Flow path switching device

Abstract

To seal a passage securely with a valve seal member even if a seated state (a deformation state) of the valve seal member is changed by driving of a valve member.SOLUTION: A flow path switching device 1 comprises a rotating disk 40 that rotates with respect to a housing 11. The housing includes housing flow paths 20, 30, 70, and the rotating disk includes a rotation flow path 60. A valve seal member 81 is provided between the housing and the rotating disk and slides relative to the housing. A fluid flow path is formed by the rotating disk rotating to selectively establish communication between the housing flow paths and the rotation flow path. The valve seal member 81 includes: a pair of first seal sections 91 that sandwiches therebetween an aperture rim 60a of the rotation flow path and that extends along a direction of rotation; and a pair of second seal sections 92 that intersects the direction of rotation of the rotating disk and that connects both ends of the pair of first seal sections. A second seal distance D2 between the aperture rim 60a and the second seal sections is set larger than a first seal distance D1 between the aperture rim 60a and the first seal sections 91.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a flow path switching device configured to switch a flow path through which a fluid flows.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of technology, for example, a "flow path switching valve" described in Patent Document 1 below is known. This flow path switching valve includes a stator (housing) and a rotor seal (valve seal member) connected to a rotor (valve member) that rotates while sliding circumferentially with respect to the housing. The housing has a plurality of stator flow paths (housing flow paths) that open to the valve seal member. The valve seal member has a rotor seal flow path (valve flow path) for connecting two or more of the plurality of housing flow paths. Here, among the flow path end portions of the valve seal member, the flow path end portion located at the tip in the sliding direction of the valve flow path is positioned at least in the reverse direction of the sliding direction of the housing flow path end portion to which the valve flow path is connected at the start of sliding.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the flow path switching valve described in Patent Document 1, the valve seal member is an elastic body, and depending on the seating state (deformed state) of the valve seal member after rotating the valve member to switch the flow path, the tip contact portion of the valve seal member may contact the housing and be dragged, displaced, enter the housing flow path, and the seal of the valve flow path may become insufficient, resulting in a risk of fluid leakage.

[0005] [[ID=3८]] This disclosed technology has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a flow path switching device that enables reliable sealing of the flow path by the valve seal member even when the seating state (deformation state) of the valve seal member changes due to the driving of the valve member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the technology described in claim 1 comprises a housing and a plate-shaped valve member disposed inside the housing and driven relative to the housing, wherein the housing includes a plurality of housing passages, the valve member includes at least one valve passage extending along the direction of the plate surface, the valve passage includes an opening edge, the housing passage includes a plurality of openings through which the valve passage can pass, a valve seal member is provided between the housing and the valve member so as to surround the opening edge of the valve passage and slides with the housing as the valve member is driven, and as the valve member is driven, the valve passage allows the plurality of openings In a flow path switching device configured to form a fluid flow path by selectively connecting a housing flow path and a valve flow path by connecting at least two of them, the valve seal member includes a pair of first seal portions extending along the driving direction of the valve member with the opening edge in between, and a pair of second seal portions arranged in a direction intersecting the driving direction of the valve member with the opening edge in between, and connecting both ends of the pair of first seal portions. The purpose is to set the second seal distance, which is the shortest distance between the opening of the housing flow path and the second seal portions, to be greater than the first seal distance, which is the shortest distance between the opening of the housing flow path and the first seal portions.

[0007] According to the configuration of the above technology, the second sealing distance between the opening of the housing passage and the second sealing portion of the valve seal member is set to be greater than the first sealing distance between the opening of the housing passage and the first sealing portion. Therefore, even if the valve seal member is displaced by the sliding resistance against the housing as the valve member is driven, the tip of the second sealing portion will not protrude into the housing passage but will instead make contact with the inner surface of the housing.

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the technology described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the technology described in claim 1, when a fluid flow path is formed, the opening of the housing flow path is located at a distance from both ends of the opening edge of the valve flow path in the driving direction, both ends of the opening edge in the driving direction are semi-circular, the second seal portion is semi-circular along both ends of the opening edge in the driving direction, and the distance between the second seal portion and the opening edge is set uniformly along the circumferential direction.

[0009] According to the configuration of the above technology, in addition to the operation of the technology described in claim 1, both ends of the valve flow path in the driving direction are expanded in that driving direction, and the distance between the second seal portion and the opening edge is made uniform along the circumferential direction.

[0010] To achieve the above objective, the technology described in claim 3 is intended to be the technology described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve sealing member has a tip portion that can contact the housing or valve member along its circumferential direction, and the tip portion is positioned closer to the inner circumference of the valve sealing member.

[0011] According to the configuration of the above technology, in addition to the effects of the technology described in claim 1 or 2, the tip of the valve sealing member is positioned closer to the inside of the valve sealing member, so that the contact length of the tip of the valve sealing member with the housing is shortened.

[0012] To achieve the above objective, the technology described in claim 4 is the technology described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve member is disc-shaped and rotatable about a pivot axis provided at its center, the opening edge of the valve passage is formed in an arc shape with the pivot axis as the center, and includes an inner diameter side opening edge closer to the pivot axis and an outer diameter side opening edge further from the pivot axis, the valve seal member has a tip portion that can contact the housing or valve member along its circumferential direction, and the pair of first seal portions includes an outer diameter side first seal portion arranged along the outer diameter side opening edge of the valve passage and an inner diameter side first seal portion arranged along the inner diameter side opening edge of the valve passage, the tip portion of the outer diameter side first seal portion is positioned closer to the inner circumference of the outer diameter side first seal portion, and the tip portion of the inner diameter side first seal portion is positioned closer to the outer circumference of the inner diameter side first seal portion.

[0013] According to the configuration of the above technology, in addition to the operation of the technology described in claim 1 or 2, the tip of the outer diameter side first seal portion of the valve seal member is offset towards the inner circumference of the outer diameter side first seal portion, and the tip of the inner diameter side first seal portion is offset towards the outer circumference of the inner diameter side first seal portion. Therefore, the radius of rotation of the tip of the outer diameter side first seal portion and the tip of the inner diameter side first seal portion with respect to the housing of the valve seal member is reduced. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the technology described in claim 1, even if the seating state (deformed state) of the valve seal member with respect to the housing changes due to the driving of the valve member, the flow path can be reliably sealed by the valve seal member.

[0015] According to the technology described in claim 2, in addition to the effects of the technology described in claim 1, the wall width between the valve sealing member and the inner wall of the valve passage can be made uniform in the circumferential direction, and even when the valve member having the valve passage is molded from a resin material, the molding accuracy can be ensured.

[0016] According to the technology described in claim 3, in addition to the effects of the technology described in claim 1 or 2, the driving torque of the valve seal member to the housing can be reduced.

[0017] According to the technology described in claim 4, in addition to the effects of the technology described in claim 1 or 2, the driving torque of the valve seal member to the housing can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] A perspective view showing the external appearance of a flow path switching device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] An exploded perspective view showing a flow path switching device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] A cross-sectional view showing a flow path switching device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] A top view showing a rotating disk according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] Top view showing a fixed disk according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] Image diagram schematically showing a first flow path pattern according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] Image diagram schematically showing a second flow path pattern according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] Image diagram showing the case where there is no displacement in the valve seal member according to the comparative example. [Figure 9] Image diagram showing the case where there is displacement in the valve seal member according to the comparative example. [Figure 10] Image diagram showing the arrangement relationship in plan view of the valve seal member, the rotating flow path, the opening of the inflow flow path, and the opening of the fixed flow path in the case of FIG. 8 according to the comparative example. [Figure 11] Image diagram showing an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by the chain line rectangle in FIG. 9 according to the comparative example. [Figure 12] Top view showing a valve seal member provided around the rotating flow path of a rotating disk according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] Image diagram corresponding to FIG. 10 showing the arrangement relationship in plan view of the valve seal member, the rotating flow path, the opening of the inflow flow path, and the opening of the fixed flow path according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] Cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 13 showing a portion of the second seal portion according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] Cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 13 showing a portion of the first seal portion according to the first embodiment. [Figure 16] Cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 10 showing a portion of the second seal portion according to the comparative example. [Figure 17] Cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 10 showing the first seal portion according to the comparative example. [Figure 18] Image diagram corresponding to FIG. 13 showing the arrangement relationship in plan view of the valve seal member, the rotating flow path, the opening of the inflow flow path, and the opening of the fixed flow path according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] Image diagram showing the arrangement relationship in plan view of a part of FIG. 18, namely, the valve seal member, the rotating flow path, and the opening of the inflow flow path according to the second embodiment. [Figure 20] A cross-sectional view of line EE in Figure 18, relating to the second embodiment, showing the portion of the second seal. [Figure 21] Figure 18 shows a cross-sectional view of the FF line illustrating the portion of the first seal, relating to the second embodiment. [Figure 22] An illustrative diagram relating to the first embodiment, showing the arrangement of the valve seal member, the rotating passage, and the opening of the inflow passage in a plan view, similar to Figure 19. [Figure 23] An illustrative diagram relating to the third embodiment, showing the arrangement of the valve seal member, the rotating passage, the opening of the inflow passage, and the opening of the fixed passage in a plan view, similar to Figure 18. [Figure 24] A cross-sectional view of the GG line in Figure 23, relating to the third embodiment, showing the portion of the second seal. [Figure 25] A cross-sectional view relating to the second embodiment, showing the portion of the second seal, similar to Figure 24. [Figure 26] An illustrative diagram relating to the fourth embodiment, showing the arrangement of the valve seal member, the rotating passage, the opening of the inflow passage, and the opening of the fixed passage in a plan view, similar to Figure 23. [Figure 27] A cross-sectional view showing a flow path switching device of a different embodiment, in which a fixed disk is omitted. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] The following describes in detail several embodiments of the flow path switching device.

[0020] <First Embodiment> The first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 17.

[0021] [Overview of the flow path switching device] First, an overview of the flow path switching device will be described. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the external appearance of the flow path switching device 1 of this embodiment. Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the flow path switching device 1 of this embodiment (the drive unit 13 and control unit 14 are not shown). Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the flow path switching device 1 of this embodiment (the drive unit 13 and control unit 14 are not shown). As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the flow path switching device 1 comprises a housing 11, a valve body 12, a drive unit 13, and a control unit 14.

[0022] [About Housing] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the housing 11 is constructed by fastening an upper housing 11A and a lower housing 11B together with a plurality of screws 16. The housing 11 includes an inflow channel 20 through which fluid flows in and an outflow channel 30 through which fluid flows out. In this embodiment, the flow path switching device 1 is configured as a hexagonal valve as an example, and the housing 11 has three inflow channels 20 and three outflow channels 30. As the three inflow channels 20, the upper housing 11A is provided with a first inflow channel 21, a second inflow channel 22, and a third inflow channel 23. As shown in Figure 3, one end of the inflow channel 20 facing the rotating disk 40 is provided with an opening 20a that can communicate with a rotating channel 60, which will be described later. Also, as the three outflow channels 30, the lower housing 11B is provided with a first outflow channel 31, a second outflow channel 32, and a third outflow channel 33.

[0023] The housing 11 is formed of, for example, resin. The housing 11 (upper housing 11A and lower housing 11B) corresponds to an example of the "housing" in the disclosed technology, and the inflow channel 20 (first inflow channel 21, second inflow channel 22 and third inflow channel 23) and the outflow channel 30 (first outflow channel 31, second outflow channel 32 and third outflow channel 33) correspond to an example of the "housing channel" in the disclosed technology.

[0024] [Regarding the valve body] The valve body 12 is provided inside the housing 11. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the valve body 12 includes a non-rotating fixed disk 50, a rotating disk 40 stacked on the fixed disk 50 and rotating relative to the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50, and a rotating shaft 42 provided integrally with the disk 40 at the center of the rotating disk 40.

[0025] The rotating disk 40 (including the rotating shaft 42) and the fixed disk 50 are formed of, for example, resin. The rotating disk 40 corresponds to an example of a "valve member" in the disclosed technology, and the fixed disk 50 constitutes a part of the "housing" in the disclosed technology.

[0026] [About the rotating disc] Figure 4 shows a top view of the rotating disk 40. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the rotating disk 40 is positioned between the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50. The rotating disk 40 includes a disc portion 41 and a rotating shaft 42. The rotating disk 40 (disc portion 41) is formed in a disc shape and includes a plurality of rotating channels 60. These rotating channels 60 penetrate the rotating disk 40 in the thickness direction (axial direction), extend along the surface direction, and can communicate with the inflow channel 20 and the fixed channel 70 described later. In this embodiment, the rotating disk 40 includes three rotating channels 60. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the three rotating channels 60 include a first rotating channel 61, a second rotating channel 62, and a third rotating channel 63. The rotating channels 60 (first rotating channel 61, second rotating channel 62, and third rotating channel 63) correspond to an example of a "valve channel" in the present disclosure.

[0027] [Regarding the axis of rotation] The rotating shaft 42 is connected to the rotating disk 40 (disk portion 41) at one axial end and to the drive unit 13 at the other end. The rotating shaft 42 is formed integrally with the disk portion 41 so that its central axis coincides with the central axis L of the rotating disk 40. The rotating shaft 42 rotates by obtaining rotational driving force from the drive unit 13, causing the rotating disk 40 to rotate.

[0028] [About fixed disks] Figure 5 shows a top view of the fixed disk 50. As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, the fixed disk 50 includes a disc portion 51 and a cylindrical portion 52 formed integrally with the disc portion 51. A retaining spring 82 is provided between the fixed disk 50 and the lower housing 11B to bias and hold the fixed disk 50 in the direction of the rotating disk 40. The retaining spring 82 is positioned on the lower surface of the fixed disk 50 so as to enclose each cylindrical portion 52.

[0029] The disc portion 51 is formed in a disc shape and includes a fixed channel 70 that penetrates it in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the three fixed channels 70 include a first fixed channel 71, a second fixed channel 72, and a third fixed channel 73. The three fixed channels 70 are arranged at equal angular intervals from each other. The fixed channels 70 correspond to an example of the "housing channel" in the disclosed technology.

[0030] The cylindrical portion 52 is formed to extend axially from the disc portion 51 so as to surround the fixed flow path 70. In this embodiment, three cylindrical portions 52 are formed, corresponding to each of the three fixed flow paths 70. The ends of these fixed flow paths 70 are connected to the outflow flow path 30 formed in the lower housing 11B. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, one end of the fixed flow path 70 facing the rotating disk 40 is provided with an opening 70a that can communicate with the rotating flow path 60.

[0031] [About the drive unit] The drive unit 13 includes a motor and a reduction mechanism (not shown) for providing rotational driving force to the rotating shaft 42.

[0032] [About the control unit] The control unit 14, for example, includes a CPU and memory such as ROM and RAM, and controls the motor of the drive unit 13 according to a program pre-stored in the memory.

[0033] The flow path switching device 1, configured as described above, forms a fluid flow path by connecting the inflow flow path 20, the rotating flow path 60, and the fixed flow path 70 (outflow flow path 30). The flow path switching device 1 rotates the rotating disk 40 via the rotating shaft 42 using the drive unit 13, and switches the combination of connections between the three rotating flow paths 60 (61-63), the three inflow flow paths 20 (21-23), the three fixed flow paths 70 (71-73), and the three outflow flow paths 30 (31-33), thereby switching the fluid flow path to several patterns.

[0034] [Regarding the flow path pattern] For example, as a first flow path pattern, as shown in Figure 6, three rotating flow paths 60 (61-63) connect the first inflow flow path 21, the first fixed flow path 71, and the first outflow flow path 31, the second inflow flow path 22, the second fixed flow path 72, and the second outflow flow path 32, and the third inflow flow path 23, the third fixed flow path 73, and the third outflow flow path 33. Figure 6 schematically illustrates the first flow path pattern.

[0035] Then, from the state of the first flow path pattern shown in Figure 6, the drive unit 13 rotates the rotating disk 40 counterclockwise, which switches to the second flow path pattern shown in Figure 7. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the second flow path pattern.

[0036] In other words, in the second flow path pattern, three rotating flow paths 60 (61-63) connect the first inflow flow path 21, the third fixed flow path 73, and the third outflow flow path 33, the second inflow flow path 22, the first fixed flow path 71, and the first outflow flow path 31, and the third inflow flow path 23, the second fixed flow path 72, and the second outflow flow path 32.

[0037] Furthermore, from the state of the second flow path pattern shown in Figure 7, the first flow path pattern shown in Figure 6 can be switched by rotating the rotating disk 40 clockwise using the drive unit 13. Alternatively, the first flow path pattern shown in Figure 6 can also be switched by further rotating the rotating disk 40 counterclockwise (in this case, the combination of rotating flow paths 60 will be different).

[0038] [Regarding valve seal components] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the flow path switching device 1 is provided with an upper valve seal member 81A and a lower valve seal member 81B, respectively, between the upper housing 11A and the rotating disk 40 and between the rotating disk 40 and the stationary disk 50, to suppress fluid leakage in the flow path. These valve seal members 81 are press-fitted and bonded to a circumferential groove 41c formed along the outer circumference of the rotating flow path 60 of the rotating disk 40 and fixed in place.

[0039] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the valve sealing member 81 is provided as a protrusion on the upper surface 41a and lower surface 41b of the rotating disk 40 (disc portion 41), surrounding the opening edge 60a of the elongated rotating passage 60. The upper valve sealing member 81A, provided on the upper surface 41a of the rotating disk 40, is provided so as to protrude toward the upper housing 11A and contacts the inner surface 11a of the upper housing 11A to seal the passage formed between the inflow passage 20 and the rotating passage 60 communicating with the inflow passage 20 from the outside. The lower valve sealing member 81B, provided on the lower surface 41b of the rotating disk 40 (disc portion 41), contacts the fixed disk 50 to seal the passage formed between the fixed passage 70 and the rotating passage 60 communicating with the fixed passage 70 from the outside.

[0040] In this embodiment, each valve seal member 81 (81A, 81B) is formed of, for example, an elastic material such as rubber. In addition, each valve seal member 81 can be formed of fluororesin (for example, Teflon®), rubber with fluororesin attached, or a material other than fluororesin or rubber.

[0041] [Other sealing materials] As shown in Figure 3, a lip seal 83 is provided between the upper housing 11A and the rotating shaft 42. Additionally, a lip seal 84 is provided between each cylindrical portion 52 of the fixed disk 50 and the lower housing 11B.

[0042] [Regarding the challenges of valve sealing components during flow path switching] Figures 8 to 11 are conceptual diagrams relating to the conventional proportional relationship. Figures 8 and 9 are cross-sections of the housing 11, the rotating disk 40, and the fixed disk 50, and illustrate an example of the state of the valve seal member 81 (upper valve seal member 81A and lower valve seal member 81B) after the rotating disk 40 is driven in the direction indicated by arrow Y1 to switch the flow path. Figure 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the case where there is no displacement in the valve seal member 81. Figure 9 is a conceptual diagram showing the case where there is displacement in the valve seal member 81. Figure 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the arrangement relationship in plan view of the valve seal member 81, the rotating flow path 60, the opening 20a of the inflow flow path 20, and the opening 70a of the fixed flow path 70 in the case of Figure 8. Figure 11 is a conceptual diagram showing an enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dashed rectangle S1 in Figure 9.

[0043] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, when the rotating disk 40 rotates in the direction of arrow Y1 to switch the flow path, a part of the valve seal member 81 passes through the opening 20a of the inflow flow path 20 of the upper housing 11A and the opening 70a of the fixed flow path 70 of the fixed disk 50. Therefore, in the valve seal member 81, there is a part that always slides along the inner surface 11a of the upper housing 11A and the upper surface 51a of the fixed disk 50 (disc portion 51) without passing through the openings 20a and 70a, and a part that slides along those inner surfaces 11a and upper surfaces 51a while passing through the openings 20a and 70a.

[0044] Here, Figure 12 shows a plan view of the valve seal member 81 provided around the rotating channel 60 of the rotating disk 40. As shown in Figure 12, the valve seal member 81 includes a pair of first seal portions 91 that extend along the rotational direction (driving direction) of the rotating disk 40, straddling the opening edge 60a of the rotating channel 60, and a pair of second seal portions 92 that are arranged in a direction intersecting the rotational direction of the rotating disk 40, straddling the opening edge 60a, and connecting both ends of the pair of first seal portions 91.

[0045] The pair of first seal portions 91 are parts that always slide against the inner surface 11a of the upper housing 11A and the upper surface 51a of the fixed disk 50 without passing through the openings 20a and 70a, and are formed along the rotational direction of the rotating disk 40 and located in region α in Figure 12. When the rotating disk 40 rotates, these first seal portions 91 slide against the inner surface 11a of the upper housing 11A and the upper surface 51a of the fixed disk 50 along the rotational direction of the rotating disk 40. These first seal portions 91 correspond to an example of the "first seal portion" of the disclosed technology.

[0046] Furthermore, the pair of second seal portions 92 slide against the inner surface 11a of the upper housing 11A and the upper surface 51a of the fixed disk 50, passing through the openings 20a and 70a before being released into the inflow channel 20 and the fixed channel 70, and are located in region β of Figure 12. When the rotating disk 40 rotates, these second seal portions 92 slide against the inner surface 11a of the upper housing 11A and the upper surface 51a of the fixed disk 50, generating shear stress. These second seal portions 92 correspond to an example of the "second seal portion" in this disclosed technology.

[0047] Note that in Figures 10 and 12, for explanatory purposes, the rotation direction (circumferential direction) of the rotating disk 40 is represented as a straight line in the left-right direction of the drawing. The same applies to Figures 13, 18, 19, 22, and 23 shown in the following explanation.

[0048] Here, as the second seal portion 92 passes through the openings 20a and 70a, it becomes open to the inflow passage 20 or the fixed passage 70. As a result, the tip portion 92a of the second seal portion 92 (shown in Figure 11) protrudes into the inflow passage 20 and the fixed passage 70. Subsequently, as the rotating disk 40 rotates further, the tip portion 92a of the second seal portion 92 that protrudes into the inflow passage 20 and the fixed passage 70 will eventually ride up onto the inner surface 11a of the upper housing 11A and the upper surface 51a of the fixed disk 50, respectively. At this time, the second seal portion 92 may be dragged by the openings 20a and 70a of the inflow passage 20 and the fixed passage 70, causing the second seal portion 92 to be displaced. If such displacement occurs in the second seal portion 92, there is a concern that the sealing performance of the valve seal member 81 will decrease.

[0049] In this embodiment, since the valve seal member 81 is made of rubber, which is an elastic material, it comes into contact with the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50 and slides against them when the rotating disk 40 rotates, and the contact portion may be dragged and displaced by the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50 due to the sliding resistance. In particular, as the second seal portion 92 passes through the openings 20a and 70a, it becomes open to the inflow passage 20 and the fixed passage 70, so the tip portion 92a of the second seal portion 92 protrudes into the inflow passage 20 and the fixed passage 70. Subsequently, as the rotating disk 40 rotates further, the tip portion 92a of the second seal portion 92 that protrudes into the inflow passage 20 and the fixed passage 70 will eventually ride up onto the inner surface 11a of the upper housing 11A and the upper surface 51a of the fixed disk 50. At this time, the second seal portion 92 is dragged by the openings 20a and 70a of the inflow passage 20 and the fixed passage 70, and the second seal portion 92 is displaced.

[0050] Here, if there is no displacement of the valve seal member 81 after the flow path is switched, the tip 92a of the second seal portion 92 will not enter the openings 20a and 70a, as shown in Figures 8 and 10. Therefore, the rotating flow path 60 is reliably sealed, and no fluid leakage occurs in the inflow flow path 20 and the fixed flow path 70. On the other hand, if there is displacement of the tip 92a of the second seal portion 92 after the flow path is switched, as shown in Figures 9 and 11, in the upper valve seal member 81A, the tip 92a of the second seal portion 92 may enter the opening 20a and protrude into the inflow flow path 20, raising concerns that the pressure loss in the inflow flow path 20 may increase or that the sealing of the rotating flow path 60 may become insufficient, causing fluid leakage in the inflow flow path 20.

[0051] [Regarding countermeasures for displacement of valve seal components] Therefore, in this embodiment, the following countermeasures were taken to address the above-mentioned problems. Figure 13 shows the arrangement of the valve seal member 81, the rotating passage 60, the opening 20a of the inflow passage 20, and the opening 70a of the fixed passage 70 in a plan view, in accordance with an image diagram similar to Figure 10. Figure 14 shows a section of the second seal portion 92, which is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 13. Figure 15 shows a section of the first seal portion 91, which is a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 13. Figures 13 to 15 show the state in which the rotating disk 40 has stopped after switching the passage and a fluid passage has been formed, and show the state in which the semicircular arcs at both longitudinal ends of the opening edge 60a of the rotating passage 60 coincide vertically (align) with the semicircular arcs of the opening 20a of the inflow passage 20 and the opening 70a of the fixed passage 70.

[0052] As shown in Figures 13 to 15, in this embodiment, the second seal distance D2, which is the shortest distance between the openings 20a, 70a of the inflow channel 20 and the fixed channel 70 and the second seal portion 92, is set to be greater than the first seal distance D1, which is the shortest distance between the openings 20a, 70a of the inflow channel 20 and the fixed channel 70 and the first seal portion 91. In this embodiment, the second seal portion 92 is formed in an arc shape along the opening 20a of the inflow channel 20 and the opening 70a of the fixed channel 70. In this embodiment, the second seal distance D2 varies depending on the position of the semicircular second seal portion 92, being largest in the center and becoming closer to the first seal distance D1 as it approaches both ends.

[0053] Figure 16 shows a cross-sectional view of the second seal portion 92, which relates to proportionality, along line CC in Figure 10. Figure 17 shows a cross-sectional view of the first seal portion 91, which relates to proportionality, along line DD in Figure 10. The first seal distance D1 in this embodiment shown in Figure 15 is the same as the first seal distance D1 of proportionality shown in Figure 17, but the second seal distance D2 in this embodiment shown in Figure 14 is greater than the second seal distance D2 of proportionality shown in Figure 16.

[0054] [Regarding the operation and effects of the flow path switching device] As described above, with respect to the configuration of the flow path switching device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the second sealing distance D2 between the opening 20a of the inflow passage 20 and the second sealing portion 92 of the valve seal member 81 is set to be greater than the first sealing distance D1 between the opening 20a of the inflow passage 20 and the first sealing portion 91. Therefore, as shown in Figure 14, even if the valve seal member 81 (upper valve seal member 81A) is displaced by the sliding resistance against the upper housing 11A as the rotating disk 40 rotates, the tip portion 92a of the second sealing portion 92 will not protrude into the inflow passage 20 but will make contact with the inner surface 11a of the upper housing 11A. With respect to the lower valve seal member 81B, even if the second sealing portion 92 is displaced by the sliding resistance against the fixed disk 50, its tip portion 92a will not protrude into the fixed passage 70 but will make contact with the upper surface 51a of the fixed disk 50. Therefore, even if the seating state (deformation state) of the valve seal member 81 relative to the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50 (housing) changes due to the rotation (driving) of the rotating disk 40 (valve member), the valve seal member 81 can reliably seal the flow path (i.e., the rotating flow path 60, the inflow flow path 20, and the fixed flow path 70).

[0055] <Second Embodiment> Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 18 to 22. In the following description, components equivalent to those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will be omitted, with the focus being on the differences.

[0056] [Regarding countermeasures for displacement of valve seal components] In this embodiment, the configuration differs from the first embodiment in terms of countermeasures for the displacement of the valve seal member 81. In the first embodiment, the second seal distance D2 of the second seal portion 92 is non-uniform depending on the position. That is, the second seal distance D2 is largest in the center of the second seal portion 92 and approaches the first seal distance D1 as it approaches both ends. In this respect, when the rotating disk 40 is molded from resin, the width between the circumferential groove 41c into which the valve seal member 81 is fitted and the opening edge 60a of the rotating passage 60 becomes non-uniform, raising concerns that the molding accuracy of the rotating disk 40 will decrease, resulting in reduced flatness, warping, or cracking.

[0057] Therefore, in this embodiment, the second seal distance D2 of the second seal portion 92 was set as follows. Figure 18 shows the arrangement of the valve seal member 81, the rotating passage 60, the opening 20a of the inflow passage 20, and the opening 70a of the fixed passage 70 in a plan view according to this embodiment, by an image diagram similar to Figure 13. Figure 19 is a part of Figure 18, showing the arrangement of the valve seal member 81, the rotating passage 60, and the opening 20a of the inflow passage 20 in a plan view, by an image diagram. Figure 20 shows a portion of the second seal portion 92, a cross-sectional view along line EE in Figure 18. Figure 21 shows a portion of the first seal portion 91, a cross-sectional view along line FF in Figure 18. Figure 22 shows the arrangement of the valve seal member 81, the rotating passage 60, and the opening 20a of the inflow passage 20 in a plan view according to the first embodiment, by an image diagram similar to Figure 19. Figures 18 to 20 show the state after the flow path has been switched, when the rotating disk 40 has stopped and a fluid flow path has been formed.

[0058] In this state, the semicircular arcs at both longitudinal ends of the opening edge 60a of the rotating channel 60 and the semicircular arcs of the opening 20a of the inflow channel 20 and the opening 70a of the fixed channel 70 do not coincide vertically (align), and the openings 20a and 70a are located at a distance from both ends of the opening edge 60a in the direction of rotation (drive direction). As shown in Figures 18 to 20, the second seal portion 92 is semicircular along both ends of the opening edge 60a of the rotating channel 60 in the direction of rotation (drive direction), and the distance between the second seal portion 92 and the opening edge 60a is set uniformly along the circumferential direction. In other words, the wall width between the circumferential groove 41c for fixing the valve seal member 81 and the inner wall of the rotating channel 60 is made uniform along the circumferential direction.

[0059] [Regarding the operation and effects of the flow path switching device] As described above, with regard to the configuration of the flow path switching device 1 of this embodiment, both ends of the rotating flow path 60 in the direction of rotation (driving direction) are expanded in the direction of rotation compared to the rotating flow path 60 of the first embodiment (see Figure 20), and the distance between the second seal portion 92 and the opening edge 60a is made uniform along the circumferential direction (see Figure 19). Therefore, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 20, even if the valve seal member 81 (upper valve seal member 81A) is displaced by sliding resistance against the inner surface 11a of the upper housing 11A as the rotating disk 40 rotates (drives), the tip portion 92a of the second seal portion 92 makes contact with the inner surface 11a of the upper housing 11A without protruding into the inflow flow path 20. As for the lower valve seal member 81B, even if the second seal portion 92 is displaced by sliding resistance against the fixed disk 50, its tip portion 92a makes contact with the upper surface 51a of the fixed disk 50 without protruding into the fixed flow path 70. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, even if the seating state of the valve seal member 81 on the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50 changes due to the rotation (driving) of the rotating disk 40 (valve member), the valve seal member 81 can reliably seal the flow path (i.e., the rotating flow path 60, the inflow flow path 20, and the fixed flow path 70). In addition, the wall width between the valve seal member 81 and the inner wall of the rotating flow path 60 can be made uniform in the circumferential direction, and even when the rotating disk 40 having the rotating flow path 60 is molded from a resin material, the molding accuracy can be ensured.

[0060] <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 23 to 25.

[0061] [Regarding countermeasures for displacement of valve seal components] This embodiment differs from the second embodiment in terms of countermeasures for the displacement of the valve seal member 81 and countermeasures for sliding resistance during driving. In the first and second embodiments, the valve seal member 81 was extended to both ends in the direction of rotation. As a result, the overall length of the valve seal member 81 increased, and there was a concern that the sliding resistance of the valve seal member 81 would increase with this increase. In this case, the driving torque of the motor that rotates the rotating disk 40 would increase.

[0062] Therefore, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the valve seal member 81 was changed as follows. Figure 23 shows the arrangement of the valve seal member 81, the rotating passage 60, the opening 20a of the inflow passage 20, and the opening 70a of the fixed passage 70 in a plan view, according to this embodiment, in an image diagram similar to Figure 18. Figure 24 shows a cross-sectional view of the second seal portion 92 along the GG line in Figure 23. Figure 25 shows a cross-sectional view of the second seal portion 92 according to the second embodiment, similar to Figure 24. Figures 23 to 25 show the state in which the rotating disk 40 has stopped after switching the passage and a fluid passage has been formed.

[0063] In this state, the configuration of this embodiment shown in cross-section in Figure 24 is the same as the second embodiment shown in Figure 25 in terms of the arrangement of each component, but differs in the cross-sectional shape of the valve seal member 81. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 23 and 24, the valve seal member 81 has a tip portion 81a (including the tip portion 92a) that can contact the housing 11 (upper housing 11A) along its circumferential direction, and the tip portion 81a is positioned closer to the inner circumference of the valve seal member 81. In other words, the top of the cross-sectional shape of the valve seal member 81 is offset and positioned closer to the inner circumference of the valve seal member 81.

[0064] [Regarding the operation and effects of the flow path switching device] As a result of the configuration of the flow path switching device 1 of this embodiment described above, in addition to the operation and effect of the second embodiment, the following operation and effect can be obtained. Specifically, the tip portion 81a of the valve seal member 81 of this embodiment shown in Figure 24 is positioned closer to the side (closer to the inner circumference) of the opening edge 60a than the tip portion 81a of the valve seal member 81 of the second embodiment shown in Figure 25. As a result, for example, the radius of the tip portion 92a of the second seal portion 92 of this embodiment (the tip portion 81a of the valve seal member 81) is shorter than that of the second embodiment by the radius difference ΔR shown in Figure 24. Consequently, the contact length of the tip portion 81a of the valve seal member 81 with respect to the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50 is shorter than that of the second embodiment. Therefore, the driving torque of the valve seal member 81 with respect to the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50 can be reduced. As a result, the driving torque by the motor for rotating the rotating disk 40 can be reduced, and the motor can be made smaller accordingly.

[0065] <Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 26.

[0066] [Regarding countermeasures for displacement of valve seal components] This embodiment differs from the second embodiment in terms of the measures taken to address the displacement of the valve seal member 81. Referring to Figure 4, in each of the above embodiments, the rotating disk 40 is rotated around the rotation axis 42, causing the arc-shaped elongated hole rotating passage 60 to rotate together with the valve seal member 81 around the rotation axis 42. As a result, the rotation radius of the valve seal member 81 relative to the upper housing 11A and fixed disk 50 increases as it moves away from the rotation axis 42 (outer diameter side) compared to the inner diameter side. Consequently, the driving torque by the motor for sliding the valve seal member 81 increases as it moves towards the outer diameter side of the valve seal member 81 compared to the inner diameter side.

[0067] Therefore, in this embodiment, the arrangement shape of the tip portion 81a of the valve seal member 81 is changed from that of the second embodiment as follows. Figure 26 shows the arrangement relationship of the valve seal member 81, the rotating passage 60, the opening 20a of the inflow passage 20, and the opening 70a of the fixed passage 70 in a plan view according to this embodiment, with reference to an image diagram similar to that of Figure 23. In Figure 26, the rotating passage 60 and the valve seal member 81 are shown slightly curved, assuming that they form an arc shape rotating around the rotation axis 42 located on the lower side of Figure 26.

[0068] In other words, in this embodiment, the rotating disk 40 is disc-shaped and rotatable about a rotation axis 42 located at its center. The opening edge 60a of the rotating channel 60 is formed in an arc shape with the rotation axis 42 as the center, and includes an inner diameter side opening edge 60aa closer to the rotation axis 42 and an outer diameter side opening edge 60ab further away from the rotation axis 42. The valve seal member 81 has a tip portion 81a that can contact the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50 along its circumferential direction. The pair of first seal portions 91 include an outer diameter side first seal portion 91A positioned along the outer diameter side opening edge 60ab of the rotating channel 60 and an inner diameter side first seal portion 91B positioned along the inner diameter side opening edge 60aa of the rotating channel 60. Here, the tip 81a of the outer diameter side first seal portion 91A is offset towards the inner circumference of the outer diameter side first seal portion 91A, and the tip 81a of the inner diameter side first seal portion 91B is offset towards the outer circumference of the inner diameter side first seal portion 91B. The tip 81a (tip 92a) of the second seal portion 92 changes continuously and gradually between the outer diameter side first seal portion 91A and the inner diameter side first seal portion 91B.

[0069] [Regarding the operation and effects of the flow path switching device] As described above, the configuration of the flow path switching device 1 of this embodiment provides the following effects and benefits in addition to those of the second embodiment. Specifically, in this embodiment, the tip 81a of the outer diameter side first seal portion 91A is offset towards the inner circumference of the outer diameter side first seal portion 91A, and the tip 81a of the inner diameter side first seal portion 91B is offset towards the outer circumference of the inner diameter side first seal portion 91B (see Figure 26). Therefore, the rotational radius of the tip 81a of the outer diameter side first seal portion 91A and the tip 81a of the inner diameter side first seal portion 91B with respect to the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50 is smaller than that of the second embodiment. As a result, the driving torque of the valve seal member 81 with respect to the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50 can be reduced.

[0070] <Another embodiment> Furthermore, this disclosed technology is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it may be implemented by appropriately modifying some parts of the configuration without departing from the spirit of the disclosed technology.

[0071] (1) In each of the above embodiments, the valve body 12 of the flow path switching device 1 is provided with a rotating disk 40 that rotates around a rotating shaft 42 and a fixed disk 50 fixed to the lower housing 11B. Alternatively, the fixed disk may be omitted from the valve body, and only a rotating disk that rotates around a rotating shaft may be provided. Figure 27 shows a cross-sectional view of a flow path switching device of the type in which the fixed disk is omitted. In this type, the rotating disk 40 is provided between the upper housing 11A and the lower housing 11B, and the valve seal members 81 provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of the rotating disk 40 are slidable on the inner surfaces of the upper housing 11A and the lower housing 11B.

[0072] (2) In each of the above embodiments, the valve seal members 81 (upper valve seal member 81A and lower valve seal member 81B) are fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the rotating disk 40, respectively, and are slidably mounted relative to the inner surfaces of the upper housing 11A and the fixed disk 50. Alternatively, the valve seal members can be fixed to the housing and slidably mounted relative to the rotating disk.

[0073] (3) In each of the above embodiments, the valve member is configured as a rotating disk that rotates relative to the housing, but the valve member can also be configured as a movable member that moves linearly relative to the housing.

[0074] (4) In each of the above embodiments, the flow path switching device 1 is embodied in a hexagonal valve, but it is not limited to this and can also be embodied in other multi-way valves such as a 3-way valve or a 4-way valve.

[0075] (5) In each of the above embodiments, a rotating channel 60 that penetrates the rotating disk 40, which is the "valve body," in the direction of the plate thickness was provided as the "valve channel," but it is also possible to provide a valve channel that does not penetrate the valve body in the direction of the plate thickness. [Industrial applicability]

[0076] This disclosed technology can be used, for example, to switch the fluid flow path in a fluid circuit through which a fluid such as a refrigerant flows. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1. Flow path switching device 11 Housing 20 Inflow channel (housing channel) 20a opening 30 Outlet channel (housing channel) 30a opening 40 Rotating Disc (Valve Component) 42 Rotation axis 50 Fixed disks (housing) 60 Rotating flow path (valve flow path) 60a Opening edge 60aa Inner diameter side opening edge 60ab Outer diameter side opening edge 70 Fixed channel (housing channel) 70a opening 81 Valve sealing member 81a Tip 91 First seal section 91A Outer diameter side first seal section 91B Inner diameter side first seal portion 92 Second seal section D1 First Seal Distance D2 Second seal distance

Claims

1. Housing and A plate-shaped valve member is disposed inside the housing and drives relative to the housing. Equipped with, The housing includes a plurality of housing channels, The valve member includes at least one valve passage extending along the direction of the plate surface, The valve passage includes an opening edge, The housing passage includes a plurality of openings that can communicate with the valve passage, A valve seal member is provided between the housing and the valve member so as to surround the opening edge of the valve passage, and slides between the housing and the valve member as the valve member is driven. In a flow path switching device configured such that the valve member is driven to connect at least two of the plurality of openings through the valve flow path, thereby selectively communicating the housing flow path and the valve flow path to form a fluid flow path, The valve sealing member includes a pair of first sealing portions extending along the driving direction of the valve member, straddling the opening edge, and a pair of second sealing portions arranged in a direction intersecting the driving direction of the valve member, straddling the opening edge, and connecting both ends of the pair of first sealing portions. The second seal distance, which is the shortest distance between the opening of the housing flow path and the second seal portion, is set to be greater than the first seal distance, which is the shortest distance between the opening of the housing flow path and the first seal portion. A flow path switching device characterized by the following features.

2. In the flow path switching device according to claim 1, In the state in which the fluid flow path is formed, the opening of the housing flow path is located at a distance from both ends in the driving direction of the opening edge of the valve flow path, and both ends in the driving direction of the opening edge are semi-circular in shape. The second sealing portion is semi-circular in shape along both ends of the opening edge in the driving direction, and the distance between the second sealing portion and the opening edge is set uniformly along the circumferential direction. A flow path switching device characterized by the following features.

3. In the flow path switching device according to claim 1 or 2, The valve sealing member has a tip portion that can contact the housing or the valve member along its circumferential direction, and the tip portion is positioned closer to the inner circumference of the valve sealing member. A flow path switching device characterized by the following features.

4. In the flow path switching device according to claim 1 or 2, The valve member is disc-shaped and rotatably mounted around a pivot axis located at its center. The opening edge of the valve passage is formed in an arc shape with the rotation axis as the center, and includes an inner diameter opening edge closer to the rotation axis and an outer diameter opening edge further away from the rotation axis. The valve sealing member has a tip portion that can contact the housing or the valve member along its circumferential direction, The pair of first seal portions includes an outer diameter side first seal portion arranged along the outer diameter side opening edge of the valve passage and an inner diameter side first seal portion arranged along the inner diameter side opening edge of the valve passage, The tip of the outer diameter side first seal portion is positioned closer to the inner circumference of the outer diameter side first seal portion, and the tip of the inner diameter side first seal portion is positioned closer to the outer circumference of the inner diameter side first seal portion. A flow path switching device characterized by the following features.

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