JP2016044777A - Flow passage selector valve and refrigeration cycle using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flow passage selector valve and a refrigeration cycle using the same in which not only heat loss in a valve can be reduced, but also a low-cost, compact formation and a space-saving for its installation space can be attained as a single valve main body type flow passage selector valve.SOLUTION: This invention relates to a flow passage selector valve 3 in which a refrigeration cycle is changed between a cooling cycle and a heating cycle. High temperature gas outlet port and inlet port 12 to 14 and low temperature gas outlet port and inlet port 15 to 17 are oppositely arranged to each other in respect to a single valve main body 11 and they are integrally arranged at a pair of right and left pistons 18, 19 in the valve main body 11 and slid in a lateral direction and a high temperature side valve 24 and a low temperature side valve 25, which change over communicated states between each of the ports 12 to 14 at the high temperature gas side and between each of the ports 15 to 17 of the low temperature side, are provided spaced apart from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow path switching valve for switching a refrigeration cycle between a cooling cycle and a heating cycle, and a refrigeration cycle using the same.

  In an air conditioner that performs cooling and heating by switching a refrigeration cycle between a cooling cycle and a heating cycle, a four-way switching valve is used for switching the cycle. Usually, this four-way switching valve includes a cylindrical valve body, two ports, a high-temperature gas port and a low-temperature gas port connected to the compressor side with respect to the valve body, an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger side There are a total of four ports, two gas ports connected to each other, and a piston that slides in the valve body with a high and low pressure differential pressure that is switched by a pilot valve, and a flow path between the four ports that is slid by the piston. The valve body is configured to be switched.

  This four-way switching valve is cooled by switching between the four ports by the valve body so that the gas port connected to the high-temperature gas port and the outdoor heat exchanger and the gas port connected to the low-temperature gas port and the indoor heat exchanger communicate with each other. Cycle, a gas port connected to the hot gas port and the indoor heat exchanger, and a gas cycle connected to the cold gas port and the outdoor heat exchanger are switched to communicate with each other to form a heating cycle. The hot gas side flow path and the low temperature gas side flow path are adjacent to each other across the body. For this reason, it is difficult to avoid heat loss due to heat exchange between the high-temperature gas and the low-temperature gas inside the valve body of the four-way switching valve.

  Various proposals have been made to reduce heat loss in the four-way switching valve and improve the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle. Patent Document 1 is one of them, and a four-way switching valve is composed of two valves, a high-pressure three-way valve and a low-pressure three-way valve, and high-temperature and high-pressure gas discharged from the compressor is converted into an outdoor heat exchanger or indoor heat using a high-pressure three-way valve. By switching to the exchanger and circulating, the low-temperature and low-pressure gas from the indoor heat exchanger or outdoor heat exchanger is switched to the suction side of the compressor with the low-pressure three-way valve and circulated, so that the high-temperature gas and Heat loss due to heat exchange of low-temperature gas is reduced.

JP 2013-181666 A

  Patent Document 1 discloses a low-temperature refrigerant gas (low-pressure refrigerant) guided to a high-pressure three-way valve via a communication pipe and a high-temperature refrigerant gas (high-pressure refrigerant) guided to a low-pressure three-way valve via a communication pipe. By suppressing the heat exchange between the high-temperature refrigerant gas and the low-temperature refrigerant gas inside the valve, the heat loss is reduced. In order to reduce the heat loss inside the flow path switching valve, It is useful.

  However, each of the two high-pressure three-way valves and the low-pressure three-way valve requires a cylindrical valve body, a pair of left and right pistons or valve portions slidably provided therein, and further a valve body, a valve seat, etc. The number of parts is simply doubled, resulting in a cost increase, and the connection piping between the two valves may be complicated, resulting in an increase in the installation space for the flow path switching valve. Yes.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and not only can reduce heat loss inside the valve, but also can reduce the cost and make it compact as a single valve body type channel switching valve, and its installation An object of the present invention is to provide a flow path switching valve capable of saving space and a refrigeration cycle using the same.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the flow path switching valve of the present invention and the refrigeration cycle using the same employ the following means.
That is, the flow path switching valve according to the present invention includes a tubular valve body, a hot gas inlet port provided on one side of the valve body, a pair of hot gas outlet ports provided on both sides thereof, and the valve A cold gas inlet port provided on the other side of the main body facing each port on the hot gas side, and a pair of low temperature gas inlet ports provided on both sides thereof, slidably provided in the valve body, A pair of left and right pistons that are connected to each other to form working chambers at both ends, and the piston, and is slid along the valve seat between the high temperature gas inlet port and the pair of high temperature gas outlet ports. A high-temperature side valve body that switches the high-temperature gas from the gas inlet port to one of the pair of high-temperature gas outlet ports; and the low-temperature gas outlet provided between the piston and isolated from the high-temperature side valve body A low-temperature side valve body that slides along a valve seat between the port and the pair of low-temperature gas inlet ports, and switches the low-temperature gas from one of the pair of low-temperature gas inlet ports to the low-temperature gas outlet port. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, a single high temperature gas outlet / inlet port and a low temperature gas outlet / inlet port are opposed to a single valve body, and a pair of left and right pistons are provided in the valve body. The high temperature side valve body and the low temperature side valve body are provided separately from each other, thereby forming a high temperature gas side flow path and a low temperature gas side flow path between the two high temperature side valve bodies and the low temperature side valve body. The high-temperature gas and the low-temperature gas are not directly heat-exchanged through the valve body inside the valve body, and both gases are heat-exchanged inside the flow path switching valve. This can reduce the heat loss generated. Accordingly, heat loss inside the flow path switching valve can be reduced, and the flow path switching valve can be reduced in cost and size as a single valve body type flow path switching valve, and the installation space can be saved. be able to.

  Furthermore, the flow path switching valve of the present invention is the above-described flow path switching valve, wherein the high temperature side hollow part in which the high temperature side valve element is disposed in the hollow part formed between the pair of left and right pistons, A partition plate is provided for partitioning into a low temperature side hollow portion in which the low temperature side valve body is disposed.

  According to the present invention, a hollow portion formed between a pair of left and right pistons is partitioned into a high temperature side hollow portion where the high temperature side valve body is disposed and a low temperature side hollow portion where the low temperature side valve body is disposed. Since the partition plate is provided, the two high temperature side valve bodies and the low temperature side valve body can be further isolated via two high temperature side and low temperature side hollow portions formed between the partition plate and each valve body. . Therefore, the heat loss due to heat exchange between the high temperature gas and the low temperature gas in the valve body can be further reduced.

  Furthermore, in the flow path switching valve according to the present invention, in the flow path switching valve, one of the high temperature side valve body and the low temperature side valve body has a through-hole extending between two ports of the 3 ports in a flat plate surface. The port switching plate is provided.

  According to the present invention, one of the high-temperature side valve body and the low-temperature side valve body is a port switching plate having a through-hole straddling between 2 ports of 3 ports in the flat plate surface. By making one valve body of the low temperature side valve body into a simple flat port switching plate, the valve body can be simplified. That is, by providing the partition plate as described above, a hollow portion can be formed between the partition plate and each valve body. Therefore, even if one valve body is configured by the port switching plate, the high-temperature gas side flow path and the low-temperature gas side The flow path can be reliably isolated through a hollow portion formed between the partition plate and the other valve body. Therefore, the valve body can be simplified and the cost can be reduced while reducing the heat loss in the valve body.

  Furthermore, the flow path switching valve of the present invention is the above-described flow path switching valve, wherein the high temperature side hollow part in which the high temperature side valve element is disposed is disposed between the pair of left and right pistons and the hollow part formed therebetween. In addition, at least two partition plates that are partitioned into a low temperature side hollow portion where the low temperature side valve body is disposed are provided, and a space between the two partition plates is a hollow heat insulating layer.

  According to the present invention, a hollow portion formed between a pair of left and right pistons is partitioned into a high temperature side hollow portion where the high temperature side valve body is disposed and a low temperature side hollow portion where the low temperature side valve body is disposed. Since at least two partition plates are provided and the space between the two partition plates is a hollow heat insulating layer, the high temperature side hollow portion in which the high temperature side valve element is disposed by the hollow heat insulating layer formed between the two partition plates And the heat transfer between the low temperature side hollow portions where the low temperature side valve bodies are arranged can be further reduced. Therefore, heat loss due to heat exchange between the high temperature gas and the low temperature gas in the valve body can be further reduced.

  Furthermore, the flow path switching valve according to the present invention is the above flow path switching valve, wherein either one or both of the high temperature side valve body and the low temperature side valve body are between two ports of the 3 ports in a flat plate surface. The port switching plate is provided with a through hole that straddles.

  According to the present invention, either one or both of the high temperature side valve body and the low temperature side valve body is a port switching plate provided with a through hole extending between two ports of 3 ports in the flat plate surface. Each valve body can be simplified by using one or both of the side valve body and the low temperature side valve body as a flat plate-like port switching plate. That is, by providing at least two partition plates as described above and forming a hollow heat insulating layer between them, even if either or both valve bodies are configured by port switching plates, the high-temperature gas side flow path and the low-temperature gas The side flow path can be reliably isolated through the hollow heat insulating layer formed between the two partition plates. Therefore, each valve body can be simplified and reduced in cost while reliably reducing heat loss in the valve body.

  Furthermore, the flow path switching valve according to the present invention is, in any of the flow path switching valves described above, disposed on each side of the hot gas side disposed on one side of the valve main body and on the other side facing it. The ports on the low-temperature gas side are provided so as to be displaced in the length direction of the valve body.

  According to the present invention, each port on the hot gas side disposed on one side of the valve main body and each port on the low temperature gas side disposed on the other side opposite thereto are arranged in the length direction of the valve main body. Since the position is shifted, the hot gas side flow path and the low temperature gas side flow path formed in the valve body are separated from each other in the length direction of the valve body. Heat exchange between them can be further reduced. Therefore, heat loss due to heat exchange between the high temperature gas and the low temperature gas in the valve main body can be further reduced while maintaining the single valve main body type.

  Furthermore, the refrigeration cycle according to the present invention includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompression mechanism, and an indoor heat exchanger connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a closed-cycle refrigerant circuit, and a discharge pipe and a suction pipe of the compressor. In the refrigeration cycle in which a flow path switching valve is provided between the refrigerant circuit and the refrigerant circuit can be switched between a cooling cycle and a heating cycle, the flow path switching valve is any one of the above-described flow path switching valves. And

  According to the present invention, in the refrigeration cycle in which the refrigerant circuit can be switched between the cooling cycle and the heating cycle by the flow path switching valve, the flow path switching valve is any one of the above-described flow path switching valves. In addition to reducing the heat loss in the refrigeration, the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle can be improved, and the flow path switching valve can be made compact to save space occupied during installation. Therefore, it is possible to improve the performance of the refrigeration cycle and reduce the size and cost of the apparatus using the refrigeration cycle.

  Furthermore, in the refrigeration cycle of the present invention, in the above refrigeration cycle, the hot gas inlet port of the flow path switching valve is connected to a discharge pipe of the compressor, and a pair of hot gas outlet ports located on both sides thereof are provided. A pair of refrigerant pipes connected to the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger via a refrigerant pipe, and the low-temperature gas outlet port of the flow path switching valve is connected to the suction pipe of the compressor and located on both sides thereof The low-temperature gas inlet port is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger via a refrigerant pipe.

  According to the present invention, the hot gas inlet port of the flow path switching valve is connected to the discharge pipe of the compressor, and the pair of hot gas outlet ports located on both sides thereof are connected to the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchange via the refrigerant pipe. The low-temperature gas outlet port of the flow path switching valve is connected to the suction pipe of the compressor, and a pair of low-temperature gas inlet ports located on both sides of the low-temperature gas outlet port is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The high temperature gas inlet port is slid through the pinton of the flow path switching valve and the high temperature gas inlet port is switched to the high temperature gas outlet port side connected to the outdoor heat exchanger. Since the low temperature gas inlet port connected to the indoor heat exchanger via the pinton is connected to the low temperature gas outlet port, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor is used as a flow path switching valve and outdoor heat exchange. The cooling cycle circulates in the order of the decompression mechanism, the indoor heat exchanger, the flow path switching valve, and the compressor, while the flow path switching valve is switched and the high temperature side valve element is slid through its pinton, By switching the gas inlet port to the high temperature gas outlet port side connected to the indoor heat exchanger, the low temperature side valve element is connected to the low temperature gas outlet port via the pinton the low temperature gas inlet port connected to the outdoor heat exchanger. The heating cycle in which the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor circulates in the order of the flow path switching valve, the indoor heat exchanger, the pressure reducing mechanism, the outdoor heat exchanger, the flow path switching valve, and the compressor can be achieved. Therefore, by switching the two high-temperature side valve bodies and the low-temperature side valve body simultaneously, the refrigeration cycle can be easily switched between the cooling cycle and the heating cycle with a single flow path switching valve as in the conventional four-way switching valve. Moreover, by reducing the heat loss inside the valve, the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle can be improved and the performance can be improved.

  According to the flow path switching valve of the present invention, the high-temperature gas and the low-temperature gas are not directly heat-exchanged through the valve body inside the valve body, and both the gases are heat-exchanged inside the flow-path switching valve. Since heat loss that occurs can be reduced, heat loss inside the flow path switching valve can be reduced, and the flow path switching valve can be reduced in cost and compact as a single valve body type flow path switching valve. The installation space can be saved.

  According to the refrigeration cycle of the present invention, the heat loss inside the refrigeration cycle can be reduced to improve the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle, and the flow path switching valve can be made compact to save the occupied space during installation. Therefore, it is possible to improve the performance of the refrigeration cycle, reduce the size and cost of the apparatus using the refrigeration cycle, and reduce the cost.

It is a refrigerant circuit figure of the refrigerating cycle using the flow-path switching valve concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing (A) and (B) at the time of the air_conditioning | cooling cycle and heating cycle which show the structure of the said flow-path switching valve. It is sectional drawing (A), (B) at the time of the cooling cycle and heating cycle which show the structure of the flow-path switching valve based on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and the top view (C) of the port switching board. It is sectional drawing (A), (B) at the time of the cooling cycle and the time of a heating cycle which show the structure of the flow-path switching valve concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing (A) and (B) at the time of the air_conditioning | cooling cycle and the time of a heating cycle which show the structure of the flow-path switching valve concerning 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 shows a refrigerant circuit diagram of a refrigeration cycle using the flow path switching valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the flow path switching valve during the cooling cycle and heating. Cross-sectional views (A) and (B) at the time of the cycle are shown.
A refrigeration cycle 1 applied to an air conditioner or the like includes a compressor 2, a flow path switching valve 3, an outdoor heat exchanger 4, an decompression mechanism 5 including an electronic expansion valve (EEV), an indoor heat exchanger 6 and the like sequentially. It is configured by a closed cycle refrigerant circuit 8 connected by a refrigerant pipe 7.

  A cooling cycle that is applied to the refrigeration cycle 1 and circulates refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 in the order of the outdoor heat exchanger 4, the decompression mechanism 5, and the indoor heat exchanger 6 and sucks the refrigerant into the compressor 2, and the compressor 2 The flow path switching valve 3 for switching to a heating cycle in which the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant is circulated in the order of the indoor heat exchanger 6, the decompression mechanism 5, and the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and sucked into the compressor 2 is provided to the valve body 11. A hot gas inlet port 12 provided on one side thereof, a pair of hot gas outlet ports 13 and 14 provided on both sides thereof, and a low temperature gas provided on the other side facing the respective ports 12 to 14 on the hot gas side The flow path switching valve includes an inlet port 15 and a pair of cold gas inlet ports 16 and 17 disposed on both sides thereof.

  The high-temperature gas inlet port 12 of the flow path switching valve 3 is connected to the discharge pipe 7A from the compressor 2, and the pair of high-temperature gas outlet ports 13 and 14 on both sides thereof are refrigerant pipes having check valves 9 and 10, respectively. 7B and 7C are connected to the gas side refrigerant pipes 7D and 7E connected to one end of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the indoor heat exchanger 6, and the low temperature gas inlet port 15 is connected to the suction pipe 7F to the compressor 2. The closed-cycle refrigerant circuit 8 is configured by connecting the pair of low-temperature gas inlet ports 16 and 17 on both sides to gas-side refrigerant pipes 7D and 7E connected to one end of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the indoor heat exchanger 6. doing. The check valves 9 and 10 are not necessarily required and may be omitted.

Below, the structure of the flow-path switching valve 3 is demonstrated in more detail with reference to FIG.
The flow path switching valve 3 has a single valve main body 11 having a cylindrical shape. The valve main body 11 has a configuration in which both ends of the cylindrical shape are closed, and a hot gas inlet is provided on one side of the cylindrical surface. The port 12 and the pair of hot gas outlet ports 13 and 14 are provided as described above, and the cold gas inlet port 15 and the cold gas inlet ports 16 and 17 are provided as described above on the opposite side.

  A pair of left and right pistons 18 and 19 are integrally provided in the valve body 11 and are slidably incorporated in the axial direction of the cylindrical body (hereinafter also referred to as the left and right direction). Working chambers 20 and 21 are formed on the left and right sides of the pair of pistons 18 and 19, respectively. By switching the pressure in each working chamber 20 and 21 to a high pressure or a low pressure via a pilot valve as is well known, the difference between the chambers 20 and 21 is obtained. The pair of pistons 18 and 19 are moved in the left-right direction by pressure.

  Further, inside the valve body 11, valve seats 22 and 23 are provided on inner surface portions of the ports 12 to 14 on the high temperature gas side and the ports 15 to 17 on the low temperature gas side, respectively. The high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 that slide along the hot gas side and switch the communication state between the ports 12 to 14 on the high temperature gas side and the communication state between the ports 15 to 17 on the low temperature gas side The pistons 18 and 19 are integrally isolated from each other. The high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 slide in the left-right direction as the pistons 18 and 19 slide, and switch the flow paths of the high temperature gas and the low temperature gas.

  Furthermore, in the flow path switching valve 3, two high temperature side valve bodies 24 and a low temperature side valve body 25 are separately and integrally provided between the pair of left and right pistons 18, 19, so A high temperature gas side flow path and a low temperature gas including a high temperature side valve body 24 and a low temperature side valve body 25 provided in the valve body 11 through the hollow portion 26 are formed between the side valve body 25 and the hollow portion 26. The side flow paths are separated from each other.

With the configuration described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
In the refrigeration cycle 1, during cooling, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 2 flows into the flow path switching valve 3 from the high-temperature gas inlet port 12 through the discharge pipe 7 </ b> A as indicated by the solid line arrow. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2A, the pistons 18 and 19 of the flow path switching valve 3 are moved to the left side in the figure, and the high temperature side valve body 24 communicates the high temperature gas inlet port 12 and the high temperature gas outlet port 13. Since the low temperature side valve body 25 is slid to a position where the low temperature gas outlet port 15 and the low temperature gas inlet port 16 communicate with each other, the refrigerant gas that has flowed into the flow path switching valve 3 flows into the refrigerant pipe 7B and the check valve 9. And led to the outdoor heat exchanger 4.

  The refrigerant gas is heat-exchanged with the outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger 4 to be condensed and liquefied, and then flows into the indoor heat exchanger 6 through the decompression mechanism 5, and is evaporated by exchanging heat with the indoor air. Is cooled and supplied for cooling. The low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant gas evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 6 flows into the flow path switching valve 3 from the low-temperature gas inlet port 16 through the refrigerant pipe 7E, and from the low-temperature gas outlet port 15 through the suction pipe 7F to the compressor 2. It circulates through the cooling cycle that is drawn into the

  On the other hand, during heating, the pistons 18 and 19 of the flow path switching valve 3 are moved to the right side in the figure as shown in FIG. 2B, and the high temperature side valve body 24 is connected to the high temperature gas inlet port 12 and the high temperature gas outlet port 14. , And the low temperature side valve body 25 is slid to a position where the low temperature gas outlet port 15 and the low temperature gas inlet port 17 communicate with each other. Therefore, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 2 is indicated by a broken line arrow. Then, it flows into the flow path switching valve 3 through the discharge pipe 7A, and is led from the high temperature gas outlet port 14 to the indoor heat exchanger 6 through the refrigerant pipe 7C and the check valve 10.

  The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas guided to the indoor heat exchanger 6 is used for heating by radiating heat to the indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 6 and is condensed and liquefied. The condensed and liquefied refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 4 through the decompression mechanism 5, evaporates by exchanging heat with the outside air, and then passes through the refrigerant pipe 7D from the low temperature gas inlet port 17 into the flow path switching valve 3. And circulates in the heating cycle from the low-temperature gas outlet port 15 to the compressor 2 via the suction pipe 7F.

  In this case, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas (high-temperature gas) and the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant gas (low-temperature gas) are supplied to the flow path switching valve 3 that switches the circulation direction of the refrigerant during cooling and heating. A hot gas side flow path that flows in from one of the pair of hot gas outlet ports 13 and 14 and a low temperature gas side flow path that flows in from one of the cold gas inlet ports 16 and 17 and flows out from the low temperature gas outlet port 15 Circulate. When the high-temperature gas and the low-temperature gas exchange heat in the flow path switching valve 3, it becomes a heat loss in the refrigeration cycle 1 and the cooling / heating efficiency is reduced.

  However, in the present embodiment, the flow path switching valve 3 is arranged so that the hot gas outlet / inlet ports 12 to 14 and the cold gas outlet / inlet ports 15 to 17 face the single valve body 11. In addition, in the valve body 11, two high temperature side valve bodies 24 and a low temperature side valve body 25 are provided separately from each other via a pair of left and right pistons 18, 19, thereby providing a flow path on the high temperature gas side. The flow path on the low temperature gas side is isolated via a hollow portion 26 formed between the two high temperature side valve bodies 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25.

  For this reason, the high-temperature gas and the low-temperature gas are not directly heat-exchanged inside the valve body 11 via the valve bodies 24 and 25, and both the gases are heat-exchanged inside the flow path switching valve 3. The generated heat loss can be reduced, whereby the heat loss in the flow path switching valve 3 can be reduced, and the flow path switching valve 3 is configured as a single valve body type flow path switching valve 3. Cost reduction and compactness can be achieved, and the installation space can be saved.

  Further, in the refrigeration cycle 1 that switches the refrigerant circuit 8 to the cooling cycle or the heating cycle and performs cooling and heating, the flow path switching valve 3 is applied to the cycle switching flow path switching valve, whereby the inside of the refrigeration cycle 1 The efficiency of the refrigeration cycle 1 can be improved by reducing the heat loss at the same time, and the flow path switching valve 3 can be made compact to save the occupied space during installation. Thereby, high performance of the refrigeration cycle 1 and reduction in size and cost of the apparatus using the refrigeration cycle 1 can be achieved.

  Furthermore, in the refrigeration cycle 1 using the flow path switching valve 3, the hot gas inlet port 12 of the flow path switching valve 3 is connected to the discharge pipe 7A of the compressor 2, and a pair of hot gas outlet ports located on both sides thereof. 13 and 14 are connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the indoor heat exchanger 6 via the refrigerant pipes 7B and 7C, and the low-temperature gas outlet port 15 of the flow path switching valve 3 is connected to the suction pipe 7F of the compressor 2. The pair of low-temperature gas inlet ports 16 and 17 located on both sides thereof are connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the indoor heat exchanger 6 via refrigerant pipes 7D and 7E.

  For this reason, the high temperature side valve body 24 is slid through the pair of pistons 18 and 19 of the flow path switching valve 3 to switch the high temperature gas inlet port 12 to the high temperature gas outlet port 13 side connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 4. The low-temperature side valve element 25 is connected to the low-temperature gas outlet port 15 through the low-temperature gas inlet port 16 connected to the indoor heat exchanger 6 via the pistons 18 and 19, so that the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2. On the other hand, a cooling cycle in which gas circulates in the order of the flow path switching valve 3, the outdoor heat exchanger 4, the pressure reducing mechanism 6, the indoor heat exchanger 6, the flow path switching valve 3, and the compressor 2 can be used. 3 is switched, the high temperature side valve body 24 is slid through the pistons 18 and 19, and the high temperature gas inlet port 12 is switched to the high temperature gas outlet port 14 side connected to the indoor heat exchanger 6, thereby 5 is connected to the low-temperature gas outlet port 15 through the low-temperature gas inlet port 17 connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 via the pistons 18 and 19, so that the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 flows through the flow path switching valve. 3. It can be set as the heating cycle which circulates in order of the indoor heat exchanger 6, the pressure-reduction mechanism 5, the outdoor heat exchanger 4, the flow-path switching valve 3, and the compressor 2.

  Therefore, by switching the two high-temperature side valve bodies 24 and the low-temperature side valve body 25 simultaneously, the refrigeration cycle 1 can be easily changed between the cooling cycle and the heating cycle by the single flow path switching valve 3 as in the conventional four-way switching valve. Furthermore, by reducing the heat loss inside the flow path switching valve 3, the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle 1 can be improved and the performance can be improved.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the present embodiment, a partition plate 27 is provided in the hollow portion 26 with respect to the first embodiment, and one of the high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 can be replaced with a flow path switching plate 28. The point is different. Since other points are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, an example in which the high-temperature side valve body 24 (here, the port switching plate 28 described below) is substituted between the pair of pistons 18 and 19 is shown. And a partition plate 27 that partitions the hollow portion 26 into a high temperature side hollow portion 26A and a low temperature side hollow portion 26B in the hollow portion 26 formed by integrally providing the low temperature side valve body 25. It is supposed to have been established.

  Furthermore, as described above, the partition plate 27 is provided in the hollow portion 26, so that one of the high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 (here, the high temperature side valve body 24) is replaced with the one shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a simple port switching plate 28 having a configuration in which a through hole 30 straddling between two ports of the three ports 12 to 14 is provided on a rectangular flat plate surface 29, and each valve body can be simplified. I am doing so. That is, even if one side of the high temperature side valve body 24 or the low temperature side valve body 25 is replaced with the port switching plate 28 as shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B), The high temperature gas side flow path and the low temperature gas side flow path in the valve body 11 can be reliably separated via the partition plate 27 and one of the low temperature side hollow part 26B and the high temperature side hollow part 26A.

  Thus, by providing the partition plate 27 in the hollow portion 26 formed between the pair of pistons 18 and 19 and partitioning the hollow portion 26 into the high temperature side hollow portion 26A and the low temperature side hollow portion 26B, The space between the high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 further passes through two partition walls 27 and two high temperature side hollow portions 26A and / or low temperature side hollow portions 26B formed between the respective valve bodies 24, 25. Will be isolated. Thereby, heat loss due to heat exchange between the high temperature gas and the low temperature gas in the valve body 11 can be further reduced.

  Further, by providing the partition plate 27 in the hollow portion 26, heat exchange between the high temperature gas and the low temperature gas in the valve body 11 can be further reduced, and the heat loss reduction effect can be enhanced. By replacing one of the side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 with a simple port switching plate 28 in which a through hole 30 is provided in the flat plate surface 29, the configuration of the valve body 24 or 25 can be simplified. it can. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to simplify the valve body 24 or 25 and reduce the cost while maintaining the heat loss reduction effect in the valve body 11. In addition, although the through hole 30 provided in the port switching board 28 is one long hole, it is good also as a structure which provided the two through holes at predetermined intervals.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the present embodiment, in contrast to the first and second embodiments, two partition plates 27 are provided in the hollow portion 26, and either one or both of the high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 are allowed to flow. The difference is that the path switching plate 28 can be substituted. Since other points are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, description thereof will be omitted.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a high-temperature side valve body 24 and a low-temperature side valve body 25 (here, both valve bodies are used as described below) between a pair of pistons 18 and 19. An example is shown in which both the ports 24 and 25 are replaced with the port switching plate 28.) In the hollow portion 26 formed by integrally providing them, a high temperature side hollow portion 26A and a low temperature side hollow portion are formed therein. It is assumed that two partition plates 27 partitioning into the part 26B are provided at a predetermined interval, and a hollow heat insulating layer 31 is formed between the two partition plates 27.

  Further, two partition plates 27 are provided in the hollow portion 26 at a predetermined interval, and the inside thereof is partitioned into a high temperature side hollow portion 26A and a low temperature side hollow portion 26B, and a hollow heat insulating layer 31 is provided between the two partition plates 27. As a result, it is possible to replace either one or both of the high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 with a flow path switching plate 28 as shown in FIG. To make it possible. That is, either or both of the high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 are replaced with the port switching plate 28 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and the configuration is simplified. In addition, the high-temperature gas side flow path and the low-temperature gas side flow path in the valve body 11 can be reliably separated via the two partition plates 27 and the hollow heat insulating layer 31 therebetween.

  As described above, the two partition plates 27 are provided in the hollow portion 26 formed between the pair of pistons 18 and 19, and the hollow portion 26 is partitioned into the high temperature side hollow portion 26A and the low temperature side hollow portion 26B. In addition, since the hollow heat insulating layer 31 is formed between the two partition plates 27, the space between the high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 is between the two partition plates 27 and the valve bodies 24, 25. The two high temperature side hollow portions 26 </ b> A, the low temperature side hollow portion 26 </ b> B, and the hollow heat insulating layer 31 are separated from each other. Thereby, the heat loss due to heat exchange between the high temperature gas and the low temperature gas in the valve body 11 can be further reduced.

  In addition, by providing two partition plates 27 in the hollow portion 26, heat exchange between the high temperature gas and the low temperature gas in the valve body 11 can be further reduced, and the heat loss reduction effect can be enhanced. In this case, by replacing one or both of the high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 with a simple port switching plate 28 in which a long hole 30 is provided in the flat plate surface 29, the valve bodies 24, 25 are replaced. One or both of the configurations can be simplified. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to simplify and reduce the cost of the valve bodies 24 and 25 while reliably maintaining the heat loss reduction effect in the valve body 11.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the present embodiment, the hot gas side outlet / inlet ports 12 to 14, the cold gas side outlet / inlet ports 15 to 17, and the high temperature side valve body 24 that are arranged opposite to the first embodiment described above. And the low-temperature side valve body 25 are arranged so that the positions of the low-temperature side valve body 25 are shifted in the length direction of the valve body 11. Since other points are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the length of the valve body 11 in the axial direction (left-right direction) is longer than that of the other embodiments, and the valve body 11 is disposed on the opposite sides of the valve body 11. The high temperature gas side outlet / inlet ports 12 to 14 and the low temperature gas side outlet / inlet ports 15 to 17 are arranged with their positions shifted in the length direction of the valve body 11.

  Further, corresponding to the high temperature gas side outlet / inlet ports 12 to 14 and the low temperature gas side outlet / inlet ports 15 to 17, the high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body provided between the pair of pistons 18 and 19, respectively. The position 25 is also configured to be shifted in the length direction of the valve body 11. It should be noted that it is desirable to shift the left and right shift amounts of the port ports 12 to 14, 15 to 17 and the valve bodies 24 and 25 to a position where the port ports 12 to 14 and 15 to 17 do not overlap in the left and right direction.

  As described above, the ports 12 to 14 on the hot gas side disposed on one side of the valve body 11, the ports 15 to 17 on the cold gas side disposed on the other side facing the ports, and the ports are provided. Correspondingly provided high temperature side valve body 24 and low temperature side valve body 25 are shifted in the length direction of the valve body 11, respectively, and the flow path on the high temperature gas side formed in the valve body 11 The flow path on the low temperature gas side is also isolated in the length direction of the valve main body 11, and heat exchange between the high temperature gas and the low temperature gas can be further reduced. Therefore, the heat loss due to heat exchange between the high temperature gas and the low temperature gas in the valve main body 11 can be further reduced while maintaining the single valve main body type as the flow path switching valve 3.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the invention concerning the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it can change suitably. For example, in the fourth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the example in which the high temperature side valve body 24 and the low temperature side valve body 25 are provided separately between the pair of pistons 18 and 19 has been described. Of course, it may be combined with the third embodiment. In each of the above embodiments, the example in which the valve body 11 is cylindrical has been described. However, the valve body 11 does not necessarily have a cylindrical shape, and may have any shape as long as it has a cylindrical shape.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigeration cycle 2 Compressor 3 Flow path switching valve 4 Outdoor heat exchanger 5 Pressure reducing mechanism 6 Indoor heat exchangers 7, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E Refrigerant pipe 7A Discharge pipe 7F Intake pipe 8 Refrigerant circuit 11 Valve body 12 Hot gas Inlet port 13, 14 Hot gas outlet port 15 Low temperature gas outlet port 16, 17 Low temperature gas inlet port 18, 19 Piston 20, 21 Working chamber 22, 23 Valve seat 24 High temperature side valve body 25 Low temperature side valve body 26 Hollow part 26A High temperature Side hollow portion 26B Low temperature side hollow portion 27 Partition plate 28 Port switching plate 29 Flat plate surface 30 Through hole 31 Hollow heat insulating layer

Claims (8)

A tubular valve body;
A hot gas inlet port provided on one side of the valve body and a pair of hot gas outlet ports disposed on both sides thereof;
A cold gas inlet port provided on the other side of the valve body facing each port on the hot gas side and a pair of cold gas inlet ports provided on both sides thereof;
A pair of left and right pistons that are slidably provided in the valve body and are connected to each other to form working chambers at both ends thereof;
One of the pair of hot gas outlet ports is provided between the pistons, slides along the valve seat between the hot gas inlet port and the pair of hot gas outlet ports. A high temperature side valve body that switches to
One of the pair of low temperature gas inlet ports is provided between the pistons so as to be isolated from the high temperature side valve body, slides along the valve seat between the low temperature gas outlet port and the pair of low temperature gas inlet ports. And a low temperature side valve body for switching the low temperature gas from the low temperature gas outlet port to the low temperature gas outlet port.   A partition plate that divides a hollow portion formed between the pair of left and right pistons into a high temperature side hollow portion in which the high temperature side valve body is disposed and a low temperature side hollow portion in which the low temperature side valve body is disposed. The flow path switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the flow path switching valve is provided.   The one of the high temperature side valve element or the low temperature side valve element is a port switching plate provided with a through hole extending between two ports of the three ports in a flat plate surface. Flow path switching valve.   A partition plate that partitions a hollow portion formed between the pair of left and right pistons into a high temperature side hollow portion in which the high temperature side valve body is disposed and a low temperature side hollow portion in which the low temperature side valve body is disposed. The flow path switching valve according to claim 1, wherein at least two sheets are provided, and a space between the two partition plates is a hollow heat insulating layer.   Either one or both of the high temperature side valve body and the low temperature side valve body is a port switching plate provided with a through hole extending between two ports of the three ports in a flat plate surface. Item 5. The flow path switching valve according to Item 4.   Each port on the high-temperature gas side disposed on one side of the valve body and each port on the low-temperature gas side disposed on the other side opposite thereto are positioned in the length direction of the valve body. 6. The flow path switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the flow path switching valve is provided in a shifted manner. A compressor, outdoor heat exchanger, decompression mechanism, and indoor heat exchanger are connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a closed-cycle refrigerant circuit, and a flow switching valve is provided between the discharge pipe and the suction pipe of the compressor. In a refrigeration cycle in which the refrigerant circuit can be switched between a cooling cycle and a heating cycle,
A refrigerating cycle, wherein the flow path switching valve is the flow path switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The hot gas inlet port of the flow path switching valve is connected to a discharge pipe of the compressor, and a pair of the hot gas outlet ports located on both sides thereof are connected to the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchange via a refrigerant pipe. The low-temperature gas outlet port of the flow path switching valve is connected to the suction pipe of the compressor, and the pair of low-temperature gas inlet ports located on both sides thereof are connected to the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor The refrigeration cycle according to claim 7, wherein the refrigeration cycle is connected to the heat exchanger via a refrigerant pipe.

Images