JP2007218398A - Flow regulating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively provide a flow regulating device capable of accurately controlling the flow regulation of fluid. <P>SOLUTION: A nozzle unit 1 used as the flow regulating device has a nozzle body 3 having a communication hole 6 through which the fluid passes, and a needle shaft 2 provided with a valve 2a reciprocating in the nozzle body 3. A seat face 4a1 corresponding to a shape of the valve 2a is formed in the communication hole 6, and an area to be the seat face 4a1 is formed of the inner face of a first electrocast part 4a formed on a precise face by electrocasting. By this, an interval 7 formed between the outer surface of the valve 2a and the seat face 4a1 can be accurately controlled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow rate adjusting device for adjusting the flow rate of a fluid. This flow control device is for precisely controlling the amount of fluid supplied, and can be used as, for example, a nozzle unit.

The nozzle unit is an adhesive application device for applying an adhesive, an oil supply device for injecting lubricating oil, an injection molding machine for discharging (injecting) a resin material in a fluid state, or a fuel for injecting fuel with an engine of an automobile, etc. In an injection device or the like, it is used to supply a fluid such as an adhesive, lubricating oil, molten resin, or fuel. This nozzle unit mainly includes a main body having a flow hole through which a fluid flows and a valve portion that can reciprocate. The flow rate of the supply fluid in this type of nozzle unit is adjusted by adjusting the distance between the seat surface and the valve portion corresponding to the shape of the valve portion by reciprocating movement of the valve portion. The main body of the nozzle unit is often a metal machined product in consideration of heat resistance and the like (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 11-351102 A

  By the way, in order to adjust the flow rate of the supply fluid with high accuracy with the nozzle unit described above, it is necessary to increase the width accuracy of the interval formed between the seat surface of the main body and the valve portion as the valve portion reciprocates. is there. In order to increase the width accuracy, it is necessary to increase the surface accuracy of the seat surface that forms the interval and the valve portion corresponding to this, but in particular, since the seat surface is provided on the inner surface of the valve hole formed in the main body, Such high-precision processing cannot be easily performed, and even if processing can be performed, the cost increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a flow rate adjusting device capable of adjusting the flow rate of a fluid with high accuracy, and in particular, a flow rate adjusting device capable of performing a fine flow rate adjustment at low cost.

  In order to achieve the above object, a flow control device according to the present invention has a main body having a flow hole through which a fluid flows and a valve portion that can reciprocate, and the flow hole has a seat surface corresponding to the shape of the valve portion. In the case of adjusting the flow rate of the fluid by adjusting the distance between the valve portion and the seat surface by reciprocating movement of the valve portion, at least the seat surface of the flow hole is formed by the electroformed portion. is there.

  As described above, in the present invention, at least the sheet surface of the flow hole is formed by the electroformed part. The electroformed part is a metal layer formed by depositing metal on the master surface, and can be formed by a technique according to electrolytic plating or electroless plating. Due to the characteristics of electroforming, the surface of the electroformed part that contacts the master is a dense surface that has been transferred with high precision to a very fine surface shape of the master (the opposite surface is rough). Face). Therefore, if the electroformed part separated from the master, especially the sheet surface is formed with a dense surface, a highly accurate sheet surface can be obtained easily and at low cost without requiring special finishing. , The width accuracy of the interval can be increased, and the flow rate adjustment of the fluid can be managed with high accuracy. In particular, if the master used in electroforming is used as it is as the valve portion, the valve portion side also becomes a highly accurate surface, so that the interval width can be managed with higher accuracy. The above configuration is particularly effective when the seat surface is provided on a small body that is difficult to process.

  The main body can be provided with a guide surface for guiding the reciprocating movement of the valve portion, and if this guide surface is formed by an electroformed portion (particularly a dense surface thereof), the surface of the guide surface can be obtained from the above-mentioned characteristics of electroforming. Accuracy can be increased easily and at low cost. By increasing the surface accuracy of the guide surface, the movement of the valve portion can be managed with high accuracy.

  When the guide surface is formed by the electroformed part, it is desirable that each electroformed part forming the sheet surface and the guide surface is formed using a common master. In this way, if each electroformed part is formed with a common master, the coaxiality between the seat surface and the guide surface can be easily ensured compared to the case where both are formed with different masters, and the valve part. It is possible to improve the operation accuracy and the interval width accuracy.

  In addition to having a circular shape in cross section over the entire length in the axial direction, the guide surface can also be prevented from rotating as a non-circular shape such as a rectangular shape in cross section, an elliptical shape in cross section, etc. It can also be used for flow control devices for disliked applications. Furthermore, if the guide surface is spiral, it can be reciprocated in the axial direction by rotating the valve portion. In this case, the position of the valve unit can be managed from the rotation angle of the valve unit, and the flow rate can be adjusted with higher accuracy. Although it is generally difficult to shape the spiral guide surface, this type of spiral guide surface can be obtained at low cost in the case of an electroformed part formed by electroforming.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a flow rate adjustment device capable of adjusting the flow rate of fluid with high accuracy, and in particular, a flow rate adjustment device capable of performing fine flow rate adjustment at low cost.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a flow control device having the configuration of the present invention. This flow rate adjusting device conceptually shows a nozzle unit 1 used for supplying lubricating oil into a bearing gap in a manufacturing process of a bearing device (fluid bearing device) incorporated in a disk device such as an HDD. . The nozzle unit 1 includes a nozzle body 3 having a flow hole 6 through which lubricating oil flows and a shaft-like member that reciprocates in the axial direction inside the nozzle body 3, for example, a needle shaft 2, as main components. .

  The needle shaft 2 is a solid shaft-shaped shaft portion 2b that is slidably guided by a guide surface provided in the nozzle body 3, and a substantially conical shape that is provided at one end of the shaft portion 2b and gradually decreases in diameter toward one end side. Shaped valve portion 2a. The needle shaft 2 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel, for example, and the portions 2a and 2b are formed as an integrated product having no interface.

  The nozzle body 3 includes an electroformed part 4 formed by electroforming, and a holding part 5 that is injection-molded by inserting the electroformed part 4. The electroformed part 4 constitutes a flow hole 6, and the inner surface of the electroformed part 4a1 is a guide surface for the shaft part 2b. The first electroformed part 4a has a substantially conical shape with a seat surface 4a1 corresponding to the shape of the valve part 2a. It is comprised with the cylindrical 2nd electroformed part 4b used as the surface 4b1. In the present embodiment, the first electroformed part 4a and the second electroformed part 4b are formed discontinuously in the axial direction, and in the axial region where the electroformed part is interrupted, the inner surface of the nozzle body 3 (holding part 5). And a space portion 9 is formed between the outer peripheral surface 2b1 of the shaft portion 2b. The nozzle body 3 is provided with a radial through-hole 8 extending from the vicinity of one end of the first electroformed portion 4 a to the outside, and the lubricating oil is supplied into the nozzle body 3 through the through-hole 8. When lubricating oil is supplied, the space 9 functions as an oil reservoir.

  In the nozzle unit 1 configured as described above, when the valve portion 2a of the needle shaft 2 is moved in a direction away from the first electroformed portion 4a of the nozzle body 3 (direction in which the flow hole 6 is opened), the outer surface 2a1 of the valve portion 2a. And a sheet space 4a1 of the first electroformed part 4a, a tapered interval 7 is formed. The lubricating oil supplied to the through hole 8 is discharged to the outside through the interval 7 and the flow hole 6. The flow rate of the lubricating oil at this time is adjusted by the amount of movement of the needle shaft 2 in the axial direction, in other words, the width of the interval 7. When the needle shaft 2 is reciprocated in the axial direction, the needle shaft 2 is slidably supported by the guide surface 4b1 of the second electroformed part 4b.

  Next, the manufacturing process of the nozzle unit 1 will be described based on the drawings with a focus on the manufacturing process of the nozzle body 3.

  The nozzle body 3 in the nozzle unit 1 includes a step of manufacturing the master member 11, a step of masking a required portion of the master member 11, a step of forming the electroformed member 13 by electroforming, and an electroformed portion of the electroformed member 13. 4 is inserted in order to form the holding portion 5, the electroformed portion 4 (nozzle body 3) is separated from the master member 11, and the nozzle body 3 is provided with a through hole 8.

  In the manufacturing process of the master member 11, the master member 11 formed of a conductive material, for example, stainless steel, nickel chrome steel, other nickel alloy, chromium alloy, or the like subjected to quenching is formed. In addition to these metal materials, the master member 11 can also be formed of a non-metallic material such as a ceramic subjected to a conductive treatment (for example, forming a conductive film on the surface). The master member 11 includes a shaft portion 11b having a perfectly circular cross section, and a conical portion 11a which is integrally provided at one end of the shaft portion 11b and gradually reduces in diameter toward one end on the opposite shaft side. Since the surface accuracy of the conical portion 11a of the master member 11 directly affects the inner surface accuracy (sheet surface accuracy) of the first electroformed portion 4a due to the characteristics of electroforming, such as surface roughness that is important in terms of function. It is desirable to finish the surface accuracy with high accuracy in advance. Further, since the surface accuracy of the shaft portion 11b directly affects the inner peripheral surface accuracy (guide surface accuracy) of the second electroformed portion 4b, the surface accuracy that is important in terms of functions such as roundness, cylindricity, and surface roughness. Is preferably finished to a predetermined accuracy.

  In the masking step, as shown in FIG. 2, a masking portion 12 (shown as a dotted pattern in the figure) is formed on the outer surface of the master member 11 except for the portion where the electroformed portion 4 is to be formed. As the covering material for the masking portion 12, an existing product having non-conductivity and corrosion resistance to the electrolyte solution is selectively used.

  In electroforming, after the master member 11 is immersed in an electrolyte solution containing metal ions such as Ni and Cu, the master member 11 is energized, and the masking portion 12 is formed on the surface of the master member 11. It is carried out by electrodeposition (electrolytic deposition) of the target metal in a non-existing region. The electrolyte solution preferably contains a sliding material such as carbon or PTFE in order to improve the sliding characteristics, and may further contain a stress relaxation material such as saccharin if necessary. The type of electrodeposited metal is appropriately selected according to physical properties such as hardness and fatigue strength required for the guide surface of the needle shaft 2 and chemical properties such as corrosion resistance against the lubricating oil to be added.

  Through the above steps, as shown in FIG. 3, the first electroformed part 4a is formed in the area excluding the masking part 12 of the conical part 11a of the master member 11, and the first electroformed part 4a is formed in the area excluding the masking part 12 of the shaft part 11b. The electroformed member 13 to which the two electroformed parts 4b are attached is formed. At this time, the inner surfaces of the electroformed parts 4a and 4b are formed on a dense surface in which the surface shape of the master member 11 is transferred with high accuracy, while the outer surfaces of the electroformed parts 4a and 4b are formed on a rough surface. In addition, since the peelability from the master member 11 will fall if the thickness of the electroformed parts 4a and 4b is too thick, on the contrary, if the thickness is too thin, the durability will be lowered. Accordingly, an optimum thickness (about 10 μm to 200 μm) is set. In addition, when the property calculated | required by both electroformed parts 4a and 4b differs greatly, it performs electroforming separately, and the kind and thickness of electroformed metal by the 1st electroformed part 4a and the 2nd electroformed part 4b Can be different.

  The electroformed part 4 can be formed by a method according to electroless plating as well as a method according to the electrolytic plating described above. In that case, the conductivity of the master member 11 and the insulation of the masking portion 12 are not required.

  Next, the electroformed member 13 manufactured through the above steps is supplied and arranged as an insert part in a mold for insert-molding the nozzle body 3.

  FIG. 4 conceptually shows an insert molding process of the nozzle body 3, and a mold including the fixed mold 14 and the movable mold 15 is provided with a runner 16 a, a gate 16 b, and a cavity 16 c. In this embodiment, the gate 16b is a dotted gate, and is provided at a plurality of locations (for example, three locations) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at positions corresponding to one end surface in the axial direction of the holding portion 5 to be molded. . The gate shape is arbitrary, and a film gate, a disk gate, or the like may be employed in addition to the point gate depending on the shape of the holding portion 5 to be molded and the type of injection material.

  In the mold having the above configuration, the movable mold 15 is brought close to the fixed mold 14 and clamped with the electroformed member 11 positioned and arranged. Next, in a state where the mold is clamped, the injection material P is filled into the cavity 16c via the spool (not shown), the runner 16a, and the gate 16b, and the holding portion 5 is formed integrally with the electroformed member 11.

  As the injection material P, for example, a resin material can be used, and as its base resin, for example, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), etc. Resin or amorphous resin such as polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PES), polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), polyetherimide (PEI) can be used. In this embodiment, a liquid crystal polymer is used. Used as base resin. These are merely examples of resins that can be used. Of course, other resins can also be used. If necessary, the resin material may be mixed with one or more of various fillers such as a reinforcing material (in any form such as fiber or powder), a conductive material, and a lubricant.

  A metal material can also be used as the injection material P. In that case, a low melting point metal such as a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy can be used. In addition, so-called MIM molding in which a mixture of metal powder and binder is injection molded and then degreased and sintered, or so-called CIM molding in which a mixture of ceramic and binder is injection molded and then degreased and sintered may be employed. .

  As described above, due to the characteristics of electroforming, the inner surface of the electroformed part 4 (first electroformed part 4a, second electroformed part 4b) is a dense surface on which the surface accuracy of the master member 11 is transferred with high accuracy. On the other hand, the outer surface is formed into a rough surface. Therefore, at the time of injection molding, the injection material P enters minute irregularities on the surface of the electroformed part, and the electroformed part 4 and the holding part 5 are firmly fixed to each other by a so-called anchor effect. Thereby, separation of both at the time of use etc. is prevented effectively.

  When the mold is opened after the material is solidified, as shown in FIG. 5, a molded product 17 in which the master member 11, the electroformed part 4, and the holding part 5 are integrated is obtained. By the way, the liquid crystal polymer used as the base resin of the injection material P for molding the holding portion 5 exhibits a specific molding shrinkage behavior, and shrinks so that the inner surface recedes to the outer diameter side. In the present embodiment, using this characteristic, the illustrated space portion 9 is formed as the material is solidified.

  In the subsequent separation step, the molded product 17 is separated into one in which the electroformed part 4 and the holding part 5 are integrated (nozzle body 3) and the master member 11.

  In the separation step, for example, an impact is applied to the master member 11 or the electroformed part 4 (nozzle body 3), and the inner surface of the electroformed part 4 (the first electroformed part 4a and the second electroformed part 4b) is expanded. Thus, the electroformed part 4 is peeled from the surface of the master member 11, and a minute gap (about 1 μm to several μm) is formed between the inner surface of the electroformed part 4 and the outer surface of the master member 11. Thereby, the thing (nozzle main body 3) with which the electroformed part 4 and the holding | maintenance part 5 were united and the master member 11 can be isolate | separated. In addition, when peeling the electroformed part 4 from the surface of the master member 11, in addition to giving an impact as described above, for example, a difference in thermal expansion between the electroformed part 4 and the master member 11 can be used.

  After that, in the nozzle body 3 separated from the master member 11, a radial through-hole 8 extending from the vicinity of the first electroformed part 4 a to the outside is provided by machining or the like, and the needle shaft 2 manufactured separately from the master member 11. Is inserted into the nozzle body 3 to complete the nozzle unit 1 shown in FIG. Since the separated master member 11 can be repeatedly used for electroforming, the highly accurate nozzle body 3 can be mass-produced at low cost. The separated master member 11 can be inserted into the nozzle body 3 again and used as the needle shaft 2. In this case, since the valve portion 2a and the shaft portion 2b side are also highly accurate surfaces, the width of the interval 7 can be managed with higher accuracy.

  The through hole 8 is formed by post-processing as described above, and in the injection molding process shown in FIG. 4, a pin is disposed at a corresponding portion of the through hole 8 to perform injection molding, and the pin is removed after solidification. It can also be formed.

  In the above description, the configuration in which the space portion 9 is formed by molding shrinkage of the holding portion 5 is shown. However, when a material other than the liquid crystal polymer is used as the base material constituting the injection material P, for example, FIG. As shown, an oil sump molding portion 18 is provided on the master member 11 with a material different from the material for molding the holding portion 5, more preferably with another material that does not melt due to processing heat generated at the time of injection molding. The above-described steps may be used. This oil pool forming part 18 can be removed using, for example, a solvent.

  As described above, in the present invention, among the inner surface of the nozzle body 3, the sheet surface 4a1 of the flow hole 6 and the guide surface 4b1 of the needle shaft 2 are respectively the inner surface of the first electroformed part 4a and the second electroformed part. 4b and the inner peripheral surface. If the surface accuracy of the master member 11 corresponding to each part is increased due to the characteristics of electroforming, the inner surface of the electroformed part becomes a dense surface in which the surface of the master 11 is transferred with high accuracy. It is possible to form a highly accurate sheet surface and guide surface easily and at low cost without applying the step. Thereby, the width precision of the space | interval 7 can be raised, the operation precision of the needle shaft 2 can be raised, and the supply amount of the lubricating oil into the bearing gap can be managed with high precision. Moreover, since the inner surface of the small nozzle body 3, which is particularly difficult to machine, can be easily improved because of the above-described characteristics of electroforming, the nozzle unit 1 capable of fine flow rate management is easy. And it can be obtained with high accuracy.

  In the above, the second electroformed part 4b is formed in a perfect circular shape in cross section, but this is formed in a rectangular cross section or an elliptical cross section to constitute a nozzle unit that prevents the needle shaft 2 from rotating. (Not shown). The nozzle unit having such a configuration can be formed easily and with high accuracy simply by forming the shaft portion 11b of the master member 11 into a rectangular cross section or an elliptical cross section conforming thereto.

  FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The form of the illustrated example does not perform the flow rate adjustment (width adjustment of the interval 7) of the lubricating oil by the linear movement of the needle shaft 2 (valve portion 2a) as described above, but the rotation of the needle shaft 2 The form performed by the corner is illustrated, and a spiral groove 4b2 is formed on the inner surface (guide surface) of the second electroformed part 4b. Since the guide surface is formed in a spiral shape in this way, the position can be managed from the rotation angle of the valve portion 2a, so that the flow rate can be adjusted with higher accuracy. Although it is generally difficult to provide this type of spiral guide surface, this type of spiral guide surface can be obtained easily and at low cost by electroforming. Since the other configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, a common reference number is assigned and redundant description is omitted.

  In the above description, one end of the valve portion 2a on the shaft portion 2b side is formed to have the same diameter as that of the shaft portion 2b. However, one end of the valve portion 2a on the shaft portion 2b side is connected to the shaft portion 2b. It can also be set as the structure which makes the diameter larger than an outer diameter and prevents the needle shaft 2 from coming off.

  Moreover, although the form which forms the sheet | seat surface 4a2 of the circulation hole 6 in a taper surface was shown in the above description, a sheet | seat surface can also be formed in a spherical surface.

  Since the configuration of the present invention has the above-described features, it is used as an oil supply device that supplies lubricating oil, and other devices that require highly accurate flow rate adjustment, such as an injection molding machine that injects a resin material, In a fuel injection device or the like for injecting fuel to an engine or the like, it can be preferably used as a device for adjusting the flow rate of molten resin or fuel, and also as a flow rate adjusting valve.

It is sectional drawing which shows an example of a flow regulating device notionally. It is a perspective view which shows the state which formed the masking part in the master member. It is a perspective view of an electroformed member. It is sectional drawing which shows an insert molding process notionally. It is a perspective view of the master member after insert molding. It is sectional drawing which shows notionally the insert molding process of the flow volume adjustment apparatus concerning other embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of a flow regulating device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Nozzle unit 2 Needle shaft 2a Valve | bulb part 2b Shaft part 3 Nozzle main body 4 Electroformed part 4a 1st electroformed part 4b 2nd electroformed part 4a1 Sheet surface 4b1 Guide surface 5 Holding | maintenance part 6 Flowing hole 7 Space | interval 8 Through-hole 11 Master Member 12 Masking part 13 Electroformed member

Claims (5)

It has a main body having a flow hole through which fluid flows and a valve part that can reciprocate. A seat surface corresponding to the shape of the valve part is provided in the flow hole. In the flow adjustment device that adjusts the flow rate of the fluid by adjusting
A flow rate adjusting device in which at least the sheet surface of the flow hole is formed by an electroformed part.   The flow rate adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein a guide surface for guiding reciprocation of the valve portion is provided on the main body, and the guide surface is formed by an electroformed portion.   The flow rate adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein each electroformed part forming the sheet surface and the guide surface is formed using a common master.   The flow rate adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the guide surface has a non-circular shape.   The flow rate adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the guide surface has a spiral shape.

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