JPH029777Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The present invention is an air microvalve device that supplies air (air control or actuation signal as an example) to a control device of a drive device driven by air pressure. This is related to the improvement of

(Prior Art) Air microvalve devices have conventionally been used as precision equipment, such as dental treatment instruments, to give an operation control signal to a control device of a drive device using air pressure as a drive source, and to control the air load to the drive device. It is connected to and used in the pipeline.

For example, a description will be given based on FIG. 3 showing the operating system of a microvalve device in a dental air handpiece system. In the figure, air is supplied to a hand piece D driven by air pressure from an air supply source S via a control device Q (typically a foot controller).
On the other hand, an air micro-valve device V is disposed in parallel with the control device Q, and the air micro-valve device V opens and closes via an actuator m in conjunction with the movement of the hook P of the hand piece D. That is, when the hand piece D is hooked to the hook P, the valve V is closed, and the pilot air supplied from the valve V maintains the controller Q in the OFF state. Therefore, even if the control device Q is operated (for example, by a foot operation), driving air is not supplied to the handpiece D, and the handpiece D is not driven. Conversely, when the handpiece D is removed from the hook P, the valve V is opened, and no pilot air is supplied to the control device Q, so that the control device Q is in an on-standby state. Therefore, when the control device Q is operated thereafter, driving air is supplied to the hand piece D, and the hand piece D is driven. Note that the relationship between the opening/closing of the valve V and the on/off standby state of the control device Q may be opposite to that described above.

In the system as described above, the air microvalve device V operates at a relatively low operating pressure,
In addition, it is necessary to have good responsiveness to the movement of the hanging device P and to be small in size.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, conventional air micro-valve devices (for example, the device disclosed in Publication of Utility Model Publication No. 58-13846) use a plurality of leaf springs, springs, etc. in the device. Since there are many components and they are arranged in a complicated manner, it is difficult to miniaturize the device, the operating pressure is large, and the interlocking movements of each component are not smooth, resulting in poor responsiveness. The reality is that it is not possible to accurately control the operation of device Q.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a novel air microvalve device that has a simple structure, is small in size, and operates with good responsiveness at low operating pressure.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The air microvalve device of the present invention that achieves the above object will be explained based on the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of the valve device of the present invention in a closed state, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the same in an open state, and Fig. 3 is a drive of a dental handpiece using the valve of the present invention. FIG. 4, which is a diagram showing the system, is a sectional view of a main part showing another embodiment of the valve body.

That is, the air microvalve device of the present invention is
A valve chamber 1, an operation chamber 4 connected to the valve chamber 1, and the above-mentioned valve chamber 1
A valve body C includes a primary air passage A1 that communicates with the operation chamber 4 and a secondary air passage A2 that communicates with the operation chamber 4. An airtightness maintaining member 9 having a through hole 6 communicating with the air passage A2 and having one end of the through hole 6 facing the valve chamber 1 serving as a valve seat 7; a valve body 3 that is floatably assembled with a small gap 5 between the valve body 3 and the valve body 3 that floats to seal the valve seat 7 in response to air pressure from the primary air passage A1; and the airtightness maintaining member 9. When the tip 10a is inserted into the through hole 6 in an elastically biased state along the axial direction of the through hole 6 by the spring member 12 and cannot be pulled out, and is pushed against the elasticity of the spring member 12, the tip 10a consists of a hollow cylindrical operating member 10 that presses the valve body 3 and releases the valve body 3 from the valve seat 7 to open the valve between the valve chamber 1 and the operation chamber 4; A residual pressure release opening 11a that communicates the outside air with the cylinder interior 10b of the operating member 10 is opened, and when the operating member 10 is not operated, its tip 10a and the valve body 3 are opened.
The gist is that a small gap 8 is secured between the two, and the secondary air passage A2 communicates with the outside air via the small gap 8, the cylinder interior 10b, and the opening 11a.

The valve body 3 is made of an elastic material such as urethane resin or hard rubber, and preferably has a disc-shaped circular shape slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the valve chamber 1. The reason why the valve body 3 is made of the above-mentioned elastic body is that it is lightweight and therefore easily floats within the valve chamber 1, and that it has excellent airtightness when it rests on the valve seat 7. Further, a small gap 5 is formed between the valve chamber 1 and the inner wall of the valve chamber 1, and this small gap 5 is used as an air passage. It is also possible to form air passages 51 with substantially larger flow cross sections than the narrow gaps 5.

(Function) In the air microvalve device having the above configuration, an air supply pipe is connected to the primary air passage A1, and an exhaust pipe is connected to the secondary air passage A2. When the operating member 10 is not operated as shown in FIG. 1, the valve body 3 floats due to the pressure of the air introduced into the valve chamber 1, and comes into contact with the valve seat 7 to seal it. Therefore, the air supplied from the primary air passage A1 is closed by the valve body 3, and is prevented from flowing into the secondary air passage A2.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when the operating member 10 is pushed against the elasticity of the spring member 12, the tip 10a of the operating member 10 presses against the valve body 3, causing the valve body 3 to be depressed. It is released from seat 7. Valve body 3
As a result, the valve chamber 1 and the operation chamber 4 communicate with each other, and the two chambers 1 and 4 become open. Since the central through hole 6 of the airtightness maintaining member 9 attached to the operation chamber 4 communicates with the secondary air passage A2, the air supplied from the primary air passage A1 flows into the valve chamber 1. The secondary air passage A passes through the small gap 5, the opened valve seat 7, and the operation chamber 4 (through hole 6).
2. When the pushing operation of the operating member 10 is stopped, the operating member 10 returns to its original position due to the restoring elasticity of the spring member 12, and the pressing against the valve body 3 is released, and the valve body 3 is released from the air in the valve chamber 1. It floats due to the pressure and seals the valve seat 7 again. At this time, since a small gap 8 is formed between the valve body 3 and the tip 10a of the operating member 10, the inside of the cylinder 10 of the operating member 10
b communicates with the operation chamber 4, and the cylinder interior 10b of the operation member 10 communicates with the atmosphere and the operation chamber 4 through the opening 11a.
are in communication with the secondary air passage A2, respectively, so that the air remaining in the secondary air passage A2 is quickly discharged from the opening 11a. Therefore, when the operating member 10 is pushed to open the valve again, the operation is smoothly performed without being hindered by the residual pressure.

Since the pushing operation of the operating member 10 is only performed against the elasticity of the spring member 12 and the buoyant force of the valve body 3, the operating pressure is small and the valve opens smoothly and with good response. It will be done. Also,
Since the valve is closed by the combined action of the restoring elasticity of the spring member 12 and the buoyant force of the valve body 3, it is also accomplished smoothly and with good response.

(Example) Next, an example will be described.

In Figures 1 and 2, primary and secondary air passages A1 and A2 are horizontally dug in the valve body C, and the bases of these air passages A1 and A2 are provided with supply air pipes and exhaust air pipes. A joint for connecting an air pipe (none of which is shown) is attached. A cylindrical valve chamber 1 is connected to the primary air passage A1 via a passage 2 orthogonal thereto. Further, an operation chamber 4 is formed continuously above the valve chamber 1, and the upper end of the operation chamber 4 opens on the upper surface of the valve body C, and the side of the operation chamber 4 communicates with the secondary air passage A2. . Inside the valve chamber 1, the valve chamber 1
A disc-shaped valve body 3 having a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the valve body 1 and a thickness smaller than the depth of the valve chamber 1 is loosely inserted, thereby creating a small gap 5 between the outer periphery of the valve body 3 and the inner wall of the valve chamber 1.
However, there is a floating gap 1 between the bottom surface of the valve chamber 1 and the bottom surface of the valve body 3.
4 is formed. This floating gap 14 is formed not only when the valve body 3 is at the top dead center as shown in FIG. 1, but also when it is at the bottom dead center as shown in FIG. It is made to be constantly filled with air.

The airtightness maintaining member 9 is an O-ring (sealing material) 1
The valve seat 7 is airtightly installed in the operation chamber 4 through the valve 3, and its lower end is a valve seat 7 facing the valve chamber 1. The central part of the airtightness maintaining member 9 is a through hole 6 that penetrates vertically, and the inside of the through hole 6 and the secondary air passage A2 are connected to a transparent hole formed in the lower wall of the airtightness maintaining member 9. They communicate through holes 91.

The operating member 10 is a hollow cylindrical body having a push operating portion 11 at the top that protrudes from the valve body C. It is inserted and locked in an upwardly elastically biased state. A gasket (sealing material) 13 is disposed around the inner surface of the through hole 6, and sliding contact of the operating member 10 with the gasket 13 allows the operating member 10 to vertically slide against the airtightness maintaining member 9 in an airtight manner. It is done like this. In addition, when the operating member 10 is not operated, that is, when it is at the top dead center due to the upward biasing force of the spring member 12, a small gap 8 is formed between the operating member 10 and the valve body 3 that is sealed against the valve seat 7. By forming this small gap 8, the secondary air passage A2 communicates with the hollow cylinder 10b of the operating member 10 via the through hole 91 and the operating chamber 4, and the valve body 3 seals the valve seat 7. After that, the residual pressure in the secondary air passage A2 is quickly released to the atmosphere through the opening 11a. The packing 13 is located above the through hole 91, and there is a gap between the through hole 6 of the airtightness maintaining member 9 and the operating member 10 at the lower part of the packing 13, so that the operating chamber 4 connected to the valve chamber 1 It goes without saying that the air passage A2 and the secondary air passage A2 should always be in communication with each other through this gap and the through hole 91.

The air micro valve device V having such a configuration is
For example, it is incorporated into a drive system of a dental handpiece as shown in FIG. In the figure, a driving air line is constructed from an air supply source S to a handpiece (driving device) D via a control device Q, and in parallel to this, a pilot air line is connected via a valve V of the present invention. It is formed. The operation member 10 of the valve V is configured to be pushed and operated by an actuator m, and the actuator m operates in response to an operation signal F from the operation detection means d related to the hook P of the handpiece D. . The motion detection means d electrically, optically, or mechanically detects the state in which the handpiece D is removed from the latching tool P or the state in which it is latched, and generates a motion signal F to electrically control the actuator m. , it is intended to be operated by mechanical means or pneumatic means.
That is, when the handpiece D is removed from the hook P, the actuator m pushes the operating member 10 to open the valve V, and the control device Q is supplied with pilot air. As a result, the control device Q enters an on-standby state, and when the control device Q is operated thereafter, the handpiece D is driven. Furthermore, when the handpiece D is hooked to the hook P, the pushing motion of the operating member 10 by the actuator m is released;
The valve V is closed, the supply of pilot air to the control device Q is stopped, and the control device Q is maintained in an OFF state. Therefore, even if the control device Q is operated in this state, the handpiece D will not be driven.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the valve body 3. The valve body 3 of this embodiment has a plurality of notches (for example, milling cuts) on the outer periphery of a disc-shaped circular plate material, and an air passage 51 with a substantially larger flow cross section than the small gap 5.
...is formed. Such air passage 51
Due to the formation of..., air circulation within the valve chamber 1 becomes smoother, and the pushing operation pressure of the operating member 10 is reduced.

(Effect of the invention) As described above, the valve opening operation in the air microvalve device of the invention involves pushing the operating member against the elasticity of a single spring member and the buoyancy of the valve body due to the primary air. Since it is done by simply operating it, the operating pressure is small and the responsiveness is excellent. Also,
The valve closing operation is performed by the restoring elasticity of the spring member and the buoyancy of the valve body, so it is smooth and responsive. Furthermore, since the residual pressure in the secondary air passage is quickly discharged after the valve is closed, there is no influence of this residual pressure when the valve is subsequently opened, and the above-mentioned smooth operation is reliably guaranteed. In addition, since the number of parts is small and assembly is easy, it is possible to downsize and reduce costs.

When the device of the present invention, which has such remarkable effects, is incorporated into the drive system of a dental handpiece, it can issue prompt and accurate operation control signals to the drive line, thereby controlling the treatment content. In dental treatment, where multiple handpieces are frequently used depending on the situation, the suitability of the handpieces will be dramatically increased.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of the valve device of the present invention in a closed state, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same in an open state.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a drive system for a dental handpiece using the valve of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part showing another embodiment of the valve body. Explanation of symbols, 1... Valve chamber, 3... Valve body, 4...
Control room, 5...Small gap, 51...Air passage, 6...
...Through hole, 7...Valve seat, 8...Small gap, 9...Airtightness maintaining member, 10...Hollow cylindrical operating member, 10
a... Tip of the operating member, 10b... Inside the cylinder of the operating member, 11... Push operation section, 11a... Residual pressure release opening, 12... Spring member, 13... Sealing material, 14... Floating Gap, A1...Primary air passage,
A2... Secondary air passage, C... Valve body.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] 1. A valve chamber 1, an operation chamber 4 connected to the valve chamber 1, a primary air passage A1 communicating with the valve chamber 1, and a secondary air passage A2 communicating with the operation chamber 4. The valve body C is installed inside the valve body C, and the through hole 6 is airtightly installed in the operation chamber 4 and communicates with the secondary air passage A2 in the center thereof, and the through hole 6 faces the valve chamber 1. Airtightness maintaining member 9 with one end serving as valve seat 7
and is incorporated into the valve chamber 1 in a freely floating manner with a small gap 5 to the inner wall of the valve chamber 1, and seals the valve seat 7 by receiving air pressure from the primary air passage A1. The valve body 3 that floats as shown in FIG.
is inserted in a resiliently biased state along the axial direction of the
When the spring member 12 is pushed against its elasticity, the tip 10a presses against the valve body 3, releases the valve body 3 from the valve seat 7, and opens the valve between the valve chamber 1 and the operation chamber 4. Hollow cylindrical operating member 10
The operating member 10 is provided with a residual pressure release opening 11a that communicates the outside air with the cylinder interior 10b of the hollow cylindrical operating member 10, and the operating member 1
0 is not operated, a small gap 8 is secured between the tip 10a and the valve body 3, and the secondary air passage A2 is connected to the outside air through the small gap 8, the cylinder interior 10b, and the opening 11a. Air micro valve device that communicates with 2 The operation member 10 is a hollow cylinder having a push operation portion 11 protruding from the valve body C at the top thereof, and the opening 11a is connected to the push operation portion 1.
1. The air micro-valve device according to claim 1, which is formed in the vicinity of 1. 3 A sealing material 1 such as a packing or an O-ring is installed between the airtightness maintaining member 9 and the valve body C and between the airtightness maintaining member 9 and the operating member 10.
3 is interposed. 4. The depth of the valve chamber 1 is slightly larger than the thickness of the main body 3, and a floating gap 14 is formed between the bottom surface of the valve chamber 1 and the lower surface of the valve body 3. The air micro valve device described. 5. Claims for registration of a utility model in which the valve body 3 is formed by cutting out a plurality of places around the circumference of a disc-shaped circular plate material, and air passages 51 are formed between the valve body 3 and the inner wall of the valve chamber 1 by the cutouts. The air microvalve device according to item 1. 6. The air micro-valve device according to claim 1, wherein the valve body 3 is made of an elastic material such as urethane resin or hard rubber.