Relief valve structure

Abstract

A relief valve structure (20) attached to a pump body (10) includes: a first discharge portion (31) for discharging oil when a discharge pressure is a first predetermined pressure; a second discharge portion (32) for discharging the oil when the discharge pressure reaches a second predetermined pressure higher than the first predetermined pressure; a third discharge portion (33) for discharging the oil when the discharge pressure exceeds the first predetermined pressure and reaches the second predetermined pressure or a pressure lower than the second predetermined pressure; and a pressure relief hole (34) for releasing the oil from an area around a valve spring (23). The second discharge portion, the first discharge portion, the third discharge portion, and the pressure release hole are provided in this order between an introduction portion (29) and a spring retaining member (24) when viewed from the introduction portion (29).

Claims

1. A relief valve structure to be attached to a pump body, the relief valve structure comprising: a valve housing that is formed integrally with the pump body, a spool that is movably received in the valve housing, a valve spring that is received in the valve housing and urges the spool in a predetermined direction, and a spring retaining member that is attached to one end of the valve housing and prevents the valve spring from coming out of the valve housing, the spool including a cylindrical portion, a base portion that closes a first end of the cylindrical portion that faces toward the spring retaining member and abuts the valve spring such that the valve spring is disposed between the base portion and the spring retaining member, and a through-hole that penetrates the cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion having a second end that is open, the valve housing including an introduction portion through which oil is introduced from a discharge side of the pump body and into the cylindrical portion via the open second end of the cylindrical portion, a first discharge portion that communicates with the through-hole when the spool has moved in a direction to compress the valve spring due to the oil introduced through the introduction portion upon a discharge pressure rising to a first predetermined pressure and that allows the introduced oil to be discharged therethrough toward an intake side of the pump body, a second discharge portion that opens when the spool has moved in the direction to compress the valve spring due to the oil introduced through the introduction portion upon the discharge pressure rising to a second predetermined pressure higher than the first predetermined pressure and that allows the introduced oil to be discharged therethrough toward the intake side of the pump body, a third discharge portion that communicates with the through-hole when the spool has moved in the direction to compress the valve spring due to the oil introduced through the introduction portion upon the discharge pressure exceeding the first predetermined pressure and reaching the second predetermined pressure or a pressure lower than the second predetermined pressure and that allows the introduced oil to be discharged therethrough toward the intake side of the pump body, and a pressure relief hole that allows oil around the valve spring to be discharged therethrough toward the intake side of the pump body, the second discharge portion, the first discharge portion, the third discharge portion, and the pressure relief hole being provided in this order between the introduction portion and the spring retaining member when viewed from the introduction portion, and wherein oil is discharged through both the third discharge portion and the second discharge portion.

2. The relief valve structure according to claim 1, wherein the second discharge portion is a cast cored hole.

3. The relief valve structure according to claim 1, wherein the third discharge portion is a cutout hole, and the third discharge portion allows the oil to be discharged therethrough when the discharge pressure exceeds the first predetermined pressure and is below the second predetermined pressure.

4. The relief valve structure according to claim 1, wherein the third discharge portion and the second discharge portion allow the oil to be discharged therethrough when the discharge pressure reaches the second predetermined pressure.

5. A relief valve structure to be attached to a pump body, the relief valve structure comprising: a valve housing that is formed integrally with the pump body, a spool that is movably received in the valve housing, a valve spring that is received in the valve housing and urges the spool in a predetermined direction, and a spring retaining member that is attached to one end of the valve housing and prevents the valve spring from coming out of the valve housing, the spool including a cylindrical portion, a base portion that closes a first end of the cylindrical portion that faces toward the spring retaining member and abuts the valve spring such that the valve spring is disposed between the base portion and the spring retaining member, and a through-hole that penetrates the cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion having a second end that is open, said second end being opposite to said first end of the cylindrical portion, said through-hole communicating with an interior of the cylindrical portion at a location between the base portion and the open, second end of the cylindrical portion, the valve housing including an introduction portion through which oil is introduced from a discharge side of the pump body and into the cylindrical portion via the open second end of the cylindrical portion, a first discharge portion that communicates with the through-hole when the spool has moved in a direction to compress the valve spring due to the oil introduced through the introduction portion upon a discharge pressure rising to a first predetermined pressure and that allows the introduced oil to be discharged therethrough toward an intake side of the pump body, a second discharge portion that opens when the spool has moved in the direction to compress the valve spring due to the oil introduced through the introduction portion upon the discharge pressure rising to a second predetermined pressure higher than the first predetermined pressure and that allows the introduced oil to be discharged therethrough toward the intake side of the pump body, a third discharge portion that communicates with the through-hole when the spool has moved in the direction to compress the valve spring due to the oil introduced through the introduction portion upon the discharge pressure exceeding the first predetermined pressure and reaching the second predetermined pressure or a pressure lower than the second predetermined pressure and that allows the introduced oil to be discharged therethrough toward the intake side of the pump body, and a pressure relief hole that allows oil around the valve spring to be discharged therethrough toward the intake side of the pump body, the second discharge portion, the first discharge portion, the third discharge portion, and the pressure relief hole being provided in this order between the introduction portion and the spring retaining member when viewed from the introduction portion, and wherein oil is discharged through both the third discharge portion and the second discharge portion.

6. The relief valve structure according to claim 5, wherein the cylindrical portion interior is open, and the valve spring is retained outside of the open interior of the cylindrical portion.

7. The relief valve structure according to claim 6, wherein the second discharge portion is a cast cored hole.

8. The relief valve structure according to claim 6, wherein the third discharge portion is a cutout hole, and the third discharge portion allows the oil to be discharged therethrough when the discharge pressure exceeds the first predetermined pressure and is below the second predetermined pressure.

9. The relief valve structure according to claim 6, wherein the third discharge portion and the second discharge portion allow the oil to be discharged therethrough when the discharge pressure reaches the second predetermined pressure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a set of views useful to describe a basic configuration of a relief valve structure according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a set of views useful to describe an action of the relief valve structure.

(3) FIG. 3 is a set of views useful to describe modified examples of the relief valve structure.

(4) FIG. 4 is a set of views useful to describe a basic configuration of a conventional relief valve structure.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(5) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are to be viewed in the orientations of the reference characters.

Embodiments

(6) As illustrated in FIG. 1(a), an intake port 11, a rotor chamber 12, and a discharge port 13 are formed in a pump body 10.

(7) An inner rotor 14 and an outer rotor 15 that surrounds the inner rotor 14 are received in the rotor chamber 12. A pump, which has the inner rotor 14 and the outer rotor 15, is referred to as an internal gear pump or a trochoid pump.

(8) When the inner rotor 14 is rotated directly or indirectly by a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, the outer rotor 15 rotates along with the inner rotor 14. This rotation produces a change in the size of a gap between the inner rotor 14 and the outer rotor 15. This change in the size of the gap generates a pumping action composed of intake, compression, and discharge.

(9) A relief valve structure 20 disposed toward the back in the drawing is further attached to the pump body 10.

(10) As illustrated in FIG. 1(b), the relief valve structure 20 includes a valve housing 21 that is formed integrally with the pump body 10, a spool 22 that is movably received in the valve housing 21, a valve spring 23 that is received in the valve housing 21 and urges the spool 22 in a predetermined direction, and a spring retaining member 24 that is attached to one end of the valve housing 21 and prevents the valve spring 23 from coming out of the valve housing 21. The spring retaining member 24 may be a screw-in plug, a drive-in plug, a lid member, or any other member that holds one end of the valve spring 23, and the type or the form of the spring retaining member 24 is not limited to particular types or forms.

(11) The spool 22 includes a cylindrical portion 25, a base portion (bottom) 26 that closes one end of the cylindrical portion 25 and is in contact with the valve spring 23, and a through-hole 27 that penetrates the cylindrical portion 25 in the radial direction. An annular groove 28 is provided in an outer peripheral surface of the spool 22, and one end of the through-hole 27 faces the annular groove 28. Thus, the spool 22 is permitted to rotate about a movement axis.

(12) The valve housing 21 includes an introduction portion 29 through which oil is introduced from the discharge port 13 side of the pump body 10. A second discharge portion 32, a first discharge portion 31, a third discharge portion 33, and a pressure relief hole 34 are disposed in this order between the introduction portion 29 and the spring retaining member 24 when viewed from the introduction portion 29.

(13) As illustrated in FIG. 1(a), the second discharge portion 32, the first discharge portion 31, the third discharge portion 33, and the pressure relief hole 34 open toward the intake port 11 of the pump body 10.

(14) An action of the relief valve structure 20 configured as described above will now be described.

(15) For convenience, the spool 22 is said to be at a retraction limit position (most retracted position) when the valve spring 23 is stretched to a maximum within the use range.

(16) FIG. 2(a) illustrates a case in which the discharge pressure is sufficiently low. The pressure exerted on the spool 22 through the introduction portion 29 is low, and thus the spool 22 is at the retraction limit position due to the urging action of the valve spring 23. When the spool 22 is at the retraction limit position, the through-hole 27 is located between the first discharge portion 31 and the second discharge portion 32 and is closed by the inner surface of the valve housing 21. In other words, the relief valve structure 20 is in a closed-valve state.

(17) As the discharge pressure rises, the spool 22 moves in the direction to compress the valve spring 23.

(18) As illustrated in FIG. 2(b), when the discharge pressure reaches a first predetermined pressure, the through-hole 27 coincides with the first discharge portion 31. Then, oil that has flowed in through the introduction portion 29 is discharged through the through-hole 27 and the first discharge portion 31. This discharge helps the rise in the discharge pressure be mitigated.

(19) As the discharge pressure further rises, the spool 22 further moves in the direction to compress the valve spring 23.

(20) Then, as illustrated in FIG. 2(c), the through-hole 27 comes to a position between the first discharge portion 31 and the third discharge portion 33 and becomes closed by the inner surface of the valve housing 21. In other words, the relief valve structure 20 enters the closed-valve state.

(21) As the discharge pressure further rises, the spool 22 further moves in the direction to compress the valve spring 23.

(22) Then, as illustrated in FIG. 2(d), the second discharge portion 32, which has been closed by this point in time, opens, and oil is discharged through the second discharge portion 32. In addition, when the discharge pressure reaches a second predetermined pressure, the through-hole 27 coincides with the third discharge portion 33. Then, oil that has flowed in through the introduction portion 29 is discharged through the second discharge portion 32 and the third discharge portion 33.

(23) In other words, oil is discharged through both the second discharge portion 32 and the third discharge portion 33. This discharge helps the rise in the discharge pressure be further mitigated.

(24) It should be noted that the third discharge portion 33 shown in FIG. 1 may be provided slightly closer than the position shown in FIG. 1 to the first discharge portion 31. Alternatively, the second discharge portion 32 shown in FIG. 1 may be provided slightly closer than the position shown in FIG. 1 to the first discharge portion 31.

(25) With this configuration, upon the discharge pressure exceeding the first predetermined pressure and reaching a pressure lower than the second predetermined pressure, oil can be discharged through the third discharge portion 33.

(26) In a case in which the third discharge portion 33 is a cutout hole, a cutout hole has a higher dimension precision than a cast cored hole. Oil is discharged through the third discharge portion 33, which has a higher precision, before the oil is discharged through the second discharge portion 32. Thus, a variation in the lift pressure can be reduced. In a case in which the second discharge portion 32 is a cast cored hole, constituting the third discharge portion 33 by a cutout hole can reduce a variation in the second predetermined pressure.

(27) Upon the discharge pressure reaching the second predetermined pressure, the oil is discharged through both the third discharge portion 33 and the second discharge portion 32.

(28) Herein, that the oil is discharged through both the third discharge portion 33 and the second discharge portion 32 upon the discharge pressure reaching the second predetermined pressure means as follows. It is ideal to discharge the oil through the third discharge portion 33 and the second discharge portion 32 simultaneously at the second predetermined pressure, but the above statement also includes a case in which the oil is discharged at a slightly higher oil pressure through the third discharge portion 33 than through the second discharge portion 32 until a manufacturing tolerance is compensated.

(29) Conventionally, the oil is discharged through the second discharge portion 32 alone. In the present invention, however, the oil is discharged through both the second discharge portion 32 and the third discharge portion 33. The amount of oil to be discharged can be increased to a great extent. In addition, the second discharge portion 32 need not be increased unduly in size, and thus the second discharge portion 32 can be formed through cast coring, which gives a larger dimension precision tolerance. When the cast coring is employed, a boring process through a mechanical process can be omitted, and the processing cost can be reduced.

(30) In addition, as apparent from FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b), an appropriate distance can be secured between the first discharge portion 31 and the second discharge portion 32, an appropriate distance can be secured between the first discharge portion 31 and the third discharge portion 33, and an appropriate distance can be secured between the third discharge portion 33 and the pressure relief hole 34. Thus, the degree of freedom in disposing the first to third discharge portions 31 to 33 and the pressure relief hole 34 increases.

(31) Furthermore, the area of the second discharge portion 32 having the largest area can be kept from being increased. In this respect as well, the degree of freedom in disposition can be increased.

(32) As the discharge pressure further rises, the spool 22 further moves in the direction to compress the valve spring 23.

(33) In FIG. 2(e), the oil around the valve spring 23 flows out of the valve housing 21 through the pressure relief hole 34. Thus, the oil around the valve spring 23 is not trapped by the spool 22. In addition, when the spool 22 retracts, the oil outside the valve housing 21 flows in to surround the valve spring 23. Thus, the spool 22 moves smoothly.

(34) As apparent from the foregoing descriptions, the valve housing 21 includes the first discharge portion 31 (FIG. 2(b)) that communicates with the through-hole 27 when the spool 22 has moved in the direction to compress the valve spring 23 due to the oil introduced through the introduction portion 29 upon the discharge pressure rising to the first predetermined pressure and that allows the introduced oil to be discharged therethrough toward the intake side of the pump body 10.

(35) In addition, the valve housing 21 includes the second discharge portion 32 (FIG. 2(d)) that opens when the spool 22 has further moved in the direction to compress the valve spring 23 due to the oil introduced through the introduction portion 29 upon the discharge pressure rising to the second predetermined pressure higher than the first predetermined pressure and that allows the introduced oil to be discharged therethrough toward the intake side of the pump body 10.

(36) Furthermore, the valve housing 21 includes the third discharge portion 33 (FIG. 2(d)) that communicates with the through-hole 27 when the spool 22 has moved in the direction to compress the valve spring 23 due to the oil introduced through the introduction portion 29 upon the discharge pressure exceeding the first predetermined pressure and reaching the second predetermined pressure or a pressure lower than the second predetermined pressure and that allows the introduced oil to be discharged therethrough toward the intake side of the pump body 10.

(37) Referring to FIG. 3, modified examples of the forms of the first to third discharge portions 31 to 33 will be described.

(38) In the example illustrated in FIG. 3(a), the second discharge portion 32, the first discharge portion 31, the third discharge portion 33, and the pressure relief hole 34 are disposed at the positions identical to those illustrated in FIG. 1(b). The second discharge portion 32 is constituted by two rectangular cast cored holes. The first discharge portion 31 is constituted by two circular (round) cutout holes. The third discharge portion 33 is constituted by one circular cutout hole.

(39) In the example illustrated in FIG. 3(b) as well, the second discharge portion 32, the first discharge portion 31, the third discharge portion 33, and the pressure relief hole 34 are disposed at the positions identical to those illustrated in FIG. 1(b). The second discharge portion 32 is constituted by one circular hole (may be a cast cored hole or a cutout hole). The first discharge portion 31 is constituted by two circular cutout holes. The third discharge portion 33 is constituted by one circular cutout hole.

(40) In the example illustrated in FIG. 3(c) as well, the second discharge portion 32, the first discharge portion 31, the third discharge portion 33, and the pressure relief hole 34 are disposed at the positions identical to those illustrated in FIG. 1(b). The second discharge portion 32 is constituted by two circular holes (may be cast cored holes or cutout holes). The first discharge portion 31 is constituted by two circular cutout holes. The third discharge portion 33 is constituted by one rectangular hole (may be a cast cored hole or a cutout hole).

(41) In the example illustrated in FIG. 3(d) as well, the second discharge portion 32, the first discharge portion 31, the third discharge portion 33, and the pressure relief hole 34 are disposed at the positions identical to those illustrated in FIG. 1(b). The second discharge portion 32 is constituted by two circular holes (may be cast cored holes or cutout holes) having different hole diameters. The first discharge portion 31 is constituted by two circular cutout holes. The third discharge portion 33 is constituted by one rectangular hole (may be a cast cored hole or a cutout hole).

(42) In this manner, the shapes, the forms, the sizes, and the manufacturing methods of the first to third discharge portions 31 to 33 can be set as desired. In addition, the first to third discharge portions 31 to 33 and the pressure relief hole 34 are disposed with sufficient intervals therebetween. Therefore, the degree of freedom in disposing the first to third discharge portions 31 to 33 and the pressure relief hole 34 increases.

(43) It should be noted that although the oil pump is a trochoid pump constituted by the inner rotor 14 and the outer rotor 15 in the above-described embodiments, the oil pump may be a gear pump, a roots pump, or other types of pump.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(44) The present invention is suitable for a relief valve structure to be attached to a pump body.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(45) 10 pump body 11 intake port 13 discharge port 20 relief valve structure 21 valve housing 22 spool 23 valve spring 24 spring retaining member 25 cylindrical portion 26 base portion 27 through-hole 29 introduction portion 31 first discharge portion 32 second discharge portion 33 third discharge portion 34 pressure relief hole