JPH11336548A - Thermally-actuated valve for control automobile engine coolant circulating circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To intend the miniaturization and cost reduction of a circulating circuit for the coolant of an automobile engine by simplifying a valve element to control the outflow rate toward an automobile engine from a bypass line furnished between the radiator and engine. SOLUTION: A thermally-actuated expanding/contracting element a located coaxially to operate upon sensing the temperature of a cooling water from a radiator bypass line 20 drives a valve element 32 and a main valve element 10 to control a radiator return line 2 for the cooling water and the bypass line 20. The valve element 32 has an enlarged diameter on the side with the bypass line 20 and consists of a coil spring 32A which expands and contracts to open and close the refrigerant flowing gap 32B between the coil portions, and one end is attached to the inner end face of the bypass line 20 and engaged with a spring receptacle seat 36 having a guide hole 37 and a refrigerant flowing hole 38 while the other end is engaged directly with the thermally-actuated element 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a heat responsive valve for controlling a refrigerant circulation circuit for circulating a refrigerant (cooling water) of an automobile engine through a radiator circuit and a bypass circuit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automobile engine coolant circulation circuit provided with a thermally responsive valve for controlling the opening and closing of a radiator circuit and a bypass circuit, a thermally responsive expansion and contraction element senses the temperature of cooling water flowing to the engine via the bypass circuit. This drives a valve that opens and closes the radiator circuit and the bypass circuit. For this reason, in the thermally responsive valve for controlling the entrance of the pipeline leading to the engine side, the cooling water from the bypass pipeline must be positively applied to the temperature sensing portion for valve drive, that is, the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element. Open / close control of the radiator circuit and bypass circuit may not be performed accurately,
Conventionally, various measures have been taken to solve this problem.

A conventional example will be described with reference to FIGS. A branch connection portion with one end of a pipe line (hereinafter, referred to as an engine side pipe line) connecting an inlet of a cooling chamber and a cooling water outlet of a radiator in an automobile engine, not shown,
A heat responsive valve for controlling the cooling water circulation path is provided. The other end of the radiator return pipe, one end of which is connected to the cooling water outlet of the radiator, and the other end of the bypass pipe are connected to the hot water outlet of the cooling chamber of the engine via a circulation pump. I have.

The heat responsive valve 1 for controlling the cooling water circulation path has a structure shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, and has a structure of a frame 4 having a water passage window hole 5 provided through a packing 3 in a radiator return pipe 2. An annular valve seat 6 is provided on the periphery and the frame 4
The upper end of the plunger 7 is fixed to the central portion of the plunger via a screw coupling portion 8. A central portion of a wax-type thermally responsive expansion and contraction element 9 is slidably held by the plunger 7.

A main valve body 10 to which a rubber packing 10A is vulcanized and bonded is fitted on the upper portion of the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9 so as to be able to move up and down. The portion 12 is supported in a state where the upward movement is restricted. The lower end of the valve closing spring 11 is locked on an annular spring receiving seat 13 provided on the outer periphery of the lower portion of the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9. An erecting piece 14 rises from the symmetrical position of the spring receiving seat 13, and an arm 15 extending in an arc shape and horizontally is provided on the upper part of the erecting piece 14, and a projection 16 protruding from an upper edge of the arm 15 is provided. Into the engagement hole 17 in the peripheral edge of the annular valve seat 6.
, And the fitting piece is welded to fix the upright piece 14.

The annular spring receiving seat 13 provided at the lower end of the frame 4 has an inclined wall 18 extending from the bottom surface 13A to the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9, and a plurality of inclined walls 18 through which a refrigerant can flow. A distribution port 19 is opened.

The inside of the bypass line 20 extends straight into the housing 21 of the thermally responsive valve and has a guide hole 24 in the center at the inner end face 22 of the bypass line 20.
Bottom edge 25 of spring seat 23 having a substantially cup-shaped cross section
Is fixed. The spring seat 23 has a refrigerant circulation port 26 communicating with the bypass conduit 20 on the bottom surface, and has an annular guide wall 27 on the peripheral edge.

On the other hand, a flange-shaped spring receiving seat 28 is slidably fitted over the small-diameter shaft portion 9A at the lower end of the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9 and is fitted into an annular groove 29 formed in the small-diameter shaft portion 9A. The lower movement is provided by the combined snap ring 30, and the lower end of the support spring 31 fitted to the small diameter shaft portion 9 </ b> A is locked on the upper surface of the flange-shaped spring receiving seat 28. The lower end of the flange-shaped spring receiving seat 28 locks the upper end of a substantially conical coil-shaped spring 32A constituting the valve body 32. The lower end of the coil spring 32A is locked to the inner bottom surface periphery of the spring seat 23 having a cup-shaped cross section.

The lower portion of the small-diameter shaft portion 9A is slidably fitted in a guide hole 24 at the center of the bottom of the spring seat 23, and engages with the annular groove 33 at the lower end of the small-diameter shaft portion 9A. By engaging the snap ring 34 with the lower peripheral edge of the guide hole 24, the small diameter shaft portion 9A is prevented from being detached from the guide hole 24.

The valve body 32 is formed of a substantially conical coil-shaped spring 32A whose lower end side, that is, the bypass pipe 20 side, has an enlarged diameter.

In the above-mentioned thermal responsive valve, the housing 21
Within the bypass line 20 around the thermally responsive expansion element 9
When the temperature of the cooling water flowing out of the chiller is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, for example, equal to or lower than 60 ° C., the main valving element 10 is in contact with the annular valve seat 6 because the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9 is shortened. The flow path from the return pipe 2 to the engine-side pipe 35 is closed, and in the valve body 32, the coil spring 32A is extended to the maximum extent, and the flow of refrigerant formed between the coil portions is increased. The refrigerant flowing out of the bypass line 20 through the gap 32B smoothly flows upward as indicated by the arrow, flows around the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9, and then flows to the engine side line 35. At this time, since a plurality of flow ports 19 are opened in the inclined wall 18 inside the annular spring receiving seat 13 that locks the lower end of the valve closing spring 11, the flow of the refrigerant to the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9 is achieved. Becomes smoother. Further, since the spring seat 23 fixed to the open end of the bypass conduit has an annular guide wall 27 for locking the lower end of the enlarged diameter of the coil spring 32A, as shown in FIG. When the body 32 is opened, the refrigerant flowing out of the bypass pipe 20 passes through the flow opening 26 on the bottom surface of the spring seat 23, and further flows into the substantially conical coiled spring 3.
The flow direction is controlled by the annular guide wall 27 through the refrigerant flow gap 32B between the coils of 2A, flows through the flow opening 19 of the inclined wall 18 of the annular spring receiving seat 13, and moves in the direction of the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9. After passing around, it flows to the engine side pipe line 35.

Next, when the temperature of the water around the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9 becomes, for example, 60 ° C. to 80 ° C., the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9 expands, so that the coil spring 3
The upper end of 2A is pushed down, and the refrigerant flow gap 3
9B, the gap 32B between the coil portions is finally closed as shown in FIG. 9, and the flow path from the bypass pipe 20 to the engine-side pipe 35 is controlled.

Next, when the temperature of the water surrounding the thermoresponsive expansion / contraction element 9 rises above, for example, 82.degree.
As a result, the main valve body 10, which is restricted from moving upward from the contact position of the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9 at the tapered portion 12, descends and separates from the annular valve seat 6 as shown in FIG. 9. The flow path from the radiator return pipe 2 to the engine side pipe 35 is opened. In this way, the hot water of the automobile engine circulates through the radiator circuit, and a small amount of hot water also circulates through the bypass circuit.

[0014]

However, in the conventional thermally responsive valve, a spring seat 23 having an annular guide wall 27 fixed to the inner end face of the bypass line 20 is provided directly above the bypass line 20. Since the flange-shaped spring seat 28 and the bearing spring 31 provided on the small diameter shaft portion 9A of the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9 are present, the drawback that the resistance of the cooling water in the housing 21 is increased, and the structure is complicated. There is a disadvantage that the production cost of the thermally responsive valve increases. Further, in the above-described structure, there is a disadvantage that the dimension in the axial direction becomes large and the thermally responsive valve becomes large.

An object of the present invention is to provide a thermally responsive valve for controlling a refrigerant circuit of an automobile engine which solves the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Two valves provided coaxially with a thermally responsive expansion and contraction element and driven by the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element to control a radiator return line for refrigerant and a radiator bypass line. A mechanism for controlling an outlet from the bypass line to the engine side by driving the thermo-responsive expansion / contraction element by a partial flow of the refrigerant from the bypass line around the thermo-responsive expansion / contraction element. A heat-responsive valve in the refrigerant circuit of the engine, the valve controlling the outlet from the bypass pipe to the engine side,
The bypass pipe side has an enlarged diameter, and a coil-shaped spring that opens and closes a coolant circulation interval formed between the coil parts by being closely attached and separated by expansion and contraction, and one end is provided with the heat A guide hole for guiding the small-diameter shaft portion at the lower end of the responsive expansion / contraction element, and a flow passage for the refrigerant communicating with the bypass conduit are provided, and a substantially disk-shaped spring seat fixed to the inner end surface of the bypass conduit. And the other end is directly locked to the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element. It is preferable that the bottom surface of the spring seat is formed as a gently inclined surface that is inclined and descends in a substantially reverse gentle cone shape from the peripheral edge toward the center.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
Is opened, the bypass line 20 communicates with the engine side line 35, the main valve body 10 of the radiator return line 2 is closed, and the radiator return line 2 and the engine side line 35 are shut off. 2 shows a state opposite to that of FIG. 1, that is, a state in which the valve element 32 of the bypass line 20 is closed and the main valve element 10 of the radiator return line 2 is open, and FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. FIG. 4 shows a part of a state where the valve body 32 is open, and FIG. 5 shows a part of a state where the valve body 32 is closed.

In the thermally responsive valve 1 of the first embodiment,
The lower end and upper end of the coil spring 32A constituting the valve body 32 that opens and closes the outlet of the bypass conduit 20 are different from the structure of the thermally responsive valve shown in FIG. Since the structure is the same as that of the thermally responsive valve shown in FIG.
The same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

1 to 5, the structure of the wax-type thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9 is, for example, the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-20697. That is, the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9 is configured by filling wax in a closed chamber between the rubber sleeve fitted into the plunger 7 and the low-and-low cylindrical container. The lower end of the plunger 7 is formed in a tapered shape, and the wax expands thermally,
A force acts in the direction in which the rubber sleeve pushes up the plunger 7 via the tapered portion, and the upper end of the plunger 7 is fixed to the frame 4.
Is moved down along the plunger 7, and the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element 9 operates in the opposite direction as the wax shrinks, and the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element 9 expands and contracts due to the heat change. Main valve body 10 and valve body 32 supported by element 9
Work.

The inner end of the bypass line 20 extends straight into the housing 21 of the thermally responsive valve 1, and is formed at the center of the guide hole 3 in the inner end surface 22 of the bypass line 20.
The bottom peripheral edge of a substantially disk-shaped spring seat 36 having a bottom surface 7 is fixed. The spring seat 36 has a refrigerant flow port 38 communicating with the bypass conduit 20 on the bottom surface 36A, and has an annular projecting portion 36B on the periphery.

On the other hand, a horizontal outward flange constituting a spring seat 39 is provided above the small diameter shaft portion 9A at the lower end of the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9, and the lower surface of the spring seat 39 holds the valve body 3
The upper end of the substantially conical coiled spring 32A constituting the second spring 2 is locked. The lower end of the coil spring 32A is locked to the inner bottom surface of the spring seat 36.

The lower portion of the small-diameter shaft portion 9A is slidably inserted into a guide hole 37 at the center of the bottom surface of the spring receiving seat 36, and is inserted into an annular groove 40 provided at the lower end of the small-diameter shaft portion 9A. The engagement of the engaged snap ring 41 with the lower peripheral edge of the guide hole 37 prevents the small-diameter shaft portion 9A from being fitted into the guide hole 37.

The annular projecting portion 36B of the spring seat 36 for locking the lower end of the coil spring 32A is provided to prevent the lower end of the coil spring 32A from shifting in the radial direction. From the periphery of the bottom surface 36A, the annular projecting portion 36B is a relief necessary for the coil spring 32A to be compressed by the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element 9 as shown in FIG. It has a sufficient inside diameter to secure the margin (a).

According to the thermally responsive valve 1 of the first embodiment, the refrigerant flowing out of the bypass pipe 20 passes through the flow opening 38 on the bottom surface 36A of the spring seat 36, and further flows through the substantially conical coil spring 32A. After passing through the refrigerant flow interval 32B between the coils, the flow rate is controlled at this interval 32B, and the refrigerant flows through the flow opening 19 of the inclined wall 18 of the annular spring seat 13 and smoothly goes in the direction of the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element 9. Later, engine side line 3
Distribute to 5.

FIG. 6 shows a part of a thermally responsive valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the structure of the spring seat 36 for locking the lower end of the coil spring 32A constituting the valve body 32 is slightly different from that of the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the bottom surface 36A of the spring seat 36 is formed as an inclined surface having a substantially inverted gentle cone shape which is gently inclined downward from the peripheral edge toward the center portion having the guide hole 37. The coil-shaped spring 32A is pressed down by the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element 9 and is compressed not in a horizontal state but in a substantially inverted gentle cone shape as shown by a solid line in FIG.

That is, according to the spring seat 36 of the second embodiment, the allowance (a) required to compress the coil spring 32A is larger than that of the spring seat 36 of the first embodiment. Therefore, if the allowance is small, the structure of the spring seat 36 of the second embodiment is effective.

The coil spring 32A constituting the valve body 32 is made of a spring steel material having a perfect circular cross section.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the diameter of the valve body for controlling the outlet of the bypass pipe in the heat responsive valve for controlling the refrigerant circuit of the automobile engine is enlarged on the bypass pipe side. Driven by the thermally responsive element, it expands and contracts, and the coil portions are in close contact with each other, and separated by a coil-shaped spring that opens and closes a refrigerant circulation interval formed between the coil portions. In the one configured to flow to the heat responsive element through the refrigerant circulation interval, the locking structure of the upper end and the lower end of the coiled spring,
Since there is no bearing spring, flange-shaped spring seat, or annular guide wall of the spring seat as in the conventional structure, the flow of the refrigerant toward the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element is not hindered and flows out of the bypass pipe such as during idling. Even when the flow of the refrigerant is low, the positive flow of the refrigerant toward the temperature-sensitive portion of the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element can be made, and the configuration is simple, so that the size in the axial direction is particularly reduced. Accordingly, the size of the thermal responsive valve can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced because the thermal responsive valve is easily manufactured.

Further, by providing the bottom surface of the spring seat on an inclined surface which is inclined downward from the peripheral edge toward the center, it is possible to secure a sufficient escape allowance for compressing the coil spring. The smooth and reliable fine-tuning of the coolant circulation interval between cost parts due to the expansion and contraction of the spring,
There is an effect that the flow rate of the refrigerant is appropriately controlled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a bypass pipe is opened and a radiator return pipe is closed.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 in a state in which a bypass pipeline is closed and a radiator return pipeline is opened.

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing an opened state of a bypass pipe valve element.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a state in which a bypass pipe is closed in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view in a state where a bypass conduit is closed.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a bypass pipe is opened and a radiator return pipe is closed in a conventional thermally responsive valve.

8 is a partially sectional side view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 in a state in which a bypass line is closed and a radiator return line is opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal response valve 2 Pipeline of radiator 3 Packing 4 Frame 5 Water passage window hole 6 Annular valve seat 7 Plunger 8 Connecting part 9 Thermal response expansion and contraction element 9A Small diameter shaft part 10 Main valve body 11 Valve closing spring 12 Taper part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Annular spring seat 14 Standing piece 15 Arm 16 Projection 17 Engagement hole 18 Inclined wall 19 Flow opening 20 Bypass line 21 Housing 22 Inner end face of bypass line 32 Valve 32A Coiled spring 32B Refrigerant circulation interval between coils 35 radiator side pipe line 36 spring seat 36A bottom surface 36B annular projecting portion 37 guide hole 38 communication port 39 spring seat 40 annular groove 41 snap ring

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 14, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0016]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems,
Therefore, the present invention has two valves that are provided coaxially with the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element and are driven by the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element to control a radiator return line of the refrigerant and a radiator bypass line, A mechanism for controlling an outlet from the bypass line to the engine side by driving the thermo-responsive expansion and contraction element by a partial flow in which the refrigerant from the bypass pipe flows around the thermo-responsive expansion and contraction element , From the bypass line
The valve that controls the outlet to the engine is located on the bypass line
The coil part comes into close contact and separates due to expansion and contraction
As a result, the refrigerant circulation interval formed between the coil portions is opened and closed.
Refrigerant circulation of engine composed of coiled springs
A thermally responsive valve in a circuit, wherein
On the end face, center the small diameter shaft part at the lower end of the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element
It has a guide hole for guiding, the outside of the bypass pipe
Substantially disc-shaped spring seat having a refrigerant flow port communicating with a path
Is fixed, and the upper end of the small diameter of the coiled spring is
The thermal expansion and contraction element is directly locked, and the lower end of the expanded diameter is substantially
Is it slidably supported on the upper surface of the disc-shaped spring seat?
The coiled spurs are moved with the downward movement of the thermally responsive expansion element.
The ring receives the spring seat while expanding the diameter of each coil portion.
By being pressed flat along the upper surface of the
Characterized by a configuration in which the coil is in contact with and can be closed
And The spring seat is formed flat, or
Approximate cone gradually descending from the periphery to the center
It is good to form in shape.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0030

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

By providing the spring seats flat, or by providing them so as to be inclined downward from the peripheral edge toward the center, the coil spring is horizontal and flat (flat).
Compressed or slightly inclined down toward the center
It can be reliably held in any state of being lowered and compressed in a flat (flat) state (this state is a valve closed state). The smooth and reliable fine adjustment controls the refrigerant flow rate to an appropriate amount.

Claims (2)

[Claims] And a valve for controlling a radiator return line of the refrigerant and a radiator bypass line, the valve being provided coaxially with the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element and being driven by the thermally responsive expansion and contraction element. The engine having a mechanism for controlling the outlet from the bypass line to the engine side by driving the thermoresponsive expansion / contraction element by a partial flow in which the refrigerant from the bypass conduit flows around the thermoresponsive expansion / contraction element, The heat responsive valve in the refrigerant circuit, the valve that controls the outlet from the bypass pipe to the engine side, the diameter of the bypass pipe side is enlarged, the coil portion is closely contacted by expansion and contraction, and separated, A guide hole configured to guide a small-diameter shaft portion at a lower end of the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element on a bottom surface, the bypass hole being configured by a coil-shaped spring that opens and closes a coolant circulation interval formed between the coil portions; A refrigerant flow port is provided, which communicates with the refrigerant, is locked to a substantially disk-shaped spring seat fixed to the inner end surface of the bypass pipe, and the other end is directly locked to the thermally responsive expansion / contraction element. Thermal response valve for controlling the refrigerant circuit of an automobile engine. 2. The vehicle engine refrigerant circulation circuit control according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the spring seat is formed as a gently sloping surface which is sloping and descending in a substantially reverse gently conical shape from the peripheral edge toward the center. For heat-responsive valve.