| CPC F16K 11/0856 (2013.01) [F16K 27/065 (2013.01); F16K 31/041 (2013.01); G05D 23/1306 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
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1. A four-way valve comprising:
a body comprising:
a valve chamber;
a first communication channel;
a second communication channel;
a third communication channel; and
a fourth communication channel, wherein
the first to fourth communication channels communicate with the valve chamber at positions arranged in sequence in a predefined rotational direction and cause the valve chamber to communicate with an outside; and
a valve component that divides the valve chamber into a first region, a second region, and a third region arranged in sequence in the predefined rotational direction, and is rotatable in the predefined rotational direction, wherein
the valve component switches the four-way valve to be in at least one of:
a first state in which the first communication channel and the second communication channel communicate with the first region and the third communication channel and the fourth communication channel communicate with the third region; and
a second state in which the second communication channel communicates with the first region, the third communication channel communicates with the second region, and the fourth communication channel and the first communication channel communicate with the third region,
the valve chamber has a columnar shape and has:
a first position at which the first communication channel communicates with an outer periphery of the valve chamber;
a second position at which the second communication channel communicates with the outer periphery of the valve chamber;
a third position at which the third communication channel communicates with the outer periphery of the valve chamber; and
a fourth position at which the fourth communication channel communicates with the outer periphery of the valve chamber, wherein
the first to fourth positions are arranged in sequence in the predefined rotational direction along one of circumferential directions of the valve chamber,
the valve component includes:
a center portion that extends in an axial direction of the valve chamber;
a first divider;
a second divider: and
a third divider, wherein
the first to third dividers are arranged in sequence in the predefined rotational direction, and divide the valve chamber into the first region, the second region, and third region in the predefined rotational direction,
the center portion is rotatable about a central axis of the valve chamber,
the first divider, the second divider, and the third divider have plate shapes and extend from the center portion in a radial direction of the valve chamber, and
in the predefined rotational direction:
a distance between the first divider and the second divider is greater than a distance between the first position and the second position and less than a distance between the first position and the third position and a distance between the fourth position and the second position;
a distance between the second divider and the third divider is less than a distance between the second position and the third position; and
a distance between the third divider and the first divider is greater than a distance between the third position and the fourth position and a distance between the fourth position and the first position and less than a distance between the third position and the first position and a distance between the second position and the fourth position.
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