JP6684163B2 - Thermoactuator casing structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a casing structure of a thermoactuator, and for example, relates to a casing structure of a thermoactuator which is attached to an engine and causes a driving shaft to move back and forth due to expansion and contraction of wax accompanying temperature change on the engine side.

  There is known a thermoactuator in which a drive shaft advances and retracts when a wax contained in an element case expands and contracts due to a temperature change. Further, it has been conventionally proposed that the thermoactuator is used as a drive source of a shutter (shielding plate) for a radiator of an automobile.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a thermoactuator proposed by the present applicant. This thermoactuator is shown in FIG. 20, and an example of a conventional thermoactuator will be described based on this FIG.
As shown in FIG. 20, the thermo-actuator 100 includes an element case 102 in which a wax 101 is housed, and a support portion 104 that supports the element case 102 on the rear end side and also retains the retainer 103 so that the retainer 103 can move forward and backward. With.
The element case 102 and the support portion 104 are connected by caulking to form a thermoelement 105, and a temperature change is converted into a lift amount (movement amount of the retainer 103) in the thermoelement 105.
The thermoelement 105 (element case 102, support portion 104) is made of, for example, brass.

The retainer 103 surrounds a substantially cylindrical guide portion 106 integrally formed with the support portion 104, and a substantially cylindrical piston 107 is provided in the guide portion 106 in the front-back direction (axial direction). ) Is movably held.
Then, the wax 101 expands and contracts due to the temperature change, so that the diaphragm 108 is deformed. Further, the piston 107 moves back and forth with respect to the guide portion 106 in accordance with the deformation of the diaphragm 108, thereby moving the retainer 103 forward and backward.

  The thermoactuator 100 also includes a shaft 111 that is provided coaxially with the retainer 103 and that projects from the tip side of the retainer 103. The shaft 111 is connected at its tip end to an opening / closing mechanism 120 having a plurality of shield plates 121, moves forward and backward in the axial direction in synchronization with the forward / backward movement of the retainer 103, and interlocks the plurality of shield plates 121. It is configured to rotate (open and close).

Further, a cylindrical casing body 109 is provided around the retainer 103 and the support portion 104 so as to surround them, and the gap space between the retainer 103 and the casing body 109 is expandable and contractible in the axial direction. A return spring 110 is arranged.
The front end of the return spring 110 is seated on the inner front end of the casing body 109, and the rear end of the return spring 110 is fixed to the flange portion 103a projecting outward at the rear end of the retainer 103. The shaft 111 is biased in the backward direction.
That is, the retainer 103 is always biased in the backward direction by the return spring 110, but the return spring 110 is contracted when the retainer 103 advances with respect to the thermoelement 105.
A ring-shaped packing 112 is provided in the opening 109e on the front end side of the casing main body 109 to seal the inside of the casing main body 109 regardless of the forward / backward movement of the retainer 103.

Further, the casing main body 109 has the casing portion 109a that covers the retainer 103 and the support portion 104 as described above, and the flange 109b that annularly expands outward from the rear end of the casing portion 109a. The flange 109b is provided with a through hole 109c used for screwing.
In addition, the front portion of the support portion 104 is press-fitted and connected to the casing portion 109a through an opening 109d on the rear end side, and the vicinity of the opening 109d projects outward from the peripheral surface of the support portion 104. The collar portion 104a is in contact with one surface side (front surface).

To attach the thermo-actuator 100 to the engine, first, the rear portion of the element case 102 and the support portion 104 supporting the element case 102 is inserted into a housing hole (not shown) formed in the engine. Further, the casing body 109 is fixed to the engine by using a screw (not shown) inserted in the through hole 109c while the flange portion 104a of the support portion 104 is pressed to the engine side by the flange 109b of the casing body 109. .
By mounting the thermo-actuator 100 on the engine in this way, the shaft 111 can be advanced or retracted by the expansion and contraction of the wax due to the temperature change on the engine side, and for example, the opening / closing operation of the shield plate for ventilation control can be realized. .

JP, 2005-105645, A

By the way, stainless steel (SUS) is generally used for the casing body. However, since the casing body is subjected to so-called deep drawing, equipment for processing is required, which may increase the cost.
Further, the support portion is fixed by press-fitting the end portion of the support portion into the casing body. Therefore, depending on the initial press-fitting state, the press-fitting between the support portion and the casing body may be loosened due to vibration or the like, and it has been difficult to secure the sealing property inside the casing body.
Further, in order to press-fit the end portion of the support portion into the casing body, it is necessary to make the inner diameter dimension of the opening of the casing body highly accurate. However, since the casing body is deep-drawn, there is a technical problem that it is difficult to machine the inside diameter of the opening of the casing body with high accuracy.

  In order to solve the above technical problems, the present inventors first examined manufacturing the casing body by molding with a synthetic resin. As a result, by molding the casing body with a synthetic resin, it is not necessary to perform so-called deep-drawing processing, no equipment for the processing is required, and it is possible to reduce the cost. did.

On the other hand, when a casing body made of synthetic resin is used, it has been found that there are the following technical problems.
Even when the casing body made of synthetic resin is used, similarly to the case where the casing body made of stainless steel (SUS) is used, when the end portion of the supporting portion is press-fitted into the casing body, it is supported by vibration or the like. There is a fear that the press-fitting of the portion and the casing body is loosened, and it becomes difficult to secure the sealing performance inside the casing body.
Further, in order to press-fit the end portion of the support portion into the casing body, it is necessary to make the inner diameter dimension of the opening of the casing body highly accurate.

  Furthermore, when the end portion of the support portion is press-fitted into the casing body made of synthetic resin, the inner diameter of the opening of the casing body may expand, and cracks may occur near the opening of the casing body.

  Also, unless the front part of the support part is placed (press-fitted) in an accurate position with respect to the casing body, in a casing in which the casing body and the flange are integrally molded with a synthetic resin, the casing body-flange connection part (joint part) is formed. ), An external force may be applied to it, and the connecting portion (coupling portion) may be damaged. That is, when the front portion of the support portion is inclined with respect to the casing body, a force acts on the connecting portion (joining portion) between the casing body and the flange due to the forward / backward movement of the retainer, and the connecting portion (Coupling part) may be damaged.

In addition, since the support portion of the thermoelement is usually formed by cutting with brass, the cost increases as the diameter increases.
In particular, when the support portion is press-fitted and fixed to the casing body as in the conventional technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the flange portion with which the casing body contacts must be formed in the support portion. Due to the formation of the collar portion, the diameter becomes larger and the cost becomes higher. Moreover, the number of parts to be cut is large and the amount of waste material increases, which is not preferable in terms of cost.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the casing main body is made of synthetic resin, and the casing main body is fixed to the support portion of the thermoelement by a locking means including a stop ring or the like, so that the casing main body is made of resin. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a casing structure of a thermo-actuator, which solves the above-mentioned problems and can easily and surely fix the casing main body to the support portion of the thermo-element, and can also reduce the product cost.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a casing structure of a thermoactuator according to the present invention is a casing structure of a thermoactuator containing a wax that expands or contracts due to temperature change, and an element case containing the wax and the element. A thermoelement having at least a supporting portion for supporting a case and a retainer that moves up and down with respect to the supporting portion, a tubular casing main body made of synthetic resin that covers at least the retainer of the thermoelement, and the thermoelement as the casing. In a state of being covered with the main body, a first groove portion formed in the casing main body or an integrally molded product thereof and a locking member mounted along the second groove portion formed in the thermoelement are provided, and the first groove portion is provided. The locking portion along the groove and the second groove By mounting a said casing body and said thermoelement, characterized in that it is coupled through the locking member.

  In this case, in one preferable mode, a flange for fastening the thermoactuator to a mounted portion is integrally resin-molded at the base end portion of the casing body, and the locking member can be inserted into the flange. A groove-shaped window hole is formed, the window hole constitutes the first groove portion, and the second groove portion of the thermoelement is arranged in the window hole.

  In another preferred embodiment, a groove-shaped window hole into which the locking member can be inserted is formed in the base end portion of the casing body, and the window hole constitutes the first groove portion. And a flange configured to locate the second groove portion of the thermoelement in the window hole and fastening the thermoactuator to the mounted portion is formed as a member different from the casing body. The configuration attached to is adopted.

  The locking member mounted along the first groove portion and the second groove portion is composed of a stop ring formed by bending a wire rod into a U shape, and the bent center portion of the stop ring is located in the first groove portion. The casing main body and the thermoelement are coupled to each other through the stop ring by inserting a pair of bent legs that follow the bent center into the second groove.

  Further, in another preferable mode of the thermoactuator casing structure according to the present invention, the locking member mounted along the first groove portion and the second groove portion fastens the thermoactuator to a mounted portion. Which is a flange, wherein the cut bottom side in the U-shaped cut groove formed in the flange is inserted into the first groove portion, and the opposite cut side edges following the cut bottom side are inserted into the second groove portion, and A flange is configured to connect the casing body and the thermoelement.

  In this case, preferably, upright pieces that elastically deform in a direction orthogonal to the plane are formed on the opposite cut sides of the U-shaped cut groove formed in the flange, and the upright pieces are formed in the second groove portions. By abutting, it is configured to suppress rattling between the casing body and the thermoelement and the flange.

On the other hand, a support surface that surrounds the support portion of the thermoelement is formed on the inner diameter of the base end portion of the casing body, and a rib portion that projects toward the axis is intermittently formed along the circumference on the support surface. It is desirable that they are formed in a uniform manner.
In addition, it is desirable that the support portion of the thermoelement that is in contact with the support surface be a tapered surface that increases in outer diameter toward the element case.

  According to the above-described thermoactuator casing structure of the present invention, since the casing body is molded of synthetic resin, it is not necessary to perform so-called deep drawing unlike the conventional metal casing. It is possible to realize cost reduction, including the equipment.

  Further, since the first groove portion on the casing body side and the second groove portion on the thermoelement side are used to connect the both by the locking member, the thermoelement side described in the above-mentioned conventional configuration is provided. It is not necessary to dispose a collar portion larger than the inner diameter of the casing, and the outer diameter of the thermoelement can be reduced. As a result, further cost reduction and weight reduction can be realized, and the amount of waste material can be reduced.

  Further, since the structure in which the casing body and the thermoelement are coupled by the locking member utilizing the first groove portion and the second groove portion is adopted, for example, by attaching or detaching a stop ring formed by bending a wire rod, or by using a U-shape. By attaching and detaching the flange provided with the cut groove, the coupling and releasing operations of the both are realized, and the operation can be easily performed.

It is the perspective view which showed the whole structure about 1st Embodiment of a thermo actuator. It is a perspective view which similarly showed a state where a part of casing was fractured. It is a principal part enlarged view of the casing seen from the base end part side. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the thermo-actuator. It is an expanded sectional view seen from the AA line in FIG. 4 in the arrow direction. It is the front view shown in the state where the front side of the casing was fractured about the 2nd embodiment of a thermoactuator. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the thermoactuator shown in FIG. 6 is attached to a mounted portion (engine). It is a top view of the thermo actuator shown in FIG. It is a perspective view showing the single composition of the flange used for a 2nd embodiment. It is the perspective view shown in the state where the front side of the casing was fractured about the 3rd embodiment of a thermoactuator. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a flange is attached to the thermoactuator shown in FIG. 10. It is sectional drawing of a thermo actuator which shows the state cut | disconnected in the direction orthogonal to an axis | shaft in the mounting position of a flange. It is the front view which showed the single-piece | unit structure of the flange used for 3rd Embodiment. It is the perspective view which showed the state which attaches the flange about 4th Embodiment of a thermo actuator. It is the perspective view which expanded and showed the principal part in the mounting state of the flange about the thermo actuator shown in FIG. It is the front view shown in the state where the front side of the casing was fractured about the 5th embodiment of a thermoactuator. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a state slightly obliquely above the state shown in FIG. 16. It is the front view shown in the state where the front side of the casing was fractured about the 6th embodiment of a thermoactuator. FIG. 19 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the thermoactuator shown in FIG. 18 is attached to a mounted portion. It is sectional drawing which shows the example of the conventional thermo actuator.

Hereinafter, the casing structure of the thermoactuator according to the present invention will be described in order based on each embodiment shown in the drawings.
In each drawing shown below, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, but in some of the drawings, reference numerals are attached to representative portions, and detailed configurations thereof are the same as those in other drawings. It may be quoted for explanation.
Further, the thermoactuator described below is attached to an engine of an automobile as an attached portion, and is used as a drive source of a shield plate for opening and closing a ventilation passage of a radiator as shown in Patent Document 1 as a preferable example. It

  First, FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a flange is formed of synthetic resin integrally with a tubular casing body that covers a retainer of a thermoelement. The structure in which the thermoelement and the casing main body are coupled by using a locking member formed of a stop ring is adopted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a thermoactuator 1 includes a thermoelement 10 containing a wax that expands or contracts due to a temperature change, and a casing body 20 formed of a synthetic resin covering a retainer 19 portion of the thermoelement 10. And a stop ring 40 as a locking member for connecting the thermoelement 10 and the casing body 20. In the first embodiment, the flange 30 for fastening the thermoactuator 1 to the engine is resin-molded integrally with the casing body 20 at the base end of the casing body 20.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the thermoelement 10 is provided with a cylindrical support portion 11 near the lower bottom portion, and the support portion 11 has the largest diameter in the thermoelement 10. Constitutes a large diameter part.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an element case 13 for accommodating the wax 12, which is a thermal expansion body, is attached to the support portion 11 below the support portion 11 by caulking. . A diaphragm 15 that transmits the expansion and contraction of the wax 12 to the upper semi-fluid body 14 is provided between the support portion 11 and the element case 13.

  A rubber piston 16 and a backup plate 17 to which the response of the diaphragm 15 is transmitted via the semi-fluid body 14 are housed in the shaft cylinder of the thermoelement 10, and the backup plate 17 uses a metal piston 18 as a shaft. It is configured to reciprocate in the direction. The tip end of the piston 18 is connected to the retainer 19 described above, and the connecting actuator 19b is moved in the axial direction via a drive shaft 19a integrally formed on the retainer 19. It is configured.

The cylindrical support portion 11 of the thermoelement 10 forms a large diameter portion having the largest diameter in the thermoelement 10 as described above, and an annular groove is formed immediately below the large diameter portion (support portion 11). Is formed and the first O-ring 3 is attached along the annular groove. The first O-ring 3 functions as a packing that maintains airtightness with the engine when the thermoactuator 1 is attached to the engine.
An annular groove is formed just above the large diameter portion (support portion 11), and the second O-ring 4 is attached along the annular groove. The second O-ring 4 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the casing body 20 and functions as a packing.

  In addition, an opening 20a through which the retainer 19 projects is formed at the upper end of the casing body 20, and a packing 5 is arranged in the opening 20a so as to surround the retainer 19. The packing 5 is a packing holder. It is held down by 6. The packing 5 ensures a seal between the retainer 19 and the casing body 20.

A return spring (coil spring) 7 which is axially expandable and contractible is arranged in a clearance space between the retainer 19 and the casing body 20.
The upper end portion of the return spring 7 is seated on the lower surface of the packing holder 6, and the lower end portion is seated on the collar portion 19c formed on the peripheral side surface of the end portion of the retainer 19. The return spring 7 is repulsive by its repulsive force. The retainer 19 is biased in a direction toward the inside of the casing body 20.
That is, when the wax 12 of the thermoelement 10 is thermally expanded, the retainer 19 contracts the return spring 7 and advances, so that the shaft 19 a and the actuator 19 b are projected from the casing body 20. Further, when the wax 12 contracts, the retainer 19 retracts due to the action of the return spring 7.

On the other hand, a flange 30 extending in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the casing body 20 is resin-molded integrally with the casing body 20 at the base end portion of the casing body 20.
Fastening portions are formed on the flange 30 so as to be axially symmetrical to the left and right, and each fastening portion is provided with an opening 30a, and each opening 30a has a metal sleeve 31 formed in a ring shape. Is fitted and attached. That is, the central portion of the ring-shaped sleeve 31 serves as a sleeve opening 31a for screwing the flange 30 to the engine. The sleeve 31 functions as a mechanical reinforcing member when the flange 30 made of resin is screwed.

Then, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the support portion 11 of the thermoelement 10 is encircled and bent in the central portion of the flange 30 integrally resin-molded on the base end portion of the casing body 20. A support surface 30b to which the thermoelement 10 is attached is formed. Further, rib portions 30c that slightly project toward the shaft center are intermittently formed along the circumference on the support surface 30b.
In this case, when the support portion 11 of the thermoelement 10 made of metal having different hardness is press-fitted into the resin-made support surface 30b, if the entire circumferential surface of the support surface 30b is used as the press-fitted surface, the inner diameter of the casing body 20 is expanded, Although cracks may occur, resin cracks can be prevented by providing the rib portion 30c.

Further, the support portion 11 of the thermoelement 10 that is in contact with the support surface 30b is formed into a tapered surface whose outer diameter increases toward the element case 13.
That is, the support portion 11 of the thermoelement 10 is formed so that the diameter d1 on the retainer 19 side and the diameter d2 on the element case 13 side have a relationship of d1 <d2 as shown in FIG.
The said support 11 by a tapered surface so as, when press-fitting the supporting portion 11 on the supporting surface 30b, allows centering of the shaft, the axial deviation and inclination can be minimized.

On the other hand, a groove-shaped window hole 32 is formed in the flange 30 along the surface of the flange 30, so that the stop ring 40 as a locking member can be inserted into the groove-shaped window hole 32. It is configured.
An annular groove 11a is formed in the support portion 11 of the thermoelement 10 located in the groove-shaped window hole 32 along the circumferential direction as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The stop ring 40 is mounted along the first groove portion and the second groove portion by using the groove-shaped window hole 32 as the first groove portion and the annular groove 11a formed in the support portion 11 as the second groove portion. As a result, the thermoelement 10 and the casing body 20 are joined together.

  FIG. 5 shows the structure of the stop ring 40, which is formed, for example, by bending a metal wire (for example, a piano wire) into a substantially U-shape. That is, in the stop ring 40, a pair of bent leg portions 40b are formed so as to be curved outward from each other following the U-shaped bent central portion 40a. Further, the tip ends of the leg portions 40b are formed outwardly on both sides so as to have a V shape, and constitute a guide portion 40c.

As shown in FIG. 5, the stop ring 40 is inserted into the groove-shaped window 32 formed in the flange 30. In this case, the guide portion 40c formed in the V shape is used to insert the guide portion 40c so as to straddle the columnar connecting portion 20b formed in the casing body 20.
As a result, the pair of bent leg portions 40b of the stop ring 40 that are curved outwardly are inserted into the annular groove (second groove portion) 11a formed in the support portion 11 of the thermoelement 10. The thermo element 10 and the casing main body 20 are joined by the bent central portion 40a of the stop ring 40 and the guide portion 40c at the tip being located in the groove-shaped window hole (first groove portion) 32.

In this combined state, as shown in FIG. 5, since the stop ring 40 is stored in the groove-shaped window hole 32 formed in the flange 30, it is not necessary to change the size of the product itself, and the actual machine is not necessary. It does not affect the layout of peripheral components in.
In addition, the thermoactuator 1 is fastened to a predetermined position of the engine by using the flange 30 in a state where the thermoelement 10 and the casing body 20 are coupled, so that the thermoactuator 1 is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In addition, it can be used as a drive source of the shield plate for opening and closing the ventilation passage of the radiator.

  According to the above-described first embodiment, the flange 30 for fastening the thermoactuator 1 to the engine is resin-molded integrally with the casing body 20, which can contribute to reducing the number of parts.

6 to 9 show a second embodiment. In FIGS. 6 to 9, the same reference numerals are given to the main parts corresponding to the respective parts in the first embodiment already described. There is. Therefore, the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.
In the second embodiment, a groove-shaped window hole 32 into which the stop ring 40 as a locking member can be inserted is formed in the base end portion of the casing body 20, and the thermoactuator 1 is attached to a mounted portion (engine. The flange 30 to be fastened to E) is formed by a member different from the casing body 20 and is attached to the thermoelement 10.

  That is, in the second embodiment, the flange 30 is made of a metal material that is a separate member with respect to the casing body 20 that is molded of synthetic resin, and the flange 30 made of the metal material is shown in FIG. As shown by, a fitting hole 34 for fitting the thermoelement 10 is formed in the central portion.

The fitting hole 34 is formed with a small bent portion 34a in the axial direction along the fitting hole 34. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the bent portion 34a faces downward. Then, it is attached to the thermoelement 10 directly below the supporting portion 11 using the fitting hole 34.
The flange 30 is formed with screw insertion openings 35 at axially symmetric positions. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a fastening screw 45 inserted into the opening 35 is used. The thermo-actuator 1 is fastened to the engine E as a mounted portion.

The structure of the thermoelement 10 in the second embodiment is the same as that used in the first embodiment. Further, the resin-molded flange 30 in the first embodiment is removed, and a groove-shaped window hole 32 similar to the example shown in FIG. 5 is formed in the base end portion of the casing body 20.
Thereby, the thermoelement 10 and the casing main body 20 are connected by the stop ring 40, and the configuration thereof is the same as that of the first embodiment.

10 to 13 show the third embodiment, and in FIGS. 10 to 13, the same reference numerals are given to the main parts corresponding to the respective parts in the first and second embodiments already described. Is shown. Therefore, the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.
In the third embodiment, the flange 30 that fastens the thermoactuator 1 to the engine E is used as a locking member that joins the casing body 20 and the thermoelement 10.

That is, the flange 30 used in the third embodiment is made of a metal material and has a U-shaped cut groove 36 as shown in FIG.
Then, the cut bottom 36a of the U-shaped cut groove 36 formed in the flange 30 is inserted into the groove-shaped window hole (first groove portion) 32 formed in the casing body 20, and is opposed to the cut bottom 36a. The cut side 36b is inserted into the annular groove (second groove) 11a of the supporting portion 11 of the thermoelement 10.

Accordingly, the casing body 20 and the thermoelement 10 are coupled by the flange 30.
The flange 30 is formed with screw insertion openings 35 at axially symmetrical positions. As shown in FIG. 10, the fastening screw 45 inserted into the opening 35 is used to make a thermoactuator. 1 is fastened to an engine E as a mounted portion.

The structure of the thermoelement 10 in the third embodiment is the same as that used in the first embodiment.
Then, in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, by sliding the flange 30 in the arrow B direction, the casing body 20 and the thermoelement 10 are coupled, and the flange 30 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow B direction. The casing body 20 and the thermoelement 10 can be separated by sliding.

  According to the third embodiment, since the flange 30 is used as a locking member between the casing body 20 and the thermoelement 10, the number of parts can be reduced, and the casing body 20 and the thermoelement 10 can be reduced. The operability of the locking operation and the unlocking operation can be improved.

14 and 15 show a fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the main parts corresponding to the respective parts in the embodiments already described. . Therefore, the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.
The fourth embodiment is an improvement of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, and the cuts facing each other of the U-shaped cut grooves 36 formed in the metal flange 30. A standing piece 36c that is elastically deformed in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the flange 30 is formed on the side edge 36b.

According to the flange 30 having the above-described structure, when the flange 30 is slid and attached to the casing body 20 and the thermoelement 10 as shown in FIG. 15, the standing piece 36c formed on the flange 30 is The thermoelement 10 axially comes into contact with the annular groove (second groove portion) 11a of the support portion 11. As a result, rattling between the casing body 20 and the thermoelement 10 and the flange 30 can be effectively suppressed.
The structure of the thermoelement 10 in the fourth embodiment is the same as that used in the first embodiment.

16 and 17 show a fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the main parts corresponding to the respective parts in the embodiments already described. . Therefore, the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.
In the fifth embodiment, the upper and lower surfaces of the flange 30 are inverted and attached to the thermoelement 10 as compared with the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 9.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the axially bent portion 34a formed in the fitting hole 34 of the flange 30 has a groove-shaped window hole 32 in which the stop ring 40 is accommodated. Is attached to the support portion 11 of the thermoelement 10.
Further, in the fifth embodiment, a disc-shaped collar portion 22 is formed immediately below the support portion 11 of the thermoelement 10, and the collar portion 22 is in contact with the surface of the flange 30.

  According to the fifth embodiment, the axially bent portion 34a formed on the flange 30 closes the groove-shaped window hole 32 in which the stop ring 40 is accommodated, and the flange 30 is located on the thermoelement 10 side. Since it is in contact with the disc-shaped flange portion 22, it is possible to effectively prevent the flange 30 from coming off from the thermoelement 10.

18 and 19 show a sixth embodiment. In the sixth embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the main parts corresponding to the respective parts in the embodiments already described. . Therefore, the description thereof will be appropriately omitted.
In the sixth embodiment, similarly to the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the axial bending portion 34a formed in the fitting hole 34 of the flange 30 is directed upward. It is attached to the thermoelement 10.

  Further, in this example, the axially bent portion 34a of the flange 30 is sandwiched between the base end portion of the casing body 20 and the disk-shaped flange portion 22 on the thermoelement 10 side. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the flange 30 from falling off from the thermoelement 10.

As described above, according to the casing structure of the thermo-actuator according to the present invention, in addition to the common operation and effect as described in the section of the effect of the present invention, each of the description has been made corresponding to each embodiment. The effect of can be obtained.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the engine is described as an example of the attached portion of the thermoactuator, but the attached portion is not particularly limited and may be any desired object to be temperature-sensitive. That is, the casing structure of the thermoactuator of the present invention is not limited to the attached portion, and thus can be applied to various conventional thermoactuators.

1 Thermo actuator 7 Return spring (spring)
10 Thermo Element 11 Supporting Part 11a Annular Groove (Second Groove)
13 Element case 15 Diaphragm 18 Piston 19 Retainer 19a Shaft 19b Actuator 19c Collar part 20 Casing body 20a Opening 20b Connecting part 22 Collar part 30 Flange 30a Flange opening 30b Supporting surface 30c Rib part 31 Sleeve 31a Slot opening 32 (First groove part)
34 Fitting hole 34a Bent part 35 Screw insertion opening 36 Notch groove 36a Notch bottom side 36b Notch side 36c Standing piece 40 Stop ring (locking member)
40a Bending center part 40b Bending leg part 40c Guide part 45 Fastening screw E Engine (attached part)

Claims (8)

A casing structure for a thermoactuator containing a wax that expands or contracts according to a temperature change,
A thermoelement comprising at least an element case accommodating the wax, a support portion that supports the element case, and a retainer that moves up and down with respect to the support portion,
A tubular casing body made of synthetic resin that covers at least the retainer of the thermoelement,
A first groove portion formed in the casing body or an integrally molded product thereof, and a locking member mounted along the second groove portion formed in the thermoelement in a state where the thermoelement is covered with the casing body;
Is provided, and the casing body and the thermoelement are coupled via the locking member by mounting the locking member along the first groove portion and the second groove portion. Casing structure for thermo actuator.   A flange for fastening the thermoactuator to a mounted portion is integrally resin-molded at a base end portion of the casing body, and a groove-shaped window hole into which the locking member can be inserted is formed in the flange. At the same time, the casing structure of the thermo-actuator according to claim 1, wherein the window hole constitutes the first groove portion, and the second groove portion of the thermoelement is located in the window hole.   A groove-shaped window hole into which the locking member can be inserted is formed at the base end portion of the casing body, and the window hole constitutes the first groove portion, and the thermoelement is provided in the window hole. A flange configured so that the second groove portion is located and for fastening the thermoactuator to a mounted portion is formed as a member separate from the casing body, and is attached to the thermoelement. Item 2. A thermoactuator casing structure according to Item 1.   The locking member mounted along the first groove portion and the second groove portion is composed of a stop ring formed by bending a wire into a U-shape, and the bent center portion of the stop ring is located in the first groove portion, and The casing structure of the thermo-actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a pair of bent leg portions following the bent center portion are inserted into the second groove portion.   The locking member mounted along the first groove portion and the second groove portion is a flange that fastens the thermoactuator to a mounted portion, and a cut bottom of a U-shaped cut groove formed in the flange is 2. The flange, which is inserted into the first groove portion, and which is opposite to the cut bottom edge and which follows the cut bottom edge, is inserted into the second groove portion, so that the flange connects the casing body and the thermoelement. Alternatively, the thermoactuator casing structure according to claim 3.   On opposing cut sides of the U-shaped cut groove formed in the flange, standing pieces that elastically deform in a direction orthogonal to the surface are formed, and the standing pieces abut the second groove portion, The casing structure for the thermo-actuator according to claim 5, wherein rattling between the casing body, the thermo-element and the flange is suppressed.   A support surface that surrounds and flexes the support portion of the thermoelement is formed on the inner diameter of the base end portion of the casing body, and a rib portion that projects toward the axis is intermittently formed along the circumference on the support surface. It is formed, The casing structure of the thermoactuator of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. The casing structure of the thermo-actuator according to claim 7 , wherein the supporting portion of the thermo-element which is in contact with the supporting surface is formed into a tapered surface whose outer diameter increases toward the element case.

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