JP2006300162A - Electric three-way valve and alkali ion water generator with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric three-way valve and an alkali ion water generator equipped with the same capable of forming three kinds of flow passages by simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: A valve element 14 is rotationally driven, and thereby a first passage 14e and an inflow port 123a are connected, and the first passage 14e and a first outflow port 111b are connected. Thus, a first flow passage is formed. When the valve element 14 is rotated at 90 degrees with respect to the clockwise direction, a second passage 14f and the inflow port 123a and a second outflow port 111c are connected. Thus, a second flow passage is formed. When the valve element 14 is rotated at 90 degrees with respect to the clockwise direction, the first passage 14e and the first outflow port 111b are connected, and the first passage 14e and the second outflow port 111c are connected. Thus, a third flow passage is formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric three-way valve and an alkaline ionized water apparatus provided with the same.

  Conventionally, an electric three-way valve using a ball-shaped valve body is sometimes used to switch a fluid flow path (for example, Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 6, this type of three-way valve includes a valve case 101, a valve cover 102 that closes the valve case 101, and an inlet 101 a and a second end constituted by the end of a pipe extending from the valve case 101. An outflow port 101 b, a first outflow port 102 a configured by an end of a pipe extending from the valve cover 102, and a valve chamber 105 are provided in the valve case 101.

  The three-way valve includes a ball-shaped valve body 106 provided at a crossing portion of a flow path that connects the inlet 101a, the first outlet 102a, and the second outlet 101b in the valve chamber 105, and a ball-like valve body 106. A valve shaft 108 disposed on the central axis of the valve body 106 and connected to the output shaft of the motor 107, holds the ball-shaped valve body 106, and has a valve chamber 105, an inlet 101a, a first outlet 102a, A packing 109 is provided to prevent fluid leakage between the second outlet 101b.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the ball-shaped valve body 106 is formed with an inflow passage 106a and an outflow passage 106b having a circular cross section that merges near the center.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-18470

  In the electric three-way valve shown in FIG. 6 described above, the flow path is switched by rotationally driving the ball-shaped valve body 106 via the valve shaft 108 by the motor 107. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, the outflow path 106b and the first outlet 102a are connected. The inflow path 106a and the inflow port 101a are always connected. Thereby, the flow path of the fluid from the inflow port 101a to the 1st outflow port 102a can be comprised. Further, from the state shown in FIG. 6 (a), the ball-shaped valve body 106 is switched by rotating it clockwise by 180 degrees, as shown in FIG. 6 (b). 101b is connected. Thereby, the flow path of the fluid from the inflow port 101a to the 2nd outflow port 101b can be comprised.

  However, such an electric three-way valve has a problem that it can only perform switching that constitutes two types of flow paths, and cannot perform switching that constitutes three types of flow paths.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an electric three-way valve capable of constituting three types of flow paths with an easy structure and an alkaline ionized water device provided with the electric three-way valve. The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the electric three-way valve of the present invention is
An electric motor comprising a valve body that is driven to rotate, and a valve body that houses the valve body rotatably in the valve chamber, and has first to third ports that communicate with the valve chamber and are arranged in a T-shape. A three-way valve
The first port and the third port are linearly arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the central axis of the valve body, and the second port is an axial direction of the central axis of the valve body and Arranged on the bottom side of the valve body,
The valve body includes an L-shaped first passage that communicates a bottom surface and a surface orthogonal to the bottom surface, and a second passage formed so as to penetrate in a direction orthogonal to the first passage. And
By rotating the valve body, the first passage of the valve body can be connected to the first port and the second port, and the second port and the third port,
When the valve body rotates, the second passage of the valve body can be connected to the first port and the third port.

  Further, the first port may constitute an inflow port, the second port may constitute a first outflow port, and the third port may constitute a second outflow port.

  The valve body may be a ball-shaped valve body having a chamfered surface communicating with the first passage and the second passage.

  Moreover, you may make it comprise with a valve case and the valve cover which block | closes the opening part of this valve case.

  Moreover, the alkaline ionized water device of the present invention is characterized by including the above-described electric three-way valve.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric three-way valve capable of forming three types of flow paths with an easy structure and an alkali ion water conditioner including the same.

  An electric three-way valve according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The electric three-way valve 10 is used as a switching valve for switching and changing the flow path of a fluid in, for example, an alkaline ionized water device. The electric three-way valve 10 has one inflow port and two outflow ports.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electric three-way valve 10 includes a valve case 11, a valve cover 12 that closes an opening of the valve case 11, and a valve chamber 13 that is a space formed by the valve case 11 and the valve cover 12. The valve body 14 disposed in the valve chamber 13 and the valve shaft 15 connected to the output shaft of the motor 16 are provided. The valve case 11 and the valve cover 12 constitute a valve body.

  The valve case 11 is mainly for holding the valve body 14 in the valve chamber 13. The valve case 11 includes a valve case main body 11a constituting the valve chamber 13, a first outflow pipe 11b and a second outflow pipe 11c formed extending from the valve case main body 11a, and a bearing portion 11d of the valve shaft 15. And. One surface of the valve case body 11 a is open, and this opening is closed by the valve cover 12. The 1st outflow pipe 11b is formed in the lower surface facing the upper surface in which the bearing part 11d of the valve case main body 11a was formed. That is, the first outflow pipe 11b has the same axial direction as the valve shaft 15. The end of the first outflow pipe 11b is a first outlet 111b (second port). Moreover, the 2nd outflow pipe 11c is formed in the surface orthogonal to the surface in which the 1st outflow pipe 11b was formed in the surface facing the surface closed by the valve cover 12 of the valve case 11a. That is, the first outflow pipe 11b and the second outflow pipe 11c are formed to extend in a direction orthogonal to each other. The end of the second outflow pipe 11c is a second outlet 111c (third port).

  The valve cover 12 closes one surface of the valve case body 11 a and forms a valve chamber 13 together with the valve case 11. The valve cover 12 is attached to the valve case main body 11a by a screw 18, and a gap between the valve cover 12 and the valve case main body 11a is sealed by an O-ring 17. The valve cover 12 is formed with an L-shaped inflow pipe 12a extending. The inflow pipe 12 a includes a horizontal portion 121 a that has the same axial direction as the second outflow pipe 11 c and a vertical portion 122 a that extends in the axial direction of the valve shaft 15. That is, the horizontal part 121a is arranged linearly with the second outflow pipe 11c. The vertical portion 122a is opened at the top, and its end is an inflow port 123a (first port). The horizontal portion 121a, the first outflow pipe 11b, and the second outflow pipe 11c of the inflow pipe 12a communicate with the valve chamber 13 and are arranged in a T shape.

  The valve body 14 is disposed in the valve chamber 13 via a plurality of packings 19. The valve body 14 is rotatably held in the valve chamber 13 by a packing 19. Through the packing 19, leakage of fluid from the valve chamber 13 to the inflow pipe 12a, the first outflow pipe 11b, and the second outflow pipe 11c, or the inflow pipe 12a, the first outflow pipe 11b, and the second Leakage from the outflow pipe 11c to the valve chamber 13 can be prevented.

  The valve body 14 is for switching and changing the fluid flow path by being rotationally driven. As shown in FIG. 2, the valve body 14 is a valve body in which four surfaces 14a to 14d are chamfered in a spherical body. The valve body 14 is formed with an L-shaped first passage 14e having an elliptical cross section and a second passage 14f having a linear shape and an elliptical cross section. A fitting groove 14g for fitting with the valve shaft 15 is formed at the top of the valve body 14.

  The first passage 14 e includes a horizontal portion 141 e that is orthogonal to the axial direction of the valve shaft 15 and a vertical portion 142 e that is formed in the axial direction of the valve shaft 15. The vertical portion 142e of the first passage 14e communicates with the bottom surface 14b of the valve body 14, and the vertical portion 142e communicates with a surface 14a that is orthogonal to the bottom surface 14b and faces the spherical surface 14h. The second passage 14f is linearly formed in a direction orthogonal to the first passage 14e. The second passage 14f is formed so as to communicate with both side surfaces 14c and 14d of the valve body 14.

  The valve shaft 15 is disposed on the central axis of the valve body 14 and is a shaft for rotationally driving the valve body 14. The valve shaft 15 is formed with a convex portion 15a fitted to the fitting groove 14g of the valve body 14 at the lower end and a connecting portion 15b connected to the output shaft of the motor 16 at the upper end. Note that a DC motor is used as the motor 16 as an example. A plurality of O-rings 20 are sealed between the valve shaft 15 and the bearing portion 11 d of the valve case 11.

  Here, a control circuit for controlling the electric three-way valve 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31, a memory 32, and a driver 33. The CPU 31 performs control and arithmetic processing of the entire electric three-way valve 10. The memory 32 stores a program and control information for controlling the electric three-way valve 10. The driver 33 rotates the motor 16 in response to a control signal from the CPU 31 and receives a detection signal from a position detection SW (not shown) disposed inside the motor 16 to cause the motor 16 to move at a predetermined angular position. Stop.

  When the flow path switching signal is input to the CPU 31 by the operation unit 34, the CPU 31 instructs the driver 33 to output the motor 16. The driver 33 rotates the output shaft of the motor 16 according to the instruction. Thereby, the valve body 14 rotates through the valve shaft 15 connected to the output shaft, and the fluid flow path is switched and changed by the electric three-way valve 10.

  Specifically, in the electric three-way valve 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c), it can be switched and changed to three kinds of flow paths. When the valve body 14 is driven to rotate, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A, the horizontal portion 141e of the first passage 14e of the valve body 14 and the inflow pipe 12a having the inflow port 123a Is connected. Moreover, the vertical part 142e of the 1st channel | path 14e of the valve body 14 and the 1st outflow pipe | tube 11b which has the 1st outflow port 111b are connected. Thereby, the 1st flow path which leads from the inflow port 123a to the 1st outflow port 111b is comprised.

  When the valve body 14 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 1A, the second passage 14f of the valve body 14 and the inflow port 123a are rotated as shown in FIG. 1B. And the second outflow pipe 11c having the second outflow port 111c are connected to each other. Thereby, the 2nd flow path which leads from the inflow port 123a to the 2nd outflow port 111c is comprised.

  Further, when the valve body 14 is rotated 90 degrees in the clockwise direction from the state shown in FIG. 1B, the vertical portion 142e of the first passage 14e of the valve body 14 as shown in FIG. Are connected to the first outlet 111b of the first outlet pipe 11b, and the horizontal portion 141e of the first passage 14e of the valve body 14 and the second outlet 111c of the second outlet pipe 11c are connected to each other. Connected. Thereby, the 3rd flow path which connects the 1st outflow port 111b and the 2nd outflow port 111c is constituted. When the third flow path is configured, the inflow of fluid from the inflow port 123a is stopped by the valve body 14.

  In addition, although the example which switches sequentially from the 1st flow path shown to Fig.1 (a) to the 3rd flow path shown to FIG.1 (c) was demonstrated, the switching by the electric three-way valve 10 is not necessarily in this order. There is no need to do it.

  An example in which two electric three-way valves 10A and 10B are used in an alkali ion water conditioner will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, when a voltage is applied to the anode in the electrolytic cell 40A and the cathode in the electrolytic cell 40B, acidic ionized water is generated in the electrolytic cell 40A, and alkaline ionized water is generated in the electrolytic cell 40B. . From the inside of the electrolytic cell 40A, acidic ion water flows to the electric three-way valve 10A through a hose. By switching the electric three-way valve 10A, the first flow path shown in FIG. 1A is configured, and the acidic ionized water flows from the inlet 123a to the first outlet 111b. The acidic ion water flowing out from the electric three-way valve 10A is stored in the drain tank 50A through a hose. On the other hand, alkaline ionized water flows from the electrolytic cell 40B to the electric three-way valve 10B via a hose. By switching the electric three-way valve 10B, the first flow path shown in FIG. 1A is configured, and the alkaline ionized water flows from the inlet 123a to the first outlet 111b. And the alkaline ionized water which flowed out from the electric three-way valve 10B is stored in the drinking water tank 50B through a hose.

  In this alkaline ionized water apparatus, the polarity of the electrodes is reversed for cleaning the inside of the electrolytic cells 40A, 40B and the like. When the polarity of the electrode is reversed, as shown in FIG. 5, alkaline ionized water is generated in the electrolytic cell 40A, and acidic ionized water is generated in the electrolytic cell 40B. Alkaline ion water flows from the electrolytic cell 40A to the electric three-way valve 10A through a hose. By switching the electric three-way valve 10A, the second flow path shown in FIG. 1B is configured, and the alkaline ionized water flows from the inlet 123a to the second outlet 111c. And the alkali ion water which flowed out out of the electric three-way valve 10A is stored in the drinking water tank 50B through a hose. On the other hand, acidic ion water flows from the electrolytic cell 40B to the electric three-way valve 10B through a hose. By switching the electric three-way valve 10B, the second flow path shown in FIG. 1B is configured, and the acidic ionized water flows from the inlet 123a to the second outlet 111c. The acidic ion water flowing out from the electric three-way valve 10B is stored in the drain tank 50A through a hose.

  Further, in this alkaline ionized water device, the electric three-way valves 10A and 10B are switched to form the third flow path shown in FIG. 1C, so that the first outlet 111b and the second main flow passage are formed. By communicating with the port 111c, for example, the first outflow pipe 11b, the second outflow pipe 11c, and the first passage 14e of the valve body 14 can be cleaned.

  As described above, in the electric three-way valve of the present embodiment, if the valve body 14 formed with the first passage 14e and the second passage 14f is rotationally driven, the three flow paths can be switched. Three types of flow paths can be configured with an easy structure.

  The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the present embodiment, the valve body 14 is supported only by the packing 19, but the valve body 14 may be held by a valve seat.

  In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the first port is the inlet 123a, the second port is the first outlet 111b, and the third port is the second outlet 111c. Which one of the second port, the second port, and the third port is used as the inflow port or the outflow port can be changed according to the application.

  In the present embodiment, the valve case 11 includes the first outflow pipe 11b and the second outflow pipe 11c, and the valve cover 12 includes the inflow pipe 12a. However, the valve case 11 includes the inflow pipe 12a. The valve cover 12 may be provided with the first outflow pipe 11b or the second outflow pipe 11c.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the inflow pipe 12a is L-shaped has been described. However, the inflow pipe 12a may be linear.

(A) shows the case where the first flow path is configured, (b) shows the case where the second flow path is configured, and (c) shows the electric drive according to the embodiment of the present invention where the third flow path is configured. It is a partial sectional view showing a schematic structure of a formula three-way valve. (A) is sectional drawing of the valve body in the state of Fig.1 (a), (b) is sectional drawing of the valve body in the state of FIG.1 (b). It is a block diagram of a control circuit for controlling an electric three-way valve concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the alkaline ionized water apparatus using the electric three-way valve which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when the flow path is switched in the alkaline ionized water device shown in FIG. 4. (a), (b) is a partial sectional view showing a schematic structure of a conventional electric three-way valve, and (c) is a sectional view of the valve body in the state of (a).

Explanation of symbols

10 electric three-way valve 11 valve case 11a valve case body 11b first outlet pipe 111b first outlet 11c second outlet pipe 111c second outlet 12 valve cover 12a inlet pipe 123a inlet 13 valve chamber 14 valve Body 14e First passage 141e Horizontal part 142e Vertical part 15 Valve shaft 16 Motor 19 Packing 30 Control part

Claims (5)

An electric motor comprising a valve body that is driven to rotate, and a valve body that houses the valve body rotatably in the valve chamber, and has first to third ports that communicate with the valve chamber and are arranged in a T-shape. A three-way valve
The first port and the third port are linearly arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the central axis of the valve body, and the second port is an axial direction of the central axis of the valve body and Arranged on the bottom side of the valve body,
The valve body includes an L-shaped first passage that communicates a bottom surface and a surface orthogonal to the bottom surface, and a second passage formed so as to penetrate in a direction orthogonal to the first passage. And
By rotating the valve body, the first passage of the valve body can be connected to the first port and the second port, and the second port and the third port,
The electric three-way valve, wherein the second passage of the valve body can be connected to the first port and the third port by rotating the valve body.   The first port constitutes an inlet, the second port constitutes a first outlet, and the third port constitutes a second outlet. Electric three-way valve as described.   The electric three-way valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve body is a ball-shaped valve body having a chamfered surface communicating with the first passage and the second passage.   The electric three-way valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the valve body includes a valve case and a valve cover that closes an opening of the valve case. The alkaline ionized water apparatus provided with the electric three-way valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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