Patent Description:
A vehicle valve is provided to control a flow amount of air (fresh air) supplied to an engine of the vehicle or exhaust gas discharged from the engine.

As disclosed in the Patent Document <NUM> mentioned below, this vehicle valve includes a housing, a driving part provided in the housing, a driving force transmitter connected to the driving part and implemented as a gear assembly, a shaft connected to the driving force transmitter to rotate, and a valve plate which is rotatably provided inside a flow path provided inside the housing and is coupled to the shaft to control an opening degree of the flow path according to rotation of the shaft and to open and close the flow path. Further relevant prior art is included in Patent Documents <NUM> to <NUM> mentioned below. Patent Documents <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> discloses a sealing member formed in a ring shape having one end and another end facing each other.

Generally, a valve plate is formed in a metal disc, and is fastened by a coupling member such as a bolt in a state in which the valve plate is inserted into a slot formed in a central region of a shaft. A rotation center of the shaft is positioned in a central region of the flow path.

In this valve, when the shaft rotates and the valve plate becomes parallel to a direction of flow in the flow path, the valve is in a fully open state, and when the valve plate is inclined with respect to a direction of flow in the flow path, and an edge of the valve plate touches an inner wall of the flow path, the valve is in a fully closed state.

However, in a process of repeating such a fully open state and closed state, a problem in which corrosion due to foreign substances occurs at a contact portion between the valve plate and the inner wall of the passage is pointed out.

To overcome the problem, a vehicle valve with the features of claim <NUM> is provided. Preferable embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.

The present disclosure provides a vehicle valve including a valve housing in which a flow path is formed and a shaft hole is formed in a direction orthogonal to the flow path, a driving part provided in the valve housing, and an opening and closing part including a shaft connected to the driving part and a plate coupled to the shaft and selectively opening and closing the flow path, and controlling flow of gas passing through the flow path, wherein the opening and closing part includes a sealing member coupled to a sealing groove formed on an outer circumferential surface of the plate to shield between the flow path inner circumferential surface and the plate, and disposed to horizontally move in a width direction of the sealing groove.

The sealing member is formed in a ring shape and has one end and another end facing each other, which contact each other in an oblique direction.

The plate may have a cross section with a disk shape, and an inner width of the sealing groove may be larger than a width of the sealing member to enable horizontal movement of the sealing member in a width direction or a radial direction in the sealing groove.

In a state in which the plate shields the flow path, when pressure is applied in a first direction, the sealing member may be in close contact in the first direction inside the sealing groove, and when pressure is applied in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the sealing member may be in close contact in the second direction inside the sealing groove.

One side of the sealing member, which is in contact with at least an inner circumferential surface of the flow path, may be elastically deformable.

In the opening and closing part, the plate may be disposed at a position spaced apart from a rotation shaft of the shaft.

The vehicle valve further includes a square ring that contacts the sealing member when being disposed around the plate to close the opening and closing part inside the flow path, and including at least one planar portion in a circumferential direction on an outer circumferential surface.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail by explaining exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a vehicle valve according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a bottom view showing a rear surface of a rear surface of the vehicle valve shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing the vehicle valve shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a vehicle valve <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure may include a housing <NUM>, a driving part <NUM>, an opening and closing part <NUM>, and a square ring <NUM>.

First, the housing <NUM> may define an outer appearance of the vehicle valve <NUM> according to the present disclosure and accomodates the driving part <NUM>, the opening and closing part <NUM>, and the square ring <NUM> therein, which will be described below.

A space for flow of air or gas may be formed inside the housing <NUM> by an inner wall, and in the present embodiment, the space for flow of air or gas may be defined as a flow path <NUM>.

The flow path <NUM> inside the housing <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be a passage for air to flow, and the opening and closing part <NUM> described below may be mounted on the flow path to control flow of air.

A shaft hole <NUM> in which a shaft <NUM> is installed is formed inside the housing <NUM>. One end of the shaft hole <NUM> is processed to communicate with the flow path <NUM>. In this case, a longitudinal direction of the shaft hole <NUM> is orthogonal to a virtual extension line L connecting the centers of the flow path <NUM>.

The driving part <NUM> provides a driving force to the opening and closing part <NUM> that selectively blocks or allows air flow in the flow path.

The driving part <NUM> may include a motor <NUM>, a gear part <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>.

The motor <NUM> may be inserted into a motor insert part <NUM> formed inside the housing <NUM>, and a motor cover <NUM> may fix the motor <NUM> on the housing <NUM> while being fixed around the motor insert part <NUM>.

The gear part <NUM> includes a pinion gear 122a, a reduction gear 122b, and a shaft gear 122c.

The pinion gear 122a may be coupled to a rotation shaft of the motor <NUM> and may be arranged to be engaged with the reduction gear 122b. The reduction gear 122b may be provided in the form of a double-layered gear including a first gear (large diameter portion) 122b1 engaged with the pinion gear 122a, and a second gear (small diameter portion) 122b2 integrally formed with the first gear 122b1 and having a smaller number of teeth than the first gear 122b1. The second gear 122b2 may be arranged to be engaged with the shaft gear 122c. Therefore, the shaft gear 122c may finally provide a large torque to the opening and closing part <NUM> while decelerating more than motor output.

The controller <NUM> may control rotation of the motor <NUM> or rotation of the shaft gear 122c. For example, the controller <NUM> may control a rotation direction or speed of the motor <NUM> or may also detect a rotational state of the shaft gear 122c using a hole sensor <NUM>.

The driving part <NUM> and the controller <NUM> may be covered by a housing cover <NUM>' on the housing <NUM>, and the housing cover <NUM>' may also support a part of the driving part <NUM> on the opposite side of the housing <NUM>.

The opening and closing part <NUM> includes the shaft <NUM> and a plate <NUM>.

The shaft <NUM> may be arranged to be rotatable inside the shaft hole <NUM> by coupling one end of the shaft <NUM> to the shaft gear 122c. A magnet <NUM> may be coupled to one end of the shaft <NUM> to cause the hole sensor <NUM> of the controller <NUM> to detect a rotational state.

A bushing 135a coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the shaft <NUM> and supporting the shaft <NUM>, a needle bearing 135b, and a seal member 135c may be arranged inside the shaft hole <NUM>. The bushing 135a may be made of bronze or brass. A torsion spring 135d providing restoring force to the shaft gear 122c is provided between the shaft gear 122c and the housing <NUM>.

The plate <NUM> is coupled to the other end of the shaft <NUM> to cause the plate <NUM> to open and close the flow path <NUM> according to rotation of the shaft <NUM>. The other end of the shaft <NUM> may penetrate the flow path <NUM> and may be inserted into an opposite housing to provide support structures on both sides. In this case, the shaft hole <NUM> may extend inside the opposite housing, and a bushing 135f supporting the other end of the shaft <NUM> and a cap <NUM> covering an end of the shaft hole <NUM> may be provided. The support structures on both sides may support rigid rotation of the shaft <NUM>, and thus may be suitable for structures that require to be precisely controlled.

In addition, one flow path <NUM> may be formed with two configurations of different materials while the square ring <NUM> is inserted and fixed inside the flow path <NUM> and the housing <NUM> is molded using an insert casting method. In this case, a through hole <NUM> may be formed in the square ring <NUM> in such a way that the shaft <NUM> extends in a direction of the flow path <NUM>. For example, the housing <NUM> may be made of aluminum, which is easy to process and light, and the square ring <NUM> may be made of stainless steel, which is resistant to corrosion.

After the plate <NUM> is coupled to the shaft <NUM>, a fastener f passes through the plate <NUM> and may be fixed to the shaft <NUM>, and in this case, adhesive may be applied to one or the other side of the fastener f, which is coupled to the shaft <NUM>, or laser welding may be performed thereon to prevent loosening of the fastener f from the shaft <NUM>.

A sealing material <NUM> may be provided on a surface on which a peripheral part of the driving part <NUM> and the housing cover <NUM>' face each other or a surface on which the housing <NUM> and the housing cover <NUM>' are coupled to face each other inside the housing <NUM>.

<FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a section of I-I' of the vehicle valve shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a partially enlarged view showing a flow path area of the vehicle valve shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing a section of II-II' of the vehicle valve shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is an enlarged reference view showing a state in which a plate is further opened inside a flow path of the vehicle valve shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the shaft hole <NUM> may include an upper shaft hole 112a and a lower shaft hole 112b. A first step 115a may be provided in the upper shaft hole 112a to support a retaining washer 135e coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the shaft <NUM>, and a seal member 135c may be provided to form a minimum assembly tolerance between the shaft <NUM> and the shaft hole <NUM> adjacently to an area in which a seal member 135c is coupled to the shaft <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may include a vent hole 115c formed to communicate with the outside. The vent hole 115c may guide condensate condensed inside the housing <NUM> or foreign substances such as air or moisture introduced from the flow path <NUM> into the shaft hole <NUM> to be discharged to the outside and thus may prevent air from being introduced in a direction of the driving part <NUM>. In detail, the vent hole 115c may be disposed on a sidewall of the housing <NUM> adjacent to the driving part <NUM>. Accordingly, the vent hole 115c may discharge heat generated around the driving part to the outside.

As shown in <FIG>, the plate <NUM> includes a sealing member <NUM> in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the square ring <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> may improve shielding performance while reducing direct friction between the plate and the square ring <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> may be implemented with a material having less hardness than the material of the square ring <NUM> and having elasticity. The sealing member <NUM> may have a sealing function of a piston ring or gasket.

Referring to <FIG>, while the plate <NUM> rotates inside the flow path <NUM>, the sealing member <NUM> and the inner circumferential surface of the square ring <NUM> may repeatedly come into contact, and in this case, moisture and foreign substances contained in air may partially accumulate between the sealing member <NUM> or the plate <NUM> and the inner circumferential surface of the square ring <NUM>. When moisture and foreign substances are gradually deposited, corrosion occurs between the square ring <NUM> and the sealing member <NUM>, and since the sealing member <NUM> is in continuous contact with the inner circumferential surface of the square ring <NUM>, there is a low possibility of corrosion, and usually corrosion may occur on the inner circumferential surface of the square ring <NUM>.

As a countermeasure to prevent this problem, the square ring <NUM> made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel may be mounted at a location of the flow path <NUM> in the housing <NUM>, and then a part of the flow path <NUM> may be manufactured by insert casting.

Needless to say, the sealing member <NUM> may correspond to a part of a sphere shape having a rotation shaft of the shaft <NUM> located inside the flow path <NUM> as a diameter, and the sealing member <NUM> and the inner circumferential surface of the square ring <NUM> may have line contact with each other.

<FIG> is a reference diagram showing a square ring of the vehicle valve shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the square ring <NUM> may include a cylindrical portion <NUM> made of a stainless-steel material, and the through hole <NUM> into which the shaft <NUM> is inserted through the cylindrical portion <NUM>.

The cylindrical portion <NUM> includes a hollow portion <NUM> having a ring shape with a predetermined width and formed to correspond to the flow path <NUM> therein. That is, the flow path <NUM> and the hollow part <NUM> may have the same or similar inner diameters.

The through hole <NUM> may have a size corresponding to an inner diameter of the shaft hole <NUM>. The through hole <NUM> may be disposed on at least one side of the cylindrical portion <NUM> and may be formed to pass through a central region of the cylindrical portion <NUM>.

The cylindrical portion <NUM> includes a first region <NUM>, a second region <NUM>, and a third region <NUM>.

The first region <NUM> is disposed at one side of the cylindrical portion <NUM> to have the largest thickness in a direction of the virtual extension line L (refer to <FIG>) connecting the centers of the flow path <NUM>.

The second region <NUM> is disposed at the other side of the cylindrical portion <NUM> to have a smaller thickness than the first region <NUM>.

The third region <NUM> is a portion connecting the first region <NUM> and the second region <NUM> and having an inner circumferential surface formed of a curved surface or an inclined surface.

That is, in the cylindrical portion <NUM>, the first region <NUM> to the third region <NUM> may have the same outer diameter and different inner diameters, resulting in a difference in thickness. A detailed processing method of the cylindrical portion <NUM> will be described later.

The cylindrical portion <NUM> is provided with a planar portion <NUM> on an outer circumferential surface, and an inner circumferential surface of the first region <NUM> may be provided with an inner stair <NUM>.

The planar portion <NUM> may be formed by being cut into a curved surface with a different curvature from the outer circumferential surface or a plane. In the present embodiment, a shape in which the planar portion <NUM> is cut into a plane having a predetermined width will be described as an example.

The planar portion <NUM> may form a section in which the square ring <NUM> having a circular cross section contacts the housing <NUM> in a plane-to-plane pattern during an insert casting process. That is, when the housing <NUM> and the square ring <NUM> come into contact only with a curved surface having a constant curvature, slip may occur therebetween or rotation relative to a predetermined angle may occur, and thus this may be prevented through the planar portion <NUM>.

The at least one planar portion <NUM> may be disposed to correspond to a location of the shaft hole <NUM>. Accordingly, when the through hole <NUM> is post-processed to correspond to the shaft hole <NUM> on the cylindrical portion <NUM>, cutting may be performed while a cutting tool is inserted into the shaft hole <NUM> and contacts the planar portion <NUM>. A stable punching position may be advantageously set because the tool contacts the planar portion <NUM> compared to cutting by contacting the curved surface on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion <NUM>. Needless to say, the plurality of planar portions <NUM> may be arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion <NUM> while being formed in a width direction of the cylindrical portion <NUM>, and another planar portion may be disposed to correspond to a location at which the shaft hole <NUM> is formed in the opposite housing based on the flow path <NUM>. Accordingly, two planar portions <NUM> may be provided to correspond to the location of the shaft hole <NUM> on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion <NUM>, or a total of four planar portions may be provided at equal intervals or at equal angles.

The plate <NUM> or the sealing member <NUM> comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the second region of the square ring <NUM> in a process of closing the opening and closing part <NUM>, and for a smooth opening and closing operation of the plate <NUM>, the second Region <NUM> is may be made of a curved surface or an inclined surface shape.

<FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a section of III-III' of the vehicle valve of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a state in which the shaft hole <NUM> and the flow path <NUM> are partially cut in a longitudinal direction of the housing <NUM>, and a state in which the square ring <NUM> is omitted on the flow path <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in the housing <NUM>, a planar portion support portion <NUM> formed of a plane may protrude to face the planar portion <NUM> on the flow path <NUM>.

That is, the planar portion support portion <NUM> may prevent rotation of the square ring <NUM> by contacting and supporting the planar portion <NUM> while a base material faces an area of the planar portion <NUM> during a molding process of the housing <NUM>.

The first step 115a and the second stair 115b inside the shaft hole <NUM> may be formed more precisely through secondary processing. For example, the first step 115a and the second stair 115b may be processed simultaneously during a molding process of the housing <NUM>, and after processing is completed, the first step 115a and the second stair 115b are post-processed using a tool (not shown). Needless to say, after the shaft hole <NUM> without steps is pre-processed, the first step 115a and the second stair 115b may be formed by post-processing using a tool.

<FIG> is a partial enlarged view showing one side of a plate of the vehicle valve shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a reference view showing the state in which pressure is applied in a first direction inside a flow path of the vehicle valve shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a reference view showing the state in which pressure is applied in a second direction inside the flow path of the vehicle valve shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the vehicle valve <NUM> according to the present disclosure may be installed to enable horizontal movement of the sealing member <NUM> on the plate <NUM>.

A sealing groove <NUM> in which the sealing member <NUM> is installed is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the plate <NUM>, and the sealing member <NUM> may be moved in a width direction of the sealing groove <NUM> inside the sealing groove <NUM> by a pressure condition inside the flow path.

That is, a predetermined gap is formed between the sealing groove <NUM> and the sealing member <NUM> according to assembly tolerance, and in this regard, the sealing member <NUM> is manufactured to artificially and horizontally move in a width direction of the sealing groove <NUM> by limiting the assembly tolerance within a predetermined range. Needless to say, in order for the sealing member <NUM> to move in the width direction inside the sealing groove <NUM>, the width of the sealing groove <NUM> is larger than that of the sealing member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in a state where the opening and closing part <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) closes the flow path <NUM>, when pressure is formed in a first direction D1 inside the flow path, the sealing member <NUM> may be pressed and adhered in the first direction D1 inside the sealing groove <NUM> by the pressure of the first direction D1. In this case, a relatively greater pressure may be formed between the sealing member <NUM> and the square ring <NUM>, through which sealing force may be increased.

As shown in <FIG>, in a state in which the opening and closing part <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) closes the flow path <NUM>, when pressure is formed inside the flow path in a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction, the sealing member <NUM> may be pressed and adhered in the second direction D2 inside the sealing groove <NUM> by the pressure of the second direction D2. In this case, a contact state may be maintained between the sealing member <NUM> and the square ring <NUM>, and a relatively small pressure may be formed.

In order to maintain sealing force with the square ring <NUM> while the sealing member <NUM> horizontally moves inside the sealing groove <NUM>, the sealing member <NUM> may be made of an elastic material for elastic deformation. Needless to say, at least one side of the sealing member <NUM> in contact with the square ring <NUM> may be made of an elastic material.

Therefore, since the position or area in which the sealing member <NUM> contacts an inner circumferential surface of the square ring <NUM> is deformed, it may be possible to minimize corrosion in the contact area between the inner circumferential surface of the square ring <NUM> and the sealing member <NUM>, and even if deformation occurs compared to an initial state of manufacture due to wear of the plate <NUM> or the square ring <NUM> during an opening and closing operation of the opening and closing part <NUM>, the sealing member <NUM> moves according to a direction of internal pressure, and thus sealing force may be maintained.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a sealing member of the vehicle valve shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the sealing member <NUM> is formed in a ring shape. In this case, some areas of the sealing member <NUM> are configured adjacent to each other in a cut state, and both one end and the other end of the sealing member <NUM> may be cut in the same oblique direction and placed in contact with each other. Here, the oblique direction means that a surface of one end and a surface of the other end of the sealing member <NUM> are disposed at an angle that is not orthogonal to a longitudinal direction or radial direction of the sealing member <NUM> and the surface of one end and the surface of the other end overlap at least partially with respect to the orthogonal direction.

That is, since one end and the other end of the sealing member <NUM> are cut to face each other in the same oblique direction, pressure leakage in a width direction of the sealing member may be minimized.

As shown in <FIG> or <FIG>, when pressure is applied to the sealing member <NUM> in a first direction or a second direction, since a cutting area CA provides a structure that is more closely adhered by pressure, sealing force may be further increased.

Although not shown in the drawings, a shape of the cutting area CA of the sealing member <NUM> may be implemented in various patterns to increase the contact area between both ends. In the sealing member, opposite surfaces of both ends of the cutting area CA have a cross-sectional shape including any one selected from, for example, a stair pattern, a sawtooth pattern, and a wavy pattern, and thus when contacting each other, the cutting area CA may be engaged with each other.

Therefore, by virtue of the vehicle valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sealing member may be disposed in a spherical line contact with the square ring inside the flow path of the vehicle valve, thereby minimizing wear to increase durability. Even if the contact area with the sealing member in the flow path is worn out, the sealing force may be maintained by arranging the sealing member to move horizontally inside the sealing groove. The vehicle valve may be applied to a structure in which fluid simultaneously flows in both directions in the flow path. The planar portion may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the square ring, and thus it may be easy to process the through hole into which the shaft is inserted and it may be possible to prevent slip or relative rotation between the housing and the square ring.

By virtue of the vehicle valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,.

First, the sealing member may be disposed in a spherical line contact with the square ring inside the flow path of the vehicle valve, thereby minimizing wear to increase durability.

Second, even if the contact area with the sealing member in the flow path is worn out, the sealing force may be maintained by arranging the sealing member to move horizontally inside the sealing groove.

Third, the vehicle valve may be applied to a structure in which fluid simultaneously flows in both directions in the flow path,.

Claim 1:
A vehicle valve (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) in which a flow path (<NUM>) is formed and a shaft hole (<NUM>) is formed in a direction orthogonal to the flow path (<NUM>);
a driving part (<NUM>) provided in the housing (<NUM>);
an opening and closing part (<NUM>) including a shaft (<NUM>) connected to the driving part (<NUM>) and a plate (<NUM>) coupled to the shaft (<NUM>) and selectively opening and closing the flow path (<NUM>), and controlling flow of gas passing through the flow path (<NUM>); and
wherein the opening and closing part (<NUM>) includes a sealing member (<NUM>) coupled to a sealing groove (<NUM>) formed on an outer circumferential surface of the plate (<NUM>) to shield between the flow path (<NUM>) inner circumferential surface and the plate (<NUM>) and disposed to horizontally move in a width direction of the sealing groove (<NUM>),
the vehicle valve further comprising a square ring (<NUM>) that contacts the sealing member (<NUM>) when being disposed around the plate (<NUM>) to close the opening and closing part (<NUM>) inside the flow path (<NUM>), and including at least one planar portion (<NUM>) in a circumferential direction on an outer circumferential surface,
wherein, in the opening and closing part (<NUM>), the plate (<NUM>) is disposed at a position spaced apart from a rotation shaft of the shaft (<NUM>),
wherein the square ring (<NUM>) includes:
a cylindrical portion (<NUM>) including a hollow portion (<NUM>); and
a through hole (<NUM>) through which the shaft (<NUM>) is inserted;
wherein the cylindrical portion (<NUM>) includes:
a first region (<NUM>) disposed at one side of the cylindrical portion (<NUM>);
a second region (<NUM>) disposed at the other side of the cylindrical portion (<NUM>); and
a third region (<NUM>) being a portion connecting the first region (<NUM>) and the second region (<NUM>) and having an inner circumferential surface formed of a curved surface or an inclined surface,
wherein the first region (<NUM>) has the largest thickness among the first region (<NUM>), second region (<NUM>) and third region (<NUM>),
wherein the second region (<NUM>) has an inner circumferential surface,
wherein the inner circumferential surface comes into contact with the plate (<NUM>) or the sealing member (<NUM>) in a process of closing the opening and closing part (<NUM>), and is made of a curved surface or an inclined surface shape.