JP2007248039A - Closing valve for liquid refrigerant of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a closing valve capable of achieving miniaturization. <P>SOLUTION: This closing valve 1 comprises a body 2, and a valve element 3. The body 2 incorporates a first refrigerant channel 5, a second refrigerant channel 6, an intermediate channel 7, and a valve passage 8. The intermediate channel 7 allows communication between the first refrigerant channel 5 and the second refrigerant channel 6. The valve passage 8 communicates with the intermediate channel 7. The valve element 3 is inserted into the valve passage 8 movably in the axial direction. The valve element 3 shuts off the passage between the first refrigerant channel 5 and the second refrigerant channel 6 by moving in the first direction from the valve passage 8 side toward the intermediate channel 7 side. The valve element 3 allows communication between the first refrigerant channel 5 and the second refrigerant channel 6 by moving in the second direction from the intermediate channel 7 side toward the valve passage 8 side. The channel diameter d2 of the first refrigerant channel 5 and the channel diameter d3 of the second refrigerant channel 6 are less than 0.9 times the inside diameter of liquid refrigerant piping P connected with the first refrigerant channel 5 or the second refrigerant channel 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid refrigerant closing valve for an air conditioner.

Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, a liquid refrigerant closing valve (hereinafter referred to as a closing valve) has been used to close a liquid refrigerant pipe in a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner. The closing valve includes a main body having a first refrigerant channel, a second refrigerant channel, and an intermediate channel, and a valve body that opens and closes the intermediate channel by moving in the axial direction.
JP 2004-143498 A

  However, in the conventional closing valve, the flow diameters of the first refrigerant flow path and the second refrigerant flow path are usually equal to the inner diameter of the liquid refrigerant pipe with respect to the inner diameter (usually about 5 mm) of the liquid refrigerant pipe connected to the shut-off valve. The flow path diameter is approximately the same (usually about 4.8 mm), and is manufactured to be about 0.95 times at most. Due to the concern of performance deterioration that the performance deteriorates when the diameter of the refrigerant flow path inside the shut-off valve is narrowed due to the manufacture of the shut-off valve, a smaller shut-off valve has been developed or manufactured to date. The downsizing of the closing valve has not been achieved yet.

  The subject of this invention is providing the closing valve which can achieve size reduction.

  The closing valve of the first invention includes a main body and a valve body. The main body has a first refrigerant channel, a second refrigerant channel, an intermediate channel, and a valve channel inside. The intermediate flow path connects the first refrigerant flow path and the second refrigerant flow path. The valve passage communicates with the intermediate flow path. The valve body is inserted into the valve passage so as to be movable in the axial direction. The valve element blocks the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel by moving in the first direction from the valve channel side toward the intermediate channel side. The valve body communicates the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel by moving in the second direction from the intermediate channel side toward the valve channel side. The channel diameter of the first refrigerant channel and the channel diameter of the second refrigerant channel are less than 0.9 times the inner diameter of the liquid refrigerant pipe connected to the first refrigerant channel or the second refrigerant channel.

Here, the flow path diameters of the first refrigerant flow path and the second refrigerant flow path are less than 0.9 times the inner diameter of the liquid refrigerant pipe connected to the first refrigerant flow path or the second refrigerant flow path. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the closing valve, and accordingly, the contact area of the portion where the seal portion of the valve body contacts the main body is also reduced, so that the leakage prevention effect is improved.
Leak prevention effect is improved.

  The closing valve of the second invention is the closing valve of the first invention, and the channel diameter of the first refrigerant channel is 3.8 to 4.4 mm.

  Here, since the channel diameter of the first refrigerant channel is 3.8 to 4.4 mm, the size of the shut-off valve can be reduced.

  The closing valve of the third invention is the closing valve of the first invention, and the flow path diameter of the second refrigerant flow path is 3.8 to 4.4 mm.

  Here, since the channel diameter of the second refrigerant channel is 3.8 to 4.4 mm, the size of the shut-off valve can be reduced.

  The closing valve of the fourth invention is the closing valve of the first invention, and the thickness of the peripheral portion of the first refrigerant flow path is 3.3 to 3.7 mm.

  Here, since the thickness of the peripheral portion of the first refrigerant flow path is 3.3 to 3.7 mm, the valve strength is improved by increasing the thickness, and deformation in the vicinity of the seal portion of the valve body can be suppressed. .

  A closing valve according to a fifth aspect is the closing valve according to the first aspect, further comprising a valve lid. The outer diameter of the valve lid is 16.4 to 17.0 mm.

  Here, since the outer diameter of the valve lid is 16.4 to 17.0 mm, the valve lid can be downsized.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to reduce the size of the closing valve. Moreover, since the contact area of the part where the seal part of the valve body contacts the main body is reduced accordingly, the leakage prevention effect can be improved.

  According to the 2nd invention, size reduction of a shut-off valve is realizable.

  According to the 3rd invention, size reduction of a closing valve is realizable.

  According to the fourth invention, deformation in the vicinity of the seal portion of the valve body can be suppressed.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the valve lid can be reduced in size.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

  FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a closing valve according to an embodiment of the present invention. The closing valve 1 mainly includes a brass main body 2, a brass valve body 3, a valve lid 4, and a flare nut 9.

  The main body 2 includes a first cylindrical portion 2a, a second cylindrical portion 2b, and a third cylindrical portion 2c. Each of the cylindrical portions 2a to 2c has a substantially cylindrical shape with a through hole provided therein, and one end thereof is connected so that the inner peripheral surfaces of the through holes are continuous with each other. A first connection port 11 to which a communication pipe is connected is provided at the other end of the first cylindrical portion 2a. Note that a cap 17 for preventing intrusion of dust is attached to the first connection port 11 shown in FIG. A second connection port 12 to which an internal pipe in the outdoor unit is connected is provided at the other end of the second cylindrical portion 2b. An operation port 14 into which a wrench for moving the valve body 3 is inserted is provided at the other end of the third cylindrical portion 2c. In addition, the second cylindrical portion 2b forms an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the first cylindrical portion 2a. The third cylindrical portion 2c forms an angle of about 90 degrees with the first cylindrical portion 2a, and is arranged substantially coaxially with the second cylindrical portion 2b.

  A first refrigerant channel 5 is provided inside the first cylindrical part 2a, and a second refrigerant channel 6 is provided inside the second cylindrical part 2b. A valve passage 8 is provided inside the third cylindrical portion 2c. The first refrigerant flow path 5, the second refrigerant flow path 6, and the valve path 8 are arranged radially in three directions around the intermediate flow path 7 and communicate with the intermediate flow path 7. Further, the second refrigerant flow path 6 and the valve passage 8 are arranged substantially coaxially with the intermediate flow path 7 interposed therebetween. As described above, the first refrigerant flow path 5, the intermediate flow path 7, and the second refrigerant flow path 6 form a series of refrigerant flow paths 10 through which the refrigerant flows.

  Hereinafter, the direction from the valve passage 8 toward the second refrigerant passage 6 among the directions parallel to the axis passing through the second refrigerant passage 6 and the valve passage 8 is referred to as a first direction (see arrow A1 in FIG. 1). The direction from the second refrigerant flow path 6 toward the valve passage 8 is referred to as a second direction (see arrow A2 in FIG. 1).

  A valve seat 13 is provided at the boundary between the intermediate flow path 7 and the second refrigerant flow path 6 so that the tip of the valve body 3 contacts and separates. The valve seat 13 expands in the second direction A2. It has a tapered shape that is diametrical.

  The valve body 3 has a substantially columnar shape, and is disposed in the valve passage 8 of the third cylindrical portion 2c so as to be movable in the axial direction. The tip of the valve body 3 faces the intermediate flow path 7 and has a tapered shape that decreases in diameter in the first direction A1. A metal seal 20 is provided on the tapered surface of the valve body 3 as a seal portion. A thread 18 that meshes with each other is formed between the side surface of the valve body 3 and the inner surface of the main body 2. Further, a hexagon hole 3a into which a hexagon wrench is inserted is formed at the rear end of the valve body 3. By rotating the valve body 3 together with the hexagon wrench, the valve body 3 is axially moved in the first direction A1 or the first direction A1. It can be moved in two directions.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the open state in which the shut-off valve 1 is opened, a series of refrigerant passages 10 (the first refrigerant passage 5, the intermediate passage 7, and the second refrigerant passage 6) communicate with each other. In this open state, an annular groove 3b is formed on the outer periphery of the upper portion of the valve body 3, and an O-ring 15 is fitted on the groove 3b. Thereby, the space between the inner peripheral surface of the valve passage 8 and the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 3 is sealed, so that the refrigerant does not leak to the outside.

  When closing the closing valve 1, the valve body 3 is moved in the first direction A1 while rotating, thereby bringing the tip of the valve body 3 and the valve seat 13 into contact with each other, and 2 Blocks between the refrigerant flow paths 6. In this closed state, the tip of the valve body 3 is in contact with the valve seat 13. In this state, the tip of the valve body 3 and the second refrigerant flow path 6 are closed without a gap, and the intermediate flow path 7 is closed.

  Further, when the closing valve 1 is opened from the closed state, the tip of the valve body 3 is moved away from the valve seat 13 by moving the valve body 3 in the second direction A2, while rotating the valve body 3. 2 The refrigerant flow path 6 is communicated.

  The valve lid 4 is normally attached to the other end of the third cylindrical portion 2 c and closes the operation port 14. When the closing valve 1 is opened and closed, it is removed from the other end of the third cylindrical portion 2c. A thread 19 that meshes with each other is formed between the inner surface of the valve lid 4 and the outer peripheral surface of the main body 2.

  A copper tube is brazed to the second connection port 12 shown in FIG.

<Explanation about inner diameter and thickness of closing valve 1>
In the closing valve 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the first refrigerant is compared with the inner diameter d1 (5.0 mm) of the refrigerant pipe P connected to the first refrigerant flow path 5 in the main body 2. The inner diameter d2 of the flow path 5 is 3.8 to 4.4 mm (preferably about 4.0 mm), and the inner diameter d3 of the second refrigerant flow path 6 is 3.8 to 4.4 mm (preferably about 4.0 mm). Therefore, d2 / d1 = 0.76 to 0.84 and d3 / d1 = 0.76 to 0.84, both of which are less than 0.9 times.

  Accordingly, the wall thickness t1 of the first cylindrical portion 2a constituting the first refrigerant flow path 5 is 3.3 to 3.7 mm (preferably 3.5 mm), and the second refrigerant flow path 6 constituting the second refrigerant flow path 6 is formed. The wall thickness t2 of the two cylindrical portions 2b is 3.3 to 3.7 mm (preferably 3.5 mm). At the same time, the thickness t3 of the portion where the first cylindrical portion 2a and the second cylindrical portion 2b are connected is also thicker than the thicknesses t1 and t2.

  As described above, the inner diameters d2 and d3 that are the diameters of the first refrigerant flow path 5 and the second refrigerant flow path 6 are the liquid refrigerant pipes connected to the first refrigerant flow path 5 or the second refrigerant flow path 6. It is less than 0.9 times the inner diameter d1. As a result, in the closing valve 1 of the present embodiment, the inner diameters d2 and d3 of the refrigerant flow path 10 can be reduced, and the wall thicknesses t1 and t2 of the first refrigerant flow path 5 and the second refrigerant flow path 6 are reduced. It can be formed to be thick. Thereby, it is possible to increase the strength in the valve operation.

  Moreover, since the contact area of the part which the metal seal 20 of the valve body 3 contacts with the main body 2 also becomes small with the miniaturization of the closing valve 1, the leakage prevention effect is improved.

  Furthermore, with the downsizing of the shut-off valve 1, the outer diameter of the valve lid 4 of the embodiment becomes 16.4 to 17.0 mm, and the valve lid 4 can be miniaturized.

  Here, if the flare nut 9 is tightened strongly, bending deformation is likely to occur in the vicinity of the valve seat 13, but in this embodiment, the thickness t1 of the peripheral portion of the first refrigerant flow path 5 is 3.3 to 3.7 mm. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deformation near the metal seal 20.

<Analysis from experimental results>
As a result of experimentally measuring the Cv value of the flow rate of the liquid refrigerant inside the closing valve, when the Cv value of the conventional closing valve (see FIG. 3) is 100, the first flow for the closing valve 1 of the present embodiment. The relative Cv value for the flow from the path 5 to the second flow path 6 (that is, the flare nut 9 side → the copper pipe brazing side) is 65, and the flow from the second flow path 6 to the first flow path 5 The relative Cv value for the copper pipe brazing side to the flare nut 9 side was 60. Therefore, compared with the conventional closing valve, in the closing valve 1 of the present embodiment, the Cv value decreases in any flow direction.

  However, the results of measuring the performance of the air conditioner when using the conventional shut-off valve and when using the shut-off valve 1 of this embodiment by the system test show that the COP in the system test of the conventional shut-off valve is 100. In this case, the relative COP during cooling of the closing valve 1 of the present embodiment was 99.61, and the relative COP during heating was 99.98. These numerical values are all within the measurement error range with an error of less than 0.05.

  Therefore, even if it replaces with the closing valve 1 of this embodiment from the conventional closing valve, it is clear that it does not affect the performance of the liquid refrigerant side air conditioning system.

<Description of Comparative Example>
Here, as a comparative example of the present invention, when compared with the conventional closing valve shown in FIG. 3, the main body 22 of the conventional closing valve is connected to the first refrigerant flow path 25 as shown in FIG. Compared with the inner diameter d1 (5.0 mm) of the refrigerant pipe P, the inner diameter d22 of the first refrigerant flow path 25 is 4.6 to 4.8 mm (about 4.7 mm), and the inner diameter d23 of the second refrigerant flow path 26 is. Is 4.6 to 4.8 mm (about 4.7 mm), d22 / d1 = 0.92 to 0.96 and d23 / d1 = 0.92 to 0.96.

  Accordingly, the thickness t21 of the first cylindrical portion 22a constituting the first refrigerant flow path 25 is 3.0 to 3.2 mm (about 3.1 mm), and the second cylinder constituting the second refrigerant flow path 26 is provided. The thickness t22 of the part 22b is 3.0 to 3.2 mm (about 3.1 mm).

  Therefore, in the conventional closing valve, the inner diameter d22 of the first refrigerant channel 25 and the inner diameter d23 of the second refrigerant channel 26 are larger than the closing valve 1 of the present embodiment, and the wall thickness t21 of the first refrigerant channel 25 and The wall thickness t22 of the second refrigerant channel 26 is thin, and it is difficult to increase the strength in the valve operation.

<Features>
(1)
In the shutoff valve 1 of the embodiment, the inner diameters d2 and d3 that are the diameters of the first refrigerant flow path 5 and the second refrigerant flow path 6 are equal to the inner diameter d1 of the liquid refrigerant pipe P connected to the first refrigerant flow path 5. It is less than 0.9 times. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the closing valve 1.

(2)
Further, as the size of the shut-off valve 1 is reduced, the contact area of the portion of the valve body 3 where the metal seal 20 contacts the main body 2 is also reduced. It is possible to effectively prevent the refrigerant from leaking through the gaps between them.

(3)
In the closing valve 1 of the embodiment, since the flow path diameter d2 of the first refrigerant flow path 5 is 3.8 to 4.4 mm, the closing valve 1 can be reduced in size.

(4)
In the closing valve 1 of the embodiment, since the flow path diameter d3 of the second refrigerant flow path 6 is 3.8 to 4.4 mm, the closing valve 1 can be reduced in size.

(5)
Moreover, the closing valve 1 of the present embodiment has a thickness t1 of the first cylindrical portion 2a, a thickness t2 of the second cylindrical portion 2b, and the first cylindrical portion 2a and the second cylinder as the size of the closing valve 1 is reduced. The thickness t3 of the connecting portion of the portion 2b is thicker than that of the conventional closing valve. In particular, since the thickness t1 of the peripheral portion of the first refrigerant flow path 5 is 3.3 to 3.7 mm, even when the flare nut 9 is strongly tightened, the metal of the valve body 3 generated by the shearing stress and the like generated thereby. It is possible to suppress deformation of the main body 2 in the vicinity of the seal 20.

(6)
In the closing valve 1 of the embodiment, since the outer diameter of the valve lid 4 is 16.4 to 17.0 mm, the valve lid 4 can be downsized as the closing valve 1 is downsized.

  Therefore, since the outer diameter of the valve lid is larger than that of the flare nut in a conventionally known closing valve, the valve lid could not be tightened using a tool for tightening the flare nut. In the closing valve 1 of the embodiment, it is possible to tighten the miniaturized valve lid 4 using a tool for tightening the flare nut 9. As a result, work efficiency can be improved and tools can be shared.

  The present invention can be applied to a liquid refrigerant closing valve for an air conditioner.

Sectional drawing of the closing valve for liquid refrigerants of the air conditioner concerning embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows each dimension of the closing valve of FIG. 1 typically. The figure which shows typically each dimension of the conventional closing valve which is a comparative example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Closing valve 2 Main body 3 Valve body 4 Valve cover 5 1st refrigerant flow path 6 2nd refrigerant flow path 7 Intermediate flow path 8 Valve path 13 Valve seat

Claims (5)

A first refrigerant flow path (5), a second refrigerant flow path (6), an intermediate flow path (7) communicating the first refrigerant flow path (5) and the second refrigerant flow path (6); A main body (2) having a valve passage (8) communicating with the intermediate flow path (7) inside,
The first refrigerant flow path (5) is inserted into the valve passage (8) so as to be movable in the axial direction and moves in a first direction from the valve passage (8) side toward the intermediate flow path (7) side. ) And the second refrigerant flow path (6), and the first refrigerant flow path is moved in the second direction from the intermediate flow path (7) side toward the valve passage (8) side. (5) and a valve body (3) communicating the second refrigerant flow path (6);
With
The channel diameter (d2) of the first refrigerant channel (5) and the channel diameter (d3) of the second refrigerant channel (6) are the first refrigerant channel (5) or the second refrigerant channel ( 6) less than 0.9 times the inner diameter (d1) of the liquid refrigerant pipe (P) connected to
Air conditioner liquid refrigerant shut-off valve (1). The flow path diameter (d2) of the first refrigerant flow path (5) is 3.8 to 4.4 mm.
The liquid refrigerant shut-off valve (1) according to claim 1. The channel diameter (d3) of the second refrigerant channel (6) is 3.8 to 4.4 mm.
The liquid refrigerant shut-off valve (1) according to claim 1. The thickness (t1) of the peripheral portion of the first refrigerant channel (5) is 3.3 to 3.7 mm.
The liquid refrigerant shut-off valve (1) according to claim 1. Further comprising a valve lid (4),
The outer diameter (d4) of the valve lid (4) is 16.4 to 17.0 mm.
The liquid refrigerant shut-off valve (1) according to claim 1.

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