Pressure regulating valve

Abstract

To provide a pressure control valve capable of smoothly performing mounting work and removal work for a fluid path.SOLUTION: A pressure control valve 100a is inserted into a fluid path, and comprises a valve body 10 having a bottomed cylindrical shape and provided with a valve seat 12a, and a valve element 20 that moves in an axial direction L and seats on or unseats relative to the valve seat 12a. The valve body 10 is integrally provided with removal direction biasing means 80, and in a mounting state where the valve body 10 is inserted into the fluid path by fixing means C that is in contact with one end part of the valve body 10, the removal direction biasing means 80 has a biasing force that biases the valve body 10 in a removal direction of the fluid path. Consequently, it is possible for the pressure control valve 100a to be smoothly mounted and removed for the fluid path.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure regulating valve provided with a take-out direction biasing means.

Background Art

[0002] Depending on the user's application, pressure regulating valves have been desired to be installed in various piping routes, particularly in fluid paths formed within a piping block for weight reduction and space saving.

[0003] Here, as shown in FIG. 14, Patent Document 1 describes a check valve 1400 (hereinafter referred to as a "conventional pressure regulating valve") including a valve body 1410 having a valve seat 1412 and a valve element 1420 that seats or unseats with respect to the valve seat 1412. The check valve 1400 is inserted into an accommodation space As formed in the vertical direction of a piping block B14 and is in fluid communication with a primary side flow path Fp1 and a secondary side flow path Fp2.

[0004] Further, Patent Document 1 describes that, in order to mitigate the impact caused by the collision between the valve element 1420 and the valve seat 1412 and to prevent rattling of the check valve 1400 within the accommodation space As, a wave washer 1480 is disposed on the inner side of the accommodation space As before inserting the check valve 1400 into the accommodation space As. Thereby, in the mounted state, the wave washer 1480 generates a biasing force in the take-out direction on the check valve 1400.

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, as a biasing member in the take-out direction, a wave washer 1480 that is separate from the check valve 1400 is adopted, and this wave washer 1480 is installed on the bottom surface of the accommodation space As by dropping due to its own weight in the vertical direction (particularly, see paragraphs

[0025] ,

[0028] -

[0032] and FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1). Therefore, it mainly had the following four problems.

[0006] Firstly, with conventional pressure regulating valves, the appropriate wave washer 1480 is selected at the installation site and placed in the containment space As. However, due to human error, there was a risk that the wrong wave washer 1480 (for example, one with a spring constant smaller than the desired one) might be used (hereinafter referred to as "Conventional Problem 1 (Use of the wrong biasing member at the installation site)").

[0007] Secondly, conventional pressure regulating valves utilize the vertical drop of the wave washer 1480 and are installed at the bottom of the containment space As, meaning they assume that the containment space As opens vertically upwards. Therefore, they cannot be used when the containment space As opens horizontally to the side or vertically downwards (hereinafter referred to as "Conventional Problem 2 (Restrictions on Installation Direction)").

[0008] Thirdly, with conventional pressure regulating valves, it is necessary to remove them from the housing space As during maintenance. The corrugated washer 1480 used here has a relatively small axial length and a small biasing force in the removal direction. Therefore, if there is any foreign matter caught between the outer surface of the valve body 1410 and the inner surface of the housing space As, the biasing force of the corrugated washer 1480 alone may not be sufficient to remove the conventional pressure regulating valve (hereinafter referred to as "Conventional Problem 3 (Difficulty in Removal Due to Small Biasing Force)").

[0009] As a third countermeasure, it is conceivable to use a biasing member with a relatively large axial length and a strong biasing force in the removal direction, such as a coil spring, instead of the wave washer 1480. However, the larger the axial length of the biasing member, the more likely it is to be positioned with bends or tilts relative to the axial direction. Under such circumstances, when removing a conventional pressure regulating valve from the housing space As, the biasing force acts in a direction tilted relative to the axial direction, which can cause galling between the outer surface of the valve body 1410 and the inner wall of the housing space As, potentially making removal more difficult (hereinafter referred to as "Conventional Problem 4 (Difficulty in Removal Due to Tilted Biasing Force)"). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-184820 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a pressure regulating valve that allows for smooth installation and removal of fluids from a fluid path. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To solve the above problems, a pressure regulating valve inserted in a fluid path is a pressure regulating valve inserted in a fluid path, having a bottomed cylindrical shape and comprising a valve body provided with a valve seat, and a valve element that moves in the axial direction and seats or separates from the valve seat, wherein the valve body is integrally provided with a withdrawal direction biasing means, and in a mounting state in which the valve body is inserted in the fluid path by a fixing means that abuts against one end of the valve body, the withdrawal direction biasing means has a biasing force that biases the valve body in the withdrawal direction of the fluid path.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned pressure regulating valve, the biasing force of the extraction direction biasing means may be set to be greater than the force that the valve body receives from the fluid pressure, so that the valve body does not move in the installation direction due to the fluid pressure in the installed state.

[0014] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned pressure regulating valve, the valve body may include a stopper portion, and in the installed state, the stopper portion may contact the fluid path, thereby restricting the amount of deformation that occurs in the extraction direction biasing means.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned pressure regulating valve, a sealing member may be sandwiched between the outer circumferential surface of the valve body and the inner circumferential surface of the fluid path in the installed state, and the amount of deformation of the extraction direction biasing means may be set to be greater than the distance the sealing member moves in the axial direction in a compressed state when the valve body is inserted into the fluid path.

[0016] Furthermore, the pressure regulating valve may further include a pressure-sensitive bellows unit that biases the valve body toward the valve seat, wherein the pressure-sensitive bellows unit has a boss portion that protrudes toward the other end, and the boss portion has a crimped portion that fits and fixes into an opening provided at the bottom of the valve body and an opening provided in the extraction direction biasing means, respectively.

[0017] Furthermore, in the above-described pressure regulating valve, the valve body may include a body and a valve seat portion having the valve seat, and further comprises a position adjustment portion capable of displacing the axial relative position of the body and the valve seat portion, wherein the position adjustment portion defines the overall length of the valve body in the axial direction.

[0018] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned pressure regulating valve, the extraction direction biasing means may have a fixing portion that is directly or indirectly fixed to the bottom of the valve body, a contact portion that contacts the fluid path in the installed state, and a connecting portion that connects the fixing portion and the contact portion.

[0019] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned pressure regulating valve, the valve body may have a bottomed cylindrical shape opening at one end, and a pressure equalization passage extending in the axial direction may be provided in the valve body in order to equalize the pressure in the containment space defined between the other end of the valve body and the fluid path.

[0020] Furthermore, in the above-described pressure regulating valve, a joint portion is formed on one end of the main body and the valve seat portion to fix them together, one end of the valve seat portion has a pressing portion that is pressed by the fixing means, and the joint portion is formed on the other end of the pressing portion.

[0021] Also, as a connection structure, the pressure regulating valve and the fixing means having a shape corresponding to the opening of the fluid path may be inserted into the fluid path to connect the pressure regulating valve to the fluid path.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pressure regulating valve capable of smoothly performing the attachment work and the removal work with respect to the fluid path.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is an explanatory drawing showing a pressure regulating valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a longitudinal sectional view of the pressure regulating valve, (b) is a longitudinal sectional view of the biasing member used in (a), and (c) is a top view of the biasing member shown in (b), respectively. [Figure 2] It is an explanatory drawing of the biasing member in Modifications 1 to 3 of the biasing member of the first embodiment, where (a) and (b) are a longitudinal sectional view and a top view in Modification 1 of the biasing member of the first embodiment, (c) and (d) are a longitudinal sectional view and a top view in Modification 2 of the biasing member of the first embodiment, and (e) and (f) are a longitudinal sectional view and a top view in Modification 3 of the biasing member of the first embodiment, respectively. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view showing the attachment operation and the removal operation of the pressure regulating valve shown in FIG. 1 with respect to the piping block. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view showing the state where the pressure regulating valve shown in FIG. 3 is attached to the piping block, where (a) is an overall view and (b) is an enlarged view of the region surrounded by the broken line IVb shown in (a), respectively. [Figure 5] It is an explanatory drawing of a modification of the pressure equalizing path of the first embodiment, which is an enlarged view of the region surrounded by the broken line V shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is an explanatory drawing of a modification of the position adjustment joint portion of the first embodiment, which is an enlarged view of the region surrounded by the broken line VI shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 7]This is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the sealing member of the first embodiment, where (a) is an overall view (corresponding to Figure 4(a)) and (b) is an enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dashed line VIIb shown in (a) (corresponding to Figure 4(b)). [Figure 8] This is an explanatory diagram of a modified example 1 of the stopper portion of the first embodiment (corresponding to Figure 4(a)). [Figure 9] This is an explanatory diagram of a modified example 2 of the stopper portion of the first embodiment, where (a) is an enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dashed line IXa shown in Figure 8, and (b) and (c) are a longitudinal cross-sectional view and a top view of the stopper member used in (a), respectively. [Figure 10] This is an explanatory diagram of a modified example 3 of the stopper portion of the first embodiment, and is an enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dashed line X shown in Figure 8. [Figure 11] This is an explanatory diagram (corresponding to Figure 4(a)) showing a pressure regulating valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] This is an explanatory diagram showing a pressure regulating valve according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is an overall view (corresponding to Figure 4(a)), (b) and (c) are a longitudinal cross-sectional view and a top view of the stopper member used in (a), and (d) and (e) are a longitudinal cross-sectional view and a top view of the biasing member used in (a), respectively. [Figure 13] This is an explanatory diagram of a modified biasing unit according to the third embodiment, where (a) is an overall view (corresponding to Figure 4(a)), and (b) and (c) are a longitudinal cross-sectional view and a top view of the stopper member used in (a), respectively. [Figure 14] This is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional pressure regulating valve. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 13. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0025] <About Terminology> In this specification and the claims, “left,” “right,” “up,” and “down” refer to the directions shown in Figures 1(a),(b), 2(a),(c),(e), 3 to 8, 9(a),(b), 10 to 11, 12(a),(b),(d), and 13(a),(b). In this specification and the claims, “one end” and “the other end” refer to the “lower end” and “upper end” in the drawings. In this specification and the claims, “effective pressure-receiving area of ​​the pressure-sensitive bellows” refers to the pressure-receiving area as an approximate value calculated based on the average diameter of the minimum inner diameter of the bellows shape (the inner diameter of the “valley” portion of the bellows shape projecting toward the central axis side of the pressure-sensitive bellows) and the maximum outer diameter (the outer diameter of the “peak” portion of the bellows shape projecting away from the central axis side of the pressure-sensitive bellows). In this specification and the claims, “position adjustment section” means “a configuration that allows for displacement of the axial relative positions of the main body and the valve seat.” In this specification and the claims, “mounting direction” and “removal direction” mean “the direction of movement when mounting and removing the pressure regulating valve from the fluid path.” In this specification and the claims, “removal direction biasing means” means “means having a biasing force that biases the valve body in the removal direction of the fluid path when the valve body is mounted in the fluid path (for example, a biasing member (one-legged leaf spring, two-legged leaf spring, three-legged leaf spring, four-legged leaf spring) or a biasing unit (a coil spring that biases via a contact member)).” In this specification and the claims, “seal member sliding distance” means “the distance the seal member moves in a compressed state when the valve body is inserted into the fluid path.” In this specification and the claims, “force exerted on the valve body by fluid pressure” means “the product of the differential pressure exerted on one end and the other end of the valve body in the closed state and the cross-sectional area of ​​the valve body.” In this specification and the claims, “fixing means” means “a means of holding the valve body axially within the fluid path (for example, a connector having a shape corresponding to the opening of the fluid path, or a C-shaped ring that generates radial elastic force provided in the inner circumferential groove of the fluid path).” In this specification and the claims, “connecting structure” means “a structure for connecting a pressure regulating valve to a fluid path.”In this specification and in the claims, “pressure regulating valve unit” means “a unit comprising a pressure regulating valve and a fixing means.”

[0026] (First Embodiment) <About the configuration of the pressure regulating valve> A pressure regulating valve 100a according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. The pressure regulating valve 100a mainly consists of a valve body 10, a valve element 20, a slide unit 30, an adjustment spring unit 40, a pressure-sensitive bellows unit 50, a sliding contact member 70, and a biasing member 80 (extraction direction biasing means). The components of the pressure regulating valve 100a will be described in order below. A high-pressure primary pressure P1 is introduced into the primary port 1A, while a low-pressure secondary pressure P2 is introduced into the secondary port 1B.

[0027] As will be described in detail later, the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment has a desired biasing member 80 integrally attached to the valve body 10 before shipment, and when the valve body 10 is installed in the fluid path, the desired biasing member 80 has a biasing force that biases the valve body 10 in the direction of fluid extraction. As a result, the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment eliminates all of the conventional problems 1 (using the wrong biasing member at the installation site), 2 (restrictions on the installation direction), 3 (difficulty in extraction due to insufficient biasing force), and 4 (difficulty in extraction due to inclined biasing force), and enables smooth installation and extraction of the pressure regulating valve 100a from the fluid path.

[0028] The valve body 10 is made of a metal such as stainless steel or aluminum, and comprises a bottomed cylindrical body 11 and a valve seat portion 12 which is separate from the body 11 and has a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0029] The main body 11 defines a housing chamber A inside, and has multiple (for example, four) lateral holes 11a arranged evenly in the circumferential direction when viewed from the direction of axis L, defining secondary port 1B. In addition, an opening 11o coaxial with axis L is formed in the bottom 11u of the main body 11.

[0030] The valve seat portion 12 comprises an annular valve seat 12a, an inner circumferential surface 12b defining the primary side port 1A, a pair of rotary tool insertion portions 12c formed on one end surface and arranged symmetrically across the axis L, and an open end 12d provided on one end side.

[0031] The valve body 20 is made of a metal such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze and has a substantially disc shape. The valve body 20 comprises an annular valve portion 21 and a boss portion 22 that protrudes from one end on the same axis as the axis L.

[0032] The valve portion 21 has a larger outer diameter than the valve seat 12a and moves in the axial direction L to seat on or off the valve seat 12a. The boss portion 22 fits into the opening of the sliding contact member 70.

[0033] The slide unit 30 comprises a cylindrical cylinder member 31 fixed to the valve body 20 at one end, a connecting member 32 that abuts against a fixing fitting 52 at the other end due to the biasing force of the valve spring 41, and a piston member 33 whose other end is crimped and fixed to the connecting member 32, with one end supported by the cylinder member 31 so as to be able to move back and forth. The slide unit 30 is provided inside the pressure-sensitive bellows 51. Here, the valve spring 41 is held in a pressed state between the cylinder member 31 and the connecting member 32. Therefore, the slide unit 30 transmits the biasing force of the valve spring 41 to the pressure-sensitive bellows 51, thereby biasing the pressure-sensitive bellows 51 in the extension direction along the axis L.

[0034] The adjustment spring unit 40 includes a valve spring 41, which is a compression spring, and an adjustment screw portion 42 (position adjustment portion) that can displace the relative position of the main body 11 and the valve seat portion 12 in the axial direction L. The adjustment screw portion 42 expands and contracts the valve spring 41 and the pressure-sensitive bellows 51 to adjust the biasing force on the valve body 20.

[0035] The adjustment screw portion 42 consists of a main body side adjustment screw portion 42a formed on the inner circumferential surface of one end of the main body 11 and a valve seat side adjustment screw portion 42b formed on the outer circumferential surface of the other end of the valve seat portion 12, and they are screwed together. Here, the position adjustment work of the valve seat portion 12 relative to the valve body 20 is performed before shipment by engaging an adjustment jig (not shown) with a pair of rotary tool insertion portions 12c, and rotating the valve seat portion 12 relative to the main body 11 via the adjustment screw portion 42, moving it in the direction of the axis L. This adjusts the expansion and contraction of the valve spring 41 and the pressure-sensitive bellows 51, that is, the biasing force on the valve body 20, and sets the valve to open at the desired valve opening pressure setting value. Furthermore, after adjusting the biasing force on the valve body 20 by the position adjustment work, with the valve body 20 biased to the valve seat portion 12, a welded portion W is provided to continuously fix the open end 12d of the valve seat portion 12 and the open end 11d of the main body 11 to each other in the circumferential direction by welding or the like. Therefore, before shipment, the adjustment screw portion 42 (position adjustment portion) defines the total length La (see Figure 4(a)) of the valve body 10 in the axial direction L.

[0036] The pressure-sensitive bellows unit 50 is made of a metal such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze, and comprises a pressure-sensitive bellows 51 formed by press molding into a bellows shape extending in the axial direction L, and a fixing bracket 52 having a substantially disc shape.

[0037] The pressure-sensitive bellows 51 is welded to one end of the valve body 20 on the outer circumference side and to the other end of the fixing bracket 52 on the outer circumference side, thereby sealing the inside.

[0038] Here, the effective pressure-receiving area of ​​the pressure-sensitive bellows 51 is set to match the pressure-receiving area of ​​the valve body 20 surrounded by the valve seat 12. As a result, the upward force acting on the pressure-sensitive bellows 51 and the downward force acting on the valve body 20 due to the secondary pressure P2 cancel each other out. Therefore, the valve body 20 is not affected by the secondary pressure P2, and the opening degree of the valve body 20 can be variably controlled in accordance with fluctuations in the primary pressure P1. Note that the dimensions of each part of the pressure regulating valve 100a can be set not only using the pressure-receiving area (effective pressure-receiving area) as an approximate value calculated based on the average inner diameter of the minimum and maximum inner diameters of the bellows shape, but also using the actual pressure-receiving area obtained through experiments.

[0039] Furthermore, the fixing bracket 52 has a boss portion 52a that protrudes from the other end on the same axis as the axis L. This fixing bracket 52 is fitted and fixed to the main body 11 and the biasing member 80, respectively, via a crimping portion Ri of the boss portion 52a.

[0040] The sliding contact member 70 is made of a metal such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze, and is a relatively thin and elastic member formed by press working. The sliding contact member 70 also comprises an annular fixing portion 71 having an opening coaxial with the axis L, a plurality of leg portions 72 connected to the outer circumference of the annular fixing portion 71, extending to one end in the direction of the axis L and arranged on the same circumference when viewed from the direction of the axis L (in this example, eight are arranged at equal intervals on the same circumference), and a curved portion 73 formed between one end and the other end of the leg portion 72, having a convex shape relative to the inner circumferential surface 12b of the valve seat portion 12. After the boss portion 22 is fitted into the opening of the sliding contact member 70, the sliding contact member 70 is joined to the valve body 20 via a welded portion (not shown) formed by spot welding or the like. Furthermore, since the curved portion 73 has a convex shape relative to the inner circumferential surface 12b of the valve seat portion 12, the curved portion 73 slides against the inner circumferential surface 12b of the valve seat portion 12 in substantially point contact.

[0041] <Regarding biasing members> The biasing member 80 is composed of a bipedal leaf spring, and is formed by press working from a relatively thin and elastic member made of a metal such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze. The biasing member 80 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the direction of the axis L (see Figure 1(c)) and includes a fixing portion 80b having an opening 80a coaxial with the axis L, a pair of contact portions 80c having a substantially rectangular shape and arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis L, and a pair of connecting portions 80d extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis L when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis L (see Figure 1(b)), connecting the outside of the fixing portion 80b and the inside of the contact portions 80c. Here, the boss portion 52a of the fixing bracket 52 is fitted into the opening 11o provided in the bottom portion 11u of the main body 11 and the opening 80a provided in the biasing member 80, respectively, and then fitted and fixed to each other via the crimping portion Ri. As a result, the biasing member 80 can be integrally mounted on the valve body 10 without requiring any additional members.

[0042] Thus, the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment can eliminate conventional problems 1 (using the wrong biasing member at the installation site) and 2 (restrictions on the installation direction) by integrally attaching the desired biasing member 80 to the valve body 10 before shipment. Furthermore, by constructing the biasing member 80 from a bipedal leaf spring, it can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

[0043] As mentioned above, the total length La of the valve body 10 (see Figure 4(a)) is defined by the adjustment screw portion 42 before shipment. Therefore, even if multiple pressure regulating valves 100a are set to the same valve opening pressure setting value, there will be individual differences in the total length La. In contrast, in the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment, a biasing member 80 capable of generating an appropriate biasing force can be selected based on the total length La of the valve body 10, which varies from unit to unit, before shipment, and then integrally installed on the valve body 10. This allows for smoother extraction of fluid from the fluid path.

[0044] <Regarding variations in biasing members> In the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment, a bipedal leaf spring is used as the biasing member 80, which is the biasing means for the extraction direction, but it is not limited to this. As defined in the <About Terminology> above, the "extraction direction biasing means" is "a means that has a biasing force to bias the valve body in the extraction direction of the fluid path when the valve body is attached to the fluid path." Therefore, any configuration can be adopted for the biasing member as long as it has a biasing force to bias the valve body in the extraction direction of the fluid path. Here, we will specifically describe modifications 1 to 3 of the biasing member of the first embodiment, in which a tripod leaf spring, a quadruple leaf spring, and a monopod leaf spring are used.

[0045] <Modified versions 1 and 2 of the biasing member according to the first embodiment> The biasing members 81 and 82 are composed of a tripod leaf spring and a quadruple leaf spring, as shown in Figures 2(a) to 2(d). Specifically, the biasing members 81 and 82 have a circular shape when viewed from the direction of the axis L (see Figures 2(b) and 2(d)) and include fixed parts 81b and 82b with openings 81a and 82a coaxial with the axis L, three or four contact parts 81c and 82c that are roughly rectangular in shape and evenly spaced in the circumferential direction, and three or four connecting parts 81d and 82d that extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis L (see Figures 2(a) and 2(c)) and connect the outside of the fixed parts 81b and 82b to the inside of the contact parts 81c and 82c. As a result, the biasing members 81 and 82 have a larger number of contact portions 81c and 82c that are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction compared to the biasing member 80, thus eliminating circumferential bias and generating a more stable biasing force on the valve body 10. Furthermore, the biasing members 81 and 82 can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

[0046] <Modified example 3 of the biasing member in the first embodiment> As shown in Figures 2(e) and 2(f), the biasing member 83 is composed of a single-leg leaf spring and has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the direction of the axis L (see Figure 2(f)). It comprises a fixed portion 83b having an opening 83a coaxial with the axis L, a contact portion 83c having a convex shape on one end when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis L (see Figure 2(e)), and a connecting portion 83d that connects the outer surfaces of the fixed portion 83b and the contact portion 83c with a curve. As a result, the biasing member 83 can relatively easily increase the amount of deflection from the natural length state to the deformed state compared to the biasing member 80, that is, it can relatively increase the biasing force on the valve body 10. Furthermore, the biasing member 83 can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

[0047] <Regarding the installation and removal of pressure regulating valves> From here, using Figure 3, the shapes of the main body 11, the piping block B, and the connector C of the pressure regulating valve 100a equipped with the biasing member 80 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0048] The main body 11 has a large-diameter section 11L and a small-diameter section 11S formed along the axial direction L, with the outer diameter gradually decreasing from the open end 11d towards the bottom 11u. A constricted section 11n is formed between the large-diameter section 11L and the small-diameter section 11S, which are continuously connected.

[0049] The piping block B has an insertion hole along the axis L, and a first housing groove G1 (opening) and an annular groove Ga are formed at one end of this insertion hole. The inner diameter of the first housing groove G1 is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 11L of the main body 11. A secondary flow path Fp2, formed perpendicular to the axis L, is connected to the annular groove Ga. In addition, a second housing groove G2 is formed in the insertion hole along the axis L, tapering in a stepped manner from the annular groove Ga to the other end. The inner diameter of the second housing groove G2 is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 11S of the main body 11, forming a pressure equalization path Ep. Furthermore, an annular seal groove Gs is formed at the other end of the first housing groove G1, which houses a first O-ring Or1 (sealing member). Furthermore, a screw hole Sh is formed on one end face Bs of the piping block B. In this way, a housing space As (fluid path) capable of accommodating the valve body 10 is formed in the piping block B along the axial direction L.

[0050] The connector C (fixing means) holds the valve body 10 in the axial direction L within the fluid path and has a shape corresponding to the opening of the fluid path. It has a flange Cf that protrudes radially outward from one end to the other, an insertion part Ci that is inserted into the insertion hole of the piping block B, and a contact surface Cc formed on the other end of the insertion part Ci. A mounting hole Ch is provided in this flange Cf. As will be described in detail later, a fastening screw Sw (see Figure 4) is inserted into this mounting hole Ch. In addition, a connector annular seal groove Cg that accommodates a second O-ring Or2 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the insertion part Ci. Furthermore, the connector C has a primary side flow path Fp1 that is coaxial with the axis L. In the first embodiment, the connector C has a shape corresponding to the opening of the fluid path, but it is not limited to this, and any form that holds the valve body 10 in the axial direction L within the fluid path is acceptable, such as a C-shaped ring provided in the inner circumferential groove of the fluid path that generates elastic force in the radial direction.

[0051] <Regarding installation and removal procedures> The installation and removal operations of the pressure regulating valve 100a to and from the piping block B will be explained using Figures 3 and 4. Note that (1) to (4) below correspond to the reference numerals indicated in Figure 3.

[0052] <Regarding installation procedures> (1) The pressure regulating valve 100a is moved to the other end in the axial direction L (upper part of Figure 3) and inserted into the first housing groove G1 (opening) of the piping block B. Then, the biasing member 80 is moved to the other end in the axial direction L until the contact portion 80c of the biasing member 80 contacts the bottom surface Gb at the other end of the housing space As. At this time, the first O-ring Or1 positioned in the annular seal groove Gs is not in contact with the large diameter portion 11L of the main body 11 and is in an uncompressed state. As a result, although the details will be described later, the deformation amount L1 of the biasing member 80 can be set to be larger than the sliding distance L2 of the seal member (see Figures 4(a) and (b)).

[0053] (2) The connector C is moved to the other end in the axial direction L (upper side of Figure 3) and inserted into the first housing groove G1 (opening) of the piping block B, and the contact surface Cc of the connector C is brought into contact with the open end 12d of the valve seat portion 12, which is one end of the valve body 10. Then, as shown in Figure 4, the fastening screw Sw is screwed into the screw hole Sh of the piping block B through the mounting hole Ch of the connector C, and the connector C is moved to the other end in the axial direction L until the flange Cf of the connector C comes into contact with one end surface Bs of the piping block B. As a result, the pressure regulating valve 100a is inserted into the housing space As (fluid path) of the piping block B.

[0054] At this time, as the valve body 10 is pressed by the connector C, it moves toward the other end in the direction of the axis L, causing the contact portion 80c of the biasing member 80 to contact the bottom surface Gb of the housing space As, and the connecting portion 80d of the biasing member 80 to bend toward one end by a deformation amount L1 in the direction of the axis L (bending from the natural length state shown by the dashed line in Figure 4 to the deformed state shown by the solid line). Also, as shown in Figure 4(b), the first O-ring Or1 slides and is clamped between the annular seal groove Gs and the large diameter portion 11L of the main body 11 by a distance (hereinafter referred to as the "seal member sliding distance") L2 in a compressed state, sealing the gap between the valve body 10 and the piping block B. Here, the deformation amount L1 of the biasing member 80 is set to be greater than the seal member sliding distance L2 (L1 > L2).

[0055] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4(a), the biasing force FB of the biasing member 80 is set to be greater than the force FD that the valve body 10 receives from the fluid pressure when installed (FB > FD). The force FD that the valve body 10 receives from the fluid pressure is the product of the differential pressure received by one end and the other end of the valve body 10 and the cross-sectional area of ​​the valve body 10 when the pressure regulating valve 100a is closed ((P1 - P2) × (D / 2)). 2 The diagram shows ×π, where P1 is the primary pressure, P2 is the secondary pressure, and D is the maximum diameter of the valve body 10. Here, a pressure equalization path Ep is formed in the gap between the small diameter portion 11S of the body 11 and the second housing groove G2, which constantly maintains fluid communication between the housing space As defined on the other end side of the valve body 10 and the secondary flow path Fp2. Therefore, when the valve is closed, the secondary pressure P2 is introduced to the other end side of the valve body 10. Also, one end side of the valve body 10, that is, the open end 12d of the valve seat portion 12 and the contact surface Cc of the connector C are in contact, but microscopically, fluid is entering. Therefore, when the valve is closed, the primary pressure P1 is introduced to one end side of the valve body 10. As a result, in the installed state, the biasing force FB of the biasing member 80 is always greater than the force FD received from the fluid pressure, so the state in which the valve body 10 contacts the connector can be maintained at all times. As a result, the valve body 10 moves in the mounting direction (upward in Figure 4(a)) due to fluid pressure, and it is possible to reliably prevent the connecting portion 80d of the biasing member 80 from being damaged due to excessive deformation.

[0056] <Regarding the removal process> (3) Remove the fastening screw Sw shown in Figure 4 from the screw hole Sh of the piping block B, and move the connector C to one end in the direction of axis L (downward in Figure 3).

[0057] (4) Simultaneously with the operation in (3), the biasing force FB of the biasing member 80 in the extraction direction causes the valve body 10 to automatically move to one end in the axial direction L (downward in Figure 3). Here, as mentioned above, the deformation amount L1 of the biasing member 80 is set to be greater than the sliding distance L2 of the seal member (L1 > L2). Therefore, the restoring force of the biasing member 80 from the deformed state to the natural length state causes the valve body 10 to move a distance corresponding to the deformation amount L1 of the biasing member 80. As a result, in the extraction operation, the valve body 10 moves a distance corresponding to the deformation amount L1 of the biasing member 80, which is greater than the sliding distance L2 of the seal member, so the valve body 10 can be reliably moved to a state where the sliding resistance of the first O-ring Or1 is not applied to the valve body 10.

[0058] Thus, in the first embodiment, the pressure regulating valve 100a, when the valve body 10 is installed in the fluid path, has a desired biasing member 80 that has a biasing force that biases the valve body 10 in the direction of fluid extraction from the fluid path, thereby solving the conventional problems 3 (difficulty in extraction due to small biasing force) and 4 (difficulty in extraction due to inclined biasing force). As a result, in the first embodiment, the installation and extraction operations of the pressure regulating valve 100a from the fluid path can be performed smoothly.

[0059] <About the operation of the pressure regulating valve> Here, the operation of the pressure regulating valve 100a will be explained using Figure 4. In the pressure regulating valve 100a, a high primary pressure P1 is introduced into the primary port 1A, and a low secondary pressure P2 is introduced into the secondary port 1B. Here, the multiple curved portions 73 of the sliding contact member 70 are pressed by the radially outward elastic force of the multiple legs 72, and therefore have sliding resistance against the inner circumferential surface 12b of the valve seat portion 12.

[0060] First, as shown in Figure 4, when the pressure regulating valve 100a is in the closed state, an opening force due to the differential pressure acts on the valve body 20 when the pressure at the primary port 1A rises. However, the valve body 20 does not separate from the valve seat 12a until this opening force exceeds the combined force of the biasing force of the pressure-sensitive bellows 51 and valve spring 41 and the sliding resistance at the curved portion 73 of the sliding contact member 70.

[0061] Next, in the open state of the pressure regulating valve 100a (not shown), the pressure at the primary port 1A rises further, and when the valve opening force acting on the valve body 20 exceeds the combined force of the biasing force of the pressure-sensitive bellows 51 and valve spring 41 and the sliding resistance at the curved portion 73 of the sliding contact member 70, the valve body 20 separates from the valve seat 12a, and fluid flows from the primary port 1A to the secondary port 1B (see the flow shown by the dashed line in Figure 4(a)).

[0062] Furthermore, when the pressure in the primary port 1A decreases, the valve opening force acting on the valve body 20 falls below the combined force of the biasing force of the pressure-sensitive bellows 51 and valve spring 41 and the sliding resistance at the curved portion 73 of the sliding contact member 70, and the valve body 20 seats on the valve seat 12a again.

[0063] As described above, the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment can eliminate conventional problems 1 (using the wrong biasing member at the installation site) and 2 (restrictions on the installation direction) by integrally providing the desired biasing member 80 to the valve body 10 before shipment. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment, when the valve body 10 is installed in the fluid path, the desired biasing member 80 has a biasing force that biases the valve body 10 in the direction of fluid extraction, thereby eliminating conventional problems 3 (difficulty in extraction due to insufficient biasing force) and 4 (difficulty in extraction due to inclined biasing force). As a result, in the first embodiment, the installation and extraction of the pressure regulating valve 100a to the fluid path can be performed smoothly. Moreover, by setting the biasing force FB of the biasing member 80 to be greater than the force FD that the valve body 10 receives from the fluid pressure (FB > FD), it is possible to reliably prevent the biasing member 80 from being damaged due to excessive deformation. In addition, by setting the deformation amount L1 of the biasing member 80 to be greater than the sliding distance L2 of the sealing member (L1 > L2), the valve body 10 can be reliably moved to a state in which the sliding resistance of the first O-ring Or1 is not applied to the valve body 10 during the extraction operation.

[0064] In the first embodiment, the storage space As was described using a configuration that opens vertically downwards. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the storage space As may open horizontally to the side or vertically upwards. In the case where the storage space As opens vertically upwards, the extraction operation can be made smoother by generating an appropriate biasing force in the biasing member 80, taking into account the increase in the weight of the pressure regulating valve 100a.

[0065] (Modified example of the pressure equalization path in the first embodiment) Using Figure 5, the pressure regulating valve 100b in the modified pressure equalizing path of the first embodiment will be described. Note that the pressure regulating valve 100b in the modified pressure equalizing path of the first embodiment differs from the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment in that it forms a pressure equalizing path 11ep at the bottom 11u of the main body 11B, but the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0066] <Concerns (Difficulty in installation and removal due to narrow pressure equalization path)> Here, using Figure 3, we will discuss the concerns that arise when the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment has a pressure equalization path Ep with a relatively narrow flow area.

[0067] In the gap between the small-diameter portion 11S of the main body 11 and the second housing groove G2, a pressure equalization path Ep is formed that constantly maintains fluid communication between the housing space As defined between the other end of the valve body 10 and the fluid path and the secondary side flow path Fp2. When the flow area of ​​this pressure equalization path Ep is relatively narrow, positive and negative pressure is generated in the housing space As during the installation and removal of the pressure regulating valve 100a from the piping block B, causing it to act like a so-called air suspension, which raised concerns that the installation and removal operations could not be performed smoothly (hereinafter referred to as "concern (difficulty in installation and removal operations due to narrow pressure equalization path)").

[0068] <About pressure equalization paths> In contrast, in the pressure regulating valve 100b in the modified pressure equalization path of the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, a pressure equalization path 11ep, which is a through hole extending in the axial direction L, is provided in the bottom 11u of the body 11 in order to equalize the pressure in the containment space As defined between the other end of the body 11 and the fluid path. This pressure equalization path 11ep has a relatively larger flow area than the pressure equalization path Ep formed in the gap between the small diameter portion 11S of the body 11 and the second containment groove G2. As a result, when installing and removing the pressure regulating valve 100b from the piping block B, atmospheric pressure is constantly introduced into the containment space As via the pressure equalization path 11ep, thus eliminating concerns (difficulty in installation and removal due to the narrow pressure equalization path) and enabling reliable and smooth installation and removal operations.

[0069] In the pressure regulating valve 100b in the modified pressure equalization path of the first embodiment, the pressure equalization path 11ep that equalizes the pressure in the containment space As defined between the other end of the main body 11 and the fluid path was described as a through hole provided in the bottom 11u of the main body 11B. However, it is not limited to this, and for example, as the pressure equalization path that equalizes the pressure in this containment space As, a recess extending in the axial direction L is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion 11S facing the second containment groove G2, as shown in Figure 5, thereby increasing the flow area of ​​the pressure equalization path Ep.

[0070] As described above, the pressure regulating valve 100b in the modified pressure equalizing path of the first embodiment can resolve conventional problems from problem 1 (incorrect biasing member used at the installation site) to problem 4 (difficulty in removal due to tilted biasing force), just as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100b in the modified pressure equalizing path of the first embodiment, just as in the first embodiment, the biasing force of the biasing member 80 can be set to be greater than the force that the valve body 10B receives from the fluid pressure, and the deformation amount of the biasing member 80 can be set to be greater than the sliding distance of the seal member, thereby reliably preventing damage to the biasing member 80, and allowing the valve body 10B to be reliably moved to a position where it is not affected by the first O-ring Or1 during the removal operation. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100b in the modified pressure equalization path of the first embodiment, atmospheric pressure is constantly introduced into the housing space As via the pressure equalization path 11ep formed in the bottom 11u of the main body 11B during installation and removal operations. This eliminates concerns (difficulty in installation and removal operations due to the narrow pressure equalization path) and ensures that installation and removal operations can be performed reliably and smoothly.

[0071] (Modified example of the position adjustment joint in the first embodiment) Using Figure 6, the pressure regulating valve 100c in the modified position adjustment joint of the first embodiment will be described. The pressure regulating valve 100c in the modified position adjustment joint of the first embodiment differs from the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment in that the welded joint WC (joint) formed between the valve seat 12C and the main body 11C is formed on the other end side of the open end 12Cd (pressing part) of the valve seat 12C, but the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0072] <Regarding the concern (difficulty in dispensing due to the tilt of the pressure regulating valve caused by the weld)> Here, using Figure 4, we will discuss the concerns that arise when the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment has an inclination with respect to the axis L due to the welded joint W.

[0073] A welded joint W is continuously formed in the circumferential direction on one end of the valve seat portion 12 and the main body 11 to fix them together. This welded joint W does not have a uniform height in the axial direction L along the circumferential direction, but rather has an uneven height in the axial direction L. Therefore, during the installation operation of the pressure regulating valve 100a to the piping block B, the contact surface Cc of the connector C does not contact the open end 12d of the valve seat portion 12, but rather contacts the welded joint W which has an uneven height in the axial direction L along the circumferential direction, and there was a risk that the valve body 10 would be installed in a tilted state with respect to the axis L. As a result, there was a concern that galling would occur between the outer circumferential surface of the valve body 10 and the first housing groove G1 and the second housing groove G2, making it difficult to remove the valve smoothly (hereinafter referred to as "Concern (Difficulty in removal operation due to tilt of the pressure regulating valve caused by the welded joint)").

[0074] <Regarding the joint> In contrast, in the pressure regulating valve 100c in the modified position adjustment joint of the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the welded joint WC (joint) formed between the open end 11Cd of the main body 11C and one end of the valve seat portion 12C is formed on the other end of the open end 12Cd (pressing portion) of the valve seat portion 12C that is pressed by the connector C (fixing means). As a result, in the installation operation of the pressure regulating valve 100c to the piping block B, the contact surface Cc of the connector C reliably contacts the open end 12Cd of the valve seat portion 12, and then the valve body 10C is installed along the axis L. This eliminates the concern (difficulty in removal operation due to tilting of the pressure regulating valve caused by the welded joint) and ensures that installation and removal operations can be performed reliably and smoothly.

[0075] As described above, the pressure regulating valve 100c in the modified position adjustment joint of the first embodiment can resolve conventional problems 1 (incorrect biasing member used at the installation site) to 4 (difficulty in removal due to tilted biasing force), just as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100c in the modified position adjustment joint of the first embodiment, just as in the first embodiment, the biasing force of the biasing member 80 can be set to be greater than the force received by the valve body 10C from the fluid pressure, and the deformation amount of the biasing member 80 can be set to be greater than the sliding distance of the seal member, thereby reliably preventing damage to the biasing member 80, and allowing the valve body 10C to be reliably moved to a position where it is not affected by the first O-ring Or1 during removal. Furthermore, in the modified position adjustment joint of the first embodiment, the pressure regulating valve 100c ensures that the contact surface Cc of the connector C contacts the open end 12Cd of the valve seat 12C. This eliminates concerns (difficulty in removing the pressure regulating valve due to tilting caused by the welded part) and ensures that installation and removal operations are performed smoothly and reliably.

[0076] (Modified example of the sealing member of the first embodiment) Using Figure 7, the pressure regulating valve 100d in the modified seal member of the first embodiment will be described. The pressure regulating valve 100d in the modified seal member of the first embodiment differs from the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment in that the welded portion WD (joint portion) of the adjustment screw portion 42 is provided on the side surface and the valve seat portion 12D has a seal member, but the other configurations are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment. Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0077] First, in the modified seal member of the first embodiment, the position where the welded portion WD (joint) of the adjustment screw portion 42 is provided is the intermediate portion of the valve seat portion 12D and the radially outer side of the open end 11Dd of the main body 11D. Also, in the modified seal member of the first embodiment, the piping block Bd differs from the piping block B of the first embodiment only in that a larger inner diameter housing groove is added to one end of the first housing groove G1, and the numbers 1 to 3 in each housing groove are reassigned sequentially from one end to the other.

[0078] <Regarding concerns (difficulty in dispensing due to tilting of the pressure regulating valve caused by the sealing component)> Here, using Figure 3, we will discuss the concerns that arise in the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment when the sealing member has an inclination with respect to the axis L direction.

[0079] In the first embodiment, the gap between the pressure regulating valve 100a and the piping block B is sealed by sandwiching a first O-ring Or1 (sealing member) between the large-diameter portion 11L of the main body 11 and the annular seal groove Gs during the installation operation of the pressure regulating valve 100a to the piping block B. At this time, it was necessary to first house the first O-ring Or1 in the annular seal groove Gs, and then insert a relatively long distance corresponding to the biasing member 80 and the small-diameter portion 11S of the main body 11 inside the first O-ring Or1 before sandwiching the first O-ring Or1. Therefore, there was a risk that the first O-ring Or1 would detach from the annular seal groove Gs due to sliding with the biasing member 80 and the small-diameter portion 11S of the main body 11 before the first O-ring Or1 was pressed against the large-diameter portion 11L of the main body 11 and a seal was established, and the valve body 10 would be installed in an inclined state with respect to the axis L. As a result, galling occurs between the outer surface of the valve body 10 and the first and second housing grooves G1 and G2, raising concerns that the removal operation may not be smooth (hereinafter referred to as "concern (difficulty in removal operation due to tilting of the pressure regulating valve caused by the sealing member)").

[0080] <Regarding sealing materials> In contrast, in the pressure regulating valve 100d in the modified seal member of the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 7(a), the valve seat portion 12D further comprises a flange portion 12Df provided on one end (see Figure 7(b)) and a valve seat portion annular seal groove 12De provided on the outer circumferential surface of the flange portion 12Df. A first O-ring Or1 having a larger outer diameter than the flange portion 12Df is housed in this valve seat portion annular seal groove 12De.

[0081] Here, in the first embodiment and modified examples of the sealing member of the first embodiment, we examine the possibility that the first O-ring Or1 of each of the pressure regulating valves 100a and 100d may come into contact with other components before compression begins during the installation operation of the pressure regulating valves 100a and 100d to the piping blocks B and Bd.

[0082] First, as described above, in the first embodiment, the biasing member 80 and the small-diameter portion 11S of the main body 11 pass near the inner circumference of the first O-ring Or1 before compression begins. In contrast, in the modified seal member of the first embodiment, the first housing groove G1 passes near the outer circumference of the first O-ring Or1 before compression begins. Therefore, in the modified seal member of the first embodiment, the distance over which other members pass near the first O-ring Or1 is extremely short compared to the first O-ring Or1 in the first embodiment, that is, the possibility of contact is extremely small. This eliminates the concern (difficulty in removal operation due to tilting of the pressure regulating valve caused by the seal member) and ensures that installation and removal operations can be performed reliably and smoothly.

[0083] <Regarding installation and removal procedures> During the installation operation of the pressure regulating valve 100d to the piping block Bd, after the pressure regulating valve 100d is inserted from one end of the first housing groove G1 along the axis L of the piping block Bd, the valve body 10D moves toward the other end in the axis L direction while being pressed by the connector C, causing the biasing member 80 to contact the bottom surface Gb of the housing space As and to bend relatively toward the one end. Here, the amount of deformation L1' of the biasing member 80 (see Figure 7(a)) is set to be greater than the sliding distance L2' of the seal member of the first O-ring Or1 (see Figure 7(b)), similar to the first embodiment (L1'>L2'). As a result, during the removal operation, the valve body 10D moves a distance corresponding to the amount of deformation L1' of the biasing member 80, which is greater than the sliding distance L2' of the seal member, so the valve body 10D can be reliably moved to a state where the sliding resistance of the first O-ring Or1 is not applied to the valve body 10D.

[0084] Furthermore, the biasing force FB' of the biasing member 80 (see Figure 7(a)) is set to be greater than the force FD' (see Figure 7(a)) that the valve body 10D receives from the fluid pressure in the installed state, similar to the first embodiment (FB'>FD'). Note that the force FD' that the valve body 10D receives from the fluid pressure is the product of the differential pressure received by one end and the other end of the valve body 10D and the cross-sectional area of ​​the valve body 10D ((P1-P2)×(D' / 2)) when the pressure regulating valve 100d is in the closed state. 2 The values ​​shown are ×π, P1: primary pressure, P2: secondary pressure, and D': maximum diameter of the valve body 10D). As a result, in the installed state, the biasing force FB' of the biasing member 80 is always greater than the force FD' received from the fluid pressure, so that the valve body 10D can always maintain contact with the connector C. Consequently, the valve body 10D is prevented from moving in the installation direction (upward in Figure 7(a)) due to the fluid pressure, and the connecting portion 80d of the biasing member 80 is reliably prevented from being damaged due to excessive deformation.

[0085] As described above, the pressure regulating valve 100d in the modified seal member of the first embodiment can resolve conventional problems from problem 1 (using the wrong biasing member at the installation site) to problem 4 (difficulty in removal due to tilted biasing force), just as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100d in the modified seal member of the first embodiment, just as in the first embodiment, the biasing force FB' of the biasing member 80 is set to be greater than the force FD' that the valve body 10D receives from the fluid pressure (FB'>FD'), and the deformation amount L1' of the biasing member 80 is set to be greater than the sliding distance L2' of the seal member (L1'>L2'), thereby reliably preventing damage to the biasing member 80, and reliably moving the valve body 10D to a position where it is not affected by the first O-ring Or1 during removal. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100d in the modified seal member of the first embodiment, the welded portion WD is positioned on the side of the valve seat portion 12D, and the contact surface Cc of the connector C reliably contacts the open end 12Dd (pressing portion) of the valve seat portion 12. This eliminates the concern (difficulty in removal operation due to tilting of the pressure regulating valve caused by the welded portion) and ensures that installation and removal operations are performed smoothly and reliably. In addition, in the pressure regulating valve 100d in the modified seal member of the first embodiment, the valve seat portion 12D has a first O-ring Or1 (sealing member), which makes it extremely difficult for other members to come into contact with the first O-ring Or1. This eliminates the concern (difficulty in removal operation due to tilting of the pressure regulating valve caused by the sealing member) and ensures that installation and removal operations are performed smoothly and reliably.

[0086] (Modified example 1 of the stopper portion of the first embodiment) Using Figure 8, the pressure regulating valve 100e in the modified stopper section 1 of the first embodiment will be described. Note that the pressure regulating valve 100e in the modified stopper section 1 of the first embodiment differs from the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment in that the main body 11 has a stopper section 11st, but the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Here, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted. Furthermore, in the modified stopper section 1 of the first embodiment, the piping block Be differs from the piping block B of the first embodiment only in that a third housing groove G3, which has a smaller inner diameter and can accommodate the biasing member 80E, is added to the other end of the second housing groove G2.

[0087] Regarding concerns (difficulty in installation due to the large spring coefficient of the biasing member) and concerns (difficulty in controlling the amount of deformation of the biasing member due to individual differences in the overall length of the valve body)): Here, using Figure 3, we will discuss concerns arising from the large spring constant of the biasing member 80 and individual differences in the overall length La of the valve body 10 in the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment.

[0088] In the pressure regulating valve 100a of the first embodiment, [1] the biasing force FB of the biasing member 80 is set to be greater than the force FD that the valve body 10 receives from the fluid pressure when installed (FB>FD), and [2] the deformation amount L1 of the biasing member 80 is set to be greater than the sliding distance L2 of the seal member of the first O-ring Or1 (L1>L2). In other words, the biasing member 80 of the first embodiment has two functions in a single member: [1] a support function to prevent fluctuation due to fluid pressure, and [2] a movement function to ensure smooth movement during the removal operation. For this reason, depending on the operating conditions of the pressure regulating valve 100a, it may be necessary to make the spring constant of the biasing member 80 relatively large, which may require a relatively large pressing force on the connector C, potentially making the installation operation difficult (hereinafter referred to as "concern (difficulty in installation operation due to large spring constant of biasing member)"). Furthermore, because the total length La in the axial direction L of the valve body 10 varies from one unit to another, there was a risk that it would be difficult to control the amount of deformation L1 of the biasing member 80 during installation work depending on the insertion amount of the connector C (hereinafter referred to as "concern (difficulty in controlling the amount of deformation of the biasing member due to individual differences in the total length of the valve body)").

[0089] <About the stopper part> In contrast, as shown in Figure 8, first, in the piping block Be, an annular step portion St is formed between the second housing groove G2 and the third housing groove G3. Also, in the modified stopper portion 1 of the first embodiment, the pressure regulating valve 100e has a stopper portion 11st formed on the bottom portion 11u of the main body 11 that abuts against the annular step portion St. Here, during the installation operation of the pressure regulating valve 100e to the piping block Be, the stopper portion 11st of the main body 11 abuts against the annular step portion St of the piping block Be before the flange Cf of the connector C abuts against one end face Bs of the piping block Be. For this reason, there is a gap Gp between the flange Cf and one end face Bs. As a result, in the modified stopper part 1 of the first embodiment, [1] the stopper part 11st is provided with a support function to prevent fluctuation due to fluid pressure, while [2] the biasing member 80E (extraction direction biasing means) is provided only with a movement function to ensure smooth movement during the extraction operation, thus eliminating the concern (difficulty in installation operation due to the large spring coefficient of the biasing member). Furthermore, in the modified stopper part 1 of the first embodiment, the amount of deformation of the biasing member 80E is restricted by the stopper part 11st of the main body 11 contacting the annular step portion St of the piping block Be, thus eliminating the concern (difficulty in managing the amount of deformation of the biasing member due to individual differences in the total length of the valve body).

[0090] As described above, in the pressure regulating valve 100e in the modified stopper part 1 of the first embodiment, the conventional problems from problem 1 (incorrect biasing member used at the installation site) to problem 4 (difficulty in removal due to tilted biasing force) can be resolved, just as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100e in the modified stopper part 1 of the first embodiment, just as in the first embodiment, by setting the deformation amount of the biasing member 80 to be greater than the sliding distance of the seal member, the valve body 10E can be reliably moved to a position where it is not affected by the first O-ring Or1 during the removal operation. Moreover, in the pressure regulating valve 100e in the modified stopper part 1 of the first embodiment, [1] the stopper part 11st is provided with a support function to prevent fluctuation due to fluid pressure, while [2] the biasing member 80E is provided only with a movement function to ensure smooth movement during the removal operation, thus resolving the concern (difficulty in installation operation due to the large spring coefficient of the biasing member). In addition, in the pressure regulating valve 100e in the modified stopper section 1 of the first embodiment, the amount of deformation of the biasing member 80E is restricted by the stopper section 11st of the main body 11 contacting the annular step section St of the piping block Be, thus eliminating the concern (difficulty in controlling the amount of deformation of the biasing member due to individual differences in the total length of the valve body).

[0091] (Modified example 2 of the stopper portion of the first embodiment) Using Figure 9, the pressure regulating valve 100f in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment will be described. Note that the pressure regulating valve 100f in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment differs from the pressure regulating valve 100e in the modified stopper part 1 of the first embodiment in that it has a stopper member 14F separate from the main body 11 and employs a biasing member 81, but the other configurations are the same as those of the modified stopper part 1 of the first embodiment. Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and redundant explanations are omitted. Also, the biasing member 81 in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment is the same as the one described using Figures 2(a) and (b), so its description is omitted. Furthermore, the piping block Bf in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment has the same configuration as the piping block B of the first embodiment, so its description is omitted.

[0092] In the modified stopper portion 1 of the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, it is necessary to form an annular step portion St so that the other end of the housing space As of the piping block Be abuts against the stopper portion 11st of the main body 11. Therefore, there was a need to reduce the processing cost of the piping block Be.

[0093] <Regarding stopper components> In contrast, as shown in Figure 9, the pressure regulating valve 100f in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment has a stopper member 14F (stopper part) that is separate from the main body 11. This stopper member 14F is made of a metal such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze, and is a relatively thick and rigid member formed by press working. The stopper member 14F has a tripod and, when viewed from the direction of the axis L (see Figure 9(c)), has a circular shape and comprises a fixed part 14Fb having an opening 14Fa coaxial with the axis L, three contact parts 14Fc that are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction and erected on the other end side in the direction of the axis L, and three spoke parts 14Fs that extend radially when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis L (see Figure 9(b)) and connect the outside of the fixed part 14Fb and the inside of the contact parts 14Fc. Here, the boss portion 52Fa of the fixing bracket 52F is fitted in the order of the opening 11o provided in the bottom portion 11u of the main body 11, the opening 14Fa provided in the stopper member 14F, and the opening 81a provided in the biasing member 81, and then fitted and fixed to each other via the crimping portion Ri. As a result, the stopper member 14F and the biasing member 81 can be integrally provided on the main body 11 without requiring any additional members. Here, the amount of deformation of the biasing member 81 is restricted by the contact portion 14Fc of the stopper member 14F contacting the bottom surface Gb of the piping block Bf. The valve body 10F consists of the main body 11, the valve seat portion 12 (not shown), and the stopper member 14F, and each is integrally formed. This stopper member 14F can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

[0094] As described above, in the pressure regulating valve 100f in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment, the conventional problems from problem 1 (incorrect biasing member used at the installation site) to problem 4 (difficulty in removal due to tilted biasing force) can be resolved, similar to the modified stopper part 1 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100f in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, by setting the deformation amount of the biasing member 81 to be greater than the sliding distance of the seal member, the valve body 10F can be reliably moved to a position where it is not affected by the first O-ring Or1 during the removal operation. Moreover, in the pressure regulating valve 100f in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment, the deformation amount of the biasing member 81 is restricted by the contact portion 14Fc of the stopper member 14F contacting the bottom surface Gb of the piping block Bf, thus resolving concerns (difficulty in installation operation due to large spring coefficient of biasing member) and concerns (difficulty in managing the deformation amount of biasing member due to individual differences in the total length of the valve body). In addition, in the pressure regulating valve 100f in the modified stopper section 2 of the first embodiment, the stopper member 14F can be manufactured at a relatively low cost, and the processing cost of the piping block Bf can be suppressed.

[0095] (Modified example 3 of the stopper portion of the first embodiment) Using Figure 10, the pressure regulating valve 100g in the modified stopper part 3 of the first embodiment will be described. Note that the pressure regulating valve 100g in the modified stopper part 3 of the first embodiment differs from the pressure regulating valve 100f in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment in that it has a stopper member 14G and a biasing unit 80G, but the other configurations are the same as those of the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment. Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and redundant explanations are omitted. Also, the piping block Bg in the modified stopper part 3 of the first embodiment has the same configuration as the piping block B of the first embodiment, so its explanation is omitted.

[0096] In the modified stopper section 2 of the first embodiment, the biasing member 81 is made of a tripod leaf spring, making it difficult to set a relatively large spring constant. However, in order to perform the operation of removing the pressure regulating valve 100f from the housing space As with smoother movement, it was desired to set a relatively large spring constant for the biasing member 81.

[0097] <Regarding stopper members and biasing units> In contrast, as shown in Figure 10, the pressure regulating valve 100g in modified stopper part 3 of the first embodiment has a stopper member 14G and a biasing unit 80G.

[0098] First, the biasing unit 80G (extraction direction biasing means) has a contact member 80Ga which is substantially cylindrical and has a spring support portion 80Gae which is enlarged in diameter near the center, and a biasing member 80Gb which is made of a compression coil spring.

[0099] Next, the stopper member 14G (stopper portion) is made of a metal such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze, and has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape, comprising a cylindrical side wall portion 14Ge, an annular fixing portion 14Gb provided on one end of the side wall portion 14Ge, a restrictor portion 14Gg provided on the other end of the side wall portion 14Ge, a contact portion 14Gc provided on the other end of the restrictor portion 14Gg, and an opening 14Gf provided inside the restrictor portion 14Gg and having an axis coaxial with the axis L.

[0100] The biasing unit 80G is housed within the stopper member 14G with one end of the biasing member 80Gb in contact with the bottom 11u of the main body 11 and the other end of the biasing member 80Gb in contact with the spring support portion 80Gae. The fixing portion 14Gb is then fixed to the bottom 11u of the main body 11 via a welded portion W. As a result, the biasing unit 80G and the stopper member 14G are integrally provided on the main body 11. In this case, the inner circumference of the other end of the biasing member 80Gb is supported by the outer circumference of one end of the contact member 80Ga, so that bending and tilting in the axial direction L are suppressed. Furthermore, in the biasing unit 80G before attaching the pressure regulating valve 100g to the piping block Bg, the spring support portion 80Gae of the contact member 80Ga is pressed by the biasing member 80Gb to the other end in the axial direction L, and one end of the contact member 80Ga (including the contact portion 80Gac) protrudes outward from the opening 14Gf of the stopper member 14G. At this time, the spring support portion 80Gae of the contact member 80Ga is held in contact with the constricted portion 14Gg of the stopper member 14G, which functions as a retainer.

[0101] In the installation operation of the pressure regulating valve 100g to the piping block Bg, the valve body 10G is inserted into the first housing groove G1 (opening) of the piping block Bg and moved toward the other end in the axial direction L (upwards in Figure 10). First, the contact portion 80Gac of the contact member 80Ga comes into contact with the bottom surface Gb of the housing space As. Furthermore, as the valve body 10G is moved toward the other end in the axial direction L, the biasing member 80Gb deforms and shrinks in the axial direction L, causing the contact portion 14Gc of the stopper member 14G to come into contact with the bottom surface Gb of the housing space As. Therefore, the amount of deformation of the biasing member 80Gb is restricted by the contact portion 14Gc of the stopper member 14G coming into contact with the bottom surface Gb of the piping block Bg. As a result, in the modified stopper part 3 of the first embodiment, a compression coil spring can be used as the biasing member 80Gb, making it relatively easy to set the spring constant to a large value as needed.

[0102] As described above, in the pressure regulating valve 100g in the modified stopper part 3 of the first embodiment, the conventional problems from problem 1 (incorrect biasing member used at the installation site) to problem 4 (difficulty in removal due to tilted biasing force) can be resolved, similar to the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100g in the modified stopper part 3 of the first embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, by setting the deformation amount of the biasing unit 80G to be greater than the sliding distance of the seal member, the valve body 10G can be reliably moved to a position where it is not affected by the first O-ring Or1 during the removal operation. Moreover, in the pressure regulating valve 100g in the modified stopper part 3 of the first embodiment, the deformation amount of the biasing member 80Gb is restricted by the contact portion 14Gc of the stopper member 14G contacting the bottom surface Gb of the piping block Bg, thus resolving concerns (difficulty in installation operation due to large spring coefficient of biasing member) and concerns (difficulty in managing the deformation amount of biasing member due to individual differences in the total length of the valve body). In addition, in the pressure regulating valve 100g in the modified stopper part 3 of the first embodiment, a compression coil spring can be used as the biasing member 80Gb, so the spring constant can be set to a large value relatively easily as needed.

[0103] (Second embodiment) The pressure regulating valve 100h in the second embodiment will be described using Figure 11. The pressure regulating valve 100h in the second embodiment differs from the pressure regulating valve 100a in the first embodiment in that it is arranged upside down while maintaining the external shape, and a biasing unit 80H and a stopper member 14H are provided on the valve seat portion 12H. However, the other configurations are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment. Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and redundant explanations are omitted. The pressure regulating valve 100h in the second embodiment includes a first adjustment screw portion 42H (body side adjustment screw portion 42Ha and valve seat side adjustment screw portion 42Hb) and a second adjustment screw portion Th (valve seat side screw portion 12HTh and stopper side screw portion 14Hth). The first adjustment screw portion 42H (position adjustment portion) has the same structure as the adjustment screw portion 42 of the first embodiment, so its explanation is omitted.

[0104] In this second embodiment, the pressure regulating valve 100h is positioned upside down compared to the pressure regulating valve 100a in the first embodiment in order to improve the degree of freedom in the fluid path flow direction and mounting direction. A biasing unit 80H and a stopper member 14H are provided on the valve seat portion 12H, and a primary port 1A is defined on the biasing unit 80H, while a secondary port 1B is defined on the lateral hole 11a of the main body 11H. The valve body 10H consists of the main body 11H, the valve seat portion 12H, and the stopper member 14H, each of which is integrally formed. Here, the valve seat portion 12H, the stopper member 14H, and the biasing unit 80H in the second embodiment will be described in order.

[0105] <About the valve seat> The valve seat portion 12H comprises an annular valve seat 12a, an inner circumferential surface 12b, and an open end 12Hd provided on the other end side. Furthermore, a valve seat side threaded portion 12HTh, consisting of a male thread, is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the other end of the valve seat portion 12H.

[0106] <Regarding stopper components> The stopper member 14H (stopper portion) is made of a metal such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze, and has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape, comprising a cylindrical side wall portion 14He, a stopper portion side thread portion 14Hth consisting of a female thread provided on one end of the side wall portion 14He, a restrictor portion 14Hg provided on the other end of the side wall portion 14He, a contact portion 14Hc provided on the other end of the restrictor portion 14Hg, and an opening 14Hf provided inside the restrictor portion 14Hg and having an axis coaxial with the axis L.

[0107] <About the biasing unit> The biasing unit 80H (extraction direction biasing means) has a substantially cylindrical shape and includes a contact member 80Ha having a spring support portion 80Hae that is enlarged in diameter near the center and a through hole 80Hat that extends along the axis L, and a biasing member 80Hb made of a compression coil spring.

[0108] The biasing unit 80H is inserted by sliding the contact member 80Ha onto the inner circumferential surface 12b of the valve seat portion 12H, bringing one end of the biasing member 80Hb into contact with the open end 12Hd of the valve seat portion 12H, while bringing the other end of the biasing member 80Hb into contact with the spring support portion 80Hae. After housing the biasing unit 80H inside the stopper member 14H, the stopper member 14H is fixed to the other end of the valve seat portion 12H via the second adjustment screw portion Th (the screw portion 12HTh on the valve seat portion side and the screw portion 14Hth on the stopper portion side) and the welded portion W. As a result, the biasing unit 80H and the stopper member 14H are integrally provided on the main body 11H. At this time, since the biasing member 80Hb is supported on the outer circumferential surface of the contact member 80Ha, it is positioned in a state in which bending and tilting with respect to the axis L direction are completely suppressed. Furthermore, in the biasing unit 80H before the pressure regulating valve 100h is attached to the piping block Bh, the spring support portion 80Hae of the contact member 80Ha is pressed by the biasing member 80Hb to the other end in the axial direction L, and one end of the contact member 80Ha (including the contact portion 80Hac) protrudes outward from the opening 14Hf of the stopper member 14H. At this time, the spring support portion 80Hae of the contact member 80Ha is held in contact with the constricted portion 14Hg of the stopper member 14H, which functions as a retainer.

[0109] <Regarding the installation of the pressure regulating valve> From here, we will mainly describe the shapes of the valve body 10H, the piping block Bh, and the connector C'.

[0110] The valve body 10H consists of a main body 11H, a valve seat portion 12H, and a stopper member 14H. The main body 11H has a large-diameter portion 11L and a small-diameter portion 11S formed along the axial direction L, with the outer diameter gradually decreasing from one end to the other. The valve seat portion 12H has an outer diameter smaller than the small-diameter portion 11S. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the stopper member 14H is the same as that of the small-diameter portion 11S.

[0111] The piping block Bh has an insertion hole along the axis L, and a first housing groove G1 (opening) and an annular groove Ga are formed at one end of this insertion hole. The inner diameter of the first housing groove G1 is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 11L of the main body 11H. A secondary flow path Fp2, formed perpendicular to the axis L, is connected to the annular groove Ga. In addition, a second housing groove G2 and a primary flow path Fp1 are formed in the insertion hole along the axis L, tapering in a stepped manner from the annular groove Ga to the other end. The inner diameter of the second housing groove G2 is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 11S of the main body 11H. Furthermore, an annular step portion St is formed between the second housing groove G2 and the primary flow path Fp1. In addition, an annular seal groove Gs is formed at the other end of the first housing groove G1, which houses a first O-ring Or1 (sealing member). Then, a screw hole Sh is formed on one end face Bs of the piping block Bh.

[0112] The connector C' (fixing means) holds the valve body 10H in the axial direction L within the fluid path and has a shape corresponding to the opening of the fluid path. It has a flange Cf that protrudes radially outward from one end to the other, an insertion part Ci that is inserted into the insertion hole of the piping block Bh, and a contact surface Cc on the other end of the insertion part Ci. The flange Cf is provided with a mounting hole Ch into which a fastening screw Sw is inserted. Furthermore, a connector annular seal groove Cg that accommodates a second O-ring Or2 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the insertion part Ci. In addition, a boss housing groove Cgb that is coaxial with the axis L is formed on the contact surface Cc of the connector C'. Note that the connector C' in the second embodiment has a shape corresponding to the opening of the fluid path, but is not limited to this, and any form that holds the valve body 10H in the axial direction L within the fluid path is acceptable, such as a C-shaped ring provided in the inner circumferential groove of the fluid path that generates elastic force in the radial direction.

[0113] <Regarding installation procedures> During the installation operation of the pressure regulating valve 100h to the piping block Bh, the valve body 10H is inserted into the first housing groove G1 (opening) of the piping block Bh and moved toward the other end in the axial direction L (upwards in Figure 11). First, the contact portion 80Hac of the contact member 80Ha comes into contact with the annular step portion St. Furthermore, as the valve body 10H is moved toward the other end in the axial direction L while being pressed by the connector C', the biasing member 80Hb deforms and shrinks in the axial direction L, causing the contact portion 14Hc of the stopper member 14H to come into contact with the annular step portion St. The boss portion 52Ha is housed in the boss housing groove Cgb so as not to interfere with the connector C'. Therefore, the amount of deformation of the biasing member 80Hb is restricted by the contact portion 14Hc of the stopper member 14H coming into contact with the annular step portion St of the piping block Bh. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the amount of deformation of the biasing member 80Hb can be adjusted to a desired value before shipment by rotating the stopper member 14H relative to the valve seat portion 12H via the second adjustment screw portion Th, thereby moving it in the axial direction L. In addition, in the second embodiment, a compression coil spring can be used as the biasing member 80Hb, so the spring constant can be set to a relatively large value as needed.

[0114] As a result, in the pressure regulating valve 100h of the second embodiment, the fluid flows in the following order as an L-shaped fluid path when the valve is open: primary side flow path Fp1 of the piping block Bh, primary side port 1A defined in the through hole 80Hat of the contact member 80Ha, secondary side port 1B defined in the inner circumferential surface 12b of the valve seat portion 12 and the lateral hole 11a of the main body 11H, and secondary side flow path Fp2 of the piping block Bh.

[0115] As described above, the pressure regulating valve 100h in the second embodiment can resolve conventional problems 1 (incorrect biasing member used at the installation site) to 4 (difficulty in removal due to tilted biasing force), similar to the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100h in the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, by setting the deformation amount of the biasing unit 80H to be greater than the sliding distance of the seal member, the valve body 10H can be reliably moved to a position where it is not affected by the first O-ring Or1 during the removal operation. Moreover, in the pressure regulating valve 100h in the second embodiment, the deformation amount of the biasing member 80Hb is restricted by the contact portion 14Hc of the stopper member 14H contacting the annular step portion St of the piping block Bh, and is adjustable by the second adjustment screw portion Th, thus resolving concerns (difficulty in installation operation due to the large spring coefficient of the biasing member) and concerns (difficulty in managing the deformation amount of the biasing member due to individual differences in the total length of the valve body). In addition, in the pressure regulating valve 100h of the second embodiment, a compression coil spring can be used as the biasing member 80Hb, allowing the spring constant to be set relatively large as needed. Furthermore, the pressure regulating valve 100h of the second embodiment offers improved flexibility in terms of the fluid path flow direction and mounting direction.

[0116] (Third embodiment) The pressure regulating valve 100i in the third embodiment will be described using Figure 12. The pressure regulating valve 100i in the third embodiment is an adaptation of the pressure regulating valve 100f in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment to a straight flow path. It differs from the pressure regulating valve 100f in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment in that a flow path is formed in the axial direction L inside the valve body 10I, but the other configurations are substantially the same as the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment. Here, identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0117] The pressure regulating valves 100a to 100h described in the first and second embodiments have L-shaped fluid paths. However, the fluid paths applicable to the pressure regulating valves in these embodiments can include not only L-shaped fluid paths but also various variations of fluid paths (for example, straight-shaped fluid paths). Here, we will describe a third embodiment in which the pressure regulating valve 100i employs a straight flow path.

[0118] In the third embodiment of the pressure regulating valve 100i, a fluid path extending in the axial direction L is formed inside the main body 11I to adapt to a straight flow path, and the structure of the other end of the valve body 10I (in particular, the formation of a fan-shaped gap 14Io in the stopper member 14I) is also devised. Here, the main body 11I, the stopper member 14I, and the biasing member 80I of the third embodiment will be described in order. The valve body 10I consists of the main body 11I, the valve seat portion 12, and the stopper member 14I, each of which is integrally formed via a welded portion W.

[0119] <About the main unit> The main body 11I has a cylindrical shape, and along the axis L direction, a first small-diameter portion 11IS1, a large-diameter portion 11L, and a second small-diameter portion 11IS2 are formed in order from one end to the other. Since the large-diameter portion 11L has a larger inner diameter and length along the axis L direction compared to the first small-diameter portion 11IS1 and the second small-diameter portion 11IS2, a straight fluid path extending along the axis L direction is defined between the inner circumferential surface of the main body 11I and the outer circumferential surface of the pressure-sensitive bellows 51I.

[0120] <Regarding stopper components> The stopper member 14I will be explained using Figures 12(b) and (c). In Figure 12(c), the circular dashed line indicates the outer circumferential surface of the adjacent second small diameter portion 11IS2.

[0121] The stopper member 14I (stopper portion) is formed by press working, using a metal such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze as the material, to be a relatively thick and rigid member. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12(b), the stopper member 14I includes a recess 14Ir that is recessed toward the other end in the axial direction L, a protrusion 14Ip that is located on the front and back sides of the recess 14Ir and to which the biasing member 80I is fixed, and six spoke portions 14Is that are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction and extend in the radial direction. In these six spoke sections 14Is, a contact section 14Ic is provided on the outer peripheral edge of one pair of non-adjacent spoke sections 14Is, extending toward the other end in the axial direction L. A welded section W is provided on the outer peripheral edge of one end of another pair of non-adjacent spoke sections 14Is, which is fixed to the other end outer peripheral edge of the main body 11I by spot welding or the like. The outer diameter of the spoke section 14Is having the contact section 14Ic is the same as the large diameter section 11IL of the main body 11I, while the outer diameter of the spoke section 14Is without the contact section 14Ic is the same as the second small diameter section 11IS2 of the main body 11I. In addition, multiple fan-shaped gaps 14Io are formed between the multiple spoke sections 14Is, defining the secondary port 1B. In the stopper member 14I of the third embodiment, the number of spoke sections 14Is is set to six, but this is merely an example and can be selected as needed.

[0122] <Regarding biasing members> The biasing member 80I (extraction direction biasing means) is made of a tripod leaf spring, as shown in Figures 12(d) and (e). When viewed from the direction of the axis L (see Figure 12(e)), the biasing member 80I comprises a fixed portion 80Ib having a circular shape, three contact portions 80Ic having a substantially rectangular shape and evenly arranged in the circumferential direction, and three connecting portions 80Id extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis L (see Figure 12(d)), connecting the outside of the fixed portion 80Ib and the inside of the contact portions 80Ic. The fixed portion 80Ib is fixed to the convex portion 14Ip of the stopper member 14I via welded portions W, such as spot welds, which are evenly provided in the circumferential direction. As a result, the biasing member 80I and the stopper member 14I are integrally provided on the main body 11I. Furthermore, in order to ensure smooth fluid flow through the multiple fan-shaped gaps 14Io, the connecting portion 80Id of the biasing member 80I completely overlaps with the spoke portion 14Is of the stopper member 14I when viewed from the direction of the axis L.

[0123] <Regarding the installation of the pressure regulating valve> The shape of the piping block Bi will now be described. Note that the connector C has the same configuration as the connector C in the modified stopper part 2 of the first embodiment, so its description will be omitted.

[0124] The piping block Bi has an insertion hole along the axis L, and a first housing groove G1 and a secondary flow path Fp2 are formed in the insertion hole along the axis L, which taper in a stepped manner from one end to the other. An annular step portion St is formed between the first housing groove G1 and the secondary flow path Fp2. The inner diameter of the first housing groove G1 is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 11IL of the main body 11I. A screw hole Sh is formed on one end face Bs of the piping block Bi.

[0125] <Regarding installation procedures> During the installation operation of the pressure regulating valve 100i to the piping block Bi, the valve body 10I is inserted into the first housing groove G1 (opening) of the piping block Bi and moved toward the other end in the axial direction L (upwards in Figure 12). First, the contact portion 80Ic of the biasing member 80I comes into contact with the annular step portion St. Furthermore, as the valve body 10I is moved toward the other end in the axial direction L while being pressed by the connector C, the biasing member 80I deforms and shrinks in the axial direction L, causing the contact portion 14Ic of the stopper member 14I to come into contact with the annular step portion St. Therefore, the amount of deformation of the biasing member 80I is restricted by the contact portion 14Ic of the stopper member 14I coming into contact with the annular step portion St of the piping block Bi.

[0126] As a result, in the pressure regulating valve 100i of the third embodiment, the fluid flows in the following order as a straight flow path when the valve is open: primary flow path Fp1 of the connector C, primary port 1A defined in the valve seat portion 12, fluid path extending in the axial direction L inside the valve body 10I, secondary port 1B defined between the body 11I and the fan-shaped gap 14Io, and secondary flow path Fp2 of the piping block Bi.

[0127] As described above, the pressure regulating valve 100i in the third embodiment can resolve conventional problems 1 (incorrect biasing member used at the installation site) to 4 (difficulty in removal due to tilted biasing force), similar to the stopper part modification 2 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100i in the third embodiment, the amount of deformation of the biasing member 80I is restricted by the contact portion 14Ic of the stopper member 14I contacting the annular step portion St of the piping block Bi, thereby resolving concerns (difficulty in installation operation due to the large spring constant of the biasing member) and concerns (difficulty in managing the amount of deformation of the biasing member due to individual differences in the total length of the valve body). Moreover, the pressure regulating valve 100i in the third embodiment can be adapted to various fluid path variations (for example, a straight-shaped fluid path).

[0128] (Modified example of the biasing unit of the third embodiment) Using Figure 13, the pressure regulating valve 100j in the modified biasing unit of the third embodiment will be described. Note that the pressure regulating valve 100j in the modified biasing unit of the third embodiment differs from the pressure regulating valve 100i in the third embodiment in that the biasing unit 80J is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 11J, but the other configurations are substantially the same as those of the third embodiment. Here, identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0129] <Regarding concerns (damage to biasing components due to falling)> Here, using Figure 12, we will discuss the concerns that arise when the pressure regulating valve 100i is dropped in the third embodiment.

[0130] In the pressure regulating valve 100i of the third embodiment, the biasing member 80I is provided on the other end of the valve body 10I, making it easily accessible from the external environment. Therefore, if the pressure regulating valve 100i were accidentally dropped during installation work, there was a risk that the biasing member 80I would be damaged, such as by bending the contact portion 80Ic (hereinafter referred to as the concern (damage to the biasing member due to dropping)).

[0131] In contrast, in the pressure regulating valve 100j of the modified biasing unit of the third embodiment, as shown in Figure 13, the biasing unit 80J is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 11J, thereby eliminating the concern (damage to the biasing member due to falling). Here, we will mainly describe the main body 11J, the stopper member 14J, and the biasing unit 80J of the modified biasing unit of the third embodiment in order. The valve body 10J consists of the main body 11J, the valve seat portion 12, and the stopper member 14J, each of which is integrally formed via a welded portion W.

[0132] <About the main unit> The main body 11J has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a small-diameter section 11JS and a large-diameter section 11JL are formed sequentially along the axis L direction from one end to the other. The large-diameter section 11JL has a larger inner diameter and length along the axis L direction compared to the small-diameter section 11JS.

[0133] <Regarding stopper components> The stopper member 14J will be explained using Figures 13(b) and (c). In Figure 13(c), the circular dashed line indicates the outer surface of the adjacent large-diameter portion 11JL.

[0134] The stopper member 14J (stopper portion) is made of a metal such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze, and is formed by press working to create a relatively thick and rigid member. The stopper member 14J has six legs and, when viewed from the direction of the axis L (see Figure 13(c)), has a circular shape and comprises a fixed portion 14Jb having an opening 14Ja coaxial with the axis L, and six spoke portions 14Js evenly arranged in the circumferential direction on the outer edge of the fixed portion 14Jb. In these six spoke portions 14Js, one pair of non-adjacent spoke portions 14Js have contact portions 14Jc erected on the outer edge towards the other end in the direction of the axis L, and another pair of non-adjacent spoke portions 14Js have a welded portion W on the outer edge of one end that is fixed to the other end outer edge of the main body 11J by spot welding or the like. Here, the boss portion 52Ja of the fixing bracket 52J is fitted into the opening 14Ja provided in the stopper member 14J, and then fitted and fixed to each other via the crimping portion Ri. In addition, the outer peripheral edge of one end of the spoke portion 14Js that does not have a contact portion 14Jc is fixed to the outer peripheral edge of the other end of the main body 11J via a welded portion W formed by spot welding or the like. The outer diameter of the spoke portion 14Js that has a contact portion 14Jc is larger than the large diameter portion 11JL of the main body 11J, and the outer diameter of the spoke portion 14Js that does not have a contact portion 14Jc is the same diameter as the large diameter portion 11JL of the main body 11J. In addition, multiple fan-shaped gaps 14Jo are formed between the multiple spoke portions 14Js that define the secondary port 1B. In the stopper member 14J of the modified biasing unit of the third embodiment, the number of spoke portions 14Js is set to six, but this is just an example and can be selected as needed.

[0135] <About the biasing unit> The biasing unit 80J (extraction direction biasing means) includes a retaining ring 80Jc (for example, a C-shaped ring) having a restoring force radially inward, a contact member 80Ja having an annular shape when viewed from the axial direction L and an L-shaped cross-section corresponding to the first annular step portion St1, and a biasing member 80Jb made of a compression coil spring.

[0136] The biasing unit 80J first places a slightly enlarged retaining ring 80Jc into the annular groove 11Jr of the main body formed in the large-diameter portion 11JL. Then, the biasing member 80Jb and the contact member 80Ja are inserted in order from the other end in the axial direction L, sliding them onto the outer circumferential surface of the large-diameter portion 11JL. Finally, the other end of the main body 11J and one end of the stopper member 14J are fixed together via a welded joint W. As a result, the contact member 80Ja is pressed towards the other end in the axial direction L by the biasing member 80Jb, but is held in contact with the stopper member 14J, which functions as a retainer.

[0137] <Regarding the installation of the pressure regulating valve> The shape of the piping block Bj will now be described. Note that connector C has the same configuration as connector C in the third embodiment, so its description will be omitted.

[0138] The piping block Bj has an insertion hole along the axis L, and in the insertion hole along the axis L, a first housing groove G1, a second housing groove G2, and a secondary flow path Fp2 are formed, which decrease in diameter in a stepped manner from one end to the other. A first annular step portion St1 is formed between the first housing groove G1 and the second housing groove G2, and a second annular step portion St2 is formed between the second housing groove G1 and the secondary flow path Fp2. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the first housing groove G1 is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the biasing unit 80J. In addition, the inner diameter of the second housing groove G2 is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 11JL. Finally, a screw hole Sh is formed on one end face Bs of the piping block Bj.

[0139] <Regarding installation procedures> In the installation operation of the pressure regulating valve 100j to the piping block Bj, the valve body 10J is inserted into the first housing groove G1 (opening) of the piping block Bj and moved toward the other end in the axial direction L (upwards in Figure 13). First, the contact member 80Ja of the biasing unit 80J comes into contact with the first annular step portion St1. Furthermore, as the valve body 10J is moved toward the other end in the axial direction L while being pressed by the connector C, the biasing member 80Jb deforms and shrinks in the axial direction L, causing the contact portion 14Jc of the stopper member 14J to come into contact with the second annular step portion St2. Therefore, the amount of deformation of the biasing member 80Jb is restricted by the contact portion 14Jc of the stopper member 14J coming into contact with the second annular step portion St2 of the piping block Bj.

[0140] As a result, in the modified biasing unit of the third embodiment, the biasing unit 80J is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 11J. Therefore, even if the pressure regulating valve 100j is accidentally dropped during installation work, the biasing member 80Jb is made of a compression coil spring rather than a leaf spring, and the inner circumference of the biasing member 80Jb is supported by the large diameter portion 11JL to prevent bending or twisting at all times, thus eliminating concerns (damage to the biasing member due to dropping).

[0141] As described above, the pressure regulating valve 100j in the modified biasing unit of the third embodiment can resolve conventional problems 1 (incorrect biasing member used at the installation site) to 4 (difficulty in removal due to tilted biasing force), similar to the third embodiment. Furthermore, in the pressure regulating valve 100j in the modified biasing unit of the third embodiment, the amount of deformation of the biasing member 80Jb is restricted by the contact portion 14Jc of the stopper member 14J contacting the second annular step portion St2 of the piping block Bj, thereby resolving concerns (difficulty in installation due to the large spring coefficient of the biasing member) and concerns (difficulty in managing the amount of deformation of the biasing member due to individual differences in the total length of the valve body). Furthermore, in the modified biasing unit of the third embodiment, the pressure regulating valve 100j has a biasing unit 80J on the outer circumferential surface of the main body 11J. Therefore, even if the pressure regulating valve 100j is accidentally dropped during installation or other work, the inner circumference of the biasing member 80Jb, which is made of a compression coil spring, is supported by the large-diameter portion 11JL to prevent bending or twisting at all times, thus eliminating concerns (damage to the biasing member due to dropping).

[0142] <Other> It goes without saying that the pressure regulating valves 100a to 100j of this embodiment are applicable to all fluid devices and fluid circuits. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described forms, embodiments, or modifications, and can be appropriately modified or altered without departing from the technical idea of ​​the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0143] 100a~100j pressure regulating valve 1A Primary Port 1B Secondary port 10, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10F, 10G, 10H, 10I, 10J Valve body 11, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11H, 11I, 11J Main body (valve body) 11a Side hole 11d,11Cd,11Dd Open end 11ep Equal pressure path 11IS1 1st small diameter section 11IS2 2nd small diameter section 11L, 11IL, 11JL Large Diameter Section 11Jr Main body annular groove 11n waist area 11o opening 11S,11JS Small diameter part 11th Stopper Club 11u bottom 12, 12C, 12D, 12H Valve seat (valve body) 12a Valve seat 12b Inner surface 12c Pair of rotary tool insertion sections 12d, 12Cd, 12Dd, 12Hd Open end (pressing part) 12De Valve seat annular seal groove 12Df flange section 12HTh valve seat side thread 14F, 14G, 14H, 14I, 14J Stopper components (stopper part, valve body) 14Fa,14Ja opening 14Fb,14Gb,14Jb Fixed part 14Fc,14Gc,14Hc,14Ic,14Jc Contact part 14Fs, 14Is, 14Js spoke section 14Ge,14He side wall 14Gf,14Hf opening 14Gg, 14Hg Aperture section 14th Stopper side thread 14Ic Contact part 14Io,14Jo fan-shaped gap 14Ip convex part 14Ir recess 20 valve body 21 Valve 22 Boss Section 30 Slide Units 31 Cylinder member 32 Connecting member 33 Piston component 40 Adjustable spring unit 41 Valve spring 42 Adjustment screw section (position adjustment section) 42a, 42Ha Adjustment screw part on the main body 42b, 42Hb Valve seat side adjustment screw 42H First adjustment screw section (position adjustment section) 50 Pressure-sensitive bellows unit 51, 51I Pressure-sensitive bellows 52, 52F, 52J Fixing brackets 52a, 52Fa, 52Ha, 52Ja Boss section 70 Sliding contact member 71 Ring-shaped fixing part 72 Legs 73 Curved section 80, 80E, 80Gb, 80Hb, 80I, 80Jb, 81, 82, 83 biasing member (extraction direction biasing means) 80a,81a,82a,83a opening 80b,80Ib,81b,82b,83b Fixed part 80c,80Ic,81c,82c,83c Contact part 80d, 80Id, 81d, 82d, 83d connecting section 80G, 80H, 80J biasing unit (extraction direction biasing means) 80Ga, 80Ha, 80Ja contact members 80Gac,80Hac Contact part 80Gae, 80Hae spring support 80Hat through hole 80Jc retaining ring A Confinement Room As containment space (fluid path) B, Bd, Be, Bg, Bh, Bi, Bj piping block Bs One end surface C,C' connector (fixing means) Cc contact surface Cf flange Cg connector annular seal groove CGB boss housing groove Ch mounting holes Material Insertion part D, D' Maximum diameter of the valve body Ep pressure equalization path FB, FB' Biasing force of biasing member FD, FD': Force exerted on the valve body by fluid pressure. Fp1 Primary flow path Fp2 Secondary flow path G1 First housing groove (opening) G2 Second storage trench Ga annular groove Gb bottom Gp gap Gs annular seal groove L axis Deformation amount of biasing member L1, L1' L2, L2' Sliding distance of sealing members La Total length of the valve body in the axial direction Or1 First O-ring (sealing component) Or2 Second O-ring P1 Primary pressure P2 Secondary pressure Ri crimping part Sh screw hole St annular step St1 First annular step St2 Second ring-shaped step Sw fastening screw The second adjustment screw section W, WC, WD Welded joints (joints)

Claims

1. A pressure regulating valve inserted into a fluid path, A valve body having a bottomed cylindrical shape and equipped with a valve seat, A valve body that moves in the axial direction and seats or separates from the valve seat, Equipped with, The valve body integrally fixes the extraction direction biasing means, In a mounting state in which the valve body is inserted into the fluid path by a fixing means that abuts against one end of the valve body, The pressure regulating valve is characterized in that the extraction direction biasing means has a biasing force that biases the valve body in the extraction direction of the fluid path.

2. The pressure regulating valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the aforementioned mounting state, the biasing force of the extraction direction biasing means is set to be greater than the force that the valve body receives from the fluid pressure, so that the valve body does not move in the mounting direction due to the fluid pressure.

3. The area around the valve body's extraction direction biasing means includes a stopper portion. The pressure regulating valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the above-mentioned mounting state, the stopper portion contacts the fluid path, thereby restricting the amount of deformation that occurs in the extraction direction biasing means.

4. In the aforementioned mounting state, A sealing member is sandwiched between the outer circumferential surface of the valve body and the inner circumferential surface of the fluid path. The pressure regulating valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the amount of deformation of the extraction direction biasing means is set to be greater than the distance the sealing member moves in the axial direction when the valve body is inserted into the fluid path while compressed.

5. The valve body is further provided with a pressure-sensitive bellows unit that biases the valve body toward the valve seat, The pressure-sensitive bellows unit is provided with a boss portion that protrudes from the other end, The pressure regulating valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the boss portion has a crimped portion that is fitted and fixed to an opening provided at the bottom of the valve body and an opening provided in the extraction direction biasing means.

6. The valve body includes a body and a valve seat portion having the valve seat. The system further includes a position adjustment unit that can displace the relative axial position of the main body and the valve seat portion, The pressure regulating valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the position adjustment section defines the overall length of the valve body in the axial direction.

7. The aforementioned extraction direction biasing means is The valve body has a fixing part that is directly or indirectly fixed to its bottom, In the aforementioned mounting state, the contact portion that contacts the fluid path, A pressure regulating valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by having a connecting portion that connects the fixed portion and the contact portion.

8. The valve body has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an opening at one end. The pressure regulating valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the valve body is provided with a pressure equalization path extending in the axial direction in order to equalize the pressure in the containment space defined between the other end of the valve body and the fluid path.

9. A joint is formed at one end of the main body and the valve seat portion, which are fixed to each other. One end of the valve seat portion has a pressing portion that is pressed by the fixing means, The pressure regulating valve according to claim 6, characterized in that the joint is formed on the other end side of the pressing portion.

10. A connection structure characterized in that the pressure regulating valve described in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 5 and the fixing means having a shape corresponding to the opening of the fluid path are inserted into the fluid path to connect the pressure regulating valve to the fluid path.

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