JPH01203773A - Automatic selector valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a small-sized device having a simple structure by driving a plunger connected freely demountably onto a valve body. CONSTITUTION:The plunger 30 of an automatic selector valve B is formed into nearly cylindrical, and the basic edge spread diameter part 25a of each pilot valve body 25 is housed at the both edges inside. A coil spring 31 which applies energizing force in the spread direction between the basic edge spread diameter parts 25a urges each pilot valve body 25 towards a pilot valve seat 23, and when a continuous drive type actuator D' for minute distance does not conduct, the both valve seats 23 are closed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (b) Industrial application fields The present invention relates to automatic switching valves.

(b) Prior Art Conventionally, there has been an automatic switching valve that is interposed at a branch point of a pipe line and switches the flow path after branching by operating a valve body.

(c) Problems that the invention seeks to solveHowever,
The above automatic switching valve can switch the flow path, but it closes both branch pipes and cannot adjust the flow rate, so a separate water stop valve and flow adjustment valve must be installed. The disadvantages are that the structure is complicated and the device is large.

(d) Means for solving the problem The present invention provides an automatic switching valve in which the discharge flow path is switched by an electrically driven valve body interposed at a branch point of the pipe. A valve body is provided in each of the two side pipes, and a spring is interposed between both valve bodies, and the bias of the spring closes each valve body and allows the plunger to be freely engaged and detached from each valve body. The plunger is configured to open each valve element against the above-mentioned bias, and the plunger is driven by a minute distance stepless drive type actuator to provide an automatic switching valve.

In addition, here, infinitesimal distance stepless I! A-driven actuators include laminated piezoelectric actuators, piezoelectric bimorph actuators, skipping linear motors, piezoelectric linear motors, ultrasonic linear motors, and ultrasonic motors (rotary type).
A combination of a stepping motor (rotary type) and a rotating screw, etc.

(E) Function/Effect According to this invention, if the plunger is set in a free state,
Since both valve bodies are closed by a spring interposed between each valve body, it is possible to close both pipes after branching, and when the plunger is actuated in one direction, one valve body is closed. The valve remains in the closed position due to spring bias, and the other valve body opens in response to the amount of plunger operation that is not linked to the infinitesimal distance stepless drive actuator, making it possible to switch the flow path after branching. It becomes possible to perform both the flow rate adjustment and the flow rate adjustment at the same time.

Therefore, there is no need to separately provide a stop valve and a flow rate regulating valve, which simplifies the structure and allows the device to be downsized.

(f) Examples The present invention will be explained in detail below based on examples shown in the attached drawings.

Figure 1 shows an automatic switching valve (8) on the downstream side of the hot water mixing valve (A).
), and an automatic switching valve (B) switches the outflow direction of hot water whose temperature is adjusted by a hot water mixing valve (A).

The hot water mixing valve (8) connects the water side pipe (1) and the hot water side pipe (2).
A hot water valve seat (4) (4°) is provided on the hot water side pipe (2) side and the hot water side pipe (3) side, and the water side pipe (1) and the hot water side A substantially cylindrical valve body (6) is slidably inserted into the partition wall (5) provided between the pipes (2).
6), the hot water side and water side valve seats (4) (4°
) to adjust the temperature of the mixed hot water discharged from the hot water pipe (3), and the temperature sensor (7) provided in the hot water pipe (3) adjusts the temperature of the mixed hot water Detects the temperature of the valve body (6) via the control device (C) shown in FIG.
Micro distance stepless drive type actuator (D) connected to
The temperature of the mixed hot water discharged from the hot water pipe (3) is maintained at a preset temperature by controlling the operation of the hot water pipe (3).

Note that (8) in the figure is a spring for restoring the valve body (6), and when the restraining force of the plunger (9) of the actuator (0) is lost due to a power outage, etc., the valve seat (8) on the hot water side 4)
This prevents the risk of hot mixed water being discharged by closing the lid.

An automatic switching valve (B) is provided downstream of the hot water mixing valve (A), and the valve opening (B) is connected to a pipe (10) communicating with the hot water pipe (3) of the hot water mixing valve (A). ) branched into a forked shape,
Valve bodies (13H13) interposed in the branch pipe line (11) and the branch line (12), respectively, and one infinitesimal distance stepless drive type actuator (13H13) for operating each valve body (13) (13). Do).

Each valve body (13) (13) is connected to the actuator (Do
) are arranged symmetrically around the branch pipe (11
) (12) is provided with a substantially cylindrical partition wall (15) projecting therein, a main valve seat (16) is formed at the tip edge of the partition wall (15), and the inner surface of the pipe on the inflow side (17 ) The outer periphery of a diaphragm (18) made of a flexible material is attached in a watertight manner to the main valve J1M (1
6), communication between the inflow side pipe line (19) and the outflow side pipe line (20) is cut off.

In addition, a small diameter orifice (21) is bored in the peripheral edge of the diaphragm (18) facing the inflow side pipe line (19). A pressure chamber (22) formed on the side opposite to the valve seat (16) is communicated with the pilot valve seat (23) and a pilot passage (24) in the center of the diaphragm (18). A pilot valve body (25) which communicates the chamber (22) with the outflow side pipe line (20) and is operatively connected to the same valve seat (23) with a minute distance stepless drive type actuator (Do).
Communication between the pressure chamber (22) and the outflow side pipe (20) is opened and closed by bringing the tip surfaces of the pressure chamber (22) into contact with the pressure chamber (22).

In addition, the pilot valve body (25) has a valve seat (23) at its tip.
) is connected with an elastic body for contact with the

In particular, the orifice (21) is connected to the pilot valve seat (23).
) and the same passage (24), and when the pilot passage (24) is closed, the pressure chamber (22)
pressure increases, causing the diaphragm (18) to move against the main valve seat (16).
) direction to close the valve body (13), and when the pilot passage (24) is open, the pressure chamber (22
) decreases, and the pressure in the inlet pipe (19) causes the diaphragm (18) to separate from the main valve seat (16), causing the valve body (1
3) It is configured to open (13).

As mentioned above, if only the pilot valve bodies (25) (25) are opened and closed, the pressure in the inflow side pipe (19) will open and close valves # (13) (13). Therefore, the minute distance stepless drive type actuator (Do) that controls the opening/closing operation of the automatic switching valve (B) only needs to operate the pilot valve body (25) (25), and it is necessary to directly drive the valve body. This means that the same actuator (Do) with a smaller output will suffice compared to the one with the same output.

In the figure, (E) and (E') indicate the gauging of the micro-distance stepless drive type actuators (D) and (D'), and (26) indicates the gauging of the mixed hot water entering the actuators (D) and (Do) side. The U-shaped or Y-shaped gasket (27) has low sliding resistance to prevent
) and the hot water side pipe (2) to prevent leakage, and also serves as a friction damper to dampen the automatic vibration of the valve body (6).

The minute distance stepless drive type actuator (D) provided in the hot water mixing valve (A) is a piezoelectric actuator which is one form of the same actuator, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the actuator (D) is , a plunger (9) is installed in a cylindrical casing (E) having front and rear walls (a) and (b) so as to be movable back and forth concentrically and along the axis, and further on the outer peripheral surface of the plunger (9). A piezoelectric element assembly consisting of four piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (q), and (h) is disposed concentrically on the piezoelectric element.

Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) are arranged at the center of the casing (E), and the front wall (
It is fixed to the tip of a holder (H) whose base end is fixed to a).

Further, (iHj) is a cantilever-like elastic bridge whose base end is fixed to the piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) and whose tip end extends toward the front and rear walls (aHb).

The ends of the elastic bridges (i) and (j) have piezoelectric elements (e) and (f) attached to their outer peripheral surfaces, and brake shoes (k) and m are fixed to their inner peripheral surfaces.

Of these piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (a), and (h), piezoelectric elements (e) (f) contract when the power is turned on, and piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) contract when the power is turned off. It is configured to

That is, when the piezoelectric element (13) (f)↓ is energized, it contracts and reduces its inner diameter to clamp the plunger (9), and when it is not energized, it expands and expands its inner diameter to clamp the plunger (9). (9) is canceled. On the other hand, the piezoelectric element (g
)(h) is a granger (9) when not energized.
The upper part is in a contracted state in the axial direction, and when energized, it extends over the plunger (9), increasing its total length in the axial direction'.

Then, the plunger (9) connects these four piezoelectric elements (
By controlling e)(f)(g)(h) by a control device (C) described later, it is possible to move in the axial direction.

Piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (a), and (h) are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in the figure, it is a cylindrical element formed by laminating a large number of piezoelectric element pieces in the axial direction of the plunger (9). Electrodes are provided at both ends of the cylinder, and by applying a voltage to both ends, , configured to operate.

Note that the piezoelectric element piece can be made of, for example, piezoelectric ceramics, and examples of such piezoelectric ceramics include AB
PZT[Pb(Zr.

Ti ) 03 ] system, and PLZT [Pb (Zr,
A three-component system based on Ti ) Oa ], PT (PbTiO3), or pzT can be used.

In addition, the piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (g), and (h) are made by laminating a large number of thin ring-shaped piezoelectric element pieces in the radial direction around the axis of the plunger (9), as shown in Fig. 3. It can also be formed by In this case, the direction of voltage application is changed by 90 degrees.

Note that in the above configuration, piezoelectric elements (e) (f) (g)
(h) can have not only a circular cross section but also a rectangular cross section, for example, and can also be formed from divided pieces as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Further, the plunger (9) is connected to the brake shoe (k) (1
), it is desirable that the coefficient of linear expansion is small, the hardness, strength, creep resistance and wear resistance are high, and the processing accuracy is high.
For example, a ceramic material may be considered.

Further, FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a control device (C) for controlling the piezoelectric actuator (0).

As illustrated, the control device (C) includes a microprocessor (r), an input/output interface (S) (t),
It consists of a memory (U) that stores control programs for the hot water mixing valve (A) and the automatic switching valve (B), and the input interface (S) includes a mixed hot water temperature setting device (50),
A temperature sensor (7), a branch pipe opening silver (51) (52), and both branch pipe closing buttons (53) are connected, and an output interface (1) is connected to a hot water mixing valve (A) and an automatic switching valve (B). ) is connected to the micro-pressure H stepless drive actuator (D) (Do) of The actuator (0°) of the automatic switching valve (B) is operated to switch the outflow direction and adjust the flow.

Next, the plungers (
9) The movement of (30) will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

When a difference occurs between the detected value of the temperature sensor (7) shown in Fig. 6 and the temperature set by the temperature setting device, or when either the branch pipe opening silver (51) or (52) is pressed. , the control device (C) generates drive pulses according to the drive order program read out from the memory (U), and applies voltage to the piezoelectric element (e) as shown in FIG.
By reducing the inner diameter of the piezoelectric element (e), the plunger (9) is clamped, and by releasing the voltage application to the piezoelectric element (f) and expanding the inner diameter of the piezoelectric element (f), the plunger (9) is clamped. 9) Release the clamp.

Next, as shown in Fig. 8, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements (1) and (h) to extend them, the piezoelectric elements (a) and (h) move in the direction of the arrow, and as a result, the piezoelectric elements The plunger (9) clamped by (13) also moves in the direction of the arrow.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, by releasing the applied voltage to the piezoelectric element (e) and expanding the inner diameter of the piezoelectric element (e), the clamp of the plunger (9) is released and the piezoelectric element ( The plunger (9) is clamped by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element (f) to reduce the inner diameter of the same piezoelectric element (f), and when the applied voltage to the piezoelectric elements (g) and (h) is released, the piezoelectric element (g) ) (h) contracts in the direction of the arrow, and the plunger (9)
moves further in the direction of the arrow.

After that, by repeating the above operation, the plunger (
9) can be moved in a scale shape with a stroke on the μm order or sub-μm order, and various devices, machines, etc. can be operated precisely.

The minute distance stepless drive type actuator (Do) provided in the automatic switching valve (8) has the same structure as the same actuator (0) of the hot water mixing valve (A), except for the plunger part. , the plunger (30) of the automatic switching valve (B) is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a proximal enlarged diameter portion (2) of the pilot valve body (25) (25) at both internal ends.
5a) (25a), and each proximal enlarged diameter part (25a) (
A coil spring (31) having a biasing force in the expansion direction is interposed between each pilot valve body (25025).
) is biased toward the pilot valve seats (23) (23) to close both the valve seats (23) (23) when the actuator (Do) is not energized.

In addition, locking inner flanges (32) (32) are provided on the inner peripheral surface of both ends of the plunger (30), and each pilot valve body (
25) A valve stem having a diameter smaller than that of the plunger (30) extending outward from the proximal enlarged diameter portion (25a) (25a) of (25) is inserted through the plunger (30).
When the is operated in one direction, left or right, the pilot valve seat (23) in this operating direction remains closed, and the pilot valve seat (23) on the opposite side to the operating direction is closed by the locking inner flange (32). The pilot valve body (25) is separated from the valve seat (23) due to the contact between the base end enlarged diameter portion (25a) and the valve body (13) can be opened.

The operation of this valve body (13) is as described above.
This is done by operating the diaphragm (18) using the pressure in step 2), and the pilot valve body (25) (25)
When the pilot valve seat (23) provided on the diaphragm (18) is positioned between fully open and fully closed, the pilot valve seat (23) provided on the diaphragm (18)
5), the opening degree of the valve seat (23) becomes small (large) and the resistance increases (decreases).
) becomes high (low), the pressing force on the diaphragm (18) becomes high (low), and the pilot valve body (25) and the valve seat (23) are moved apart (close to each other). do.

In other words, during the opening/closing operation of the valve body (13), that is, the opening/closing operation of the pilot valve seat (23) provided on the diaphragm (18), the pilot valve body is linked to the infinitesimal distance stepless drive type actuator (Do). A fluidic negative feedback loop will be formed through pressure fluctuations in the pressure chamber (22) in relation to the position of (25);
The diaphragm (18) controls the amount of fluid flowing into the pressure chamber (22) from the orifice (21) and the pilot valve seat (2).
3) The amount of fluid flowing out of the pressure chamber (22) is balanced at the position where it is equal, and that position is maintained.

The position of the pilot valve body (25) mentioned above can be set to any position between the fully open position and the fully open position of the valve body (13) using a minute distance stepless drive type actuator (Do). Since the position of the diaphragm (18), that is, the opening degree of the valve body (13) can be determined with the goal of is possible.

Therefore, by providing a flow rate sensor (100) in the conduit (10) and inputting the output of the sensor (100) to the control device (C), the discharge amount of mixed hot water can be automatically controlled.

Further, during the above operation, the pilot valve body (25) only sets the target position of the diaphragm (18), so the actuator (D) required for the operation of the pilot valve body (25) is
The output of o) can be extremely small.

In addition, in this embodiment, the plungers (9) (30) have diameter-reduced tip portions formed or connected to their tips, and the tip portions (q) and the end faces of the pilot valve bodies (25) (25) The area (pressure receiving area) is made significantly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the plungers (9) and (30).

Therefore, when used in valve i as described later, the pressure receiving area can be significantly reduced, so plunger (9) (30)
The plunger (9) (
The influence of the thrust force on the drive of the plungers (9) and (30) can be minimized, and the plungers (9) and (30) can be driven accurately.

In addition, the stepped portions of the plungers (9) and (30) are placed in a position B in which the plungers (9) and (30) have moved a certain distance forward (e.g., at the fully open position or a position slightly further advanced than that), and If you keep it in contact with the rear surface, the plunger (9
) (30) can be restricted from further advancement, and damage to the diaphragm, etc. of the on-off valve caused by excessive advancement can be reliably prevented.

In addition, since the actuation amount of the plungers (9) and (30) is proportional to the number of drive pulses applied to the actuators (D) and (Do), the oven end control circuit is sufficient, and the structure of the device (C) can be changed. It can be done easily.

Valve body (13) (13) of automatic switching valve (B) as above
By driving the pilot valve bodies (25) (25), which form part of the In addition, the opening and closing operation of the valve body (13) is slowed down to prevent water hammer and abnormal noise.
By reducing the control output required for switching the same boat (B), the control device (C) can be made smaller and smaller, and
When the control device (C) loses its control function due to a power outage, etc., the plunger (30) becomes free, closes both branch pipes (11) and (12), and automatically stops the discharge of mixed hot water. can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a hot water mixing device equipped with an automatic switching valve according to the present invention. 2 to 5 are side views of the piezoelectric element. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device. FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the minute distance stepless drive type actuator. (11) (12): Discharge side pipe (B): Automatic switching valve (D'): Micro distance stepless drive type actuator (13
): Valve body (30) Nib plunger (31): Spring

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) An automatic switching valve that is located at a branch point of a pipe line and switches the discharge flow path using an electrically driven valve body.
In B), valve bodies (13) (13) are provided in the two discharge side pipes (11) (12), respectively, and both valve bodies (13) (1
A spring (31) is interposed between 3), and the bias of the spring (31) causes each valve body (13) to close, and also causes the plunger (30) to close each valve body (13). (
13), and the plunger (30) is configured to open the valve bodies (13) against the above-mentioned bias, and the plunger (30) is connected to An automatic switching valve driven by a stepwise drive actuator (D').