JPH1194102A - Four-way valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reliable four-way valve with simple circuit configuration. SOLUTION: A valve body 1 of a four-way valve 30 comprises a cylindrical casing 2 blocked at its both ends, and a first outlet 4, a second outlet 5, an inlet 3, and a third outlet 6 protrude radially. A wax element 10 is arranged in the valve body 1 and energized to the piston 12 side via a return spring 19 such that the tip of the piston 12 is brought into contact with the valve body 1. A first valve element 13, a second valve element 14, and a third valve element 17 are fixed on the outer periphery of the wax element 10 with spaces. Each of valve elements 13, 14, 17 is a cylindrical valve element and has an outer diameter slidingly contacted with an inner peripheral surface 2a of a cylindrical casing 2, the first valve element 13 opens and closes the first outlet 4 and the second outlet 5, the second valve element 14 opens and closes the second outlet 5, and the third valve element 17 opens and closes the third outlet 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a four-way valve used in a heat recovery system and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a heat recovery system or the like, two three-way valves are used to flow a fluid through three paths according to the temperature of the fluid.

[0003]

However, if there is a four-way valve, one four-way valve is sufficient in one system.
The circuit configuration is simple and the reliability is high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a four-way valve.

[0005]

According to the present invention, one inlet and three outlets are formed at intervals in the axial direction of a valve body having a cylindrical inner peripheral surface. A wax element having a piston protruding from the wax element main body and a wax element main body and a piston being relatively displaced in accordance with a temperature in the valve main body; The valve elements are fixed to the wax element at intervals in the axial direction, and a communication hole penetrating in the axial direction is formed in the middle valve element of the valve elements, and the wax element body is formed of the piston. Is urged toward the piston by a return spring disposed in the valve body in a state in which the tip of the is in contact with the valve body.

When the inflow port is disposed outside the three outflow ports, a communication hole penetrating in the axial direction also through the valve element at the inflow port side in addition to the middle valve element. Is formed.

It is desirable to form an annular groove at an outlet position on the inner peripheral surface of the valve body. The annular groove has the effect of reducing pressure loss and leakage.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
This will be described below.

The valve body 1 of the four-way valve 30 comprises an elongated cylindrical casing 2 whose both ends are closed. The cylindrical casing 2 has one inlet 3 and three outlets 4, 5,. 6 are formed so as to protrude in the radial direction. 1
The three inlets 3 and the three outlets 4, 5, 6 are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical casing 2, and the first outlet 4, the second outlet 5, the outlet The inlet 3 and the third outlet 6 are formed in order.

Annular grooves 7, 8, 9 are formed at the positions of the outlets 4, 5, 6 on the inner peripheral surface 2a of the cylindrical casing 2, respectively.

In the wax element 10 housed in the valve body 1, a piston 12 projects from the wax element body 11, and the wax element body 11 and the piston 12 are relatively displaced in accordance with the temperature.

The wax element body 11 has a body and a head, and a piston 12 protrudes from the head.

On the head of the wax element body 11,
A first valve body 13 that opens and closes the first outlet 4 and the second outlet 5 is fixed to a second valve body 14, which will be described later, at an interval.
The first valve element 13 is a cylindrical valve element inserted into the outer periphery of the head of the wax element main body 11, and the thread formed on the inner periphery is screwed into the thread formed on the outer periphery of the end of the head. It is worn and fixed. The first valve body 13 has an outer diameter whose outer periphery is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 2 a of the cylindrical casing 2, and has an axial length of the inner peripheral surface of the second casing 5 between the second outlet 5 and the first outlet 4. It has a length slightly longer than the axial length of both openings in 2a.

A second valve element 14 for opening and closing the second outlet 5 is fixed to an end of the body of the wax element body 11 on the head side. The second valve element 14 is inserted into the outer periphery of the body of the wax element main body 11 as a cylindrical valve element, and is fixed by a snap ring 15. The second valve body 14 has an outer diameter whose outer periphery is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 2 a of the cylindrical casing 2, and has an axial length equal to the axial opening length of the second outlet 5 in the cylindrical casing inner peripheral surface 2 a. It has a slightly longer length. In the second valve body 14, a plurality of communication holes 16 penetrating in the axial direction are formed at equal intervals on the same circle.

A third valve body 1 for opening and closing the third outlet 6 of the valve body 1 is provided at the tip of the body of the wax element body 11.
7 is fixed. The third valve element 17 is a cylindrical valve element including a large diameter portion 17a and a small diameter portion 17b.
The outer circumference of a has an outer diameter that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 2a of the cylindrical casing 2, and the axial length is longer than twice the axial opening length of the third outlet 6 on the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 2a. It has a slightly longer length. The small diameter portion 17b has a concave portion formed on the end face inserted into and fixed to the tip of the trunk portion of the wax element body 11.

A flange 18 is screwed to the end face of the cylindrical casing 2 on the third outlet 6 side, and a seal ring 18a is mounted in a groove on the joint surface. Flange 18
A circular recess 20 into which one end of the return spring 19 is inserted is formed in the inner end face of the return spring 19. Also, the third valve body 1
The spring receiving recess 21 is formed on the end surface of the large diameter portion 17a of the spring 7. One end of the return spring 19 is inserted into a circular recess 20 formed on the flange 18 of the cylindrical casing 2, and the other end is inserted into a spring housing recess 21 formed on an end surface of the third valve body 17. Then, it is mounted in the valve body 1 in a compressed state, and urges the wax element body 11 toward the piston 12.

The tip of the piston 12 of the wax element 10 is inserted into a piston insertion recess 22 formed on the inner end surface of the cylindrical casing 2 on the piston 12 side.

Accordingly, in the wax element 10, the wax element main body 11 is relatively displaced toward the piston 12 by the urging force of the return spring 19, and the third valve body 17 is moved from one end of the large-diameter portion 17a in the axial half by the third flow. The outlet 6 is closed, the second valve 14 closes the second outlet 5, and the first valve 13 is placed in a position adjacent to the first outlet 4 in the axial direction. ing.

The case where the four-way valve is used in a heat recovery system of a gas heat pump will be described below.

In FIG. 2, the four-way valve 30 is connected between a gas heat pump 31, a heat exchanger 32 utilizing hot water, and a radiator 33. Inflow port 3 of four-way valve 30
Is connected to the outlet of the gas heat pump 31, and the third outlet 6
Is connected to the inlet of the radiator 33, the second outlet 5 is connected to the inlet of the heat exchanger 32 utilizing hot water, and the first outlet 4 is the inlet of the gas heat pump 31 and the outlet of the heat exchanger 32 utilizing hot water and the radiator 33. Connected to the gas heat pump 31
A pump 34 is provided in a flow path connected to the inlet of the pump.

When the temperature of the fluid entering the four-way valve 30 from the gas heat pump 31 is 60 ° C. or less, the inlet 3 of the four-way valve 30
The fluid that has flowed into the valve body 1 from the valve passes through the communication hole 16 of the second valve body 14, flows out of the first outlet 4, and returns to the gas heat pump 31.

When the temperature of the fluid entering the four-way valve 30 rises and exceeds 60 ° C., the wax element 10 is displaced against the urging force of the return spring 19 of the wax element body 11. As a result, the first valve 13 gradually closes the first outlet 4, and the second valve 14 closes the second outlet 5.
Gradually open, so that the valve body 1
The fluid flowing into the inside passes through the communication hole 16 of the second valve body 14, returns from the first outlet 4 to the gas heat pump 31, and from the second outlet 5 through the hot water heat exchanger 32, Return to 31. At this time, the third outlet 6 remains closed by the third valve body 17.

When the temperature of the fluid entering the four-way valve 30 rises and reaches 70 ° C., the wax element 10 is further displaced against the urging force of the return spring 19 of the wax element body 11. As a result, the first valve body 13 completely closes the first outlet 4 and the second outlet 5 fully opens, so that the fluid flowing into the valve body 1 from the inlet 3 of the four-way valve 30 is
After passing through the communication hole 16 of the second valve body 14, it returns to the gas heat pump 31 from the second outlet 5 through the hot water heat exchanger 32. At this time, the third outlet 6 remains closed by the third valve body 17.

When the temperature of the fluid entering the four-way valve 30 exceeds 70 ° C., the wax element 10 is further displaced against the urging force of the return spring 19 of the wax element body 11. Thus, the first valve 13 closes the second outlet 5 gradually while the first outlet 4 is fully closed, and the third valve 17 gradually opens the third outlet 6. The fluid flowing into the valve body 1 from the inlet 3 of the second valve body 1
4 and return from the second outlet 5 to the gas heat pump 31 through the hot water heat exchanger 32,
The third outlet 6 returns to the gas heat pump 31 through the radiator 33.

When the temperature of the fluid entering the four-way valve 30 reaches 80 ° C., the wax element 10 is further displaced against the urging force of the return spring 19 of the wax element body 11. As a result, the first valve body 13 completely closes the first outlet 4 and the second outlet 5 and the third outlet 6 fully opens.
The fluid that has flowed into the valve body 1 from the inlet 3 of the four-way valve 30 returns to the gas heat pump 31 from the third outlet 6 through the radiator 33.

When the temperature drops, the flow path is changed by the above-described reverse operation, and control is performed according to each temperature.

Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is different from the above embodiment in the arrangement of the valve body, the inlet and the outlet, and FIG. 3 shows the arrangement.

In FIG. 3, A is a wax element 1
0 indicates the piston 12 side, and B indicates the return spring 19 side. In a state where the wax element 10 is urged by the return spring 19, the first outflow port 4,
2nd outlet 5, 3rd outlet 6, and 1st valve body 1
3, the second valve element 14, and the third valve element 17 are arranged at the positions shown in FIG. That is, the first valve body 13 is disposed between the first outlet 4 and the inlet 3 adjacent to both, and the second valve body 14 is connected between the second outlet 5 and the first outlet 4. The third valve element 17 is disposed between the second outlet 5 and the third
It is arranged at a position to close the outflow port 6. Hereinafter, this will be described in more detail.

In this embodiment, the cylindrical casing 2
From one end of the inlet 3, the first outlet 4, the second outlet 5,
And the third outlet 6 are arranged in order.

The first valve body 13 for opening and closing the first outlet 4 is
It is fixed to the wax element main body 11 by a cylindrical valve body, and is disposed between the first outlet 4 and the inlet 3 adjacent to both. The first valve body 13 has an outer diameter whose outer periphery is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 2 a of the cylindrical casing 2, and the axial length is the axial opening length of the first outlet 4 on the cylindrical casing inner peripheral surface 2 a. Has a length that is slightly longer than twice as long. The first valve body 13 has a communication hole 2 penetrating in the axial direction.
3 are formed at equal intervals on the same circle.

The third valve body 17 for opening and closing the second outlet 5 and the third outlet 6 is a cylindrical valve body and is a wax element body 1.
1 and is disposed at a position where the second outlet 5 and the third outlet 6 are closed. The third valve element 17 has an outer diameter whose outer periphery is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 2 a of the cylindrical casing 2, and has an axial length of an inner peripheral surface of the third outlet 6 and the second outlet 5. It has a length slightly longer than the axial length of both openings in 2a.

The second valve body 14 that opens and closes the second outlet 5 is
It is fixed to the wax element body by a cylindrical valve body, and is arranged between the second outlet 5 and the first outlet 4. The second valve body 14 has an outer diameter whose outer periphery is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 2 a of the cylindrical casing 2, and has an axial length equal to the axial opening length of the second outlet 5 in the cylindrical casing inner peripheral surface 2 a. It has a slightly longer length. Also, the second valve body 1
4, a plurality of communication holes 16 penetrating in the axial direction are formed on the same circle at equal intervals.

The operation of the four-way valve will be described below.

When the temperature of the fluid entering the four-way valve 30 is 60 ° C. or less, the fluid flowing into the valve body 1 from the inlet 3 of the four-way valve 30 passes through the communication hole 23 of the first valve body 13 and It flows out from one outlet 4.

When the temperature of the fluid entering the four-way valve 30 rises and exceeds 60 ° C., the wax element 10 is displaced against the urging force of the return spring 19 of the wax element body 11. As a result, the first valve 13 gradually closes the first outlet 4, and the third valve 17 closes the second outlet 5.
Gradually open, so that the valve body 1
The fluid that has flowed into the inside passes through the communication hole 23 of the first valve body 13, flows out of the first outlet 4, and
4 and flows out from the second outlet 5 through the communication hole 16.
At this time, the third outlet 6 remains closed by the third valve body 17.

When the temperature of the fluid entering the four-way valve 30 rises and reaches 70 ° C., the wax element 10 is further displaced against the urging force of the return spring 19 of the wax element body 11. As a result, the first valve body 13 completely closes the first outlet 4 and the second outlet 5 fully opens, so that the fluid flowing into the valve body 1 from the inlet 3 of the four-way valve 30 is
It passes through the communication hole 23 of the first valve body 13 and the communication hole 16 of the second valve body 14 and flows out of the second outlet 5. At this time,
The third outlet 6 remains closed by the third valve body 17.

When the temperature of the fluid entering the four-way valve 30 exceeds 70 ° C., the wax element 10 is further displaced against the urging force of the return spring 19 of the wax element body 11. Accordingly, the first valve 13 closes the second outlet 5 gradually while the first valve 13 fully closes the first outlet 4, and the third valve 17 gradually closes the third outlet 6. Since the fluid is opened, the fluid flowing into the valve main body 1 from the inflow port 3 of the four-way valve 30 passes through the communication hole 23 of the first valve body 13 and the communication hole 16 of the second valve body 14 and from the second outflow port 5. At the same time, it flows out from the third outlet 6.

When the temperature of the fluid entering the four-way valve 30 reaches 80 ° C., the wax element 10 is further displaced against the urging force of the return spring 19 of the wax element body 11. Thereby, the second valve body 14 fully closes the second outlet 5 while the first valve body 13 fully closes the first outlet 4,
Since the third outlet 6 is fully opened, the fluid flowing into the valve body 1 from the inlet 3 of the four-way valve 30 passes through the communication hole 23 of the first valve 13 and the communication hole 16 of the second valve 14. Out of the third outlet 6.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, a four-way valve can be provided, which is convenient for use in a heat recovery system or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example in which the four-way valve of the present invention is used in a heat recovery system of a gas heat pump.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing an arrangement of a valve body, an inlet, and an outlet.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Valve main body, 2 ... Cylindrical casing, 2a ... Inner peripheral surface, 3 ...
Inflow port, 4 first outlet, 5 second outlet, 6 third outlet, 7, 8, 9 annular groove, 10 wax element, 11 wax element body, 12 piston,
13: first valve element, 14: second valve element, 15: snap ring, 16, 23: communication hole, 17: third valve element, 17a: large diameter portion, 17b: small diameter portion, 18: flange, 18a ... Seal ring, 19 ... Return spring, 20 ... Circular recess, 21 ... Spring storage recess, 22 ... Piston insertion recess, 30 ... Four-way valve, 31 ... Gas heat pump, 32 ... Heat exchanger using hot water, 33 ... Radiator, 34 ... Pump .

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An inlet and three outlets are formed at an interval in an axial direction of a valve body having a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and the inlet is disposed between the three outlets. A wax element in which a piston protrudes from the wax element main body, and the wax element main body and the piston are relatively displaced in accordance with the temperature, are disposed in the valve main body, and three valve elements are attached to the wax element. A communication hole that is fixed at an interval in the axial direction and penetrates in the axial direction in the middle valve body of these valve bodies is formed,
A four-way valve, wherein the wax element main body is urged toward the piston by a return spring disposed in the valve main body with a tip of the piston abutting on the valve main body. 2. An inflow port and three outflow ports are formed at intervals in an axial direction of a valve body having a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and the inflow ports are disposed outside the three outflow ports. A wax element in which a piston protrudes from the wax element main body, and the wax element main body and the piston are relatively displaced in accordance with the temperature, are disposed in the valve main body, and three valve elements are attached to the wax element. A communication hole which is fixed at an interval in the axial direction and which penetrates in the axial direction is formed in the middle valve body of these valve bodies and the valve body at the end on the inflow side, and the wax element body Is urged toward the piston by a return spring disposed in the valve body in a state where the tip of the piston is in contact with the valve body. 3. The four-way valve according to claim 1, wherein an annular groove is formed at an outlet position on an inner peripheral surface of the valve body. 4. The lift amount of the piston is larger than the sum of the axial opening lengths of two adjacent outlets on the inner peripheral surface of the valve body.
Or the four-way valve according to 2.