JP4248958B2 - Fluid dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sealing member used in a fluid control device and a fluid control device using the sealing member.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A fluid control device, for example, a fluid control device using a rotary valve, is widely used in the industry as a valve, a metering device, or a discharge device including the food industry. According to this apparatus, a predetermined amount of fluid can be measured and discharged.
[0003]
1 to 3 show a conventional fluid control apparatus using a rotor valve. 1 is a schematic perspective view of this conventional apparatus, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a rotary valve used in this apparatus.
[0004]
This fluid control device mainly includes a housing 20 and a rotary valve 30 provided rotatably inside the housing 20.
[0005]
The outer surface 21 of the housing 20 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and the inner surface 22 has a cylindrical shape. In particular, the inner surface 22 is very smooth. However, in order to facilitate attachment to other components (not shown), the outer surface bottom 23 of the housing 20 may be formed in a flat plate shape. The top 24 and bottom 25 of the housing 20 are open. The rotary valve 30 can be inserted from these open ends 24, 25 during assembly of the fluid control device. A circular inlet provided in a part of the inner surface 22 of the housing 20 so as to pass through the inner surface 22 so as to allow liquid to flow into the rotary valve 30 and communicate with the inside and the outside of the housing 20. 26 is provided. Further, on the opposite side of the inflow port 26, a circular shape provided in a state of penetrating the inner surface 22 of the housing 20 so as to allow the liquid to flow out from the rotary valve 30 can communicate between the inside and the outside of the housing 20. The outlet 27 is provided. Note that the inlet 26 and the outlet 27 may be considered to have substantially the same diameter.
[0006]
The outer surface 31 of the rotary valve has a substantially complete cylindrical shape as a whole corresponding to the inner surface 22 of the housing 20. The outer surface 31 is very smooth in order to improve the sliding in the housing 20. Corresponding to the inlet 26 and outlet 27 of the housing 20, a circular shape capable of communicating the inside and the outside of the rotary valve 30 provided in a part of the front of the outer surface 31 of the rotary valve 30 through the outer surface 31. The opening 32 is provided. However, the rotary valve 30 is different from the housing 20 in that the upper part 33 and the bottom part 34 are completely closed. Therefore, the rotary valve 30 can receive and discharge the fluid only through the opening 32. The diameter of the opening 32 is slightly larger than the inlet 26 and outlet 27 of the housing 20.
[0007]
The rotary valve 30 is inserted concentrically into the housing 20 so that the center of the housing 20 and the center of the rotary valve 30 coincide. When the rotary valve 30 is inserted into the housing 20, the outer surface 31 of the rotary valve 30 and the inner surface 22 of the housing 20 are brought into surface contact (surface sealing) with each other by smooth surfaces. By this surface contact, fluid leakage from the gap between the outer surface 31 of the rotary valve 30 and the inner surface 22 of the housing 20 is prevented to some extent, if not completely.
A sealing member 28 is provided adjacent to the opening 32 of the rotary valve 30. The sealing member 28 surrounds the entire outer periphery of the rotary valve 30 in the vertical direction. Corresponding to the sealing member 28, an annular vertical recess 38 for positioning the sealing member 28 is provided around the rotary valve 30. When the rotary valve 30 is inserted into the housing 20, the sealing member 28 is fitted into the vertical recess 38 of the rotary valve and is in close contact with the inner wall of the housing 20. Thereby, the fluid leakage from the rotary valve 30 can be prevented more completely.
[0008]
By rotating the rotary valve 30 inside the housing 20, the opening 32 of the rotary valve 30 and the inlet 26 or outlet 27 of the housing 20 can communicate with each other. The rotary valve 30 can be rotated, for example, by manually or automatically rotating a knob 35 provided on the upper portion 33 thereof. At a certain point in time, only one of the inflow port 26 or the outflow port 27 can communicate with the opening 32 of the rotary valve 30, and it does not communicate with both.
[0009]
As is apparent, when the rotary valve 30 is rotated inside the housing 20, the opening 32 of the rotary valve 30 and the inlet 26 or outlet 27 of the housing 20 overlap each other in a predetermined region.
[0010]
For example, when the opening 32 of the rotary valve 30 is positioned upward and has an overlapping region between the inlet 26 of the housing 20, the fluid is rotated through the opening 32 and the inlet 26 in the direction of the arrow A shown in the figure. It flows into the inside of the valve 30. In addition, when the opening 32 of the rotary valve 30 is positioned below and has an overlapping region between the outlet 20 of the housing 20, the fluid rotates through the opening 32 and the outlet 27 in the direction of the arrow B in the figure. It is discharged outside the valve 30. On the other hand, when the opening 32 of the rotary valve 30 is positioned at a substantially intermediate position and does not have a region overlapping the inlet 26 or outlet 27 of the housing 20, the fluid remains held inside the rotary valve 30. Become. With the above configuration, a certain amount of fluid can be measured and subdivided.
[0011]
In the fluid control apparatus 10 having such a configuration, the state of surface contact between the inner surface 22 of the housing 20 and the outer surface 31 of the rotary valve 30, that is, the sealing ability between the housing 20 and the rotary valve 30 is an important characteristic. Become one. In other words, in the fluid control device 10 having such a configuration, the dimensional accuracy of the housing 20, the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the rotary valve 30 and the surface finish of the inner surface 22 of the housing 20 and the outer surface 31 of the rotary valve 30 are very strict. A demand will be imposed.
[0012]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 3032787 This document discloses a subdividing device for subdividing a fluid such as soup and a normal packing.
[0013]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, it is very difficult to achieve a perfect seal only with dimensional accuracy and surface finish. For this reason, in the fluid control apparatus having the above-described configuration, generally, inclusions such as grease are used between the housing and the rotary valve. However, grease and the like are not suitable for foods for hygiene reasons. In addition, for example, when the fluid is hot, the thermal expansion of the housing or the rotary valve causes a dimensional accuracy error, resulting in a poor fit between the housing and the rotary valve, resulting in fluid leakage and machine trouble. There was a risk of end. Further, for example, there is a risk that the sealing surface of the housing is damaged during the rotation of the rotary valve, and the fluid leaks through the scratch.
[0014]
The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and without relying on the dimensional accuracy between the housing and the rotary valve, the surface finish of the inner surface of the housing or the outer surface of the rotary valve, and the like such as grease. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing member that achieves a good seal without relying on inclusions. It is another object of the present invention to provide a sealing member that can withstand high temperatures. Furthermore, it aims at providing the sealing member which is hard to damage a sealing surface. Furthermore, it aims at providing the fluid control apparatus using such a sealing member.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fluid dispensing apparatus, a housing having a cylindrical inner surface, wherein the inlet provided through the inner surface can communicate with the inside and the outside of the housing. A rotary valve having a cylindrical outer surface and capable of rotating inside the housing in a state where the outer surface and the inner surface of the housing are in surface contact with each other; It has one opening that can communicate between the inside and the outside of the rotary valve that is provided through an outer surface, but is closed at a portion other than the opening, and the opening when rotated inside the housing. inlet or outlet of the housing is adapted to be in communication, and the rotary valve; and a sealing member; wherein the sealing The material is ring-shaped, and the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the rotary valve are arranged so as to traverse the entire area of the inlet or outlet of the housing when the rotary valve rotates at least once inside the housing. The rotary valve is rotated with respect to the housing, so that the opening and the inflow port are communicated with each other to allow fluid to flow into the rotary valve. Receiving and rotating the rotary valve relative to the housing to receive fluid received from the inlet without forming overlapping areas between the opening and the inlet and outlet of the housing. And hold the rotary valve in the housing. A fluid for measuring and subdividing a certain amount of fluid, which allows the opening and the outlet to communicate with each other and to discharge the fluid held inside the rotary valve through the opening and the outlet. Features a dispensing device.
[0018]
In the fluid dispensing apparatus, the sealing member may be an O-ring.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A fluid control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 may be considered to correspond to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, respectively. Hereinafter, main differences between the conventional apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and the fluid control apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described. Note that similar reference numerals are assigned to similar members.
[0020]
The main difference between the conventional device 10 and the device 1 of the present invention is that the device 1 of the present invention further includes an inner surface 22 of the housing 20 and the rotary valve 3 in addition to the sealing member 28 in order to achieve a good seal. The O-ring 5 is provided as a sealing member between the outer surface 31 and the outer surface 31.
[0021]
The O-ring 5 has an oval shape as a whole, and is formed of, for example, a heat resistant resin that is an elastic material. Due to the heat resistance, the O-ring is not deformed even when the fluid is at a high temperature, and the sealing ability is not reduced. Moreover, since it is made of resin, when the rotary valve 3 rotates inside the housing 20, the inner surface 22 of the housing 20 is hardly damaged.
[0022]
The O-ring 5 is fitted into an inclined groove provided on the outer surface 31 of the rotary valve 3, more specifically, an inclined groove 36 inclined at about 45 degrees with respect to the axial direction (horizontal direction) when the rotary valve 3 rotates. Positioning and holding. The O-ring 5 can rotate with the rotary valve 3 in this predetermined position. However, the position where the O-ring 5 is provided is closer to the opening 32 than the sealing member 28 is. Even after the O-ring 5 is fitted in the inclined groove 36, the upper part thereof is slightly protruded from the inclined groove 36. Therefore, when the rotary valve 3 is inserted into the housing 20, the O-ring 5 The inner surface 22 and the outer surface 31 of the rotary valve 3 are in close contact with the inner surface 22 of the housing 20 with a predetermined contact pressure.
[0023]
In order to prevent fluid leakage from the inlet 26 and the outlet 27 of the housing 20, the O-ring has the inlet 26 of the housing 20 when the rotary valve 3 rotates at least once inside the housing 20. It is necessary to be arranged at a position that crosses the entire area of the outlet 27. Further, the inlet 26, the outlet 27, and the opening 32 are provided when the rotary valve 3 rotates so that fluid leakage from the inlet 26 and outlet 27 of the housing 20 and the opening 32 of the rotary valve 3 can be prevented. In the axial direction (horizontal direction) of the O-ring 5. That is, as well shown in FIG. 5, the length portion “A” of the O-ring 5 in the axial direction when the rotary valve 3 rotates is the length portion “A” in the horizontal direction of the opening 32 of the rotary valve 3. “A” or the horizontal length of the inlet 26 and outlet 27 of the housing 20 “c” (diameter of the inlet 26 and outlet 27), and the length of the O-ring 5. Within the range of the part “a”, the length parts “i” and “c” must be included. The O-ring 5 must have a size and a position that satisfy at least these conditions.
[0024]
Obviously, by using the O-ring 5, the fluid is blocked by the O-ring 5 even when the fluid leaks from the gap between the housing 20 and the rotary valve 3 despite the surface contact between them. Alternatively, when the O-ring 5 crosses the inflow port 26 or the outflow port 27, the leaked fluid is returned to the inflow port 26 or the outflow port 27, so that external leakage of the fluid can be prevented more effectively. it can.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a good seal is provided without depending on the dimensional accuracy between the housing and the rotary valve, the surface finish of the inner surface of the housing or the outer surface of the rotary valve, and without relying on inclusions such as grease. A sealing member can be provided. Moreover, the sealing member which can endure high temperature can be provided. Furthermore, it aims at providing the sealing member which is hard to damage a sealing surface. Furthermore, a fluid control apparatus using such a sealing member can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional fluid control apparatus using a rotor valve.
2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.
3 is a schematic perspective view of a rotary valve used in the apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a fluid control device of the present invention and corresponding to FIG. 2 of a conventional device.
FIG. 5 is a view showing a fluid control device of the present invention and corresponding to FIG. 3 of a conventional device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Fluid control device 3 Rotary valve 5 O-ring 20 Housing

Claims (2)

In the fluid dispensing device,
A housing having a cylindrical inner surface, the housing having an inflow port and an outflow port at opposite positions capable of communicating between the inside and the outside of the housing provided in a state of penetrating the inner surface;
A rotary valve having a cylindrical outer surface and capable of rotating inside the housing in a state where the outer surface and the inner surface of the housing are in surface contact, the rotary valve provided in a state of penetrating the outer surface There is one opening that can communicate between the inside and the outside, but it is closed at a portion other than the opening so that the opening and the inlet or outlet of the housing can communicate with each other when rotated inside the housing. And the rotary valve,
A sealing member ,
The sealing member has a ring shape, and when the rotary valve rotates at least once inside the housing, it crosses the entire area of the inlet or outlet of the housing and the inner surface of the housing and the rotary valve. Provided between the outer surfaces in close contact with the inner surface of the housing,
By rotating the rotary valve relative to the housing, receiving the fluid inside the rotary valve through them communicates with the inlet and the opening, also by rotating the rotary valve relative to the housing To hold the fluid received from the inlet without forming an overlapping region between the opening and the inlet and outlet of the housing, and further to attach the rotary valve to the housing. The fluid subdividing device for measuring and subdividing a certain amount of fluid, which is capable of communicating with the opening and the outlet and allowing the fluid held inside the rotary valve to be discharged through the opening and the outlet. .   The fluid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is an O-ring.

Images