US 2011/0226001 A1 · CHANNEL SWITCHING VALVE AND HEAT PUMP SYSTEM USING THE SAME

Abstract

A rotary type channel switching valve for use in a heat pump system is provided. The channel switching valve provides a plurality of channel switching means required when switching connection of a plurality of devices to parallel/series connection, e.g., in a system including the plurality of devices including inlet/outlet ports for a fluid. The channel-switching valve can play a role of a plurality of channel switching means which are required when connecting a plurality of heat exchangers in parallel when a refrigerant is passed in a normal direction, and when connecting a plurality of heat exchangers in series when the refrigerant is passed in a reverse direction, for example, in a heat pump including the plurality of heat exchangers, and thereby, can realize simplification of a configuration of the heat pump, reduction in an occupied space, cost and energy consumption, or the like.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A channel-switching valve, comprising:

a valve main body provided with a valve chamber having an upper side valve seat section and a lower side valve seat section;
a valve body which is rotated with upper and lower end surfaces of the valve body opposed to and in contact with the upper side valve seat section and the lower side valve seat section;
and
an actuator which rotationally drives the valve body,
wherein a plurality of ports are formed in the upper side valve seat section, and a plurality of ports are formed in the lower side valve seat section;
wherein the valve body is provided with at least one communication path which can allow the upper and lower ports to communicate with each other;
and
wherein the valve chamber is divided into an upper chamber section and a lower chamber section by the valve body.

5 more elements

A channel-switching valve, comprising:

a valve main body provided with a valve chamber having an upper side valve seat to section and a lower side valve seat section;
a valve body which is rotated with upper and lower end surfaces of the valve body opposed to and in contact with the upper side valve seat section and the lower side valve seat section;
and
an actuator which rotationally drives the valve body;
wherein a plurality of upper side inlet/outlet ports and an upper side main port are formed in the upper side valve seat section, and a plurality of lower side inlet/outlet ports which are paired with the plurality of upper side inlet/outlet ports, and a lower side main port which is paired with the upper side main port are formed in the lower side valve seat section;
wherein the valve body is provided with at least one communication path which can allow the respective ports paired at a top and bottom to communicate with each other;
and
wherein the valve chamber is divided into an upper chamber section and a lower chamber section by the valve body.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Channel switching valve and heat pump system using the same

Life of this patent

Channel switching valve and heat pump system using the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20