JP3634570B2

JP3634570B2 - Rotary flow path switching valve

Info

Publication number: JP3634570B2
Application number: JP16891097A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 三男杉田; 宣笠井; 昇中川; 一登相原; 和重鈴木; 和夫平田
Original assignee: Saginomiya Seisakusho Inc
Current assignee: Saginomiya Seisakusho Inc
Priority date: 1997-06-25
Filing date: 1997-06-25
Publication date: 2005-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-25
Also published as: JPH1113924A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、ロータリ式流路切換弁に関し、特にヒートポンプシステムで使用される四方弁や三方弁に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
四方弁や三方弁として使用されるロータリ式流路切換弁として、円筒状の弁ハウジングと、前記弁ハウジングに回転変位可能に設けられた弁体と、前記弁ハウジングに固定され低圧側配管を接続される低圧側ポート、高圧側配管を接続される高圧側ポート、及び、少なくとも一つの切換ポートを有する弁座板と、前記弁体を回転駆動する電磁アクチュエータとを有し、前記弁体は、当該弁体の一方前記圧力室とは反対の側の端面にて前記弁座板と接触し、回転変位により前記切換ポートを前記低圧側ポートと前記高圧側ポートのいずれか一方に選択的に連通接続するように構成されたロータリ式流路切換弁が知られている。
【０００３】
上述のようなロータリ式流路切換弁の電磁アクチュエータは、弁体に取り付けられて当該弁体の回転方向にＮ極とＳ極とを交互に配した多極マグネットと、弁ハウジングに取り付けられた電磁ソレノイドと、電磁ソレノイドの通電により発生するＮ極とＳ極との磁極のうち一方の磁極に磁気的に接続されて当該一方の磁極と同極に帯磁し、互いに１８０度回転変位した位置にて多極マグネットのＮ極とＳ極とのうち一方の磁極と対向するように配置された一対の磁極片とにより構成されている。
【０００４】
流路切換時には、一対の磁極片が対向する多極マグネットの磁極と同じ磁極に帯磁するように、電磁ソレノイドに通電を行ってこれを励磁させ、一対の磁極片と多極マグネットとの磁気的反発によって弁体を回転させて、一対の磁極片が帯磁している磁極とは反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分をこれら一対の磁極片に各々対向させ、流路切換が完了すれば、電磁ソレノイドに対する通電を停止する。
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
従来のロータリ式流路切換弁においては、流路切換の完了に伴い電磁ソレノイドに対する通電を停止すると、一対の磁極片に残留する磁力が小さいので、多極マグネットの磁力が強いと、弁体の回転後の時点で一対の磁極片に対向している多極マグネット部分を、一対の磁極片に残留した磁力の磁極によって吸引することができない。
【０００６】
このため、弁体の回転後の時点で一対の磁極片に対向している多極マグネット部分の隣の、反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分が、磁極の無くなった単なる金属としての各磁極片に吸着しようとして近づいてしまい、これにより、多極マグネットの磁極が変わる境界箇所が磁極片の中央に位置するように、電磁ソレノイドの通電時とは反対側に弁体が少し回転して、弁体を流路切換完了位置に安定して保持できなくなってしまう。
【０００７】
かといって、電磁ソレノイドの通電停止後の弁体の反転を抑制するために多極マグネットの磁力を弱めてしまうと、今度は電磁ソレノイドの通電により弁体に発生する回転トルクが弱まり、摩擦等の影響を受け易くなって弁体を確実に回転させることができなくなる。
【０００８】
この発明は、上述の如き問題点に着目してなされたものであり、多極マグネットの磁力が強くても弁体を流路切換完了位置に安定保持でき、動作信頼性が高いロータリ式流路切換弁を提供することを目的としている。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上述の目的を達成するために、請求項１に記載の発明によるロータリ式流路切換弁は、円筒状の弁ハウジングと、前記弁ハウジングに回転変位可能に設けられた弁体と、前記弁ハウジングに固定され低圧側配管を接続される低圧側ポート、高圧側配管を接続される高圧側ポート、及び、少なくとも一つの切換ポートを有する弁座板と、前記弁体を回転駆動する電磁アクチュエータとを有し、前記弁体は、当該弁体の一方の端面にて前記弁座板と接触し、回転変位により前記切換ポートを前記低圧側ポートと前記高圧側ポートのいずれか一方に選択的に連通接続するように構成されたロータリ式流路切換弁において、前記電磁アクチュエータは、前記弁体に取り付けられた多極マグネットと、前記弁ハウジングに取り付けられた電磁ソレノイド、一対の主磁極片、及び、一対の副磁極片を有しており、前記多極マグネットは、前記弁体の回転方向にＮ極とＳ極とを交互に配して構成されており、前記一対の主磁極片は、前記電磁ソレノイドの通電により発生するＮ極とＳ極との磁極のうち一方の磁極に磁気的に接続されて当該一方の磁極と同極に帯磁し、互いに１８０度回転変位した位置にて前記多極マグネットのＮ極とＳ極とのうち一方の磁極と対向するように配置されており、前記一対の副磁極片は、前記電磁ソレノイドの通電により発生するＮ極とＳ極とのうち他方の磁極に磁気的に接続されて当該他方の磁極と同極に帯磁し、互いに１８０度回転変位した位置にて前記多極マグネットのＮ極とＳ極とのうち他方の磁極と対向するように配置されており、前記主磁極片は前記副磁極片よりも大きい断面により、該副磁極片よりも強い磁力で帯磁するように形成されているものである。
【００１０】
請求項２によるロータリ式流路切換弁は、前記弁体は前記弁ハウジングに当該弁体の回転軸方向に移動可能に設けられていて、前記弁体の外周と前記弁ハウジングの内周面との間に形成されるバイパス間隙を介して、前記弁体の前記一方の端面とは反対側の他方の端面側に画定される圧力室に前記高圧側ポートの圧力が導入され、前記弁体には前記圧力室及び前記低圧側ポートを選択的に連通接続するパイロット弁が形成されており、前記電磁ソレノイドの通電により閉状態の前記パイロット弁が開駆動されて、前記圧力室と前記高圧側ポートとの間に生じる差圧により前記弁体が移動して、当該弁体の前記一端が前記回転軸方向に沿って前記弁座から離間した状態で、前記電磁アクチュエータによる前記弁体の回転駆動が行われるものである。
【００１１】
請求項３によるロータリ式流路切換弁は、前記主磁極片は一対の脚片を門型に接続した主磁極部材の前記各脚片に構成され、前記副磁極片は一対の脚片を門型に接続した副磁極部材の前記各脚片に構成され、前記主磁極部材は電磁ソレノイドに固定され、前記副磁極部材は接続用ブリッジ片により前記主磁極部材と点状係合し前記主磁極部材に対して位置決め固定されているものである。
【００１２】
請求項４によるロータリ式流路切換弁は、前記主磁極片は、前記弁体の周方向における寸法が前記副磁極片よりも大きい寸法で形成されているものである。
【００１３】
請求項１に記載の発明によるロータリ式流路切換弁によれば、電磁ソレノイド（電磁コイル）に通電が行われると、主磁極片と副磁極片とが互いに反対の磁極に帯磁し、主磁極片、副磁極片と多極マグネットとの磁気的反発により弁体が回転し、流路切換が行われる。流路切換完了後に電磁ソレノイドに対する通電が停止されると、一対の主磁極片と多極マグネットとの磁気的吸着と、一対の副主磁極片と多極マグネットとの磁気的吸着とで、弁体が流路切換完了位置に安定保持される。
【００１４】
請求項２に記載の発明によるロータリ式流路切換弁によれば、電磁アクチュエータによる弁体の回転駆動が、電磁ソレノイドの通電に伴うパイロット弁の開弁により圧力室と高圧側ポートとの間に差圧が生じて、弁体が移動してその一端が弁座から離間した状態で行われるので、弁座に弁体が接触していない分だけ弁体の回転時に受ける摩擦が減って、電磁ソレノイドの通電を停止した際に、一対の主磁極片に対向している多極マグネット部分の隣の、反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分が、各主磁極片に吸着しようとすることによる弁体の反転が起こり易くなる。
【００１５】
しかし、主磁極片に対向している多極マグネット部分とは反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分に一対の副磁極片が対向していて、この反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分が各副磁極片に吸着しようとすることから、弁座に接触していない状態で弁体が回転する構成のロータリ式流路切換弁であっても、弁体が流路切換完了位置に安定保持される。
【００１６】
請求項３に記載の発明によるロータリ式流路切換弁によれば、副磁極部材が接続用ブリッジ片により主磁極部材と点状係合して主磁極部材に対して位置決め固定されているから、主磁極片と副主磁極片との相対位置が精度よく決まり、主磁極部材と副磁極部材とは点状係合であるから、電磁ソレノイドが励磁している時の磁力ロスが少なくて済む。
【００１７】
請求項４に記載の発明によるロータリ式流路切換弁によれば、弁体の周方向において、主磁極片の両端の方が副磁極片の両端よりも、対向している多極マグネット部分の隣の、反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分に対する距離が近くなり、従って、電磁ソレノイドの通電により弁体がどちらの方向に回転するかが、副磁極片とこれに対向する多極マグネット部分やそれに隣接する反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分との位置関係ではなく、主磁極片とこれに対向する多極マグネット部分やそれに隣接する反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分との位置関係で定まることとなり、電磁ソレノイドへの通電停止後の弁体の位置を安定して保持するために副磁極片を設けても、その影響で電磁ソレノイドへの通電に伴う弁体の回転方向が変わってしまうことがない。
【００１８】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下に添付の図を参照してこの発明の実施の形態を詳細に説明する。
【００１９】
図１〜図９はこの発明によるロータリ式流路切換弁の実施の形態を示している。ロータリ式流路切換弁は、円筒状の弁ハウジング１と、弁ハウジング１内に回転変位可能に且つ回転軸方向に移動可能に設けられた主弁体３（弁体）と、弁ハウジング１の底部に固定された弁座板５と、主弁体３に設けられたパイロット弁９と、弁ハウジング１の上部に取り付けられた電磁ソレノイド１１とを有している。
【００２０】
このロータリ式流路切換弁は、図５及び図６に示されているように、ヒートポンプシステムで使用される四方弁１００として構成され、弁座板５には、ヒートポンプシステムにおけるコンプレッサＰの吸入側からの低圧側配管１３を接続される低圧側ポート１５と、コンプレッサＰの吐出側からの高圧側配管１７を接続される高圧側ポート１９と、エバポレータ（室内熱交換器）Ｅの配管２１を接続される第一の切換ポート２３と、コンデンサ（室外熱交換器）Ｃの配管２５を接続される第二の切換ポート２７とを有している。
【００２１】
主弁体３は、図１に示されているように、底部に設けられた中心ガイト孔２９にて弁座板５に固定されたセンタピン３１に嵌合していると共に、上部に舌片状に突出形成されたガイド部４にて、弁ハウジング１の上部に大径円筒部２と同心に設けられた主弁体案内円筒部６に軸線方向に移動可能に嵌合し、これらの嵌合ガイドにより自身の中心軸線の周りに第一の回転位置と第二の回転位置との間に回転変位し、軸線方向に直線的に上昇位置と降下位置との間に上下変位する。
【００２２】
なお、ガイド部４は後述する高圧側連絡溝３７の側とは反対側に形成され、主弁体案内円筒部６との当接関係により、高圧側の流入圧力による主弁体３の傾き偏倚を抑制する。
【００２３】
主弁体３は降下位置においては、底面（一方の端面）３３にて弁座板５と接触しており、その底面部に互いに独立した低圧側連絡溝３５と高圧側連絡溝３７とを有している。
【００２４】
主弁体３は、第一の回転位置では、図５に示されているように、低圧側連絡溝３５により低圧側ポート１５と第一の切換ポート２３とを連通接続すると共に高圧側連絡溝３７によって高圧側ポート１９と第二の切換ポート２７とを連通接続し、第二の回転位置では、図６に示されているように、低圧側連絡溝３５により低圧側ポート１５と第二の切換ポート２７とを連通接続すると共に高圧側連絡溝３７によって高圧側ポート１９と第一の切換ポート２３とを連通接続する。
【００２５】
これにより、主弁体３が第一の回転位置である切換状態では、図５に示されているように、コンプレッサＰ→四方弁１００→コンデンサＣ→絞りＤ→エバポレータＥ→四方弁１００→コンプレッサＰと云う冷媒循環路が確立し、ヒートポンプシステムは冷房モードになる。
【００２６】
これに対し、主弁体３が第二の回転位置である切換状態では、図６に示されているように、コンプレッサＰ→四方弁１００→エバポレータＥ→絞りＤ→コンデンサＣ→四方弁１００→コンプレッサＰと云う冷媒循環路が確立し、ヒートポンプシステムは暖房モードになる。
【００２７】
なお、高圧側配管１７の先端は、高圧側ポート１９を貫通して高圧側連絡溝３７内に突出しており、高圧側連絡溝３７の内壁面との当接により、主弁体３の回動変位範囲を第一の回転位置と第二の回転位置との間の往復回動範囲に制限するストッパを兼ねている。
【００２８】
主弁体３の上側（他方の端面側）には、図１に示されているように、弁ハウジング１と、弁ハウジング１の上部に形成されているパイロット弁案内筒部３９に嵌合しているパイロット弁９とによって圧力室４１が画定されている。圧力室４１は、パイロット弁９と主弁体３との間のバイパス間隙４３や、主弁体３のピストンリング溝４５に嵌め込まれている略Ｃ字状のピストンリング４７の両端部間の連通用間隙（図示せず）を経て、高圧側連絡溝３７、高圧側ポート１９と連通しており、高圧側ポート１９の圧力を導入される。
【００２９】
パイロット弁案内筒部３９は大径円筒部２や主弁体案内筒部６と同心に設けられており、パイロット弁９のステム部１０は、パイロット弁案内筒部３９や、主弁体３の中心部に形成された円形横断面の弁保持孔５１に、軸線方向に移動可能に嵌合しており、先端のニードル弁部５３にて主弁体３に形成された弁ポート５５を開閉する。
【００３０】
この構造により、パイロット弁９は、弁ハウジング１側のパイロット弁案内筒部３９と主弁体３側の弁保持孔５１に軸線方向に移動可能に嵌合し、弁ハウジング１と主弁体３の両方より個別に支持されていることになる。
【００３１】
なお、ステム部１０の具体的な形状としては、例えば、図８（ａ）〜（ｃ）に示されているように、外周面にカット面１２を有していて、Ｄ形横断面形状あるいは多角形横断面形状をなしており、残された円周面１４だけでパイロット弁案内筒部３９や弁保持孔５１に嵌合するものが考えられる。
【００３２】
この場合には、パイロット弁９のカット面１２と弁保持孔５１との間に、圧力室４１と弁ポート５５とを連通する通路（図示せず）が形成される。
【００３３】
また、ステム部１０の他の具体的な形状としては、図８（ｄ）に示されているように、パイロット弁案内筒部３９や弁保持孔５１の内径に対応した外径の略円柱状をなしており、円周面１４の全周においてパイロット弁案内筒部３９や弁保持孔５１に嵌合するものが考えられる。
【００３４】
この場合には、図８（ｅ）に示されているように、ステム部１０のニードル弁部５３寄りの先端部分に小径部１０ａが形成され、この小径部１０ａにステム部１０の中心を通る貫通通路１０ｂがステム部１０の径方向に貫設されると共に、ニードル弁部５３とは反対側のパイロット弁案内筒部３９側に位置する端面から貫通通路１０ｂの中央に至る連絡通路１０ｃがステム部１０の軸方向に形成され、この貫通通路１０ｂと連絡通路１０ｃ、及び、小径部１０ａと弁保持孔５１との間の空間により、圧力室４１と弁ポート５５とを連通する通路が構成される。
【００３５】
弁ポート５５は、弁保持孔５１の底部中央にあり、一方でバイパス間隙４３を介して圧力室４１に連通し、他方で連通孔５７によって低圧側連絡溝３５に連通している。
【００３６】
また、弁ハウジング１は主弁体を受け入れる円筒部である大径円筒部２と主弁体案内筒部６とパイロット弁案内筒部３９とを互いに同心にプレス深絞り加工により一体成形されている。
【００３７】
パイロット弁９は、固定吸引子５９との間に設けられたばね６１により閉弁方向に付勢され、電磁ソレノイド１１の電磁コイル６３に通電が行われることにより、ばね６１のばね力に抗して固定吸引子５９に吸着し、弁ポート５５を開放、すなわち開弁する。
【００３８】
そして、この実施の形態では、高圧側連絡溝３７やバイパス間隙４３、ピストンリング４７の連通用隙間を経て高圧側ポート１９から圧力室４１に流入する冷媒の流量が、圧力室４１から、パイロット弁９のカット面１２と弁保持孔５１との間の通路や、パイロット弁９のステム部１０内部の通路を介して弁ポート５５に至り、さらに、連通孔５７を経て低圧側連絡溝３５に流入する冷媒の流量を下回るように構成されている。
【００３９】
主弁体３の上部にはプラスチックスマグネットによる多極マグネット７１がインサート成形により一体的に設けられている。多極マグネット７１は、図７に示されているように、主弁体３と同心のリング状をなし、主弁体３の回転方向にＮ極部７２とＳ極部７４とを交互に２個ずつ有している。
【００４０】
電磁ソレノイド１１には、電磁コイル６３の上側の一方の磁極と磁気的に連結されているステープル形状の主磁極部材６５がボルト６７により固定されており、また電磁コイル６３の下側の他方の磁極と磁気的に連結されて、主磁極部材６５とは弁ハウジング１の中心軸線周りに９０度回転変位した位置に、ステープル形状の副磁極部材６９が固定されている。
【００４１】
主磁極部材６５は、一対の脚片に構成されて互いに１８０度回転変位した位置にて多極マグネット７１の一方の磁極と対向する一対の主磁極片６６を有している。
【００４２】
副磁極部材６９は、一対の脚片に構成されて主磁極片に対して９０度回転変位し、且つ互いに１８０度回転変位した位置にて多極マグネット７１の他方の磁極と対向する一対の副磁極片７０を有している。
【００４３】
図９に示されているように、副磁極部材６９は副磁極片７０とは９０度回転変位方向に延在する接続用ブリッジ片６９ａ、６９ｂを有しており、接続用ブリッジ片６９ａ、６９ｂは各々先端部にて主磁極部材６５に形成された小開口部６５ａ、６５ｂに係合し、この点状の係合により主磁極部材６５に対して位置決め固定されている。これにより主磁極片６６と副磁極片７０との相対位置関係が画一的に決まり、これが変動することがない。また、主磁極部材６５と副磁極部材６９とは点状係合であるから、電磁ソレノイド１１（電磁コイル６３）が励磁している時の磁力ロスが少なくて済む。
【００４４】
上述のような電磁ソレノイド１１と多極マグネット７１による電磁アクチュエータ構造では、電磁ソレノイド１１に対し通電する電流の方向により主磁極部材６５がＮ極、副磁極部材６９がＳ極に帯磁、あるいはその反対の極性に帯磁する。
【００４５】
上述のような構成による四方弁１００では、図１に示されているような状態において、電磁ソレノイド１１の電磁コイル６３に通電が行われると、固定吸引子５９が励磁し、パイロット弁９がばね６１のばね力に抗して上昇変位して固定吸引子５９に吸着し、弁ポート５５が開放される。
【００４６】
これにより圧力室４１が低圧側連絡溝３５、低圧側ポート１５と連通し、コンプレッサＰの吸入圧により、圧力室４１の内圧が高圧側ポート１９と同じ高圧から低圧側ポート１５と同じ低圧に向かって低下する。これにより主弁体３の下側に比べて主弁体３の上側が低圧になり、圧力差で主弁体３が上昇変位して弁座板５より離れ、低抵抗で回転変位し得る状態になる。
【００４７】
上述の状態になると、電磁コイル６３に対する通電によってＮ極に帯磁している主磁極部材６５の主磁極片６６とこれに対向する多極マグネット７１のＮ極部７２との磁気的反発作用や、電磁コイル６３に対する通電によってＳ極に帯磁している副磁極部材６９の副磁極片７０とこれに対向する多極マグネット７１のＳ極部７４との間での磁気的反発作用により、主弁体３が、図５〜図７で反時計廻り方向に回転し、主弁体３が第一の回転位置（図５、図７（ａ）の位置）より第二の回転位置（図６、図７（ｂ）の位置）へ回転変位する。
【００４８】
これにより、Ｎ極に帯磁している主磁極片６６に多極マグネット７１のＳ極部７４が対向して吸引されると共に、Ｓ極に帯磁している副磁極片７０に多極マグネット７１のＮ極部７２が対向して吸引されて、主弁体３が第二の回転位置に保持され、ヒートポンプサイクルが冷房モードより暖房モードに切り換えられる。
【００４９】
この後に、電磁コイル６３に対する通電を停止すると、一対の主磁極片６６の残留磁力が弱いため対向する多極マグネット７１のＳ極部７４をＮ極の磁極で吸着できなくなり、電磁コイル６３の通電前の主弁体３が第一の回転位置にあった時点で主磁極片６６に対向していた、Ｓ極部７４の隣のＮ極部７２が、磁極の無くなった単なる金属としての主磁極片６６に吸着しようとして、主弁体３が第二の回転位置から第一の回転位置に戻る向きに回転しようとする力が生じる。
【００５０】
しかし、主弁体３の第二の回転位置において、副磁極片７０に対向する多極マグネット７１のＳ極部７４が、磁極の無くなった単なる金属としての副磁極片７０に吸着しようとする力により、第二の回転位置から第一の回転位置に戻る向きへの主弁体３の回転力が抑制される。
【００５１】
電磁コイル６３に対する通電の停止に伴ってばね６１のばね力によりパイロット弁９が降下して閉弁し、圧力室４１と低圧側連絡溝３５との連通が遮断され、バイパス用間隙４３やピストンリング４７の連通用間隙を経て、高圧側連絡溝３７、高圧側ポート１９の圧力が圧力室４１に導入され、圧力室４１が主弁体３の下部の圧力と同圧になり、ばね６１のばね力と主弁体３の自重とによって主弁体３が元の降下位置に戻り、弁座板５と密着することで、主弁体３が第二の回転位置（流路切換完了位置）に安定保持される。これにより動作信頼性が高くなる。
【００５２】
ヒートポンプサイクルを暖房モードより冷房モードに切り換える場合には、冷房モードより暖房モードへの切換時とは反対の方向に電磁ソレノイド１１の電磁コイル６３に通電を行い、パイロット弁９を開弁して主弁体３を上昇変位させる共に、主磁極部材６５の主磁極片６６をＳ極に帯磁させ、副磁極部材６９の副磁極片７０をＮ極に帯磁させる。
【００５３】
すると、電磁コイル６３に対する通電によってＳ極に帯磁している主磁極部材６５の主磁極片６６とこれに対向する多極マグネット７１のＳ極部７４との磁気的反発作用や、電磁コイル６３に対する通電によってＮ極に帯磁している副磁極部材６９の副磁極片７０とこれに対向する多極マグネット７１のＮ極部７２との間での磁気的反発作用により、主弁体３が、図５〜図７で時計廻り方向に回転し、主弁体３が第二の回転位置（図６、図７（ｂ）の位置）より第一の回転位置（図５、図７（ａ）の位置）へ回転変位する。
【００５４】
これにより、Ｎ極に帯磁している主磁極片６６に多極マグネット７１のＳ極部７４が対向して吸引されると共に、Ｓ極に帯磁している副磁極片７０に多極マグネット７１のＮ極部７２が対向して吸引されて、主弁体３が第一の回転位置に保持され、ヒートポンプサイクルが暖房モードより冷房モードに切り換えられる。
【００５５】
この後に、電磁コイル６３に対する通電を停止すると、一対の主磁極片６６の残留磁力が弱いため対向する多極マグネット７１のＮ極部７２をＮ極の磁極で吸着できなくなり、電磁コイル６３の通電前の主弁体３が第二の回転位置にあった時点で主磁極片６６に対向していた、Ｎ極部７２の隣のＳ極部７４が、磁極の無くなった単なる金属としての主磁極片６６に吸着しようとして、主弁体３が第一の回転位置から第二の回転位置に戻る向きに回転しようとする力が生じる。
【００５６】
しかし、主弁体３の第一の回転位置において、副磁極片７０に対向する多極マグネット７１のＮ極部７２が、磁極の無くなった単なる金属としての副磁極片７０に吸着しようとする力により、第一の回転位置から第二の回転位置に戻る向きへの主弁体３の回転力が抑制される。
【００５７】
電磁コイル６３に対する通電の停止に伴ってばね６１のばね力によりパイロット弁９が降下して閉弁し、圧力室４１と低圧側連絡溝３５との連通が遮断され、バイパス用間隙４３やピストンリング４７の連通用間隙を経て、高圧側連絡溝３７、高圧側ポート１９の圧力が圧力室４１に導入され、圧力室４１が主弁体３の下部の圧力と同圧になり、ばね６１のばね力と主弁体３の自重とによって主弁体３が元の降下位置に戻り、弁座板５と密着することで、主弁体３が第一の回転位置（流路切換完了位置）に安定保持される。これにより動作信頼性が高くなる。
【００５８】
なお、本実施形態では四方弁を例に取って説明したが、本発明はロータリ式の三方弁においても同様に適用可能であり、また、本実施形態のように回転の際に主弁体３が弁座板５から離間した状態となるようなパイロット弁付のロータリ式流路切換弁でなく、弁座板に接したまま弁体が回転する一般的なロータリ式流路切換弁にも適用可能であることは言うまでもない。
【００５９】
【発明の効果】
以上の説明から理解される如く、請求項１に記載の発明によるロータリ式流路切換弁によれば、円筒状の弁ハウジングと、前記弁ハウジングに回転変位可能に設けられた弁体と、前記弁ハウジングに固定され低圧側配管を接続される低圧側ポート、高圧側配管を接続される高圧側ポート、及び、少なくとも一つの切換ポートを有する弁座板と、前記弁体を回転駆動する電磁アクチュエータとを有し、前記弁体は、当該弁体の一方の端面にて前記弁座板と接触し、回転変位により前記切換ポートを前記低圧側ポートと前記高圧側ポートのいずれか一方に選択的に連通接続するように構成されたロータリ式流路切換弁において、前記電磁アクチュエータは、前記弁体に取り付けられた多極マグネットと、前記弁ハウジングに取り付けられた電磁ソレノイド、一対の主磁極片、及び、一対の副磁極片を有しており、前記多極マグネットは、前記弁体の回転方向にＮ極とＳ極とを交互に配して構成されており、前記一対の主磁極片は、前記電磁ソレノイドの通電により発生するＮ極とＳ極との磁極のうち一方の磁極に磁気的に接続されて当該一方の磁極と同極に帯磁し、互いに１８０度回転変位した位置にて前記多極マグネットのＮ極とＳ極とのうち一方の磁極と対向するように配置されており、前記一対の副磁極片は、前記電磁ソレノイドの通電により発生するＮ極とＳ極とのうち他方の磁極に磁気的に接続されて当該他方の磁極と同極に帯磁し、互いに１８０度回転変位した位置にて前記多極マグネットのＮ極とＳ極とのうち他方の磁極と対向するように配置されており、前記主磁極片は前記副磁極片よりも大きい断面により、該副磁極片よりも強い磁力で帯磁するように形成されているものとした。
【００６０】
このため、電磁ソレノイド（電磁コイル）に通電が行われると、主磁極片と副磁極片とが互いに反対の磁極に帯磁し、主磁極片、副磁極片と多極マグネットとの磁気的反発により弁体が回転し、流路切換が行われる。流路切換完了後に電磁ソレノイドに対する通電が停止されると、一対の主磁極片と多極マグネットとの磁気的吸着と、一対の副主磁極片と多極マグネットとの磁気的吸着とで、弁体が流路切換完了位置に安定保持され、動作信頼性が高くなる。
【００６１】
請求項２によるロータリ式流路切換弁によれば、前記弁体は前記弁ハウジングに当該弁体の回転軸方向に移動可能に設けられていて、前記弁体の外周と前記弁ハウジングの内周面との間に形成されるバイパス間隙を介して、前記弁体の前記一方の端面とは反対側の他方の端面側に画定される圧力室に前記高圧側ポートの圧力が導入され、前記弁体には前記圧力室及び前記低圧側ポートを選択的に連通接続するパイロット弁が形成されており、前記電磁ソレノイドの通電により閉状態の前記パイロット弁が開駆動されて、前記圧力室と前記高圧側ポートとの間に生じる差圧により前記弁体が移動して、当該弁体の前記一端が前記回転軸方向に沿って前記弁座から離間した状態で、前記電磁アクチュエータによる前記弁体の回転駆動が行われるものとした。
【００６２】
このため、電磁アクチュエータによる弁体の回転駆動が、電磁ソレノイドの通電に伴うパイロット弁の開弁により圧力室と高圧側ポートとの間に差圧が生じて、弁体が移動してその一端が弁座から離間した状態で行われるので、弁座に弁体が接触していない分だけ弁体の回転時に受ける摩擦が減って、電磁ソレノイドの通電を停止した際に、一対の主磁極片に対向している多極マグネット部分の隣の、反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分が、各主磁極片に吸着しようとすることによる弁体の反転が起こり易くなる。
【００６３】
しかし、主磁極片に対向している多極マグネット部分とは反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分に一対の副磁極片が対向していて、この反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分が各副磁極片に吸着しようとすることから、弁座に接触していない状態で弁体が回転する構成のロータリ式流路切換弁であっても、弁体が流路切換完了位置に安定保持される。
【００６４】
請求項３によるロータリ式流路切換弁によれば、前記主磁極片は一対の脚片を門型に接続した主磁極部材の前記各脚片に構成され、前記副磁極片は一対の脚片を門型に接続した副磁極部材の前記各脚片に構成され、前記主磁極部材は電磁ソレノイドに固定され、前記副磁極部材は接続用ブリッジ片により前記主磁極部材と点状係合し前記主磁極部材に対して位置決め固定されているものとした。
【００６５】
このため、副磁極部材が接続用ブリッジ片により主磁極部材と点状係合して主磁極部材に対して位置決め固定されているから、主磁極片と副主磁極片との相対位置が精度よく決まり、主磁極部材と副磁極部材とは点状係合であるから、電磁ソレノイドが励磁している時の磁力ロスが少なくて済むようになる。
【００６６】
請求項４によるロータリ式流路切換弁によれば、前記主磁極片は、前記弁体の周方向における寸法が前記副磁極片よりも大きい寸法で形成されているものとした。
【００６７】
このため、弁体の周方向において、主磁極片の両端の方が副磁極片の両端よりも、対向している多極マグネット部分の隣の、反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分に対する距離が近くなり、従って、電磁ソレノイドの通電により弁体がどちらの方向に回転するかが、副磁極片とこれに対向する多極マグネット部分やそれに隣接する反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分との位置関係ではなく、主磁極片とこれに対向する多極マグネット部分やそれに隣接する反対の磁極の多極マグネット部分との位置関係で定まることとなり、電磁ソレノイドへの通電停止後の弁体の位置を安定して保持するために副磁極片を設けても、その影響で電磁ソレノイドへの通電に伴う弁体の回転方向が変わってしまうことがない。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】この発明によるロータリ式流路切換弁の実施の形態を示す縦断面図である。
【図２】図１のロータリ式流路切換弁の平面図である。
【図３】図１のロータリ式流路切換弁の底面図である。
【図４】図１のロータリ式流路切換弁の側面図である。
【図５】図１のロータリ式流路切換弁をヒートポンプシステムに組み込んだ際の冷房運転時における冷媒回路構成を示す説明図である。
【図６】図１のロータリ式流路切換弁をヒートポンプシステムに組み込んだ際の暖房運転時における冷媒回路構成を示す説明図である。
【図７】（ａ）、（ｂ）はこの発明によるロータリ式流路切換弁の電磁アクチュエータ部の断面図である。
【図８】（ａ）〜（ｄ）は図１のパイロット弁の端面図、（ｅ）は（ｄ）のパイロット弁の断面図である。
【図９】図１の主磁極部材と副磁極部材との組み付け関係を示す斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
１弁ハウジング
２大径円筒部
３主弁体
５弁座板
９パイロット弁
１１電磁ソレノイド
１５低圧側ポート
１９高圧側ポート
２３第一の切換ポート
２７第二の切換ポート
３５低圧側連絡溝
３７高圧側連絡溝
４１圧力室
４５ピストンリング溝
４７ピストンリング
５５弁ポート
５９固定吸引子
６３電磁コイル
６５主磁極部材
６５ａ小開口
６６主磁極片
６９副磁極部材
６９ａブリッジ片
７０副磁極片
７１多極マグネット
７２Ｎ極部
７４Ｓ極部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rotary flow path switching valve, and more particularly to a four-way valve or a three-way valve used in a heat pump system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a rotary flow path switching valve used as a four-way valve or a three-way valve, a cylindrical valve housing, a valve body that can be rotationally displaced in the valve housing, and a low-pressure side pipe fixed to the valve housing are connected. A low pressure side port, a high pressure side port to which a high pressure side pipe is connected, a valve seat plate having at least one switching port, and an electromagnetic actuator for rotationally driving the valve body, One of the valve bodies is in contact with the valve seat plate at the end surface opposite to the pressure chamber, and the switching port is selectively communicated with either the low pressure side port or the high pressure side port by rotational displacement. A rotary flow path switching valve configured to be connected is known.
[0003]
The electromagnetic actuator of the rotary flow path switching valve as described above is attached to a valve body, and is attached to a valve housing, a multipolar magnet in which N poles and S poles are alternately arranged in the rotation direction of the valve body. The magnetic solenoid is magnetically connected to one of the magnetic poles of the N and S poles generated by energization of the electromagnetic solenoid, is magnetized in the same polarity as the one magnetic pole, and is rotated 180 degrees relative to each other. And a pair of magnetic pole pieces arranged to face one of the magnetic poles of the N and S poles of the multipolar magnet.
[0004]
When switching the flow path, the electromagnetic solenoid is energized by energizing it so that the pair of magnetic pole pieces is magnetized to the same magnetic pole as the opposing magnetic pole of the multi-pole magnet, and the magnetic force between the pair of magnetic pole pieces and the multi-pole magnet is increased. When the valve body is rotated by repulsion so that the multi-pole magnet portions opposite to the magnetic poles on which the pair of magnetic pole pieces are magnetized are opposed to the pair of magnetic pole pieces, and the flow path switching is completed, the electromagnetic solenoid Stop energizing.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional rotary type flow path switching valve, when the energization to the electromagnetic solenoid is stopped when the flow path switching is completed, the magnetic force remaining in the pair of magnetic pole pieces is small. The multipolar magnet portion facing the pair of magnetic pole pieces at the time after the rotation cannot be attracted by the magnetic poles of the magnetic force remaining in the pair of magnetic pole pieces.
[0006]
For this reason, the multi-pole magnet part of the opposite magnetic pole next to the multi-pole magnet part facing the pair of magnetic pole pieces at the time after the rotation of the valve body is attached to each magnetic pole piece as a mere metal with no magnetic poles. As a result, the valve body slightly rotates to the opposite side of the energization of the electromagnetic solenoid so that the boundary where the magnetic pole of the multipole magnet changes is located at the center of the pole piece. Cannot be stably held at the flow path switching completion position.
[0007]
However, if the magnetic force of the multi-pole magnet is weakened in order to suppress the reversal of the valve body after the energization of the electromagnetic solenoid is stopped, the rotational torque generated in the valve body will be weakened due to the energization of the electromagnetic solenoid, and friction, etc. As a result, the valve body cannot be reliably rotated.
[0008]
The present invention has been made paying attention to the problems as described above, and can maintain the valve body stably at the flow path switching completion position even when the magnetic force of the multi-pole magnet is strong, and the rotary flow path with high operational reliability. The object is to provide a switching valve.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, a rotary flow path switching valve according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a cylindrical valve housing, a valve body rotatably provided in the valve housing, and the valve housing. A low pressure side port to which the low pressure side pipe is connected, a high pressure side port to which the high pressure side pipe is connected, a valve seat plate having at least one switching port, and an electromagnetic actuator for rotationally driving the valve body The valve body is in contact with the valve seat plate at one end surface of the valve body, and the switching port is selectively communicated with either the low pressure side port or the high pressure side port by rotational displacement. In the rotary flow path switching valve configured to be connected, the electromagnetic actuator includes a multi-pole magnet attached to the valve body and an electromagnetic solenoid attached to the valve housing. The multi-pole magnet has a pair of main pole pieces and a pair of sub pole pieces, and the N pole and S poles are alternately arranged in the rotation direction of the valve body, The pair of main magnetic pole pieces are magnetically connected to one of the N and S poles generated by energization of the electromagnetic solenoid, are magnetized on the same pole as the one, and rotate 180 degrees relative to each other. The multi-pole magnet is disposed at a displaced position so as to face one of the N and S poles, and the pair of sub-pole pieces are formed with an N pole generated by energization of the electromagnetic solenoid. Magnetically connected to the other magnetic pole of the S pole and magnetized in the same polarity as the other magnetic pole, the other of the N pole and the S pole of the multipolar magnet at a position displaced by 180 degrees from each other. The main pole piece is arranged to face the magnetic pole, and the main pole piece The larger cross section than the pole piece, in which are formed so as to magnetized by a strong magnetic force than the sub pole pieces.
[0010]
In the rotary flow path switching valve according to claim 2, the valve body is provided in the valve housing so as to be movable in a rotation axis direction of the valve body, and an outer periphery of the valve body and an inner peripheral surface of the valve housing are provided. The pressure of the high-pressure side port is introduced into a pressure chamber defined on the other end surface side opposite to the one end surface of the valve body through a bypass gap formed between the valve body and the valve body. A pilot valve that selectively connects the pressure chamber and the low-pressure side port is formed, and the closed pilot valve is driven to open by energization of the electromagnetic solenoid, so that the pressure chamber and the high-pressure side port are opened. The valve body is moved by the differential pressure generated between the valve body and the valve body is driven to rotate by the electromagnetic actuator in a state where the one end of the valve body is separated from the valve seat along the rotational axis direction. Is to be done .
[0011]
In the rotary flow path switching valve according to claim 3, the main magnetic pole piece is constituted by each leg piece of a main magnetic pole member in which a pair of leg pieces are connected in a gate shape, and the sub magnetic pole piece is a pair of leg pieces. The main magnetic pole member is fixed to an electromagnetic solenoid, and the sub magnetic pole member is engaged with the main magnetic pole member in a dot-like manner by a connecting bridge piece. It is positioned and fixed with respect to the member.
[0012]
In the rotary flow path switching valve according to a fourth aspect, the main magnetic pole piece is formed with a dimension in the circumferential direction of the valve body larger than that of the sub magnetic pole piece.
[0013]
According to the rotary flow path switching valve of the first aspect of the present invention, when the electromagnetic solenoid (electromagnetic coil) is energized, the main magnetic pole piece and the sub magnetic pole piece are magnetized to opposite magnetic poles, and the main magnetic pole The valve body is rotated by the magnetic repulsion between the piece, the sub-pole piece and the multi-pole magnet, and the flow path is switched. When energization to the electromagnetic solenoid is stopped after the flow path switching is completed, the magnetic adsorption between the pair of main magnetic pole pieces and the multipolar magnet and the magnetic adsorption between the pair of sub main magnetic pole pieces and the multipolar magnet The body is stably held at the flow path switching completion position.
[0014]
According to the rotary flow path switching valve of the second aspect of the present invention, the rotation of the valve element by the electromagnetic actuator is caused between the pressure chamber and the high-pressure side port by opening the pilot valve when the electromagnetic solenoid is energized. Since the differential pressure is generated and the valve body moves and one end of the valve body is separated from the valve seat, the friction received during the rotation of the valve body is reduced by the amount that the valve body is not in contact with the valve seat. When the solenoid is de-energized, the valve element is formed by the multi-pole magnet part of the opposite magnetic pole next to the multi-pole magnet part facing the pair of main pole pieces trying to attract each main pole piece. Inversion easily occurs.
[0015]
However, a pair of sub-pole pieces are opposed to the multi-pole magnet portion of the opposite magnetic pole to the multi-pole magnet portion facing the main pole piece, and the multi-pole magnet portion of this opposite magnetic pole is each sub-pole piece. Therefore, even if the rotary flow path switching valve is configured such that the valve body rotates without being in contact with the valve seat, the valve body is stably held at the flow path switching completion position.
[0016]
According to the rotary flow path switching valve of the third aspect of the invention, the auxiliary magnetic pole member is point-engaged with the main magnetic pole member by the connecting bridge piece and fixed to the main magnetic pole member. Since the relative position between the main magnetic pole piece and the sub main magnetic pole piece is accurately determined and the main magnetic pole member and the sub magnetic pole member are point-like engagements, there is little loss of magnetic force when the electromagnetic solenoid is excited.
[0017]
According to the rotary flow path switching valve of the invention described in claim 4, in the circumferential direction of the valve body, both ends of the main magnetic pole piece are opposed to both ends of the sub magnetic pole piece. The distance to the adjacent multipole magnet part of the opposite magnetic pole becomes closer, so the direction in which the valve body rotates when the electromagnetic solenoid is energized depends on the subpole piece and the opposite multipole magnet part or It is determined by the positional relationship between the main pole piece and the multipolar magnet part opposite to the main pole piece and the adjacent multipole magnet part of the opposite magnetic pole instead of the positional relation with the adjacent multipole magnet part of the opposite magnetic pole. Even if a secondary pole piece is provided to stably hold the position of the valve body after the energization of the electromagnetic solenoid is stopped, the rotation direction of the valve body due to the energization of the electromagnetic solenoid may change due to the effect. No.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0019]
1 to 9 show an embodiment of a rotary flow path switching valve according to the present invention. The rotary flow path switching valve includes a cylindrical valve housing 1, a main valve body 3 (valve body) provided in the valve housing 1 so as to be capable of rotational displacement and movable in the direction of the rotational axis, and a valve housing 1. A valve seat plate 5 fixed to the bottom, a pilot valve 9 provided on the main valve body 3, and an electromagnetic solenoid 11 attached to the top of the valve housing 1 are provided.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rotary flow path switching valve is configured as a four-way valve 100 used in a heat pump system. The valve seat plate 5 has a suction side of a compressor P in the heat pump system. The low pressure side port 15 connected to the low pressure side pipe 13 from the compressor, the high pressure side port 19 connected to the high pressure side piping 17 from the discharge side of the compressor P, and the piping 21 of the evaporator (indoor heat exchanger) E are connected. And a second switching port 27 to which a pipe 25 of a condenser (outdoor heat exchanger) C is connected.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the main valve body 3 is fitted to a center pin 31 fixed to the valve seat plate 5 through a central guide hole 29 provided at the bottom, and has a tongue-like shape at the top. The guide portion 4 is formed so as to protrude from the upper portion of the valve housing 1 and is fitted to the main valve body guide cylindrical portion 6 provided concentrically with the large-diameter cylindrical portion 2 so as to be movable in the axial direction. The guide is rotationally displaced between the first rotational position and the second rotational position around its own central axis, and vertically displaced between the ascending position and the descending position in the axial direction.
[0022]
The guide portion 4 is formed on the side opposite to the high pressure side communication groove 37 described later, and due to the contact relationship with the main valve body guide cylindrical portion 6, the inclination deviation of the main valve body 3 due to the inflow pressure on the high pressure side. Suppress.
[0023]
In the lowered position, the main valve body 3 is in contact with the valve seat plate 5 at the bottom surface (one end surface) 33, and has a low pressure side communication groove 35 and a high pressure side communication groove 37 that are independent from each other on the bottom surface portion. doing.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 5, the main valve body 3 communicates the low pressure side port 15 and the first switching port 23 with the low pressure side communication groove 35 as shown in FIG. 37, the high pressure side port 19 and the second switching port 27 are connected in communication. In the second rotational position, the low pressure side port 15 and the second switching port 27 are connected by the low pressure side communication groove 35 as shown in FIG. The switching port 27 is communicatively connected and the high pressure side port 19 and the first switching port 23 are communicatively connected by the high pressure side communication groove 37.
[0025]
Thereby, in the switching state in which the main valve body 3 is in the first rotational position, as shown in FIG. 5, the compressor P → the four-way valve 100 → the condenser C → the throttle D → the evaporator E → the four-way valve 100 → the compressor A refrigerant circuit called P is established, and the heat pump system enters the cooling mode.
[0026]
On the other hand, in the switching state in which the main valve body 3 is in the second rotational position, as shown in FIG. 6, the compressor P → the four-way valve 100 → the evaporator E → the throttle D → the condenser C → the four-way valve 100 → A refrigerant circuit called the compressor P is established, and the heat pump system enters the heating mode.
[0027]
The tip of the high-pressure side pipe 17 protrudes into the high-pressure side communication groove 37 through the high-pressure side port 19, and the main valve body 3 is rotated by contact with the inner wall surface of the high-pressure side communication groove 37. It also serves as a stopper that limits the displacement range to the reciprocating rotation range between the first rotation position and the second rotation position.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 1, the upper side of the main valve body 3 (the other end face side) is fitted with a valve housing 1 and a pilot valve guide tube portion 39 formed on the upper portion of the valve housing 1. A pressure chamber 41 is defined by the pilot valve 9. The pressure chamber 41 is connected between both ends of a bypass gap 43 between the pilot valve 9 and the main valve body 3 and a substantially ring-shaped piston ring 47 fitted in the piston ring groove 45 of the main valve body 3. Via a common gap (not shown), the high pressure side communication groove 37 and the high pressure side port 19 communicate with each other, and the pressure of the high pressure side port 19 is introduced.
[0029]
The pilot valve guide tube portion 39 is provided concentrically with the large diameter cylindrical portion 2 and the main valve body guide tube portion 6, and the stem portion 10 of the pilot valve 9 is connected to the pilot valve guide tube portion 39 and the main valve body 3. A valve holding hole 51 having a circular cross section formed in the central portion is fitted so as to be movable in the axial direction, and the valve port 55 formed in the main valve body 3 is opened and closed by the needle valve portion 53 at the tip. .
[0030]
With this structure, the pilot valve 9 is fitted to the pilot valve guide tube portion 39 on the valve housing 1 side and the valve holding hole 51 on the main valve body 3 side so as to be movable in the axial direction, and the valve housing 1 and the main valve body 3 are fitted. It will be supported individually by both.
[0031]
As a specific shape of the stem portion 10, for example, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the stem portion 10 has a cut surface 12 on the outer peripheral surface, and has a D-shaped cross-sectional shape or It has a polygonal cross-sectional shape and can be fitted to the pilot valve guide tube portion 39 and the valve holding hole 51 only by the remaining circumferential surface 14.
[0032]
In this case, a passage (not shown) that connects the pressure chamber 41 and the valve port 55 is formed between the cut surface 12 of the pilot valve 9 and the valve holding hole 51.
[0033]
Further, as another specific shape of the stem portion 10, as shown in FIG. 8D, a substantially cylindrical shape having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the pilot valve guide tube portion 39 and the valve holding hole 51. It is conceivable to fit the pilot valve guide tube portion 39 and the valve holding hole 51 on the entire circumference of the circumferential surface 14.
[0034]
In this case, as shown in FIG. 8 (e), a small diameter portion 10a is formed at the distal end portion of the stem portion 10 near the needle valve portion 53, and the small diameter portion 10a passes through the center of the stem portion 10. A through passage 10b is provided in the radial direction of the stem portion 10, and a communication passage 10c extending from an end surface located on the pilot valve guide tube portion 39 side opposite to the needle valve portion 53 to the center of the through passage 10b is a stem. A passage that communicates between the pressure chamber 41 and the valve port 55 is formed by the through passage 10b and the communication passage 10c, and the space between the small diameter portion 10a and the valve holding hole 51. The
[0035]
The valve port 55 is in the center of the bottom of the valve holding hole 51 and communicates with the pressure chamber 41 through the bypass gap 43 on the one hand and communicates with the low pressure side communication groove 35 through the communication hole 57 on the other hand.
[0036]
Further, the valve housing 1 is formed by integrally forming a large-diameter cylindrical portion 2, which is a cylindrical portion that receives a main valve body, a main valve body guide tube portion 6, and a pilot valve guide tube portion 39 by press deep drawing. .
[0037]
The pilot valve 9 is biased in the valve closing direction by a spring 61 provided between the fixed suction element 59 and energized to the electromagnetic coil 63 of the electromagnetic solenoid 11, thereby resisting the spring force of the spring 61. Adsorbed to the fixed suction element 59, the valve port 55 is opened, that is, the valve is opened.
[0038]
In this embodiment, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing from the high pressure side port 19 into the pressure chamber 41 through the high pressure side communication groove 37, the bypass gap 43, and the communication gap of the piston ring 47 is changed from the pressure chamber 41 to the pilot valve. 9 reaches the valve port 55 via a passage between the cut surface 12 and the valve holding hole 51 and a passage inside the stem portion 10 of the pilot valve 9, and further flows into the low pressure side communication groove 35 through the communication hole 57. It is comprised so that the flow volume of the refrigerant | coolant to be performed may be less.
[0039]
A multi-pole magnet 71 made of plastics magnet is integrally provided on the upper portion of the main valve body 3 by insert molding. As shown in FIG. 7, the multipolar magnet 71 has a ring shape that is concentric with the main valve body 3, and N pole portions 72 and S pole portions 74 are alternately arranged in the rotation direction of the main valve body 3. Have one by one.
[0040]
A staple-shaped main magnetic pole member 65 magnetically coupled to one magnetic pole on the upper side of the electromagnetic coil 63 is fixed to the electromagnetic solenoid 11 by a bolt 67, and the other magnetic pole on the lower side of the electromagnetic coil 63 is fixed. The staple-shaped sub magnetic pole member 69 is fixed to the main magnetic pole member 65 at a position rotated and rotated 90 degrees around the central axis of the valve housing 1.
[0041]
The main magnetic pole member 65 has a pair of main magnetic pole pieces 66 that are formed as a pair of leg pieces and face one of the magnetic poles of the multipolar magnet 71 at positions that are rotationally displaced from each other by 180 degrees.
[0042]
The sub magnetic pole member 69 is configured as a pair of leg pieces, and is rotated and displaced 90 degrees with respect to the main magnetic pole piece, and is opposed to the other magnetic pole of the multipolar magnet 71 at a position where the sub magnetic pole member 69 is rotated 180 degrees relative to each other. A pole piece 70 is provided.
[0043]
As shown in FIG. 9, the auxiliary magnetic pole member 69 has connecting bridge pieces 69a and 69b extending in the direction of rotational displacement by 90 degrees from the auxiliary magnetic pole piece 70, and the connecting bridge pieces 69a and 69b. Are engaged with small openings 65a and 65b formed in the main magnetic pole member 65 at the tip portions, and are positioned and fixed to the main magnetic pole member 65 by this point-like engagement. As a result, the relative positional relationship between the main magnetic pole piece 66 and the sub magnetic pole piece 70 is uniformly determined and does not fluctuate. Further, since the main magnetic pole member 65 and the sub magnetic pole member 69 are point-like engagements, the magnetic force loss when the electromagnetic solenoid 11 (electromagnetic coil 63) is excited can be reduced.
[0044]
In the electromagnetic actuator structure including the electromagnetic solenoid 11 and the multipolar magnet 71 as described above, the main magnetic pole member 65 is magnetized to the N pole and the sub magnetic pole member 69 is magnetized to the S pole, or vice versa, depending on the direction of the current flowing to the electromagnetic solenoid 11. Magnetized to the polarity of.
[0045]
In the four-way valve 100 configured as described above, when the electromagnetic coil 63 of the electromagnetic solenoid 11 is energized in the state shown in FIG. 1, the fixed attractor 59 is excited and the pilot valve 9 is spring-loaded. The valve 61 is lifted and displaced against the spring force 61 and is attracted to the fixed suction element 59, and the valve port 55 is opened.
[0046]
As a result, the pressure chamber 41 communicates with the low pressure side communication groove 35 and the low pressure side port 15, and the internal pressure of the pressure chamber 41 changes from the same high pressure as the high pressure side port 19 to the same low pressure as the low pressure side port 15 due to the suction pressure of the compressor P. Will drop. As a result, the upper side of the main valve body 3 becomes a lower pressure than the lower side of the main valve body 3, and the main valve body 3 is lifted and displaced from the valve seat plate 5 by a pressure difference, and can be rotationally displaced with low resistance. become.
[0047]
In the above state, the magnetic repulsion between the main pole piece 66 of the main pole member 65 magnetized to the N pole by energization of the electromagnetic coil 63 and the N pole portion 72 of the multipole magnet 71 opposed thereto, Due to the magnetic repulsion between the sub magnetic pole piece 70 of the sub magnetic pole member 69 magnetized to the S pole by energization of the electromagnetic coil 63 and the S pole portion 74 of the multipolar magnet 71 opposed thereto, the main valve element is obtained. 5 rotates counterclockwise in FIGS. 5 to 7, and the main valve body 3 is rotated from the first rotation position (position of FIGS. 5 and 7A) to the second rotation position (FIG. 6, FIG. 7 (b)).
[0048]
As a result, the S pole portion 74 of the multipole magnet 71 is attracted to the main pole piece 66 magnetized in the N pole, and the multipole magnet 71 is attracted to the sub pole piece 70 magnetized in the S pole. The N-pole part 72 is sucked oppositely, the main valve body 3 is held at the second rotational position, and the heat pump cycle is switched from the cooling mode to the heating mode.
[0049]
Thereafter, when the energization to the electromagnetic coil 63 is stopped, the residual magnetic force of the pair of main magnetic pole pieces 66 is weak, so that the S pole portion 74 of the opposing multipolar magnet 71 cannot be attracted by the N pole, and the electromagnetic coil 63 is energized. When the previous main valve body 3 is in the first rotational position, the N pole portion 72 adjacent to the S pole portion 74 that faces the main pole piece 66 is a mere metal main pole with no magnetic pole. A force is generated to rotate the main valve body 3 in the direction returning from the second rotation position to the first rotation position in an attempt to be attracted to the piece 66.
[0050]
However, at the second rotational position of the main valve body 3, the S pole portion 74 of the multi-pole magnet 71 facing the sub magnetic pole piece 70 tries to attract the sub magnetic pole piece 70 as a simple metal with no magnetic pole. Thus, the rotational force of the main valve body 3 in the direction returning from the second rotational position to the first rotational position is suppressed.
[0051]
As the energization of the electromagnetic coil 63 is stopped, the pilot valve 9 is lowered and closed by the spring force of the spring 61, the communication between the pressure chamber 41 and the low pressure side communication groove 35 is cut off, and the bypass gap 43 and the piston ring are closed. The pressure in the high pressure side communication groove 37 and the high pressure side port 19 is introduced into the pressure chamber 41 through the communication gap 47, and the pressure chamber 41 becomes the same pressure as the pressure in the lower part of the main valve body 3. The main valve body 3 returns to the original lowered position due to the force and the dead weight of the main valve body 3, and comes into close contact with the valve seat plate 5, so that the main valve body 3 is moved to the second rotational position (flow path switching completion position). It is kept stable. This increases the operational reliability.
[0052]
When switching the heat pump cycle from the heating mode to the cooling mode, the solenoid coil 63 of the electromagnetic solenoid 11 is energized in the opposite direction to the switching from the cooling mode to the heating mode, the pilot valve 9 is opened, and the main valve is opened. The valve body 3 is moved up and displaced, the main magnetic pole piece 66 of the main magnetic pole member 65 is magnetized to the S pole, and the sub magnetic pole piece 70 of the sub magnetic pole member 69 is magnetized to the N pole.
[0053]
Then, the magnetic repulsion between the main magnetic pole piece 66 of the main magnetic pole member 65 magnetized to the S pole by energization of the electromagnetic coil 63 and the S pole portion 74 of the multipolar magnet 71 opposed thereto, Due to the magnetic repulsion between the sub magnetic pole piece 70 of the sub magnetic pole member 69 magnetized to the N pole by energization and the N pole portion 72 of the multipolar magnet 71 opposed thereto, the main valve body 3 is 5 to 7, the main valve body 3 rotates in the clockwise direction, and the main valve body 3 is moved from the second rotation position (the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7B) to the first rotation position (FIGS. 5 and 7A). Position).
[0054]
As a result, the S pole portion 74 of the multipole magnet 71 is attracted to the main pole piece 66 magnetized in the N pole, and the multipole magnet 71 is attracted to the sub pole piece 70 magnetized in the S pole. The N-pole part 72 is sucked oppositely, the main valve body 3 is held at the first rotational position, and the heat pump cycle is switched from the heating mode to the cooling mode.
[0055]
Thereafter, when the energization to the electromagnetic coil 63 is stopped, the residual magnetic force of the pair of main magnetic pole pieces 66 is weak, so that the N pole portion 72 of the opposing multipolar magnet 71 cannot be attracted by the N pole magnetic pole. When the previous main valve body 3 is in the second rotational position, the S pole portion 74 adjacent to the N pole portion 72, which is opposite to the main pole piece 66, is a mere metal main pole without a magnetic pole. A force is generated to rotate the main valve body 3 in the direction returning from the first rotation position to the second rotation position in an attempt to be attracted to the piece 66.
[0056]
However, in the first rotation position of the main valve body 3, the N-pole portion 72 of the multi-pole magnet 71 facing the sub-pole piece 70 tries to attract the sub-pole piece 70 as a simple metal with no magnetic pole. Thus, the rotational force of the main valve body 3 in the direction returning from the first rotational position to the second rotational position is suppressed.
[0057]
As the energization of the electromagnetic coil 63 is stopped, the pilot valve 9 is lowered and closed by the spring force of the spring 61, the communication between the pressure chamber 41 and the low pressure side communication groove 35 is cut off, and the bypass gap 43 and the piston ring are closed. The pressure in the high pressure side communication groove 37 and the high pressure side port 19 is introduced into the pressure chamber 41 through the communication gap 47, and the pressure chamber 41 becomes the same pressure as the pressure in the lower part of the main valve body 3. The main valve body 3 returns to the original lowered position due to the force and the dead weight of the main valve body 3, and comes into close contact with the valve seat plate 5, so that the main valve body 3 is in the first rotational position (flow path switching completion position). It is kept stable. This increases the operational reliability.
[0058]
In the present embodiment, the four-way valve has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a rotary three-way valve, and the main valve body 3 is rotated during rotation as in the present embodiment. Is not applied to a rotary flow path switching valve with a pilot valve so that the valve body is separated from the valve seat plate 5, but also to a general rotary flow path switching valve in which the valve element rotates while in contact with the valve seat plate It goes without saying that it is possible.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As understood from the above description, according to the rotary flow path switching valve of the first aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical valve housing, a valve body provided in the valve housing so as to be capable of rotational displacement, A low pressure side port fixed to the valve housing and connected to the low pressure side pipe, a high pressure side port connected to the high pressure side pipe, a valve seat plate having at least one switching port, and an electromagnetic actuator for rotationally driving the valve body The valve body is in contact with the valve seat plate at one end face of the valve body, and the switching port is selectively selected as one of the low pressure side port and the high pressure side port by rotational displacement. In the rotary flow path switching valve configured to communicate with the electromagnetic actuator, the electromagnetic actuator includes a multi-pole magnet attached to the valve body and an electromagnetic solenoid attached to the valve housing. It has a nodoid, a pair of main pole pieces, and a pair of sub pole pieces, and the multi-pole magnet is configured by alternately arranging N poles and S poles in the rotation direction of the valve body. The pair of main magnetic pole pieces are magnetically connected to one of the N-pole and S-pole generated by energization of the electromagnetic solenoid, and are magnetized to the same pole as the one magnetic pole. Is disposed so as to face one of the N and S poles of the multi-pole magnet at a rotationally displaced position, and the pair of sub-pole pieces are generated by energization of the electromagnetic solenoid. The magnetic pole is magnetically connected to the other magnetic pole of the pole and the S pole, is magnetized to the same pole as the other magnetic pole, and is rotated between the N pole and the S pole of the multipolar magnet at a position displaced by 180 degrees. The main pole piece is disposed so as to face the other magnetic pole. Wherein the larger cross-section than the sub pole pieces, was assumed to be formed so as to magnetized by a strong magnetic force than the sub pole pieces.
[0060]
For this reason, when the electromagnetic solenoid (electromagnetic coil) is energized, the main magnetic pole piece and the sub magnetic pole piece are magnetized to opposite magnetic poles, and the magnetic repulsion between the main magnetic pole piece, the sub magnetic pole piece and the multipolar magnet The valve body rotates and the flow path is switched. When energization to the electromagnetic solenoid is stopped after the flow path switching is completed, the magnetic adsorption between the pair of main magnetic pole pieces and the multipolar magnet and the magnetic adsorption between the pair of sub main magnetic pole pieces and the multipolar magnet The body is stably held at the flow path switching completion position, and the operation reliability is increased.
[0061]
According to the rotary flow path switching valve according to claim 2, the valve body is provided in the valve housing so as to be movable in the direction of the rotation axis of the valve body, and the outer periphery of the valve body and the inner periphery of the valve housing The pressure of the high-pressure side port is introduced into a pressure chamber defined on the other end surface side opposite to the one end surface of the valve body through a bypass gap formed between the valve body and the valve A pilot valve for selectively communicating the pressure chamber and the low pressure side port is formed in the body, and the closed pilot valve is opened by energization of the electromagnetic solenoid, and the pressure chamber and the high pressure port are opened. The valve body is moved by a differential pressure generated between the valve body and the valve body by the electromagnetic actuator in a state where the one end of the valve body is separated from the valve seat along the rotation axis direction. Drive is done too And the.
[0062]
For this reason, the rotation of the valve body by the electromagnetic actuator causes a differential pressure between the pressure chamber and the high-pressure side port due to the opening of the pilot valve when the electromagnetic solenoid is energized. Since it is performed in a state separated from the valve seat, the friction received when the valve body rotates by the amount that the valve body is not in contact with the valve seat is reduced, and when the energization of the electromagnetic solenoid is stopped, the pair of main pole pieces The inversion of the valve body is likely to occur when the multipolar magnet part of the opposite magnetic pole adjacent to the opposing multipolar magnet part is attracted to each main magnetic pole piece.
[0063]
However, a pair of sub-pole pieces are opposed to the multi-pole magnet portion of the opposite magnetic pole to the multi-pole magnet portion facing the main pole piece, and the multi-pole magnet portion of this opposite magnetic pole is each sub-pole piece. Therefore, even if the rotary flow path switching valve is configured such that the valve body rotates without being in contact with the valve seat, the valve body is stably held at the flow path switching completion position.
[0064]
According to the rotary type flow path switching valve according to claim 3, the main magnetic pole piece is constituted by each leg piece of a main magnetic pole member in which a pair of leg pieces are connected in a gate shape, and the sub magnetic pole piece is a pair of leg pieces. The main magnetic pole member is fixed to an electromagnetic solenoid, and the sub magnetic pole member is engaged with the main magnetic pole member in a point-like manner by a connecting bridge piece. It is assumed that the positioning is fixed with respect to the main magnetic pole member.
[0065]
For this reason, since the auxiliary magnetic pole member is point-engaged with the main magnetic pole member by the connecting bridge piece to be positioned and fixed with respect to the main magnetic pole member, the relative position between the main magnetic pole piece and the auxiliary main magnetic pole piece is accurately determined. Since the main magnetic pole member and the sub magnetic pole member are in point-like engagement, the magnetic loss when the electromagnetic solenoid is excited can be reduced.
[0066]
According to the rotary flow path switching valve of the fourth aspect, the main magnetic pole piece is formed with a dimension in the circumferential direction of the valve body larger than that of the sub magnetic pole piece.
[0067]
For this reason, in the circumferential direction of the valve body, both ends of the main pole piece are closer to the multipole magnet part of the opposite magnetic pole adjacent to the opposite multipole magnet part than the opposite ends of the sub pole piece. Therefore, the direction of rotation of the valve body due to the energization of the electromagnetic solenoid depends on the positional relationship between the sub-pole piece and the multi-pole magnet part facing it and the multi-pole magnet part of the opposite magnetic pole adjacent to it. It is determined by the positional relationship between the main pole piece and the multi-pole magnet part facing it and the multi-pole magnet part of the opposite magnetic pole adjacent to it. Even if the auxiliary magnetic pole piece is provided for holding, the rotation direction of the valve body accompanying the energization of the electromagnetic solenoid does not change due to the influence.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a rotary flow path switching valve according to the present invention.
2 is a plan view of the rotary flow path switching valve of FIG. 1; FIG.
3 is a bottom view of the rotary flow path switching valve of FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a side view of the rotary flow path switching valve of FIG. 1. FIG.
5 is an explanatory diagram showing a refrigerant circuit configuration during cooling operation when the rotary flow path switching valve of FIG. 1 is incorporated in a heat pump system.
6 is an explanatory diagram showing a refrigerant circuit configuration during heating operation when the rotary flow path switching valve of FIG. 1 is incorporated in a heat pump system. FIG.
7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of an electromagnetic actuator portion of a rotary flow path switching valve according to the present invention.
8A to 8D are end views of the pilot valve of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8E is a cross-sectional view of the pilot valve of FIG.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an assembly relationship between the main magnetic pole member and the sub magnetic pole member of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Valve housing
2 Large diameter cylindrical part
3 Main disc
5 Valve seat plate
9 Pilot valve
11 Electromagnetic solenoid
15 Low pressure side port
19 High pressure side port
23 First switching port
27 Second switching port
35 Low pressure side communication groove
37 High pressure side communication groove
41 Pressure chamber
45 Piston ring groove
47 Piston ring
55 Valve port
59 Fixed suction
63 Electromagnetic coil
65 Main pole member
65a small opening
66 Main pole piece
69 Sub magnetic pole member
69a Bridge piece
70 Sub-pole piece
71 Multi-Pole Magnet
72 N pole
74 S pole

Claims

A cylindrical valve housing;
A valve body provided in the valve housing so as to be capable of rotational displacement;
A low pressure side port fixed to the valve housing and connected to a low pressure side pipe, a high pressure side port connected to a high pressure side pipe, and a valve seat plate having at least one switching port;
An electromagnetic actuator that rotationally drives the valve body,
The valve body is in contact with the valve seat plate at one end surface of the valve body, and the switching port is selectively connected to one of the low-pressure side port and the high-pressure side port by rotational displacement. In the rotary flow path switching valve configured as follows:
The electromagnetic actuator has a multi-pole magnet attached to the valve body, an electromagnetic solenoid attached to the valve housing, a pair of main magnetic pole pieces, and a pair of sub magnetic pole pieces,
The multi-pole magnet is configured by alternately arranging N poles and S poles in the rotation direction of the valve body,
The pair of main magnetic pole pieces are magnetically connected to one of the N and S poles generated by energization of the electromagnetic solenoid, and are magnetized to the same pole as the one pole, and 180 degrees to each other. It is arranged so as to face one of the N pole and S pole of the multipole magnet at the rotationally displaced position,
The pair of sub magnetic pole pieces are magnetically connected to the other magnetic pole of the N pole and the S pole generated by energization of the electromagnetic solenoid, are magnetized to the same pole as the other magnetic pole, and are rotated by 180 degrees relative to each other. Arranged so as to face the other magnetic pole out of the N pole and S pole of the multipole magnet
The main pole piece is formed so as to be magnetized with a magnetic force stronger than that of the sub pole piece, with a cross section larger than that of the sub pole piece.
A rotary flow path switching valve characterized by that.

The valve body is provided in the valve housing so as to be movable in the rotation axis direction of the valve body, and through a bypass gap formed between the outer periphery of the valve body and the inner peripheral surface of the valve housing, The pressure of the high-pressure side port is introduced into a pressure chamber defined on the other end surface side opposite to the one end surface of the valve body, and the pressure chamber and the low-pressure side port are selectively applied to the valve body. A pilot valve that is connected in communication with the electromagnetic solenoid, the closed pilot valve is driven to open by energization of the electromagnetic solenoid, and the valve body is caused by a differential pressure generated between the pressure chamber and the high-pressure side port. 2. The rotary flow path switching according to claim 1, wherein the valve body is rotationally driven by the electromagnetic actuator in a state where the valve body moves and the one end of the valve body is separated from the valve seat along the rotation axis direction. valve.

The main magnetic pole piece is constituted by the leg pieces of the main magnetic pole member in which a pair of leg pieces are connected in a gate shape, and the sub magnetic pole piece is formed in the leg pieces of the sub magnetic pole member in which a pair of leg pieces are connected in a gate shape. The main magnetic pole member is fixed to an electromagnetic solenoid, and the sub magnetic pole member is point-engaged with the main magnetic pole member by a connecting bridge piece to be positioned and fixed with respect to the main magnetic pole member. The rotary flow path switching valve according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The rotary flow path switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the main pole piece is formed with a dimension in the circumferential direction of the valve body larger than that of the sub pole piece.