JP2017172773A - Flow passage selector valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flow passage selector valve capable of reducing an entire physical constitution or occupied space, reducing slide friction between a seal member and a valve body in flow passage switching, preventing the seal member or valve body from being worn, improving sealability, durability and certainty in flow passage switching, and employing a driving source with small output torque as a rotation driving source.SOLUTION: A flow passage selector valve includes: a valve body 10; a valve shaft 20 inserted into the valve body 10 to vertically move with rotation; a seal member 17 internally fitted to the valve body 10; and an elliptic plate-like valve element 30 that is disposed in a valve chamber 15 in a state of being inclined to a rotational axial line O of the valve shaft 20, whose outer peripheral end edge part is pressed against the seal member 17, and that in order to switch between communicating ports, is configured to be linked with the valve shaft 20 to vertically move with rotation. All ports are provided on a same plane including the rotational axial line O of the valve shaft 20 or on a same plane parallel with the above plane, and in flow passage switching of switching the communicating ports, an inclination angle to a rotational axial line O of the valve element 30 is made smaller than that before/after flow passage switching.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary flow path switching valve that performs flow path switching by rotating a valve body in a valve chamber, and in particular, a flow path switching valve provided with a plate-shaped valve body that partitions a valve chamber into two chambers. About.

  This type of flow path switching valve has been well known. For example, in Patent Document 1, a port (first to fourth ports) formed of four joints on a body (valve chamber) of a valve body is flat. A resilient sealing member made of rubber or the like is provided so as to cover the entire inner surface except for the opening portion of each port in the valve chamber and the opening portion of the valve shaft insertion hole, and is provided in the valve chamber. A disc-shaped (butterfly type) valve body is arranged in the room so as to partition the valve chamber into two chambers, and this valve body is rotated by a predetermined angle by an external rotational drive source (stepping motor or the like) via the valve shaft. Thus, there is disclosed a four-way switching valve configured to perform flow path switching by selectively taking the first rotation position and the second rotation position.

  In such a four-way switching valve, when the flow path is switched, the valve body is rotated in a state in which a corresponding portion of the outer peripheral edge of the valve body is pressed so as to slightly bite into the seal member. For example, the valve body takes the first rotation position. The first port communicates with the second port, the third port communicates with the fourth port, and the first port communicates with the third port when the valve body assumes the second rotational position. At the same time, the second port and the fourth port communicate with each other.

JP 2015-224709 A

  The conventional flow path switching valve as described above has the following problems to be solved.

  That is, in the flow path switching valve described in Patent Document 1, four ports (first to fourth ports) are provided in a cross shape in plan view (on the same plane orthogonal to the rotation axis), so that the piping is routed. However, there is a problem that the physique and occupied space of the entire flow path switching valve is increased, and the installation location is limited, and the manufacturing cost and installation cost of the flow path switching valve are increased.

  Further, at the time of switching the flow path, since the corresponding portion of the outer peripheral edge of the valve body is rotated so as to slightly bite into the seal member, the sliding friction between the seal member and the valve body increases, A large torque is required to rotate the valve body, and it is necessary to use a relatively large output torque as the rotational drive source, and the seal member and valve body are subject to wear easily, sealing performance, durability, There is a possibility of causing a problem in the certainty of the channel switching.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the overall physique and occupied space, and between the seal member and the valve body when switching the flow path. The sliding friction can be reduced, the seal member and the valve body are less likely to be worn, and the sealing performance, durability, flow path switching reliability, etc. can be improved. An object of the present invention is to provide a flow path switching valve that is made possible.

  In order to achieve the above object, a flow path switching valve according to the present invention basically includes a valve main body having a bottomed cylindrical body provided with three or more ports, and a valve main body. A valve shaft that is inserted and rotated so as to move up and down, and an inner periphery of the valve chamber that is disposed in a valve chamber formed in the body portion while being inclined with respect to a rotation axis of the valve shaft. The outer peripheral edge of which is pressed against the surface, and an elliptical plate-like valve body that moves up and down while rotating in conjunction with the valve shaft so as to switch between communicating ports. Are provided on the same plane including the rotation axis of the valve shaft or on the same plane parallel to the plane, and when the flow path is switched between the communicating ports, the inclination angle of the valve body with respect to the rotation axis is It should be smaller than before and after switching the flow path. It is characterized.

  In a more specific aspect, a valve main body having a bottomed cylindrical body provided with three or more ports, and a valve shaft inserted into the valve main body and configured to move up and down while rotating. A cylindrical sealing member that is internally provided so as to cover an inner peripheral surface of the valve chamber formed in the body portion other than the opening portion of the port, and the valve in a state inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the valve shaft. An elliptical plate-like valve element which is arranged in a chamber and whose outer peripheral edge is pressed against the seal member and which moves up and down in conjunction with the valve shaft so as to switch between communicating ports. And the three or more ports are provided on the same plane including the axis of rotation of the valve shaft or on the same plane parallel to the plane, and the valve body is switched at the time of flow path switching between communicating ports. Tilt angle with respect to the axis of rotation There has been characterized by being set smaller than the post before the channel switching.

  In a preferred aspect, when the valve shaft is moved up, the valve body is pulled up, the inclination angle is reduced, and the contact area between the outer peripheral edge of the valve body and the seal member is reduced, and the valve shaft During the downward movement, the valve body is pushed down, and the inclination angle is increased so that the entire outer peripheral edge of the valve body is pressed against the seal member.

  In another preferred embodiment, the valve shaft insertion hole provided in the valve main body is provided with a protrusion projecting radially inward so that the valve shaft moves up and down while rotating, and the outer periphery of the valve shaft In addition, two spiral grooves in which the protrusions are fitted and opposite in the winding direction are continuously formed.

  In another preferred aspect, a rotating means is provided for the valve body and the valve shaft in order to interlock the valve body with the valve shaft.

  In the flow path switching valve according to the present invention, three or more ports provided in the valve body are provided on the same plane (or the same plane parallel to the plane) including the rotation axis of the valve shaft. It is possible to eliminate a port protruding from the body part in either the front-rear direction or the left-right direction. For this reason, for example, compared to a conventional flow path switching valve in which four ports are provided in a cross shape in plan view, And the occupied space can be reduced. As a result, restrictions on the installation location can be relaxed, and manufacturing costs, installation costs, and the like can be suppressed.

  Further, the valve body is formed into an elliptical plate shape, and in the normal state (before and after the flow path switching), the entire outer peripheral edge of the valve body covers the inner peripheral surface other than the opening portion of the port in the valve chamber. The valve shaft is rotated up and down while rotating, and the valve body is rotated along with the valve shaft. While moving up and down, the angle of inclination with respect to the rotation axis of the valve body is made smaller than before and after switching the flow path to reduce the contact area between the outer peripheral edge of the valve body and the seal member. The sliding friction between the seal member and the valve body at the time can be reduced, so that the seal member and the valve body can be made hard to wear, and the sealing performance, durability, reliability of the flow path switching, etc. can be improved. Small and low output torque as a rotational drive source Advantage that it can be adopted as of case can also be obtained.

The schematic perspective view which shows the external appearance of one Embodiment of the flow-path switching valve concerning this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state in which the valve body takes the 1st rotation position in the flow-path switching valve shown by FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state in which the valve body takes a 2nd rotation position in the flow-path switching valve shown by FIG. FIG. 1 shows a state during switching of the flow path in the flow path switching valve shown in FIG. 1, (A) is a right side view with the valve body portion cut away, and (B) is a view taken along line XX in (A). Sectional view according to 1 shows components of the flow path switching valve shown in FIG. 1, (A) is a perspective view showing a lid portion of the valve body, (B) is a perspective view showing a body portion of the valve body, and (C) is a seal member. FIG. The valve shaft of the flow-path switching valve shown by FIG. 1 is shown, (A) is a side perspective view, (B) is an upper perspective view. The valve body of the flow-path switching valve shown by FIG. 1 is shown, (A) is an upper perspective view, (B) is a lower perspective view. It is a four side view of the valve shaft of the flow-path switching valve shown by FIG. 1, (A) is a front side view, (B) is a left side view, (C) is a rear side view, (D) is a right side view. .

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of a flow path switching valve according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the valve body takes a first rotational position, and FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the second rotational position is taken, FIG. 4 shows a state when the flow path is switched (on the way), FIG. 4A is a right side view in which the valve body portion is cut out, and FIG. ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG.

  In each drawing, gaps formed between members, separation distances between members, etc. may be exaggerated for easy understanding of the invention and for convenience of drawing. is there. Further, in this specification, descriptions representing positions and directions such as up and down, left and right, and front and rear are given for the sake of convenience in accordance with the drawings in order to avoid complicated explanation, and the positions and directions in the actual use state. Does not necessarily mean

  In each figure, a motor as a rotational drive source for rotationally driving the valve shaft is omitted.

  The flow path switching valve 1 of the illustrated embodiment is, for example, a four-way switching valve used for switching a flow path of a fluid flowing in an engine room of an automobile, or a four-way switching valve used for switching a flow path in a heat pump air conditioning system. Basically, a valve body 10 (FIGS. 5A and 5B) having a bottomed cylindrical body 11 provided with four ports p1 to p4 made of pipe joints, and this The valve shaft 20 (FIGS. 6 and 8) inserted in the valve body 10 and moved up and down while rotating, and the opening portions of the ports p1 to p4 in the valve chamber 15 formed in the body 11 A cylindrical seal member 17 (FIG. 5C) that is internally provided so as to cover the inner peripheral surface other than the valve shaft 15, and a seal that is disposed in the valve chamber 15 while being inclined with respect to the rotation axis O of the valve shaft 20. The outer peripheral edge of the member 17 is pressed against and communicates with the member 17 An elliptical plate-like valve body 30 (FIG. 7) that is linked to the valve shaft 20 to switch between ports (switch the flow path) and an upper portion of the valve body 10 to rotate the valve shaft 20. A motor (rotation drive source) (not shown).

  Specifically, the valve main body 10 includes a bottomed cylindrical barrel portion 11 and a lid portion 12 that is attached and fixed by appropriate means so as to hermetically seal the upper surface opening of the barrel portion 11. The body 11 and the lid 12 define a valve chamber 15.

  The four ports p <b> 1 to p <b> 4 are provided on the same plane including the rotation axis O (or the same plane parallel to the same) in the trunk portion 11. That is, the first port p1 is provided at the center of the bottom portion 11b of the trunk portion 11, and the second port p2 and the third port p3 are provided on one side portion (left side portion) and the other side portion (right side portion) of the trunk portion 11, respectively. Furthermore, a fourth port p4 is provided immediately above the third port p3. For example, the fourth port p4 may be provided directly above the second port p2, or may be provided at an appropriate position such as the front side portion or the rear side portion of the trunk portion 11. No.

  In this example, the first port p1 and the fourth port p4 are inflow ports, and the second port p2 and the third port p3 are outflow ports. By rotating the valve body 30, the first port p1 and the second port p2 The first communication state (FIG. 2) in which the port p2 communicates, the third port p3 and the fourth port p4 communicate, the first port p1 and the third port p3, and the second port p2 And a second communication state (FIG. 3) in which the first port 4 and the fourth port p4 communicate with each other are switched (flow path switching).

  The seal member 17 provided in the valve chamber 15 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, for example, and has the same height as the valve chamber 15, the same diameter as the chamber diameter, and the same outer diameter, and is elastic in the thickness direction. In the cylindrical portion 17A having properties, openings k2, k3, and k4 corresponding to the second port p2, the third port p3, and the fourth port p4 are formed. Further, on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 17A (in the illustrated example, four locations at equal angular intervals), a protrusion 17t having a substantially T-shaped cross section is provided from the upper end to the lower end. This protrusion 17t is used for positioning and fixing the cylindrical portion 17A with respect to the barrel portion 11 of the valve body 10, and is inserted into a longitudinal groove 11t having the same cross section provided in the barrel portion 11. ing.

  The lid portion 12 attached and fixed to the body portion 11 has a lower end surface that is in close contact with the upper end surface of the body portion 11, and protrudes downward from the lower end surface to both side surfaces (front and rear side surfaces) of the outer periphery. Side-viewing rectangular positioning pieces 12e and 12e that are fitted to fitting portions 11e and 11e provided on the outer periphery of the upper side of the upper side are provided.

  In addition, a valve shaft insertion hole 14 into which the valve shaft 20 is slidably fitted is provided in the center of the lid portion 12, and the left side portion below the upper end of the valve shaft insertion hole 14 by a predetermined distance A semispherical protrusion 18 that protrudes radially inward is provided so that the valve shaft 20 moves up and down while rotating (detailed later).

  In addition, a recess 13 having a diameter slightly larger than that of the columnar linkage portion 23 is provided at the center of the lower portion of the lid portion 12 and an upper portion of a columnar linkage portion 23 of the valve shaft 20 described later is inserted.

  The valve shaft 20 is connected to a motor (rotation drive source) in order from the top, a head portion 21 whose detailed structure is omitted, an insertion portion 22 that is slidably inserted into the valve shaft insertion hole 14, and It has a columnar linkage portion 23 (larger diameter) larger than the fitting insertion portion 22 for interlocking the valve body 30 with the valve shaft 20. When assembling the flow path switching valve 1, the valve shaft 20 is configured so that the head portion 21 faces upward from the lower side of the lid portion 12 and the valve shaft of the lid portion 12 before the lid portion 12 is attached to the trunk portion 11. The fitting insertion part 22 is inserted into the insertion hole 14.

  On the outer periphery of the upper portion of the insertion portion 22, two spiral grooves having a semicircular cross-section in which a hemispherical protrusion 18 provided in the valve shaft insertion hole 14 is slidably fitted and having a winding direction opposite to that of the longitudinal groove 25 </ b> C. (Right-handed spiral groove, left-handed spiral groove) 25R and 25L are continuously formed.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D, a front side view, a left side view, a rear side view, and a right side view of the valve shaft 20 are shown, respectively. A vertical groove 25C into which the protrusion 18 is first fitted when the valve shaft 20 is passed through the valve shaft insertion hole 14 from the lower side at the center of the upper portion of the front side surface of the insertion portion 22 straightly downward from the upper end thereof. When the valve shaft 20 is rotationally driven, a right-handed (upwardly shouldered) spiral groove 25R is rotated following the lower end portion of the vertical groove 25C to move the valve shaft 20 up and down. An angle of about 180 ° is formed when viewed at an angle, and a left-handed (left shoulder rising) spiral groove 25L is formed at an angle of about 100 ° following the end portion (lower end) of the right-handed spiral groove 25R. Yes.

  Further, below the spiral grooves 25 </ b> R and 25 </ b> L in the fitting insertion portion 22, as a sealing material for sealing between the sliding surfaces of the inner circumferential surface of the valve shaft insertion hole 14 and the outer circumferential surface of the fitting insertion portion 22. An annular mounting groove 24 in which the O-ring 16 is mounted is formed.

  The columnar linking portion 23 of the valve shaft 20 has a semi-cylindrical portion 23A having a larger diameter than the fitting insertion portion 22, and a cross-section in which the front and rear side surfaces 23c and 23c are connected to the semi-cylindrical portion 23A. It is comprised by the rectangular prismatic part 23B.

  In order to link the elliptical plate-shaped valve body 30 to the valve shaft 20, the valve shaft 20 and the valve body 30 are provided with a rotating means (detailed later), and the valve shaft 20 (the columnar linking portion 23 thereof). The lower inclined surface 28A having a large inclination angle with respect to the rotation axis O and a width of about half of the entire lower surface of the semi-cylindrical portion 23A and the lower surface of the prismatic portion 23B, and the inclination angle on the lower side An upper inclined surface 28B that is smaller than the inclined surface 28A and is about half as large as the lower surface of the prismatic portion 23B is formed.

  On the other hand, the valve body 30 is made of a slippery material such as Teflon (registered trademark), for example, and the outer peripheral edge of the cylindrical seal member 17 is pressed against the cylindrical seal member 17 except when the flow path is switched. The ellipse plate portion 31 is set to have a minor axis and a major axis, and as the follower means on the upper side (that is, a position deviated from the center of gravity of the valve body 30) in a side view of the ellipse plate portion 31, A gate-shaped arm 33 which is composed of a round bar-shaped upper side 33a and square bar-shaped front and rear vertical sides 33b, 33b is provided upright.

  On the other hand, the valve shaft 20 (the columnar linking part 23) has the upper side 33a of the gate-shaped arm 33 passed through in the front-rear direction on one side (left side) in the left-right direction as the follower. A lateral groove 26 having a depth corresponding to the lateral width of the prismatic portion 23B (the radius of the semi-cylindrical portion 23A) (in other words, extending from the side surface of the columnar linkage portion 23 to the vicinity of the center) is formed. Both vertical sides 33b and 33b of the gate-shaped arm 33 are slidably in contact with both side surfaces 23c and 23c formed in parallel to the prismatic portion 23B (see FIG. 6B). Therefore, when the valve shaft 20 moves up and down while rotating, the valve body 30 moves up and down while rotating. The lateral groove 26 is inclined slightly downward on the bottom side so that the portal arm 33 can be easily guided to the bottom (inner end side).

  In addition, a hemispherical concave portion 39 for position regulation is provided at the center of the upper surface of the valve body 30 (the elliptical plate portion 31 thereof), and the lower inclined surface 28A (which has a larger inclination angle in the valve shaft 20) On the rotation axis O), a convex portion 29 for position regulation that fits into the concave portion 39 is provided. Further, the lower end portion of the valve body 30 is attached to the bottom portion 11b (the bottom surface of the valve chamber 15) of the body portion 11 when the valve body 30 is pushed down to define the inclination angle of the valve body 30. A distorted inclination angle defining portion 34 is provided. Of course, a position restricting convex portion may be provided at the center of the upper surface of the valve body 30, and a position restricting concave portion fitted to the convex portion may be provided on the lower inclined surface 28A of the valve shaft 20. .

  In the flow path switching valve 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the valve shaft 20 with the valve body 30 includes a first rotational position as shown in FIG. 2 and a counterclockwise rotation from the first rotational position. The second rotation position as shown in FIG. 3 rotated 180 ° is selectively taken.

  In the first rotation position, the intermediate portion (half position) of the right-handed spiral groove 25R is fitted into the protrusion 18 provided in the valve shaft insertion hole 14, and the convex portion 29 of the valve shaft 20 is inserted into the concave portion 39 of the valve body 30. The lower inclined surface 28A of the valve shaft 20 is pressed against the upper surface of the elliptical plate portion 31 of the valve body 30, and the upper side 33a of the portal arm 33 is located near the center of the lateral groove 26. The outer peripheral edge of 30 is pressed so that its upper half bites into the left half of the seal member 17 and its lower half bites into the right half of the seal member 17 respectively. The angle defining portion 34 is attached to the bottom portion 11 b (the right side portion) of the body portion 11.

  Accordingly, at this time, the first port p1 and the second port p2 communicate with each other, and the third port p3 and the fourth port p4 communicate with each other. The fluid flowing from the first port p1 The fluid flowing out from the second port p2 through the lower surface side of the valve body 30 in the chamber 15 flows out from the third port p3 through the upper surface side of the valve body 30 in the valve chamber 15. To do.

  On the other hand, in the second rotation position, a portion near the end of the left-handed spiral groove 25L is fitted into the protrusion 18 provided in the valve shaft insertion hole 14, and the convex portion 29 of the valve shaft 20 is formed in the concave portion 39 of the valve body 30. The lower inclined surface 28A of the valve shaft 20 is pressed against the upper surface of the elliptical plate portion 31 of the valve body 30, and the upper side 33a of the portal arm 33 is located near the center of the lateral groove 26. The outer peripheral edge of 30 is pressed so that its upper half bites into the right half of the seal member 17 and its lower half bites into the left half of the seal member 17 respectively. The angle defining part 34 is attached to the bottom part 11 b (the left part thereof) of the body part 11.

  Therefore, at this time, the first port p1 and the third port p3 communicate with each other, and the second port p2 and the fourth port p4 communicate with each other. Thus, the fluid flowing from the first port p1 The fluid flowing out from the third port p3 through the lower surface side of the valve body 30 in the chamber 15 flows out from the second port p2 through the upper surface side of the valve body 30 in the valve chamber 15. To do.

  When switching from the first communication state to the second communication state (flow path switching), the valve shaft 20 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed from above by a motor (rotation drive source) (not shown). Then, since the right-handed spiral groove 25R is fitted in the protrusion 18, the valve shaft 20 is pushed upward in the same manner as when the right screw is turned in the loosening direction. It is pulled up while rotating so as to be rotated by the valve shaft 20 via the gate-shaped arm 33.

  In this case, the gate-shaped arm 33 (upper side 33a) is located radially outward from the rotation axis O, and a relatively heavy inclination angle defining portion 34 is provided at the lower end of the valve body 30. Therefore, the valve body 30 is pulled up while rotating clockwise in front view with the boundary portion between the lower inclined surface 28A and the upper inclined surface 28B as a fulcrum (by the repulsive force of the seal member 17). As a result, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the outer peripheral edge of the valve body 30 begin to move away from the seal member 17, and the inclination angle of the valve body 30 with respect to the rotation axis O gradually decreases as the rotation angle of the valve shaft 20 increases. Thus, the contact area between the outer peripheral edge of the valve body 30 and the seal member 17 is reduced.

  When the valve shaft 20 is rotated 90 ° counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 4, the end portion of the right-handed spiral groove 25R (the left-handed spiral groove 25L The upper end surface of the columnar linkage portion 23 is abutted and locked to the upper surface of the recess 13 of the lid portion 12, and the upper side 33a of the gate-shaped arm 33 slides to the bottom portion (inner end) of the lateral groove 26. At the same time, the upper surface of the valve body 30 (the elliptical plate portion 31) is pressed against the upper inclined surface 28B, the concave portion 39 is separated from the convex portion 29, the inclination angle defining portion 34 is separated from the bottom portion 11b of the trunk portion 11, and The entire outer peripheral edge of the valve body 30 is separated from the seal member 17. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), the vicinity of the central portion in the vertical direction of the outer peripheral edge of the valve body 30 (the elliptical plate portion 31) is normally pressed so as to bite into the seal member 17. However, in the flow path switching valve 1 of the present example, the vicinity of the central portion is located in the opening k2 (second port p2) portion and the opening k3 (third port p3) portion provided to face each other. 17 (ie, the valve body 30 is suspended from the valve shaft 20 by the portal arm 33).

  When the valve shaft 20 is rotated 90 ° as described above and then further rotated counterclockwise, this time, the left-hand spiral groove 25L is fitted into the protrusion 18, and the valve shaft 20 is tightened in the direction of tightening the right screw. The valve body 30 is pushed down in the same manner as when it is rotated, and accordingly, the valve body 30 is pushed down while rotating so as to be rotated along the valve shaft 20 via the portal arm 33.

  In this case, the portal arm 33 (upper side 33a) is located at the bottom of the lateral groove 26 near the rotation axis O, and the inclination angle of the valve body 30 with respect to the rotation axis O is reduced as described above. When the body 30 is pushed down while rotating, first, the lower end of the valve body 30 (the outer peripheral edge of the tilt angle defining portion 34) comes into contact with the bottom portion 11b of the body portion 11, and the valve body 30 has a lower inclined surface. It is pushed down while rotating counterclockwise in a front view with the boundary between 28A and the upper inclined surface 28B as a fulcrum. As a result, the vicinity of the central portion in the vertical direction of the outer peripheral edge of the valve body 30 starts to contact the seal member 17, and the lower inclined surface 28A is pressed against the upper surface of the valve body 30 (the elliptical plate portion 31). As the rotation angle of the valve shaft 20 increases, the inclination angle of the valve body 30 with respect to the rotation axis O gradually increases, and the contact area between the outer peripheral edge of the valve body 30 and the seal member 17 increases.

  When the valve shaft 20 is rotated 90 ° counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 4 (that is, when the valve shaft 20 is rotated 180 ° counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 2), as shown in FIG. In addition, the upper side 33a of the gate-shaped arm 33 slides to the vicinity of the center of the lateral groove 26, the lower inclined surface 28A is strongly pressed against the upper surface of the valve body 30 (the elliptical plate portion 31), and the convex portion 29 becomes the concave portion 39. So that the inclination angle defining portion 34 contacts the bottom portion 11b of the body portion 11, and the entire outer peripheral edge of the valve body 30 bites into the seal member 17 (against the repulsive force of the seal member 17). Pressed. Thereby, switching (flow path switching) from the first communication state to the second communication state is completed.

  When switching from the second communication state to the first communication state (flow path switching), the valve shaft 20 is rotated clockwise as viewed from above. Then, the valve element 30 moves up and down while being rotated by the valve shaft 20 in the reverse direction to the above, and the flow path is switched in the same manner as described above.

  As described above, in the flow path switching valve 1 of the present embodiment, all the ports p1 to p4 provided in the valve body 10 are provided on the same plane including the rotation axis O of the valve shaft 20, so Ports that protrude from the portion 11 in either the front-rear direction or the left-right direction can be eliminated. For this reason, for example, compared to a conventional flow path switching valve in which four ports are provided in a cross shape in plan view, And the occupied space can be reduced. As a result, restrictions on the installation location can be relaxed, and manufacturing costs, installation costs, and the like can be suppressed.

  Further, when the valve body 30 is formed in an elliptical plate shape and the normal state (when the rotation of the valve shaft 20 is stopped = before and after the flow path switching), the entire outer peripheral edge of the valve body 30 is the seal member 17 (the valve chamber 15). Is pressed so as to slightly bite into the sealing member 17) that is installed so as to cover the inner peripheral surface other than the opening portion of the port, and at the time of switching the flow path, the valve shaft 20 is moved up and down while rotating. The valve body 30 moves up and down while rotating so as to be rotated by the valve shaft 20 via the portal arm 33, and the inclination angle of the valve body 30 with respect to the rotation axis O is made smaller than before and after switching the flow path. Since the contact area between the outer peripheral edge of the body 30 and the seal member 17 is reduced, the sliding friction between the seal member 17 and the valve body 30 at the time of switching the flow path can be reduced. It is difficult to wear the member 17 and the valve body 30. Can be, sealability, durability, it can improve reliability and the like of the channel switching, Furthermore, the advantage that a small compact output torque as the rotary drive source can adopt a low cost.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a four-way switching valve has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a multi-way switching valve other than a four-way switching valve. By simply removing the fourth port p4 from the path switching valve (four-way switching valve) 1, it becomes a three-way switching valve.

  Of course, the flow path switching valve 1 of the present embodiment can be incorporated not only in the heat pump air conditioning system and the like, but also in other systems, devices, and devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flow path switching valve 10 Valve main body 11 Body part 12 Cover part 14 Valve shaft insertion hole 15 Valve chamber 16 O-ring 17 Seal member 18 Protrusion part 20 Valve shaft 22 Insertion part 23 Column-like connection part 23A Semi-columnar part 23B Square columnar shape Part 23c Side face of prismatic part 25C Vertical groove 25R Right-handed spiral groove 25L Left-handed spiral groove 26 Horizontal groove 28A Lower inclined surface 28B Upper inclined surface 29 Convex part 30 Valve element 31 Elliptical plate part 33 Portal arm 33a Upper side 33b Vertical side 34 Inclination angle defining part 39 Concave part p1 1st port p2 2nd port p3 3rd port p4 4th port

Claims (13)

A valve body having a bottomed cylindrical body provided with three or more ports, a valve shaft inserted into the valve body and configured to move up and down while rotating, and a rotation axis of the valve shaft The valve shaft is disposed in a valve chamber formed in the body portion in a state of being inclined with respect to the valve shaft, the outer peripheral edge of the valve chamber is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the valve chamber, and the valve shaft is switched to switch between communicating ports. It has an elliptical plate-like valve body that moves up and down while interlockingly rotating,
The three or more ports are provided on the same plane including the rotation axis of the valve shaft or on the same plane parallel to the plane, and the rotation axis of the valve body is switched when the flow path is switched between the communicating ports. A flow path switching valve characterized in that an inclination angle with respect to is smaller than before and after the flow path switching. A valve body having a bottomed cylindrical body provided with three or more ports, a valve shaft inserted into the valve body and adapted to move up and down while rotating, and formed in the body. A cylindrical sealing member that is internally provided so as to cover an inner peripheral surface other than the opening portion of the port in the valve chamber, and is disposed in the valve chamber in an inclined state with respect to the rotation axis of the valve shaft. The outer peripheral edge of the sealing member is pressed against the sealing member, and an elliptical plate-like valve body adapted to move up and down while rotating in conjunction with the valve shaft to switch between communicating ports,
The three or more ports are provided on the same plane including the rotation axis of the valve shaft or on the same plane parallel to the plane, and the rotation axis of the valve body is switched when the flow path is switched between the communicating ports. A flow path switching valve characterized in that an inclination angle with respect to is smaller than before and after the flow path switching.   When the valve shaft is moved upward, the valve body is pulled up, the inclination angle is reduced, and the contact area between the outer peripheral edge of the valve body and the seal member is decreased, and when the valve shaft is moved downward. 3. The flow path according to claim 2, wherein the valve body is pushed down, the inclination angle is increased, and the entire outer peripheral edge of the valve body is pressed against the seal member. Switching valve.   A protrusion protruding radially inward is provided in a valve shaft insertion hole provided in the valve body so that the valve shaft moves up and down while rotating, and the protrusion is formed on the outer periphery of the valve shaft. The flow path switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein two spiral grooves fitted in opposite directions of winding are formed continuously.   The flow path switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a rotating means is provided on the valve body and the valve shaft so as to interlock the valve body with the valve shaft. .   As the rotation means, a portal arm is erected on the upper side in a side view of the valve body, and the upper side of the portal arm is passed in the front-rear direction on one side of the valve shaft in the left-right direction. 6. A lateral groove that is freely slidable is formed, and both vertical sides of the gate-shaped arm are in contact with both front and rear side surfaces formed in parallel to the valve shaft. The flow path switching valve according to 1.   The flow path switching valve according to claim 6, wherein the portal arm is provided at a position eccentric from a center of gravity of the valve body.   The flow path switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein two inclined surfaces having different inclination angles with respect to the rotation axis are formed on a lower surface of the valve shaft.   The valve body is provided with a position restricting convex part or concave part on the upper surface of the valve body, and the position restricting concave part or convex part is fitted to the convex part or concave part on the inclined surface having the larger inclination angle in the valve shaft. The flow path switching valve according to claim 8, wherein the flow path switching valve is provided.   An inclination angle defining portion is provided at the lower end portion of the valve body to contact the bottom surface of the valve chamber and define the inclination angle of the valve body when the valve body is pushed down. The flow path switching valve according to claim 3.   A first port is provided at the bottom of the body portion of the valve body, and a second port and a third port are provided to face one side and the other side of the body, respectively, and the second port The flow path switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a fourth port is provided immediately above the third port.   When the valve shaft takes the first rotational position, the first port communicates with the second port, and the third port communicates with the fourth port. When the valve body takes the second rotational position, The flow path switching valve according to claim 11, wherein the first port and the third port communicate with each other, and the second port and the fourth port communicate with each other.   The vertical central portion of the valve body in a state where the valve body is pulled up by the valve shaft is positioned between the second port and the third port facing each other. Item 13. The flow path switching valve according to Item 11 or 12.

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