Flow path switching device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12546403-B2
Application number	US-202118028871-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2021
Priority date	Sep 29, 2020
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

A flow path switching device includes a case including a first nozzle, a second nozzle, a plurality of inner outflow pipes, a plurality of inner inflow pipes, and a flow path connection portion in which a space is formed to connect the plurality of inner outflow pipes with the first nozzle or to connect the plurality of inner inflow pipes with the second nozzle; a valve which is rotatably disposed in the space; and a motor which is disposed in one side of the valve, and rotates the valve. The plurality of inner outflow pipes is disposed in an opposite direction to the plurality of inner inflow pipes based on a rotary shaft of the valve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A flow path switching device, comprising:
a case comprising a first nozzle into which fluid flows from an indoor unit, a second nozzle which sends fluid to the indoor unit, a pair of inner outflow pipes through which fluid supplied from the first nozzle flows, a pair of inner inflow pipes through which fluid supplied to the second nozzle flows, and a flow path connection portion in which a space is formed to connect the pair of inner outflow pipes with the first nozzle or to connect the pair of inner inflow pipes with the second nozzle; a valve which is rotatably disposed in the space, connects one of the pair of inner outflow pipes and the first nozzle, and connects one of the pair of inner inflow pipes and the second nozzle; and a motor which is disposed in one side of the valve, and rotates the valve, wherein the pair of inner outflow pipes is arranged in parallel with the pair of inner inflow pipes, wherein the pair of inner outflow pipes is disposed in an opposite direction to the pair of inner inflow pipes based on a rotary shaft of the valve, wherein the first nozzle is disposed between the pair of inner outflow pipes so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the pair of inner outflow pipes, wherein the second nozzle is disposed between the pair of inner inflow pipes so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the pair of inner inflow pipes, wherein the rotary shaft of the valve is disposed perpendicular to the direction in which the pair of inner inflow pipes and the pair of inner outflow pipes extend, and perpendicular to the direction in which the first nozzle and the second nozzle extend, and wherein the first nozzle and the second nozzle extend in opposite directions with respect to the flow path connection portion.

2 . The flow path switching device of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a guide plate which forms an inclined surface between the first nozzle and the second nozzle, and according to disposition, sends fluid flowing from the first nozzle to one of the pair of inner outflow pipes, and sends fluid flowing from one of the pair of inner inflow pipes to the second nozzle.

3 . The flow path switching device of claim 1 , wherein a first nozzle hole through which the first nozzle communicates with the space is formed in the same direction as a pair of outflow holes through which each of the pair of inner outflow pipes communicates with the space, and a second nozzle hole through which the second nozzle communicates with the space is formed in the same direction as a pair of inflow holes through which each of the pair of inner inflow pipes communicates with the space.

4 . The flow path switching device of claim 1 , wherein the pair of inner inflow pipes comprises:
a first inner inflow pipe through which fluid heat-exchanged with refrigerant flows through a first heat exchanger, and a second inner inflow pipe through which fluid heat-exchanged with refrigerant flows through a second heat exchanger, wherein the pair of inner outflow pipes comprises: a first inner outflow pipe for sending fluid to the first heat exchanger and a second inner outflow pipe for sending fluid to the second heat exchanger, wherein the first inner inflow pipe is disposed in an opposite direction to the second inner outflow pipe based on the rotary shaft of the valve, and wherein the second inner inflow pipe is disposed in an opposite direction to the first inner outflow pipe based on the rotary shaft of the valve.

5 . The flow path switching device of claim 4 , wherein the first nozzle is disposed between the first inner outflow pipe and the second inner outflow pipe, and wherein the second nozzle is disposed between the first inner inflow pipe and the second inner inflow pipe.

6 . The flow path switching device of claim 4 , wherein in each of the first inner inflow pipe and the second inner inflow pipe, a first inflow hole and a second inflow hole which communicate with the space of the flow path connection portion and are open in a direction perpendicular to the rotary shaft of the valve are formed, and in each of the first inner outflow pipe and the second inner outflow pipe, a first outflow hole and a second outflow hole which communicate with the space of the flow path connection portion and are open in a direction perpendicular to the rotary shaft of the valve are formed.

7 . The flow path switching device of claim 6 , wherein the first inflow hole and the second outflow hole are disposed to face each other, and wherein the second inflow hole and the first outflow hole are disposed to face each other.

8 . The flow path switching device of claim 4 , wherein the valve comprises a guide plate which forms an inclined surface between the first nozzle and the second nozzle, wherein when a first end of the guide plate is disposed between the first nozzle and the first inner outflow pipe, a second end of the guide plate is disposed between the second nozzle and the first inner inflow pipe, and when the first end of the guide plate is disposed between the second nozzle and the second inner inflow pipe, the second end of the guide plate is disposed between the first nozzle and the first inner outflow pipe.

9 . The flow path switching device of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises:
a valve body which forms an outer shape, and forms, therein, a first chamber that connects an inner outflow pipe of the pair of inner outflow pipes disposed close to the motor and the first nozzle or connects an inner inflow pipe of the pair of inner inflow pipes disposed close to the motor and the second nozzle, and a second chamber that connects an inner outflow pipe of the pair of inner outflow pipes disposed far from the motor and the first nozzle or connects an inner inflow pipe of the pair of inner inflow pipes disposed far from the motor and the second nozzle; and a guide plate which is disposed inside of the valve body, and partitions the first chamber and the second chamber.

10 . The flow path switching device of claim 9 , wherein in the valve body, a first chamber hole which connects the inner outflow pipe or the inner inflow pipe that is disposed close to the motor with the first nozzle or the second nozzle, and a second chamber hole which connects the inner outflow pipe or the inner inflow pipe that is disposed far from the motor with the first nozzle or the second nozzle are formed.

11 . The flow path switching device of claim 10 , wherein the first chamber hole and the second chamber hole are formed to have a same size and open in different directions, and when the first chamber hole faces the first nozzle, the second chamber hole is disposed to face the second nozzle.

12 . The flow path switching device of claim 10 , wherein the first chamber hole and the second chamber hole are formed to overlap in a portion where the first nozzle and the second nozzle are disposed.

13 . The flow path switching device of claim 10 , wherein the guide plate is disposed inside of the valve body, and connects one end of the first chamber hole and one end of the second chamber hole.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Song Sungbae
• Min Junho
• Chung Moonkee

Classifications

• F16K31/041

  for rotating valves (F16K31/055 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F25B2600/2507

  Flow-diverting valves · CPC title

• F16K27/065

  with cylindrical plugs · CPC title

• F25B41/20 Primary

  Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves (expansion valves F25B41/31) · CPC title

• F25B25/005

  using primary and secondary systems · CPC title