Slide-type switching valve

Abstract

To provide a slide type switching valve for preventing valve leakage while suppressing the biting of foreign matters between a valve seat seal surface and a valve element seal part.SOLUTION: A slide type switching valve 1 includes a valve body 10 having a valve chest 10a inside, a valve seat part 30, a valve element 40 provided slidably in the valve chest 10a in an axial line L direction, and a drive part 50 for slide-driving the valve element 40, the valve body 10 being provided with a valve element guide part 14 for guiding the valve element 40 along the axial line L direction, the valve element 40 having a valve element seal part 412 opposed to the valve seat part 30, and a guided part 414 to be guided in slide contact with the valve element guide part 14, the valve seat part 30 having at least one of valve ports 31, 32, 33, and a valve seat seal surface 34 with which the valve element seal part 412 has slide contact. Between the valve element guide part 14 and the valve seat part 30, a grooved foreign matter evacuation part S is provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] As a switching valve for switching the refrigerant flow path in a refrigeration cycle or the like, a slide type switching valve including a cylindrical valve body, a valve element slidably provided inside the valve body, a valve seat portion provided on the valve body, and a drive unit (magnet rotor and stator coil) for slidably driving the valve element in the axial direction is known. The valve element has a bowl-shaped recess and a valve element seal portion along the opening edge thereof, and the valve seat portion is configured to have a plurality of valve ports and a valve seat seal surface (valve seat surface) with which the valve element seal portion makes sliding contact.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in a conventional slide type switching valve, when foreign matter generated in the refrigeration cycle enters the inside of the valve body, if the foreign matter gets caught between the valve seat seal surface and the valve element seal portion, valve leakage may occur.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to obtain a slide type switching valve that suppresses the intrusion of foreign matter between the valve seat seal surface and the valve element seal portion and prevents valve leakage.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the aforementioned problems and achieve the objective, the present invention provides a sliding type switching valve comprising: a valve body having a valve chamber inside; a valve seat portion provided on the valve body; a valve element slidably provided in the valve chamber in the axial direction; and a drive unit for sliding the valve element, wherein the valve body is provided with a valve element guide portion for guiding the valve element along the axial direction; the valve element has a valve element seal portion facing the valve seat portion and a guided portion that slides against and is guided by the valve element guide portion; the valve seat portion has at least one valve port and a valve seat seal surface that slides against the valve element seal portion; and a groove-shaped foreign matter relief portion is provided between the valve element guide portion and the valve seat portion. Furthermore, the valve body is provided with a side wall portion facing the valve body guide portion, and the guided portion is composed of a projection protruding from the side wall portion, with the bottom surface of the projection being positioned higher than the valve body seal portion. It is characterized by the following:

[0007] According to the present invention, even if foreign matter generated by wear of parts in the refrigeration cycle system enters the valve body and moves along the valve seat sealing surface as the valve body slides, the foreign matter can be released into the foreign matter relief section and contained. This prevents the foreign matter from becoming trapped on the valve seat sealing surface and prevents the valve body from riding up on the foreign matter. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a sliding type switching valve that suppresses the jamming of foreign matter between the valve seat sealing surface and the valve body sealing section and prevents valve leakage. Furthermore, with this configuration, the bottom surface of the protrusion is positioned higher than the valve body sealing portion, so the valve body is guided by the valve body guide portion at a position higher than the valve seat sealing surface. In other words, the position where the valve body is guided can be moved away from the foreign object relief portion. This makes it easier to avoid interference between foreign objects and the valve body.

[0008] Furthermore, in this case, it is preferable that the valve body guide portion is provided in the shape of a wall along a plane that includes the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the valve seat sealing surface and the axial direction, and that it extends from a position higher than the valve seat sealing surface to a position lower than the valve seat sealing surface, and that the foreign matter relief portion is provided between the wall surface of the valve body guide portion, which is located lower than the valve seat sealing surface, and the end face of the valve seat portion along the axial direction. With this configuration, by accommodating foreign matter in the foreign matter relief portion provided between the wall surface of the valve body guide portion, which is located lower than the valve seat sealing surface, and the end face of the valve seat portion along the axial direction, it is possible to suppress the jamming of foreign matter between the valve seat sealing surface and the valve body sealing portion.

[0009] Furthermore, it is preferable that the guide clearance, which is the gap between the valve body guide portion and the guided portion, is smaller than the valve seat excess length distance, which is the distance between the end face of the valve body seal portion along the axial direction and the edge of the valve seat seal surface along the axial direction. With such a configuration, for example, when the valve body slides, even if it is displaced in a direction that fills the guide clearance due to vibration or the like, the distance of that displacement will not exceed the valve seat excess length distance. Therefore, the displaced valve body seal portion will not extend beyond the valve seat seal surface and be located within the foreign matter relief portion. Consequently, even if the valve body is displaced, the sliding contact of the valve body seal portion with the valve seat seal surface will not be released, and the valve body seal portion will not protrude from the valve seat seal surface. This prevents damage such as the valve body seal portion being scraped off at the corners of the valve seat portion if the valve seat portion is formed in a plate shape. This prevents valve leakage caused by such damage and prevents wear debris generated by such damage from becoming trapped between the valve body seal portion and the valve seat seal surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, a slide-type switching valve can be obtained that suppresses the entrapment of foreign matter between the valve seat sealing surface and the valve body sealing portion, thereby preventing valve leakage. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] A cross-sectional view of the slide-type switching valve according to the present invention, along the axial direction. [Figure 2] Perspective view of the valve body of a sliding type switching valve. [Figure 3] A cross-sectional view of a sliding type switching valve, along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. [Figure 4] (A) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve seat and valve body before displacement, and (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve seat and valve body after displacement. [Figure 5] A schematic diagram of a refrigeration cycle system using a sliding switch valve. [Figure 6] Enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve seat and valve body in a modified example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The sliding switching valve 1 according to this embodiment is a switching valve that is connected to a compressor, evaporator, and condenser in a refrigeration cycle and the like, and switches the flow path of the refrigerant that flows to these devices.

[0014] In this embodiment, the sliding type switching valve 1 has a drive unit 50 on one side in the direction of axis L and an inlet port A, which will be described later, on the other side in the direction of axis L. Therefore, one side in the direction of axis L may be referred to as the drive unit 50 side, and the other side in the direction of axis L may be referred to as the inlet port A side. The width direction of the valve body 40, which will be described later, in the direction perpendicular to the direction of axis L is defined as the left-right direction X. One side of the left-right direction X is defined as the left side X1, and the other side as the right side X2. The depth direction of the valve body 40, which is perpendicular to the left-right direction X, is defined as the height direction Z. One side of the height direction Z is defined as the upper side Z1, and the other side as the lower side Z2.

[0015] This is merely for explanatory purposes and does not necessarily correspond to the actual direction in which the sliding type switching valve 1 is used, nor does it limit the possible directions in which the sliding type switching valve 1 is used.

[0016] The sliding type switching valve 1 comprises a valve body 10 having a valve chamber 10a inside, a housing 20 that houses the valve body 10, a valve seat portion 30 provided on the valve body 10, a valve element 40 that is slidably mounted in the axial direction L within the valve chamber 10a, and a drive unit 50 that slides the valve element 40.

[0017] In this embodiment, the valve body 10 is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape by resin molding such that the tip extends toward the drive unit 50 side, and the inside thereof constitutes a valve chamber 10a. That is, the valve body 10 is configured to have a valve chamber 10a inside. An inlet port A that communicates between the inside and outside of the valve chamber 10a is formed in the bottom wall 10b of the valve body 10. The inlet port A is a port that communicates with the discharge port of a compressor (not shown) via an inlet connection flow path A1 extending in the axial direction L. This inlet port A constitutes an inlet when high-pressure refrigerant sent from the compressor flows into the valve chamber 10a.

[0018] On the side wall 10c of the valve body 10, as a plurality of cylindrical flow paths that communicate between the inside and outside of the valve chamber 10a, a first connection flow path 11, an outlet connection flow path 12, and a second connection flow path 13 are formed along the axial direction L in this order from the drive unit 50 side. The first connection flow path 11 is a flow path that communicates with a first port 31 described later. This first connection flow path 11 is connected to a condenser (or evaporator) and constitutes a flow path for fluid flowing between the condenser (or evaporator) and the valve chamber 10a.

[0019] The outlet connection flow path 12 is a flow path that communicates with an outlet port 32 described later. This outlet connection flow path 12 is connected to the suction port of the compressor, and constitutes a flow path when the low-pressure refrigerant that has returned to the valve chamber 10a through the first connection flow path 11 (or the second connection flow path 13) is sent to the compressor. The second connection flow path 13 is a flow path that communicates with a second port 33 described later. This second connection flow path 13 is connected to an evaporator (or condenser) and constitutes a flow path for fluid flowing between the evaporator (or condenser) and the valve chamber 10a.

[0020] On the inner wall surface of the valve body 10, stepped valve body guide portions 14 that rise in the height direction Z (the orthogonal direction orthogonal to a valve seat sealing surface 34 described later) are formed on both sides in the left-right direction X of the first connection flow path 11, outlet connection flow path 12, and second connection flow path 13, as shown in FIG. 3. The valve body guide portions 14 are provided in a wall shape along a plane including the height direction Z and the axial direction L.

[0021] The wall surface 14a facing inward in the left - right direction X of the valve body guide portion 14 extends from the upper side Z1 to the lower side Z2 (from a position higher than the valve seat seal surface 34 to a lower position) of the valve seat seal surface 34, and extends along the axis L direction respectively. This wall surface 14a is provided so that the guided portion 414 of the valve body 40 described later can be in sliding contact, and thereby guides the valve body 40 along the axis L direction. That is, the valve body guide portion 14 for guiding the valve body 40 along the axis L direction is provided on the valve body 10.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, at the end of the valve body 10 on the drive unit 50 side, a metal cylindrical case 15 is fixed to the valve body 10 by insert molding. At the end of the case 15 on the drive unit 50 side, it is fixed to the outer periphery of the guide portion 521 described later by insert molding, and a substantially disk - shaped fixing lid 16 made of metal for closing the opening of the case 15 is fixed by welding or the like.

[0023] The housing 20 is a housing member that houses the valve body 10, the case 15, and the fixing lid 16 in a substantially cylindrical housing chamber 2a centered on the axis L, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape by aluminum die - casting. A C - ring 21 for fixing the housing 20 and the valve body 10 to prevent them from coming off is fitted between the end of the housing 20 on the drive unit 50 side and the fixing lid 16. In this embodiment, the valve body 10 is made of a resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), but it may be made of other appropriate materials such as metals such as brass, iron, aluminum, and stainless steel.

[0024] On the inner peripheral wall of the housing 20 (or the outer peripheral wall of the valve body 10), groove portions G recessed in the radial direction are respectively arranged at a plurality of positions in the axis L direction at predetermined intervals, and an O - ring 22 is fitted into the groove portion G. By this O - ring 22, the space between the valve body 10 and the housing 20 is sealed. An inlet connection hole 23 penetrating in the axis L direction is formed in the bottom wall 20b of the housing 20, and a D - joint pipe 23a for communicating the valve chamber 10a and the discharge port of the compressor is connected to the inlet connection hole 23 via an inlet connection flow path A1 and an inlet port A.

[0025] The side wall 20c of the housing 20 has a first connection hole 24, an outlet connection hole 25, and a second connection hole 26, which penetrate in a direction perpendicular to the axis L, formed in this order from the drive unit 50 side along the axis L. An E-connection pipe 24a, which connects the valve chamber 10a and the condenser (or evaporator) via a first connection passage 11 and a first port 31 (described later), is connected to the first connection hole 24. An S-connection pipe 25a, which connects the valve chamber 10a and the compressor's intake port via an outlet connection passage 12 and an outlet port 32 (described later), is connected to the outlet connection hole 25. A C-connection pipe 26a, which connects the valve chamber 10a and the evaporator (or condenser) via a second connection passage 13 and a second port 33 (described later), is connected to the second connection hole 26.

[0026] The valve seat portion 30 is a component installed on the side wall 10c of the valve body 10, specifically on the side wall 10c where the first connecting passage 11, the outlet connecting passage 12, and the second connecting passage 13 are formed. This valve seat portion 30 is made of a thin metal plate and is fixed to the side wall 10c of the valve body 10 by insert molding, bonding, welding, or the like. On the plate surface of the valve seat portion 30, there is a first port 31 communicating with the first connecting passage 11, an outlet port 32 communicating with the outlet connecting passage 12, and a second port 33 communicating with the second connecting passage 13. Each of the ports 31, 32, and 33 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an inner diameter smaller than the first connecting passage 11, the outlet connecting passage 12, and the second connecting passage 13, and is arranged at a predetermined interval in the axial direction L. The side of the valve seat portion 30 opposite to the side with each connecting passage 11, 12, and 13 constitutes the valve seat sealing surface 34, which is in sliding contact with the valve body sealing portion 412 of the valve body 40, which will be described later.

[0027] In this embodiment, the valve seat portion 30 has a plurality of valve ports 31, 32, and 33 formed to correspond to the first connecting passage 11, the outlet connecting passage 12, and the second connecting passage 13, but the number of valve ports is not limited to these. For example, the present invention can also be applied when the fluid flow is controlled by closing and opening a valve body through a single valve port. In other words, the valve seat portion 30 only needs to have at least one valve port.

[0028] Between the end faces 30a on both sides of the valve seat portion 30 in the left-right direction X (end faces along the axis L of the valve seat portion 30) and the wall surface 14a of the valve body guide portion 14 of the valve body 10 described above, a groove-shaped foreign matter relief portion S is formed that opens toward the upper side Z1, as shown in Figure 4(A) (in Figure 4(A), only the left end X1 is shown). In other words, a foreign matter relief portion S is provided between the valve body guide portion 14 and the valve seat portion 30.

[0029] The foreign matter relief section S is specifically a space provided between the wall surface 14a of the valve body guide section 14 that is located below Z2 (lower position) than the valve seat sealing surface 34, and the end faces 30a on both sides in the left-right direction X of the valve seat section 30. Foreign matter generated by wear of parts in the refrigeration cycle system and that enters the inside of the valve body 10 is contained in this foreign matter relief section S.

[0030] In other words, the foreign matter relief section S functions as a relief space that allows foreign matter generated by wear and tear of parts in the refrigeration cycle system to escape from the valve seat sealing surface 34 when it enters the valve body 10 and moves along the valve body 40 as it slides.

[0031] The valve body 40 is mainly made of a resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and is slidably mounted in the valve chamber 10a in the axial direction L. The valve body 40 is configured to have a bowl-shaped valve body 41 that sits on the valve seat portion 30 and connects or blocks the inlet port A, the first port 31, the outlet port 32, and the second port 33, respectively. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the valve body 41 has a bowl-shaped recess 411 that is recessed on the upper side Z1 (opposite side from the valve seat portion 30) and opens toward the valve seat sealing surface 34 of the valve seat portion 30. That is, the valve body 40 has a bowl-shaped recess 411 that is recessed in the shape of a bowl.

[0032] The opening edge of the bowl-shaped recess 411 is formed in an elongated oval shape that is long in the axial direction L, and the surface facing the valve seat sealing surface 34 constitutes a valve body sealing portion 412 along the opening edge. That is, the valve body 40 is provided with a valve body sealing portion 412 facing the valve seat portion 30. The dimension of the opening edge of the bowl-shaped recess 411 in the axial direction L is set to a length that can cover two adjacent ports among the first port 31, the outlet port 32, and the second port 33. Therefore, when the valve body sealing portion 412 slides against the valve seat sealing surface 34, if the valve body 40 is in the position shown in Figure 1, the outlet port 32 and the second port 33 are surrounded by the bowl-shaped recess 411 and isolated from the other ports A and 31. As a result, the outlet port 32 and the second port 33 are in communication, and the inlet port A and the first port 31 are in communication.

[0033] Then, when the valve body 40 slides towards the drive unit 50 from this state, the first port 31 and the outlet port 32 are surrounded by the bowl-shaped recess 411 and isolated from the other ports A and 33. As a result, the first port 31 and the outlet port 32 are connected, and the inlet port A and the second port 33 are connected.

[0034] In other words, the valve body 40 slides, and the valve body seal portion 412 slides against the valve seat seal surface 34, thereby switching the communication and disconnection of each port A, 31, 32, and 33.

[0035] The side walls 41a (side walls of the valve body 40) located at both ends of the valve body 41 in the left-right direction X are opposite the valve body guide portion 14 of the valve body 10 described above, and are formed to be long in the axial direction L, as shown in Figure 2. On the inner surface of each side wall 41a, a fixing portion 413 is formed, which consists of a base 413a for installing a reinforcing member (not shown), a fitting groove 413b, and a retaining projection 413c.

[0036] As shown in Figure 2, each outer surface of the side wall 41a has a guided portion 414 that slides against and is guided by the wall surface 14a of the valve body 10 described above. The guided portion 414 is composed of protrusions that project outward in the left-right direction X from the side wall 41a of the valve body 41. The bottom surface 414a of the guided portion 414 (the surface facing downward Z2) is adjusted to be located above Z1 (higher) than the valve body seal portion 412. In other words, the guided portion 414 is composed of protrusions that project from the side wall 41a (side wall portion) of the valve body 40, and the bottom surface of the protrusion is located at a higher position than the valve body seal portion 412.

[0037] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4(A), if the gap in the left-right direction X between the valve body guide portion 14 and the guided portion 414 is defined as the guide clearance S1, and the distance between the side wall 41a of the valve body 41 (the end face along the axis L of the valve body seal portion 412) and the end face 30a of the valve seat portion 30 (the end face along the axis L of the valve seat seal surface 34) is defined as the valve seat excess length distance S2, then the width of the guide clearance S1 in the left-right direction X is smaller than the valve seat excess length distance S2.

[0038] Here, the valve body 40 is fixed to the drive unit 50 by hooking the claw portion 417b, which will be described later, onto the female screw shaft 523, which will be described later. Due to this fixing structure, the valve body 40 may be displaced in the left-right direction X (the direction that fills the guide clearance S1) due to vibration or the like when it slides. However, as described above, by setting the guide clearance S1 and the valve seat excess length distance S2, even if the valve body 40 is displaced in the direction that fills the guide clearance S1, as shown in Figure 4(B), the distance of that displacement will not exceed the valve seat excess length distance S2.

[0039] Therefore, the displaced valve body seal portion 412 does not extend beyond the valve seat seal surface 34 and remain within the foreign matter relief portion S. Consequently, even if the valve body 40 is displaced, the sliding contact of the valve body seal portion 412 with the valve seat seal surface 34 is not released, and the valve body seal portion 412 is prevented from protruding from the valve seat seal surface 34 in the left-right direction X. This prevents damage to the valve body seal portion 412 that protrudes from the valve seat seal surface 34, such as when the valve seat portion 30 is formed in a plate shape as in this embodiment, by being scraped off the corners of the valve seat portion 30. This prevents valve leakage caused by such damage and prevents wear debris generated by such damage from becoming trapped between the valve body seal portion 412 and the valve seat seal surface 34.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3, a spring member 415 is installed at the upper end (top) of the valve body 41 at Z1, biasing the valve body 41 toward the valve seat 30. The spring member 415 presses the valve body 40 toward the valve seat 30. As shown in Figure 1, a stopper 416 is formed at the end of the valve body 41 on the inlet port A side, projecting axially in the direction L toward the inlet port A side. This stopper 416 restricts the movement of the valve body 40 toward the inlet port A side by its projecting end contacting the surface of the bottom wall 10b of the valve body 10 on the valve chamber 10a side.

[0041] As shown in Figure 1, the end of the valve body 41 on the drive unit 50 side is provided with a connecting claw portion 417 that protrudes toward the drive unit 50. The connecting claw portion 417 is a part for connecting the valve body 40 and the drive unit 50, and as shown in Figure 2, it is composed of a projection portion 417a that protrudes in the axial direction L, and a claw portion 417b that protrudes from the protruding end of the projection portion 417a toward the opposite side from the side with the valve seat portion 30. The claw portion 417b protrudes from both the left and right X ends of the projection portion 417a and is configured to be shaped as to split into two in a substantially horizontal direction. This claw portion 417b has thickness in the axial direction L and is hooked onto the female screw shaft 523, which will be described later, and fits into a connecting groove formed on the female screw shaft 523 (not shown).

[0042] The drive unit 50 is the part that slides the valve body 40 and includes a stepping motor 51 as an electric motor and a linear motion mechanism 52 that converts the rotation of the stepping motor 51 into linear motion and transmits it to the valve body 40.

[0043] As shown in Figure 1, the stepping motor 51 is fixed to the drive unit 50 side of the fixed cover 16 and includes a metal cap 511 that seals the valve chamber 10a of the valve body 10 and the inside of the case 15, a magnet rotor 512 housed inside the cap 511, and a stator coil 513 that is arranged to surround the outer circumference of the magnet rotor 512 in the circumferential direction in the axial direction L, with the cap 511 in between.

[0044] The linear motion mechanism 52 comprises the aforementioned bottomed cylindrical guide portion 521 fixed to the fixed cover 16 by insert molding, a male screw shaft 522 as a rotor shaft that is guided to move back and forth in the axial direction L along the guide portion 521, and a female screw shaft 523 having a female screw portion 523a that screws onto the male screw portion 522a formed on the outer circumferential surface of the male screw shaft 522. In other words, the linear motion mechanism 52 is configured as a screw feed mechanism having a male screw portion 522a and a female screw portion 523a that screw onto each other. The guide portion 521 is fixed to the fixed cover 16 with its tip side (inlet port A side) located inside the valve chamber 10a and its bottom wall side (drive unit 50 side) located outside the valve chamber 10a. The guide portion 521 is provided to house the male screw shaft 522 and the female screw shaft 523 inside, and the inner circumferential wall on which the outer circumferential wall surface of the female screw shaft 523 slides is formed in a rectangular tubular cross-section.

[0045] The male screw shaft 522 has its end on the drive unit 50 side fixed to the center of the magnet rotor 512 via a fixing member, and its end on the inlet port A side extends along the axis L toward the inlet port A side, passing through the bottom wall of the guide unit 521. This male screw shaft 522 rotates in the circumferential direction of the axis L together with the magnet rotor 512.

[0046] The female threaded shaft 523 is formed in the shape of a rounded-corner rectangular tube in cross-section. The end of the female threaded shaft 523 on the drive unit 50 side is housed in the guide unit 521 so as to be slidable in the direction of the axis L. In the central part of the female threaded shaft 523, a female threaded portion 523a is formed whose central axis is coaxial with the axis L. The female threaded portion 523a is screwed into the male threaded portion 522a of the male threaded shaft 522, and as the male threaded portion 522a rotates, the female threaded portion 523a is screwed in and slides in the direction of the axis L. It is desirable to use multi-start threads for the threads constituting the male threaded portion 522a and the female threaded portion 523a.

[0047] On the outer circumferential surfaces of both sides in the left-right direction X at the end of the female screw shaft 523 on the inlet port A side, connecting grooves (not shown) are formed for fitting the aforementioned claw portion 417b. The connecting grooves have a groove width that is approximately the same as or slightly larger than the dimension of the claw portion 417b in the direction of the axis L, and extend in a direction intersecting the axis L, so that the claw portion 417b can be fitted into them. When the claw portion 417b is fitted into these connecting grooves, the drive unit 50 and the valve body 40 are connected via the connecting claw portion 417. In this state, when the stepping motor 51 rotates the male screw shaft 522 and the linear motion mechanism 52 is activated, the valve body 40 slides in the direction of the axis L together with the female screw shaft 523 which slides due to the screw feed.

[0048] Next, a refrigeration cycle system 100 using a slide-type switching valve 1 as a flow path switching valve will be described. Figure 5 shows a refrigeration cycle system 100 of an embodiment, and is an example of a refrigeration cycle system for an air conditioner. The air conditioner has a compressor 200, an outdoor heat exchanger 300 (condenser or evaporator), an expansion valve 400, an indoor heat exchanger 500 (evaporator or condenser), and a slide-type switching valve 1 as a flow path switching valve. Each of these elements is connected by conduits as shown in the figure, forming a heat pump type refrigeration cycle system.

[0049] The flow path of the refrigeration cycle system can be switched between two flow paths, heating operation and cooling operation, by driving the valve body 40 of the sliding switching valve 1 as described above.

[0050] During heating operation as shown in Figure 5, the valve body 40 of the sliding diverter valve 1 moves to the inlet port A side, and the valve body 41 connects the outlet port 32 and the second port 33, as well as the inlet port A and the first port 31. As shown by the dotted arrows in the figure, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 200 flows into the inlet port A of the sliding diverter valve 1 and flows into the indoor heat exchanger 500 from the first port 31, and the refrigerant flowing out of the indoor heat exchanger 500 flows into the expansion valve 400. The refrigerant is then expanded in the expansion valve 400 and supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 300. The refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 300 flows from the second port 33 to the outlet port 32 in the sliding diverter valve 1, and is circulated from the outlet port 32 back to the compressor 200.

[0051] During cooling operation, the valve body 40 of the sliding diverter valve 1 moves toward the drive unit 50, and the valve body 41 connects the outlet port 32 with the first port 31, and the inlet port A with the second port 33. As shown by the solid arrows in the figure, the refrigerant, compressed as a fluid by the compressor 200, flows into the inlet port A of the sliding diverter valve 1 and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 300 from the second port 33. The refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 300 flows into the expansion valve 400. The refrigerant is then expanded in the expansion valve 400 and supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 500. The refrigerant flowing out of the indoor heat exchanger 500 flows from the first port 31 to the outlet port 32 in the sliding diverter valve 1, and is circulated from the outlet port 32 back to the compressor 200.

[0052] It should be noted that this refrigeration cycle system 100 is merely an example. For instance, the E-connection pipe 24a communicating with the first port 31 may be connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 300, and the C-connection pipe 26a may be connected to the indoor heat exchanger 500. In this case, the relationship between the position of the valve body 40 and the heating and cooling operations will be reversed compared to this embodiment.

[0053] In other words, when the valve body 40 in the sliding type switching valve 1 moves to the inlet port A side, the valve body 41 connects the outlet port 32 and the second port 33, and the inlet port A and the first port 31 are connected, the refrigerant flows in the following order: compressor 200, first port 31, outdoor heat exchanger 300, expansion valve 400, indoor heat exchanger 500, second port 33, outlet port 32, and compressor 200, resulting in cooling operation. Conversely, in the sliding type switching valve 1, when the valve body 40 moves toward the drive unit 50, and the valve body 41 connects the outlet port 32 and the first port 31, and the inlet port A and the second port 33, the refrigerant flows in the following order: compressor 200, second port 33, indoor heat exchanger 500, expansion valve 400, outdoor heat exchanger 300, first port 31, outlet port 32, and compressor 200, resulting in heating operation.

[0054] As described above, according to this embodiment, the sliding switching valve 1 comprises a valve body 10 having a valve chamber 10a inside, a valve seat portion 30 provided on the valve body 10, a valve element 40 slidably provided in the valve chamber 10a in the axial direction L, and a drive unit 50 for sliding the valve element 40. The valve body 10 is provided with a valve element guide portion 14 that guides the valve element 40 along the axial direction L. The valve element 40 has a valve element seal portion 412 facing the valve seat portion 30 and a guided portion 414 that slides against and is guided by the valve element guide portion 14. The valve seat portion 30 has at least one valve port 31, 32, 33 and a valve seat seal surface 34 that slides against the valve element seal portion 412. A groove-shaped foreign matter relief portion S is provided between the valve element guide portion 14 and the valve seat portion 30.

[0055] With this configuration, even if foreign matter generated by wear and tear of parts in the refrigeration cycle system 100 enters the valve body 10 and moves along the valve seat sealing surface 34 as the valve body 40 slides, the foreign matter can be released into and contained in the foreign matter release section S. This prevents the foreign matter from becoming trapped on the valve seat sealing surface 34, and prevents the valve body 40 from riding up on the foreign matter. Therefore, a slide-type switching valve 1 can be obtained that suppresses the jamming of foreign matter between the valve seat sealing surface 34 and the valve body sealing section 412, thereby preventing valve leakage.

[0056] Furthermore, the valve body guide portion 14 extends from a position higher than the valve seat sealing surface 34 to a position lower than the valve seat sealing surface 34, and the foreign matter relief portion S is provided between the wall surface 14a of the valve body guide portion 14, which is located lower than the valve seat sealing surface 34, and the end surface 30a of the valve seat portion 30, which is aligned with the axial direction L. Therefore, by accommodating foreign matter in the foreign matter relief portion S provided between the wall surface 14a of the valve body guide portion 14, which is located lower than the valve seat sealing surface 34, and the end surface 30a of the valve seat portion 30, which is aligned with the axial direction L, it is possible to suppress the jamming of foreign matter between the valve seat sealing surface 34 and the valve body sealing portion 412.

[0057] Furthermore, since the guide clearance S1 described above is smaller than the valve seat excess distance S2 described above, even if the valve body 40 is displaced in a direction that fills the guide clearance S1 due to vibration or the like when it slides, the distance of that displacement will not exceed the valve seat excess distance S2. For this reason, the displaced valve body seal portion 412 will not be located within the foreign matter relief portion S beyond the valve seat seal surface 34. Consequently, even if the valve body 40 is displaced, the sliding contact of the valve body seal portion 412 with the valve seat seal surface 34 will not be released, and the valve body seal portion 412 will not protrude from the valve seat seal surface 34 in the left-right direction X. This prevents the valve body seal portion 412 that protrudes from the valve seat seal surface 34 from being scraped and damaged by the corners of the valve seat portion 30, such as when the valve seat portion 30 is formed in a plate shape as in this embodiment. Furthermore, valve leakage caused by the damage and wear debris generated by the damage are prevented from becoming trapped between the valve body seal portion 412 and the valve seat seal surface 34.

[0058] Furthermore, the guided portion 414 of the valve body 40 is composed of a projection that protrudes from the side wall 41a (side wall portion) of the valve body 40, and the bottom surface 414a of the projection can be positioned higher than the valve body sealing portion 412. With this configuration, because the bottom surface 414a of the projection is positioned higher than the valve body sealing portion 412, the valve body 40 is guided by the valve body guide portion 14 at a position higher than the valve seat sealing surface 34. In other words, the position where the valve body 40 is guided can be moved away from the foreign matter relief portion S space. Therefore, interference between foreign matter and the valve body 40 can be easily avoided.

[0059] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes other configurations that can achieve the objectives of the present invention, and the following modifications are also included in the present invention. Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve seat portion 30 and valve body 40 in a modified example. In the modified example, of the end faces 30a on both sides in the left-right direction X of the valve seat portion 30, the lower Z2 portion each protrudes outward in the left-right direction X, and the protruding portion 30a1 This constitutes the structure. The protruding end of the protruding portion 30a1 abuts against the wall surface 14a of the valve body guide portion 14 of the valve body 10. A foreign object relief portion S is formed in the area enclosed by the wall surface 14a, the end surface 30a, and the protruding portion 30a1.

[0060] With this configuration, the same functions and effects as in the above-described embodiment can be achieved. Furthermore, with this configuration, the valve seat portion 30 can be fixed to the valve body 10 by bringing the protruding portion 30a1 into contact with the wall surface 14a, eliminating the need to form grooves or the like on the valve body 10 side for fixing the valve seat portion 30. Therefore, the processing cost of the valve body 10 can be reduced, and consequently, the manufacturing cost of the slide-type switching valve can be reduced.

[0061] Furthermore, although the sliding type switching valve 1 used as the flow path switching valve in this embodiment is a four-way switching valve for explanatory purposes, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to two-way valves or three-way switching valves. Also, in this embodiment, the linear motion mechanism 52 is configured such that the female screw shaft 523 slides in the axial direction L together with the valve body 40 by screw feed, but conversely, the male screw shaft 522 may slide in the axial direction L together with the valve body 40. Moreover, the drive unit 50 can be any configuration as long as it can drive the valve body 40 to slide in the axial direction L, and for example, in addition to the electric valve using the stepping motor 51 as in the present invention, the valve body may be driven to slide using a pilot solenoid valve or the like.

[0062] Furthermore, the sliding switching valve 1 can be applied not only to the exemplified refrigeration cycle system but also to any fluid device and fluid circuit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] L axis S Foreign object relief section 1. Slide-type switching valve 10 Valve body 14 Valve body guide section 30 Valve seat 31. First port (multiple valve ports) 32 Outlet ports (multiple valve ports) 33. Second port (multiple valve ports) 34 Valve seat sealing surface 40 valve body 412 Valve body seal 414 Guided part 50 Drive unit

Claims

1. A sliding type switching valve comprising: a valve body having a valve chamber inside; a valve seat portion provided on the valve body; a valve element slidably mounted in the valve chamber in the axial direction; and a drive unit for sliding the valve element, The valve body is provided with a valve body guide portion that guides the valve body along the axial direction. The valve body has a valve body sealing portion facing the valve seat portion and a guided portion that slides against and is guided by the valve body guide portion. The valve seat portion has at least one valve port and a valve seat sealing surface with which the valve body sealing portion slides, A groove-shaped foreign object relief section is provided between the valve body guide section and the valve seat section. The valve body is provided with a side wall portion facing the valve body guide portion, The guided portion is composed of a projection that protrudes from the side wall portion, and the bottom surface of the projection is located at a higher position than the valve body sealing portion, characterized in that the sliding type switching valve.

2. The valve body guide portion is provided in the form of a wall along a plane that includes a direction perpendicular to the valve seat sealing surface and the axial direction, and extends from a position higher than the valve seat sealing surface to a position lower than the valve seat sealing surface. The sliding type switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the foreign matter relief portion is provided between the wall surface of the valve body guide portion, which is located lower than the valve seat sealing surface, and the end surface of the valve seat portion along the axial direction.

3. The slide-type switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide clearance, which is the gap between the valve body guide portion and the guided portion, is smaller than the valve seat excess length distance, which is the distance between the end face of the valve body seal portion along the axial direction and the end edge of the valve seat seal surface along the axial direction.

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