阅读说明：本技术 电动阀 (Electric valve ) 是由 吉田龙也 荒井裕介 上原聪 细谷岳史 于 2020-03-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供一种抑制制造工时而且实现小型化的电动阀。电动阀具有：电机,该电机由使阀芯(10)位移的定子部件(62)和转子部件(64)构成；以及壳体(4),该壳体收容所述电机,所述壳体(4)通过将由第一材料(M1)形成的发热部与由第二材料(M2)形成的受热部接合而形成,所述第一材料(M1)的光的透过率比所述第二材料(M2)的光的透过率低。(Provided is an electrically operated valve which can suppress the number of manufacturing steps and can be reduced in size. The electric valve has: a motor comprising a stator part (62) and a rotor part (64) for displacing the valve element (10); and a case (4) that houses the motor, the case (4) being formed by joining a heat generating portion formed of a first material (M1) and a heat receiving portion formed of a second material (M2), the first material (M1) having a lower transmittance of light than the second material (M2).)

1. An electrically operated valve, comprising:

a motor including a rotor part and a stator part applying a rotational force to the rotor part;

a power transmission mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the rotor member into axial motion of the valve element;

a housing that houses the motor and the power transmission mechanism; and

a base member coupled to the housing and having a valve seat for separating or seating the valve element,

the case includes a heat generating portion formed of a first material having a lower transmittance for laser light than a second material, and a heat receiving portion formed of a second material and joined to the heat generating portion.

2. Electrically operated valve according to claim 1,

the heating portion is welded to the heat receiving portion by irradiating the heating portion with laser light transmitted through the heat receiving portion.

3. Electrically operated valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that

The housing has a cylindrical member and a cover member for shielding the cylindrical member,

the heat generating portion is a part of the cylindrical member, and the heat receiving portion is a part of the cover member.

4. Electrically operated valve according to claim 4,

the cover member holds a substrate having a drive circuit for driving the motor, and the cylindrical member is provided with a connection portion connectable to an external power supply.

5. Electrically operated valve according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that

The cover member includes a lid portion covering an end portion of the cylindrical member, the heat-generating portion is the end portion of the cylindrical member, and the heat-receiving portion is the lid portion.

6. Electrically operated valve according to claim 5,

the lid portion protrudes outward from an end portion of the cylindrical member in a direction intersecting with an irradiation direction of the laser beam.

7. An electrically operated valve according to claim 5 or 6,

the surface of the lid portion on the side opposite to the end portion of the cylindrical member is a flat surface.

8. Electrically operated valve according to one of the claims 3 to 7,

the cover member includes an insertion portion fitted inside an end portion of the cylindrical member, and a rib is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion.

9. Electrically actuated valve according to claim 8,

the motor is disposed in the cylindrical member,

an angle sensor for detecting a rotation angle of the rotor member is disposed on the cover member.

10. Electrically operated valve according to claim 1 or 2,

the housing has: a housing main body; a cylindrical member coupled to the housing main body; and a cover member that covers the cylindrical member,

the housing main body is formed of the first material, the cylindrical member is formed of the first material and the second material, and the cover member is formed of the second material.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrically operated valve.

Background

Conventionally, as a so-called electrically operated valve for electrically opening and closing a valve, a configuration is known which includes a power transmission device for reducing the speed of a rotational force of a stepping motor by a speed reduction device or directly transmitting the rotational force to a screw mechanism (see patent document 1).

The stepping motor of the motor-operated valve is accommodated in a sealed state in a housing, and prevents water, foreign matter, and the like from adhering to a circuit board and the like.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2018-135908

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

In the motor-operated valve disclosed in patent document 1, the housing member is formed of a cylindrical member and a cover member covering the cylindrical member, and a gasket is disposed between the cylindrical member and the cover member in order to further ensure sealability in the housing member. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of manufacturing steps increases with an increase in the number of mounting parts, and the housing is increased in size due to the provision of a circumferential groove for disposing a gasket, an elastic engagement structure for fixing the cylindrical member and the cover member to each other, and the like.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a motor-operated valve that is reduced in size while suppressing the number of manufacturing steps.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, an electrically operated valve according to the present invention includes:

a motor including a rotor part and a stator part applying a rotational force to the rotor part;

a power transmission mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the rotor member into axial motion of the valve element;

a housing that houses the motor and the power transmission mechanism; and

a base member coupled to the housing and having a valve seat for separating or seating the valve element,

the case includes a heat generating portion formed of a first material having a lower transmittance for laser light than a second material, and a heat receiving portion formed of a second material and joined to the heat generating portion.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a motor-operated valve that is reduced in size while suppressing the number of manufacturing steps.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an outline of an electrically operated valve according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the cover member.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cover member.

Fig. 4 (a) is a cross-sectional view showing the cover member and the cylindrical member, and fig. 4 (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion indicated by an arrow a in fig. 4 (a).

Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an outline of an electrically operated valve according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of an electrically operated valve showing a manufacturing process of a housing.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an electrically operated valve according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the direction from the rotor toward the valve seat is defined as downward, and the opposite direction is defined as upward.

(first embodiment)

The motor-operated valve 1 of the first embodiment is explained with reference to fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a motor-operated valve 1 according to a first embodiment.

The motor-operated valve 1 includes an actuator 30 housed in a housing 4, a rotary shaft 50, a stepping motor 60 that transmits a rotational force to the rotary shaft 50, a power transmission mechanism 120 that converts and transmits the rotary motion of the rotary shaft 50 into an axial motion of the valve element 10, a permanent magnet 70 attached to the rotary shaft 50 so as to rotate together with the rotary shaft 50, an angle sensor 80 that detects the rotation angle of the permanent magnet 70, and the valve element 10 and the valve seat 20 housed in the lower base member 2.

The lower base member 2 includes a first flow path 112 and a second flow path 114. When the valve element 10 is separated from the valve seat 20, in other words, when the valve element 10 is in the upper position, the fluid flows into the valve chamber 113 through the first flow path 112 and is discharged through the second flow path 114. On the other hand, when the valve body 10 is seated on the valve seat 20, in other words, when the valve body 10 is at the lower position, the first flow passage 112 and the second flow passage 114 are not communicated with each other.

The stepping motor 60 includes a stator part 62 including a coil 61 and a rotor part 64. The pulse signal is input to the coil 61 from the control substrate 3 provided with a drive circuit for driving the stepping motor 60 via the power supply unit 63. Then, when the pulse signal is input to the coil 61, the rotor member 64 rotates by a rotation angle corresponding to the number of pulses of the pulse signal.

(Power transmission mechanism)

The power transmission mechanism 120 is a member that connects the rotor member 64 and the rotary shaft 50 to each other so as to be able to transmit power. The power transmission mechanism 120 includes a plurality of gears. The power transmission mechanism 120 may include a planetary gear mechanism.

The stator component 62 is secured to the side wall of the housing 100. The rotor member 64 is rotatably disposed inside the side wall of the housing 100 with respect to the housing 100. The rotor member 64 is formed of a magnetic material and is coaxially coupled to a sun gear body 121 having a shaft hole.

The rotary shaft 50 is disposed in a shaft hole of the sun gear body 121 to be rotatable relative thereto. The external teeth of the sun gear body 121 mesh with the plurality of planetary gears 122. Each planetary gear 122 is rotatably supported by a shaft 124, and the shaft 124 is supported by a planetary carrier 123. The outer teeth of each planetary gear 122 mesh with an annular ring gear 125.

The ring gear 125 is a member that is not rotatable relative to the housing 100. The ring gear 125 is supported by the holder 150 via a cylindrical support member 126.

The planetary gears 122 also mesh with an annular second ring gear 127. The second ring gear 127 functions as an output gear fixed to the rotary shaft 50.

The above-described gear structure constitutes a so-called singular planetary gear mechanism. In the reduction gear using the singularity planetary gear mechanism, the number of teeth of the second ring gear 127 is slightly different from the number of teeth of the ring gear 125, so that the rotation speed of the sun gear body 121 can be reduced at a large reduction ratio and transmitted to the second ring gear 127.

Although the singular planetary gear mechanism is used as the power transmission mechanism 120, any power transmission mechanism may be used as the power transmission mechanism between the rotor member 64 and the rotary shaft 50. As the power transmission mechanism 120, a planetary gear mechanism other than the singular planetary gear mechanism may be employed.

A coupling member 52 is attached to the lower end of the rotating shaft 50, and the coupling member 52 and the upper end of the actuator 30 are coupled to rotate integrally in the rotational direction, but can move relatively in the axial direction.

The driver 30 has a male screw 31 on its outer peripheral surface. The male screw 31 is screwed into a female screw 41 provided in a guide member 40 for guiding the actuator. Therefore, when the rotary shaft 50 and the driver 30 rotate around the axis, the driver 30 is guided by the guide member 40 and moves up and down. On the other hand, the rotary shaft 50 is rotatably supported by the sun gear body 121 or the guide member 40 and is not movable in the axial direction.

The guide member 40 that guides the driver 30 is supported by the holder 150.

The lower end of the actuator 30 is rotatably connected to the upper end of the valve body 10 via a ball 160. When the actuator 30 rotates about the axis and moves upward or downward, the valve body 10 moves upward or downward without rotating about the axis.

The valve element 10 is biased upward by a spring member 170, and the spring member 170 is disposed between a spring receiving member 172 attached to the opening 2a of the lower base member 2 and the valve element 10.

When the actuator 30 moves downward, the valve element 10 is pushed downward against the urging force of the spring member 170 and is displaced. On the other hand, when the actuator 30 moves upward, the valve body 10 is pushed upward and displaced by the biasing force of the coil spring 170.

A partition member 130 is disposed inside the housing 100. Permanent magnet 70 is disposed in the upper space of case 100 formed by partition member 130. Permanent magnet 70 is coupled to the vicinity of the upper end of rotating shaft 50 penetrating partition member 130.

With the above configuration, the valve body 10 can be driven using the power from the stepping motor 60. The amount of movement of the spool 10 in the direction of the axis L is proportional to the amount of rotation of the rotary shaft 50 and the permanent magnet 70. Therefore, by measuring the rotation angle of the permanent magnet 70 about the axis line by the angle sensor 80 attached to the lower surface of the control board 3, the position of the valve body 10 in the direction along the axis line L can be accurately determined.

Since the rotation shaft 50 and the permanent magnet 70 do not move up and down with respect to the angle sensor 80, the rotation angle of the permanent magnet 70 can be accurately calculated using the angle sensor 80.

The lower portion of the hollow cylindrical holder 150 is disposed in the opening 2a of the lower base member 2. A spacer 152 is disposed between the holder 150 and the lower base member 2.

The holder 150 is disposed so as to contact the inner wall portion of the housing 4. A gasket 154 is disposed between the holder 150 and the inner wall portion of the housing 4.

Therefore, the cage 150 has the following functions: the upper end portion 12 of the valve body 10 is housed while preventing liquid from entering a space where the stator member 62 and the like are disposed.

(case)

Next, the case 4 will be explained. The housing 4 has a cover member 4a and a cylindrical member 4 b. The cylindrical member 4b of the housing 4 is supported via a stay 5, and the stay 5 is screwed to the lower base member 2 at one end and bent in an L-shape.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the cover member 4a, and fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cover member 4 a. The cover member 4a is provided with a lid portion 4c, which is a flat plate having a trapezoidal or rectangular shape joined thereto, and an insertion portion 4d, which has a cylindrical cross-sectional shape similar to the lid portion 4c, in series. The thickness of the cover 4c is preferably 0.5mm to 1.5mm because laser light described later is easily transmitted therethrough.

Preferably, the cover member 4a is a resin based on PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) or PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), and is formed of a second material having a laser transmittance of 20% to 40%, for example. The cover member 4a may be a natural color of the material, but it is preferable to add a pigment such as carbon black to the material to make it black.

In fig. 2 and 3, a plurality of elongated ribs 4g, each having a raised part of the outer peripheral surface, are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 4d except for a pair of outer peripheral surfaces along the longitudinal direction.

In fig. 1, a support portion 4f is formed on the lower surface of the lid portion 4c, and the control board 3 is supported by the support portion 4 f. Control board 3 and power supply unit 63 are connected via flexible board FP 1.

The cylindrical member 4b has: an upper tube portion 4h having a sectional shape similar to the insertion portion 4 d; a lower tube section 4i extending downward from the upper tube section 4 h; and a connecting portion 4j extending horizontally from the lower end of the upper tube portion 4 h. The terminal 4k disposed inside the connection portion 4j is connected to the control board 3 via the flexible board FP 2. By connecting the connection portion 4j to a connector (not shown) of the other party, power can be supplied from an external power supply to the control board 3, and the stepping motor 60 can be driven.

Preferably, the cylindrical member 4b is a resin based on PPS or PBT, has a lower laser transmittance than the cover member 4a, and is formed of a first material having a transmittance of, for example, 3% or less.

When the cover member 4a is joined, the rigidity of the cylindrical member 4b is increased by using the stepped portion or the curved surface, and the control board 3 is positioned with high accuracy.

Next, the joining of the cover member 4a and the cylindrical member 4b will be described. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining a joining process of the cover member 4a and the cylindrical member 4 b. After necessary parts are housed in the cylindrical member 4b as shown in fig. 1, the insertion portion 4d of the cover member 4a to which the control board 3 is attached is fitted inside the upper end 4m of the cylindrical member 4b as shown in fig. 4, and the lid portion 4c is brought into contact with the upper end 4 m.

In this state, the glass plate GS is placed on the upper surface of the lid 4c and pressed toward the upper end 4m of the cylindrical member 4 b. In order to press the lid 4c so that no gap is formed between the lid 4c and the upper end 4m over the entire circumference, it is preferable that the lid 4c is pressed by a flat plate with the upper surface of the lid 4c being a flat surface. On the other hand, in order to transmit the laser beam LB efficiently, glass is preferably used. Therefore, in order to satisfy both requirements, the glass plate GS is used as a jig for pressing the lid 4 c.

Subsequently, as shown in fig. 4 (b), the laser beam LB is emitted from above, passes through the glass plate GS and the lid 4c, and is irradiated onto the surface of the upper end 4 m. Here, the lid portion 4c as the heat receiving portion is formed of a second material that is almost transparent to the laser beam LB.

On the other hand, since the upper end 4m as the heat generating portion is formed of the first material that absorbs the laser beam LB, the irradiated portion generates heat and melts after exceeding the glass transition point of the material. The lid portion 4c as the heat receiving portion is heated and melted by heat generation of a portion irradiated with the laser beam at the upper end 4 m. Subsequently, as long as the irradiation of the laser beam LB is stopped, the two melted materials are cooled and solidified, thereby achieving welding of the upper end 4m and the lid portion 4 c. The irradiation of the laser beam LB is performed along the entire circumference of the upper end 4m of the cylindrical member 4b, and may be performed by repeating a plurality of turns.

At this time, as shown in fig. 4 (b), since the outer peripheral surface of the lid portion 4c projects outward by the distance Δ from the outer peripheral surface of the upper end 4m in the direction intersecting the irradiation direction of the laser beam LB, even if a burr or the like is generated by melting of the heat generating portion and grows outward, the burr and the laser beam LB are suppressed from interfering with each other. This can suppress deterioration in appearance quality due to scorching of burrs, adhesion to the outer surface, and the like.

Further, since the ribs 4g are formed in the insertion portion 4d of the cover member 4a, when the insertion portion 4d is fitted inside the cylindrical member 4b, the ribs 4g come into contact with the inner wall of the cylindrical member 4b in addition to the insertion portion 4d to perform a positioning function, and the cover member 4a can be prevented from being loosened with respect to the cylindrical member 4 b. This enables the angle sensor 80 attached to the cover member 4a and the permanent magnet 70 disposed on the cylindrical member 4b to be accurately positioned.

Further, since the looseness of the cover member 4a with respect to the cylindrical member 4b is suppressed by the abutment of the rib 4g with the inner wall of the cylindrical member 4b, the influence of the burr can be further suppressed by the distance Δ of the outer peripheral surface of the coupling lid portion 4c protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface of the upper end 4 m.

In addition, although the ultrasonic welding technique may be used for welding the cover member 4a and the cylindrical member 4b, the control board 3 and the like may be damaged by vibration due to the application of ultrasonic waves. In contrast, according to the present embodiment, since welding is performed using the laser beam LB, there is no influence of vibration. Further, since the irradiation area can be suppressed to be small by irradiating the laser beam LB having a reduced diameter, it is possible to avoid the influence of heat generation of the heat generating portion from reaching the control board 3 and the like.

In particular, since the joining can be reliably performed even when the thickness of the upper end 4m is small by irradiating the laser beam LB having a reduced diameter, high sealing performance can be obtained even in a small-sized cylindrical member without using a gasket as another component.

(second embodiment)

The motor-operated valve 1A of the second embodiment is explained below. In the present embodiment, the shape of the housing is different from the above-described embodiments, and the angle sensor is not provided. The first material and the second material can be the same as those of the above-described embodiment. The same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a motor-operated valve 1A according to a second embodiment. The housing 4A includes a housing main body 4Aa that houses the drive system of the motor-operated valve 1A, and a substrate holding portion 4Ab that holds the control substrate 3.

The hollow cylindrical case body 4Aa has a ring-shaped portion 4Ac protruding from a part of the outer periphery thereof in a ring shape. The power supply portion 63 penetrates the annular portion 4Ac and projects outward.

The substrate holding portion 4Ab having a frame shape includes a bottomed cylindrical member 4Ad, a cover member 4Ae for shielding an end portion of the cylindrical member 4Ad, and a connecting portion 4Af joined to the cylindrical member 4 Ad.

A circular recess 4Ag into which the annular portion 4Ac fits is formed in the bottom wall of the cylindrical member 4 Ad. The circular recess 4Ag communicates with the inside of the cylindrical member 4Ad through the communication hole 4 Ah.

The cover member 4Ae is provided with a lid 4Ai as a flat plate and a tubular insertion portion 4Aj in series.

The inner end of the terminal 4Ak disposed inside the connecting portion 4Af is connected to the control board 3 disposed inside the tubular member 4 Ad. The control board 3 is supported and electrically connected by a power supply portion 63 that penetrates the annular portion 4Ac from the inside of the case main body 4Aa and extends into the tubular member 4Ad through the communication hole 4 Ah.

Next, a manufacturing process of the case 4A will be described. Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining a manufacturing process of the case 4A.

Here, the cylindrical member 4Ad of the substrate holding portion 4Ab is formed of a first material M1 having a low light transmittance and a second material M2 having a high light transmittance. Specifically, in fig. 6, the periphery (shown by a white cross section) of the circular recess 4Ag of the cylindrical member 4Ad is formed by the second material M2, and the other portions (shown by a dotted cross section) of the cylindrical member 4Ad are formed by the first material M1.

In the case where the first material M1 and the second material M2 are resins, the cylindrical member 4Ad can be formed by two-color molding in which materials are simultaneously injected and molded, or insert molding in which one material is inserted into the other material and molded, or the like.

By forming the joint between the first material M1 and the second material M2 in a triangular or convex shape, the adhesiveness of the resin material can be improved. In addition, in the case of insert molding, since the volume of the resin material to be molded later is smaller than the volume of the resin material to be molded earlier, the material temperature can be maintained, and therefore the adhesion can be further improved.

On the other hand, the case body 4Aa (at least the annular portion 4Ac) is formed of a first material M1, and the cover member 4Ae is formed of a second material M2.

In the manufacturing process of the housing 4A, as shown in fig. 6 (a), the circular recess 4Ag of the cylindrical member 4Ad from which the cover member 4Ae and the control board 3 are removed is fitted to the annular portion 4Ac of the housing main body 4 Aa.

In this state, the laser beam LB is emitted from the cylindrical member 4Ad side, and passes through the second member M2 to be irradiated to the annular portion 4 Ac. This enables the annular portion 4Ac to be welded to the cylindrical member 4 Ad.

After the welding of the ring-shaped portion 4Ac over the entire circumference is completed, the control board 3 is connected to the power supply portion 63 and the terminal 4Ak by soldering or the like and held in the cylindrical member 4Ad as shown in fig. 6 (b). After the end of the tubular member 4Ad is covered with the cover member 4Ae, the laser beam LB is emitted and transmitted through the lid 4Ai of the cover member 4Ae to irradiate the end of the tubular member 4 Ad. The cylindrical member 4Ad can be welded to the lid portion 4Ai by irradiating the laser beam LB over the entire circumference of the cover member 4 Ae.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Within the scope of the present invention, the above-described embodiments may be freely combined, or any component of each embodiment may be modified, or any component of each embodiment may be omitted.

Description of the symbols

1. 1A: electric valve

2: lower base member

3: control substrate

4. 4A: shell body

10: valve core

20: valve seat

30: driver

31: external thread

40: guide member

41: internal thread

50: rotating shaft

52: connecting member

60: stepping motor

62: stator component

64: rotor component

70: permanent magnet

80: angle sensor

100: outer casing

112: first flow path

113: valve chamber

114: second flow path

120: power transmission mechanism

121: sun gear body

122: planetary gear

123: planet gear carrier

124: shaft

125: gear ring

126: support member

127: second ring gear

129: output gear

130: partition member

150: holding rack

152: liner pad

154: liner pad

160: ball with ball-shaped section

170: spring component

172: spring support component