JPH03117789A - Automatic closing valve device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To compact an automatic closing device for making it possible to precisely control a flow rate by placing a piezoelectric body on the upper section of a pressure relief hole having the first and second liquid storing space which are communicated by an equalizing pipe and penetrating a valve body, and fitting the valve body in a liquid discharging port by a spring. CONSTITUTION:When a piezoelectric body 10 is driven and bent convexly, a pressure relief hole 7 is opened, and the liquid in the second liquid storing space 6 flows toward an liquid discharging port 3 passing through the pressure relief hole 7. At this moment the liquid flows from the first liquid storing space 5 into the space 6 passing through a pressure equalizing hole 8, however, since this influent volume is smaller than the discharging volume of the liquid from the space 6 to a liquid discharging port, the pressure in the pace 6 becomes reduced more than that in the space 5, and as a result, the valve body 4 moves upward, and the liquid in the space 5 flows from the liquid discharging port 3. When the drive of the piezoelectric body 10 is made to stop, the pressure relief hole 7 is closed down by the piezoelectric body 10, and the space 5 and space 6 are equalized to each other, and the valve body 4 is moved downward by a spring 11 for closing the liquid discharging port 3. This serves to provide the device with the sealing performance and makes it possible to compact the device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic opening/closing valve device for controlling the flow of liquid.

[Prior Art] Various forms of automatic on-off valve devices for controlling the flow of liquid have been known, such as electromagnetic on-off valves using solenoids and electric valves driven by motors.

Such an automatic opening/closing valve device can be automatically operated using sensors and various switches.

However, since the driving source of such an automatic opening/closing valve device is a solenoid or a motor, it is not possible to perform highly accurate positioning, and it is not possible to precisely control the flow rate.

Therefore, in order to solve these problems, an automatic opening/closing valve device using a piezoelectric actuator as a drive source has been reported (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 93678 and 1993).
No. 79).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such an automatic opening/closing valve device, although flow rate control is performed more precisely than before by using a piezoelectric actuator as a driving source, the valve body is driven via a plunger. Therefore, the size of the automatic opening/closing valve device itself has not been made compact, and the flow rate control is not sufficient.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, as a result of intensive studies to solve these problems, the inventors of the present invention have made the size of the automatic opening/closing valve device itself more compact by using a flat piezoelectric body, Furthermore, the present inventors have discovered that by placing a flat piezoelectric material in a specific structure, it is possible to exhibit self-sealing properties, thereby allowing more precise flow control.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic opening/closing valve device that is easy to assemble, allows the device itself to be made compact, and enables more precise flow control.

That is, the gist of the present invention is to provide a casing (1) having a liquid inlet (2) on one side and a liquid outlet (3) on the other side.
) and a valve body (4) placed inside the casing (1).The inside of the casing (1) is divided into a first liquid storage space (5) and a second liquid storage space (6) by the valve body (4). The valve body (4) has a pressure relief hole (7) that passes through the valve body (4) so as to communicate the second liquid storage space (6) with the liquid outlet (3).
The pressure relief hole (7) has a piezoelectric body (10) placed thereon so as to provide a communication path (9) formed between the valve body (4) and the piezoelectric body aω at the top thereof; The upper part of the pressure relief hole (7) can be opened and closed by driving the piezoelectric body 0ω, so that the second liquid storage space (6) and the liquid outlet (3) can freely communicate with each other through the communication path (9). In addition, the valve body (4) has a pressure equalizing hole (8) that communicates the first liquid storage space (5) and the second liquid storage space (6), and the valve body (4)
The valve body (4) is
The automatic opening/closing valve device is configured such that it can be fitted into the liquid outlet (3).

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic opening/closing valve device of the present invention. Here, 1 is the casing, 2 is the liquid inlet,
3 is a liquid outlet, 4 is a valve body, 5 is a first liquid storage space, 6
1 is a second liquid storage space, 7 is a pressure relief hole, 8 is a pressure equalization hole, 9 is a communication hole, 10 is a piezoelectric body, and 11 is a spring.

The casing 1 is provided with a liquid inlet 2 on one side and a liquid outlet 3 on the other side.

A valve body 4 is placed inside the casing 1, and the valve body 4 is arranged so as to fit into the liquid outlet 3 provided in the casing 1, and a spring provided on the upper part of the valve body 4 11 allows the valve body 4 to fit freely into the liquid outlet 3.

Furthermore, the inside of the casing 1 is divided by the valve body 4 into a first liquid storage space 5 and a second liquid storage space 6.

The valve body 4 has a first liquid storage space 5 and a second liquid storage space 6.
A pressure equalizing hole 8 is provided for communication between the two. This pressure equalization hole 8 equalizes the pressures in the first liquid storage space 5 and the second liquid storage space 6.

In addition to the pressure equalization hole 8, the valve body 4 has a pressure relief hole 7 that passes through the valve body 4 so as to communicate the second liquid storage space 6 and the liquid outlet 3. A piezoelectric body 10 is placed above the pressure relief hole 7 so that a communication path 9 formed between the valve body 4 and the piezoelectric body 10 is provided. Specifically, when the piezoelectric body 10 is placed, a space is created between the valve body 4 and the piezoelectric body 10 by providing a valve seat so that the pressure relief hole 7 protrudes from the upper part of the valve body 4. , this space may be used as the communication path 9 described above. In addition, the valve seat and piezoelectric body 1
It is preferable to arrange a valve gasket between the valve and the valve because the sealing performance is further improved.

With this configuration, the piezoelectric body 10 is driven to curve the piezoelectric body into a convex shape to open the pressure relief hole 7, and by stopping the drive of the piezoelectric body 10, the pressure relief hole 7 is opened. The pressure relief hole 7 allows the second
The liquid storage space 6 and the liquid outlet 3 can communicate with each other through the communication hole 9.

Further, the pressure equalization hole 8 directly communicates the first liquid storage space 5 and the second liquid storage space 6, but the communication 1
It is also possible to communicate the two storage spaces via 9 (see FIG. 3).

Further, as the piezoelectric body 10, it is preferable to use a flat bimorph type or unimorph type piezoelectric body.

Next, the operation of the device of the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the operating state of the device of the present invention. First, in the closed state (see FIG. 1), the first liquid storage space 5, the second liquid storage space 6, and the communication path 9 are filled with liquid, and all are in a state of equal pressure. The communication path 9 and the liquid outlet 3 are not in communication because the piezoelectric body 10 receives a downward force due to the pressure of the liquid and closes the pressure release hole 7.
They are fitted and closed by receiving a downward force from the force and the pressure of the liquid.

Next, the piezoelectric body IO is driven to curve the piezoelectric body IO into a convex shape in an upward direction (see FIG. 2(a)).

As a result, the pressure relief hole 7 becomes open, and the liquid filling the second liquid storage space 6 passes through the communication path 9 and the pressure relief hole 7 and flows out to the liquid outlet 3 (black in FIG. 2(a)). (see arrow). At this time, through the pressure equalization hole 8, the first liquid storage space 5
The liquid flows from the second liquid storage space 6 into the second liquid storage space 6, but this inflow amount needs to be smaller than the amount flowing out from the second liquid storage space 6 to the liquid outlet. Due to the outflow of the liquid, the pressure balance between the first liquid storage space 5 and the second liquid storage space 6 is disrupted, and the second liquid storage space 6 is stronger than the first liquid storage space 5.
Since the pressure is relatively reduced, the valve body 4 moves upward (see the white arrow in FIG. 2(a)).

Due to the movement of the valve body 4, an opening is created between the liquid outlet 3 and the valve body 4, and the liquid filling the first liquid storage space 5 flows out from the liquid outlet 3 (as shown by the black arrow in FIG. 2(b)). reference).

Further, in the closing operation, by stopping the drive of the piezoelectric body 10, the pressure relief hole 7 is closed by the piezoelectric body 10.

As a result, the liquid flowing in from the liquid population 2 not only flows out from the liquid outlet 3, but also passes through the pressure equalization hole 8 and flows through the second
The liquid flows into the liquid storage space 6 (see the black arrow in FIG. 2(C)), and the pressure in the first liquid storage space 5 and the second liquid storage space 6 becomes equal. When the pressure in this rain space becomes equal, the valve body 4 is moved downward by the spring 11 (see the white arrow in FIG. 2(C)).

The valve body 4 then fits into the liquid outlet 3 and closes, stopping the outflow of liquid.

Through the above operations, the valve is opened and closed, and the flow rate is controlled.

[Effects of the Invention] Although the device of the present invention is configured and operates as described above, it is easy to assemble since there is no need to fix the piezoelectric body, and a flat piezoelectric body can be used. It can be manufactured at low cost, and has self-sealing properties because the piezoelectric body is placed on a valve seat with a specific shape.
Furthermore, since the valve body and the drive section for the valve body can be provided within the casing, there is an advantage that the device itself can be made compact.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the operating state of the device of the present invention, and FIG. It is a schematic sectional view showing other embodiments of. In FIGS. 1 to 3, numeral 1 is a casing, 2 is a liquid inlet, 3 is a liquid outlet, 4 is a valve body, 5 is a first liquid storage space, 6 is a second liquid storage space, 7 is a pressure release hole, 8 is a pressure equalization hole,
Reference numeral 9 represents a communication path, 10 represents a piezoelectric body, and 11 represents a spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) From a casing (1) with a liquid inlet (2) on one side and a liquid outlet (3) on the other side, and a valve body (4) placed within the casing (1). The inside of the casing (1) is a first liquid storage space (5) formed by the valve body (4).
and a second liquid storage space (6), and a valve body (4).
has a pressure relief hole (7) penetrating through the second liquid storage space (6) and the liquid outlet (3), and the pressure relief hole (7) has a valve body (4) located above the pressure relief hole (7). The piezoelectric body (10) is placed so as to provide a communication path (9) between the piezoelectric body (10) and the piezoelectric body (10), and the upper part of the pressure relief hole (7) is opened by driving the piezoelectric body (10). By being able to open and close, the second liquid storage space (6) and the liquid outlet (3) are connected via the communication path (9).
), and the valve body (4) has a pressure equalizing hole (8) that communicates the first liquid storage space (5) and the second liquid storage space (6), and An automatic opening/closing valve device in which a valve body (4) can be freely fitted into a liquid outlet (3) by a spring (11) provided on the upper part of the valve body (4).