JP2009250290A - Constant flow rate valve - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a constant flow rate valve capable of maintaining a stable flow rate in a wide range of pressure fluctuation. <P>SOLUTION: This valve is provided with a body 1 including a valve seat 12 facing an upstream side and a fluid outlet 13 provided on an inner circumference thereof and communicating to a downstream side, and a valve element 3 disposed in the body 1 with supported by the valve seat 12 and having rubber like elasticity. Variable channels A, B providing communication between the upstream side and the fluid outlet 13 and having section area thereof reduced by deformation of the valve element 3 with receiving fluid pressure from an upstream side are provided between the valve seat 12 and the valve element 3. An orifice 17 having a diameter smaller than that of the fluid outlet 13 and providing communication between the upstream side and the downstream side is provided on the body 1 or the valve element 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a constant flow valve used to keep a flow rate substantially constant, for example, in a warm water washing toilet seat, a water heater, and the like.

As this type of constant flow valve, conventionally, for example, those described in the following patent documents are known. When the pressure from the inlet increases, the constant flow valve deforms in a direction in which the O-ring valve body narrows the flow path. With such an action, the flow rate of the fluid is controlled to be substantially constant regardless of the pressure fluctuation.
JP 2004-41922 A

  However, since the conventional constant flow valve has a non-linear relationship between the pressure and the deformation of the O-ring, a problem is pointed out that constant flow control is difficult under a wide range of pressure fluctuation conditions.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its technical problem is to provide a constant flow valve capable of maintaining a stable flow rate against a wide range of pressure fluctuations. is there.

  As a means for effectively solving the technical problem described above, the constant flow valve according to the invention of claim 1 is a body having a valve seat facing the upstream side and a fluid outlet opened on the inner periphery thereof and leading to the downstream side. And a valve body having rubber-like elasticity disposed in the body while being supported by the valve seat, between the valve seat and the valve body, and between the upstream side and the fluid outlet. The valve body is deformed by receiving fluid pressure from the upstream side to form a variable flow path whose cross-sectional area is reduced, and the body or the valve body has a smaller diameter than the fluid outlet and the upstream side. An orifice that opens the side and the downstream side is established.

  A constant flow valve according to a second aspect of the present invention is the constant flow valve according to the first aspect, wherein the valve body is connected to the valve via a plurality of support protrusions formed on either the valve seat or the valve body. The variable flow path includes a first variable flow path formed by a gap between the valve seat and the valve body, and the first variable flow path is configured such that the valve body is formed by the support protrusion. It can be extinguished by being in close contact with the valve seat against the supporting force.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the constant flow valve according to the first or second aspect, the variable flow path is formed between a groove formed in the valve seat and a valve body opposed to the groove. A second variable flow path, and the valve body can be deformed so as to bite into the second variable flow path.

  A constant flow valve according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the constant flow valve according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein an orifice is formed in the valve body, and the valve body is deformed by receiving fluid pressure from the upstream side. By doing so, the cross-sectional area of the orifice is reduced.

  The constant flow valve according to the invention of claim 5 is the constant flow valve according to claim 3, wherein a deep groove into which the valve body cannot bite is formed at the bottom of the groove forming the second variable flow path. is there.

  According to the constant flow valve of the first aspect of the present invention, the valve body is deformed by receiving the fluid pressure from the upstream side, whereby the cross-sectional area of the variable flow path communicating between the upstream side and the fluid outlet is increased. Since it shrinks, an increase in flow rate due to an increase in fluid pressure is suppressed. Further, since the orifice always communicates with the upstream side and the downstream side, a decrease in the flow rate due to a reduction in the cross-sectional area of the variable flow path when the fluid pressure increases is compensated, and a stable constant flow rate control function can be obtained.

  According to the constant flow valve of the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of claim 1, it has a first variable flow path that disappears at a high pressure, the first variable flow path includes a valve seat, Since it is formed between the valve body and the valve body that is levitated and supported on the valve seat via a plurality of support protrusions, the flow passage has a large cross-sectional area, so a large flow rate can be secured even in the low pressure region, and stable constant flow control Function is obtained.

  According to the constant flow valve of the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 1 or 2, in response to the fluid pressure from the upstream side, the valve body is deformed so as to bite into the second variable flow path. As a result, since the cross-sectional area of the second variable flow path is reduced, a constant flow rate control function that is stable against pressure fluctuations can be obtained.

  According to the constant flow valve of the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effects of any of claims 1 to 3, the orifice provided in the valve body supplements the constant flow control function in the variable flow path, so that the pressure fluctuation Therefore, a stable constant flow rate control function can be obtained.

  According to the constant flow valve of the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the third aspect, the deep groove compensates for the decrease in flow rate due to the reduction of the cross-sectional area of the variable flow path when the fluid pressure rises, thereby preventing pressure fluctuation On the other hand, a stable constant flow rate control function can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a constant flow valve according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view of a first form of a constant flow valve according to the present invention as seen from the upstream side of a flow path, FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which an adapter is removed from the constant flow valve of FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the constant flow valve of FIG. 1 in an exploded manner, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the initial state cut along II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an initial state cut along II-II in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view at a low pressure load cut by II in FIG. 1, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view at a low pressure load cut by II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view at medium pressure load cut at II in FIG. 1, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view at medium pressure load cut at II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 10 is cut at II in FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view at the time of high pressure load cut along II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view at the constant flow valve according to the first embodiment. It is a diagram which shows the relationship between the pressure and flow volume which are measured.

  1, 2, and 3, reference numeral 1 is a body attached to a water supply passage (not shown) such as a water pipe, and reference numeral 2 is an end of the peripheral wall 11 facing the upstream side of the body 1. An adapter to be attached, reference numeral 3 is a valve body arranged in the body 1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the body 1 is formed of a hard synthetic resin material into a bottomed cylindrical shape, and is formed on a cylindrical peripheral wall 11 and an inner periphery of an end portion on the downstream side thereof. The valve seat 12 faces the upstream side, and a fluid outlet 13 is formed in the inner periphery of the valve seat 12 to communicate with the downstream side of the water supply channel.

  The valve seat 12 has a pair of shallow grooves 14 and 15 having a substantially V-shaped cross section extending in the radial direction from the fluid outlet 13, a deep groove 16 formed at the deepest portion of one of the shallow grooves 14, and the other An orifice 17 that is located in the shallow groove 15 and is significantly smaller in diameter than the fluid outlet 13 and a plurality of support protrusions 18 are formed, and a positioning protrusion 19 is formed at one place on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 11 in the circumferential direction. ing.

  The adapter 2 is formed in a disk shape from a hard synthetic resin material, and is fitted to the inner periphery of the end portion of the peripheral wall 11 of the body 1 at a fitting portion 21 protruding from the outer diameter portion of the inner surface. A valve body presser 22 projects from the inner diameter portion of the inner surface, and a plurality of fluid inlets 23 are opened.

  The valve body 3 is formed into a flat plate shape with a rubber material or a synthetic resin material having rubber-like elasticity, and is projected from the upstream side (or downstream side) of the water supply channel (shown in FIG. 2). The shape of the disk is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the peripheral wall 11 in the body 1 and larger in diameter than the fluid outlet 13 in the body 1. , 32. Further, a positioning recess 33 corresponding to the positioning projection 19 in the body 1 is formed on an intermediate phase between the recesses 31 and 32.

  That is, the valve body 3 is loosely inserted into the body 1 with the positioning projections 19 and the positioning recesses 33 engaged with each other. In the initial state shown in FIGS. The floating support is provided via the support protrusion 18 and the upstream movement of the adapter 2 is restricted by the valve body presser 22 of the adapter 2. And in this state, the 1st variable flow path A which consists of the clearance gap between the valve seat 12 and the opposing surface of the valve body 3 is formed between the valve seat 12 and the valve body 3 supported by this. The first variable flow path A includes a gap G between the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 11 and the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 3 in the body 1, and the concave portions 31 and 32 of the peripheral wall 11 of the body 1 and the valve body 3. And upstream of a water supply channel (not shown) through a plurality of fluid inlets 23 in the adapter 2 and spaces S1 and S2 formed between the adapter 2 and the valve body 3. Communicate.

  In this initial state, a second variable flow path B is formed between each of the shallow grooves 14 and 15 formed in the valve seat 12 of the body 1 and the valve body 3 facing the shallow grooves 14 and 15. In the second variable flow path B, the outer diameter end portion extends to the spaces S1 and S2 formed between the peripheral wall 11 of the body 1 and the recesses 31 and 32 of the valve body 3, that is, the space S1 and S2 and the space S3 and the plurality of fluid inlets 23 in the adapter 2 communicate with the upstream side of a water supply passage (not shown), and the inner diameter side end communicates with the fluid outlet 13 in the body 1 The upstream end of the orifice 17 formed in the shallow groove 15 opens toward the space S <b> 2 between the peripheral wall 11 of the body 1 and the recess 32 of the valve body 3.

  The valve element 3 made of a rubber material or a synthetic resin material having rubber-like elasticity causes the support protrusion 18 of the body 1 to be moved by water pressure from the upstream side of the water supply channel (pressure difference between the space S3 side and the fluid outlet 13 side). It can be displaced toward the valve seat 12 while being inserted, so that the cross-sectional area of the first variable flow path A is variable. Further, when the water pressure rises even after the first variable flow path A disappears due to the valve body 3 being pressed in close contact with the valve seat 12, the valve body 3 seems to bite into the shallow grooves 14 and 15. Accordingly, the flow path cross-sectional area of the second variable flow path B is variable, but the deep groove 16 formed in the shallow groove 14 is deeper and narrower than the shallow groove 14. Therefore, the valve body 3 cannot bite.

  Next, the operation of the constant flow valve according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

  First, in the initial state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 described above, it flows into the space S3 between the adapter 2 and the valve body 3 through the plurality of fluid inlets 23 in the adapter 2 from the upstream side of the water supply channel. The water that passes through the spaces S1 and S2 between the peripheral wall 11 of the body 1 and the recesses 31 and 32 of the valve body 3 and the gap G between the peripheral wall 11 of the body 1 and the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 3 3 and the first variable flow path A formed between the valve seat 12 and the second variable flow path B formed between the valve body 3 and the shallow grooves 14, 15 and the deep groove 16. A path from the fluid inlet 23 to the fluid outlet 13, a space S 3 between the adapter 2 and the valve body 3, a space S 2 between the peripheral wall 11 of the body 1 and the concave portion 32 of the valve body 3, and the orifice 17. Flows out to the downstream side of the water supply flow path. Therefore, in this state, a flow path is formed around the entire circumference of the valve body 3 and has a large cross-sectional area. Therefore, as shown in the diagram of FIG. 12, the water pressure from the upstream side (space S3 side and fluid outlet 13 A large flow rate is ensured even in the low water pressure region L where the pressure difference from the side is less than 0.15 MPa, for example.

  From the initial state shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 described above, the water pressure acting from the upstream side on the surface 3a facing the adapter 2 in the valve body 3 rises, and the first and second variable flow paths A, B and When a pressure drop occurs in the orifice 17, the valve body 3 causes the support protrusion 18 of the body 1 to be recessed by the water pressure from the upstream side (pressure difference between the space S 3 side and the fluid outlet 13 side). However, since it is easily displaced toward the valve seat 12 and the flow path cross-sectional area of the first variable flow path A is reduced, the increase in the flow rate due to the increase in water pressure is effectively mitigated even in the low water pressure region L.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the first variable flow path A is extinguished by pressing the valve body 3 in close contact with the valve seat 12, the adapter 2 from the upstream side of the water supply flow path. Water flowing into the space S3 between the adapter 2 and the valve body 3 through the plurality of fluid inlets 23 in the space S1 and S2 between the peripheral wall 11 of the body 1 and the recesses 31 and 32 of the valve body 3. From the second variable flow path B, B formed between the valve body 3 and the shallow grooves 14, 15 and the deep groove 16, a path through the fluid outlet 13 in the body 1, and from the fluid inlet 23, Outflow to the downstream side of the water supply flow path through the space S3 between the adapter 2 and the valve body 3, the space S2 between the peripheral wall 11 of the body 1 and the recess 32 of the valve body 3, and the orifice 17 To do.

  When the water pressure further increases from this state, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the valve body 3 is deformed so as to bite into the shallow grooves 14, 15, whereby the second variable flow path B The flow passage cross-sectional area decreases, and the deformation of the valve body 3 at this time approximates almost linearly to the water pressure. For this reason, as shown in the diagram of FIG. 12, in the intermediate water pressure region M of about 0.15 to 0.47 MPa, for example, the increase in flow rate due to the increase in water pressure is remarkably mitigated, and an effective constant flow rate control function is achieved. Play.

  Further, in a high water pressure region H exceeding 0.47 MPa, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the valve body 3 is in a state of biting into the shallow grooves 14 and 15 completely, Since the valve body 3 can hardly bite into 16, the second variable flow path B remains by an amount corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the deep groove 16. A decrease in flow rate due to an increase in flow resistance in the second variable flow path B having a small cross-sectional area is compensated by the orifice 17 whose cross-sectional area remains unchanged.

  Therefore, in this state, the water flowing from the upstream side of the water supply channel into the space S3 between the adapter 2 and the valve body 3 through the plurality of fluid inlets 23 in the adapter 2 is the peripheral wall 11 of the body 1 and the valve body 3. A path passing through the fluid outlet 13 in the body 1 from the narrow second variable flow path B formed between the valve body 3 and the deep groove 16 through the spaces S1 and S2 between the recesses 31 and 32. Water supply from the fluid inlet 23 through a path passing through the space S3 between the adapter 2 and the valve body 3, the space S2 between the peripheral wall 11 of the body 1 and the recess 32 of the valve body 3, and the orifice 17. It flows out downstream of the flow path. For this reason, as shown in the diagram of FIG. 12, in the high water pressure region H, even if the water pressure increases, the flow rate hardly increases and an effective constant flow rate control function is achieved.

  Further, since the orifice 17 does not change its cross-sectional area due to a change in water pressure as described above, the minimum flow rate is compensated even when the second variable flow path B due to the deep groove 16 is blocked due to some cause, for example. Has the function of

  In the above-described embodiment, the valve body 3 is levitated and supported via the support protrusion 18 formed on the valve seat 12 of the body 1, but the support protrusion may be formed on the valve body 3. In this case, the valve body 3 is pressed against the valve seat 12 while being deformed so that the support protrusion is crushed when the water pressure rises.

  Next, FIG. 13 is a view of the second form of the constant flow valve according to the present invention as viewed from the upstream side of the flow path, FIG. 14 is a view showing a state where the adapter is removed from the constant flow valve of FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing the constant flow valve shown in FIG. 13 in an exploded view, FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 13, and FIG. 17 is cut along line III-III in FIG. It is sectional drawing at the time of the applied pressure load.

  13, 14, and 15, reference numeral 4 is a body attached to a water supply flow path (not shown) such as a water pipe, and reference numeral 5 is an end portion of the peripheral wall 41 facing the upstream side of the body 4. An adapter to be attached, reference numeral 6 is a valve body arranged in the body 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the body 4 is formed of a hard synthetic resin material into a bottomed cylindrical shape, and has a cylindrical peripheral wall 41 and an inner periphery formed on the upstream side. And a fluid outlet 43 that opens to the downstream side of the water supply passage is formed in the inner periphery of the valve seat 42. The valve seat 42 is formed with a plurality of shallow grooves 44 having a substantially V-shaped cross section extending in the radial direction from the fluid outlet 43, and a deep groove 45 formed at the deepest portion of each shallow groove 44. A positioning projection 46 is formed at one place in the circumferential direction.

  The adapter 5 is formed in a disc shape with a hard synthetic resin material, and is fitted to the inner periphery of the end portion of the peripheral wall 41 of the body 4 in the fitting portion 51 formed on the outer diameter portion of the inner surface. A plurality of fluid inlets 52 and positioning holes 53 corresponding to the positioning protrusions 46 in the body 4 are formed.

  The valve body 6 is formed into a flat plate shape from a rubber material or a synthetic resin material having rubber-like elasticity, and is projected from the upstream side (or downstream side) of the water supply channel (shown in FIG. 14). The shape of the disk 4 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the peripheral wall 41 in the body 4 and larger in diameter than the fluid outlet 43 in the body 4. . A positioning recess 62 corresponding to the positioning projection 46 in the body 4 is formed at a position where the recess 61 is not formed, and a small-diameter orifice is positioned at the approximate center of the fluid outlet 43 in the body 4 at the center. 63 is established.

  That is, the valve body 6 is loosely inserted into the body 4 with the positioning protrusion 46 and the positioning recess 62 engaged with each other, and is supported by the valve seat 42 in the body 4 in the initial state shown in FIG. In this initial state, variable flow paths C are formed between the shallow groove 44 and the deep groove 45 in the body 4 and the valve body 6 facing the shallow groove 44 and the deep groove 45, respectively. This variable flow path C has an outer diameter side end extending to a space S4 between the peripheral wall 41 of the body 4 and each recess 61 of the valve body 6, and further between the valve body 6 and the adapter 5. The space S5 and the plurality of fluid inlets 52 of the adapter 5 communicate with the upstream side of a water supply passage (not shown), and the end on the inner diameter side communicates with the fluid outlet 43 in the body 4. An orifice 63 provided in the valve body 6 communicates with the space S5 and the fluid outlet 43.

  The valve body 6 made of a rubber material or a synthetic resin material having rubber-like elasticity can be deformed so that the outer diameter portion bites into the shallow groove 44 by receiving water pressure from the upstream side of the water supply flow path. The flow passage cross-sectional area of the variable flow passage C is variable, and the inner diameter portion can be bent toward the fluid outlet 43 side. Further, the deep groove 45 formed in the shallow groove 44 is deeper than the shallow groove 44 and has a narrower groove width, so that the valve body 6 cannot bite.

  Next, the operation of the constant flow valve according to the second embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

  First, in the initial state shown in FIG. 16 described above, the water flowing into the space S5 between the adapter 5 and the valve body 6 through the plurality of fluid inlets 52 in the adapter 5 from the upstream side of the water supply channel is From the variable flow path C formed between the valve body 6 and the shallow groove 44 and the deep groove 45 through the space S4 between the peripheral wall 41 of the body 4 and each recess 61 of the valve body 6, The fluid flows out to the downstream side of the water supply flow path from the space S5 through the orifice 63 of the valve body 6 to the fluid outlet 43. Accordingly, in this state, the variable flow path C and the orifice 63 have a large cross-sectional area, so that a large flow rate is ensured even in a low water pressure region.

  Then, from the initial state shown in FIG. 16, the water pressure acting from the upstream side (space S5 side) rises on the surface 6a of the valve body 6 facing the adapter 5 side, and the pressure drop in the variable flow path C and the orifice 63 is reduced. When this occurs, due to the pressure difference, the valve body 6 is deformed so that the outer diameter portion is pressed against the valve seat 42 and bites into the shallow groove 44 as shown in FIG. It is deformed so as to bend toward the outlet 43. Further, the deformation of the valve body 6 at this time is approximately linearly approximated with respect to the water pressure.

  For this reason, the flow passage cross-sectional area of the variable flow passage C is reduced by biting the valve body 6 into the shallow groove 44, and the diameter φ of the orifice 63 is slightly narrowed on the upstream side due to the deflection of the valve body 6. Undergo deformation. Therefore, in the intermediate water pressure region, the increase in flow rate due to the increase in water pressure is remarkably mitigated, and an effective constant flow rate control function is achieved.

  In addition, when the valve body 6 is in a state where it completely bites the shallow groove 44 due to further increase in water pressure, the valve body 6 can hardly bite into the deep groove 45. The variable flow path C remains for an amount corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the deep groove 45. Further, since the valve body 6 is bent to some extent, the reduction rate of the orifice 63 is also reduced, so that the flow rate is compensated.

It is the figure which looked at the 1st form of the constant flow valve which concerns on this invention from the upstream of the flow path. It is a figure which shows the state which removed the adapter from the constant flow valve of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the constant flow valve of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the initial state cut | disconnected by II in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the initial state cut | disconnected by II-II in FIG. It is sectional drawing at the time of the low pressure load cut | disconnected by II in FIG. It is sectional drawing at the time of the low pressure load cut | disconnected by II-II in FIG. It is sectional drawing at the time of the medium pressure load cut | disconnected by II in FIG. It is sectional drawing at the time of the medium pressure load cut | disconnected by II-II in FIG. It is sectional drawing at the time of the high pressure load cut | disconnected by II in FIG. It is sectional drawing at the time of the high pressure load cut | disconnected by II-II in FIG. It is a diagram which shows the relationship between the pressure and flow volume in the constant flow valve by a 1st form. It is the figure which looked at the 2nd form of the constant flow valve which concerns on this invention from the upstream of the flow path. It is a figure which shows the state which removed the adapter from the constant flow valve of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the constant flow valve of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the initial state cut | disconnected by III-III in FIG. It is sectional drawing at the time of the pressure load cut | disconnected by III-III in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 4 Body 11, 41 Peripheral wall 12, 42 Valve seat 13, 43 Fluid outlet 14, 15, 44 Shallow groove 16, 45 Deep groove 17, 63 Orifice 18 Support projection 2, 5 Adapter 23, 52 Fluid inlet 3, 6 Valve body 31, 32, 61 Recess A First variable flow path B Second variable flow path C Variable flow path G Gap space S1-S5 space

Claims (5)

  A body having a valve seat facing the upstream side and a fluid outlet opened on the inner periphery thereof and leading to the downstream side, and a valve body having rubber-like elasticity disposed in the body while being supported by the valve seat The cross section is reduced by connecting the upstream side and the fluid outlet between the valve seat and the valve body so that the valve body is deformed by receiving fluid pressure from the upstream side. A constant flow valve characterized in that a flow path is formed, and an orifice having a smaller diameter than the fluid outlet and communicating with the upstream side and the downstream side is formed in the body or the valve body.   The valve body is levitated and supported by the valve seat via a plurality of support protrusions formed on either the valve seat or the valve body, and the variable flow path extends from the gap between the valve seat and the valve body. The first variable flow path is characterized in that the first variable flow path can be extinguished when the valve body is brought into close contact with the valve seat against the support force of the support protrusion. The constant flow valve according to claim 1.   The variable flow path includes a second variable flow path formed between a groove formed in the valve seat and a valve body facing the groove, and the valve body bites into the second variable flow path. The constant flow valve according to claim 1, wherein the constant flow valve can be modified as described above.   The orifice is provided in the valve body, and the cross-sectional area of the orifice is reduced by deforming the valve body by receiving fluid pressure from the upstream side. Constant flow valve.   The constant flow valve according to claim 3, wherein a deep groove into which the valve body cannot bite is formed at the bottom of the groove forming the second variable flow path.

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