Displacement control valve

Abstract

The inflow of an external fluid into a mounting hole of a displacement control valve can be prevented, and accumulated gas in the mounting hole due to the permeation leakage of high-pressure gas can be discharged to the outside. A displacement control valve 1 inserted and fitted in a mounting hole 3 provided in a casing of a device controlled in displacement includes a sealing lip 46. The sealing lip 46 is fitted in a fitting section 41 at an outer peripheral portion of the displacement control valve 1 on a side close to an entrance of the mounting hole 3. The sealing lip 46 has a lip portion 46b abutting on an inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 3.

Claims

1. A displacement control valve inserted and fitted in a mounting hole provided in a casing of a variable displacement compressor, wherein a direction in which the displacement control valve is inserted in the mounting hole is defined as a downward direction, and a direction opposite the downward direction is defined as an upward direction, the displacement control valve comprising: a device casing, an end member that is provided on an upper end portion of the device casing, wherein the end member is mounted at or close to an upper opening end of the mounting hole, and a sealing lip that is constituted by a proximal portion and a lip portion connected to each other, wherein: the proximal portion constitutes an inner side of the sealing lip and is fixedly clamped between and by the end member and the device casing, and the lip portion constitutes an outer side of the sealing lip and abuts on an inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole, wherein the lip portion is disposed between the end member and the device casing in a manner that a lower surface of the lip portion facing downward is freely touchable to and separable from the casing of the displacement control valve.

2. The displacement control valve according to claim 1, wherein the sealing lip has a substantially L shape in cross section.

3. The displacement control valve according to claim 2, wherein the lip portion is provided in a direction orthogonal to the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole.

4. The displacement control valve according to claim 2, wherein the sealing lip is formed from a rubber material.

5. The displacement control valve according to claim 1, wherein the lip portion is provided in a direction orthogonal to the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole.

6. The displacement control valve according to claim 1, wherein the sealing lip is formed from a rubber material.

7. A displacement control valve inserted and fitted in a mounting hole provided in a casing of a device controlled in displacement, the displacement control valve comprising: an end member that is provided on an upper end portion of the device casing, wherein the end member is mounted at or close to an upper opening end of the mounting hole, a sealing lip fitted in a fitting section at an outer peripheral portion of the displacement control valve on a side close to an opening end of the mounting hole, the sealing lip having a lip portion abutting on an inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole, wherein the lip portion is provided at an angle such that a distal end thereof points toward the outside of the mounting hole, and a gap is provided between an inclined-side surface of the lip portion and the outer peripheral portion of the end member.

8. The displacement control valve according to claim 7, wherein the lip portion is provided with a protrusion on the surface on the side inclined toward the outside, and the protrusion abuts on the outer peripheral portion.

9. A displacement control valve inserted and fitted in a mounting hole provided in a casing of a device controlled in displacement, the displacement control valve comprising: an end member that is provided on an upper end portion of the device casing, wherein the end member is mounted at or close to an upper opening end of the mounting hole, a sealing lip fitted in a fitting section at an outer peripheral portion of the displacement control valve on a side close to an opening end of the mounting hole, the sealing lip having a lip portion abutting on an inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole, wherein the sealing lip has a substantially L shape in cross section, the lip portion is provided at an angle such that a distal end thereof points toward the outside of the mounting hole, and a gap is provided between an inclined-side surface of the lip portion and the outer peripheral portion of the end member.

10. The displacement control valve according to claim 9, wherein the lip portion is provided with a protrusion on the surface on the side inclined toward the outside, and the protrusion abuts on the outer peripheral portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a displacement control valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a sealing means according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a sealing means according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a sealing means according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a displacement control valve of a conventional art.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(6) Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, forms for implementing this invention will be described illustratively based on embodiments. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and others of components described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise described explicitly.

(7) First Embodiment

(8) With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a displacement control valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(9) A displacement control valve 1 includes a valve housing 10 formed with a metal material or a resin material, a valve element 15 disposed reciprocably in the valve housing 10, a pressure-sensitive element 20 biasing the valve element 15 in one direction, a solenoid 30 connected to the valve housing 10, for exerting an electromagnetic driving force on the valve element 15, and others.

(10) The solenoid 30 includes a casing 31 formed with a metal material coupled to the valve housing 10, a sleeve 32 closed at one end, a cylindrical fixed iron core 33 disposed inside of the casing 31 and the sleeve 32, a driving rod 34 reciprocable in the inside of the fixed iron core 33 and coupled to the valve element 15 at its distal end to form a communicating path 16, a movable iron core 35 fixed to the other end of the driving rod 34, a coil spring 36 biasing the movable iron core 35 in a direction to open the valve element 15, an exciting coil 37 wound on the outside of the sleeve 32 via a bobbin, an end member 38 provided in such a manner as to seal an upper end opening of the casing 31, and others.

(11) The valve housing 10 includes ports 11, 12, and 13 serving as a discharge-side passage, ports 13 and 14 serving as a suction-side passage together with the communicating path 16 in the valve element 15, a first valve chest 17 formed in the middle of the discharge-side passage, a second valve chest 18 formed in the middle of the suction-side passage, a third valve chest 19 formed in the discharge-side passage and the suction-side passage, and others.

(12) Symbol Ps represents suction pressure of a variable displacement compressor controlled, Pd discharge pressure, and Pc control chamber pressure.

(13) The valve element 15 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and includes a first valve section 25 on one side, a second valve section 26 on the other side, a third valve section 27 coupled opposite to the second valve section 26 across the first valve section 25 by retrofitting, the communicating path 16 extending therethrough from the second valve section 26 to the third valve section 27 in the axial direction to serve as the suction-side passage, and others.

(14) The third valve section 27 has a shape expanded from a contracted state from the first valve chest 17 to the third valve chest 19, and is formed with a tapered engaging face 27a facing an adapter 28 at an expanded portion.

(15) The pressure-sensitive element 20 is disposed in the third valve chest 19, and operates to exert a biasing force in a direction to open the first valve section 25 by its extension (expansion) and to weaken the biasing force exerted on the first valve section 25 by contracting with surrounding pressure increase.

(16) A disc-shaped collar 39 and the end member 38 are fixed to the upper end opening of the casing 31 by caulking its upper end portion inward. The sleeve 32 is fitted in the center of the collar 39. A connection terminal 40 extends out from the exciting coil 37 wound on the outside of the sleeve 32 via the bobbin, passes through the collar 39, and is drawn out to a space in the end member 38.

(17) The end member 38 is attached to seal all components contained in the casing 31 from above. The end member 38 is made of a resin molding material, molded with the connection terminal 40 to be connected to an external power supply, and formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.

(18) A sealing means 45 for keeping the inside and the outside of the solenoid 30 airtight and preventing the entry of an external fluid is provided between the upper end portion of the casing 31 and a lower end outer peripheral portion of the end member 38.

(19) The sealing means 45 will be described in detail below.

(20) The displacement control valve 1 configured as described above is inserted into a mounting hole 3 formed in a casing 2 of the variable displacement compressor, with the valve housing 10 in front, and is fixed by engaging a C-ring 4 attached to an opening end of the mounting hole 3 with a step 38a of the end member 38. In that state, the ports 11, 14, and 13 of the first valve chest 17, the second valve chest 18, and the third valve chest 19 communicate with refrigerant passages in the casing 2. To demarcate and seal the ports 11, 14, and 13, a first O-ring 5 and a second O-ring 6 are fitted in recessed portions of the valve housing 10, and a third O-ring 7 is fitted in a recessed portion of the casing 31.

(21) The displacement control valve 1 is set to be thinner on the valve housing 10 side and thicker on the end member side to have the relationship, the valve housing 10 outside diameter<the outside diameter of the casing 31<the outside diameter of the end member 38. The mounting hole 3 is increased in diameter on the entrance side and reduced in diameter stepwise toward the bottom side to substantially conform to the shape of the displacement control valve 1, to facilitate the insertion of the displacement control valve 1 into the mounting hole 3 with the valve housing 10 side in front. The diameter D1 of the mounting hole 3 at a portion where the sealing means 45 is provided is larger than the diameter D2 at a portion where the third O-ring 7 is provided.

(22) On the other hand, when the displacement control valve is used under high pressure for CO.sub.2, for example, permeation leakage shown by an arrow 29 occurs, resulting in the accumulation of high-pressure gas in a space S between the third O-ring 7 and the sealing means 45. A force caused by an accumulated internal fluid acts more greatly on a portion of the sealing means 45 since the sealing means 45 has a larger pressure-receiving area than the third O-ring 7.

(23) Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the sealing means 45 will be described.

(24) The sealing means 45 has a role of preventing the inflow of an external fluid 8 containing water, dust, mud or the like from the outside into the mounting hole 3, and discharging an internal fluid 29a accumulated in the space S due to permeation leakage 29 through the third O-ring 7 to the outside, and is provided on the side close to an entrance of the mounting hole 3.

(25) In FIG. 2, the sealing means 45 is fitted in a fitting section 41 provided at a joint between the casing 31 and the end member 38 located on the side close to the entrance of the mounting hole 3, to prevent the inflow of an external fluid into the mounting hole 3. When the fitting section 41 is provided at the joint between the casing 31 and the end member 38, the sealing means 45 can also serve the function of an O-ring (see 78 in FIG. 5, for example) conventionally provided to seal the interior of the solenoid 30, which is advantageous.

(26) The sealing means 45 has a sealing lip 46. The sealing lip 46 has a substantially L shape in cross section. A proximal portion 46a of the sealing lip 46 is fitted in a recessed portion 38b formed in the end member 38, and is pinched between the recessed portion 38b of the end member 38 and an upper end 31a of the casing 31 by caulking the upper end 31a of the casing 31 inward. The proximal portion 46a of the sealing lip 46 can seal the interior of the solenoid 30.

(27) A lip portion 46b of the sealing lip 46 is provided in a direction orthogonal to an inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 3 to abut on the inner peripheral surface with a moderate pressing force. The lip portion 46b is intended to prevent the inflow of an external fluid into the mounting hole 3.

(28) The sealing lip 46 is preferably formed from a rubber material.

(29) In FIG. 2, since the outside diameter of the end member 38 is larger than the outside diameter of the casing 31, a step is formed at the fitting section 41. An external surface of the lip portion 46b of the sealing lip (an upper surface in FIG. 2) abuts and is supported on the step, and an internal surface (a lower surface in FIG. 2) is supported to be able to contact and separate from an end portion of the upper end 31a of the casing 31.

(30) The present embodiment has an advantage that the sealing lip 46 can be fitted at the joint between the casing 31 and the end member 38 without adding special processing. On the other hand, since a region in which the lip portion 46b can deform under the pressure of the internal fluid 29a accumulated in the space S is a gap d between the outer surface of the end member 38 and the inner surface of the mounting hole 3, which is small. Thus it is necessary to make the distal end of the lip portion 46b easily deformable.

(31) The displacement control valve 1 in the first embodiment has the configuration as described above, and achieves prominent effects as below.

(32) (1) The inflow of an external fluid into the mounting hole 3 of the displacement control valve 1 can be prevented, and accumulated gas in the mounting hole (an internal fluid) due to the permeation leakage of high-pressure gas can be discharged to the outside, which can eliminate the problem that during removal of the displacement control valve 1, the displacement control valve 1 bursts out to the outside, leading to an accident.

(33) (2) The sealing means 45 is easy to produce and mount.

(34) (3) Since the sealing lip 46 is a member independent of the main body of the displacement control valve 1, the degree of freedom in the shape of the main body of the displacement control valve 1 is increased, compared to the case where it is integrally formed with the main body of the displacement control valve 1.

(35) (4) The sealing lip 46 can be fitted at the joint between the casing 31 and the end member 38 without adding special processing.

(36) (5) The sealing lip 46 is formed from a rubber material, thereby being able to seal securely. In particular, when the sealing lip 46 is pinched between the casing 31 and the end member 38, and the casing 31 is caulked to be integrated with the end member 38, the sealing lip 46 can also serve as a cushioning member to prevent damage to the end member 38 due to too much caulking.

(37) Second Embodiment

(38) With reference to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(39) The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a sealing lip has a different shape, but otherwise basically the same as the first embodiment. The same members as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same symbols, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

(40) In FIG. 3, a proximal portion 47a of a sealing lip 47 is fitted in a recessed portion 38b formed in an end member 38, and is pinched between the recessed portion 38b of the end member 38 and an upper end 31a of a casing 31 by caulking the upper end 31a of the casing 31 inward.

(41) A lip portion 47b of the sealing lip 47 is provided at an angle such that its distal end points toward the outside of a mounting hole 3. A gap is provided between an inclined-side surface 47c of the lip portion 47b and an outer peripheral portion 38c of the end member 38. That is, the lip portion 47b of the sealing lip 47 is inclined toward the outside of the mounting hole 3. Thus, the outer peripheral portion 38c of the end member 38 is formed at an angle such that the outside-diameter side points toward the outside of the mounting hole 3.

(42) Since the lip portion 47b is provided at an angle such that its distal end points toward the outside of the mounting hole 3, when the lip portion 47b of the sealing lip 47 receives the pressure of an external fluid 8, the contact pressure of a slide-contact portion 47d increases, and conversely, when it receives the pressure of an internal fluid 29a accumulated in a space S, the contact pressure of the slide-contact portion 47d decreases. Since a gap is provided between the inclined-side surface 47c of the lip portion 47b and the outer peripheral portion 38c of the end member 38, the lip portion 47b receives the pressure of the external fluid 8 on almost the entire surface, and can easily deform in a direction to increase the contact pressure, and conversely, under the pressure of the internal fluid 29, the lip portion 47b can easily deform in a direction to reduce the contact pressure.

(43) As above, the structure resists the entry of the external fluid 8 and facilitates the discharge of the internal fluid 29.

(44) The displacement control valve 1 in the second embodiment has the configuration as described above, and achieves prominent effects as below.

(45) (1) The inflow of an external fluid into the mounting hole 3 of the displacement control valve 1 can be prevented, and accumulated gas in the mounting hole (an internal fluid) due to the permeation leakage of high-pressure gas can be discharged to the outside, which can eliminate the problem that during removal of the displacement control valve 1, the displacement control valve 1 bursts out to the outside, leading to an accident.

(46) (2) The sealing means 45 is easy to produce and mount.

(47) (3) Since the sealing lip 47 is a member independent of the main body of the displacement control valve 1, the degree of freedom in the shape of the main body of the displacement control valve 1 is increased, compared to the case where it is integrally formed with the main body of the displacement control valve 1.

(48) (4) It resists the entry of the external fluid 8 and facilitates the discharge of the internal fluid 29a.

(49) Third Embodiment

(50) With reference to FIG. 4, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(51) The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that a sealing lip is provided with a protrusion, but otherwise basically the same as the second embodiment. The same members as in the second embodiment are denoted by the same symbols, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

(52) In FIG. 4, a proximal portion 48a of a sealing lip 48 is fitted in a recessed portion 38b formed in an end member 38, and is pinched between the recessed portion 38b of the end member 38 and an upper end 31a of a casing 31 by caulking the upper end 31a of the casing 31 inward.

(53) A lip portion 48b of the sealing lip 48 is provided at an angle such that its distal end points toward the outside of a mounting hole 3. A protrusion 49 is provided on a surface 48c of the lip portion 48b on the side inclined toward the outside. The protrusion 49 abuts on an outer peripheral portion 38c of the end member 38.

(54) Since the lip portion 48b is provided at an angle such that its distal end points toward the outside of the mounting hole 3, when the lip portion 48b of the sealing lip 48 receives the pressure of an external fluid 8, the contact pressure of a slide-contact portion 48d increases, and conversely, when it receives the pressure of an internal fluid 29a, the contact pressure of the slide-contact portion 48d decreases. Since the protrusion 49 is provided on the inclined-side surface 48c of the lip portion 48b, and the protrusion 49 abuts on the outer peripheral portion 38c of the end member 38, a pressing force can be added to the lip portion 48b due to the abutting of the protrusion 49 on the outer peripheral portion 38c, thus being able to prevent the external fluid 8 from entering inward of the lip portion 48b to accumulate.

(55) The displacement control valve 1 in the third embodiment has the configuration as described above, and achieves prominent effects as below.

(56) (1) The inflow of an external fluid into the mounting hole 3 of the displacement control valve 1 can be prevented, and accumulated gas in the mounting hole (an internal fluid) due to the permeation leakage of high-pressure gas can be discharged to the outside, which can eliminate the problem that during removal of the displacement control valve 1, the displacement control valve 1 bursts out to the outside, leading to an accident.

(57) (2) The sealing means 45 is easy to produce and mount.

(58) (3) Since the sealing lip 48 is a member independent of the main body of the displacement control valve 1, the degree of freedom in the shape of the main body of the displacement control valve 1 is increased, compared to the case where it is integrally formed with the main body of the displacement control valve 1.

(59) (4) It resists the entry of the external fluid 8 and facilitates the discharge of the internal fluid 29a.

(60) (5) It can prevent the external fluid 8 from entering inward of the lip portion 48b to accumulate.

(61) Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, detailed configurations are not limited to the embodiments. Any changes and additions without departing from the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention.

(62) For example, the above embodiments have been described with the case where the sealing means 45 is fitted in the fitting section 41 provided at the joint between the casing and the end member 38 as an example, which is advantageous but is not necessarily limiting. The sealing means 45 may be fitted in a portion close to the entrance of the mounting hole 3.

(63) For example, the above embodiments have been described with the case where the sealing lip has a substantially L shape in cross section, which is not limiting. The sealing lip may have a U, V, Y, or J shape, for example.

(64) For example, the above embodiments have been described with the case where the sealing lip is formed from a rubber material, which is not limiting. The sealing lip may be made of resin, for example.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

(65) 1 displacement control valve

(66) 2 casing of variable displacement compressor

(67) 3 mounting hole

(68) 4 C-ring

(69) 5 first O-ring

(70) 6 second O-ring

(71) 7 third O-ring

(72) 8 external fluid

(73) 10 valve housing

(74) 11 port

(75) 12 port

(76) 13 port

(77) 14 port

(78) 15 valve element

(79) 16 communicating path

(80) 17 first valve chest

(81) 18 second valve chest

(82) 19 third valve chest

(83) 20 pressure-sensitive element

(84) 25 first valve section

(85) 26 second valve section

(86) 27 third valve section

(87) 28 adapter

(88) 29 permeation leakage

(89) 29a internal fluid due to permeation leakage

(90) 30 solenoid

(91) 31 casing

(92) 31a upper end

(93) 32 sleeve

(94) 33 fixed iron core

(95) 34 driving rod

(96) 35 movable iron core

(97) 36 coil spring

(98) 37 exciting coil

(99) 38 end member

(100) 38a step

(101) 38b recessed portion

(102) 39 collar

(103) 40 connection terminal

(104) 41 fitting section

(105) 45 sealing means

(106) 46, 47, 48 sealing lip

(107) 46a, 47a, 48a proximal portion

(108) 46b, 47b, 48b lip portion

(109) 49 protrusion

(110) Pd discharge pressure

(111) Ps suction pressure

(112) Pc control chamber pressure