Multi-way valve, multi-way valve assembly, thermal management system and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model discloses a multi-way valve, multi-way valve subassembly, thermal management system and vehicle, multi-way valve includes: valve casing, valve core, detection loop and detection structure, valve casing has a plurality of spaced valve port, be equipped with the installation cavity in the valve casing, valve core has a plurality of spaced runner group, valve core is rotatingly provided in the installation cavity, the detection loop is equipped with the detection structure on the detection loop. The detection loop comprises a voltage source, a pin group and at least one conduction piece, the pin group comprises two contact pins which are arranged at intervals in the radial direction of the valve element, and the voltage source is used for applying voltage to the two contact pins of the pin group; in the rotating process of the valve element relative to the valve shell, the conduction pieces are suitable for making contact with the two contact pins of the corresponding pin set so as to electrically conduct the detection loop, and the detection structure is used for detecting signals fed back by the detection loop so as to determine the rotating angle of the valve element. Therefore, the rotation angle of the valve element can be automatically detected conveniently.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of control valve technology, and in particular to a multi-way valve, a multi-way valve assembly, a thermal management system, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] For new energy vehicles, the thermal management system (TMS) is a very important component system. The thermal management system contains multiple different circuits that need to be connected by multi-way valves to control the conduction of the circuits or the flow rate of the cooling medium and the proportion of different channels, so as to achieve temperature regulation in various parts of the vehicle.

[0003] However, to achieve such precise temperature regulation, accurate control of the rotation angle of the multi-way valve is required. Utility Model Content

[0004] This invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes a multi-way valve, a multi-way valve assembly, a thermal management system, and a vehicle. By rotating the valve core relative to the valve body, electrical conduction of the detection circuit is achieved. The rotation angle of the valve core is then obtained by detecting the signal fed back from the detection circuit through a detection structure. This facilitates automated detection of the valve core's rotation angle, and the valve core rotation angle detected by the electrical signal is relatively accurate and reliable.

[0005] A multi-way valve according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a valve housing, a valve core, a detection circuit, and a detection structure. The valve housing has multiple spaced-apart valve ports and a mounting cavity inside the valve housing. The valve core has multiple sets of spaced-apart flow channels and is rotatably disposed in the mounting cavity to achieve switching and connection of corresponding valve ports through the multiple sets of flow channels. The detection circuit includes a voltage source, a pin group, and at least one conductive element. The pin group includes two contact pins spaced radially along the valve core. The voltage source is used to apply voltage to the two contact pins of the pin group. The voltage source and the pin group are fixed on one of the valve housing and the valve core. The conductive element is fixed on the other of the valve housing and the valve core, so that during the rotation of the valve core relative to the valve housing, the conductive element is adapted to contact the two contact pins of the corresponding pin group respectively to electrically connect the detection circuit. The detection structure is used to detect the signal fed back by the detection circuit to determine the rotation angle of the valve core.

[0006] According to the multi-way valve of this utility model embodiment, a voltage source and a pin group are fixed on one of the valve body and the valve core, and a conductive element is fixed on the other of the valve body and the valve core. This allows the conductive element to contact the two contact pins of the corresponding pin group when the valve core rotates relative to the valve body, thereby achieving electrical conduction of the detection circuit. The electrical signal fed back from the detection circuit is then detected by the detection structure to obtain the rotation angle of the valve core. This facilitates automated detection of the valve core's rotation angle, and the valve core rotation angle detected by the electrical signal is relatively accurate and reliable.

[0007] In some embodiments, the detection structure includes: a current detection structure for detecting the current in the detection circuit; and / or a voltage detection structure for detecting the voltage across the conductive element.

[0008] In some embodiments, a voltage source and a pin group are fixed on the valve housing, and a conductor is fixed on the valve core. The valve core includes a shaft portion and a core portion. The core portion is disposed around the outer periphery of the shaft portion, and multiple sets of flow channels are formed on the core portion. The shaft portion is rotatably engaged with the valve housing. A mounting plate is fixed at one axial end of the shaft portion. The conductor is fixed on the mounting plate and protrudes from the outer surface of the mounting plate. In the radial direction of the valve core, the outer periphery of the mounting plate is located outside the shaft portion.

[0009] In some embodiments, the conductive element is configured to satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0010] Condition A1: At least one conductive element is located at the edge of the mounting plate;

[0011] Condition A2: The conductive element is injection molded to the mounting plate;

[0012] Condition A3: On the cross-section of the valve core, with the orthographic projection of the valve core's rotation axis as the center, the central angle corresponding to the two ends of the circumferential direction of the conductor is α, where α≤4°;

[0013] Condition A4: The conductive element protrudes from the surface of the mounting plate on the thickness side, or the conductive element protrudes from the outer peripheral wall of the mounting plate;

[0014] Condition A5: The portion of the conductive element protruding from the outer surface of the mounting plate is arc-shaped.

[0015] In some embodiments, the contact pin is configured as a spring, the spring is cantilevered, and the free end of the spring has an arcuate portion that protrudes along the axial direction of the valve core toward the side where the guide member is located.

[0016] In some embodiments, the fixed end of the spring has a flat plate portion that is perpendicular to the axial direction of the valve core and smoothly transitions to the arc-shaped portion.

[0017] In some embodiments, the mounting cavity includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the valve core. The valve core includes a shaft portion and a core portion. The core portion is disposed around the outer periphery of the shaft portion. The core portion is located in the third chamber and forms multiple sets of flow channels. The shaft portion is rotatably engaged with the valve housing. The shaft portion extends axially from the third chamber to the first chamber. The pin group and the conductive element are both located in the first chamber.

[0018] In some embodiments, the valve housing includes a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the valve core. A first chamber is defined between the second housing and the first housing, and a second chamber is defined between the second housing and the third housing. The third housing has a third chamber, and all valve ports are formed on the third chamber. The multi-port valve also includes a drive motor and a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is coupled between the drive motor and the valve core to transmit the power of the drive motor to the valve core. The drive motor is located in the first housing or the second housing, and the transmission mechanism is located in the second chamber. A seal is provided between the second chamber and the third chamber.

[0019] In some embodiments, the conductors are multiple and spaced circumferentially along the valve core, and the multi-way valve is configured to satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

[0020] Condition B1: At least two of the multiple conducting elements corresponding to the pin group have unequal resistances.

[0021] Condition B2: The circumferential spacing between any two adjacent conductive elements is a preset spacing. There are multiple preset spacings, and at least two adjacent preset spacings are not equal.

[0022] Condition B3: The pin groups are multiple and are arranged at radial intervals along the valve core. The radial distance between the two conductive parts corresponding to different pin groups and the rotation axis of the valve core is not equal.

[0023] Condition B4: Multiple conductive elements correspond one-to-one with multiple flow channel groups, so that during the process of switching each flow channel group to connect with the corresponding valve port, the corresponding conductive element will electrically connect the detection circuit.

[0024] A multi-way valve assembly according to a second aspect of the present invention includes multiple valve structures, including a first multi-way valve and a second multi-way valve. At least one of the first and second multi-way valves is a multi-way valve according to a first aspect of the present invention. The first and second multi-way valves share a drive motor, and the output end of the drive motor is provided with a transmission mechanism. The valve core of each of the first and second multi-way valves cooperates with the transmission mechanism through a one-way bearing. The multi-way valve assembly has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the drive motor rotates forward to drive the valve core of the first multi-way valve to rotate, while the valve core of the second multi-way valve does not rotate. In the second state, the drive motor rotates in reverse to drive the valve core of the second multi-way valve to rotate, while the valve core of the first multi-way valve does not rotate.

[0025] According to the multi-way valve assembly of the present invention, at least one of the first multi-way valve and the second multi-way valve is the aforementioned multi-way valve. Through the combined action of the detection circuit and the detection structure, the rotation angle of at least one of the first multi-way valve and the second multi-way valve can be better controlled, which facilitates the precise control of the multi-way valve assembly and improves the reliability of the multi-way valve assembly operation.

[0026] A thermal management system according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a multi-way valve according to a first aspect of the present invention or includes a multi-way valve assembly according to a second aspect of the present invention.

[0027] A vehicle according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a multi-way valve according to a first aspect of the present invention, or includes a multi-way valve assembly according to a second aspect of the present invention, or includes a thermal management system according to a third aspect of the present invention.

[0028] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this utility model will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of a multi-way valve assembly according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a multi-way valve assembly according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a detection circuit according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Another schematic diagram of the detection loop shown;

[0034] Figure 5 This is an assembly diagram of the mounting plate and conductive component according to some embodiments of the present utility model;

[0035] Figure 6 yes Figure 3 The diagram shows an assembly of the voltage source and pin group.

[0036] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Another schematic diagram showing the assembly of the voltage source and pin group;

[0037] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a detection circuit according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 An assembly diagram of the mounting plate and conductor shown;

[0039] Figure 10 yes Figure 8 The diagram shows an assembly of the voltage source and pin group.

[0040] Figure 11 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the multi-way valve assembly shown;

[0041] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0042] Figure reference numerals: 1. Multi-way valve; 2. Multi-way valve assembly; 3. Thermal management system; 4. Vehicle.

[0043] Valve housing 10, valve port 12, mounting cavity 14, first chamber 140, second chamber 142, third chamber 144, first housing 15, second housing 16, third housing 17.

[0044] Valve core 20, flow channel assembly 22, shaft body 24, mounting plate 25, core body 26

[0045] Detection circuit 30, voltage source 32, pin group 34, contact pin 340, spring 342, arc-shaped part 344, free end 346, fixed end 348, flat part 349, conductive element 36, arc 360.

[0046] Drive motor 50, transmission mechanism 52,

[0047] First multi-way valve 60, second multi-way valve 62, one-way bearing 64, seal 66. Detailed Implementation

[0048] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0049] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the present invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided in this invention; however, those skilled in the art will recognize the applicability of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0050] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone.

[0051] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a multi-way valve 1 according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0052] like Figure 1 As shown, the multi-way valve 1 includes a valve body 10 and a valve core 20. The valve body 10 has multiple spaced valve ports 12 and a mounting cavity 14 inside the valve body 10. The valve core 20 has multiple sets of spaced flow channels 22. The valve core 20 is rotatably mounted in the mounting cavity 14 so as to achieve switching and connection of the corresponding valve ports 12 through the multiple sets of flow channels 22, thereby realizing the switching of the multi-way valve 1 between different connection states. It can be understood that the valve core 20 has a rotation axis L. The extension direction of the rotation axis L is the axial direction of the valve core 20 and the axial direction of the multi-way valve 1. The direction around the rotation axis L is the circumferential direction of the valve core 20 and the circumferential direction of the multi-way valve 1. In the radial plane, the direction passing through the rotation axis L is the radial direction of the valve core 20 and the radial direction of the multi-way valve 1. The radial plane is perpendicular to the rotation axis L.

[0053] As can be seen, an installation cavity 14 is formed inside the valve housing 10, and the valve core 20 is rotatably disposed in the installation cavity 14. By rotating the valve core 20, multiple sets of flow channel groups 22 and valve ports 12 can be switched and connected, thereby realizing the control of the fluid medium by the multi-way valve 1. The fluid medium can enter the interior of the valve housing 10 from the valve port 12 and the corresponding flow channel group 22, and flow out from the interior of the valve housing 10 through the flow channel group 22 and the corresponding valve port 12. The fluid medium can be water, antifreeze or other fluids, which are not limited here.

[0054] It is understood that the multi-way valve 1 can be a three-way valve, four-way valve, five-way valve, six-way valve, seven-way valve, eight-way valve, nine-way valve, etc. When there are multiple multi-way valves 1, the types of the multiple multi-way valves 1 can be the same or different. Then the number of valve ports 12 of the multiple multi-way valves 3 can be equal or unequal. For example, multiple multi-way valves 1 can all be six-way valves, or one multi-way valve 1 can be a six-way valve and another multi-way valve 1 can be an eight-way valve. The flow channel group 22 can include one switching flow channel or multiple switching flow channels arranged at intervals. The switching flow channel is used to connect at least two valve ports 12. The switching of the multi-way valve 1 between multiple connection states can include, but is not limited to, switching the connected valve ports 12 and / or, switching the number of connected valve ports 12.

[0055] Taking three valve ports 12 as an example, the three valve ports 12 can be the first valve port, the second valve port, and the third valve port, respectively. The multi-way valve 1 can have at least two of the following connection states: 1. In the first connection state, the first valve port and the second valve port are connected, and the third valve port is disconnected; 2. In the second connection state, the first valve port and the third valve port are connected, and the second valve port is disconnected; 3. In the third connection state, the second valve port and the third valve port are connected, and the first valve port is disconnected; 4. The first valve port, the second valve port, and the third valve port are connected to each other in pairs; 5. The first valve port, the second valve port, and the third valve port are disconnected in pairs.

[0056] like Figures 1-10 As shown, the multi-way valve 1 also includes a detection circuit 30 and a detection structure. The detection circuit 30 includes a voltage source 32, a pin group 34, and at least one conductive element 36. The pin group 34 includes two contact pins 340 arranged radially spaced along the valve core 20. The voltage source 32 is used to apply voltage to the two contact pins 340 of the pin group 34. The voltage source 32 and the pin group 34 are fixed on one of the valve housing 10 and the valve core 20. The conductive element 36 is fixed on the other of the valve housing 10 and the valve core 20, so that during the rotation of the valve core 20 relative to the valve housing 10, the conductive element 36 is adapted to contact the two contact pins 340 of the corresponding pin group 34 respectively to electrically connect the detection circuit 30. The detection structure is used to detect the signal fed back by the detection circuit 30 to determine the rotation angle of the valve core 20.

[0057] As can be seen, the voltage source 32 can apply voltage to the two contact pins 340. During the rotation of the valve core 20 relative to the valve housing 10, the conductive element 36 rotates relative to the pin group 34. The conductive element 36 can move between a contact state in contact with the corresponding pin group 34 and a separation state in separation from the corresponding pin group 34, so that the detection circuit 30 switches between an electrically connected state and an electrically disconnected state. The signal fed back by the detection circuit 30 in the electrically connected state is different from the signal fed back in the electrically disconnected state, so the detection structure can distinguish the state of the detection circuit 30. In the contact state, the conductive element 36 can contact the two contact pins 340 of the corresponding pin group 34 respectively, so that the detection circuit 30 is closed, so that there is an electrical signal in the detection circuit 30. Then, the detection structure detects the electrical signal in the detection circuit 30, and based on the setting position of the conductive element 36 and the pin group 34, the current angular position of the valve core 20 is obtained. Then, the rotation angle of the valve core 20 relative to the position before adjustment can be determined, and / or, the rotation angle of the valve core 20 that needs to continue to rotate to the target angular position can be determined. Therefore, it is convenient to realize the detection angle of the valve core 20 through automated detection, and the feedback of the electrical signal detection is faster, so that the detection results are more accurate and reliable. In other words, the detection structure can detect the feedback signal when the detection circuit 30 is electrically connected, which means that the conducting element 36 and the corresponding pin group 34 can be detected by the detection structure after they are relatively rotated in space to make contact. Even if the valve core 20 is blocked due to external force or impurities in the medium, it will not affect the detection structure's judgment on whether the detection circuit 30 is electrically connected, so the detection is more accurate and reliable.

[0058] It is understandable that for a single pin group 34, the pin group 34 can correspond to one or more conductive elements 36 spaced circumferentially. For example, if a single pin group 34 corresponds to one conductive element 36, during certain switching processes, as the valve core 20 rotates from its current angular position to the target angular position, the detection circuit 30 can be electrically activated once. The current angular position of the valve core 20 can be updated based on the signal fed back when the detection circuit 30 is electrically activated, so as to adjust and correct the rotation angle required to continue rotating to the target angular position, thereby reducing the impact of valve core rotation error and improving the rotation control accuracy of the valve core 20. As another example, if a single pin group 34 corresponds to multiple conductive elements 36, during certain switching processes, as the valve core 20 rotates from its current angular position to the target angular position, the detection circuit 30 can be electrically activated once or multiple times. Each time the detection circuit 30 is electrically activated, it can feed back a signal to the detection structure to update the current angular position of the valve core 20, which can also improve the rotation control accuracy of the valve core 20.

[0059] For example, the conductive element 36 or contact pin 340 is positioned at the initial zero position of the valve core 20. The two contact pins 340 are respectively connected to the positive and negative terminals of the voltage source 32. When the valve core 20 rotates to the initial zero position, the conductive element 36 can contact the two contact pins 340 respectively, so that the detection circuit 30 is closed. An electrical signal can be generated in the detection circuit 30, and the detection structure can receive the electrical signal generated in the detection circuit 30, thereby determining that the valve core 20 has rotated to the initial zero position. When the valve core 20 has not rotated to the initial zero position, the conductive element 36 does not contact the two contact pins 340, so that the detection circuit 30 is not closed, and no electrical signal can be generated in the detection circuit 30, thereby determining that the valve core 20 has not yet rotated to the initial zero position. This facilitates the automated detection of the rotation angle of the valve core 20. Of course, the conductive element 36 may not be positioned corresponding to the initial zero position of the valve core 20.

[0060] It is understood that the voltage source 32 and the pin group 34 can be fixed on the valve core 20, and the conductive element 36 can be fixed on the valve housing 10; or the voltage source 32 and the pin group 34 can be fixed on the valve housing 10, and the conductive element 36 can be fixed on the valve core 20, so that the setting position of the power supply group and the pin group 34 and the conductive element 36 is more flexible and can be adapted to different installation conditions.

[0061] Furthermore, compared to some technologies that use non-contact sensors (such as inductive sensors, Hall effect angle sensors, potentiometers, etc.) to identify the valve core angle and determine the valve core rotation angle, the implementation cost is relatively high and the accuracy improvement is limited, making it difficult to achieve the output signal after the valve core rotates multiple times; while the embodiment of this application utilizes the cooperation of the detection circuit 30 and the detection structure to achieve contact detection of the valve core 20 angle position, which is beneficial to reduce costs and facilitates the control of the valve core 20 rotation angle accuracy.

[0062] In some embodiments, the detection structure includes: a current detection structure for detecting the current in the detection circuit 30. When the conductive element 36 contacts the two contact pins 340 of the corresponding pin group 34, the detection circuit 30 can close to generate current. The current detection structure can detect that these currents are not zero. If the conductive element 36 separates from the corresponding pin group 24, the detection circuit 30 is open and the current is zero. Therefore, based on the detection result of the current detection structure, it can be determined that the valve core 20 has rotated to the position where the conductive element 36 contacts the corresponding pin group 34, thereby obtaining the rotation angle of the valve core 20; and / or, The detection structure includes a voltage detection structure, which is used to detect the voltage across the conductive element 36. When the conductive element 36 contacts the two contact pins 340 of the corresponding pin group 34, the detection circuit 30 can be closed to generate current. The voltage detection structure can detect that the voltage across the conductive element 36 is not zero. If the conductive element 36 is separated from the corresponding pin group 24, the detection circuit 30 is open and the voltage across the conductive element 36 is zero. Therefore, based on the detection result of the voltage detection structure, it can be determined that the valve core 20 has rotated to the position where the conductive element 36 contacts the corresponding pin group 34, thereby obtaining the rotation angle of the valve core 20.

[0063] Optionally, the current detection structure can be used to detect the current on any contact pin 340 in the pin group 24, or to detect the current on the conductive element 36. In this embodiment, there are no specific restrictions on the placement of the current detection structure and the voltage detection structure, as long as the detection structure can detect the signal of the detection circuit 30.

[0064] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the voltage source 32 and the pin group 34 are fixed on the valve housing 10, and the conductor 36 is fixed on the valve core 20. This is beneficial to appropriately reduce the number of components driven by the valve core 20 and to reduce the energy consumption of driving the valve core 20 to rotate. The valve core 20 includes a shaft portion 24 and a core portion 26. The core portion 26 is arranged around the outer periphery of the shaft portion 24, and multiple sets of flow channel groups 22 are formed on the core portion 26. The shaft portion 24 rotates in cooperation with the valve housing 10. When the valve core 20 rotates, it can drive the conductor 36 to rotate at the same time. When the conductor 36 rotates, it can contact the pin group 34, thereby obtaining the rotation angle of the valve core 20. This allows for precise control of the rotation angle of the valve core 20 and facilitates accurate switching and connection of multiple sets of flow channel groups 22 and valve port 12.

[0065] The shaft portion 24 has a mounting plate 25 fixedly mounted at one axial end. By placing the mounting plate 25 at one axial end of the shaft portion 24, the mounting plate 25 can make fuller use of the axial space of the valve core 20 and is less likely to interfere with the flow channel assembly 22. The guide member 36 is fixed on the mounting plate 25 and protrudes from the outer surface of the mounting plate 25 so that the part of the guide member 36 protruding from the mounting plate 25 can reliably contact the pin assembly 34. In the radial direction of the valve core 20, the outer periphery of the mounting plate 25 is located outside the shaft portion 24, so the radial dimension of the mounting plate 25 is larger than the radial dimension of the shaft portion 24, providing more space for the arrangement of the guide member 36, making the arrangement of the guide member 36 more flexible and easy to adapt to different installation environments.

[0066] For example, the detection circuit 30 has a circuit board (e.g., a PCB) fixed to the valve housing 10, and the pin group 34 can be soldered onto the circuit board.

[0067] like Figures 2-10 As shown, in some embodiments, the conductor 36 is configured to satisfy at least one of the following conditions A1 to A5:

[0068] In condition A1, at least one conductive element 36 is located at the edge of the mounting plate 25. If at least one conductive element 36 is located at the radial edge of the mounting plate 25, and the conductive element 36 is arranged in the area corresponding to the preset central angle of the valve core 20, the greater the radial distance between the conductive element 36 and the rotation axis of the valve core 20, the larger the circumferential dimension of the conductive element 36 can be, thus facilitating the processing of the conductive element 36. In other words, when the circumferential dimension of the conductive element 36 is the same, the greater the radial distance between the conductive element 36 and the rotation axis of the valve core 20, the smaller the central angle corresponding to both ends of the circumferential axis of the conductive element 36, and the smaller the central angle corresponding to the contact between the conductive element 36 and the pin group 34, so that the range of electrical conduction between the conductive element 36 and the pin group 34 is smaller, which is beneficial to improving the detection accuracy. It can be understood that when there is one conductor 36, the conductor 36 is located at the edge of the mounting plate 25; when there are multiple conductors 36, all conductors 36 can be located at the edge of the mounting plate 25, or some conductors 36 can be located at the edge of the mounting plate 25 and others can be located in the middle of the mounting plate 25, so that the distribution of multiple conductors 36 is more flexible.

[0069] In condition A2, the conductive element 36 is injection molded to the mounting plate 25. This injection molding connection improves the connection strength between the conductive element 36 and the mounting plate 25, reducing the possibility of them separating during rotation and ensuring good stability of the detection circuit 30. For example, the mounting plate 25 is an injection molded part, and the conductive element 36 is injection molded to the mounting plate 25 as an insert.

[0070] In condition A3, on the cross-section of the valve core 20, with the orthographic projection of the rotation axis of the valve core 20 as the center, the central angle corresponding to the two ends of the circumferential direction of the conductor 36 is α, where α ≤ 4°. Then, when the conductor 36 contacts the pin group 34, due to the aforementioned size limitation of the conductor 36, the central angle corresponding to the contact area between the conductor 36 and the pin group 34 is no more than 4°. This makes it easier to limit the rotation angle error of the valve core 20 to within ±2°, which is beneficial to improving the accuracy of the valve core 20 rotating to the target angle position. Compared with using a potentiometer or contact spring structure to detect the rotation angle of the valve core 20, the rotation angle error of the valve core 20 in this application is easier to limit to within ±2°, so that the rotation of the valve core 20 can have higher accuracy, which is conducive to improving the stability of the multi-way valve 1 operation. For example, the mounting plate 25 is a disc, and the conductor 25 is located on one side of the disc in the thickness direction. The ratio of the distance between the two ends of the conductor 36 in the circumferential direction to the radius of the disc where the conductor 36 is located corresponds to the central angle. Of course, the distance between the two ends of the conductor 36 in the circumferential direction can be further reduced so that the central angle α corresponding to the two ends of the conductor 36 in the circumferential direction is less than or equal to 3°. Even if there are some other error effects when the conductor 36 contacts the pin group 34 during the rotation of the valve core 20, the rotation angle error of the valve core 20 is unlikely to exceed ±2°, which facilitates further improvement of detection accuracy.

[0071] In condition A4, the conductor 36 protrudes from the thickness side of the mounting plate 25, allowing the conductor 36 and the pin group 34 to make fuller use of the space in the thickness direction of the mounting plate 25, and the placement of the pin group 34 does not easily limit the outer contour size of the mounting plate 25; alternatively, the conductor 36 protrudes from the outer peripheral wall of the mounting plate 25, increasing the radial distance between the conductor 36 and the rotation axis of the valve core 20, thereby improving the accuracy of judging the angular position of the valve core 20 under the premise of the same size conductor 36. It can be seen that neither of these placement positions affects the contact between the conductor 36 and the pin group 34, making the placement of the conductor 36 more flexible and adaptable to different installation conditions.

[0072] In condition A5, the portion of the conductor 36 protruding from the outer surface of the mounting plate 25 is arc-shaped 360. Compared to the portion of the conductor 36 protruding from the outer surface of the mounting plate 25 that is rectangular, the contact angle range of the arc-shaped 360 is smaller. In other words, the central angle corresponding to the part of the arc-shaped 360 that contacts the pin group 34 is relatively small. This results in a smaller range for electrical conduction between the conductor 36 and the pin group 34, which is beneficial for improving the detection accuracy of the detection structure and facilitating more precise control of the rotation angle of the multi-way valve 1. Furthermore, the arc-shaped 360 design makes the contact between the conductor 36 and the pin group 34 smoother, which helps reduce the resistance of the valve core 20 during rotation. It also reduces the possibility of damage to the conductor 36 and increases its service life.

[0073] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the conductor 36 is located on one side of the thickness of the mounting plate 25 and at the edge of the mounting plate 25. The portion of the conductor 36 protruding from the outer surface of the mounting plate 25 is arc-shaped 360° (for example, the conductor 36 is a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical structure). On the cross-section of the valve core 20, with the orthographic projection of the rotation axis of the valve core 20 as the center, the central angle corresponding to the two ends of the conductor 36 in the circumferential direction is α, where α ≤ 4°. Therefore, by adjusting the placement, circumferential dimension, and shape of the conductor 36, the circumferential range corresponding to the contact between the conductor 36 and the pin group 34 can be reduced, thereby improving the accuracy of detecting the current angular position of the valve core 20.

[0074] like Figures 2-6 As shown, in some embodiments, the contact pin 340 is configured as a spring 342, which is cantilevered, and the free end 346 of the spring 342 has an arcuate portion 344 that protrudes along the axial direction of the valve core 20 toward the side where the guide member 36 is located.

[0075] As can be seen, the arc-shaped portion 344 is suitable for contacting the conductive element 36, thereby realizing the electrical conduction of the detection circuit 30. By setting the arc-shaped portion 344 at the free end 346 of the spring piece 342, the contact and separation of the contact pin 340 and the conductive element 36 can be smoother, so as to reduce the resistance of the valve core 20 when rotating, which is beneficial to reducing the energy consumption of the multi-way valve 1. When the arc-shaped portion 344 contacts the conductive element 36, the conductive element 36 can apply a squeezing force to the spring piece 342, which facilitates the elasticity of the spring piece 342 to improve the contact reliability between the conductive element 36 and the spring piece 342. At the same time, the arc-shaped portion 344 can be used for bidirectional rotation. For example, when the valve core 20 needs to rotate forward and backward, the arc-shaped portion 344 can still have good contact with the conductive element 36, so that the application range of the contact pin 340 is wider. Of course, the above-mentioned setting of the spring piece 342 can also be applied to the case of unidirectional rotation of the valve core 20 relative to the valve body 10. In addition, the above-mentioned arrangement of the spring 342 ensures reliable contact between the spring 342 and the conductor 36 even after the valve core has rotated more than 20 times, which helps to improve the life of the multi-way valve 1.

[0076] like Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the fixed end 348 of the spring 342 has a flat plate portion 349, so that the connection area between the spring 342 and one of the valve core 20 and valve housing 10 is larger, which is beneficial to improving the stability of the contact pin 340, and the structure of the flat plate portion 349 is relatively simple and easy to process and manufacture.

[0077] The flat plate portion 349 is perpendicular to the axial direction of the valve core 20, and the flat plate portion 349 and the arc-shaped portion 344 are smoothly connected to make the transition between the flat plate portion 349 and the arc-shaped portion 344 smoother. When the spring piece 342 is under force, the smooth transition design can disperse the stress and avoid excessive stress concentration in the transition area, thereby reducing fatigue damage and structural instability caused by stress concentration, which is beneficial to improving the service life of the contact pin 340.

[0078] like Figure 11 As shown, in some embodiments, the mounting cavity 14 includes a first chamber 140, a second chamber 142, and a third chamber 144 arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the valve core 20. The valve core 20 includes a shaft portion 24 and a core portion 26. The core portion 26 is arranged around the outer periphery of the shaft portion 24. The core portion 26 is located in the third chamber 144 and forms multiple sets of flow channel groups 22. The shaft portion 24 is rotatably engaged with the valve housing 10, and the shaft portion 24 extends axially from the third chamber 144 to the first chamber 140. The pin group 34 and the conductive member 36 are both located in the first chamber 140.

[0079] As can be seen, by placing the core 26 in the third chamber 144, and placing the pin group 34 and the conductor 36 in the first chamber 140, and separating the first chamber 140 and the third chamber 144 by the second chamber 142, both the pin group 34 and the conductor 36 are spaced apart from the core 26. This makes it difficult for the medium in the third chamber 144 to flow into the first chamber 140, thereby affecting the normal operation of the pin group 34 and the conductor 36. The pin group 34 and the conductor 36 can operate in a relatively stable working environment, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of the pin group 34 and the conductor 36 and improving the stability of the multi-way valve 1. At the same time, the pin group 34 and the conductor 36 are placed on the axial side of the valve core 20, so that the pin group 34 and the conductor 36 can make fuller use of the axial space of the valve core 20 and are less likely to increase the radial space occupied by the multi-way valve 1.

[0080] like Figure 1 and Figure 11As shown, in some embodiments, the valve housing 10 includes a first housing 15, a second housing 16, and a third housing 17 arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the valve core 20. A first chamber 140 is defined between the second housing 16 and the first housing 15, and a second chamber 142 is defined between the second housing 16 and the third housing 17. The third housing 17 has a third chamber 144, and all valve ports 12 are formed on the third chamber 144. The multi-port valve 1 also includes a drive motor 50 and a transmission mechanism 52. The transmission mechanism 52 is coupled between the drive motor 50 and the valve core 20 to transmit the power of the drive motor 50 to the valve core 20. The drive motor 50 is located in the first housing 15 or the second housing 16, for example, the drive motor 50 is located in the first chamber 140 or the second chamber 142. The transmission mechanism 52 is located in the second chamber 142, and a seal 66 is provided between the second chamber 142 and the third chamber 144. For example, a sealing element 66 is provided between the valve body 10 and the valve core 20. The sealing element 66 isolates the second chamber 142 and the third chamber 144 so that the medium in the third chamber 144 is not easy to flow into the second chamber 142. The first chamber 140 and the third chamber 144 are separated by the second chamber 142 so that the medium in the third chamber 144 is also not easy to flow into the first chamber 140. Thus, the medium in the third chamber 144 is not likely to affect the normal operation of the transmission mechanism 52 and the drive motor 50, so that the transmission mechanism 52 and the drive motor 50 can work in a relatively stable environment, which helps to improve the stability of the operation of the multi-way valve 1.

[0081] As can be seen, the flow channel assembly 22 and the valve port 12 both correspond to the third chamber 144. The drive motor 50 is located in the first housing 15 or the second housing 16, and the transmission mechanism 52 is located in the second chamber 142. This ensures that the medium can only flow within the third chamber 144, minimizing its impact on the normal operation of the drive motor 50 or the transmission mechanism 52, thus improving the stability of the multi-way valve 1. Furthermore, by arranging the valve core 20, the drive motor 50, and the transmission mechanism 52 along the axial direction of the multi-way valve 1, the axial space of the multi-way valve 1 can be effectively utilized, making its structure more compact. It can be understood that the placement of the second chamber 142 not only reduces the impact of the medium within the third chamber 144 on the portion of the detection circuit 30 located in the first chamber 140, but also provides space for the transmission mechanism 52.

[0082] Furthermore, by arranging the first housing 15, the second housing 16, and the third housing 17 axially, the assembly method of the multi-way valve 1 becomes simpler and clearer. For example, with the drive motor 50 located in the first chamber 140, the operator can first assemble the valve core 20 with the third housing 17, so that the core part 26 is located in the third chamber 144 and the shaft part 24 passes through the third housing 17. Then, the transmission mechanism 52 is assembled with the shaft part 24. Next, the shaft part 24 is passed through the second housing 16, so that the transmission mechanism 52 is located in the second chamber 142. Finally, the drive motor 50 and the first housing 15 are assembled together in the second housing 16, so that the drive motor 50 is located in the first chamber 140. This facilitates the assembly of the multi-way valve 1 and improves the assembly efficiency of the multi-way valve 1.

[0083] like Figure 5 , Figures 8-10 As shown, in some embodiments, there are multiple conductors 36, and these multiple conductors 36 are spaced apart circumferentially along the valve core 20. It can be understood that the multiple conductors 36 may correspond to the same set of pin groups 34, or the multiple conductors 36 may correspond to multiple sets of pin groups 34; in other words, the radial distance between the multiple conductors 36 and the rotation axis of the valve core 20 may be equal or unequal. The multi-way valve 1 is configured to satisfy at least one of the following conditions B1 to B4:

[0084] In condition B1, at least two of the multiple conductive elements 36 corresponding to the single pin group 34 have unequal resistances. Different conductive elements 36 correspond to different angular positions of the valve core 20. By setting the resistances of at least two conductive elements 36 to be unequal, the electrical signals generated when the detection circuit 30 is turned on are different (e.g., different currents or voltages). This makes it easier for the detection structure to distinguish which conductive element 36 will turn on the detection circuit 30, so as to determine which conductive element 36 corresponds to the current angular position of the valve core 20, thereby determining the rotation angle of the valve core 20. This is beneficial to improving the detection accuracy of the detection structure and making it easier to better control the rotation angle of the valve core 20.

[0085] For example, the resistances of all the conducting elements 36 corresponding to a single set of pins 34 are not equal, and the multiple conducting elements 36 correspond to different angular positions of the valve core 20, so that the detection structure can obtain the precise rotation angle of the valve core 20 according to the detected different electrical signals, so as to control the rotation angle of the valve core 20 more accurately; for another example, there are two adjacent conducting elements 36 with different resistances among the multiple conducting elements 36 corresponding to a single set of pins 34, so that the detection circuit 30 can obtain an alternating electrical signal. Combined with the initial angular position of the valve core 20, during certain switching processes, the detection structure can obtain the rotation direction of the valve core 20 according to the alternating electrical signal, and at the same time, it can accurately control the rotation angle of the valve core 20.

[0086] Of course, the resistances of the multiple conductive elements 36 corresponding to the single pin group 34 can also be equal. For example, the initial position of one of the conductive elements 36 is set at the initial zero position of the valve core 20. Based on the positional difference between the other conductive elements 36 and the initial zero position conductive element 36 in the circumferential direction, the rotation angle of the valve core 20 when an electrical signal is obtained is determined.

[0087] In condition B2, the circumferential spacing between any two adjacent conductive elements 36 is a preset spacing. There are multiple preset spacings, and at least two adjacent preset spacings are not equal (e.g., Figure 5 The two adjacent preset distances are x1 and x2 respectively, so that the difference between the central angles of one of the conductors 36 and its two adjacent conductors 36 is different. That is, when the valve core 20 rotates to one of the conductors 36, the valve core 20 rotates forward or backward to the adjacent conductor 36 by different rotation angles, so that the time interval for the detection circuit 30 to obtain the electrical signal is also different. This makes it easier for the detection structure to identify the rotation direction of the valve core 20, reduces the possibility that the rotation direction of the valve core 20 is different from the preset rotation direction, and improves the stability of the valve core 20 operation.

[0088] In condition B3, there are multiple pin groups 34, and these multiple pin groups 34 are arranged radially at intervals along the valve core 20. This ensures that adjacent pin groups 34 are radially misaligned, reducing the likelihood of mutual current interference and improving the stability of the detection circuit 30. In this case, there can be one or more voltage sources 32. If there is only one voltage source 32, it can apply voltage to multiple pin groups 34 respectively. If there are multiple voltage sources 32, each voltage source 32 can apply voltage to its corresponding pin group 34. It can be understood that the number of conducting elements 36 corresponding to the multiple pin groups 34 can be equal or unequal.

[0089] Among them, the radial distance between the two conductive parts 36 corresponding to different pin groups 34 and the rotation axis of the valve core 20 is not equal. That is, the conductive parts 36 corresponding to different pin groups 34 are misaligned in the radial direction so that the conductive parts 36 can make better contact with the corresponding pin groups 34, so that the setting position of the conductive parts 36 and the setting position of the corresponding pin groups 34 are more compatible.

[0090] In condition B4, multiple conductive elements 36 correspond one-to-one with multiple flow channel groups 22, so that during the process of each flow channel group 22 switching to connect with the corresponding valve port 12, the corresponding conductive element 36 electrically connects the detection circuit 30. These multiple conductive elements 36 can correspond to the same pin group 34 or multiple pin groups 34. Thus, during the process of each flow channel group 22 switching to connect with the corresponding valve port 12, the corresponding conductive element 36 electrically connects the detection circuit 30 to determine the rotation angle of the valve core 20, improve the angular position accuracy of the valve core 20 when the flow channel group 22 connects with the corresponding valve port 12, facilitate better connection between the flow channel group 22 and the corresponding valve port 12, and reduce the misalignment error between the two in the circumferential direction.

[0091] For example, the multi-way valve 1 has three sets of flow channel groups 22, and the detection circuit 30 has three conductive elements 36 and one set of pin groups 34. The three conductive elements 36 correspond one-to-one with the three sets of flow channel groups 22. When each set of flow channel groups 22 switches to the position of connecting with the valve port 20, its corresponding conductive element 36 can contact the pin group 34, so that an electrical signal is generated in the detection circuit 30, indicating that the valve core 20 has rotated to the position of connecting the corresponding flow channel group 22 and the valve port 12, thereby realizing the accurate switching connection between the flow channel group 22 and the valve port 12; or the multi-way valve 1 has three sets of flow channel groups 22, and the detection circuit 30 has three conductive elements 36 and three sets of pin groups 34. Each set of flow channel groups 22 corresponds to one conductive element 36 and one pin group 34. When each set of flow channel groups 22 switches to the position of connecting with the valve port 20, its corresponding conductive element 36 can contact the pin group 34, so that an electrical signal is generated in the detection circuit 30, indicating that the valve core 20 has rotated to the position of connecting with the corresponding flow channel group 22 and the valve port 12, thereby realizing the accurate switching connection between the flow channel group 22 and the valve port 12; or the multi-way valve 1 has three sets of flow channel groups 22, and the detection circuit 30 has three conductive elements 36 and three sets of pin groups 34, with each set of flow channel groups 22 corresponding to one conductive element 36 and one pin group 34, so that each set of flow channel groups 22 switches to the position of connecting with the valve port 20, the corresponding conductive element 36 can contact the valve port 12, thereby generating an electrical signal in the detection circuit 30, indicating that the valve core 20 has rotated to the position of connecting with the corresponding flow channel group 22 and the valve port 1 When connected to valve port 20, its corresponding conductive element 36 can contact the corresponding pin group 34 to generate an electrical signal in the detection circuit 30, thereby achieving accurate switching connection between flow channel group 22 and valve port 12; or the multi-way valve 1 has three flow channel groups 22, and the detection circuit 30 has three conductive elements 36 and two pin groups 34. The three flow channel groups 22 and the three conductive elements 36 correspond one-to-one, with two conductive elements 36 corresponding to one of the pin groups 34 and the other conductive element corresponding to the other pin group 34. When each flow channel group 22 is switched to be connected to the valve port, its corresponding conductive element 36 can contact the corresponding pin group 34 to generate an electrical signal in the detection circuit 30, thereby achieving accurate switching connection between flow channel group 22 and valve port 12.

[0092] It is understood that during the process of each flow channel group 22 switching to connect with the valve port 20, the moment when the corresponding conductive element 36 contacts the pin group 34 and the moment when the opening of the flow channel group 22 is relatively connected with the valve port 20 can be the same moment, or the moment when the corresponding conductive element 36 contacts the pin group 34 can be earlier than the moment when the opening of the flow channel group 22 is relatively connected with the valve port 20.

[0093] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 11As shown, the multi-way valve assembly 2 according to the second aspect embodiment of the present invention includes multiple valve structures, including a first multi-way valve 60 and a second multi-way valve 62. At least one of the first multi-way valve 60 and the second multi-way valve 62 is a multi-way valve 1 according to the first aspect embodiment of the present invention. The first multi-way valve 60 and the second multi-way valve 62 share a drive motor 50. The output end of the drive motor 50 is provided with a transmission mechanism 52. The valve core 20 of each of the first multi-way valve 60 and the second multi-way valve 62 cooperates with the transmission mechanism 52 through a one-way bearing 64. The one-way bearing 64 is a type of bearing that can rotate freely in one direction and is locked in another direction. For each valve core 20, if the drive motor 50 rotates in the first direction, it can drive the corresponding valve core 20 to rotate through the one-way bearing 64. However, when the drive motor 50 rotates in the second direction opposite to the first direction, it cannot drive the corresponding valve core 20 to rotate through the one-way bearing 64. At this time, the drive motor 50 is in an idle state.

[0094] The multi-way valve assembly 2 has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the drive motor 50 rotates forward to drive the valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 to rotate, while the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 does not rotate. In this state, the transmission mechanism 52 can drive the valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 to rotate via the one-way bearing 64, but the transmission mechanism 52 cannot drive the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 to rotate via the one-way bearing 64. In the second state, the drive motor 50 rotates in reverse to drive the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 to rotate, while the valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 does not rotate. In this state, the transmission mechanism 52 can drive the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 to rotate via the one-way bearing 64, but the transmission mechanism 52 cannot drive the valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 to rotate via the one-way bearing 64. Clearly, the valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 rotates unidirectionally by the drive motor 50, and the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 also rotates unidirectionally by the drive motor 50.

[0095] It should be noted that the terms "forward rotation" and "reverse rotation" described in this application are relative concepts, indicating only that the two rotation directions are opposite, and do not imply rotation in a specific direction. Furthermore, the rotation axis L of the valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 and the rotation axis L of the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 can be parallel or form a non-zero angle. If the rotation axis L of the valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 and the rotation axis L of the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 are parallel, the rotation direction of the valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 when the drive motor 50 rotates forward can be the same as or opposite to the rotation direction of the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 when the drive motor 50 rotates in reverse.

[0096] As can be seen, by rotating the drive motor 50 forward or backward, the rotation direction of the drive motor 50 can be changed, thereby enabling the rotation of different valve cores 20 and changing the state of the valve cores 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 and the second multi-way valve 62, thus switching the connection state of the corresponding valve structures. In other words, if it is necessary to switch the connection state of the first multi-way valve 60, it is only necessary to rotate the drive motor 50 forward, and the above process will not affect the connection state of the second multi-way valve 62. Similarly, if it is necessary to switch the connection state of the second multi-way valve 62, it is only necessary to rotate the drive motor 50 backward, and this process will not affect the connection state of the first multi-way valve 60. Thus, the switching of the connection states of the first multi-way valve 60 and the second multi-way valve 62 is completely isolated, meaning that their use and control methods do not affect each other.

[0097] According to the multi-way valve assembly 2 of this utility model embodiment, multiple multi-way valves 1 can share a drive motor 50, which helps to save the number of drive motors 50, simplify the structure of the multi-way valve assembly 2, reduce the space occupied by the multi-way valve assembly 2, facilitate the miniaturization design of the multi-way valve assembly 2, and simplify the control of the drive motor 50, thereby reducing the control and usage cost of the multi-way valve assembly 2. At the same time, under the premise that multiple multi-way valves 1 share a drive motor 50, multiple multi-way valves 1 can be driven and used independently, which can improve the flexibility of use of multiple multi-way valves 1 and make the multi-way valve assembly 2 suitable for various application scenarios, especially for complex thermal management systems 3.

[0098] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 and the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 each have a specific rotation direction. Both the valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 and the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 can rotate a full circle, thus both valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 and the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 can rotate 360°. The valve core 20 has the ability to pass through any angle position within the range of 0° to 360°. The rotation angle of the valve core 20 can be controlled by the drive motor 50 so that the valve core 20 of the first multi-way valve 60 and the valve core 20 of the second multi-way valve 62 can each rotate to the angle position of each connected state of the corresponding valve structure, so as to realize the smooth switching of each valve structure between all connected states.

[0099] According to the embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the first multi-way valve 60 and the second multi-way valve 62 is the aforementioned multi-way valve 1. Through the combined action of the detection circuit 30 and the detection structure, the rotation angle of at least one of the first multi-way valve 60 and the second multi-way valve 62 can be better controlled, which facilitates the precise control of the multi-way valve assembly 2 and improves the reliability of the operation of the multi-way valve assembly 2.

[0100] The thermal management system 3 according to a third aspect embodiment of the present invention includes a multi-way valve 1 according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention or includes a multi-way valve assembly 2 according to a second aspect embodiment of the present invention. This facilitates improved reliability of the thermal management system 3.

[0101] For example, the thermal management system 3 may include a compressor, at least one first heat exchanger, at least one second heat exchanger, and multiple external pipelines. The external pipelines are filled with a circulating heat exchange medium, and the multiple external pipelines connect the compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger. Simultaneously, the multiple external pipelines are respectively connected to different valve ports 12 on the multi-way valve assembly 2. At least one valve port 12 serves as a medium inlet, and at least one valve port 12 serves as a medium outlet. By switching the connection state of the corresponding valve structure, the flow path of the medium can be switched, thereby facilitating the switching of the heat exchange mode of the thermal management system 3 to achieve temperature regulation at corresponding locations in the vehicle. The first heat exchanger can be used for heat exchange with the battery, and the second heat exchanger can be used for heat exchange with the vehicle compartment. Optionally, switching the connection state of the corresponding valve structure can also achieve adjustment of the medium's flow rate, flow rate, and the ratio between different flow paths.

[0102] The vehicle 4 according to a third aspect embodiment of the present invention includes a multi-way valve 1 according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention, or a multi-way valve assembly 2 according to a second aspect embodiment of the present invention, or a thermal management system 3 according to a third aspect embodiment of the present invention. This facilitates improved reliability of the thermal management system 3.

[0103] It is understood that the specific type of vehicle 4 referred to in the embodiments of this application is not limited. For example, vehicle 4 can be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle. New energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, range-extended electric vehicles, solar electric vehicles, gas fuel vehicles (such as hydrogen engine vehicles), or biofuel vehicles (such as vehicles powered by ethanol, biodiesel, etc.).

[0104] Other configurations and operations of the vehicle 4 according to the embodiments of the present invention are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0105] Furthermore, it should be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. To avoid unnecessary repetition, this application will not describe the various possible combinations separately. In addition, various different embodiments of this application can also be arbitrarily combined, as long as they do not violate the spirit of this application, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed in this application.

[0106] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "lateral," "length," "thickness," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Furthermore, features defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more. In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can refer to the internal connection of two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0107] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0108] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A multi-way valve, characterized in that, include: The valve housing has a plurality of spaced-apart valve ports and an internal mounting cavity. The valve core has multiple sets of spaced-apart flow channels, and the valve core is rotatably disposed in the mounting cavity so as to achieve switching and connection of the corresponding valve port through the multiple sets of flow channels; A detection circuit includes a voltage source, a pin group, and at least one conductive element. The pin group includes two contact pins spaced radially apart along the valve core. The voltage source applies voltage to the two contact pins of the pin group. The voltage source and the pin group are fixed to one of the valve housing and the valve core. The conductive element is fixed to the other of the valve housing and the valve core, such that during the rotation of the valve core relative to the valve housing, the conductive element is adapted to contact the two contact pins corresponding to the pin group to electrically connect the detection circuit. A detection structure is provided to detect the signal fed back from the detection circuit in order to determine the rotation angle of the valve core.

2. The multi-way valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection structure includes: A current detection structure, wherein the current detection structure is used to detect the current in the detection circuit; and / or, A voltage detection structure is provided for detecting the voltage across the conductive element.

3. The multi-way valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage source and the pin group are fixed to the valve housing, and the conductive element is fixed to the valve core. The valve core includes a shaft portion and a core portion. The core portion is disposed around the outer periphery of the shaft portion, and multiple sets of flow channels are formed on the core portion. The shaft portion is rotatably engaged with the valve housing. A mounting plate is fixed to one axial end of the shaft body. The guide member is fixed to the mounting plate and protrudes from the outer surface of the mounting plate. In the radial direction of the valve core, the outer periphery of the mounting plate is located outside the shaft body.

4. The multi-way valve according to claim 3, characterized in that, The conductive element is configured to satisfy at least one of the following conditions: Condition A1: At least one of the conductive elements is located at the edge of the mounting plate; Condition A2: The conductive component is injection molded to the mounting plate; Condition A3: On the cross-section of the valve core, with the orthographic projection of the rotation axis of the valve core as the center, the central angle corresponding to the two ends of the circumferential direction of the conductor is α, where α≤4°; Condition A4: The conductive element protrudes from the thickness side of the mounting plate, or the conductive element protrudes from the outer peripheral wall of the mounting plate; Condition A5: The portion of the conductive element protruding from the outer surface of the mounting plate is arc-shaped.

5. The multi-way valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The contact pin is constructed as a spring, the spring is cantilevered, and the free end of the spring has an arc-shaped portion that protrudes along the axial direction of the valve core toward the side where the conductor is located.

6. The multi-way valve according to claim 5, characterized in that, The fixed end of the spring sheet has a flat plate portion, which is perpendicular to the axial direction of the valve core and smoothly transitions to the arc-shaped portion.

7. The multi-way valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting cavity includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the valve core. The valve core includes a shaft portion and a core portion. The core portion is disposed around the outer periphery of the shaft portion. The core portion is disposed in the third chamber and forms multiple sets of flow channels. The shaft portion is rotatably engaged with the valve housing. The shaft portion extends axially from the third chamber to the first chamber. The pin group and the conductive element are both disposed in the first chamber.

8. The multi-way valve according to claim 7, characterized in that, The valve housing includes a first housing, a second housing, and a third housing arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the valve core. A first chamber is defined between the second housing and the first housing, and a second chamber is defined between the second housing and the third housing. The third housing contains a third chamber, and all valve ports are formed in the third chamber. The multi-way valve also includes a drive motor and a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is coupled between the drive motor and the valve core to transmit the power of the drive motor to the valve core. The drive motor is located in the first housing or the second housing, and the transmission mechanism is located in the second chamber. A sealing element is provided between the second chamber and the third chamber.

9. The multi-way valve according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The conductive elements are multiple and spaced apart circumferentially along the valve core, and the multi-way valve is configured to satisfy at least one of the following conditions: Condition B1: At least two of the multiple conducting elements corresponding to the pin group have unequal resistances. Condition B2: The circumferential spacing between any two adjacent conductive elements is a preset spacing, and there are multiple preset spacings, with at least two adjacent preset spacings being unequal; Condition B3: The pin groups are multiple groups and are arranged at radial intervals along the valve core. The radial distance between the two conductive members corresponding to different pin groups and the rotation axis of the valve core is not equal. Condition B4: Multiple conductive elements correspond one-to-one with multiple groups of flow channels, so that during the process of switching each group of flow channels to connect with the corresponding valve port, the corresponding conductive element electrically connects the detection circuit.

10. A multi-way valve assembly, characterized in that, The system includes multiple valve structures, each including a first multi-way valve and a second multi-way valve. At least one of the first and second multi-way valves is a multi-way valve according to any one of claims 1-9, and the first and second multi-way valves share a drive motor. The output end of the drive motor is provided with a transmission mechanism. The valve core of each of the first multi-way valve and the second multi-way valve is engaged with the transmission mechanism through a one-way bearing. The multi-way valve assembly has a first state and a second state. In the first state, the drive motor rotates forward to drive the valve core of the first multi-way valve to rotate, while the valve core of the second multi-way valve does not rotate. In the second state, the drive motor rotates in reverse to drive the valve core of the second multi-way valve to rotate, while the valve core of the first multi-way valve does not rotate.

11. A thermal management system, characterized in that, Includes a multi-way valve according to any one of claims 1-9 or includes a multi-way valve assembly according to claim 10.

12. A vehicle, characterized in that, The system includes a multi-way valve according to any one of claims 1-9, a multi-way valve assembly according to claim 10, or a thermal management system according to claim 11.

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