Valve device

Abstract

This valve device comprises: a housing (10) which forms a fluid passage and in which an inlet part (1612) for allowing a fluid to flow into the fluid passage from the outside and outlet parts (1614, 1615) for allowing the fluid to flow out to the outside of the fluid passage are formed; a fixed disk (20) which is fixed to the inner side of the housing and in which at least one flow path hole (23) through which the fluid passes is formed; a drive part (40) which outputs rotational force; a shaft (50) which rotates around a shaft axis (CL) due to the rotational force; a drive disk (30) which increases or decreases the opening degree of the flow path hole in accordance with the rotation of the shaft; and a lever (60) which is fixed to the drive disk and integrally and rotatably connects the drive disk and the shaft. The lever has inlet-facing parts (64, 65) formed at positions capable of facing the inlet part in the radial direction. The inlet-facing parts have tapered portions (642, 652) of which the size in the radial direction gradually decreases from the outer side toward the inner side in the radial direction.

Description

Valve equipment CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-49896, filed on March 26, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a valve device.

[0003] A conventional valve device includes a housing that defines a fluid passage, a fixed disk that defines a fluid passage hole through which the fluid passes, a drive disk that adjusts the opening of the passage hole, and a drive unit that outputs a torque to rotate the drive disk (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This valve device also includes a shaft that transmits the torque output by the drive unit to the drive disk, and a lever that connects the drive disk and the shaft so that they can rotate together. The torque output by the drive unit is then transmitted to the drive disk via the lever and the shaft.

[0004] In this valve device, one inlet that introduces fluid into the fluid passage and two outlets that communicate with the passage holes and allow the fluid to flow out of the fluid passage are formed in the housing. The valve device switches between opening and closing the passage holes in the fixed disk depending on the rotational position of the drive disk, thereby switching which of the two outlets communicates with the inlet.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-166527

[0006] The valve device described in Patent Document 1 has a lever disposed opposite an inlet that introduces fluid into a fluid passage, and is configured so that the fluid flowing in from the inlet collides with the lever when it flows into the fluid passage. However, as a result of detailed studies by the inventors, it was found that the collision of the fluid with the lever causes an increase in pressure loss when the fluid flows into the fluid passage.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a valve device that can suppress pressure loss.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a valve device comprises: a housing that forms a fluid passage therein for circulating a fluid, and that is formed with an inlet portion that allows fluid to flow into the fluid passage from outside the fluid passage and an outlet opening portion that allows fluid to flow out from the fluid passage to outside the fluid passage; a fixed disk that is fixed to the inside of the housing and that has at least one flow path hole formed therein through which the fluid passes; a drive unit that outputs a rotational force; a shaft that rotates about the shaft axis by the rotational force; a drive disk that increases and decreases the opening of the flow path hole as the shaft rotates; and a lever that is fixed to the drive disk and that connects the drive disk and the shaft so that they can rotate together as a unit, wherein the lever has an inlet opposing portion that is formed at a position that can face the inlet portion in the radial direction when the direction extending radially from the shaft axis is defined as the radial direction, and the inlet opposing portion has a tapered portion that gradually decreases in radial size from the outer side to the inner side in the radial direction.

[0009] This allows the fluid flowing from the inlet into the fluid passage to flow along the tapered portion, thereby reducing pressure loss when the fluid flows into the fluid passage. Therefore, a valve device can be provided that can reduce pressure loss when the fluid flows into the fluid passage, compared to a configuration that does not have a tapered portion.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of the valve device according to the present embodiment; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the valve device according to the present embodiment; FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a drive disk according to the present embodiment; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a lever according to the present embodiment; FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the flow of fluid flowing into the valve device according to the present embodiment; and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the flow of fluid flowing into a comparative valve device.

[0011] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 . A valve device 1 according to this embodiment is applied to a fluid circulation system in which a fluid (in this example, coolant) circulates to regulate the temperature of the cabin and battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle, for example. The fluid circulation system circulates coolant through a power source for driving the vehicle, a radiator, a heater core for cabin air conditioning, and a battery. For example, LLC (Long Life Coolant) containing ethylene glycol is used as the coolant. The valve device 1 switches the flow path or adjusts the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the fluid circulation system. In this embodiment, the valve device 1 is configured as a five-way valve.

[0012] 1 and 2 , the valve device 1 has a housing 10 that forms a fluid passage F through which a fluid flows. The housing 10 has two inlet ports that allow the fluid to flow into the fluid passage F from outside the valve device 1, and three outlet ports that allow the fluid that has flowed into the fluid passage F to flow out to the outside of the valve device 1. Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 1 and other figures, the two fluid ports that allow the fluid to flow into the fluid passage F will be referred to as a first inlet portion 11 and a second inlet portion 12, and the three outlet ports that allow the fluid to flow out of the fluid passage F will be referred to as a first outlet portion 13, a second outlet portion 14, and a third outlet portion 15.

[0013] First, the configuration of the valve device 1 of this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the valve device 1 of this embodiment includes a fixed disc 20, a drive disc 30, a drive unit 40, a shaft 50, a lever 60, a torsion spring 70, a compression spring 80, and the like. The valve device 1 accommodates the fixed disc 20, the drive disc 30, the shaft 50, the lever 60, the torsion spring 70, and the compression spring 80 within a housing 10. The valve device 1 also includes a drive unit 40 disposed outside the housing 10. The valve device 1 of this embodiment is configured as a disc valve in which the drive unit 40 rotates the drive disc 30 integrally with the shaft 50 to switch the flow path of cooling water flowing through a fluid circulation system.

[0014] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2 and other figures, the direction along the shaft axis CL of the shaft 50 is referred to as the axial direction DRa, the direction to one side of the axial direction DRa is referred to as the downward direction DRa1, and the direction opposite the downward direction DRa1 is referred to as the upward direction DRa2. Furthermore, various configurations will be described using the circumferential direction DRc as the direction around the shaft axis CL and the radial direction DRr as the direction perpendicular to the axial direction DRa and extending radially from the shaft axis CL. The circumferential direction DRc is the direction of rotation of the shaft 50 and the drive disk 30, which are rotated by the rotational force supplied from the drive unit 40. Note that the directions shown in Figure 2 and other figures are merely examples and do not limit the installation state of the valve device 1 of the present disclosure.

[0015] The housing 10 is a non-rotating member. The housing 10 is formed, for example, from a resin material. Specifically, the housing 10 has a main body 16 having a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and a main body cover 17 that closes the open side of the main body 16. In this embodiment, the main body 16 and the main body cover 17 are molded, for example, by injection molding, in which a resin material is poured into a mold and hardened into a desired shape.

[0016] The main body 16 has a bottom wall 160 that forms the bottom surface and a cylindrical side wall 161 that surrounds the shaft axis CL in the circumferential direction DRc. The bottom wall 160 and the side wall 161, together with the main body cover 17, form a fluid passage F. The bottom wall 160 and the side wall 161 are configured as an integrally molded product.

[0017] The main body 16 has a first inlet 11 connected to the outer peripheral surface of the side wall 161. The main body 16 also has a first outlet 13, a second outlet 14, and a third outlet 15 connected to the outer peripheral surface of the bottom wall 160. The main body 16 has a second inlet 12 connected to the lower surface of the bottom wall 160 in the downward direction DRa1.

[0018] The first inlet portion 11 and the first outlet portion 13 are arranged side by side in the axial direction DRa. The first inlet portion 11 is connected to the side wall portion 161 on the upper DRa2 side of the position where the drive disk 30 is housed. On the other hand, the first outlet portion 13 is connected to the bottom wall portion 160 on the lower DRa1 side of the side wall portion 161 that houses the drive disk 30.

[0019] The first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15 are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval along the circumferential direction DRc. In this embodiment, the first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15 are arranged side by side in this order at intervals of approximately 90°. The second inlet portion 12 is provided in the center of the bottom wall portion 160.

[0020] The first inlet portion 11, the second inlet portion 12, the first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15 are configured as tubular members formed to allow fluid to flow therethrough. The first inlet portion 11 and the second inlet portion 12 form a flow path that guides the fluid to the fluid passage F. The first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15 form a flow path that guides the fluid from the fluid passage F to the outside of the valve device 1. The first inlet portion 11, the first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15 are formed to protrude from the housing 10 in the radial direction DRr. The second inlet portion 12 is formed to protrude from the housing 10 in the axial direction DRa.

[0021] The sidewall portion 161 has a cylindrical shape that surrounds the fluid passage F on the upper DRa2 side of the fixed disk 20 in the circumferential direction DRc and extends along the axial direction DRa. The sidewall portion 161 is formed so that its axis is coaxial with the shaft axis CL. The sidewall portion 161 is formed with a first inlet opening 1612 to which the first inlet portion 11 is connected. The first inlet opening 1612 is formed to penetrate the sidewall portion 161 in the radial direction DRr and connects the fluid passage F with the flow path formed by the first inlet portion 11. The first inlet opening 1612 is formed in a position facing the lever 60, which will be described later. The first inlet opening 1612 corresponds to an inlet that allows fluid to flow into the fluid passage F from outside the fluid passage F.

[0022] 2, the side wall portion 161 has an inner peripheral side surface portion 1611 on its inner peripheral side that surrounds the outer periphery of the fixed disk 20 and the outer periphery of the drive disk 30. The inner peripheral side surface portion 1611 forms a passage in the fluid passage F on the upper DRa2 side of the fixed disk 20. A fitting groove (not shown) is formed in the inner peripheral side surface portion 1611 and is recessed away from the shaft axis CL. The opening side of the side wall portion 161 is closed by the body cover portion 17.

[0023] The body cover 17 is a lid that closes the opening side of the body 16. The body cover 17 is attached to the body 16 by fitting it inside the body 16 from the opening side of the body 16. The body cover 17 is attached to the body 16 together with the drive unit 40 by, for example, tapping screws S.

[0024] An O-ring 162 that closes the gap between the main body 16 and the main body cover 17 is disposed between the inner peripheral surface of the side wall 161 and the outer peripheral surface of the main body cover 17. The O-ring 162 is made of, for example, urethane rubber, which is an annular elastic body, and is configured to be compressed and elastically deformable when sandwiched between the main body 16 and the main body cover 17.

[0025] The bottom wall portion 160 is a portion on which the fixed disk 20 is installed and which supports the downward direction DRa1 side of the axial center portion 51 (described later) of the shaft 50. The bottom wall portion 160 also forms a fluid passage F that guides the fluid that has flowed in from the first inlet portion 11 and the second inlet portion 12 to the first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15.

[0026] 2, the bottom wall portion 160 has a mounting surface 1601 on the upward DRa2 side for placing the fixed disk 20. The bottom wall portion 160 also has a bearing hole 1602 that supports the axial center portion 51 and a passage in the fluid passage F on the downward DRa1 side of the fixed disk 20. The downward DRa1 side of the axial center portion 51 is fitted into the bearing hole 1602. The bearing hole 1602 rotatably supports the axial center portion 51. The passage in the fluid passage F on the downward DRa1 side of the fixed disk 20 is formed by recessing the mounting surface 1601.

[0027] The fluid passage F on the downward DRa1 side of the fixed disk 20 is divided into four sections by the bottom wall 160, and each of the four divided sections communicates with one of the second inlet portion 12, the first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15. Although not shown, the bottom wall 160 is provided with a partition that divides the lower fluid passage Fd into a passage communicating with the second inlet portion 12, a passage communicating with the first outlet portion 13, a passage communicating with the second outlet portion 14, and a passage communicating with the third outlet portion 15. In other words, the fluid passage F on the downward DRa1 side of the fixed disk 20 is divided by the partition into four passages communicating with one of the second inlet portion 12, the first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15.

[0028] The bottom wall portion 160 is formed with a second inlet opening 1613 to which the second inlet portion 12 is connected, a first outlet opening 1614 to which the first outlet portion 13 is connected, a second outlet opening (not shown) to which the second outlet portion 14 is connected, and a third outlet opening 1615 to which the third outlet portion 15 is connected. The second inlet opening 1613 is formed to penetrate the bottom wall portion 160 in the axial direction DRa and connects the fluid passage F to the flow path formed by the second inlet portion 12. The first outlet opening 1614 is formed to penetrate the bottom wall portion 160 in the radial direction DRr and connects the fluid passage F to the flow path formed by the first outlet portion 13. The second outlet opening is formed to penetrate the bottom wall portion 160 in the radial direction DRr and connects the fluid passage F to the flow path formed by the second outlet portion 14. The third outlet opening 1615 is formed to penetrate the bottom wall portion 160 in the radial direction DRr, and connects the fluid passage F with the flow path formed by the third outlet portion 15 .

[0029] The mounting surface 1601 is formed to extend in a flat plane along the radial direction DRr and the circumferential direction DRc. A groove (not shown) is formed in the mounting surface 1601 for accommodating a gasket 163 that seals the gap between the fixed disk 20 and the mounting surface 1601.

[0030] The gasket 163 is made of, for example, an elastically deformable rubber member, and is formed in a shape corresponding to each of the four passages partitioned into four on the downward direction DRa1 side of the fixed disc 20 in the fluid passage F.

[0031] Fixed disk 20 is a sealing member that seals the gap between bottom wall portion 160 and drive disk 30. As shown in Fig. 2, fixed disk 20 is configured as a substantially disk-shaped member with its thickness direction aligned with axial direction DRa, and its outer diameter is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of side wall portion 161. Fixed disk 20 is also arranged so that its axis is coaxial with shaft axis CL.

[0032] The fixed disk 20 has a seal surface 21 that contacts the drive disk 30 and a support surface 22 that contacts the installation surface 1601. The seal surface 21 is an opposing surface that faces a sliding surface 31 of the drive disk 30, which will be described later, and is in contact with the sliding surface 31. The support surface 22 is a surface of the fixed disk 20 in the downward direction DRa1, and is an opposing surface that faces the installation surface 1601 when the fixed disk 20 is placed in the housing 10.

[0033] The fixed disk 20 is also formed with a plurality of flow path holes 23 that communicate with the four partitioned passages in the fluid passage F located on the downward direction DRa1 side of the fixed disk 20. The fixed disk 20 is configured so that fluid can pass through each of the plurality of flow path holes 23. The fixed disk 20 is also formed with a fixed disk hole 24 at approximately the center, through which the shaft 50 is inserted, and with a fitting protrusion (not shown) on the outer circumferential surface. The fitting protrusion is fitted into a fitting groove (not shown) formed in the inner circumferential side surface portion 1611 of the side wall portion 161, thereby restricting rotation of the fixed disk 20 in the circumferential direction DRc.

[0034] The fixed disk 20 is made of a material that has a smaller coefficient of linear expansion, superior wear resistance, and a smaller coefficient of friction than the constituent material of the housing 10. For example, the fixed disk 20 is made of a high-hardness material that is harder than the housing 10 and the drive disk 30. The drive disk 30 is made of a metal (for example, SUS, i.e., Steel Use Stainless) that is harder than resin.

[0035] The sealing surface 21 and the support surface 22 are formed to extend in a planar shape along the radial direction DRr and the circumferential direction DRc, and are substantially perpendicular to the axial direction DRa and parallel to each other in the axial direction DRa.

[0036] The plurality of flow path holes 23 are formed at positions away from the fixed disk hole 24 so as not to overlap with the fixed disk hole 24. The plurality of flow path holes 23 correspond to each of the four passages partitioned into four on the downward direction DRa1 side of the fixed disk 20 in the fluid passage F.

[0037] The drive disk 30 is a valve element that increases or decreases the opening of the flow path hole 23 by rotating about the shaft axis CL in accordance with the rotation of the shaft 50. As shown in FIG. 2 , the drive disk 30 is configured as a substantially disk-shaped member with its thickness direction aligned with the axis direction DRa, and its outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the side wall portion 161. The drive disk 30 is disposed so that its rotation axis is coaxial with the shaft axis CL and the axis of the fixed disk 20. The drive disk 30 is disposed within the housing 10 while being biased by a compression spring 80 (described later).

[0038] The drive disk 30 has a sliding surface 31 that slides against the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20, and an attachment surface 32 to which the lever 60 is attached. The drive disk 30 also has a drive disk hole 33 formed in the approximate center thereof through which the shaft 50 is inserted, one through-hole 34 that passes through the drive disk 30 in the axial direction DRa, and one flow channel 35 formed by recessing the sliding surface 31. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 , the drive disk 30 has a recessed attachment surface 32 and two press-fit grooves 36 into which the lever 60, described below, is press-fit.

[0039] The drive disk 30 is made of a material that has a smaller coefficient of linear expansion, superior wear resistance, and a smaller coefficient of friction than the material constituting the housing 10. For example, the drive disk 30 is made of a high-hardness resin that is harder than the housing 10.

[0040] The sliding surface 31 is a surface on the downward direction DRa1 side of the drive disk 30 and faces the seal surface 21. The sliding surface 31 slides against the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20 when the drive disk 30 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft 50. The mounting surface 32 is a surface on the upward direction DRa2 side of the drive disk 30 and faces the lever 60 when the drive disk 30 is disposed in the housing 10.

[0041] The sliding surface 31 and the mounting surface 32 are formed to extend in a planar shape along the radial direction DRr and the circumferential direction DRc, and are substantially perpendicular to the axial direction DRa and parallel to each other in the axial direction DRa.

[0042] The through-holes 34 are formed through the drive disk 30 at positions that can communicate with any one of the plurality of flow path holes 23 of the fixed disk 20, and are formed to allow fluid to pass through. Specifically, the through-holes 34 can communicate with any one of the plurality of flow path holes 23 of the fixed disk 20 that communicates with any one of the first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15, depending on the rotational position of the drive disk 30.

[0043] The flow path groove 35 is formed by recessing the sliding surface 31 at a position that can communicate with any one of the plurality of flow path holes 23 of the fixed disk 20. Specifically, the flow path groove 35 is capable of communicating with the second inlet portion 12 among the plurality of flow path holes 23, and also with the flow path hole 23 that communicates with any one of the first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15. The flow path groove 35 forms a flow path that communicates the second inlet portion 12 with any one of the first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15 depending on the rotational position of the drive disk 30.

[0044] The press-fit grooves 36 are formed at positions away from the drive disk holes 33 of the drive disk 30 so as not to overlap with the drive disk holes 33. The press-fit grooves 36 are formed at positions closer to the outer peripheral surface of the drive disk 30 than to the axis of the drive disk 30.

[0045] The drive unit 40 is provided on the upper side DRa2 of the main body cover 17. The drive unit 40 is a device for outputting a rotational force for rotating the shaft 50. The drive unit 40 has the shaft 50, a motor (not shown) as a drive source for rotating the shaft 50, and a gear unit (not shown) that transmits the output of the motor to the shaft 50. The motor may be, for example, a servo motor, a stepping motor, or a brushless motor. The gear unit may be, for example, a gear mechanism including a helical gear or a spur gear.

[0046] The shaft 50 is a rotating shaft that rotates about the shaft axis CL by the rotational force output by the drive unit 40. The shaft 50 is rotatably supported on both sides in the axial direction DRa by the housing 10. As a specific example, the downward DRa1 side of the shaft 50 is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown) provided in the bearing hole 1602, and the upward DRa2 side of the shaft 50 is rotatably supported by the bearing unit 41 provided in the main body cover unit 17. These bearings may be plain bearings, ball bearings, or the like.

[0047] The shaft 50 includes a metal axial center portion 51 and a resin holder portion 52 connected to the axial center portion 51. The axial center portion 51 and the holder portion 52 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable together. The axial center portion 51 and the holder portion 52 are insert-molded products molded integrally by insert molding.

[0048] The axial center portion 51 includes the shaft axis CL of the shaft 50 and extends along the axial direction DRa. The axial center portion 51 is made of a metal rod member to ensure straightness. The axial center portion 51 is connected to the holder portion 52 on the upward direction DRa2 side. The axial center portion 51 is inserted through the fixed disk hole 24 of the fixed disk 20 and the drive disk hole 33 of the drive disk 30, penetrating both the fixed disk 20 and the drive disk 30.

[0049] The holder portion 52 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom that opens downward in the direction DRa1. The axial center portion 51 of the holder portion 52 is connected to the inside of the tip portion on the upward direction DRa2 side. The tip portion of the holder portion 52 that protrudes outside the main body cover portion 17 is connected to the drive unit 40. This allows the rotational force output by the drive unit 40 to be transmitted to the shaft 50. The rotational force output by the drive unit 40 is transmitted to the drive disk 30 via the shaft 50, the lever 60, and the torsion spring 70. The shaft 50 is connected to the drive disk 30 via the lever 60 and the torsion spring 70.

[0050] The lever 60 is a connecting member that connects the drive disk 30 to the shaft 50. The lever 60 is fixed to the mounting surface 32 of the drive disk 30, and connects the drive disk 30 and the shaft 50 so that they can rotate together while the drive disk 30 is displaceable in the axial direction DRa of the shaft 50.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the lever 60 has a disk portion 61, a mounting portion 62, a press-fit portion 63, a first side wall portion 64, and a second side wall portion 65. The disk portion 61, the mounting portion 62, the press-fit portion 63, the first side wall portion 64, and the second side wall portion 65 are integrally molded as a single piece. The disk portion 61 is a portion through which the axial center portion 51 of the shaft 50 is inserted, and a lever hole 611 through which the axial center portion 51 of the shaft 50 is inserted is formed in the approximate center of the disk portion 61. The disk portion 61 also has a groove into which the compression spring 80 is fitted. The disk portion 61 has a smaller outer diameter than the drive disk 30. The mounting portion 62 is connected to the disk portion 61.

[0052] The arrangement portion 62 is a portion where the holder portion 52 and the torsion spring 70 are arranged. The arrangement portion 62 has a fan-like shape when viewed from a direction along the axial direction DRa, and is formed to extend approximately 180° around the shaft axis CL. A press-fit portion 63 is formed in the downward direction DRa1 of the arrangement portion 62. In addition, a first side wall portion 64 and a second side wall portion 65 are connected to the outer edge of the arrangement portion 62.

[0053] Two press-fit portions 63 are formed on the surface of the arrangement portion 62 that faces the mounting surface 32 of the drive disk 30. The two press-fit portions 63 protrude toward the drive disk 30 so as to be press-fittable into two press-fit grooves 36 formed in the drive disk 30, respectively. The lever 60 is fixed to the drive disk 30 by press-fitting the press-fit portions 63 into the press-fit grooves 36.

[0054] The first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 are guide portions that position the torsion spring 70 placed in the placement portion 62. The first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 extend in the circumferential direction DRc along the outer edge of the placement portion 62 and extend upward in the direction DRa2 from the outer edge of the placement portion 62, and are formed in an arc-shaped plate shape having a plate surface in the radial direction DRr. The first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 are formed to surround a portion of the periphery of the torsion spring 70 placed in the placement portion 62. One of the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 is formed in a position overlapping a portion of one of the two press-fit portions 63 in the axial direction DRa, and the other is formed in a position overlapping a portion of the other of the two press-fit portions 63 in the axial direction DRa.

[0055] Furthermore, the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 are formed at positions that can face the first inlet opening 1612 in the radial direction DRr depending on the rotational position of the drive disk 30. That is, the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 are provided at positions where their positions in the axial direction DRa overlap the position in the axial direction DRa of the first inlet opening 1612. The first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 correspond to inlet facing portions that are formed at positions that can face the first inlet opening 1612 in the radial direction DRr.

[0056] The first side wall portion 64 is formed to extend approximately 90° in the circumferential direction DRc along the outer edge of the arrangement portion 62. The first side wall portion 64 also has a first protrusion 641 that protrudes outward in the radial direction DRr. The first protrusion 641 is provided at one end of the first side wall portion 64, which is formed to extend approximately 90° in the circumferential direction DRc, in the circumferential direction DRc, and is disposed so as to overlap the first inlet opening 1612 in the radial direction DRr when fluid flows in through the first inlet opening 1612. The first protrusion 641 is formed to be large enough to cover the first inlet opening 1612 in the circumferential direction DRc when overlapping with the first inlet opening 1612 in the radial direction DRr. The first protrusion 641 is formed such that a central portion in the circumferential direction DRc on the outer periphery side is recessed from the outside toward the inside in the radial direction DRr. The first protrusion 641 has a first tapered portion 642 whose size in the radial direction DRr gradually decreases continuously from the outer side to the inner side in the radial direction DRr.

[0057] The first tapered portion 642 has a plate thickness, i.e., a radial dimension DRr, that gradually decreases from the outermost portion in the radial direction DRr of the first protrusion 641 toward the inner side in the radial direction DRr. That is, the first tapered portion 642 is formed such that the distance between the first tapered portion 642 and the inner peripheral side surface portion 1611 of the side wall portion 161 gradually increases from the outer side to the inner side in the radial direction DRr. The first tapered portion 642 is formed such that its end portion in the downward direction DRa1 overlaps with the end portion of the first inlet opening portion 1612 on the downward direction DRa1 side in the axial direction DRa.

[0058] The second side wall portion 65 is formed to extend at an angle of approximately 45° in the circumferential direction DRc along the outer edge of the arrangement portion 62. The second side wall portion 65 also has a second protrusion 651 that protrudes outward in the radial direction DRr. The second protrusion 651 is formed at a position that is opposite in the radial direction DRr from the position where the first protrusion 641 is formed, with respect to the shaft axis CL.

[0059] The second protrusion 651 is provided over the entire range in the circumferential direction DRc of the second side wall portion 65, which is formed extending at approximately 45° in the circumferential direction DRc, and is arranged so as to overlap the first inlet opening 1612 in the radial direction DRr when fluid flows in from the first inlet opening 1612. The second protrusion 651 is formed to have a size that can cover the first inlet opening 1612 in the circumferential direction DRc when overlapping with the first inlet opening 1612 in the radial direction DRr. The second protrusion 651 is formed such that a central portion in the circumferential direction DRc on the outer circumferential side is recessed from the outside toward the inside in the radial direction DRr. The second protrusion 651 has a second tapered portion 652 whose size in the radial direction DRr gradually decreases continuously from the outside toward the inside in the radial direction DRr.

[0060] The second tapered portion 652 has a plate thickness, i.e., a radial dimension, that gradually decreases from the outermost portion in the radial direction DRr of the second protrusion 651 toward the inner side in the radial direction DRr. That is, the second tapered portion 652 is formed such that the distance between the second tapered portion 652 and the inner peripheral side surface portion 1611 of the side wall portion 161 gradually increases from the outer side toward the inner side in the radial direction DRr. The second tapered portion 652 is formed such that its end portion in the downward direction DRa1 overlaps with the end portion of the first inlet opening portion 1612 on the downward direction DRa1 side in the axial direction DRa.

[0061] The reason why the first tapered portion 642 and the second tapered portion 652 are formed on the lever 60 will be described later. Note that the torsion spring 70 and the compression spring 80 are omitted from Figures 4 and 5.

[0062] Returning to FIG. 2 , the torsion spring 70 is a spring that biases the shaft 50 in the circumferential direction DRc relative to the housing 10. The torsion spring 70 may be, for example, a torsion coil spring that is elastically deformable in the circumferential direction DRc. The torsion spring 70 is disposed between the holder portion 52 of the shaft 50 and the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 of the lever 60. The torsion spring 70 is used in a state in which it is twisted and elastically deformed in the circumferential direction DRc. The torsion spring 70 is disposed between the shaft 50 and the lever 60 with one end of the torsion spring 70 in the circumferential direction DRc in contact with the lever 60 and the other end of the torsion spring 70 in contact with the holder portion 52 of the shaft 50, and is compressed in the circumferential direction DRc.

[0063] As a result, the torsion spring 70, by its own elastic deformation, generates a biasing force that biases the drive disk 30 to one side in the circumferential direction DRc via the lever 60. When the rotational force generated by the drive unit 40 is transmitted to the shaft 50, the rotational force is transmitted to the drive disk 30 via the torsion spring 70 and the lever 60. Then, as the shaft 50 rotates, the drive disk 30 rotates integrally with the shaft 50 about the shaft axis CL.

[0064] The compression spring 80 is a biasing member that biases the drive disk 30 toward the fixed disk 20. The compression spring 80 may be, for example, a compression coil spring that is elastically deformable in the axial direction DRa of the shaft 50. The compression spring 80 is disposed inside the housing 10 in a compressed state in the axial direction DRa, with its end on the downward direction DRa1 side contacting the lever 60 and its end on the upward direction DRa2 side contacting the holder portion 52 of the shaft 50. The compression spring 80 is not fixed to at least one of the drive disk 30 and the shaft 50 so that it does not function as a torsion spring 70.

[0065] The compression spring 80 presses the drive disk 30 against the fixed disk 20, thereby maintaining contact between the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20 and the sliding surface 31 of the drive disk 30. This contact state is a state in which the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20 and the sliding surface 31 of the drive disk 30 are in surface contact. In other words, the valve device 1 can maintain the drive disk 30 in contact with the fixed disk 20.

[0066] The compression spring 80 is disposed so as to surround the shaft axis CL of the shaft 50. In other words, the shaft 50 is disposed inside the compression spring 80. This prevents the load of the compression spring 80 on the drive disk 30 from being biased in the circumferential direction DRc of the shaft 50, making it easier to maintain contact between the seal surface 21 and the sliding surface 31.

[0067] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the valve device 1 of this embodiment. Fluid flows into the fluid passage F of the valve device 1 from the first inlet portion 11 and the second inlet portion 12.

[0068] The fluid that flows in through the first inlet portion 11 and the second inlet portion 12 flows out from one of the first outlet portion 13, the second outlet portion 14, and the third outlet portion 15 depending on the rotational position of the drive disk 30. For example, when the through hole 34 of the drive disk 30 is positioned at a rotational position where it communicates with the flow path hole 23 of the fixed disk 20 that communicates with the first outlet portion 13, the fluid that flows in from the first inlet portion 11 flows out from the first outlet portion 13 via the through hole 34 and the flow path hole 23. When the flow path groove 35 of the drive disk 30 is positioned at a rotational position where it communicates with the flow path hole 23 of the fixed disk 20 that communicates with the first outlet portion 13, the fluid that flows in from the second inlet portion 12 flows out from the first outlet portion 13 via the flow path groove 35 and the flow path hole 23.

[0069] Next, the reason why the first tapered portion 642 and the second tapered portion 652 are formed on the lever 60 will be explained with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The reason why the first tapered portion 642 is formed on the lever 60 is the same as the reason why the second tapered portion 652 is formed on the lever 60. For this reason, in this embodiment, only the reason why the first tapered portion 642 is formed will be explained, and an explanation of the reason why the second tapered portion 652 is formed will be omitted.

[0070] Figure 6 shows the flow of fluid when the fluid flows into the fluid passage F from the first inlet opening 1612 in the valve device 1 of this embodiment. Figure 7 shows the flow of fluid when the fluid flows into the fluid passage F from the first inlet opening 1612 in a comparative valve device 100 for comparison, which is different from the valve device 1 of this embodiment. Compared to the valve device 1 of this embodiment, the comparative valve device 100 does not have a first tapered portion 642 formed in the first protrusion 641, and does not have a second tapered portion 652 formed in the second protrusion 651, but the other configurations are similar to the valve device 1 of this embodiment.

[0071] 6 , the fluid flowing in from the first inlet portion 11 flows into the fluid passage F from the first inlet opening portion 1612. In the valve device 1 of this embodiment, as described above, the first protrusion 641 is formed at a position overlapping with the first inlet opening portion 1612 in the radial direction DRr when the fluid flows in from the first inlet opening portion 1612. Therefore, the fluid flowing in from the first inlet portion 11 flows toward the first protrusion 641, flows along the first tapered portion 642, and flows upward in the direction DRa2.

[0072] However, in the comparative valve device 100 shown in FIG. 7 , the fluid that flows into the fluid passage F from the first inlet opening 1612 and toward the first protrusion 641 collides with the outer peripheral surface of the first protrusion 641 because the first protrusion 641 does not have the first tapered portion 642. After colliding with the first protrusion 641, the flow direction of the fluid is changed upward DRa2. As a result, the fluid's collision with the first protrusion 641 tends to increase pressure loss as the fluid flows into the fluid passage F. In other words, if the first protrusion 641 does not have the first tapered portion 642, the flow resistance of the fluid as it flows into the fluid passage F from the first inlet opening 1612 tends to increase.

[0073] In contrast, in the valve device 1 of this embodiment, the first protrusion 641 is formed with a first tapered portion 642. Therefore, by causing the fluid flowing into the fluid passage F from the first inlet opening 1612 to flow along the first tapered portion 642, it is possible to suppress pressure loss when the fluid flows into the fluid passage F. In other words, the valve device 1 of this embodiment can improve the water flow resistance when the fluid flows into the fluid passage F from the first inlet opening 1612.

[0074] Therefore, when the valve device 1 of the present embodiment is applied to a fluid circulation system that circulates cooling water, the cooling water can be circulated efficiently in the fluid circulation system, and the pumping capacity required for circulating the cooling water in the fluid circulation system can be reduced.

[0075] As described above, the second protrusion 651 is also formed at a position overlapping with the first inlet opening 1612 in the radial direction DRr when the fluid flows in from the first inlet opening 1612, depending on the rotational position of the drive disk 30. Therefore, by forming the second tapered portion 652 on the second protrusion 651, the fluid flowing into the fluid passage F from the first inlet opening 1612 can be made to flow along the second tapered portion 652, thereby suppressing pressure loss when the fluid flows into the fluid passage F.

[0076] As described above, the valve device 1 of this embodiment includes a housing 10 that defines a fluid passage F therein through which a fluid flows, and that defines a first inlet opening 1612 through which a fluid flows into the fluid passage F from outside the fluid passage F. The valve device 1 also includes a fixed disk 20 that is fixed to the inside of the housing 10 and that defines a fluid passage hole 23 through which the fluid passes, a drive unit 40 that outputs a rotational force, and a shaft 50 that rotates about a shaft axis CL by the rotational force. The valve device 1 also includes a drive disk 30 that increases or decreases the opening degree of the fluid passage hole 23 as the shaft 50 rotates, and a lever 60 that is fixed to the drive disk 30 and that connects the drive disk 30 and the shaft 50 so that they can rotate together. The lever 60 has a first side wall portion 64 and a second side wall portion 65 that are formed in positions that can face the first inlet opening 1612 in a radial direction DRr that extends radially from the shaft axis CL. The first side wall portion 64 has a first tapered portion 642 whose size in the radial direction DRr gradually decreases from the outside to the inside in the radial direction DRr. The second side wall portion 65 has a second tapered portion 652 whose size in the radial direction DRr gradually decreases from the outside to the inside in the radial direction DRr.

[0077] This makes it possible to suppress pressure loss when the fluid flows into the fluid passage F from the first inlet opening 1612 by flowing along the first tapered portion 642 or the second tapered portion 652. Therefore, it is possible to provide a valve device 1 that can suppress pressure loss when the fluid flows into the fluid passage F, compared to a configuration that does not include the first tapered portion 642 or the second tapered portion 652.

[0078] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0079] (1) In the above embodiment, the valve device 1 includes the torsion spring 70, which is disposed between the shaft 50 and the first side wall portion 64 and between the shaft 50 and the second side wall portion 65 and biases the drive disc 30 in the circumferential direction DRc via the lever 60. The first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 are formed to extend along the circumferential direction DRc and surround a portion of the torsion spring 70.

[0080] This allows the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65, which are used to suppress pressure loss when the fluid flows into the fluid passage F, to be used to position the torsion spring 70.

[0081] Other Embodiments Although typical embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified in various ways, for example, as follows.

[0082] In the above-described embodiment, the valve device 1 has been described as being used in a fluid circulation system mounted on, for example, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, but is not limited thereto. For example, the valve device 1 may be used in a fluid circulation system mounted on a vehicle other than an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. Furthermore, the valve device 1 may be used for purposes other than vehicles.

[0083] In the above embodiment, the fluid flowing through the fluid passage F in the housing 10 of the valve device 1 is described as coolant, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the fluid may be a liquid or gas other than coolant.

[0084] In the above-described embodiment, an example was described in which the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 are formed to extend along the circumferential direction DRc and surround a portion of the torsion spring 70, but this is not limited to this.

[0085] For example, the valve device 1 may be configured to include a guide portion that positions the torsion spring 70 in addition to the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 .

[0086] In the above-described embodiment, an example was described in which only the first inlet opening 1612 is formed at the position opposite the lever 60 on the side wall portion 161 as an inlet portion for allowing fluid to flow into the fluid passage F from outside the fluid passage F, but this is not limited to this.

[0087] For example, in addition to the first inlet opening 1612, an inlet portion for allowing fluid to flow into the fluid passage F may be formed in the side wall portion 161 at a position facing the lever 60. When the first side wall portion 64 and the second side wall portion 65 face this inlet portion in the radial direction DRr when the fluid flows in from the inlet portion, the portion facing the inlet portion may be formed so that the size in the radial direction DRr gradually decreases from the outside to the inside in the radial direction DRr.

[0088] In the above-described embodiments, it goes without saying that the elements constituting the embodiments are not necessarily essential unless they are specifically stated as essential or are clearly considered essential in principle.

[0089] In the above-described embodiments, when numerical values ​​such as the number, values, amounts, ranges, etc. of components of the embodiments are mentioned, they are not limited to the specific numbers unless they are specifically stated as essential or are clearly limited to a specific number in principle.

[0090] In the above-described embodiments, when referring to the shapes, positional relationships, etc. of components, etc., the shapes, positional relationships, etc. are not limited to those unless otherwise specified or when they are fundamentally limited to specific shapes, positional relationships, etc.

Claims

1. A valve device comprising: a housing (10) that forms a fluid passage therein for circulating a fluid, and that has an inlet portion (1612) for allowing the fluid to flow into the fluid passage from outside the fluid passage and outlet portions (1614, 1615) for allowing the fluid to flow out from the fluid passage to outside the fluid passage; a fixed disk (20) that is fixed to the inside of the housing and that has at least one flow path hole (23) through which the fluid passes; a drive portion (40) that outputs a rotational force; a shaft (50) that rotates about a shaft axis (CL) by the rotational force; a drive disk (30) that increases or decreases the opening of the flow path hole as the shaft rotates; and a lever (60) that is fixed to the drive disk and that connects the drive disk and the shaft so that they can rotate together, wherein the lever has inlet opposing portions (64, 65) that are formed at positions that can face the inlet portion in the radial direction when the direction extending radially from the shaft axis is taken as the radial direction, The valve device, wherein the inlet opposing portion has a tapered portion (642, 652) whose size in the radial direction gradually decreases from the outer side toward the inner side in the radial direction.

2. The valve device according to claim 1, further comprising a torsion spring (70) disposed between the shaft and the inlet facing portion, when the direction around the shaft axis of the shaft is defined as the circumferential direction, and biasing the drive disk in the circumferential direction via the lever, wherein the inlet facing portion is formed to extend along the circumferential direction and surrounds at least a portion of the torsion spring.

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