JP7433993B2 - three-way valve - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a three-way valve that can switch the flow path of fluid such as gas.

For example, it has three openings, a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening, and a plunger driven by a solenoid creates a flow path from the third opening to the first opening, and a flow path from the third opening to the first opening. A three-way valve that can switch the flow path from the first opening to the second opening is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Utility Model Publication No. 63-182378

In a state where the third opening and the second opening are in communication, when the plunger is driven by the solenoid to switch the flow path from the first opening to the third opening, the second opening and the third opening are connected to each other. There is a state where both are open at the same time. Therefore, due to the presence of fluid in both channels, the plunger receives pressure from the fluid on the side of the opening to be closed, which prevents high-speed movement of the plunger.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a three-way valve in which the plunger can move at high speed and the flow path can be switched quickly and reliably.

The three-way valve of the present embodiment includes a first opening, a second opening facing the first opening, and a space between the first opening and the second opening and near the first opening. a housing having a third opening located at the second opening, and a first end located along a line connecting the first opening and the second opening in the housing; 3. A cylindrical tube that is located near the third opening, has a second end communicating with the second opening, and has a first groove provided on the inner surface between the first end and the second opening. and a third end and a fourth end, and when the third end closes the first opening, the fourth end closes. When a part of the first groove is exposed inside the cylindrical part away from the second opening and the fourth end closes the second opening, the third end a plunger that is separated from the first opening and closes the first groove; an elastic member that biases the plunger in one of the first opening direction and the second opening direction; and a plunger provided around the cylindrical part. and a solenoid that moves the plunger in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the elastic member.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a three-way valve according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a part of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG. 1 and seen from the front. FIG. 3A is a perspective view seen from the back side of FIG. 3A. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a different operating state from FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a three-way valve according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a part of FIG. 5; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG. 5 and seen from the front. FIG. 7A is a perspective view seen from the back side of FIG. 7A. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a different operating state from FIG. 5;

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a three-way valve 10 according to a first embodiment. The three-way valve 10 includes a housing 11. The housing 11 includes, for example, a bottomed cylindrical frame 12, a switching body 13, and a lid 14. The lid body 14 is attached to the opening of the frame 12 and covers the opening. The switching body 13 is attached to the lid body 14 with a plurality of screws 15.

The switching body 13 includes a first opening A and a third opening C, and the first opening A and the third opening C can communicate with each other inside the switching body 13. A second opening B, which will be described later, is provided at the bottom of the frame 12. Therefore, the housing 11 includes a first opening A, a second opening B, and a third opening C.

The first opening A and the second opening B are arranged, for example, facing each other on a straight line, and the third opening C is located between the first opening A and the second opening B and between the first opening A It is arranged in the vicinity of , in a direction intersecting the straight line connecting the first opening A and the second opening B.

A bobbin 16 serving as a frame for a solenoid (coil) 25 is provided inside the frame 12 . The bobbin 16 has a cylindrical portion 17 at its center. The cylindrical portion 17 has a first end and a second end. The first end is disposed inside the switching body 13 through the lid 14, and the second end is disposed at the bottom of the frame 12.

Specifically, the cylindrical portion 17 is arranged along a line connecting the first opening A and the second opening B,
The first end is disposed near the first opening A and the third opening C, and the second end is communicated with a second opening B provided at the bottom of the frame 12.

A stopper 18 is provided within the second end of the cylindrical portion 17 . The stopper 18 regulates the position of the plunger, which will be described later. The stopper 18 is provided with a second opening B.

A plunger 19 is movably provided inside the cylindrical portion 17 . The plunger 19 is cylindrical and made of metal, for example. The plunger 19 has a first end (third end) and a second end (fourth end), and the length between the first end and the second end (the length of the plunger 19) L1 is shorter than the distance L2 between the end of the first opening A located inside the switching body 13 and the end of the stopper 18 located inside the cylindrical portion 17; The distance from the stopper 18 to the stopper 18 is longer than L3 (L3<L1<L2).

A rubber 20 serving as a valve is provided at the first end of the plunger 19, and a rubber 21 serving as a valve is provided at the second end. The rubber 20 protrudes from the first end, and when the plunger 19 moves in the direction of the first opening A, it comes into contact with the first opening A before the plunger 19 and closes the first opening A with elasticity. do. Further, the rubber 21 protrudes from the second end, and when the plunger 19 moves in the direction of the second opening B, it comes into contact with the second opening B before the plunger 19, and elastically moves the second opening B. occlusion due to

Furthermore, when the plunger 19 separates from the first opening A or the second opening B, the rubbers 20 and 21 separate from the first opening A or the second opening B later than the operation of the plunger 19, and The first opening A or the second opening B is opened.

The timing of contact and separation between the rubbers 20 and 21 and the first opening A and second opening B is the same as the timing of contact and separation between the plunger 19 and the first opening A and second opening B. It may be done at the same time.

Furthermore, the rubbers 20 and 21 also have the role of reducing contact noise between the plunger 19 and the first opening A and the second opening B when they come into contact with the first opening A and the second opening B. There is.

A groove 23 is provided in a part of the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 17 along the axis of the cylindrical portion 17, as will be described later. The number of grooves 23 is not limited to one, but may be plural. When the plunger 19 is moved in the direction of the first opening A, a part of the groove 23 is exposed inside the cylindrical part 17, and the third opening C and the second opening B are communicated with each other. Form a flow path. Further, when the plunger 19 is moved in the direction of the second opening B, the groove 23 located inside the cylindrical portion 17 is closed by the plunger 19. Therefore, the flow path that communicates the third opening C and the second opening B is cut off.

A flange 22 is provided at the first end of the plunger 19, and a spring 24 as an elastic member is provided between the flange 22 and the first end of the cylindrical portion 17. The plunger 19 is urged toward the first opening A by a spring 24.

A solenoid 25 is provided around the cylindrical portion 17 of the bobbin 16, and both ends of the wiring forming the solenoid 25 are electrically connected to a plurality of terminals 26. When the solenoid 25 is energized, the plunger 19 is moved toward the second opening B against the biasing force of the spring 24 and comes into contact with the stopper 18 .

The position of the spring 24 is not limited to between the flange 22 and the first end of the cylindrical portion 17. Furthermore, the spring 24 is not limited to biasing the plunger 19 in the direction of the first opening A, but can also bias it in the direction of the second opening B. In this case, it is necessary to change the direction of the magnetic field of the solenoid 25.

(Relationship between plunger 19 and groove 23)
FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the plunger 19 and the groove 23 applied to the first embodiment, and FIGS. 3A and 3B show the groove 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, the plunger 19 has a cylindrical shape as described above, and has a first end (third end) and a second end (fourth end). It has a flange 22. The diameter D1 of the flange 22 is larger than the inner diameter D3 of the cylindrical portion 17, and the diameter D2 of the plunger 19 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter D3 of the cylindrical portion 17 (D2<D3<D1).

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B, the cylindrical portion 17 has, for example, two grooves 23 on its inner surface. These grooves 23 are provided, for example, in a straight line between the first end and the second end of the cylindrical portion 17. The length L4 of the groove 23 is shorter than the length L3 from the first end of the cylindrical portion 17 to the stopper 18.

The first end of the groove 23 is disposed at the first end of the cylindrical portion 17 and is always exposed from the first end of the cylindrical portion 17 regardless of the operation of the plunger 19.

On the other hand, the second end of the groove 23 is located near the stopper 18. Specifically, when the plunger 19 closes the first opening A, a space is formed inside the cylindrical portion 17 between the second end of the plunger 19 and the stopper 18 . Assuming that the width of this space, that is, the distance between the second end of the plunger 19 and the stopper 18 is L5, the second end of the groove 23 is located at a position approximately 1/2 of the distance L5. In other words, the second end of the groove 23 is located intermediate the second end of the plunger 19 and the stopper 18 . Therefore, a part of the groove 23 is exposed inside the cylindrical part 17, and a flow path is formed through the groove 23 in which the third opening C and the second opening B communicate with each other.

Further, when the second end of the plunger 19 contacts the stopper 28 and closes the second opening B, the second end of the groove 23 is also closed by the plunger 19, and the third opening C and the second opening B are closed. The flow path between the two is blocked.

Note that the shape of the groove 23 is not limited to a linear shape, and may be, for example, a spiral shape. That is, the groove 23 may be formed spirally along the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 17.

(Operation of three-way valve)
As shown in FIG. 1, in the three-way valve 10, when the solenoid 25 is de-energized, the plunger 19 is biased toward the first opening A by the spring 24, and the plunger 19 is biased toward the first opening A by the rubber 20. is occluded. At this time, the rubber 21 provided at the second end of the plunger 19 is separated from the second opening B, and the second end of the groove 23 is exposed inside the cylindrical portion 17. Therefore, the third opening C and the second opening B are communicated with each other through the groove 23, and a flow path is formed between the third opening C and the second opening B.

On the other hand, when the solenoid 25 is excited, the plunger 19 is moved toward the second opening B against the biasing force of the spring 24. As a result, the rubber 20 is separated from the first opening A, and a flow path connecting the third opening C and the first opening A is formed. At this time, the second end of the groove 23 is closed by the second end of the plunger 19, and most of the fluid flowing into the switching body 13 from the third opening C flows into the first opening A. Therefore, the plunger 19 is also pushed toward the second opening B by the pressure of the fluid flowing from the third opening C to the first opening A, and the plunger 19 is pushed by the urging force of the solenoid 25 and the pressure of the fluid. The plunger 19 is moved at high speed, and the second opening B is closed by the rubber 21 of the plunger 19, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the flow path can be switched at high speed.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the solenoid 25 is de-energized while the second opening B is closed by the plunger 19, the plunger 19 is moved in the direction of the first opening A by the urging force of the spring 24. will be moved to As a result, when the second end of the groove 23 is exposed inside the cylindrical portion 17, a flow path connecting the third opening C and the second opening B is formed by the groove 23. Therefore, the plunger 19 is also pressed in the direction of the first opening A by the pressure of the fluid flowing from the third opening C to the second opening B, and returns to the state shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the plunger 19 can be moved at high speed by the spring 24 and the pressure of the fluid, and the flow path can be switched at high speed.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the first embodiment, the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 17 has a groove 23 in a part thereof, and the groove 23 defines a flow path between the third opening C and the second opening B. When switching to a flow path between the third opening C and the first opening A, when the plunger 19 moves in the direction of the second opening B, it is immediately closed and the flow path between the third opening C and the first opening A is closed. A flow path can be formed between the two. Further, when switching the flow path between the third opening C and the first opening A to the flow path between the third opening C and the second opening B, the plunger 19 When moving in the direction, the groove 23 can be immediately opened to form a flow path between the third opening C and the second opening B. Therefore, since the plunger 19 is moved by both the biasing force of the solenoid 25 and the spring 24 and the pressure of the fluid in the formed flow path, it is possible to switch the flow path quickly and reliably.

Moreover, since the pressure of the fluid in the flow path is applied to the plunger 19 after switching, it is possible to stably maintain the switching state.

The plunger 19 is also moved by fluid pressure. Therefore, the elastic force of the spring 24 can be made weaker than when no fluid pressure acts on the plunger 19.

Furthermore, since the elastic force of the spring 24 is weak, the electric power supplied to the solenoid 25 for driving the plunger 19 can also be reduced.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment. The first embodiment and the second embodiment are different in the shape of the groove 23 of the cylindrical portion 17 and the shape of the plunger 19.

(Configuration of groove 23 and plunger 19)
In FIG. 5, the cylindrical portion 17 has, for example, two grooves (first grooves) 23. As shown in FIG. The groove 23 is provided between the vicinity of the first end of the cylindrical portion 17 and the stopper 18, and the first end of the groove 23 is not exposed from the first end of the cylindrical portion 17.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7A, and 7B, the first end of the groove 23 is disposed inward from the first end of the cylindrical portion 17 by a distance L6. That is, the cylindrical portion 17 includes an edge 31 having a width L6 between the first end and the groove 23. The second end of the groove 23 is arranged, for example, at a position corresponding to the stopper 18. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be arranged at the same position as in the first embodiment.

The plunger 19 has a groove (referred to as a second groove) 32 in a part of its periphery. The width L7 of the second groove 32 is such that when the plunger 19 closes the first opening A, the edge 31 of the cylindrical part 17 faces the second groove 32 and passes through the second groove 32 and the groove 23 to the third opening. A flow path connecting the section C and the second opening B can be formed, and when the plunger 19 closes the second opening B, the edge 31 is located between the second groove 32 and the flange 22, and the second groove It is sufficient if 32 can be occluded.

In other words, the width L7 of the second groove 32 is wider than the width L6 of the edge 31 of the cylindrical portion 17 (L7>L6), and when the plunger 19 closes the first opening A, the width L7 of the cylindrical portion 17 It is sufficient that the distance L8 between the first end and the end of the second groove 32 on the flange 22 side is shorter than the moving distance L5 of the plunger 19 (L8<L5).

Although the depth of the second groove 32 is arbitrary, the diameter D4 of the plunger 19 at the portion corresponding to the second groove 32 is smaller than the diameter D2 of the plunger 19 (D4<D2).

(Operation of three-way valve 10)
In the second embodiment, the operation of the three-way valve 10 is similar to that in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the solenoid 25 is de-energized, the plunger 19 closes the first opening A, and a portion of the second groove 32 of the plunger 19 extends from the first end of the cylindrical portion 17. The second groove 32 and the groove 23 of the cylindrical portion 17 form a flow path connecting the third opening C and the second opening B.

On the other hand, when the solenoid 25 is excited, the plunger 19 is moved in the direction of the second opening B. Accordingly, the second groove 32 of the plunger 19 enters into the first end of the cylindrical portion 17 and is closed, forming a flow path connecting the third opening C and the first opening A. At this time, the plunger 19 is pressed in the direction of the second opening B by the pressure of the fluid in the flow path connecting the third opening C and the first opening A. Therefore, the plunger 19 is moved at high speed in the direction of the second opening B by the urging force of the solenoid 25 and the pressure of the fluid, and closes the second opening B as shown in FIG.

When the solenoid 25 is de-energized, the plunger 19 is moved in the direction of the first opening A by the spring 24. Accordingly, a part of the second groove 32 of the plunger 19 is exposed from the first end of the cylindrical part 17, and the second groove 32 and the groove 23 of the cylindrical part 17 form a part of the third opening C and a part of the second groove 32 of the plunger 19. A flow path connecting the two openings B is formed, and the plunger 19 is pushed toward the first opening A by the pressure of the fluid within the flow path. Therefore, the plunger 19 is moved at high speed in the direction of the first opening A by the biasing force of the spring 24 and the pressure of the fluid, and closes the first opening A, as shown in FIG.

(Effects of the second embodiment)
Also according to the second embodiment, it is possible to provide a three-way valve that can switch the flow path quickly and reliably, similarly to the first embodiment.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments as they are, and in the implementation stage, the constituent elements can be modified and embodied without departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining the plurality of constituent elements disclosed in each of the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components of different embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Three-way valve, 11... Housing, A... First opening, B... Second opening, C... Third opening, 17... Cylindrical part, 19... Plunger, 23... Groove (first groove), 22 ...Flange, 24...Spring, 25...Solenoid, 31...Edge, 32...Second groove.

Claims (4)

a first opening, a second opening facing the first opening, and a third opening located between the first opening and the second opening and near the first opening; a housing having;
arranged along a line connecting the first opening and the second opening in the housing, a first end located near the first opening and the third opening, and a second end is in communication with the second opening, and has a first groove provided between the first end and the second opening on the inner surface;
It is movably provided in the cylindrical part and has a third end and a fourth end, and when the third end closes the first opening, the fourth end closes the second opening. When a part of the first groove is exposed inside the cylindrical part away from the opening and the fourth end closes the second opening, the third end closes the first opening. a plunger that separates from the first groove and closes the first groove;
an elastic member that biases the plunger in one of the first opening direction and the second opening direction;
a solenoid that is provided around the cylindrical portion and moves the plunger in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the elastic member;
A three-way valve comprising: The first groove has a fifth end and a sixth end, the fifth end is located at the first end of the cylindrical part, and the sixth end is located at the first end of the plunger. The three-way valve according to claim 1, wherein the third end is located between the fourth end of the plunger and the second opening when the first opening is closed. 3. The three-way valve according to claim 2, wherein the fifth end of the first groove is always exposed from the first end of the cylindrical part. The first end of the cylindrical portion has an edge having a first width, the first groove has a fifth end and a sixth end, and the fifth end of the first groove has an edge having a first width. is adjacent to the edge, and the sixth end is located near the second opening;
The plunger has a cylindrical shape, has a flange at the third end, and includes a second groove having a second width wider than the first width in a part of the periphery,
When the plunger closes the first opening, the distance between the first end of the cylindrical portion and the flange-side end of the second groove is shorter than the moving distance of the plunger. The three-way valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: