JP7658602B2 - Multiport Valve - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a multi-port valve.

A multi-port valve with a partial circumferential seal is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). The valve includes a shell body and a seal member housed within a housing. The seal member is configured so as not to completely surround the shell body.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0131575

In the conventional example described above, the cylindrical shell body (valve element) has vertical passages (pockets) and horizontal passages, and by rotating this shell body around an axis, the connection combination of multiple ports arranged vertically and horizontally can be changed.

However, in this conventional example, only two types of flow path layouts can be realized: a mode in which adjacent ports are connected horizontally, and a mode in which adjacent ports are connected vertically.

The purpose of the present invention is to enable a variety of flow path layouts in a multi-port valve.

The multi-port valve according to the first aspect has a housing having a cylindrical space therein and at least four ports each communicating with the space and arranged in the axial direction of the space, and a valve body arranged in the space and rotatable in the circumferential direction of the space, and selecting one of a first mode in which the first port and the third port are connected and the second port and the fourth port are connected, a second mode in which the first port and the fourth port are connected and the second port and the third port are connected, and a third mode in which the first port and the second port are connected and the third port are connected, depending on the angular position in the space, assuming that the four ports are arranged in the axial order as a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port.

In this multi-port valve, the valve body has three switching modes, specifically, a first mode that connects the first port to the third port and also connects the second port to the fourth port, a second mode that connects the first port to the fourth port and also connects the second port to the third port, and a third mode that connects the first port to the second port and also connects the third port to the fourth port. Therefore, more flow path layouts are possible compared to the conventional example that has only two flow path layouts.

In the second aspect, in the multi-port valve according to the first aspect, the four ports are arranged in a staggered pattern in the axial direction of the space.

In a third aspect, in the multi-port valve according to the first aspect, the valve body includes a first circumferential partition, a second circumferential partition, a third circumferential partition, and a fourth circumferential partition that extend in the axial direction of the space and partition the space in the circumferential direction in that order, a first axial partition that partitions a first region partitioned by the first circumferential partition and the second circumferential partition in the axial direction between the first port and the second port, and a second region partitioned by the second circumferential partition and the third circumferential partition in the axial direction between the second port and the third port. a second axial partition that divides a third region defined by the third circumferential partition and the fourth circumferential partition between the second port and the third port, and a third axial partition that divides a third region defined by the third circumferential partition and the fourth circumferential partition in the axial direction between the second port and the third port, a first passage is provided on the first circumferential partition on the first port side in the axial direction from the first axial partition, which connects the fourth region defined by the fourth circumferential partition and the first circumferential partition with the first region on the first port side in the axial direction from the first axial partition, Between the first axial partition and the second axial partition, a second passage is provided that connects the first region on the second port side of the first axial partition in the axial direction with the second region on the second port side of the second axial partition in the axial direction, and a third passage is provided on the second port side of the third circumferential partition in the axial direction from the second axial partition that connects the second region on the second port side of the second axial partition in the axial direction with the third region on the second port side of the third axial partition in the axial direction, and a fourth passage is provided on the third port side of the third circumferential partition in the axial direction from the second axial partition that connects the second region on the third port side of the second axial partition in the axial direction with the third region on the third port side of the third axial partition, and a fifth passage is provided on the third port side of the fourth circumferential partition in the axial direction from the third axial partition that connects the third region on the third port side of the third axial partition in the axial direction with the fourth region.

In this multi-port valve, a valve body having various partitions and passages is rotated within the space of the housing, changing its angular position, enabling three switching modes.

A fourth aspect is a multi-port valve according to the third aspect, in which, in the first mode in which the first circumferential partition is in an angular position between the first port and the third port, and the second port and the fourth port, the first port and the third port are connected through the fourth region, and the second port and the fourth port are connected through the first region on the second port side in the axial direction from the first axial partition, and in the second mode in which the second circumferential partition is in an angular position between the first port and the third port, and the second port and the fourth port, the second port and the third port are connected through the second region on the second port side in the axial direction from the second axial partition, the second passage, and the first region on the second port side in the axial direction from the first axial partition, and the first port and the fourth port are connected through the second region on the second port side in the axial direction from the first axial partition, the second passage, and the first region on the second port side in the axial direction from the first axial partition, In the third mode, in which the third circumferential partition is in an angular position between the first port and the third port and the second port and the fourth port, the first port and the second port are connected through the second region on the second port side in the axial direction from the second axial partition, the third passage, and the third region on the second port side in the axial direction from the third axial partition, and the third port and the fourth port are connected through the second region on the second port side in the axial direction from the second axial partition, the third passage, and the third region on the second port side in the axial direction from the third axial partition, and the third port and the fourth port are connected through the second region on the third port side in the axial direction from the second axial partition, the fourth passage, and the third region on the third port side in the axial direction from the third axial partition.

This multi-port valve allows three switching modes by rotating a valve body having various partitions and passages within the space of the housing. In particular, the connection between the first port and the fourth port in the second mode is made possible by utilizing the fourth and third regions that do not face the first and fourth ports.

The present invention allows for a wide variety of flow path layouts in multi-port valves.

1A and 1B are perspective views showing a first switching mode of the multiport valve, and FIG. 1C is a front view showing the connection state of each port in a manifold. 10A, 10B, and 10C are perspective views showing a second mode of the switching modes of the multiport valve, and FIG. 10D is a front view showing the connection state of each port in the manifold. 13A and 13B are perspective views showing a third switching mode of the multiport valve, and FIG. 13C is a front view showing the connection state of each port in the manifold.

Below, the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Components indicated with the same reference numerals in each drawing are the same or similar components. Note that duplicated explanations and reference numerals in the embodiments described below may be omitted. Furthermore, all drawings used in the following description are schematic, and the dimensional relationships of each element, the ratios of each element, etc. shown in the drawings do not necessarily match the actual ones. Furthermore, the dimensional relationships of each element, the ratios of each element, etc. do not necessarily match between multiple drawings.

In Figures 1 to 3, the multiport valve 10 according to this embodiment is a flow path switching valve having at least four ports. This multiport valve 10 has a housing 12 and a valve body 14. The space between the housing 12 and the valve body 14 is sealed so that fluid does not flow between unintended ports. The valve body 14 is driven to rotate within the space 16 of the housing 12 by a drive means (not shown) when switching the flow path.

The housing 12 is, for example, prismatic, and has a cylindrical space 16 therein. The axial direction S of the space 16 is the longitudinal direction of the housing 12. The outer shape of the housing 12 is not limited to a prismatic shape, and may be a cylinder or the like. The housing 12 also has at least four ports that are connected to the spaces 16 and arranged, for example, in a staggered manner in the axial direction S of the space 16. In this embodiment, the four ports are a first port 21, a second port 22, a third port 23, and a fourth port 24 arranged in a staggered manner. Each port is formed, for example, on the front surface 12A of the housing 12. Each port protrudes, for example, from the front surface 12A, but does not have to protrude. In FIG. 1(A), the front surface 12A is divided into two columns of "A-B" in the width direction of the housing 12 and four rows of "1-4" in the longitudinal direction, and addresses are assigned, for example, with the right column as "A" and the top row as "1". In this case, the first port 21 is located at address A-1, the second port is located at address B-2, the third port is located at address A-3, and the fourth port 24 is located at address B-4. Note that the circles on the corners of the housing 12 in each figure indicate the same corner.

Figures 1(C), 2(D), and 3(C) show a manifold 20. The manifold 20 is a portion of the multiport valve 10 where the connections with other devices are grouped together, and the numbered squares correspond to the respective ports. Square 1 corresponds to the first port 21, square 2 corresponds to the second port 22, square 3 corresponds to the third port 23, and square 4 corresponds to the fourth port 24. Squares without numbers correspond to other multiport valves (not shown) having four ports. Two multiport valves 10 according to this embodiment may be used and connected to one manifold 20.

The valve body 14 is disposed in the space 16 of the housing 12 and is rotatable in the circumferential direction of the space 16. The valve body 14 has three switching modes according to the angular position in the space 16. The first mode shown in FIG. 1 is a mode in which the first port 21 and the third port 23 are connected and the second port 22 and the fourth port 24 are connected. The second mode shown in FIG. 2 is a mode in which the first port 21 and the fourth port 24 are connected and the second port 22 and the third port 23 are connected. The third mode shown in FIG. 3 is a mode in which the first port 21 and the second port 22 are connected and the third port 23 and the fourth port 24 are connected.

The valve body 14 has a circumferential partition that extends in the axial direction S of the space 16 of the housing 12 between the disk portions 14A, 14B at both axial ends and divides the space 16 in the circumferential direction C, and an axial partition that divides the space 16 in the axial direction S. Specifically, the valve body 14 has a first circumferential partition 31, a second circumferential partition 32, a third circumferential partition 33, and a fourth circumferential partition 34 as circumferential partitions that divide the space 16 in the circumferential direction C in that order. The first circumferential partition 31 to the fourth circumferential partition 34 are evenly spaced, for example, at 90° intervals in the circumferential direction C.

In the valve body 14, the first circumferential partition 31 and the second circumferential partition 32 define a first region 51. The second circumferential partition 32 and the third circumferential partition 33 define a second region 52. The third circumferential partition 33 and the fourth circumferential partition 34 define a third region 53. And the fourth circumferential partition 34 and the first circumferential partition 31 define a fourth region 54. Each of these regions is, for example, approximately quadrant cylindrical.

The valve body 14 has a first axial partition 41, a second axial partition 42, and a third axial partition 43 as axial partitions. The first axial partition 41 divides the first region 51 in the axial direction S between the first port 21 and the second port 22. The second axial partition 42 divides the second region 52 in the axial direction S between the second port 22 and the third port 23. The third axial partition 43 divides the third region 53 in the axial direction S between the second port 22 and the third port 23. Each of these axial partitions is, for example, approximately quarter-circular.

A first passage 61 is provided on the first circumferential partition 31 on the first port 21 side in the axial direction S from the first axial partition 41, which connects the fourth region 54 with the first region 51 on the first port 21 side in the axial direction S from the first axial partition 41.

Between the first axial partition 41 and the second axial partition 42 in the second circumferential partition 32, a second passage 62 is provided that connects the first region 51 on the second port 22 side in the axial direction S from the first axial partition 41 to the second region 52 on the second port 22 side in the axial direction S from the second axial partition 42.

A third passage 63 is provided on the second port 22 side in the axial direction S of the second axial partition 42 in the third circumferential partition 33, which connects the second region 52 on the second port 22 side in the axial direction S of the second axial partition 42 with the third region 53 on the second port 22 side in the axial direction S of the third axial partition 43.

A fourth passage 64 is provided on the third circumferential partition 33 on the third port 23 side in the axial direction S from the second axial partition 42, which connects the second region 52 on the third port 23 side in the axial direction S from the second axial partition 42 to the third region 53 on the third port 23 side in the axial direction S from the third axial partition 43.

A fifth passage 65 is provided on the third port 23 side in the axial direction S of the third axial partition 43 in the fourth circumferential partition 34, connecting the third region 53 on the third port 23 side in the axial direction S of the third axial partition 43 with the fourth region 54.

Figures 1(A) and 1(B) show the first mode of the switching mode of the multiport valve 10. In the first mode, the first circumferential partition 31 is in an angular position between the first port 21 and the third port 23 and the second port 22 and the fourth port 24. In the first mode, the first port 21 and the third port 23 are connected through the fourth region 54. Also, the second port 22 and the fourth port 24 are connected through the first region 51 on the second port 22 side in the axial direction S from the first axial partition 41.

2(A), 2(B), and 2(C) show the second mode in the switching mode of the multiport valve 10. In the second mode, the second port 22 and the third port 23 are connected through the second region 52 on the second port 22 side in the axial direction S from the second axial partition 42, the second passage 62, and the first region 51 on the second port 22 side in the axial direction S from the first axial partition 41. Also, the first port 21 and the fourth port 24 are connected through the first region 51 on the first port 21 side in the axial direction S from the first axial partition 41, the first passage 61, the fourth region 54, the fifth passage 65, the third region 53 on the third port 23 side in the axial direction S from the third axial partition 43, the fourth passage 64, and the second region 52 on the third port 23 side in the axial direction S from the second axial partition 42.

3(A) and 3(B) show the third mode in the switching mode of the multiport valve 10. In the third mode, the first port 21 and the second port 22 are connected through the second region 52 on the second port 22 side in the axial direction S from the second axial partition 42, the third passage 63, and the third region 53 on the second port 22 side in the axial direction S from the third axial partition 43. Also, the third port 23 and the fourth port 24 are connected through the second region 52 on the third port 23 side in the axial direction S from the second axial partition 42, the fourth passage 64, and the third region 53 on the third port 23 side in the axial direction S from the third axial partition 43.

(Action)
The present embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below. In the multiport valve 10 according to the present embodiment, the valve body 14 has three switching modes, specifically, a first mode in which the first port 21 and the third port 23 are connected and the second port 22 and the fourth port 24 are connected, a second mode in which the first port 21 and the fourth port 24 are connected and the second port 22 and the third port 23 are connected, and a third mode in which the first port 21 and the second port 22 are connected and the third port 23 and the fourth port 24 are connected. As described above, the valve body 14 having various partitions and various passages is rotated in the space 16 of the housing 12 to change its angular position, thereby enabling the three switching modes. In particular, as shown in Figs. 2B and 2C, the connection between the first port 21 and the fourth port 24 in the second mode is made possible by utilizing the fourth region 54 and the third region 53 that do not face the first port 21 and the fourth port 24. In addition, the third axial partition 43 may be located in the third region 53 between the third port 23 and the fourth port 24.

1, in the first mode, the first port 21 and the third port 23 are connected, and the second port 22 and the fourth port 24 are connected. Other combinations are blocked. Specifically, the connection between the first port 21 and the second port 22 is blocked by the first circumferential partition 31, the second circumferential partition 32, the fourth circumferential partition 34, the first axial partition 41, the second axial partition 42, and the third axial partition 43. The connection between the third port 23 and the fourth port 24 is blocked by the first circumferential partition 31, the second circumferential partition 32, the fourth circumferential partition 34, the first axial partition 41, the second axial partition 42, and the third axial partition 43. The connection between the first port 21 and the fourth port 24 is blocked by the first circumferential partition 31, the second circumferential partition 32, the fourth circumferential partition 34, the first axial partition 41, the second axial partition 42, and the third axial partition 43. The connection between the second port 22 and the third port 23 is blocked by the first circumferential partition 31, the second circumferential partition 32, the fourth circumferential partition 34, the first axial partition 41, the second axial partition 42, and the third axial partition 43.

2, in the second mode, the first port 21 and the fourth port 24 are connected, and the second port 22 and the third port 23 are connected. Other combinations are blocked. Specifically, the connection between the first port 21 and the second port 22 is blocked by the second circumferential partition 32, the first circumferential partition 31, the fourth circumferential partition 34, the first axial partition 41, the second axial partition 42, and the third axial partition 43. The connection between the first port 21 and the third port 23 is blocked by the first circumferential partition 31, the second circumferential partition 32, the fourth circumferential partition 34, the first axial partition 41, the second axial partition 42, and the third axial partition 43. The connection between the second port 22 and the fourth port 24 is blocked by the first circumferential partition 31, the second circumferential partition 32, the fourth circumferential partition 34, the second axial partition 42, the third axial partition 43, and the first axial partition 41. The connection between the third port 23 and the fourth port 24 is blocked by the first circumferential partition 31, the second circumferential partition 32, the fourth circumferential partition 34, the second axial partition 42, the third axial partition 43, and the first axial partition 41.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the third mode, the first port 21 and the second port 22 are connected, and the third port 23 and the fourth port 24 are connected. Other combinations are blocked. Specifically, the connection between the first port 21 and the third port 23, the connection between the first port 21 and the fourth port 24, and the connection between the second port 22 and the fourth port 24 are blocked by the first circumferential partition 31, the second circumferential partition 32, the fourth circumferential partition 34, the first axial partition 41, the second axial partition 42, and the third axial partition 43, respectively.

In this way, according to this embodiment, many more flow path layouts are possible compared to the conventional example that has only two types of flow path layouts, making a variety of flow path layouts possible.

Although one example of an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The multi-port valve 10 has four ports, but it may have five or more ports. Also, the ports do not have to be arranged in a staggered pattern.

The configuration of the multi-port valve 10 can be achieved even without the third circumferential partition 33. If the third circumferential partition 33 is omitted, the third passage 63 and the fourth passage 64 formed in the third circumferential partition 33 also disappear, and the second region 52 and the third region 53 are connected to each other above and below the second axial partition 42 and the third axial partition 43, respectively.

10 Multi-port valve 12 Housing 14 Valve body 16 Space 21 First port 22 Second port 23 Third port 24 Fourth port 31 First circumferential partition 32 Second circumferential partition 33 Third circumferential partition 34 Fourth circumferential partition 41 First axial partition 42 Second axial partition 44 Third axial partition 51 First region 52 Second region 53 Third region 54 Fourth region 61 First passage 62 Second passage 63 Third passage 64 Fourth passage 65 Fifth passage C Circumferential direction S Axial direction

Claims (4)

a housing having a cylindrical space therein and at least four ports communicating with the space and arranged in an axial direction of the space;
a valve element that is disposed in the space and is rotatable in a circumferential direction of the space, and, assuming that the four ports are arranged in axial order as a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port, selects one of three switching modes in accordance with an angular position in the space: a first mode in which the first port connects the third port and the second port and the fourth port, a second mode in which the first port connects the fourth port and the second port and the third port, and a third mode in which the first port connects the second port and the third port, and the third port connects the fourth port;
having
The valve body is
a first circumferential partition, a second circumferential partition, and a fourth circumferential partition extending in an axial direction of the space and dividing the space in a circumferential direction in that order;
a first axial partition that axially divides a first region defined by the first circumferential partition and the second circumferential partition between the first port and the second port;
a second axial partition that axially divides a second region defined by the second circumferential partition and the fourth circumferential partition between the second port and the third port,
a first passage is provided in the first circumferential partition on the first port side of the first axial partition, the first passage communicating a fourth region defined by the fourth circumferential partition and the first circumferential partition with the first region on the first port side of the first axial partition in the axial direction,
a second passage is provided between the first axial partition and the second axial partition in the second circumferential partition, the second passage communicating between the first region on the second port side in the axial direction from the first axial partition and the second region on the second port side in the axial direction from the second axial partition,
a fifth passage is provided on the fourth circumferential partition on the axial side of the second axial partition to the third port, the fifth passage connecting the second region on the axial side of the second axial partition to the third port and the fourth region . The multi-port valve of claim 1, wherein the four ports are arranged in a staggered pattern in the axial direction of the space. a third circumferential partition is provided between the second circumferential partition and the fourth circumferential partition;
The second region is partitioned by the second circumferential partition and the third circumferential partition,
the second axial partition axially divides the second region between the second port and the third port;
a third region is defined by the third circumferential partition and the fourth circumferential partition,
a third axial partition is provided to axially divide the third region between the second port and the third port;
a third passage is provided on the third circumferential partition on the second port side in the axial direction from the second axial partition, the third passage communicating between the second region on the second port side in the axial direction from the second axial partition and the third region on the second port side in the axial direction from the third axial partition,
2. The multi-port valve according to claim 1, wherein a fourth passage is provided on the third circumferential partition on a side of the third port in the axial direction from the second axial partition, the fourth passage connecting the second region on the third port side of the second axial partition in the axial direction with the third region on the third port side of the third axial partition. in the first mode in which the first circumferential partition is in an angular position between the first port and the third port, and the second port and the fourth port, the first port and the third port are connected through the fourth region, and the second port and the fourth port are connected through the first region on the second port side in the axial direction from the first axial partition,
In the second mode in which the second circumferential partition is in an angular position between the first port and the third port, and the second port and the fourth port, the second port and the third port are connected to each other through the second region on the second port side in the axial direction from the second axial partition, the second passage, and the first region on the second port side in the axial direction from the first axial partition, and the first port and the fourth port are connected to each other through the first region on the first port side in the axial direction from the first axial partition, the first passage, the fourth region, the fifth passage, a third region on the third port side in the axial direction from the third axial partition, the fourth passage, and the second region on the third port side in the axial direction from the second axial partition,
4. The multiport valve according to claim 3, wherein in the third mode in which the third circumferential partition is in an angular position between the first port and the third port, and the second port and the fourth port, the first port and the second port are connected through the second region on the axial side of the second axial partition to the second port, the third passage, and the third region on the axial side of the second port to the third axial partition, and the third port and the fourth port are connected through the second region on the axial side of the third port to the third axial partition to the third port, the fourth passage, and the third region on the axial side of the third port to the third axial partition.