JPH1144369A - Motor-driven four-way valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive motor-driven four-way valve by which abrasion of a valve seat or the like can be reduced and a load of an electric motor device can be reduced and sealing performance can be improved by strongly pressing a valve element to the valve seat when used as the valve element and whose structure is simple and by which the number of part items can be reduced by reducing pressing force of the valve element to the valve seat at rotating time of the valve element. SOLUTION: A lower side cam 67 is arranged on an upper surface of a valve element inside which a passage is formed, a projection coming into contact with a stopper arranged in a prescribed position of a valve casing is arranged on an outer periphery, an upper projection 101 is arranged on an under surface, an upper side cam 74 is arranged on a shaft of an electric motor device so as to be opposed to the lower side cam 67, and a lower projection 102 is arranged so as to be opposed to the upper projection 101, and after the valve body rotates and comes into contact with the stopper by the electric motor device, the electric motor device stops by rotating the upper side cam 74 by a prescribed quantity, and a motor operated four-way valve is constituted so that the upper side cam 74 can press the valve element to a valve seat at this time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a motor-operated four-way valve which is used to selectively supply cold or hot water to a radiator in a room and to switch a cold / hot water supply line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In summer, cooling water is supplied to a radiator provided in a room to cool it, and in winter, hot water is supplied to heat the radiator.
An electric four-way valve is used to pipe a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe to a pipe leading to the radiator, and to appropriately switch between the two pipes. As the electric four-way valve, four lines in the valve main body include a line leading to a radiator, a line supplying cold water, a line supplying hot water, and a line bypassing and returning hot or cold water. The valve body is provided with four openings in the valve body, and is provided with a bowl-shaped valve body formed with two flow paths connecting each of the two openings so as to be rotatable by a motor. I have. Thereby, the first position in which the cold water introduction hole communicates with the pipe to the radiator through the first flow passage in the valve body and the hot water introduction hole communicates with the bypass conduit through the second flow passage in the valve body. A second position in which the second flow passage in the valve body communicates the hot water introduction hole with the conduit to the radiator, and a first flow passage in the valve body communicates the cold water introduction hole with the bypass conduit. Are switched so that can be selectively positioned.

[0003]

In the above-described electric four-way valve, a valve body having four openings is closely attached to a valve seat having four openings so as not to cause water leakage. Must be kept at On the other hand, the valve element thus held in a close contact state must slide on the valve seat and rotate when switching the flow path, and the above-mentioned close contact force for preventing water leakage is large. The larger, the greater the friction between the contact surfaces of the valve seat and the valve element when rotating.

When the valve body rotates due to this frictional force, the two parts are greatly worn. In addition, since the valve seat and the valve body have four openings, the two parts are rotated when the valve body rotates. At the edge of the opening, especially at this portion, causing significant wear and damage. Such wear or damage causes water leakage between the valve seat and the valve body, resulting in malfunction of the valve. In particular, the valve body that forms the flow path inside is made of ceramic or the like, and the valve seat side that comes into contact with this valve body is often made of an elastic body such as rubber with good sealing properties. When the valve is pressed against the valve seat with a large force to prevent water leakage, the valve bites into the rubber of the valve seat, and when the valve is rotated in this biting state, the rubber valve seat becomes ceramic. The valve body wears out in a short period of time, and the valve seat and the like must be frequently replaced.

[0005] In addition, between the valve seat and the valve body, rust and dust on the piping,
Alternatively, when sand or the like is caught, these bite into the valve seat or the like due to the rotation of the valve body, and the above-mentioned wear is more likely to occur. Further, when the valve body is strongly pressed against the valve seat to improve the sealing property, a strong frictional force is generated when the valve body rotates, so that a large load is applied to the electric device, and the malfunction of the electric valve may be reduced. If a powerful electric device is used as a countermeasure, the valve must be expensive.

[0006] As a countermeasure, the present applicant has set the valve body to rotate so as to float from the valve seat during the switching operation of the valve, and to firmly adhere to the valve seat at the end of the switching operation. Normally, the valve body is firmly adhered to the valve seat by the holding spring, and when switching the valve body, the cam can be used to move the valve body in the direction to float the valve body against the holding spring. And an electric multi-way valve in which the valve body is firmly brought into close contact with the valve seat by the pressing spring again at the switching end position.

However, in this electric multi-way valve, in addition to the provision of a torsion spring between the valve body shaft and the valve body, the transmission mechanism from the electric motor to the valve body becomes complicated, the number of parts increases, and the number of assembly steps increases. , And had to be expensive.

Accordingly, the present invention reduces the pressing force of the valve body against the valve seat during rotation of the valve body, thereby reducing wear of the valve seat and the like and reducing the load on the electric device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive electric four-way valve which has a simple structure, has a small number of parts, and is inexpensive, in which a valve element can be strongly pressed against a valve seat during use to improve sealing performance.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a stopper provided at a predetermined position of a valve box on the outer periphery by providing a lower cam on an upper surface of a valve body having a flow path formed therein. An upper cam is provided on the shaft of the electric device so as to face the lower cam. After the electric device rotates the valve, the electric device rotates the upper cam by a predetermined amount and stops after contacting the stopper. At this time, an electric four-way valve is configured so that the upper cam can press the valve body against the valve seat, and the lower cam is provided on the upper surface of the valve body having a flow path formed therein, and the valve is provided on the outer periphery. A projection provided in contact with a stopper provided at a predetermined position of the box, an upper projection provided on a lower surface, an upper cam provided on a shaft of the electric device opposed to the lower cam, and a lower projection provided provided opposed to the upper projection; The motor rotates upward after the valve element rotates and abuts the stopper The arm is rotated a predetermined amount and stopped, in which this time the upper cam has configured the electric four-way valve to allow pushing the valve element to the valve seat.

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, in the former, in the normal state, the upper cam presses the valve body to the valve seat side by the engagement between the upper cam and the lower cam, and the sealing state is obtained. When the upper cam is rotated by the electric device at the time of switching the flow path, the engagement between the upper cam and the lower cam changes, so that the frictional force between the valve body and the valve seat decreases. Rotates with the cam,
When the stopper formed on the outer periphery of the valve body comes into contact with the valve box portion, the rotation of the valve body stops, and the flow path is switched.
Thereafter, the electric device rotates the upper cam by a predetermined amount, and the meshing between the upper cam and the lower cam pushes the valve body toward the valve seat, thereby maintaining the sealed state again. In the latter case, in the normal state, the upper cam presses the valve body toward the valve seat side by the engagement of the upper cam and the lower cam, and the sealed state is maintained. When the cam is rotated, the meshing state between the upper cam and the lower cam changes, so that the frictional force between the valve body and the valve seat decreases, so that the lower cam rotates together with the upper cam. At this time, even when the valve element is in close contact with the valve seat, the upper projection of the lower surface of the valve element is pushed up by the lower projection provided on the shaft of the electric device, and the valve element is separated from the valve seat. Rotation with the upper cam stops the rotation of the valve body by the stopper formed on the outer periphery of the valve body coming into contact with the valve box part,
The channels are switched. Thereafter, the electric device rotates the upper cam by a predetermined amount, and the meshing between the upper cam and the lower cam pushes the valve body toward the valve seat, thereby maintaining the sealed state again.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the lower part of the valve box 1, four connecting pipe lines 2, 3, 4, 5 are provided radially at an angle of 90 degrees to each other, and these are raised at a right angle at the center to form a cylindrical pipe. The valve holes 10, 11, in the valve seat surface 7 of the valve housing 6
12 and 13 respectively. In the valve housing 6,
A valve element 16 having a first flow path 14 and a second flow path 15 connecting two adjacent valve holes is rotatably provided.
The first flow path 14 and the second flow path are each formed as an annular flow path extending in a range of 90 degrees, and a ring-shaped lower cam 17 is provided on the upper surface thereof. The lower cam 17 has an uneven shape in the vertical direction in the figure. A central projection 18 is formed at the lower center of the valve body 16. The central projection 18 fits into a support hole 20 provided in the valve box 1 and is urged upward by a spring 21 contracted and provided in the support hole. Have been.

On the outer periphery of the valve body 16, projections 22-1 and 22-2 are provided at positions 180 degrees apart from each other, and on the inner surface of the valve housing portion 6 of the valve box 1, a stopper 23 with which the projections 22 abut is provided. Are four in the figure 23-1, 23-2, 23-3, 23
-4 and four are provided. Above the lower cam 17,
A ring-shaped upper cam 24 having the same diameter as the lower cam 17 is disposed, and a cam surface formed on the lower surface of the upper cam 24 is formed symmetrically with the cam surface of the lower cam 16 so as to mesh with each other. I have. A shaft hole is provided at the center of the upper cam 24, and a lower shaft hole 25 provided below the shaft hole has a valve body 1 therein.
The protrusion 26 provided on the center upper surface of the shaft 6 is fitted into the upper shaft hole 27 provided above the shaft hole, and the tip of the shaft 30 of a motor 28 as an electric device provided above the valve box 1 is fitted into the upper shaft hole 27. doing.

At the top of the cylindrical valve housing 6 of the valve box 1,
The lid 32 is fixed by screws 33 via the O-ring 31, and the motor 28 is fixed to the upper surface of the lid 32 by screws 34. At the center of the lid 32, a bearing portion 35 for supporting the shaft 30 of the motor 28 is formed. A flange 36 is provided on the shaft 30, and a disc spring 37 is provided between the lower surface of the flange 36 and the upper surface of the upper cam 24.

The disc spring 37 is in the first state as shown in FIG. 5 when the valve is normally used for cooling and heating in FIG. 1, and the projection 40 of the upper cam 24 is Since the upper cam 24 is lifted by the lower cam 17 because it is stopped while riding on the protruding portion 41, the disc spring 37 is pressed and contracted, and the valve body 16 is pressed by the repulsive force. The seal 42 provided on the lower surface of the valve body 16 is pressed downward and the valve holes 10, 11, 1
It is pressed against 2, 13 to provide a sealing action. Also,
As the shaft 30 rotates, the upper cam 24 rotates, and as shown in FIG.
3 and the projection 41 of the lower cam 17 is
When the upper cam 24 is fitted into the concave portion 44 of the lower
7, the valve body 16 has almost no downward pressing force, and the valve body 16 hardly presses downward, and the spring 21 exerts a force to push it upward. It can be freely rotated.

In the electric four-way valve having the above structure, for example,
In the first operation state for performing the indoor cooling, as shown in FIG. 5, the first operation state is established, and the discharge section 40 of the upper cam 24 stops on the protruding section 41 of the lower cam 17 and stops. Thus, power supply to the motor 28 is stopped. Therefore, the upper cam 24 is in a state of being lifted by the lower cam 17, whereby the disc spring 37 is compressed and contracted,
The repulsive force pushes the valve body 16 downward, and the valve body 16
The seal 42 provided on the lower surface of the valve holes 10, 11, 12, 1
3 to provide a sealing effect. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the first passage 14 of the valve body 16 communicates with the valve holes 10 and 11, and the second passage 15 communicates with the valve holes 12 and 13. Thereby, when this valve is used as a four-way valve for supplying cold water or hot water to the indoor radiator, by communicating the valve hole 10 communicating with the radiator and the valve hole 11 communicating with the cold water supply source, Cold water is supplied to the radiator, and the room can be cooled. At this time, the second flow path 15 communicates with the valve hole 14 communicating with the hot water supply source and the bypass flow path communicating with the return flow path,
Hot water is not supplied to the radiator and is bypassed. At this time, the projection 22-1 provided on the valve body 16 is
, And the projections 22-2 are in contact with the stoppers 23-3.

Next, for example, in the second operation state for heating the room, when the motor 28 is energized and the valve body is rotated clockwise, the projection 22-1 is moved from the stopper 23-1 by the stopper 23-1. Further, the projections 22-2 rotate away from the stoppers 23-3, and the projections 40 of the upper cam 24 are thereby brought into the second state as shown in FIG. It gradually moves from the protruding portion 41 to the concave portion 44 side of the lower cam. At this time, the pressing force of the disc spring acts on the valve element 16 and the rotational force from the motor does not act on the valve element 16, so that the valve element 16 is kept stopped. By the above operation, the upper cam 24 moves downward by the pressing force of the disc spring 37, and the disc spring 37 reduces the pressing force.

When the motor 28 further rotates, the third state is attained as shown in FIG. 7, and when the projection 40 of the upper cam falls into the recess 44 of the lower cam 17, the pressing force of the disc spring 37 is almost eliminated. Rather, since the pushing force of the spring 21 acts from below the valve body, the valve body 16 is substantially free. Therefore, the upper cam 24 and the lower cam 17 are fitted to each other, the lower cam 17 receives a rotational force from the upper cam 24, and the valve body 16 in a free state rotates together with the upper cam 24. In this state, the upper cam 24 and the lower cam 17 continue to rotate integrally, so that the projection 22-1 of the valve body 16 contacts the stopper 23-4 of the valve box 1, and the projection 22-2 contacts the stopper 23-2. At this time, the rotation of the valve body 16 is stopped and the lower cam 1
Since the motor 7 does not rotate, only the upper cam 24 continues to rotate by the rotational force of the motor 28.

At this time, the valve element 16 is in the second operating state shown in FIG. 3, whereby the first flow path 14 of the valve element 16 communicates with the valve hole 10 and the valve hole 13, and The flow path 15 communicates the valve hole 11 with the valve hole 12. Thereby, the valve hole 10 communicating with the radiator and the valve hole 1 communicating with the hot water supply source are provided.
By communicating with 3, warm water is supplied to the radiator, and the room can be heated. At this time, the second flow path 15 returns to the valve hole 11 that communicates with the cold water supply source, and communicates with the bypass flow path that communicates with the flow path, so that the radiator is bypassed without being supplied with cold water.

Only the upper cam 24 continues to rotate, and enters the fourth state as shown in FIG. 8, the protrusion 40 of the upper cam 24 gradually rides on the next protrusion 41 of the lower cam 17, and the disc spring 37 gradually moves. When the motor 28 is compressed and finally rides on the protrusion of the lower cam 17 again, the motor 28 stops rotating and returns to the state shown in FIG. The rotation stop position of the upper cam 24 is determined by a rotation stop position detecting device provided in the motor.
Alternatively, it is detected by a rotation stop position detecting Hall element or the like (not shown) of the upper cam, and the power supply to the motor is stopped. As a result, the valve element is in the state shown in FIG. 1, and the disc spring 37 presses the valve element 16 toward the valve seat 42 to hold the valve element in a reliable sealing state.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The basic configuration of this electric four-way valve is the same as that of the electric four-way valve of the first embodiment. In the electric four-way valve of the second embodiment, an upper projection 101 projecting downward at the lower center portion 100 of the valve element 66. The most different in that the electric four-way valve of the first embodiment is improved by providing the center of the valve box 51 so as to rotate with the drive shaft of the lower protrusion 102 in opposition to the upper protrusion 101. I have. In addition, the details of the first embodiment are improved as described later. In FIG. 9, the right side of the center line indicates a valve switching end state, and the left side indicates a valve switching halfway state.

In FIG. 9, a motor 78 is fixed to the upper end of a lid 82 provided above the valve housing 56.
The shaft 103 protruding from the motor 78 is provided with a gear 104. An operating shaft 106 stands upright in a shaft hole 105 provided in the center of the valve box 51, and a fitting hole 107 provided in the center of the upper end of the operating shaft 106 has a bearing 108 provided in the center of the lid 82. The supported spindle 110 is fitted so as to rotate integrally. A gear 111 is fixed to the upper end of the spindle 110, and the gear 111 meshes with a gear 104 driven by a motor.

Operating shaft 10 driven by spindle 110
An upper cam 7 protruding downward on the lower surface side is provided on an upper outer periphery of the upper cam 7.
Cam cylinder 113 having a flange 112 forming
Is fixed, and the upper surface of the flange 112 and the lid 8 are fixed.
A first spring 87 is provided between the first spring 87 and the lower surface of the center 2. A lower cam 67 is provided at a position opposed to the upper cam 74 on the upper surface of a central portion of the valve body 66 which is positioned and rotated on the center of the operating shaft 106. The upper cam 74, the lower cam 67, Operates in the same manner as the electric four-way valve of the first embodiment, and as shown on the left side of the center line in FIG. 9, at a position where the protruding portion of the upper cam 74 and the protruding portion of the lower cam 67 face each other. Is that the cam cylinder 113 has the first spring 87
Is moved upward by compressing.
Is pressed against the valve seat on the top surface of the valve box 51 by the force of the first spring 87. At this time, on the lower surface of the seal 113 of the valve element 66, the valve box 51 is provided.
The force of the second spring 115 provided in
Since the force of the second spring 115 is smaller than the first spring 87, the valve body 66 is
A sealing force is applied by the first spring 87.

The upper projection 101 provided on the lower surface of the lower end center portion 100 of the valve body 66 is fixed to the operating shaft at the center of the valve box 51, and the lower projection 1 formed opposite to the upper projection 101 is formed.
02 is rotatably housed. The positional relationship between the upper protrusion 101, the lower protrusion 102, the upper cam 74, and the lower cam 67 and the operation thereof are shown in FIG.
To FIG. 12 schematically.

FIG. 10 shows a first state of engagement between the upper cam and the lower cam which is the switching end position of the valve body, and is the same position as the position shown on the left side of the center line in FIG.
The protruding portion of the upper cam 74 and the protruding portion of the lower cam 67 are located opposite each other, and are stationary here. At this time, the cam cylinder 113 is sealed by the first spring 87 on the lower end surface of the valve body 66. The body 113 is in pressure contact with a valve seat on the upper surface of the valve box 51. At this time, the upper protrusion 101 and the lower protrusion 1
02 is a position not facing.

When switching the flow path by rotating the valve body from this state, the motor is driven in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the spindle 1 is engaged by the engagement of the gears 104 and 111.
10 to rotate the cam cylinder 113 via the operating shaft 106. As a result, when the upper cam rotates rightward as shown in FIGS. 10 to 11, the upper cam 74 and the lower cam 6 rotate.
7 is disengaged, and the upper and lower cams are in the second state. At this time, when the valve body is in close contact with the valve seat and does not separate from the valve seat, the lower projection 102 that rotates integrally with the upper cam 74 abuts on the upper projection 101 as shown by the solid line in FIG. Moving side slope 120 is the upper projection slope 12
By pressing 1, a lifting force is generated with respect to the upper protrusion, and thereby a force for lifting the entire valve body acts. Therefore, even when the valve body does not come into close contact with the valve seat as described above, It can be separated by the rotational force of the motor. When the upper cam 74 is displaced from the position facing the lower cam 67 when the valve element is immediately separated from the valve seat, the pressing force from the first spring 87 is reduced in the valve box, and FIG. Move upward by the force of the second spring 115, as shown by the broken line in FIG. At that time, the upper protrusion 101 is also rising as shown by the broken line, and the lower protrusion 102 moves further without contacting the upper protrusion 101.

As described above, when the valve body 66 is in close contact with the valve seat and does not separate, when the lower projection 102 and the upper projection 101 are forcibly moved upward by engagement with each other, or when the valve body 66 and the valve seat In any case when and immediately separated,
From the state of FIG. 11 to the state of FIG.
Is in a third state in which it falls to the bottom between the adjacent lower cams 67 on the upper surface of the valve element. Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, when the upper cam 74 further rotates, the upper cam 7
The moving-side slope 4 presses the opposite slope of the lower cam 67, and the force rotates the valve body. Thereafter, the protrusion around the valve body 66 engages with the protrusion on the valve box 51, the rotation of the valve body 66 stops, and when the upper cam 74 further rotates, the upper cam 74 rides on the lower cam 67, and the first spring 87 With this force, the valve body 66 is pressed against the valve seat side. At this time, the rotational position of the upper cam 74 is determined by detecting means (not shown), and the driving of the motor is stopped.

As described above, in the electric four-way valve of the second embodiment, even when the valve body is not in close contact with the valve seat, it is forcibly separated from the valve seat. Prevents damage to the valve seat and valve body by driving the valve, and does not require a marginal driving force of the motor in consideration of forcibly rotating the coherent valve body, and easily rotates the face body with a small motor. Various effects such as being able to be achieved.

[0028]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the valve body is rotated, the pressing force of the valve body against the valve seat is reduced, so that the valve seat and the like are reduced. Since the wear can be reduced, the wear of the valve body and the valve seat can be reduced, so that the rust and dirt of the piping are not caught between the valve body and the valve seat. Can be reduced. Furthermore, when used as a valve body, the valve body can be strongly pressed against the valve seat to improve the sealing performance. Further, the transmission mechanism from the electric motor to the valve body is simplified, the number of parts is reduced, the number of assembling steps is reduced, and an inexpensive electric four-way valve can be obtained.

In addition, in addition to the above effects, even when the valve element does not come into close contact with the valve seat, the valve body is forcibly separated from the valve seat. Prevents damage to the valve seat and the valve body by driving the valve body, and does not require the extra driving force of the motor in consideration of forcibly rotating the coherent valve body. Various effects can be obtained, such as that can be rotated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a switching state of the flow path of the valve body of FIG. 1;
It is a partial sectional view.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a first state of the lower cam and the upper cam.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the second state.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the third state.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the fourth state.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a first state of the lower cam and the upper cam.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the second state.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the third state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Valve box 2,3,4,5 Connection pipe line 6 Valve storage part 7 Valve seat surface 10,11,12,13 Valve hole 14 1st flow path 15 2nd flow path 16 Valve body 17 Lower cam 18 Center projection DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Spring 22 Projection 23 Stopper 24 Upper cam 25 Lower shaft hole 26 Projection 27 Upper shaft hole 28 Motor 30 Shaft 40 Projection 41 Projection 42 Seal 43 Recess 44 Recess 51 Valve box 66 Valve body 67 Lower cam 74 Upper cam 87 Spring 101 Upper protrusion 102 Lower protrusion 105 Spring

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A lower cam is provided on an upper surface of a valve body having a flow passage formed therein, and a projection is provided on an outer periphery of the valve body so as to contact a stopper provided at a predetermined position of a valve box. The upper cam is provided opposite to the motor, and the electric device rotates the valve body and abuts the stopper. After that, the electric device rotates the upper cam by a predetermined amount and stops, and at this time, the upper cam can press the valve body against the valve seat An electric four-way valve, characterized in that: 2. A lower cam is provided on an upper surface of a valve body having a flow path formed therein, a projection is provided on an outer periphery of the valve body in contact with a stopper provided at a predetermined position of a valve box, and an upper projection is provided on a lower surface. An upper cam facing the lower cam, a lower projection facing the upper projection, and the electric device rotates the upper cam by a predetermined amount and stops after the valve body is rotated by the electric device and abuts against the stopper, The electric four-way valve, wherein the upper cam can press the valve body against the valve seat at this time. 3. The electric motor according to claim 1, wherein a spring for urging the upper cam toward the lower cam is provided, and the upper cam compresses the spring so that the valve body can be pressed against the valve seat. Four-way valve. 4. The electric motor according to claim 1, wherein the rotation stop position of the upper cam is detected by a rotation stop position detection hall element provided in the motor, and the power supply to the motor is stopped. Four-way valve. 5. The electric four-way valve according to claim 1, further comprising a spring for urging the valve body away from the valve seat.