JP2024073703A - Mixing Valve - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve sealing performance of a valve element when a valve is closed.SOLUTION: A mixing valve 10 includes: a casing 2 having a first inflow passage 21 into which first fluid flows, a second inflow passage 22 into which second fluid at a temperature different from that of the first fluid flows, a mixing flow passage 25 for mixing the first fluid and the second fluid, and an outflow passage 26 for making the fluid of the mixing flow passage 25 flow out; a valve seat member 6 arranged in a connection portion of the second inflow passage 22 and the mixing flow passage 25; and a valve element 7 seated on and separated from the valve seat member 6. The valve seat member 6 includes a valve hole 61 communicating the second inflow passage 22 with the mixing flow passage 25, and a seat surface 62 surrounding the valve hole 61. The valve element 7 opens and closes the valve hole 61 by being moved in a direction crossing the seat surface 62 so as to be seated on and separated from the seat surface 62.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The technology disclosed herein relates to a mixing valve.

Patent Document 1 discloses a mixing valve that adjusts the temperature of hot water by mixing hot water with cold water. The mixing valve includes a casing, a valve body housed in the casing, and a drive unit that moves the valve body. The casing is provided with a hot and cold water mixing flow path that extends linearly, a hot water inlet that communicates with the upstream end of the mixing flow path, and a cold water inlet that communicates with the middle of the mixing flow path. The valve body is provided in the mixing flow path. The valve body is formed in a cylindrical shape that is approximately coaxial with the mixing flow path. The internal space of the valve body communicates with the hot water inlet. The valve body has a through hole that communicates between the internal space of the valve body and the cold water inlet.

Hot water that flows into the mixing channel from the hot water inlet passes through the internal space of the valve body and flows out to the outside of the casing. The drive unit moves the valve body in the flow direction of the mixing channel according to the temperature of the water in the mixing channel. The valve body moves in the flow direction of the mixing channel as the outer circumferential surface of the valve body slides against the inner circumferential surface of the casing that defines the mixing channel.

When the valve body moves downstream of the mixing flow path, the through hole of the valve body is blocked by the casing. This blocks the flow of cold water from the cold water inlet into the mixing flow path, and hot water from the hot water inlet flows into the mixing flow path.

On the other hand, when the valve body moves upstream of the mixing flow passage, the cold water inlet and the internal space of the valve body are connected via the through hole. As a result, cold water from the cold water inlet flows into the internal space of the valve body via the through hole and is mixed with the hot water flowing through the internal space of the valve body. The mixed water produced by mixing the cold water and the hot water flows out of the casing.

Patent No. 6748337

However, with the above-mentioned mixing valve, it is difficult to seal the gap between the valve body and the inner surface of the casing when the valve is closed, and depending on the pressure on the cold water side, it may be difficult to maintain a high level of sealing of the valve body that blocks the cold water inlet.

The technology disclosed here has been developed in light of these issues, and its purpose is to improve the sealing performance of the valve body when the valve is closed.

The mixing valve disclosed herein includes a casing having a first inflow passage through which a first fluid flows, a second inflow passage through which a second fluid having a temperature different from that of the first fluid flows, a mixing passage through which the first fluid and the second fluid are mixed, and an outflow passage through which the fluid in the mixing passage flows out; a valve seat member disposed at the connection between the second inflow passage and the mixing passage; and a valve body that seats and leaves the valve seat member. The valve seat member has a valve hole that connects the second inflow passage and the mixing passage, and a seat surface that surrounds the valve hole, and the valve body opens and closes the valve hole by moving in a direction intersecting the seat surface and seating and leaving the seat surface.

The mixing valve can improve the sealing performance of the valve body when the valve is closed.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a mixing valve. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing the mixing valve when it is open. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the opposing surface of the first cover.

An exemplary embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a mixing valve 10. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing the mixing valve 10 when the valve is open. The mixing valve 10 mixes a first fluid with a second fluid having a temperature different from that of the first fluid to generate a fluid of a desired temperature. In this example, each of the first fluid and the second fluid is water. The temperature of the second fluid is lower than the temperature of the first fluid.

The mixing valve 10 is arranged, for example, in a steam-heated hot water generating device. A steam-heated hot water generating device, for example, heats low-temperature water with steam to produce high-temperature water, and mixes this high-temperature water with low-temperature water to generate hot water of a predetermined temperature.

The mixing valve 10 includes a casing 2, a valve seat member 6 disposed in the casing 2, and a valve body 7 movably disposed in the casing 2 and seated on and off the valve seat member 6. The mixing valve 10 further includes an actuator 8 for moving the valve body 7. The casing 2 includes a first inflow passage 21 into which a first fluid flows, a second inflow passage 22 into which a second fluid flows, a mixing passage 25 where the first inflow passage 21 and the second inflow passage 22 join and mix the first and second fluids, and an outflow passage 26 through which the fluid in the mixing passage 25 flows out. The valve seat member 6 is disposed at the connection portion between the second inflow passage 22 and the mixing passage 25. That is, the downstream end of the second inflow passage 22 and the upstream end of the mixing passage 25 are connected via the valve seat member 6. The valve seat member 6 has a valve hole 61 that communicates between the second inflow passage 22 and the mixing passage 25. The valve element 7 opens and closes the valve hole 61 by being seated on and off the valve seat member 6 at the downstream end of the second inlet passage 22. The valve element 7 can change the opening degree of the valve hole 61. This adjusts the inflow amount of the second fluid flowing from the second inlet passage 22 into the mixing passage 25. Adjusting the inflow amount also includes reducing the inflow amount to zero, i.e., closing the valve element 7.

Each element of the mixing valve 10 will be described in detail below. The casing 2 has a main body 3, and a first lid 4 and a second lid 5 attached to the main body 3. The main body 3 is formed in a tubular shape, more specifically a cylindrical shape, extending in the direction of a predetermined axis X. Hereinafter, the direction in which the axis X extends will be referred to as the "first direction." The main body 3 includes a first end 3a, which is one end in the first direction, and a second end 3b, which is the end opposite the first end 3a.

The first lid 4 is attached to the first end 3a of the main body 3 so as to close the opening at the first end 3a. The second lid 5 is attached to the second end 3b of the main body 3 so as to close the opening at the second end 3b. Each of the main body 3, the first lid 4, and the second lid 5 is formed from a metal such as stainless steel.

The casing 2 has a first inlet port 32 which is the inlet of the first inlet passage 21, a second inlet port 41 which is the inlet of the second inlet passage 22, and an outlet port 33 which is the outlet of the outlet passage 26. The first inlet port 32 and the outlet port 33 are each disposed in the main body 3. The first inlet port 32 and the outlet port 33 are each disposed in the middle part of the main body 3 in the first direction, i.e., in a part of the main body 3 other than the first end 3a and the second end 3b. The outlet port 33 is located between the first inlet port 32 and the second end 3b in the first direction. The second inlet port 41 is disposed in the first lid 4.

A valve seat member 6 is arranged in the main body 3 so as to divide the internal space of the main body 3 into a space toward the first end 3a and a space toward the second end 3b. The mixing flow path 25 is arranged on the second end 3b side relative to the valve seat member 6. The second inlet path 22 is arranged on the first end 3a side relative to the valve seat member 6.

The mixing flow path 25 is the space between the valve seat member 6 and the second lid 5 within the internal space of the main body 3. The mixing flow path 25 is defined by the main body 3, the valve seat member 6, and the second lid 5. The mixing flow path 25 extends in the first direction.

The first inlet passage 21 is the internal space of the first inlet port 32. That is, the first inlet passage 21 is partitioned by the first inlet port 32. The first inlet passage 21 extends in a direction intersecting the axis X, more specifically, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis X. Hereinafter, the direction in which the first inlet passage 21 extends is referred to as the "second direction."

The inlet, which is the upstream end of the first inlet passage 21, opens into the first inlet port 32. The first fluid flows into the first inlet passage 21 from a tube connected to the first inlet port 32. The downstream end of the first inlet passage 21 opens into the mixing passage 25. In other words, the first inlet passage 21 and the mixing passage 25 are directly connected. The downstream end of the first inlet passage 21 is disposed between the second end 3b of the main body 3 and the valve seat member 6 in the first direction. The direction in which the first fluid flows from the first inlet passage 21 into the mixing passage 25 is a direction intersecting the axis X, specifically, the second direction.

The outflow path 26 is the internal space of the outflow port 33. That is, the outflow path 26 is partitioned by the outflow port 33. The upstream end of the outflow path 26 opens to the mixing flow path 25. That is, the outflow path 26 and the mixing flow path 25 are directly connected. The upstream end of the outflow path 26 is disposed between the downstream end of the first inlet path 21 and the second end 3b of the main body 3 in the first direction. The outflow path 26 extends in a direction intersecting the axis X, specifically in a direction approximately perpendicular to each of the axis X and the second direction. Hereinafter, the direction in which the outflow path 26 extends is simply referred to as the "third direction". The outlet, which is the downstream end of the outflow path 26, opens to the outflow port 33. The direction in which the fluid in the mixing flow path 25 flows out to the outflow path 26 is a direction intersecting the axis X, specifically in the third direction. The fluid in the outflow path 26 flows out to a tube connected to the outflow port 33.

Figure 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 2. The valve seat member 6 is formed in a flat plate shape that expands in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis X. The valve seat member 6 is made of a metal such as stainless steel. In this example, the valve seat member 6 is integrated with the main body 3.

The valve hole 61 penetrates the valve seat member 6 in the first direction. The axis of the valve hole 61 is approximately coaxial with the axis X. The valve hole 61 opens into both the second inlet passage 22 and the mixing passage 25.

The second inlet passage 22 extends in a direction that generally coincides with the first direction. The direction in which the second fluid in the second inlet passage 22 flows into the valve hole 61 is a direction that generally coincides with the first direction. Specifically, the second inlet passage 22 includes a valve chamber 23 in which the valve body 7 is disposed, and a supply passage 24 that supplies the second fluid to the valve chamber 23.

The valve chamber 23 is a space between the valve seat member 6 and the first lid 4. More specifically, the valve seat member 6 has a seat surface 62 on which the valve body 7 is seated. The seat surface 62 faces the first end 3a of the main body 3, i.e., the opposite side to the mixing flow path 25. The seat surface 62 is formed in an annular shape surrounding the valve hole 61. More specifically, the seat surface 62 is formed in an annular shape. The seat surface 62 is a plane that intersects with the axis X, more specifically, a plane that is approximately perpendicular to the axis X. The first lid 4 includes an opposing surface 42 that faces the seat surface 62. The opposing surface 42 is a plane that is approximately parallel to the seat surface 62. The seat surface 62 and the opposing surface 42 are arranged at an interval in the first direction. The valve chamber 23 is a space between the seat surface 62 and the opposing surface 42. In other words, each of the seat surface 62 and the opposing surface 42 is arranged in the valve chamber 23. The valve chamber 23 is defined by the seat surface 62, the opposing surface 42, and the inner circumferential surface of the main body 3.

The supply path 24 is partitioned by the first lid 4. The supply path 24 includes a first supply path 24a and a plurality of second supply paths 24b branching off from the first supply path 24a. The plurality of second supply paths 24b are an example of a plurality of supply paths. In this example, the supply path 24 includes three second supply paths 24b.

The first supply passage 24a is a hole that opens into the surface of the first lid 4 opposite the opposing surface 42. That is, the inlet, which is the upstream end of the first supply passage 24a, opens into the second inlet port 41. The first supply passage 24a extends in the first direction. The second fluid flows into the first supply passage 24a from a tube connected to the second inlet port 41.

The second supply passage 24b is disposed between the first supply passage 24a and the valve chamber 23 in the first direction. The second supply passages 24b are disposed around the axis X at intervals in the circumferential direction of the axis X. The upstream end of the second supply passage 24b opens to the first supply passage 24a. The second supply passage 24b extends in a direction inclined with respect to the axis X so as to move away from the axis X from the upstream end of the second supply passage 24b toward the downstream side of the second supply passage 24b. The downstream end of the second supply passage 24b communicates with the valve chamber 23.

Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of the opposing surface 42 of the first lid 4. As shown in Figure 5, the downstream ends of the multiple second supply passages 24b are not grouped together on the opposing surface 42 but are separated and open. The downstream ends of the multiple second supply passages 24b are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction centered on the axis X. Specifically, the downstream ends of the multiple second supply passages 24b are arranged at approximately equal intervals on a concentric circle centered on the axis X.

The valve element 7 is disposed in the valve chamber 23 so as to face the seat surface 62 of the valve seat member 6. The valve element 7 opens and closes the valve hole 61 by seating on and off the seat surface 62. The valve element 7 moves in a direction intersecting the seat surface 62 to seat and off the seat surface 62. More specifically, the valve element 7 moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the seat surface 62, i.e., a direction substantially identical to the first direction, to seat and off the seat surface 62. The valve element 7 has a pressure-receiving surface 75 that faces away from the seat surface 62 and receives the pressure of the second fluid.

The valve body 7 includes a base 71, a gasket 72 attached to the base 71, and a guide 73 disposed on the base 71 to guide the movement of the base 71. The base 71 is formed in a flat plate shape that expands in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis X. One surface in the thickness direction of the base 71 is a pressure-receiving surface 75. The pressure-receiving surface 75 is a flat surface that is substantially perpendicular to the axis X. The pressure-receiving surface 75 receives the pressure of the second fluid supplied to the valve chamber 23 from the multiple second supply paths 24b.

The gasket 72 is attached to the surface of the base 71 that faces the seat surface 62 of the valve seat member 6, i.e., the surface opposite the pressure-receiving surface 75. The gasket 72 is formed in an annular shape, more specifically, a circular ring shape, surrounding the axis X. The gasket 72 is formed from a material that has a smaller elastic modulus than the base 71. For example, the gasket 72 is formed from a synthetic resin such as a fluororesin.

The guide 73 is formed in a rod shape extending in the first direction. The guide 73 extends from the base 71 in the direction opposite to the seat surface 62. In this example, the guide 73 is integrated with the base 71. The axis of the guide 73 is approximately coaxial with the axis X. Meanwhile, the first lid 4 is provided with a guide hole 43 that opens to the opposing surface 42. The guide hole 43 extends in the first direction. The axis of the guide hole 43 is approximately coaxial with the axis X.

The guide 73 is fitted into the guide hole 43 so as to be movable in the first direction. The guide 73 slides in the first direction along the guide hole 43. This guides the valve body 7 to move in the first direction.

The mixing valve 10 further includes a first spring 91 that biases the valve body 7 toward the seat surface 62. The first spring 91 is an example of an elastic body. The first spring 91 is a coil spring. The first spring 91 is disposed around the guide 73. The first spring 91 is disposed between the pressure receiving surface 75 of the valve body 7 and the opposing surface 42 of the first lid 4 in a state where it is compressed in the first direction.

The valve body 7 is pressed against the seat surface 62 by the biasing force of the first spring 91 and the pressure of the second fluid received by the pressure-receiving surface 75, and seats on the seat surface 62. Specifically, the base 71 is pressed against the seat surface 62 via the gasket 72. This seals the gap between the base 71 and the seat surface 62, and the valve hole 61 is blocked by the valve body 7. In other words, the valve body 7 is closed.

The valve body 7 is moved by the actuator 8 away from the seat surface 62 against the biasing force of the first spring 91 and the pressure of the second fluid received by the pressure-receiving surface 75, and is thereby lifted off the seat surface 62. Specifically, the gasket 72 moves away from the seat surface 62, and a gap through which the second fluid flows is formed between the base 71 and the seat surface 62. This opens the valve hole 61. In other words, the valve body 7 opens.

The valve body 7 further has a shaft 74 that is connected to the actuator 8. In this example, the shaft 74 is integrated with the base 71. The shaft 74 extends from the base 71 in the first direction in the opposite direction to the guide 73. The axis of the shaft 74 is approximately coaxial with the axis X. The shaft 74 is solid. In this disclosure, "solid" means that there is no void inside.

The shaft 74 protrudes from the second inlet passage 22 through the valve hole 61 into the mixing passage 25. The shaft 74 includes a flange 74a disposed in the mixing passage 25. The flange 74a protrudes from the shaft 74 to the outside in the radial direction of the shaft 74. The flange 74a is disposed in the middle of the shaft 74 in the axial direction of the shaft 74.

The actuator 8 moves the valve element 7 in response to the temperature of the fluid flowing through the mixing flow channel 25, and causes the valve element 7 to seat and separate from the seat surface 62. The actuator 8 in this example is a thermoelement that expands and contracts in response to the temperature of the fluid in the mixing flow channel 25. The actuator 8 is disposed in the mixing flow channel 25 as shown in FIG. 2. The actuator 8 has a case 81, wax that is filled in the case 81 and expands and contracts in response to temperature changes, a rod 83 that is disposed relatively movable relative to the case 81 and moves forward and backward relative to the case 81 by the expanding and contracting wax, a holder 84 that holds the case 81, and a joint 86 fixed to the holder 84.

The case 81 is disposed between the valve seat member 6 and the second lid 5 in the first direction. The temperature of the wax in the case 81 changes depending on the temperature of the fluid in the mixing flow channel 25.

The rod 83 protrudes from the case 81 toward the second lid 5. The rod 83 advances and retreats in a first direction relative to the case 81 in response to the expansion and contraction of the wax. When the wax expands, the rod 83 advances toward the second lid 5. When the wax contracts, the rod 83 retreats toward the case 81.

The holder 84 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the first direction. The axis of the holder 84 is approximately coaxial with the axis X. The case 81 is fitted inside the holder 84. The holder 84 has an opening 84a that penetrates the holder 84 in the radial direction. The case 81 is exposed to the mixing flow path 25 through the opening 84a. The fluid in the mixing flow path 25 comes into contact with the case 81 through the opening 84a. Therefore, the temperature of the wax in the case 81 is likely to change depending on the temperature of the fluid in the mixing flow path 25.

The joint 86 extends in the first direction. The axis of the joint 86 is approximately coaxial with the axis X. The joint 86 protrudes from the holder 84 toward the valve seat member 6.

The joint 86 includes a tip surface 87, which is the end surface facing the valve seat member 6, and an insertion hole 88 that opens into the tip surface 87. The insertion hole 88 extends in the first direction. The axis of the insertion hole 88 is approximately coaxial with the axis X. The tip portion of the shaft 74, which is the end portion of the shaft 74 facing the second lid 5, is inserted into the insertion hole 88 so as to be movable in the first direction. The shaft 74 slides in the first direction along the insertion hole 88. As a result, the valve body 7 is guided by the joint 86 to move in the first direction. The tip surface 87 faces the flange 74a of the shaft 74.

The holder 84 of the actuator 8 is supported by the main body 3 so as to be movable in the first direction. When the holder 84 moves in the first direction, the case 81 and the joint 86 also move in the first direction together with the holder 84.

The mixing valve 10 further includes a second spring 92 that biases the holder 84 toward the second lid 5 in the first direction, a rod receiver 95 that receives the rod 83, and a third spring 93 that biases the rod 83 toward the valve seat member 6 via the rod receiver 95. Each of the second spring 92, the rod receiver 95, and the third spring 93 is disposed in the mixing flow path 25.

More specifically, the second spring 92 is a coil spring. The second spring 92 is arranged around the holder 84. Specifically, a step is arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the main body 3 with which the end of the second spring 92 that faces the valve seat member 6 comes into contact. A flange that comes into contact with the end of the second spring 92 that faces the second lid 5 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the holder 84. The second spring 92 is arranged between the step of the main body 3 and the flange of the holder 84 in a state where it is compressed in the first direction. The second spring 92 biases the flange of the holder 84 toward the second lid 5 in the first direction. As a result, the case 81 of the actuator 8 is biased by the second spring 92 toward the second lid 5 via the holder 84.

The rod receiver 95 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the first direction. More specifically, the rod receiver 95 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom that opens toward the valve seat member 6 and has a closed end on the side opposite the valve seat member 6. The rod receiver 95 includes a flange. The flange protrudes from the rod receiver 95 to the outside in the radial direction of the rod receiver 95.

The rod receiver 95 is disposed on the second lid 5. Specifically, the second lid 5 has a receiving hole 51 that opens toward the valve seat member 6. The receiving hole 51 is a bottomed hole that extends in the first direction. The rod receiver 95 is received in the receiving hole 51 so as to be movable in the first direction. The rod 83 is inserted into the rod receiver 95.

The third spring 93 is a coil spring. The elastic modulus of the third spring 93 is greater than the elastic modulus of the second spring 92. The third spring 93 is accommodated in the accommodation hole 51 of the second lid 5. The third spring 93 is arranged between the flange of the rod receiver 95 and the bottom of the second lid 5 in a state where it is compressed in the first direction. The third spring 93 urges the rod receiver 95 toward the valve seat member 6 in the first direction. The case 81 of the actuator 8 is urged toward the valve seat member 6 by the third spring 93 via the rod 83 and the rod receiver 95.

In other words, the case 81 of the actuator 8 receives the biasing force of the second spring 92 toward the second lid 5 and the biasing force of the third spring 93 toward the valve seat member 6. The case 81 is positioned where the biasing force of the second spring 92 and the biasing force of the third spring 93 are balanced.

Next, the operation of the actuator 8 will be described. When the temperature of the wax of the actuator 8 is relatively low, the wax is contracted. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the amount of protrusion of the rod 83 from the case 81 is small. At this time, the case 81 is relatively far from the valve seat member 6 toward the second lid 5. In addition, the tip surface 87 of the joint 86 is farther away from the flange 74a of the shaft 74 toward the second lid 5.

When the temperature of the wax of the actuator 8 rises, the wax expands and the rod 83 advances from the case 81. At this time, the rod 83 presses the rod receiver 95 toward the second lid 5 against the biasing force of the third spring 93. At the same time, the holder 84 presses the second spring 92 toward the valve seat member 6 by the reaction force when the rod 83 presses the rod receiver 95. Therefore, each of the second spring 92 and the third spring 93 contracts as shown in FIG. 3. Since the elastic modulus of the second spring 92 is smaller than the elastic modulus of the third spring 93, the contraction amount of the second spring 92 is larger than the contraction amount of the third spring 93. Therefore, the case 81 moves toward the valve seat member 6 in the first direction. The case 81 moves toward the valve seat member 6 as the amount of advance of the rod 83 from the case 81 increases. As the case 81 moves toward the valve seat member 6, the joint 86 also moves toward the valve seat member 6. The joint 86 can move further toward the valve seat member 6 than the position where the tip surface 87 contacts the flange 74a of the shaft 74.

When the temperature of the wax in the actuator 8 drops, the wax contracts and the rod 83 retracts toward the case 81. At this time, the amount of extension of the second spring 92 becomes greater than the amount of extension of the third spring 93, and the case 81 moves toward the second lid 5 as shown in FIG. 2. The greater the amount of retraction of the rod 83, the more the case 81 moves toward the second lid 5. As the case 81 moves toward the second lid 5, the joint 86 also moves toward the second lid 5. The joint 86 can move to a position where the tip surface 87 is separated from the flange 74a of the shaft 74 toward the second lid 5.

Next, the operation of the mixing valve 10 will be described. When the valve body 7 is closed, of the first fluid that has flowed into the first inlet passage 21 and the second fluid that has flowed into the second inlet passage 22, only the first fluid flows into the mixing passage 25. The first fluid that has flowed into the mixing passage 25 flows directly out of the casing 2 via the outlet passage 26. The temperature of the fluid flowing out of the outlet passage 26 is approximately the same as the temperature of the first fluid that has flowed into the first inlet passage 21.

When the valve body 7 is closed and the temperature of the first fluid is relatively low, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the tip surface 87 of the joint 86 is spaced further toward the second lid 5 than the flange 74a of the shaft 74. In addition, the valve body 7 is seated on the seat surface 62 by the biasing force of the first spring 91 and the pressure of the second fluid received by the pressure-receiving surface 75, closing the valve hole 61.

When the temperature of the first fluid flowing through the mixing flow path 25 increases when the valve body 7 is closed, the temperature of the wax in the actuator 8 increases, and the joint 86 moves toward the valve seat member 6. As the joint 86 moves toward the valve seat member 6, the tip surface 87 of the joint 86 eventually comes into contact with the flange 74a of the shaft 74. Even after the tip surface 87 comes into contact with the flange 74a, the joint 86 moves toward the valve seat member 6 as the rod 83 advances. When the joint 86 moves further toward the valve seat member 6, the joint 86 presses the flange 74a, moving the shaft 74 toward the valve seat member 6 against the biasing force of the first spring 91 and the pressure of the second fluid. As a result, the valve body 7 leaves the seat surface 62, and the valve hole 61 is opened. That is, in this example, even if the temperature of the fluid in the mixing flow path 25 rises when the valve body 7 is closed, the valve body 7 does not open until the tip surface 87 of the joint 86 comes into contact with the flange 74a. The valve body 7 opens on the condition that the temperature of the fluid in the mixing flow path 25 exceeds a predetermined temperature.

When the valve body 7 opens, the second fluid flows from the second inlet passage 22 through the valve hole 61 into the mixing passage 25. Specifically, the second fluid supplied to the second inlet port 41 is supplied from the first supply passage 24a through the multiple second supply passages 24b to the valve chamber 23, and flows from the valve chamber 23 into the mixing passage 25 through the valve hole 61. The second fluid that flows into the mixing passage 25 is mixed in the mixing passage 25 with the first fluid that flows into the mixing passage 25 from the first inlet passage 21. As a result, a mixed fluid is generated in which the first fluid and the second fluid are mixed. Since the temperature of the second fluid is lower than the temperature of the first fluid, the temperature of the mixed fluid generated in the mixing passage 25 is lower than the temperature of the first fluid. The mixed fluid flows out from the outlet port 33.

The lift amount of the valve body 7 when the valve is opened, i.e., the amount by which the base 71 moves away from the seat surface 62, is adjusted by the actuator 8 according to the temperature of the mixed fluid flowing through the mixing flow channel 25. Specifically, when the valve is opened, the valve body 7 is positioned at a position where the force pressing the valve body 7 toward the seat surface 62 due to the elastic force of the first spring 91 and the pressure of the second fluid received by the pressure-receiving surface 75 of the valve body 7, the force urging the holder 84 toward the second lid 5 due to the elastic force of the second spring 92, and the force pressing the valve body 7 away from the seat surface 62 due to the elastic force of the third spring 93 are balanced.

In more detail, when the temperature of the mixed fluid decreases, the amount of advancement of the rod 83 from the case 81 decreases, and the first spring 91 and the second spring 92 each extend more than the third spring 93. The valve body 7 moves toward the seat surface 62, and the lift amount of the valve body 7 decreases. That is, the opening of the valve hole 61 decreases, and the amount of inflow of the second fluid flowing from the second inlet passage 22 into the mixing flow passage 25 decreases. Conversely, when the temperature of the mixed fluid increases, the lift amount of the valve body 7 increases, and the amount of inflow of the second fluid flowing from the second inlet passage 22 into the mixing flow passage 25 increases. In this way, the amount of inflow of the second fluid flowing into the mixing flow passage 25 is automatically adjusted according to the temperature of the mixed fluid, and a mixed fluid of the desired temperature is generated in the mixing flow passage 25.

When the temperature of the mixed fluid flowing through the mixing flow passage 25 drops below a predetermined temperature when the valve body 7 is open, the valve body 7 seats on the seat surface 62 and closes the valve hole 61. This blocks the flow of the second fluid from the second inlet passage 22 into the mixing flow passage 25.

In the mixing valve 10 described above, the direction of movement of the valve body 7 when it is seated on or removed from the seat surface 62 is a direction that intersects with the seat surface 62. Therefore, the sealing property of the valve body 7 when the valve is closed can be improved. For example, as in the mixing valve shown in Patent Document 1, when the valve body is switched between opening and closing by sliding against the seat surface, which is the inner peripheral surface of the casing, a clearance must be provided between the valve body and the seat surface when the valve is closed to allow the valve body to slide smoothly against the seat surface. Therefore, when the valve body is closed, it is difficult to make the valve body tightly contact the seat surface. However, in the present disclosure, since the direction of movement of the valve body 7 is a direction that intersects with the seat surface 62, the valve body 7 when the valve is closed can be tightly contacted with the seat surface 62, and the gap between the valve body 7 and the seat surface 62 can be appropriately sealed. Therefore, when the valve is closed, water in the second inlet passage 22 can be prevented from leaking from between the valve body 7 and the seat surface 62 toward the valve hole 61.

In addition, the pressure of the second fluid in the second inlet passage 22 acts on the pressure-receiving surface 75 of the valve body 7 in a direction toward the seat surface 62. Therefore, the pressure of the second fluid received by the pressure-receiving surface 75 presses the valve body 7 against the seat surface 62 when the valve is closed, thereby making the valve body 7 adhere closely to the seat surface 62. This further improves the sealing performance of the valve body 7.

Furthermore, the downstream ends of the multiple second supply passages 24b are separated and open at the opposing surface 42 of the casing 2 that faces the pressure-receiving surface 75. Therefore, the pressure of the second fluid can be distributed and applied to the pressure-receiving surface 75. Therefore, the force that the second fluid applies to press the valve body 7 toward the seat surface 62 can be uniformized, and the gap between the valve body 7 and the seat surface 62 can be appropriately sealed.

In addition, the valve body 7 is biased by the first spring 91 in the direction of seating on the seat surface 62. Therefore, when the valve is closed, the valve body 7 can be pressed against the seat surface 62 with a large force, further improving the sealing performance of the valve body 7.

In addition, since each of the first inlet 21 and the outlet 26 is directly connected to the mixing flow path 25, the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the mixing valve 10 can be increased. That is, as in the mixing valve disclosed in Patent Document 1, when each of the first fluid and the second fluid passes through the internal space of a cylindrical valve body arranged in the mixing flow path, the valve body needs to be provided with two through holes: a through hole that connects the hot water inlet to the internal space of the valve body, and a through hole that connects the outlet of the mixing flow path to the internal space of the valve body. In this case, each of the two through holes becomes a flow path with a small flow path cross-sectional area. Therefore, the inflow amount of hot water flowing from the hot water inlet to the mixing flow path and the outflow amount of the fluid flowing out from the mixing flow path to the outlet are reduced. However, the first inflow passage 21 and the outflow passage 26 of the present disclosure are directly connected to the mixing passage 25 without passing through a passage that reduces the cross-sectional area of the passage, so that the inflow amount of the first fluid flowing from the first inflow passage 21 to the mixing passage 25 and the outflow amount of the second fluid flowing from the mixing passage 25 to the outflow passage 26 can be increased. Therefore, the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the mixing valve 10 can be increased.

Moreover, the valve body 7 has a shaft 74 that protrudes from the valve chamber 23 through the valve hole 61 into the mixing flow passage 25 and is connected to the actuator 8. That is, the connecting portion of the valve body 7 that is connected to the actuator 8 is a solid shaft 74 that has a smaller outer diameter than a cylindrical member such as the valve body of Patent Document 1. Therefore, it is possible to increase the flow passage cross-sectional area of the fluid flowing around the shaft 74 in the valve hole 61 and the flow passage cross-sectional area of the fluid flowing around the shaft 74 in the mixing flow passage 25. Therefore, the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the mixing valve 10 can be further increased.

Other Embodiments
As described above, the above embodiment has been described as an example of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. are appropriately performed. In addition, it is also possible to combine the components described in the above embodiment to form a new embodiment. In addition, among the components described in the attached drawings and detailed description, not only components essential for solving the problem but also components that are not essential for solving the problem in order to exemplify the technology may be included. Therefore, the fact that these non-essential components are described in the attached drawings and detailed description should not immediately lead to the determination that these non-essential components are essential.

For example, the technology disclosed herein can also be applied when the second fluid supplied to the second inlet passage 22 is a fluid with a higher temperature than the first fluid supplied to the first inlet passage 21. In this case, the actuator 8 used may be one that moves the valve body 7 in a direction away from the seat surface 62 when the fluid in the mixing passage 25 is at a low temperature. In addition, each of the first fluid and the second fluid may be a fluid other than water.

The shapes, sizes, materials, etc. of the casing 2, main body 3, first lid 4, second lid 5, and valve seat member 6 are not limited. The shapes, sizes, etc. of the first inlet passage 21, second inlet passage 22, mixing passage 25, and valve hole 61 are also not limited. The number of second supply passages 24b that the second inlet passage 22 has is not limited, and may be two, four or more, or one.

The actuator 8 may be, for example, a non-electric actuator other than a thermoelement. Examples of non-electric actuators other than a thermoelement include those that use a bimetal or a shape memory alloy to move the valve body 7 according to the temperature of the fluid flowing through the mixing flow channel 25. The actuator 8 may also be an electric actuator. Examples of electric actuators include those that use a thermistor or a thermocouple to electrically detect the temperature of the fluid flowing through the mixing flow channel 25, and move the valve body 7 by driving a motor based on the detection result. The actuator 8 may also be one that presses the valve body 7 in both the valve opening direction and the valve closing direction to move it. The valve body 7 may also be moved manually using a handle or the like, in which case the actuator 8 can be omitted.

Each of the first spring 91, the second spring 92, and the third spring 93 may be a spring other than a coil spring. Springs other than a coil spring are, for example, leaf springs, disc springs, or spiral springs. Also, instead of each of the first spring 91, the second spring 92, and the third spring 93, an elastic body made of rubber, plastic, metal, or other elastic material may be used. Also, each of the first spring 91, the second spring 92, and the third spring 93 may be omitted depending on the actuator 8 used, etc.

The shape, size, material, etc. of the valve body 7 are not limited. The valve body 7 is not limited to opening and closing the valve hole 61 from the second inlet passage 22 side, but may be opening and closing the valve hole 61 from the mixing flow passage 25 side. In other words, the seat surface 62 faces the mixing flow passage 25, and the valve body 7 may be disposed in the mixing flow passage 25 so as to face this seat surface 62.

The technology disclosed herein can be summarized as follows:

[1] The mixing valve 10 includes a casing 2 having a first inflow passage 21 through which a first fluid flows in, a second inflow passage 22 through which a second fluid having a temperature different from that of the first fluid flows in, a mixing passage 25 through which the first fluid and the second fluid are mixed, and an outflow passage 26 through which the fluid in the mixing passage 25 flows out, a valve seat member 6 disposed at the connection portion between the second inflow passage 22 and the mixing passage 25, and a valve body 7 which seats and leaves the valve seat member 6. The valve seat member 6 has a valve hole 61 which connects the second inflow passage 22 and the mixing passage 25, and a seat surface 62 which surrounds the valve hole 61. The valve body 7 opens and closes the valve hole 61 by moving in a direction intersecting the seat surface 62 and seating and leaving the seat surface 62.

With this configuration, since the direction of movement of the valve body 7 intersects with the seat surface 62, there is no need to provide a clearance between the valve body 7 and the seat surface 62 when the valve is closed to allow the valve body 7 to slide smoothly against the seat surface 62. Therefore, the valve body 7 can be brought into close contact with the seat surface 62 when the valve is closed, and the gap between the valve body 7 and the seat surface 62 can be appropriately sealed. Therefore, when the valve is closed, water in the second inlet passage 22 can be prevented from leaking out from between the valve body 7 and the seat surface 62 toward the valve hole 61, improving the sealing performance of the valve body 7.

[2] In the mixing valve 10 described in [1], the second inlet passage 22 includes a valve chamber 23 that communicates with the valve hole 61 and in which the seat surface 62 is disposed, the valve element 7 is disposed in the valve chamber 23 so as to face the seat surface 62, and the valve element 7 has a pressure-receiving surface 75 that faces away from the seat surface 62 and receives the pressure of the second fluid.

With this configuration, the pressure of the second fluid acts on the pressure-receiving surface 75 in a direction toward the seat surface 62. Therefore, the pressure of the second fluid received by the pressure-receiving surface 75 can press the valve body 7 against the seat surface 62 when the valve is closed, thereby making the valve body 7 tightly attached to the seat surface 62. This further improves the sealing performance of the valve body 7.

[3] In the mixing valve 10 described in [1] or [2], the casing 2 further has an opposing surface 42 that faces the seat surface 62 and divides the valve chamber 23, the valve body 7 is disposed in the valve chamber 23 so that the pressure-receiving surface 75 faces the opposing surface 42, the second inlet passage 22 further includes a plurality of second supply passages 24b (supply passages) that supply the second fluid to the valve chamber 23, and the downstream ends of the plurality of second supply passages 24b each open separately in the opposing surface 42.

This configuration allows the pressure of the second fluid to be distributed and acted on the pressure-receiving surface 75. Therefore, the force that the second fluid exerts on the valve body 7 toward the seat surface 62 can be uniformized, and the gap between the valve body 7 and the seat surface 62 can be appropriately sealed.

[4] The mixing valve 10 according to any one of [1] to [3] further includes a first spring 91 (elastic body) that biases the valve body 7 toward the seat surface 62.

This configuration allows the valve body 7 to be pressed further against the seat surface 62 when the valve is closed, further improving the sealing performance of the valve body 7.

[5] In the mixing valve 10 described in any one of [1] to [4], the first inlet passage 21 and the outlet passage 26 each directly communicate with the mixing passage 25.

With this configuration, there are no flow paths with small flow cross-sectional areas between the mixing flow path 25 and each of the first inflow path 21 and outflow path 26, such as the through holes of the valve body of Patent Document 1. Therefore, it is possible to increase the inflow amount of the first fluid flowing from the first inflow path 21 to the mixing flow path 25 and the outflow amount of the second fluid flowing from the mixing flow path 25 to the outflow path 26. Therefore, it is possible to increase the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the mixing valve 10.

[6] The mixing valve 10 according to any one of [1] to [5] further includes an actuator 8 that moves the valve element 7 in response to the temperature of the fluid flowing through the mixing flow passage 25 to seat and unseat the valve element 7 on the seat surface 62, and the valve element 7 protrudes from the second inlet passage 22 through the valve hole 61 into the mixing flow passage 25 and further includes a shaft 74 connected to the actuator 8.

With this configuration, the connecting portion of the valve body 7 that is connected to the actuator 8 can be a shaft 74 with a smaller outer diameter than a hollow portion such as a cylinder. This makes it possible to increase the flow path cross-sectional area of the fluid flowing around the shaft 74 in the valve hole 61 and the flow path cross-sectional area of the fluid flowing around the shaft 74 in the mixing flow path 25. This makes it possible to increase the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the mixing valve 10.

The technology disclosed herein is useful for mixing valves that mix liquids of different temperatures.

10 Mixing valve 2 Casing 21 First inlet passage 22 Second inlet passage 23 Valve chamber 24b Supply passage (second supply passage)
25 Mixing flow path 26 Outlet path 42 Opposing surface 6 Valve seat member 61 Valve hole 62 Seat surface 7 Valve body 74 Shaft 75 Pressure receiving surface 8 Actuator

Claims (6)

a casing having a first inlet passage into which a first fluid flows, a second inlet passage into which a second fluid having a temperature different from that of the first fluid flows, a mixing passage that mixes the first fluid and the second fluid, and an outlet passage through which the fluid in the mixing passage flows out;
a valve seat member disposed at a connection portion between the second inlet passage and the mixing passage;
a valve body that is seated on and separated from the valve seat member,
the valve seat member has a valve hole that communicates the second inlet passage with the mixing passage, and a seat surface that surrounds the valve hole,
The valve body is a mixing valve that opens and closes the valve hole by moving in a direction intersecting the seat surface and seating on and off the seat surface. The mixing valve according to claim 1,
the second inlet passage includes a valve chamber that communicates with the valve hole and in which the seat surface is disposed,
the valve body is disposed in the valve chamber so as to face the seat surface,
The valve body is a mixing valve having a pressure-receiving surface facing away from the seat surface and receiving the pressure of the second fluid. The mixing valve according to claim 2,
the casing further has an opposing surface opposing the seat surface to define the valve chamber,
the valve body is disposed in the valve chamber such that the pressure-receiving surface faces the opposing surface,
the second inlet passage further includes a plurality of supply passages that supply the second fluid to the valve chamber;
The downstream ends of the plurality of supply passages each have a mixing valve that opens separately on the opposing surface. The mixing valve according to claim 1,
The mixing valve further comprises an elastic body that biases the valve body toward the seat surface. The mixing valve according to claim 1,
The first inlet passage and the outlet passage each directly communicate with the mixing passage. The mixing valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
an actuator for moving the valve body in response to a temperature of a fluid flowing through the mixing flow channel to seat and remove the valve body from the seat surface,
The valve body further includes a shaft that protrudes from the second inlet passage through the valve hole into the mixing passage and is connected to the actuator.

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