Expansion valve

Abstract

An expansion valve is provided with a valve body including an inlet hole through which a refrigerant flows into a valve chamber, and a valve hole through which the refrigerant flows out from the valve chamber; a valve element configured to adjust an amount of the refrigerant flowing through the valve hole; a power element that is mounted to the valve body and configured to drive the valve element through a valve rod; a support member configured to support the valve element; a coil spring configured to press the valve element in a valve-closing direction through the support member; and a vibration isolation spring configured to prevent vibration of the valve element, wherein the vibration isolation spring is provided with an annular base portion disposed between the support member and the coil spring, and a plurality of leg portions that extend radially from the base portion.

1 . An expansion valve comprising:
 a valve body comprising an inlet hole through which a refrigerant flows into a valve chamber, and a valve hole through which the refrigerant flows out from the valve chamber;   a valve element configured to adjust an amount of the refrigerant flowing through the valve hole;   a power element that is mounted to the valve body and configured to drive the valve element via a valve rod;   a support member configured to support the valve element;   a coil spring configured to press the valve element in a valve-closing direction via the support member; and   a vibration isolation spring configured to prevent vibration of the valve element, wherein the vibration isolation spring includes an annular base portion disposed between the support member and the coil spring, and a plurality of leg portions that extend radially from the base portion,   each of the plurality of leg portions includes an upper portion radially formed in a same plane as the annular base portion, a bent portion that bends from the upper portion toward the coil spring, and a side portion extending downward from the bent portion, and   each of the leg portions is in contact with a side wall surface of the valve chamber on a valve hole side of the inlet hole.   
     
     
         2 . The expansion valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is defined by a notch formed between the plurality of leg portions in a same plane as the annular base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The expansion valve according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the notch has an arc shape.   
     
     
         4 . The expansion valve according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the notch has an approximately triangular shape.   
     
     
         5 . The expansion valve according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the upper portion, the bent portion, and the side portion have a constant width in each of the plurality of leg portions.   
     
     
         6 . The expansion valve according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of leg portions further include a protruded portion provided near a lower end of the side portion, and   the protruded portion is in contact with a side wall surface of the valve chamber on a valve hole side of the inlet hole.   
     
     
         7 . The expansion valve according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of leg portions further include connecting portions of leg portions that are adjacent in a same plane as the annular base portion.