Electromagnetic drive valve and refrigeration cycle system equipped with the electromagnetic drive valve

Abstract

To provide an electromagnetically driven valve which can suppress malfunctions while securing magnetic efficiency, and a refrigeration cycle system having the electromagnetic drive valve.SOLUTION: By providing an attractor 52 with a pressure-insertion part 522, misalignment between the attractor 52 and a cylinder part 21 in an X-direction is suppressed, an error of a distance between the attractor 52 and a plunger 51 is suppressed, and fluctuation of attraction can be also suppressed. This allows valve ports 32A to 32C to be properly opened and closed by a valve body 4 to suppress malfunctions. Also, by providing a weld part 7A with an open part 71 which is open to an external peripheral side, when a protrusion is about to form due to welding, the protrusion is made to protrude toward the external peripheral side (the protrusion is made to escape to the external peripheral side), and the weld part 7A is kept from protruding to one side in the X-direction. This makes it difficult for a clearance to be formed between an end face 521 of the attractor 52 and an inner face 551A of an outer housing 55 and magnetic efficiency can be secured.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electromagnetic drive valve and a refrigeration cycle system including the electromagnetic drive valve.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as an electromagnetic drive valve, a slide valve that moves a slide valve by a solenoid to open and close a valve port formed on a valve seat surface to switch a fluid flow path has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the slide valve described in Patent Document 1, an armature is integrated with a plunger tube by welding, the plunger tube is inserted into a space in an outer casing, and the armature is fixed to the outer casing by mounting screws.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the slide valve described in Patent Document 1, the end of the attractor protrudes outward from the end of the plunger tube. As a result, the end face of the attractor contacts the inner surface of the outer casing, making it easy to ensure magnetic efficiency. In such a configuration, the boundary between the attractor and the plunger tube is located on the outer peripheral surface, and the periphery of this boundary is welded (hereinafter referred to as "outer peripheral surface welding"). In the case of outer peripheral surface welding, since the end of the plunger tube is melted, the relative position between the attractor and the plunger tube in the axial direction (moving direction) may shift. When such a displacement occurs, the distance between the attractor and the plunger changes, causing fluctuations in the suction force. At this time, especially when the distance between the attractor and the plunger increases due to the displacement, the suction force decreases, making it difficult to move the valve body against the differential pressure, and there may be problems in the operation such as the valve port not being properly opened and closed by the valve body.

[0005] On the other hand, a method of arranging the end face of the attractor and the end face of the plunger tube on the same plane and welding the periphery of the boundary formed on these end faces (hereinafter referred to as "end face welding") can also be considered. In the case of end face welding, although displacement of the relative position between the attractor and the plunger tube is less likely to occur, the welded portion is likely to protrude from these end faces. When the protruding welded portion contacts the inner surface of the outer casing, a gap is formed between the end face of the attractor and the inner surface of the outer casing, increasing the magnetic resistance and reducing the magnetic efficiency. Thus, it has been difficult to achieve both ensuring magnetic efficiency and suppressing problems.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic drive valve capable of suppressing problems while ensuring magnetic efficiency, and a refrigeration cycle system including the electromagnetic drive valve.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The electromagnetic drive valve of the present invention includes a valve body forming a valve chamber, a valve seat portion having a valve seat surface formed with at least one valve port and provided in the valve chamber, a valve element for opening and closing the valve port with respect to the valve chamber, and an electromagnetic drive unit for driving the valve element to move along a predetermined moving direction. The electromagnetic drive unit has a plunger that moves in the moving direction together with the valve element, an attractor disposed on one side of the plunger in the moving direction, and a coil for exciting the attractor. The valve body has a cylindrical plunger accommodating portion for accommodating the plunger and having the attractor fixed to one end portion on the one side. The attractor has a press-fitting portion disposed in the plunger accommodating portion and having an outer diameter in a natural state larger than the inner diameter of the plunger accommodating portion. The plunger accommodating portion and the attractor are fixed to each other by forming a welded portion on the end surface on the one side. In a plane including the end surface on the one side of the attractor, the welded portion has an open portion opened to the outer peripheral side. This is the electromagnetic drive valve characterized by this.

[0008] According to the present invention as described above, since the attractor has a press-fitting portion, it is possible to suppress the displacement between the attractor and the plunger accommodating portion and suppress the variation in the suction force, appropriately open and close the valve port by the valve element, and suppress defects. Further, since the welded portion has an open portion opened to the outer peripheral side, when protrusion is about to occur due to melting, it can be made to protrude toward the outer peripheral side (let the protrusion escape to the outer peripheral side), and it is possible to suppress the welded portion from protruding to one side in the moving direction. Thereby, it is difficult to generate a gap between the end surface of the attractor and the inner surface of the outer case, and magnetic efficiency can be ensured.

[0009] At this time, in the electromagnetic drive valve of the present invention, it is preferable that the open portion is formed in the plunger accommodating portion, and the plunger accommodating portion has a reduced diameter portion whose outer diameter becomes smaller as it approaches the end surface on the one side. According to such a configuration, when the welded portion protrudes toward the outer peripheral side, it is difficult for the outer diameter of the welded portion to become larger than the outer diameter of the entire plunger accommodating portion, and interference between the welded portion and other components can be suppressed.

[0010] Further, the diameter-reduced portion may be convex, concave, or linear toward the outer peripheral side in a cross-section including the moving direction. In particular, when the diameter-reduced portion is concave, it is easy to allow the protrusion of the welded portion to escape to the outer peripheral side, and the outer diameter of the welded portion is less likely to be larger than the outer diameter of the entire plunger housing portion.

[0011] In the electromagnetic drive valve of the present invention, a stepped portion with a smaller diameter on one side is formed between the plunger housing portion and the attractor, or in the plunger housing portion, and the opening portion may be formed in the smaller-diameter portion of the stepped portion. According to such a configuration, it is easy to allow the protrusion of the welded portion to escape to the outer peripheral side, and the outer diameter of the welded portion is less likely to be larger than the outer diameter of the entire plunger housing portion. Further, when the stepped portion is formed between the plunger housing portion and the attractor, no machining is required to form a step on the plunger housing portion or the attractor itself, and it can be easily manufactured. Further, when the stepped portion is formed in the plunger housing portion, there is no need to manage (i.e., shift by a predetermined amount) the relative positions of the end face of the attractor and the end face of the plunger housing portion to form a step, and the assemblability can be ensured.

[0012] The refrigeration cycle system of the present invention includes a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, which is a fluid, a first heat exchanger that functions as a condenser in the cooling mode, a second heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator in the cooling mode, expansion means that expands and decompresses the refrigerant between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and a four-way switching valve, and is characterized in that the above electromagnetic drive valve is provided as a pilot electromagnetic valve that switches and controls the flow path of the four-way switching valve. According to the refrigeration cycle system of the present invention, it is possible to suppress defects while ensuring the magnetic efficiency of the electromagnetic drive valve as described above, and to suppress defects in the entire cycle.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the electromagnetic drive valve and the refrigeration cycle system of the present invention, it is possible to suppress defects while ensuring magnetic efficiency.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The slide type switching valve 1 as an electromagnetic drive valve of the present embodiment is provided, for example, in a refrigeration cycle 100. The refrigeration cycle 100 is used in air conditioners such as room air conditioners, package air conditioners, and multi-air conditioners, and includes a compressor 102 that compresses a refrigerant as a fluid, an outdoor heat exchanger 103 as a first heat exchanger that functions as a condenser in the cooling mode, a second heat exchanger as an indoor heat exchanger 104 that functions as an evaporator in the cooling mode, an expansion valve 105 as an expansion means for expanding and depressurizing the refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger 103 and the indoor heat exchanger 104, a four-way switching valve 10, and a slide type switching valve 1 which is a pilot solenoid valve for controlling the switching of the flow path of the four-way switching valve 10, and these are connected by refrigerant pipes. Note that the expansion means is not limited to the expansion valve 105 and may be a capillary tube.

[0016] In this refrigeration cycle 100, in the cooling mode (cooling operation) indicated by the solid line arrow in FIG. 1, a cooling cycle is formed in which the refrigerant flows in the order of the compressor 102, the four-way switching valve 10, the outdoor heat exchanger 103, the expansion valve 105, the indoor heat exchanger 104, the four-way switching valve 10, and the compressor 102. On the other hand, in the heating mode (heating operation) indicated by the broken line arrow, a heating cycle is formed in which the refrigerant flows in the order of the compressor 102, the four-way switching valve 10, the indoor heat exchanger 104, the expansion valve 105, the outdoor heat exchanger 103, the four-way switching valve 10, and the compressor 102. The switching between this heating cycle and the cooling cycle is performed by the switching operation of the four-way switching valve 10 by the slide type switching valve 1.

[0017] The four-way switching valve 10 is a well-known device, which includes a cylindrical valve body 11, a slide valve 12 slidably provided inside the valve body, a high-pressure side conduit (D joint) 13 communicating with the discharge port of the compressor 102, a low-pressure side conduit (S joint) 14 communicating with the suction port of the compressor 102, an indoor side conduit (E joint) 15 communicating with the indoor heat exchanger 104, and an outdoor side conduit (C joint) 16 communicating with the outdoor heat exchanger 103. The valve body 11 is configured as a cylinder sealed as a whole by having plugs 17 and 18 closing both axial ends thereof, and spaces A11 and A12 sandwiching a piston 19 for moving the slide valve 12 from the axial direction are formed.

[0018] The slide type switching valve 1 of the present embodiment has a configuration of a four-way switching valve. As shown in FIG. 2, it has a valve body 2, a valve seat portion 3, a valve element 4, an electromagnetic drive portion 5, and joint members 61 to 64. The fluid flow path is switched by the valve element 4 moving along a predetermined slide direction (i.e., moving direction). Hereinafter, the slide direction of the valve element 4 is defined as the X direction, two directions perpendicular to the X direction and perpendicular to each other are defined as the Y direction and the Z direction, and the up and down in the Z direction are based on FIG. 2.

[0019] The valve body 2 is a metal valve housing formed of, for example, stainless steel or the like, and has a valve chamber 2R inside thereof. The valve body 2 has a cylindrical tubular portion 21 extending along the X direction (with the X direction as the axial direction) and a disk-shaped closing portion 22 provided so as to close the tubular portion 21, and has a bottomed cylindrical shape. The inner space thereof becomes the valve chamber 2R. The tubular portion 21 and the closing portion 22 are integrally formed by, for example, deep drawing of a metal thin plate and are configured as a single part. The tubular portion 21 and the closing portion 22 of the valve body 2 become a valve chamber forming portion forming the valve chamber 2R. The open side (the right side in FIG. 2) of the tubular portion 21 is defined as one side in the X direction, and the side closed by the closing portion 22 (the left side in FIG. 2) is defined as the other side in the X direction. Hereinafter, these may be simply referred to as one side and the other side.

[0020] In the cylindrical portion 21 (i.e., the side surface portion of the valve body 2), an attachment opening 211 is formed on one side in the Z direction (the lower side in FIG. 2), and an opening to which the joint member 61 is connected is formed on the other side in the Z direction (the upper side in FIG. 2).

[0021] The valve seat portion 3 is configured separately from the valve body 2 and is formed in an overall cylindrical shape extending in the Z direction by an appropriate metal such as stainless steel. The valve seat portion 3 is inserted through the attachment opening 211 and fixed by brazing, and the valve seat surface 31, which is the upper surface thereof, is disposed within the valve chamber 2R. In the valve seat portion 3, three valve ports 32A to 32C that open on the valve seat surface 31 and attachment holes 33A and 33C (the central attachment hole is not shown in FIG. 2) that communicate with each of the valve ports 32A to 32C are formed. The valve seat surface 31 is a planar sliding contact surface extending along the XY plane.

[0022] The attachment holes 33A and 33C are through holes extending along the Z direction, and the joint members 62 to 64 are respectively connected thereto. While the valve ports 32A to 32C are arranged linearly along the X direction, the attachment holes 33A and 33C are arranged in a triangular shape in the XY plane. Therefore, the attachment holes 33A and 33C are connected while being slightly offset (particularly in the Y direction) in the XY plane with respect to the valve ports 32A to 32C.

[0023] The valve seat portion 3 has a main body portion 36 and a flange portion 37 provided on the lower side (opposite to the valve seat surface 31) with respect to the main body portion 36. The outer peripheral surfaces of both the main body portion 36 and the flange portion 37 are cylindrical. The outer diameter of the main body portion 36 is smaller than the inner diameter of the attachment opening 211, and the outer diameter of the flange portion 37 is larger than the inner diameter of the attachment opening 211. Therefore, the insertion of the valve seat portion 3 is restricted by inserting the main body portion 36 through the attachment opening 211 and bringing the upper surface of the flange portion 37 into contact with the lower surface around the attachment opening 211.

[0024] The valve body 4 is a slide valve made of, for example, a synthetic resin, and is formed in a bowl shape (dome shape) that opens toward the valve seat surface 31 side. A communication space 4R is formed inside the valve body 4, and this communication space 4R either communicates the central valve port 32B with one side valve port 32A and does not communicate with the other side valve port 32C, or communicates the central valve port 32B with the other side valve port 32C and does not communicate with the one side valve port 32A.

[0025] The electromagnetic drive unit 5 has a plunger 51, an armature 52, a coil 53, a coil spring 54, and an outer casing 55, and slides the valve body 4 along the X direction.

[0026] The plunger 51 is formed as a columnar body that extends along the X direction as a whole by a magnetic material, and integrally has a cylindrical portion 511 and a protruding portion 512 that protrudes from the cylindrical portion 511 to the other side. The plunger 51 is accommodated in the cylindrical portion 21 of the valve body 2, and the cylindrical portion 21 functions as a plunger accommodation portion. Therefore, the valve body 2 integrally has a valve chamber forming portion (the cylindrical portion 21 and the closing portion 22) and a plunger accommodation portion (the cylindrical portion 21). The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 511 is equal to or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 21, and the plunger 51 is guided in the X direction by the cylindrical portion 21.

[0027] A recess 513 for accommodating the coil spring 54 is formed at one end of the cylindrical portion 511. Further, pressure equalizing holes 511A extending across both ends in the X direction are formed in the cylindrical portion 511 so that no pressure difference occurs in the spaces on both sides of the plunger 51 in the X direction.

[0028] The protruding portion 512 has an outer diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical portion 511 and is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 21. A concave holding portion 514 that opens toward the valve seat surface 31 side is formed in the protruding portion 512, and the valve body 4 is directly held by being disposed in the holding portion 514. A coil spring 56 that biases the valve body 4 toward the valve seat surface 31 is provided between the valve body 4 and the holding portion 514. The protruding portion 512 has a flat end surface 515 that extends along the YZ plane on the other side in the X direction.

[0029] The attractor 52 is formed in a cylindrical shape by a magnetic material and is provided so as to close the opening on one side in the X direction in the cylindrical portion 21 of the valve body 2. That is, the attractor 52 is disposed on one side in the X direction with respect to the plunger 51. As will be described later, one end of the attractor 52 is joined to the cylindrical portion 21 by welding, and the cylindrical portion 21 and the attractor 52 are fixed to each other.

[0030] The coil 53 is a solenoid coil provided outside the cylindrical portion 21 so as to correspond to the attractor 52 in the X direction, and is integrally formed with the outer case 55 by molding. A lead wire 531 is connected to the coil 53, and this lead wire 531 is drawn out to the outside of the outer case 55. By supplying power to the coil 53 via the lead wire 531, the energized state and the non-energized state can be switched. Thereby, when the coil 53 is in the energized state, the attractor 52 is excited, the plunger 51 which is a magnetic material is attracted to the attractor 52, and it moves to one side against the biasing force of the coil spring 54 described later.

[0031] One end side of the coil spring 54 contacts the attractor 52, and the other end side is accommodated in the concave portion 513, so that the coil spring 54 is provided between the plunger 51 and the attractor 52. Thereby, the coil spring 54 biases the plunger 51 to the other side. When the coil 53 is in the non-energized state, the attractive force by the attractor 52 disappears, and the plunger 51 moves to the other side by the biasing force of the coil spring 54. In this way, the electromagnetic drive unit 5 is configured to move the plunger 51 in the X direction by switching the energized state and the non-energized state of the coil 53, and to move the valve body 4 connected to the plunger 51.

[0032] The outer case 55 is configured to accommodate the coil 53 and to be able to insert the cylindrical portion 21 so that the attractor 52 is disposed inside the coil 53. Further, the outer case 55 has a wall portion 551 that covers the attractor 52 from one side in the X direction. The surface of the wall portion 551 facing the other side in the X direction becomes the inner surface 551A facing the attractor 52.

[0033] The joint member 64 connected to the mounting hole 33A on one side is connected to one space A11 of the four-way switching valve 10. The joint member 63 connected to the central mounting hole is connected to the low-pressure side conduit 14 of the four-way switching valve 10. The joint member 62 connected to the mounting hole 33C on the other side is connected to the other space A12 of the four-way switching valve 10. The joint member 61 is connected to the high-pressure side conduit 13 of the four-way switching valve 10.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 2, when the valve body 4 is located on the other side in the X direction and the valve ports 32B and 32C are in communication, the valve ports 32B and 32C are blocked by the valve body 4 with respect to the valve chamber 2R, and the valve port 32A is open with respect to the valve chamber 2R. At this time, the high-pressure fluid flowing into the valve chamber 2R from the high-pressure port to which the joint member 61 is connected passes through the valve port 32A and heads towards the space A11 of the four-way switching valve 10. The valve port 32B is connected to the low-pressure side conduit 14, and the space A12 connected to the valve port 32C becomes low pressure. Therefore, the space A11 is at a higher pressure than the space A12, and due to this differential pressure, the piston 19 and the slide valve 12 of the four-way switching valve 10 move towards the space A11 side.

[0035] When the valve body 4 is located on one side in the X direction and the valve ports 32B and 32A are in communication, the valve ports 32B and 32A are blocked by the valve body 4 with respect to the valve chamber 2R, and the valve port 32C is open with respect to the valve chamber 2R. At this time, the high-pressure fluid flowing into the valve chamber 2R from the high-pressure port passes through the valve port 32C and heads towards the space A12 of the four-way switching valve 10. The valve port 32B is connected to the low-pressure side conduit 14, and the space A11 connected to the valve port 32A becomes low pressure. Therefore, the space A12 is at a higher pressure than the space A11, and due to this differential pressure, the slide valve 12 and the piston 19 of the four-way switching valve 10 move towards the space A12 side.

[0036] Here, the connection structure (especially the welding structure) between the cylindrical portion 21 as the plunger housing portion and the attractor 52 will be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Below, the shapes of the respective parts after welding will be described, but unless otherwise specified, it is assumed that they have the same shapes even before welding.

[0037] One end face 521 on one side in the X direction of the attractor 52 is a plane along the YZ plane, and a plane including this end face 521 is defined as an extension plane S1. In the present embodiment, one end face 21A on one side in the X direction of the cylindrical portion 21 is also located on the extension plane S1.

[0038] The attractor 52 has a press-fitting portion 522 with an outer diameter larger than that of other portions in a predetermined range toward the other side from the end face 521. The outer diameter of the attractor 52 in the natural state (before press-fitting) is larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 21 at the press-fitting portion 522 and smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 21 at portions other than the press-fitting portion 522. Thereby, the press-fitting portion 522 is arranged in the cylindrical portion 21 by press-fitting. Incidentally, although it is preferable that the press-fitting portion 522 is formed over the entire circumferential direction, the press-fitting portion may be constituted by protrusions intermittently formed in the circumferential direction.

[0039] The cylindrical portion 21 has a reduced-diameter portion 212 at one end in the X direction, and the outer diameter becomes smaller as it approaches the one end face 21A. As shown in FIG. 4, the reduced-diameter portion 212 has a shape convex toward the outer peripheral side in a cross section along the ZX plane.

[0040] The boundary portion between the attractor 52 and the cylindrical portion 21 is located on the extension plane S1, and by welding the periphery of this boundary portion, a welded portion 7A straddling the attractor 52 and the cylindrical portion 21 is formed. That is, the welded portion 7A is formed on the one end faces 521 and 21A, and end face welding is performed. In the extension plane S1, the welded portion 7A has an open portion 71 opened to the outer peripheral side. That is, the outer peripheral side of the welded portion 7A is exposed in the extension plane S1. Further, the open portion 71 is formed in the cylindrical portion 21.

[0041] Specific examples of the connection method between the attractor 52 and the cylindrical portion 21 are as follows. First, press-fit the attractor 52 into the cylindrical portion 21. At this time, use a jig or the like to position the end faces 521 and 21A on the same plane. Next, turn the end faces 521 and 21A upward in the vertical direction (align the X direction with the vertical direction and set one side as the upper side), and irradiate a laser downward in the vertical direction to melt the periphery of the boundary between the attractor 52 and the cylindrical portion 21, thereby forming the welded portion 7A. When irradiating the laser, the laser irradiation portion may be scanned, or the attractor 52 and the cylindrical portion 21 may be moved.

[0042] According to the above-described embodiment, since the attractor 52 has the press-fitting portion 522, displacement in the X direction between the attractor 52 and the cylindrical portion 21 can be suppressed, an error in the distance between the attractor 52 and the plunger 51 can be suppressed, and fluctuations in the attractive force can be suppressed. Thereby, the valve ports 32A to 32C can be appropriately opened and closed by the valve body 4, and malfunctions can be suppressed. Further, since the welded portion 7A has the open portion 71 opened to the outer peripheral side, when protrusion is about to occur due to melting, it can be made to protrude toward the outer peripheral side (release the protrusion to the outer peripheral side), and it is possible to suppress the welded portion 7A from protruding to one side in the X direction. Thereby, it is difficult to generate a gap between the end face 521 of the attractor 52 and the inner surface 551A of the outer casing 55, and magnetic efficiency can be ensured.

[0043] Further, since the open portion 71 is formed in the cylindrical portion 21 and the cylindrical portion 21 has the reduced-diameter portion 212, when the welded portion 7A protrudes toward the outer peripheral side, the outer diameter of the welded portion 7A is less likely to become larger than the outer diameter of the entire cylindrical portion 21, and interference between the welded portion 7A and other components can be suppressed.

[0044] Moreover, since the cylindrical portion 21 in the valve body 2 constitutes the valve chamber forming portion and the plunger accommodating portion, it is possible to suppress an error in the relative position that may occur when these are constituted by separate members, and it is easy to ensure the coaxiality between the coil 53 and each part (the plunger 51 and the attractor 52).

[0045] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes other configurations and the like that can achieve the object of the present invention. Modifications and the like as described below are also included in the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, the welded portion 7A as shown in FIG. 4 is exemplified, but it may be in the forms of Modification Examples 1 to 4 as described below.

[0046] Modification Example 1 is shown in FIG. 5. In Modification Example 1, the shape of the end portion on one side in the X direction of the cylindrical portion 21 is different from that of the above-described embodiment, and the other portions are the same. That is, a reduced-diameter portion 213 is formed at the end portion of the cylindrical portion 21. The reduced-diameter portion 213 has an outer diameter that decreases as it approaches the end face 21A on one side, similar to the reduced-diameter portion 212. The cross-sectional shape of the reduced-diameter portion 213 is linear. Thereby, compared with the above-described embodiment, it is easier to allow the protrusion of the welded portion 7B to escape to the outer peripheral side, and the outer diameter of the welded portion 7B is less likely to become larger than the outer diameter of the entire cylindrical portion 21.

[0047] Also in Modification Example 1, similar to the above-described embodiment, the welded portion 7B is formed on the end faces 521 and 21A on one side, and on the extended surface S1, the welded portion 7B has an opening portion 72 that is open to the outer peripheral side.

[0048] Modification Example 2 is shown in FIG. 6. In Modification Example 2, it is different from the above-described embodiment in that the reduced-diameter portion 212 is not formed in the cylindrical portion 21, and instead, a stepped portion 8 is formed. In Modification Example 2, since the end face 21B of the cylindrical portion 21 is located on the other side in the X direction from the extended surface S1, a stepped portion 8 is formed between the cylindrical portion 21 and the suction cup 52. In order to shift the end faces 521 and 21B in the X direction in this way, for example, a jig having a portion that abuts against the end face 521 and a portion that abuts against the end face 21B (i.e., a jig having a step) may be used. In the stepped portion 8, the end portion of the suction cup 52 located on one side has a smaller diameter than the cylindrical portion 21, and the suction cup 52 becomes a small-diameter portion.

[0049] In Modification 2, a welded portion 7C is formed so as to straddle the end faces 521 and 21B that form the stepped portion 8. The welded portion 7C has an opening portion 73 that is open to the outer peripheral side on the extension surface S1, and the opening portion 73 is formed in the attractor 52 that is the small-diameter portion of the stepped portion 8. According to Modification 2, it is easy to let the protrusion of the welded portion 7C escape to the outer peripheral side, and the outer diameter of the welded portion 7C is less likely to be larger than the outer diameter of the entire cylindrical portion 21. Furthermore, there is no need for machining to form a step in the cylindrical portion 21 or the attractor 52 itself, and it can be easily manufactured as compared with Modification 3 described later.

[0050] FIG. 7 shows Modification 3. Modification 3 is different from Modification 2 in that a stepped portion 216 is formed in the cylindrical portion 21. That is, the cylindrical portion 21 has a small-diameter portion 215 formed at one end in the X direction and a large-diameter portion 214 that is a portion other than the small-diameter portion 215 and is located on the other side of the small-diameter portion 215, thereby forming the stepped portion 216. Also, the end face 21A is located on the extension surface S1, and a welded portion 7D is formed so as to straddle the end faces 521 and 21A. The welded portion 7D has an opening portion 74 that is open to the outer peripheral side on the extension surface S1, and the opening portion 74 is formed in the small-diameter portion 215 of the stepped portion 216. According to Modification 3, it is easy to let the protrusion of the welded portion 7D escape to the outer peripheral side, and the outer diameter of the welded portion 7D is less likely to be larger than the outer diameter of the entire cylindrical portion 21. Furthermore, it is not necessary to shift the end faces 521 and 21A by a predetermined amount to form a step, and the assemblability can be ensured as compared with Modification 2.

[0051] FIG. 8 shows Modification 4. In Modification 4, the shape of one end of the cylindrical portion 21 in the X direction is different from that of the above-described embodiment, and the other parts are the same. That is, a reduced-diameter portion 217 is formed at the end of the cylindrical portion 21. The reduced-diameter portion 217 is such that the outer diameter becomes smaller as it goes toward the end face 21A on one side in the X direction, similar to the reduced-diameter portion 212. The cross-sectional shape of the reduced-diameter portion 217 is concave when viewed from the outer peripheral side. Thereby, as compared with the above-described embodiment and Modification 1, it is easy to let the protrusion of the welded portion 7E escape to the outer peripheral side, and the outer diameter of the welded portion 7E is less likely to be larger than the outer diameter of the entire cylindrical portion 21.

[0052] Also in Modification 4, in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, a welding portion 7E is formed on one end face 521, 21A, and on the extension surface S1, the welding portion 7E has an opening portion 75 that is open to the outer peripheral side.

[0053] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cylindrical portion 21 forms both the plunger housing portion and the valve chamber forming portion, but the plunger housing portion and the valve chamber forming portion may be separate bodies. At this time, the material of the plunger housing portion and the material of the valve chamber forming portion may be different. For example, the valve chamber forming portion may be formed of brass, and a stainless steel cylindrical portion (plunger housing portion) may be brazed to such a brass valve chamber forming portion to form a metal valve body.

[0054] Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the slide type switching valve 1 as an electromagnetic drive valve, three valve ports 32A to 32C are formed on the valve seat surface 31, and two of these are communicated by the valve body 4 (closed with respect to the valve chamber 2R), and the remaining one is open with respect to the valve chamber 2R. However, the number of valve ports is not limited to three, and the opening and closing mode of the valve ports by the valve body is not limited thereto. That is, the valve body may not have a function of communicating a plurality of valve ports, and may simply have a function of opening and closing the valve ports. Further, the electromagnetic drive valve is not limited to a slide type switching valve that slides the valve body on the valve seat surface, and the valve ports may be opened and closed in an appropriate manner according to the moving method of the valve body. For example, by switching between energization and non-energization in the electromagnetic drive portion, the valve body may be moved in the direction of approaching and separating from the valve seat (axial direction) as the moving direction, and it may be an electromagnetic drive valve that causes the valve body to approach and separate from the valve seat.

[0055] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the slide type switching valve 1 as an electromagnetic drive valve is used for switching the flow path of the four-way switching valve 10 in the refrigeration cycle 100. However, the application of the electromagnetic drive valve is not limited thereto, and it may be incorporated and used in an appropriate device or cycle according to the specific configuration such as the moving method of the valve body and the opening and closing method of the valve ports.

[0056] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design changes and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

Explanation of Signs

[0057] 1... Slide type switching valve (electromagnetic drive valve), 2... Valve body, 21... Cylindrical part (plunger housing part), 21A... End face, 212, 213, 217... Reduced diameter part, 215... Small diameter part, 216... Step part, 2R... Valve chamber, 3... Valve seat part, 31... Valve seat surface, 32A to 32C... Valve ports, 4... Valve body, 5... Electromagnetic drive part, 51... Plunger, 52... Attractor, 521... End face, 522... Press-fitting part, 53... Coil, 7A to 7E... Welded parts, 71 to 75... Open parts, S1... Extension surface, 100... Refrigeration cycle, 102... Compressor, 103... Outdoor heat exchanger (first heat exchanger), 104... Indoor heat exchanger (second heat exchanger), 105... Expansion valve (expansion means)

Claims

1. An electromagnetic drive valve comprising: a valve body forming a valve chamber; a valve seat portion having a valve seat surface in which at least one valve port is formed and provided in the valve chamber; a valve element for opening and closing the valve port with respect to the valve chamber; and an electromagnetic drive unit for driving the valve element to move along a predetermined moving direction, wherein the electromagnetic drive unit includes a plunger that moves in the moving direction together with the valve element, an attractor disposed on one side of the plunger in the moving direction, and a coil for exciting the attractor, the valve body has a cylindrical plunger accommodating portion for accommodating the plunger and having the attractor fixed to one end portion on the one side, the attractor is disposed in the plunger accommodating portion so as to close the opening on the one side and has a press-fitting portion having an outer diameter in a natural state larger than the inner diameter of the plunger accommodating portion, the plunger accommodating portion and the attractor are fixed to each other by forming a welded portion on the end surface on the one side, in a plane including the end surface on the one side of the attractor, the welded portion has an open portion opened to the outer peripheral side, the edge on the outer peripheral side of the plunger accommodating portion is located on the other side in the moving direction than the end surface on the one side of the attractor, the entire end surface on the one side of the plunger accommodating portion is located at the same position or on the other side in the moving direction with respect to the entire end surface on the one side of the attractor, the end surface on the one side of the plunger accommodating portion is characterized in that a welded portion is formed on the inner peripheral side and the end surface is exposed on the outer peripheral side, and the electromagnetic drive valve.

2. The electromagnetic drive valve according to claim 1, wherein the open portion is formed in the plunger accommodating portion, and the plunger accommodating portion has a reduced diameter portion whose outer diameter decreases as it approaches the end surface on the one side.

3. A stepped portion with a reduced diameter on the one side is formed between the plunger accommodating portion and the attractor, or in the plunger accommodating portion, The electromagnetic drive valve according to claim 1, wherein the open portion is formed in the reduced diameter portion of the stepped portion.

4. A compressor that compresses a refrigerant which is a fluid, a first heat exchanger that functions as a condenser in a cooling mode, a second heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator in a cooling mode, expansion means that expands and depressurizes the refrigerant between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and a four-way switching valve, wherein the electromagnetic drive valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is provided as a pilot electromagnetic valve that controls the switching of the flow path of the four-way switching valve. A refrigeration cycle system characterized by this.

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