WO2020054251A1

WO2020054251A1 - Combination valve

Info

Publication number: WO2020054251A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/030513
Authority: WO
Inventors: 望月　淳; 晃平福山
Original assignee: 株式会社不二工機
Priority date: 2018-09-13
Filing date: 2019-08-02
Publication date: 2020-03-19
Also published as: JP2020041658A

Abstract

Provided is a combination valve that achieves space saving and functions as both an expansion valve and a check valve. This combination valve is provided with: a valve body (11) that has an entrance passageway (12) through which a refrigerant flows in, an exit passageway (13) through which a refrigerant flows out, and an orifice formed between the entrance passageway (12) and the exit passageway (13); a valving element that adjusts the amount of a refrigerant passing through the orifice; an electric motor (drive source) (21) that drives, by an electric driving force, the valving element with respect to the orifice; and a return passageway (14) provided so as to penetrate the valve body (11), wherein a check valve (30) is integrally disposed inside the return passageway (14) in order to prevent backward flow of a refrigerant in the return passageway (14).

Description

Compound valve

The present invention relates to a composite valve used for a refrigeration cycle of a car air conditioner or the like, and particularly to a composite valve in which a check valve is integrally provided with an expansion valve.

A refrigeration cycle of a car air conditioner or the like generally includes a compressor driven by an engine, a condenser connected to a discharge side of the compressor, a receiver connected to the condenser, and a liquid phase from the receiver. It comprises an expansion valve for adiabatically expanding the refrigerant into a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and an evaporator connected to the expansion valve (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

In such a refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant pressurized by the compressor is sent to a condenser and converted into a high-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant, and the liquid-phase refrigerant is decompressed by an expansion valve and adiabatically expanded, and the flow rate is adjusted to an evaporator. The low-pressure refrigerant, which has been sent and exchanged heat by the evaporator, is returned to the compressor.

The expansion valve used in such a refrigeration cycle has a high-pressure side passage (inlet passage) through which a liquid-phase refrigerant flows into the valve body and a low-pressure side passage (outlet passage) through which adiabatic expanded gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows out. The orifice communicates with the high-pressure passage and the low-pressure passage through an orifice, and includes a valve body for adjusting the amount of refrigerant passing through the orifice (in other words, the opening area or opening of the orifice). (Return passage).

The expansion valve changes the opening area or opening degree of the orifice by moving the valve body in the valve opening direction or the valve closing direction according to the temperature in the low-pressure refrigerant passage, and adjusts the amount of refrigerant passing through the orifice. The temperature of the evaporator is automatically adjusted.

In Patent Document 1 below, the adjustment of the amount of refrigerant passing through the orifice is performed using an electric motor. An electric (electronically controlled) expansion valve using the electric motor (hereinafter referred to as an electric expansion valve) includes a can, a rotor disposed at a predetermined gap on an inner periphery of the can, and a can. It is possible to use an electric motor having a driving mechanism such as an electric motor as a driving source and a screw feed mechanism for driving the valve body to open and close by utilizing the rotation of the rotor. .

The control of the electric expansion valve is performed, for example, by detecting the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the low-pressure refrigerant passage with a temperature sensor, and opening the expansion valve based on information on the detected temperature in a controller having a microcomputer. A control signal for adjusting the degree is generated and supplied to the electric motor, whereby the rotor is rotated to move the valve body in the valve opening direction or the valve closing direction, thereby opening the orifice. The area, that is, the amount of refrigerant passing through the orifice is controlled.

Since the rotation of the electric motor can be controlled accurately, by adjusting the amount of refrigerant passing through the orifice using the electric motor as described above, the structure is simple and the control is easy, and the liquid receiving device and the evaporation Pipe connection with the compressor and the compressor can be easily performed.

As the electric expansion valve, as described above, besides the electric type (electric actuator) mainly including an electric motor as a driving source, the electromagnetic expansion valve (electromagnetic type actuator) mainly including a solenoid. ) As a driving source.

JP 2000-329247 A

膨張 As described above, the expansion valve used in such a refrigeration cycle lowers the pressure of the refrigerant (reduces the pressure) and sends it to the evaporator. The low-pressure refrigerant tends to vaporize by removing heat from the surroundings, and cools the periphery (peripheral parts) when the refrigerant vaporizes. At this time, the evaporator itself is at a considerably low temperature.

When dehumidification is not required during the heating operation or when cooling is not required during battery cooling, the expansion valve is closed to stop the refrigerant from flowing into the evaporator, but the evaporator is completely cooled as described above. If the expansion valve is suddenly closed during the dehumidifying or cooling operation in a dehumidified state, the refrigerant may be drawn in from the pipe connected to the evaporator outlet side and flow backward, and the refrigerant in the circuit may run short. In addition, the phenomenon that the refrigerant flows backward in the evaporator may be caused not only by the expansion valve but also by the operation of components that expand the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle. In order to prevent such a backflow phenomenon, it is conceivable to attach a component having a function of stopping the backflow of the refrigerant, such as a check valve, to a pipe connected to the evaporator outlet side.

However, for example, in an air conditioner such as a car air conditioner, pipes and the like are provided around the periphery, and a portion (space) and a pipe system in which the expansion valve is installed are predetermined, so that a new check valve is required. It is difficult to add in layout.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a composite valve having both functions of an expansion valve and a check valve in a small space.

In order to solve the above problems, a composite valve according to the present invention basically includes an inlet passage through which a refrigerant flows, an outlet passage through which a refrigerant flows, and an orifice formed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage. A valve body, a valve body that adjusts the amount of refrigerant passing through the orifice, and a drive source that drives the valve body with respect to the orifice by an electric driving force, and the refrigerant penetrates the valve body. A return passage is provided to pass through, and a check valve for preventing backflow of the refrigerant in the return passage is provided integrally in the return passage.

In a more specific preferred embodiment, the inlet passage through which the refrigerant flows from the condenser, the outlet passage through which the refrigerant flows toward the evaporator, the orifice formed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage, and the compression from the evaporator. A valve body having a return passage through which the refrigerant returning to the machine passes, a valve body for adjusting the amount of the refrigerant passing through the orifice, and the valve body being electrically driven based on the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the return passage. It is characterized by comprising a drive source for driving the orifice, and a check valve disposed integrally in the return passage to prevent a backflow of the refrigerant in the return passage.

In a preferred aspect, an inflow opening of the inlet passage and an outlet opening of the return passage are opened on one side surface of the valve body, and an outflow opening of the outlet passage and an inlet opening of the return passage are connected to the valve body. Is opened on the other side different from the one side.

In a further preferred aspect, the one side surface and the other side surface of the valve main body are arranged to face each other.

In another preferred embodiment, the check valve is inserted from the outlet opening of the return passage into the inside of the return passage.

In another preferred aspect, the drive source is disposed on a surface of the valve body that is located on the opposite side of the return passage from the inlet passage and the outlet passage.

According to the present invention, in the return passage provided through the valve body, the check valve for preventing the backflow of the refrigerant passing through the return passage is integrally disposed, so that, for example, air for a car air conditioner or the like is provided. In the harmony machine, a compound valve having both functions of an expansion valve and a check valve can be installed in a small space without adding a new check valve on a layout.

In addition, the check valve is inserted from the outlet side opening of the return passage (the opening on the side opposite to the evaporator side) inside the return passage, so that it is easy to assemble (installation workability) and maintainability. And the like can be improved.

The upper right perspective view of one embodiment of the compound valve concerning the present invention. The upper left perspective view of one embodiment of the compound valve concerning the present invention. The right view of one embodiment of the compound valve concerning the present invention. The left view of one embodiment of the compound valve concerning the present invention. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a combined valve according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a check valve is opened. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view of the embodiment of the composite valve according to the present invention in a state where a check valve is closed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 6 are respectively an upper right perspective view, an upper left perspective view, a right side view, a left side view, and a partially cutaway front view of the composite valve of the present embodiment (a state in which a check valve is opened, and FIGS. (The check valve is closed). 5 and 6 also show a circuit diagram of a refrigeration cycle in which the composite valve of the present embodiment is used.

In this specification, descriptions indicating positions and directions such as up and down, left and right, front and back, etc. are provided for convenience according to the drawings in order to avoid complicating the description, and are described in a state where they are actually incorporated in a refrigeration cycle. It does not necessarily indicate the position and direction at.

The combined valve 10 of the illustrated embodiment is used, for example, for a refrigeration cycle 1 in a car air conditioner. The refrigeration cycle 1 includes a compressor 2 driven by an engine and a condenser connected to a discharge side of the compressor 2. A liquid receiving device 4 connected to the condenser 3, a composite valve 10 connected to the liquid receiving device 4, and an evaporator 5 connected to the composite valve 10. The phase refrigerant is circulated back to the compressor 2 through the composite valve 10. The composite valve 10 reduces the pressure of the liquid-phase refrigerant from the liquid receiver 4 to a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant through an orifice having a predetermined opening area, and adiabatically expands the expansion valve 20 and prevents the refrigerant from flowing back to the evaporator 5. It has (and has) both functions of the check valve 30 (detailed later).

The composite valve 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped valve body 11 made of metal such as aluminum or resin. In the upper part of the valve body 11, a high-pressure side inlet passage 12 composed of a relatively small-diameter lateral hole into which a liquid-phase refrigerant flows, and a low-pressure side exit passage 13 composed of a relatively large-diameter lateral hole through which a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows out. Is provided. The inflow opening (right end opening) of the inlet passage 12 opens on the right side surface 11 a of the valve body 11, and the outflow opening (left end opening) of the outlet passage 13 opens on the left side surface 11 b of the valve body 11. The inlet passage 12 (the center axis thereof) and the outlet passage 13 (the center axis thereof) are provided offset from each other in the vertical direction, and the outlet passage 13 is located below the inlet passage 12 and is located on the other side of the valve body 11. It is open on the side (opposing surface). In the lower part of the valve body 11, apart from the above-mentioned inlet passage 12 and outlet passage 13 (so as not to communicate), the low-pressure gas-phase refrigerant from the evaporator 5 is returned to the compressor 2 (that is, A return passage 14 for passing the refrigerant returning from the evaporator 5 to the compressor 2) is formed so as to penetrate in the horizontal direction (lateral direction). The inlet side opening (left end opening) of the return passage 14 opens on the left side surface 11 b of the valve body 11, and the outlet side opening (right end opening) of the return passage 14 opens on the right side surface 11 a of the valve body 11. ing.

Although not shown, an orifice communicating between the inlet passage 12 and the outlet passage 13 is formed inside (between the inlet passage 12 and the outlet passage 13 in) the valve body 11, and the amount of refrigerant passing through the orifice ( In other words, as a valve element for adjusting the opening area or opening of the orifice) or an urging member for urging the valve element in a direction of pressing against the orifice or in a direction away from the orifice (that is, a valve closing direction or a valve opening direction). Are disposed.

On the upper surface of the valve body 11 (the surface located on the opposite side of the return passage 14 with respect to the inlet passage 12 and the outlet passage 13 in the valve body 11), the valve body is opened or closed with respect to the orifice. An electric motor (stepping motor) 21 as a driving source is fixed, and an output shaft of the electric motor 21 is connected to the valve body. The electric motor 21 includes, for example, a can attached to the valve body 11, a rotor arranged at a predetermined gap on the inner periphery of the can, a stator externally fitted to the can, and the like. And a drive mechanism such as a screw feed mechanism that drives the opening and closing of the valve body using the rotation of the output shaft of the motor. When the output shaft of the electric motor 21 rotates, the valve body is converted into linear motion by a driving mechanism such as a screw feed mechanism and moves up or down, and the valve body approaches or separates from the orifice to close or close the valve. The valve is configured to open.

The control of the composite valve 10 is performed, for example, by detecting the temperature of the refrigerant passing through a return passage 14 provided in the lower part of the valve body 11 with a temperature sensor, and using a controller incorporating a microcomputer to obtain information on the detected temperature. A control signal for adjusting the opening of the (orifice of) the composite valve 10 is supplied to the electric motor 21 on the basis of the above, whereby the rotor is rotated, and the valve body is moved in the valve opening direction or The orifice is moved in the valve closing direction, whereby the opening area of the orifice, that is, the amount of refrigerant passing through the orifice is controlled.

In the present embodiment, the liquid-phase refrigerant from the receiver 4 is formed by the inlet passage 12, the outlet passage 13, the orifice formed between the inlet passage 12 and the outlet passage 13, the valve body, the electric motor 21, and the like. The expansion valve 20 is configured to decompress the gas into a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant and perform adiabatic expansion.

The output shaft of the electric motor 21 is not directly connected to the valve body, but may be provided with a reduction mechanism for reducing the rotation of the rotor and transmitting the rotation to the valve body.

The function of the expansion valve 20 in the composite valve 10 configured as described above will be described. In the refrigeration cycle 1, high-pressure refrigerant compressed by a compressor 2 driven by an engine is discharged to a condenser 3, radiated and condensed by the condenser 3, and a liquid-phase refrigerant is stored in a liquid receiver 4. The liquid-phase refrigerant from the liquid container 4 is supplied to the inlet passage 12 of the composite valve 10. In the composite valve 10, the liquid-phase refrigerant adiabatically expands as it passes through the orifice to become a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and is supplied from the outlet passage 13 to the evaporator 5. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator 5 to become a gas-phase refrigerant, and brings the evaporator 5 to a low temperature state. Then, the gas-phase refrigerant in the evaporator 5 returns to the compressor 2 through the return passage 14, and the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle 1.

In the refrigeration cycle 1 configured as described above, the electric motor 21 is rotationally driven in accordance with the temperature in the return passage 14, the valve body is moved in the valve opening direction or the valve closing direction, and the opening area of the orifice is increased or decreased. By changing the amount of the refrigerant passing through the orifice, the temperature of the evaporator 5 is automatically adjusted.

In the present embodiment, the check valve 30 for preventing the backflow of the refrigerant is provided in the return passage 14 provided at the lower part of the valve body 11.

5 and 6, an annular valve seat 37 forming the check valve 30 together with a check valve body 38 described later is integrally formed on the inner periphery of the return passage 14. The check valve body 38, a compression coil spring 39 as an urging member for urging the check valve body 38 toward the valve seat 37, and a check valve body supporting the right end of the compression coil spring 39 A stopper 31 is provided to limit the amount of movement of the 38 to the right. The stopper 31 is disposed and fixed to a reduced diameter portion 33 provided on the inner periphery of the return passage 14 (on the right side of the valve seat 37). .

The check valve body 38 integrally includes a disc-shaped small-diameter portion 38a, a disc-shaped large-diameter portion 38b, and an O-ring 38c mounted therebetween. A first guide bar 38d protrudes leftward (the entrance side of the return passage 14) from the small disc-shaped portion 38a, and a second guide bar extends rightward (the exit side of the return passage 14) from the large disc-shaped portion 38b. The bar 38e protrudes. When the O-ring 38c of the check valve body 38 contacts the valve seat 37, the space between the check valve body 38 and the valve seat 37 is sealed.

A plurality of first guide bars 38d are provided near the outer edge of the left side surface of the disc-shaped small-diameter portion 38a with a predetermined gap in the circumferential direction (in the example shown, three at 120 ° angular intervals). The guide bar 38 d (outer periphery) is in contact with the inner periphery of the valve seat 37. The movement of the check valve body 38 in the left-right direction is guided by the first guide bar 38d.

Further, a plurality of second guide bars 38e are provided in the vicinity of the center of the right side surface of the disc-shaped large-diameter portion 38b at predetermined angular intervals in the circumferential direction (in the illustrated example, at 120 ° angular intervals). The three guide bars 38e are disposed inside the compression coil spring 39, and are formed in a flow hole (in the illustrated example, a substantially fan-shaped flow path having a central angle of about 120 °) formed in the stopper 31. Hole 32). The movement of the check valve body 38 in the left-right direction is guided by the second guide bar 38e, and the tilt of the check valve body 38 and the rotation of the return passage 14 (the check valve 30) around the central axis are performed. Is prevented.

外形 In the check valve 30 having the above configuration, the outer shape (outer diameter) of the check valve body 38 and the compression coil spring 39 is set smaller than the reduced diameter portion 33 of the return passage 14. When assembling, the check valve body 38, the compression coil spring 39, and the stopper 31 are inserted into the return passage 14 in that order from the outlet side opening (right end opening) in the return passage 14, and the stopper 31 is inserted into the return passage 14. 14 and fixed to the reduced diameter portion 33. Thereby, the check valve 30 can be installed integrally on the inner periphery of the return passage 14.

The function of the check valve 30 in the composite valve 10 having the above configuration will be described. In the state shown in FIG. 6, when the refrigerant flows from the evaporator 5 side through the inlet side opening and the fluid pressure exceeds the urging force of the compression coil spring 39, as shown in FIG. The O-ring 38c is separated from the valve seat 37 (to the right), and the refrigerant flows toward the compressor 2 via the outlet-side opening.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, even if the refrigerant flows in from the compressor 2 side through the outlet side opening, the O-ring 38 c of the check valve body 38 (the right side) is actuated by (the urging force of) the compression coil spring 39. Since the check valve 30 is closed by being biased by the valve seat 37, the refrigerant does not flow toward the evaporator 5 through the inlet-side opening.

That is, the check valve 30 in the composite valve 10 allows the flow of the refrigerant from the inlet-side opening (evaporator 5) to the outlet-side opening (compressor 2), while allowing the refrigerant to flow from the outlet-side opening (compressor 2) to the inlet. The flow (backflow) of the refrigerant toward the side opening (evaporator 5) is shut off. In other words, one direction from the inlet side opening (evaporator 5) to the outlet side opening (compressor 2). The refrigerant is circulated only in the

The valve body 11 has, in addition to the inlet passage 12, the outlet passage 13, and the return passage 14, the vicinity of the upper and lower centers thereof (that is, the portion between the inlet passage 12, the outlet passage 13, and the return passage 14). At the same time, two mounting holes 15 are formed in the front-rear direction and are provided with horizontal through holes for inserting bolts for mounting the valve body 11 to the evaporator 5 and other components. One (non-through) screw hole 16 is provided at the center in the front-rear direction.

As described above, in the composite valve 10 of the present embodiment, the check valve 30 for preventing the backflow of the refrigerant passing through the return passage 14 is provided in the return passage 14 provided through the valve body 11. Because they are arranged integrally, for example, in an air conditioner such as a car air conditioner, without adding a new check valve on the layout (in other words, without changing the existing installation space, piping system, etc.), The combined valve 10 having both functions of the expansion valve 20 and the check valve 30 can be installed in a small space.

Further, the check valve 30 is inserted from the outlet side opening of the return passage 14 (the opening on the side opposite to the evaporator 5 side) to the inner periphery of the return passage 14, so that the check valve 30 can be assembled easily (installation work). ), Maintainability and the like can be improved.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which an electric motor is used as a driving source for driving the valve body with respect to the orifice by an electric driving force (an electric actuator) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, an electromagnetic actuator (electromagnetic actuator) having a solenoid as a main part can be used as a drive source.

The specific configuration of the check valve 30 disposed in the return passage 14 is, of course, not limited to the above embodiment.

Also, in the above embodiment, the composite valve for the refrigeration cycle of a car air conditioner or the like has been exemplified, but the composite valve according to the present invention can of course be applied to a heat pump type cooling / heating system or the like.

Reference Signs List 1 Refrigeration cycle 10 Composite valve 11 Valve body 11a Right side face of valve body 11b Left side face of valve body 12 Inlet passage 13 Outlet passage 14 Return passage 15 Mounting hole 16 Screw hole 20 Expansion valve 21 Electric motor (drive source)
Reference Signs List 30 Check valve 31 Stopper 32 Flow hole 33 Reduced diameter portion 37 Valve seat 38 Check valve body 38a Disc-shaped small diameter portion 38b Disc-shaped large diameter portion 38c O-ring 38d First guide bar 38e Second guide bar 39 Compression coil spring

Claims

A valve body having an inlet passage through which the refrigerant flows in, an outlet passage through which the refrigerant flows out, and an orifice formed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage; a valve body for adjusting an amount of the refrigerant passing through the orifice; A drive source for driving the valve body with respect to the orifice by a dynamic driving force,
A return passage through which the refrigerant passes through the valve body; and a check valve for preventing the backflow of the refrigerant in the return passage is integrally provided in the return passage. valve.
An inlet passage through which the refrigerant flows from the condenser, an outlet passage through which the refrigerant flows toward the evaporator, an orifice formed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage, and a return through which the refrigerant returning from the evaporator to the compressor passes. A valve body having a passage;
A valve body for adjusting the amount of refrigerant passing through the orifice,
A drive source for driving the valve body with respect to the orifice by an electric driving force based on the temperature of the refrigerant passing through the return passage;
A non-return valve integrally disposed in the return passage and preventing a backflow of the refrigerant in the return passage.
An inlet opening of the inlet passage and an outlet opening of the return passage are opened on one side of the valve body, and an outlet opening of the outlet passage and an inlet opening of the return passage are provided on the one side of the valve body. The composite valve according to claim 1, wherein the composite valve is opened on another side different from that of the composite valve.
The composite valve according to claim 3, wherein the one side surface and the other side surface of the valve main body are arranged to face each other.
The composite valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the check valve is inserted and disposed inside the return passage from an outlet opening of the return passage.
The said drive source is arrange | positioned at the surface located in the said valve body in the opposite side to the said return passage with respect to the said inlet passage and the said outlet passage, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. A composite valve according to the item.