JP4738077B2 - Pilot flow control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a flow control device, and more particularly to a pilot-type flow control device that can be easily operated with a small operating force.

Various types of faucets have been used in the past, but these faucets require a large force to move the main valve that changes the opening of the main waterway in the approaching and retracting direction relative to the main valve seat. There was a problem that operation was heavy.
Therefore, as a means to lighten the operation of the faucet, this faucet is a pilot-type flow control device, that is, by moving the pilot valve forward and backward, the main valve is moved forward and backward to change the opening of the main water channel. It is conceivable to use a faucet with a built-in pilot-type flow control device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example as a comparative example.
In the figure, reference numerals 200 and 202 denote a primary inflow waterway and a secondary outflow waterway that form a main waterway, and 204 denotes a main valve composed of a diaphragm valve provided on the main waterway.
The main valve 204 moves back and forth in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the main valve seat 206 to change the opening of the main water channel, and adjusts the flow rate in the main water channel according to the opening.

Reference numeral 208 denotes a back pressure chamber formed behind the main valve 204. The back pressure chamber 208 applies an internal pressure to the main valve 204 as a pressing force in the valve closing direction.
The main valve 204 is provided with an introduction small hole 210 that passes through the main valve 204 and allows the inflow water channel 200 and the back pressure chamber 208 to communicate with each other.
The introduction small hole 210 leads the water from the inflow water channel 200 to the back pressure chamber 208 and increases the pressure of the back pressure chamber 208.
The main valve 204 is also provided with a pilot water channel 212 as a water drainage channel that passes through the main valve 204 and communicates the back pressure chamber 208 and the outflow water channel 202.
The pilot water channel 212 reduces the pressure in the back pressure chamber 208 by drawing water in the back pressure chamber 208 into the outflow water channel 202.

Reference numeral 214 denotes a pilot valve provided integrally with the drive shaft 216. The pilot valve 214 is in the vertical direction in the figure with respect to the pilot valve seat 218 provided on the main valve 204, that is, in the same direction as the forward and backward movement of the main valve 204. By moving forward and backward, the opening of the pilot water channel 212 (opening with respect to the back pressure chamber 208) is changed.
Reference numeral 220 denotes an O-ring as an annular seal member. The O-ring 220 seals the pilot valve 214 and the drive shaft 216 integrated therewith and the back pressure chamber 208 in a watertight manner.

In the pilot type flow regulating device shown in FIG. 8, when the pilot valve 214 moves forward toward the pilot valve seat 218, the gap between the pilot valve 214 and the pilot valve seat 218 becomes small, and the pilot water channel 212 The opening degree becomes small, the amount of water flowing from the back pressure chamber 208 to the outflow water channel 202 through the pilot water channel 212 decreases, and the pressure in the back pressure chamber 208 increases.
On the other hand, when the pilot valve 214 moves backward in the figure, the clearance between the pilot valve 214 and the pilot valve seat 218 increases, and the opening of the pilot water passage 212 increases, and here, the back pressure chamber 208 passes through the pilot water passage 212. The amount of water that flows into the outflow water channel 202 increases and the pressure in the back pressure chamber 208 decreases.
Then, the main valve 204 moves back and forth in the vertical direction in the figure following the forward and backward movement of the pilot valve 214 so as to balance the pressure of the back pressure chamber 208 and the pressure of the inflow water passage 200 to open the main water passage. Change the degree.
The flow rate of water from the inflow water channel 200 to the outflow water channel 202 is adjusted according to the change in the opening of the main water channel.

  In the pilot type flow regulating device shown in FIG. 8, the main valve 204 is moved forward and backward based on the increase / decrease of the pressure in the back pressure chamber 208, and the increase / decrease of the pressure in the back pressure chamber 208 is controlled by the pilot valve 214. Since the main valve 204 can be opened and closed with a small force because it is controlled by advancing and retracting movement, the flow rate can be adjusted with a light operation.

  However, in the case of the pilot type flow regulating device shown in FIG. 8, the pressure in the back pressure chamber 208 acts upward in the drawing, that is, in the backward direction of the pilot valve 214 with respect to the pilot valve 214 and the drive shaft 216 integrated therewith. Therefore, when the pilot valve 214 is driven by the drive shaft 216 in the valve closing direction, that is, in the forward direction, the pilot valve 214 must be moved forward against the pressure, and the operation becomes heavy accordingly. is doing.

The present invention has been devised to solve such problems.
As a prior art for the present invention, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.
The one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a cam mechanism that spans the output shaft of the actuator and the pilot valve, and converts the rotational motion of the output shaft into motion of the pilot valve in the forward / backward direction by the cam mechanism. However, in the one disclosed in Patent Document 1, the pressure in the pressure chamber acts on the pilot valve in the backward direction, and in this respect, the pilot valve is in the valve closing direction in the same manner as shown in FIG. When driving, the pressure in the back pressure chamber must be resisted and driven, and the operation becomes heavier, that is, the problem similar to the above is included, and the problem of the present invention is solved. It cannot be done.

JP-A-1-229184

  The present invention has been made for the purpose of providing a pilot-type flow control device that can be lighter in operation than the conventional one against the background described above.

Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, (a) a main valve that moves forward and backward in the approaching and separating direction with respect to the main valve seat to change the opening of the main water channel, and (b) formed behind the main valve. A back pressure chamber in which the internal pressure acts on the main valve as a pressing force in the valve closing direction; and (c) water in a primary inflow water channel in the main water channel is guided to the back pressure chamber. An inlet small hole for increasing the pressure of the pressure chamber; and (d) the back pressure chamber provided through the main valve so as to communicate with the back pressure chamber and the secondary outflow water channel in the main water channel. A pilot water channel that reduces the pressure in the back pressure chamber by draining the water into the outflow water channel, and (e) an approach and separation direction with respect to the pilot valve seat provided on the back pressure chamber side and provided on the main valve A pilot valve that moves forward and backward to change the opening of the pilot water channel, and (f) a drive shaft that drives the pilot valve, In a pilot-type flow control device that adjusts the flow rate of the main water channel by moving the main valve forward and backward following the forward and backward movement of the main valve, the entire pilot valve is submerged in the water chamber in which the pressure of the back pressure chamber acts. In the state where the drive shaft is fitted in the fitting hole of the main body body, the drive shaft is provided in a direction crossing the advancing / retreating direction of the pilot valve and across the water chamber, and the axial direction is separated In this case, the opposite walls of the water chamber are sealed with seal members, and the drive shaft rotates or moves in the axial direction across the portion between the seal portions and the pilot valve. A movement converting mechanism that converts the movement of the drive shaft to one end of the drive shaft so that one end of the drive wall passes through one wall of the both walls and protrudes to the outside, while the other end is positioned on the inner side of the other wall. To the other wall Characterized in that a through hole which communicates with the axially outer space surface.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the motion conversion mechanism is a cam mechanism.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the motion conversion mechanism is a gear mechanism.

Effects and effects of the invention

  As described above, according to the present invention, the pilot valve and the drive shaft are separated, the entire pilot valve is provided in a submerged state in the water chamber in which the pressure of the back pressure chamber acts, and the drive shaft is disposed in the forward / backward direction of the pilot valve. In order to cross the water chamber and cross the water chamber, the seal member seals the water chamber, and a motion conversion mechanism is provided across the part between the seals and the pilot valve to rotate the drive shaft. Alternatively, the movement in the axial direction is converted into the movement in the advancing / retreating direction of the pilot valve. In the present invention, since the entire pilot valve is submerged, the pressure in the back pressure chamber is reduced with respect to the pilot valve. Does not act in the backward direction, that is, it is not necessary to drive the pilot valve in the forward direction against the pressure in the back pressure chamber, and the pilot valve is driven in the forward direction with a small force. Door can be.

In addition, since the pressure in the back pressure chamber acts in the opposite direction to each of the seal portions separated in the axial direction with respect to the drive shaft, the pressure in the back pressure chamber is resistant to the drive shaft itself when the pilot valve is driven. The drive shaft itself can be operated with a small force.
As a result, according to the present invention, the pilot valve can be driven and the flow rate can be adjusted with a small force.

The drive shaft here can preferably be adapted to rotate around the axis.
The drive shaft can be oriented in a direction perpendicular to the advance / retreat direction of the pilot valve.

In the present invention, the motion conversion mechanism can be a cam mechanism (Claim 2), or the motion conversion mechanism can be a gear mechanism (Claim 3).
In this case, the gear mechanism can include a pinion gear and a rack gear.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, 10 is a pilot-type flow regulating device of the present embodiment, 12 and 14 are a primary inflow water channel and a secondary outflow water channel forming a main water channel, and 16 is provided on the main water channel. It is a main valve consisting of a diaphragm valve.

The main valve 16 includes a main valve body 18 and a rubber diaphragm film 20 held thereby.
The main valve 16 moves forward and backward in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the main valve seat 22 to change the opening of the main water channel.
Specifically, the main water passage is blocked by the main valve 16 being seated on the main valve seat 22, and the main water passage is opened by being separated upward from the main valve seat 22 in the figure.
Further, the opening degree of the main water channel is changed in accordance with the distance from the main valve seat 22 to adjust the flow rate of the water flowing through the main water channel.

A back pressure chamber 24 is provided on the upper side of the main valve 16 in the figure, that is, on the side opposite to the outflow water passage 14 with respect to the main valve 16.
The back pressure chamber 24 causes the internal pressure to act on the main valve 16 as a pressing force in the valve closing direction.
The main valve 16 is provided with an introduction small hole 26 that passes through the main valve 16 and allows the primary inflow water passage 12 and the back pressure chamber 24 to communicate with each other.
The introduction small hole 26 guides the water from the inflow water channel 12 to the back pressure chamber 24 and increases the pressure of the back pressure chamber 24.

The main valve 16 is also provided with a pilot water channel 28 as a water drain channel that passes through the main valve 16 and communicates the back pressure chamber 24 and the secondary outlet water channel 14.
The pilot water channel 28 reduces the pressure in the back pressure chamber 24 by drawing water in the back pressure chamber 24 into the outflow water channel 14.

Reference numeral 30 is a pilot valve made of a cylindrical plunger, and has a large-diameter head 32 at the top. The top surface of the head 32 is formed in a partial spherical shape.
Between the pilot valve 30 and the body 34, more specifically, between the large-diameter head 32 and the body 34 of the pilot valve 30, a return spring that urges the pilot valve 30 in the upward direction in FIG. 36 is interposed, and exerts a spring force upward on the pilot valve 30 in the figure.

The pilot valve 30 moves back and forth in the vertical direction in the drawing, that is, in the vertical direction (axial direction) in the drawing with respect to the pilot valve seat 38 (see FIG. 2B) provided in the main valve 16. Change the opening.
Specifically, the pilot water passage 28 is shut off when the pilot valve 30 is seated on the pilot valve seat 38, and the pilot water passage 28 is opened when the pilot valve 30 is separated upward from the pilot valve seat 38 in the figure.
Further, the opening degree of the pilot water passage 28 is changed in accordance with the distance of the pilot valve 30 from the pilot valve seat 38.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a communication chamber provided in communication with the back pressure chamber 24 via a communication passage 42 around the pilot valve 30. In this embodiment, the back pressure chamber 24, the communication passage 42, and the communication chamber 40 are connected to the back pressure chamber 24. A water chamber 44 having the same pressure as the pressure chamber 24 is configured.
The pilot valve 30 is provided in a submerged state inside the water chamber 44. Therefore, the pilot valve 30 can move back and forth in the vertical direction in the figure without receiving resistance due to the pressure of the back pressure chamber 24. .

Reference numeral 46 denotes a drive shaft which is oriented sideways in the drawing in a direction orthogonal to the advancing / retreating direction of the pilot valve 30 and is assembled to the body 34 in a state of crossing the communication chamber 40.
The drive shaft 46 is rotatably fitted in fitting holes 48-1 and 48-2 formed in the body 34 at the tip end portion and the intermediate portion with one end side thereof, that is, the left end side in the figure protruding from the body 34. ing.

The drive shaft 46 has annular grooves formed at the tip and intermediate portions thereof, and O-rings 50-1 and 50-2 (see FIG. 3) having elasticity as seal rings are fitted therein. These O-rings 50-1 and 50-2 are watertightly sealed between the drive shaft 46 and the communication chamber 40, i.e., the water chamber 44, by both opposing walls of the water chamber 44.
As indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3, the pressure in the water chamber 44 acts on the right side in the drawing for the O-ring 50-1 at the tip, and the water chamber for the O-ring 50-2 in the middle. The pressure of 44 acts to the left in the figure.
The pressures acting in the opposite directions cancel each other, so that the pressure of the water chamber 44 against the drive shaft 46 does not act in the axial direction.

The drive shaft 46 is provided with a flange portion 52 projecting in the radial direction, and the drive shaft 46 is prevented from being pulled out in the left direction in the drawing by the flange portion 52.
A handle (not shown) is assembled in a unitary rotation state at a portion protruding to the left side of the drive shaft 46, and a rotational operation force is applied to the drive shaft 46 via the handle.

In this embodiment, a cam mechanism (motion conversion mechanism) 53 is provided across the portion of the drive shaft 46 between the O-rings 50-1 and 50-2 and the pilot valve 30.
Specifically, an eccentric cam 54 is provided in an integrally rotated state at a portion between the tip portion and the intermediate portion of the drive shaft 46, that is, a portion between the O-rings 50-1 and 50-2 (FIG. 2). 3), the outer peripheral surface of the eccentric cam 54 is brought into contact with the upper end of the pilot valve 30.
The eccentric cam 54 rotates around the axis of the drive shaft 46 as the drive shaft 46 rotates, and in accordance with this, moves the pilot valve 30 forward in the drawing, that is, in the valve closing direction.
The upward movement of the pilot valve 30 in the drawing, that is, the backward movement, is performed by the return spring 36 pushing the pilot valve 30 upward in the drawing as the eccentric cam 54 rotates.

In this embodiment, the main valve 16 is seated on the main valve seat 22, and the pilot valve 30 is seated on the pilot valve seat 38, ie, the main valve 16 is closed in the state shown in FIG. When the shaft 46 is rotated, the eccentric cam 54 rotates integrally with the shaft 46, and the position of the lower end of the eccentric cam 54 in the drawing is gradually displaced upward (see FIG. 2B).
Along with this, the pilot valve 30 moves backward by the urging force of the return spring 36.

On the other hand, the eccentric cam 54 rotates integrally with the drive shaft 46 and gradually moves the position of the lower end thereof downward, so that the pilot valve 30 is moved forward in the drawing, that is, in the valve closing direction, and is eccentric. When the lower end position of the cam 54 is located at the lowest position, the state shown in FIG. 1 is obtained, and the pilot valve 30 is closed.
Thus, when the pilot valve 30 moves forward in the figure by a certain amount in accordance with the rotational movement of the drive shaft 46, that is, the rotational movement of the eccentric cam 54, from the closed state shown in FIG. A gap is formed between the seat 38 (see FIG. 4I).

Then, the water in the back pressure chamber 24 is drawn out to the outflow water channel 14 through the pilot water channel 28 through the gap, and the pressure in the back pressure chamber 24 decreases.
Here, when the pressure of the inflow water channel 12 overcomes the pressure of the back pressure chamber 24, the main valve 16 is raised upward, that is, moved backward as shown in FIG. The main valve 16 stops at a position where the pressure in the pressure chamber 24 and the pressure in the inflow water channel 12 are just balanced.
At this time, a gap is formed between the main valve 16 and the main valve seat 22, and water flows from the inflow water channel 12 to the outflow water channel 14 through the gap.

  When the pilot valve 30 further moves upward in the drawing as shown in FIG. 4 (III) from this state, the main valve 16 is made to balance the pressure of the back pressure chamber 24 and the pressure of the inflow water passage 12. Following the reverse movement of the pilot valve 30, the reverse movement is made upward in the figure, and the flow rate of water is increased by further increasing the opening in the main water channel.

On the other hand, when the drive shaft 46 is rotated in the opposite direction, the pilot valve 30 moves forward downward in the drawing as shown in FIG. The clearance with the pilot valve seat 38 is reduced.
As a result, the pressure in the back pressure chamber 24 increases and overcomes the pressure in the inflow water channel 12, so that the main valve 16 balances the pressure downward as shown in FIG. 5 (II). The clearance between the main valve seat 22 and the main valve seat 22 is reduced. That is, the flow rate of water from the inflow water channel 12 to the outflow water channel 14 is decreased.

When the position of the lower end of the eccentric cam 54 is further displaced downward from this state, the pilot valve 30 moves forward in the drawing downward as shown in FIG. 5 (III), and the main valve 16 follows the movement. It moves forward downward in the figure to further reduce the water flow rate.
The pilot valve 30 is seated on a pilot valve seat 38 formed on the main valve 16, and the main valve 16 is seated on the main valve seat 22, whereby the inflow water passage 12 and the outflow water passage 14 are blocked. Thus, the flow of water from the inflow water channel 12 to the outflow water channel 14 stops here (state shown in FIG. 1).

  4 and 5, in this embodiment, the valve is completely closed between the pilot valve 30 and the main valve 16, more specifically between the pilot valve seat 38 (the state shown in FIG. 1). Always leave a gap between them except. Then, the main valve 16 moves forward and backward by changing the gap large or small, and adjusts the flow rate of water in the main water channel.

  According to the pilot flow regulating device 10 of the present embodiment as described above, since the entire pilot valve 30 is submerged, the pressure of the back pressure chamber 24 acts on the pilot valve 30 in the backward direction. The pilot valve 30 may not be driven in the forward direction against the pressure in the back pressure chamber 24. Accordingly, the pilot valve 30 can be driven in the forward direction with a small force.

Further, since the pressure of the back pressure chamber 24 works in the opposite directions to the O-rings 50-1 and 50-2 separated in the axial direction with respect to the drive shaft 46, the drive shaft is driven when the pilot valve 30 is driven. The pressure in the back pressure chamber 24 does not act as a resistance against 46 itself, and the operation of the drive shaft 46 itself can be performed with a small force.
As a result, according to the present embodiment, the pilot valve 30 can be driven and the flow rate can be adjusted with a slight force.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, the water chamber 44 is constituted by the back pressure chamber 24 alone, and a pilot valve 56 is provided in a submerged state.
The pilot valve 56 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the pilot valve 56 is slidably guided in a vertical direction by a guide surface 60 of a semicircular guide 58 provided in the back pressure chamber 24. Yes.

  The drive shaft 46 is disposed so as to cross the back pressure chamber 24 or the water chamber 44 and in a direction perpendicular to the advancing / retreating direction of the pilot valve 56, and an O-ring 50-1 at the tip and an O-ring at the middle. A gear mechanism 61 as a motion conversion mechanism is provided across the region between the valve 50-2 and the pilot valve 56.

The gear mechanism 61 includes a pinion gear 62 provided on the drive shaft 46 so as to be integrally rotated, and a rack gear 64 provided on the pilot valve 56.
The pinion gear 62 and the rack gear 64 are meshed with each other, and the pilot valve 56 is driven in the up and down direction, that is, in the forward and backward direction in FIG. It has come to be.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the pilot valve 56 is driven both in the forward direction and in the backward direction by the rotation of the pinion gear 62 in both forward and reverse directions. Therefore, in this embodiment, the return spring 36 can be omitted.

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the present invention.
The example of FIG. 7A is an example in which the cam mechanism 53 is configured by moving the drive shaft 46 forward and backward in the axial direction and integrally providing a cam 68 having a cam surface 66 on the drive shaft 46. is there.
On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 7B, the drive shaft 46 is rotated, and a crank portion 70 is provided on the drive shaft 46, and the crank portion 70 and the pilot valve 72 are connected by a connecting member 74. In this example, the pilot valve 72 is moved back and forth in the vertical direction in the figure by the rotational movement of the drive shaft 46.
Here, the connecting member 74 has an upper end portion and a lower end portion connected to the crank portion 70 and the pilot valve 72 so as to be rotatable relative to each other.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example, and the present invention can be configured in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is sectional drawing which shows the pilot type flow regulating apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of the pilot type flow control apparatus. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of main parts different from FIG. 2. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the same pilot type flow control apparatus. FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram following FIG. 4. It is sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of this invention. It is a comparative example figure which shows the comparative example with respect to the pilot type flow regulating apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pilot type flow control apparatus 12 Inflow water channel 14 Outflow water channel 16 Main valve 22 Main valve seat 24 Back pressure chamber 26 Introduction small hole 28 Pilot water channel 30 Pilot valve 38 Pilot valve seat 44 Water chamber 46 Drive shaft 50-1, 50- 2 O-ring 53 Cam mechanism 61 Gear mechanism

Claims (3)

(A) a main valve that moves forward and backward in the direction of approaching and separating from the main valve seat to change the opening of the main waterway
(B) a back pressure chamber formed behind the main valve and acting on the main valve as a pressing force in the valve closing direction;
(C) an introduction small hole for guiding the water in the primary inflow water channel in the main water channel to the back pressure chamber to increase the pressure in the back pressure chamber;
(D) The back pressure chamber is provided through the main valve so as to communicate with the secondary outflow water channel in the main water channel, and water in the back pressure chamber is drawn into the outflow water channel to Pilot waterways to reduce chamber pressure and
(E) a pilot valve that is provided on the back pressure chamber side and moves forward and backward in a direction of approaching and separating from a pilot valve seat provided on the main valve, thereby changing an opening degree of the pilot water channel;
(F) a pilot-type flow control device that includes a drive shaft that drives the pilot valve, and that adjusts the flow rate of the main water channel by moving the main valve forward and backward following the forward and backward movement of the pilot valve. The entire valve is submerged in the water chamber in which the pressure of the back pressure chamber acts, and the drive shaft is fitted in the fitting hole of the main body body in a direction crossing the advancing / retreating direction of the pilot valve. And is provided across the water chamber, and is sealed with seal members on opposite walls of the water chamber at spaced apart locations in the axial direction, and extends across the portion between the seal portions and the pilot valve. A motion conversion mechanism for converting rotation of the drive shaft or axial motion into the forward and backward motion of the pilot valve ;
The drive shaft has one end side protruding through one wall of the both walls and protruding to the outside, while the other end side tip surface is positioned inside the other wall, A pilot-type flow control device having a through hole communicating with an outer space in the axial direction .   The pilot-type flow control device according to claim 1, wherein the motion conversion mechanism is a cam mechanism.   The pilot-type flow control device according to claim 1, wherein the motion conversion mechanism is a gear mechanism.

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