JP2013060987A - Rotary valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rotary valve which can suppress ablation of a seal member and alleviate a force required to drive a rotating valve element and at the same time secure a seal function.SOLUTION: The rotary valve 10A has a housing H, the rotating valve element 13 provided at the housing H, the seal member that is provided between the housing H and the rotating valve element 13 has projecting portions at both ends, an elastic member which urges the seal member toward the housing H, and a groove portion that guides the projecting portions according to rotation operation of the rotating valve element 13. The groove portion has a retreated portion that retreats toward an internal side in a radial direction, and the retreating portion guides the seal member to separate from the housing H upon rotating operation of the rotating valve element 13.

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary valve.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose techniques that are considered to be related to the present invention regarding rotary valves. In Patent Documents 1 and 2, a regulating member that includes a body with a fluid inlet and at least two fluid outlets and that can take various angular positions to control the distribution of fluid through the fluid outlet rotates together. A control valve surrounded by a sealing ring is disclosed. The adjusting member is surrounded by a small gap with the seal ring, and is held by the pressure of the fluid caught in the gap.

JP 2011-217733 A JP 2006-512547 A

  In the rotary valve, fluid leakage can occur from around the rotary valve body. On the other hand, in order to prevent fluid leakage, for example, a rotatable seal member can be provided integrally with the rotary valve body between the housing provided with the rotary valve body and the rotary valve body. However, when the rotary valve body is rotated while the seal member is in contact with the housing, wear of the seal member may be accelerated at the opening edge of the passage portion provided in the housing.

  Further, in order to perform sealing around the rotary valve body with the seal member, for example, it is considered that the pressure of the fluid that presses the seal member toward the housing acts on the seal member as in the control valve disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. It is done. However, in this case, since the fluid pressure increases and the driving force required to drive the rotary valve body increases, an actuator capable of generating a corresponding output may be required when driving the rotary valve body. As a result, there is a possibility that miniaturization and power saving of the rotary valve may be hindered. In this case, if the fluid pressure decreases, the sealing function may also decrease.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a rotary valve that can suppress wear of a seal member, reduce the force required to drive a rotary valve body, and at the same time ensure a sealing function.

  The present invention includes a housing having a passage portion that allows fluid to flow, a rotary valve body that is provided in the housing and that controls flow of the fluid that flows through the passage portion by a rotating operation, and the housing and the rotary valve body A seal member provided integrally with the rotary valve body so as to be rotatable and having first and second protrusions at both ends; and provided between the rotary valve body and the seal member; An elastic member that urges the rotary valve body, a first groove that guides the first protrusion in accordance with a rotation operation of the rotary valve body, and a second groove that guides the second protrusion, The first and second groove portions have a retreating portion that retreats radially inward, and the retreating portion separates the seal member from the housing when the rotary valve body rotates. First Preliminary is a rotary valve for guiding the second projecting portion.

  The present invention provides the first and second components so that the seal member is separated from the housing when the fluid pressure in the upstream portion of the passage portion is higher than a predetermined value. In the groove portion, at least a portion of the passage portion corresponding to a portion on the upstream side of the rotary valve body may have a groove width that is widened radially inward.

  According to the present invention, wear of the seal member can be suppressed, the force required to drive the rotary valve body can be reduced, and at the same time, a seal function can be secured.

It is a schematic block diagram of a rotary valve. It is a side view of a rotary valve body unit. It is a top view of a rotary valve body unit. It is an external view of a sealing member. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a main part of the housing according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the principal part of the gear box part of Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows distribution control of the cooling fluid of a rotary valve. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the seal member of Example 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a main part of a housing according to a second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the principal part of the gear box part of Example 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of the seal member of Example 2.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rotary valve 10A. In FIG. 1, a water pump (hereinafter referred to as W / P) 1 is also shown together with the rotary valve 10A. The rotary valve 10 </ b> A includes a first passage portion 11, a second passage portion 12, a rotary valve body 13, a drive portion 14, and a thermostat 15. In addition, an inlet portion In1, In2 and an outlet portion Out1, Out2 are provided. The outlet part Out1 is connected to the cylinder head of the engine, and the outlet part Out2 is connected to the cylinder block of the engine.

  The 1st channel | path part 11 is provided between the coolant outlet part of W / P1, and an engine, and distribute | circulates the engine coolant which is a fluid. The 2nd channel | path part 12 is provided between the coolant inlet_port | entrance part of W / P1, and a radiator, and distribute | circulates a coolant. The passage portions 11 and 12 are arranged side by side. The passage portions 11 and 12 are connected to W / P1 at the ends in a state where they are arranged side by side. The first passage portion 11 is connected to the coolant outlet portion of W / P1, and the second passage portion 12 is connected to the coolant inlet portion of W / P1. In the first passage portion 11, the W / P1 side is the upstream side, and in the second passage portion 12, the W / P1 side is the downstream side. The passage portions 11 and 12 constitute a housing H.

  The first passage portion 11 communicates with the outlet portions Out1 and Out2 on the downstream side of the rotary valve body 13. The second passage portion 12 communicates with the inlet portion In1 on the downstream side of the rotary valve body 13. Further, the rotary valve body 13 communicates with the inlet portion In2 on the upstream side and the downstream side. The second passage portion 12 communicates the first communication portion B1 that communicates the downstream portion of the rotary valve body 13 and the inlet portion In2, and the upstream portion of the rotary valve body 13 and the inlet portion In2. And a second communication part B2. For convenience of illustration, FIG. 1 shows that portions of the first passage portion 11 communicating with the outlet portions Out1 and Out2 on the downstream side of the rotary valve body 13 are provided in the same phase. These are actually provided in different phases. The same applies to the upstream portion and the downstream portion of the passage portions 11 and 12.

  The rotary valve body 13 is provided so as to be interposed between the first passage portion 11 and the second passage portion 12. Thus, the housing H is provided. The rotary valve body 13 controls the circulation of the coolant flowing through the first passage portion 11 and the circulation of the coolant flowing through the second passage portion 12 by a rotation operation. The rotary valve body 13 includes a first valve body portion R1 interposed in the first passage portion 11 and a second valve body portion R2 interposed in the second passage portion 12. The insides of the valve body portions R1 and R2 are individually hollow, and an opening provided in the peripheral wall portion allows the coolant to flow through the valve body portions R1 and R2. The rotary valve body 13 prohibits and permits the circulation of the coolant flowing through the first passage portion 11 and the circulation of the coolant flowing through the second passage portion 12. It can be performed.

  The drive unit 14 includes an actuator 14 a and a gear box unit 14 b and drives the rotary valve body 13. The actuator 14a is specifically an electric motor, for example. The actuator 14a may be a hydraulic actuator that can be electronically controlled by a hydraulic control valve, for example. The thermostat 15 is provided in the first communication part B1. The thermostat 15 opens when the temperature of the coolant is higher than a predetermined value, and closes when the temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined value.

  FIG. 2 is a side view of a rotary valve body unit that is a combination of the rotary valve body 13, the seal member 19, and the elastic member 20. FIG. 3 is a top view of the rotary valve body unit. FIG. 4 is an external view of the seal member 19. 2 and 3, the seal member 19 is shown in cross section. In FIG. 3, the gap between the rotary valve body 13 and the seal member 19 is exaggerated for convenience of explanation.

  The rotary valve 10A further includes a seal member 19 and an elastic member 20. The material of the seal member 19 is, for example, a resin such as PTFE, rubber, or a combination thereof. The seal member 19 has a cylindrical shape and is assembled around the rotary valve body 13. The seal member 19 is mechanically connected to the rotary valve body 13 at the connecting portion C, so that the seal member 19 is integrally rotatable with the rotary valve body 13. The elastic member 20 is provided between the rotary valve body 13 and the seal member 19 and biases the seal member 19 toward the housing H. The elastic member 20 is a spring, for example.

  The seal member 19 is provided between the first passage portion 11 and the rotary valve body 13 (specifically, the first valve body portion R1) in the rotary valve 10A, and the second passage portion 12 and the rotary valve body. 13 (specifically, the second valve body R2). Thereby, it is provided between the housing H and the rotary valve body 13. The seal member 19 has first and second protrusions P1 and P2 at both ends. The protrusions P1 and P2 have a columnar shape and are provided so that their circumferential positions are equal to each other. The seal member 19 is provided with an opening corresponding to the opening provided in the peripheral wall of the rotary valve body 13.

  FIG. 5 is a view showing a main part of the housing H. FIG. 6 is a view showing a main part of the gear box portion 14b. A first groove D <b> 1 is provided on the lower surface of the portion of the housing H that houses the rotary valve body 13. A second groove portion D2 is provided in a portion of the lower surface of the gear box portion 14b that faces the rotary valve body 13. The first groove D1 guides the first protrusion P1 and the second groove D2 guides the second protrusion P2 according to the rotation operation of the rotary valve body 13. The grooves D1 and D2 are provided so as to overlap each other when viewed along the rotation axis of the rotary valve body 13.

  The grooves D1 and D2 have arc portions provided concentrically with the rotary valve body 13, and have receding portions that recede inward in the radial direction. Specifically, the receding portion is a hollow portion that is recessed radially inward. The arc portion guides the protrusions P1 and P2 with the seal member 19 in contact with the housing H. The recessed portion guides the protrusions P1 and P2 so that the seal member 19 is separated from the housing H when the rotary valve body 13 is rotated. In FIGS. 5 and 6, for the convenience of explanation, the recessed portion is shown exaggerated with respect to the arc portion.

  Specifically, the grooves D1 and D2 have recessed portions every 90 °. Moreover, it has a circular arc part in the part between each adjacent hollow part. The arc portion is smoothly connected to each of the adjacent recessed portions. The rotary valve 10A includes groove portions D1 and D2 by including a gear box portion 14b provided with a first groove portion D1 and a housing H provided with a second groove portion D2.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the flow control of the coolant in the rotary valve 10A. Port 1 is a port formed by a portion on the upstream side of the rotary valve body 13 in the first passage portion 11, Port 2 is a portion on the downstream side of the rotary valve body 13 in the first passage portion 11, A port formed by a portion communicating with the outlet portion Out1, and a port 3 are a port formed by a portion communicating with the outlet portion Out2 and a portion downstream of the rotary valve body 13 in the first passage portion 11. 4 is a port formed by a portion on the upstream side of the rotary valve body 13 in the second passage portion 12, and port 5 is a port formed by a portion on the downstream side of the rotary valve body 13 in the second passage portion 12. It is. The port 6 is a port formed by the first communication part B <b> 1 in a part of the second passage part 12 on the downstream side of the rotary valve body 13.

  The rotary valve 10A opens and closes the ports 1 to 5 to stop the flow of the coolant, for example, stop the flow of the coolant, block the stagnation of the coolant in the cylinder block, and fully open the relatively high temperature coolant within the appropriate temperature range. Four distribution controls can be performed: high temperature full open for circulation, and low temperature full open for allowing a relatively low temperature coolant to flow fully open within an appropriate temperature range. In this respect, the ports 1 to 5 are opened and closed by the rotary valve body 13, and the port 6 is opened and closed by the thermostat 15. Therefore, in FIG. 6, it is shown that the coolant flow control by the thermostat 15 is effective for the port 6 regardless of the rotation operation of the rotary valve body 13.

  In the flow stop, the rotary valve body 13 blocks the port 1 to stop the flow of the coolant. At this time, the rotary valve body 13 simultaneously blocks the ports 2, 4, and 5 and opens the port 3. In block stagnation, the rotary valve body 13 opens the ports 1 and 2 and shuts off the ports 3, 4 and 5, thereby stopping the flow of the coolant to the cylinder block while flowing the coolant to the cylinder head. I am doing so.

  In the fully open high temperature, the rotary valve body 13 opens the ports 1 and 3 and shuts off the ports 2, 4, and 5, thereby allowing a relatively high temperature coolant to flow through the cylinder block and the coolant to the cylinder head. Is trying to stop the distribution of. In the fully open low temperature, the rotary valve body 13 opens the ports 1, 3, 4, and 5 and shuts off the port 2, so that a relatively low temperature coolant is circulated through the cylinder block and the coolant to the cylinder head is circulated. Is trying to stop the distribution of. High-temperature full opening can be performed at a low engine load, and low-temperature full opening can be performed at a high engine load.

  Next, the function and effect of the rotary valve 10A will be described. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of the operation of the seal member 19 in the rotary valve 10A. Specifically, the protrusions P1 and P2 are provided so as to close the port 1 and stop the water when the protrusions P1 and P2 are located in the arc portions corresponding to the port 1 in the grooves D1 and D2. For this reason, at the time of water stoppage, the projecting portions P1 and P2 are located in arc portions corresponding to the ports 1 in the groove portions D1 and D2, and the seal member 19 and the housing H are in contact with each other.

  The protrusions P1 and P2 are provided to open the port 1 and close the port 3 to perform block squeezing when the protrusions P1 and P2 are located in the arc portion corresponding to the port 3 in the grooves D1 and D2. Specifically, the port 3 is provided at a position shifted by 90 ° from the port 1 to the front side in the rotation direction of the rotary valve body 13. For this reason, during the transition from the water stopper to the block stagnation, the protrusions P1 and P2 are located in the recesses provided between the ports 1 and 3 in the grooves D1 and D2. As a result, the seal member 19 is pushed inward in the radial direction, and as a result, a gap is generated between each of the opening edges of the ports 1 and 3 and the portions positioned on the front side in the rotational direction. At this time, the connecting portion C is located in front of the port 1.

  In the block stagnation, as a result of the protrusions P1 and P2 being located in the arc portion corresponding to the port 3 in the grooves D1 and D2, the seal member 19 and the housing H are brought into contact again. At this time, the coolant flows from the port 1 to the port 2 (not shown) via the rotary valve body unit.

  As described above, the rotary valve 10 </ b> A includes the grooves D <b> 1 and D <b> 2, so that a gap can be generated between the seal member 19 and the opening edges of the ports 1 and 3, for example, when the rotary valve body 13 rotates. As a result, wear of the seal member 19 can be suppressed. Further, the rotary valve 10A is provided with the groove portions D1 and D2, so that the rotary valve body 13 can be rotated even when the force of the elastic member 20 and the pressure of the fluid to press the seal member 19 against the housing H are present. By guiding the protrusions P1 and P2 so as to separate the seal member 19 from the housing H, the friction of the seal member 19 can be reduced. As a result, the force required to drive the rotary valve body 13 can also be reduced.

  Furthermore, the rotary valve 10 </ b> A includes the elastic member 20, so that the sealing performance can be ensured even when the pressure of the fluid that tries to press the sealing member 19 against the housing H decreases. In this regard, the elastic member 20 is specifically provided at a position facing the port 1 when the protrusions P1 and P2 are located in the arc portion corresponding to the port 1 in the grooves D1 and D2.

  The rotary valve 10A has a plurality of recess portions (specifically, a total of four recesses every 90 ° here), and the seal member 19 and the housing H are provided between the adjacent recess portions. Provided with grooves D1 and D2 having arc portions that guide the projecting portions P1 and P2 in contact with each other, and by providing a plurality of ports corresponding to each arc portion, recessed portions are provided between adjacent ports in the circumferential direction. Is provided. As a result, it is possible to suppress the wear of the seal member 19 generated between each port during the rotation operation of the rotary valve body 13 and reduce the driving force.

  In this regard, the rotary valve 10A includes the groove portions D1 and D2 having the recessed portions which are at least three retreat portions, so that the coolant can be distributed to a plurality of supply destinations, and the rotary valve body 13 can be rotated. It is possible to suppress the wear of the seal member 19 that is sometimes generated between the ports and reduce the driving force.

  Further, the rotary valve 10A is provided with groove portions D1 and D2 each having a recessed portion that is a total of four receding portions every 90 °, so that the flow of the coolant in the first passage portion 11 and the cooling in the second passage portion 12 are performed. In the case where the rotary valve body 13 that simultaneously controls the flow of the liquid by the rotation operation is provided, the rotary valve body 13 is established while the flow control of the predetermined cooling liquid as described above, for example, is established while suppressing the number of depressions. It is possible to suppress the wear of the seal member 19 that occurs between the passage portions 11 and 12 during the rotation operation of the motor and reduce the driving force.

  In the rotary valve 10A including the rotary valve body 13 that simultaneously controls the circulation of the cooling liquid in the first passage portion 11 and the circulation of the cooling liquid in the second passage portion 12 by a rotational operation, the cooling of the passage portions 11 and 12 is performed. The force required to drive the rotary valve body 13 is likely to increase because of the configuration in which the liquid flow is simultaneously controlled by the uniaxial rotary valve body 13. For this reason, the rotary valve 10A is particularly suitable when the rotary valve body 13 is provided as a rotary valve body.

  FIG. 9 is a view showing a main part of the housing H ′. FIG. 10 is a view showing a main part of the gear box portion 14b ′. The rotary valve 10B according to the present embodiment is substantially the same as the rotary valve 10A except that a housing H ′ is provided instead of the housing H and a gear box portion 14b ′ is provided instead of the gear box portion 14b. For this reason, illustration of the rotary valve 10B is omitted.

  The housing H ′ is substantially the same as the housing H, except that the first groove D1 ′ is provided instead of the first groove D1. The gear box portion 14b ′ is substantially the same as the gear box portion 14b, except that the second groove portion D2 ′ is provided instead of the second groove portion D2. The grooves D1 ′ and D2 ′ are substantially the same as the grooves D1 and D2, except for the following points.

  That is, in the groove portions D1 ′ and D2 ′, the groove width of the portion corresponding to the upstream portion of the rotary valve body 13 (the arc portion corresponding to the port 1) of at least the first passage portion 11 is radially inward. Widely formed. Thus, the seal member 19 is separated from the housing H ′ when the pressure of the coolant in the portion of the first passage portion 11 upstream of the rotary valve body 13 is higher than a predetermined value. .

  In the groove portions D1 ′ and D2 ′, the above-described groove width is specifically formed as follows. That is, the protrusions P1 and P2 are located in the portion corresponding to the upstream portion of the first passage portion 11 with respect to the rotary valve body 13 (the arc portion corresponding to the port 1) in the groove portions D1 ′ and D2 ′. In this case, the upstream side portion and the downstream side portion (specifically, here) of the rotary valve body 13 in the first passage portion 11 in contact with the inner edges of the groove portions D1 ′ and D2 ′. Widely inward in the radial direction so as to form a gap (a gap communicating between the port 1 and the port 3) between the seal member 19 and the housing H ′. .

  More specifically, in the groove portions D1 ′ and D2 ′, the rotary valve body 13 from the portion corresponding to the portion upstream of the rotary valve body 13 (the arc portion corresponding to the port 1) in the first passage portion 11. A portion (an arc corresponding to the port 3) connected to the depression portion on the front side in the rotation direction of the rotary valve body 13 via a depression portion (a depression portion provided between the ports 1 and 3) adjacent on the front side in the rotation direction. The groove width is formed wider toward the inside in the radial direction up to the range of the portion. Of the groove portions D1 ′ and D2 ′, the inner edge of the portion where the groove width is wide is from the portion (port 1) upstream of the rotary valve body 13 in the first passage portion 11. It is formed in a shape that can generate a force for rotating the rotary valve body 13 along the rotation direction in accordance with the pressure of the coolant at the protrusions P1 and P2.

  Next, the function and effect of the rotary valve 10B will be described. FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of the operation of the seal member 19 in the rotary valve 10B. At the time of water stoppage, the projections P1 and P2 are located in the arc portion corresponding to the port 1 in the grooves D1 ′ and D2 ′. When the pressure of the coolant at the port 1 is low, the seal member 19 and the housing H ′ are in contact with each other. In the case where the pressure of the coolant is low, specifically, the acting force corresponding to the pressure of the coolant and the force of the elastic member 20 are balanced here.

  When the coolant pressure increases (in the case of medium pressure), the protrusions P1 and P2 are pushed inward according to the coolant pressure, so that a gap is formed between the seal member 19 and the housing H ′. Arise. The ports 1 and 3 communicate with each other through this gap. In this state, the acting force according to the pressure of the coolant is the sum of the reaction force (wall reaction force) received by the protrusions P1 and P2 from the inner edge of the grooves D1 ′ and D2 ′ and the force of the elastic member 20. Are equal. The pressure of the coolant is higher than a predetermined value in this state.

  When the coolant pressure further increases (in the case of high pressure), the acting force according to the coolant pressure is divided by the projections P1 and P2 that are in contact with the inner edges of the grooves D1 ′ and D2 ′. As a result, a force for rotating the rotary valve body 13 along the rotation direction is generated. As a result, the rotary valve body 13 rotates along the rotation direction. In the block stagnation, as a result of the protrusions P1 and P2 being located in the arc portion corresponding to the port 3 in the grooves D1 ′ and D2 ′, the seal member 19 and the housing H ′ come into contact again.

  As described above, the rotary valve 10B has a groove portion D1 ′ in which the groove width of the portion corresponding to the portion on the upstream side of the rotary valve body 13 in at least the first passage portion 11 is widened radially inward. By providing D2 ′, it is possible to realize a fail-safe function for automatically circulating the coolant when the pressure of the coolant further rises above a predetermined value as compared with the rotary valve 10A.

  As described above, the rotary valve 10B has a groove portion D1 formed in a shape capable of generating the force that causes the rotary valve body 13 to rotate along the rotation direction in accordance with the pressure of the coolant at the protrusions P1 and P2. By providing ', D2', it is possible to realize a fail-safe function for automatically releasing the water stop when the pressure of the coolant further increases above a predetermined value, such as at the time of high engine rotation.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. It can be changed.

Rotary valve 10A, 10B
First passage part 11
Second passage 12
Rotating valve body 13
Seal member 19
Elastic member 20

Claims (2)

A housing having a passage for circulating fluid;
A rotary valve body that is provided in the housing and controls the flow of the fluid flowing through the passage portion by a rotation operation;
A seal member provided between the housing and the rotary valve body so as to be rotatable integrally with the rotary valve body, and having first and second protrusions at both ends;
An elastic member provided between the rotary valve body and the seal member and biasing the seal member toward the housing;
A first groove that guides the first protrusion in response to a rotation operation of the rotary valve body, and a second groove that guides the second protrusion,
The first and second groove portions have a retreating portion that retreats radially inward, and the retreating portion separates the seal member from the housing when the rotary valve body rotates. A rotary valve for guiding the second protrusion. The rotary valve according to claim 1,
In the first and second groove portions, the seal member is separated from the housing when the fluid pressure in the portion upstream of the rotary valve body is higher than a predetermined value in the passage portion. A rotary valve in which a groove width of at least a portion of the passage portion corresponding to a portion on the upstream side of the rotary valve body is widened radially inward.

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