JP2007182951A - Flow control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive flow control device for reducing a fluid pressure loss when opening a flow passage, while enabling remote control without particularly requiring a mechanical driving device. <P>SOLUTION: An opening-closing operation space part 3 is composed of a first cylindrical surface 4 having respectively a first diameter, a second cylindrical surface 5 coaxial with this first cylindrical surface 4 and having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and an annular groove 6 having the predetermined depth and opening on the second cylindrical surface 5, and is formed in a space 2 in a housing 1. An annular elastic body 10 arranged by airtightly abutting on a side surface of the annular groove 6 and having an outer diameter changing by a pressure change in a control fluid introduced from a bottom surface of the annular groove 6, and an annular spring 11 arranged in the annular elastic body 10, are provided in this opening-closing operation space part 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow rate control device that adjusts and controls the flow rate of liquid or gas, and more particularly to a flow rate control device that can be easily operated remotely and can reduce fluid pressure loss when a flow path is opened.

  For example, in water treatment plants and various chemical plants, various flow rate control valves are used in large quantities to control the supply and flow rate of various liquids and gases. In particular, a flow control valve required to have a low fluid pressure loss when the flow path is opened generally has a large valve displacement between the open position and the closed position. Those equipped with mechanical drive devices such as electric motors and electromagnetic valves are required.

As described above, the flow control valve that is remote-controlled and requires low fluid pressure loss when the flow path is open needs to be equipped with a mechanical drive device such as an electric motor or electromagnetic valve. As a result, the cost is increased, and the maintenance of these drive units is also expensive, and there is room for improvement in the overall economy.
The present invention meets the above demands, and is a flow control device that can be operated remotely without requiring a mechanical drive device, is inexpensive, and has low fluid pressure loss when the flow path is opened. The purpose is to obtain.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flow control device that has a low fluid pressure loss when the flow path is open and can automatically shut off the flow path due to a temperature abnormality.

A flow control device according to the present invention includes a housing having a space therein, a controlled fluid introduction port formed in the housing and communicating with one end of the space, a controlled fluid outlet port formed in the housing and communicated with the other end of the space, A control fluid introduction port formed in the housing for introducing the control fluid, an opening / closing operation space formed between one end and the other end of the space, and a control from the control fluid introduction port provided in the opening / closing operation space A flow control device comprising an opening / closing control body for controlling a passage cross section of a controlled fluid in an opening / closing operation space according to a fluid pressure,
The opening / closing operation space includes a first cylindrical surface having a first diameter and a second cylinder having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and coaxial with the first cylindrical surface. And an annular groove having a predetermined depth and opening in the second cylindrical surface,
The opening / closing control body is arranged in the opening / closing operation space portion in airtight contact with the side surface of the annular groove, and is composed of an annular elastic body whose outer diameter changes due to a change in pressure of the control fluid introduced from the bottom surface of the annular groove. is there.

The flow control device according to the present invention includes a housing having a space therein, a controlled fluid introduction port formed in the housing and communicating with one end of the space, and a controlled fluid guide formed in the housing and communicating with the other end of the space. An outlet, an opening / closing operation space formed between one end and the other end of the space, and an opening / closing control body provided in the opening / closing operation space for controlling a passage cross section of the controlled fluid in the opening / closing operation space A flow control device,
The opening / closing operation space includes a first cylindrical surface having a first diameter and a second cylinder having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and coaxial with the first cylindrical surface. And an annular groove having a predetermined depth and opening in the second cylindrical surface,
The opening / closing control body stores an annular elastic body disposed in airtight contact with the side surface of the annular groove in the opening / closing operation space, and a shape that varies depending on the temperature so that the outer diameter of the annular elastic body changes depending on the temperature. And a shape memory alloy integrally formed with the annular elastic body.

  As described above, in the flow rate control device according to the present invention, for example, when the circuit is in a closed state, the outer diameter of the annular elastic body is reduced only by lowering the pressure of the control fluid, thereby the first cylinder of the space. A gap is generated between the surface and a large channel cross-section obtained by multiplying the size of the gap by the circumference of the first cylindrical surface to secure a channel opening with low pressure loss.

  In addition, as described above, the flow control device according to the present invention, for example, when the temperature rises more than a predetermined value while opening the flow path with low pressure loss, the shape of the shape memory alloy is deformed to the memory shape at the time of high temperature. As a result, the outer diameter of the annular elastic body is increased to abut against the first cylindrical surface and the flow path can be automatically shut off.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 and 2 are cross-sectional views for explaining the configuration and operation of the flow control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an open circuit state and FIG. 2 shows a closed circuit state. In the figure, the entirety is incorporated in a housing 1 having an outer diameter of a cylindrical shape. The housing 1 is manufactured, for example, by partially machining an aluminum or iron casting, and includes an upper step portion 1A, a lower step portion 1B, and a middle step portion 1C. Although not shown in detail, the upper threaded portion formed by projecting downward from the axial center position of the upper step portion 1A is screwed into the female thread portion formed at the axial center position of the middle step portion 1C, thereby Part 1A and middle part 1C are integrally coupled. The upper step portion 1A and the lower step portion 1B are integrally coupled by screwing a male screw from the upper step portion 1A to a female screw portion formed at a constant interval on the upper peripheral portion of the lower step portion 1B.

A space 2 is formed inside the housing 1, and an introduction port 7 for introducing a controlled fluid that is a fluid subject to flow control is provided in the upper stage 1 </ b> A and communicates with one end 7 </ b> A of the space 2. It has become. The outlet 8 for leading out the controlled fluid is provided in the lower stage portion 1B and has a structure communicating with the other end 8A of the space 2.
The inner cylindrical portion of the lower step portion 1B is finished to a first cylindrical surface 4 having a first diameter. The inner cylindrical portions of the upper step portion 1A and the middle step portion 1C are finished into a second cylindrical surface 5 having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.
Further, the combined body of the upper step portion 1A and the middle step portion 1C is formed with an annular groove 6 that opens into the second cylindrical surface 5 having a predetermined depth and into which an annular elastic body 10 described later is inserted. Both side surfaces of the annular groove 6 are processed with fluororesin so that the sliding with the annular elastic body 10 to be inserted is improved. A space formed by the first cylindrical surface 4, the second cylindrical surface 5, and the annular groove 6 is referred to as an opening / closing operation space portion 3.
A control fluid introduction port 9 for introducing a control fluid for controlling the flow rate of the fluid to be controlled is provided in the upper stage portion 1A, and communicates with the bottom surface of the annular groove 6 through the opening 9A.

As shown in the figure, the annular elastic body 10 is formed in a substantially C-shaped shape having a hollow cross section and separated at the center of its inner diameter, and its upper and lower outer surfaces abut against the side surface of the annular groove 6 in an airtight manner. It is like that. In addition, the control fluid from the control fluid introduction port 9 is introduced into the hollow of the annular elastic body 10. Further, an annular spring 11 is inserted into the hollow of the annular elastic body 10, and acts in a direction to reduce the outer diameter of the annular elastic body 10 due to its stored energy.
In the present invention, the annular elastic body 10 and the annular spring 11 constitute an opening / closing control body.
The material of the annular elastic body 10 is selected from fluorine rubber, silicon rubber, nitrile rubber, and the like as appropriate mainly in consideration of usage conditions such as the type of controlled fluid and temperature.

  Next, the point of the opening / closing operation will be described. FIG. 1 shows a case where the operation is performed at the flow path opening position, and the pressure P1 of the control fluid is operated, for example, to P1 = 0 Mpa (gauge pressure). The annular elastic body 10 has a shape with the smallest outer diameter and is accommodated in the annular groove 6. In the opening / closing operation space portion 3, the first cylindrical surface 4 having the first diameter and the outer diameter of the annular elastic body 10. A predetermined gap is formed between the two and the flow path cross section having an area obtained by multiplying the dimension of the gap and the circumference of the first cylindrical surface 4 is secured. Accordingly, the fluid pressure loss is extremely small due to the shape of the flow path cross section, and for example, a controlled fluid having a large flow rate Q1 can be introduced from the inlet 7 and led out from the outlet 8.

FIG. 2 shows a case where the operation is performed to the channel closing position. The pressure P2 of the control fluid is operated to, for example, P2 = 1.0 Mpa. Upon receiving this pressure, the annular elastic body 10 expands against the contracting force of the annular spring 11, and a part of the tip thereof is an annular groove. 6, abuts against the first cylindrical surface 4, completely closes the cross section of the flow path in the opening / closing operation space 3, and the flow rate Q2 of the controlled fluid is zero.
Note that the pressure P2 of the control fluid during the closing operation needs to be set in consideration of the elastic force of the annular elastic body 10 and the annular spring 11 in a range higher than the pressure of the controlled fluid.

  When operating again to the flow path opening position, the pressure of the control fluid may be reduced to cause the annular elastic body 10 to contract. For example, when the closing operation period becomes long, or as a flow control device The annular spring 11 is inserted into the hollow of the annular elastic body 10 in consideration of insufficient contraction force due to a decrease in elastic force due to aging deterioration of the material of the annular elastic body 10 over a long period of use. That is, since the annular spring 11 is always stored in the contracting direction, the storing force of the annular spring 11 assists the contracting operation of the annular elastic body 10 toward the channel opening operation, and the reliable channel opening is achieved. An operation is made.

As described above, in the flow rate control apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the flow path opening / closing operation can be performed by adjusting the pressure of the control fluid, so that a special mechanical drive device is not required and is inexpensive. Remote opening and closing operation is realized with a simple device. And at the time of fluid opening operation, since a ring-shaped large channel section can be secured, fluid pressure loss at the time of opening can be reduced.
The annular elastic body 10 may be solid in cross section, and the opening / closing control body may be constituted only by the annular elastic body 10.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 3 shows an annular elastic body 10a and an annular spring 11a used in the flow rate control apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In particular, as shown in the figure, the annular elastic body 10a has a C-shaped cross-section with a tip of a tongue piece formed so as to protrude upward from the lower end into a groove provided at the upper end, and inside the cross-section. It becomes a bag shape surrounding the annular spring 11a.
Therefore, especially when operating from the flow path closing position to the flow path opening position, the contraction force of the annular spring 11a is reliably transmitted to the annular elastic body 10a, and the opening operation is more reliably performed.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the flow rate control apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and here shows an open circuit position operating state. The only difference from FIG. 1 in the first embodiment is the shape of the annular groove in the opening / closing operation space 3. That is, the annular groove 6a in FIG. 4 of the third embodiment has both the upper and lower side surfaces in the radial direction so that the groove width (vertical dimension in the figure) decreases as the diameter increases. It is formed in a taper shape.
Therefore, in particular, when operating from the flow path closing position to the flow path opening position shown in FIG. 4, the effect of this taper surface makes the annular spring 11 contract and easily return to the original outer shape shown in FIG. The reliability of the opening / closing operation is improved.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the flow rate control apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Although the same configuration as the previous embodiments is adopted to reduce the fluid pressure loss at the flow path opening position, the operation principle of opening and closing is different. That is, here, no control fluid is used, and the open / close control body is composed of an annular elastic body 12 housed in the annular groove 6 and a shape memory alloy 13 embedded integrally in the annular elastic body 12. ing. The shape memory alloy 13 stores a shape having a relatively small diameter within a predetermined temperature range as shown in FIG. 5, but stores it in advance when the temperature rises beyond the above range. , By deforming itself into a large-diameter shape, deforming the integrally formed annular elastic body 12 to increase its outer diameter and closing the flow path cross section in the open / close operation space 3 to prevent the controlled fluid from being led out. .

  The flow control device according to the fourth embodiment can be used as a flow control device that can be required in various equipment plants and automatically shuts off the controlled fluid when the temperature rises abnormally. Since the protection operation described above is automatically executed without requiring external control means, the apparatus becomes simple and inexpensive, and the flow path pressure loss is small when the controlled fluid is derived normally. In particular, there is a great merit when it is used for applications that always handle a large flow rate of fluid.

  In the above description, the device is described as an independent device that operates as a flow rate control device. However, the present invention can be used for, for example, a leakage test of a cylinder manufactured in a shape close to the lower step portion 1B of the housing in FIG. it can. That is, in this case, the upper stage portion 1A and the middle step portion 1C of the housing are used as a jig for a leak test, and the pressure of the control fluid is increased and opened and closed by the annular elastic body 10 with the jig attached to the cylinder. It is possible to perform a leak test by closing the cross section of the flow path in the operation space 3 and supplying a fluid having a predetermined test pressure from the introduction port 7. This is useful when a leakage test of only the cylinder is required during the assembly process of the mechanical device including the cylinder.

It is sectional drawing which shows the flow-path opening position operation state of the flow control apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Similarly, it is sectional drawing which shows the flow-path closing position operation state of a flow control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the cyclic | annular elastic body 10a and cyclic | annular spring 11a which are used with the flow control apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the flow control apparatus in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the flow control apparatus in Embodiment 4 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 housing, 2 space, 3 opening / closing operation space, 4 first cylindrical surface,
5 Second cylindrical surface, 6, 6a annular groove, 7 inlet, 8 outlet, 9 control fluid inlet, 10, 10a, 12 annular elastic body, 11, 11a annular spring, 13 shape memory alloy.

Claims (5)

A housing having a space inside, a controlled fluid introduction port formed in the housing and communicating with one end of the space, a controlled fluid outlet port formed in the housing and communicating with the other end of the space, and a control formed in the housing A control fluid introduction port for introducing a fluid, an opening / closing operation space formed between the one end and the other end in the space, and an opening / closing operation space provided in the opening / closing operation space. A flow control device comprising an opening / closing control body for controlling a passage cross section of the controlled fluid in the opening / closing operation space according to pressure,
The opening / closing operation space includes a first cylindrical surface having a first diameter and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and coaxial with the first cylindrical surface. 2 cylindrical surfaces, and an annular groove having a predetermined depth and opening to the second cylindrical surface,
The opening / closing control body is disposed in the opening / closing operation space in contact with the side surface of the annular groove in an airtight manner, and has an annular elasticity whose outer diameter changes due to a pressure change of the control fluid introduced from the bottom surface of the annular groove. A flow control device comprising a body. The annular elastic body is formed in a pipe shape having a hollow cross section, and an annular spring stored in a direction to reduce the outer diameter of the annular elastic body is disposed in the hollow. The flow control device described. The annular elastic body is formed in a substantially C shape having a hollow cross section and separated at the center of the inner diameter so that the control fluid is introduced into the hollow, and in a direction to reduce the outer diameter of the annular elastic body. The flow rate control device according to claim 1, wherein a stored annular spring is disposed in the hollow. 4. The annular groove according to claim 1, wherein both side surfaces of the annular groove are tapered in a radial direction so that the groove width decreases as the diameter increases. Flow control device. A housing having a space inside, a controlled fluid introduction port formed in the housing and communicating with one end of the space, a controlled fluid outlet port formed in the housing and communicating with the other end of the space, and the one end in the space Flow control device provided with an opening / closing operation space portion formed between the other end and the opening / closing operation space portion, and an opening / closing control body that is provided in the opening / closing operation space portion and controls the passage cross section of the controlled fluid in the opening / closing operation space portion Because
The opening / closing operation space includes a first cylindrical surface having a first diameter and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and coaxial with the first cylindrical surface. 2 cylindrical surfaces, and an annular groove having a predetermined depth and opening to the second cylindrical surface,
The opening / closing control body varies depending on the temperature so that the outer diameter of the annular elastic body changes depending on the temperature and the annular elastic body disposed in airtight contact with the side surface of the annular groove in the opening / closing operation space. A flow rate control device comprising a shape memory alloy memorized so as to take a shape and configured integrally with the annular elastic body.

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