JP6656859B2 - Flow path switching valve - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow path switching valve, for example, switching a flow path by rotating and sliding a valve body inside a seal member as a valve sheet for suppressing fluid leakage between a valve chamber and each outlet. The present invention relates to a rotary type flow path switching valve.

  FIG. 12 shows a conventional example of this kind. The illustrated flow path switching valve 1 'is used as a rotary switching valve (rotary valve) for switching a flow path of a fluid flowing in, for example, an engine room of an automobile. A valve body 10 having a chamber 11 and outlets 11a and 11b communicating with the valve chamber 11; and a seal member 30 disposed in the valve chamber 11 of the valve body 10; Inner ribs 32a to 32d and outer ribs protruding inward and outward from the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31 along the periphery of the cylindrical body 31 formed with the cylindrical body 31 and the openings 31a to 31d. A valve member 20 including a seal member 30 having 33a to 33d, a valve shaft 21 connected to the rotary driving device 50, and a valve body portion 22 housed in a region surrounded by the seal member 30; The valve body 22 is rotated in the valve chamber 11 by the rotation drive device 50 via the valve shaft 21, so that the valve body 22 is provided with the inner ribs 32 a to 32 d of the seal member 30. The opening and closing or switching of the outlets 11a and 11b of the valve body 10 is performed by rotating and sliding the inner peripheral side of the valve body 10 (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2005-034560

  By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional flow path switching valve 1 ', the valve body is generally made of a thermoplastic resin such as PPS (Poly Phenylene Sulfide Resin) in order to secure mechanical strength. Also, the sliding resistance (sliding friction) with respect to the sealing member (rubber material) is large. Therefore, a large torque is required when switching the flow path by rotating the valve element, which causes a problem that the rotary drive device is increased in size.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the sliding resistance to a seal member (rubber material) while securing the mechanical strength of a valve body, and to reduce the flow resistance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a flow path switching valve capable of effectively reducing the torque required for switching.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a flow path switching valve according to the present invention has a valve body in which a valve chamber is formed, and a valve body having a cylindrical body provided with a plurality of outlets on an outer peripheral portion, A valve body having a plurality of communication ports formed in a circumferential direction, an upper opening closed, and a cylindrical valve body portion rotatably disposed in the valve chamber, and a rotation drive device for rotating the valve body And a seal member interposed between the cylindrical body of the valve body and the cylindrical valve body of the valve body to suppress leakage of fluid between the valve chamber and each outlet. Rotating the cylindrical valve body portion of the valve body in the valve chamber by the rotation drive device, the cylindrical valve body portion is slid on the inner peripheral side of the seal member, and the valve is rotated. A flow path switching valve adapted to open or close or switch the outflow port of the main body, wherein The cylindrical valve body portion is formed by covering the outside of the cylindrical main body portion with a cylindrical cover portion made of a material having a lower sliding resistance to the seal member than the cylindrical main body portion. the said cylindrical cover portion parts are can be mounted to the rotational axis direction Rutotomoni, the cylindrical cover portion, from one end to the other end of the rotation axis direction of the plurality of communication ports, except the cylindrical body portion Is characterized in that it covers the entire outer periphery .

In a preferred aspect, engagement between the outer periphery of the cylindrical body portion and the inner periphery of the cylindrical cover portion integrally engages the cylindrical body portion and the cylindrical cover portion around a rotation axis. A mechanism is provided.

  In another preferred embodiment, a valve shaft connected to the rotary drive device is provided in the cylindrical main body.

  According to the present invention, the cylindrical valve body portion of the valve body that rotates and slides on the inner peripheral side of the seal member has, for example, a sliding resistance with respect to the seal member on the outside of the cylindrical body portion is lower than that of the cylindrical body portion. The valve body is formed so as to be covered with a cylindrical cover portion, and the outside of the cylindrical valve body portion of the valve body is formed of a material having a lower sliding resistance with respect to the seal member than the inside thereof. By reducing the dynamic resistance, the torque required for switching the flow path can be effectively reduced.

  In addition, since each communication port in the cylindrical valve element portion of the valve element is provided with a bridging portion that connects both ends in the circumferential direction of the communication port, when switching the flow path by rotating the valve element. Also, it is possible to prevent the seal member from dropping into the communication port, or to assist the climbing of the seal member on the communication port to reduce the torque required for switching the flow path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows the main structure of 1st Embodiment of the flow-path switching valve which concerns on this invention, (A) is a perspective view, (B) is a side view. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the valve body of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A shows an assembled state and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the cylindrical cover part of FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows the other example of the valve body shown in FIG. 4, (A) is a perspective view which shows the completion state of assembly, (B) is a perspective view which shows the state in the middle of assembly, (C) is a bottom view. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the valve body shown in FIG. 4, (A) is a perspective view which shows an assembly completion state, (B) is a perspective view which shows the state in the middle of assembly, (C) is a bottom view. It is a longitudinal section showing the 2nd embodiment of the passage change valve concerning the present invention, and a figure which follows an AA arrow line of Drawing 1 (B). FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a main configuration of a second embodiment of the flow path switching valve according to the present invention, and is a view along the line BB in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the valve body of FIG. 8, (A) is a completion | finish state of an assembly, (B) is a figure which shows an in-assembly state. (A) is a sectional view taken along the line U-U of FIG. 10 (A) and is a diagram showing the seal member together, (B) is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 10 (A), The figure shown with a seal member. It is a figure which shows the conventional flow-path switching valve, (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (B) is XX arrow sectional drawing of (A).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a first embodiment of a flow path switching valve according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (A) is a perspective view, and FIG. 1 (B) is a side view. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1B, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1B. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the valve body is rotated approximately 45 degrees counterclockwise as viewed from below with respect to FIGS. In addition, in FIGS. 1 to 3, a rotation drive device including a motor or the like for rotating the valve body is omitted.

  The flow path switching valve 1 of the illustrated embodiment is used as a three-way switching valve that switches a flow path of a fluid flowing in, for example, an engine room of an automobile in multiple directions, and is basically made of a resin having a valve chamber 11. , A motor (rotary driving device) (not shown) arranged above the valve body 10, a seal member 30 as a valve seat arranged in the valve chamber 11 of the valve body 10, A resin valve body 20 includes a valve shaft 21 connected to the output shaft and a cylindrical valve body portion 22 with a ceiling 23 accommodated in a region surrounded by the seal member 30.

  The valve main body 10 includes a cylindrical base 12 and a lower port member 15. The cylindrical base 12 has a valve chamber 11 formed therein and opens to the valve chamber 11 at an outer peripheral portion. The two outlets 11a and 11b are formed at a predetermined angular interval (in the illustrated example, 90 ° angular interval), and the outlet ports p1 and p2 formed of joints are integrally formed so as to communicate with the respective outlets 11a and 11b. Has a cylindrical body 13 with a ceiling 13a formed therein, and a fitting hole 14 through which the valve shaft 21 of the valve body 20 is inserted is formed in the ceiling 13a. A lower port member 15 having an inflow port p3 formed of a joint is internally fitted and fixed to the lower opening of the cylindrical body portion 13 (cylindrical base body 12) by ultrasonic welding, press fitting, caulking, or the like. A vertical inflow port 11c that opens into the valve chamber 11 is formed.

  As can be understood well by referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 together with FIGS. 1 to 3, the valve body 20 has two oblong communication ports 22 a and 22 b in a circumferential direction at a predetermined angular interval (in the illustrated example, The cylindrical valve body is formed at an interval of 90 degrees (at an angle interval of 90 degrees) and the upper opening is closed by the ceiling part 23, and is rotatably arranged in the valve chamber 11 (in other words, the cylindrical body part 13). A portion 22 and a valve shaft 21 protruding from a ceiling portion 23 of the cylindrical valve body portion 22 are provided.

  In detail, the cylindrical valve body 22 includes a cylindrical main body 25 with a ceiling 26 made of a material having relatively high mechanical strength such as PPS resin, and an outer side of the cylindrical main body 25 ( It covers the outer periphery of the cylindrical main body 25 and the upper surface of the ceiling 26 and the periphery of the valve shaft 21), and also has a cylindrical shape such as PTFE (also referred to as Teflon (registered trademark)) or POM (polyacetal) resin. A cylindrical cover 27 with a ceiling 28 made of a material having a lower sliding resistance with respect to the seal member 30 and the valve body 10 than the main body 25, and the cylindrical main body 25 and the cylindrical cover 27 Are formed with the same-shaped main body side communication ports 25a, 25b and cover side communication ports 27a, 27b constituting the communication ports 22a, 22b, respectively. A serration fitting structure is provided between the outer periphery of the cylindrical main body 25 and the inner periphery of the cylindrical cover 27 to integrally engage the cylindrical main body 25 and the cylindrical cover 27. A coupling mechanism 29 is provided, whereby the rotational positions of the cylindrical main body 25 and the cylindrical cover 27 are defined, and the cylindrical main body 25 and the cylindrical cover 27 are integrally formed. It is designed to rotate.

  In the illustrated example, the external teeth formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical main body 25 and the cylindrical cover 27 serve as an engagement mechanism 29 for integrally engaging the cylindrical main body 25 and the cylindrical cover 27. The serration fitting structure including the inner teeth formed on the inner periphery is employed. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, between the outer periphery of the cylindrical main body 25 and the inner periphery of the cylindrical cover 27. The cylindrical body portion 25 and the cylindrical cover portion 27 may be engaged with each other by the unevenness (see FIG. 6), the chamfered portion, or the D-cut surface (see FIG. 7) formed in the above. Further, the cylindrical main body 25 and the cylindrical cover 27 may of course be integrated by welding, bonding, caulking, fastening or the like.

  On the other hand, the valve shaft 21 protrudes upward from the center of the ceiling 26 of the cylindrical main body 25 and is rotatably fitted into the fitting hole 14. An intermediate shaft portion 21a having a diameter smaller than 22 and an upper shaft portion 21b protruding above the intermediate shaft portion 21a and connected to an output shaft of the motor and having an oval shape in plan view. An O-ring 24 as a seal member is interposed between the fitting hole 14 and the inner peripheral surface in two stages.

  The seal member 30 is made of an elastic material such as rubber so as to be vertically symmetrical. Basically, four oblong openings 31a to 31d in the circumferential direction are formed at predetermined angular intervals (in the illustrated example, A cylindrical body 31 formed at intervals of 90 degrees), and inner ribs 32a to 32d and outer ribs for sealing protruding inward and outward around respective openings 31a to 31d of the cylindrical body 31. 33a to 33d. The cylindrical seal member 30 is provided along the outer periphery of the valve chamber 11 in detail, in order to suppress leakage of fluid between the valve chamber 11 and each of the outlets 11a and 11b. ) The upper end abuts on the ceiling 13a of the cylindrical body 13 of the valve body 10, the lower end thereof (of the cylindrical body 31) abuts on the lower port member 15 of the valve body 10, and the inner ribs 32a to 32d The inner peripheral side abuts against the cylindrical cover portion 27 of the cylindrical valve body portion 22 of the valve body 20, and the outer ribs 33a to 33d (the outer peripheral side) abuts on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical body portion 13 of the valve body 10. It is interposed in a compressed state between the cylindrical body 13 of the valve body 10 and the cylindrical valve body 22 of the valve body 20 so as to be in contact with each other.

  In assembling the above-described flow path switching valve 1, before the lower port member 15 is fitted and fixed to the cylindrical body 13 of the cylindrical base 12, the cylindrical body 13 of the valve body 10 (from below) is fixed to the lower port member 15. ) To the valve body 10 such that the adjacent openings 31a and 31b of the openings 31a to 31d formed in the (cylindrical body 31) of the seal member 30 communicate with the outflow ports 11a and 11b formed at all times. While positioning the seal member 30, the seal member 30 is slightly pressed into the cylindrical body 13 of the cylindrical base 12. Next, from below, the valve body 20 with the cylindrical cover portion 27 covered on the outside of the cylindrical main body portion 25 and the O-ring 24 mounted on the intermediate shaft portion 21a is inserted slightly. Thereby, the ceiling portion 28 of the cylindrical cover portion 27 of the cylindrical valve body portion 22 of the valve body 20 comes into contact with the ceiling portion 13a of the cylindrical body portion 13 and the sealing members 30 (the inner ribs 32a to 32d). The inner peripheral side of the valve body 20 has a cylindrical valve body portion 22 of the valve body 20 supported by the inner ribs 32a to 32d from the surroundings to such an extent that a compression margin necessary for sealing with the seal member 30 can be secured. The seal member 30 is slidably inserted while being compressed. Then, the lower port member 15 is fitted and fixed in the lower opening of the cylindrical body 13 of the cylindrical base 12, and a motor is mounted above the cylindrical base 12.

  In the flow path switching valve 1 having such a configuration, by rotating the valve body 20 by driving the motor, the cylindrical valve body portion 22 of the valve body 20 is positioned on the inner peripheral side of (the inner ribs 32a to 32d of) the seal member 30. The opening and closing or switching of the outlets 11a and 11b of the valve body 10 is performed by rotating and sliding. Specifically, the inflow port 11 c formed in the valve body 10 is always connected to the valve chamber 11 (via the lower opening of the cylindrical valve body portion 22 of the valve body 20), and is formed in the valve body 10. Open-open mode in which the outlets 11a and 11b communicate with the valve chamber 11 (via the openings 31a and 31b of the seal member 30 and the communication ports 22a and 22b of the cylindrical valve body 22 of the valve body 20). And a closed-close mode in which the outlets 11a and 11b are closed (by the cylindrical valve body portion 22 of the valve body 20), and the outlet 11a is closed (the opening 31a of the seal member 30 and the cylindrical valve body of the valve body 20). An open-close mode in which the outlet 11b communicates with the valve chamber 11 (via the communication port 22b of the portion 22) and the outlet 11b is closed (by the cylindrical valve body portion 22 of the valve body 20); Is closed) and the outlet 11b is closed (by a seal). Four open / close modes, that is, a close-open mode communicating with the valve chamber 11 (via the opening 31b of the member 30 and the communication port 22a of the cylindrical valve body portion 22 of the valve body 20) can be selectively taken. I have.

  In the flow path switching valve 1 of the present embodiment, when performing the flow path switching, the inner peripheral side of the (the inner ribs 30a to 30d) the seal member 30 and the ceiling 13a of the cylindrical body 13 of the valve body 10 (the rib 13a). The cylindrical cover portion 27 (outside the cylindrical valve body portion 22 of the valve body 20) slides from the cylindrical body portion 25 (inside the cylindrical valve body portion 22 of the valve body 20) with the sealing member 30 and the valve body. Since the sliding resistance with respect to the seal member 30 and the valve body 10 is reduced by being formed of a material having a low sliding resistance with respect to 10, the torque required for switching the flow path can be effectively reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cylindrical valve body 22 of the valve body 20 is formed from the two members of the cylindrical main body 25 and the cylindrical cover 27. However, for example, two-color molding (double injection molding) is used. By forming the cylindrical body 25 and the cylindrical cover 27 integrally, the outside of the cylindrical valve body 22 of the valve body 20 is formed of a material having a lower sliding resistance to the seal member 30 than the inside thereof. Of course, it may be done.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the valve body 20 is made of resin. However, it is needless to say that the valve body 20 may be made of metal or the like. In the above embodiment, the cylindrical body 25 and the cylindrical cover 27 that constitute the valve body 20 are made of different materials. However, for example, the cylindrical body 25 and the cylindrical cover 27 is made of the same material, and the outer peripheral surface and the upper surface of the cylindrical cover portion 27 are formed on the sealing member 30 (the inner ribs 32a to 32d) and the valve body 10 (the ceiling portion 13a of the cylindrical body portion 13). Surface treatment for reducing sliding resistance may be performed.

[Second embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main configuration of a second embodiment of the flow path switching valve according to the present invention, and is a view along the line AA of FIG. 1 (B), and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main configuration of a flow path switching valve according to a second embodiment, and is a view taken along line BB of FIG. 1B. 10 is a perspective view showing the valve body of FIG. 8, FIG. 10 (A) is a view showing a completed assembly state, and FIG. 10 (B) is a view showing a state in the middle of assembly.

  The flow path switching valve 2 of the present embodiment is different from the flow path switching valve 1 of the above-described first embodiment in the configuration of each communication port formed in the cylindrical valve body of the valve body and its surroundings. Other configurations are the same as those of the flow path switching valve 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Specifically, in the flow path switching valve 2 of the present embodiment, the upper and lower centers of the communication ports 22 a and 22 b formed in the cylindrical valve body 22 of the valve body 40, in particular, the cylinder constituting the cylindrical valve body 22. Bridge portions 19a, 19b extending in the circumferential direction (rotation direction) are formed integrally with the upper and lower centers of the respective cover-side communication ports 27a, 27b formed in the tubular cover portion 27 so as to extend along the outer periphery of the cylindrical valve body portion 22. Is formed. The communication ports 22a and 22b, particularly around the outer periphery of the cover-side communication ports 27a and 27b, are formed with R (R processing portions 18a and 18b).

  In the flow path switching valve 2 provided with the valve element 40 having such a configuration, when the above-described flow path switching is performed by rotating the valve element 40 by driving the motor, the valve element 40 has the cylindrical valve element portion 22. Are rotated while sliding on the inner peripheral sides of the inner ribs 32a to 32d of the seal member 30. During switching of the flow path, the inner ribs 32a to 32d of the seal member 30 It will pass through the mouths 22a and 22b.

  In the flow path switching valve 2 of the present embodiment, bridging portions 19a, 19b extending in the circumferential direction (rotation direction) are provided in the respective communication ports 22a, 22b so as to extend along the outer periphery of the cylindrical valve body portion 22. I have. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the bridging portions 19a and 19b are relatively hard, the inner ribs 32a to 32d of the seal member 30 are prevented from dropping (dropping) into the respective communication ports 22a and 22b. it can. On the other hand, when the bridging portions 19a and 19b are relatively soft, the bridging portions 19a and 19b may bend and the inner ribs 32a to 32d of the seal member 30 may fall into the respective communication ports 22a and 22b. Also in the above, the inner ribs 32a to 32d are guided by the bridging portions 19a and 19b, so that the inner ribs 32a to 32d can be assisted in riding on the respective communication ports 22a and 22b, and the torque required for the flow path switching is effectively reduced. be able to.

  Further, at the portions where the bridging portions 19a, 19b do not exist in the respective communication ports 22a, 22b (upper and lower portions of the bridging portions 19a, 19b), the inner ribs 32a to 32d of the seal member 30 are elastically deformed by the elasticity of the communication ports 22a, 22b. However, in the flow path switching valve 2 of the present embodiment, the outer periphery of each of the communication ports 22a and 22b is formed with a radius. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11B, the R-processed portions 18a and 18b can assist the inner ribs 32a to 32d of the seal member 30 to ride on the respective communication ports 22a and 22b. The torque required for switching the flow path can be effectively reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the bridging portions 19a and 19b have a curved shape that connects both ends in the circumferential direction of the communication ports 22a and 22b (in particular, the cover-side communication ports 27a and 27b). The bridging portions 19a and 19b may have a straight line connecting both ends in the circumferential direction of the communication ports 22a and 22b. The bridging portions 19a and 19b have the same thickness (radial thickness) as the cylindrical cover portion 27 constituting the cylindrical valve body portion 22, and have respective communication ports 22a and 22b (particularly, respective cover side communication ports). Although only one port is provided at each of the upper and lower centers of the ports 27a, 27b), it goes without saying that the position, number, cross-sectional shape, etc. of the bridging portions provided at the respective communication ports 22a, 22b can be appropriately designed. .

  Further, in the above embodiment, the bridging portions 19a, 19b are connected only to the outer cover side communication ports 27a, 27b of the main body side communication ports 25a, 25b and the cover side communication ports 27a, 27b constituting the respective communication ports 22a, 22b. Although provided, it is a matter of course that a bridging portion similar to the bridging portions 19a and 19b may be provided in the main body side communication ports 25a and 25b. In this case, even if (the bridging portions 19a, 19b) of the cylindrical cover portion 27 are soft, it is possible to more reliably prevent the inner ribs 32a to 32d of the seal member 30 from dropping into the respective communication ports 22a, 22b.

1 flow path switching valve (first embodiment)
2 flow path switching valve (second embodiment)
Reference Signs List 10 Valve body 11 Valve chambers 11a, 11b Outflow port 11c Inflow port 12 Cylindrical base body 13 Cylindrical body part 14 Insertion hole 15 Lower port members 18a, 18b R processing parts 19a, 19b Bridge part 20 Valve body (first embodiment) )
21 Valve Shaft 22 Cylindrical Valve Portions 22a, 22b Communication Port 23 Ceiling Portion of Cylindrical Valve Portion 25 Cylindrical Main Body 26 Cylindrical Main Body Ceiling 27 Cylindrical Cover 28 Cylindrical Cover Roof 29 Engaging mechanism 30 Seal member 31 Cylindrical bodies 31a to 31d Openings 32a to 32d Inner ribs 33a to 33d Outer rib 40 Valve body (second embodiment)
p1, p2 Outflow port p3 Inflow port

Claims (3)

A valve body is formed inside, a valve body having a cylindrical body provided with a plurality of outlets on an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of communication ports are formed in a circumferential direction, an upper opening is closed, and the A valve body having a cylindrical valve body rotatably arranged in a valve chamber, a rotation drive device for rotating the valve body, and suppressing leakage of fluid between the valve chamber and each outlet. A sealing member interposed between the cylindrical body of the valve body and the cylindrical valve body of the valve body,
By rotating the cylindrical valve body portion of the valve body in the valve chamber by the rotation drive device, the cylindrical valve body portion is slidably rotated on the inner peripheral side of the seal member and the valve body of the valve body is rotated. A flow path switching valve adapted to open or close or switch an outlet,
The cylindrical valve body portion of the valve body is formed by covering the outside of the cylindrical main body portion with a cylindrical cover portion made of a material having a lower sliding resistance to the seal member than the cylindrical main body portion,
Wherein the cylindrical body portion and the cylindrical cover portion configured to be mounted to the rotational axis direction Rutotomoni, the cylindrical cover portion, one end of the rotational axis direction, except for the plurality of communication ports said cylindrical body portion A flow path switching valve, which covers the entire outer periphery from the first end to the other end . An engagement mechanism is provided between the outer periphery of the cylindrical main body and the inner periphery of the cylindrical cover to integrally engage the cylindrical main body and the cylindrical cover around a rotation axis. The flow path switching valve according to claim 1 , wherein: The cylindrical body portion, the flow path switching valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the valve shaft connected to the rotary drive device is provided.

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