JPS6165977A - Pilot valve for slide type 4-way valve - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease the size of a pilot valve and to crease a consumption power, by a method wherein driving of the switching valve of a pilot valve is effected by energizing and controlling a driving element formed by a shape memory alloy. CONSTITUTION:First and second ports 15 and 16, serving to control the pressure of a coolant for driving a slide type 4-way valve 3, are formed in a valve body. Further, a third port 17, through which a low pressure is introduced, is formed. A switching valve 18, which selectively switches communication between the third port 17 and the first port 15 and between the third port 17 and the second port 16, is provided. A driving element 23 formed by a shape memory alloy, serving as driving of the switching valve 18, is provided, and first and second terminals 26 and 27, through which energization is made to the driving element 23, are located. This constitution enables decrease of the size of a pilot valve and permits reduction of a consumption power.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pilot valve of a slide type four-way valve used in a refrigeration cycle or the like.

Conventional Structure and Problems Conventionally, a solenoid valve type has been used as a pilot valve for a slide type four-way valve. This uses an electromagnet to drive a switching valve that switches between three fluid ports provided in the pilot valve body. In this structure, the electromagnetic coil is large, and the overall shape of the pilot valve is large. Furthermore, if the power consumption of the electromagnetic coil is long, the power consumption of the entire system using the four-way valve will increase.

Technical Problems of the Invention The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and aims to downsize the pilot valve and reduce power consumption.

Techniques of the Invention i+1, r Fishing Means To achieve this object, the present invention provides a valve body with first and second ports for controlling the refrigerant pressure for driving the sliding four-way valve, and a third port for introducing low pressure. and this third port
a "switching valve" that selectively switches communication between the port and the first port, or the third port and the second port, and a driving element made of a shape memory alloy for driving the switching valve. , and first and second terminals for supplying current to the driving element.

Effect of the Invention With this configuration, the switching valve of the pilot valve is driven by controlling the energization of the driving element made of a shape memory alloy, thereby reducing the size of the pilot valve and the power consumption.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

In the figure, 1 is a compressor, 2 is a discharge pipe, 3 is a slide type four-way valve body, 4 is a heat exchanger on the heat source side, 5 is a pressure reducer, and 6 is a heat exchanger on the user side, which constitute the refrigeration cycle. are doing. There is a four-way switching valve body 7 inside the slide type four-way valve body 3, and the outer frame includes a high pressure port 8, a low pressure port 9, a first connection port 10, a second connection port 11, and a first control port 12. , a second control port 13. The discharge pipe 2 is connected to the high pressure port 8, the first connection port 10 is connected to the heat source side heat exchanger 4, the second connection port 11 is connected to the utilization side heat exchanger 6, and the low pressure port 9 is connected to the compressor 1. Each is connected to the suction side. Next, 14 is a valve body of a pilot valve of a slide type four-way valve, which has first and second ports 15, 16, and a third port 17 for introducing low pressure. In addition, the first
The port 15 is connected to the first control port 12, the second port 16 is connected to the second control port 13, and the third port 17 is connected to the second control port 13.
are connected to the low pressure port 9, respectively. There is a switching valve 18 inside the valve body 14, which selectively switches the first or second port 15, 16 as a port communicating with the third port 17. One end 20 of this switching valve 18 is in contact with one end of the valve body 14 via a bias spring 19.

On the other hand, a first insulator 22 is provided in a recess 21 at the other end of the switching valve 18, and one end of a drive element 23 of a coil spring made of a shape memory alloy is in contact with the first insulator 22. The other end of the drive element 23 is in contact with a second insulator 25 fixed to the other end 24 of the valve body 14 . Further, the other end 24 is provided with first and second terminals 26 and 27 that connect the inside and outside of the valve body and are electrically insulated from the other end 24. or,
One end of the drive element 23 and the first terminal 26 are electrically connected, and the other end of the drive element 23 and the second terminal 27 are electrically connected. Further, outside the valve body 14, both ends of a series circuit of a power source 28 and a switch 29 are connected to first and second terminals 26 and 27.

In the above configuration, the operation of driving the switching valve 18 by the drive element 23 and switching the slide type four-way valve 3 will be explained.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, when the switch 29 is open and the drive element 23 is not energized, the switching valve 1
8 is pushed by a bias spring 19 so that the second port 16 and the third port 17 communicate with each other. At this time, the four-way switching valve body 7 is in the position shown in the figure, the high pressure port 8 and the first connection port 110 are in communication, and the second connection port 11 and the low pressure port 9 are in communication. There is.

Therefore, in this case, the high pressure refrigerant from the compressor 1 is transferred to the discharge pipe 2.
, passes through the high pressure port 8 and the first connection port 10 to the heat source side heat exchanger 4, and the pressure reducer 5 lowers the low pressure.
As early as 5 a.m. at Lingliumyo, one loaf of anti-corrosive seven-piece rice cake was used for cooling.

After that, through the second connection port 11 and the low pressure port 9,
Return to compressor 1 again.

Next, as shown in Figure 2, switch 2 is turned on to perform heating.
9 is closed and the drive element 23 is energized, heat is generated due to the electrical resistance of the drive element 23, and the heat causes the coil spring that is the drive element 23 to extend in the memorized state (!J). As a result, the switching valve 1 overcomes the force of the bias spring 19 and moves to the left, and the first port 15 and the third port 17 communicate with each other. The high pressure port 8 and the second connection port 11 communicate with each other, and the first connection port 10 and the low pressure port communicate with each other.

Therefore, in this case, the high pressure refrigerant from the compressor 1 is transferred to the discharge pipe 2.
, the high-pressure port 8, and the second connection port 11 to the user-side heat exchanger 6, where heat is radiated and heating is performed. Thereafter, the pressure is reduced by the pressure reducer 5 and returns to the compressor 1 again through the heat source UIII heat exchanger 4, the first connection port 10, and the low pressure port 9.

Effects on the power stone side As mentioned above, by controlling the energization to the drive element 23, it is possible to switch between cooling and heating, and the drive element 2
Since 3 is simply a coil spring, it can be built into one end of the valve body 14, making it extremely compact. Further, it is sufficient to flow a current that causes the drive element 23 to generate heat, and the power consumption can be reduced.

Further, since the coil spring of the drive element 23 does not expand or contract rapidly, there is little wear caused by the impact of the switching valve 18. In addition, since no solenoid valve is used, there is no operating noise generated from the solenoid valve, and switching is extremely quiet.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the valve body includes the first and second ports for controlling the refrigerant pressure for driving the slide type four-way valve, the third port for introducing low pressure, and the third port for introducing low pressure. a switching valve that selectively switches communication between the port No. 3 and the first port, or the third port and the second port; and a driving element made of a shape memory alloy for driving the switching valve. Since the drive element is provided with first and second terminals for supplying current, the pilot valve of the slide type four-way valve can be made smaller. In addition, it has the effect of achieving low power consumption, low noise, and high reliability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a refrigeration cycle during cooling using a pilot valve of a slide type four-way valve according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of a refrigeration cycle during heating. 3... Slide type four-way valve body, 14...
・Valve body, 15...First port, 16...
...Second port, 17...Third port,
18...Switching valve, 23...Drive element,
26. River...first terminal, 27. River...second terminal. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] The valve body includes first and second ports for controlling the refrigerant pressure for driving the sliding four-way valve, a third port for introducing low pressure, and the third port and the first port, or the a switching valve that selectively switches communication between the third port and the second port; a driving element made of a shape memory alloy for driving the switching valve; and first and second valves that energize the driving element. A slide type four-way pilot valve equipped with a terminal.