Electronic expansion valve and air conditioning system

Abstract

An electronic expansion valve (100) and an air conditioning system (200). The electronic expansion valve (100) comprises a valve body assembly (10), a rotor assembly (30) and a valve core unit (20). The valve body assembly (10) is provided with a threaded hole (104) and a valve port (101) in the axial direction, the valve body assembly (10) is provided with a first stop portion (103), and the first stop portion (103) is arranged at the end of the valve body assembly (10) away from the valve port (101). The rotor assembly (30) is provided with a first fitting portion (301). One end of the valve core unit (20) passes through the threaded hole (104) and is connected to the rotor assembly (30). When the electronic expansion valve (100) is closed, the first stop portion (103) abuts against and fits with the first fitting portion (301) in the axial direction.

Description

Electronic expansion valve and air conditioning system

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application filed on December 13, 2024, application number 202423088858.6, entitled "Electronic Expansion Valve and Air Conditioning System", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of expansion valve technology, and in particular to an electronic expansion valve and an air conditioning system. Background Technology

[0004] Electronic expansion valves are commonly used in air conditioning systems. They regulate flow or throttle and pressurize by moving an internal valve needle closer to or further from the valve port. Currently, electronic expansion valves typically control the rotation of the rotor, and thus the stroke of the valve needle, through structures such as limit springs, stop rings, and guide plates. However, this circumferential stop method involves many components and a complex structure, leading to increased costs for electronic expansion valves. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an electronic expansion valve and an air conditioning system.

[0006] This application provides an electronic expansion valve, which includes a valve body assembly, a rotor assembly, and a valve core unit. The valve body assembly has a threaded hole and a valve port along the axial direction. The valve body assembly has a first stop portion located at the end of the valve body assembly away from the valve port. The rotor assembly has a first mating portion. One end of the valve core unit passes through the threaded hole and is connected to the rotor assembly, so that the valve core unit can move towards or away from the valve port under the drive of the rotor assembly. When the electronic expansion valve is closed, the first stop portion and the first mating portion abut against each other along the axial direction.

[0007] In one embodiment, when the electronic expansion valve is closed, a preset gap h is formed between the valve core unit and the valve port along the axial direction; the axial distance from the valve port to the first stop is defined as H1, and the axial distance from any point on the projection of the inner sidewall of the valve port onto the valve core unit along the axial direction to the first stop is H2, where h = H1 - H2.

[0008] In one embodiment, when the electronic expansion valve is closed, the valve core unit abuts against and seals the valve port.

[0009] In one embodiment, the valve body assembly includes a valve seat and a nut sleeve, the nut sleeve being fixedly connected to the valve seat; the rotor assembly includes a rotor body and a rotor connecting plate, the rotor connecting plate being connected to the rotor body and the valve core unit respectively; wherein, the end face of the nut sleeve away from the valve port forms the first stop portion, the end face of the rotor connecting plate near the valve port forms the first mating portion, the valve port is opened in the valve seat, and the threaded hole is opened in the nut sleeve.

[0010] In one embodiment, the first stop portion and the first mating portion are in surface-to-surface contact or line-to-surface contact.

[0011] In one embodiment, the valve body assembly is further provided with a second stop portion, which is located on the side of the threaded hole away from the first stop portion; the outer periphery of the valve core unit protrudes in a direction away from its own axis to form a second mating portion, wherein, as the valve core unit moves in a direction away from the valve port, the second stop portion can abut and engage with the second mating portion.

[0012] In one embodiment, when the first stop portion and the first mating portion abut against each other axially, the axial distance from the first stop portion to the second mating portion is H3, the axial distance from the first stop portion to the second stop portion is H4, and the stroke of the valve core unit is H, where H = H3 - H4.

[0013] In one embodiment, the second stop and the second mating part are in surface-to-surface contact or line-to-surface contact.

[0014] In one embodiment, the valve body assembly further includes a first connecting hole, which connects to the side of the threaded hole near the valve port; the valve core unit includes a threaded section and a valve needle section, the threaded section passes through the threaded hole and is threadedly engaged with the threaded hole, the valve needle section is connected to the end of the threaded section near the valve port, and at least a portion of the outer wall of the valve needle section slides against the inner wall of the first connecting hole.

[0015] In one embodiment, the valve body assembly further includes a second connecting hole, which connects to the side of the threaded hole away from the valve port; the valve core unit further includes a connecting section, which connects to the end of the threaded section away from the valve needle section, and the outer wall of the connecting section slides in engagement with the inner wall of the second connecting hole.

[0016] In one embodiment, the connecting section, the threaded section, and the valve needle section are an integral structure.

[0017] This application also provides an air conditioning system, which includes the electronic expansion valve described in any of the above embodiments.

[0018] Details of one or more embodiments of this application are set forth in the following drawings and description. Other features, objects, and advantages of this application will become apparent from the specification, drawings, and claims. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To better describe and illustrate embodiments and / or examples of the inventions disclosed herein, reference may be made to one or more accompanying drawings. Additional details or examples used to describe the drawings should not be considered as limiting the scope of any of the disclosed inventions, the currently described embodiments and / or examples, or the best mode of these inventions as currently understood.

[0020] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic expansion valve in the closed state according to an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic expansion valve in the fully open state according to an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the flow rate change of an electronic expansion valve according to an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic expansion valve in the fully closed state according to an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic expansion valve in the fully closed state according to an embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of this application.

[0026] The symbols in the diagram represent the following meanings: 100, Electronic expansion valve; 10, Valve body assembly; 101, Valve port; 102, Second stop; 103, First stop; 104, Threaded hole; 105, First connecting hole; 106, Second connecting hole; 11, Valve seat; 12, Nut sleeve; 13, Outer cover; 20, Valve core unit; 201, Second mating part; 21, Threaded section; 22, Valve needle section; 23, Connecting section; 24, Spring sleeve; 25, Bearing; 26, Spring seat; 27, Elastic element; 28, Pressure sleeve; 30, Rotor assembly; 301, First mating part; 31, Rotor body; 32, Rotor connecting plate; 200, Electronic expansion valve. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0028] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application's specification are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0029] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0030] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The term "and / or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0032] Electronic expansion valves are commonly used in air conditioning systems. They regulate flow or throttle and pressurize by moving an internal valve needle closer to or further from the valve port. Currently, electronic expansion valves typically control the rotation of the rotor, and thus the stroke of the valve needle, through structures such as limit springs, stop rings, and guide plates. However, this circumferential stop method involves many components and a complex structure, leading to increased costs for electronic expansion valves.

[0033] Please refer to Figures 1-4. To address the issue of increased costs due to the complex structure of the circumferential stop in related technologies, this application provides an electronic expansion valve 100. The electronic expansion valve 100 includes a valve body assembly 10, a rotor assembly 30, and a valve core unit 20. The valve body assembly 10 has a threaded hole 104 and a valve port 101 along the axial direction. The valve body assembly 10 has a first stop portion 103 located at the end of the valve body assembly 10 away from the valve port 101. The rotor assembly 30 has a first mating portion 301. One end of the valve core unit 20 passes through the threaded hole 104 and is connected to the rotor assembly 30, allowing the valve core unit 20 to move towards or away from the valve port 101 under the drive of the rotor assembly 30. When the electronic expansion valve 100 is closed, the first stop portion 103 and the first mating portion 301 engage axially. Here, the closed state of the electronic expansion valve 100 means that the valve core unit 20 on the electronic expansion valve 100 can no longer move axially toward the valve port 101, so that the matching relationship between the end of the valve core unit 20 near the valve port 101 and the valve port 101 remains unchanged.

[0034] It is understood that in the electronic expansion valve 100 provided in this application, the valve core unit 20 moves axially under the drive of the rotor assembly 30 through threaded engagement with the threaded hole 104. Furthermore, when the rotor assembly 30 moves to the point where the first stop portion 103 and the first mating portion 301 abut, the rotor assembly 30 stops moving due to the limitation imposed by the first stop portion 103, and simultaneously limits the valve core unit 20, thereby achieving the lower stop of the valve core unit 20. Moreover, through the axial limiting engagement of the first stop portion 103 and the first mating portion 301, the circumferential stop structures such as the limiting spring, stop ring, and guide plate that provide the limiting effect in traditional structures can be eliminated. Compared to circumferential stop structures, this application has no significant impact in the circumferential direction, effectively reducing noise during the lower stop contact, and reducing the number of components required for the electronic expansion valve 100. This not only saves costs but also reduces the processing and assembly difficulty of the electronic expansion valve 100.

[0035] Specifically, the rotor assembly 30 includes a rotor body 31 and a rotor connecting plate 32, which is connected to both the rotor body 31 and the valve core unit 20. Here, a first mating portion 301 is formed on the end face of the rotor connecting plate 32 near the valve port 101. The rotor body 31 rotates in conjunction with an external motor and drives the screw body to rotate synchronously via the rotor connecting plate 32, thereby driving the valve core unit 20.

[0036] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the first stop portion 103 and the first mating portion 301 can be in surface-to-surface contact. That is, both the first stop portion 103 and the first mating portion 301 are planar, thus making the fit between them more stable. Of course, in other embodiments, the first stop portion 103 and the first mating portion 301 can also be configured as line-to-surface contact, etc., as needed, as long as the same effect can be achieved.

[0037] When the electronic expansion valve 100 is closed, the first stop portion 103 and the first mating portion 301 abut against each other. Therefore, friction will be generated between the first stop portion 103 and the first mating portion 301 due to rotation. In order to reduce the friction between the two, in one embodiment, a friction-reducing element is provided between the first stop portion 103 and the first mating portion 301. That is, by providing a friction-reducing element, the friction between the first stop portion 103 and the first mating portion 301 can be reduced, thereby reducing the opening resistance of the electronic expansion valve 100.

[0038] Specifically, the friction-reducing component can be configured as any of the following: a bearing, a gasket, or a coating. This achieves a better friction reduction effect. For example, the friction-reducing component can be set as a PPS gasket, but it is not limited to this; the friction-reducing component can also be made of other wear-resistant, low-friction coefficient materials.

[0039] To achieve an axial upper stop for the valve core unit 20, in one embodiment, as shown in FIG2, the valve body assembly 10 is further provided with a second stop portion 102, which is located on the side of the threaded hole 104 away from the first stop portion 103. A second mating portion 201 protrudes from the outer periphery of the valve core unit 20 in a direction away from its own axis. As the valve core unit 20 moves away from the valve port 101, the second stop portion 102 can abut against the second mating portion 201. Thus, the second stop portion 102 and the first stop portion 103 cooperate to achieve stroke control of the valve core unit 20.

[0040] It should be noted that when the valve core unit 20 moves to the point where the second stop part 102 abuts against the second mating part 201, the valve core unit 20 cannot move axially upwards further away from the valve port 101. At this time, the electronic expansion valve 100 is in the fully open state.

[0041] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the second stop portion 102 and the second mating portion 201 can be in surface-to-surface contact. That is, both the second stop portion 102 and the second mating portion 201 are planar, thus making the fit between them more stable. Of course, in other embodiments, the second stop portion 102 and the second mating portion 201 can also be configured as line-to-surface contact or other methods as needed, as long as the same effect can be achieved.

[0042] In one embodiment, when the electronic expansion valve 100 is closed, the valve core unit 20 abuts against and seals the valve port 101. That is, in this embodiment, when the electronic expansion valve 100 is closed, no flow passes through the valve port 101.

[0043] In another embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the electronic expansion valve 100 is closed, a preset gap h can be formed between the valve core unit 20 and the valve port 101 along the axial direction. That is, in this embodiment, when the electronic expansion valve 100 is closed, a certain flow of refrigerant passes through the valve port 101.

[0044] Here, in one embodiment of this application, a structure in which there is flow at valve port 101 when the valve is closed will be described.

[0045] The axial distance from the valve port 101 to the first stop portion 103 is defined as H1. When the electronic expansion valve 100 is closed, the axial distance from any point on the projection of the inner wall of the valve port 101 onto the valve core unit 20 along the axial direction to the first stop portion 103 is defined as H2, where h = H1 - H2. This facilitates the dimensional design of the internal components of the electronic expansion valve 100, thereby achieving a structural design where the valve has flow even when closed.

[0046] Furthermore, when the first stop portion 103 and the first mating portion 301 are axially engaged, the axial distance from the first stop portion 103 to the second mating portion 201 is H3, the axial distance from the first stop portion 103 to the second stop portion 102 is H4, and the stroke of the valve core unit 20 is H, where H = H3 - H4. This facilitates the dimensional design of each component.

[0047] It should be noted that the stroke of valve core unit 20 refers to the axial distance that valve core unit 20 moves from the closed state to the fully open state.

[0048] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG1, the valve body assembly 10 further includes a first connecting hole 105, which connects to the side of the threaded hole 104 near the valve port 101. The valve core unit 20 includes a threaded section 21 and a valve needle section 22. The threaded section 21 passes through the threaded hole 104 and is threadedly engaged with the threaded hole 104. The valve needle section 22 is connected to the end of the threaded section 21 near the valve port 101, and at least a portion of the outer wall of the valve needle section 22 is slidably engaged with the inner wall of the first connecting hole 105. A second stop portion 102 is formed on the end face of the first connecting hole 105 near the threaded hole 104, and a second mating portion 201 is formed on the end of the valve needle section 22 near the threaded section 21.

[0049] Thus, through the cooperation of the first connecting hole 105 and the valve needle section 22, the coaxiality of the valve core unit 20 and the valve port 101 can be improved, thereby improving the reliability of the electronic expansion valve 100 during use.

[0050] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the valve body assembly 10 also has a second connecting hole 106, which connects to the side of the threaded hole 104 away from the valve port 101. The valve core unit 20 also includes a connecting section 23, which is connected to the end of the threaded section 21 away from the valve needle section 22, and the outer wall of the connecting section 23 slides in engagement with the inner wall of the second connecting hole 106. This further improves the coaxiality between the valve core unit 20 and the valve port 101.

[0051] In one embodiment, the connecting section 23, the threaded section 21, and the valve needle section 22 are integrated into a single structure. This simplifies the structure of the valve core unit 20 and effectively reduces the number of components within the electronic expansion valve 100, thereby lowering costs.

[0052] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG4, the threaded section 21 and the valve needle section 22 on the valve core unit 20 can also be separately provided, and the threaded section 21 and the valve needle section 22 are connected in a limiting manner.

[0053] Specifically, the valve core unit 20 also includes a spring sleeve 24, a bearing 25, a spring seat 26, an elastic element 27, and a pressure sleeve 28. The bearing 25 and the spring seat 26 are sequentially disposed within the spring sleeve 24, and the spring sleeve 24 is axially limited to one end of the bearing 25. The valve needle section 22 is disposed at the end of the spring sleeve 24 away from the bearing 25, and is limitedly connected to the spring sleeve 24 via the pressure sleeve 28. The elastic element 27 is disposed between the spring seat 26 and the valve needle section 22, and both ends of the elastic element 27 act on the spring seat 26 and the valve needle section 22, respectively. The inner ring of the bearing 25 is connected to the end of the threaded section 21 to reduce friction between the threaded section 21 and the valve needle section 22 and prevent rotation of the valve needle section 22. Simultaneously, it achieves a limited connection between the threaded section 21 and the valve needle section 22. Here, the spring sleeve 24 and the pressure sleeve 28 can also be configured as an integral structure. Furthermore, the end face of the spring seat 26 away from the valve port 101 forms a second mating part 201.

[0054] Further, referring to Figure 5, in another embodiment of this application, most of the structure of the electronic expansion valve is the same as that of the electronic expansion valve in Figure 4. The difference is that in this embodiment, when the electronic expansion valve 100 is in the fully closed state, there is no gap between the valve needle 22 and the valve port 101, and no flow passes through the valve port 101 when the valve is closed. During the process of the electronic expansion valve switching from the fully open state to the fully closed state as shown in Figure 5, the rotor assembly 30 rotates in the valve closing direction, driving the valve core unit 20 to move downward. The valve needle section 22 first abuts against the valve port 101. At this time, there is still a gap Δh between the first stop part 103 and the first mating part 301. At this time, the rotor assembly 30 can continue to rotate in the valve closing direction. At this time, the valve needle section 22 abuts against the valve port 101, and the elastic element 27 is compressed until the first stop part 103 and the first mating part 301 abut against each other. At this time, the electronic expansion valve is in the fully closed state, and the compression amount of the elastic element 27 is Δh.

[0055] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG1, the valve body assembly 10 includes a valve seat 11 and a nut sleeve 12, the nut sleeve 12 being fixedly connected to the valve seat 11. The end face of the nut sleeve 12 away from the valve port 101 forms a first stop portion 103. The valve port 101 is located on the valve seat 11, and a threaded hole 104 is located on the nut sleeve 12. This facilitates the machining of the valve port 101, threaded hole 104, etc., and also simplifies the assembly of the valve core unit 20, further improving the machining and assembly efficiency of the electronic expansion valve 100.

[0056] Furthermore, the electronic expansion valve 100 also includes an outer cover 13, which is fitted around the outer periphery of the nut sleeve 12 and connected to the valve seat 11, so as to protect the internal components through the outer cover 13.

[0057] Referring to Figure 6, this application also provides an air conditioning system, which includes the electronic expansion valve 100 described in any of the above embodiments.

[0058] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0059] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electronic expansion valve, characterized in that, The valve body assembly includes a valve body assembly, a rotor assembly, and a valve core unit. The valve body assembly has a threaded hole and a valve port along the axial direction. The valve body assembly is provided with a first stop portion, which is located at the end of the valve body assembly away from the valve port. The rotor assembly is provided with a first mating part, and one end of the valve core unit passes through the threaded hole and is connected to the rotor assembly, so that the valve core unit can move toward or away from the valve port under the drive of the rotor assembly. When the electronic expansion valve is closed, the first stop part and the first mating part abut against each other axially.

2. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein, When the electronic expansion valve is closed, a preset gap h is formed axially between the valve core unit and the valve port; The axial distance from the valve port to the first stop is defined as H1. When the electronic expansion valve is closed, the axial distance from any point on the projection of the inner wall of the valve port onto the valve core unit along the axial direction to the first stop is defined as H2, where h = H1 - H2.

3. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein, When the electronic expansion valve is closed, the valve core unit abuts against and seals the valve port.

4. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein, The valve body assembly includes a valve seat and a nut sleeve, the nut sleeve being fixedly connected to the valve seat; The rotor assembly includes a rotor body and a rotor connecting plate, the rotor connecting plate being connected to the rotor body and the valve core unit respectively; The first stop portion is formed on the end face of the nut sleeve away from the valve port, the first mating portion is formed on the end face of the rotor connecting plate near the valve port, the valve port is opened on the valve seat, and the threaded hole is opened on the nut sleeve.

5. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein, The first stop and the first mating part are in surface-to-surface contact or line-to-surface contact.

6. The electronic expansion valve according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, The valve body assembly is also provided with a second stop portion, which is located on the side of the threaded hole away from the first stop portion; The outer periphery of the valve core unit protrudes in a direction away from its own axis to form a second mating part, wherein, as the valve core unit moves in a direction away from the valve port, the second stop part can abut and engage with the second mating part.

7. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 6, wherein, When the first stop part and the first mating part abut against each other along the axial direction, the axial distance from the first stop part to the second mating part is H3, the axial distance from the first stop part to the second stop part is H4, and the stroke of the valve core unit is H, where H = H3 - H4.

8. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 6, wherein, The second stop and the second mating part are in surface-to-surface contact or line-to-surface contact.

9. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein, The valve body assembly is also provided with a first connecting hole, which is connected to the threaded hole on the side near the valve port. The valve core unit includes a threaded section and a valve needle section. The threaded section passes through the threaded hole and is threadedly engaged with the threaded hole. The valve needle section is connected to one end of the threaded section near the valve port, and at least a portion of the outer wall of the valve needle section is slidably engaged with the inner wall of the first communicating hole.

10. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 9, wherein, The valve body assembly is also provided with a second connecting hole, which is connected to the side of the threaded hole away from the valve port; The valve core unit further includes a connecting section, which is connected to the end of the threaded section away from the valve needle section, and the outer wall of the connecting section slides in fit with the inner wall of the second communicating hole.

11. The electronic expansion valve according to claim 10, wherein, The connecting section, the threaded section, and the valve needle section are an integral structure.

12. An air conditioning system, characterized in that, Includes the electronic expansion valve as described in any one of claims 1-11.

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