# US 9,435,457 B2 · Flow regulating valve

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- Number: US 9,435,457 B2
- Document ID: US9435457B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/124,210
- Filed: 2012-06-26
- Published: 2014-04-10
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-27
- Assignees: Zhejiang Sanhua Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Ming Lv; Xianrang Wei; Qingyong Wang
- Inventors: Ming Lv; Xianrang Wei; Qingyong Wang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435457B2

## CPC

- F16K 31/047: {characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means (F16K31/043 takes precedence)}
- F16K 31/504: {the actuating means being rotable, rising, and having internal threads which co-operate with threads on the outside of the valve body}
- F16K 31/508: {the actuating element being rotatable, non-rising, and driving a non-rotatable axially-sliding element}
- F16K 31/53: with toothed gearing
- F25B 41/35: by rotary motors, e.g. by stepping motors
- Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A flow regulating valve includes a valve seat and a shell connected to the valve seat, a motor is provided in the shell, and the motor is connected to a screw rod. The screw rod is connected with a nut in a thread cooperation manner, the nut is connected with a valve rod, and the valve rod is movable in an axial direction to regulate an opening degree of a valve port on the valve seat. The whole of the nut or a lower portion of the nut is in clearance fit with the mounting groove in the valve rod in a radial direction. An internal wall of the mounting groove is provided with an annular position limiting groove, in which a position limiting component is provided. The design of the flow regulating valve is able to eliminate the coaxiality error between the screw rod and the screw nut.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flow regulating valve, comprising: a valve seat and a shell connected to the valve seat, wherein a motor is provided in the shell, and the motor is connected to a screw rod via an output shaft of the motor; the screw rod is connected with a nut in a thread cooperation manner; and the nut is connected with a valve rod, and the valve rod is movable in an axial direction to regulate an opening degree of a valve port on the valve seat; and wherein the valve rod is provided therein with a mounting groove, and the whole of the nut or a lower portion of the nut is in clearance fit with the mounting groove in a radial direction; and an internal wall of the mounting groove is provided with an annular position limiting groove, and a position limiting component that limits an axial position of the nut and in clearance fit with an exterior portion of the nut is provided in the annular position limiting groove; and
one of a bottom wall of the mounting groove and a bottom wall of the nut is provided with a circumferential position limiting groove, the other one is provided with a position limiting projection, and the position limiting projection is provided in the circumferential position limiting groove.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 1, wherein the position limiting component comprises a snap ring, and a circumferential side wall of the nut is provided with a position limiting step surface, and wherein the snap ring is mounted in the annular position limiting groove and is supported on the position limiting step surface, and there is a gap between the internal wall of the snap ring and a corresponding side wall of the nut.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 2, wherein the position limiting component further comprises a check ring which is sleeved and supported on the position limiting step surface in a circumferential direction, and there is a gap between an internal wall of the check ring and a corresponding side wall of the nut; and the snap ring is supported on the position limiting step surface via the check ring.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 3, wherein a top surface of the check ring is provided with a check ring step surface, the snap ring is supported on the check ring step surface, and there is a gap between an internal wall of the snap ring and a corresponding side wall of the check ring.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 4, wherein the whole of the nut is provided in the mounting groove; the output shaft of the motor is connected with the screw rod via a gear system, the gear system is supported on the gear seat which is located in a valve cavity of the valve seat, and the screw rod is passed through the gear seat and is in thread cooperation with the nut; and a lower portion of the gear seat is provided with a first position limiting portion, and an upper portion of the valve rod is provided with a second position limiting portion which is cooperated with the first position limiting portion such that the position of the valve rod relative to the gear seat is circumferentially limited and the valve rod is slidable in the axial direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 3, wherein the position limiting step surface is a first tapered surface, a bottom surface of the check ring is a second tapered surface, and an inclined angle of the first tapered surface is less than that of the second tapered surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 6, wherein the whole of the nut is provided in the mounting groove; the output shaft of the motor is connected with the screw rod via a gear system, the gear system is supported on the gear seat which is located in a valve cavity of the valve seat, and the screw rod is passed through the gear seat and is in thread cooperation with the nut; and a lower portion of the gear seat is provided with a first position limiting portion, and an upper portion of the valve rod is provided with a second position limiting portion which is cooperated with the first position limiting portion such that the position of the valve rod relative to the gear seat is circumferentially limited and the valve rod is slidable in the axial direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 3, wherein the whole of the nut is provided in the mounting groove; the output shaft of the motor is connected with the screw rod via a gear system, the gear system is supported on the gear seat which is located in a valve cavity of the valve seat, and the screw rod is passed through the gear seat and is in thread cooperation with the nut; and a lower portion of the gear seat is provided with a first position limiting portion, and an upper portion of the valve rod is provided with a second position limiting portion which is cooperated with the first position limiting portion such that the position of the valve rod relative to the gear seat is circumferentially limited and the valve rod is slidable in the axial direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 2, wherein the whole of the nut is provided in the mounting groove; the output shaft of the motor is connected with the screw rod via a gear system, the gear system is supported on the gear seat which is located in a valve cavity of the valve seat, and the screw rod is passed through the gear seat and is in thread cooperation with the nut; and a lower portion of the gear seat is provided with a first position limiting portion, and an upper portion of the valve rod is provided with a second position limiting portion which is cooperated with the first position limiting portion such that the position of the valve rod relative to the gear seat is circumferentially limited and the valve rod is slidable in the axial direction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve rod comprises an injection molded body and a metal housing wrapping the injection molded body, an inner cavity of an upper portion of the injection molded body forms the mounting groove, and the annular position limiting groove is provided on an internal wall of the injection molded body.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 10, wherein the whole of the nut is provided in the mounting groove; the output shaft of the motor is connected with the screw rod via a gear system, the gear system is supported on the gear seat which is located in a valve cavity of the valve seat, and the screw rod is passed through the gear seat and is in thread cooperation with the nut; and a lower portion of the gear seat is provided with a first position limiting portion, and an upper portion of the valve rod is provided with a second position limiting portion which is cooperated with the first position limiting portion such that the position of the valve rod relative to the gear seat is circumferentially limited and the valve rod is slidable in the axial direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve rod comprises an injection molded body and a metal housing wrapping the injection molded body, wherein an inner side of a top end portion of the metal housing is provided with a metal projection, an inner cavity of an upper portion of the injection molded body and an inner cavity of the metal projection form the mounting groove, and the annular position limiting groove is provided on an inner wall of the metal projection.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 12, wherein the whole of the nut is provided in the mounting groove; the output shaft of the motor is connected with the screw rod via a gear system, the gear system is supported on the gear seat which is located in a valve cavity of the valve seat, and the screw rod is passed through the gear seat and is in thread cooperation with the nut; and a lower portion of the gear seat is provided with a first position limiting portion, and an upper portion of the valve rod is provided with a second position limiting portion which is cooperated with the first position limiting portion such that the position of the valve rod relative to the gear seat is circumferentially limited and the valve rod is slidable in the axial direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 1, wherein the whole of the nut is provided in the mounting groove; the output shaft of the motor is connected with the screw rod via a gear system, the gear system is supported on the gear seat which is located in a valve cavity of the valve seat, and the screw rod is passed through the gear seat and is in thread cooperation with the nut; and a lower portion of the gear seat is provided with a first position limiting portion, and an upper portion of the valve rod is provided with a second position limiting portion which is cooperated with the first position limiting portion such that the position of the valve rod relative to the gear seat is circumferentially limited and the valve rod is slidable in the axial direction.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 14, wherein the first position limiting portion is a noncircular special-shaped cavity, and the second position limiting portion is a noncircular special-shaped portion which is slidable in the axial direction and is provided in the noncircular special-shaped cavity.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 14, wherein the gear seat is provided with a plurality of first locating rod members extended in an axial direction, and the first position limiting portion is the first locating rod member; among the first locating rod members, at least one group of adjacent first locating rod members form a position limiting gap; and the second position limiting portion is a second locating rod member provided on a side wall of the valve rod, an upper portion of the valve rod is extended into a space surrounded by the first locating rod members in the circumferential direction, and the second locating rod member is inserted in the position limiting gap.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The flow regulating valve according to claim 1, wherein the whole of the nut is provided in the mounting groove; the output shaft of the motor is connected with the screw rod via a gear system, the gear system is supported on the gear seat which is located in a valve cavity of the valve seat, and the screw rod is passed through the gear seat and is in thread cooperation with the nut; and a lower portion of the gear seat is provided with a first position limiting portion, and an upper portion of the valve rod is provided with a second position limiting portion which is cooperated with the first position limiting portion such that the position of the valve rod relative to the gear seat is circumferentially limited and the valve rod is slidable in the axial direction.