JP2757997B2 - Four-way switching valve device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement of a switching valve device which is suitable for maintaining a cooling or heating state such as a cooling / heating switching of an air conditioner or the like, and further relates to a valve. The present invention relates to a switching valve device configured to reduce an impact sound when the device is operated.

[Conventional technology]

In the prior art, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a valve device usually uses an electromagnet as a drive source. Such an electromagnetic switching device is generally driven by an electromagnetic coil 40 for generating a magnetic field and the magnetic field. It comprises a movable body, that is, a plunger 41 and a spring 43 for returning the plunger 41 to its original position when the magnetic field disappears.

An example of the operation when the electromagnetic switching valve device having such a structure is used for the pilot switching valve portion P of a four-way switching valve will be described with reference to FIG.

That is, FIG. 4 shows a structure in which the above-described electromagnetic switching valve device and the four-way switching valve device are integrated. In an initial state, in the pilot valve portion P, the plunger 41 is shifted to the left and the valve portion is moved. The port 31 opens the port 35 and communicates with the high-pressure fluid port 32, but the port 33 communicates with the low-pressure port 34 by the valve. Accordingly, in the four-way switching valve 51, the pressure in the right valve chamber 52 becomes high, and the valve element 54 moves to the left end together with the partition walls 55 and 56, and connects the pipe 58 to the pipe 59.

A high-pressure fluid flows from the pipe 61 into the four-way switching valve.

Next, by energizing the coil, the plunger 41 is sucked against the spring 43 in the direction of the arrow.
The port 31 opens the port 33 to be in communication with the high pressure fluid port 32, while the port 35 is in communication with the low pressure side port 34.
Then, the high-pressure fluid in the valve chamber 52 on the right side of the four-way switching valve 51 flows out of the low-pressure side port 34 and becomes a low pressure, while the port 33 becomes the port.
The high-pressure fluid flows into the valve chamber 53 to form a high-pressure part because it communicates with the valve 32, so that the valve element 54 moves to the right end together with the partitions 55 and 56 to conduct the pipe 60 and the pipe 59. The pipe 59 has a low pressure.

However, according to the conventional technique, it is necessary to apply a large force to the plunger 41 at least equal to the sum of the force for compressing the spring 43 and the force for moving the valve 31. Therefore, when the plunger is actuated and collides with the end cap 38, the plunger having a considerable speed collides with the end cap, so that a considerably loud impact sound is generated.

Also, in such a situation, mechanical damage to the plunger and the end cap requires severe replacement of the part in a short period of time, which not only reduces the working efficiency but also increases the production cost. Was.

Further, in the related art, since the solenoid valve is used, the operating force is small, and when used in a portion where the operating force is required, the pilot method has to be used, so that a complicated structure must be adopted. Did not get. In order to cover this, a large-sized device must be used to generate the stroke and operating force. In addition, it is necessary to keep the solenoid valve energized during operation. Was disadvantageous.

Furthermore, the use of electromagnets limits the materials used, and when using AC power, there is a problem that a beat sound is generated during energization.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to improve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, to make the operation of the valve slow during operation and to reduce the impact noise, thereby improving the function and life of the switching valve device, An object of the present invention is to provide a switching valve device capable of improving efficiency and working environment and reducing production cost.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention, as means for solving the above problems,
As set forth in the claims, a set of two separators (2,3) integrated in a valve body (1) so as to be able to slide in an airtight manner with respect to the valve body (1) is provided. A valve chamber (4) is formed between (2, 3) and a differential pressure chamber (5, 6) is formed between the separator (2, 3) and each end of the valve body (1). At the same time, a portion of the valve body (1) corresponding to the valve chamber (4) has an inflow port (A) of a fluid inflow pipe (7) and a fluid outflow of a plurality of fluid outflow and inflow pipes (8, 9, 10). Inlets (B, C, D) are provided, and the outflow / inlet (B, C, D) of the fluid is selected by a switching valve (11) which slides integrally with the separators (2, 3). Each of the separators (2, 3) is provided with a sub-valve (12, 13), and the sub-valve (12, 13) is provided at each end of the valve body (1). Operation element (14) provided in the unit
The opening of the valve port is performed by the operation shaft (19) of the switching valve (11), and the slow operation element (14) is configured to operate at least one of the slow operation elements (1) when the switching valve (11) is operated.
4) is operated, and the operation shaft (19) of the slow operation element (14) is actuated by the operation of at least one of the slow operation elements (14). ) Is pressed to open the valve port thereof.

〔Example〕

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in the form of an embodiment with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, a four-way switching valve device according to the present invention has a high-pressure fluid inlet A and a plurality of, here three fluid outlets.
It has a valve structure having B, C, and D, and its main function is to switch the direction of the flow of fluid in a device using the fluid.

In the main body 1, two slidable pieces can be slid in an airtight manner.
A pair of separators 2 and 3 are provided, and a valve chamber 4 is formed between the separators. In the present invention, the separator
Differential pressure chambers 5 and 6 are formed between the end portions 2 and 3 and the respective ends of the valve body 1, respectively.

Further, a portion corresponding to the valve chamber 4 of the valve body 1 has an inlet A of the fluid inflow pipe 7 and a plurality of fluid outflow and inflow pipes 8,
Fluid outflow ports B, C, and D are provided, and the fluid outflow ports B, C, and D are selected by a switching valve 11 that slides integrally with the pair of separators 2, 3. It can be closed and opened. Now, in FIG. 1, the switching valve 11 is shifted to the left end to make the fluid outflow and inflow pipes 8 and 9 communicate with each other.
This shows a state in which the fluid is connected to the fluid outflow / inflow pipe 10.

Accordingly, the switching valve 11 moves in the left and right directions in each drawing to remove the surface of the valve body portion 20 in which the fluid outflow ports B, C, and D at the ends of the fluid outflow and inflow pipes 8, 9, and 10 are open. It is slidable. And the switching valve 11 depends on its position.
It is dimensioned so that it can cover any two adjacent fluid outlets B, C, D together, and at the same time, any two fluid outlets B, C,
It is necessary that D is configured to be able to conduct in the switching valve 11. In the present invention, each of the separators is further provided with a sub-valve 12,13.

Further, in the valve device of the present invention, a slow-moving element 14 is provided at each end of the valve main body 1, and when its operating shaft 19 needs to operate the switching valve, it comes into contact with the sub-valve. By pressing this, the sub-valve is opened. On the other hand, a constant temperature heating element 15 is joined to the outer end face of the slow operation element.

The constant temperature heating element generates heat by an appropriate heating means, for example, an energizing means, and heats the slow operation element to displace the operation shaft.

The slow-moving element used in the present invention is preferably a heat-sensitive slow-moving element that performs slow operation in response to a change in temperature, and a wax-type thermoelement, commonly called a wax thermo element, can be used. . It is also possible to use a shape memory alloy as the slow operation element.

The constant-temperature heating element is not particularly limited, but may be any substance that can be set to a constant temperature by appropriate means, such as a heater.

When the constant-temperature heating element 15 is energized to raise the temperature of the constant-temperature heating element, the slow-moving element 14 made of wax thermo is heated, so that the operating shaft of the slow-moving element is heated.
19 gradually expands and presses the sub-valve of the separator in a gentle operation.

In the present invention, the actuating shaft 19 of the slow-moving element may be brought into direct contact with the sub-valve 1, preferably in contact with the sub-valve 1 via a spring receiver 21 which is acted on by a return spring 16. It is effective to make it work.

In FIG. 1, the high-pressure fluid inflow pipe 7 and the fluid outflow / inflow pipe 10 conduct to form a high pressure side, and the fluid outflow / inflow pipe 8 and the fluid outflow / inflow pipe 9 conduct to form a low pressure side. The state is shown.

Accordingly, the differential pressure chamber 5 is at a low pressure because the high-pressure fluid flows out of the thin tube 17, and the differential pressure chamber 6 is at a high pressure. Was moved to a position close to and kept at that position.

In this state, since no current is supplied to any of the constant temperature heating elements 15, the operation shaft 19 of the slow operation element is pushed back by the return spring 16 and is in contact with the auxiliary valve. Absent.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the constant-temperature heating element 15 on the left side of the valve body is energized, the operating shaft 19 is displaced rightward by the gentle operation due to the action of the slow-acting element 14, and the separator Press the second sub-valve 13 to open the valve.

Then, the high-pressure fluid in the valve chamber flows into the differential pressure chamber 5.
At this time, the high-pressure fluid also flows into the thin tube 17, but since the flow of the fluid is restricted because the orifice 18 is present in the thin tube 17, the pressure in the differential pressure chamber 5 becomes high and finally the valve chamber 4 And the same pressure as the differential pressure chamber 6.

On the other hand, the operating shaft 19 is further displaced, and the separator is pushed rightward, and at the same time, the switching valve is also moved rightward. Can move the switching valve with a small force.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the switching valve moves and the fluid outflow / inflow pipe 9 and the fluid outflow / inflow pipe 10 conduct, the high-pressure fluid in the differential pressure chamber 6 flows out through the small pipe 17 to the fluid outflow / inflow pipe 10. ,
A pressure difference is formed between the valve chamber 4 and the differential pressure chamber 6, and the pressure difference thereafter causes the switching valve to gradually move to the right, and is finally held at that position by the pressure difference. . At this time, the power supply to the constant temperature heating element 15 may be stopped, and the operating shaft 19 is then pushed back to the original position by the return spring 16 and stands by for the next operation.

〔The invention's effect〕

Therefore, in the present invention, the stroke of the slow motion element required to move the switching valve may be short, and the force thereof may be small.

Further, in the present invention, as described above, since the switching valve can maintain its state depending on the differential pressure, there is no need to provide a lock mechanism.

When the switching valve is moved in the opposite direction, the above steps may be performed in reverse.

It should be noted that the four-way switching valve device of the present invention can be used for a pilot portion to operate a larger switching valve.
Also, bellows, bimetal, etc. can be used as the slow operation element.

In the present invention, the sub-valves 12 and 13 are attached to the separators 2 and 3 by an appropriate spring 22.

The valve device according to the present invention has a simple structure and is easy to handle, so that it can be used in a wide range of fields.

Further, in the present invention, since the valve is slowly operated by using the slow operation element, not only can the impact sound be reduced, but also, unlike the solenoid valve, the slow operation element itself produces a force. There are no restrictions on the materials, and the cost is reduced.

Also, in the present invention, the switching valve is operated by utilizing the differential pressure of the fluid, so that the stroke and the operating force of the slow operation element can be reduced, so that the entire valve device can be made compact. Becomes

Also, since the operating force is generated without using a large coil, the valve device can be downsized.

Further, in the four-way switching valve device of the present invention, slow operation elements are mounted on both sides of the valve, respectively, and when the switching valve is activated, only one of the slow operation elements is energized, and after the valve is activated, the energization is stopped. Since the position of the valve can be maintained, it is economical and the production cost can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view showing an example of a four-way switching valve device according to the present invention. 2 and 3 are enlarged cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the four-way switching valve device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an example of a four-way switching valve device using a conventional solenoid valve device. 1, ... valve body, 2,3 ... separator, 4, ... valve chamber, 5,6 ... differential pressure chamber, 7,
… Fluid inflow pipe (high pressure fluid), 8, 9, 10… Fluid inflow / outflow pipe, 1
1, switching valve, 12, 13 auxiliary valve, 14, slow operation element, 15, constant temperature heating element, 16, return spring, 17, thin tube, 18
... orifice, 19, operating shaft, 20, valve body, 21, spring receiver, 22, spring, 31, valve part, 32, high pressure fluid port, 33, 34, 35, port, 38 , End cap, 40, electromagnetic coil, 41, plunger, 43, spring, 51, valve body, 52, 53, differential pressure chamber, 54, switching valve,
55, 56, ... separator, 58, 59, 60, fluid outflow / inlet pipe, 61, fluid inflow pipe (high-pressure fluid).

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A pair of separators integrated in a valve body so as to be slidable in an airtight manner with respect to the valve body, a valve chamber is provided between the separators, and the separator plate and the valve body are provided. A differential pressure chamber is formed between each end of the valve body, and an inlet of a fluid inlet pipe and a fluid outlet of a plurality of fluid outlet / inlet pipes are provided in a portion of the valve body corresponding to the valve chamber. The fluid inlet and outlet are selectively closed and opened by a switching valve that slides integrally with the separator, and each of the separators is provided with a sub-valve. The valve opening is configured to be opened by an operation shaft of a slow operation element provided at each end of the valve body, and the slow operation element is configured to operate at least one of the switching valves when the switching valve is operated. The slow motion element is configured to operate, and at least one of the slow motion elements is configured to operate. Four-way switching valve device, characterized in that for opening the valve port to press the auxiliary valve to the actuating shaft of the slow operation element corresponding to the movement.