JP6739230B2 - Flow path switching valve - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a flow path switching valve, for example, a flow path switching valve such as an electric valve used in a heat pump type cooling and heating system.

As a flow passage switching valve of this type, conventionally, a pilot solenoid valve using a solenoid coil has been used to move a slide valve element within a valve body of a refrigerant flow passage switching six-way valve or eight-way valve, and is provided on a valve seat. It is known that the communication state of the ports, that is, the flow direction (flow path) of the refrigerant is switched to switch between the cooling operation (defrosting operation) and the heating operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

JP-A-8-170864

By the way, in the above conventional flow path switching valve, by controlling the energization state of the solenoid coil of the pilot solenoid valve, introduction of high pressure into the pressure conversion chambers formed on both sides of the piston provided in the valve body The withdrawal is controlled so that the slide valve body fixed to the piston is moved within the valve body. Therefore, it is necessary to separately prepare a pilot solenoid valve for driving the slide valve body at the time of switching the flow path, which causes problems such as a complicated structure and difficulty in downsizing. Also, when using a solenoid valve as the pilot valve, the opening area of both ports changes abruptly at the time of switching, and high-pressure refrigerant flows into the low-pressure side port (conduit) all at once, causing a sudden change in the heat pump cooling and heating system. There is also a problem that various pressure fluctuations occur and a loud noise (switching noise) is generated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable efficient switching of the flow direction (flow path) of a fluid with a relatively simple configuration. Another object of the present invention is to provide a flow path switching valve that can contribute to further miniaturization, large capacity, power saving, and the like.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a flow path switching valve according to the present invention has a tubular inner housing having a valve chamber and an outer housing of the inner housing so as to form a communication space outside the inner housing. An outer housing that is present, a valve shaft that is vertically movable in the valve chamber, and at least two valve elements that are inscribed in the inner housing are axially separated from each other; An elevator drive unit for vertically moving the valve shaft in the chamber in the axial direction, wherein the elevator drive unit is rotatably arranged around a rotation axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction; A stepping motor having a stator for rotating the rotor; a rotary shaft that rotates integrally with the rotor; and a motion conversion mechanism that converts rotary motion of the rotary shaft into vertical motion of the valve shaft. At the same time, at least two inner ports that open to the valve chamber are opened in the inner housing so as to be separated from each other in the axial direction, and at least one communication port that always communicates the valve chamber and the communication space is opened. The outer housing is provided with an outer port that is always in communication with the communication space, and the upper back pressure chamber defined above the at least two valve bodies in the valve chamber and the outer chamber in the valve chamber. The lower back pressure chamber defined below the at least two valve bodies is always communicated with the lower back pressure chamber, and the at least two valve bodies are inscribed in the inner housing by the lifting drive unit. By moving the valve shaft up and down in the valve chamber, the communication state between the at least two inner ports and the outer port is switched, and when the valve shaft is in a predetermined position, the outer side It is characterized in that the port communicates with both the uppermost inner port and the lowermost inner port of the at least two inner ports . The flow path switching valve according to the present invention includes a tubular inner housing having a valve chamber, and an outer housing arranged outside the inner housing to form a communication space outside the inner housing, A valve shaft provided in the valve chamber such that the valve shaft is vertically movable and at least two valve bodies inscribed in the inner housing are axially separated from each other, and the valve shaft is disposed in the valve chamber. An elevating and lowering drive unit for elevating and lowering in the axial direction, the elevating and lowering drive unit for rotating the rotor and a rotor rotatably arranged around a rotation axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The inner housing includes a stepping motor having a stator, a rotary shaft that is rotated integrally with the rotor, and a motion conversion mechanism that converts the rotary motion of the rotary shaft into a vertical motion of the valve shaft. , At least two inner ports open to the valve chamber are spaced apart in the axial direction and are opened, and at least one communication port that always communicates the valve chamber and the communication space is opened to the outer housing. Has an outer port that is in constant communication with the communication space, and is defined below the at least two valve elements in the valve chamber and the upper back pressure chamber defined above the at least two valve elements in the valve chamber. Is always communicated with a lower back pressure chamber defined on the side, and in the state where the at least two valve bodies are inscribed in the inner housing, the elevating drive unit causes the valve shaft in the valve chamber. By moving up and down, the communication state between the at least two inner ports and the outer port can be switched, and the upper back pressure chamber and the lower back pressure chamber are located in the valve shaft. It is characterized in that they are always communicated with each other through a communication passage provided. The flow path switching valve according to the present invention includes a tubular inner housing having a valve chamber, and an outer housing arranged outside the inner housing to form a communication space outside the inner housing, A valve shaft provided in the valve chamber such that the valve shaft is vertically movable and at least two valve bodies inscribed in the inner housing are axially separated from each other, and the valve shaft is disposed in the valve chamber. An elevating and lowering drive unit for elevating and lowering in the axial direction, the elevating and lowering drive unit for rotating the rotor and a rotor rotatably arranged around a rotation axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The inner housing includes a stepping motor having a stator, a rotary shaft that is rotated integrally with the rotor, and a motion conversion mechanism that converts the rotary motion of the rotary shaft into a vertical motion of the valve shaft. , At least two inner ports open to the valve chamber are spaced apart in the axial direction and are opened, and at least one communication port that always communicates the valve chamber and the communication space is opened to the outer housing. Has an outer port that is in constant communication with the communication space, and is defined below the at least two valve elements in the valve chamber and the upper back pressure chamber defined above the at least two valve elements in the valve chamber. Is always communicated with a lower back pressure chamber defined on the side, and in the state where the at least two valve bodies are inscribed in the inner housing, the elevating drive unit causes the valve shaft in the valve chamber. By moving up and down, the communication state between the at least two inner ports and the outer port can be switched, and a stopper portion that restricts the lowering of the valve shaft is provided in the outer housing or the inner housing. A lid-shaped member having is attached, and the lid-shaped member always has the upper back pressure chamber and the lower back pressure chamber when the valve shaft abuts against the stopper portion and is stopped. It is characterized in that a vertical hole and a horizontal hole are provided to communicate with a communication passage provided in the valve shaft so as to communicate with each other.

In a preferred aspect, the motion conversion mechanism includes drive teeth formed on the outer circumference of the rotary shaft and driven teeth formed on the valve shaft and meshing with the drive teeth.

In another preferred aspect, the rotation shaft is configured to rotate around the rotation axis while being prevented from moving in the rotation axis direction.

In another preferred aspect, the stepping motor is laterally attached to a side of a base member attached to an end opening of the outer housing.

In a further preferred aspect, a lateral hole into which the rotary shaft is inserted and a vertical hole into which the valve shaft is inserted are provided inside the base member.

In another preferred aspect, the communication space is formed on the outer circumference of the inner housing, or is formed on a part of the outer circumference of the inner housing.

In another preferred embodiment, a D-cut surface is provided on the outer periphery of the inner housing, and the D-cut surface and the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing form the communication space.

In another preferred aspect, the at least two inner ports and the outer port are opened on the opposite side or the same side when viewed in the axial direction.

In another preferred aspect, the communication port is above the at least two inner ports and below the at least two inner ports, and the uppermost valve body and the lowermost valve of the at least two valve bodies. It is opened with the same space as the body.

In another preferred aspect, the outer port communicates with both the uppermost inner port and the lowermost inner port of the at least two inner ports when the valve stem is in position. ..

In another preferred aspect, the outer port is opened in the communication space so as to be in constant communication with the communication space, or is opened at the same height as the communication port in the inner housing. The communication space is always communicated with through the opening.

In another preferred aspect, the upper back pressure chamber and the lower back pressure chamber are always communicated with each other through the communication space.

In another preferred aspect, a seal member is mounted on the outer periphery of the at least two valve bodies, and a packing having a hardness higher than that of the seal member is mounted on the outer side of the seal member.

In another preferred aspect, a concave surface portion is provided in a portion of the inner circumference of the inner housing where the at least two inner ports and the at least one communication port are formed.

In a further preferred aspect, a tapered surface portion is provided on the upper surface and/or the lower surface of the concave surface portion.

In another preferred aspect, the valve shaft is configured to include a plurality of connecting shaft structures each provided with one valve body.

According to the flow path switching valve of the present invention, the elevating drive unit moves the valve shaft up and down in the valve chamber in a state where at least two valve elements provided on the valve shaft are inscribed in the inner housing. Since the communication state (flow direction) between at least two inner ports provided and the outer port provided on the outer housing is switched, the flow direction (flow passage) of the fluid can be efficiently changed with a relatively simple configuration. The switching can be performed, and the upper back pressure chamber defined above the at least two valve bodies and the lower back pressure chamber defined below the at least two valve bodies are always in communication with each other. Therefore, the load acting on the valve body at the time of switching the flow path can be reduced as much as possible to reduce the drive torque of the valve body, thereby further reducing the size, increasing the capacity, and saving power. Can also

Further, an elevating/lowering drive unit for elevating/lowering the valve shaft includes a stepping motor having a rotor rotatably arranged around a rotation axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and a stator for rotating the rotor, Since it has a rotary shaft that is rotated integrally with the rotor and a motion conversion mechanism that converts the rotary motion of the rotary shaft into a vertical motion of the valve shaft, for example, from heating operation to defrosting operation and defrosting operation. The pressure difference between the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side can be reduced when switching from the heating mode to the heating mode, so noise can be effectively reduced and the stepping motor that constitutes the lifting drive unit is laid sideways on the side of the valve body. (Sideways), the overall length of the flow path switching valve can be shortened, the overall configuration can be simplified, and the time required for switching the communication state (flow path) can be shortened.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a first flow state (valve shaft: lowered position) of the first embodiment of the flow path switching valve according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a second flow state (valve shaft: raised position) of the flow path switching valve shown in FIG. 1. The perspective view which shows the lid-shaped member of the flow-path switching valve shown by FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the 1st flow state (valve axis: descending position) of 2nd Embodiment of the flow-path switching valve which concerns on this invention. FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a second flow state (valve body: raised position) of the flow path switching valve shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a modified form (1) of the flow path switching valve of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a modified form (No. 2) of the flow path switching valve of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line U-U of (A). The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the 1st flow state (valve axis: descending position) of 3rd Embodiment of the flow-path switching valve which concerns on this invention. FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a second flow state (valve shaft: raised position) of the flow path switching valve shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 8. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the 1st flow state (valve axis: descending position) of 4th Embodiment of the flow-path switching valve which concerns on this invention. FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a second flow state (valve shaft: raised position) of the flow path switching valve shown in FIG. 11. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the 1st flow state (valve axis: descending position) of 5th Embodiment of the flow-path switching valve which concerns on this invention. FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a second flow state (valve shaft: raised position) of the flow path switching valve shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of an essential part showing an enlarged view of a state where the valve body in the flow path switching valve shown in FIG. 13 passes over the inner port when switching the flow path. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the 1st flow state (valve axis: descending position) of 6th Embodiment of the flow-path switching valve which concerns on this invention. FIG. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the second flow state (valve shaft: raised position) of the flow path switching valve shown in FIG. 16. It is a figure which shows the 1st flow state (valve axis: descending position) of 7th Embodiment of the flow-path switching valve which concerns on this invention, (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (B) is X- of (A). A sectional view taken along the arrow X, and a sectional view taken along the line YY of (A). It is a figure which shows the 2nd flow state (valve axis: rising position) of the flow-path switching valve shown in FIG. 18, (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of (A). Fig. It is a figure which shows the 1st flow state (valve axis: descending position) of 8th Embodiment of the flow-path switching valve which concerns on this invention, (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (B) is X- of (A). X sectional view. It is a figure which shows the 2nd flow state (valve axis: rising position) of the flow-path switching valve shown in FIG. 20, (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of (A). Fig. It is a figure which shows the 3rd flow state (valve axis: intermediate position) of the flow-path switching valve shown in FIG. 20, (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of (A). Fig.

Embodiments of a flow path switching valve according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
1 and 2 are vertical cross-sectional views showing a first embodiment of a flow path switching valve according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a first flow state (valve shaft: lowered position), and FIG. The flow state (valve shaft: raised position) is shown.

In this specification, the description of the position, direction such as up and down, left and right, and front and back is added for convenience according to the drawings in order to avoid complicated description, and the position and direction in the actual use state. Does not necessarily mean.

Further, in each drawing, the gaps formed between the members and the separation distances between the members are larger than the dimensions of the respective constituent members for the sake of easy understanding of the invention and convenience of drawing. Or it may be drawn small.

The flow path switching valve 1 of the present embodiment is, for example, an electric multi-way switching valve (in the first embodiment, a four-way switching valve in the first embodiment) that switches the flow direction (flow path) of a fluid (refrigerant) to multiple directions in a heat pump type cooling and heating system or the like. ).

The flow path switching valve 1 of the illustrated embodiment is mainly composed of a valve body 10 having an outer housing 9B and an inner housing 9A, which are coaxially arranged and made of a sheet metal tubular base body (having a constant inner diameter). A fixed can 58, a support member 19 fixedly arranged on the valve body 10 in an internal space defined by the valve body 10 and the can 58, and a support member 19 supported by the support member 19 so as to be vertically movable in the internal space. Valve shaft 20 having a valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23 from the upper side), and a stepping motor mounted above the valve body 10 for moving the valve shaft 20 up and down. (Elevation drive unit) 50.

A lid-shaped member 11 made of, for example, a metal is attached to the lower opening of the outer housing 9B of the valve body 10 in an airtight manner by welding, caulking, brazing or the like. More specifically, the lid-shaped member 11 has a stepped short columnar shape, and can be seen from FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 1 and FIG. It has a diameter fitting portion 11b and a small diameter protruding portion 11a. The lid-shaped member 11 is in a state in which the medium-diameter fitting portion 11b is airtightly fitted in the lower opening of the inner housing 9A (in other words, the lower opening of the inner housing 9A is airtight in the medium-diameter fitting portion 11b. The lower end of the outer housing 9B is joined by welding or the like to the collar-like portion 11d provided on the lower end of the outer periphery of the large-diameter joint 11c, so that a cylindrical space is formed inside the inner housing 9A. Is defined by a valve chamber 7A, and a cylindrical communication space 8A is defined between the inner housing 9A and the outer housing 9B. Further, the small-diameter protruding portion 11a communicates with the through hole 29a of the connecting shaft 29 of the valve shaft 20 described later (when the valve shaft 20 is in the lowered position) at the center thereof, and is slightly closer to the through hole 29a. A large-diameter vertical hole 11v is formed and a plurality of (four in the illustrated example, 90° angular intervals are provided) horizontal holes 11u are formed on the side portion thereof. Further, here, the upper end of the small-diameter protruding portion 11a impinges on the third valve body 23 to limit the downward movement (lowering) of the valve shaft 20 (in other words, the lowering position of the valve shaft 20) when switching the flow path. It defines a stopper portion 11s.

The inner housing 9A, which is arranged inside the outer housing 9B, is formed to be slightly thicker than the outer housing 9B. Near the center of the side portion of the inner housing 9A, there are three inner sides arranged in the axis O direction (longitudinal direction). The ports p1, p2, p3 are opened, and the communication port p11 that communicates the valve chamber 7A and the communication space 8A is opened above the upper inner port p1 and below the lower inner port p3. A communication port p12, which connects the valve chamber 7A and the communication space 8A, is opened. More specifically, the communication port p11 is positioned above the first valve body 21 when the valve shaft 20 is in the lowered position and below the first valve body 21 when the valve shaft 20 is in the raised position. And the communication port p12 is located above the third valve body 23 when the valve shaft 20 is in the lowered position and below the third valve body 23 when the valve shaft 20 is in the raised position. While being formed, the communication port p11 and the communication port p12 are opened at the same intervals as the interval between the first valve body 21 and the third valve body 23 (details will be described later).

A lateral outer port p10 that opens into the communication space 8A is formed near the center of the side portion of the outer housing 9B, and the outer port p10 is in constant communication with the communication space 8A.

In this example, when viewed in a plan view (that is, the direction of the axis O), the three inner ports p1, p2, and p3 that are provided apart from each other in the direction of the axis O are formed at the same position, and the two communication ports are connected. The ports p11, p12 are formed at the same position, and are formed on the opposite side (with an angular interval of 180°) from the three inner ports p1, p2, p3 and the two communication ports p11, p12. The outer port p10 is formed on the side opposite to the inner ports p1, p2, p3 described above (in other words, on the same side as the two communication ports p11, p12) when viewed in a plan view.

To each of the three inner ports p1, p2, p3, conduit fittings #1, #2, #3 are laterally attached (by penetrating the outer housing 9B) by brazing or the like, and at the outer port p10, The conduit joint #10 is attached sideways by brazing or the like.

A stepped cylindrical base 13 is attached to the upper opening of the outer housing 9B of the valve body 10, and the lower surface of the cylindrical base 13 forms the ceiling surface of the communication space 8A. The lower end of a cylindrical can 58 with a ceiling is joined to the upper end of the cylindrical base 13 by welding or the like.

The support member 19 has a cylindrical holding member 14 with a bottom wall 14c and a bearing member 15 with an internal thread 15i, and the cylindrical holding member 14 is fixed to the inside of the cylindrical base 13 by press fitting or the like to hold the cylindrical shape. A cylindrical bearing member 15 having an internal thread 15i screwed to the lower half of the inner circumference is fixed to the upper portion of the member 14 by caulking or the like. The bottom wall 14c of the tubular holding member 14 is airtightly fitted (internally fitted) to the upper opening of the inner housing 9A, and a cylindrical pull-up spring receiver 28 described later is slidably inserted therein. The tubular fitting portion 14b is provided so as to protrude downward. Further, the outer periphery of the bearing member 15 is formed with steps, and a spring chamber 14a is defined between the cylindrical holding member 14 and the bearing member 15, and the valve shaft 20 is attached to the spring chamber 14a above. A biasing compression coil spring 25 is stored. A portion of the inner periphery of the bearing member 15 above the female screw 15i is a fitting insertion hole 15a into which a lower base portion of an output shaft 46 of the reduction gear mechanism 40 described later is fitted.

On the other hand, the stepping motor 50 is disposed inside a can 58 and a stator 55 including a yoke 51, a bobbin 52, a coil 53, a resin mold cover 54, and the like so as to be rotatable with respect to the can 58. And a rotor 57 fixed to the inside of the upper part. The stator 55 is externally fitted and fixed to the can 58. Further, on the inner peripheral side of the rotor 57, the sun gear 41 integrally formed with the rotor support member 56 and the fixed ring gear 47 fixed to the upper end of the tubular body 43 fixed to the upper portion of the tubular holding member 14. , A planetary gear 42 arranged between the sun gear 41 and the fixed ring gear 47 and meshing with each other, a carrier 44 rotatably supporting the planetary gear 42, and a bottomed ring shape meshing with the planetary gear 42 from the outside. The mysterious planetary gear type speed reduction mechanism 40 including the output gear 45, the output shaft 46 and the like, the upper fitting portion of which is fixed to the hole formed in the bottom portion of the output gear 45 by press fitting or the like. Here, the number of teeth of the fixed ring gear 47 is set to be slightly different from the number of teeth of the output gear 45.

A hole is formed in the center of the upper fitting portion of the output shaft 46, and the lower portion of the support shaft 49, which passes through the sun gear 41 (rotor support member 56) and the center of the carrier 44, is inserted through the hole. .. The upper portion of the support shaft 49 has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the can 58, and is formed in a hole formed in the center of a support member 48 that is inscribed in the can 58 above the rotor support member 56. It has been inserted. The rotor 57 itself is prevented from moving up and down inside the can 58 by the support member 48 and the like, and the positional relationship with the stator 55 externally fitted and fixed to the can 58 is always maintained constant.

The lower base portion of the output shaft 46 of the reduction mechanism 40 is rotatably fitted in a fitting hole 15a formed in the upper portion of the bearing member 15 with the female screw 15i, and the center of the lower base portion of the output shaft 46 is the same. A vertically long slit-shaped fitting portion 46a extending in the lateral direction is formed so as to pass therethrough. A plate-shaped portion 17c is projectingly provided at the upper end of the rotary lifting shaft 17 having a male screw 17a screwed to the female screw 15i screwed on the inner periphery of the bearing member 15, and the plate-shaped portion 17c has a vertically elongated slit shape. It is slidably fitted in the fitting portion 46a. When the output shaft 46 rotates according to the rotation of the rotor 57, the rotation of the output shaft 46 is transmitted to the rotary elevating shaft 17, and the female screw 15i of the bearing member 15 and the male screw 17a of the rotary elevating shaft 17 are screw-fed to rotate the rotary elevating shaft 17. Moves up and down while rotating.

Below the rotary lifting shaft 17, a valve shaft 20 is arranged along the axis O (up and down direction) to which the downward thrust of the rotary lifting shaft 17 is transmitted via the ball 18 and the ball seat 16. ..

Here, as described above, the compression coil spring 25 housed in the spring chamber 14a above the bottom wall 14c of the tubular holding member 14 is arranged with its lower end in contact with the bottom wall 14c. In order to transmit the urging force (pulling force) of the compression coil spring 25 to the valve shaft 20, a cylindrical pulling spring receiving body 28 having upper and lower flange-shaped hooking portions is provided. The pull-up spring receiver 28 is slidably fitted on the bearing member 15 (the lower small diameter portion thereof) and slides on the tubular fitting portion 14b extending downward from the bottom wall 14c of the tubular holding member 14. The upper hooking portion is placed on the upper portion of the compression coil spring 25, and the lower hooking portion is hooked on the valve shaft 20 (the lower end step surface of the large diameter upper portion 27a of the thrust transmission shaft 27). Be stopped. That is, the pull-up spring receiver 28 is guided by the bearing member 15 (the lower small diameter portion thereof) and the tubular fitting portion 14b of the tubular holding member 14 to move in the direction of the axis O (up and down direction). In addition, the cylindrical holding member 14 is formed with a communication hole 14d that connects the spring chamber 14a and the inside of the can 58.

The valve shaft 20 is basically a stepped cylindrical thrust transmission shaft 27 connected to the rotary lift shaft 17 via a ball 18 and a ball seat 16, and the thrust transmission shaft 27 (the lower portion 27c of the small diameter thereof). And a synthetic resin cylindrical connecting shaft 29 that are connected to each other. The connecting shaft 29 has three short columnar valve bodies (the first valve body 21 and the second valve 2 that are spaced apart in the direction of the axis O). The body 22 and the third valve body 23) are integrally formed.

The thrust transmission shaft 27 includes, from the upper side, a large diameter upper portion 27a into which the ball seat 16 is fitted on the inner periphery, an intermediate body portion 27b inserted into a hook portion formed below the pull-up spring receiver 28, and a connecting shaft. It is composed of a small diameter lower portion 27c having a diameter smaller than that of the intermediate body portion 27b which is fitted into a through hole 29a provided in the center of the 29 (along the axis O) and fixed by press fitting, brazing or the like. A vertical through hole 27d that constitutes an upper portion of the communication passage 32 provided in the valve shaft 20 and a plurality of lateral holes 27e that open to an upper back pressure chamber 30 described later are formed. The upper end opening of the through hole 27d is closed by the ball seat 16.

The connecting shaft 29 is arranged along the vertical direction (axis O direction), and each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23) has an inner diameter of the inner housing 9A. Of the three inner ports p1 to p3 opened in the inner housing 9A, the adjacent ports p1 to p2 and p2 to p3 are communicated with each other. It is arranged on the connecting shaft 29 so as to define a space having such a size. Further, as described above, the first valve body 21 is positioned below the communication port p11 when the valve shaft 20 is in the lowered position and above the communication port p11 when the valve shaft 20 is in the raised position. And the third valve body 23 is located below the communication port p12 when the valve shaft 20 is in the lowered position and above the communication port p12 when the valve shaft 20 is in the raised position. Is arranged on the connecting shaft 29.

In this example, the first valve body 21 is formed at the upper end of the connecting shaft 29, the third valve body 23 is formed at the lower end thereof, and the second valve body 22 is formed at the upper and lower centers thereof. The space formed between 21 and the 2nd valve body 22 and the space formed between the 2nd valve body 22 and the 2nd valve body 23 are designed substantially the same.

In addition, in the annular groove formed on the outer periphery of each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23), a sliding surface gap between each valve body and the inner housing 9A is formed. The seal members 21A, 22A, 23A such as O-rings are mounted to seal the seals, and the outer sides of the seal members 21A, 22A, 23A are reduced in order to reduce the sliding resistance of each valve body with respect to the inner housing 9A. Ring-shaped packings (also referred to as cap seals) 21B, 22B, and 23B made of PTFE (Teflon (registered trademark)) or the like are mounted on the.

Then, by the lateral hole 27e and the through hole 27d of the thrust transmission shaft 27 and the through hole 29a of the connecting shaft 29, the push-down force acting on the valve shaft 20 and the push-up force acting on the valve shaft 20 are balanced (the differential pressure is canceled). In order to do so, an upper back pressure chamber 30 defined above the first valve body 21 in the valve chamber 7A and a lower back pressure chamber 31 defined below the third valve body 23 in the valve chamber 7A are provided. A communication passage 32 that is in constant communication is formed.

In the flow path switching valve 1 having such a configuration, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven, the rotary lifting shaft 17 is lifted while rotating, but the ball 18 is interposed between the rotary lifting shaft 17 and the valve shaft 20. By doing so, only the downward thrust force is transmitted from the rotary elevating shaft 17 to the valve shaft 20 (the rotational force is not transmitted), and the rotary elevating shaft 17 and the valve shaft 20 integrally move up and down in the axis O direction. .. Here, each valve body (the first valve body 21, the second valve body 22, the third valve body 23) provided on the valve shaft 20 is brought into contact with (the inner circumference of) the inner housing 9A, By moving the valve shaft 20 up and down in the valve chamber 7A with each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23) inscribed in the inner housing 9A, three The communication state (flow direction, flow path) between the inner ports p1, p2, p3 and the outer port p10 is switched.

That is, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven in one direction, the rotation of the rotor 57 is decelerated and transmitted to the rotary lift shaft 17 via the output shaft 46 of the reduction mechanism 40, and the internal thread 15i of the bearing member 15 is transmitted. For example, the rotary lifting shaft 17 is lowered while being rotated by the male screw 17a of the rotary lifting shaft 17 being rotated, and the valve shaft 20 is pushed down by the thrust of the rotary lifting shaft 17 against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 25 to the lowered position. (Here, the position where the third valve body 23 provided at the lower end of the valve shaft 20 abuts against the stopper portion 11s of the lid-shaped member 11 and is stopped) is taken. In this lowered position, the first valve body 21 is located between the communication port p11 and the inner port p1, the second valve body 22 is located between the inner port p2 and the inner port p3, and the third valve body 23 is located. Is located below the communication port p12, the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22 is located directly beside the inner port p1 and the inner port p2, and the second valve body 22 and the third valve body 22 are connected to each other. Since the space between the valve bodies 23 is located between the inner port p3 and the communication port p12, the inner port p1 and the inner port p2 are disposed through the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22. The inner port p3 and the outer port p10 communicate with each other through the space between the second valve body 22 and the third valve body 23, the communication port p12, and the communication space 8A (the first flow state shown in FIG. 1). ).

On the other hand, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven in the other direction, the rotation of the rotor 57 is decelerated and transmitted to the rotary lifting shaft 17 via the output shaft 46 of the reduction mechanism 40, and the female screw 15i and the male screw 17a are transmitted. For example, while the rotary elevating shaft 17 is rotated by the screw feed by, the valve shaft 20 is pulled up by the urging force of the compression coil spring 25 to take the raised position. In this raised position, the first valve body 21 is located above the communication port p11, the second valve body 22 is located between the inner port p1 and the inner port p2, and the third valve body 23 is located inside the inner port p3. It is located between the communication port p12, the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22 is located between the communication port p11 and the inner port p1, and the second valve body 22 and the third valve body Since the space between 23 is located right beside the inner port p2 and the inner port p3, the inner port p2 and the inner port p3 communicate with each other through the space between the second valve body 22 and the third valve body 23. Then, the inner port p1 and the outer port p10 communicate with each other through the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22, the communication port p11, and the communication space 8A (second flow state shown in FIG. 2).

Here, in this embodiment, an upper back pressure chamber 30 (upper part of the valve chamber 7A) and an upper back pressure chamber 30 defined on the upper side of the first valve body 21 are provided via a communication passage 32 provided in the valve shaft 20. A lower back pressure chamber 31 (a lower portion of the valve chamber 7A) defined below the valve body 23 is always in communication. That is, the upper surface of the first valve body 21 (the surface on the upper back pressure chamber 30 side) and the lower surface of the third valve body 23 (the surface on the lower back pressure chamber 31 side) are equalized, and each valve is The surfaces of the bodies (the first valve body 21, the second valve body 22, the third valve body 23) that face each other in the vertical direction are also equalized. Therefore, when the flow paths are switched by the movement of the valve bodies (the first valve body 21, the second valve body 22, the third valve body 23) in the direction of the axis O, the direction of movement of the valve body (the direction of the axis O of the valve shaft 20) is changed. The forces acting (pushing force and pushing force acting on the valve body) can be balanced (all differential pressures can be canceled).

As described above, in this embodiment, the three valve bodies (the first valve body 21, the second valve body 22, and the third valve body 23) provided on the valve shaft 20 are inscribed in the inner housing 9A. By controlling the stepping motor 50 to move the valve shaft 20 up and down in the valve chamber 7A, the three inner ports p1, p2, p3 provided in the inner housing 9A and the outer port p10 provided in the outer housing 9B are Since the communication state (flow direction) between the two valve bodies can be switched, the flow direction (flow path) of the fluid can be efficiently switched with a relatively simple configuration, and the uppermost first valve of the three valve bodies can be switched. Since the upper back pressure chamber 30 above the first valve body 21 and the lower back pressure chamber 31 below the lowermost third valve body 23 are always in communication with each other, the valve body is switched when the flow path is switched. The acting load can be reduced as much as possible to reduce the drive torque of the valve element, and thus further miniaturization, large capacity, power saving, etc. can be achieved.

Further, in the present embodiment, the sliding resistance of each valve element with respect to the inner housing 9A is reduced outside the seal members 21A, 22A, 23A provided on the outer circumference of each valve element (sliding surface with the inner housing 9A). In addition, in order to suppress the elastic deformation of the seal members 21A, 22A, 23A (in particular, the elastic deformation that occurs when the seal members 21A, 22A, 23A pass over the inner ports and the communication ports at the time of switching the flow path is suppressed. In order to reduce the resistance when the seal members 21A, 22A, 23A pass over the inner ports and the communication ports), packings 21B, 22B made of PTFE (Teflon (registered trademark)) or the like having a relatively high hardness. , 23B are mounted, the load acting on the valve element at the time of switching the flow paths can be reduced as much as possible, and the drive torque of the valve element can be reduced more effectively.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the stepping motor 50 is controlled to gradually move the valve shaft 20 up and down in the valve chamber 7A, for example, from the heating operation to the defrosting operation and from the defrosting operation to the heating operation. At the time of switching to the operation, the pressure difference between the high pressure side and the low pressure side can be reduced, so that there is also an effect that noise can be effectively reduced.

[Second Embodiment]
4 and 5 are vertical cross-sectional views showing a second embodiment of the flow path switching valve according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a first flow state (valve shaft: lowered position), and FIG. The flow state (valve shaft: raised position) is shown.

The flow path switching valve 2 of the second embodiment is basically the same as the flow path switching valve 1 of the first embodiment in that the number of valve elements formed in the inner port formed in the inner housing and the valve shaft is increased. Only is different. Therefore, configurations having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Below, only the above-described differences will be described in detail.

The flow path switching valve 2 of the present embodiment is used as, for example, a hexagonal switching valve in a heat pump type cooling and heating system or the like, and five side switching valves 2 are arranged side by side in the axis O direction (longitudinal direction) on the inner housing 9A. The inner ports p1, p2, p3, p4, and p5 are opened, and a communication port p11 that communicates the valve chamber 7A and the communication space 8A is opened above the upper inner port p1 and the lower inner port p5 is opened. A communication port p12, which communicates the valve chamber 7A and the communication space 8A, is opened below. In addition, the conduit joints #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 are brazed to the inner ports p1, p2, p3, p4, and p5 (through the outer housing 9B) by brazing or the like. It is mounted sideways.

Further, on the connecting shaft 29 which constitutes the valve shaft 20, four short cylinder-shaped valve bodies (a first valve body 21, a second valve body 22, a third valve body 23, and a fourth valve body) which are separated from each other in the direction of the axis O. The valve body 24) is integrally formed. In this example, the first valve body 21 is formed at the upper end portion of the connecting shaft 29, and the fourth valve body 24 is formed at the lower end portion thereof, so that each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, The third valve body 23 and the fourth valve body 24) are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the direction of the axis O. Also in this example, the annular groove formed on the outer circumference of each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23, fourth valve body 24) has a seal such as an O-ring. Members 21A, 22A, 23A, 24A are mounted, and ring-shaped packing (also called cap seal) made of PTFE (Teflon (registered trademark)) or the like is provided on the outside of each seal member 21A, 22A, 23A, 24A. 21B, 22B, 23B and 24B are attached.

Even in the flow path switching valve 2 having such a configuration, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven, each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23, fourth valve body 24). Is inscribed in the inner housing 9A, the valve shaft 20 moves up and down in the valve chamber 7A, so that communication between the five inner ports p1, p2, p3, p4, p5 and the outer port p10 (flow Direction, flow path) is switched.

That is, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is driven to rotate in one direction, the valve shaft 20 is moved to the lowered position (here, the fourth valve body 24 is provided at the lower end portion of the valve shaft 20), as in the first embodiment. The position where the stopper member 11s of the lid-shaped member 11 abuts and is stopped is taken), but in this lowered position, the first valve body 21 is located between the communication port p11 and the inner port p1, and the second valve The body 22 is located between the inner port p2 and the inner port p3, the third valve body 23 is located between the inner port p4 and the inner port p5, and the fourth valve body 24 is below the communication port p12. The space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22 is located right next to the inner port p1 and the inner port p2, and the space between the second valve body 22 and the third valve body 23 is positioned. The space between the inner port p3 and the inner port p4, and the space between the third valve body 23 and the fourth valve body 24 is located between the inner port p5 and the communication port p12. As a result, the inner port p1 and the inner port p2 communicate with each other through the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22, and the inner port p3 and the inner port p4 communicate with the second valve body 22 and the third valve p3. The inner port p5 and the outer port p10 communicate with each other through the space between the valve bodies 23 and the space between the third valve body 23 and the fourth valve body 24, the communication port p12, and the communication space 8A. (First flow state shown in FIG. 4).

On the other hand, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven in the other direction, the valve shaft 20 takes the raised position as in the first embodiment, but at the raised position, the first valve body 21 communicates with the communication port p11. , The second valve body 22 is located between the inner port p1 and the inner port p2, the third valve body 23 is located between the inner port p3 and the inner port p4, and the fourth valve body 24 is located between the inner port p5 and the communication port p12, and the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22 is located between the communication port p11 and the inner port p1. The space between 22 and the third valve body 23 is located right next to the inner port p2 and the inner port p3, and the space between the third valve body 23 and the fourth valve body 24 is the inner port p4 and the inner port p5. It is located right next to. Accordingly, the inner port p2 and the inner port p3 communicate with each other through the space between the second valve body 22 and the third valve body 23, and the inner port p4 and the inner port p5 communicate with the third valve body 23 and the fourth valve body. The inner port p1 and the outer port p10 communicate with each other through the space between the valve bodies 24 and the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22, the communication port p11, and the communication space 8A. (Second flow state shown in FIG. 5).

Here, also in the present embodiment, the lower side of the upper back pressure chamber 30 and the lower side of the fourth valve body 24 defined above the first valve body 21 via the communication passage 32 provided in the valve shaft 20. Since the lower back pressure chamber 31 defined in (1) is constantly in communication, the same operational effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

In this example, the outer port p10 is formed on the side opposite to the inner ports p1, p2, p3, p4, p5 (in other words, on the same side as the two communication ports p11, p12) when viewed in a plan view. However, it goes without saying that the positions of the outer port p10, the inner ports p1 to p5, and the communication ports p11, p12 can be appropriately changed depending on the application location of the flow path switching valve 2 and the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer port p10 and the inner ports p1 to p5 may be formed on the same side in a plan view. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the outer port p10 is formed above the inner ports p1 to p5, but it goes without saying that the outer port p10 may be formed below the inner ports p1 to p5. ..

Further, in this example, by the outer housing 9B and the inner housing 9A which are coaxially arranged and are made of a cylindrical base, a cylindrical communication space 8A is provided between the inner housing 9A and the outer housing 9B (outer periphery of the inner housing 9A). 7A and 7B, for example, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the outer periphery of the inner housing 9A (specifically, the positions covering the communication ports p11 and p12 formed in the inner housing 9A). Is connected (by welding, brazing, etc.) to an outer housing 9B having a U-shaped cross section, for example, and between the outer housing 9B and the inner housing 9A made of a tubular base body (the outer circumference of the inner housing 9A). A communication space 8A having a substantially straight shape may be formed in a part of the space. In this case, in the example shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the lower end portion of the inner housing 9A is formed between the large-diameter joint portion 11c and the medium-diameter fitting portion 11b of the lid-shaped member 11. The stepped portion is joined to the stepped portion by welding or the like, and an enlarged diameter portion 9C is provided at the upper end of the inner housing 9A, and a stepped cylindrical base 13 is attached to the enlarged diameter portion 9C.

[Third Embodiment]
8 and 9 are longitudinal sectional views showing a third embodiment of the flow path switching valve according to the present invention, FIG. 8 is a first flow state (valve shaft: lowered position), and FIG. The flow state (valve shaft: raised position) is shown.

The flow path switching valve 3 of the third embodiment is basically different from the flow path switching valve 2 of the second embodiment in that the opening position of the outer port and the shape of the communication space between the outer housing and the inner housing are different. It's different. Therefore, configurations having the same functions as those of the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Below, only the above-described differences will be described in detail.

The flow path switching valve 3 of the present embodiment is used as a hexagonal switching valve in, for example, a heat pump type cooling and heating system, as in the second embodiment, and the outer diameter of the inner housing 9A is the same as the inner diameter of the outer housing 9B. The inner housing 9A is formed into substantially the same shape, and the inner housing 9A is fitted into the outer housing 9B. At the outer circumference of the inner housing 9A (specifically, the portion where the communication ports p11 and p12 are formed) (in the vertical direction), A cut surface 9D is formed, and the D cut surface 9D and the inner peripheral surface of the outer housing 9B form the communication space 8A (see also FIG. 10).

In this example, a seal member 14A including an O-ring or the like is interposed between the upper opening of the inner housing 9A and the tubular fitting portion 14b provided on (the bottom wall 14c of) the tubular holding member 14. It is equipped.

The outer port p10 is formed above the inner ports p1 to p5 in the outer housing 9B and at substantially the same height as the communication port p11, and is provided in the inner housing 9A so as to be connected to the outer port p10. The communication space 8A is always communicated with each other through the opening p10a and the communication port p11.

Even in the flow path switching valve 3 having such a configuration, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven, each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23, fourth valve body 24). Is inscribed in the inner housing 9A, the valve shaft 20 moves up and down in the valve chamber 7A, so that communication between the five inner ports p1, p2, p3, p4, p5 and the outer port p10 (flow Direction, flow path) is switched.

That is, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven in one direction, the valve shaft 20 is in the lowered position (here, the fourth valve body 24 is provided at the lower end portion of the valve shaft 20 as in the second embodiment). The stopper portion 11s of the lid-shaped member 11 is brought into contact with the stopper portion 11s to be stopped, and at this lowered position, the first valve body 21 connects the communication port p11 and the outer port p10 with the opening p10a and the inner port p1. The second valve body 22 is located between the inner port p2 and the inner port p3, the third valve body 23 is located between the inner port p4 and the inner port p5, and the fourth valve body 24 Is located below the communication port p12, the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22 is located directly beside the inner port p1 and the inner port p2, and the second valve body 22 and the third valve body 22 are connected to each other. The space between the valve bodies 23 is located directly beside the inner port p3 and the inner port p4, and the space between the third valve body 23 and the fourth valve body 24 is located between the inner port p5 and the communication port p12. To be punished. As a result, the inner port p1 and the inner port p2 communicate with each other through the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22, and the inner port p3 and the inner port p4 communicate with the second valve body 22 and the third valve p3. The inner port p5 and the outer port p10 communicate with each other through the space between the valve bodies 23, and the space between the third valve body 23 and the fourth valve body 24, the communication port p12, the communication space 8A, the communication port p12, The upper back pressure chamber 30 above the first valve body 21 communicates with the opening p10a (first flow state shown in FIG. 8).

On the other hand, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven in the other direction, the valve shaft 20 takes the raised position as in the second embodiment, but at the raised position, the first valve body 21 communicates with the communication port p11. And the second valve body 22 is located between the inner port p1 and the inner port p2, and the third valve body 23 is located between the inner port p3 and the inner port p4. And the fourth valve body 24 is located between the inner port p5 and the communication port p12, and the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22 is the communication port p11 and the opening p10a and the inner port. It is located between p1 and the space between the 2nd valve body 22 and the 3rd valve body 23 is located just beside the inside port p2 and the inside port p3, and is between the 3rd valve body 23 and the 4th valve body 24. Is located right next to the inner port p4 and the inner port p5. Accordingly, the inner port p2 and the inner port p3 communicate with each other through the space between the second valve body 22 and the third valve body 23, and the inner port p4 and the inner port p5 communicate with the third valve body 23 and the fourth valve body. The inner port p1 and the outer port p10 communicate with each other through the space between the valve bodies 24, and the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22 (the second flow shown in FIG. 9). Status).

Here, also in the present embodiment, the lower side of the upper back pressure chamber 30 and the lower side of the fourth valve body 24 defined above the first valve body 21 via the communication passage 32 provided in the valve shaft 20. Since the lower back pressure chamber 31 defined in (1) is constantly in communication, the same operational effect as in the first and second embodiments can be obtained.

In this example, the outer port p10 is formed above the inner ports p1 to p5 in the outer housing 9B and at substantially the same height as the communication port p11. Needless to say, it may be formed below the inner ports p1 to p5 at about the same height as the communication port p12 and always communicate with the communication space 8A through the communication port p12.

[Fourth Embodiment]
11 and 12 are vertical cross-sectional views showing a fourth embodiment of the flow path switching valve according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a first flow state (valve shaft: lowered position), and FIG. The flow state (valve shaft: raised position) is shown.

The flow passage switching valve 4 of the fourth embodiment is basically a communication passage that always allows the upper back pressure chamber 30 and the lower back pressure chamber 31 to communicate with the flow passage switching valve 2 of the second embodiment. The configuration of 32 is different. Therefore, configurations having the same functions as those of the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Below, only the above-described differences will be described in detail.

The flow path switching valve 4 of the present embodiment is used as a six-way switching valve in, for example, a heat pump type cooling and heating system or the like as in the second embodiment, and here, the connecting shaft 29 constituting the valve shaft 20 is A small-diameter lower portion 27c of a stepped cylindrical thrust transmission shaft 27 is fitted and inserted into a central hole 29b formed in the upper end of the connecting shaft 29, which is substantially solid, and is connected by press fitting, brazing, or the like.

In addition, the tubular fitting portion 14b provided on (the bottom wall 14c of) the tubular holding member 14 is formed to be slightly longer, and the tubular fitting member 14b is formed so as to have a gap between the bottom wall 14c and the upper end of the inner housing 9A. The cylindrical fitting portion 14b is fitted (internally fitted) into the upper opening of the inner housing 9A, and the upper portion of the tubular fitting portion 14b (specifically, corresponding to the gap of the tubular fitting portion 14b). A lateral hole 32a is formed in the portion). The lateral hole 32a may be formed above the communication port p11 in the inner housing 9A and above the first valve body 21 when the valve shaft 20 is in the raised position.

Further, a lateral hole 32b is formed below the communication port p12 in the inner housing 9A and lateral to the small-diameter protruding portion 11a of the lid-like member 11 (that is, a portion corresponding to the lower back pressure chamber 31). There is.

Thereby, in the flow path switching valve 4 of the present embodiment, between the lateral hole 32a of the tubular fitting portion 14b of the tubular holding member 14, the upper end of the inner housing 9A and the bottom wall 14c of the tubular holding member 14. By the communication space 8A between the inner housing 9A and the outer housing 9B including the gap formed in (in other words, the outer side of the inner housing 9A) and the lateral hole 32b of the inner housing 9A, the upper back pressure chamber 30 and the lower back pressure chamber 30 are connected. A communication passage 32 that constantly communicates with the side back pressure chamber 31 is formed.

Even in the flow path switching valve 4 having such a configuration, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven, each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23, fourth valve body 24). As the valve shaft 20 moves up and down in the valve chamber 7A while being inscribed in the inner housing 9A, the five inner ports p1, p2, p3, p4, p5 and Although the communication state (flow direction, flow path) between the outer ports p10 is switched, the upper side of the first valve body 21 is connected via the communication passage 32 including the communication space 8A between the inner housing 9A and the outer housing 9B. Since the upper back pressure chamber 30 defined by the above and the lower back pressure chamber 31 defined under the fourth valve body 24 are always in communication with each other, the first, second and third embodiments described above are performed. The same effect as that of the form can be obtained.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the through hole in the connecting shaft 29 forming the valve shaft 20 can be omitted, there is an effect that the valve shaft 20 itself can be made to have a relatively simple structure.

In this case, since the upper back pressure chamber 30 and the lower back pressure chamber 31 are always communicated with each other through the communication passage 32 including the communication space 8A outside the inner housing 9A, the communication of the inner housing 9A is performed. One of the ports p11 and p12 may be omitted, or a communication port that connects the valve chamber 7A and the communication space 8A may be formed at a position different from the communication ports p11 and p12.

[Fifth Embodiment]
13 and 14 are vertical cross-sectional views showing a fifth embodiment of the flow path switching valve according to the present invention, FIG. 13 is a first flow state (valve shaft: lowered position), and FIG. The flow state (valve shaft: raised position) is shown.

The flow path switching valve 5 according to the fifth embodiment is basically the same as the flow path switching valve 4 according to the fourth embodiment, except that the inner ports p1 to p5 and the communication ports p11 and p12 are formed in the inner housing 9A. The shape near the inner circumference is different. Therefore, the components having the same functions as those of the fourth embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Below, only the above-described differences will be described in detail.

The flow path switching valve 5 of the present embodiment is used as a hexagonal switching valve in, for example, a heat pump type cooling and heating system or the like as in the fourth embodiment, and here, the connecting shaft 29 that constitutes the valve shaft 20 is It is composed of three first connecting shaft components 29A to 29C and one second connecting shaft component 29D.

A short columnar valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23) is integrally formed at the upper end of each of the first connecting shaft components 29A to 29C, and At its lower end, small-diameter insertion portions 29Aa to 29Ca having the same shape as the small-diameter lower portion 27c of the thrust transmission shaft 27 are formed. A short cylindrical valve body (fourth valve body 24) is integrally formed at the upper end of the second connecting shaft structure 29D.

A small-diameter lower portion 27c of the thrust transmission shaft 27 is fitted from above into a central hole 29Ab formed in the upper end portion of the first connecting shaft forming body 29A and integrally connected by press fitting, brazing, or the like. The small diameter fitting portion 29Aa of the first connecting shaft forming member 29A is fitted from above and integrally connected to the center hole 29Bb formed in the upper end of the forming member 29B, and the upper end of the first connecting shaft forming member 29C is connected. The small diameter fitting portion 29Ba of the first connecting shaft forming body 29B is fitted from above and integrally connected to the center hole 29Cb formed in the portion, and is formed at the upper end of the second connecting shaft forming body 29D. The small-diameter insertion portion 29Ca of the first connecting shaft component 29C is fitted into the central hole 29Db from the upper side and integrally connected, so that the small-diameter insertion portion 29Ca is distributed along the direction of the axis O and also in the direction of the axis O. The valve shaft 20 is configured with four short cylinder-shaped valve bodies (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23, fourth valve body 24) that are spaced apart from each other.

Further, here, between the upper end surface of the first valve body 21 of the first connecting shaft constituting body 29A and the lower end step surface of the intermediate body portion 27b of the thrust transmission shaft 27, when the small diameter lower portion 27c is press-fitted, the pressing member 21C is pressed. Is sandwiched and fixed, and the first valve body 21 (the outer peripheral surface thereof) and the inner housing 9A (in the annular groove formed by the pressing member 21C and the stepped portion formed on the outer periphery of the upper end of the first valve body 21). The seal member 21A for sealing the gap between (the inner peripheral surface of) and (the sliding surface gap formed therein) is attached, and PTFE (Teflon (registered trademark)) or the like is formed on the outside of the seal member 21A. The packing 21B is attached.

Further, between the second valve body 22 and the first connecting shaft constituting body 29A of the first connecting shaft constituting body 29B, and between the third valve body 23 and the first connecting shaft constituting body 29B of the first connecting shaft constituting body 29C. Similarly, the holding members 22C to 24C are also sandwiched and fixed between the fourth valve body 24 and the first connecting shaft forming body 29C of the second connecting shaft forming body 29D, and the pressing members 22C to 24C are fixed. The sealing members 22A to 24A and the packings 22B to 24B are attached to the annular groove formed by the members 22C to 24C and the second to fourth valve bodies 22 to 24.

Further, in the present embodiment, a portion of the inner housing 9A where the inner ports p1 to p5 and the communication ports p11 and p12 are formed is formed in a concave shape over the entire circumference (concave surface portions s1 to s5, s11, s12) (also referred to as recess processing), and concave surface portions s1 to s5, s11, and s12 have tapered surface portions t1 to t5, t11, and t12 formed of truncated cone surfaces.

In the illustrated example, the tapered surface portions t1 to t5, t11, and t12 are formed of frustoconical surfaces and have a linear shape when viewed in a vertical section, but for example, the tapered surface portions t1 to t5, t11, and t12 are Alternatively, it may be formed in a curved shape so as to be convex inward or convex outward when viewed in a vertical section. Further, the boundary portions between the inner ports p1 to p5 and the communication ports p11 and p12 and the inner housing 9A, or the boundary portions between the tapered surface portions t1 to t5, t11 and t12 and the inner housing 9A may be rounded.

Even in the flow path switching valve 5 having such a configuration, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven, each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23, fourth valve body 24). As the valve shaft 20 moves up and down in the valve chamber 7A while being inscribed in the inner housing 9A, the five inner ports p1, p2, p3, p4, p5 and Although the communication state (flow direction, flow path) between the outer ports p10 is switched, the communication passage 32 including the communication space 8A between the inner housing 9A and the outer housing 9B (in other words, the outer side of the inner housing 9A) is formed. Since the upper back pressure chamber 30 defined above the first valve body 21 and the lower back pressure chamber 31 defined below the fourth valve body 24 are always in communication with each other, The same effect as that of the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

Further, in the present embodiment, the concave portions s1 to s5, s11, s12 are provided over the entire circumference in the portion where the inner ports p1 to p5 and the communication ports p11, p12 are formed on the inner circumference of the inner housing 9A. Therefore, the outer circumference of each valve body (including packings 21B, 22B, 23B, 24B and seal members 21A, 22A, 23A, 24A provided on the outer circumference of each valve body) and the inner housing 9A when switching the flow path Since the sliding resistance with the circumference can be reduced, the load acting on the valve body at the time of switching the flow path can be reduced as much as possible, and the driving torque of the valve body can be reduced more effectively.

Moreover, in order to suppress elastic deformation of the seal members 21A, 22A, 23A, 24A, the PTFE (Teflon) having relatively high hardness is provided outside the seal members 21A, 22A, 23A, 24A provided on the outer circumference of each valve body. Although packings 21B, 22B, 23B, and 24B made of (registered trademark) or the like are attached, they are elastic when the seal members 21A, 22A, 23A, and 24B pass over the inner ports and the communication ports when switching the flow paths. There is a possibility that the outer peripheral portions of the packings 21B, 22B, 23B, 24B and the seal members 21A, 22A, 23A, 24A may be deformed and protrude from the annular groove formed on the outer periphery of each valve body. In the present embodiment, taper surface portions t1 to t5, t11, t12 formed of truncated cone surfaces are provided on the inner periphery of the inner housing 9A where the inner ports p1 to p5 and the communication ports p11, p12 are formed (upper and lower portions thereof). Since it is provided, for example, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 15, the packings 21B, 22B, 23B, 24B and the seal members 21A, 22A, 23A, 24A smooth the inner ports and the communication ports when switching the flow paths. Resistance when the packings 21B, 22B, 23B, 24B and the seal members 21A, 22A, 23A, 24A pass over the inner ports and the communication ports (in the illustrated example, the inner ports and the communication ports). The resistance caused by the step between the concave surface provided in the portion where the is formed and the inner circumference of the inner housing can be further reduced, and this also makes it possible to reduce the load acting on the valve element when switching the flow path. Therefore, the drive torque of the valve element can be reduced more effectively.

[Sixth Embodiment]
16 and 17 are vertical cross-sectional views showing a sixth embodiment of the flow path switching valve according to the present invention. FIG. 16 is a first flow state (valve shaft: lowered position), and FIG. The flow state (valve shaft: raised position) is shown.

The flow path switching valve 6 of the sixth embodiment is basically the same as the flow path switching valve 1 of the first embodiment in that the number of valve elements formed on the inner port formed on the inner housing and the valve shaft is increased. Are different. Therefore, configurations having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Below, only the above-described differences will be described in detail.

The flow path switching valve 6 of the present embodiment is used as, for example, a three-way switching valve in a heat pump type cooling and heating system or the like, and two side-by-side switching valves 6 are arranged side by side in the inner housing 9A in the axis O direction (longitudinal direction). The inner ports p1 and p2 are opened, and the communication port p11 that communicates the valve chamber 7A and the communication space 8A is opened above the upper inner port p1 and the valve is opened below the lower inner port p2. A communication port p12 that connects the chamber 7A and the communication space 8A is opened. More specifically, the communication port p11 is formed so as to be located above the first valve body 21 when the valve shaft 20 is in the raised position, and the communication port p12 is formed when the valve shaft 20 is in the lowered position. It is formed so as to be located below the second valve body 22. That is, here, the communication port p11 is formed so that it is always located above the first valve body 21, and the communication port p12 is formed so that it is always located below the second valve body 22. To each of the inner ports p1 and p2, conduit joints #1 and #2 are attached sideways (by penetrating the outer housing 9B) by brazing or the like.

Further, the intermediate body portion 27b of the thrust transmission shaft 27 constituting the valve shaft 20 is formed to be slightly longer, and the connecting shaft 29 connected to (the small diameter lower portion 27c of) the thrust transmission shaft 27 is separated in the direction of the axis O. Thus, the two short cylinder-shaped valve bodies (the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22) are integrally formed. The respective valve bodies (first valve body 21, second valve body 22) are separated from each other by substantially the same distance as the hole diameters of the two inner ports p1 and p2 opened in the inner housing 9A. The connecting shaft 29 is arranged between the valve bodies so as to define a space having a size communicating with one of the two inner ports p1 and p2 opened in the inner housing 9A. .. Further, the first valve body 21 is arranged between the two inner ports p1 and p2 when the valve shaft 20 is in the lowered position and between the inner port p1 and the communication port P11 when the valve shaft 20 is in the raised position. The second valve element 22 is disposed so as to be positioned between the inner port p2 and the communication port p12 when the valve shaft 20 is in the lowered position and when the valve shaft 20 is in the raised position. The connecting shaft 29 is arranged so as to be located between the two inner ports p1 and p2.

In this example, the first valve body 21 is formed at the upper end of the connecting shaft 29, and the second valve body 22 is formed at the lower end thereof. Also in this example, seal members 21A and 22A such as O-rings are attached to the annular grooves formed on the outer periphery of each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22), and each seal is Ring-shaped packings (also referred to as cap seals) 21B and 22B made of PTFE (Teflon (registered trademark)) or the like are mounted on the outer sides of the members 21A and 22A.

Even in the flow path switching valve 6 having such a configuration, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven, each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22) is inscribed in the inner housing 9A. By moving the valve shaft 20 up and down in the valve chamber 7A, the communication state (flow direction, flow path) between the two inner ports p1, p2 and the outer port p10 is switched.

That is, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven in one direction, the valve shaft 20 is in the lowered position (here, the second valve body 22 is provided at the lower end portion of the valve shaft 20 and the second valve body 22 is moved). The stopper 11s of the lid-shaped member 11 comes into contact with the stopper 11s to stop it, but in this lowered position, the first valve body 21 is located between the inner port p1 and the inner port p2, and the second valve The body 22 is positioned between the inner port p2 and the communication port p12, and the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22 is positioned right beside the inner port p2. As a result, the inner port p1 and the outer port p10 communicate with each other through the space above the first valve body 21 in the valve chamber 7A (upper back pressure chamber 30), the communication port p11, and the communication space 8A, and the valve chamber 7A. A space above the first valve body 21 (upper back pressure chamber 30), a communication passage 32A provided in the valve shaft 20 (a lateral hole 27e and a through hole 27d of the thrust transmission shaft 27, a through hole 29a of the connecting shaft 29). ), the vertical hole 11v and the horizontal hole 11u of (the small-diameter protruding portion 11a of) the lid-like member 11, the space below the second valve body 22 in the valve chamber 7A (the lower back pressure chamber 31), the communication port p12, Communication is performed via the communication space 8A (first flow state shown in FIG. 16).

On the other hand, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven in the other direction, the valve shaft 20 takes the raised position as in the first embodiment, but at the raised position, the first valve body 21 communicates with the communication port p11. Between the first valve body 21 and the inner port p1, the second valve body 22 is located between the inner port p1 and the inner port p2, and the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22 is the inner side. It is located right beside the port p1. As a result, the inner port p2 and the outer port p10 communicate with each other through the space below the second valve body 22 in the valve chamber 7A (lower back pressure chamber 31), the communication port p12, and the communication space 8A. A space below the second valve body 22 in the chamber 7A (lower back pressure chamber 31), a communication passage 32A provided in the valve shaft 20 (a lateral hole 27e and a through hole 27d of the thrust transmission shaft 27, a connecting shaft 29). Through the through hole 29a), the space above the first valve body 21 in the valve chamber 7A (upper back pressure chamber 30), the communication port p11, and the communication space 8A (second flow state shown in FIG. 17).

Here, also in the present embodiment, the communication passage 32A provided in the valve shaft 20 and the communication passage 32B including the communication space 8A between the inner housing 9A and the outer housing 9B (specifically, the inner housing 9A). Upper side defined on the upper side of the first valve body 21 via the two communication ports p11, p12 and the communication passage 32B formed by the communication space 8A between the inner housing 9A and the outer housing 9B. Since the back pressure chamber 30 and the lower back pressure chamber 31 defined below the second valve body 22 are always in communication with each other, the same operational effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

In this case, since the upper back pressure chamber 30 and the lower back pressure chamber 31 are always in communication with each other through the communication passage 32B including the communication space 8A outside the inner housing 9A, the fourth embodiment described above. Similarly to the above, it goes without saying that the connecting passage 32A provided in the valve shaft 20 may be omitted by forming the connecting shaft 29 constituting the valve shaft 20 to be substantially solid.

Further, by adopting the same configuration as the flow path switching valve 6 of the sixth embodiment, a flow path switching valve such as a five-way switching valve that switches the flow direction (flow path) of the fluid (refrigerant) to an odd number direction. It goes without saying that it can be configured.

[Seventh Embodiment]
18 and 19 are views showing a seventh embodiment of the flow path switching valve according to the present invention. FIG. 18 is a first flow state (valve shaft: lowered position), and FIG. 19 is a second flow state. (Valve shaft: raised position) is shown. Note that in this example, the axis O of the valve body 10 and the center line (rotation axis) L of the stepping motor 50 are set so as to deviate due to the positional relationship of twist (detailed later), and therefore FIG. 18A and 19A are cross-sectional views taken along the line Z-z1-z2-Z in FIG. 18C.

The flow passage switching valve 7 of the seventh embodiment is basically the same as the flow passage switching valve 5 of the fifth embodiment in that the number of valve elements formed in the inner port formed in the inner housing and the valve shaft is increased. The configuration of the lid-like member attached to the lower opening of the outer housing, the configuration of the stepping motor that constitutes the lifting drive unit, and the configuration of each part associated therewith are different. Therefore, configurations having the same functions as those of the fifth embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the following, only the above-described differences will be described in detail.

The flow path switching valve 7 of the present embodiment is used as, for example, a four-way switching valve in a heat pump type cooling and heating system, etc., and three flow path switching valves 7 are arranged side by side in the inner housing 9A in the axis O direction (longitudinal direction). The inner ports p1, p2, p3 are opened, and the communication port p11 that communicates the valve chamber 7A and the communication space 8A is opened above the upper inner port p1 and below the lower inner port p3. A communication port p12 for communicating the valve chamber 7A and the communication space 8A is opened. In addition, conduit joints #1, #2, and #3 are laterally attached to each of the inner ports p1, p2, and p3 (through the outer housing 9B) by brazing or the like.

Further, the connecting shaft 29 constituting the valve shaft 20 is composed of two first connecting shaft constituents 29A, 29B and one second connecting shaft constituent 29C, and each first connecting shaft constituent 29A, A short columnar valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22) is integrally formed at the upper end of 29B, and a short columnar valve body is formed at the upper end of the second connecting shaft forming body 29C. Three valve bodies (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23) in which the valve body (third valve body 23) is integrally formed and are separated from each other in the direction of the axis O and have a short cylindrical shape. Are distributed. Also in this example, the seal members 21A, 22A, and 23A are attached to the annular grooves formed on the outer periphery of each valve body (first valve body 21, second valve body 22, third valve body 23). Along with the seal members 21A, 22A, and 23A, packings 21B, 22B, and 23B made of PTFE (Teflon (registered trademark)) or the like are attached.

It should be noted that the number of inner ports and valve bodies is different from that of the flow path switching valve 5 of the fifth embodiment (the number of inner ports is changed from 5 to 3, and the number of valve bodies is changed from 4 to 4). For the points (changed to three), refer also to the first and second embodiments and the like shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

The lid-shaped member 11 attached to the lower opening of the outer housing 9B includes a short cylindrical outer peripheral member 11A provided with an outer fitting portion 11Ab (upwardly) protruding from the lower portion of the inner housing 9A. It has a two-part configuration including an inner peripheral member 11B having a convex cross-section that is inserted and fixed to the outer peripheral member 11A. In this lid-shaped member 11, the outer fitting portion 11Ab of the outer peripheral member 11A is externally inserted into the lower portion of the inner housing 9A, and the upper protruding portion 11Ba of the inner peripheral member 11B is inserted into the lower opening of the inner housing 9A (with a predetermined gap. In the inserted state, the lower end of the outer housing 9B is joined by welding or the like to the collar-shaped part 11Ad provided on the lower end of the outer periphery of the outer peripheral member 11A. The upper end of the upper protruding portion 11Ba of the inner peripheral member 11B abuts the above-mentioned third valve body 23 at the time of switching the flow path, and restricts the downward movement (lowering) of the valve shaft 20 (in other words, of the valve shaft 20). The stopper portion 11Bs defines the descending position).

Further, in the present embodiment, a short columnar joint portion 13Aa to which the upper end portion of the outer housing 9B is joined to the upper opening of the outer housing 9B of the valve body 10 and a substantially long portion in the vertical direction (axis O direction). A base member 13A including a square columnar base portion 13Ac is attached, and the lower surface of (the joint portion 13Aa of) the base member 13A forms a ceiling surface of the communication space 8A. The lower surface of the base member 13A is airtightly fitted (internally fitted) into the upper opening of the inner housing 9A, and a thrust transmission shaft 27 (a large-diameter upper portion 27a thereof) described later is slidably inserted therein. A cylindrical fitting portion 13Ab is provided so as to project downward, and the lateral hole 32a (inner housing 9A and inner housing 9A A communication space 8A with the outer housing 9B and a lateral hole 32b of the inner housing 9A are formed together with a hole which constitutes a communication passage 32 for constantly communicating the upper back pressure chamber 30 and the lower back pressure chamber 31). ing.

Further, a large-diameter upper portion 27a (in this example, a ball seat is not provided and is solid) in the thrust transmission shaft 27 constituting the valve shaft 20 is formed to be relatively long in the vertical direction. The base member 13A (inside thereof) is provided with a vertical hole 13Av into which the large-diameter upper portion 27a is inserted from below and which is slidably arranged in the direction of the axis O (vertical direction). On the upper outer periphery of the large-diameter upper portion 27a (a part of the outer periphery of the portion to be inserted into the vertical hole 13Av), driven teeth 62 as rack gears constituting one of the rack-and-pinion type motion conversion mechanisms 60 (described below in the vertical direction) are formed. Formed by a predetermined length).

Further, in the present embodiment, the stepping motor 50 that constitutes the lifting drive unit is laid sideways on the side of (the base portion 13Ac of) the base member 13A of the valve body 10 (in other words, when viewed from the side, The stepping motor 50 is attached such that the center line (rotation axis of the rotor 57) L is perpendicular to the axis O of the valve body 10.

The configuration itself of the stepping motor 50 and the mysterious planetary gear type speed reduction mechanism 40 is the same as the above-mentioned one except that the configuration is changed from vertical installation (arrangement in which the centerline is oriented in the vertical direction) to horizontal installation (arrangement in which the centerline is oriented in the horizontal direction). Although it is almost the same as the stepping motor 50 and the mysterious planetary gear type speed reducing mechanism 40 of the flow path switching valves 1 to 6 in the first to sixth embodiments, here, the stepped cylindrical holding member 14 is provided with the speed reducing mechanism 40. A (cylindrical) bearing member 15 (in this example, a female screw portion is not provided) having a fitting insertion hole 15a into which the lower base portion of the output shaft 46 is fitted is fixed by caulking or the like. The tubular holding member 14 includes a small diameter portion 14e, an intermediate trunk portion 14f, and a large diameter portion 14g, which are externally fitted and fixed to the bearing member 15 and to which the tubular body 43 of the reduction mechanism 40 is fixed, from the stepping motor 50 side. The ring-shaped member 14h is externally fitted and fixed to the stepped portion 14s formed between the small diameter portion 14e and the intermediate body portion 14f by press fitting or the like, and the can 58 is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the ring-shaped member 14h. The lower end portion (opening end portion) is joined by welding or the like. In addition, the intermediate body portion 14f of the tubular holding member 14 is an inward locking portion for attaching and fixing the tubular holding member 14 to (the base portion 13Ac of) the base member 13A of the valve body 10. A cylindrical mounting member 14i having a projecting portion 14j and an internal thread portion formed on the inner circumference (a cylindrical shape having a diameter larger than that of the intermediate body portion 14f by the thickness of a connecting portion 13Ad of a base member 13A described later) is provided. It is externally inserted (sliding in the direction of the center line L).

Inside the support member 19 composed of the bearing member 15 and the tubular holding member 14, a plate-like member that is fitted into a slit-like fitting portion 46a formed in the lower base portion of the output shaft 46 of the reduction gear mechanism 40. A stepped rotary shaft 17 having a portion 17c (in this example, a male screw portion is not provided) is provided. The rotating shaft 17 is arranged inside the support member 19 in a state in which the rotating shaft 17 rotates about the center line (rotating axis) L but is prevented from moving in the direction of the center line L (details will be described later). The rotary shaft 17 (the end opposite to the end on which the plate-shaped portion 17c is provided) has a base of the valve body 10 when the tubular holding member 14 is attached to the valve body 10. A serration shaft portion 17e to be inserted into the inside of the base member 13A (a lateral hole 13Au described later) is provided. Driving teeth 61 as a pinion gear that constitutes one of a rack and pinion type motion converting mechanism 60, which will be described later, are formed on the outer periphery of the tip end portion of the serration shaft portion 17e.

On the other hand, one side surface of the base portion 13Ac of the base member 13A of the valve body 10 (in this example, the side surface on the same side as the conduit joints #1, #2, and #3 when viewed in a plan view) has an inner diameter Is substantially the same as the large-diameter portion 14g of the cylindrical holding member 14, and a cylindrical connecting portion 13Ad having a male screw portion formed on the outer periphery thereof is provided in a protruding manner, and the center of the cylindrical connecting portion 13Ad is formed. Further, a lateral hole 13Au into which the serration shaft portion 17e of the rotary shaft 17 is inserted is provided. Here, the center line of the cylindrical connecting portion 13Ad and the lateral hole 13Au (that is, the center line of the stepping motor 50 (the rotation axis of the rotor 57) L) is twisted relative to the axis O of the valve body 10 ( The horizontal holes 13Au (extending in the horizontal direction) and the vertical holes 13Av (extending in the vertical direction) are formed so as to partially overlap each other (in particular, FIG. 18C). )reference). As a result, the driven tooth 62 provided on the large diameter upper portion 27a of the thrust transmission shaft 27 inserted in the vertical hole 13Av and the drive tooth 61 provided on the serration shaft portion 17e of the rotary shaft 17 inserted in the lateral hole 13Au are provided. Are engaged. By the drive teeth 61 provided on the rotary shaft 17 and the driven teeth 62 provided on the thrust transmission shaft 27 of the valve shaft 20, the rotary motion of the rotary shaft 17 (both normal and reverse directions) is moved up and down ( A motion converting mechanism 60 for converting into a reciprocating linear motion) is configured (in a rack and pinion type), and the valve shaft 20 is moved in the axis O direction (longitudinal direction) by the stepping motor 50, the rotary shaft 17, the motion converting mechanism 60 and the like. ) Is configured to move up and down.

The serration shaft portion 17e of the rotary shaft 17 is inserted into the lateral hole 13Au, the large diameter portion 14g of the tubular holding member 14 is inserted into the cylindrical connecting portion 13Ad to be positioned, and the serrated shaft portion 17e is provided in the connecting portion 13Ad. The large-diameter portion 14g of the tubular holding member 14 (of the female thread portion provided on the mounting member 14i externally inserted to the intermediate body portion 14f of the tubular holding member 14 is screwed into the male screw portion). The locking portion 14j (inner end) of the mounting member 14i abuts on the stepped portion 14t, and the large-diameter portion 14g forms the base portion 13Ac (side surface) of the base member 13A and the locking portion 14j of the mounting member 14i. By being sandwiched by the stepping motor 50, the mysterious planetary gear type speed reducing mechanism 40, the support member 19 (the tubular holding member 14, the bearing member 15) with respect to (the base portion 13Ac of) the base member 13A of the valve body 10. ), the assembly including the rotating shaft 17 and the like is assembled and fixed. In addition, between the large diameter portion 14g of the cylindrical holding member 14 (the end surface thereof) and (the side surface of) the base portion 13Ac of the base member 13A (specifically, the lateral hole 13Au on the side surface of the base portion 13Ac of the base member 13A). An O-ring 13Ae as a sealing material is interposed in an annular groove formed around it.

Further, in this example, the vicinity of the opening end of the lateral hole 13Au and the vicinity of the opening end (the opening end of the insertion hole for inserting the rotation shaft 17) in the large diameter portion 14g of the tubular holding member 14 are expanded. And is adjacent to the stepping motor 50 side of (the serration shaft portion 17e of the rotary shaft 17) in the space defined by the enlarged diameter portion 13Ar of the lateral hole 13Au and the enlarged diameter portion 14r of (the insertion hole of) the large diameter portion 14g. The large-diameter fitting portion 17d provided in (part) is fitted (rotatably slidably fitted inside). The rotation shaft 17 is prevented from moving in the center line L direction by a step (stopper portion) formed by the enlarged diameter portion 13Ar of the lateral hole 13Au and the enlarged diameter portion 14r of (the insertion hole) of the large diameter portion 14g. In this state, it is adapted to rotate around the center line L.

In the flow path switching valve 7 having such a configuration, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven, the rotation of the rotor 57 is decelerated and transmitted to the rotary shaft 17 via the output shaft 46 of the reduction mechanism 40, and the valve body 10 The valve shaft 20 is moved up and down in the direction of the axis O by the motion converting mechanism 60 formed by the drive teeth 61 of the rotary shaft 17 and the driven teeth 62 of the thrust transmission shaft 27 that mesh with each other in the base member 13A. Also here, the valve bodies (the first valve body 21, the second valve body 22, and the third valve body 23) provided on the valve shaft 20 are valved in the valve chamber 7A with the inner housing 9A inscribed therein. As the shaft 20 moves up and down, the communication state (flow direction, flow path) among the three inner ports p1, p2, p3, and the outer port p10 is switched as in the fifth embodiment described above. 9A and the outer housing 9B (in other words, the outside of the inner housing 9A) via the communication passage 32 including the communication space 8A, the upper back pressure chamber 30 and the first upper back pressure chamber 30 defined on the upper side of the first valve body 21. Since the lower back pressure chamber 31 defined on the lower side of the three-valve body 23 is always in communication, the same operational effect as that of the fifth embodiment can be obtained.

Further, in the present embodiment, the elevating and lowering drive unit for elevating and lowering the valve shaft 20 rotates the rotor 57 and the rotor 57 which are rotatably arranged around the rotation axis L extending in the direction perpendicular to the axis O direction. A stepping motor 50 having a stator 55 for rotation, a rotary shaft 17 that is rotated integrally with the rotor 57, and a motion conversion mechanism 60 that converts the rotary motion of the rotary shaft 17 into a vertical motion of the valve shaft 20. As the motion converting mechanism 60, a drive tooth 61 as a pinion gear formed on the outer periphery of the rotary shaft 17 and a driven gear as a rack gear formed on (the thrust transmission shaft 27 of) the valve shaft 20 and meshing with the drive tooth 61. Since the rack and pinion type configured with the teeth 62 is adopted, for example, when switching from the heating operation to the defrosting operation and from the defrosting operation to the heating operation, the outer port p10 and the inner port p2 are temporarily communicated with each other. As a result, the pressure difference between the high pressure side and the low pressure side can be reduced, so that noise can be effectively reduced, and the stepping motor 50 that constitutes the lifting drive unit is provided to the side of the base member 13A of the valve body 10. The flow path switching valve 7 can be arranged sideways (sideways), the overall length of the flow path switching valve 7 can be shortened, the overall configuration can be simplified, and the time required for switching the communication state (flow path) can be shortened. In addition, in the configuration that employs the rack and pinion type, since the ascending/descending speed of the valve shaft 20 can be greatly changed compared to the configuration that employs the screw feeding mechanism described above, the valve shaft 20 is switched when the heating operation and the defrosting operation are switched. By moving slowly, the pressure difference between the high pressure side and the low pressure side can be gradually reduced, and noise can be further reduced.

[Eighth Embodiment]
20 to 22 are views showing an eighth embodiment of the flow path switching valve according to the present invention, FIG. 20 is a first flow state (valve shaft: lowered position), and FIG. 21 is a second flow state. FIG. 22 shows the third flow state (valve shaft: intermediate position) (valve shaft: raised position). Note that, also in this example, the axis O of the valve body 10 and the center line (rotation axis) L of the stepping motor (elevating drive unit) 50 are set so as to deviate from each other due to the positional relationship of twisting, and thus FIG. ), FIG. 21(A), and FIG. 22(A) show cross-sectional views taken along the line Z-z1-z2-Z in FIG. 18(C).

The flow passage switching valve 8 of the eighth embodiment is basically the arrangement of the inner port formed in the inner housing and the valve body formed in the valve shaft in comparison with the flow passage switching valve 7 in the seventh embodiment. The configuration and the configuration of a communication passage 32 that always communicates the upper back pressure chamber 30 and the lower back pressure chamber 31 (see also the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12) are different. .. Therefore, the components having the same functions as those of the seventh embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Below, only the above-described differences will be described in detail.

The flow path switching valve 8 of the present embodiment is used as a four-way switching valve in, for example, a heat pump type cooling and heating system or the like as in the seventh embodiment, and is the upper side of the three inner ports p1, p2, p3. The communication port p11 that is opened above the inner port p1 is formed so as to be located above the first valve body 21 when the valve shaft 20 is in the raised position (see FIG. 21). The communication port p12 opened below the port p3 is formed so as to be positioned below the second valve body 22 when the valve shaft 20 is in the lowered position (see FIG. 20). Further, here, the three inner ports p1, p2, p3 are opened so as to be separated (in the axis O direction (longitudinal direction)), and the upper inner port p1 and the lower inner port p3 are connected to the valve shaft 20. The valve shaft 20 is opened at a distance larger than the distance (in the vertical direction) between the two valve bodies (the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22) provided in the valve shaft 20. So that the outer port p10 formed in the outer housing 9B communicates with both the upper inner port p1 and the lower inner port p3 (via the communication space 8A, etc.). (See Figure 22).

Further, in this example, the lateral hole 32a in the tubular fitting portion 13Ab of the base member 13A and the lateral hole 32b in the inner housing 9A (below the communication port p12) are omitted.

On the other hand, the thrust transmission shaft 27 (in which the intermediate body portion 27b and so on) constituting the valve shaft 20 is formed long, and the connection shaft 29 connected to (the small-diameter lower portion 27c of the thrust transmission shaft 27) is relatively long. It is composed of a first connecting shaft forming body 29A and a second connecting shaft forming body 29B. A short cylindrical first valve body 21 and a second valve body 22 are integrally formed at the upper ends of the first connecting shaft forming body 29A and the second connecting shaft forming body 29B, respectively, and are separated from each other in the axis O direction. Two short columnar valve bodies (first valve body 21, second valve body 22) are arranged.

Even in the flow path switching valve 8 having such a configuration, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven, each valve body (the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22) is inscribed in the inner housing 9A. By moving the valve shaft 20 up and down in the valve chamber 7A, the communication state (flow direction, flow path) among the three inner ports p1, p2, p3 and the outer port p10 is switched.

That is, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven in one direction, the rotation of the rotor 57 is decelerated and transmitted to the rotating shaft 17 via the output shaft 46 of the reduction mechanism 40, and is rotated integrally with the rotor 57. The valve shaft 20 is lowered, for example, by the motion converting mechanism 60 formed by the drive teeth 61 of the rotary shaft 17 and the driven teeth 62 of the thrust transmission shaft 27. The position where 29B abuts against the stopper portion 11Bs of the inner peripheral member 11B of the lid-shaped member 11 and is stopped is taken. In this lowered position, the first valve body 21 is located between the inner port p1 and the inner port p2, and the second valve body 22 is located between the inner port p3 and the communication port p12. The space between 21 and the second valve body 22 is located right beside the inner port p2 and the inner port p3. Accordingly, the inner port p2 and the inner port p3 communicate with each other through the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22, and the inner port p1 and the outer port p10 communicate with each other in the first valve body in the valve chamber 7A. A space above 21 (upper back pressure chamber 30), a communication port p11, and a communication space 8A communicate with each other (first flow state shown in FIG. 20).

On the other hand, when the rotor 57 of the stepping motor 50 is rotationally driven in the other direction, the rotation of the rotor 57 is decelerated and transmitted to the rotary shaft 17 via the output shaft 46 of the reduction mechanism 40, and is rotated integrally with the rotor 57. The valve shaft 20 is raised, for example, to a raised position by the motion converting mechanism 60 including the drive teeth 61 of the rotating shaft 17 and the driven teeth 62 of the thrust transmission shaft 27. In this raised position, the first valve body 21 is located between the communication port p11 and the inner port p1, and the second valve body 22 is located between the inner port p2 and the inner port p3. The space between 21 and the second valve body 22 is located right beside the inner port p1 and the inner port p2. Accordingly, the inner port p1 and the inner port p2 communicate with each other through the space between the first valve body 21 and the second valve body 22, and the inner port p3 and the outer port p10 communicate with each other in the second valve body in the valve chamber 7A. The space below 22 (lower back pressure chamber 31), the communication port p12, and the communication space 8A communicate with each other (second flow state shown in FIG. 21).

In addition, in the present embodiment, the valve shaft 20 is stopped midway so that an intermediate position between the lowered position and the raised position is obtained. In this intermediate position, the first valve body 21 is located between the inner port p1 and the inner port p2, and the second valve body 22 is located between the inner port p2 and the inner port p3. The space between 21 and the second valve body 22 is located right beside the inner port p2. As a result, the inner port p1 and the outer port p10 communicate with each other through the space above the first valve body 21 in the valve chamber 7A (the upper back pressure chamber 30), the communication port p11, and the communication space 8A, and the inner port p3. And the outer port p10 communicate with each other through the space (lower back pressure chamber 31) below the second valve body 22 in the valve chamber 7A, the communication port p12, and the communication space 8A (the third flow state shown in FIG. 22). ).

Here, also in the present embodiment, the upper side of the first valve body 21 is provided via the communication passage 32 including the communication space 8A between the inner housing 9A and the outer housing 9B (in other words, the outer side of the inner housing 9A). Since the upper back pressure chamber 30 that is defined and the lower back pressure chamber 31 that is defined below the second valve body 22 are always in communication, the same operational effect as the seventh embodiment can be obtained. To be

In each of the above-described embodiments, the lower end portion of the valve shaft 20 (for example, the second connecting shaft structure 29B in the eighth embodiment) collides with the stopper portion (for example, the stopper portion 11Bs in the eighth embodiment). Control is performed to stop the valve shaft 20 at a predetermined position (such as an ascending position or an intermediate position) by rotating the stepping motor 50 by a predetermined angle with reference to the position where the valve is in contact and stopped (down position).

Further, in the first to sixth embodiments described above, mainly, an electrically-operated flow path switching valve using a stepping motor having a stator and a rotor is adopted as an elevating/lowering drive unit for elevating and lowering the valve body. Of course, for example, an electromagnetic flow path switching valve using a solenoid or the like may be adopted as the lifting drive unit.

1 Flow path switching valve (first embodiment)
2 flow path switching valve (second embodiment)
3 Flow path switching valve (third embodiment)
4 flow path switching valve (fourth embodiment)
5 Flow path switching valve (fifth embodiment)
6 flow path switching valve (sixth embodiment)
7 flow path switching valve (seventh embodiment)
8 flow path switching valve (eighth embodiment)
7A Valve chamber 8A Communication space 9A Inner housing 9B Outer housing 10 Valve main body 11 Lid-like member 17 Rotating lift shaft (first to sixth embodiments)
17 Rotating shaft (seventh and eighth embodiments)
20 valve shaft 21 1st valve body 22 2nd valve body 23 3rd valve body 24 4th valve body 21A-24A Seal members 21B-24B Packing 27 Thrust transmission shaft 29 Connection shaft 30 Upper back pressure chamber 31 Lower back pressure chamber 32 communication passage 40 mysterious planetary gear type speed reduction mechanism 50 stepping motor 55 stator 57 rotor 58 can 60 motion conversion mechanism 61 drive teeth 62 driven teeth p1 to p5 inner port p10 outer port p10a opening p11, p12 communication ports #1 to #5, #10 conduit fitting

Claims (18)

A tubular inner housing having a valve chamber,
An outer housing disposed outside the inner housing to form a communication space outside the inner housing;
A valve shaft which is arranged in the valve chamber so as to be able to move up and down, and in which at least two valve bodies inscribed in the inner housing are provided so as to be separated from each other in the axial direction,
An elevating drive unit for elevating the valve shaft in the axial direction in the valve chamber,
The elevating and lowering drive unit is integrally rotated with the rotor, and a stepping motor having a rotor rotatably arranged around a rotation axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and a stator for rotating the rotor. And a motion conversion mechanism for converting the rotary motion of the rotary shaft into the vertical motion of the valve shaft,
In the inner housing, at least two inner ports that open to the valve chamber are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction, and at least one communication port that always communicates between the valve chamber and the communication space is opened. ,
An outer port that is in constant communication with the communication space is opened in the outer housing,
The upper back pressure chamber defined above the at least two valve bodies in the valve chamber and the lower back pressure chamber defined below the at least two valve bodies in the valve chamber are in continuous communication with each other. Has been
Communication between the at least two inner ports and the outer port by raising and lowering the valve shaft in the valve chamber by the raising and lowering drive unit in a state where the at least two valve bodies are inscribed in the inner housing. The state can be switched ,
The outer port communicates with both the uppermost inner port and the lowermost inner port of the at least two inner ports when the valve shaft is in a predetermined position. Flow path switching valve. A tubular inner housing having a valve chamber,
An outer housing disposed outside the inner housing to form a communication space outside the inner housing;
A valve shaft which is arranged in the valve chamber so as to be able to move up and down, and in which at least two valve bodies inscribed in the inner housing are provided so as to be separated from each other in the axial direction,
An elevating drive unit for elevating the valve shaft in the axial direction in the valve chamber,
The elevating and lowering drive unit is integrally rotated with the rotor, and a stepping motor having a rotor rotatably arranged around a rotation axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and a stator for rotating the rotor. And a motion conversion mechanism for converting the rotary motion of the rotary shaft into the vertical motion of the valve shaft,
In the inner housing, at least two inner ports that open to the valve chamber are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction, and at least one communication port that always communicates between the valve chamber and the communication space is opened. ,
An outer port that is in constant communication with the communication space is opened in the outer housing,
The upper back pressure chamber defined above the at least two valve bodies in the valve chamber and the lower back pressure chamber defined below the at least two valve bodies in the valve chamber are in continuous communication with each other. Has been
Communication between the at least two inner ports and the outer port by raising and lowering the valve shaft in the valve chamber by the raising and lowering drive unit in a state where the at least two valve bodies are inscribed in the inner housing. The state can be switched ,
The flow path switching valve, wherein the upper back pressure chamber and the lower back pressure chamber are always communicated with each other via a communication passage provided in the valve shaft . A tubular inner housing having a valve chamber,
An outer housing disposed outside the inner housing to form a communication space outside the inner housing;
A valve shaft which is arranged in the valve chamber so as to be able to move up and down, and in which at least two valve bodies inscribed in the inner housing are provided so as to be separated from each other in the axial direction,
An elevating drive unit for elevating the valve shaft in the axial direction in the valve chamber,
The elevating and lowering drive unit is integrally rotated with the rotor, and a stepping motor having a rotor rotatably arranged around a rotation axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and a stator for rotating the rotor. And a motion conversion mechanism for converting the rotary motion of the rotary shaft into the vertical motion of the valve shaft,
In the inner housing, at least two inner ports that open to the valve chamber are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction, and at least one communication port that always communicates between the valve chamber and the communication space is opened. ,
An outer port that is in constant communication with the communication space is opened in the outer housing,
The upper back pressure chamber defined above the at least two valve bodies in the valve chamber and the lower back pressure chamber defined below the at least two valve bodies in the valve chamber are in continuous communication with each other. Has been
Communication between the at least two inner ports and the outer port by raising and lowering the valve shaft in the valve chamber by the raising and lowering drive unit in a state where the at least two valve bodies are inscribed in the inner housing. The state can be switched ,
A lid-like member having a stopper portion that limits the downward movement of the valve shaft is attached to the outer housing or the inner housing,
The lid-shaped member is provided in the valve shaft so that the upper back pressure chamber and the lower back pressure chamber are always communicated with each other when the valve shaft collides against the stopper portion and is stopped. A vertical passage and a horizontal hole that communicate with the communication passage are provided . The motion converting mechanism includes a drive teeth formed on the outer periphery of the rotary shaft, formed on the valve shaft 3 to claim 1, characterized in that it is constituted by a toothed for the drive teeth meshing The flow path switching valve according to any one of 1 . The flow according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the rotation shaft is configured to rotate around the rotation axis while being prevented from moving in the rotation axis direction. Road switching valve. The flow path switch according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the stepping motor is laterally attached to a side of a base member attached to an end opening of the outer housing. valve. 7. The flow path switching valve according to claim 6 , wherein a lateral hole into which the rotary shaft is inserted and a vertical hole into which the valve shaft is inserted are provided inside the base member. The flow according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the communication space is formed on the outer circumference of the inner housing or is formed on a part of the outer circumference of the inner housing. Road switching valve. D-cut surface is provided on an outer periphery of the inner Haujin'ngu any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the communication space by the inner peripheral surface of said outer housing and said D-cut surface is formed The flow path switching valve described in. Wherein the at least two inner port and the outer port, channel switching according to any one of claims 1 9, characterized by being made to open the opposite side or on the same side as viewed in the axial direction valve. The communication port is located above the at least two inner ports and below the at least two inner ports, and has the same distance as the distance between the uppermost valve body and the lowermost valve body of the at least two valve bodies. The flow path switching valve according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the flow path switching valve is opened at intervals. The outer port communicates with both the uppermost inner port and the lowermost inner port of the at least two inner ports when the valve shaft is in a predetermined position. The flow path switching valve according to claim 2 or 3 . The outer port is opened in the communication space so as to be in constant communication with the communication space, or the communication is performed through an opening formed at the same height as the communication port in the inner housing. The flow path switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , wherein the flow path switching valve is configured to always communicate with the space. The flow path switching valve according to claim 1 , wherein the upper back pressure chamber and the lower back pressure chamber are always communicated with each other through the communication space. With the seal member is mounted on the outer periphery of said at least two valve bodies, any one of claims 1 to high packing hardness than the seal member on the outer side of the seal member is characterized in that it is mounted 14 one A flow path switching valve according to item. According to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the concave portion is provided in the at least two inner port and the at least one communication portion which port is formed in the inner periphery of the inner housing Flow path switching valve. The flow path switching valve according to claim 16 , wherein a taper surface portion is provided on an upper surface and/or a lower surface of the concave surface portion. The flow path switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 17 , wherein the valve shaft is configured to include a plurality of connecting shaft constituent bodies each provided with one valve body. ..

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