JPH11148568A - Four-way selector valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a four-way selector valve which can achieve a lightweight construction and simplification of the assembling operation. SOLUTION: A valve body 1 is formed in a cylindrical shape at whose side wall four external pipings A, B, C, D are connected, and a slide valve 4 provided with communication grooves 4a for putting two of these external pipings A, B, C, D in communication is installed in the valve body 1 slidably in the axial direction, wherein the position of the slide valve 4 is controlled by a piston 2 slided within the valve body 1 by its internal pressure. In this four-way selector valve, the valve body 1 is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a four-way switching valve used for switching a refrigerant pipe in a heat pump type cooling / heating device of an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional four-way switching valve is generally used for connecting two of the four external pipes to a cylindrical valve body having four external pipes connected to a side wall. A slide valve in which a communication groove is formed is slidably disposed in the axial direction, and the position of the slide valve is moved by a piston that slides in the valve body by pressure in the valve body.

[0003] The valve body constituting such a four-way switching valve is conventionally formed of a pipe material made of a copper alloy such as brass, and an external pipe through which a refrigerant passes is connected to the valve body by welding.

[0004] A pilot valve for changing the pressure in the valve body to slide the piston is provided. Conventionally, a pilot valve provided separately from the valve body or the like is provided by a thin pipe or the like. Connected to the main unit.

[0005]

It is desired that all members mounted on an automobile be as light as possible. In addition, since an automobile air conditioner is installed in a narrow space in a vehicle where various devices are densely packed, it is desirable that welding work of pipes and the like be performed as little as possible.

However, as described above, the conventional four-way switching valve uses a copper alloy pipe material for the valve body, and thus does not satisfy both weight and assembly workability. Was.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a four-way switching valve capable of realizing weight reduction and simplification of assembly workability.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a four-way switching valve of the present invention is provided in a cylindrical valve body having four external pipes connected to a side wall portion. A slide valve in which a communication groove for communicating two of the external pipes is formed is slidably disposed in the axial direction, and a piston that slides in the valve body by the pressure in the valve body causes the slide valve to slide. In a four-way switching valve whose position is controlled, the valve body is formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

An extruded molded product having a cross-sectional shape, wherein the valve body has a hole for inserting the piston therein and a flat portion on an outer surface serving as a receiving portion for connecting the external pipe. May be formed.

[0010] A member forming a valve seat for receiving the slide surface of the slide valve is formed of a high-hardness aluminum alloy, and is fixed in the valve body by a mechanical fixing means via a seal member. A plurality of openings communicating with the external piping may be formed in a valve receiving surface of the valve seat, and a lid member for closing both ends of a cylinder hole of the valve body is provided on the valve body via a seal member. May be fixed by mechanical fixing means.

A pilot valve for changing the pressure in the valve body to slide the piston may be provided directly on the valve body, and the pilot valve may be a single three-way solenoid valve. Alternatively, it may be formed by two two-way solenoid valves. Further, a pilot passage for operating the pilot valve may be formed in the valve body.

Further, a permanent magnet group having polarities alternately arranged is attached to the slide valve, and the position of the slide valve can be detected by detecting its magnetic flux from outside the valve body. Good.

In this case, the slide valve may be stopped at a position where two of the four pipes are simultaneously closed, and the slide valve may be stopped at a position in the middle of its movement range. It may be possible to stop at a position where three of the four pipes communicate with each other.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of a four-way switching valve used for switching a refrigerant pipe in a heat pump type cooling / heating device of an automobile, FIG. 1 is a side sectional view taken along a line II, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom cross-sectional view of a central portion. 4 and 5 are external views of the four-way switching valve. FIG. 4 is a front view, and FIG. 5 is a bottom view.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a valve body formed in a cylindrical shape, which is formed from an extruded product of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the cross-sectional shape of the valve body 1 has a cylinder hole 1a for fitting the piston 2 therein, and the refrigerant pipes A, B,
An extruded material having such a cross-sectional shape is machined with holes or the like, having a flat portion 1b on the outer surface as a receiving portion to which C and D are connected.

In the flat portion 1b of the valve body 1, pipe connection holes 11, 1 for connecting four refrigerant pipes A, B, C, D are provided.
2, 13, 14 are bored through to the cylinder hole 1a. 1 and 2 show a state where the refrigerant pipes A, B, C and D are connected, and the other figures show a state where they are not connected.

The first pipe connection hole 11 is connected to a pipe A through which high-pressure refrigerant is sent from the outlet of the compressor. The third pipe connection hole 13 is a pipe C for returning low-pressure refrigerant to the inlet of the compressor.
Is connected. Further, the second and fourth pipe connection holes 12, 1
4 is connected to pipes B and D leading to heat exchangers.

At the end of each of the refrigerant pipes A, B, C, and D, a base having an O-ring 101 for sealing mounted in a circumferential groove on the outer surface is attached. Each of these bases is provided with a screw hole 11a, 12a, 13 formed in the flat portion 1b of the valve body 1.
a, 14a can be fixed by bolts (not shown).

Therefore, each refrigerant pipe A, B, C, D
By simply inserting the valve body 1 into the pipe connection holes 11, 12, 13, and 14, the O-rings 101 prevent leakage at the connection portions and tighten the bolts (not shown) so that the connection state does not come off. Fixed to

The second, third and fourth pipe connection holes 12, 1
A valve seat 3 formed in a semicylindrical shape as shown in FIG. This valve seat 3
Is made of a high-hardness aluminum alloy, and its curved surface portion is formed in a shape that is in close contact with the inner surface of the cylinder hole 1a of the valve body 1.

The three cylindrical projections 35, 36, 37 projecting from the curved surface of the valve seat 3 are connected to the pipe connection holes 12,
13 and 14, the ends of which are shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the pipe connection holes 12, 13, and 14 are caulked and fixed to the mouth steps. However, you may fix with a screw etc.

At the axial position of each of the cylindrical projections 35, 36, 37, communication holes 32, 33, 34 are drilled so as to penetrate to the surface of the flat part. An O-ring 102 for sealing is mounted on the base of each of the 37.
Leakage of the refrigerant in the caulking fixing portion is prevented.

With such a structure, three pipes B,
C and D communicate with the cylinder hole 1 a of the valve body 1 through the communication holes 32, 33 and 34 of the valve seat 3. In addition, piping A
Communicates directly with the cylinder hole 1a of the valve body 1 without passing through the valve seat 3. Therefore, the pipe A may be connected to the valve body 1 by changing its position in the circumferential direction.

A slide valve 4 is disposed in close contact with the flat portion of the valve seat 3. The slide valve 4 is formed of a slippery plastic in a shape like a long and thin plate repeated.

Then, two communication holes (33 and 34 in the state shown in FIG. 2) simultaneously facing the concave portion (communication groove 4a) are shut off from inside the cylinder hole 1a of the valve body 1, and The communicating pipe C and the pipe D communicate with each other via the communication groove 4a. The pipe A and the pipe B, which are not blocked from the cylinder hole 1a by the slide valve 4, communicate with each other via the cylinder hole 1a.

If the slide valve 4 is slid along the plane of the valve seat 3 as shown in FIG.
The pipes B and C communicate through the communication groove 4a, and the pipes A and D
Is switched to a state where they communicate with each other via the cylinder hole 1a. This line switching is the main function of the four-way switching valve.

The sliding operation of the slide valve 4 is performed by being driven by the piston 2. The piston 2 has a configuration in which seal members 21 at both ends that elastically adhere to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder hole 1a of the valve body 1 are connected by a connection plate 22 that is long in the axial direction. As a result, it is possible to move in the axial direction within the cylinder hole 1a of the valve body 1.

The slide valve 4 is fitted in a hole formed in the middle of the connecting plate 22 and is pressed against a flat portion (valve receiving surface) of the valve seat 3 by a leaf spring 41. Accordingly, when the piston 2 moves in the axial direction of the cylinder hole 1a, the slide valve 4 moves with the piston 2 being pressed against the flat portion of the valve seat 3.

At both ends of the cylinder hole 1a of the valve body 1, a sealing lid 16 is fitted and fixed by caulking. However, screw fixing may be used. The fitting surface between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder hole 1a and the sealing lid 16 is sealed by an O-ring 103.

Therefore, between the sealing lids 16 at both ends and the sealing member 21 of the piston 2 located inside each of them, pressure regulating chambers 51 and 52 are provided, and a pressure difference between the pressure regulating chambers 51 and 52 is formed. This drives the piston 2 in the axial direction.

A pressure regulating chamber 51, a pressure regulating chamber 51,
A passage for changing the internal pressure of 52 (pilot passage)
The openings 18a and 18b are formed by machining, and the open ends formed for the machining are sealed by plugs 19 as shown in an enlarged view in FIG.

The seal member 21 of the piston 2 is disposed so as to be sandwiched by metal disks from both sides, and the protrusion 23 protruding from the center of the outer surface of the piston 2 slides to the end. Sometimes, it comes into contact with the sealing lid 16 while closing the opening of the pilot passage 18a.

Although not shown, each seal member 21 is formed with a thin leak hole for communicating between the front side and the back side, and the high-pressure refrigerant in the cylinder hole 1a is supplied to each of the regulated pressure holes. It leaks into the chambers 51 and 52 little by little.

One of the pilot passages 18b formed on the left and right so as to communicate with the pressure regulating chambers 51, 52 on both sides is formed from the front side of the valve body 1 to a position adjacent to the third pipe connection hole 13, and the other is formed. It is formed from the rear side of the valve body 1 to a position adjacent to the third piping connection hole 13, and the ends of the left and right pilot passages 18 b reach the position sandwiching the third piping connection hole 13.

A pilot hole 18c for connecting the left and right pilot passages 18b and the third piping connection hole 13 is formed in the portion, and a pilot valve 6 for opening and closing the pilot holes 18c is formed in the portion. , Both pilot holes 18c.

An electromagnetic solenoid 60 for driving the pilot valve 6 is attached to the outer wall surface of the valve body 1, and one end of a movable iron core 63 urged in the closing direction by a compression coil spring 62 is attached to one end. A first pilot valve body 64 for opening and closing the pilot hole 18c from outside is mounted.

On the other pilot hole 18c side,
The second biased in the closing direction by the compression coil spring 65
Is disposed. A third pipe connection hole 1 is provided between the pilot valve bodies 64 and 66.
A rod 67 that is loosely inserted into the pilot hole 18c across the inside 3 is clamped. A gap is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the rod 67 and the pilot hole 18c to allow the refrigerant to pass.

As described above, the pilot valve 6 is a three-way solenoid valve for selectively opening and closing the inside of the third pipe connection hole 13 and between the two pilot passages 18b, and when the solenoid 60 is off. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the third pilot hole 18c is closed on the first pilot valve body 64 side and opened on the second pilot valve body 66 side, and the third hole through which the low-pressure refrigerant passes. The inside of the pipe connection hole 13 and the second pressure regulation chamber 52 communicate with each other.

In this state, the pressure in the first pressure regulating chamber 51 is increased by the leaking high-pressure refrigerant, and the pressure in the second pressure regulating chamber 52 is reduced. And the slide valve 4 is connected to the communication hole 33 communicating with the pipe C.
And the communication hole 34 communicating with the pipe D, the pipe C and the pipe D communicate with each other, and the pipe A and the pipe B communicate with each other via the cylinder hole 1a of the valve body 1. Finally, the projection 23 blocks the space between the second pressure regulation chamber 52 and the low pressure side.

When the electromagnetic solenoid 60 is turned on, the pilot hole 18 is turned on as shown in FIGS.
c is opened on the side of the first pilot valve body 64 and closed on the side of the second pilot valve body 66, so that the inside of the third pipe connection hole 13 through which the low-pressure refrigerant passes and the first pressure regulating chamber 51 communicate with each other.

In this state, the pressure in the second pressure regulating chamber 52 is increased by the leaking high-pressure refrigerant, and the pressure in the first pressure regulating chamber 51 is reduced. And the slide valve 4 is connected to the communication hole 32 communicating with the pipe B.
And the communication hole 33 communicating with the pipe C, the pipe B communicates with the pipe C, and the pipe A communicates with the pipe D via the inside of the cylinder hole 1a of the valve body 1. Finally, the projection 23 blocks the space between the first pressure regulation chamber 51 and the low pressure side.

FIG. 10 shows a four-way switching valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which an electromagnetic solenoid 60 for opening and closing the two pilot holes 18c is provided independently of each other. , Rod 67 in the first embodiment
Is not provided.

When the two electromagnetic solenoids 60 are turned on / off in conjunction with the above configuration, the four-way switching valve operates in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Electromagnetic solenoid 6
In order to reduce power consumption at zero, what is called a self-holding type may be used.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show a four-way switching valve according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the slide valve 4 moves in the direction of movement (the axial direction of the cylinder hole 1a of the valve body 1).
The permanent magnet group 71 is set so that the N pole and the S pole are
Is arranged.

Then, a magnetic sensing element 72 composed of, for example, a Hall element or the like for detecting a magnetic flux emitted from the permanent magnet group 71.
Is attached to the outer surface of the valve body 1. Although not shown, two electromagnetic solenoids 60 are arranged independently as in the second embodiment.

With this configuration, the position of the slide valve 4 can be detected from the output signal from the magneto-sensitive element 72. Then, in response to the detection signal, for example, as shown in FIG.
The two electromagnetic solenoids 60 are both turned off in a state where the and the communication hole 34 communicating with the pipe D are simultaneously closed by the slide valve 4, and that state can be maintained.

FIG. 11 shows a state where the pipes A and B communicate with each other and the pipes C and D communicate with each other in the third embodiment. FIG. 13 shows a state where the pipes A and D communicate with each other. And
The state in which the pipe B and the pipe C communicate with each other is shown.

FIG. 14 shows a four-way switching valve according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
2 is provided, and two electromagnetic solenoids 60 are arranged independently as in the third embodiment.

In the four-way switching valve of this embodiment, the interval between the communication holes 32, 33, 34 of the valve seat 3 is different from that of the third embodiment, and when the slide valve 4 is stopped halfway. The communication hole 33 communicating with the pipe C is closed, and the pipe B is closed.
And the pipe D can be simultaneously connected to the pipe A.

[0050]

According to the present invention, since the valve body is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, the weight of the four-way switching valve can be greatly reduced. Also, the connecting portion and the connecting portion of the members are fixed by mechanical fixing means, and welding is not required, so that the assembling work is greatly simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 2) of a four-way switching valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the four-way switching valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom sectional view of both ends and a central portion of the four-way switching valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the four-way switching valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the four-way switching valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a valve seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the four-way switching valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a state where the pipeline is switched.

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of the four-way switching valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a state where the pipeline is switched.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged bottom cross-sectional view of both ends and a central portion of the four-way switching valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a state where the pipelines are switched.

FIG. 10 is a bottom sectional view of both end portions and a central portion of a four-way switching valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front sectional view of a four-way switching valve according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front cross-sectional view of a state in which a pipeline of a four-way switching valve according to a third embodiment of the present invention has been switched to an intermediate state.

FIG. 13 is a front sectional view of the four-way switching valve according to the third embodiment of the present invention in a state where the pipeline is switched.

FIG. 14 is a front cross-sectional view of the four-way switching valve according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention in a state where the pipeline is switched to an intermediate state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Valve main body 1a Cylinder hole 2 Piston 3 Valve seat 4 Slide valve 6 Pilot valve 18a, 18b Pilot passage 18c Pilot hole 21 Seal member 60 Electromagnetic solenoid 64, 66 Pilot valve body

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A slide valve in which a communication groove for communicating two of the four external pipes is formed in a cylindrical valve body having four external pipes connected to a side wall portion. A four-way switching valve that is slidably disposed in the axial direction and controls the position of the slide valve by a piston that slides in the valve body by the pressure in the valve body, wherein the valve body is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. A four-way switching valve characterized by being formed by: 2. An extruded product having a cross-sectional shape, wherein the valve main body has a hole for inserting the piston therein, and a flat portion on an outer surface serving as a receiving portion for connecting the external pipe. The four-way switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the four-way switching valve is formed from: 3. A member forming a valve seat for receiving a slide surface of the slide valve is formed of a high-hardness aluminum alloy, and is fixed in the valve body by a mechanical fixing means via a seal member. The four-way switching valve according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of openings communicating with the external pipe are formed in a valve receiving surface of the valve seat. 4. A valve member for closing both end openings of a cylinder hole of the valve main body is fixed to the valve main body by mechanical fixing means via a seal member.
A four-way switching valve as described. 5. A valve according to claim 1, wherein a pilot valve for changing a pressure in said valve body for slidingly driving said piston is provided directly on said valve body.
A four-way switching valve as described. 6. The four-way switching valve according to claim 5, wherein said pilot valve is formed by one three-way solenoid valve or two two-way solenoid valves. 7. The four-way switching valve according to claim 5, wherein a pilot passage for operating the pilot valve is formed in the valve body. 8. The slide valve according to claim 1, wherein a permanent magnet group having alternating polarities is attached to the slide valve, and the position of the slide valve is detected by detecting the magnetic flux from outside the valve body. 7. The four-way switching valve according to any one of the above items 7. 9. The four-way switching valve according to claim 8, wherein the slide valve stops at a position where two of the four pipes are simultaneously closed. 10. The four-way switching valve according to claim 8, wherein the slide valve stops at a position in the middle of its movement range at a position where three of the four pipes communicate with each other.