CN116557564A

CN116557564A - Plug valve, refrigerant control device of motor vehicle air conditioner, motor vehicle air conditioner and motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN116557564A
Application number: CN202210102912.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 何泽淼; 何永水; 张永涛
Original assignee: Zhejiang Hengsen Industry Group Co ltd
Current assignee: Zhejiang Hengsen Industry Group Co ltd
Priority date: 2022-01-27
Filing date: 2022-01-27
Publication date: 2023-08-08

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug valve, a refrigerant control device of an air conditioner of a motor vehicle, the air conditioner of the motor vehicle and the motor vehicle. The plug valve includes: a valve body comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a valve seat provided to the valve body; a valve spool disposed within the valve body and rotatable between a valve-open position and a valve-closed position, the valve spool including a valve plate in which the valve plate closes the fluid outlet, an outer surface of the valve plate being in sliding contact with a corresponding surface of the valve seat during rotation of the valve spool; and a throttle structure disposed on a corresponding surface of the valve seat and/or an outer surface of the valve plate and configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the throttle structure during rotation of the valve spool within a predetermined angular range to control fluid flow.

Description

Plug valve, refrigerant control device of motor vehicle air conditioner, motor vehicle air conditioner and motor vehicle

Technical Field

The invention relates to a plug valve, a refrigerant control device of an air conditioner of a motor vehicle, the air conditioner and the motor vehicle.

Background

The plug valve is a valve which is a closing member or a plunger-shaped rotary valve and is opened or closed by rotating 90 degrees to enable a passage opening on the valve plug to be communicated with or separated from a passage opening on the valve body. Its valve plug may be cylindrical or conical in shape. In a cylindrical valve plug, the passage opening is generally rectangular.

The valve body of a traditional plug valve is generally directly sleeved on the periphery of a valve core, and is in direct contact with the valve core, and the valve core is generally a metal body. Due to the processing technology, the inner sides of the passage openings on the two sides of the valve body are all edge structures, so that the inner sides of the passage openings can possibly clamp the valve core in the valve core rotating process, and the valve core cannot rotate due to the clamping phenomenon.

The plug valve generally comprises a valve plate positioned on the 'upstream' side and a valve plate positioned on the 'downstream' side, when the plug valve is closed, the pressure difference between an inlet and an outlet of the valve body is large, fluid can prop up the valve plate on the upstream side and enter the valve body, and the fluid pressure of the valve plate on the downstream side tightly abuts against the inner surface of the valve body to realize reliable sealing. The "upstream" side generally refers to the side from which the fluid originates, and the "downstream" side generally refers to the side to which the fluid flows.

Current plug valves only have full open and full closed conditions, which results in a sudden change in the flow of fluid through the fluid inlet when switching between the full open and full closed positions, resulting in a steeper fluid flow profile.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a plug valve, comprising: a valve body comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a valve seat provided to the valve body; a valve spool disposed within the valve body and rotatable between a valve-open position and a valve-closed position, the valve spool including a valve plate in which the valve plate closes the fluid outlet, an outer surface of the valve plate being in sliding contact with a corresponding surface of the valve seat during rotation of the valve spool; and a throttle structure disposed on a corresponding surface of the valve seat and/or an outer surface of the valve plate and configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the throttle structure during rotation of the valve spool within a predetermined angular range to control fluid flow.

Advantageously, the valve seat is integral with the valve body.

Advantageously, a throttle structure is formed on an outer surface of the valve plate, the throttle structure having a throttle groove located on an upstream side of the fluid outlet in a rotational direction of the valve spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, and configured to communicate the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port via the throttle groove within a predetermined angular range during rotation of the valve spool.

Advantageously, the size of the throttle groove is varied such that during rotation of the spool the flow rate of fluid flowing from the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port via the throttle groove varies.

Advantageously, the size of the throttling groove is configured to become gradually smaller along the rotation direction of the valve spool from the valve closing position to the valve opening position.

Advantageously, the valve element further comprises a further valve plate, which in the closed valve position closes the fluid inlet, the further valve plate and an outer surface of the valve plate being in sliding contact with corresponding surfaces of the valve seat during rotation of the valve element.

Advantageously, the throttle structure includes a further throttle groove formed on the further valve plate, the further throttle groove being provided on the further valve plate on an upstream side of the fluid inlet in a rotational direction of the valve spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, such that the fluid inlet is communicated to the fluid outlet via the further throttle groove and the throttle groove within a predetermined angular range during rotation of the valve spool.

Advantageously, the size of the further throttle groove is varied such that during rotation of the valve spool the flow rate of fluid flowing from the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port via the further throttle groove and the throttle groove varies.

Advantageously, the further throttling groove is dimensioned to taper in the direction of rotation of the valve spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position.

Advantageously, a throttle structure is formed on a corresponding surface of the valve seat, the throttle structure having a throttle groove located on an upstream side of the fluid outlet in a rotational direction of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, and configured to communicate the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port via the throttle groove within a predetermined angular range during rotation of the spool.

Advantageously, the throttle structure further has another throttle groove located on an upstream side of the fluid inlet in a rotation direction of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, and configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the other throttle groove and the throttle groove within a predetermined angle range during rotation of the spool.

Advantageously, a protective sleeve fixedly mounted to the valve body and arranged between the valve core and the valve body is also included, the valve seat being separate from the valve body, the valve seat being arranged on the protective sleeve and integral with the protective sleeve, said protective sleeve comprising a first opening and a second opening communicating with said fluid inlet and fluid outlet, respectively, the valve core being rotated within the protective sleeve such that the valve sheet opens or closes said second opening.

Advantageously, the valve element further comprises a further valve plate, which in the closed valve position closes the first inlet, the further valve plate and an outer surface of the valve plate being in sliding contact with corresponding surfaces of the valve seat during rotation of the valve element.

Advantageously, a throttle structure is formed on a corresponding surface of the valve seat, the throttle structure having a throttle groove located on an upstream side of the second outlet in a rotational direction of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position and configured to communicate the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port via the throttle groove within a predetermined angular range during rotation of the spool.

Advantageously, the size of the throttle groove is configured to become gradually larger in the rotation direction of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position.

Advantageously, the throttle structure further has another throttle groove located on an upstream side of the first inlet in a rotation direction of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, and configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the other throttle groove and the throttle groove within a predetermined angle range during rotation of the spool.

Advantageously, the further throttling groove is dimensioned to become progressively larger in the direction of rotation of the valve spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position.

Advantageously, the valve body comprises a valve body for receiving the valve cartridge and a plug cap removably mounted to the valve body.

Advantageously, the protective sleeve is provided on its outer surface with an annular mounting groove having a first portion extending along the outer surface above the first opening, a second portion extending along the outer surface below the second opening, and an intermediate portion extending obliquely over the outer surface to connect the first and second portions, respectively, the annular sealing ring being disposed within the annular mounting groove, the first portion of the annular sealing ring being disposed within the first portion of the annular mounting groove, the second portion of the annular sealing ring being disposed within the second portion of the annular mounting groove, and the third portion of the annular sealing ring being disposed within the intermediate portion of the annular mounting groove.

Advantageously, the inner surface of the protective sleeve is provided with a first annular groove, which is arranged in a first plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the protective sleeve and which is different from the plane in which the first part of the annular mounting groove is arranged, the first sealing ring being arranged in the first annular groove.

Advantageously, the inner surface of the protective sleeve is provided with a second annular groove, which is arranged in a second plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the protective sleeve, and which is different from the plane in which the second part of the annular mounting groove is arranged, and the second sealing ring is arranged in the second annular groove.

The invention also relates to a refrigerant control device of the motor vehicle air conditioner, which comprises the plug valve.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner of the motor vehicle, which comprises the refrigerant control device.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an air conditioner as described above.

Drawings

The advantages and objects of the present invention will be better understood in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To better illustrate the relationship of the various components in the figures, the figures are not drawn to scale.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a plug valve according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of a plug valve according to the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a plug valve according to the invention along line A-A of figure 2.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a plug valve according to the present invention with a valve body removed.

Fig. 5 shows a front view of the structure of fig. 4.

Fig. 6a and 6b show left and right views of the structure of fig. 4.

Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 6 a.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of the positional relationship according to the first seal ring, the second seal ring, and the ring seal.

Fig. 9 shows a throttle structure provided on the outer surfaces of the first and second valve plates.

Fig. 10-13 show bottom views of a plug valve according to the present invention, showing how a fluid inlet communicates to a fluid outlet via the throttling arrangement shown in fig. 9 as the valve spool rotates from the closed position to the open position.

Fig. 14 shows a throttle structure provided on the inner surface of the protective cover.

Figures 15-18 show bottom views of the plug valve of the present invention showing how the fluid inlet communicates to the fluid outlet via the throttling arrangement shown in figure 14 as the valve spool rotates from the closed position to the open position.

Fig. 19 shows a graph of the fluid flow rate curve as the rotation angle increases when the valve element rotates from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, and shows a curve of the fluid flow rate curve when the throttle structure is present (indicated by a solid line) and a curve of the fluid flow rate curve when the throttle structure is not present (indicated by a broken line), respectively.

Detailed Description

Various embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, it is to be noted that in the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to constituent parts having substantially the same or similar structures and functions, and repeated description thereof will be omitted. The term "comprising A, B, C, etc. in turn" merely indicates the order in which the included elements A, B, C, etc. are arranged, and does not exclude the possibility of including other elements between a and B and/or between B and C. In the following description, for convenience, directional terms are used, wherein "longitudinal" refers to the direction of the length of the valve stem, the direction of rotation of the valve stem and the valve spool about the longitudinal direction, whereby the direction of rotation of the valve stem or the valve spool is referred to as the direction of rotation, "up" and "down" refer to the direction along the longitudinal direction, the direction in which the valve stem protrudes from within the valve body is referred to as "up", the opposite direction is referred to as "down", the "upstream" refers to the direction from which the fluid comes or begins to rotate in the direction of rotation therefrom, and "downstream" refers to the direction in which the fluid is to flow or the direction in which rotation in the direction of rotation is to be achieved, respectively. It is noted that the above directions are merely for convenience of description and the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the respective features may have different directions in different orientations.

The drawings in the present specification are schematic views, which assist in explaining the concept of the present invention, and schematically show the shapes of the respective parts and their interrelationships.

Fig. 1 to 3 show a perspective view, a side view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a plug valve 1 according to the present invention. The plug valve 1 includes a valve body 11, a valve body 12, and a valve stem 13, the valve stem 12 being disposed within the valve body 11, the valve stem 13 being rotatably mounted to the valve body 11 and fixedly connected to the valve body 12, the valve stem 13 being driven by an external drive source (not shown), such as a motor, so that the valve stem 13 is capable of rotating the valve stem 12 within the valve body between a valve-open position and a valve-closed position. The open and closed positions are, for example, 90 degrees apart.

The valve body 11 includes a valve body 111 defining a fluid inlet 113 and a fluid outlet 114, and a screw cap 112. The valve body 111 includes a mounting hole at a lower side through which the valve body 12 is inserted into the valve body at the time of installation (see fig. 3), and a cap 112 is used to close the mounting hole after the valve body 12 is installed into the valve body. A seal ring 115 is provided between the screw cap 112 and the valve body 111. A seal 117 is provided between the valve stem 13 and the valve body 111.

The valve core 12 comprises a first valve block 121, a second valve block 122 and a connecting rod 123 connected between the first valve block and the second valve block, wherein the connecting rod 123 is fixedly connected with the valve rod 13, so that the valve rod 13 can drive the valve core to rotate. In the blocking position of the plug valve, the first valve piece 121 is arranged against the fluid inlet of the valve body, i.e. the first valve piece 121 is an upstream side valve piece, and the second valve piece 122 is arranged against the fluid outlet of the valve body, i.e. the second valve piece 122 is a downstream side valve piece.

As shown in fig. 7, the first end 1231 of the connecting rod 123 is connected to the first valve plate 121, and the second end 1232 is connected to the second valve plate 122. Specifically, the first end 1231 of the link is inserted into the first groove 1211 of the first valve sheet 121, and a first gap exists between the first end 1231 of the link and the closed end of the first groove 1211. The second end of the link is inserted into the second groove 1221 of the second valve sheet 122, and a second gap exists between the second end 1232 of the link and the closed end of the second groove 1221. As such, when the fluid entering through the fluid inlet pushes the first valve sheet 121, the first valve sheet can move slightly away from the valve body with respect to the connecting rod due to the presence of the first gap, so that a small gap is formed between the fluid inlet and the first valve sheet 121 to allow the fluid to enter the interior of the valve body, the fluid entering the interior of the valve body presses on the upstream side of the second valve sheet 122 and thereby pushes the second valve sheet 122 against the inner surface of the valve body. To this end, a first return spring 124 is disposed between the valve stem and the inner surface of the first valve plate 121 to bias the first valve plate 121 toward the inner surface of the valve body in a position of the connecting rod adjacent to the first end, and a second return spring 125 is disposed between the valve stem and the inner surface of the second valve plate 122 to bias the second valve plate 122 toward the inner surface of the valve body in a position of the connecting rod adjacent to the second end. For example, the first and second return springs may be a coil spring, the large end of which is in contact with the first or second valve plate, and the lower end of which is in contact with the valve stem 13.

As shown in fig. 3, in one embodiment, the plug valve 1 may further include a protective sleeve 14 fixedly mounted to the valve body 111 and disposed between the valve core 12 and the valve body 111, i.e., the protective sleeve surrounds the valve core, which causes the valve core to rotate within the protective sleeve. The protective sleeve is formed of, for example, a wear-resistant or self-lubricating material, such as plastic, which avoids direct contact of the valve core with the valve body, does not wear the valve core, and ensures that the valve core can normally rotate without jamming.

The protective sheath also includes a locating pin 146 for locating the relative positions of the protective sheath 14 and the valve body 11. The locating pins 146 are, for example, embedded in corresponding grooves formed in the protective sleeve 14 and the valve body 11, thereby immobilizing the protective sleeve 14 relative to the valve body 11.

As shown in fig. 4, 5 and 6a-6b, the protective sleeve 14 includes a first opening 141 and a second opening 142, the first opening 141 being aligned with the fluid inlet 113 of the valve body and the second opening 142 being aligned with the fluid outlet 114 of the valve body. In the circumferential direction of the rotation axis of the spool 12, the middle portions of the opening walls of the first opening and the second opening are gradually recessed to both sides.

An annular mounting groove is provided on the outer surface of the protective sleeve, which annular mounting groove is a closed annular surrounding protective sleeve, having a first portion extending over the first opening 141 around the outer peripheral surface of the protective sleeve to a certain extent, a second portion extending under the second opening 142 around the outer peripheral surface of the protective sleeve to a certain extent, and an intermediate portion extending obliquely around the outer surface of the protective sleeve to connect the first and second portions, said certain extent exceeding the span of said first and second openings 141 and 142, as shown in fig. 6a and 6 b. Thus, in the side view of fig. 5, the mounting groove forms a cross-fold shape. The annular seal 144 is disposed within the annular mounting groove, in particular, the annular seal 144 has a first portion 1441 located within a first portion of the annular mounting groove, a second portion 1442 located within a middle portion of the annular mounting groove, and a third portion 1443 located within a second portion of the annular mounting groove.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, a first annular groove is further provided on the inner surface of the protective cover, the first annular groove being provided in a first plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the protective cover, and the first plane in which the first annular groove is located being different from the plane in which the first portion of the annular mounting groove is located, which is shown in the drawings as being located above the plane in which the first portion of the annular mounting groove is located, i.e. higher than the first portion, and the first seal ring 143 is provided in the first annular groove.

The inner surface of the protective sleeve is also provided with a second annular groove, which is arranged in a second plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the protective sleeve and which is different from the plane in which the second part of the annular mounting groove is arranged, which in the drawing is shown below the plane in which the second part of the annular mounting groove is arranged, i.e. below the position of the second part, in which the second sealing ring 145 is arranged.

The first plane is staggered with the first part, and the second open surface is staggered with the second part, so that the thickness of the protective sleeve can be effectively reduced. Through the cooperation of first sealing washer, second sealing washer and ring seal, can realize sealed effect better.

The plug valve further includes a throttling structure configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the throttling structure over a predetermined angular range during rotation of the valve spool to control fluid flow. The throttle structure may be arranged on the outer surfaces of the first and second valve plates, may also be arranged on the inner surface of the protective sleeve, and may also be arranged on the inner surface of the valve body when no protective sleeve is present, i.e. the throttle structure is arranged on one of the opposite surfaces which are in sliding contact with each other during rotation of the valve plates. For the predetermined angle range, which may be, for example, 20% to 80% of the total rotation angle of the spool, of course, the predetermined angle range is not limited thereto and may be set according to the need and the size of the sealing area.

In the following description, a "valve seat" is described, which is provided to a valve body. During rotation of the valve spool, the outer surfaces of the first and second valve plates are in sliding contact with the corresponding surfaces of the valve seat. The valve seat may be integral with the valve body (i.e. not comprising a protective sleeve), that is to say the valve seat is part of the valve body, in which case the corresponding surface of the valve seat may be understood as the inner surface of the valve body. The valve seat may be separate from the valve body and integral with the protective sleeve, that is to say the valve seat is part of the protective sleeve, in which case the corresponding surface of the valve seat may be understood as the inner surface of the protective sleeve. Fig. 9-12 show the throttle structure disposed on the outer surface of the first and second valve plates and fig. 13-16 show the throttle structure disposed on the inner surface of the protective sleeve. In the case where the throttle structure is provided on the inner surface of the valve body, it is similar to the structure where the throttle structure is provided on the inner surface of the protective cover, and thus, it can be conceived with reference to the structures shown in fig. 13 to 16, so that the description of the case where the throttle structure is provided on the inner surface of the valve body will not be repeated.

As shown in fig. 9, the throttle structure includes a first throttle groove 126 provided on an outer surface of the first valve sheet 121 and a second throttle groove 127 provided on an outer surface of the second valve sheet 122. The rotation process of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position is described below with reference to fig. 10 to 12. The first throttle groove 126 is located on the upstream side of the fluid inlet, and the second throttle groove 127 is located on the upstream side of the fluid outlet, in the rotation direction (counterclockwise) of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position. Moreover, the dimensions of the first throttle groove 126 and the dimensions of the second throttle groove 127 are varied, for example, the dimensions of the first throttle groove 127 are set to be gradually smaller along the rotation direction of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, and the dimensions of the second throttle groove 127 are set to be gradually smaller along the rotation direction of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, which causes the flow rate of the fluid flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the first throttle groove and the second throttle groove to be gradually varied when the spool rotates.

Regarding the dimensional changes of the first and second flow-restricting grooves, the width (i.e., the distance between the two opposite edges of the flow-restricting groove) and depth (i.e., the extending distance of the flow-restricting groove within the valve sheet) of the first and second flow-restricting grooves may be changed, or the dimensions of the first and second flow-restricting grooves may be changed in any other manner as long as the above-described functions can be achieved.

Fig. 10 shows the valve spool in a closed position, showing the first orifice 126 and the second orifice 127, thereby forming, for example, a flow control region S1. Furthermore, the fluid inlet is not in communication with the fluid outlet.

When the spool rotates (e.g., rotates counterclockwise) by, for example, 25 degrees to the position shown in fig. 11, the first throttle groove 126 begins to communicate with the fluid inlet 113 (and also communicates with the first opening 141 in the case of the presence of a protective cover), and the second throttle groove 127 begins to communicate with the fluid outlet 114 (and also communicates with the second opening 142 in the case of the presence of a protective cover), such that the fluid inlet 113 communicates to the fluid outlet 114 via the first throttle groove 126 and the second throttle groove 127.

The valve spool continues to rotate to the position shown in fig. 12, where a portion of the first throttling groove communicates with the fluid inlet and a portion of the second throttling groove communicates with the fluid outlet, and the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are still in communication through the first throttling groove and the second throttling groove.

The valve core continues to rotate to the valve-open position shown in fig. 13, at which time the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are in direct communication and the flow rate of the fluid is maximized. Thus, the control of the fluid flow is achieved by the first throttle groove and the second throttle groove within a predetermined angular range in which the spool rotates from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position.

When the valve spool rotates (e.g., rotates clockwise) from the open valve position, the first and second flow restricting grooves function as when the valve spool rotates from the closed valve position to the open valve position, and are not described in detail herein.

In order to better control the change of the fluid flow, the central planes of the first throttling groove and the second throttling groove which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are positioned on the same plane with the central plane of the valve plate which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Fig. 10 also shows a third throttling groove 128 and a fourth throttling groove 129 that are inactive during rotation of the valve spool in a counterclockwise direction from the closed position to the open position and in a clockwise direction from the open position to the closed position, and that only control fluid flow when the valve spool is rotated in a clockwise direction from the closed position to the open position and in a counterclockwise direction from the open position to the closed position. The third and fourth throttling grooves in this case will not be described again.

As shown in fig. 14, the throttle structure includes a first throttle groove 126 'provided on the inner surface of the protective cover 14, the first throttle groove 126' being located on the upstream side of the fluid inlet port and a second throttle groove (not shown) being located on the upstream side of the fluid outlet port in the direction of rotation of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position. Further, the first throttle groove 126' is sized to be gradually larger in the direction of rotation of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, and the second throttle groove is sized to be gradually larger in the direction of rotation of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, which causes the flow rate of the fluid flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the first throttle groove and the second throttle groove to be gradually changed during rotation of the spool.

Regarding the dimensional changes of the first and second flow-restricting grooves, the width (i.e., the distance between the two opposite edges of the flow-restricting grooves) and depth (i.e., the extending distance of the flow-restricting grooves within the inner surface of the protective cover) of the first and second flow-restricting grooves may be changed, or the dimensions of the first and second flow-restricting grooves may be changed in any other manner as long as the above-described functions can be achieved.

Fig. 15 shows the valve spool in a closed position, showing the first and second flow-restricting grooves 126', 127', thereby forming, for example, a flow control zone S1. Furthermore, the fluid inlet is not in communication with the fluid outlet.

When the spool rotates, for example 25 degrees, to the position shown in fig. 16, the first throttle groove 126 'starts to communicate with the fluid inlet 113 (also communicates with the first opening 141 in the case where the protector is present), and the second throttle groove 127' starts to communicate with the fluid outlet 114 (also communicates with the second opening 142 in the case where the protector is present), so that the fluid inlet 113 communicates to the fluid outlet 114 via the first throttle groove 126 'and the second throttle groove 127'.

The valve spool continues to rotate, for example 20 degrees, to the position shown in fig. 17, at which time a portion of the first throttling groove communicates with the fluid inlet and a portion of the second throttling groove communicates with the fluid outlet, and the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet remain in communication through the first throttling groove and the second throttling groove.

The valve core continues to rotate to the open valve position shown in fig. 18, where the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are in direct communication, and the fluid flow is at a maximum. Thus, the control of the fluid flow is achieved through the first throttling groove and the second throttling groove.

In order to better control the variation of the fluid flow, the central planes of the first throttling groove and the second throttling groove perpendicular to the longitudinal direction are positioned on the same plane with the central planes of the first opening and the second opening of the protective sleeve perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Fig. 15 also shows a third throttle groove 128 'and a fourth throttle groove 129' (also shown in fig. 14) that are inactive during rotation of the valve spool in a counterclockwise direction from the closed position to the open position and in a clockwise direction from the open position to the closed position, but only control fluid flow when the valve spool is rotated in a clockwise direction from the closed position to the open position and in a counterclockwise direction from the open position to the closed position. The third and fourth throttling grooves in this case will not be described again.

By providing the throttle structure, the flow rate of the fluid can be controlled during rotation of the valve element, and the flow rate change is smoother. In the case where the throttle structure is not present, as shown in fig. 19, there is no flow in the first portion D1, and after the spool rotates by a certain angle, there is a flow that enters the second portion D2, and in this second portion D2, there is an advantage that the flow is large. In the case where the throttle structure is present, as shown by the solid line, the flow rate is gently changed in the first portion D1, and after the spool is rotated by a certain angle, the flow rate reaches the second portion D2, and in this second portion D2, there is still an advantage in that the flow rate is large.

In the above description, the first throttling groove or the second throttling groove is shown as one, but it should be understood that there may be a plurality of first throttling grooves and second throttling grooves. Moreover, the throttle structure is described above in the form of a throttle groove, but the form of the throttle structure is not limited thereto, and the shape of the throttle groove is not limited to the shape described in the drawings, and a person skilled in the art may set various shapes as needed as long as a control function of the fluid flow can be achieved.

In the above description, the spool of the plug valve is shown having a first valve plate and a second valve plate, in practice, the spool of the plug valve may have only the second valve plate configured to encapsulate the fluid outlet or the second outlet of the protective sheath in the closed position. In this case, the throttle groove may be provided only on the outer surface of the second valve sheet or on the corresponding surface of the valve seat in sliding contact with the outer surface of the second valve sheet.

In the above description, it is shown that the throttle grooves are provided on the respective outer surfaces of the first and second valve plates, or on the corresponding surfaces of the valve seats in sliding contact with the outer surfaces of the first and second valve plates, for better control of the fluid flow rate. In practice, it is sufficient to provide the throttle groove only on the second valve plate, or it is sufficient to provide the throttle groove only on the corresponding surface of the valve seat in sliding contact with the outer surface of the second valve plate, without having to provide the throttle groove on the outer surface of the first valve plate or on the corresponding surface of the valve seat in sliding contact with the outer surface of the first valve plate. In other words, it is only necessary to provide the throttle groove on the valve plate on the fluid outlet side or on the corresponding surface of the valve seat.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments, and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. Any reference sign in a claim should not be construed as limiting the claim concerned.

Furthermore, it should be understood that although the present disclosure describes embodiments, not every embodiment is provided with a separate embodiment, and that this description is provided for clarity only, and that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described in detail below, and that the embodiments described in the examples may be combined as appropriate to form other embodiments that will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A plug valve, comprising:

a valve body comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;

a valve seat provided to the valve body;

a valve spool disposed within the valve body and rotatable between a valve-open position and a valve-closed position, the valve spool including a valve plate in which the valve plate closes the fluid outlet, an outer surface of the valve plate being in sliding contact with a corresponding surface of the valve seat during rotation of the valve spool; and

a throttle structure disposed on a corresponding surface of the valve seat and/or an outer surface of the valve plate and configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the throttle structure during rotation of the valve spool over a predetermined angular range to control fluid flow.

2. The plug valve of claim 1, wherein the valve seat is integral with the valve body.

3. The plug valve according to claim 2, wherein a throttle structure is formed on an outer surface of the valve plate, the throttle structure having a throttle groove located on an upstream side of the fluid outlet in a rotational direction of the valve body from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, and configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the throttle groove within a predetermined angular range during rotation of the valve body.

4. A plug valve according to claim 3, wherein the size of the throttling groove is varied such that during rotation of the valve spool the flow rate of fluid flowing from the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port via the throttling groove varies.

5. The plug valve of claim 4, wherein the size of the throttling groove is configured to taper in a direction of rotation of the valve spool from the closed position to the open position.

6. A plug valve according to claim 3, wherein the valve body further comprises a further valve plate which in the closed position closes the fluid inlet, the further valve plate and an outer surface of the valve plate being in sliding contact with corresponding surfaces of the valve seat during rotation of the valve body.

7. The plug valve according to claim 6, wherein the throttle structure includes another throttle groove formed on the other valve plate, the other throttle groove being provided on the other valve plate on an upstream side of the fluid inlet in a rotation direction of the valve body from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, such that the fluid inlet is communicated to the fluid outlet via the other throttle groove and the throttle groove within a predetermined angle range during rotation of the valve body.

8. The plug valve of claim 7 wherein the other throttling groove is sized to vary such that during rotation of the valve spool, the flow rate of fluid flowing from the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port via the other throttling groove and the throttling groove varies.

9. The plug valve of claim 8, wherein the other one of the plurality of throttling grooves is sized to taper in a direction of rotation of the valve spool from the closed position to the open position.

10. The plug valve of claim 2, wherein a throttle structure is formed on a corresponding surface of the valve seat, the throttle structure having a throttle groove located on an upstream side of the fluid outlet in a rotational direction of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position and configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the throttle groove within a predetermined angular range during rotation of the spool.

11. The plug valve of claim 10, wherein the throttle structure further has another throttle groove located on an upstream side of the fluid inlet in a rotational direction of the valve spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, and configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the other throttle groove and the throttle groove within a predetermined angular range during rotation of the valve spool.

12. The plug valve of claim 1, further comprising a protective sleeve fixedly mounted to the valve body and disposed between the valve core and the valve body, the valve seat being separate from the valve body, the valve seat being disposed on the protective sleeve integral with the protective sleeve, the protective sleeve including first and second openings in communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, respectively, the valve core rotating within the protective sleeve such that the valve sheet opens or closes the second opening.

13. The plug valve of claim 12, wherein a throttle structure is formed on an outer surface of the valve plate, the throttle structure having a throttle groove located on an upstream side of the fluid outlet in a rotational direction of the valve spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, and configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the throttle groove within a predetermined angular range during rotation of the valve spool.

14. The plug valve of claim 13, wherein the valve spool further comprises a further valve plate that closes the first inlet port in the closed position, an outer surface of the further valve plate and the valve plate being in sliding contact with corresponding surfaces of a valve seat during rotation of the valve spool.

15. The plug valve of claim 14, wherein the throttle structure includes another throttle groove formed on the other valve plate, the other throttle groove being provided on the other valve plate on an upstream side of the fluid inlet in a rotational direction of the valve body from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position, such that the fluid inlet is communicated to the fluid outlet via the other throttle groove and the throttle groove within a predetermined angular range during rotation of the valve body.

16. The plug valve of claim 12, wherein a throttle structure is formed on a corresponding surface of the valve seat, the throttle structure having a throttle groove located on an upstream side of the second outlet in a rotational direction of the spool from the valve-closing position to the valve-opening position and configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the throttle groove within a predetermined angular range during rotation of the spool.

17. The plug valve of claim 16 wherein the size of the throttling groove is varied such that during rotation of the valve spool, the flow rate of fluid flowing from the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port via the throttling groove varies.

18. The plug valve of claim 17, wherein the size of the throttling groove is configured to become progressively larger in a direction of rotation of the valve spool from the closed position to the open position.

19. The plug valve of claim 16, wherein the throttle structure further has another throttle groove located on an upstream side of the first inlet in a rotational direction of the spool from the closed position to the open position, and configured to communicate the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet via the other throttle groove and the throttle groove within a predetermined angular range during rotation of the spool.

20. The plug valve of claim 19 wherein the other throttling groove is sized to vary such that during rotation of the spool, the flow rate of fluid flowing from the fluid inlet port to the fluid outlet port via the other throttling groove and the throttling groove varies.

21. The plug valve of claim 20 wherein the other one of the plurality of throttling grooves is sized to progressively increase in a direction of rotation of the valve spool from the closed position to the open position.

22. The plug valve according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the valve body includes a valve body for accommodating the valve plug and a plug cover detachably mounted to the valve body.

23. Plug valve according to any of claims 12 to 21, wherein an annular mounting groove is provided on the outer surface of the protective sleeve, the annular mounting groove having a first portion extending along the outer surface above the first opening, a second portion extending along the outer surface below the second opening and an intermediate portion extending obliquely on the outer surface to connect the first and second portions respectively, an annular sealing ring being provided in the annular mounting groove, the first portion of the annular sealing ring being provided in the first portion of the annular mounting groove, the second portion of the annular sealing ring being provided in the second portion of the annular mounting groove, and the third portion of the annular sealing ring being provided in the intermediate portion of the annular mounting groove.

24. The plug valve of claim 23, wherein the inner surface of the protective sleeve is provided with a first annular groove disposed in a first plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the protective sleeve, and wherein the first annular groove is disposed in a first annular groove different from the first portion of the annular mounting groove.

25. The plug valve of claim 24, wherein the inner surface of the protective sleeve is provided with a second annular groove disposed in a second plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the protective sleeve, and wherein the second annular groove is disposed in a second annular groove different from the plane in which the second portion of the annular mounting groove is disposed.

26. A refrigerant control device for an air conditioner of a motor vehicle, comprising a plug valve according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

27. An air conditioner for a motor vehicle, characterized in that the air conditioner comprises the refrigerant control device according to claim 26.

28. A motor vehicle comprising an air conditioner according to claim 27.