JP2003336754A - Fluid switching arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluid switching arrangement to facilitate assembly by simplifying the part structure and to lighten the valve switching operation. <P>SOLUTION: A rotary valve 50 having a plurality of valve openings at a predetermined interval on the peripheral surface in the longitudinal axial direction of a hollow cylindrical body, a seal member 40 having a plurality of opening holes provided opposite to these valve openings, are inserted into a through- hole 32 of a main body housing 31 and the flow path is switched by communicating a plurality of valve openings with any one of the opening holes of the seal member by rotating the rotary valve 50. The shapes of the valve opening of the rotary valve 50 and the opening hole of the seal member 40 are formed to be almost ellipse shape whose opening hole width in the longitudinal axial direction is long, the contacting surface is reduced and the rotating torque is made small by rotating the rotary valve 50 in the narrow range between the narrow long shaped valve opening and the opening hole of the seal member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluid switching tool provided with a switching mechanism capable of multi-stage switching, and more particularly to a fluid switching tool which is simple and easy to assemble, and which is thin and compact. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a fluid switching tool equipped with this type of switching mechanism, a multistage switching valve mechanism using a ball valve or a rotary valve has been proposed. However, such a fluid switching tool has a problem in that the seal around the valve is not always sufficient, the switching channel structure is complicated, and the pressure loss is large.

In order to solve this problem, there has been proposed a fluid switching tool having a simple structure for the flow path and having excellent sealing properties. For example, the fluid switching tool disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-3233 is one example. FIG. 6 shows a fluid switching tool disclosed in this publication, where FIG. 6A is a front sectional view and FIG.
Is a side sectional view, FIG. 7C is a partial structural view of the inside of the valve chamber, and FIG. 7D is an external perspective view of the rotary valve.

This fluid switching device has a first outlet 11 on the side of an upper inlet 10 on the same vertical plane and a second outlet 12 on the lower side.
And a valve chamber 1 having a third outlet 13 at a lower portion separated from the vertical surface by a predetermined distance, and a valve chamber having a rotation axis orthogonal to the vertical surface and having three openings 21, 22, 23. 1 has a hollow rotary valve 2 housed therein, and a switching lever 3 connected to one end of the rotary valve 2 and arranged outside the valve chamber.
And a central water outlet connected to an inlet 10 provided above the valve chamber and a water outlet 5 having a shower water outlet.

Then, the first to third outlets 11 and 1
Around the circumferences of 2 and 13, a sealing packing 6 that is in close contact with the rotary valve 2 is arranged, and the first opening 21 is provided in the range of 90 to 180 degrees in the circumferential direction and is always communicated with the inlet 10. The second opening 22 is in the same circumference as the opening 21 and communicates only with the second outlet 12, and the third opening 23 is the third opening 23. The second opening 22 communicates only with the third outlet 13 at a predetermined angle,
In addition, the outer circumference of both ends of the rotary valve 2 is shallower than the end side.
A groove for the ring is provided.

According to this structure, since the water passage formed by the rotary valve has a simple structure, the pressure loss of the water passage is extremely small, the outlet face of the valve chamber is sealed, and further, both ends of the rotary valve are sealed. Since the O-ring is provided in the groove, the sealing property can be improved.

[0007]

However, this fluid switching device is difficult to assemble and can be miniaturized because the individual parts, particularly the rotary valve and the sealing packing have a complicated structure. It has a problem that it does not exist. That is, the first to third parts formed on the rotary valve 2
Of the openings 21 to 23, since the raw water always flows from the faucet, the first opening 21 is provided with a groove up to almost half of the outer circumference of the tubular body.
The second opening 22 is provided so as to face the. For this reason, in the cylinder forming the rotary valve, the first and second openings 21 and 22 are formed in the same portion on the outer periphery of the cylinder, so that the diameter of the cylinder must be increased. However, there was a limit to reducing the diameter of the rotary valve.

Further, the valve chamber 1 must be fitted with a sealing packing 6 before the rotary valve 2 is assembled.
Since this attachment is performed by inserting a finger or a tool into the valve chamber, it is necessary to make the opening diameter of the valve chamber large enough to insert the tool or the like. In addition, since the sealing packing 6 must be attached to the peripheral wall surface in the valve chamber using an adhesive, the attaching operation needs to be accurate and requires skill to perform the operation.

On the other hand, the rotary valve must always maintain a good overall contact with the sealing packing so that the fluid does not leak even when the flow path is switched. However, it is not easy to maintain and adjust this contact on the entire surface, and if there is rotational fluctuation in the rotary valve, poor contact with the seal packing may result, which may cause deterioration of liquid tightness and local wear damage of the packing. Was becoming. Further, since the opening shapes of the rotary valve 2 and the sealing packing 6 are circular, the opening diameter must be increased in order to let out a predetermined flow rate, and therefore the rotary valve 2 and the sealing packing 6 are large. Therefore, the valve chamber 1 had to be enlarged accordingly.

Further, since the tubular portion of the rotary valve contacts the entire surface of the sealing packing and rotates, the frictional force is increased and the operating torque is inevitably increased. Furthermore, since the sealing packing 6 is a thin sheet, when the pressure of the fluid increases, the outflow hole portion in the closed state of the packing cannot withstand the pressure and is deformed toward the outflow passage side. There was a problem that the function of the packing was lost or damaged because it was pushed out to the exit.

The present invention has been made in view of solving the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fluid switching tool which simplifies the structure of parts and facilitates assembly. . Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid switching tool with reduced switching operation torque. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid switching tool that facilitates mounting of a sealing material. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid switching tool that facilitates contact adjustment between the rotary valve and the sealing material.

[0012]

The above object can be achieved by the following means and configurations.

According to the present invention, a rotary valve having a plurality of valve openings at predetermined intervals on the circumferential surface of a hollow cylindrical body in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of openings provided so as to face the valve openings. In the fluid switching tool, the sealing material is inserted into the through hole of the main body housing, and the rotary valve is rotated to communicate the valve opening with any one opening of the sealing material to switch the flow path. The valve opening of the valve and the opening of the sealing material are formed in an elongated shape that is long in the longitudinal axis direction and short in the direction orthogonal to the axis. According to this configuration, the rotary valve is rotated within a narrow range between the elliptical valve opening and the opening of the seal material, so that the contact surface is small and the rotational torque is small.

It is desirable that the sealing material is formed of a thick and thin plate-like elastic body, and a plurality of openings are arranged in a line in the plate-like elastic body. Further, it is preferable that both ends of the minor axis of the front sealing material are fixed by sliding insertion into the groove of the through hole. Further, it is desirable to provide a protrusion for pressing the rotary valve against the sealing material on the inner wall of the through hole.

Then, since the elongated plate-like elastic body has a predetermined wall thickness, even if the pressure of the fluid in the through hole of the main body housing becomes high, the elastic body is not deformed so much and is extruded into the outflow hole and damaged. Will disappear. Further, since the through-hole can be inserted and fixed from one end of the main body housing, a special tool is not required for mounting the sealing material, and the diameter of the through-hole can be reduced. Further, since the rotary valve is pressed against the seal material by the protrusion of the inner wall, the pressing force can be easily adjusted, and the switching failure due to the airtight leakage of the outflow hole and the wear damage of the seal material can be reduced.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the drawings are for explaining one embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this drawing.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a fluid switching tool according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a left side surface of the fluid switching tool.
2 (A) is a left side view with the nozzle removed, and FIG. 2 (B) is an enlarged view of the through hole. The fluid switching tool 30 includes a main body housing 31, a valve seat packing 40 and a rotary valve 50 fitted into a through hole 32 of the main body housing, a nozzle 60 attached to one end of the through hole 32, and a rotary valve 5.
The operating lever 70 is connected to one end of the 0.

The body housing 31 is a block body having a predetermined thickness and an arbitrary outer shape, for example, a flat shape or a disk shape, and is made of a synthetic resin material. The main body housing 31 has a through hole 32 penetrating the main body housing from one end surface to the other end surface along the longitudinal axis direction. The through-hole 32 has a large opening diameter from the left side of the drawing along the longitudinal axis direction, a large opening diameter 32a into which a nozzle is press-fitted, a middle opening diameter 32b into which a rotary valve is rotatably mounted, and a rotary valve. It has a small hole diameter 32c through which the rod body of FIG.

Among them, the middle opening diameter 32b is enlarged by cutting off a part of the bottom surface thereof to form an opening diameter 32b 'of a width into which a valve seat packing described later can be inserted, and U-shapes are provided at both ends of the enlarged opening 32b'. Groove portions 34a, 34c are formed, and two ridge projections 34d, 34d 'are formed along the longitudinal axis on the inner peripheral wall surface of the middle opening diameter 32b that is substantially opposite to the enlarged opening 32b'. . The width and height of the U-shaped grooves 34a and 34c are formed so that the end side of the valve seat packing 40 can be slid and inserted.

The heights of the protrusions 34d and 34d 'are such that the rotary valve is pressed against the valve seat packing with an appropriate pressing force while the valve seat packing 40 and the rotary valve 50 are mounted in the through holes. Have. This pressing force can be adjusted by adjusting the height at the time of forming the protruding projections 34d and 34d '. Moreover, since the protruding projection presses the rotary valve against the valve seat packing, as in the prior art, the through hole The pressing force can be adjusted more easily than the case where the entire surface is in contact with the inner peripheral wall surface. The number of ridge protrusions is not limited to two and may be one or more, and the ridge shape may be continuous or discontinuous.

In the through hole 32, one opening 33a is formed above the axis orthogonal to the central point in the longitudinal axis direction.
An opening 33b is formed in the lower bottom surface portion so as to face the opening 33b, and an opening 33c is formed close to the opening 33b in the longitudinal axis direction.
33d is provided. Each of the openings 33a to 33d is formed in an elongated shape that is long in the longitudinal axis direction and short in the direction orthogonal to the axis. This shape faces the opening shape of the rotary valve described later and is formed in substantially the same shape. Opening 33a
Is an inflow hole into which the fluid flows, and the openings 33b to 33d are
It functions as an outlet for the fluid to flow out.

A cylindrical projection 35 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body housing 31 so as to surround the opening and has a diameter large enough to fit the faucet packing therein. A male screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical projection 35. Engraved, the female screw of the mounting nut 80 is screwed into the male screw. Also, two openings 33b, 33c
Is formed by enlarging the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the main body housing and engraving an internal thread on the inner peripheral wall, and meshes 66a, 66b are formed on the internal thread.
And the male threads of the mesh sleeves 67a and 67b are screwed together. The mesh sleeve discharges fluid in a shower shape through the mesh.

Further, in the remaining openings 33d, the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the main body housing is further increased to the vicinity of the tip of the opening, and a female screw is engraved on the inner peripheral surface of the opening to change the flow path 65.
It is screwed with the male screw.

The open end of the through hole 32 is reduced in diameter so that the nozzle 60 is attached to one open end and the rod body of the rotary valve is rotatably inserted into the open end of the other end. Also,
The open end surface is provided with a plurality of depressions at predetermined intervals. Each recess has a hemispherical shape, and a sphere 74 is fitted in the recess to position the operation lever 70 at a predetermined position.

The diameter of the through hole 32 is reduced along the longitudinal axis, and the diameter of the middle hole 32b is enlarged by cutting off a part of the bottom surface of the hole 32a, 34c.
However, it is needless to say that the shape is not limited to these and can be changed to any shape. Similarly, although the openings 33b to 33d are provided in the flat portion, they may be provided in the arcuate surface portion.

FIG. 3 shows a valve seat packing, FIG. 3 (A) is a plan view, and FIG. 3 (B) is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3 (A). The valve seat packing 40 is an elongated plate-like body 41 having a predetermined wall thickness, is made of an elastic material such as a rubber material, and has a function as a sealing material. Its width is
It has a width and a length that are shorter than the length in the longitudinal direction and that can form a plurality of openings 43a to 43c along the longitudinal axis direction. The plurality of openings 43a to 43c are provided at positions facing the respective openings provided in the rotary valve 50. The size of each of the openings 43a to 43c is substantially the same as that of the opening formed in the rotary valve.

That is, the aperture shape has an elongated shape which is long in the longitudinal axis direction of the plate-like body 41 and short in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis direction. Further, the periphery of the surface of each of the openings 43a to 43c has a ridge projection 4 having a predetermined width and height.
It is surrounded by 4a to 44c. The ridge of the ridge has a predetermined elasticity, and when it comes into contact with the open surface of the rotary valve,
Due to this elasticity, a liquid-tight seal is achieved. Also,
Both width ends of the plate-shaped body 41 pass through a step portion and are thin strips 42a,
42b is formed. This wall thickness is slightly shorter than the U-shaped groove width of the main body housing.

FIG. 4 shows a rotary valve, which is shown in FIG.
4A is a side view, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A taken along the central longitudinal axis. Further, FIG. 5A shows A- of FIG.
5 is a sectional view taken along line A-B in FIG. 4 (A), and FIG. 5 (C) is a sectional view taken in line C-C in FIG. 4 (A).

The rotary valve 50 has a plurality of valve openings 54.
It is composed of a circular cylindrical body 51a having a to 56 and a rod body 51b to which the operation lever 70 is attached, and is made of a synthetic resin material or a metal material. The rod body 51b has an outer peripheral surface
A concave groove 51c in which an O-ring is mounted and a bottomed hole 5 at the end.
3 is provided, and an internal thread is engraved on the inner peripheral surface of the bottomed hole. In FIG. 4B, the valve openings 55 and 56 are hidden and invisible, but the arrangement of the valve openings is shown in FIG.

The valve opening 54 located substantially in the center of the circular cylindrical body 51a is located at a position opposed to the inflow hole 33a and the water discharge hole 33b, and three adjacent valves are arranged at a predetermined interval on the same circumferential surface. It consists of openings 54a to 54c. Each opening 54a
The arrangement of 54c is about 180 degrees between one end of the first valve opening 54a and the center position of the third valve opening 54c, and the second valve opening 54b is located between the first valve opening 54a and the third valve opening 54c.
Exists, and the angle between the first valve opening end 54a and the second valve opening end 54b is formed to be approximately 60 degrees. Each of these valve openings 54
Any one of a to 54c communicates with the inflow port 33a to form a fluid inflow path. The first valve opening is the inlet 33.
When communicating with a, the third valve opening 54c is
It will be arranged at a position facing b.

A plurality of valve openings 55, 56 are provided adjacent to the valve opening 54 located in the central portion. That is, referring to FIG. 5, as seen in FIG. 5B, the valve opening 54 located in the central portion is located above the first and second valve openings 54a and 54b, and the third valve opening 54c is located above the horizontal line. When the angle between the center of the opening and the vertical axis is approximately 120 degrees, the adjacent one valve opening 56 is located immediately below the vertical axis (see FIG. (C)), and the other valve opening 55 is The angle between the vertical axis and the center line of the opening is approximately 120 degrees.
(See Figure (A)).

Each of the valve openings 54 to 55 has the same shape as that of the openings 43a to 43c of the valve seat packing, that is, has a long horizontal width in the longitudinal axis direction and a short vertical width in the axial direction orthogonal to this axis. Then, it is formed into an elongated shape. Then, the flow passage switching is performed between the valve openings 54 to 55 of the rotary valve and the openings 43a to 43c of the valve seat packing between at least one of the plurality of valve openings of the rotary valve 50 and the valve seat packing. The flow path is switched by communicating with any one of the openings. At this time, since the valve opening and the opening are formed in an elongated shape, the flow rate can be increased as compared with the circular opening.

Further, in this aspect, when the rotary valve is rotated, the contact area between the cylindrical body of the rotary valve and the valve seat packing is reduced. That is, the lateral width of the valve seat packing is short, the cylindrical body rotates in this range, and the convex projection formed on the peripheral surface of the opening of the valve seat packing is brought into pressure contact with the opening of the cylindrical body. Therefore, the contact area between the cylindrical body of the rotary valve and the valve seat packing is further reduced, and the operation of the operation lever is lightened. The elongated shape of the valve opening and valve seat opening should be adjusted according to the width and length of the valve seat packing.
The shape can be changed to an arbitrary shape such as an elliptical shape.

Referring to FIG. 1, the nozzle 60 is a tubular body formed by bending a short tube from a substantially middle portion to a substantially right angle, and is provided with cavities 62b and 62c inside and is made of a synthetic resin material.
One of the short tubes 61b has an outer shape of a circular cylinder, the end 63 is closed, and the diameter thereof is such that the short tube 61b is press-fitted into the opening 32a of the main body housing. In addition, a closed end surface 6 is provided on the peripheral surface.
3, an opening 62a is formed in the lower part in the vicinity of 3, and a groove into which an O-ring can be attached is formed. An opening is opened in the other short tube 61a, and a mesh 66c is inserted into the sleeve 6 in the opening.
It is installed by 7c.

Further, referring to FIG. 1, the operating lever 70 is composed of a bulging portion and a lever integrally formed with the bulging portion. A screw hole 72 is provided in the central portion of the bulging portion, and a bottomed hole 71 is provided in a portion facing the main body housing, and an elastic body 75 and a ball 74 are inserted into the hole.

This fluid switching tool is assembled by the following method. Referring to FIG. 1, the main body housing through hole 32
From one open end, the valve seat packing 40 is inserted by sliding the strips 42a and 42b into the U-shaped grooves 34a and 34b facing each other. By this insertion, the valve seat packing 40 enters and is fixed in the grooves 34a, 34b and the tip groove 34c.

Next, the rotary valve 50 is inserted from the same open end. This insertion is the tip 52b of the rotary valve rod body.
Is inserted into the opening, and the circular cylindrical body portion 51a is further pushed while being pressed against the surface of the valve seat packing 40. By this push-in insertion, the outer peripheral surface of the circular cylindrical body 51a is brought into contact with the convex protrusion 34d on the upper surface, and the cylindrical body 51a is pushed downward to strongly press the lower surface against the valve seat packing 40. The shaped body is rotatably brought into contact with the valve seat packing 40 in a liquid-tight manner.

After inserting the valve seat packing 40 and the rotary valve 50 into the through hole 32, the nozzle 60 is press-fitted and fixed to the open end. Further, the operation lever 70 has an elastic body 75 in a bottomed hole 71 formed in a surface facing the end surface of the main body housing.
The balls 74 are sequentially inserted, and the operating lever is fixed to the rod body 52b with the screw 73.

Further, in the main body housing 31, the faucet packing 36 is mounted in the cylindrical projection 35 on the upper surface, and the cylindrical projection 3
The mounting nut 80 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the screw 5 by screwing. The faucet (not shown) is inserted into the opening 36a of the faucet packing 36, and the switching nut is fixed to the faucet by fixing the mounting nut 80. Further, in the main body housing 31, the meshes 66a, 6 are formed in the openings 33c, 33b formed on the bottom surface.
6b is fixed by sleeves 67a and 67b, and the conversion plate 65 is attached to the other opening 33a.

According to this embodiment, since the rotary shaft and the valve seat packing for the opening can be mounted by only inserting from the open end of the opening end, the valve seat packing can be attached by using an adhesive in the opening. Since there is no need to mount it, and no tools or the like are required, the opening diameter of the main body housing 31 can be reduced. Further, since the opening diameter of the main body housing 31 is reduced, the width and height of the main body housing are also reduced, and the switching tool can be miniaturized.

The fluid switching tool 30 assembled in this way
Is attached to a faucet (not shown), the fluid flowing from the faucet flows into the opening of the rotary valve 50 through the opening 33a of the main body housing. This fluid passes through at least one of the plurality of openings of the rotary valve 50, passes through the tubular body of the rotary valve, and each of the openings 33b to 3b.
It is discharged from any one of the openings 3d.

With reference to FIG. 5, for example, in a state where the valve opening 56 is located right below the vertical axis, the fluid flows into the inlet 33a.
Through the first and second valve openings 54a and 54b, flow in the hollow cylindrical body, the valve opening 56, the opening 43b of the valve seat packing,
It will flow out through the opening 33c. In this state, the valve openings 54c and 55 are blocked by the inner wall of the through hole or the valve seat packing and will not leak from these openings. Further, when the rotary valve is rotated by operating the operation lever and the valve opening 56 is closed, the other valve opening 5
4c or the valve opening 55 communicates with each other, and the fluid flows out from any one of the valve openings.

When the valve opening 55 is in communication, the fluid passes through the opening 33d, the flow path is changed by the conversion plate 65, and the fluid is discharged from the nozzle through the openings 62a, 62b and 62c.
Of course, when the opening is not in communication with any of the openings, the opening of the valve seat packing is covered with the tubular body of the rotary valve,
No fluid will flow out.

[0044]

According to this structure, since the rotary valve is rotated within a narrow range between the elongated valve opening and the opening of the sealing material, the contact surface is small and the rotation torque is small. Also, since the elongated plate-like elastic body has a predetermined wall thickness, even if the fluid pressure in the through hole of the main body housing becomes high, it will not be deformed and will be pushed out to the outflow hole and will not be damaged. Moreover, since it can be inserted and fixed from one end of the through hole of the main body housing, a special tool is not required for mounting the sealing material, and the diameter of the through hole can be reduced. Furthermore, since the rotary valve is pressed against the sealing material by the protrusion on the inner wall, the pressing force can be easily adjusted.
It is possible to reduce switching failure due to airtight leakage of the outflow hole and wear damage of the seal material.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a fluid switching tool according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a left side view of the fluid switching tool of FIG. 1, FIG.
FIG. 2A is a left side view with the nozzle removed, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the through hole.

3 shows a valve seat packing that constitutes the fluid switching tool of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 (A) is a plan view, and FIG. 3 (B) is A of FIG. 3 (A).
FIG.

4A and 4B show a rotary valve constituting the fluid switching tool of FIG. 1, FIG. 4A is a side view, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A taken along the central longitudinal axis.

5A is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4A, FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 4A, and FIG. It is the CC sectional view taken on the line of (A).

FIG. 6 shows a conventional fluid switching tool, FIG. 6 (A) is a front sectional view, FIG. 6 (B) is a side sectional view, FIG. 6 (C) is a partial structural view of the inside of a valve chamber, and FIG. D) is an external perspective view of the rotary valve.

[Explanation of symbols]

30 Fluid switching tool 31 body housing 32 through holes 33a-33d Open holes 40 Seal material (valve seat packing) 43a to 43c Open holes (for valve seat packing) 50 rotary valve 54-56 valve opening 60 nozzles 70 Control lever

Continued front page    F term (reference) 3H067 AA12 AA23 CC32 CC33 CC45                       DD03 DD12 DD23 EA03 EA06                       FF17 GG13

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A rotary valve having a plurality of valve openings at predetermined intervals on a circumferential surface of a hollow cylindrical body in the longitudinal axis direction, and a seal having a plurality of openings provided facing the valve openings. And a material is inserted into the through hole of the main body housing, and the rotary valve is rotated to communicate the valve opening with any one opening of the sealing material to switch the flow path. A fluid switching tool characterized in that the valve opening and the sealing material opening are formed in an elongated shape that is long in a longitudinal axis direction and short in a direction orthogonal to the axis. 2. The fluid switching device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material is formed of a thick and thin plate-like elastic body, and a plurality of openings are arranged in a line in the plate-like elastic body. Ingredient 3. The fluid switching tool according to claim 1, wherein the front seal member has both ends of its short axis fixed by sliding insertion into the groove of the through hole. 4. A projection for pressing a rotary valve against a sealing material is provided on an inner wall of the through hole.
4. A fluid switching tool according to any one of 3 to 3.