Rotary valve

Abstract

To configure a rotary valve for delivering a fluid in a state of suppressing flow channel resistance at a port by switching the port by rotation of a valve rotor.SOLUTION: A rotary valve includes: a valve chamber 2 provided with at least three ports P arranged in a circumferential direction; three external flow channels L respectively communicated to three ports; and a valve rotor R rotatably housed in the valve chest 2 and switching flow of a fluid among the plurality of ports P by rotary motion. The first port P1 extends along a circumferential direction of a wall portion 3 of the valve chest 2, and a first buffer portion Sa as a space entirely covering the first port P1 and having a circumferential width larger than a circumferential width of a valve flow channel 14, is formed between the external flow channel L corresponding to the first port P1 and the first port P1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary valve.

Background Art

[0002] As a rotary valve, Patent Document 1 discloses a valve box having five valve chambers communicating with five ports, and a valve body disposed overlapping the valve box. By rotating the valve body, a plurality of communication passages formed in the valve body are connected to the valve chambers to control the flow of fluid at the ports. A five-port four-position switching valve is described.

[0003] Also, as a rotary valve, Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which a stem shell is rotatably accommodated inside a valve housing having five ports, and by rotating the stem shell, a preset one of the five ports is selectively connected, enabling fluid flow between the connected ports.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which the valve box and the valve body are relatively rotatable about a rotation axis and overlapped. The five valve chambers of the valve box are open at the boundary between the valve box and the valve body, and a fixed-side valve seat is formed at the part where the valve chamber is open. The valve body has four openings open at the boundary between the valve box and the valve body at 90° intervals around the rotation axis, and a movable-side valve seat is formed at the part where the openings are open. This switching valve connects two adjacent openings with a first communication passage and the remaining two openings with a second communication passage.

[0006] Thus, when the valve body is rotated, it enables control of the flow of fluid between two pairs of two ports out of the five ports.

[0007] Patent Document 2 describes a rotary valve (a multi-port multi-mode valve in Patent Document 2) in which five ports in a cylindrical shape are formed in a radial posture around the rotation axis of a stem shell with respect to a cylindrical valve housing, and the stem shell is provided with two channels for determining the flow of fluid.

[0008] In this Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG. 8 of the document, the stem shell is rotated based on a mode in which fluid flows from Port A to Port C, and it enables switching to a mode in which fluid from Port B flows to Port C as shown in FIG. 9 of the document.

[0009] To achieve such switching, in the rotary valve of Patent Document 2, the opening area of Port C corresponding to the end of the flow path of the stem shell is made sufficiently large, and the opening areas of the parts where Port A and Port B face the stem shell are reduced compared to Port C. However, in a configuration where the opening area of the port is reduced, it leads to an increase in flow path resistance and suppression of the flow of fluid.

[0010] Also, in a case where the flow of fluid at each port is controlled by a stem shell housed inside a valve housing as described in Patent Document 2, the posture of the flow path connected to the valve housing is set radially with respect to the center of the valve housing as described in FIGS. 8 to 13 etc. of Patent Document 2, thereby suppressing an increase in flow path resistance at the boundary part between the port and the valve rotor.

[0011] However, considering the structure of the device equipped with the rotary valve and the space where the flow path can be arranged, it is often difficult to form the flow path connected to the valve housing radially as shown in Patent Document 2. For example, a configuration in which the flow path is connected to the outer surface of the valve housing at an angle close to a tangent can also be imagined. In such a case where the flow path is connected at such an angle, there is also a concern of increasing the flow path resistance at the boundary between the port and the valve rotor (stem shell in Patent Document 2).

[0012] For these reasons, there is a need for a rotary valve that controls the fluid flowing into the port by the rotation of the valve rotor and delivers the fluid while suppressing the flow path resistance at the port.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0013] According to the present invention Rotary valve The characteristic configuration is a valve chamber in which at least three ports, namely at least a first port, a second port, and a third port, are arranged in this order as openings arranged in the circumferential direction on a cylindrical wall portion centered on the rotation axis core, and at least three external flow paths arranged outside the valve chamber and communicating with the three ports of at least the first port, the second port, and the third port respectively, and a valve rotor rotatably accommodated in the valve chamber about the rotation axis core and switching the flow of fluid between the plurality of ports by a rotational operation. The valve rotor has a valve flow path that enables the flow of fluid between the first port and the second port in a state where the valve rotor is set to a first rotation position, and the first port extends along the circumferential direction of the wall portion corresponding to the predetermined angle in order to enable the flow of fluid between the first port and the third port through the valve flow path in a state where the valve rotor is rotated by a predetermined angle from the first rotation position to a second rotation position set. A first buffer portion is formed between the external flow path corresponding to the first port and the first port, which covers the entire first port and has a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path. The first buffer portion is an enlarged region where the flow path cross-sectional area increases as the region approaches the wall portion lies in the point.

[0014] According to this characteristic configuration, since the first port is formed in a region extending in the circumferential direction of the wall portion of the valve chamber, it is possible to supply fluid from the first port to the valve flow path of the valve rotor even when the valve rotor is switched from the first rotation position to the second rotation position. Further, in this configuration, since it is not necessary to adopt a configuration that restricts the flow path areas of the second port and the third port, such as port A or port B described in Patent Document 2, an increase in the flow path resistance in the second port and the third port is not caused either. Furthermore, a first buffer portion is formed which covers the first port in the wall portion and has a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path. Since the fluid in the external flow path flows into this first buffer portion, for example, even if the external flow path is arranged in a posture along the tangent line of the wall portion with respect to the first port, the fluid flowing between the external flow path and the first port can be made to flow in a posture orthogonal to the opening of the first port (a posture along a virtual straight line passing through the center of the valve chamber) inside the first buffer portion, eliminating the inconvenience of the flow path bending at a sharp angle and suppressing an increase in the flow path resistance at this site.

[0015] According to this, by forming the external flow path such that the flow path cross-sectional area increases in the region closer to the wall portion in the external flow path, a first buffer portion communicating with the first port can be formed without adopting a configuration of adding a member outside the valve chamber. Also, in this configuration, only the structure of the end portion of the external flow path needs to be changed, and the complication of the configuration can be suppressed. Therefore, a rotary valve is configured that controls the fluid flowing into the port by the rotation of the valve rotor and sends out the fluid while suppressing the flow path resistance at the port.

[0016] As a configuration added to the above configuration, the flow path cross-sectional area of the valve flow path may be made larger than the flow path cross-sectional area at the boundary between the first buffer portion and the first port.

[0017] According to this, the flow path resistance in the valve flow path of the valve rotor can be made smaller than the flow path resistance acting on the fluid at the boundary between the first port and the valve flow path, and a good fluid flow can be exhibited without causing a decrease in the flow rate.

[0018] As a configuration added to the above configuration, the valve chamber further includes a fourth port and a fifth port in this order in addition to the first port, the second port, and the third port, and the valve rotor may have a communication flow path that communicates the fourth port and the fifth port regardless of whether the valve rotor is in the first rotation position or the second rotation position.

[0019] According to this, while maintaining the state where the fluid flows through the communication flow path between the fourth port and the fifth port, the flow of the fluid in the first port, the second port, and the third port can be controlled by setting the rotation position of the valve rotor.

[0020] The characteristic configuration of the rotary valve according to the present invention includes a valve chamber in which at least three ports, namely at least a first port, a second port, and a third port, are arranged in this order as openings arranged in the circumferential direction on a cylindrical wall portion centered on the rotation axis; at least three external flow paths arranged outside the valve chamber and communicating separately with the three ports of at least the first port, the second port, and the third port; and a valve rotor rotatably accommodated in the valve chamber about the rotation axis and switching the flow of fluid between the plurality of ports by a rotational operation. The valve rotor has a valve flow path enabling the flow of fluid between the first port and the second port in a state where the valve rotor is set to a first rotation position, and in a state where the valve rotor is set to a second rotation position rotated by a predetermined angle from the first rotation position, the first port extends along the circumferential direction of the wall portion corresponding to the predetermined angle to enable the flow of fluid between the first port and the third port through the valve flow path. A first buffer portion is formed between the external flow path corresponding to the first port and the first port, which covers the entire first port and forms a space having a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path. The flow cross-sectional area of the valve flow path is larger than the flow cross-sectional area at the boundary between the first buffer portion and the first port 。

[0021] According to this characteristic configuration, since the first port is formed in a region extending in the circumferential direction of the wall portion of the valve chamber, it is possible to supply fluid from the first port to the valve flow path of the valve rotor even when the valve rotor is switched from the first rotation position to the second rotation position. Further, in this configuration, since it is not necessary to adopt a configuration that reduces the flow path areas of the second port and the third port, such as port A or port B described in Patent Document 2, an increase in the flow path resistance in the second port and the third port is not caused. Furthermore, a first buffer portion is formed that covers the first port in the wall portion and has a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path, and fluid in the external flow path flows into the first buffer portion. Therefore, for example, even if the external flow path is arranged in a posture along the tangent line of the wall portion with respect to the first port, the fluid flowing between the external flow path and the first port is made to flow in a posture orthogonal to the opening of the first port inside the first buffer portion (a posture along a virtual straight line passing through the center of the valve chamber), eliminating the inconvenience of the flow path bending at a sharp angle and suppressing an increase in the flow path resistance at this site.

[0022] According to this, the flow path resistance in the valve flow path of the valve rotor can be made smaller than the flow path resistance acting on the fluid at the boundary between the first port and the valve flow path, and a good fluid flow can be exhibited without causing a decrease in the flow rate. Therefore, a rotary valve is configured that controls the fluid flowing into the port by the rotation of the valve rotor and sends out the fluid while suppressing the flow path resistance at the port.

[0023] As a configuration added to the above configuration, the valve chamber further includes a fourth port and a fifth port in this order, in addition to the first port, the second port, and the third port. The valve rotor may have a communication flow path that communicates the fourth port and the fifth port, regardless of whether the valve rotor is in the first rotation position or the second rotation position.

[0024] According to this, while maintaining the state of flowing fluid through the communication flow path between the fourth port and the fifth port, it becomes possible to control the flow of fluid at the first port, the second port, and the third port by setting the rotational position of the valve rotor.

[0025] The characteristic configuration of the rotary valve according to the present invention includes a valve chamber in which at least three ports, i.e., at least a first port, a second port, and a third port, are arranged in this order as openings arranged in the circumferential direction on a cylindrical wall portion centered on the rotation axis core, at least three external flow paths arranged outside the valve chamber and communicating with the three ports of at least the first port, the second port, and the third port respectively, and a valve rotor rotatably accommodated around the rotation axis core with respect to the valve chamber and switching the flow of fluid between the plurality of ports by a rotational operation. The valve rotor has a valve flow path enabling the flow of fluid between the first port and the second port in a state where the valve rotor is set to the first rotation position, and the first port extends along the circumferential direction of the wall portion corresponding to the predetermined angle in order to enable the flow of fluid between the first port and the third port through the valve flow path in a state where the valve rotor is rotated by a predetermined angle from the first rotation position and set to the second rotation position. A first buffer portion is formed between the external flow path corresponding to the first port and the first port, which covers the entire first port and has a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path, and the valve chamber further includes a fourth port and a fifth port in this order in addition to the first port, the second port, and the third port. The valve rotor has a communication flow path communicating the fourth port and the fifth port regardless of whether the valve rotor is in the first rotation position or the second rotation position.

[0026] According to this characteristic configuration, since the first port is formed in a region extending in the circumferential direction of the wall portion of the valve chamber, it is possible to supply fluid from the first port to the valve flow path of the valve rotor even when the valve rotor is switched from the first rotation position to the second rotation position. Further, in this configuration, it is not necessary to adopt a configuration that restricts the flow path areas of the second port and the third port, such as port A or port B described in Patent Document 2, so that an increase in flow path resistance in the second port and the third port is not caused. Furthermore, a first buffer portion is formed which covers the first port in the wall portion and is a space having a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path, and since the fluid in the external flow path flows into this first buffer portion, for example, even when the external flow path is arranged in a posture along the tangent line of the wall portion with respect to the first port, the fluid flowing between the external flow path and the first port is made to flow inside the first buffer portion in a posture orthogonal to the opening of the first port (a posture along a virtual straight line passing through the center of the valve chamber), eliminating the inconvenience that the flow path bends at a sharp angle and suppressing an increase in flow path resistance at this site.

[0027] According to this, while maintaining a state in which fluid flows through the communication flow path between the fourth port and the fifth port, it is possible to control the flow of fluid in the first port, the second port, and the third port by setting the rotation position of the valve rotor. Therefore, a rotary valve is configured that controls the fluid flowing into the port by the rotation of the valve rotor, and yet sends out the fluid while suppressing the flow path resistance at the port.

[0028] As a configuration added to the above configuration, a buffer portion that covers the entire port may be formed between at least one of the fourth port and the fifth port and the external flow path corresponding to the port.

[0029] According to this, in order to communicate the fluid from at least one of the fourth port and the fifth port to the external flow path through the buffer portion, for example, even if the external flow path is arranged in a posture along the tangent of the wall portion, the fluid flowing between the fourth port, the fifth port, and the external flow path can be made to flow in a posture orthogonal to the opening of the port (a posture along a virtual straight line passing through the center of the valve chamber) inside the buffer portion, eliminating the inconvenience of the flow path bending at a sharp angle and suppressing an increase in the flow path resistance at this site.

[0030] As a configuration added to the above configuration, the communication flow path of the valve rotor may be formed by a control surface that is recessed in the direction of the rotation axis center inside the wall portion of the valve chamber.

[0031] According to this, for example, it is possible to control the flow of fluid by the control surface formed on the valve rotor without forming a flow path having a structure that penetrates the valve rotor.

[0032] As a configuration added to the above configuration, the first buffer portion may be a space having an outer wall surface protruding outward from the outer surface of the wall portion.

[0033] According to this, it becomes possible to form the first buffer portion so as to project outside the wall portion of the valve chamber outside the first port. Further, since the first buffer portion has a structure that projects outside the wall portion of the valve chamber, it is also possible to arbitrarily set the angle at which the external flow path connecting to the outer wall portion is arranged even when arranging the external flow path for flowing fluid between the external flow path and the first port.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0034]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0035] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 〔Basic Configuration〕 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 6, a cylindrical wall portion 3 centered on the rotation axis X is formed with respect to the valve chamber 2 of the valve housing 1. A valve rotor R is rotatably accommodated inside the wall portion 3 about the rotation axis X. A plurality of ports P are formed as openings in the wall portion 3 of the valve chamber 2, and an external flow path L communicating with each of the plurality of ports P is provided. An electric actuator 6 for rotating the valve rotor R is provided, and a rotary valve V is configured.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 6, the rotary valve V includes a cylindrical sealing material 4 on the inner circumference of the wall portion 3 of the valve chamber 2. The valve rotor R is accommodated on the inner circumferential side of the sealing material 4, and the open portion of the valve chamber 2 is closed by a plate-shaped lid body 5. A drive shaft Ra (see FIGS. 4 and 5) formed on the valve rotor R is disposed in a state of being inserted through the through hole 5a of the lid body 5, and the output shaft of the electric actuator 6 is connected to the drive shaft Ra. Note that the drive shaft Ra may be formed as a separate part from the valve rotor R and configured to be attached to the valve rotor R.

[0037] In this rotary valve V, the valve housing 1, the lid body 5, and the valve rotor R are formed of a resin material, and the sealing material 4 is made of rubber or a resin material that can be flexibly deformed so as to suppress fluid leakage between the outer circumference of the valve rotor R and the inner circumference of the wall portion 3.

[0038] This rotary valve V is used, for example, in a vehicle such as an automobile to control the flow of a fluid such as coolant or cooling water. By the rotational operation of the valve rotor R, control is realized to send out the fluid from the supply source side among the plurality of external flow paths L to the supply target side among the plurality of external flow paths L.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the port P is a general term for the first port P1, the second port P2, the third port P3, and the fourth port P4. The external flow path L is a general term for the first external flow path L1, the second external flow path L2, the third external flow path L3, the fourth external flow path L4, and the fifth external flow path L5.

[0040] This rotary valve V can be used in any posture, but the vertical relationship will be described according to the condition that the rotation axis X is in the vertical posture as shown in FIG. 6. Although the rotation axis X indicates the center position of the cylindrical wall portion 3, it is also used to indicate the rotation center of the valve rotor R as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0041] 〔Valve housing / Valve chamber〕 As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the valve chamber 2 is formed as a columnar space inside the wall portion 3 centered on the rotation axis X, and the valve rotor R is rotatably accommodated therein. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a communication space 7 having a smaller diameter than the valve chamber 2 is formed below the valve chamber 2. In this embodiment, an annular bottom wall 2a having a slightly smaller diameter than the outer periphery of the valve rotor R and centered on the rotation axis X is formed at the boundary between the lower end of the valve chamber 2 and the upper end of the communication space 7.

[0042] Therefore, by accommodating the valve rotor R in the valve chamber 2 and closing the upper opening of the valve chamber 2 with the lid body 5, the outer peripheral portion of the lower end of the valve rotor R abuts against the annular bottom wall 2a of the valve chamber 2, and the upper surface of the valve rotor R abuts against the lower surface of the lid body 5, thereby determining the vertical position of the valve rotor R.

[0043] In the wall portion 3 of the valve chamber 2, a first port P1, a second port P2, a third port P3, and a fourth port P4 are formed as openings penetrating in the wall thickness direction (radial direction) of the wall portion 3 and arranged in this order in the circumferential direction. The sealing material 4 has openings having the same shape as these corresponding to the first port P1, the second port P2, the third port P3, and the fourth port P4.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a first pipe portion M1, a second pipe portion M2, a third pipe portion M3, and a fourth pipe portion M4 are formed in the valve housing 1, and as shown in FIG. 6, a fifth pipe portion M5 communicating with the communication space 7 is formed in the valve housing 1.

[0045] The first pipeline section M1, the second pipeline section M2, the third pipeline section M3, the fourth pipeline section M4, and the fifth pipeline section M5 are formed as connection ports to which tubes, hoses, etc. for supplying and discharging fluids such as coolant and cooling water are connected to the components to be cooled and heat dissipation parts of the vehicle. Incidentally, the first pipeline section M1 is the end of the first external flow path L1, and each of the second pipeline section M2, the third pipeline section M3, the fourth pipeline section M4, and the fifth pipeline section M5 is the end of the second external flow path L2, the third external flow path L3, the fourth external flow path L4, and the fifth external flow path L5. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotary valve V is configured to flow the fluid supplied from the first pipeline section M1 to the second pipeline section M2 or the third pipeline section M3, and to flow the fluid supplied from the fifth pipeline section M5 to the fourth pipeline section M4.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, in the valve housing 1, a first external flow path L1 is formed that guides the fluid supplied from the first pipeline section M1 to the first port P1 after passing through the first buffer section Sa (buffer section S). Further, the valve housing 1 is formed with a fourth external flow path L4 that guides the fluid from the fourth port P4 to the fourth pipeline section M4 via the second buffer section Sb (buffer section S). In particular, the first external flow path L1 is formed in a region that reaches the first port P1 from the internal space of the first pipeline section M1 through the inside of the first buffer section Sa. The first buffer section Sa (buffer section S) is formed as a space having a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path 14.

[0047] This first buffer section Sa, the second buffer section Sb described later, and the third buffer section Sc described later have a common configuration, and these are collectively referred to as the buffer section S.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the valve housing 1 is formed with a second external flow path L2 that guides the fluid from the second port P2 to the second pipe section M2, and a third external flow path L3 that guides the fluid from the third port P3 to the third pipe section M3. In particular, the region in the second external flow path L2 that linearly sends the fluid from the second port P2 and the region in the third external flow path L3 that linearly sends the fluid from the third port P3 are formed in a parallel posture with each other. Note that the region in the second external flow path L2 that linearly sends the fluid from the second port P2 and the region in the third external flow path L3 that linearly sends the fluid from the third port P3 are not limited to a parallel posture, and may be formed in a non-parallel and parallel positional relationship.

[0049] The first pipe section M1, the second pipe section M2, the third pipe section M3, the fourth pipe section M4, the first external flow path L1, the second external flow path L2, the third external flow path L3, the fourth pipe section M4, the first port P1, the second port P2, the third port P3, and the fourth port P4 are arranged at positions overlapping a virtual plane perpendicular to the rotation axis core X. Note that the fifth pipe section M5 communicating with the communication space 7 is arranged at a position deviating from the above-described virtual plane.

[0050] 〔Valve Rotor / Valve Chamber〕 As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the valve rotor R has a valve body 13 in which a disk-shaped upper wall 11 and an incomplete circular (a circular shape with a part missing) lower wall 12 are integrally formed. The valve body 13 forms a valve flow path 14 having a shape that bends in the vicinity of the rotation axis core X when viewed in the direction along the rotation axis core X inside, and an opening 15 (an example of a communication flow path) is formed at a position facing the valve flow path 14 with the rotation axis core X interposed therebetween.

[0051] The valve flow path 14 is formed in a through-hole shape in a region connecting the upstream-side inlet 14a and the discharge-side outlet 14b formed on the circular outer periphery of the valve body 13. Further, the opening 15 (communication flow path) can flow the fluid in the communication space 7 shown in FIG. 6 from the lower end position of the valve body 13 to the position reaching the lower surface of the upper wall 11, and in a plan view, it is composed of a pair of control surfaces 15a that are recessed in the direction of the rotation axis X inside the wall portion 3 of the valve chamber 2. That is, the opening 15 (communication flow path) is formed at a location where a part of the circular shape of the lower wall 12 is missing.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pair of control surfaces 15a are arranged in a positional relationship of bending near the rotation axis X at an angle equal to the angle at which the valve flow path 14 bends when viewed in the direction along the rotation axis X, and by setting the rotation position of the valve rotor R, the pair of control surfaces 15a control the flow rate of the fluid flowing into the fourth port P4.

[0053] The valve rotor R rotates about the rotation axis X by the rotational force transmitted from the electric actuator 6 to the drive shaft Ra. In this embodiment, when the valve rotor R is set to the first rotation position Q1 shown in FIG. 2, the inlet 14a of the valve flow path 14 communicates with the first port P1, and the outlet 14b of the valve flow path 14 is arranged at a position communicating with the second port P2, realizing the flow of fluid from the first port P1 to the second port P2.

[0054] Furthermore, even when the valve rotor R is rotated by a predetermined angle from the first rotation position Q1 and set to the second rotation position Q2 shown in FIG. 3, while the inlet 14a of the valve flow path 14 remains in communication with the first port P1, the outlet 14b of the valve flow path 14 reaches a position communicating with the third port P3, realizing the flow of fluid from the first port P1 to the third port P3.

[0055] Thus, in order to maintain the state where the inlet 14a of the valve flow path 14 communicates with the first port P1, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first port P1 is formed as an oval or rectangular opening in a region extending in the circumferential direction of the wall portion 3 of the valve chamber 2.

[0056] In particular, in this rotary valve V, the flow path cross-sectional area of the valve flow path 14 is set to be larger than the flow path cross-sectional area at the boundary between the first port P1 and the valve flow path 14, regardless of whether it is set to the first rotation position Q1 or the second rotation position Q2. As a specific structure, since the opening of the first port P1 is oval, a part of the opening of the first port P1 becomes circular at the first rotation position Q1 and the second rotation position Q2. However, the flow path cross-sectional area of the valve flow path 14 is a rectangle with a larger flow path cross-sectional area than the opening of the first port P1, thus creating such a size relationship of the flow path cross-sectional areas. Further, the flow path cross-sectional area of the valve flow path 14 is configured to be larger than the flow path cross-sectional area at the boundary between the first buffer portion Sa and the first port P1, regardless of whether the valve rotor R is in the first rotation position Q1 or the second rotation position Q2.

[0057] Furthermore, regardless of whether the valve rotor R is in the first rotation position Q1 or the second rotation position Q2, the fourth port P4 is formed as an oval or rectangular opening in a region extending in the circumferential direction of the wall portion 3 of the valve chamber 2, similar to the first port P1, so as to guide the fluid in the communication space 7 from the fourth port P4 to the fourth external flow path L4.

[0058] 〔First buffer portion / Second buffer portion〕 In the rotary valve V of this embodiment, since the first pipe portion M1 is formed in a posture of supplying fluid to a position away from the central portion of the opening of the first port P1, for example, imagining a configuration in which the first pipe portion M1 is connected to the first port P1 in this posture, when flowing from the first pipe portion M1 through the first port P1 into the valve flow path 14, the flow path bends at a sharp angle, leading to an increase in flow path resistance.

[0059] In order to suppress such an increase in flow path resistance, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, outside the wall portion 3 in which the first port P1 is formed, at a position covering the first port P1, there is a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path 14, and a first buffer portion Sa (buffer portion S) is formed as a space protruding outward from the first port P1. This first buffer portion Sa is formed between the supply side outer wall surface 8 formed at a position separated from the wall portion 3 along the outer surface of the wall portion 3 and the wall portion 3.

[0060] As a result, the fluid supplied to the first pipe portion M1 is supplied from the internal space of this first pipe portion M1 to the inside of the first buffer portion Sa, and then from this first buffer portion Sa, it can also flow in a posture orthogonal to the wall surface of the wall portion 3 at the site where the first port P1 is formed (a posture along the radial direction centered on the rotation axis core X), reducing the flow path resistance at the first port P1.

[0061] Similar to the first buffer portion Sa, the second buffer portion Sb (buffer portion S) is formed as a space protruding outward from the fourth port P4 at a position outside the wall portion 3 and covering the fourth port P4 outside the fourth port P4. This second buffer portion Sb is formed between the discharge side outer wall surface 9 formed at a position separated from the wall portion 3 and the wall portion 3. As a result, when the fluid is sent out from the fourth port P4, the fluid can flow in a posture orthogonal to the wall surface of the wall portion 3 (a posture along the radial direction centered on the rotation axis core X), eliminating the inconvenience that the fourth external flow path L4 bends at a sharp angle at the fourth port P4 and reducing the flow path resistance.

[0062] 〔Fluid control〕 As shown in FIG. 2, when the valve rotor R is set to the first rotation position Q1, the fluid supplied to the first pipe portion M1 flows through the first pipe portion M1, the first buffer portion Sa, and the first port P1 in this order, flows from the inlet 14a of the valve rotor R into the valve flow path 14, and flows from the outlet 14b to the second port P2. The fluid flowing into this second port P2 is sent out from the second pipe portion M2 at the end position of the second external flow path L2.

[0063] Also, when the valve rotor R is set to the first rotation position Q1, the fluid supplied to the fifth pipe section M5 flows from the communication space 7 shown in FIG. 6 to the open section 15 of the valve rotor R, flows to the fourth port P4 and the second buffer section Sb in this order, and is sent out from the fourth pipe section M4.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 3, when the valve rotor R is set to the second rotation position Q2, the fluid supplied to the first pipe section M1 flows through the first pipe section M1, the first buffer section Sa, and the first port P1 in this order, flows from the inlet 14a of the valve rotor R into the valve flow path 14, and flows from the outlet 14b to the third port P3. The fluid flowing into this third port P3 is sent out from the third pipe section M3 at the end position of the third external flow path L3.

[0065] Also, when the valve rotor R is set to the second rotation position Q2, the fluid supplied to the fifth pipe section M5 flows from the communication space 7 shown in FIG. 6 to the open section 15 of the valve rotor R, flows to the fourth port P4 and the second buffer section Sb in this order, and is sent out from the fourth pipe section M4. That is, regardless of whether the valve rotor R is set to the first rotation position Q1 or the second rotation position Q2, the fluid supplied to the fifth pipe section M5 is sent out from the fourth pipe section M4.

[0066] 〔Modification Example of Arrangement of Fourth Port / Fifth Port〕 As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, in a view along the direction of the rotation axis core X, a fifth port P5 is formed between the fourth port P4 and the first port P1 with respect to the wall section 3 of the valve chamber 2, and a third buffer section Sc is formed outside this fifth port P5.

[0067] In this modification example, by setting the valve rotor R to the first rotation position Q1 and the second rotation position Q2, the fluid from the first port P1 is switched and sent to the second port P2 and the third port P3, and the fifth port P5 communicates with the fourth port P4 via the open section 15 of the valve rotor R in both the first rotation position Q1 and the second rotation position Q2.

[0068] That is, similar to the embodiment, when the valve rotor R is in the first rotation position Q1, the fluid from the first pipe portion M1 at the start end of the first external flow path L1 flows through the first buffer portion Sa, the first port P1, the valve flow path 14 of the valve rotor R, the second port P2, and the end position of the second external flow path L2 in this order and is sent out from the second pipe portion M2. In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 10, the rotary valve V is configured without the communication space 7 shown in the embodiment.

[0069] Also, when the valve rotor R is in the second rotation position Q2, the fluid from the first pipe portion M1 at the start end of the first external flow path L1 flows through the first buffer portion Sa, the first port P1, the valve flow path 14, the third port P3, and the end position of the third external flow path L3 in this order and is sent out from the third pipe portion M3.

[0070] Furthermore, regardless of whether the valve rotor R is in the first rotation position Q1 or the second rotation position Q2, the fluid from the fifth pipe portion M5 at the start end of the fifth external flow path L5 flows through the third buffer portion Sc, the fifth port P5, the control surface 15a of the opening portion 15, the fourth port P4, and the end position of the fourth external flow path L4 in this order and is sent out from the fourth pipe portion M4.

[0071] Also, in this modification, similar to the embodiment, the supply-side outer wall surface 8 is arranged outside the wall portion 3 to cover the first port P1, and the first buffer portion Sa having a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path 14 is formed. The discharge-side outer wall surface 9 is arranged outside the wall portion 3 to cover the fourth port P4, and the second buffer portion Sb serving as a space protruding outward from the fourth port is formed.

[0072] Furthermore, another communication-side outer wall surface 10 is arranged outside the wall portion 3 to form the third buffer portion Sc that covers the fifth port P5. Thus, in this modification, as shown in FIG. 10, by forming a flat bottom wall portion in the valve chamber 2, the fluid from the fifth port P5 is sent to the fourth port P4.

[0073] In particular, in this modification, a first pipe section M1 communicating with a first buffer section Sa corresponding to the first port P1, a fourth pipe section M4 communicating with a second buffer section Sb corresponding to the fourth port P4, and a fifth pipe section M5 communicating with a third buffer section Sc corresponding to the fifth port P5 are formed in a mutually parallel posture. Note that the first pipe section M1, the fourth pipe section M4, and the fifth pipe section M5 are not limited to a parallel posture, and may be formed in a non-parallel parallel positional relationship.

[0074] 〔Effects of Embodiment / Modification〕 Although the rotary valve V is configured to enable switching of the flow path by switching the rotational position of the valve rotor R, the first port P1 is formed as an oval or rectangular opening in a region extending in the circumferential direction of the wall portion 3 of the valve chamber 2 as compared with the second port P2 and the third port P3. Therefore, it is not necessary to reduce the flow path area of any of the valve flow path 14, the second port P2, and the third port P3, and it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of reducing the flow rate and pressure of the fluid due to pressure loss.

[0075] Further, since the rotary valve V includes the first buffer section Sa, even if the direction of the fluid flow supplied through the first pipe section M1 or the first external flow path L1 is not perpendicular to the wall surface of the wall portion 3 at the portion where the first port P1 is formed (a posture deviating from the radial direction centered on the rotation axis core X), the fluid is supplied in a posture perpendicular to the wall surface of the wall portion 3 at the portion where the opening of the first port P1 is formed, thereby realizing a reduction in flow path resistance.

[0076] Thus, in the configuration including the first buffer section Sa, it is possible to determine the posture of the first pipe section M1 or the first external flow path L1 without considering the direction of supplying the fluid to the first port P1, and the design of the rotary valve V can be easily performed.

[0077] Furthermore, by providing the second buffer portion Sb, even when the fourth port P4 is in a posture that is not orthogonal to the wall surface of the wall portion 3 at the portion where the fourth port P4 is formed (a posture deviating from the radial direction centered on the rotation axis X) when fluid is sent out from the fourth port P4, the fluid is sent out in a posture orthogonal to the wall surface of the wall portion 3 at the portion where the opening of the fourth port P4 is formed, thereby reducing the flow path resistance.

[0078] Also, regardless of whether the valve rotor R is in the first rotation position Q1 or the second rotation position Q2, the fluid from the fifth pipe portion M5 at the start end of the fifth external flow path L5 is controlled by the opening 15 formed by a pair of control surfaces 15a that are recessed in the direction of the rotation axis X in the valve rotor R and sent out from the fourth pipe portion M4 at the end position of the fourth external flow path L4.

[0079] As shown in the modification, by setting the first pipe portion M1, the fourth pipe portion M4, and the fifth pipe portion M5 to be parallel to each other, it is easier to handle the hoses connected to them.

[0080] Also, when the first pipe portion M1, the fourth pipe portion M4, and the fifth pipe portion M5 are set to be parallel in this way, and correspondingly, by providing the first buffer portion Sa, the second buffer portion Sb, and the third buffer portion Sc, the phenomenon that the fluid flowing into the first port P1, the fourth port P4, and the fifth port P5 flows in a state of bending at a sharp angle is eliminated, suppressing an increase in the flow path resistance.

[0081] 〔Alternative Embodiment〕 In addition to the above-described embodiment, the present invention may be configured as follows (components having the same functions as those in the embodiment are given the same numbers and reference signs as those in the embodiment).

[0082] (a) As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a valve rotor R is rotatably accommodated in a valve chamber 2 of a valve housing 1 around a rotation axis X, and a first port P1, a second port P2, a third port P3, and a fourth port P4 are formed in a wall portion 3 of the valve chamber 2. The valve housing 1 is provided with a first pipe portion M1, a second pipe portion M2, a third pipe portion M3, and a fourth pipe portion M4.

[0083] Although not shown in the drawings, in this alternative embodiment (a), it includes a valve rotor R (see FIGS. 4 and 5) having a configuration common to that described in the embodiment. Similar to the embodiment, in a view along the direction of the rotation axis X, a bottomed communication space 7 (see FIG. 6) with a smaller diameter than the valve chamber 2 is formed at a position overlapping the valve chamber 2 and centered on the rotation axis X.

[0084] In this alternative embodiment (a), by setting the valve rotor R to the first rotation position Q1 and the second rotation position Q2, the fluid from the first port P1 is switched and sent to the second port P2 and the third port P3, and the communication space 7 is configured to communicate with the fourth port P4 through the opening 15 of the valve rotor R.

[0085] In the configuration of this alternative embodiment (a), the postures of the first pipeline portion M1, the second pipeline portion M2, the third pipeline portion M3, and the fourth pipeline portion M4 are different from those of the embodiment. That is, the first pipeline portion M1, the second pipeline portion M2, and the fourth pipeline portion M4 are parallel to each other, openings are formed in the same direction as the first pipeline portion M1 and the second pipeline portion M2, and the fourth pipeline portion M4 forms an opening in the opposite direction. Further, the third pipeline portion M3 is set to a posture in a direction extending radially around the rotation axis X. Note that the first pipeline portion M1, the second pipeline portion M2, and the fourth pipeline portion M4 are not limited to a parallel posture and may be formed in a non-parallel positional relationship.

[0086] Even when the postures of the plurality of pipeline portions M are set in this way, control of the fluid flow is realized while suppressing the pressure loss.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 13 in (b), a first buffer portion Sa (an example of the buffer portion S) is formed by an enlarged region 20 that enlarges the flow path cross-sectional area in a region closer to the wall portion 3 in the external flow path L communicating with the port P. In this alternative embodiment (b), the enlarged region 20 is integrally formed at the end of the external flow path L, and the external flow path L is configured to be attached to the outside of the wall portion 3 so that the enlarged region 20 formed in this way is disposed at a position covering the first port P1.

[0088] In this alternative embodiment (b), the second buffer portion Sb (an example of the buffer portion S) can be configured in the same manner as the configuration shown in FIG. 13.

[0089] In particular, when the external flow path L is formed of resin, the enlarged region 20 may be integrally formed during the molding of the external flow path L, or a member that expands the flow path cross-sectional area toward the region closer to the wall portion 3 may be attached to the end of the external flow path L having a fixed inner diameter to form it.

[0090] As described in the (c) embodiment, the opening portion 15 is formed in the valve rotor R, and the lower wall 12 is formed in a circular shape with a part missing. Instead of this, an arcuate strip-shaped member centered on the rotation axis X may be provided in the region where a part of the lower wall 12 is missing.

[0091] By providing the strip-shaped member in this way, when the valve rotor R is accommodated in the cylindrical wall portion 3 of the valve chamber 2, the arcuate strip-shaped member contacts the inner wall of the wall portion 3, enabling stable rotation of the valve rotor R.

[0092] The shape of the valve flow path 14 formed in the valve rotor R is not limited to the bent shape shown in the embodiment, and may be a linear shape or a curved shape. Further, the valve rotor R may have a plurality of valve flow paths 14 formed therein.

[0093] (e) The rotary valve V may be configured to form five or more ports P.

[0094] (f) In the embodiment, the modification, and the alternative embodiment, among the plurality of ports P formed as openings in the wall portion 3, the port P at a specific position is determined as the first port P1, and the other ports P are positioned as the second port P2, the third port P3, and the fourth port P4 with reference to the first port P1. However, the positional relationship of these ports P is not limited to that shown in the drawing, and they can be arranged in any positional relationship.

[0095] Also, the plurality of external flow paths L (the first external flow path L1, the second external flow path L2, the third external flow path L3, the fourth external flow path L4) corresponding to the corresponding ports P of the positions of the external flow paths L related to these ports P can also be arranged at arbitrary positions. Furthermore, the arrangement of these external flow paths L with respect to the valve housing 1 can also be arbitrarily set.

[0096] In this alternative embodiment (f), the flow direction of the fluid may be opposite to the direction described in the embodiment. Similarly, the flow of the fluid between the fourth port P4 and the fifth port P5 may also be opposite to the direction described in the embodiment.

Industrial Applicability

[0097] The present invention can be used in a rotary valve in which a valve rotor is housed in a valve chamber and a plurality of ports are formed in a cylindrical wall portion of the valve chamber.

Explanation of Signs

[0098] 2 Valve chamber 3 Wall portion 8 Outer wall surface 14 Valve flow path 15 Opening portion (communication flow path) 15a Control surface 20 Enlargement region L External flow path L1 First external flow path (external flow path) L2 Second external flow path (external flow path) L3 Third external flow path (external flow path) L4 Fourth external flow path (external flow path) L5 Fifth external flow path (external flow path) P Port P1 First port (port) P2 Second port (port) P3 Third port (port) P4 Fourth port (port) P5 Fifth port (port) Q1 First rotation position Q2 Second rotation position R valve rotor S buffer section Sa First buffer section Sb Second buffer section Sc Third buffer section X axis of rotation

Claims

1. A valve chamber in which at least three ports, namely at least a first port, a second port, and a third port, are arranged in this order as openings arranged in the circumferential direction in a cylindrical wall portion centered on a rotation axis; At least three external flow paths arranged outside the valve chamber and communicating separately with at least the three ports of the first port, the second port, and the third port; A valve rotor that is rotatably accommodated around the rotation axis with respect to the valve chamber and switches the flow of fluid between the plurality of ports by a rotation operation, and The valve rotor has a valve flow path that enables the flow of fluid between the first port and the second port in a state where the valve rotor is set to a first rotation position, and the first port is configured to enable the flow of fluid between the first port and the third port through the valve flow path in a state where the valve rotor is set to a second rotation position rotated by a predetermined angle from the first rotation position. The first port extends along the circumferential direction of the wall portion corresponding to the predetermined angle, A first buffer portion is formed between the external flow path corresponding to the first port and the first port, covering the entire first port and having a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path, forming a space; The first buffer portion is a rotary valve that is an enlarged region where the flow path cross-sectional area increases in a region closer to the wall portion.

2. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the flow path cross-sectional area of the valve flow path is larger than the flow path cross-sectional area at the boundary between the first buffer portion and the first port.

3. The valve chamber further includes a fourth port and a fifth port in this order in addition to the first port, the second port, and the third port, The rotary valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve rotor has a communication flow path that communicates the fourth port and the fifth port regardless of whether the valve rotor is in the first rotation position or the second rotation position.

4. A valve chamber in which at least three ports, namely at least a first port, a second port, and a third port, are arranged in this order as openings arranged in the circumferential direction in a cylindrical wall portion centered on a rotation axis; At least three external flow paths arranged outside the valve chamber and communicating separately with at least the three ports of the first port, the second port, and the third port; A valve rotor that is rotatably accommodated around the rotation axis with respect to the valve chamber and switches the flow of fluid between the plurality of ports by a rotational operation is provided. The valve rotor has a valve flow path that enables the flow of fluid between the first port and the second port in a state where the valve rotor is set to the first rotation position, and the valve rotor is rotated from the first rotation position by a predetermined angle. In a state where the valve rotor is set to the second rotation position, the first port extends along the circumferential direction of the wall portion corresponding to the predetermined angle in order to enable the flow of fluid between the first port and the third port through the valve flow path. A first buffer portion is formed between the external flow path corresponding to the first port and the first port, covering the entire first port and having a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path, thereby forming a space. A rotary valve in which the flow path cross-sectional area of the valve flow path is larger than the flow path cross-sectional area at the boundary between the first buffer portion and the first port.

5. In addition to the first port, the second port, and the third port, the valve chamber further includes a fourth port and a fifth port in this order. The rotary valve according to claim 4, wherein the valve rotor has a communication flow path that communicates the fourth port and the fifth port regardless of whether the valve rotor is in the first rotation position or the second rotation position.

6. A valve chamber in which at least three ports, namely, a first port, a second port, and a third port, are arranged in this order as openings arranged in the circumferential direction on a cylindrical wall portion centered on the rotation axis, At least three external flow paths that are arranged outside the valve chamber and communicate with the at least three ports of the first port, the second port, and the third port respectively, A valve rotor that is rotatably accommodated around the rotation axis with respect to the valve chamber and switches the flow of fluid between the plurality of ports by a rotational operation is provided. The valve rotor has a valve flow path that allows fluid to flow between the first port and the second port in a state where the valve rotor is set to the first rotation position, and allows fluid to flow between the first port and the third port through the valve flow path in a state where the valve rotor is rotated by a predetermined angle from the first rotation position and set to the second rotation position. Therefore, the first port extends along the circumferential direction of the wall portion corresponding to the predetermined angle. A first buffer portion is formed between the external flow path corresponding to the first port and the first port, which covers the entire first port and has a circumferential width larger than the circumferential width of the valve flow path, to form a space. In addition to the first port, the second port, and the third port, the valve chamber further includes a fourth port and a fifth port in this order. The valve rotor is a rotary valve having a communication flow path that communicates the fourth port and the fifth port regardless of whether the valve rotor is in the first rotation position or the second rotation position.

7. The rotary valve according to any one of claims 3, 5, and 6, wherein a buffer portion covering the entire port is formed between at least one of the fourth port and the fifth port and the external flow path corresponding to the port.

8. The rotary valve according to any one of claims 3, 5, 6, and 7, wherein the communication flow path of the valve rotor is formed by a control surface that is recessed in the direction of the rotation axis inside the wall portion of the valve chamber.

9. The rotary valve according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first buffer portion is a space having an outer wall surface protruding outward from the outer surface of the wall portion.

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