JPH10185364A - Multi-port type valve device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-port valve device in which its structure is simple, the number of component elements is less, their assembling work can be easily and simply carried out, realiability in operation and productivity can be improved and a cost of the device can be reduced as much as possible. SOLUTION: This multi-port valve device is constructed such that each of spool-type first piston 40 and spool-type second piston 70 is slidably fitted and inserted to perform a selective opening or closing of many fluid flowing-in or flowing-out ports 1 to 4. The first piston 40 is provided with a first solenoid valve 30 which can be selectively moved between its forward position and its retracted position and the second piston 70 is provided with a second solenoid valve 60 which can be selectively moved between its forward position and its retracted position, resulting in that an entire assembly is assembled into one block-like device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-port valve unit which is assembled as a whole to selectively open and close a plurality of fluid inlet / outlet ports. The present invention relates to a valve incorporating a function required for a refrigeration cycle, for example, a function equivalent to a four-way valve, a two-way valve, a check valve, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 shows an example of a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner 100 which can be operated in heating, dehumidifying and cooling modes. In addition, the part 20 shown by the one-dot chain line in the figure shows the functional range of the multi-port valve unit of one embodiment of the present invention described later, and does not directly participate in the refrigeration cycle described below.

In the illustrated refrigeration cycle, (1) during a heating operation, as shown by a solid line arrow, a compressor 11
The high-pressure refrigerant discharged from 0 is guided to the indoor condenser 112 of the indoor unit 111 via the four-way valve 122, and is introduced from the indoor condenser 112 to the gas-liquid separator 114 via the check valve 132 and the pressure control valve 113. Then, the low-pressure refrigerant guided from the gas-liquid separator 114 to the expansion valve 116 and reduced in pressure is passed through the check valve 127 to the outdoor heat exchanger 118.
Is returned to the suction side of the compressor 110 via a solenoid valve (two-way valve) 124.

(2) During the dehumidifying operation, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 110 is introduced to the indoor condenser 112 through the four-way valve 122, as indicated by the two-dot chain line arrow, as in the heating operation. Then, the low-pressure refrigerant introduced from the indoor condenser 112 to the gas-liquid separator 114 via the check valve 132 and the pressure control valve 113 is introduced from the gas-liquid separator 114 to the expansion valve 116 and decompressed. Guided to the indoor evaporator 115 via a valve (two-way valve) 126,
From the evaporator 115, it is returned to the suction side of the compressor 110.

(3) During the cooling operation, the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 110 is guided to the outdoor heat exchanger 118 through the four-way valve 122, as indicated by the dashed arrow, and the outdoor heat exchanger 118 Check valve 131 and pressure control valve 11
3, the refrigerant is introduced into the gas-liquid separator 114, and from the gas-liquid separator 114 is guided to the expansion valve 116, and the low-pressure refrigerant decompressed is guided to the indoor evaporator 115 via the electromagnetic valve 126, and the evaporator 115 From the compressor 110 to the suction side.

[0006]

In the air conditioner 100 having a refrigeration cycle having such a configuration, a large number of valves (113, 116, 122, 124, 126, 1) are provided in a piping system.
27, 128, 131, and 132), and each device (110, 112, 115, 114, 11)
8) and a large number of pipe passage members are required to connect between the valves and between the valves. As a result, the layout of each member is severely restricted, and the occupied space is disliked. There is a problem in that the number of parts is large and a large amount of labor is required for connecting and assembling the respective members, and the productivity is low and the device cost is high. In order to solve such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No.
An air conditioner has been proposed in which the four-way valve, the two-way valve, the check valve and the like are built in a massive member, a large number of refrigerant inlet / outlet ports are formed in the massive member, and the massive member is incorporated as a piping unit. ing.

However, the block member disclosed in the above publication has a structure in which the valves such as the four-way valve, the two-way valve and the check valve are individually incorporated, and the pilot member is provided outside the block member. Since a valve or the like is required, the structure is complicated, the number of parts is large, and the assembling work may be troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to simplify the structure, to reduce the number of parts, to make the assembling work simple and easy, and to improve the reliability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-port valve unit capable of improving productivity and reducing device cost.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a multi-port valve unit according to the present invention basically comprises:
A required number of fluid inlet / outlet ports are formed in a predetermined arrangement, and a spool-type first piston and a second piston are slidably fitted to selectively open and close the fluid inlet / outlet ports. And a first solenoid valve is provided for selectively setting the first piston between a forward position and a retracted position, and the second piston is selectively selected between a forward position and a retracted position. To this end, a second solenoid valve is provided so as to be assembled as a whole.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first solenoid valve selectively discharges one of a first pressure and a second pressure acting on a back side and a front side of the first piston. Then, the passage is switched so that the first piston slides by the other of them, and the second solenoid valve changes the operating pressure obtained from the first piston side to the second piston. The passage is switched to selectively supply one of the front side and the back side of the piston to slide the second piston.

In the multi-port valve unit according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, for example, the main components such as a four-way valve, a two-way valve, a check valve and the like required for a refrigeration cycle are not incorporated. Although it has a very simple structure with only a pair of pistons and an electromagnetic valve, a small number of parts and an easy assembly operation, almost all valve functions of each valve are incorporated, and the refrigeration cycle etc. The required switching of pipes, passages and ports in the above can be appropriately performed in the unit.

Therefore, by incorporating it into a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner, for example, the number of piping passage members in the air conditioner can be reduced, and the occupied space can be reduced.
The reliability and productivity can be improved, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of the multiport valve unit according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG. It is BB arrow sectional drawing.

The multi-port valve unit 20 of the present embodiment
It is incorporated in a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner, and has a function of each valve within a range surrounded by a dashed line in the refrigeration cycle shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multi-port valve unit 20 of the present embodiment includes the first solenoid valve 30 and the second solenoid valve 60 on the front side of the rectangular parallelepiped base 20B. The valve portion 20A is connected to the bolts 26, 26,
, And a flange portion 20C is integrally attached to the rear surface side of the base portion 20B via a packing 24 by bolts 26, 26,.

The left half of the base portion 20B is a high-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet 21 through which high-pressure refrigerant is allowed to enter and exit, and a high-pressure side piston 40 described later is slidably inserted into the high-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet 21. Is formed along the front-rear direction, and the right half of the base portion 20B is a low-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet 22 through which low-pressure refrigerant can enter and exit. The low-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet 22 will be described later. Low pressure side piston 70
Are inserted in a slidable manner. A cylindrical insertion hole 16 having a diameter larger than that of the high-pressure side insertion hole 15 extends in parallel in parallel in the front-rear direction with a partition wall 17 separated from the insertion portion 15. Has been drilled.

The base portion 20B, the valve portion 20A, the flange portion 20C, and the pistons 40 and 70 are made of aluminum, and the fitting holes 15 and 16 (piston sliding surfaces) of the base portion 20B have alumite and pistons. The surfaces 15 and 16 are each subjected to a nickel-boron alloy plating surface treatment as a measure against galling and abrasion. The base 20
On the surface of B and on both left and right side portions, screw holes 28, 28,... For mounting bolts used for assembling into an air conditioner or the like are formed. Plugs 29, 29,... For closing one end of perforated openings of internal passages 56, 57, 58, 86, 87, 88 described later are mounted on the outer periphery of the valve portion 20A.

On the left side (see FIG. 2) of the base portion 20B, a high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 1 and a high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 2 are provided at a rear side and a front side at predetermined intervals along the front-rear direction. Are formed so as to reach the fitting hole 15, and the right side surface of the base portion 20B is provided with a low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 3 on the front side and the rear side at a predetermined interval along the front-rear direction. The refrigerant introduction port 4 is provided in the fitting hole 1
6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the front surface (upper surface) of the high-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet 21 of the base 20B is spaced from the rear side to the front side at predetermined intervals along the front-rear direction. , High-pressure refrigerant outlet port 5, high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 7, high-pressure refrigerant inlet port 6, and high-pressure refrigerant inlet port 8
Is formed so as to reach the insertion hole 15, and the base portion 2 is formed.
As shown in FIG. 4, the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 1 is sequentially arranged from the rear side to the front side at a predetermined interval along the front-rear direction on the surface (upper surface) of the low-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet 22 at 0B.
0, low pressure refrigerant outlet port 12, low pressure refrigerant introduction port 9,
The low pressure refrigerant introduction port 11 is formed so as to reach the fitting hole 16. The diameter of the low-pressure refrigerant introduction ports 9 and 11 is increased by the low-pressure refrigerant outlet ports 10 and 12. As described above, the fluid inlet / outlet ports 1 to 12 are formed in the base portion 20B in an arrangement such that they reach the fitting holes 15 and 16 at a predetermined interval.

The high-pressure side piston 40 inserted into the insertion hole 15 of the high-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet 21 sequentially includes a front land 41 for opening and closing the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 8 from the front side to the rear side. A front annular groove portion 42 connected to the refrigerant outlet port 2, a central land portion 43 for selectively opening and closing the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 6 and the high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 7, a rear annular groove portion 44 connected to the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 1, and A rear land portion 45 for opening and closing the high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 5 is formed, and a piston ring 49 is externally fitted to each of the land portions 41, 43, and 45.

The high-pressure side piston 40 is constantly urged rearward by a coil spring 50 compressed between a front land portion 41 and the valve portion 20A. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG.
8), the front land 4
1 closes the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 8, the central land 43 opens the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 6 and closes the high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 7, and the rear land 45 opens the high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 5. At this time,
The high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 6 and the high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 5 are respectively connected to the front annular groove 42 and the rear annular groove 4.
4 through the high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 2 and the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 1.

On the other hand, when the high pressure side piston 40 is in the forward position (position shown in FIG. 9 described later), the front side land portion 41 opens the high pressure refrigerant introduction port 8 and the central land portion 43 is High pressure refrigerant introduction port 6
Is closed to open the high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 7, and the rear land portion 45 closes the high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 5. At this time, the high-pressure refrigerant inlet port 8 and the high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 7 are respectively connected to the front side. The high-pressure refrigerant outlet port 2 and the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 1 communicate with each other through an annular groove 42 and the rear annular groove 44.

On the other hand, the insertion hole 1 of the low-pressure refrigerant
As shown in FIG. 6B in addition to FIGS. 2 and 4, the low-pressure side piston 70 inserted into the front side 6 sequentially opens and closes the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 11 from the front side to the rear side. A land portion 71, a front annular groove portion 72 connected to the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 3, a central land portion 73 for selectively opening and closing the low-pressure refrigerant inlet port 9 and the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 12,
A rear annular groove 74 connected to the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 4;
And a rear land portion 75 for opening and closing the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 10 is formed.
A piston ring 79 is externally fitted to 75.

The low-pressure side piston 70 is constantly urged rearward by a coil spring 80 compressed between the front land 71 and the valve portion 20A, and is urged to the rearward position (FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG.
9), the front land 7
1 closes the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 11, the central land 73 opens the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 9, closes the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 12, and the rear land 75 opens the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 10. At this time, the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 9 and the low-pressure refrigerant discharge port 10 communicate with the low-pressure refrigerant discharge port 3 and the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 4 via the front annular groove 72 and the rear annular groove 74, respectively. .

On the other hand, when the low-pressure side piston 70 is at the forward position (the position shown in FIG. 7 described later), the front land 71 opens the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 11 and the center land 73 is Low pressure refrigerant introduction port 9
Is closed to open the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 12, and the rear land 75 closes the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 10. At this time, the low-pressure refrigerant inlet port 11 and the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 12 are respectively connected to the front annular portion. Groove 7
2 and the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 3 and the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 4 through the rear annular groove 74. As described above, the high-pressure side piston 40 and the low-pressure side piston 70 have a plurality of lands for selectively opening and closing at least two fluid inlet / outlet ports. Also, two pistons 40,
70 selectively opens and closes the same number of fluid inlet / outlet ports.

The high-pressure side piston 40 has the structure shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6 (A) in addition to FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 (A), in order to improve the responsiveness at the time of switching, the back side (rear surface of the rear land portion 45) and the rear annular groove portion 44 communicate with each other. A pressure hole 48 is formed, and a recess preventing hole 46 for allowing a so-called recessed refrigerant to escape the refrigerant accumulated in the heat exchanger (the indoor condenser at the time of cooling) in which the refrigerant passage is closed is formed as a communication hole. . One end of the dent prevention hole 46 is opened in the outer peripheral surface of the rear land portion 45 on the high pressure refrigerant outlet port 5 side (upper surface side), and passes through the center axis of the high pressure piston 40. The other end is opened inside the front side of the front land portion 41 (the portion where the coil spring 50 is inserted).

FIG. 2 also shows the low-pressure side piston 70.
As shown in FIG. 6 (B) in addition to FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 (B), in order to improve the response at the time of switching, the inside of the front side (the part where the coil spring 80 is inserted) and the rear annular groove 74 are formed. A pressure equalizing hole 76 for communication and a pressure equalizing hole 78 for communicating the back side (rear surface of the rear land portion 75) with the rear annular groove portion 74 are formed, and further, a heat exchanger in which the refrigerant passage is closed (at the time of heating) (A room evaporator in FIG. 1) is formed as a communication hole with a penetration preventing hole 77 for allowing the refrigerant that has escaped into the interior evaporator. One end of the dent prevention hole 77 is opened in the outer peripheral surface of the central land 73 on the side of the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 9 (upper surface side), and the other end is opened in the front annular groove 72. I have.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first solenoid valve 30 provided in the valve portion 20A is disposed on the high pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet 21 side, and the coil 31, the yoke 32,
The solenoid 30A includes a solenoid 30A composed of a stator 33 and the like, and a stopper 55 fitted and fixed to an end of the valve portion 20A on the side of the base portion 20B.
5, a coil spring 34, a plunger 35, a holder 36, a seat 37, a push rod 38,
A passage switching unit 30a including a seat 39, a seat 51, a coil spring 53, and the like is provided. The end faces of the push rods 38 and 39 are elastically contacted by coil springs 34 and 53.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 7 to 9 in addition to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first solenoid valve 30 includes a pressure outlet passage 56 and a pressure outlet passage 56a in the passage switching section 30a. The passage is switched so that one of the outlet passages 58 is selectively communicated with the pressure discharge passage 57. That is, the first solenoid valve 30 is connected to the high-pressure side piston 40.
The first pressure P ₁ is the base portion 20B which acts on the rear side
And a pressure lead-out passage 56 formed in the valve portion 20A (FIG. 3)
Through the high-pressure side piston 40
The introduced through the second pressure discharge passage 58 to the pressure P ₂ formed in the valve portion 20A which acts on the front side (FIG. 3), of which the first pressure P ₁ and the second pressure P ₂ One of the base portion 20B and the valve portion 20 is defined as the discharge pressure Pe.
5A, a passage for discharging to the rear annular groove 74 of the low-pressure side piston 70 through the pressure discharge passage 57 formed in the lower pressure-side piston 70, and two inlets as shown in FIG. The outlet operates as one three-way valve.

More specifically, the first solenoid valve 30 is
In the OFF state where the solenoid 30A is not energized and excited, the passage switching section 30a connects the pressure lead-out passage 56 and the pressure discharge passage 57 and shuts off the pressure lead-out passage 58 and the pressure discharge passage 57. Then, the first pressure P ₁ is released to the low-pressure side piston 70 as the discharge pressure Pe. Accordingly, the first pressure P ₁ acting on the rear side of the high-pressure side piston 40 becomes smaller than the second pressure P ₂ acting on the front surface side of the high pressure side piston 40 (P ₁ <P _2), the pressure the high pressure side piston 40 by P ₂ is switched to slide in a retracted position in as shown in FIGS.

On the other hand, when the solenoid 30A is energized and turned on, the passage switching unit 3
0a, the pressure outlet passage 56 and the pressure discharge passage 5
7, and the second pressure P ₂ is discharged to the low-pressure side piston 70 as the discharge pressure Pe by connecting the pressure lead-out passage 58 and the pressure discharge passage 57 to each other. As a result, the first pressure P ₁ acting on the back side of the high-pressure side piston 40 becomes larger than the second pressure P ₂ acting on the front side of the high-pressure side piston 40 (P ₁ > P ₂ ). The high pressure side piston 40 is slid and switched to the forward position as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second solenoid valve 60 provided in the valve portion 20A is disposed on the low-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet portion 22 side, and the first solenoid valve 30 is provided. Similarly, a solenoid 60A including a coil 61, a yoke 62, a stator 63, and the like, and a base portion 20A of the valve portion 20A.
A stopper 85 fitted and fixed to the side end, and between the solenoid 60A and the stopper 85, a coil spring 64, a plunger 65, a holder 66, a seat 67, and a push rod 68 (FIG. 2) in that order. , 69 (FIG. 2), a holder 81, a seat 82, and a passage switching portion 60 a including a coil spring 83 and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (B) and 7 to 9 in addition to FIGS. 2 and 4, the second solenoid valve 60 controls the pressure lead-out passage 87 in the passage switching portion 60a. The passage is switched so as to selectively communicate with one of the supply passage 88 and the pressure supply passage 88. That is, the second solenoid valve 60 introduces a high operating pressure Pd from the rear annular groove portion 44 of the high-pressure side piston 40 through the pressure lead-out passage 87 (FIG. 4) formed in the base portion 20B and the valve portion 20A. And the operating pressure P
d through a pressure supply passage 88 formed in the valve portion 20A to the third pressure P ₃ on the front side of the low pressure side piston 70.
Or the fourth pressure P ₄ on the rear side of the low-pressure side piston 70 through the pressure supply passage 86 formed in the base portion 20B and the valve portion 20A.
The passage is switched to supply as
As shown in FIG. 5 (B), it operates as a three-way valve with one inlet and two outlets.

More specifically, the second solenoid valve 60 is
In the OFF state where the solenoid 60A is not energized and excited, the passage switching section 60a connects the pressure outlet passage 87 and the pressure supply passage 88 and shuts off the pressure outlet passage 87 and the pressure supply passage 86. Then, the operating pressure Pd obtained by the high-pressure side piston 40 is supplied to the front side of the low-pressure side piston 70 as a third pressure P3. As a result, the third pressure P ₃ acting on the front side of the low-pressure side piston 70 becomes larger than the fourth pressure P ₄ acting on the back side of the low-pressure side piston 70 (P ₃ >).
P ₄ ), the low-pressure side piston 70 is slid and switched to the retracted position as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

On the other hand, when the solenoid 60A is energized and turned on, the passage switching section 6
0a, the pressure outlet passage 87 and the pressure supply passage 8
With blocking and 8, and supplies to the back side of the low pressure side piston 70 the working pressure Pd by communicating with the pressure outlet passageway 87 and the pressure supply passage 86 as a fourth pressure P _4.
As a result, the fourth pressure P ₄ acting on the back side of the low-pressure side piston 70 becomes larger than the third pressure P ₃ acting on the front side of the low-pressure side piston 70 (P ₄ > P ₃ ),
The low pressure side piston 70 is slid and switched to the forward position as shown in FIG.

As described above, the multi-port valve unit 20 of this embodiment having such a configuration is used, for example, by being incorporated in a refrigeration cycle of the air conditioner 100 as shown in FIG. In this case, the multi-port valve unit 20 has a valve function indicated by a chain line in FIG. 10 and operates as described below. That is, (1) during the heating operation, as shown in FIG.
The first solenoid valve 30 is turned off, and the second solenoid valve 60 is turned on. Thus, in the passage switching section 30a on the high-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet section 21 side, the pressure lead-out passage 56 and the pressure discharge passage 57 communicate with each other, and the first pressure P ₁ becomes the discharge pressure Pe as the low-pressure piston 70
The high-pressure side piston 4
0 takes the retreat position. In the passage switching section 60a on the side of the low-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet section 22, the pressure outlet passage 8 is provided.
7 and communicated with the pressure supply passage 86, the working pressure Pd is supplied to the back side of the low pressure side piston 70 as a fourth pressure P _4, the low-pressure side piston 70 takes a forward position.

Therefore, at this time, the compressor 110
High-pressure refrigerant discharged from the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 1 is introduced into the indoor condenser 1
12, is introduced from the indoor condenser 112 to the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 6, is introduced from the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 2 to the gas-liquid separator 114 via the pressure control valve 113,
The low-pressure refrigerant that has been guided from the gas-liquid separator 114 to the expansion valve 116 and decompressed is introduced into the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 4 and guided from the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 12 to the outdoor heat exchanger 118, and then the low-pressure refrigerant is introduced. The refrigerant is introduced into the port 11 and returned from the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 3 to the suction side of the compressor 110.

(2) During the dehumidifying operation, as shown in FIG. 8, both the first solenoid valve 30 and the second solenoid valve 60 are turned off.
The state is set to the F state. Thereby, the high-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet 21
In the passage switching portion 30a of the side, as in the case of the heating operation, communication with the pressure outlet passageway 56 and the pressure discharge passage 57, the first pressure P ₁ is after the low-pressure side piston 70 as an exhaust pressure Pe The high-pressure side piston 40 is removed by the side annular groove portion 74 and assumes the retreat position. In the passage switching portion 60a on the low-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet portion 22 side, the pressure outlet passage 87 and the pressure supply passage 88 communicate with each other, and the operating pressure Pd obtained in the rear annular groove portion 44 of the high-pressure side piston 40 is reduced. as a third pressure P ₃ is supplied to the front side of the low pressure side piston 70, the low-pressure side piston 70 is switched to the retracted position.

Therefore, at this time, the compressor 110
High-pressure refrigerant discharged from the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 1 is introduced into the indoor condenser 1
12, is introduced from the indoor condenser 112 to the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 6, is introduced from the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 2 to the gas-liquid separator 114 via the pressure control valve 113,
The low-pressure refrigerant that has been guided from the gas-liquid separator 114 to the expansion valve 116 and reduced in pressure is introduced from the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 4, and from the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 10 to the indoor evaporator 115.
Is introduced from the indoor evaporator 115 to the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 9 and returned from the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 3 to the suction side of the compressor 110.

(3) During the cooling operation, as shown in FIG. 9, the first solenoid valve 30 is turned on, and the second solenoid valve 60 is turned off. Accordingly, in the passage switching unit 30a on the high pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet unit 21 side,
The pressure outlet passage 58 and the pressure discharge passage 57 communicate with each other,
The second pressure P ₂ are eliminated in the side annular groove 74 after the low-pressure side piston 70 as a discharge pressure Pe, the high-pressure-side piston 40 takes a forward position. The low-pressure side piston 7
At 0 side of the passage switching section 60a, communicating with the pressure outlet passageway 87 and the pressure supply passage 88, the operating pressure Pd obtained by side annular groove portion 44 after the high pressure side piston 40 is low as a third pressure P ₃ The low-pressure side piston 70 is supplied to the front side of the side piston 70, and assumes the retracted position.

Therefore, at this time, the compressor 110
The high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 1 is introduced from the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 7 and the outdoor heat exchanger 11
8, introduced from the outdoor heat exchanger 118 to the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 8, introduced from the high-pressure refrigerant introduction port 2 to the gas-liquid separator 114 via the pressure control valve 113, and expanded from the gas-liquid separator 114. The low-pressure refrigerant that has been guided to the valve 116 and decompressed is introduced from the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 4, is guided from the low-pressure refrigerant outlet port 10 to the indoor evaporator 115, is introduced from the indoor evaporator 115 to the low-pressure refrigerant introduction port 9, and has a low pressure. Compressor 1 from refrigerant outlet port 3
10 is returned to the suction side.

As described above, the multi-port valve unit 20 corresponds to FIG.
0 has the same function as the four-way valve 122, the check valve 131 and the two-way valve 126 shown in FIG. That is, the four-way valve 122 has a function of connecting the ports 1 and 3 through which the compressor 110 is connected to the ports 5 and 7 during heating and dehumidification, and connecting the ports 5 and 9 during cooling. The valve unit 20 has the same function as the four-way valve 122 by switching the high-pressure refrigerant from the port 5 to the port 7. Further multi-port valve unit 20
Has a function of a check valve 131 for preventing the refrigerant guided from the port 6 to the port 2 during heating and dehumidification from being guided toward the outdoor heat exchanger 118. Further, the multi-port valve unit 20 has a function of the two-way valve 126 in which the refrigerant guided from the port 4 to the port 10 during dehumidification and cooling is guided to the port 12 during heating.

As described above, in the multi-port valve unit 20 according to the present embodiment, the valves such as the four-way valve, the two-way valve, the check valve and the like required for the refrigeration cycle are not incorporated, and a pair of main components is used. Just equipped with piston and solenoid valve,
Although it has an extremely simple structure and has a small number of parts and is easy to assemble and can be manufactured at low cost, almost all valve functions of each valve are incorporated, and required piping, passages and ports in the refrigeration cycle are provided. Switching can be performed properly in the unit.

Therefore, by incorporating it into a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner, the number of piping passage members in the air conditioner can be reduced, the occupied space can be reduced, and the reliability and productivity can be improved. Cost can be reduced.

[0044]

As will be understood from the above description, the multi-port valve unit of the present invention can appropriately switch required pipes, passages, and ports in a refrigeration cycle and the like within the unit. Since the structure is simple, the number of parts is small, and the assembling work is simple and easy, and can be manufactured at low cost. By incorporating it into the refrigeration cycle of the air conditioner, the number of piping passage members in the air conditioner can be reduced. At the same time, the occupied space can be reduced,
There is an effect that its reliability and productivity can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of a multi-port valve unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the multi-port valve unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a functional explanatory view of a first solenoid valve (A) and a second solenoid valve (B) used in the multi-port valve unit of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a high-pressure side piston and a low-pressure side piston used in the multi-port valve unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram provided for explanation during a heating operation when the multi-port valve unit of FIG. 1 is used for an air conditioner.

FIG. 8 is a diagram provided for explanation of a dehumidifying operation when the multi-port valve unit of FIG. 1 is used for an air conditioner.

FIG. 9 is a diagram provided for explanation of a cooling operation when the multi-port valve unit of FIG. 1 is used for an air conditioner.

FIG. 10 is a diagram provided for describing a refrigeration cycle of a conventional air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-12 refrigerant inlet / outlet port 20 multi-port valve unit 20A valve unit 20B base unit 21 high-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet unit 22 low-pressure refrigerant inlet / outlet unit 30 first electromagnetic valve 30a passage switching unit 40 high-pressure side piston 41, 43, 45 land unit 42, 44 annular groove portion 56 to 58 internal passage 60 second solenoid valve 60a passage switching portion 70 low-pressure side piston 71, 73, 75 land portion 72, 74 annular groove portion 86 to 88 internal passage

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A required number of fluid inlet / outlet ports are formed in a predetermined arrangement, and a first spool and a second piston of a spool type are respectively slid to selectively open and close the fluid inlet / outlet ports. A first solenoid valve that is freely inserted and is provided to allow the first piston to selectively take an advanced position and a retracted position;
A multi-port valve unit comprising a second solenoid valve for selectively allowing the second piston to assume an advanced position and a retracted position, and assembled as a whole in a block. 2. The first solenoid valve selectively discharges one of a first pressure and a second pressure acting on a rear side and a front side of the first piston, and discharges one of the first pressure and the second pressure. The second solenoid valve switches the operating pressure obtained from the first piston side to the front side of the second piston and the second piston so as to slide the first piston by the other. 2. The multi-port valve unit according to claim 1, wherein a passage is switched to selectively supply one of the back sides to slide the second piston. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein a high-pressure fluid flows into and out of the first piston, and a low-pressure fluid lower than that of the first piston flows into and out of the second piston. A multi-port valve unit according to item 1. 4. The multi-port valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the land of the first piston has a smaller diameter than that of the second piston. 5. The first piston and the second piston have a plurality of lands for selectively opening and closing at least two fluid inlet / outlet ports. A multi-port valve unit according to any one of the above. 6. A pressure equalizing hole formed in each of the first piston and the second piston to allow a front or rear side thereof to communicate with an annular groove formed between the lands. Item 6. The multi-port valve unit according to any one of Items 1 to 5. 7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein one end of a communication hole different from said pressure equalizing hole is formed on an outer peripheral surface of a land portion of each of said first piston and said second piston. 7. The multi-port valve unit according to any one of 6. 8. The multi-port valve according to claim 1, wherein the first piston and the second piston are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. unit. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first piston and the second piston selectively open and close the same number of fluid inlet / outlet ports, respectively.
A multi-port valve unit according to any one of the above.