Patent ID: 7793913

Claim:
A valve element opening/closing device for use with a fluid comprising: an inflow part into which the fluid is capable of flowing; an outflow part from which the fluid is capable of flowing out; opening parts which are provided in the inflow part and the outflow part; a valve element for opening and closing at least one of the opening parts; a drive mechanism for operating the valve element to change the opening part to an open state and to a closed state; a motor which is a drive source for the drive mechanism; and an urging member for urging the valve element in a direction such that the opening part is maintained in the closed state; wherein the drive mechanism comprises: a cam engagement part which is formed in the valve element; a cam member which is rotationally driven by the motor; a cam face which is formed in the cam member so as to be inclined with respect to a direction of a rotation center axis of the cam member and engaged with the cam engagement part; and a turning preventing part which restricts turning of the valve element due to rotational drive of the cam member to move the valve element linearly; wherein the valve element is linearly moved in parallel with the rotation center axis of the cam member through the cam engagement part of the valve element which receives a moving force along the cam face formed in the cam member together with rotation of the cam member; and wherein a rotor of the motor is movably held in the direction of the rotation center axis of the cam member and the valve element is urged by the urging member to close the opening part through the rotor and the cam member when the opening part is in the closed state.