JP4286561B2 - Switching valve - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a switching valve, and more particularly to a switching valve having a valve chamber in which a valve body is rotatably housed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a four-way switching valve has been disclosed as a switching valve, for example, for a unit bus.
[0003]
FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of a unit bath described in the publication, and the unit bath usually includes devices such as a hot water supply unit A, a bathtub B, a four-way switching valve V, and a filter C. And each of the devices is connected by a pipeline. In the operation of the unit bath, the main circulation path for returning hot water in the bathtub B to the bathtub B through the hot water supply unit A, the filter C, and the four-way switching valve V (the flow of hot water is indicated by a thick dashed line arrow (I). The hot water temperature is adjusted by the hot water supply unit A, and the hot water temperature in the bathtub B is kept at an appropriate bathing temperature.
[0004]
The filter C is for washing hot water circulating through the main circuit (I). However, if hot water is circulated, scale or dust adheres to the filter C, which makes it unsanitary. There is a risk. For this reason, it is necessary to periodically clean the filter C. In that case, the four-way switching valve V is switched and the hot water is not returned to the bathtub B, but is led from the four-way switching valve V to the hot water supply unit A. The hot water is circulated so as to be led to the four-way switching valve V through the filter C while raising the temperature. Thus, the filter C is cleaned by circulating hot hot water for a required time. When the cleaning is completed, the four-way switching valve V is switched, and the cleaning hot water from the filter C is externally passed through the four-way switching valve V. To discharge.
[0005]
The four-way switching valve V is configured so that the hot water of the unit bath can be switched / changed into three routes of a main circulation path, a washing circulation path, and an external discharge, and includes one inlet 101 and three outlets. That is, a cleaning outlet 102, a return outlet 103, and a discharge outlet 104 are provided.
[0006]
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of the four-way switching valve V. The four-way switching valve V includes a valve case 112, a guard motor 120 disposed above the valve case 112, the A ball-shaped valve body 130 disposed in the valve chamber 115 of the valve case 112 and a screw on the left side opening 115a of the valve case 112 in order to hold the ball-shaped valve body 130 in the valve chamber 115. A presser sheet 136 that is screwed in the joint portion 136a and a valve cover 113 that closes the left side opening 115a are provided.
The valve case 112 has a single inlet 101 at the bottom and two outlets 104 and 102 at the side, an outlet 102 as a cleaning outlet (not shown in FIG. 5), and a discharge. It is disposed 90 degrees out of phase with the service outlet 104. Furthermore, the valve cover 113 is also formed with a single outlet (return outlet) 103.
[0007]
The ball-shaped valve body 130 is provided with an inflow passage 131 and an outflow passage 132 having a circular cross section that merge in the vicinity of the center thereof, and the inflow passage 131 is always connected to the inflow port 101 and flows out. The passage 132 is arranged so as to connect alternatively to the three outlets 102, 103, 104.
[0008]
The ball-shaped valve body 130 is rotationally driven by the guard motor 120 via the valve shaft 125, and the unit bus has three routes of the main circulation path (I), the washing circulation path (II), and the external discharge (III). The rotational position can be set so that the changeover can be made alternatively. Hot water flowing in from the inflow port 101 of the valve case 112 is guided from the inflow path 131 of the ball-shaped valve body 130 to the outflow path 132, and the ball-shaped valve body 130 is rotated and switched to change the predetermined position. It is alternatively connected to the two outlets 102, 103, 104 so as to flow to one of the three routes of the main circulation path (I), the cleaning circulation path (II), or the external discharge (III). The four-way switching valve V functions as a switching means for each circulation path of the unit bus. Further, the four-way switching valve V has a plurality of packings 141 and 142 interposed in contact portions between the ball-shaped valve body 130 in the valve chamber 115, the valve case 112, and the presser sheet 136, and the valve contacts at the contact portions. Leakage of hot water from the chamber 115 to each of the three outlets 102, 103, 104 or from each of the three outlets 102, 103, 104 to the valve chamber 115 is prevented. Reference numeral 114 denotes a mounting bolt for the pipe holder of the outlet 103.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-18405
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a conventional technique, the connection between the valve case and the pipe holder for the outlet is generally a screw connection. However, from the viewpoint of airtightness and durability, or the type of fluid and its mode (high temperature -From the viewpoint of applicability to high pressure levels), there is a need for connection / linkage means with even higher functionality.
As shown in FIG. 6, the end face of the pipe holder 103 a on the second outlet 103 side is welded to the end face of the valve case 112 in order to further prevent the leakage of hot water and make a highly durable switching valve. However, when such a welding means is employed, since the welded portion D is formed inside the end surface of the main body, the welded portion is shielded by the shielding portion 112a formed in the valve case 112. There was a disadvantage that the quality of the switching valve could not be confirmed, and as a result, the reliability of the switching valve could not be assured.
[0011]
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to adopt a welding means when a pipe holder such as an outlet attached to the valve body case of the switching valve is abutted and joined, and to form the welded portion inside the valve body case, A switching valve that improves the airtightness and durability of the joint, and the outer peripheral portion of the welded portion can be visually recognized from the outside, thereby improving the reliability and reliability of welding the tube holder. It is to provide.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the switching valve according to the present invention has the following means. That is, the switching valve according to claim 1 is coupled to the valve case by welding by a ball-shaped valve body having a flow path, a valve case having a valve chamber in which the ball-shaped valve body is rotatably accommodated. A pipe holder, the pipe holder having a welded portion welded to the valve case on the outer side, and a contact portion coming into contact with the ball-shaped valve body on the inner side of the welded portion, The valve case and the ball-shaped valve body are coupled to each other with a receding portion for making the welded state of the welded portion visible in the outer portion of the valve case and / or the outer portion of the pipe holder. And the welding state of the welded portion is formed so as to be visible from the outside of the valve case.
With this configuration, a switching valve having a strong coupling portion and high airtightness can be obtained, and welding can be performed while visually checking the welding through the retreat portion .
[0013]
According to a second aspect of the present invention , in the switching valve according to the first aspect, the welded portion is welded using ultrasonic welding .
Such a feature enables efficient welding .
[0014]
The switching valve according to claim 3 is the switching valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching valve is a three-way valve or a four-way valve .
Such a feature makes it possible to apply to a three-way valve or a four-way valve having a relatively simple configuration .
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a switching valve of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is an enlarged view of a valve case corner portion showing an embodiment of a switching valve according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state before mounting a pipe holder for a second outlet of the switching valve, FIG. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state after the tube holder is mounted. In addition, in the said drawing, about the component same as the component described in FIG. 4 thru | or FIG. 6, the description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.
[0017]
The switching valve in the present embodiment constitutes a three-way switching valve, and a spherical valve body 10 is rotatably supported in a valve chamber 21 formed in the valve case 20. Is formed with a flow path composed of an inflow path 11 and an outflow path 12, an inlet 22 and a first outlet 23 are formed in the valve case 20, and a pipe for the second outlet 24 is provided. The inflow port 22 and the first outflow port 23 or the second outflow port 24 are configured to be selectively communicated with each other through the flow paths 11 and 12. In the figure, reference numeral 25 c denotes a valve body abutting portion of the pipe holder 25, and reference numeral 13 denotes a reinforcing frame of the valve shaft 125 abutting recess in the valve body 10.
[0018]
The characteristic of the switching valve in the present embodiment is that the pipe holder 25 of the second outlet 24 is welded to the valve case 20 by welding. That is, as shown particularly in FIG. 1, a welded portion 25a on the tube holder 25 side is welded to a welded portion 22a on the valve case 20 side, and an outer portion of the valve case 20 is disposed outside the welded portion 25a. Further, a receding portion 25b is formed that allows the outer portion of the tube holder 25 to recede so that the welding state can be visually observed.
[0019]
With the above configuration, in the state after the mounting shown in FIG. 3 from the state before the mounting shown in FIG. Can see the above-mentioned welding state via the retreating part 25b, can confirm the mounting state of the pipe holder 25 with respect to the valve case 20, and can provide a highly reliable switching valve. In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made using the three-way switching valve, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to other switching valves such as a four-way switching valve.
Further, the retreating portion 25b may be provided on the valve case 20 side, or may be provided on both sides of the valve case 20 side and the pipe holder 25 side. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied not only to the case where the pipe holder 25 of the second outlet 24 is installed but also the pipe of the inlet 22 and the like.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As can be understood from the above description, the switching valve according to the present invention further improves the airtightness and durability at the coupling portion by coupling the pipe holder to the valve body case of the switching valve by welding means. It can be realized and can be a switching valve having a further high function from the viewpoint of the type of fluid and its mode (high temperature and high pressure).
Moreover, while forming the said welding part inside a valve main body case, the reliability and reliability of welding can be improved by forming the said outer peripheral part so that the said welding part can be visually recognized from the outside.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a corner portion of a valve case showing an embodiment according to the present invention (A portion in FIG. 3).
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state before the switching holder is mounted with a pipe holder.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state after the switching holder is installed with a pipe holder.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a hot water supply system of a unit bath with a reheating function in which a switching valve is used.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional switching valve.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part of another switching valve.
[Explanation of symbols]
A ... Hot water supply unit B ... Bathtub V ... (four-way) switching valve C ... Filter D ... Welded part 10 ... Valve element (present invention) 11 ... Inflow path 12 ... Outflow path 13・ ・ Reinforcement frame 20 ・ ・ Valve case 21 ・ ・ Valve chamber 22 ・ ・ Inlet 22a ・ ・ Welding part 23 ・ ・ First outlet 24 ・ ・ Second outlet pipe 25 ・ ・ Second outlet pipe holder (tube holder)
25a .. welded part 25b .. retreating part 25c .. valve body abutting part 101 .. inflow port 102 .. first (for cleaning) outflow port 103 .. second (for return) outflow port 104. (For discharge) Outlet 112 ..Valve case 112a..Shielding part 113..Valve cover 114..Mounting bolt 115..Valve chamber 115a..Left side opening 120..Gard motor 125..Valve shaft 130. ..Ball-shaped valve body 131..Inflow path 132..Outflow path 136..Presser sheet 136a..Screw engagement portion 141, 142..Packing

Claims (3)

A ball-shaped valve body having a flow path, a valve case having a valve chamber in which the ball-shaped valve body is rotatably accommodated, and a pipe holder coupled to the valve case by welding,
The tube holder has a welded portion that is welded to the valve case on the outside, and a contact portion that contacts the ball-shaped valve body on the inner side of the welded portion,
A receding part is formed in the outer part of the valve case of the welded part and / or the outer part of the pipe holder so as to make the welded state of the welded part visible. The valve case and the ball-shaped valve body A switching valve characterized in that the welded state of the welded portion can be visually recognized from the outside of the valve case in a coupled state. The switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the weld is welded using ultrasonic welding . The switching valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching valve is a three-way valve or a four- way valve.

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