JPH01203775A - Hot/cold water mixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the sharp variation of flow rate by driving the valve body of a hot/cold water mixing valve and the valve body of an automatic selector valve by each continuous drive type actuator for minute distance. CONSTITUTION:In a hot/cold water mixing valve A, the temperature of the mixed hot/cold water is detected by a temperature sensor 7 installed in a hot/ cold water conduit 3, and the temperature of the mixed hot/cold water which is discharged from the hot/cold water conduit 3 is kept at a previously set temperature by controlling the operation of a continuous drive type actuator D for minute distance which is connected with a valve body 6. An automatic selector valve B is installed at the downstream of the hot/cold water mixing valve A, and the valve B is constituted of each valve body 13 interposed in branched conduits 11 and 12 and a continuous drive type actuator D' for minute distance which operates each valve body.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (b) Industrial application fields The present invention relates to a hot water mixing device.

(b) Conventional technology In the past, an automatic switching valve was connected downstream of the hot water mixing valve so that the destination of mixed hot water from the hot water mixing valve could be switched between two directions, such as shower and flush. There is a hot water mixing device, and the operation of the valve body of this automatic switching valve is controlled by binary control using a solenoid.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, when controlling the operation of the valve body of the hot water mixing valve using a solenoid, it is possible to perform binary control or only a few steps at most, and as a result, the temperature of the mixed hot water cannot be roughly adjusted. However, automatic switching valves that use a solenoid to operate the valve body can only switch the discharge destination and cannot adjust the flow rate. Since the body opens and closes rapidly, the flow rate of the hot water mixing valve will fluctuate rapidly if the outflow volume at the discharge destination is different, and the hot water mixing ratio will fluctuate accordingly, making it necessary to adjust this. Since the switching is performed rapidly, the temperature adjustment operation cannot be carried out in time, resulting in a drawback that the temperature of the discharged water fluctuates.

(d) Means for Solving Problems In the present invention, on the downstream side of the hot water mixing valve, the mixing ratio of hot water and water is varied by the operation of the valve body, the mixed hot water is discharged from the hot water mixing valve by the operation of the valve body. A hot water mixing device in which an automatic switching valve that switches in two directions is connected in communication, characterized in that the valve element of the hot water mixing valve and the valve element of the automatic switching valve are each driven by a minute distance stepless drive type actuator. It provides equipment.

In this case, the micro-distance stepless drive actuator refers to a stacked piezoelectric actuator, a piezoelectric bimorph actuator, a stepping linear motor, a piezoelectric linear motor, an ultrasonic linear motor, a combination of an ultrasonic motor (@rotary type) and a rotating screw, A combination of a stepping motor (rotary type) and a rotating screw.

(E) Functions and Effects According to this invention, by using a minute distance stepless drive type actuator to operate the valve bodies of the hot water mixing valve and the automatic switching valve, in the case of the hot water mixing valve, the valve body of the hot water mixing valve is The operation can be performed steplessly and precisely, and therefore the temperature of mixed hot water can be adjusted precisely and quickly.Even in the case of automatic switching valves, the valve body of the volume valve can be adjusted between the open and closed positions. Since it can be positioned at It is possible to prevent rapid fluctuations in flow rate and to prevent fluctuations in temperature of discharged water.

(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 CB located downstream of the hot water mixing valve (8).
), 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 (A) has a water side pipe (1) and a 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°
) is configured to adjust the temperature of the mixed hot water discharged from the hot water pipe (3) by adjusting the opening degree of the hot water pipe,
The temperature of the mixed hot water is detected by the temperature sensor (7) installed in the passage (3), and the temperature is detected by the valve body (6) via the control device (C) shown in FIG.
) is connected to a minute distance stepless partial movement actuator (D
) to maintain the temperature of the mixed hot water discharged from the hot water pipe (3) at a preset temperature.

Note that (B) in the figure is a spring for restoring the valve body (6), and when the restraining force of the plunger (9) of the actuator (D) is lost due to # etc., the valve seat 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 quantity valve (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 (13) (13) respectively interposed in the branch pipe line (11) and the branch pipe line (12), and each valve body (13) (13)
It is composed of one micro-distance stepless drive type actuator (Do) for actuating.

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 ) by attaching the outer periphery of a diaphragm (18) made of a flexible material in a watertight manner, and by bringing the center part of the diaphragm (18) into contact with the main valve seat (16), the inflow side pipe (19) The communication with 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 Cl8) facing the inflow side conduit C19), so that the inflow side conduit (19) and the main valve seat of the diaphragm (18) are connected to each other. The pressure chamber (22) formed on the opposite side to the (16) side is communicated with the pressure chamber (22), and a pilot valve seat (23) and a pilot passage (24) are provided in the center of the diaphragm (18). 22) and the outflow side pipe (20), and a pilot valve body (25) 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 inflow side pipe (19) causes the diaphragm (18) to separate from the main valve Fi (16) and open the valve body (13) (13).

As mentioned above, if only the pilot valve bodies (25) (25) are opened and closed, the valve bodies (13) (13) will be opened and closed by the pressure in the inlet pipe (19). 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 (25025), and the valve body is directly driven. Compared to this, the same actuator (Do) with a small output is sufficient.

In the figure, (EHE') is the casing of the minute distance stepless drive type actuator (D) (D'), and (26) is the slide that prevents mixed hot water from entering the actuator (D) (DJ side). U-shaped or Y-shaped packing with low dynamic resistance, (27) is an O-ring to prevent leakage between the water side pipe (1) and hot water side pipe (2) of the hot water mixing valve (A). ,
It 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 mounted concentrically and movably back and forth along the axis within a cylindrical gauging (E) having front and rear walls (aHb). Generally, it is constructed by arranging a piezoelectric element assembly consisting of four piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (g), and (h).

Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, piezoelectric elements (!; 1) (h
) is disposed in the center of the casing (E), and is fixed to the tip of a holder (H) whose base end is fixed to the front wall (a).

In addition, (i) and (j) have their base ends connected to piezoelectric elements (g) and (h).
It is a cantilever-shaped elastic bridge that is fixed to the front and rear walls and extends toward the front and rear walls (a) and (b).

Piezoelectric elements (e) and (f) are attached to the outer peripheral surfaces of the tips of the elastic bridges (i) and (j), and brake shoes ()t) and (+) are fixed to the inner peripheral surfaces thereof. There is.

Of these piezoelectric elements (e), (f), (q), and (h), piezoelectric elements (e), (f), when the power is turned on, and piezoelectric elements (!;1), (h), when the power is turned off. It is configured to shrink to

That is, the piezoelectric element (eHf) contracts when energized, reduces its inner diameter and clamps the plunger (9), and expands and expands its inner diameter to clamp the plunger (9) when it is not energized. unlock. On the other hand, the piezoelectric element (g) (h
) is in a contracted state in the axial direction on the plunger (9) in the non-energized state, and in the energized state, it extends on the plunger (9) and increases 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) Oa] system, and PLZT [Pb (Zr, Ti
) Oa ], PT (PbTiOa ) system, or a three-component system based on 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 the applied voltage is changed by 90 degrees.

Note that in the above configuration, the piezoelectric element (eHfHg) (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 drag 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 (D).

As illustrated, the control device (C) includes a microprocessor (r), an input/output interface (S) (t),
It consists of a memory (U) that stores the control program for the hot water mixing valve (8) and the automatic switching valve (B), and the input interface (S) includes a mixed hot water temperature setting device (50),
Temperature sensor (7), branch pipe opening silver (51) (52), both branch pipe closing buttons (53) are connected, and the output interface () is connected to hot water mixing valve (A) and automatic switching valve (B). According to the above program, the actuator (D) of the hot water mixing valve (A) is connected to the minute distance stepless drive type actuator (D) (D') to adjust the temperature of the mixed hot water.
The actuator (D') of the automatic switching valve (B) is operated to switch the outflow direction of the mixed hot water and to adjust the flow.

Next, the plungers (
9N30) 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 sequence program read from the memory (U), and applies voltage to the piezoelectric element (Cl) as shown in FIG. By reducing the inner diameter of the plunger (9)
The clamp of the plunger (9) is released by clamping the piezoelectric element (f) and expanding the inner diameter of the piezoelectric element (f) by removing the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element (f).

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements (a) and (h) to stretch them, the piezoelectric elements (a) and (h) move in the direction of the arrow, and along with this, the piezoelectric elements ( The plunger (9) clamped by e) 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 f) to reduce the inner diameter of the piezoelectric element (f), and when the applied voltage to the piezoelectric element (1; +) (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 linear manner with a stroke on the μm order or sub-μm order, and various devices and machines can be operated precisely.

The minute distance stepless drive type actuator (D゛) installed in the automatic switching valve (B) is the same actuator (0) of the hot water mixing valve (8) as described above, except for the plunger part. The plunger (30) of the automatic switching valve (B) is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, and the proximal enlarged diameter portion (2) of the pilot valve body (25) (25) is provided at both internal ends.
5aH25a), and each proximal enlarged diameter part (25a) (2
A coil spring (31) having a biasing force in the expansion direction is interposed between each pilot valve body (25N25).
is biased toward the pilot valve seat (23) (23) to close both multiple valves Ji (23023) 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 granger (30) extending outward from the proximal enlarged diameter portion (25a) (25a) of (25) is inserted through the plunger (30).
When 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 remains closed! (23) is such that the pilot valve body (25) is separated from the valve seat (23) due to the contact between the locking inner flange (32) and the proximal enlarged diameter portion (25a), and the valve body (23) is separated from the valve seat (23). 13) can be opened.

The operation of this valve # (13) is controlled by the pressure chamber (
This is done by operating the diaphragm (18) by the pressure of the pilot valve body (25) (25).
) is located between fully open and fully closed, the pilot valve seat (23) provided on the diaphragm (18)
When the valve seat (23) approaches (separates from) the valve seat (23), the opening degree of the valve seat (23) becomes small (large) and the resistance increases (decreases).
2) becomes high (low), the pressing force on the diaphragm (18) becomes large (small), and the pilot valve element (25) and the valve seat (23) are operated to be separated from each other (close to each other). do.

In other words, during the causal relationship between the opening and closing operation of valve # (13), that is, the opening and 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 fluid negative feedback loop will be formed through the 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 and fully closed positions 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 position as a target, it is possible to control the actuator (Do) to cause the valve body (13) to adjust the flow rate. It 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.

3. During the above operation, the pilot valve body (25) is at the target position of the diaphragm (18)! The actuator (25) required to operate the valve body (25) is
The output of Do) can be extremely small.

In addition, in this embodiment, plungers (9) (30)
has a reduced diameter tip formed or connected to its tip,
The end surface area (pressure receiving area) of the tip portion (q) and the pilot valve body (25) (25) is made significantly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the plunger (9) (30).

Therefore, when used in valves, etc., as described later, the pressure receiving area can be significantly reduced, so the plunger (9) (30)
plunger (9) by minimizing the thrust force to which it is subjected.
The influence of the thrust force on the drive of (30) can be minimized, and the plungers (9) and (30) can be driven accurately.

In addition, the step part of the first langeer (9) (30) is moved toward the rear wall in a state B in which the lunge (9) (30) has moved a certain distance forward (for example, at a fully closed position or a position slightly advanced from that). If you make contact with the rear surface of 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 driving pulses applied to the actuators (D) and (D'), an open-end control circuit is sufficient, and the structure of the device (C) is can be easily done.

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 made slow to prevent water hammer and abnormal noise, and the control output required for switching the volume valve (B) can be adjusted. It is possible to reduce the capacity and size of the control device (C) by reducing the size of the control device (C).
In addition, when the control device (C) loses its control function due to a power outage, etc., the plunger (30) becomes free and both branch pipes (11) and (12) are closed and the mixed hot water is automatically discharged. It can be stopped.

[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. (8): Hot water mixing valve (B): Automatic switching valve (D'
) : Micro distance stepless drive type actuator (13)
: Valve body Fig. 3 Fig. 2 Fig. 5 Fig. 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) Valve bodies (13) (13) are installed on the downstream side of the hot water mixing valve (A), which changes the mixing ratio of hot water and water by the operation of the valve body (6).
In a hot water mixing device that is connected in communication with an automatic switching valve (B) that switches the discharge destination of mixed hot water from a hot water mixing valve (A) in two directions by the operation of the hot water mixing valve (A), the valve body (6) of the hot water mixing valve (A) and the automatic A hot water mixing device characterized in that the valve bodies (13) (13) of the switching valve (B) are respectively driven by minute distance stepless drive type actuators (D) (D').