Valve device

Abstract

This valve device is provided with: a housing (10) that forms a fluid passage (F) through which a fluid flows; a drive unit (40) that outputs a rotational force; a shaft (50) that rotates about a shaft axis (CL) due to the rotational force outputted by the drive unit; a fixed disk (20) which is disposed inside the housing and in which are formed a flow path hole (23) through which a fluid flows and a fixed disk hole (24) through which the shaft is inserted; and a drive disk (30) in which a drive disk hole (33) into which the shaft is inserted is formed, and which rotates together with the shaft to increase or decrease the opening degree of a flow path hole. The drive disk has a sliding surface (31) that slides on the fixed disk on one side in the axial direction, which is the direction in which the shaft axis extends. The fixed disk hole has a fixed hole diameter larger than the shaft diameter. The drive disk hole has a drive hole diameter larger than the shaft diameter, and the drive hole diameter at one end in the axial direction is the same size as or smaller than the drive hole diameter at other portions.

Description

Valve equipment CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-49899, ​​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 includes a shaft that transmits the torque output by the drive unit to the drive disk, and the shaft is disposed within the housing and passes through insertion holes formed in the drive disk and the fixed disk.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-166527

[0005] In the case of the valve device of Patent Document 1, where the shaft passes through the insertion hole of the drive disk, if the shaft tilts for some reason, the drive disk may become misaligned due to the tilt of the shaft, which may impair the adhesion between the drive disk and the fixed disk, causing fluid to leak from between the drive disk and the fixed disk.

[0006] In the valve device of Patent Document 1, the insertion hole formed in the drive disk has an inner diameter that changes in a stepped manner, with the inner diameter at the end on the fixed disk side being larger than the inner diameter at the opposite end. After detailed consideration, the inventors found that if the inner diameter of the insertion hole on the fixed disk side is large, the drive disk will be more likely to shift in position due to tilt of the shaft, making it more likely that fluid will leak between the drive disk and the fixed disk.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a valve device that can suppress misalignment of a drive disk caused by tilt of a shaft.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a valve device comprises: a housing forming a fluid passage therein for circulating a fluid; a drive unit that outputs a rotational force; a shaft that rotates about the shaft axis by the rotational force output by the drive unit; a fixed disk arranged inside the housing and having a flow passage hole through which the fluid flows and a fixed disk hole through which the shaft is inserted; and a drive disk that has a drive disk hole through which the shaft is inserted and rotates integrally with the shaft to increase or decrease the opening of the flow passage hole, wherein the drive disk has a sliding surface that slides against the fixed disk on one side in the axial direction, which is the direction in which the shaft axis extends, and wherein the outer diameter of the portion of the shaft that is inserted into the drive disk hole is defined as the shaft axis diameter, the inner diameter of the fixed disk hole is defined as the fixed hole diameter, and the inner diameter of the drive disk hole is defined as the drive hole diameter: the fixed hole diameter of the fixed disk hole is larger than the shaft axis diameter; and the drive hole diameter of the drive disk hole is larger than the shaft axis diameter, and the drive hole diameter at one end on the axial direction is equal to or smaller than the drive hole diameter of another portion.

[0009] This allows the portion of the drive disk that is positioned relative to the shaft to be closer to the fixed disk, which prevents the drive disk from shifting from its designed position even if the shaft is tilted for some reason.

[0010] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a 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 an enlarged view of part III of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the shape of a drive disc hole; FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the shape of a first insertion hole of a first comparative drive disc; FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the position of the first comparative drive disc is shifted due to tilt of a shaft; FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the shape of a second insertion hole of a second comparative drive disc; FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which the position of the second comparative drive disc is shifted due to tilt of a shaft; FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which the position of the drive disc is shifted due to tilt of a shaft; FIG. 10 is a view showing a modified example of a drive disc; FIG. 11 is a view showing a modified example of a drive disc; FIG. 12 is a view showing a modified example of a fixed disc;

[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 so that a fluid can flow through the inside thereof. 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 along the radial direction DRr. The second inlet portion 12 is formed to protrude from the housing 10 along the axial direction DRa.

[0021] The side wall portion 161 has a cylindrical shape that surrounds in the circumferential direction DRc the passage in the fluid passage F on the upper direction DRa2 side of the fixed disk 20, and extends along the axial direction DRa. The side wall portion 161 is formed so that its axis is coaxial with the shaft axis CL.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2 , the sidewall 161 has an inner peripheral side surface 1611 on its inner periphery that surrounds the outer periphery of the fixed disk 20 and the outer periphery of the drive disk 30. The inner peripheral side surface 1611 forms a passage in the fluid passage F on the upward DRa2 side of the fixed disk 20. The sidewall 161 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameters of the fixed disk 20 and the drive disk 30. This forms a gap between the inner peripheral side surface 1611 and the fixed disk 20. That is, the fixed disk 20 and the drive disk 30 do not contact the inner peripheral side surface 1611 and are not positioned by the sidewall 161. The outer diameter of the fixed disk 20 is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the drive disk 30. The inner peripheral side surface 1611 has a fitting groove (not shown) recessed away from the shaft axis CL. The opening side of the sidewall 161 is closed by the body cover 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. That is, the passage on the upper DRa2 side of the fixed disk 20 in the fluid passage F formed by the inner circumferential side surface 1611 of the side wall 161 is closed by the body cover 17. 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 side surface 1611 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 passage in 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 portion that divides the passage in the fluid passage F on the downward DRa1 side of the fixed disk 20 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 passage in the fluid passage F on the downward DRa1 side of the fixed disk 20 is divided by the partition portion 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 mounting surface 1601 is formed to extend in a flat plane along the radial direction DRr and the circumferential direction DRc. A gasket groove 1603 is formed in the mounting surface 1601 to accommodate a gasket 163 that seals the gap between the fixed disk 20 and the mounting surface 1601.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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 fixed disk 20 is made of a metal (for example, SUS, i.e., Steel Use Stainless) that is harder than resin.

[0034] 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.

[0035] The plurality of flow path holes 23 are formed at positions spaced apart 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. The fixed disk hole 24 is formed to penetrate the fixed disk 20 in the axial direction DRa.

[0036] 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.

[0037] The drive disk 30 has a sliding surface 31 that slides against the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20, and a mounting 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 through which the shaft 50 is inserted, one through-hole 34 that penetrates the drive disk 30 in the axial direction DRa, and one flow path groove 35 that is formed by recessing the slide surface 31. The drive disk hole 33 is formed so as to penetrate the drive disk 30 in the axial direction DRa. Details of the drive disk hole 33 will be described later.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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 upward direction DRa2 side of the axial center portion 51 is connected to the holder portion 52. 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 the fixed disk 20 and the drive disk 30. The axial center portion 51 is disposed within the housing 10 so that the shaft axis CL, which is the axis, is coaxial with the axis of the fixed disk 20 and the axis of the drive disk 30.

[0047] In the valve device 1 of this embodiment, the outer diameter of an axial portion 51 of the shaft 50 that is inserted into the fixed disk hole 24 and the drive disk hole 33 is smaller than the inner diameters of the fixed disk hole 24 and the drive disk hole 33. The fixed disk hole 24 of the fixed disk 20 and the drive disk hole 33 of the drive disk 30 are sized to provide a clearance fit with the axial portion 51. In other words, the fixed disk hole 24 and the drive disk hole 33 are each larger than the shaft diameter. The shaft diameter is the outer diameter of the portion of the shaft 50 that is inserted into the fixed disk hole 24 and the drive disk hole 33.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] The torsion spring 70 is a spring that biases the shaft 50 in the circumferential direction DRc relative to the housing 10. For example, a torsion coil spring that is elastically deformable in the circumferential direction DRc can be used as the torsion spring 70. The torsion spring 70 is disposed between the shaft 50 and 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 in a state in which it is compressed in the circumferential direction DRc, with one end of the torsion spring 70 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.

[0051] As a result, the torsion spring 70 generates a biasing force that biases the drive disk 30 to one side in the circumferential direction DRc due to its own elastic deformation. 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] Next, details of the drive disk hole 33 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. As described above, the drive disk hole 33 of the drive disk 30 is a portion through which the axial center portion 51 of the shaft 50 is inserted.

[0058] 3 and 4 , the drive disk hole 33 has a sliding-side opening 331 facing the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20, and a non-sliding-side opening 332 that does not face the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20. The sliding-side opening 331 is an outlet-side opening that allows the axial portion 51 inserted into the drive disk hole 33 to protrude, and is open at the sliding surface 31. The non-sliding-side opening 332 is an inlet-side opening when the axial portion 51 is inserted into the drive disk hole 33, and is open at the mounting surface 32.

[0059] The drive disk hole 33 has a tapered portion 333 whose inner diameter decreases from the upward direction DRa2 side to the downward direction DRa1 side, and a through portion 334 whose inner diameter is constant. The drive disk hole 33 is formed with the tapered portion 333 and the through portion 334 connected in this order from the upward direction DRa2 side to the downward direction DRa1 side.

[0060] The tapered portion 333 communicates with the non-sliding-side opening 332 on its upward DRa2 side. The tapered portion 333 is tapered so that its inner diameter gradually decreases along the axial direction DRa from the upward DRa2-side end of the drive disk hole 33 toward the downward DRa1 side. The drive disk hole 33 is a through hole whose inner diameter varies along the axial direction DRa, with the inner diameter on the downward DRa1 side being smallest. The tapered portion 333 communicates with the upward DRa2-side of the through portion 334 on its downward DRa1 side. Note that in FIG. 4 , the inclination angle of the tapered portion 333 is exaggerated compared to the actual drive disk hole 33 to make the shape of the drive disk hole 33 easier to understand.

[0061] The through portion 334 communicates with the tapered portion 333 on the upward DRa2 side and with the sliding-side opening 331 on the downward DRa1 side. The through portion 334 is formed to have a constant inner diameter along the axial direction DRa. That is, the through portion 334 has a constant inner diameter from the end on the upward DRa2 side to the end on the downward DRa1 side. The through portion 334 has an inner diameter equal to the inner diameter of the end of the tapered portion 333 on the downward DRa1 side.

[0062] In the drive disk hole 33 formed in this manner, the inner diameter of the through portion 334 is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the tapered portion 333 .

[0063] Hereinafter, the inner diameter of the drive disk hole 33 will be referred to as the drive hole diameter, and the inner diameter of the fixed disk hole 24 will be referred to as the fixed hole diameter. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the drive hole diameter of the sliding-side opening 331, which is the drive hole diameter at the end of the drive disk hole 33 on the downward DRa1 side, will be referred to as the first drive hole diameter φ1. The drive hole diameter of the non-sliding-side opening 332, which is the drive hole diameter at the end of the drive disk hole 33 on the upward DRa2 side, will be referred to as the second drive hole diameter φ2. The first drive hole diameter φ1 is the inner diameter of the end of the tapered portion 333 on the downward DRa1 side and is also the inner diameter of the through portion 334. The second drive hole diameter φ2 is the inner diameter of the end of the tapered portion 333 on the upward DRa2 side.

[0064] In this embodiment, the first drive hole diameter φ1 is smaller than the second drive hole diameter φ2. The first drive hole diameter φ1 is approximately the same as the shaft diameter but slightly larger than it. The second drive hole diameter φ2 is larger than the shaft diameter than the first drive hole diameter φ1, which is slightly larger than it.

[0065] In this embodiment, the drive disk hole 33 has a drive hole diameter that is larger than the shaft diameter from the end on the upward direction DRa2 side to the end on the downward direction DRa1 side. The drive disk hole 33 has a first drive hole diameter φ1 at the end on the downward direction DRa1 side that is smaller than the drive hole diameters in other portions. In other words, the drive hole diameter of the drive disk hole 33 is smallest at the end on the downward direction DRa1 side.

[0066] The fixing hole diameter extends along the axial direction DRa and is formed as a through hole whose diameter is constant in the axial direction DRa, and is formed to be approximately the same size as the first drive hole diameter φ1.

[0067] Here, the reason why the first drive hole diameter φ1 of the drive disk hole 33 is smaller than the drive hole diameters of other parts will be explained with reference to the first comparative drive disk 310, which is the first comparative example, and the second comparative drive disk 320, which is the second comparative example, shown in Figures 5 to 8.

[0068] 5 and 6 has a smaller size in the axial direction DRa than the drive disk 30 of this embodiment. Accordingly, the size in the axial direction DRa of the first insertion hole 311 for inserting the axial portion 51 of the first comparative drive disk 310 is smaller than the size in the axial direction DRa of the drive disk hole 33 of the drive disk 30 of this embodiment.

[0069] The first insertion hole 311 of the first comparative drive disk 310 has a stepped shape in which the hole diameter gradually increases in the axial direction DRa, and the hole diameter on the side facing the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20 is larger than the hole diameter on the side not facing the seal surface 21. That is, the first insertion hole 311 has the largest hole diameter at the end on the downward direction DRa1 side. Furthermore, the first insertion hole 311 has the same size in the axial direction DRa as the side with the larger hole diameter.

[0070] If the axial center portion 51 tilts from the design target orientation to the tilted orientation shown in FIG. 6 for some reason, the tilt of the axial center portion 51 will cause the position of the first comparative drive disk 310 to deviate from the design position. In this case, the adhesion between the first comparative drive disk 310 and the fixed disk 20 will be impaired. Factors that cause the axial center portion 51 to tilt include, for example, dimensional variations in the axial direction DRa of the axial center portion 51 and a structure in which both ends of the axial center portion 51 are held by separate members. Note that the tilted orientation shown in FIG. 6 is an orientation in which, when the surface of the first comparative drive disk 310 facing the fixed disk 20 is defined as a reference plane, a line perpendicular to the reference plane intersects with the shaft axis CL of the axial center portion 51.

[0071] Here, when the hole diameter of the first insertion hole 311 on the side not facing the seal surface 21 is smaller than the hole diameter on the side facing the seal surface 21, the first comparative drive disk 310 is positioned by the portion of the first insertion hole 311 with the smaller hole diameter relative to the axial center portion 51. In other words, the position of the first comparative drive disk 310 relative to the axial center portion 51 is set by the portion of the first insertion hole 311 surrounding the end portion on the upward direction DRa2 side away from the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20.

[0072] Therefore, when the axial center portion 51 is tilted from the intended design position, the deviation of the first comparative drive disk 310 from the designed position tends to increase, which tends to reduce the adhesion between the first comparative drive disk 310 and the fixed disk 20.

[0073] 7 has a size in the axial direction DRa that is equal to the size in the axial direction DRa of the drive disk 30 of this embodiment. That is, the size in the axial direction DRa of the second comparative drive disk 320 is larger than that of the first comparative drive disk 310. Accordingly, the size in the axial direction DRa of the second insertion hole 321, through which the axial portion 51 of the second comparative drive disk 320 is inserted, is larger than the size in the axial direction DRa of the first insertion hole 311 of the first comparative drive disk 310.

[0074] Similarly to the first insertion hole 311 of the first comparative drive disk 310, the second insertion hole 321 of the second comparative drive disk 320 has a stepped shape in which the hole diameter gradually increases in the axial direction DRa. The hole diameter of the second insertion hole 321 on the side facing the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20 is larger than the hole diameter on the side not facing the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20. That is, the hole diameter of the second insertion hole 321 is largest at the end on the downward direction DRa1 side. The size of the larger hole diameter of the second insertion hole 321 in the axial direction DRa is larger than the size of the smaller hole diameter of the second insertion hole 321 in the axial direction DRa, and is also larger than the size of the larger hole diameter of the first insertion hole 311 in the axial direction DRa.

[0075] 8 from the target design position, the position of the second comparative drive disk 320 will deviate from the design position. The size of the second insertion hole 321 in the axial direction DRa is larger than the size of the first insertion hole 311 in the first comparative drive disk 310. The size of the second insertion hole 321 in the axial direction DRa with a larger hole diameter is also larger than the size of the first insertion hole 311 in the axial direction DRa with a larger hole diameter.

[0076] When the second insertion hole 321 is formed in this manner, the second comparative drive disk 320 is positioned relative to the axial center portion 51 by a portion surrounding the end of the second insertion hole 321 on the upward direction DRa2 side away from the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20. As a result, the portion of the second comparative drive disk 320 that is positioned relative to the axial center portion 51 is farther away from the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20 than the first comparative drive disk 310. In other words, the second comparative drive disk 320 has a larger distance between the positioned portion and the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20 than the first comparative drive disk 310.

[0077] As a result, the amount of deviation of the second comparative drive disk 320 from the designed position when the axial center portion 51 is tilted from the designed target attitude becomes larger than the amount of deviation from the designed position of the first comparative drive disk 310. This makes it more likely that the adhesion between the second comparative drive disk 320 and the fixed disk 20 will decrease. In this way, the greater the distance between the positioned portion and the sealing surface 21 of the fixed disk 20, the more likely that the adhesion with the fixed disk 20 will decrease.

[0078] For the above reasons, if the first drive hole diameter φ1, which is the diameter of the drive disk hole 33 on the side facing the seal surface 21, is larger than the second drive hole diameter φ2, which is the diameter of the side not facing the seal surface 21, there is a risk of the drive disk 30 becoming significantly misaligned when the axial center portion 51 is tilted. In contrast, the drive disk hole 33 in the valve device 1 of this embodiment has the tapered portion 333 and the through portion 334 connected in this order from the upward direction DRa2 side to the downward direction DRa1 side. The through portion 334 has a constant drive hole diameter from its end on the upward direction DRa2 side to its end on the downward direction DRa1 side. Furthermore, the first drive hole diameter φ1, which is the drive hole diameter of the downward direction DRa1 end of the through portion 334, is smaller than the drive hole diameters of other portions of the drive disk hole 33.

[0079] Therefore, the drive disk 30 is positioned with respect to the axial center portion 51 by the portion that forms the sliding-side opening 331, where the drive hole diameter is smallest. That is, the drive disk 30 is positioned with respect to the axial center portion 51 by the portion that surrounds the through-hole 334. Therefore, the portion of the drive disk 30 that is positioned with respect to the axial center portion 51 is closer to the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20 than the first comparative drive disk 310 and the second comparative drive disk 320. That is, the distance between the positioned portion and the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20 is smaller for the drive disk 30 than for the first comparative drive disk 310 and the second comparative drive disk 320.

[0080] 9, even if the axial center portion 51 is tilted from the target design position for some reason, the deviation of the drive disk 30 from the design position is unlikely to increase. In other words, the amount of deviation of the drive disk 30 from the design position when the axial center portion 51 is tilted from the target design position can be made smaller than the amount of deviation of the first comparative drive disk 310 and the second comparative drive disk 320 from their respective design positions. This makes it difficult for the adhesion between the drive disk 30 and the fixed disk 20 to decrease. This makes it possible to suppress leakage of fluid from the gap between the seal surface 21 and the sliding surface 31.

[0081] As described above, the valve device 1 of this embodiment includes a housing 10 that defines a fluid passage F therein for fluid flow, a drive unit 40 that outputs a rotational force, and a shaft 50 that rotates about a shaft axis CL by the rotational force output by the drive unit 40. The valve device 1 also includes a fixed disk 20 disposed inside the housing 10 and having a fluid passage hole 23 through which the fluid flows and a fixed disk hole 24 through which the axial center 51 of the shaft 50 is inserted. The valve device 1 also includes a drive disk 30 that defines a drive disk hole 33 through which the axial center 51 of the shaft 50 is inserted and that rotates integrally with the shaft 50 to increase or decrease the opening degree of the fluid passage hole 23. The drive disk 30 has a sliding surface 31 that slides against the fixed disk 20 on one side of the axial direction DRa, which is the direction in which the shaft axis CL extends. The fixed disk hole 24 has a fixed hole diameter larger than the shaft diameter. The drive disk hole 33 has a drive hole diameter larger than the shaft diameter, and the drive hole diameter at the end on the downward direction DRa1 side, which is one side of the axial direction DRa, is smaller than the drive hole diameter at other parts.

[0082] This makes it easier to bring the portion of the drive disk 30 that is positioned relative to the axial center portion 51 closer to the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20. Therefore, even if the axial center portion 51 is tilted for some reason, the amount of deviation from the designed position of the drive disk 30 can be reduced. This improves the adhesion between the drive disk 30 and the fixed disk 20, making it possible to suppress leakage of fluid from the gap between the seal surface 21 and the sliding surface 31.

[0083] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0084] (1) In the above embodiment, the drive disk hole 33 has a tapered portion 333 in which the drive hole diameter continuously decreases from the end on the upward direction DRa2 side, which is the other end on the axial direction DRa, toward the downward direction DRa1 side.

[0085] With this, even if the axial center portion 51 is tilted for some reason, the tapered portion 333 makes it difficult for the axial center portion 51 to come into contact with the inner wall surface of the drive disk hole 33, thereby suppressing interference of the axial center portion 51. Furthermore, when inserting the axial center portion 51 from the upward direction DRa2 side of the drive disk hole 33, even if the shaft axis center CL is misaligned with the axis center of the drive disk hole 33, the axial center portion 51 can be inserted along the inner wall surface of the tapered portion 333.

[0086] (2) In the above embodiment, the axial center portion 51 of the shaft 50 is disposed to pass through the fixed disk hole 24 and the drive disk hole 33 .

[0087] This makes it easier to position the fixed disk 20 and the drive disk 30 using the axial center portion 51.

[0088] (3) In the above embodiment, the drive disk 30 is made of resin.

[0089] This allows for easy molding even in a configuration such as the drive disk 30 of this embodiment, which has a tapered portion 333 in which the drive hole diameter decreases along the axial direction DRa.

[0090] 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.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the drive disk hole 33 is formed such that the tapered portion 333 and the through portion 334 are connected in this order from the upward direction DRa2 side to the downward direction DRa1 side, but the drive disk hole 33 may have various shapes as long as the drive hole diameter at the end on the downward direction DRa1 side is equal to or smaller than the drive hole diameters of the other portions.

[0092] 10 , the drive disc hole 33 may have stepped portions 335, 336 in which the drive hole diameter decreases stepwise from its end on the upward direction DRa2 side (the other side of the axial direction DRa) toward its downward direction DRa1 side (one side of the axial direction DRa). Specifically, the drive disc hole 33 may have a first through portion 335 having a large drive hole diameter and a second through portion 336 having a smaller drive hole diameter than the first through portion 335, which are formed in this order from the upward direction DRa2 side to the downward direction DRa1 side. The first through portion 335 and the second through portion 336 are formed with a constant drive hole diameter along the axial direction DRa, and the drive hole diameter is constant from their end on the upward direction DRa2 side to their end on the downward direction DRa1 side.

[0093] 11 , the drive disk hole 33 may be formed with a first through portion 337 and a second through portion 339, as well as an intermediate tapered portion 338 formed between the first through portion 337 and the second through portion 339. The first through portion 337 has a larger drive hole diameter than the second through portion 339. The first through portion 337 and the second through portion 339 each have a constant drive hole diameter along the axial direction DRa, and the drive hole diameter is constant from the end on the upward DRa2 side to the end on the downward DRa1 side. The intermediate tapered portion 338 is continuous with the first through portion 337 on the upward DRa2 side, and the drive hole diameter on the upward DRa2 side is equal to the drive hole diameter of the first through portion 337. Furthermore, intermediate tapered portion 338 is connected to second through portion 339 on the downward DRa1 side, and the drive hole diameter on the downward DRa1 side is equal to the drive hole diameter of second through portion 339. Furthermore, intermediate tapered portion 338 has a drive hole diameter that continuously and gradually decreases from the upward DRa2 side toward the downward DRa1 side.

[0094] In this way, if the drive hole diameter at the end of the drive disk hole 33 on the downward direction DRa1 side is equal to or smaller than the drive hole diameters of other portions, it becomes easier to bring the portion of the drive disk 30 that is positioned with respect to the axial center portion 51 closer to the seal surface 21 of the fixed disk 20. Therefore, even if the axial center portion 51 is tilted for some reason, the amount of deviation from the designed position of the drive disk 30 can be reduced. This improves the adhesion between the drive disk 30 and the fixed disk 20, and suppresses fluid leakage from the gap between the seal surface 21 and the sliding surface 31.

[0095] In the above-described embodiment, an example was described in which the fixed disk hole 24 is formed through the fixed disk 20, the drive disk hole 33 is formed through the drive disk 30, and the axial center portion 51 passes through the fixed disk hole 24 and the drive disk hole 33, but this is not limited to this.

[0096] For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the fixed disk hole 24 may not penetrate the fixed disk 20, and the sealing surface 21 may be recessed.

[0097] In the above embodiment, the driving disk 30 is made of resin, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0098] For example, the drive disk 30 may be made of ceramic and may be a powder molded body formed by molding ceramic powder into a desired shape using a press. By molding the drive disk 30 from ceramic, the shape stability of the drive disk 30 can be increased.

[0099] 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.

[0100] 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.

[0101] 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.

[0102] 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.

[0103] 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.

[0104] (Viewpoints of the Present Disclosure) The above-described present disclosure can be understood from the following viewpoints, for example.

[0105] [First Aspect] A valve device comprising: a housing (10) forming a fluid passage (F) therein for circulating a fluid; a drive unit (40) that outputs a rotational force; a shaft (50) that rotates about a shaft axis (CL) by the rotational force output by the drive unit; a fixed disk (20) that is disposed inside the housing and has a flow path hole (23) through which the fluid flows and a fixed disk hole (24) through which the shaft is inserted; and a drive disk (30) that has a drive disk hole (33) through which the shaft is inserted and rotates integrally with the shaft to increase or decrease an opening degree of the flow path hole, the drive disk having a sliding surface (31) that slides on the fixed disk on one side in an axial direction that is a direction in which the shaft axis extends, wherein when the outer diameter of the portion of the shaft that is inserted into the drive disk hole is defined as a shaft axis diameter, the inner diameter of the fixed disk hole is defined as a fixed hole diameter, and the inner diameter of the drive disk hole is defined as a drive hole diameter, The fixed disk hole has a fixed hole diameter larger than the shaft diameter, and the drive disk hole has a drive hole diameter larger than the shaft diameter, and the drive hole diameter at one end in the axial direction is equal to or smaller than the drive hole diameter at other portions.

[0106] [Second Aspect] The valve device according to the first aspect, wherein the drive disk hole has a tapered portion (333) in which the drive hole diameter continuously decreases from the end on the other side in the axial direction toward the one side in the axial direction.

[0107] [Third Aspect] The valve device according to the first aspect, wherein the drive disk hole has a stepped portion (335, 336) in which the drive hole diameter decreases in a stepped manner from the end on the other side in the axial direction toward the one side in the axial direction.

[0108] [Fourth Aspect] The valve device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the shaft is disposed to pass through at least one of the fixed disk hole and the drive disk hole.

[0109] [Fifth Aspect] The valve device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the drive disk is made of either resin or ceramic.

Claims

1. A valve device comprising: a housing (10) forming a fluid passage (F) therein for circulating a fluid; a drive unit (40) for outputting a rotational force; a shaft (50) that rotates about a shaft axis (CL) by the rotational force output by the drive unit; a fixed disk (20) disposed inside the housing and having a flow path hole (23) through which the fluid flows and a fixed disk hole (24) through which the shaft is inserted; and a drive disk (30) that has a drive disk hole (33) through which the shaft is inserted and rotates integrally with the shaft to increase or decrease the opening of the flow path hole, the drive disk having a sliding surface (31) that slides against the fixed disk on one side in the axial direction that is the direction in which the shaft axis extends; when the outer diameter of the portion of the shaft that is inserted into the drive disk hole is defined as the shaft diameter, the inner diameter of the fixed disk hole is defined as the fixed hole diameter, and the inner diameter of the drive disk hole is defined as the drive hole diameter, The fixed disk hole has a fixed hole diameter larger than the shaft diameter, and the drive disk hole has a drive hole diameter larger than the shaft diameter, and the drive hole diameter at one end in the axial direction is equal to or smaller than the drive hole diameter at other portions.

2. A valve device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive disk hole has a tapered portion (333) in which the diameter of the drive hole continuously decreases from the end on the other side in the axial direction toward one side in the axial direction.

3. A valve device as described in claim 1, wherein the drive disk hole has a stepped portion (335, 336) in which the diameter of the drive hole decreases in a stepped manner from the end on the other side in the axial direction toward one side in the axial direction.

4. A valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shaft is disposed through at least one of the fixed disk hole and the driving disk hole.

5. A valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drive disc is made of either resin or ceramic.

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