Switching valve

Abstract

This invention relates to a switching valve that can reduce the sliding resistance of a sealing member while maintaining the sealing performance provided by the sealing member. [Solution] The device comprises a cylindrical sleeve having multiple ports, a spool provided inside the sleeve and moving along the axial direction of the sleeve to switch between connected and disconnected states of the multiple ports, and a sealing member capable of sealing the space between the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve and the outer circumferential surface of the spool. The sealing member is annular in shape and provided on the outer circumferential surface of the spool so as to be coaxial with the spool, and has a cross-sectional shape that expands toward the side that receives pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a spool-type switching valve is known that includes a spool hole, an air supply passage, an output passage, and an exhaust passage connected to the spool hole, and a spool that slides in the spool hole to switch the connection state between the air supply passage and the output passage and the connection state between the exhaust passage and the output passage (see Patent Document 1 and the like). In the spool-type switching valve described in Patent Document 1, an annular packing is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the spool, and the packing seals between the spool hole and the outer peripheral surface of the spool.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the spool-type switching valve described in Patent Document 1, since an O-ring is used as the packing, there is a problem that the sliding resistance of the packing is high.

[0005] The present invention relates to a switching valve capable of reducing the sliding resistance of a sealing member while maintaining the sealing performance by the sealing member.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The switching valve according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical sleeve having a plurality of ports, a spool provided within the sleeve and moving along the axial direction of the sleeve to switch between the connected and disconnected states of the plurality of ports, and a sealing member capable of sealing the space between the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve and the outer circumferential surface of the spool, wherein the sealing member is annular in shape and provided on the outer circumferential surface of the spool so as to be coaxial with the spool, and has a cross-sectional shape that expands toward the side that receives pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve.

[0007] In the switching valve according to the present invention, the sealing member may have a V-shaped portion in cross-section that expands toward the side that receives pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve.

[0008] In the switching valve according to the present invention, the sealing member comprises a first sealing member and a second sealing member provided spaced apart in the axial direction of the spool, and the first sealing member and the second sealing member may have different expansion directions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the switching valve of the present invention, the sealing performance of the sealing member can be maintained while reducing the sliding resistance of the sealing member. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing the switching valve according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing a liquid processing system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention as defined in each claim, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. Furthermore, in these embodiments, the scale and dimensions of each component may be exaggerated, and some components may be omitted.

[0012] [Overall configuration of the switching valve] As shown in Figure 1, the switching valve 1 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 10 having a plurality of ports 14, a spool 20 provided inside the sleeve 10 and moving along the axial direction of the sleeve 10 to switch between the connected and disconnected states of the plurality of ports 14, an electromagnetic unit 30 capable of moving the spool 20 along the axial direction of the sleeve 10, and a sealing member 40 capable of sealing the space between the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 10 and the outer circumferential surface of the spool 20.

[0013] Regarding the sleeve 10, spool 20, and electromagnetic unit 30, various configurations conventionally used in the field of switching valve technology can be adopted, therefore, detailed explanations will be omitted in the following description.

[0014] [Sleeve configuration] As shown in Figure 1, the sleeve 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape with insertion openings 11 at both axial ends. The insertion openings 11 are configured to support the movement of the spool 20 by allowing the axial ends of the spool 20 to be inserted.

[0015] The inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 10 has a plurality of convex surfaces 12 that are convex radially inward and a plurality of concave surfaces 13 that are concave radially outward. The convex surfaces 12 and concave surfaces 13 are arranged alternately in the axial direction of the sleeve 10. Specifically, the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 10 has a first convex surface 12A, a first concave surface 13A, a second convex surface 12B, a second concave surface 13B, a third convex surface 12C, a third concave surface 13C, and a fourth convex surface 12D, extending from one end to the other in the axial direction of the sleeve 10.

[0016] The sleeve 10 has multiple ports 14 and connection parts 15. There are an equal number of ports 14 and connection parts 15. The ports 14 are openings formed from the outer circumferential surface to the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 10. The connection parts 15 are formed in a cylindrical shape that extends radially outward from the periphery of the ports 14.

[0017] Specifically, the sleeve 10 has a first port 14A and a second port 14B, and a third port 14C provided between the first port 14A and the second port 14B. The sleeve 10 also has a first connection part 15A extending from the first port 14A, a second connection part 15B extending from the second port 14B, and a third connection part 15C extending from the third port 14C.

[0018] The first port 14A, the second port 14B, and the third port 14C are provided along the axial direction of the sleeve 10. Specifically, the first port 14A is provided on the first concave surface 13A, the second port 14B is provided on the third concave surface 13C, and the third port 14C is provided on the second concave surface 13B. Furthermore, the first port 14A and the second port 14B are provided at one radial end of the sleeve 10 in a cross section along the radial direction of the sleeve 10, and the third port 14C is provided at the other radial end of the sleeve 10 in a cross section along the radial direction of the sleeve 10.

[0019] [Spool configuration] As shown in Figure 1, the spool 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 10. Insertion recesses 21 are provided at both axial ends of the spool 20, into which the movable iron core 31 of the electromagnetic unit 30, which will be described later, can be inserted.

[0020] On the outer peripheral surface of the spool 20, a plurality of valve portions 22 are provided at intervals in the axial direction. The valve portion 22 is formed by the outer peripheral surface of the spool 20 protruding radially outward. At the tip of the valve portion 22, a mounting groove 22a for mounting the sealing member 40 is formed. The radial length of the valve portion 22 may be any length as long as the sealing member 40 mounted in the mounting groove 22a can seal between the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 10 and the tip of the valve portion 22.

[0021] Specifically, the spool 20 has a first valve portion 22A, a second valve portion 22B, a third valve portion 22C, and a fourth valve portion 22D from one axial end of the spool 20 toward the other end. The first valve portion 22A is provided at a position facing the first convex surface 12A when sealed with the sealing member 40. The second valve portion 22B is provided at a position facing the second convex surface 12B when sealed with the sealing member 40. The third valve portion 22C is provided at a position facing the third convex surface 12C when sealed with the sealing member 40. The fourth valve portion 22D is provided at a position facing the fourth convex surface 12D when sealed with the sealing member 40.

[0022] The spool 20 is configured to switch between a first valve state in which the first port 14A and the third port 14C are in a connected state and the second port 14B and the third port 14C are in a non-connected state, and a second valve state in which the first port 14A and the third port 14C are in a non-connected state and the second port 14B and the third port 14C are in a connected state by moving along the axial direction of the sleeve 10.

[0023] [Configuration of the electromagnetic portion] As shown in FIG. 1, the electromagnetic portion 30 has a first electromagnetic portion 30A provided at one axial end of the spool 20 and a second electromagnetic portion 30B provided at the other axial end of the spool 20. The first electromagnetic portion 30A and the second electromagnetic portion 30B have a fixed iron core (not shown), a movable iron core 31 movable with respect to the fixed iron core, a coil (not shown) that generates an electromagnetic force between the fixed iron core and the movable iron core 31, and a case 32 that houses the fixed iron core, a part of the movable iron core 31, and the coil.

[0024] The movable core 31 is connected to the spool 20 by the portion exposed from the case 32 being inserted into the insertion recess 21 of the spool 20. The movable core 31 is configured to move the spool 20 by being attracted to or repelled by the electromagnetic force generated by the coil.

[0025] [Configuration of sealing member] As shown in Figure 1, the sealing member 40 is formed in an annular shape and is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the spool 20 so as to be coaxial with the spool 20. Specifically, the sealing member 40 is mounted in the mounting groove 22a of the spool 20.

[0026] The sealing member 40 has a first sealing member 40A and a second sealing member 40B that are spaced apart in the axial direction of the spool 20. The sealing member 40 also has a third sealing member 40C that is located closer to one end of the spool 20 in the axial direction than the first sealing member 40A, and a fourth sealing member 40D that is located closer to the other end of the spool 20 in the axial direction than the second sealing member 40B.

[0027] The first sealing member 40A is located between the first port 14A and the third port 14C, the second sealing member 40B is located between the second port 14B and the third port 14C, the third sealing member 40C is located between one axial end of the sleeve 10 and the first port 14A, and the fourth sealing member 40D is located between the other axial end of the sleeve 10 and the second port 14B. Specifically, the first sealing member 40A is provided in the second valve section 22B, the second sealing member 40B is provided in the third valve section 22C, the third sealing member 40C is provided in the first valve section 22A, and the fourth sealing member 40D is provided in the fourth valve section 22D.

[0028] Therefore, the first sealing member 40A is configured to seal the space between the second convex surface 12B and the second valve portion 22B, the second sealing member 40B is configured to seal the space between the third convex surface 12C and the third valve portion 22C, the third sealing member 40C is configured to seal the space between the first convex surface 12A and the first valve portion 22A, and the fourth sealing member 40D is configured to seal the space between the fourth convex surface 12D and the fourth valve portion 22D.

[0029] The sealing member 40 has a cross-sectional shape that expands toward the side receiving pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve 10 when sealing the space between the inner surface of the sleeve 10 and the outer surface of the spool 20. Specifically, the sealing member 40 has a V-shaped portion in its cross-section that expands toward the side receiving pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve 10, and as a whole, it has a cross-sectional shape in which the side receiving pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve 10 is open, and the side not receiving pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve 10 is closed. For example, a Y-packing or a V-packing can be used as a sealing member 40 having such a shape.

[0030] In this embodiment, the first sealing member 40A to the fourth sealing member 40D each expand toward the axial center of the sleeve 10. In other words, the first sealing member 40A and the third sealing member 40C expand toward the other axial end of the sleeve 10, while the second sealing member 40B and the fourth sealing member 40D expand toward one axial end of the sleeve 10.

[0031] The first sealing member 40A and the second sealing member 40B have different expansion directions. Specifically, the first sealing member 40A and the second sealing member 40B are arranged to expand in directions opposite to each other. The first sealing member 40A and the third sealing member 40C have the same expansion direction. Similarly, the second sealing member 40B and the fourth sealing member 40D also have the same expansion direction.

[0032] [Uses of switching valves] The switching valve 1 according to this embodiment can be suitably used in, for example, a liquid treatment system that generates treated water by subjecting raw water to liquid treatment. An example of such a liquid treatment system is a system that includes, for example, a raw water storage tank 2 for storing raw water, a water treatment tank 3 for performing water treatment on the raw water supplied from the raw water storage tank 2, a treated water storage tank 4 for storing the treated water supplied from the water treatment tank 3, a negative pressure generating device 5 for generating negative pressure in either the water treatment tank 3 or the treated water storage tank 4, and a control unit (not shown) for controlling these.

[0033] The raw water storage tank 2 is connected to the water treatment tank 3 via the first pipe P1. The water treatment tank 3 is connected to the treated water storage tank 4 via the second pipe P2, and is also connected to the negative pressure generator 5 via the first suction pipe SP1. The treated water storage tank 4 is connected to the negative pressure generator 5 via the second suction pipe SP2.

[0034] An example of a raw water storage tank 2 is a wastewater adjustment tank used to regulate the volume and flow of wastewater, etc. An example of a water treatment tank 3 is a biological treatment tank that purifies the raw water using microorganisms. The water treatment tank 3 is equipped with a filter 6 to prevent the outflow of microorganisms from the water treatment tank 3. Furthermore, an example of a treated water storage tank 4 is a treated water storage tank that stores the purified treated water and supplies it to consumers, etc. However, the uses of each tank are not limited to these.

[0035] The negative pressure generating device 5 includes a suction blower 7 capable of generating negative pressure and a switching valve 1 according to this embodiment. The first suction pipe SP1 is connected to the first connection part 15A of the switching valve 1, the second suction pipe SP2 is connected to the second connection part 15B, and the suction blower 7 is connected to the third connection part 15C via the third suction pipe SP3.

[0036] The liquid treatment system transfers raw water from the raw water storage tank 2 to the water treatment tank 3 through raw water transfer control by the control unit. Specifically, the control unit supplies current to the coil of the first electromagnetic part 30A of the switching valve 1 to move the movable iron core 31 and spool 20, setting the switching valve 1 to the first valve state (a valve state in which the suction blower 7 and the water treatment tank 3 are in communication, and the suction blower 7 and the treated water storage tank 4 are not in communication), and operates the suction blower 7. As a result, the gas in the water treatment tank 3 is sucked in by the suction blower 7, creating a negative pressure state inside the water treatment tank 3, which is lower than the internal pressure of the raw water storage tank 2. Therefore, due to the internal pressure difference between the water treatment tank 3 and the raw water storage tank 2, the raw water in the raw water storage tank 2 is transferred to the water treatment tank 3 via the first piping P1. The raw water is then treated in the water treatment tank 3.

[0037] Furthermore, the liquid treatment system transfers treated water from the water treatment tank 3 to the treated water storage tank 4 through treated water transfer control by the control unit. Specifically, the control unit first stops the power supply to the coil of the first electromagnetic unit 30A of the switching valve 1. Next, it supplies current to the coil of the second electromagnetic unit 30B to move the movable iron core 31 and spool 20, putting the switching valve 1 into the second valve state (a valve state in which the suction blower 7 and the water treatment tank 3 are not in communication, and the suction blower 7 and the treated water storage tank 4 are in communication), and operates the suction blower 7. As a result, the gas in the treated water storage tank 4 is sucked in by the suction blower 7, creating a negative pressure state inside the treated water storage tank 4, which is lower than the internal pressure of the water treatment tank 3. Therefore, due to the internal pressure difference between the treated water storage tank 4 and the water treatment tank 3, the treated water in the water treatment tank 3 is transferred to the treated water storage tank 4 via the second piping P2.

[0038] The switching valve 1 according to this embodiment can be used as described above. Examples of liquid treatment systems in which the switching valve 1 according to this embodiment is used include liquid treatment systems that purify various raw waters such as domestic wastewater, sewage, rainwater, surface water, and groundwater discharged from consumers, and regenerate them into treated water that can be used for domestic purposes such as toilet flushing, bathing, showering, laundry, and dishwashing, or drinking water that is safe to drink.

[0039] Furthermore, the liquid treatment system using the switching valve 1 according to this embodiment may be a system incorporated into a building or a mobile structure. Examples of buildings include, but are not limited to, houses, villas, mountain cabins, temporary housing, and mobile housing built in mountainous areas where water supply and sewage facilities are not readily available. Examples of mobile structures include, but are not limited to, automobiles, trains, ships, aircraft, and trailer homes. Moreover, the liquid treatment system using the switching valve 1 according to this embodiment may be a system independent of buildings or mobile structures. For example, it may be a portable system that can be transported and used in designated locations such as outdoor event venues, construction sites, campgrounds, and disaster shelters.

[0040] [Advantages of the switching valve according to this embodiment] The switching valve 1 according to this embodiment comprises a cylindrical sleeve 10 having a plurality of ports 14, a spool 20 provided inside the sleeve 10 and moving along the axial direction of the sleeve 10 to switch between connected and disconnected states of the plurality of ports 14, and a sealing member 40 capable of sealing the space between the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 10 and the outer circumferential surface of the spool 20. The sealing member 40 is annular in shape and provided on the outer circumferential surface of the spool 20 so as to be coaxial with the spool 20, and has a cross-sectional shape that expands toward the side that receives pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve 10.

[0041] With the switching valve 1 having such a configuration, the sealing member 40 has a cross-sectional shape that expands toward the side that receives pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve 10, and the contact area with the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 10 can be reduced, so that the sealing performance of the sealing member 40 can be maintained while reducing the sliding resistance of the sealing member 40. In addition, as the fluid comes into contact with the sealing member 40 from the side that receives pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve 10, the expansion of the sealing member 40 increases, so the sealing performance can be further improved.

[0042] In the switching valve 1 according to this embodiment, the sealing member 40 has a V-shaped portion in cross-section that expands toward the side that receives pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve 10. With a switching valve 1 having such a configuration, the contact area with the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 10 can be further reduced, so that the sealing performance of the sealing member 40 can be maintained while further reducing the sliding resistance of the sealing member 40.

[0043] In the switching valve 1 according to this embodiment, the sealing member 40 comprises a first sealing member 40A and a second sealing member 40B that are spaced apart in the axial direction of the spool 20, and the first sealing member 40A and the second sealing member 40B have different expansion directions. With a switching valve 1 having such a configuration, the first sealing member 40A and the second sealing member 40B can be arranged so that they each face the side that receives pressure from the fluid flowing into the sleeve 10.

[0044] [Differentiation] The switching valve according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical concept of the present invention.

[0045] In the embodiments described above, Y-packings and V-packings can be used as the first sealing members 40A to the fourth sealing members 40D, but the invention is not limited to these. For the third sealing member 40C and the fourth sealing member 40D, packings having a non-expanding shape, such as O-rings, may also be used.

[0046] In the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which the first sealing member 40A, the second sealing member 40B, the third sealing member 40C, and the fourth sealing member 40D have a V-shaped cross-section was described, but the invention is not limited to this, and a configuration without a V-shaped cross-section is also possible. That is, U-shaped packings may be used as the first sealing member 40A, the second sealing member 40B, the third sealing member 40C, and the fourth sealing member 40D.

[0047] In the embodiment described above, a configuration with three ports 14 was explained, but the invention is not limited to this; there may be two, four or more ports, or more ports. Furthermore, the number of sealing members 40 may be increased or decreased according to the number of ports 14.

[0048] In the embodiment described above, a configuration in which the spool 20 is moved by the electromagnetic unit 30 has been explained, but the invention is not limited to this, and other drive mechanisms other than the electromagnetic unit 30 may be used.

[0049] It is clear from the claims that the above-mentioned modifications are included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1: Switching valve 2: Raw water storage tank 3: Water treatment tank 4: Treated water storage tank 5: Negative pressure generator 6: Filter 7: Suction blower 10: Sleeves 11: Insertion opening 12: Convex 12A: 1st convex surface 12B: 2nd convex surface 12C: Third convex surface 12D: 4th convex surface 13: Concave 13A: 1st concave surface 13B: 2nd concave surface 13C: 3rd concave surface 14: Port 14A: Port 1 14B: Port 2 14C: Third port 15: Connection part 15A: First connection 15B: Second connection section 15C: Third connection point 20: Spool 21: Insertion recess 22: Valve section 22A: First valve section 22B: 2nd valve part 22C: 3rd valve part 22D: Fourth valve section 22a: Mounting groove 30: Electromagnetic part 30A: 1st electromagnetic section 30B: 2nd electromagnetic part 31: Movable core 32: Case 40: Sealing member 40A: First sealing member 40B:Second sealing member 40C: Third sealing member 40D: Fourth sealing member P1: First pipe P2: Second pipe SP1: 1st suction pipe SP2: 2nd suction pipe SP3: Third suction pipe

Claims

1. A cylindrical sleeve having multiple ports, A spool provided within the sleeve, which moves along the axial direction of the sleeve to switch between the connected and disconnected states of the plurality of ports, At least two pairs of sealing members capable of sealing the space between the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve and the outer circumferential surface of the spool, Equipped with, At least two pairs of the sealing members are each formed in an annular shape and provided on the outer circumferential surface of the spool so as to be coaxial with the spool, and have a cross-sectional shape that expands toward the side to which the fluid flowing into the sleeve comes into contact when sealing the space between the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve and the outer circumferential surface of the spool, The sleeve has at least a first port and a second port, and a third port provided between the first port and the second port, as the plurality of ports. The spool is configured to move along the axial direction of the sleeve to switch between a first valve state in which the first and third ports are connected and the second and third ports are disconnected, and a second valve state in which the first and third ports are disconnected and the second and third ports are connected. Each of the at least two pairs of sealing members comprises at least a first sealing member located between the first port and the third port, a second sealing member located between the second port and the third port, a third sealing member located between one axial end of the sleeve and the first port, and a fourth sealing member located between the other axial end of the sleeve and the second port. The first sealing member, the second sealing member, the third sealing member, and the fourth sealing member each expand toward the axial center of the sleeve. Switching valve.

2. Each of the two pairs of sealing members has a V-shaped portion in cross-section that expands toward the side into which the fluid flowing into the sleeve comes into contact when sealing the space between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the spool. The switching valve according to claim 1.

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