Patent ID: 8191794

Claim:
A flow channel switching device comprising: a case that includes a plurality of flow passages that are communicated outside of the case, and a valve body that is formed to move in the case, and switches the flow channel of the fluid in accordance with a temperature of the fluid, wherein the valve body is movable to a predetermined position and is fixable by an external member when the fluid at a low temperature is fed into a fluid circuit, and wherein the plurality of flow passages includes a first input passage to the valve body that is open when the temperature of the fluid is low; and a second input passage to the valve body that is open when the temperature of the fluid is high, and a predetermined position is a position in which the valve body is seated when the first input passage is blocked, a shaft that supports the valve body such that the valve body moves in a predetermined direction; and a wax that is provided in a space enclosed by the valve body and the shaft, the wax expands and contracts in accordance with the temperature of the fluid, wherein the valve body is moved in the predetermined direction by the wax expanding, a portion of the shaft is inserted in the valve body while another portion of the shaft is exposed to the outside of the case, and the shaft is supported by the case to move in the predetermined direction, when the fluid is fed into the fluid circuit, the valve body is moved in the predetermined direction by pushing the shaft inward, whereby the first input passage is blocked and the second input passage is opened, wherein the shaft is fixed by the external member in a state that the shaft is pushed in the predetermined direction, and the flow channel switching device further comprises a biasing member that biases the valve body in a direction opposite to pushing the shaft inward, and wherein the external member is a pin having an elongated shape, the case has an insert hole into which the pin is inserted, and the pin is inserted into the insert hole in a state that the shaft is pushed inward, whereby an end face of the shaft contacts with the inserted pin, and the shaft is fixed.