JP7385288B2 - expansion valve - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an expansion valve, and particularly to a technique for suppressing valve vibration of an expansion valve provided in a refrigeration cycle device such as an air conditioner.

A refrigeration cycle device such as a car air conditioner is equipped with an expansion valve in order to fully utilize the capacity of an evaporator. This expansion valve throttles the flow of refrigerant supplied to the evaporator in response to the refrigerant temperature in the outlet side piping of the evaporator, thereby controlling the flow to an optimum flow rate.

On the other hand, in such an expansion valve, the valve may vibrate due to the refrigerant flowing inside the valve, and an abnormal noise may be generated. For this reason, techniques for suppressing valve vibration have been proposed in the past (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-149128

By the way, in conventional expansion valves, the ball valve (spherical valve body) tends to become unstable, especially when the valve is opened to a minute degree, and valve vibration noise is likely to occur. A detailed study of the causes and mechanisms revealed the following.

First, the eccentricity of the valve body when the valve is slightly opened causes an imbalance in the fluid pressure and flow rate within the flow path opening between the valve body and the valve seat, which causes the valve body to become unstable. This will cause the valve body to vibrate.

Next, there is the problem of vibration of the operating rod. The actuating rod that transmits the driving force of the drive device to the valve body extends through the valve body from the upper surface of the valve body where the drive device is disposed to the valve chamber at the bottom of the valve body where the valve body is provided, and the tip is connected to the valve body. is in contact with. In addition, in the part that penetrates the valve body (actuating rod insertion hole), a certain clearance (gap) S is provided between the valve body 12 and the valve body 12, as shown in FIG . 9 , in order to enable sliding movement of the actuating rod. It is being Therefore, when the valve vibration occurs, the actuating rod 21 vibrates together with the valve body within the clearance S between it and the valve body 12, and this vibration may cause abnormal noise.

On the other hand, in order to suppress such vibrations of the actuating rod, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, a vibration-proofing spring is provided in the middle part of the actuating rod, and the actuating rod is attached to the inner wall of the valve body (the inner wall surface of the actuating rod insertion hole). ) to dampen the vibration of the actuating rod.

However, since this invention requires a new member (vibration isolation spring) for vibration isolation, there is a problem in that the number of parts increases and the number of steps for assembling the expansion valve increases.

On the other hand, there have been proposals in the past to provide a vibration-proofing spring in the valve chamber to suppress vibrations of the valve body through a valve body support member.

However, this method is similar to the invention described in the above-mentioned patent document in that it is necessary to provide a vibration isolation spring as a separate member, and the structure inside the valve chamber becomes complicated due to the installation of the vibration isolation spring. There is a problem that assembly work becomes complicated. Furthermore, the vibration isolation spring provided in the valve chamber acts as a flow resistance for the refrigerant, and depending on the shape and placement of the vibration isolation spring, the vibration isolation spring itself may vibrate and cause abnormal noise. It is desirable to provide as few extra members as possible in the valve chamber that serves as a flow path for the refrigerant.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a new valve structure that can suppress the occurrence of valve vibration noise without using a separate member such as a vibration isolation spring.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present inventions all relate to expansion valves, and the first invention is characterized by a contact structure between an actuation rod and a valve body (a tip structure of the actuation rod). The second invention is characterized by an engagement structure between the actuation rod and the drive device (the base end of the actuation rod and the actuation rod receiving member of the drive device). Each invention will be explained below.

[First invention]
The expansion valve according to the first invention of the present application includes a valve body having a valve chamber communicating with an inflow path for introducing refrigerant and an outflow path for discharging the refrigerant, and a valve body disposed inside the valve chamber and seated on a valve seat. A valve body that changes the flow rate of refrigerant by moving forward and backward relative to the valve seat between a valve state and an open state where the valve is spaced from the valve seat, and a biasing member that biases the valve body toward the valve seat. , an expansion valve comprising an actuating rod that contacts the valve body and moves the valve body in the valve opening direction against the urging force of the urging member, and a drive device that drives the actuating rod, the valve body having a convex shape. The distal end surface of the actuating rod was a convex curved surface (a curved surface protruding toward the valve body), and the distal end surface of the actuating rod was brought into contact with the convex curved surface of the valve body.

As mentioned above, one of the causes of valve vibration is the lateral displacement of the valve body (displacement in the direction crossing the opening/closing direction of the valve). Therefore, in the first invention of the present application, the distal end surface of the actuating rod is made into a convex curved surface and brought into contact with the convex curved surface of the valve body. In other words, the actuating rod and the valve body are brought into contact with each other on their curved surfaces.

According to such a contact structure, when the valve body shifts laterally, a force (load) in the lateral direction (direction crossing the opening/closing direction of the valve) is applied to the actuating rod. (see F1), the actuating rod is pressed against the valve body (for example, the inner surface of the actuating rod insertion hole formed between the driving device installation part of the valve body to which the driving device is fixed and the valve chamber and into which the actuating rod is inserted), and this This makes it possible to suppress vibrations of the actuating rod without providing a vibration-proofing spring.

In addition, although the "convex curved surface" regarding the said actuation rod and valve body is typically a spherical surface, it is not necessarily limited to a spherical surface. For example, since the object of the present invention can also be achieved with a convex curved surface other than a spherical surface, such as a paraboloid, the term "convex curved surface" is a concept that broadly includes such convex curved surfaces. Further, although the valve body is typically a sphere (has a spherical shape) as in the embodiment described later, it is not necessarily limited to a sphere, and the overall shape of the valve body (other than the part that contacts the actuating rod) The shape of the part) is not particularly limited. This is because the object of the present invention can be achieved if at least a portion of the actuator includes a convex curved surface, that is, if the portion that contacts the actuating rod is a convex curved surface.

Further, as an aspect capable of obtaining similar effects, in the expansion valve according to the first aspect of the first invention, the distal end surface of the actuating rod is a conical surface.

Specifically, the expansion valve according to the first aspect includes a valve body having a valve chamber communicating with an inflow path for introducing refrigerant and an outflow path for discharging the refrigerant, and a valve body disposed inside the valve chamber and provided with a valve seat. A valve body that changes the flow rate of refrigerant by moving forward and backward relative to the valve seat between a closed state in which the valve is seated and an open state in which it is separated from the valve seat, and an energizer that biases the valve body toward the valve seat. An expansion valve comprising: a biasing member; an operating rod that contacts a valve body and moves the valve body in a valve opening direction against the biasing force of the biasing member; and a drive device that drives the operating rod. The body included a convex curved surface, the tip surface of the actuating rod was a conical surface (a conical surface protruding toward the valve body), and the tip surface was brought into contact with the convex curved surface of the valve body.

Note that the above-mentioned "conical shape" does not mean only a strict cone with a pointed apex; for example, the same purpose can be achieved even if the apex is a curved surface with a dome-like shape. Because it is possible, the above-mentioned "conical shape" is a concept that includes such a shape (a conical shape with a rounded tip).

[Second invention]
The second invention of the present application is an engagement structure between the base end of the actuating rod and the drive device (actuating rod receiving member), and as in the first invention, by bringing the curved surfaces into contact with each other, a lateral load is applied to the actuating rod. However, the load (see reference numeral F2 in FIG. 5 , which will be described later) can be generated regardless of whether or not there is lateral displacement of the valve body.

Specifically, the expansion valve according to the second invention of the present application includes a valve body having a valve chamber communicating with an inflow path for introducing refrigerant and an outflow path for discharging the refrigerant, and a valve seat disposed inside the valve chamber. A valve element that changes the flow rate of refrigerant by moving forward and backward relative to the valve seat between a closed state where the valve is seated and an open state where the valve is spaced from the valve seat, and a valve element that biases the valve element toward the valve seat. The actuating rod receiver includes a biasing member, an actuating rod that contacts the valve body and moves the valve body in the valve opening direction against the biasing force of the biasing member, and an actuating rod receiving member that engages with the actuating rod. An expansion valve equipped with a drive device that transmits driving force to an actuating rod through a member, wherein the proximal end surface of the actuating rod that engages with the actuating rod receiving member is a convex curved surface, and the actuating rod receiving member has a tip end. It has a protrusion with a convex curved surface, and while the actuating rod and the protrusion are eccentric, the proximal end surface of the actuating rod has a convex curved surface (a curved surface protruding toward the protrusion), and the convex curved surface (a curved surface toward the actuating rod) The tip surface of the protrusion, which had a curved surface protruding toward the surface, was brought into contact with the protrusion so as to butt against each other.

In this second invention, the driving force is transmitted from the drive device to the actuating rod via the actuating rod receiving member, and the actuating rod receiving member is provided with a protrusion having a convexly curved distal end surface, and The proximal end surface of the actuating rod (the end surface opposite to the distal end surface that contacts the valve body) is a convex curved surface. Then, contact between the curved surfaces is formed by bringing the two convex curved surfaces (the protrusion and the proximal end surface of the actuating rod) into butt contact with each other (the actuating rod and the protrusion) being eccentric.

The above-mentioned "eccentricity" means that the apex of the convex curved surface at the tip of the protrusion and the apex of the convex curved surface at the base end of the actuating rod are aligned in the horizontal direction (direction perpendicular to the axis of the protrusion and the axis of the actuating rod). Say something is off. For example, the protrusion (operating rod receiving member) and the actuating rod may be arranged so that the central axis (axis) of the protruding portion and the central axis (axis) of the actuating rod do not coincide but are parallel to each other. Further, the meaning of "convex curved surface" is the same as in the first invention (the same applies to each aspect of the second invention described later).

According to such a structure, a lateral load is always applied to the actuating rod regardless of whether or not there is lateral displacement of the valve body, so that vibration can be suppressed.

Also, in this second invention, the base end of the actuating rod and the projection of the actuating rod receiving member are formed into conical surfaces instead of convex curved surfaces, or by fixing spherical members, as in the first invention. It is possible to have a spherical surface. Below are these aspects. The meaning of "eccentricity" in each aspect is as explained in the second invention, and the meaning of "conical surface" is as explained in the first invention.

The expansion valve according to the first aspect of the second invention includes a valve body having a valve chamber communicating with an inflow path for introducing refrigerant and an outflow path for discharging the refrigerant, and a valve body disposed inside the valve chamber and seated on a valve seat. A valve body that changes the flow rate of refrigerant by moving forward and backward relative to the valve seat between a closed state where the valve is closed and an open state where the valve is spaced apart from the valve seat, and an energizer that biases the valve body toward the valve seat. an actuating rod that contacts the valve body and moves the valve body in the valve opening direction against the urging force of the urging member; and an actuating rod receiving member that engages with the actuating rod. The expansion valve is equipped with a drive device that transmits driving force to the actuating rod through the actuating rod. is provided with a protrusion having a convex curved surface, and while the actuating rod and the protrusion are eccentric, the proximal end surface of the conical actuating rod and the distal end surface of the protruding portion having a convex curve are brought into contact with each other. brought into contact.

The expansion valve according to the second aspect of the second invention includes a valve body having a valve chamber communicating with an inflow path for introducing refrigerant and an outflow path for discharging the refrigerant, and a valve body disposed inside the valve chamber and seated on a valve seat. A valve body that changes the flow rate of refrigerant by moving forward and backward relative to the valve seat between a closed state where the valve is closed and an open state where the valve is spaced apart from the valve seat, and an energizer that biases the valve body toward the valve seat. an actuating rod that contacts the valve body and moves the valve body in the valve opening direction against the urging force of the urging member; and an actuating rod receiving member that engages with the actuating rod. The expansion valve is equipped with a drive device that transmits driving force to the actuating rod through the actuating rod, the proximal end surface of the actuating rod that engages with the actuating rod receiving member is a convex curved surface, and the actuating rod receiving member has a distal end surface. is provided with a protrusion that has a conical surface, and while the actuating rod and the protrusion are eccentric, the proximal end surface of the actuating rod that is a convex curved surface is brought into contact with the distal end surface of the protrusion that is a conical surface. brought into contact.

The expansion valve according to the third aspect of the second invention includes a valve body having a valve chamber communicating with an inflow path for introducing refrigerant and an outflow path for discharging the refrigerant, and a valve body disposed inside the valve chamber and seated on a valve seat. A valve body that changes the flow rate of refrigerant by moving forward and backward relative to the valve seat between a closed state where the valve is closed and an open state where the valve is spaced apart from the valve seat, and an energizer that biases the valve body toward the valve seat. an actuating rod that contacts the valve body and moves the valve body in the valve opening direction against the urging force of the urging member; and an actuating rod receiving member that engages with the actuating rod. An expansion valve is provided with a drive device that transmits a driving force to an actuating rod through the actuating rod, wherein the proximal end surface of the actuating rod that engages with the actuating rod receiving member is a conical surface, and the distal end surface of the actuating rod receiving member is a conical surface. The protrusion has a conical surface, and while the actuating rod and the protrusion are eccentric, the proximal end surface of the conical actuating rod is brought into contact with the distal end surface of the conical protrusion. I let it happen.

To summarize the above first invention and second invention, the expansion valve according to the present invention includes a valve body having a valve chamber communicating with an inflow path for introducing refrigerant and an outflow path for discharging the refrigerant, and a valve chamber. A valve body that changes the flow rate of refrigerant by moving forward and backward with respect to the valve seat between a closed state where the valve is seated on the valve seat and an open state where the valve is spaced apart from the valve seat. A biasing member that biases toward the valve seat, an actuation rod that contacts the valve body and moves the valve body in the valve opening direction against the biasing force of the biasing member, and an actuation rod receiver that engages with the actuation rod. An expansion valve comprising: a drive device that transmits a driving force against the biasing force to the actuating rod through the actuating rod receiving member, wherein the space between the actuating rod and the valve body is The convex surfaces that are pressed by the biasing force are in contact with or engage with each other . The expansion valve of the present invention includes one to which only the first invention is applied, and one to which both the first invention and the second invention are applied.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of valve vibration noise without using a separate member such as a vibration isolating spring.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of embodiments of the present invention based on the drawings. Note that in each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an expansion valve (in an open state) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the valve body arrangement portion (portion B in FIG. 1) of the expansion valve (closed state) according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the valve body is laterally displaced in the expansion valve (opened state) according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram similar to FIG. 2 showing a valve body arrangement portion of an expansion valve (in a closed state) according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the upper part (the engagement portion between the drive device and the actuation rod) of the expansion valve according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram similar to FIG . 5 showing the upper part (the engagement portion between the drive device and the actuation rod) of the expansion valve according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram similar to FIG. 5 showing the upper part (the engagement portion between the drive device and the actuation rod) of the expansion valve according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a view showing the upper part (the engagement portion between the drive device and the actuation rod) of the expansion valve according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, similar to FIG. 5 . FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the relationship between the operating rod and the valve body (operating rod insertion hole portion) in the expansion valve.

[First embodiment]
An expansion valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Although FIG. 1 shows mutually orthogonal two-dimensional coordinates representing front-rear and left-right directions, the following description will be made based on these directions.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the expansion valve 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a valve body having a valve chamber 16 communicating with an inflow path 13 for introducing refrigerant and an outflow path 14 for discharging the refrigerant. 12 and the refrigerant by moving forward and backward (up and down) with respect to the valve seat 17 between the closed state where the valve is seated on the valve seat 17 provided in the valve chamber 16 and the open state where the valve is spaced from the valve seat 17. The valve body 18 is biased toward the valve seat 17 via the spherical (spherical) valve body 18 that changes the flow rate of the valve and the valve body support member 19, and the valve body 18 is pressed against the lower end surface 21a of the actuating rod 21. A biasing member (compression coil spring) 20, an actuation rod 21 that moves the valve body 18 in the valve opening direction (downward) against the biasing force of the biasing member 20, and a drive device installation portion 12a on the upper surface of the valve body. A diaphragm device 24 is fixed to the valve body 12 and drives the valve body 18 via an actuating rod 21, and a return passage 15 penetrates through the upper part of the valve body 12 and allows refrigerant to pass therethrough.

The actuating rod 21 is disposed inside the valve body 12 so as to extend vertically (up and down), and its upper end (base end) is connected to the diaphragm 27 in the diaphragm device 24 via the actuating rod receiving member 28. do. On the other hand, the lower end surface (tip surface) 21a of the actuating rod 21 is a spherical surface (a spherical curved surface protruding toward the valve body 18), and this spherical lower end surface 21a is brought into contact with the valve body 18. The contact relationship and function between the actuating rod 21 and the valve body 18 will be described in detail later.

Further, the middle part of the actuating rod 21 passes through the actuating rod insertion hole 22 formed in the valve body 12, and the gap between the middle part of the actuating rod 21 and the valve body 12 (inner wall surface of the actuating rod insertion hole 22). A certain clearance S (not shown in FIG. 1/see FIG. 9 ) is formed in order to allow vertical movement of the actuating rod 21. Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to further enhance the vibration-proofing function, a vibration-proofing spring 41 (disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1) that comes into contact with the middle part of the actuating rod 21 is provided, but the vibration-proofing spring 41 is not essential to the present invention.

The return passage 15 passes through the upper part of the valve body 12 horizontally (in the left-right direction), and the refrigerant sent from the evaporator (not shown) to the compressor (not shown) passes through the passage 15. Further, a refrigerant sent from a condenser (not shown) flows into the inflow path 13, and this refrigerant passes through the valve chamber 16 and the throat portion 23 and is sent out from the outflow path 14 to an evaporator (not shown).

The diaphragm device 24 has a dish-shaped lower casing 25 as a casing of the device 24, and a lid-shaped upper casing 26 that covers the upper surface of the lower casing 25. A diaphragm 27 is sandwiched between the two. The internal space above the diaphragm 27 (between the diaphragm 27 and the upper housing 26) is used as a working fluid chamber 30 in which working fluid (for example, working gas) is sealed. Further, the internal space below the diaphragm 27 (between the diaphragm 27 and the lower housing 25) is used as a refrigerant introduction chamber 29 into which refrigerant is introduced.

Furthermore, an opening 31 is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the lower housing 25 to allow the refrigerant introduction chamber 29 and the return passage 15 to communicate with each other. Therefore, the refrigerant flowing through the return passage 15 flows into the refrigerant introducing chamber 29 through the opening 31, and the pressure and volume of the working fluid in the working fluid filling chamber 30 are adjusted according to the temperature and pressure of this refrigerant (the refrigerant flowing out from the evaporator). Change.

Then, when the pressure of the working fluid in the working fluid enclosure chamber 30 decreases, the diaphragm 27 is pulled upward according to the difference between the pressure in the refrigerant introduction chamber 29, and the actuating rod 21 moves upward following the diaphragm 27. As a result, the valve body 18 moves toward the valve seat 17, and the refrigerant flow rate is throttled. Conversely, when the pressure of the working fluid increases, the diaphragm 27 is pushed down according to the difference between the pressure in the refrigerant introduction chamber 29 and the actuating rod 21 follows the diaphragm 27 and moves downward, causing the valve body 18 to move downward. is retreated from the valve seat 17, and the refrigerant flow rate increases. In this manner, in the expansion valve 11, the amount of refrigerant supplied from the expansion valve 11 to the evaporator is adjusted in accordance with the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant returning from the evaporator to the expansion valve 11.

Here, as already mentioned, especially when the opening degree of the valve is small, the valve body 18 shifts laterally, causing valve vibration, and the actuating rod 21 also vibrates together with the valve body 18. Therefore, in this embodiment, the operating rod 21 and the valve body 18 are arranged so that their spherical surfaces contact each other, that is, the lower end surface 21a of the operating rod 21 is made a spherical surface, and the lower end surface 21a is brought into contact with the spherical valve element 18. did.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, as the valve body 18 shifts laterally, the valve body 18 If the central axis A3 of the valve is shifted in the left-right direction (to the left in FIG. 3) (see also FIG. 2 for comparison), the valve body 18 is constantly pressed against the lower end surface 21a of the actuating rod 21 by the biasing member 20. , this pressing force is converted in the horizontal direction, and a lateral load as shown by reference numeral F1 in FIG. 3 acts on the actuating rod 21. As a result, the intermediate portion of the actuating rod 21 is pressed against the inner wall surface of the actuating rod insertion hole 22 (see FIG. 1), and vibration of the actuating rod 21 is suppressed. Furthermore, by suppressing the vibration of the actuating rod 21, the vibration of the valve body 18 pressed against the lower end surface 21a of the actuating rod 21 is also suppressed.

In the conventional expansion valve, since the lower end surface of the actuating rod 21 is a flat surface, even if the valve body 18 shifts laterally, the above-mentioned lateral load F1 does not occur. On the other hand, according to the expansion valve 11 of the present embodiment, in which the operating rod 21 and the valve body 18 have a contact structure between spherical surfaces, the above-mentioned lateral load F1 can be generated, and the above-mentioned lateral load F1 can be generated without using the vibration isolating spring. It becomes possible to suppress valve vibration.

Further, such a vibration damping function can also be realized by the second and third embodiments described below.

[Second embodiment]
FIG. 4 shows a contact structure between the valve body 18 and the operating rod 21 of the expansion valve according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 21b is a conical surface (a conical surface protruding toward the valve body 18), and the lower end surface 21b is brought into contact with the spherical valve body 18.

Even with such a contact structure, when the valve body 18 shifts laterally, the inclined conical surface 21b comes into contact with the spherical surface of the valve body 18, so that the lateral load F1 is reduced as in the first embodiment. The vibration can be suppressed by pressing the actuating rod 21 against the valve body 12 (inner wall surface of the actuating rod insertion hole 22).

The first and second embodiments described above embody the first invention of the present invention, but the third to sixth embodiments described below embody the second invention of the present invention. Depending on the embodiment, vibration damping can be achieved by similarly generating a lateral load on the actuating rod 21. Note that the following third to sixth embodiments relate to the engagement structure between the actuating rod 21 and the diaphragm device 24.

[ Third embodiment]
FIG. 5 shows the engagement portion between the operating rod 21 and the diaphragm device 24 of the expansion valve according to the third embodiment of the present invention. (Proximal end surface) 21d is processed into a spherical surface (a spherical curved surface protruding toward the actuating rod receiving member 28), and at the same time, a spherical surface (a spherical curved surface protruding toward the actuating rod receiving member 28) is formed on the lower surface of the actuating rod receiving member 28 of the diaphragm device 24, protruding downward and having a lower end. The protrusion 28a has a spherical curved surface protruding toward the direction. This protrusion 28a has a spherical lower end, and its central axis A2 is offset from the central axis A1 of the actuating rod 21 in the horizontal direction (to the left in this example). In other words, the central axis A2 of the protrusion 28a and the central axis A1 of the actuating rod 21 are made parallel to each other without coinciding with each other, thereby making the protruding portion 28a eccentric with respect to the actuating rod 21.

By bringing the eccentric protrusion 28a into butt contact with the upper end surface 21d of the actuating rod 21, the downward driving force of the diaphragm device 24 via the actuating rod receiving member 28 is transferred to the protrusion. 28a to the actuating rod 21.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the eccentric spherical surfaces 21d and 28a have a contact structure as described above, and the upward biasing force of the biasing member 20 (see FIG. 1) is received via the valve body 18. Since the upper end of the actuating rod 21 is always pressed against the protrusion 28a of the actuating rod receiving member 28, this pressing force is converted into a horizontal direction, and a lateral load F2 is applied to the actuating rod 21. Therefore, the intermediate portion of the actuating rod 21 is pressed against the inner wall surface of the actuating rod insertion hole 22 (see FIG. 1), and vibration of the actuating rod 21 is suppressed. Furthermore, by suppressing the vibration of the actuating rod 21, the vibration of the valve body 18 pressed against the lower end of the actuating rod 21 is also suppressed.

Further, the vibration damping function by generating such a lateral load F2 on the actuating rod 21 can also be realized by the fourth and fifth embodiments described below.

[ Fourth embodiment]
FIG. 6 shows an engagement structure between an operating rod receiving member 28 and an operating rod 21 of an expansion valve according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the upper end surface of the actuating rod 21 is a spherical surface 21d, but in this embodiment, instead, it is a conical surface 21e (a conical surface protruding toward the actuating rod receiving member 28). Note that, similarly to the third embodiment, in this embodiment as well, the protrusion 28a is provided eccentrically with respect to the actuating rod 21.

In this embodiment, since the inclined conical surface 21e comes into contact with the protrusion 28a of the actuating rod receiving member 28, the upward pressing force by the biasing member 20 is converted into a force in the horizontal direction, and the actuating rod 21 can be subjected to a similar lateral load F2.

[ Fifth embodiment]
FIG. 7 shows an engagement structure between an operating rod receiving member 28 and an operating rod 21 of an expansion valve according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the actuating rod receiving member 28 is provided with the protrusion 28a whose lower end surface is a spherical surface, but in this embodiment, the lower end surface is a conical surface (a conical surface protruding toward the actuating rod 21). ) is provided with a protrusion 28c. Note that, similarly to the third embodiment, in this embodiment as well, the protrusion 28c is provided eccentrically with respect to the actuating rod 21.

In this embodiment, since the actuating rod 21 comes into contact with the inclined conical surface of the protrusion 28c, the upward pressing force by the biasing member 20 is converted into a force in the horizontal direction, and the actuating rod 21 is forced horizontally. A directional load F2 can be generated.

[ Sixth embodiment]
FIG. 8 shows an engagement structure between an operating rod receiving member 28 and an operating rod 21 of an expansion valve according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. (the upper end surface 21e of the actuating rod 21) and the actuating rod receiving member 28 side (the lower end surface of the projection 28c) have conical surfaces (the actuating rod 21 side is a conical surface protruding toward the actuating rod receiving member 28, The rod receiving member 28 side is formed with a conical surface projecting toward the actuating rod 21, and the conical upper end surface 21e of the actuating rod and the lower end surface of the protrusion 28c are made to abut eccentrically. In other words, the protrusion 28c and the actuation rod 21 were brought into contact with each other such that the apex of the protrusion 28c and the apex of the upper end surface 21e of the actuation rod were shifted in the horizontal direction without contacting each other.

Although the present embodiment has a structure in which the conical surfaces are in contact with each other, it is possible to generate force F2 in the lateral direction by bringing the inclined surfaces into contact with each other even with such a contact structure. As in the third to fifth embodiments, vibration damping can be achieved by pressing the actuating rod 21 against the inner wall surface of the actuating rod insertion hole 22.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these and that various changes can be made within the scope of the claims. .

For example, as mentioned above, the vibration isolation spring 41 provided in the middle part of the actuating rod 21 in the first embodiment is not essential to the present invention, but in the present invention, for example, the vibration isolation function is further enhanced. Therefore, in addition to the vibration damping structure according to the present invention, the vibration damping spring 41 provided in the first embodiment (as described in Patent Document 1), other vibration damping springs, or the vibration damping spring provided inside the valve chamber 16 may be used. It is also possible to use such vibration-proof springs, and the present invention does not prohibit the combined use of such vibration-proof springs.

Further, the expansion valve according to the present invention can be preferably applied to car air conditioners and contribute to improving the quietness inside the vehicle interior, but the use and application are not limited to car air conditioners, but can also be applied to room air conditioners and refrigerators. - The present invention can be applied to expansion valves used in various other refrigeration cycle devices such as refrigerators.

A1 Central axis of the actuating rod A2 Central axis of the actuating rod receiving member side (protrusion or spherical member fixed to the actuating rod receiving member) A3 Center axis of the laterally displaced valve body F1, F2 Lateral load R1, R2 Refrigerant Flow S Clearance between the actuation rod and the valve body (inner wall surface of the actuation rod insertion hole) 11 Expansion valve 12 Valve body 12a Drive device installation part 13 Inflow path 14 Outflow path 15 Return path 16 Valve chamber 17 Valve seat 18 Valve Body 19 Valve body support member 20 Biasing member (compression coil spring)
21 Operating rod 21a Lower end surface (spherical surface) of the operating rod
21b Lower end surface of operating rod (conical surface)
21c, 21f, 28b concave portion 21d upper end surface of actuating rod (spherical surface)
21e Upper end surface of operating rod (conical surface)
22 Operating rod insertion hole 23 Throat 24 Diaphragm device 25 Lower housing 26 Upper housing 27 Diaphragm 28 Operating rod receiving member 28a Projection with a spherical lower end surface 28c Projection with a conical lower end surface 29 Refrigerant introduction chamber 30 Working fluid enclosure chamber 31 Opening 41 Anti-vibration spring

Claims (11)

a valve body having a valve chamber communicating with an inlet passage for introducing refrigerant and an outlet passage for discharging the refrigerant;
A valve that is arranged inside the valve chamber and changes the flow rate of the refrigerant by moving forward and backward with respect to the valve seat between a closed state in which it is seated on a valve seat and an open state in which it is spaced from the valve seat. body and
a biasing member that biases the valve body toward the valve seat;
an actuating rod that contacts the valve body and moves the valve body in the valve opening direction against the biasing force of the biasing member;
An expansion valve comprising: an operating rod receiving member that engages with the operating rod; and a drive device that transmits a driving force against the urging force to the operating rod via the operating rod receiving member,
The expansion valve is characterized in that the operating rod and the valve body are in contact with or engage with each other through convex surfaces that are pressed by the urging force. The valve body includes a convex curved surface,
The tip end surface of the actuating rod is a convex curved surface,
The expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein a distal end surface of the actuating rod is brought into contact with a convex curved surface of the valve body. The expansion valve according to claim 2, wherein the convex curved surface of the actuation rod is a spherical surface. The valve body includes a convex curved surface,
The tip end surface of the actuating rod is a conical surface,
The expansion valve according to claim 1, wherein a distal end surface of the actuating rod is brought into contact with a convex curved surface of the valve body. The actuation rod receiving member and the actuation rod are in contact with or engage in convex surfaces that are pressed by the urging force.
The expansion valve according to claim 1. A proximal end surface of the actuating rod that engages with the actuating rod receiving member is a convex curved surface, and
The actuating rod receiving member includes a protrusion having a convexly curved distal end surface,
According to claim 5 , the actuating rod and the protrusion are made eccentric and brought into contact so that the proximal end surface of the actuating rod having the convexly curved surface and the distal end surface of the protruding portion having the convexly curved surface butt against each other. Expansion valve as described. The expansion valve according to claim 6 , wherein either or both of the proximal end surface of the actuating rod and the distal end surface of the protrusion are spherical. The base end surface of the actuation rod that engages with the actuation rod receiving member is a conical surface, and
The actuating rod receiving member includes a protrusion having a convexly curved distal end surface,
According to claim 5 , the actuating rod and the protrusion are made eccentric and brought into contact so that the proximal end surface of the actuating rod, which is a conical surface, and the distal end surface of the protruding portion, which is a convex curved surface, butt against each other. Expansion valve as described. A proximal end surface of the actuating rod that engages with the actuating rod receiving member is a convex curved surface, and
The actuating rod receiving member includes a protrusion having a conical tip surface,
According to claim 5 , while the actuating rod and the protrusion are made eccentric, the proximal end surface of the actuating rod having the convex curved surface and the distal end surface of the protruding portion having the conical surface are brought into contact with each other so as to butt against each other. Expansion valve as described. The base end surface of the actuation rod that engages with the actuation rod receiving member is a conical surface, and
The actuating rod receiving member includes a protrusion having a conical tip surface,
According to claim 5 , while the actuating rod and the protrusion are made eccentric, the proximal end surface of the actuating rod having the conical surface and the distal end surface of the protruding portion having the conical surface are brought into contact with each other so as to abut against each other. Expansion valve as described. The expansion valve according to claim 8 or 9 , wherein the convex curved surface is a spherical surface.

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