阅读说明：本技术 动力元件以及具有该动力元件的膨胀阀 (Power element and expansion valve with same ) 是由 横田浩 高桥祐亮 于 2019-02-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供一种能够抑制因焊接的热而引起的树脂制的止动部件的变形的动力元件以及具有该动力元件的膨胀阀。在膨胀阀(1)中,动力元件(30)的上盖部件(31)、承接部件(32)以及隔膜(33)的外周部(31a、32a、33a)被焊接以成为一体。树脂制的止动部件(34)收容于在隔膜(33)与承接部件(32)之间形成的制冷剂流入室37,并且具有与在承接部件(32)的中央部设置的贯通孔(35)的周缘部(35a)相接的凸缘部(34b)。并且,凸缘部(34b)中的与承接部件(32)相接的部分(S)与外周部(31a、32a、33a)的外周端(T)的径向距离(D)为6mm以上。(Provided are a power element capable of suppressing deformation of a resin stopper member due to heat of welding, and an expansion valve having the power element. In an expansion valve (1), an upper cover member (31) of a power element (30), a receiving member (32), and outer peripheral portions (31a, 32a, 33a) of a diaphragm (33) are welded to be integrated. The stopper member (34) made of resin is housed in a refrigerant inflow chamber (37) formed between the diaphragm (33) and the receiving member (32), and has a flange portion (34b) that is in contact with the peripheral edge portion (35a) of a through hole (35) provided in the central portion of the receiving member (32). The radial distance (D) between the portion (S) of the flange (34b) that contacts the receiving member (32) and the outer peripheral edge (T) of the outer peripheral portions (31a, 32a, 33a) is 6mm or more.)

1. A power element, comprising:

a diaphragm;

an upper cover member that overlaps one surface of the diaphragm, and that forms a pressure working chamber between the upper cover member and the diaphragm;

a receiving member that overlaps the other surface of the diaphragm and forms a refrigerant inflow chamber between the receiving member and the diaphragm; and

a stopper member made of resin and housed in the refrigerant inflow chamber,

a through hole is provided in the central portion of the receiving member,

the stopper member has a flange portion that comes into contact with a peripheral edge portion of the through hole of the receiving member,

the upper cover member, the receiving member, and an outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm are welded to be integrated,

the radial distance between the portion of the flange portion that contacts the receiving member and the outer peripheral end of the outer peripheral portion is 6mm or more.

2. The power element of claim 1, configured to:

when the pressure of the pressure working chamber is equal to the pressure of the refrigerant inflow chamber, a gap is generated between the diaphragm and the stopper member.

3. An expansion valve, comprising:

A valve body provided with a refrigerant flow path having a valve chamber and a valve hole;

a valve member disposed in the valve chamber;

a coil spring that presses the valve member against a valve chamber side opening portion of the valve hole;

a valve rod inserted into the valve hole and disposed to face the coil spring with the valve member interposed therebetween; and

a power element that drives the valve member via the valve stem,

the power element is constituted by the power element described in claim 1 or 2.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an expansion valve with a built-in temperature sensing mechanism for use in a refrigeration cycle, and a power element provided in the expansion valve.

Background

Conventionally, in a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner or the like mounted in an automobile, a temperature sensing mechanism built-in type expansion valve that adjusts the amount of refrigerant passing therethrough based on temperature is used (for example, see patent documents 1 and 2).

Such an expansion valve has a valve main body and a power element as a valve member driving device attached to the valve main body. The valve body is provided with a first refrigerant flow path through which a high-pressure refrigerant flows, and the first refrigerant flow path is formed by connecting an inlet port, a valve chamber, a valve hole, and an outlet port in this order. In addition, a second refrigerant flow path that communicates with the power element is provided in the valve main body. A spherical valve member is disposed in the valve chamber. The valve member is pressed by a coil spring toward a valve seat provided in a valve chamber side opening portion of the valve hole. Further, a valve rod is inserted into the valve hole. One end of the valve rod faces the coil spring through the valve member, and the other end is attached to the power element.

The power element is configured by sandwiching a diaphragm of a thin plate that elastically deforms upon receiving pressure between an upper cover member and a receiving member. A pressure working chamber is formed between the upper cover member and the diaphragm. A metal stopper member is disposed between the diaphragm and the receiving member. The stopper member is provided with a receiving portion that abuts the other end of the valve rod. In the power element, when the heat of the refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant flow path is transmitted to the pressure working chamber via the stopper member and the diaphragm, the gas filled in the pressure working chamber expands. Thereby, the diaphragm is deformed so as to bulge toward the stopper member, and the valve member is driven via the stopper member and the valve stem to control the opening degree between the valve member and the valve seat.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a power element capable of suppressing deformation of a resin stopper member due to heat of welding, and an expansion valve including the power element.

Means for solving the problems

The inventors of the present invention focused on that heat during welding is mainly transmitted to the stopper member via the receiving member, and made a large number of power elements having different shapes, thicknesses, and the like of the receiving member, and conducted intensive studies while using simulations to influence the heat during welding on the stopper member. As a result, the present inventors have found a structure capable of effectively suppressing the above-described influence regardless of the shape, thickness, and the like of the receiving member, and have completed the present invention.

In order to achieve the above object, a power element according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a diaphragm; an upper cover member that overlaps one surface of the diaphragm, and that forms a pressure working chamber between the upper cover member and the diaphragm; a receiving member that overlaps the other surface of the diaphragm and forms a refrigerant inflow chamber between the receiving member and the diaphragm; and a stopper member made of resin, the stopper member being housed in the refrigerant inflow chamber, a through hole being provided in a central portion of the receiving member, the stopper member having a flange portion that contacts a peripheral edge portion of the through hole of the receiving member, an outer peripheral portion of the upper lid member, the receiving member, and the diaphragm being integrally welded, a radial distance between a portion of the flange portion that contacts the receiving member and an outer peripheral end of the outer peripheral portion being 6mm or more.

In the present invention, it is preferable that: when the pressure of the pressure working chamber is equal to the pressure of the refrigerant inflow chamber, a gap is generated between the diaphragm and the stopper member.

In order to achieve the above object, an expansion valve according to another aspect of the present invention includes: a valve body provided with a refrigerant flow path having a valve chamber and a valve hole; a valve member disposed in the valve chamber; a coil spring that presses the valve member against a valve chamber side opening portion of the valve hole; a valve rod inserted into the valve hole and disposed to face the coil spring with the valve member interposed therebetween; and a power element that drives the valve member via the valve stem, the power element being constituted by the above power element.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, the upper lid member, the receiving member, and the outer peripheral portion of the diaphragm are welded to be integrated. The stopper member made of resin is accommodated in a refrigerant inflow chamber formed between the diaphragm and the receiving member, and has a flange portion that contacts a peripheral edge portion of a through hole provided in a central portion of the receiving member. The distance in the radial direction between the portion of the flange portion that contacts the receiving member and the outer peripheral end of the outer peripheral portion is 6mm or more. This reduces the heat of welding transmitted to the stopper member via the receiving member, and thus can suppress deformation of the stopper member due to the heat of welding.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view of an expansion valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the expansion valve of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a power element provided in the expansion valve of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a structure of a modification of the power element of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of an expansion valve of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the expansion valve of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a power element provided in the expansion valve of fig. 5.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment)

An expansion valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 4. The expansion valve of the first embodiment mounts the power element to the valve main body by a screw structure.

Fig. 1 is a front view of an expansion valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the expansion valve of fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a power element provided in the expansion valve of fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a structure of a modification of the power element of fig. 3. In the following description, "up and down" refers to up and down in each drawing.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the expansion valve 1 of the first embodiment includes a valve main body 10, a power unit 30, a valve member 40, a support member 45, a coil spring 50, an adjustment screw 55, a valve stem 60, and a vibration-proof member 65.

The valve body 10 is obtained by, for example, machining a substantially quadrangular prism-shaped extrusion molded body formed by extruding aluminum (or aluminum alloy) in a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of fig. 1. The valve body 10 is provided with a first refrigerant flow path 11, a second refrigerant flow path 12, a power element attachment portion 20, and an adjustment screw attachment portion 22.

The first refrigerant flow path 11 has an inlet port 13, a valve chamber 14, a valve hole 15, and an outlet port 16. Which are connected in sequence. The inlet port 13 opens at the front surface 10a of the valve body 10. The inlet port 13 opens laterally into the valve chamber 14 via a small-diameter hole 13 a. The outlet port 16 opens at the rear surface 10b of the valve body 10. The outlet port 16 opens into the valve chamber 14 from above via a valve hole 15 serving as an orifice. A valve seat 17 is provided at a valve chamber side opening portion of the valve hole 15.

The second refrigerant flow path 12 is provided above the first refrigerant flow path 11. The second refrigerant flow path 12 has an inlet at the rear surface 10b of the valve body 10 and an outlet at the front surface 10 a. The second refrigerant flow path 12 linearly penetrates the valve main body 10 from the rear surface 10b to the front surface 10 a.

Further, the valve main body 10 is provided with a through hole 18 extending vertically. The valve chamber 14, the valve hole 15, the through hole 18, and a pressure equalizing hole 21 described later are disposed such that their central axes are aligned. A large diameter portion 18a is provided at the end of the through hole 18 on the second refrigerant flow path 12 side.

The power element attachment portion 20 is a cylindrical hole portion provided in the upper surface 10c of the valve main body 10. An internal thread is cut in the inner peripheral surface of the power element attachment portion 20. A pressure equalizing hole 21 leading to the second refrigerant flow path 12 is provided in the bottom surface of the power element mounting portion 20. The central axis direction (vertical direction in fig. 2) of the power element attachment portion 20 is orthogonal to the direction in which the second refrigerant flow path 12 extends (horizontal direction in fig. 2).

The adjustment screw attachment portion 22 is a circular hole provided in the lower surface 10d of the valve body 10. The adjustment screw mounting portion 22 communicates with the valve chamber 14. An inner peripheral surface of the adjustment screw attachment portion 22 is cut with female threads. The valve chamber 14 is closed with respect to the outside by closing the opening portion of the adjuster screw mounting portion 22 with an adjuster screw 55 described later.

A mounting hole 23 is provided in the front surface 10a of the valve main body 10, and the mounting hole 23 is used for mounting an evaporator, other components, and the like, which are not shown. The inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole 23 may be internally threaded.

As shown in fig. 3, the power element 30 has an upper cover member 31, a receiving member 32, a diaphragm 33, and a stopper member 34. The upper cover member 31, the receiving member 32, and the diaphragm 33 are formed of a metal such as stainless steel. The stopper member 34 is made of resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), Syndiotactic Polystyrene (SPS), or polyamide-imide (PAI). The components of power element 30 may be constructed of materials other than these, without departing from the purpose of the present invention.

The upper lid member 31 has an annular outer peripheral portion 31a and a substantially conical inner portion 31b connected to the inner peripheral edge of the outer peripheral portion 31 a. The inner portion 31b is provided with an operating gas injection hole 31c at the center thereof.

The receiving member 32 has a through hole 35 at a central portion thereof, and the receiving member 32 includes: an annular outer peripheral portion 32a, the outer peripheral portion 32a having a step portion; and a cylindrical portion 32b extending downward and connected to an inner peripheral edge of the outer peripheral portion 32a (a peripheral edge portion 35a of the through hole 35). An external thread screwed with the internal thread of the power element mounting portion 20 is cut on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 32 b.

The diaphragm 33 has: an annular outer peripheral portion 33a, the outer peripheral portion 33a having a wave-shaped cross section; and a central portion 33b having a circular flat plate shape, the central portion 33b being connected to an inner peripheral edge of the outer peripheral portion 33 a. The diaphragm 33 is sandwiched between the upper cover member 31 and the receiving member 32.

The outer peripheral portion 31a of the upper lid member 31 overlaps an upper surface (one surface) of the outer peripheral portion 33a of the diaphragm 33, and the outer peripheral portion 32a of the receiving member 32 overlaps a lower surface (the other surface) of the outer peripheral portion 33a of the diaphragm 33. In a state where they are overlapped, the outer peripheral portion 31a of the upper lid member 31, the outer peripheral portion 32a of the receiving member 32, and the outer peripheral portion 33a of the diaphragm 33 are welded (circumferential welding) over the entire circumference. The upper lid member 31, the receiving member 32, and the diaphragm 33 are integrated by welding. As the welding method, TIG (TUNGSTEN INERT GAS: TUNGSTEN INERT GAS) welding suitable for local working, or laser welding is preferable.

A pressure working chamber 36 is formed between the upper cover member 31 and the diaphragm 33. The working gas is injected into the pressure working chamber 36 through the working gas injection hole 31 c. The working gas injection hole 31c is blocked by the sealing plug 38 after the working gas is injected. A refrigerant inflow chamber 37 is formed between the receiving member 32 and the diaphragm 33.

The stopper member 34 has: a columnar portion 34, the diameter of the columnar portion 34a is slightly smaller than the through hole 35; and an annular flange portion 34b provided at an upper end portion of the columnar portion 34a, the flange portion 34b having a larger diameter than the through hole 35. The cylindrical portion 34a of the stopper member 34 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 32b of the receiving member 32, and the flange portion 34b of the stopper member 34 is housed in the refrigerant inflow chamber 37.

The flange portion 34b is in contact with the peripheral edge portion 35a of the through hole 35 of the receiving member 32, thereby preventing the stopper member 34 from coming off the through hole 35.

In the present embodiment, the upper lid member 31, the receiving member 32, and the outer peripheral portions 31a, 32a, 33a of the diaphragm 33 are welded to be integrated. The radial distance D between the portion S of the flange portion 34b contacting the receiving member 32 and the outer peripheral end T of the outer peripheral portions 31a, 32a, and 33a is 6mm or more. The inventors of the present invention have confirmed using a plurality of test pieces, and as a result, have found that deformation of the stopper member 34 due to heat of welding at the time of manufacturing the power element can be suppressed by setting the distance D to 6mm or more.

The upper surface 34c of the stopper member 34 is disposed to face the central portion 33b of the diaphragm 33. When the pressure of the pressure working chamber 36 increases, the diaphragm 33 swells, and the upper surface 34c of the stopper 34 is pressed downward by the central portion 33 b. A hole-shaped receiving portion 34e into which an upper end portion 61 (the other end portion) of a valve stem 60 described later is inserted is provided on the lower surface 34d of the stopper member 34.

In the present embodiment, when the pressure in the pressure working chamber 36 before the working gas injection hole 31c is closed by the sealing plug 38 is equal to the pressure in the refrigerant inflow chamber 37, a gap is formed between the diaphragm 33 and the stopper member 34. With this configuration, the heat of welding can be prevented from being transmitted to the stopper member 34 through the diaphragm 33. In the configuration in which the above-described gap does not exist, the stopper member 34 is pressed against the receiving member 32 by the diaphragm 33, and the influence of heat of the receiving member 32 may be more strongly received. Therefore, by providing the gap, deformation of the stopper member 34 due to heat of welding can be more effectively suppressed.

The male screw of the receiving member 32 of the power element 30 is screwed with the female screw of the power element mounting portion 20. That is, the power element 30 is mounted to the valve body 10 by a screw structure. The power element 30 is attached to the valve main body 10 in a state where the annular seal member 39 is compressed and sandwiched between the receiving member 32 and the valve main body 10. When the power element 30 is attached to the power element attachment portion 20, the second refrigerant flow path 12 communicates with the refrigerant inflow chamber 37 via the pressure equalizing hole 21.

The valve member 40 is a spherical member disposed in the valve chamber 14.

The support member 45 supports the valve member 40 so as to oppose the valve seat 17. The valve member 40 may be fixed to the support member 45.

The coil spring 50 is disposed in a compressed state between the support member 45 and the adjustment screw 55. The coil spring 50 presses the valve member 40 against the valve seat 17 via the support member 45.

The adjustment screw 55 is screwed to the adjustment screw mounting portion 22 of the valve main body 10. The elastic force (pressing force) of the coil spring 50 can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of screwing of the adjustment screw 55.

The valve rod 60 is inserted into the valve hole 15, the through hole 18, and the pressure equalizing hole 21 of the valve body 10. The lower end 62 (one end) of the valve rod 60 is in contact with the valve member 40, and the valve rod 60 is disposed opposite to the coil spring 50 via the valve member 40 and the support member 45. The upper end 61 of the valve stem 60 is inserted into the receiving portion 34e of the stopper member 34 of the power element 30. Thereby, the valve member 40 is driven via the valve stem 60 by the power element 30.

The vibration isolation member 65 is disposed in the large diameter portion 18a of the through hole 18. The vibration preventing member 65 is formed of, for example, a plurality of plate spring-like members, and presses the valve rod 60 from the periphery. Thereby preventing vibration of the valve stem 60 and the valve member 40.

Next, the operation of the expansion valve 1 will be described. In the expansion valve 1, the refrigerant flows into the inlet port 13, passes through the valve chamber 14 and the valve hole 15, expands, flows out of the outlet port 16, and is sent to an evaporator (not shown). The refrigerant passing through the evaporator passes through the inlet to the outlet of the second refrigerant flow path 12, and returns to the compressor (not shown). At this time, a part of the refrigerant passing through the second refrigerant flow path 12 flows from the pressure equalizing hole 21 into the refrigerant inflow chamber 37 of the power element 30. And the pressure of the pressure working chamber 36 is changed according to the temperature change of the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant inflow chamber 37. The stopper member 34 moves up and down by the action of the diaphragm 33 that deforms in accordance with the pressure of the pressure working chamber 36. The movement of the stop member 34 is then transmitted to the valve member 40 via the valve stem 60. Thereby, the expansion valve 1 automatically adjusts the flow rate in accordance with the temperature of the refrigerant.

As described above, according to the expansion valve 1, the upper cover member 31, the receiving member 32, and the outer peripheral portions 31a, 32a, and 33a of the diaphragm 33 of the power element 30 are welded to be integrated. The stopper member 34 made of resin is housed in a refrigerant inflow chamber 37 formed between the diaphragm 33 and the receiving member 32, and the stopper member 34 has a flange portion 34b that contacts a peripheral edge portion 35a of a through hole 35 provided in a central portion of the receiving member 32. The radial distance D between the portion S of the flange 34b contacting the receiving member 32 and the outer peripheral end T of the outer peripheral portions 31a, 32a, and 33a is 6mm or more. In this way, the heat of welding transmitted to the stopper member 34 through the receiving member 32 is reduced, and deformation of the stopper member 34 due to the heat of welding can be suppressed.

As shown in fig. 4, even when the power element 30 is placed in a power element 30A which is reduced in size as a whole, deformation of the stopper member 34 due to heat of welding can be suppressed by setting the radial distance D between the portion S of the flange portion 34b in contact with the receiving member 32 and the outer peripheral end T of the outer peripheral portions 31a, 32a, and 33a to 6mm or more.

(second embodiment)

An expansion valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 5 to 7. In the expansion valve of the second embodiment, the power element is attached to the valve main body by a caulking structure.

Fig. 5 is a front view of an expansion valve of a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the expansion valve of fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a power element provided in the expansion valve of fig. 5. In the following description, "up and down" also means up and down in each drawing. Note that the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment are given to members and the like having the same functions as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the expansion valve 2 of the second embodiment includes a valve main body 10B, a power element 30B, a valve member 40, a support member 45, a coil spring 50, an adjustment screw 55, a valve stem 60, and a vibration-proof member 65.

The valve body 10B has the same configuration as the valve body 10 of the first embodiment except that the valve body 10B has a power element attachment portion 20B instead of the power element attachment portion 20 formed of a cylindrical hole portion having a female thread cut in an inner peripheral surface thereof, and the power element attachment portion 20B has a caulking structure.

The power element mounting portion 20B is integrally provided on the upper surface 10c of the valve main body 10B. The power element attachment portion 20B has a cylindrical shape before the power element 30B is attached, and after the power element 30B is accommodated inside the power element attachment portion 20B, the power element 30B is attached to the valve body 10B by bending the upward tip end portion of the power element attachment portion 20B inward and caulking the bent portion to the outer peripheral portion of the power element 30B.

Instead of the socket 32 having the outer peripheral portion 32a and the cylindrical portion 32B, the power element 30B has a socket 32B, and the socket 32B has only the outer peripheral portion 32a having a stepped portion. Except for this, the power element 30B has the same structure as the power element 30 of the first embodiment.

In the power element 30B, as in the first embodiment, the radial distance D between the portion S of the flange portion 34B in contact with the receiving member 32 and the outer peripheral end T of the outer peripheral portions 31a, 32a, 33a is 6mm or more. Therefore, deformation of the stopper member 34 due to heat of welding at the time of manufacturing the power element can be suppressed.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. The above-described embodiments are intended to include configurations obtained by adding, deleting, and designing appropriate components or by appropriately combining features of the embodiments, which do not depart from the spirit of the present invention.

Description of the symbols

1. 2 expansion valve, 10B valve body, 10A front surface, 10B rear surface, 10c upper surface, 10d lower surface, 11 first refrigerant flow path, 12 second refrigerant flow path, 13 inlet port, 14 valve chamber, 15 valve hole, 16 outlet port, 17 valve seat, 18 through hole, 18a large diameter portion, 20B power element mounting portion, 21 pressure equalizing hole, 22 adjusting screw mounting portion, 23 mounting hole, 30A, 30B power element, 31 upper cover member, 31a outer peripheral portion, 31B inner portion, 31c working gas injection hole, 32B receiving member, 32a outer peripheral portion, 32B cylindrical portion, 33 diaphragm, 33a outer peripheral portion, 33B central portion, 34 stopper member, 34a cylindrical portion, 34B, 34c upper surface, flange portion, 34c upper surface, 34D … lower surface, 34e … socket, 35 … through hole, 35a … peripheral edge, 36 … pressure working chamber, 37 … refrigerant inflow chamber, 38 … sealing plug, 39 … sealing component, 40 … valve component, 45 … supporting component, 50 … coil spring, 55 … adjusting screw, 60 … valve rod, 61 … upper end, 62 … lower end, 65 … vibration-proof component, part connected with socket in S … flange, T … peripheral end, D … distance