posture in the locked state. Specifically, the handle 111 changes to a posture pointing in the same direction from a direction different from the oil discharge direction. If the handle 111 maintains a posture pointing in the same direction as the oil discharge direction, the operator can immediately grasp that the valve 131 is in the open state.

[0035] If the operator maintains the state in which the operation cover 150 is displaced with one hand, as shown in FIGS. 5(c) and 6(b), a clearance 191 corresponding to the compression limit of the spring 160 is formed between the protrusion 155 and the mandrel 170. When the operator releases one hand (for example, the left hand) from the operation cover 150, the restoring force of the spring 160 acts on the step 151 of the operation cover 150, and the operation cover 150 is displaced in the direction of the plug portion 135. When the operation cover 150 is displaced in the direction of the plug portion 135, in conjunction with the displacement of the operation cover 150, as shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 155 of the lock mechanism 154 is also displaced in the direction of the plug portion 135, the protrusion 155 abuts against the mandrel 170, and the clearance 191 disappears.

[0036] The procedure from the locked state, which is also the closed state of the operation valve 100, to the unlocked state and then to the open state of the operation valve 100 has been described above. To return the operation valve 100 from the open state to the closed state, the work may be performed according to the following procedure.

[0037] First, the operator pinches and pulls up the handle 111 of the operation lever 110 with the fingers of one hand (for example, the right hand) to rotate the operation lever 110. In conjunction with the rotation of the operation lever 110, the protrusion 155 of the lock mechanism 154 gradually shifts to the locked state while sliding relatively on the outer periphery of the mandrel 170. Since the restoring force of the spring 160 continues to act on the step 151 of the operation cover 150, when the protrusion 155 relatively reaches the position of the groove 172 of the mandrel 170, the lock mechanism 154 is pushed upward toward the plug portion 135. As a result, the protrusion 155 dynamically fits into the groove 172, the transition to the locked state is completed, and the operation valve 100 returns to the closed state.

[0038] Thus, when returning from the open state of the operation valve 100 to the closed state, even if the operation cover 150 is not pulled in the oil discharge direction, by simply rotating the operation lever 110, it is possible to shift to the locked state. That is, if the operation valve 100 is returned to the closed state, the operation lever 110 is dynamically locked without performing the operation of locking the operation valve 100. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the forgetting of locking the operation lever 110.

[0039] In particular, since the operation valve 100 can be returned to the closed state with only one hand without using both hands, the operability of the operation lever 110 is improved. In order to reduce the possibility that the operation lever 110 interferes with foreign objects on the road (such as gravel or cloth) and is damaged, it is desirable to attach the operation valve 100 to the oil pan 10 of a vehicle with a high vehicle height. Alternatively, instead of attaching the operation valve 100 to the oil pan 10 of a vehicle with a high vehicle height, the operation valve 100 may be covered with an under cover attached to the oil pan 10 or the vehicle floor.

[0040] (Second Embodiment) Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 8, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, components basically corresponding to those of the operation valve 100 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 8(a), the operation valve 200 is attached to a drain port 21 provided at the bottom of the oil pan 20. An internal thread for mechanically coupling the operation valve 200 is provided on the inner peripheral back side (i.e., the inner side of the oil pan 20) of the drain port 21. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the operation valve 200 includes a coupling portion 235 instead of the plug portion 135 described in the first embodiment. An external thread is provided on the outer periphery of the coupling portion 235. Thus, in the second embodiment, instead of the cam coupling between the plug portion 135 and the adapter mechanism described in the first embodiment, the operation valve 200 can be attached to the drain port 21 of the oil pan 20 by a screw coupling between an internal thread and an external thread. Even with such an operation valve 200, it is possible to prevent the forgetting of locking as in the first embodiment.

[0042] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[0043] For example, the rotation direction regarding the opening and closing of the operation lever 110 may be reversed. That is, the position of the connection part between the handle 111 of the operation lever 110 and the rotating part 112 may be changed from one end to the other end, and the valve 131 may be opened clockwise and closed counterclockwise. Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the spring 160 is adopted as an example of the elastic body, but instead of the spring 160, a rubber tube or the like may be adopted as the elastic body.

[0044] Furthermore, in the above-described first and second embodiments, oil is used as an example of the fluid for explanation, but the fluid may be drinking water or a combustible or non-combustible gas. Examples of drinking water include water, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and the like. In this case, instead of the oil pans 10 and 20, a container for drinking water or gas may be adopted as the object to which the operation valves 100 and 200 are attached.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] 10, 20 Oil pans 100, 200 Operation valves 110, 210 Operation levers 111 Handle 130, 230 Storage bodies 131 Valve 150, 250 Operation covers 155 Protrusion 160 Spring 170 Mandrel 172 Groove

Claims

1. A valve for controlling the flow of a fluid, a housing for accommodating the valve, a stem for controlling the opening and closing of the valve, an operating lever for operating the circumferential rotation of the stem, an operating cover for operating the switching between a locked state in which the rotation is restricted when the valve is closed and an unlocked state in which the locked state is released, and an elastic body for biasing the operating cover in a direction to maintain the locked state, wherein the operating cover switches the locked state to the unlocked state when the operating cover is displaced in the fluid discharge direction. The operating valve is characterized by the above.

2. A valve for controlling the flow of a fluid, a housing for accommodating the valve, a stem for controlling the opening and closing of the valve, an operating lever for operating the circumferential rotation of the stem, an operating cover for operating the switching between a locked state in which the rotation is restricted when the valve is closed and an unlocked state in which the locked state is released, and an elastic body for biasing the operating cover in a direction to maintain the locked state, wherein the operating cover maintains the locked state by fitting a protrusion provided on the operating cover and a groove provided on the outer periphery of the stem. The operating valve is characterized by the above.

3. A valve for controlling the flow of a fluid, a housing for accommodating the valve, a stem for controlling the opening and closing of the valve, an operating lever for operating the circumferential rotation of the stem, an operating cover for operating the switching between a locked state in which the rotation is restricted when the valve is closed and an unlocked state in which the locked state is released, and an elastic body for biasing the operating cover in a direction to maintain the locked state, The operation cover shifts to the locked state while a protrusion provided on the operation cover relatively slides on the outer periphery of the mandrel. The operation valve is characterized by this.

4. The handle of the operation lever maintains a posture pointing in a direction different from the fluid discharge direction in the locked state and the unlocked state, and maintains a posture pointing in the same direction as the fluid discharge direction when the valve is open. The operation valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by this.

5. The direction for maintaining the locked state is the direction in which the operation cover approaches the housing. The direction for releasing the locked state is the direction in which the operation cover moves away from the housing. The operation valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by this.

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