JP4024969B2 - Zone pressure drive valve, fluid pressure control device using the same, and flexible tube drive device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a zone pressure drive valve capable of passing only a predetermined fluid pressure and a fluid pressure control device using the valve .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Currently, various fluid control valves are used for fluid pressure control. As such a fluid control valve, a valve using an electric actuator as a valve driving means has been put into practical use. However, those that use electric actuators must be equipped with a dedicated electric actuator for each valve, so it is difficult to reduce the size, and there is also concern about leakage from the electric actuator. Sufficient attention is required. In addition, the number of wires for driving the electric actuator increases, the internal mechanism of the electric actuator becomes complicated, and there arises a problem that impedes durability and practical use. Furthermore, the current fluid pressure control valve cannot pass only a certain range of fluid pressure.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, the present invention provides a very simple band pressure drive valve that can flow only a predetermined fluid pressure by using a common fluid pressure for valve opening and closing drive and valve opening and closing drive signal transmission, The object is to solve the above problems. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid pressure control device that can control the driving of an actuator with a predetermined fluid pressure by using the band pressure driving valve .
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For this reason, the technical solution means adopted by the present invention is:
A fluid pipe, a plurality of zone pressure drive valves connected to the fluid pipe, and an actuator connected to each of the plurality of zone pressure drive valves. An operating pressure of the drive valve is changed, and the fluid pressure control device is capable of operating the actuator in response to a predetermined pressure. When the fluid pressure becomes equal to or higher than a first threshold pressure, the band pressure drive valve A first valve that is deformed by the pressure and opens from the upstream side to the downstream side, and a first valve that is deformed by the pressure and closes the upstream side and the downstream side when the pressure exceeds a second threshold pressure that is higher than the first threshold pressure. The two valves are arranged in series so that the second valve is on the downstream side of the first valve, and the first valve is formed in the valve seat body and the valve seat body. Placed in the flow channel Jill has a valve body which is biased in the direction and the valve seat body and the second valve provided on the valve body, a flow passage formed in the valve seat body, the inlet side of the flow path The fluid pressure control device is provided with a valve body that is disposed and normally opens the flow path, but closes the flow path when the fluid pressure becomes higher than the second threshold value .
Further, a catheter, a control tube provided on the catheter, a plurality of zone pressure drive valves that operate at different zone pressures connected to the control tube, a bellows respectively connected to the plurality of zone pressure drive valves, and each bellows A fluid pressure control device comprising an actuator capable of deforming a catheter by extension, wherein the zone pressure drive valve is deformed by the pressure when the fluid pressure exceeds a first threshold pressure, and from upstream to downstream A first valve that is opened at a time, and a second valve that is deformed by the pressure when the pressure exceeds a second threshold pressure higher than the first threshold pressure and closes the upstream side and the downstream side. than 1 valve is constituted by arranging in series such that the downstream side is further disposed the first valve and the valve seat body provided in the valve body, the flow passage formed in the valve seat body Always has a valve body which is biased in a direction to close the flow path, also a valve seat body which is provided on the second valve is a valve body, a flow passage formed in the valve seat body, the flow path The fluid pressure control device is provided with a valve body that is disposed on the inlet side and normally opens the flow path, but closes the flow path when the fluid pressure becomes higher than the second threshold value. .
The fluid pressure control device is characterized in that the control tube is disposed in the catheter, and the band pressure drive valve is disposed through the catheter.
[0005]
[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, each of the zone pressure drive valve, the fluid pressure control device, and the flexible tube drive device in the present invention will be described in order.
[0006]
[Band pressure drive valve]
1 is a configuration diagram of a zone pressure drive valve, and FIGS. 2 (a), (b), and (c) are a plan view, a cross-sectional view, and an operation diagram of a first valve (high-pass valve) used in the valve. (A), (b), and (c) are a plan view, a cross-sectional view, and an operation diagram of a second valve (low-pass valve) used in the valve, and FIGS. It is a figure explaining an operating state.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a zone pressure drive valve according to the present invention, 5 is a fluid pipe connected to the zone pressure drive valve 1, and the zone pressure drive valve 1 includes a first valve 2 and a second valve 3. Is arranged. The first valve 2 is configured as a valve (high-pass valve) that allows only a predetermined fluid pressure to pass therethrough, and the second valve 3 is disposed on the downstream side adjacent to the first valve (high-pass valve) 2, It is configured as a valve (low-pass valve) that closes when the hydraulic pressure becomes.
[0007]
Details of the first valve 1 and the second valve 2 will be described below.
The 1st valve 2 has the valve seat body 2a in the 1st valve main body, as shown to FIG. 2 (A) (B) (C). The valve seat body 2a is fixed in a sealed state in the valve body, and a hole 2b is passed through the center of the valve seat body 2a. A core (valve body) 2c is movable in a fluid-tight state in the hole 2b. Is attached. As shown in the drawing, the core 2c is disposed so as to protrude above the valve seat body 2a, and an elastic member (elastic film or the like) 2d is disposed at the upper end of the core 2c. It is urged to be pushed into the body 2a, and in this state, the flow path is closed. The core 2c is held in a state in which downward movement is prohibited by a stopper (not shown) formed in the hole 2b of the valve seat body 2a. The elastic member 2d has a band shape as shown in FIG. 2 (a), and both ends 2e are fixed to the valve seat body 2a by bonding.
[0008]
In the first valve 2, when the fluid pressure P in the flow path connected to the first valve 2 reaches a predetermined pressure (first threshold value), the core 2c resists the urging force of the elastic member 2d by the fluid pressure. While moving upward as shown in the figure (c), the flow path of the first valve 2 is opened. As a result, when the first valve 2 reaches a predetermined fluid pressure (fluid pressure exceeding the first threshold value), the flow path is opened and the fluid flows out of the first valve 2. The form of the first valve is not limited to the configuration described here, and various valves such as a valve having a similar function (such as a ball valve or a diaphragm valve) can be used.
[0009]
The second valve has a valve seat body 3a, and the valve seat body 3a is fixed in the valve body. A flow path 3b as shown in FIG. 2B is formed at the center of the valve seat body 3a, and a valve body 3c made of a deformable elastic member is attached to the inlet side of the flow path 3b. . Although the valve body 3c normally opens the flow path 3b as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the fluid pressure that has passed through the first valve has a predetermined fluid pressure (second flow rate) at a certain speed or higher. When the threshold value is reached, the valve body 3c is deformed upward as shown in FIG. 3C, and the flow path 3b formed in the valve seat body 3a is closed. As a result, when the second valve 3 reaches a predetermined fluid pressure (fluid pressure exceeding the second threshold value), the flow path is closed and the fluid is stopped from flowing out of the second valve 3. The second valve is not limited to the configuration described here in the same manner as the first valve, and various valves having similar functions can be used.
[0010]
The operation of the zone pressure drive valve configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 4 shows a state in which a fluid flows through the actuator A provided at the tip of the zone pressure drive valve.
The input side of the zone pressure drive valve 1 is connected to the fluid pipe 5, and the output side of the zone pressure drive valve 1 is connected to the actuator A. In this zone pressure drive valve, the first valve 2 sometimes opens when the fluid pressure in the fluid pipe 5 becomes P1 (first threshold value) or more, and further closes when the fluid pressure becomes P2 (second threshold value) or more. have. That is, it has a function of supplying fluid to the actuator side only when the fluid pressure P is P1 <P <P2.
[0011]
That is, in FIG. 4A, when the fluid pressure P of the fluid pipe is equal to or lower than P1 (first threshold value), the first valve 2 is still closed. When the fluid pressure is P1 or more and P2 or less, the first valve 2 is opened as shown in the figure (b), and the fluid that has passed through the first valve 2 passes through the second valve 3 that is always open to the actuator A. The actuator A is actuated. When the fluid pressure becomes equal to or higher than P2 (second threshold value), the second valve 3 is closed as shown in FIG. Here, if the operating pressures (the first threshold value and the second threshold value) of the first valve 2 and the second valve 3 are changed in accordance with the respective zone pressures, the fluid pressure in the fluid pipe becomes a predetermined pressure. Only when this occurs, the zone pressure drive valve opens and fluid is supplied to the actuator. Thus, in this zone pressure drive valve, it becomes possible to set different zone pressures for each zone pressure drive valve, depending on how the working fluid pressures of the first valve 2 and the second valve 3 are set. It is possible to operate the connected actuator.
[0012]
[Fluid pressure control device]
Next, the configuration of the fluid pressure control device using the band pressure drive valve will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the fluid pressure control apparatus described here includes three zone pressure drive valves 11, 12, and 13, and the three zone pressure drive valves have different working fluid pressures.
That is, the zone pressure drive valve 11 for actuating the actuator A1, the zone pressure drive valve 12 for actuating the actuator A2, and the zone pressure drive valve 13 for actuating the actuator A3 have the following operating pressures of the first valve 2 and the second valve 3. It has been changed as follows.
[0013]
For example, in the zone pressure drive valve 11 on the left side in the figure, the operating pressures of the first valve 2 and the second valve 3 are as follows.
P1 <P <P2
In the central zone pressure drive valve 12, P3 <P <P4
In the right zone pressure drive valve 13, P5 <P <P6
It has become.
However, P1 <P2 <P3 <P4 <P5 <P6
[0014]
For this reason, the fluid pressure P flowing in the fluid pipe is, for example,
P1 <P <P2
In this case, the first pressure valve 2 and the second valve 3 are both opened in the zone pressure drive valve 11 and the actuator A1 is operated. However, in the zone pressure drive valves 12 and 13 corresponding to the actuator A2 and the actuator A3, the fluid pressure P is Since P3 and P5 which open each 1st valve are not reached, a zone pressure drive valve does not open but maintains an inactive state.
[0015]
Further, the fluid pressure P flowing in the fluid pipe is, for example,
P3 <P <P4
In this case, the first valve 2 and the second valve 3 are both opened in the zone pressure drive valve 12 and the actuator A2 is operated. However, the zone valve 6 is closed in the zone pressure drive valve 11 and the first zone in the zone pressure drive valve 13. Since the valve 2 does not open, the actuator A1 and the actuator A3 do not operate, and only the actuator A2 operates.
Furthermore, the fluid pressure P flowing in the fluid pipe is, for example,
P5 <P <P6
In this case, only the actuator A3 operates for the same reason as described above.
[0016]
In this way, by connecting a plurality of zone pressure drive valves with different operating pressures to the fluid pipe and controlling the fluid pressure in the fluid pipe, various actuators that can operate only the actuators corresponding to the required zone pressure can be operated. The fluid pressure control apparatus can be provided.
[0017]
[Flexible tube drive]
Next, a flexible tube driving device using the above-described zone pressure driving valve will be described. Here, an example in which a catheter often used in the medical field is used as the flexible tube will be described.
Now that we have entered an aging society, non-invasive and minimally invasive tests and medical care are increasing. One of the minimally invasive medical devices is a catheter. A catheter is a thin tube that is inserted through peripheral blood vessels in the upper and lower limbs for the examination of vascular diseases, and is mainly used for measuring the internal pressure of the circulatory system, collecting blood samples, and injecting contrast media for angiography. It is. Since it can be diagnosed with minimal invasiveness, it is actively used in the clinic of external science.
[0018]
However, because the inside of a blood vessel is very narrow and not only distorted but also has many branches, it is very difficult to insert it with a catheter that uses a guide wire. Therefore, there is a need for an active catheter that can freely bend its trunk and select a course at a branch point of a blood vessel.
For this reason, research on active catheters has been conducted in several research institutions. However, shape memory alloys and special polymers are mainly used in these studies, and all are electric actuators, so there is a risk of leakage in the worst case. Furthermore, the internal mechanism is complicated and there are problems that impede practical use, such as an increase in durability and the number of wires.
[0019]
Therefore, this flexible tube drive device (catheter drive device) uses a physiologically good physiological saline for both the drive and the transmission medium of the drive signal, and includes a simple mechanism using the above-described band pressure drive valve. It is configured as a highly functional device.
FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of the flexible tube driving device (catheter driving device), and FIG.
[0020]
6 and 7, reference numeral 21 denotes a flexible catheter. Inside the catheter 21, a control tube 22 corresponding to the fluid pipe described above is disposed, and the control tube 22 penetrates the catheter 21. A plurality of zone pressure drive valves 24, 25, and 26 are attached. In addition, operating members 31, 32, and 33 are fixed to the outer periphery of the catheter 21 at positions that are divided into a large number of sections (in this example, three divisions) at substantially equal pitches. Ends of telescopic bellows 27, 28, 29 connected to the band pressure drive valves 24, 25, 26 are respectively attached. Therefore, the bellows 27, 28, and 29 are extended to push the actuating members 31, 32, and 33, whereby the actuating members 31, 32, and 33 are tilted to deform the catheter 21. The bellows, the operating member, and the catheter are covered with a cover tube 23. The control tube can be arranged outside the catheter as necessary.
[0021]
In the catheter drive device, when a predetermined fluid pressure is supplied from a fluid pressure generator (not shown) into the control tube 22, a band pressure drive valve (for example, valve 24) corresponding to the fluid pressure is opened, and the bellows 27 Elongates, presses the operating member 31, and tilts the operating member 31. As a result, this portion of the catheter 21 is bent. Thus, by appropriately controlling the fluid pressure in the control tube, the zone pressure drive valve at the required location can be opened, the bellows can be extended, and the catheter can be deformed.
[0022]
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the first valve and the second valve can be used in other configurations as long as they have the same function. Further, the flexible tube is not limited to a catheter, and various flexible fluid tubes can be used. As the working fluid of the zone pressure drive valve, liquid, gas, or the like can be applied.
Furthermore, the present invention may be implemented in any other form without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As explained in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a very simple band pressure drive valve that uses a common fluid pressure for the valve opening / closing drive and the valve opening / closing drive signal transmission and can open the flow path only at a predetermined fluid pressure.
In addition, since electricity or the like is not used for driving the zone pressure drive valve, there is no fear of electric leakage or the like, and the zone pressure drive valve can be a simple and excellent small valve.
By connecting a plurality of zone pressure drive valves having different operating pressures to the fluid pipe and controlling the fluid pressure in the fluid pipe, only the actuator corresponding to the required zone pressure can be operated.
When this band pressure drive valve is used for a catheter, the electric actuator is not used at all, and physiological saline is used for both the drive and drive signal transmission medium. It is possible to provide an apparatus, and the like and other excellent effects can be achieved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a zone pressure drive valve according to the present invention.
FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are a plan view, a sectional view and an operation view of a first valve (high pass valve) used in the valve.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a sectional view of a second valve (low-pass valve) used in the valve.
FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are diagrams for explaining the operating state of the band pressure drive valve.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a fluid pressure control device using a zone pressure drive valve according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a catheter drive device using a band pressure drive valve according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Zone pressure drive valve 2 1st valve (High pass valve)
3 Second valve (low-pass valve)

Claims (3)

A fluid pipe, a plurality of zone pressure drive valves connected to the fluid pipe, and an actuator connected to each of the plurality of zone pressure drive valves. An operating pressure of the drive valve is changed, and the fluid pressure control device is capable of operating the actuator in response to a predetermined pressure. When the fluid pressure becomes equal to or higher than a first threshold pressure, the band pressure drive valve A first valve that is deformed by the pressure and opens from the upstream side to the downstream side, and a first valve that is deformed by the pressure and closes the upstream side and the downstream side when the pressure exceeds a second threshold pressure that is higher than the first threshold pressure. The two valves are arranged in series so that the second valve is on the downstream side of the first valve, and the first valve is formed in the valve seat body and the valve seat body. Placed in the flow channel Jill has a valve body which is biased in the direction and the valve seat body and the second valve provided on the valve body, a flow passage formed in the valve seat body, the inlet side of the flow path A fluid pressure control apparatus, comprising: a valve body that is disposed and normally opens the flow path, but closes the flow path when the fluid pressure is higher than the second threshold value. A catheter, a control tube provided on the catheter, a plurality of zone pressure drive valves operating at different zone pressures connected to the control tube, a bellows connected to each of the zone pressure drive valves, and an extension of each bellows A fluid pressure control device comprising an actuator capable of deforming a catheter, wherein the zone pressure drive valve is deformed by the pressure when the fluid pressure exceeds a first threshold pressure and opens from the upstream side to the downstream side. A first valve and a second valve that is deformed by the pressure and closes the upstream side and the downstream side when the pressure exceeds a second threshold pressure higher than the first threshold pressure, and the second valve is the first valve. is constructed by arranging in series such that the downstream side of the further valve seat body said first valve provided in the valve body, disposed in the flow path formed in the valve seat body, always Close the flow path includes a valve body that is biased in a direction, also the second valve and the valve seat body provided in the valve body, a flow passage formed in the valve seat body, the inlet side of the flow path The fluid pressure control device is provided with a valve body that is normally opened and has a flow path open, but closes the flow path when the fluid pressure is higher than the second threshold value. The fluid pressure control device according to claim 2, wherein the control tube is disposed in the catheter, and the band pressure drive valve is disposed through the catheter .

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