Flow passage switching valve and fluid circulation circuit

A flow passage switching valve for a fluid circulation circuit that is for a fluid circulating, the flow passage switching valve comprising:

• a body forming therein a fluid passage for the fluid flowing therethrough;
• and
• a switcher configured to switch a passage configuration of the fluid passage, wherein
• the body includes a first inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, a second inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, and outlets for the fluid having flowed into the body and flowing out of the body,
• the outlets include a first outlet for the fluid having flowed in from the first inlet and flowing out of the body,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the first inlet flows out of either one of the outlets,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the second inlet flows out of either one of the outlets, and
• the fluid circulation circuit is configured such that a first temperature of the fluid flowing out of the first outlet is lower than a second temperature of the fluid flowing into the second inlet.

A flow passage switching valve for a fluid circulation circuit that is for a fluid circulating, the flow passage switching valve comprising:

• a body forming therein a fluid passage for the fluid flowing therethrough;
• and
• a switcher configured to switch a passage configuration of the fluid passage;
• wherein
• the body includes a first inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, a second inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, and outlets for the fluid having flowed into the body and flowing out of the body,
• the outlets include a first outlet for the fluid having flowed in from the first inlet and flowing out of the body, a second outlet for the fluid having flowed into the body and flowing out of the body, and a third outlet for the fluid having flowed into the body and flowing out of the body,
• the second inlet is an inlet for the fluid having flowed out of the body from the first outlet and flowing into the body again,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the first inlet flows out of either one of two outlets:
• the first outlet and the second outlet,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the second inlet flows out of either one of two outlets:
• the second outlet and the third outlet,
• a length of a passage leading from the first inlet to the second outlet is smaller than a total length of a length of a passage leading from the first inlet to the first outlet and a length of a passage leading from the second inlet to the second outlet, and
• the fluid circulation circuit is configured such that a first lowest temperature of the fluid flowing through the fluid passage leading from the first inlet to the second outlet is lower than a second lowest temperature of the fluid in a flow passage leading from the first outlet to the second inlet.

A flow passage switching valve for a fluid circulation circuit that is for a fluid circulating, the flow passage switching valve comprising:

• a body forming therein a fluid passage for the fluid flowing therethrough;
• a switcher configured to switch a passage configuration of the fluid passage;
• a driver configured to output driving force for moving the switcher;
• and
• a gear mechanism coupling the driver and the switcher to each other such that the driving force is transmitted therebetween, wherein
• the body includes a first inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, a second inlet the fluid flowing into the body, and outlets for the fluid having flowed into the body and flowing out of the body,
• the outlets include a first outlet for the fluid having flowed in from the first inlet and flowing out of the body,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the first inlet flows out of either one of the outlets,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the second inlet flows out of either one of the outlets, and
• the flow passage switching valve further comprising a gear biasing member configured to generate a load in a direction where tooth surfaces of gears of the gear mechanism come into contact with each other.

A flow passage switching valve for a fluid circulation circuit that is for a fluid circulating, the flow passage switching valve comprising:

• a body forming therein a fluid passage for the fluid flowing therethrough;
• and
• a switcher configured to switch a passage configuration of the fluid passage, wherein
• the body includes a first inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, a second inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, and outlets for the fluid having flowed into the body and flowing out of the body,
• the outlets include a first outlet for the fluid having flowed in from the first inlet and flows out of the body,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the first inlet flows out of either one of the outlets,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the second inlet flows out of either one of the outlets,
• the switcher has a sealing surface coming into surface-to-surface contact with the body, and
• the flow passage switching valve further comprising a switcher biasing member configured to exert a load on the switcher in a direction where the sealing surface is pressed against the body.

A fluid circulation circuit for a fluid circulating, the fluid circulation circuit comprising:

• apparatuses for the fluid flowing therethrough;
• and
• a flow passage switching valve configured to switch a circuit configuration of a circuit that is for the fluid circulating, wherein
• the flow passage switching valve includes a body forming therein a fluid passage for the fluid flowing therethrough, and a switcher configured to switch a passage configuration of the fluid passage,
• the body includes a first inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, a second inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, and outlets for the fluid having flowed into the boy and flowing out of the body,
• the outlets include a first outlet for the fluid having flowed in from the first inlet and flows out of the body,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the first inlet flows out of either one of the outlets,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the second inlet flows out of either one of the outlets, and
• a first pressure of the fluid flowing into the first inlet is set to be higher than a second pressure of the fluid flowing into the second inlet.

A fluid circulation circuit for a fluid circulating, the fluid circulation circuit comprising:

• apparatuses for the fluid flowing therethrough;
• and
• a flow passage switching valve configured to switch a circuit configuration of a circuit that is for the fluid circulating, wherein
• the flow passage switching valve includes a body forming therein a fluid passage for the fluid flowing therethrough, and a switcher configured to switch a passage configuration of the fluid passage,
• the body includes a first inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, a second inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, and outlets for the fluid having flowed into the body and flowing out of the body,
• the outlets include a first outlet for the fluid having flowed in from the first inlet and flowing out of the body,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the first inlet flows out of either one of the outlets,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the second inlet flows out of either one of the outlets, and
• a first temperature of the fluid flowing out through the first outlet is set to be lower than a second temperature of the fluid flowing into the second inlet.

A fluid circulation circuit for a fluid circulating, comprising:

• apparatuses through which the fluid flows;
• and
• a flow passage switching valve configured to switch a circuit configuration of a circuit that is for the fluid circulating, wherein
• the flow passage switching valve includes a body forming therein a fluid passage for the fluid flowing therethrough, and a switcher configured to switch a passage configuration of the fluid passage,
• the body includes a first inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, a second inlet for the fluid flowing into the body, and outlets for the fluid having flowed into the body and flowing out of the body,
• the outlets include a first outlet for the fluid having flowed into the body from the first inlet and flowing out of the body, a second outlet for the fluid having flowed into the body and flowing out of the body, and a third outlet for the fluid having flowed into the body and flowing out of the body,
• the second inlet is an inlet for the fluid having flowed out of the body from the first outlet and flows into the body again,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the first inlet flows out of either one of two outlets:
• the first outlet and the second outlet,
• the switcher is configured such that the passage configuration is switchable to a state in which the fluid that has flowed in from the second inlet flows out of either one of two outlets:
• the second outlet and the third outlet,
• a length of a passage leading from the first inlet to the second outlet is smaller than a total length of a length of a passage leading from the first inlet to the first outlet and a length of a passage leading from the second inlet to the second outlet, and
• a first lowest temperature of the fluid flowing through the fluid passage in the flow passage switching valve leading from the first inlet to the second outlet is set to be lower than a second lowest temperature of the fluid in a flow passage leading from the first outlet to the second inlet.