U.S. patent application number 10/632804 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-12 for expansion valve.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJIKOKI CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Watanabe, Kazuhiko, Yano, Masamichi.
Application Number | 20040026524 10/632804 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26409580 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040026524 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yano, Masamichi ; et
al. |
February 12, 2004 |
Expansion valve
Abstract
An expansion valve 101 comprises a substantially
prismatic-shaped valve body 301 made of aluminum alloy. On the
valve body 301 is formed a first passage 32 through which a
liquid-phase refrigerant travels towards an evaporator, and a
second passage 34 through which a gas-phase refrigerant travels
from the evaporator toward a compressor. On the upper portion of
the valve body 301 is mounted a power element portion 36 for
driving the valve mounted in the middle of a first passage 32. On
the side surfaces 301a of the valve body 301 are formed protruding
portions 301c, and to the protruding portions, penetrating holes 50
for inserting the bolt for mounting the expansion valve are
formed.
Inventors: |
Yano, Masamichi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Watanabe, Kazuhiko; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARMSTRONG, KRATZ, QUINTOS, HANSON & BROOKS, LLP
1725 K STREET, NW
SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
FUJIKOKI CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
26409580 |
Appl. No.: |
10/632804 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10632804 |
Aug 4, 2003 |
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09861516 |
May 22, 2001 |
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6626370 |
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09861516 |
May 22, 2001 |
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09246157 |
Feb 8, 1999 |
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6241157 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
236/92B ;
62/527 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 2500/05 20130101;
F25B 2341/0683 20130101; F25B 41/335 20210101; F25B 2500/32
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
236/92.00B ;
62/527 |
International
Class: |
F25B 041/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 18, 1998 |
JP |
H10-068352 |
Aug 18, 1998 |
JP |
H10-231452 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An expansion valve for controlling the flow rate of a
refrigerant supplied to an evaporator, comprising: a prismatic
valve body containing a valve means for adjusting the flow rate of
refrigerant to be transmitted through refrigerant passages to said
evaporator and a power element portion for driving said valve means
according to the temperature of the refrigerant transmitted from
said evaporator to a compressor, and means for attaching said valve
body in operative relation with respect to said evaporator
including a prismatic projection having a thickness less than the
thickness of said valve body and extending laterally therefrom,
said prismatic projection containing means for effecting the
attachment of said valve body to said evaporator and being
integrally formed with said valve body by an extrusion molding
performed in the direction crossing each of said refrigerant
passages at right angles.
2. An expansion valve comprising a prismatic valve body, a valve
means for adjusting the flow rate of a refrigerant to be
transmitted to an evaporator, and a power element portion for
driving said valve means according to the temperature of the
refrigerant transmitted from said evaporator to a compressor,
wherein said valve body comprises a prismatic projecting formed
integrally to the side surface of said valve body.
3. An expansion valve according to claim 2, wherein a mounting hole
for fixing a pipe mounting member is formed to said projection.
4. An expansion valve comprising a prismatic valve body, a valve
means for adjusting the flow rate of a refrigerant to be
transmitted to an evaporator, and a power element portion for
driving said valve means according to the temperature of the
refrigerant transmitted from said evaporator to a compressor,
wherein said valve body comprises a prismatic projection formed
integrally to the side surface of said valve body.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of prior application Ser.
No. 09/861,516, filed May 22, 2001, which is a divisional of U.S.
Pat. No. 6,241,157, issued on Jun. 5, 2001, (Ser. No. 09/246,157,
filed Feb. 8, 1999).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an expansion valve for
controlling the flow rate of a refrigerant to be supplied to an
evaporator in a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator, an air
conditioning device and so on.
[0003] In the prior art, this type of expansion valves are used in
the refrigeration cycle of an air conditioning device in vehicles,
as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H9-26235.
FIG. 17 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of a widely used
prior art expansion valve with an outline of the refrigeration
cycle. FIG. 18 is a schematic view of the valve body in the
expansion valve, and FIG. 19 is a front view of the expansion valve
viewed from direction A of FIG. 17. The expansion valve 10
comprises a valve body 30 made of aluminum alloy and having a
substantially prismatic shape, to which are formed a first passage
32 of a refrigerant pipe 11 in the refrigeration cycle mounted in
the portion from the refrigerant exit of a condenser 5 through a
receiver 6 toward the refrigerant entrance of an evaporator 8
through which a liquid-phase refrigerant travels, and a second
passage 34 of the refrigerant pipe 11 mounted in the portion from
the refrigerant exit of the evaporator 8 toward the refrigerant
entrance of a compressor 4 through which a gas-phase refrigerant
travels. The passages are formed so that one passage is positioned
above the other passage with a distance in between. Further, in
FIGS. 18 and 19, reference number 50 shows bolt inserting holes for
mounting the expansion valve 10.
[0004] On the first passage 32 is formed an orifice 32a where
adiabatic expansion of the liquid-phase refrigerant supplied from
the refrigerant exit of the receiver 6 is to be performed. On the
entrance side of the orifice 32a or upper stream side of the first
passage is formed a valve seat, and a spherical valve means 32b
supported by the valve member 32c from the upper stream side is
positioned on the valve seat. The valve member 32c is fixed to the
valve means by welding, and positioned between a biasing means 32d
of a compression coil-spring and the like, thereby transmitting the
bias force of the biasing means 32d to the valve means 32b, and as
a result, biasing the valve means 32b toward the direction
approaching the valve seat.
[0005] The first passage 32 to which the liquid-phase refrigerant
from the receiver 6 is introduced acts as the passage for the
liquid-phase refrigerant, comprising an entrance port 321 connected
to the receiver 6, and a valve chamber 35 connected to the entrance
port 321. An exit port 322 is connected to the evaporator 8. The
valve chamber 35 is a chamber with a bottom formed coaxially with
the orifice 32a, and is sealed by a plug 39. The plug 39 is
equipped with an o-ring 39a.
[0006] Moreover, the valve body 30 is equipped with a small radius
hole 37 and a large radius hole 38, which is larger than the hole
37, which penetrates through the second passage 34 and are
positioned coaxial to the orifice 32a, so as to provide driving
force to the valve means 32b according to the exit temperature of
the evaporator 8, and on the upper end of the valve body 30 is
formed a screw hole 361 to which a power element portion 36 acting
as a heat sensing portion is fixed.
[0007] Further, the valve body 30 includes a narrow portion 30b
having a thin width whose width size W.sub.2 is reduced (narrowed)
compared to the width size W.sub.1 of the portion where the bolt
holes 50 exist, at the lower portion corresponding to the first
passage 32 which is opposite to the upper portion where the power
element portion 36 is to be mounted. The narrow portion contributes
to lighten the weight and to reduce the cost of the parts used for
the valve body 30.
[0008] The base-shape material (material formed to have the basic
shape) of the valve body 30 is manufactured by an extrusion process
of an aluminum alloy for example, and the bolt holes 50 are formed
by a following drilling process.
[0009] The power element portion 36 comprises a diaphragm 36a made
of stainless steel, an upper cover 36d and a lower cover 36h welded
to each other with the diaphragm 36a positioned in between so as to
each define an upper pressure housing 36b and a lower pressure
housing 36c forming two sealed housing on the upper and lower areas
of the diaphragm 36a, and a sealed tube 36i for sealing a
predetermined refrigerant working as a diaphragm driving liquid
into the upper pressure housing 36b, wherein the lower cover 36h is
screwed onto the screw hole 361 with a packing 40. The lower
pressure housing 36c is communicated to the second passage 34
through a pressure-equalizing hole 36e formed coaxial to the center
axis of the orifice 32a. The refrigerant vapor from the evaporator
8 flows through the second passage 34, and therefore, the second
passage 34 acts as a passage for the gas-phase refrigerant, and the
pressure of the refrigerant gas is loaded to the lower pressure
housing 36c through the pressure-equalizing hole 36e. Further,
reference number 342 represents an entrance port from which the
refrigerant transmitted from the evaporator 8 enters, and 341
represents an exit port from which the refrigerant transmitted to
the compressor 4 exits.
[0010] Inside the lower pressure housing 36c contacting the
diaphragm 36a is formed an aluminum heat sensing shaft 36f
positioned slidably inside the large radius hole 38 penetrating the
second passage 34, so as to transmit the refrigerant exit
temperature of the evaporator 8 to the lower pressure housing 36c
and to slide inside the large radius hole 38 in correspondence to
the displacement of the diaphragm 36a accompanied by the difference
in pressure between the lower pressure chamber 36c and the upper
pressure chamber 36b in order to provide drive force, and a
stainless steel operating shaft 37f having a smaller diameter than
the heat sensing shaft 36f is positioned slidably inside the small
radius hole 37 for pressing the valve means 32b against the elastic
force of the biasing means 32d in correspondence to the
displacement of the heat sensing shaft 36f, wherein the heat
sensing shaft 36f is equipped with a sealing member, for example,
an o-ring 36g, so as to secure the seal between the first passage
32 and the second passage 34. The upper end of the heat sensing
shaft 36f contacts the lower surface of the diaphragm 36a as the
receiving portion of the diaphragm 36a, the lower end of the heat
sensing shaft 36f contacts the upper end of the operating shaft
37f, and the lower end of the operating shaft 37f contacts the
valve means 32b, wherein the heat sensing shaft 36f together with
the operating shaft 37f constitute a valve drive shaft.
Accordingly, the valve drive shaft extending from the lower surface
of the diaphragm 36a to the orifice 32a of the first passage 32 is
positioned coaxially inside the pressure-equalizing hole 36e.
Further, a portion 37e of the operating shaft 37f is formed
narrower than the inner diameter of the orifice 32a, which
penetrates through the orifice 32a, and the refrigerant passes
through the orifice 32a.
[0011] A known diaphragm drive liquid is filled inside the upper
pressure housing 36b of the pressure housing 36d, and through the
diaphragm 36a and the valve drive shaft exposed to the second
passage 34 and the pressure equalizing hole 36e communicated to the
second passage 34, the heat of the refrigerant vapor traveling
through the second passage 34 from the refrigerant exit of the
evaporator 8 is transmitted to the diaphragm drive liquid.
[0012] In correspondence to the heat being transmitted as above,
the diaphragm drive liquid inside the upper pressure housing 36b
turns into gas, the pressure thereof being loaded to the upper
surface of the diaphragm 36a. The diaphragm 36a is displaced to the
vertical direction according to the difference between the pressure
of the diaphragm drive gas loaded to the upper surface thereof and
the pressure loaded to the lower surface thereof.
[0013] The vertical displacement of the center area of the
diaphragm 36a is transmitted to the valve means 32b through the
valve drive shaft, which moves the valve means 32b closer to, or
away from, the valve seat of the orifice 32a. As a result, the flow
rate of the refrigerant is controlled.
[0014] Accordingly, the temperature of the low-pressure gas-phase
refrigerant sent out from the exit of the evaporator 8 is
transmitted to the upper pressure housing 36b, and according to the
temperature, the pressure inside the upper pressure housing 36b is
changed. When the exit temperature of the evaporator 8 rises, in
other words, when the heat load of the evaporator is increased, the
pressure inside the upper pressure housing 36b is raised, and
correspondingly, the heat sensing shaft 36f or valve drive shaft is
driven to the downward direction, pushing down the valve means 32b.
Thereby, the opening of the orifice 32a is widened. This increases
the amount of refrigerant being supplied to the evaporator 8, and
lowers the temperature of the evaporator 8. In contrast, when the
temperature of the refrigerant sent out from the evaporator 8 is
lowered or heat load of the evaporator is reduced, the valve means
32b is driven to the opposite direction, narrowing the opening of
the orifice 32a, reducing the amount of refrigerant being supplied
to the evaporator, and raises the temperature of the evaporator
8.
[0015] The expansion valve 10 is mounted by bolt holes 50 to a
predetermined member. FIG. 20 is a view explaining the mounting
structure thereof, and in the drawing, a mounting member 60 is
formed to have a plate-like shape, supporting two pipes 62 and 64.
The pipe 62 is a pipe communicated to the compressor 4, and a tip
portion 62a thereof is inserted to a port 341. In such state, a
seal is formed between the pipe and the port by a seal ring 62b.
The second pipe 64 is communicated to the receiver 6, and a tip
portion 64a thereof is inserted to a port 321 through a seal 64b. A
mounting member 70 is formed to have a plate shape, supporting two
pipes 72 and 74.
[0016] The pipe 72 is communicated to the exit of the evaporator 8,
and a tip portion 72a thereof is inserted to a port 342 through a
seal 72b. The pipe 74 is communicated to the entrance of the
evaporator 8, and a tip portion 74a thereof is inserted to a port
322 through a seal 74b. When fixing these mounting members 60 and
70 onto the body of the expansion valve 10, a bolt 80 is inserted
to a bolt hole 66 formed on the mounting member 60. The bolt 80 is
further inserted to a bolt hole 50 on the expansion valve 10 so as
to penetrate therethrough, and a screw portion 82 on the tip of the
bolt 80 is screwed onto a screw portion 76 of the second mounting
member 70. By screwing the bolt 80, the tip portions of each pipes
on each mounting member are inserted to respective ports of the
expansion valve, and the fixing is completed. Further, the bolt
hole 50 on the other side is also similarly fixed.
[0017] Moreover, in the prior art expansion valve, a plug body 36k
may be used to seal the predetermined refrigerant as shown in FIG.
21 instead of using the sealed tube 36i as shown in FIG. 17. For
example, a stainless steel plug body 36k may be inserted to a hole
36j formed on the upper cover 36d made of stainless steel so as to
cover the hole, and the plug body 36k maybe fixed to the hole 36j
by welding. Further, the operation for controlling the flow rate of
the refrigerant by the valve is similar to that of FIG. 17, so FIG.
21 only shows the area related to the power element portion 36.
FIG. 22 shows the schematic view of the valve body similar to FIG.
18 of the expansion valve but when the seal is performed by the
plug body 36k, and the same reference numbers show the same
components. In FIGS. 18 and 19, the sealed tube 36i is omitted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] In the prior art expansion valves, each bolt hole 50 for
mounting the expansion valve are each formed as a penetrating hole
on the inner side of the both side surfaces 30a of the valve body
30 in the expansion valve. The bolt holes 50 must be formed in
correspondence with the interval between the bolt holes 66 formed
on the mounting member 60, and when the interval or pitch between
the bolt holes formed on the mounting member are wide, the width
size W.sub.1 of the valve body 30 must also be widened. In this
case, even if a narrow portion 30b having a width size of W.sub.2
is formed on the lower portion of the valve body 30 corresponding
to the first passage 32, there remains a problem that the cut-down
on cost and weight may not be achieved.
[0019] The present invention aims at solving the above-mentioned
problems, and the object is to provide an expansion valve which is
capable of introducing bolt holes having necessary intervals,
without having to increase the width size of the valve body
greatly, even when the intervals of the bolt holes for mounting the
expansion valve formed on the inner side of both side surfaces of
the valve body are widened.
[0020] Moreover, the present invention aims at providing an
expansion valve with a structure realizing the further cutback on
the weight and material cost of the valve body.
[0021] Even further, the present invention aims at providing an
expansion valve having increased degree of freedom in mounting the
piping to be connected to the expansion valve, enabling easy
mounting of the piping to the expansion valve, and at the same
time, having improved workability.
[0022] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present
invention provides an expansion valve comprising a valve body, a
valve means for adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant to be
sent out to an evaporator, and a power element portion for driving
said valve means according to the temperature of said refrigerant
to be sent out to a compressor from said evaporator, wherein said
valve body includes protruding portions formed integrally with the
side surface of said valve body.
[0023] Moreover, in the preferred embodiment of the expansion valve
according to the present invention, said protruding portions are
formed in positions corresponding to where penetrating holes for
mounting the expansion valve are to be formed.
[0024] Moreover, the embodiment of the expansion valve according to
the present invention is characterized in that said penetrating
holes are formed inside said valve body at positions separated from
said protruding portions by a predetermined distance.
[0025] Further, the expansion valve according to the present
invention is characterized in that said penetrating holes are
formed in said protruding portions.
[0026] Even further, the present invention relates to an expansion
valve comprising a valve body, a valve means for adjusting the flow
rate of a refrigerant traveling through a first passage formed
inside said valve body from a condenser toward an evaporator, and a
power element portion for driving said valve means according to the
temperature of the refrigerant traveling through a second passage
formed inside said valve body from said evaporator toward a
compressor, wherein said expansion valve includes protruding
portions formed integrally to the side surfaces of said valve body
corresponding to penetrating holes formed on said valve body for
mounting the expansion valve.
[0027] Even further, according to the preferred embodiment of the
present expansion valve, said valve body comprises a first narrow
portion where the lower portion of the valve body opposite to the
upper portion to which said power element portion is to be mounted
is formed to have a narrow width, and a second narrow portion where
the area of the valve body between said first narrow portion and
said protruding portion is formed to have a narrow width.
[0028] Moreover, according to the embodiment of the present
expansion valve, the valve body includes a third narrow portion
where the area of said valve body between said protruding portion
and said power element portion is formed to have a narrow
width.
[0029] Further, the present expansion valve is characterized in
that a mounting hole for fixing a pipe mounting member is formed to
said protruding portions.
[0030] Even further, the present expansion valve comprises a
prismatic valve body, a valve means for adjusting the flow rate of
a refrigerant to be transmitted to an evaporator, and a power
element portion for driving said valve means according to the
temperature of the refrigerant transmitted from said evaporator to
a compressor, wherein said valve body comprises prismatic
projection formed integrally with the side surface of said valve
body.
[0031] Moreover, the present expansion valve is characterized in
that a mounting hole for fixing a pipe mounting member is formed to
said projection.
[0032] The expansion valve of the present invention having the
above-mentioned structure is formed to have protruding portions on
the side surface of the valve body. Therefore, the position of the
bolt mounting holes may be determined freely.
[0033] Further, the expansion valve of the present invention
comprises a plurality of narrow portions formed on the valve body,
so the cost for material and parts of the expansion valve may be
reduced, even when the protruding portions are formed.
[0034] Moreover, the expansion valve of the present invention
enables to increase the degree of freedom in mounting the piping to
the expansion valve, and the mounting of the piping is simplified
and the workability is increased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] FIG. 1 is a front view showing one embodiment of the
expansion valve according to the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a side view showing one embodiment of the
expansion valve according to the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing one embodiment of the
expansion valve according to the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at line I-I' of FIG.
1;
[0039] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the
expansion valve according to the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 6 is a front view showing another embodiment of the
expansion valve according to the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 7 is a front view showing another embodiment of the
expansion valve according to the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a schematic view
showing another embodiment of the expansion valve according to the
present invention;
[0043] FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG. 9;
[0044] FIG. 11 is a side view of FIG. 9;
[0045] FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the embodiment of
connecting the piping to the expansion valve of FIG. 9;
[0046] FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing yet another embodiment
of the expansion valve according to the present invention;
[0047] FIG. 14 is a front view of FIG. 13;
[0048] FIG. 15 is a side view of FIG. 13;
[0049] FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of
connecting the piping to the expansion valve of FIG. 13;
[0050] FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing the prior art
expansion valve in cross-section together with an outline of the
refrigeration cycle;
[0051] FIG. 18 is a schematic view of the prior art expansion
valve;
[0052] FIG. 19 is a front view of the prior art expansion
valve;
[0053] FIG. 20 is an explanatory view of the mounting structure of
the expansion valve;
[0054] FIG. 21 is an explanatory view of the power element portion;
and
[0055] FIG. 22 is a schematic view of the prior art expansion
valve.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0056] The embodiment of the expansion valve according to the
present invention will now be explained with reference to the
accompanied drawings. In the explanation of the embodiments, the
same reference numbers as the above prior art explanation refer to
either the same or equivalent portions, and they perform the same
function.
[0057] FIG. 1 is a front view of an expansion valve 101 showing one
embodiment of the expansion valve according to the present
invention, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a schematic
view of the expansion valve 101 omitting the interior structure.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at line I-I' of FIG. 1,
omitting the refrigeration cycle. The expansion valve 101 shown in
FIGS. 1-4 only differ from the prior art expansion valve 10 in that
a protruding portion 301c is formed the side surfaces 301a of the
valve body 301. The other structures and operations are the same as
the expansion valve 10 of the prior art, so the explanation thereof
are omitted. The protruding portions 301c are formed integrally on
the side surfaces 301c of the valve body 301, in a position
corresponding to where the penetrating mounting holes 50 of the
valve body 301 will be formed.
[0058] By the protruding portions 301c, penetrating holes 50 may be
formed having an interval corresponding to the interval between
bolt holes 66 formed on the mounting members 60, 70. That is, even
if the interval between the bolt holes 66 on the mounting members
60 and 70 is widened, the valve body may correspond to the widening
of the interval of bolt holes 66 merely by placing the penetrating
holes 50 closer to the protruding portion 301c, without having to
widen the width size of the valve body 301. Therefore, by forming
the protruding portions 301c, the degree of freedom in the
positioning of penetrating holes 50 may be secured. Moreover, FIG.
5 is a schematic view showing the embodiment where a sealed tube
36i is used for the power element portion 36, and the same
reference numbers as FIG. 4 refer to the same components.
[0059] Moreover, in the present embodiment, the base-shape material
of the valve body 301 is formed by an extrusion process. The
protruding portions 301c of the body are formed integrally when
manufacturing the base-shape material. Accordingly, the penetrating
holes 50 are formed by drilling holes to positions on the
protruding portion 301c having a predetermined interval. FIG. 6 is
a front view showing the case where penetrating holes 50 are formed
at positions on the protruding portions 301c.
[0060] Further, penetrating holes 50 having predetermined intervals
may also be formed simultaneously when manufacturing the base-shape
material together with the protruding portions 301c, so as to omit
the following drilling process. Moreover, the penetrating holes 50
may also be formed simultaneously by the hollow extrusion process
together with a second passage penetrating the valve body 301
positioned parallel to the holes 50.
[0061] In the above explanation, protruding portions 301c are
formed on the valve body 301 of the expansion valve so as to
increase the degree of freedom in the position to which penetrating
holes 50 may be formed. If, however, the cost of parts is increased
by forming the above-mentioned protruding portions, then the cost
of parts may be reduced by forming a narrow portion on plurality of
positions on the valve body in the present expansion valve.
[0062] FIG. 7 is a front view showing another embodiment of the
expansion valve according to the present invention, wherein narrow
portions are formed on a plurality of areas in the valve body of
the expansion valve, and FIG. 8 is a side view thereof.
[0063] In FIGS. 7 and 8, the same reference numbers as used in the
expansion valve of FIGS. 1 through 4 refer to either the same or
equivalent components, and in the expansion valve 101', narrow
portions 30b (hereinafter called the first narrow portion) formed
on the lower portion opposite to said upper portion of the valve
body 301 where the power element portion 36 is to be mounted is
formed, together with second narrow portions 301d. The second
narrow portions 301d are formed on the area between the protruding
portions 301c and a flat area 301f continuing from the first narrow
portion 30b.
[0064] Moreover, third narrow portions 301e are formed between the
power element portion 36 and the protruding portions 301c,
continuing to the flat areas 301g of the side surfaces 301a. Of
course, only at least one of the second narrow portion 301d and the
third narrow portion 301e may be formed.
[0065] A plurality of narrow portions are formed on the valve body
by the formation of the second narrow portions 301d and/or the
third narrow portions 301e together with the first narrow portions
30b. Even if the cost of parts is increased by the formation of the
protruding portions 301c, the cost and the weight may be reduced
greatly by the formation of plurality of narrow portions. Moreover,
the formation of the narrow portions by hollow extrusion process
together with the protruding portions enable the achievement of
providing an expansion valve having a greatly reduced manufacturing
cost, since the portions may be formed simultaneously with the
manufacturing of the base-shaped material.
[0066] The above explanation involves cases where mounting members
60, 70 and bolt holes 50 for fixing the expansion valve itself are
used to connect the expansion valve to the piping for the
refrigeration cycle. However, the present invention is not limited
to such example, but can be applied to cases where the piping may
be connected to the expansion valve separately as the fixing of
said expansion valve.
[0067] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of an expansion valve 102
according to the above case, by a schematic view omitting its
internal structure. FIG. 10 is a front view taken from direction
arrow R of FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is a side view taken from direction
arrow R' of FIG. 9. Its internal structure is the same as FIG. 1
and is omitted from the drawing. In FIGS. 9 through 11, the
expansion valve 102 is similar to the expansion valve 101 shown in
FIGS. 1 through 3, except for protruding portions 302b and 302b'
formed on the valve body 302 and mounting holes 51 formed on said
protruding portions. Therefore, the same and similar portions of
the expansion valve are marked by the same reference numbers, and
the explanation thereof are omitted. The protruding portions 302b
and 302b' are formed integrally to the side surface 302a of the
valve body 302 by a hollow extrusion.
[0068] The extrusion process is performed toward the direction
parallel to the refrigerant passage by use of an aluminum alloy and
the like. Thereby, protruding portions 302b, 302b' and a concave
portion 302c positioned between said protruding portions are formed
integrally when manufacturing the base-shape material. Thereafter,
the material is cut to an appropriate length as the valve body 302.
Then, the first passage 32, the second passage 34 and the
penetrating holes 50 are formed to the predetermined positions
respectively by a hole forming process. Further, the mounting holes
51 are formed by a hole forming process at approximately the center
area of the protruding portions 302b and 302b'. The mounting holes
51 may also be formed by a screwing process.
[0069] Moreover, except for the first passage 32, according to the
present embodiment, the protruding portions 302b and 302b', the
penetrating holes 50, the second passage 34 and the mounting holes
51 may also be formed simultaneously by a hollow extrusion process
of an aluminum alloy and the like. In such case, the first passage
32 is formed by a hole forming process after the valve body 302 is
cut. Further, a screwing process may be performed to the mounting
holes 51.
[0070] Furthermore, the embodiment of FIG. 9 shows the case where
the protruding portions 302b and 302b' are formed to have the same
length as the width of the side surface 302a of the valve body 302.
However, as for the length of the protruding portions, the two
protruding portions may also be cut to an appropriate length after
being formed. Thereby, the side surface of the valve body 302
having been removed of the two protruding portions may be utilized,
for example, as a mounting space of the expansion valve 102.
[0071] FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the expansion valve according
to the present invention, wherein the expansion valve according to
the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is connected to the piping through
the mounting holes 51. The same reference numbers as FIG. 9 show
either the same or equivalent components.
[0072] In the drawing, numbers 52 and 53 show plate-like pipe
mounting members, and the pipe mounting members 53 and 52 comprise
penetrating holes 32' and 51' each corresponding to the first
passage 32 and the mounting hole 51, and penetrating holes 34' and
51' each corresponding to the second passage 34 and the mounting
hole 51, respectively. The predetermined piping corresponding to
each refrigerant passage (not shown) is connected at its end
portion to the first passage 32 and the second passage 34
respectively through penetrating holes 32' and 34', as similar to
the prior art. A bolt (not shown) is inserted to the mounting holes
51 through penetrating holes 51' corresponding to each mounting
hole, and the bolts are either fixed to the mounting holes 51, or
screwed to the screw portion of the mounting holes 51. Thereby, the
mounting member 53 is positioned so as to cover the first passage
32 and the mounting hole 51, and the mounting member 52 is fixed to
cover the second passage 34 and the mounting hole 51 of the
expansion valve 102, thereby supporting the predetermined
piping.
[0073] Further, the holes marked 58 in FIGS. 9 and 10 are holes for
inserting the positioning pins of mounting members 52 and 53, which
can also be omitted. By utilizing mounting holes 51 formed
respectively on protruding portions 302b and 302b', the piping to
be connected to the first passage 32 and the second passage 34 may
be mounted appropriately by the mounting members 52 and 53 to the
expansion valve 102 fixed to a predetermined position, for example
to the evaporator, by the penetrating holes 50. According to the
present embodiment, the degree of freedom in positioning the piping
is increased, the fixing operation of the piping to an expansion
valve for air-conditioning devices in vehicles which allow only
small working space and limited mounting space may be eased, and
therefore, the working condition of the mounting of pipes may be
improved.
[0074] Moreover, according to the present invention, the shape of
the protruding portions, where the mounting holes for the pipe
mounting member are to be formed, is not limited to the shape of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, but may be formed to have a
prismatic projection.
[0075] FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the expansion valve
according to the present invention with prismatic shaped protruding
portions, wherein FIG. 13 is a schematic view omitting the internal
structure thereof, FIG. 14 is a front view taken from direction
arrow R of FIG. 13, and FIG. 15 is a side view taken from direction
arrow R' of FIG. 13. The internal structure of the expansion valve
is the same as that of FIG. 1. The expansion valve 103 of FIGS.
13-15 only differs from the embodiment of FIG. 9 in the shape of
the valve body 303, and the other components are the same. The same
or equivalent portions are marked by the same reference numbers,
and the explanation thereof are omitted.
[0076] In FIGS. 13 through 15, the valve body 303 of the expansion
valve 103 comprises a first passage 32, a second passage 34 and
penetrating holes 50. The body further comprises a prismatic-shaped
body portion 304 and a prismatic-shaped projection 305 formed
integrally thereto, wherein mounting holes 54 and 55 each
corresponding to the first passage 32 and the second passage 34 are
formed on the projection 305. The body portion 304 is formed
integrally with the projection 305 as the valve body 303 by an
extrusion molding performed to the direction crossing said each
refrigerant passages at right angles.
[0077] The extrusion molding is performed by molding, for example,
an aluminum alloy. Thereby, the body portion 304 and the projection
305 may be formed integrally at the time of manufacture of the
base-shape material. Thereafter, the material is cut to an
appropriate length as the valve body 303, and the first passage 32,
the second passage 34 and the penetrating holes 50 are formed to
the body portion 304 by hole processing. Further, mounting holes 54
and 55 are formed respectively to their predetermined positions on
the projection 305 by hole processing. The mounting holes 54 and 55
may also be formed by screw processing. In the above-mentioned
embodiments, the valve body 302 and 303 are each assembled with a
power element portion 36K, and with the internal structure formed
thereto, they become expansion valves 102 and 103.
[0078] FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of the present expansion valve
wherein pipes are connected to the expansion valve according to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 13 through mounting holes 54 and 55. The
same reference numbers as FIG. 13 refer to either the same or
equivalent components.
[0079] In the drawing, reference numbers 56 and 57 show plate-like
pipe mounting members. The pipe mounting member 56 and the pipe
mounting member 57 are equipped with penetrating holes 32' and 54'
each corresponding to the first passage 32 and the mounting hole
54, and penetrating holes 34' and 55' corresponding to the second
passage 34 and the mounting hole 55, respectively. The
predetermined pipes (not shown) corresponding to each of the
refrigerant passages are connected at its tip portion through the
penetrating holes 32' and 34' to each refrigerant passage,
similarly as with the prior art. Further, bolts (not shown) are
inserted to mounting holes 54 and 55 through penetrating holes 54'
and 55' corresponding to each mounting hole, so as to be fixed to
the mounting holes 54 and 55, or to be screwed onto the screw
portion of the mounting holes 54 and 55. Thereby, the mounting
member 56 is fixed to the expansion valve 103 so as to cover the
first passage 32 and the mounting hole 54, and the mounting member
57 is fixed to the expansion valve 103 so as to cover the second
passage 34 and the mounting hole 55, thereby supporting
predetermined pipes respectively.
[0080] Further, reference number 58 in FIGS. 13 and 14 show holes
for inserting positioning pins of mounting members 56 and 57, which
may be omitted. By utilizing the mounting holes 54 and 55 formed to
the projection 305, the pipes to be connected to the first passage
32 and the second passage 34 may be positioned appropriately
against the expansion valve 103, fixed through the penetrating
holes 50 to a predetermined position, by use of mounting members 56
and 57. According to the present embodiment, the degree of freedom
in positioning the piping is increased, and the mounting and
positioning of the piping to an expansion valve for airconditioning
devices in vehicles which allow only small working space and
limited mounting space may be eased.
[0081] According to the above embodiments, the degree of protrusion
of the protruding portions or the projection may be determined to
appropriate sizes according to need. For example, the degree of
protrusion may be increased by increasing the depth of the concave
portion of the protruding portion.
[0082] As explained above, the expansion valve according to the
present invention include protruding portions formed integrally to
the side surfaces of the valve body in the expansion valve, which
enable to provide a large degree of freedom in the positioning of
the penetrating mounting holes to be formed on the valve body.
[0083] Moreover, in the present expansion valve, not only the
above-mentioned protruding portions but also a plurality of narrow
portions may be formed. This enables to decrease the manufacturing
cost of the expansion valve, and at the same time, enables to
reduce the size and lighten the weight of the expansion valve.
[0084] Further, according to the present expansion valve, the
degree of freedom in the connecting of pipes to the expansion valve
will be increased, the mounting operation thereof may be
simplified, and the working performance as a whole may be
improved.
* * * * *