Switching valve

Abstract

The valve body (6) has a first flow path (2), a second flow path (3), and a third flow path (4) contained in the same plane, and has a valve chamber (5) formed therein that communicates with each of the flow paths (2, 3, 4); and a valve element (9) provided in the valve chamber (5) so as to be rotatable about the axis, the valve element (9) having a communicating passage (7) formed therein that can communicate with each of the flow paths (2, 3, 4), and an opening (8) formed in the communicating passage (7) that has a length in the rotational direction about the axis that allows both the first flow path (2) and the second flow path (3) to straddle the communicating passage (7) at the same time.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] An example of a valve device (switching valve) used when mixing cold water with high-temperature hot water to produce hot water at an appropriate temperature is shown in Patent Document 1. The valve device shown in Patent Document 1 is configured so that a valve element 2 having flow paths 2b and 2c formed therein is provided inside a main body 1 having flow paths 1a, 1b, and 1c formed therein, and the valve element 2 is rotated around a rotation axis 2a to change the relative circumferential positions of the flow paths 1a, 1b, and 1c formed in the main body 1 and the flow paths 2b and 2c formed in the valve element 2, thereby switching the flow paths. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-270721 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the configuration according to Patent Document 1, flow paths 2b and 2c are formed so as to correspond to the circumferential positions of flow paths 1a, 1b, and 1c (in this configuration, flow paths 1a, 1b, 1c, 2b, and 2c are formed at 90-degree intervals in the circumferential direction). For this reason, for example, when the valve element 2 is rotated so that the opening between flow paths 1a and 2b is 50%, the opening between flow paths 1b and 2c also becomes 50%, making it difficult to change the mixing ratio of the fluid supplied from flow path 1a and the fluid supplied from flow path 1b.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a switching valve that is capable of continuously changing the mixture ratio of fluids supplied from a plurality of flow paths. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, in this invention, a valve body having a first flow path, a second flow path, and a third flow path contained in the same plane, and a valve chamber formed therein that communicates with each of the flow paths; a valve element provided in the valve chamber so as to be rotatable about the axis, the valve element having a communication passage formed therein that can communicate with each of the flow passages, and an opening formed in the communication passage, the communication passage having a length in a rotational direction about the axis that allows both the first flow passage and the second flow passage to span across the communication passage at the same time; In this way, the mixing ratio of the fluid supplied from the first flow path and the fluid supplied from the second flow path can be continuously changed by rotating the valve body around the axis and changing the amount of the opening that spans the first flow path and the second flow path.

[0007] In the first configuration, the third flow path can be included in the plane, and all of the flow paths can simultaneously straddle the opening (second configuration), which may allow the switching valve to be made more compact.

[0008] In the first and second configurations, the valve element can be a cock valve (third configuration). While various shapes, such as a ball valve, can be used as this valve element, the lower end of a cock valve is stably supported by the inner bottom surface of the valve chamber, making it less likely for the valve element to tilt when water pressure is applied. This effectively prevents fluid leakage. Furthermore, the valve element and the valve stem for rotating the valve element around its axis can be easily molded as a single unit, offering advantages in terms of manufacturing cost and strength.

[0009] The third configuration can be further configured (fourth configuration) to include annular seal rubbers provided at the open ends of the first flow path and the second flow path facing the valve chamber and in sliding contact with the valve body. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent fluid leakage when the cock valve is in use.

[0010] In the fourth configuration, the annular seal rubber can be provided in an oval-shaped circumferential groove formed at the open end of at least one of the first flow path or the second flow path, the circumferential groove having a minor axis aligned with the rotational direction of the valve disc and a major axis aligned with the rotational direction. This configuration (fifth configuration) suppresses deformation of the annular seal rubber by the inner and outer walls of the circumferential groove, preventing the annular seal rubber from falling off. In particular, by forming the circumferential groove into an oval shape with the major axis aligned with the rotational direction, the frictional force generated between the rotational end of the annular seal rubber and the valve disc is less likely to be concentrated on one part of the rotational end of the annular seal rubber. This more reliably prevents the annular seal rubber from falling off the inside or outside of the circumferential groove.

[0011] In the fourth and fifth configurations, a sixth configuration can be adopted in which high-slidability particles having lower sliding resistance than the base rubber are kneaded into the annular seal rubber, some of which are exposed on the surface of the rubber, and a lubricant is applied to the surface of the annular seal rubber. By kneading high-slidability particles into the rubber in this way, sliding resistance during rotation of the valve disc can be reduced. Furthermore, applying a lubricant to increase the lubricity of the surfaces of the high-slidability particles prevents the high-slidability particles from peeling off from the rubber surface, preventing the occurrence of unevenness on the rubber surface that would otherwise result in a decrease in sealing performance.

[0012] In the third to sixth configurations, a deflection member that deflects the fluid that has flowed into the valve body through the first and second flow paths toward the third flow path (seventh configuration) may be provided inside the valve body. This prevents the fluids that have flowed into the valve body from the first and second flow paths from colliding with each other to become turbulent, thereby preventing a decrease in the efficiency with which the fluid is discharged from the third flow path.

[0013] In the third to seventh configurations, a recess may be formed in the bottom of the valve disc to form a gap between the bottom inner surface of the valve chamber (eighth configuration). This reduces rotational resistance due to friction between the bottom of the valve disc and the bottom inner surface of the valve chamber, allowing the valve disc to rotate smoothly.

[0014] In the third to eighth configurations, a bridging portion spanning the opening can be provided at the opening (ninth configuration). In this way, even if the opening of the communicating passage is enlarged to ensure a flow rate, the action of the bridging portion prevents the annular seal rubber from dropping into the opening when the valve disc is rotated around the axis, thereby improving the operability and sealing performance of the switching valve with an inexpensive and simple configuration.

[0015] In a ninth configuration, the bridge portion can be a circumferential bridge portion formed along the rotation direction of the valve disc, an axial bridge portion formed along a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the valve disc, or an inclined bridge portion formed so as to be inclined in both the rotation direction of the valve disc and the direction perpendicular to the rotation direction (tenth configuration). By forming various bridge portions in this manner, a reinforcing effect and an effect of suppressing the rotation resistance of the valve disc caused by sliding contact between the annular seal rubber and the bridge portion can be exerted, and the durability of the bridge portion can be improved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the above-described configuration of the present invention, it is possible to continuously change the mixing ratio of the fluid supplied from the first flow path and the fluid supplied from the second flow path, so that this switching valve can be applied to various uses such as adjusting the water temperature and concentration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a switching valve according to the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of the switching valve shown in FIG. 1; [Figure 3] An exploded perspective view of the switching valve shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4A]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a valve body used in the switching valve shown in FIG. 1; [Figure 4B] 4B is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a modification of FIG. 4A; [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the operation of the switching valve taken along line VV in FIG. 1, in which the fluid from the first flow path flows toward the third flow path; [Figure 5B] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the operation of the switching valve taken along line VV in FIG. 1, in which the fluids from the first flow path and the second flow path are mixed and flow toward the third flow path. [Figure 5C] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the operation of the switching valve taken along line VV in FIG. 1, in which the fluid from the second flow path flows toward the third flow path; [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a first modified example of the valve body; [Figure 7] 10 is a perspective view of a second modified example of the valve body; [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view of a third modified example of the valve body [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fourth modified example of the valve body; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] An embodiment of a switching valve 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This switching valve 1 is used, for example, when mixing cold water with high-temperature hot water to produce hot water of an appropriate temperature, and as shown in Figures 1 to 3, its main components are a valve body 6 having a first flow path 2, a second flow path 3, and a third flow path 4 contained within the same plane, and a valve chamber 5 formed therein that communicates with each of the flow paths 2, 3, and 4, and a valve element 9 rotatably mounted within the valve chamber 5 about an axis, the valve element 9 having a communicating passage 7 formed therein that can communicate with each of the flow paths 2, 3, and 4, and a vertically elongated opening 8 having a length in the rotational direction about the axis that allows both the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 to simultaneously straddle the communicating passage 7.

[0019] The valve body 6 has a main body 10 to which a first flow path 2, a second flow path 3, and a third flow path 4 are attached. The first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 are positioned opposite each other. The third flow path 4 is positioned in the same plane as the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3, at a position where it intersects with the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 (in this embodiment, at a position perpendicular to the first and second flow paths 2 and 3). The valve element 9 is movable within an angular range of approximately 90 degrees. Here, "within the same plane" not only refers to a case where the axial centers of the flow paths 2, 3, and 4 are in the same plane, but also includes a case where a portion of each of the flow paths 2, 3, and 4 intersects with the same plane (a state in which any of the flow paths 2, 3, and 4 is slightly moved up or down).

[0020] For example, a pipe (not shown) for supplying water is connected to the first flow path 2, and a pipe (not shown) for supplying high-temperature hot water is connected to the second flow path 3. Hot water at an appropriate temperature, a mixture of the fluid (water) from the first flow path 2 and the fluid (high-temperature hot water) from the second flow path 3, flows out of the third flow path 4. A circumferential groove having an oval shape in a front view is formed at the openings of the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 facing the valve chamber 5, with a minor axis aligned with the rotation direction of the valve element 9 and a major axis aligned perpendicular to the rotation direction. This circumferential groove is composed of upper and lower, approximately semicircular curved portions 11a and straight portions 11b connecting both ends of the curved portions 11a in the vertical direction. An annular seal rubber 12 that slides against the valve element 9 is provided in this circumferential groove.

[0021] The annular seal rubber 12 is attached to the circumferential grooves formed at the openings of the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3, and is deformed vertically to fit the shape of the opening 8 (the surface shape of the valve disc 9), which is formed as a vertically elongated hole, as shown in FIG. 3 , and comes into sliding contact with the surface of the valve disc 9. By attaching the annular seal rubber 12 to the circumferential groove in this way, the inner and outer walls of the circumferential groove suppress deformation of the annular seal rubber 12, thereby preventing the annular seal rubber 12 from falling off. In particular, by forming the circumferential groove into an oval shape with its major axis perpendicular to the direction of rotation, the frictional force generated between the rotational end of the annular seal rubber 12 and the valve disc 9 is less likely to concentrate on one part of the rotational end of the annular seal rubber 12 (the frictional force is dispersed over the entire straight portion 11 b), and this frictional force more reliably prevents the annular seal rubber 12 from falling off the inside or outside of the circumferential groove.

[0022] In this embodiment, an O-ring made of ethylene propylene diene rubber, which is highly versatile, is used as the annular seal rubber 12. However, it is also possible to use an annular seal rubber 12 in which high-slidability particles, which have lower sliding resistance than the base rubber, are kneaded into the annular seal rubber 12, with some of the particles exposed on the surface of the rubber. In this case, it is preferable to apply grease as a lubricant to the surface of the annular seal rubber 12. This prevents the high-slidability particles from peeling off due to sliding with the valve body 9, especially in the early stages of use. After a certain amount of use, the high-slidability particles become rounded, and there is almost no risk of peeling off even if the grease is lost.

[0023] The main body 10 has a mating protrusion 13, and the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 have mating recesses 14, respectively. By mating the mating protrusion 13 and the mating recesses 14 with each other, the main body 10 is positioned relative to the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3.

[0024] The valve chamber 5 is a cylindrical space with a bottom that extends vertically and is formed in the center of the interior of the valve body 6 where the extension lines of the flow paths 2, 3, and 4 intersect. A cover 15 is provided above the valve chamber 5 to close the upper opening of the valve chamber 5. A protrusion 16 is formed on the underside of the cover 15, and the protrusion 16 contacts the upper surface of the valve disc 9. Although this embodiment shows a configuration in which the flow paths 2, 3, and 4 are arranged in the same horizontal plane, a configuration in which the third flow path 4 is provided facing downward is also possible.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4A, this embodiment employs a cock valve as the valve element 9. The communication passage 7 formed inside the valve element 9 has a cylindrical cavity 17 and an opening 8 that connects the cavity 17 to the outside. The opening 8 has a length in the rotational direction around the axis (a central angle of approximately 170 degrees) that allows the first flow path 2, the second flow path 3, and the third flow path 4 to all span the opening 8 simultaneously. The size of the central angle of the opening 8 can be changed as appropriate depending on the size of the valve element 9 and the size of the openings of the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 that face the valve chamber 5, and may in some cases be a central angle greater than 180 degrees. The axial length of the opening 8 is determined corresponding to the axial length of the opening (the long-axis length of the oval-shaped circumferential groove).

[0026] The opening 8 is provided with a circumferential bridge portion 18a as a bridge portion 18 spanning the opening 8 along the rotational direction of the valve element 9, and an axial bridge portion 18b spanning the opening 8 along a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the valve element 9. Each bridge portion 18a, 18b is formed along an imaginary plane extending the cylindrical surface of the valve element 9 to the opening 8. The valve element 9 rotates around its axis with the annular seal rubber 12 in sliding contact with the cylindrical surface of the valve element 9 and both bridge portions 18a, 18b. In this embodiment, three circumferential bridge portions 18a and one axial bridge portion 18b are formed, but the number of bridge portions 18a, 18b can be changed as appropriate. The axial bridge portion 18b may be omitted if the circumferential bridge portion 18a has sufficient rigidity. An O-ring 19 is provided between the main body 10, the flow paths 2, 3, and 4 attached to the main body 10, and the cover 15.

[0027] A valve stem 20 is integrally provided on the upper part of the valve disc 9. The valve stem 20 is inserted into a through-hole 21 formed in the cover 15. An O-ring 19 is provided between the cover 15 and the valve stem 20. A motor 22, which rotates the valve disc 9 about its axis, is provided at the end of the valve stem 20 protruding from the through-hole 21. A plurality of recesses 23 are formed in the bottom of the valve disc 9, forming gaps between the valve disc 9 and the inner bottom surface of the valve chamber 5. Note that these recesses 23 may be omitted. In a configuration in which recesses 23 are formed, a protrusion 24 having a radial width smaller than the thickness of the wall of the communicating passage 7 may be formed in the bottom of the valve disc 9, as shown in FIG. 4B . Here, the shape of the protrusion 24 is a semi-cylindrical shape curved along the periphery of the bottom of the valve disc 9, but this shape can be modified as appropriate.

[0028] The operation of this switching valve 1 will now be described. As shown in Fig. 5A, when the opening 8 of the valve element 9 is configured to span only the first flow path 2 and the third flow path 4, the fluid (water in this embodiment; the same applies below) that flows into the valve element 9 from the first flow path 2 flows directly out of the third flow path 4. Here, as shown in Fig. 5B, when the valve element 9 is rotated (by about 45 degrees in this embodiment) so that the opening 8 of the valve element 9 spans the first flow path 2, the second flow path 3, and the third flow path 4, the fluid (water) that flows into the valve element 9 from the first flow path 2 and the fluid (high-temperature hot water) that flows into the valve element 9 from the second flow path 3 are mixed inside the valve element 9 (becoming hot water at an appropriate temperature) and then flows out of the third flow path 4. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5C, when the valve body 9 is rotated (approximately 45 degrees in this embodiment) so that the opening 8 of the valve body 9 spans only the second flow path 3 and the third flow path 4, the fluid (high-temperature hot water) that flows into the valve body 9 from the second flow path 3 flows out directly from the third flow path 4.

[0029] In the above-described switching valve 1, the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 are formed in the valve body 6 so as to be contained within the same plane, and the valve element 9 provided inside the valve body 6 is formed with an opening 8 having a length in the rotational direction about an axis that allows both the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 to straddle it simultaneously, so that by rotating the valve element 9 about its axis to change the extent to which the opening 8 straddles the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3, it is possible to continuously change the mixing ratio of the fluid supplied from the first flow path 2 and the fluid supplied from the second flow path 3. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the third flow path 4 is contained within the same plane as the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3, allowing all of the flow paths 2, 3, and 4 to straddle the opening 8 simultaneously, so that the switching valve 1 can be made compact.

[0030] Furthermore, in the above-described switching valve 1, the valve element 9 is a cock valve, so the lower end of the valve element 9 is stably supported by the inner bottom surface of the valve chamber 5, making it less likely for the valve element 9 to tilt when water pressure is applied. This effectively prevents fluid leakage. Furthermore, the valve element 9 and the valve stem 20 for rotating the valve element 9 about its axis can be easily molded as a single unit, which offers advantages in terms of manufacturing cost and strength.

[0031] Furthermore, in the above-described switching valve 1, annular seal rubbers 12 are provided at the openings of the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 facing the valve chamber 5, thereby more effectively preventing fluid leakage when the cock valve is in use. In the above-described embodiment, it is more preferable to use an annular seal rubber 12 that is kneaded with high-slidability particles that have lower sliding resistance than the base rubber, with some of the particles exposed on the surface of the rubber, and to apply a lubricant to the surface of this annular seal rubber 12. In this way, peeling of the high-slidability particles from the rubber surface can be prevented, and the resulting unevenness on the rubber surface, which would otherwise result in a decrease in sealing performance, can be prevented.

[0032] Furthermore, in the above-described switching valve 1, the bottom of the valve disc 9 is configured to have a recess 23 that forms a gap between it and the inner bottom surface of the valve chamber 5, thereby reducing rotational resistance due to friction between the bottom of the valve disc 9 and the inner bottom surface of the valve chamber 5. This allows the valve disc 9 to rotate smoothly. Furthermore, by forming a ridge 24 on the bottom of the valve disc 9, the rotational resistance due to friction between the bottom of the valve disc 9 and the inner bottom surface of the valve chamber 5 can be further reduced.

[0033] Furthermore, in the above-described switching valve 1, the opening 8 of the communicating passage 7 formed in the valve element 9 facing the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 is provided with bridging portions 18 (circumferential bridging portions 18a and axial bridging portions 18b) that straddle the opening 8. Therefore, even if the opening 8 of the communicating passage 7 is enlarged to ensure the flow rate, when the valve element 9 is rotated around the axis, the action of the bridging portions 18 (circumferential bridging portions 18a and axial bridging portions 18b) prevents the annular seal rubber 12 from dropping into the opening 8. Therefore, the operability and sealing performance of the switching valve 1 can be improved with an inexpensive and simple configuration.

[0034] In particular, in the above-described switching valve 1, the circumferential bridge portion 18a serving as the bridge portion 18 is configured to be formed along the rotation direction of the valve body 9, thereby making it possible to suppress the rotation resistance of the valve body 9 that is caused by sliding contact between the annular seal rubber 12 and the circumferential bridge portion 18a. Furthermore, the axial bridge portion 18b serving as the bridge portion 18 is further configured to be formed along a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the valve body 9, making it possible to reinforce the circumferential bridge portion 18a with this axial bridge portion 18b, thereby increasing its durability.

[0035] Note that instead of configuring the bridge portion 18 with the circumferential bridge portion 18a and the axial bridge portion 18b as described above, it is also possible to form an inclined bridge portion 18c that is inclined with respect to both the rotational direction of the valve body 9 and the direction perpendicular to the rotational direction, as shown in Fig. 6 as a first modified example. This also has the same effect as above of preventing the annular seal rubber 12 from dropping into the opening 8. Furthermore, since the contact area between the annular seal rubber 12 and the inclined bridge portion 18c changes as the valve body 9 rotates, it is possible to prevent uneven wear at a specific position of the annular seal rubber 12.

[0036] In the above embodiment, a cock valve having a constant outer diameter throughout the entire circumferential direction is used as the valve element 9, but as shown in a second modified example in Fig. 7, a configuration in which the radius r1 of the circumferential region where the openings 8 are formed is smaller than the radius r2 of the circumferential region where the openings 8 are not formed can also be used. In this way, in a closed valve state (for example, the state of the second flow path 3 in Fig. 5A), the compression allowance of the annular seal rubber 12 can be increased to improve sealing performance, while in an open valve state (for example, the state of the first flow path 2 in Fig. 5A) in which sealing performance is not required, the compression allowance of the annular seal rubber 12 can be reduced to suppress the torque when rotating the valve element 9.

[0037] In the second modified example shown in FIG. 7, a large diameter portion (radius r2) is formed in approximately half of the circumference of the valve body 9 (cock valve), but the same effect as the second modified example can also be obtained by configuring the valve body 9 to be convex only at the portion where the annular seal rubber 12 abuts in the closed valve state.

[0038] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the interior of the valve element 9 is formed as a cylindrical hollow portion 17. However, as shown in a third modified example in FIG. 8 , the hollow portion 17 may be provided with a deflector 25 that deflects the fluid that has flowed into the interior of the valve element 8 through the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 toward the third flow path 4. The deflector 25 extends downward from the lower surface of the upper end of the valve element 9 and has a Y-shape in plan view. By providing the deflector 25 in this way to straighten the fluid inside the valve element 9, it is possible to prevent the fluids that have flowed into the interior of the valve element 9 from the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3 from colliding with each other and becoming turbulent, which would reduce the efficiency with which the fluid is discharged from the third flow path 4.

[0039] Although a cock valve is used as the valve element 9 in the above embodiment, a ball valve may also be used, as shown in FIG. 9 as a fourth modified example. A communication passage 7 is formed inside the valve element 9. The communication passage 7 has a cavity 17, an opening 8 that connects the cavity 17 to the outside, a circumferential bridge portion 18a formed along the rotational direction of the valve element 9 so as to bridge over the opening 8, and an axial bridge portion 18b formed in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the valve element 9 so as to bridge over the opening 8. A partition wall 26 extending toward the interior of the cavity 17 is connected to the circumferential bridge portion 18a, so that fluids flowing through the spaces partitioned by the partition wall 26 do not mix inside the valve element 9. A cross-shaped insertion recess 27 into which a valve stem 20 is inserted is formed at the top of the valve element 9.

[0040] Even when the valve element 9 is a ball valve, by providing bridge portions 18 (circumferential bridge portions 18a and axial bridge portions 18b) spanning the opening 8 of the communicating passage 7 formed in the valve element 9 facing the first flow path 2 and the second flow path 3, even if the opening 8 of the communicating passage 7 is enlarged to ensure the flow rate, when the valve element 9 is rotated around the axis, the action of the bridge portions 18 (circumferential bridge portions 18a and axial bridge portions 18b) prevents the annular seal rubber 12 from dropping into the opening 8. Therefore, the operability and sealing performance of the switching valve 1 can be improved with an inexpensive and simple configuration.

[0041] In the above embodiment, we have described a case where water flows into the valve body 9 from the first flow path 2, high-temperature hot water flows into the valve body 9 from the second flow path 3, and hot water at an appropriate temperature flows out from the third flow path 4, but the type of fluid is not limited, and the configuration can also be such that other types of liquids or gases flow.

[0042] The embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include the meaning equivalent to the claims and all modifications thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Switching valve 2. First Channel 3 Second Channel 4. The Third Stream 5 Valve chamber 6 Valve body 7 Communication path 8 Openings 9 Valve body 10 Main body 11a Curve section 11b Straight section 12 Annular seal rubber 13. Fitting protrusion 14. Mating recess 15 Lid 16 Protrusion 17 Cavity 18 Bridge 18a Circumferential bridge section 18b Axial bridge 18c Slanted bridge section 19 O-ring 20 Valve stem 21 Through hole 22 Motor 23 Recess 24 protrusion 25 Deflection member 26 Compartment Wall 27 Insertion recess

Claims

1. A valve body (6) having a first flow path (2) and a second flow path (3), as well as a third flow path (4) contained within the same plane, and having a valve chamber (5) formed inside that communicates with each of the aforementioned flow paths (2, 3, 4), A valve body (9) is rotatably mounted within the valve chamber (5) around its axis, wherein a communication passage (7) is formed inside that can communicate with each of the aforementioned passages (2, 3, 4), and an opening (8) is formed in the communication passage (7) having a length in the rotational direction around the axis that allows both the first passage (2) and the second passage (3) to simultaneously straddle it. A switching valve having a switch.

2. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the third flow path (4) is contained within the plane, and all of the flow paths (2, 3, 4) can simultaneously straddle the opening (8).

3. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve body (9) is a cock valve.

4. The switching valve according to claim 3, further comprising an annular sealing rubber (12) provided at the opening ends of the first flow path (2) and the second flow path (3) facing the valve chamber (5) and sliding contact with the valve body (9).

5. The switching valve according to claim 4, wherein the annular seal rubber (12) is provided in an oval-shaped circumferential groove formed at the opening end of at least one of the first flow path (2) or the second flow path (3), the groove having a short axis along the rotational direction of the valve body (9) and a long axis along a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction.

6. The switching valve according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the annular seal rubber (12) is kneaded with highly sliding particles that have lower sliding resistance than the base rubber, a portion of which is exposed on the surface of the rubber, and a lubricant is applied to the surface of the annular seal rubber (12).

7. The switching valve according to claim 3, wherein a deflection member (25) is provided inside the valve body (9) to deflect the fluid that has flowed into the inside of the valve body (9) through the first flow path (2) and the second flow path (3) toward the third flow path (4).

8. The switching valve according to claim 3, wherein a recess (23) is formed at the bottom of the valve body (9) to form a gap between it and the inner surface of the bottom of the valve chamber (5).

9. The switching valve according to claim 3, wherein the opening (8) is provided with a bridging portion (18) that straddles the opening (8).

10. The switching valve according to claim 9, wherein the bridging portion (18) is a circumferential bridging portion (18a) formed along the rotational direction of the valve body (9), an axial bridging portion (18b) formed along a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the valve body (9), or an inclined bridging portion (18c) formed inclined in both directions perpendicular to the rotational direction of the valve body (9).

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