JP2002022039A - Mixing valve and water heater using this mixing valve - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a mixing valve exhibiting a smooth change in characteristics of a mixed liquid with respect to a rotation angle of a valve body, having good controllability, and having good responsiveness. A valve box (11) having a water inlet (12), a hot water inlet (13), and a discharge port (14) for discharging mixed hot and cold water, is rotatably installed in the valve box, and has inlet ports (12, 13) and a discharge port. In the mixing valve 100 including the valve body 15 having a plurality of openings 15c and 15d provided in accordance with the position of the outlet 14, and the valve body driving body that rotationally drives the valve body 15, the water inlet 12 and the hot water are provided. The inlet 13 and the inlet 13 are shifted from each other with respect to the flowing direction of the mixed water so that the inlets do not face each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mixing valve and a water heater using the mixing valve. For example, the present invention relates to a water heater having a hot water storage tank for supplying boiling water to a bathtub or a general faucet. The present invention relates to a hot and cold water mixing valve for stably supplying hot water having a desired temperature set externally by a remote controller or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS.
It is a figure which shows the conventional hot-and-water mixing valve indicated by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 86 gazette. In FIG. 15, 1 is a valve box, 2 and 3 are inlet ports,
4 is an exit port. The valve chamber 1a between the inlet ports 2 and 3 of the valve box 1 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a cylindrical valve body 5 having an outer shape matching the inner diameter of the valve chamber 1a is rotated in a watertight manner. It is arranged as possible. A drive shaft 7 of a stepping motor 6 mounted on the upper end surface of the valve box 1 is fixed to the center of one end 5a of the valve body 5, and the other end 5b is open and communicates with the outlet port 4. . As shown in FIG. 16, two openings 5c and 5d are formed on the peripheral surface of the valve body 5, and one opening 5c communicates with the inlet port 2 and the other opening 5d is formed. It communicates with the inlet port 3.

When the valve element 5 is rotated by the stepping motor 6, the opening area of the inlet ports 2 and 3 changes, so that the inlet ports 2 and 3 flow into the valve chamber 1a through the openings 5c and 5d. The flow rates of the running water and hot water change. As shown in the flow rate characteristic diagram of FIG. 17, the flow rate of water and hot water changes according to the rotation angle θ of the valve element 5 changed by the stepping motor 6, and the flow rate of hot water increases when the flow rate of water increases. Operates to decrease. When the stepping motor 6 is rotated in the reverse direction, the operation is performed so that the flow rate of water decreases and the flow rate of hot water increases. In addition,
The appearance of hysteresis in the flow characteristics is due to the backlash of the reduction gear of the stepping motor.

[0004]

The conventional hot-water mixing valve is constructed as described above, and as shown in FIG. 17, the linearity with respect to the valve body rotation angle θ is particularly poor in the flow rate characteristic on the hot-water side. I understand. For one thing, since the inlet ports 2 and 3 of hot water and water are arranged so as to face each other from the front, when the inlet port 2 starts to open and the opening area of the inlet port 3 is reduced, the inlet port 2 flows into the opening 5c of the valve element 5 from the inlet port 3;
A large pressure loss occurs due to the frontal collision of the flow of the hot water flowing into the opening 5d of the opening 5d, and the dynamic pressure due to the water flow acts to suppress the flow of the hot water. It is considered that the decrease slope is significantly increased. If the dynamic pressure of the hot water is higher, the linearity on the water side will be worse.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the rise of the flow rate on the hot water side and the water side when the flow path cross-sectional area is small is slow. Therefore, for example, after the hot water side is first fully opened from the initial state, the water side When trying to obtain hot and cold water of a predetermined temperature by gradually increasing the cross-sectional area of the flow path, since the rise of the flow rate on the water side is slow, the rise time of the temperature control becomes slow,
There was a problem that response was poor. The same problem also occurs when the water side is first fully opened.

[0006] In the conventional hot and cold water mixing valve, the openings 5c and 5d of the valve element 5 are both circular, and the cross-sectional area of one of the flow paths is reduced by the rotation of the valve element, and the other of the flow paths is reduced. When the cross-sectional area of the flow path increases, the cross-sectional area ratio R of the flow path based on the opening cross-sectional area of the inlet port (R = S / S ₀ , S: rotation angle θ)
The channel cross-sectional area of, S _0: cross-sectional area of the opening of the inlet port)
The rate of change (ΔR / Δθ) with respect to the valve body rotation angle θ greatly differs between the water side and the hot water side with respect to the rotation angle θ, and the flow rate distribution ratio changes rapidly with respect to the rotation angle. However, there is a problem that the linearity is deteriorated.

[0007] In a region where the cross-sectional area ratio R of the flow passage is small, the pressure loss coefficient is large. In addition, as the operation of the mixing valve, when the cross-sectional area of one flow passage is reduced by rotation of the valve element, the cross-sectional area of the other flow passage is reduced. Therefore, the flow rate of the water (or hot water) flowing from the flow path having the smaller cross-sectional area becomes remarkable due to the interaction with the influence of the dynamic pressure of the fluid on the other side. For this reason, in a region where the flow path cross-sectional area is small, there is a valve body angle range in which water (or hot water) does not flow through the flow path despite the existence of the flow path, and as a result, However, there has been a problem that the effective valve body rotation angle range functioning as a hot and cold water mixing valve is narrowed, and the accuracy of temperature control is deteriorated.

As described above, in the conventional hot water mixing valve, the linearity of the mixing flow rate of the hot water with respect to the rotation angle of the valve element 5 is poor. There was a problem that temperature controllability was poor because it could not be obtained. In addition, there is a problem that the rise time of the temperature control is slow and the response is poor. Also, due to this, when the mixing valve is used in a water heater or the like, it takes a long time to obtain a mixed water having a desired temperature set from outside by a remote controller or the like, or the mixed water to be discharged is Has a problem that the temperature is not stable due to hunting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and shows a smooth change in the characteristics of the mixed liquid with respect to the rotation angle of the valve element, and has good controllability and responsiveness. The purpose is to provide a good mixing valve.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water heater in which a smooth temperature change can be stably obtained with respect to the rotation angle of the valve body.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mixing valve comprising a first fluid inlet, a second fluid inlet, and a first fluid and a second fluid. A valve box having a discharge port for discharging a mixed fluid, a valve body rotatably installed in the valve box, and having a plurality of openings each provided in accordance with the position of each of the introduction ports and the discharge ports, And a mixing valve having a valve body driving body that rotationally drives the valve body,
The inlet of the first fluid and the inlet of the second fluid are shifted from each other with respect to the flowing direction of the mixed fluid.

Further, in the mixing valve according to the second configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the shape of the opening provided in the valve body in accordance with the position of the inlet is such that the cross-sectional area thereof is equal to that of the inlet. It has a shape smaller than the opening cross-sectional area.

Further, in the mixing valve according to the third configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the shape of the opening provided in the valve body in accordance with the position of the inlet is such that the opening sectional area of the inlet is S _The rate of change ΔR / Δθ of the ratio R (R = S / S ₀ ) of the flow path cross-sectional area S at the inlet with respect to ₀ with respect to the rotation angle θ of the valve body is: The shape is such that the inlet side of the first fluid and the inlet side of the second fluid have substantially the same value.

Further, the mixing valve according to the fourth configuration of the present invention is the mixing valve according to the second configuration, wherein the shape of the opening has a substantially triangular portion, and any one of the flow paths is in the second position. When the valve body is rotated in a direction in which the first fluid and the second fluid are mixed, the vertices of the substantially triangular portion are arranged in the rotation direction of the valve body.

In the mixing valve according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the opening has a substantially rectangular shape, and any one of the flow paths is moved from the fully open position to the second position. When the valve body is rotated in a direction in which the first fluid and the second fluid are mixed, one side of the substantially rectangular portion is arranged on a side opposite to the rotation direction of the valve body.

In the mixing valve according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the opening provided in the valve body in accordance with the position of each of the inlets may be one of the openings. When the opening is in a position where it is fully opened, the other opening is provided in a position where it is fully closed.

In the mixing valve according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the opening provided in the valve body in accordance with the position of each of the inlets may be one of the openings. The other opening is provided at a position where the opening is not fully closed or fully opened when the opening is in the fully opened position.

The mixing valve according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the mixing valve according to the first aspect, wherein the first and second fluids are water and hot water, and the inlet close to the valve drive is a water inlet, The other inlet is a hot water inlet.

A mixing valve according to a ninth configuration of the present invention is the mixing valve according to the first configuration, wherein a stepping motor is used as a valve body driving body.

A mixing valve according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the mixing valve according to the first aspect, wherein the valve box and the valve element are formed of resin.

Further, the water heater according to the present invention comprises first to first water heaters.
0 is used as a mixing valve for mixing hot water and water.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hot water mixing valve according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1A. In FIG. 1, 11 is a valve box, 12 is a water inlet,
Reference numeral 13 denotes a hot water inlet, and the inlets 12 and 13 are arranged so as to be shifted with respect to a flowing direction of hot water so that the inlets do not face each other. Reference numeral 14 denotes a discharge port of hot water introduced from the water inlet 12 and the hot water inlet 13. Valve box 11
The valve chamber 11a between the inlet ports 12 and 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a cylindrical valve body having an outer diameter that matches the inner diameter or is slightly smaller than the inner diameter in the valve chamber 11a. 15 are rotatably arranged. A drive shaft 17 connected to a stepping motor (not shown) mounted on the upper part of the valve box 11 has a center axis at one end 15 a of the valve body 15, the center axis of which is the same as the center axis of the cylindrical portion of the valve body 15. It is formed to match. The other end 15b of the valve element 15 is open, and communicates with the discharge port 14 of hot and cold water. 18 is
Screw holes for fixing the stepping motor to the valve box. The valve body 15 is moved by the valve body retainer 19 to the valve chamber 1 of the valve box 11.
1a is fixed so as not to cause a vertical displacement. The sliding surfaces of both end portions 15a and 15b of the valve body 15 are formed of a material having low frictional resistance such as ethylene tetrafluoride resin as a member for reducing the resistance when the valve body 15 rotates. Washers 20, 21 are arranged. Reference numeral 22 denotes an O-ring for maintaining water tightness between the valve body drive shaft 17 and the valve body presser 19.
In this embodiment, two rotating parts are arranged as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 23 denotes an O-ring for maintaining watertightness between the valve box 11 and the valve body presser 19, and reference numeral 24 denotes an O-ring for maintaining watertightness between the valve chamber 11a and the valve body 15. 100 is a mixing valve.

Openings 15c and 15d are formed at two places on the peripheral surface of the valve body 15 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and are formed on one end 15a side of the valve body 15. Opening 1
5c communicates with the water inlet 12, and the other end 15b of the valve body 15
The opening 15 d formed on the side communicates with the hot water inlet 13, and the water inlet 12 is arranged at a position closer to the stepping motor than the hot water inlet 13. An O-ring 24 is arranged on the other end 15b side of the valve body 15, that is, on the peripheral surface of the valve body 15 near the hot and cold water discharge port 14, and the valve chamber 11a and the valve body 15
This prevents leakage of hot and cold water from the gap to the hot and cold water discharge port 14 and also suppresses the displacement of the rotation center axis of the valve body 15. In the first embodiment, the openings 15c and 15d provided in the valve body 15 each have a sector shape in which a semicircle and a triangle are combined. As for the water side opening 15c, the water side flow path formed by the water inlet 12 and the valve body opening 15c and the hot side flow path formed by the hot water inlet 13 and the valve body opening 15d are both fully formed. With the closed state as an initial state, a triangular portion is formed such that the apex of the triangle is located in a direction in which the valve body rotation angle increases (shown by an arrow in the drawing) from this state. Conversely, a semicircular portion is formed in the hot water side opening 15d in the direction in which the valve body rotation angle increases from the initial state. That is, when the flow path area formed by the water (hot water) inlet and the valve body opening is small, the flow path is formed by the semicircular portion of the valve body opening.

Next, the rotation operation of the valve body 15 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to a cross-sectional view (FIG. 2) viewed from the line.
In the drawing, 15c1 is a triangular portion of the opening 15c, 15c2 is a semicircular portion of the opening 15c, 15d1 is a triangular portion of the opening 15d, and 15d2 is a semicircular portion of the opening 15d. FIG. 2A shows a state in which the valve element is in the above initial state. In this case, as described above, the openings 15c and 15d provided in the valve body 15 are not in communication with the hot and cold water inlets 12 and 13, and are in a fully closed state.
FIG. 2 (b) shows the valve element 15 in the direction of the arrow from the initial state.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which is rotated to fully open a water-side flow path. At this time, the opening 1 of the valve body 15
5d and the hot water inlet 13 of the valve box are not in communication, and are still in the fully closed state. FIG. 2C shows a state in which the rotation angle further increases and the hot water side flow path opens, and the opening ratios of the hot water side and water side flow paths become equal. In FIG. 2D, the hot water flow path is fully opened, and the water flow path is fully closed. In the hot water mixing valve 100 shown in the first embodiment, the hot water mixing operation is performed in the above-described valve body rotation angle range. That is, the valve element 1 from the initial state
The rotation direction of 5 is such that the opening ratio of the inlet port 12 on the water side increases from the initial state to the fully opened state, and then the opening ratio of the inlet port 13 on the hot water side increases.

When the valve element 15 is rotated by the stepping motor from the reference position in the initial state, FIG.
In the range of the valve body rotation angle shown in (a) to (d),
Water inlet 12 and hot water inlet 13 and valve body opening 15c,
15d changes with the rotation angle of the valve body, the water flowing into the valve chamber 11a from the water inlet 12 and the hot water inlet 13 through the valve body openings 15c and 15d and The flow rate of hot water changes. As can be seen from FIG.
In the present embodiment, after the water side flow path is first opened and water is flown, the valve body operation such that the hot water side flow path is gradually opened to increase the mixed water temperature to a desired temperature while changing the hot water mixing ratio. And Thus, hot water is not discharged immediately after the faucet or shower is opened, and accidents such as burns can be avoided.

In the present embodiment, the water inlet 12 and the hot water inlet 13 are arranged so that the inlets do not face each other.
One of the flows directly interferes with the other flow due to the dynamic pressure of the fluid from the water inlet 12 and the hot water inlet 13 because the mixed water is arranged at a fixed distance from the flowing direction of the mixed water. Accordingly, the linearity of the mixing ratio of hot and cold water with respect to the rotation angle of the valve body is excellent in linearity with respect to the rotation angle, and the mixing temperature can be smoothly changed with respect to the rotation angle of the valve body.

Further, as described above, in a region where the cross-sectional area ratio R of the flow passage is small, there is a valve body angle range in which the pressure loss is large and water (or hot water) does not flow. In this case, the water inlet 12 and the hot water inlet 13 are arranged at a certain interval with respect to the flow direction of the mixed water so that the inlets do not face each other. When the cross-sectional area ratio of the water introduction port 12 is large and the flow path cross-sectional area ratio of the hot water introduction port 13 located on the downstream side is small, that is, when the rotation angle is small, the suction of hot water by the water flow from the upstream occurs, Contrary to the related art, a phenomenon occurs in which hot water having a flow rate larger than the original flow rate flows in from the hot water inlet 13. As a result, the effect that the rise time of the temperature control is shortened is obtained.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the dependence of the flow rate of the hot and cold water flowing into the valve chamber 11a on the rotation angle of the valve body when the rotation angle of the valve body when the water-side inlet 12 is fully opened is 0 degree. It is a thing. In FIG. 3, a solid line indicates the flow rate characteristics of the first embodiment, and a broken line (comparative example) indicates that the positions of the inlets 12 and 13 are the same as those of the first embodiment. Openings 15c, 15 formed in valve body 15 together
This is a flow rate characteristic obtained when the shape of d is the same circular shape as the cross-sectional shape of each of the water inlet 12 and the hot water inlet 13. In the hot and cold water mixing valve 100 having the valve body openings 15c and 15d according to the first embodiment, each opening 15c and 15d
As shown in FIG. 1, when the inlet is fully open, the cross-sectional area of the flow path of the inlet is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the opening of the inlet, and either one of the flow paths When the valve is rotated from the fully open position to the direction in which water and hot water are mixed, the apexes of the triangular portion are arranged in the direction of rotation of the valve. The flow rate in the valve body rotation angle range in the vicinity where the flow rate introduced from the path takes the maximum value (when fully opened) is smaller than that of the comparative example having the same valve body opening shape as the hot and cold water inlet (FIG. 3).
Since the cross-sectional area ratio R is also small (FIG. 4), the flow distribution ratio for the fluid flowing in from the side with the smaller cross-sectional area is substantially smaller than that of the comparative example. This has the effect of making the rise time of all temperature controls faster.
FIG. 5 is a test result showing the relationship between the valve body rotation angle and the mixed water temperature in the first embodiment and the comparative example. At this time,
The temperature of hot water and water introduced into the mixing valve is 90
° C and 20 ° C. In the hot and cold water mixing valve having the shape of the valve body opening according to the first embodiment, the generally required hot water supply temperature range of 30 to 60 ° C.
The temperature can be controlled at a temperature of 72 to 72 degrees, and the rise time of the temperature control is faster than that of the hot water mixing valve of the comparative example (valve rotation angle of 12 to 69 degrees), and the range of the valve rotation angle effective for the temperature control is expanded. Understand what you can do. Therefore, in the case of the first embodiment, since the rise of the temperature change is fast, the responsiveness is good,
In addition, it is possible to perform highly accurate temperature control.

In the above-described embodiment, the openings 15c and 15d each have a fan shape in which a semicircle and a triangle are combined. However, the openings 15c and 15d may have a shape in which a substantially triangle and a substantially semicircle are combined. good. The opening 15c, 15d form of, without a fan shape, or may be shaped to have an opening cross-sectional area S ₀ is smaller than the opening cross-sectional area of the inlet.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a hot water mixing valve according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 6A. 6, the same or equivalent members as those of the hot and cold water mixing valve according to Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, two openings 15c and 15d are formed on the peripheral surface of the valve body 15 and formed on one end 15a side of the valve body 15. Opening 1
5c communicates with the water inlet 12, and the other end 15b of the valve body 15
The opening 15 d formed on the side communicates with the hot water inlet 13, and the water inlet 12 is arranged at a position closer to the stepping motor than the hot water inlet 13. The member configuration is exactly the same as that of the mixing valve 100 described in the first embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the openings 15c and 15d provided in the valve body 15 each have a shape similar to a home base in which a rectangle and a triangle are combined. Water side opening 1
5c, the water-side flow path formed by the water inlet 12 and the valve body opening 15c, the hot water inlet 13 and the valve body opening 1
The initial state is a state in which both the hot-water-side flow paths formed by 5d are fully closed, and the vertices of the triangle are positioned in the direction in which the valve body rotation angle increases from this state (clockwise in the configuration shown in FIG. 6). To form a triangular portion. Conversely, for the hot water side opening 15d, one side of the rectangular portion is formed in the direction in which the valve body rotation angle increases from the initial state. That is,
When the flow path area formed by the water (hot water) inlet and the valve body opening is small, the flow path is formed by the rectangular portion of the valve body opening. As for the rotation direction of the valve body 15 at the time of starting, similarly to the first embodiment, after the opening ratio of the water-side inlet 12 is first increased from the initial state to the fully opened state, The direction is such that the aperture ratio of the thirteen increases. The details of the rotation operation of the valve element are exactly the same as those of the hot water mixing valve shown in the first embodiment.

When the valve element 15 is rotated by the stepping motor from the reference position in the initial state, FIG.
In the range of the valve body rotation angle shown in (a) to (d) (however, in the case of the second embodiment, 15c2 is the opening 15).
A rectangular portion of c, 15d2 is a rectangular portion of the opening 15d. ), The flow passage area formed between the water inlet 12 and the hot water inlet 13 and the valve body openings 15c and 15d changes depending on the rotation angle of the valve body. The flow rates of water and hot water flowing into the valve chamber 11a through the body openings 15c and 15d change. Also in the present embodiment, a valve that opens the water-side flow path and allows water to flow first, and then gradually opens the hot-water side flow path and raises the mixed water temperature to a desired temperature while changing the hot water-water mixing ratio. Body movement.

FIG. 7 shows the water / water mixing valve constructed as described above, in which the water body inlet is fully opened and the valve body rotation angle is set to 0.
The graph shows an example of the valve body rotation angle dependency of the flow rate of the hot and cold water flowing into the valve chamber 11a in the case of degrees. Note that the broken line in FIG. 7 (comparative example) shows the shape of the opening formed in the valve body in the same manner as the characteristic described in the first embodiment, and the shape of the opening formed in the water inlet 1
2. Flow rate characteristics obtained when the cross-sectional shape of the hot water inlet 13 is the same as the circular shape. As shown in FIG. 7, the hot water mixing valve 100 having the valve body openings 15c and 15d according to the second embodiment has the same hot water and hot water inlets as the comparative example having the same valve body opening shape as the hot water inlet. The flow rate in the valve body rotation angle range in the vicinity where the flow rate introduced from each flow channel of water takes the maximum value is suppressed, and in the valve body rotation angle range in which one of the flow rates of hot water and water is reduced. It can be seen that the linearity of the hot and cold water flow rates has been greatly improved. That is, in the present embodiment, the valve body opening has a triangular portion and a rectangular portion, and as shown in FIG. 6, when the inlet is fully opened, the flow passage cross-sectional area of the inlet is smaller than the opening of the inlet. Since the shape is smaller than the cross-sectional area, the flow rate in the valve body rotation angle range in the vicinity where the flow rate introduced from each flow path of hot water and water takes the maximum value is suppressed, and is the same as in the first embodiment. To
There is an effect that the rise time of the temperature control with respect to the change of the rotation angle becomes faster. Further, in the hot and cold water mixing valve according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, when the cross-sectional area of one flow path decreases and the cross-sectional area of the other flow path increases due to rotation of the valve element, Valve body rotation angle of flow path cross-sectional area ratio R (R = S / S ₀ , S: flow path cross-sectional area at rotation angle θ, S ₀ : opening cross-sectional area of inlet) based on the cross-sectional area of the opening of the port Since the rate of change with respect to θ (ΔR / Δθ) shows almost the same value with respect to the rotation angle θ on the water side and the hot water side, the ratio of the flow path cross-sectional areas on the water side and the hot water side changes smoothly. As a result, there is an effect that the linearity of the temperature control becomes excellent. In FIG. 8, the broken line indicates the rate of change (ΔR / Δθ) of the cross-sectional area ratio R with respect to the valve body rotation angle θ in the comparative example in which the shapes of the openings 5c and 5d of the valve body 5 are both circular. However, it can be seen that the above-mentioned rate of change is greatly different for each rotation angle θ between the water side and the hot water side. Therefore, the flow distribution ratio changes rapidly with respect to the rotation angle, and the linearity of the temperature control becomes poor. In FIG. 8, when the cross-sectional area of the hot water side is small (when the rotation angle θ is small), in the second embodiment, the rate of change of the cross-sectional area ratio R of the flow path with respect to the valve body rotation angle θ ( ΔR /
Δθ) is larger than that of the comparative example. Therefore, the rise of the hot water flow rate is faster in the home base shape of the second embodiment than in the comparative example having the circular opening. Therefore, the temperature of the mixed water rises at a small rotation angle, so that the rise time of the temperature control is short, and the valve rotation angle range effective for the temperature control can be expanded.

FIG. 5 is a test result showing the relationship between the valve body rotation angle and the mixed water temperature in Embodiment 2 and the comparative example. At this time, the temperature of hot water and water introduced into the mixing valve is
80 ° C and 20 ° C respectively. Thus, in the hot and cold water mixing valve having the shape of the valve body opening according to the second embodiment, the generally required hot water supply temperature range of 30 to 60 ° C. is obtained at a valve body rotation angle of 5 ° to 72 °. Controllable,
In the case of the hot water mixing valve of the comparative example (the valve body rotation angle is 12 degrees to 69 degrees)
It can be understood that the effective range of the valve body rotation angle for the temperature control can be expanded more than in the first embodiment (the valve body rotation angle is 7 degrees to 72 degrees). Therefore, in the case of the second embodiment, it is possible to perform temperature control with good responsiveness and with higher accuracy.

In the second embodiment, each of the openings 15c and 15d has a shape in which a triangle and a rectangle are combined, but may have a shape in which a substantially triangle and a substantially rectangle are combined.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a hot water mixing valve according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 9A. 9, the same or equivalent members as those of the hot and cold water mixing valve according to Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the third embodiment, in the hot water mixing valve having the same configuration as the hot water mixing valve shown in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, two openings provided on the peripheral surface of the valve body 15 15c and 15d are provided in such a position that when one of the flow paths formed by the hot and cold water inlet ports 12 and 13 is in a position where the other flow path is fully opened, the other flow path is not fully closed or fully opened. .

Next, the operation will be described. In the hot water mixing valve according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
When the flow path on the water inlet side is fully opened, the hot water side flow path also has a certain flow path opening ratio and is not fully closed. Also in the present embodiment, a state where both the water-side flow path and the hot-water-side flow path are fully closed is defined as an initial state. The rotation direction of the valve body at the time of starting is, similarly to the hot water mixing valve shown in the first and second embodiments, after the opening ratio of the water-side inlet 12 has been increased from the initial state to the fully opened state. The direction is such that the opening ratio of the hot water side inlet 13 increases. The rotation direction from the initial state is indicated by an arrow in FIG.

The above-described rotation of the valve body will be described in detail with reference to a cross-sectional view (FIG. 10) taken along line AA of FIG.
FIG. 10A shows a state in which the valve element is in the above initial state. In this case, none of the openings 15c and 15d provided in the valve body 15 are in communication with the hot and cold water inlets 12 and 13 and are in a fully closed state. FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a state in which the valve body 15 is rotated in the direction of the arrow to fully open the water-side flow path from the initial state. At this time, in the hot water mixing valve described in the first and second embodiments, the hot water side flow path is in the fully closed state. In the third embodiment, the position of the hot water side opening 15d is shifted. Therefore, the hot water side flow path is already in an open state.
FIG. 10C shows a state in which the rotation angles further increase and the opening ratios of the hot water side and water side flow paths become equal. FIG.
In (d), the hot water-side flow path is fully opened, but also in this case, the water-side flow path is not fully closed, which is a point different from the mixing valves described in the first and second embodiments. When the rotation angle is further increased, the water-side flow path is completely closed as shown in FIG. 10E, and only hot water is introduced into the valve element 15. In the hot water mixing valve described in the third embodiment, the hot water mixing operation is performed in the above-described valve body rotation angle range.

When the valve element 15 is rotated by the stepping motor from the reference position in the initial state, FIG.
In the range of the valve body rotation angle shown in (a) to (e),
Water inlet 12 and hot water inlet 13 and valve body opening 15c,
15d changes with the rotation angle of the valve body, the water flowing into the valve chamber 11a from the water inlet 12 and the hot water inlet 13 through the valve body openings 15c and 15d and The flow rate of hot water changes. FIG. 11 shows, as the arrangement of the valve body openings on the hot water side and the water side, the angles formed by the central axes of the circles contacting the triangular portions of the valve body openings from the respective positions shown in the second embodiment. In the hot water mixing valve shifted by 10 degrees (in the case where the second embodiment is 90 degrees and the third embodiment is 100 degrees), the flow rate of hot water flowing into the valve chamber 1a from the hot water inlets 15c and 15d with respect to the valve body rotation angle. It is a representation of dependency. From FIG. 11, it can be seen that the linearity of the flow rate of hot and cold water with respect to the rotation angle of the valve body is further improved as compared with the hot and cold mixing valve shown in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows the valve body rotation angle and the mixed water temperature in the third embodiment when the position of the opening is shifted by 10 degrees from that in the second embodiment, and when the hot / water mixing valve is shifted by 20 degrees. This shows the relationship. At this time, the temperature of hot water and water introduced into the mixing valve is 80 ° C., respectively.
And 20 ° C. 12, when the position of the opening is shifted by 10 degrees from the second embodiment, the valve body rotation angle is 5 degrees to 8 degrees.
It can be seen that control can be performed at 2 degrees, and control can be performed at a valve body rotation angle of 5 degrees to 91 degrees when shifted by 20 degrees. In the third embodiment, the valve body rotation angle range effective for temperature control can be further expanded as compared with the case of the hot water mixing valve shown in the previous embodiment 2 (valve body rotation angle of 5 degrees to 72 degrees). Therefore, more accurate temperature control can be performed. Further, the effective range of the valve body rotation angle for the temperature control is expanded by the substantially shifted angle, and the more precise the angle, the more accurate the temperature control becomes possible. In this embodiment, the arrangement of the hot water side and the water side opening provided in the valve body is up to 20 with respect to the arrangement of the valve body in the mixing valve shown in the first and second embodiments. Although the characteristics of the mixing valve when shifted to ° are described, as described above, since the control range is expanded by the shifted angle, the shift angle φ
Is theoretically possible up to φ <90 °. However, if the shifting angle φ is too large, the cross-sectional area of the flow path when one of the hot water side and the water side is fully opened is reduced, and the maximum flow rate is significantly reduced. Therefore, the actual value of φ is 60 °.
Up to a degree is considered effective.

Embodiment 4 FIG. In the fourth embodiment, in the hot and cold water mixing valve shown in the first to third embodiments, the valve box 1
1 is made of a resin material by injection molding. It should be noted that other components are described in Embodiments 1 to 3.
And the detailed description is omitted. Further, the operation of the mixing valve including the rotation operation of the valve element is exactly the same as that of the hot and cold water mixing valve shown in any of the first to third embodiments, and thus the detailed description is omitted.

In the fourth embodiment, since the valve box 11 is integrally formed by injection molding or the like using a resin material, a lightweight and inexpensive hot / water mixing valve can be realized. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance against water can be greatly improved, and a hot water mixing valve that can operate stably for a long time and has high reliability can be realized. Further, the member configurations other than the valve box 11 are the same as those in the first to third embodiments.
Since these are the same as the hot and cold water mixing valves shown in (1) and (2), the same effects as those obtained by these hot and cold water mixing valves can be obtained.

Embodiment 5 FIG. FIG. 13 is a sectional configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hot water mixing valve according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Members that are the same as or equivalent to those of the hot and cold water mixing valves according to the first to fourth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the fifth embodiment, in a hot water mixing valve having the same configuration as any of the hot water mixing valves shown in the third embodiment, a temperature detector 25 that detects the temperature of the mixed water downstream of the hot water discharge port 14; A temperature setting device 27 for setting the temperature of the mixed water from outside, and a temperature detector 25
And a mixing valve controller 26 that drives the stepping motor 16 by performing a comparison operation based on a signal from the temperature setting device 27.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the desired mixed water temperature is set by the temperature setting device 27,
The temperature of the mixed water is detected by a temperature detector 25 constituted by a thermistor, and a set valve signal from a temperature setter 27 and a detected temperature signal from the temperature detector 25 are taken in by a mixing valve controller 26 and compared and calculated. By inputting a drive signal in the direction of suppressing the deviation to the stepping motor 16 and adjusting the flow rate of hot and cold water to be mixed by rotating the valve body 15, the temperature of the mixed water obtained is set by repeating these series of operations. Approach temperature. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mixing valve according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 14, in step S1, the valve element 15
, The mixed water temperature is detected in step S2, and the detected temperature T is taken. In step S3, the set temperature T
s and the detected temperature T are compared, and the difference ΔT is calculated. If ΔT is larger than 0 in step S4, the valve body is rotated toward the low temperature side (step S5), and if ΔT is smaller than 0, the valve body is rotated toward the high temperature side (step S6). In step S7, it is determined whether or not the absolute value of ΔT is equal to or greater than 20 degrees.
Then, the rotational movement amount of the valve body to the low temperature side or the high temperature side is set to 30 degrees, and the process returns to step S2 to detect and take in the mixed water temperature again. If the absolute value of ΔT is not more than 20 degrees, it is determined in step S9 whether or not the absolute value of ΔT is not less than 10 degrees.
If it is 0 degree or more, the rotation amount of the valve body to the low temperature side or the high temperature side is set to 10 degrees in step S10. Similarly, in step S11 to step S15, the value of the temperature difference from the set temperature is gradually reduced depending on whether the absolute value of ΔT is 5 degrees or more or 3 degrees or more, and the movement amount of the valve body at that time is reduced. decide. If the valve body rotational movement amount becomes 0 degree in step S15, step S
At 16, the rotation of the valve is stopped. The difference from the set temperature in steps S7 to S14 and the movement amount of the valve body at that time are not limited to the above values.

Regarding the capture of the temperature signal from the temperature detector 25 of the mixing valve controller 26, after the rotation of the valve body 15 is completed, the temperature of the mixed water at the valve body rotation position is stabilized.
Further, the detection is performed after a certain time elapses until the temperature value detected by the temperature detector 25 is stabilized. That is,
The temperature detection is not performed continuously but intermittently at fixed intervals. By performing such control, the temperature of the mixed water discharged from the hot and cold water discharge port can be quickly brought close to the target temperature without causing overshoot or undershoot with respect to the set temperature. Further, since the hot and cold water mixing valve itself has the structure of the third embodiment (the first and second embodiments are also possible), a flow characteristic with excellent linearity with respect to the valve body rotation angle can be obtained. The temperature can be linearly and smoothly adjusted in accordance with the rotation angles of the stepping motor 16 and the valve element 15, and a water heater with extremely good temperature controllability and excellent responsiveness can be realized.

In each of the above embodiments, the positions of the inlet 12 and the inlet 13 are shifted with respect to the flowing direction of the mixed fluid so that the inlets do not face each other, and Angle of the central axis at the inlet of
Although the position is set to be 80 degrees, the angle may be other than 180 degrees. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the positions of the inlet 12 and the inlet 13 are arranged such that the inlets do not face each other, but a part of them may face each other. That is, if the position of the central axis of the inlet where the flow velocity of the fluid introduced from each inlet is maximum is shifted with respect to the direction in which the mixed fluid flows, one of the inlets is moved by the dynamic pressure of the fluid flowing out of the inlet. The degree to which the flow directly interferes with the other flow is reduced, which has the effect of improving the linearity of the change in the mixed flow rate of the two fluids with respect to the rotation angle of the valve element.

In each of the above embodiments, water and hot water are introduced into the inlet 12 and the inlet 13, respectively. However, two different fluids are allowed to flow, and two fluids are supplied depending on the rotation angle of the valve body. May be changed, thereby obtaining a smooth change in the characteristics of the mixed liquid with respect to the rotation angle of the valve element.
A mixing valve having good controllability and good responsiveness can be provided.

[0048]

As described above, according to the mixing valve of the first configuration of the present invention, the first fluid inlet, the second fluid inlet, the first fluid and the second fluid are connected. A valve box having a discharge port for discharging a mixed fluid with a fluid, and a plurality of openings provided rotatably in the valve box and provided in accordance with the positions of the introduction ports and the discharge ports, respectively. In a valve body, a mixing valve including a valve body driving body that rotationally drives the valve body, the inlet of the first fluid and the inlet of the second fluid are moved in a direction in which the mixed fluid flows. The flow rate of one fluid does not directly interfere with the other flow due to the dynamic pressure of the fluid flowing out of the inlet due to the dislocation, so that the mixing flow rate of the two fluids with respect to the rotation angle of the valve body is reduced. Excellent in the linearity of the change and the characteristics of the mixed liquid Change is obtained, it is possible to provide a control with good mixing valve. Also, when the cross-sectional area ratio of the inlet located on the upstream side is large and the flow path cross-sectional area ratio of the inlet located on the downstream side is small, suction of the downstream fluid by the upstream fluid occurs, and as a result, This has the effect of improving control responsiveness.

Further, according to the mixing valve of the second configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the cross-sectional area of the opening provided in the valve body in accordance with the position of the inlet is such that the cross-sectional area is equal to that of the inlet. Since the shape is smaller than the opening cross-sectional area of the mouth, the flow rate in the valve body rotation angle range at the time of full opening and in the vicinity thereof is suppressed, so the flow ratio to the fluid flowing from the side with the smaller flow path cross-sectional area is reduced. Therefore, the flow distribution ratio is substantially reduced, and as a result, the rise time of the control becomes faster, and the response is improved.

Further, according to the mixing valve of the third configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the shape of the opening provided in the valve body in accordance with the position of the inlet is such that the opening of the inlet is cut off. The rate of change ΔR / Δθ of the ratio R (R = S / S ₀ ) of the flow path cross-sectional area S at the inlet with respect to the area S ₀ to the rotation angle θ of the valve body is represented by Therefore, the first fluid introduction port and the second fluid introduction port have substantially the same value, so that the first fluid side and the second fluid The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the flow path on the side changes smoothly. As a result, the characteristics of the mixed liquid change smoothly with respect to the rotation angle of the valve element, and a mixing valve with good controllability can be provided.

Further, according to the mixing valve of the fourth configuration of the present invention, in the second configuration, the shape of the opening is a shape having a substantially triangular portion, and one of the flow paths is located from the fully open position. When the valve body is rotated in the direction in which the first fluid and the second fluid are mixed, the apexes of the substantially triangular portions are arranged in the rotation direction of the valve body, so that the control rise time is increased. As a result, the responsiveness is improved, the valve body rotation angle range effective for control can be expanded, and high-precision control becomes possible.

Further, according to the mixing valve of the fifth configuration of the present invention, in the third configuration, the shape of the opening is a shape having a substantially rectangular portion, and any one of the flow paths is positioned from the fully open position. When the valve body is rotated in a direction in which the first fluid and the second fluid are mixed, one side of the substantially rectangular portion is arranged on the side opposite to the rotation direction of the valve body. The characteristics of the mixed liquid can be changed smoothly with respect to the rotation angle, and a highly controllable mixing valve can be provided, and the valve rotation angle range effective for control can be expanded, enabling high-precision control. Become.

Further, according to the mixing valve of the sixth configuration of the present invention, in any of the first to fifth configurations, the openings provided in the valve body in accordance with the positions of the respective inlets are each provided with: When one of the openings is in the fully opened position and the other is fully closed, the same effect as in the mixing valve according to any of the first to fifth aspects is obtained. Can be

According to the mixing valve of the seventh configuration of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth configurations, the opening provided in the valve body in accordance with the position of each inlet is When one of the openings is at the position where it is fully opened, the other opening is provided at a position where it will not be fully closed or fully opened, so that it is possible to expand the valve body rotation angle range effective for control, High-precision control becomes possible.

Further, according to the mixing valve of the eighth configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the first and second fluids are water and hot water, and the inlet close to the valve body driving body is supplied with water. Since the inlet and the other inlet are hot water inlets, it is possible to reduce the heat load applied to the valve body driving body. This makes it possible to provide a long-life hot water mixing valve that can operate stably over a long period of time.

Further, according to the mixing valve of the ninth configuration of the present invention, since the stepping motor is used as the valve body driving body in the first configuration, a mixing valve capable of precise control can be obtained.

According to the mixing valve of the tenth configuration of the present invention, the valve box and the valve element are formed of resin in the first configuration, so that a lightweight and inexpensive hot / water mixing valve can be realized. it can. Further, since the corrosion resistance can be significantly improved, a mixing valve which operates stably for a long time and has high reliability can be obtained.

Further, according to the water heater of the present invention, since the mixing valve having any one of the first to tenth constitutions is used as the mixing valve for mixing hot water and water, the water heater with good temperature controllability is provided. The effect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hot water mixing valve according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a valve body rotating operation of the hot and cold water mixing valve according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow rate characteristic of the hot and cold water mixing valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a cross-sectional area ratio of a flow path and a valve body rotation angle in the hot water mixing valve according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a valve body rotation angle and a mixed water temperature in the hot and cold water mixing valves according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a hot water mixing valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow rate characteristic of a hot water mixing valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between a valve body rotation angle and a rate of change of a sectional area ratio in a hot water mixing valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a hot water mixing valve according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a valve body rotating operation of a hot and cold water mixing valve according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flow rate characteristic of a hot water mixing valve according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a relationship between a valve body rotation angle and mixed water temperature in a hot water mixing valve according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hot water mixing valve according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation of the hot and cold water mixing valve according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing a configuration of a conventional hot and cold water mixing valve.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a valve body in a conventional hot and cold water mixing valve.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a flow rate characteristic of a conventional hot water mixing valve.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,11 valve box, 1a, 11a valve chamber, 2,3 inlet port, 4 outlet port, 12 water inlet, 13 hot water inlet, 14 hot water outlet, 5,15 valve body, 5a, 5b,
15a, 15b Ends, 5c, 5d, 15c, 15d
Opening, 15c1, 15c1 Triangle, 15c2,1
5d2 semicircle, 6,16 stepper motor,
7, 17 valve body drive shaft, 18 screw hole, 19 valve body holder, 20, 21 washer, 22, 23, 24 O-ring, 25 temperature detector, 26 mixing valve controller, 27
Temperature setter, 100 mixing valve.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Mikio Watanabe 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsui Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masaaki Furuuchi 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 3 F term in Ryo Electric Co., Ltd. (reference) 3H053 AA11 AA23 BA02 BA17 BB18 BC07 CA01 DA02 3H067 AA12 CC07 CC24 CC42 DD03 DD12 DD32 EA07 EA24 EB12 EB24 EC13 ED17 FF02 GG13

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A valve box having an inlet for a first fluid, an inlet for a second fluid, and an outlet for discharging a mixed fluid of the first fluid and the second fluid. A mixing element including a plurality of openings that are rotatably installed in the container and that have a plurality of openings that are respectively provided in accordance with the positions of the introduction ports and the ejection ports, and a valve element driving body that rotationally drives the valve elements. A mixing valve, wherein the inlet of the first fluid and the inlet of the second fluid are displaced from each other in a direction in which the mixed fluid flows. 2. The shape of each opening provided in the valve body in accordance with the position of the inlet is such that the cross-sectional area is smaller than the opening cross-sectional area of the inlet. Item 7. The mixing valve according to Item 1. 3. A shape of each opening provided in the valve body in accordance with the position of the inlet, the ratio of flow path cross-sectional area S of the inlet relative to the opening cross-sectional area S ₀ of the inlet R (R =
S / S ₀ ) with respect to the rotation angle θ of the valve body ΔR
2. A shape wherein /.DELTA..theta. Has substantially the same value for each rotation angle .theta. On the inlet side of the first fluid and the inlet side of the second fluid. Mixing valve. 4. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the opening has a substantially triangular portion, and the valve body is rotated in a direction of mixing the first fluid and the second fluid from a position where one of the flow paths is fully open. 3. The mixing valve according to claim 2, wherein the vertices of the substantially triangular portion are arranged in the rotation direction of the valve element when the valve is rotated. 5. The valve according to claim 5, wherein the shape of the opening is a shape having a substantially rectangular portion, and the valve body is rotated from a position where one of the flow paths is fully open in a direction for mixing the first fluid and the second fluid. 4. The mixing valve according to claim 3, wherein one side of the substantially rectangular portion is arranged on a side opposite to a rotation direction of the valve element when the valve is rotated. 6. The opening provided in the valve body in accordance with the position of each inlet is such that when one opening is in a fully open position, the other opening is fully closed. The mixing valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mixing valve is provided in the mixing valve. 7. The opening provided in the valve body in accordance with the position of each inlet is such that when one opening is in a fully opened position, the other opening is not fully closed or fully opened. The mixing valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mixing valve is provided at such a position. 8. The first and second fluids are water and hot water,
2. The mixing valve according to claim 1, wherein an inlet close to the valve body driving body is a water inlet, and the other inlet is a hot water inlet. 9. The mixing valve according to claim 1, wherein a stepping motor is used as the valve body driving body. 10. The mixing valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve box and the valve body are formed of a resin. 11. A water heater, wherein the mixing valve according to claim 1 is used as a mixing valve for mixing hot water and water.