阅读说明：本技术 滑阀 (Slide valve ) 是由 成田慎治 田中英纪 藤山和人 松本和也 于 2018-05-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供一种能够抑制伴随芯错位的阀芯的位置控制性降低的滑阀。滑阀具备形成有阀芯孔的外壳；在轴线方向能移动地插通于外壳的阀芯孔的阀芯；以及使阀芯在轴线方向移动的电动执行器；电动执行器具有：使输出轴旋转的电动马达；具有可直线运动的直动构件,将输出轴的旋转运动转换为直动构件的直线运动的直动转换机构；以及为使阀芯对应于直动构件的直线运动而移动,连结直动构件与阀芯的连结构件；连结构件允许阀芯的轴线相对于直动构件的轴线倾倒及偏心中的至少一种。(Provided is a spool valve capable of suppressing a reduction in position controllability of a spool accompanying a core shift. The spool valve includes a housing having a spool hole formed therein; a valve core movably inserted in the valve core hole of the housing in the axial direction; and an electric actuator that moves the spool in the axial direction; the electric actuator includes: an electric motor for rotating the output shaft; a linear motion converting mechanism having a linear motion member that is linearly movable, and converting a rotational motion of the output shaft into a linear motion of the linear motion member; and a connecting member for connecting the linear motion member and the valve element so that the valve element moves in accordance with the linear motion of the linear motion member; the coupling member allows at least one of tilting and offsetting of an axis of the spool with respect to an axis of the translation member.)

1. A spool valve is characterized by comprising:

a housing formed with a valve core aperture;

a spool inserted in the spool hole of the housing so as to be movable in the axial direction; and

an electric actuator for moving the valve body in the axial direction;

the electric actuator has:

an electric motor for rotating the output shaft;

a linear motion converting mechanism having a linear motion member capable of linear motion, the linear motion converting mechanism converting a rotational motion of the output shaft into a linear motion of the linear motion member; and

a coupling member for coupling the linear motion member and the valve body so that the valve body moves in accordance with the linear motion of the linear motion member;

the linking member allows at least one of tipping and decentering of an axis of the spool relative to an axis of the translation member.

2. The spool valve of claim 1,

the coupling member allows tilting of the valve body relative to the linear motion member in an omnidirectional direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

3. A spool valve according to claim 2,

the connecting member is composed of a spherical joint as follows: the valve body includes a motor-side coupling portion provided in the linear motion member, a valve-body-side coupling portion provided in the valve body, and a ball interposed between the motor-side coupling portion and the valve-body-side coupling portion and coupling the motor-side coupling portion and the valve-body-side coupling portion, and the motor-side coupling portion and the valve-body-side coupling portion are relatively rotated about a center point of the ball.

4. A slide valve according to claim 1 or 2,

the coupling member allows eccentricity of the spool with respect to the linear motion member in all directions orthogonal to the axial direction.

5. A spool valve according to claim 4,

the coupling member has a motor-side coupling portion provided to the linear motion member and a valve element-side coupling portion provided to the valve element;

the motor-side coupling portion and the valve element-side coupling portion are configured to be relatively displaceable in two directions orthogonal to each other and orthogonal to the axial direction.

6. A slide valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the valve element is further provided with a biasing mechanism that applies a biasing force against a load in the axial direction received from the electric actuator;

the valve element is moved from a neutral position to one side and the other side in the axial direction by a load from the electric actuator;

the electric actuator is connected to one end of the valve element in the axial direction;

the urging mechanism applies the urging force to the valve element so as to return the valve element to the neutral position with respect to a load from the electric actuator, and is disposed on the other end portion side in the axial direction of the valve element.

7. A spool valve is characterized by comprising:

a housing formed with a valve core aperture;

a spool inserted in the spool hole of the housing so as to be movable in the axial direction;

an electric actuator for applying a pressing force to the valve element to move the valve element in one axial direction; and

a biasing mechanism that biases the valve element in the other axial direction against a pressing force of the electric actuator;

the electric actuator has:

an electric motor for rotating the output shaft;

a linear motion converting mechanism having a linear motion member capable of linear motion, the linear motion converting mechanism converting a rotational motion of the output shaft into a linear motion of the linear motion member; and

and an abutting member having a pressing portion formed in a partially spherical shape and provided on the linear motion member in a state of being pressed against the valve body by the urging mechanism.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a spool valve in which a spool is moved by an electric actuator.

Background

A spool valve is known as one type of control valve, and the spool valve can control the flow direction of hydraulic oil or the flow rate of hydraulic oil in accordance with the position of a spool. Among the spool valves, a pilot drive type spool valve in which a pilot pressure is applied to a spool to change a position and an actuator drive type spool valve in which a spool position is changed by a linear actuator are known. As an actuator drive type spool valve of the latter, for example, a multiple directional control valve of patent document 1 is known. In the multiple directional control valve of patent document 1, an electric motor output shaft is coupled to a valve body via a ball screw reducer. Thereby, the electric motor output shaft is rotated to move the valve body in the axial direction thereof, thereby changing the position of the valve body.

Disclosure of Invention

The problems to be solved by the invention are as follows:

in the multiple directional control valve of patent document 1, the output shaft of the motor and the axis of the valve element are coaxially arranged so as to be aligned, and a misalignment (misalignment) may occur between the output shaft of the motor and the valve element due to a misalignment during assembly. When the motor is driven to move the valve body in such a core-shifted state, the valve body is moved while being pressed against the housing. As described above, when the core misalignment occurs, the sliding resistance of the valve body increases and the position controllability of the valve body decreases as compared with the case where the core misalignment does not occur.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a spool valve capable of suppressing a decrease in position controllability of a spool due to a core misalignment.

Means for solving the problems:

the slide valve of the present invention is the following: a housing having a valve core hole formed therein; a spool inserted in the spool hole of the housing so as to be movable in the axial direction; and an electric actuator that moves the valve element in the axial direction; the electric actuator has: an electric motor for rotating the output shaft; a linear motion converting mechanism having a linear motion member capable of linear motion, the linear motion converting mechanism converting a rotational motion of the output shaft into a linear motion of the linear motion member; and a coupling member for coupling the linear motion member and the valve body so that the valve body moves in accordance with the linear motion of the linear motion member; the linking member allows at least one of tipping and decentering of an axis of the spool relative to an axis of the translation member.

According to the present invention, even when the axes of the output shaft and the valve element are inclined or eccentric in a certain direction, and the core is displaced, the displacement in the direction can be absorbed by the coupling member. That is, the valve body can be inserted into the valve body hole without applying a bending moment. This prevents the valve element from being pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the housing at the time of start-up and during operation. That is, an increase in the frictional force acting on the valve element due to the core misalignment can be suppressed, and a decrease in the position controllability of the valve element due to the core misalignment can be suppressed.

In the above invention, the coupling member may allow the valve body to tilt relative to the linear motion member in an omnidirectional direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

According to the above configuration, the axial line of the valve body is tilted in any direction with respect to the axial line of the output shaft, and the core misalignment caused by the tilt can be absorbed. This can suppress the positional accuracy of the valve body with respect to the electric actuator during assembly, and can facilitate assembly.

In the above invention, the coupling member may be constituted by a ball joint including: the valve body includes a motor-side coupling portion provided in the linear motion member, a valve-body-side coupling portion provided in the valve body, and a ball interposed between the motor-side coupling portion and the valve-body-side coupling portion and coupling the motor-side coupling portion and the valve-body-side coupling portion, and the motor-side coupling portion and the valve-body-side coupling portion are relatively rotated about a center point of the ball.

According to the above configuration, the spherical structure of a simple structure composed of two connection portions and balls is adopted as the connection member. Therefore, the structure of the spool valve can be suppressed from being complicated, and the number of parts of the spool valve can be suppressed. This can suppress the manufacturing cost of the spool valve.

In the above invention, the coupling member may allow the valve body to be eccentric with respect to the linear motion member in an omnidirectional direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

According to the above configuration, the axis of the valve body is eccentric in any direction with respect to the axis of the output shaft, and the core misalignment caused by the eccentricity can be absorbed. This can suppress the positional accuracy of the valve body with respect to the electric actuator during assembly, and can facilitate assembly.

In the above invention, the coupling member may have a motor-side coupling portion provided in the linear motion member and a valve element-side coupling portion provided in the valve element; the motor-side coupling portion and the valve element-side coupling portion are configured to be relatively displaceable in two directions orthogonal to each other and orthogonal to the axial direction.

According to the above configuration, the coupling member having a simple structure is used. Therefore, the structure of the spool valve can be suppressed from being complicated, and the number of parts of the spool valve can be suppressed. This can suppress the manufacturing cost of the spool valve.

In the above invention, the valve element may further include a biasing mechanism that biases against an axial load received from the electric actuator; the valve element is moved from a neutral position to one side and the other side in the axial direction by a load from the electric actuator; the electric actuator is connected to one end of the valve element in the axial direction; the urging mechanism applies the urging force to the valve element so as to return the valve element to the neutral position with respect to a load from the electric actuator, and is disposed on the other end portion side in the axial direction of the valve element.

According to the above configuration, the valve body can be mechanically returned to the center position by the spring mechanism. Therefore, by stopping the driving of the motor of the electric actuator, the actual neutral position can be returned, and the reproducibility of the neutral position can be improved.

The slide valve of the present invention is the following: a housing having a valve core hole formed therein; a spool inserted in the spool hole of the housing so as to be movable in the axial direction; an electric actuator for applying a pressing force to the valve element to move the valve element in one axial direction; and a biasing mechanism that biases the valve element in the other axial direction against a pressing force of the electric actuator; the electric actuator has: an electric motor for rotating the output shaft; a linear motion converting mechanism having a linear motion member capable of linear motion, the linear motion converting mechanism converting a rotational motion of the output shaft into a linear motion of the linear motion member; and an abutting member having a pressing portion formed in a partial spherical shape and provided to the linear motion member in a state of being pressed against the valve body by the urging mechanism.

According to the present invention, the abutment member is pressed against the valve element by the urging mechanism, so that the pressing force of the electric actuator can be applied to the valve element via the abutment member to operate the valve element. Further, the pressing portion of the contact member is formed in a partially spherical shape, so that the pressing portion and the valve element can be brought into point contact. Thus, even when the axes of the output shaft and the valve element are misaligned with each other, the misalignment can be absorbed. That is, the valve body can be inserted into the valve body hole without applying a bending moment. This prevents the valve element from being pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the housing at the time of start-up and during operation. That is, an increase in the frictional force acting on the valve element due to the core misalignment can be suppressed, and a decrease in the position controllability of the valve element due to the core misalignment can be suppressed.

The invention has the following effects:

according to the present invention, a decrease in controllability of the valve element position associated with the core misalignment can be suppressed.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a spool valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing an area X of the spool valve of fig. 1 in an enlarged manner;

fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a coupling member of the spool valve of fig. 1 in an enlarged manner;

fig. 4 is a view showing a movable region of the coupling member of fig. 3, wherein (a) shows a case where the valve body side coupling portion is inclined in one direction of the first direction, and (b) shows a case where the valve body side coupling portion is inclined in one direction of the second direction;

fig. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which the axes of the output shaft and the spool are tilted in the spool valve of fig. 1, (a) the spool is located at a neutral position, and (b) the spool moves in one direction of the axis from the neutral position;

fig. 6 is a view showing a movable region of the coupling member of fig. 3, wherein (a) shows a case where the valve body side coupling portion is slid in the other first direction, and (b) shows a case where the valve body side coupling portion is slid in the other second direction;

fig. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which the axes of the output shaft and the spool are eccentric in the spool valve of fig. 1;

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a position performance of a spool valve relative to a position command, wherein (a) shows the position performance of the spool valve shown in FIG. 1, and (b) shows the position performance of a prior art spool valve;

fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a spool according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The spool valves 1, 1A according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the concept of the direction used in the following description is used for convenience of description, and the direction of the structure of the invention and the like are not limited to this direction. The spool valves 1 and 1A described below are only one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and additions, deletions, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[ first embodiment ]

Industrial machines including construction machines and the like are provided with a hydraulic pressure supply device for supplying hydraulic oil to an actuator. The actuator is driven at a speed corresponding to the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid supplied thereto, and the hydraulic pressure supply device includes a spool 1 as shown in fig. 1 for controlling the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the actuator. The spool valve 1 is a linear-motion electric spool valve, and includes a housing 11, a valve body 12, an electric actuator 13, and a spring mechanism 14. The housing 11 is, for example, a valve block, and is formed with a valve core hole 11a and a plurality of oil passages (three oil passages in the present embodiment) 11b to 11 d. The valve core hole 11a extends in a predetermined direction in a manner penetrating the housing, and the 3 oil passages 11b to 11d are connected to the valve core hole 11a at different positions, respectively. The three oil passages 11b to 11d are connected to a hydraulic pump, an actuator, or the like, not shown, and the hydraulic oil flows through the three oil passages 11b to 11 d. The valve body 12 is inserted into the valve body hole 11a of the housing 11 configured as described above.

The valve body 12 is a substantially cylindrical member extending in the axial direction thereof, and has an outer diameter substantially equal to the bore diameter of the valve body hole 11 a. A plurality of circumferential grooves (two circumferential grooves 12a, 12b in the present embodiment) are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the valve body 12. The circumferential grooves 12a and 12b extend all around the outer circumferential surface of the valve body 12 in the circumferential direction. The circumferential grooves 12a and 12b are disposed corresponding to the three oil passages 11b to 11d in a state where the valve body 12 is inserted through the valve body hole 11 a. For example, when the valve body 12 is at the neutral position as shown in fig. 1, the two circumferential grooves 12a and 12b are connected to the first and third oil passages 11b and 11d located on the left and right sides, respectively. On the other hand, when the valve body 12 moves in one axial direction (the right direction in fig. 1), the first circumferential groove 12a located on the left side is connected to the first oil passage 11b and the second oil passage 11c, and when the valve body 12 moves in the other axial direction (the left direction in fig. 1), the second circumferential groove 12b located on the right side is connected to the third oil passage 11d and the second oil passage 11 c.

In this way, the valve body 12 can adjust the opening degree between the connected oil passages 11b to 11d by changing the position and switching the connection state of the three oil passages 11b to 11 d. That is, the valve body 12 can flow the hydraulic oil at a flow rate and in a direction corresponding to the position thereof. The valve element 12 having such a function has one end portion and the other end portion in the axial direction protruding from the housing 11, the electric actuator 13 is provided at one end portion in the axial direction of the valve element 12, and the spring mechanism 14 is provided at the other end portion in the axial direction of the valve element 12.

The electric actuator 13 is a so-called direct-acting electric actuator, and reciprocates the valve body 12 in the axial direction by supplying electric power. That is, the electric actuator 13 includes a motor-side housing 21, a motor 22, a ball screw mechanism 23, an intermediate member 24, and a coupling member 25, as shown in fig. 2. The motor-side housing 21 is substantially cylindrical, and an opening portion on one side in the axial direction thereof is covered on one end portion in the axial direction of the valve body 12. Further, the motor-side case 21 is fastened to the housing 11 in a state in which the opening thereof is in contact with the side surface of the other side in the axial direction of the housing 11. The motor-side case 21 thus arranged extends in the axial direction, and the motor 22 is attached to an opening portion on the other side in the axial direction.

The motor 22 is a so-called servo motor, and includes a stator portion 22a and a rotor portion (including an output shaft) 22 b. A control device, not shown, is connected to the stator portion 22a, and the rotor portion 22b rotates in response to a voltage applied from the control device. The rotor portion 22b protrudes from the stator portion 22a into the motor-side housing 21 in one axial direction. Further, a bearing 26 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the motor-side housing 21. The rotor portion 22b is rotatably supported by a bearing 26, and a tip end (i.e., right end) of the rotor portion 22b is provided with a ball screw mechanism 23.

The ball screw mechanism 23 is a mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the rotor portion 22b into linear motion, and includes a screw shaft 23a and a nut 23 b. The screw shaft 23a is a rod-shaped member extending in the axial direction, and has a male screw formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. In the screw shaft 23a, the screw shaft 23a and the rotor portion 22b rotate integrally, and a nut 23b is screwed. The nut 23b, which is an example of a linear motion member, moves in one direction and the other direction in the axial direction along the screw shaft 23a by rotating the screw shaft 23 a. The nut 23b is fitted to the intermediate member 24.

The intermediate member 24 is formed in a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape, and has an opening 24a on the other side in the axial direction. A nut 23b is fitted and joined to the opening 24a of the intermediate member 24. In the intermediate member 24 configured as described above, the outer diameter of the intermediate member 24 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the motor-side housing 21, and is movable in one axial direction and the other axial direction together with the nut 23 b. The distal end portion of the intermediate member 24 has a screw portion 24b, and the screw portion 24b is screwed with the connecting member 25.

The coupling member 25 is coupled to the intermediate member 24 and the valve body 12, i.e., is a member that couples the nut 23b and the valve body 12 via the intermediate member 24. The coupling member 25 is configured such that the valve body 12 can slide in an inclined manner in all directions (including a first direction and a second direction described later) orthogonal to the axial direction with respect to the nut 23b, in order to allow the core displacement of the valve body 12 with respect to the nut 23 b. More specifically, the coupling member 25 is a so-called ball joint (ball joint) and includes a motor-side coupling portion 31, a spool-side coupling portion 32, and a ball 33 (see fig. 3).

The motor-side coupling portion 31 has a cylindrical portion 31a and a protruding portion 31b, the cylindrical portion 31a is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a screw hole is formed along the axis on one end side in the axial direction thereof, and the screw portion 24b of the intermediate member 24 is screwed into the screw hole. Further, the other end in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 31a is integrally formed with a protruding portion 31 b. The protruding portion 31b is formed in a substantially flat plate shape, and protrudes from the other end in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 31a toward one end in the axial direction. The motor-side coupling portion 31 having such a shape has the protruding portion 31b inserted through the valve body-side coupling portion 32.

The valve-core-side coupling portion 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and an insertion groove 32a extending to one side of the axial direction and penetrating in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the axial direction is formed at one end in the axial direction. That is, the valve element side coupling portion 32 is cut in a cross section perpendicular to the orthogonal direction to form a substantially U-shape. In the valve body side coupling portion 32 having such a shape, the protruding portion 31b of the motor side coupling portion 31 is inserted into the insertion groove 32 a. The other side of the valve element side connecting portion 32 in the axial direction has a screw portion 32 b. A screw hole 12c is formed at one end of the valve body 12 in the axial direction, and the valve body side coupling portion 32 is coupled to the valve body 12 by screwing the screw hole 12c into the screw portion 32b of the valve body side coupling portion 32.

In the coupling member 25, a fitting hole 31c is formed near the center of the protruding portion 31b of the motor-side coupling portion 31. The fitting hole 31c penetrates the protruding portion 31b in the thickness direction of the protruding portion 31b, and the substantially spherical ball 33 is fitted into the fitting hole 31 c. The insertion groove 32a of the valve body side coupling portion 32 is also formed so as to be curved outward in the width direction of the insertion groove 32a at a position corresponding to the fitting hole 31c in accordance with the shape of the ball 33, and the ball 33 is fitted in this portion. That is, the protruding portion 31b can be inserted into the insertion groove 32a of the valve body side coupling portion 32 in a state where the balls 33 are fitted into the fitting holes 31c, and the motor side coupling portion 31 and the valve body side coupling portion 32 can be locked by the balls 33. Thus, the nut 23b and the valve body 12 are coupled by the coupling member 25, and when the nut 23b moves in the axial direction, the valve body 12 can move in one direction and the other direction in the axial direction in conjunction with the nut 23 b.

The coupling member 25 has a function that the motor-side coupling portion 31 and the valve-side coupling portion 32 are locked by the balls 33, and the coupling member 25 is configured such that the motor-side coupling portion 31 and the valve-side coupling portion 32 can tilt about the center point O of the balls 33, that is, the valve-side coupling portion 32 is configured to tilt in all directions orthogonal to the axis L1 with respect to the motor-side coupling portion 31, for example, as shown in fig. 4 (a), the valve-side coupling portion 32 can tilt in one direction of the thickness direction (i.e., the first direction) of the protruding portion 31b with the center point O as the center with respect to the motor-side coupling portion 31 from a state shown by a two-dot chain line, and, as shown in fig. 4 (b), the valve-side coupling portion 32 can tilt in one direction orthogonal to the axis direction and the thickness direction (i.e., the second direction) with the center point O as the center with respect to.

As shown in fig. 5 (a), the coupling member 25 having such a function can tilt the valve element-side coupling portion 32 relative to the motor-side coupling portion 31 in any direction in accordance with the tilted state when, for example, a core misalignment occurs in which the axis L1 of the valve element 12 tilts relative to the axis L2 of the rotor portion 22b, and thus can allow tilting of the axis L1 of the valve element 12 relative to the axis L2 of the rotor portion 22 b.

In the coupling member 25, the ball 33 is relatively movably fitted into the motor-side coupling portion 31 and the valve-body-side coupling portion 32, that is, the ball 33 is relatively moved in the direction in which the fitting hole 31c penetrates the motor-side coupling portion 31, and is relatively moved in the direction in which the insertion groove 32a penetrates the valve-body-side coupling portion 32, whereby the motor-side coupling portion 31 is slidable relative to the valve-body-side coupling portion 32 in two directions orthogonal to each other and orthogonal to the axial direction (i.e., the up-down direction (first direction) and the front-back direction (second direction) when the axial direction is set to the left-right direction in fig. 2) (see (a) of fig. 6 and (b) of fig. 6), and further, in (a) of fig. 6, the valve-body-side coupling portion 32 is moved from the state shown by the two-dot chain line to the state shown by the solid line, and in (b) of fig. 6, the valve-body-side coupling portion 32 is moved from the state shown by the two-dot chain line to the state shown by the solid line, whereby, as shown in fig. 7, the state where the axis L1 of the valve body 12 is eccentrically fitted to the rotor portion 35 in any direction orthogonal to the rotor portion L, and the state where the rotor portion is slidable relative to the eccentric relative to the rotor portion.

The coupling member 25 thus allows the axis L1 of the spool 12 to be displaced relative to the axis L2 of the rotor portion 22b, thereby allowing the spool 12 to be inserted into the spool hole 11a in a straight state without applying a bending moment to the spool 12, i.e., preventing the spool 12 from being pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the housing 11, and suppressing the actuation resistance, i.e., the static friction force, as compared with the spool valve of the related art, therefore, in the spool valve 1, the actuation current when the spool 12 is actuated can be suppressed as can be seen from the graphs of fig. 8 (a) and 8 (b), and fig. 8 (a) shows the temporal changes in the position command (chain double-dashed line), the actual performance position (solid line), and the current (chain line) in the spool valve 1, and fig. 8 (b) shows the temporal changes in the position command (chain double-dashed line), the actual performance position (solid line), and the current (chain line) of the related art.

Further, in the coupling member 25, when the axis L1 of the valve body 12 tilts with respect to the axis L2 of the rotor portion 22b, as shown in fig. 5 (b), the tilt angle of the valve body side coupling portion 32 with respect to the motor side coupling portion 31 is finely adjusted in accordance with the movement of the valve body 12, whereby the valve body 12 can be prevented from being pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the housing 11 when the valve body 12 is moved, and the change in the kinetic friction force can be suppressed as compared with the conventional spool valve, and therefore, in the spool valve 1, as can be seen from the graphs of fig. 8 (a) and 8 (b), the position of the valve body 12 can be controlled with higher accuracy with respect to the position command, and the spring mechanism 14 shown in fig. 1 is provided at the other end portion in the axial direction of the.

The spring mechanism 14 has a spring side housing 41, a drive body 42, a first spring receiving member 43, a second spring receiving member 44, a coil spring 45, and a stopper member 46. The spring-side housing 41 is a substantially bottomed cylindrical member, and an opening portion covers the other end portion in the axial direction of the valve element 12 and is fastened to the side surface on one side in the axial direction of the case 11. Also, the spring side housing 41 houses the drive body 42, the first spring receiving member 43, the second spring receiving member 44, the coil spring 45, and the stopper member 46.

The driver 42 is a substantially rod-shaped member, and has a screw portion 42a at its tip end side. That is, the driver 42 screws the screw portion 42a to the other end portion in the axial direction of the valve body 12. The driver 42 is disposed substantially coaxially with the valve body 12 and extends in one axial direction so as to protrude from the valve body 12. The drive body 42 has a head portion 42b on its proximal end side, and an intermediate portion 42c between the head portion 42b and the screw portion 42a is externally fitted with a first spring receiving member 43, a second spring receiving member 44, a coil spring 45, and a stopper member 46.

The first spring receiving member 43 is formed in a substantially hat shape having a main body portion 43a and a flange portion 43 b. The body portion 43a is formed in a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape, and an insertion hole 43c for inserting the driver 42 is formed around the axis thereof. A flange portion 43b is formed on the opening end portion of the main body portion 43a over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. The first spring receiving member 43 having such a shape covers the other end portion in the axial direction of the valve body 12 in a state where the intermediate portion 42c of the driven body 42 is inserted therethrough. When the valve body 12 is located at the neutral position, the first spring receiving member 43 has the bottom of the body portion 43a abutting against the other end of the valve body 12 in the axial direction, and has the flange portion 43b abutting against the side surface of the housing 11 on one side in the axial direction. The first spring receiving member 43 is externally fitted to one end side in the axial direction of the driver 42 in a state of being supported by the side surface of the housing 11, and a second spring receiving member 44 is externally fitted to the driver 42 at a position apart from the first spring receiving member 43 in one axial direction.

The second spring receiving member 44 is formed in a substantially disc shape, and an insertion hole 44c for inserting the driving body 42 is formed around the axis thereof. The second spring receiving member 44 having such a shape is inserted through the intermediate portion 42c of the driven body 42, and is disposed separately from the first spring receiving member 44 as described above. The insertion hole 44c of the second spring receiving member 44 thus arranged is formed smaller than the head portion 42b of the drive body 42, so that the second spring receiving member 44 cannot fall off from the head portion 42b side. Between the second spring receiving member 44 and the first spring receiving member 43 arranged in this manner, a coil spring 45 is interposed in a state of being externally attached to the drive body 42. The coil spring 45 is a so-called compression coil spring, and is interposed between the two spring receiving members 43, 44 in a compressed state. Thus, when the valve body 12 is positioned at the neutral position, the first spring receiving member 43 is pressed against the other end of the valve body 12 in the axial direction and the side surface of the housing 11 on one side in the axial direction, and the second spring receiving member 44 is pressed against the head portion 42b of the drive body 42. The inner peripheral surface of the spring-side case 41 is formed such that the portion on one side in the axial direction is smaller than the remaining portion, and a stepped portion 41a is formed at this portion. The outer peripheral edge portion of the second spring receiving member 44 abuts and is supported by the step portion 41a when the spool 12 is located at the neutral position.

In the spring mechanism 14 configured as described above, when the electric actuator 13 moves the valve body 12 from the neutral position to one of the axial directions, the first spring receiving member 43 moves together with the valve body in one of the axial directions. On the other hand, the outer peripheral edge portion of the second spring receiving member 44 is supported by the step portion 41a so as not to be movable, and is maintained at this position. Thereby, the distance between the two spring receiving members 43 and 44 is narrowed to compress the coil spring 45, and the coil spring 45 applies a biasing force in the direction to return to the neutral position to the valve body 12 via the first spring receiving member 44 and the drive body 42. That is, the coil spring 45 applies an urging force in the other axial direction to the valve body 12 against the pressing force from the electric actuator 13.

When the valve body 12 is moved from the neutral position to the other axial direction by the electric actuator 13, the second spring receiving member 44 is pulled toward the other axial direction by the head 42 b. On the other hand, the flange portion 43b of the first spring receiving member 43 is supported by the housing 11 so as not to move, and is maintained at this position. Thereby, the distance between the two spring receiving members 43 and 44 is narrowed to compress the coil spring 45, and the coil spring 45 applies a biasing force in the direction to return to the neutral position to the valve body 12 via the second spring receiving member 44 and the drive body 42. That is, the coil spring 45 applies an urging force in one axial direction to the valve body 12 against the pressing force from the electric actuator 13.

On the other hand, when the spool 12 is in the neutral position, the first spring receiving member 43 is supported on the side surface of the housing 11, and the second spring receiving member 44 is supported on the step portion 41a of the spring side housing 41. Therefore, the urging force of the coil spring 45 does not act on the spool 12. Therefore, the valve body 12 can be returned to the neutral position by setting the pressing force applied from the electric actuator 13 to the valve body 12 to zero. The spring mechanism 14 includes the stopper member 46 as described above.

The stopper member 46 restricts the compression of the coil spring 45 in such a manner that the amount of compression of the coil spring 45 is not more than a prescribed distance. That is, the stopper member 46 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, is disposed inside the coil spring 45, and is externally fitted to the drive body 42. The stopper member 46 is disposed between the two spring receiving members 43 and 44. The stopper member 46 thus arranged is formed to be shorter than the distance between the bottom of the body portion 43a and the axial direction of the second spring receiving member 44 by the predetermined distance. This can restrict the valve body 12 from moving by a predetermined amount or more in one and the other of the axial directions.

In the spool 1 configured as described above, the motor 22 of the electric actuator is driven in response to a voltage applied from the control device, and the rotor portion 22b and the screw shaft 23a rotate in response thereto. Further, the screw shaft 23a rotates, and the nut 23b moves in one axial direction (or the other) by a distance corresponding to the rotational direction and the rotational speed, and the nut 23b pushes (or pulls) the valve body 12 in one axial direction (or the other) through the intermediate member 24 and the coupling member 25. Thereby, the position of the valve body 12 is changed, and the connection state and the opening degree of the three oil passages 11b to 11d are changed.

In the spool valve 1, the nut 23b pushes (or pulls) the spool 12 via the coupling member 25, and even when the axis L1 of the spool 12 is misaligned with respect to the axis L2 of the rotor portion 22b, the axis L1 of the spool 12 can absorb the misalignment with respect to the axis L2 of the rotor portion 22b, and therefore, an increase in the frictional force acting on the spool 12 due to the misalignment can be suppressed, and thus, a decrease in the position controllability of the spool 12 due to the misalignment can be suppressed, and the position of the spool 12 can be controlled with higher accuracy with respect to the position command.

In the spool valve 1, the coupling member 25 allows the valve body 12 to tilt in various directions with respect to the rotor portion 22b, and the axis L1 of the valve body 12 is displaced in any direction with respect to the axis L2 of the rotor portion 22b, and the core displacement can be absorbed, whereby the positional accuracy of the valve body 12 with respect to the electric actuator 13 at the time of assembly can be suppressed to a low level, and the ball 33 is fitted into the motor-side coupling portion 31 of the coupling member 25, and the ball 33 is inserted into the valve-core-side coupling portion 32, whereby the electric actuator 13 and the valve body 12 can be coupled, and the assembly of the spool valve 1 is easy, and the replacement of the components is easy.

In the spool valve 1, a ball joint having a simple structure including the two coupling portions 31 and 32 and balls is used as the coupling member 25. Therefore, the structure of the spool valve 1 can be suppressed from being complicated, and the number of parts of the spool valve 1 can be suppressed from increasing. This can suppress the manufacturing cost of the spool 1.

Further, in the spool valve 1, in order to return the valve body 12 from the moved state to the neutral position, the motor 22 is driven by a current from the control device to rotate the rotor portion 22b and the screw shaft 23a in the direction opposite to the above direction. Thus, the nut 23b moves to the other side (or one side) in the axial direction, and the valve body 12 is returned to the neutral position. At this time, the valve body 12 is biased in the direction of the neutral position by the biasing force of the spring mechanism 14 and returns to the neutral position. When the valve body 12 returns to the neutral position, the spring mechanism 14 causes the two spring receiving members 43 and 44 to contact the side surface of the housing 11 and the step portion 41a of the spring-side housing 41, respectively, and thereby makes the biasing force applied to the valve body 12 zero. When the driving of the motor 22 is stopped in an unexpected state such as a failure of the motor 22 and the control device or a disconnection of the signal line, the spring mechanism 14 returns the valve body 12 to the neutral position. That is, the spool 1 can realize fail safe (fail safe) by the spring mechanism 14.

[ second embodiment ]

The spool valve 1A of the second embodiment is similar in structure to the spool valve 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, regarding the configuration of the spool 1A of the second embodiment, the differences from the spool 1 of the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same configurations will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in fig. 9, a spool valve 1A of the second embodiment includes a housing 11, a valve body 12, an electric actuator 13A, and a spring mechanism 14A. As shown in fig. 2, the electric actuator 13A has a motor-side housing 21, a motor 22, a ball screw mechanism 23, an intermediate member 24, and an abutment member 25A. The contact member 25A has a coupling portion 31A and a ball 33A. The tip end portion of the coupling portion 31A forms a partially spherical recess 31d, and the ball 33A is fitted and riveted thereto. Thereby, the distal end portion of the abutment member 25A forms a partially spherical pressing portion 25A, and the pressing portion 25A presses and abuts against one end portion in the axial direction of the valve body 12. Further, a spring mechanism 14A is provided at the other end portion in the axial direction of the valve body 12.

The spring mechanism 14A has a spring-side housing 41 and a coil spring 45. The coil spring 45 is accommodated in the spring-side housing 41 and is interposed between the other end portion of the spool 12 in the axial direction and the bottom portion of the spring-side housing 41. The coil spring 45 thus arranged biases the valve body 12 toward the other side in the axial direction, and presses the valve body 12 against the ball 33A. That is, the coil spring 45 applies a biasing force against the pressing force of the electric actuator 13A to the valve body 12, and constantly presses the ball 33A against the valve body 12.

In the spool 1A configured as described above, in a state where the drive of the motor 22 of the electric actuator 13A is stopped, for example, the first oil passage 11b is blocked and the second oil passage 11c and the third oil passage 11d are connected. On the other hand, when a current flows from the control device to the electric actuator 13A and the motor 22 is driven, the motor 22 rotates in response to the current to move the nut 23b in one of the axial directions. Thereby, the valve body 12 is pushed in the axial direction by the abutment member 25A, and the valve body 12 is moved in the axial direction. By moving the valve body 12 in this manner, the connection state and the opening degree of the three oil passages 11b to 11d can be changed.

In the spool valve 1A, the electric actuator 13A pushes the spool 12 by the ball 33A, and therefore, even when the axial line L1 of the spool 12 is displaced relative to the axial line L2 of the rotor portion 22b, the ball 33A can be continuously brought into contact with and pressed against the spool 12 while changing the position at one end in the axial direction of the spool 12, and the ball 33A is not fixed to the spool 12 and is in point contact, so that the spool 12 can be inserted into the spool hole without applying a bending moment to the spool 12, and further, when the axial line L1 of the spool 12 is tilted or eccentric relative to the axial line L2 of the rotor portion 22b by the point contact, the spool 12 can be pushed in the axial direction by the electric actuator 13.

[ other embodiments ]

In the spool valve 1 of the first embodiment, a ball joint is used as the coupling member 25, but the present invention is not limited to the ball joint. For example, a universal joint (universal joint) may be used as the coupling member 25. The connecting member 25 may be configured by the following caulking structure. That is, the ball 33 is integrally formed at the tip end of the motor-side coupling portion 31 like a shoe, and one end portion in the axial direction of the spool-side coupling portion 32 is formed as a partially spherical recess portion by being fitted to the ball 33. The ball 33 is inserted into the partial spherical recess and riveted so that the ball 33 can rotate in the partial spherical recess. Thereby, the motor-side coupling portion 31 and the valve-side coupling portion 32 are coupled to each other so as to be displaceable about the center point O of the ball 33. In this manner, the coupling member 25 may be configured to be capable of various displacements about the center point O between the motor-side coupling portion 31 and the valve-body-side coupling portion 32. The coupling member 25 is configured to allow both tilting and decentering, but is not necessarily configured to share both members, and may be configured to allow only either tilting or decentering. The direction in which the tilting and decentering are allowed does not necessarily have to be an omnidirectional direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and may be a specific one.

In the spool valve 1 according to the first embodiment, the intermediate member 24 and the motor-side connecting portion 31 of the connecting member 25 are formed separately, but may be formed integrally. Similarly, the valve body 12 and the valve body side connecting portion 32 are also formed separately, but may be formed integrally. The motor-side connecting portion 31 of the connecting member 25 does not necessarily have to be connected to or integrally formed with the intermediate member 24, and may be connected to or integrally formed with the valve body 12. In this case, the valve body side coupling portion 32 may be coupled to or integrally formed with the intermediate member 24.

The coupling member 25 may not necessarily be configured to be capable of various displacements in all directions around the center point O, and may be configured such that the valve-core-side coupling portion 32 is inclined relative to the motor-side coupling portion 31 only in the thickness direction of the protruding portion 31b as shown in fig. 4 (a), or such that the valve-core-side coupling portion 32 is inclined relative to the motor-side coupling portion 31 only in the directions orthogonal to the axial direction and the thickness direction as shown in fig. 4 (b). These configurations are particularly useful when the accuracy of mounting the electric actuator 13 to the side surface of the housing 11 can be ensured to be high only in one direction (the vertical direction or the front-rear direction in fig. 1).

Further, in the spool valve 1 of the first embodiment, the spring mechanism 14 is disposed on the other end portion side in the axial direction of the spool 12, but this position is not necessarily required. The spring mechanism 14 may be disposed on one end side of the valve body 12 in the axial direction, for example. In this case, the first spring receiving member 43 is disposed so as to cover one end portion in the axial direction of the spool 12, and the second spring receiving member 44 is disposed so as to abut against a tip end surface of the intermediate member. Further, the coil spring 45 is interposed between the two spring receiving members 43, 44 so that the spring mechanism 14 can be disposed on one end side in the axial direction of the valve body 12.

The spring mechanism 14 is used as a mechanism for returning the valve body 12 to the neutral position accurately, but the mechanism having this function is not limited to the spring mechanism 14. For example, the valve body 12 may not be moved from the neutral position by a brake (dwell) mechanism unless a pressing force equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the valve body, and a position sensor may be provided to detect the position of the valve body 12 with good accuracy, thereby improving the reproducibility to the neutral position.

Further, in the spool valve 1 of the first and second embodiments, the ball screw mechanism 23 is directly connected to the rotor portion 22b, but the rotor portion 22b and the ball screw mechanism 23 may be connected by a speed change mechanism or the like. In this case, the motor 22 may be disposed in parallel with the ball screw mechanism 23 without being disposed coaxially with the ball screw mechanism 23. Further, a linear motion conversion mechanism such as a slide screw mechanism or a trapezoidal screw mechanism may be used instead of the ball screw mechanism 23.

Description of the symbols:

1. 1A slide valve

11 outer cover

11a valve core hole;

12 valve core

13. 13A electric actuator

14. 14A spring mechanism (forcing mechanism)

22 motor

22b output shaft

23 ball screw mechanism (direct conversion mechanism)

23b nut (direct action component)

25 connecting member

25A contact member

25a pressing part

31 motor side connecting part

32 valve element side connecting part

33 balls.