Multi-way valve for an electric vehicle, thermal management system, and method for operating a thermal management system

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-way valve for an electric vehicle of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 and a thermal management system for an electric vehicle.

[0002] Such multi-way valves and thermal management systems are already known from the state of the art in numerous design variants.

[0003] Multi-way valves are widely used in technology in various designs and are used to control complex fluid flows in a wide variety of applications. Using a multi-way valve, it is possible to replace a combination of multiple one-way valves. For example, multi-way valves are used to control complex fluid systems with fluid circuits in vehicles. Newer vehicle concepts for land vehicles, such as hybrid or electric cars, also feature such complex fluid systems with fluid circuits. The fluid circuits can be, for example, cooling circuits and / or heating circuits, whereby the same fluid circuit can be designed as both a cooling circuit and a heating circuit. Depending on the operating mode, it may be necessary to close or open fluid circuits of such a fluid system, to connect them to one another, or to separate them from one another.When using conventional multi-way valves, a number of multi-way valves, for example 3 / 2-way or 4 / 2-way valves, are required.

[0004] For example, CN 110 843 465 A discloses a multi-channel cooling valve and a cooling system for an electric car. The multi-channel cooling valve consists of a valve body provided with an upper and a lower layer, and a shell adapted to the circumference of the valve body. The upper layer of the valve body is provided with a plurality of upper channels, the lower layer of the valve body is provided with a plurality of lower channels, the upper and lower channels are arranged offset, and the valve body and an actuator of the electric car are firmly connected and coordinated with each other.The rotating actuator can drive the valve body to rotate synchronously. A plurality of orifices communicating with the valve body are spaced apart on the shell, and the heights of the orifices are greater than or equal to the distances from the upper surfaces of the upper channels to the lower surfaces of the lower channels of the valve body. The multi-channel cooling valve has a simple structure, which simplifies the connection of circular cooling modules in electric vehicles, allows the performance of the cooling system to be fully utilized, and improves the service life of the electric vehicle.

[0005] Further reference is made to US 2006 118 066 A1, which relates to a control valve for a fluid circulation system. The control valve consists of a body with a cylindrical sidewall defining a cylindrical housing. The control valve also includes tubes through which the fluid enters and exits the aforementioned body. A rotary adjustment element is mounted in the body so as to be rotatable about an axis and can assume various positions to control the circulation of the fluid between the tubes. All of these tubes extend through the cylindrical sidewall of the body.

[0006] This is where the present invention comes in.

[0007] The present invention is based on the object of improving a multi-way valve for an electric vehicle and a thermal management system.

[0008] This problem is solved by a multi-way valve for an electric vehicle with the features of claim 1, which is characterized in that at least two pairs of housing openings and the corresponding sealing openings are arranged one above the other in such a way that one of the aforementioned pairs is fluidically associated with the first level and the first connecting channels, and the other of the aforementioned pairs is fluidically associated with the second level and the second connecting channels. Furthermore, this problem is solved by a thermal management system with the features of claim 9. The term "electric vehicle" here also includes so-called hybrid vehicles, i.e., vehicles that have both an electric drive and another type of drive, for example, an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of the invention.

[0009] A significant advantage of the invention lies in the fact that a multi-way valve for an electric vehicle and a thermal management system are improved. By means of the multi-way valve according to the invention and the thermal management system according to the invention, it is possible to control a plurality of external flow channels of a fluid system with, for example, a plurality of fluid circuits in a structurally and circuit-wise simple manner. By means of the invention, it is thus possible to eliminate a plurality of conventional multi-way valves and replace them with just a single multi-way valve according to the invention. Furthermore, it is possible to increase the number of pairings while maintaining the same space requirement. Accordingly, the assembly effort and costs, as well as the installation space required, are reduced.

[0010] In principle, the multi-way valve according to the invention for an electric vehicle can be freely selected within wide, suitable limits in terms of type, function, material, dimensions, shape, and arrangement. For example, it is possible to design the housing openings and the corresponding sealing openings and / or the clear cross-sections of the connecting channels essentially rectangular, for example to reduce pressure losses. In contrast to circular openings and clear cross-sections, essentially rectangular openings and clear cross-sections can be arranged much more space-efficiently, allowing, for example, larger flow cross-sections compared to circular openings and clear cross-sections. The term "essentially" means that the corners of the housing openings, sealing openings, and / or clear cross-sections of the connecting channels can be rounded.

[0011] An advantageous development of the multi-way valve according to the invention provides that a plurality of the pairings of the housing openings and the corresponding sealing openings extend over the first and second levels in such a way that these pairings are fluidically associated with the first level with the first connecting channels and the second level with the second connecting channels, and can be fluidically connected to one of the first and / or one of the second connecting channels, depending on the rotational position of the valve body, essentially without reducing the cross-section, based on a flow from the respective connecting channel in the direction of the aforementioned pairings. In this way, it is possible, in a structurally and manufacturing-technically simple manner, to fluidically associate these pairings both with the first level of the valve body with the first connecting channels and with the second level of the valve body with the second connecting channels.

[0012] A particularly advantageous development of the multi-way valve according to the invention provides that the valve body additionally has at least one third connecting channel that is fluidically separate from the first and second connecting channels for the flow-conducting connection of at least two of the housing openings, wherein the third connecting channel extends over the first and second levels, preferably that the third connecting channel is designed as a central channel. In this way, it is possible, in a particularly simple manner in terms of design and production technology, to realize flow-conducting connections between the first level and the second level by means of the valve body. The preferred embodiment of this development has the further advantage that the third connecting channel can be realized in a simple manner in terms of design and production technology.For example, the present development is essential for connecting pairs to one another in a flow-conducting manner, of which one pair is assigned to the first level in a flow-conducting manner only and the other pair is assigned to the second level in a flow-conducting manner only.

[0013] Accordingly, an advantageous development of the aforementioned development provides that the two pairs of housing openings arranged one above the other and the corresponding sealing openings and the third connecting channel are designed to be coordinated with one another in such a way that the third connecting channel can be connected in a flow-conducting manner to at least one of the two pairs.

[0014] Another advantageous development of the multi-way valve according to the invention provides that the pairings of the housing openings and the corresponding sealing openings are arranged symmetrically around the rotational axis of the valve body such that the centroids of the aforementioned pairings are positioned at 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240°, and 300°. This creates a particularly diverse possibility for the flow-conducting connection of different pairings. The angle specifications refer to a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis.

[0015] A further advantageous development of the multi-way valve according to the invention provides that the respective pairing of housing openings and the corresponding sealing openings, relative to the rotational axis of the valve body, corresponds to an angle of 30°. This allows for efficient utilization of the available installation space while simultaneously optimizing the aforementioned openings—namely, the largest possible openings under the technical conditions. The angle specifications again refer to a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis.

[0016] Another advantageous development of the multi-way valve according to the invention provides that the first and second connecting channels (46, 48, 52, 54; 46, 48, 52, 54, 55) have dimensions which, with respect to the axis of rotation (38) of the valve body (40) and a contact surface of the valve body (40) with the seal (42), correspond to the following angle groups a and b: a) 90° in each case; b) partly 120°, partly 90°, preferably that the at least one third connecting channel (56) has an extent which, with respect to the axis of rotation (38) of the valve body (40) and the contact surface of the valve body (40) with the seal (42), corresponds to an angle of 30°. The angle specifications again refer to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.In this way, analogous to the housing openings and sealing openings of the aforementioned development, efficient use of the available installation space is achieved while simultaneously optimizing the aforementioned clear cross-sections of the connecting channels, namely the largest possible clear cross-sections under the technical conditions. The present development results in various variation options. For example, the dimensions of the first connecting channels of the first level can be designed according to angle group a, while the dimensions of the second connecting channels of the second level can be designed according to angle group b. The reverse is of course also conceivable. Further flexibility in the design of the multi-way valve according to the invention results from the distribution of the individual angles of the angle groups among the respective number of first and / or second connecting channels in the individual embodiment.In addition, the extensions of the first and second connecting channels can be assigned to different angle groups.

[0017] A further particularly advantageous development of the multi-way valve according to the invention provides that the pairing of the housing openings and the corresponding sealing openings, and the valve body with the connecting channels, are designed in such a way that a fluid flowing through one of the housing openings can be distributed by the valve body to at least two other housing openings depending on the rotational position of the valve body. In this way, the multi-way valve according to the invention can be even better adapted to the specific requirements of the individual case.

[0018] In principle, the thermal management system according to the invention can also be freely selected within wide, suitable limits in terms of type, mode of operation, material and dimensions.

[0019] An advantageous development of the thermal management system according to the invention provides that the multi-way valve has a total of seven pairs of housing openings and the corresponding sealing openings, with the drive circuit being fluidly connected to three of the aforementioned pairs, and the battery circuit and the air conditioning circuit being fluidly connected to two of the aforementioned pairs each. This enables a thermal management system that is particularly adapted to the requirements of an electric vehicle.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below using the attached, roughly schematic drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the thermal management system according to the invention in a block diagram, Fig. 2a shows the multi-way valve according to the invention of the embodiment in a partial exploded view, Fig. 2b shows the multi-way valve of the embodiment in a partial, perspective cross-section with a view of the first level of the valve body, Fig. 2c shows the multi-way valve of the embodiment in a partial, perspective cross-section with a view of the second level of the valve body, Fig. 3a shows the two levels of the multi-way valve in an analogous representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , with the valve body in a first rotational position, Fig. 3b, which leads to the Fig. 3a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view, Fig. 3c the thermal management system in a Fig. 1 analog representation, in an operating state corresponding to the first rotational position of the valve body, Fig. 4a the two levels of the multi-way valve in analog representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , with the valve body in a second rotational position, Fig. 4b, which leads to the Fig. 4a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view, Fig. 4c the thermal management system in a Fig. 1 analog representation, in an operating state corresponding to the second rotational position of the valve body, Fig. 5a the two levels of the multi-way valve in analog representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , with the valve body in a third rotational position, Fig. 5b, which leads to the Fig. 5a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view, Fig. 5c the thermal management system in a Fig. 1 analog representation, in an operating state corresponding to the third rotational position of the valve body, Fig. 6a the two levels of the multi-way valve in analog representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , with the valve body in a fourth rotational position, Fig. 6b, which corresponds to the Fig. 6a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view, Fig. 6c the thermal management system in a Fig. 1 analog representation, in an operating state corresponding to the fourth rotational position of the valve body, Fig. 7a the two levels of the multi-way valve in analog representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , with the valve body in a fifth rotational position, Fig. 7b, which corresponds to the Fig. 7a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view, Fig. 7c the thermal management system in a Fig. 1 analog representation, in an operating state corresponding to the fifth rotational position of the valve body, Fig. 8a the two levels of the multi-way valve in analog representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , with the valve body in a sixth rotational position, Fig. 8b, which corresponds to the Fig. 8a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view, Fig. 8c the thermal management system in a Fig. 1 analog representation, in an operating state corresponding to the sixth rotational position of the valve body, Fig. 9a the two levels of the multi-way valve in analog representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , with the valve body in a seventh rotational position, Fig. 9b, which leads to the Fig. 9a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view, Fig. 9c the thermal management system in a Fig. 1 analog representation, in an operating state corresponding to the seventh rotational position of the valve body, Fig. 10a the two levels of the multi-way valve in analog representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , with the valve body in an eighth rotational position, Fig. 10b, which corresponds to the Fig. 10a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view, Fig. 10c the thermal management system in a Fig. 1 analog representation, in an operating state corresponding to the eighth rotational position of the valve body, Fig. 11a the two levels of the multi-way valve in analog representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , with the valve body in a ninth rotational position, Fig. 11b, which leads to the Fig. 11a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view, Fig. 11c the thermal management system in a Fig. 1 analog representation, in an operating state corresponding to the ninth rotational position of the valve body, Fig. 12a the two levels of the multi-way valve in analog representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , with the valve body in a tenth rotational position, Fig. 12b, which leads to the Fig. 12a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view, Fig. 12c the thermal management system in a Fig. 1 analog representation, in an operating state corresponding to the tenth rotational position of the valve body, Fig. 13a the two levels of the multi-way valve in analog representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , with the valve body in an eleventh rotational position, Fig. 13b, which leads to the Fig. 13a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view, Fig. 13c the thermal management system in a Fig. 1 analog representation, in an operating state corresponding to the eleventh rotational position of the valve body, Fig. 14a an alternative embodiment of the multi-way valve according to the invention, in analog representation to the Fig. 2b und 2c , in a first rotational position and Fig. 14bwhich leads to the Fig. 14a corresponding contact surface between the valve body and the housing with the seal in a developed view.

[0021] In the Fig. 1 bis 14b An embodiment of the thermal management system according to the invention with the multi-way valve according to the invention is shown purely by way of example.

[0022] The thermal management system 2 is designed to be suitable for an electric vehicle (not shown in detail) and comprises a controller (not shown), a battery circuit 6, which is connected in a heat-transferring manner to a drive battery 4 of the electric vehicle and has a coolant pump 10 and a so-called chiller 12, i.e. a cooler, a drive circuit 18, which is connected in a heat-transferring manner to an electric drive 14 of the electric vehicle and to power electronics 16 for the electric drive 14, and has a coolant pump 20, a radiator 22, which is connected in a heat-transferring manner to a free environment and has a bypass 24 to the radiator 22, and an air conditioning circuit 26, which is connected in a heat-transferring manner to a vehicle interior (not shown) of the electric vehicle, having a coolant pump 28, a heater 30 and a heat exchanger 32, wherein the battery circuit 6,the drive circuit 18 and the air conditioning circuit 26 are each operable with a coolant (not shown) and can be connected or separated from one another in a coolant-conducting manner by means of a single controllable coolant valve designed as a multi-way valve 34.

[0023] The multi-way valve 34 is in the Fig. 2a bis 2c shown in more detail and comprises a housing 36 with a total of seven housing openings A, B, C, D, E, F, G, each for flow-conducting connection with an external, not shown flow channel for a fluid, namely the above-mentioned coolant, and a valve body 40 arranged in the housing 36 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 38 for flow-conducting connection of at least two of the housing openings A to G of the housing 36, wherein between the housing 36 and the valve body 40 a seal 42 is arranged with sealing openings corresponding to the housing openings A to G in the housing 36 for sealing the flow-conducting connections against the free environment. Since the sealing openings correspond to the housing openings A to G, the sealing openings in the Fig. 2a bis 14b not explicitly designated. The valve body 40 has a first plane 44 with two first connecting channels 46, 48 and a second plane 50 arranged parallel to the first plane 44 with two second connecting channels 52, 54, wherein the connecting channels 46, 48, 52, 54 are fluidically separated from one another and can be fluidly connected to at least two of the housing openings A to G of the housing 36 by rotating the valve body 40 into a predetermined rotational position of the valve body 40.

[0024] In the present exemplary embodiment, the total of five pairings, namely the housing openings A, B, C, F, G, and the sealing openings corresponding thereto, extend over the first and the second level 44, 50 in such a way that these pairings A, B, C, F, G are assigned in a flow-conducting manner to the first level 44 with the first connecting channels 46, 48 and to the second level 50 with the second connecting channels 52, 54 and, depending on the rotational position of the valve body 40, can be flow-conductingly connected to one of the first and / or one of the second connecting channels 46, 48, 52, 54 essentially without reducing the cross-section, based on a flow from the respective connecting channel 46, 48, 52, 54 in the direction of the aforementioned pairings A, B, C, F, G.In contrast, two pairings, namely the housing openings E and D and the corresponding sealing openings, are arranged one above the other in such a way that one of the aforementioned pairings D is fluidly assigned to the first level 44 with the first connecting channels 46, 48, and the other of the aforementioned pairings E is fluidly assigned to the second level 50 with the second connecting channels 52, 54. The pairings corresponding to the housing openings A, D, and E fluidly connect the multi-way valve 34 to the drive circuit 18, the pairings corresponding to the housing openings B and F fluidly connect the multi-way valve 34 to the air conditioning circuit 26, and the pairings corresponding to the housing openings C and G fluidly connect the multi-way valve 34 to the battery circuit 6.

[0025] In addition to the first connecting channels 46, 48 and the second connecting channels 52, 54 for the fluidic connection of at least two of the housing openings A to G, the valve body 40 additionally has a third connecting channel 56 that is fluidically separated from the first and second connecting channels 46, 48, 52, 54. The third connecting channel 56 extends across the first and second planes 44, 50, and the third connecting channel 56 is designed as a central channel. In the present exemplary embodiment, the two pairs arranged one above the other, corresponding to the housing openings E and D, and the third connecting channel 56 are designed to be coordinated with one another in such a way that the third connecting channel 56 can be fluidically connected to both of the aforementioned pairs.

[0026] As can be seen from the Fig. 2a bis 2c As can be seen, the housing openings A to G and the corresponding sealing openings and the clear cross-sections of the connecting channels 46, 48, 52, 54 are essentially rectangular, for example, to reduce pressure losses. In contrast to circular openings and clear cross-sections, essentially rectangular openings and clear cross-sections can be arranged in a much more space-efficient manner, allowing, for example, larger flow cross-sections compared to circular openings and clear cross-sections.

[0027] As can be seen from the Fig. 2a bis 2c As can also be seen, the pairings of housing openings A to G and the corresponding sealing openings are arranged symmetrically around the rotational axis 38 of the valve body 40 such that the centroids of the aforementioned pairings are positioned at 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240°, and 300°. An extension of the respective pairing of housing openings A to G and the corresponding sealing openings, relative to the rotational axis 38 of the valve body 40, corresponds here to an angle of 30°. The angle specifications refer to a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis 38.

[0028] In the present exemplary embodiment, the two first connecting channels and the two second connecting channels 46, 48, 52, 54 as well as the third connecting channel 56 which connects the two planes 44, 50 in a flow-conducting manner have dimensions which, with respect to the axis of rotation 38 of the valve body 40 and a contact surface of the valve body 40 with the seal 42, correspond to the following angle groups a or b. The first connecting channels 46, 48 are assigned to the angle group b with the angles 120°, 90° and the second connecting channels 52, 54 are assigned to the angle group a with the angles 90°, 90°, wherein the aforementioned extension of the first connecting channel 46 is assigned to an angle of 90°, the aforementioned extension of the first connecting channel 48 is assigned to an angle of 120°, the aforementioned extension of the second connecting channel 52 and the second connecting channel 54 are each assigned to an angle of 90°.The extension of the third connecting channel 56 is assigned an angle of 30° relative to the rotational axis 38 of the valve body 40 and a contact surface of the valve body 40 with the seal 42. The angle specifications refer to a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis 38.

[0029] The angle specifications mentioned above are based on the individual development diagrams, for example the Fig. 3b , removable.

[0030] However, other assignments and other angle groups are also conceivable. For example, Fig. 14a , 14b, in which a possible alternative geometry of the valve body 40 is shown purely as an example. Firstly, the second plane 50 of this valve body 40 has a total of three second connecting channels 52, 54, 55 instead of two. Secondly, the dimensions of the first and second connecting channels 46, 48, 52, 54, 55 are each assigned to the above-mentioned angle group a, so that each of the aforementioned dimensions corresponds to an angle of 90°. The aforementioned angle specifications are the Fig. 14b shown processing.

[0031] Furthermore, the pairings of the housing openings A to G and the corresponding sealing openings and the valve body 40 with the connecting channels 46, 48, 52, 54, 56 are designed to be coordinated with one another in such a way that a fluid flowing in through one of the housing openings A to G, i.e. the coolant, can be divided by means of the valve body 40 into at least two other housing openings of the housing openings A to G depending on the rotational position of the valve body 40.

[0032] In the following, the functioning of the thermal management system according to the invention with the multi-way valve according to the invention according to the present embodiment is explained with reference to the Fig. 1 bis 14b explained in more detail.

[0033] In the Fig. 3a bis 3c A first operating state of the thermal management system 2 with the multi-way valve 34 in a first rotational position of the valve body 40 is shown in three mutually corresponding representations. The first rotational position of the valve body 40 is particularly evident from the Fig. 3a in which the multi-way valve 34 is shown with a view of the first level 44 of the valve body 40 as well as with a view of the second level 50 of the valve body 40. In the Fig. 3b A developed view of the contact surface between the valve body 40 on one side and the seal 42 on the other side is shown. On the horizontal axis of the illustration, for easier orientation, the angles from 0° to 360° are plotted, with 0° and 360° being identical. On the other hand, the pairings of the housing openings A to G and the corresponding seal openings are plotted. The diagonal hatching here represents the valve body 40, whereas the horizontal hatching represents the seal 42. The connecting channels 46, 48, 52, 54, 56 of the valve body 40 are each represented by a rectangle. As can be seen from the Fig. 3a and also from the Fig. 3b As can be seen, the pairs corresponding to the housing openings E and B are connected in a flow-conducting manner by means of the second connecting channel 52, the pairs corresponding to the housing openings A and G are connected by means of the first connecting channel 48, and the pairs corresponding to the housing openings C and F are connected by means of the first connecting channel 46. In the Fig. 3c Furthermore, it is shown how the first rotational position of the multi-way valve 34 affects the corresponding first operating state of the thermal management system 2. Accordingly, the first operating state corresponds to a connection of all three circuits 6, 18, 26 into a single overall circuit, with the coolant flowing from the drive circuit 18 through the radiator 22 into the multi-way valve 34.

[0034] In the Fig. 4a bis 13c are a further ten operating states of the thermal management system 2 analogous to the first operating state of the thermal management system 2 according to the Fig. 3a bis 3c Accordingly, reference can be made to the above detailed explanations of the first operating state of the thermal management system 2. Fig. 4a bis 13c are therefore only briefly explained below.

[0035] The Fig. 4a bis 4c show a second operating state of the thermal management system 2, which corresponds to a second rotational position of the valve body 40 of the multi-way valve 34. In the second operating state, the pairs corresponding to the housing openings F and C, G and B, and D and A are fluidly connected to one another. This corresponds to a connection of the battery circuit 6 with the air conditioning circuit 26 to form an overall circuit, while the drive circuit 18 is flowed through separately using the bypass 24.

[0036] The Fig. 5a bis 5c show a third operating state of the thermal management system 2, which corresponds to a third rotational position of the valve body 40 of the multi-way valve 34. In the third operating state, the pairs corresponding to the housing openings F and B, D and A, and G and C are fluidly connected to one another. Thus, each circuit 6, 18, 26 is flowed through separately, with the drive circuit 18 being flowed through using the bypass 24. Thus, there is no fluidly connected between the individual circuits 6, 18, 24.

[0037] The Fig. 6a bis 6c show a fourth operating state of the thermal management system 2, which corresponds to a fourth rotational position of the valve body 40 of the multi-way valve 34. In the fourth operating state, the pairs corresponding to the housing openings G and C, F and A, and D and B are fluidly connected to one another. This corresponds to a connection of the drive circuit 18 and the air conditioning circuit 26 to form an overall circuit, with the drive circuit 18 being flowed through using the bypass 24. The battery circuit 6 is flowed through separately.

[0038] The Fig. 7a bis 7c show a fifth operating state of the thermal management system 2, which corresponds to a fifth rotational position of the valve body 40 of the multi-way valve 34. In the fifth operating state, the pairs corresponding to the housing openings F and C, D and B, and G and A are fluidly connected to one another. This corresponds to a connection of all three circuits 6, 18, 24 into a single overall circuit, with the coolant flowing from the drive circuit 18 through the bypass 24 into the multi-way valve 34.

[0039] The Fig. 8a bis 8c show a sixth operating state of the thermal management system 2, which corresponds to a sixth rotational position of the valve body 40 of the multi-way valve 34. In the sixth operating state, the pairs corresponding to the housing openings G and A, E and C, and F and B are fluidly connected to one another. This corresponds to a connection of the drive circuit 18 and the battery circuit 6 to form an overall circuit, with the drive circuit 18 being flowed through using the radiator 22. The air conditioning circuit 26 is flowed through separately.

[0040] The Fig. 9a bis 9c show a seventh operating state of the thermal management system 2, which corresponds to a seventh rotational position of the valve body 40 of the multi-way valve 34. In the seventh operating state, the pairs corresponding to the housing openings E and A, G and B, and F and C are fluidly connected to one another. This corresponds to a connection of the battery circuit 6 and the air conditioning circuit 26 to form a single circuit, while the drive circuit 18 is flowed through separately using the radiator 22.

[0041] The Fig. 10a bis 10c show an eighth operating state of the thermal management system 2, which corresponds to an eighth rotational position of the valve body 40 of the multi-way valve 34. In the eighth operating state, the pairs corresponding to the housing openings E and B, F and A, and G and C are fluidly connected to one another. This corresponds to a connection of the drive circuit 18 and the air conditioning circuit 26 to form an overall circuit, with the drive circuit 18 being flowed through using the radiator 22. The battery circuit 6 is flowed through separately.

[0042] The Fig. 11a bis 11c show a ninth operating state of the thermal management system 2, which corresponds to a ninth rotational position of the valve body 40 of the multi-way valve 34. In the ninth operating state, the pairs corresponding to the housing openings E and A, F and B, and G and C are fluidly connected to one another. Thus, each circuit 6, 18, 26 is flowed through separately, with the drive circuit 18 being flowed through using the radiator 22. Thus, there are no fluidly connected connections between the circuits 6, 18, 26.

[0043] The Fig. 12a bis 12c show a tenth operating state of the thermal management system 2, which corresponds to a tenth rotational position of the valve body 40 of the multi-way valve 34. In the tenth operating state, the pairs corresponding to the housing openings F and B, D and C, and G and A are fluidly connected to one another. This corresponds to a connection of the drive circuit 18 and the battery circuit 6 to form an overall circuit, with the drive circuit 18 being flowed through using the bypass 24. The air conditioning circuit 26 is flowed through separately.

[0044] In addition to the ten operating states of the thermal management system 2 explained above, it is possible to realize intermediate states by means of the multi-way valve 34, which enable a proportional distribution of the coolant flows between the circuits 6, 18, 26. As an example, the Fig. 13a bis 13c an eleventh operating state of the thermal management system 2, which corresponds to an eleventh rotational position of the valve body 40 of the multi-way valve 34. This eleventh operating state corresponds to a mixed state between the second and third operating states. See the Fig. 4a bis 4c for the second operating state and the Fig. 5a bis 5c for the third operating state. In the eleventh operating state, the pairs corresponding to the following housing openings are fluidly connected to one another as follows: F and B through the second connecting channel 52, F and C through the second connecting channel 54, G and B through the third connecting channel 56, D and A through the first connecting channel 48, and G and C through the first connecting channel 46.

[0045] Accordingly, the eleventh operating state establishes the connections D to A, F to B and C, and G to B and C. On the one hand, this corresponds to a separate flow through the drive circuit 18 using the bypass 24. Furthermore, in the eleventh operating state, there is a connection of the fluid flows, i.e. the coolant flows, between the battery circuit 6 and the air conditioning circuit 26 to form an overall circuit.

[0046] This means that the fluid flow, i.e. the coolant flow, circulates in the air conditioning circuit 26 partially separately from the battery circuit 6 and is simultaneously partially directed to the battery circuit 6. Likewise, the fluid flow, i.e. the coolant flow, circulates in the battery circuit 6 partially separately from the air conditioning circuit 26, and this fluid flow is simultaneously partially directed back to the air conditioning circuit 26. The ratio of the partial flows in the circuits 6 and 26, namely the ratio of a partial flow in only one of the circuits 6 and 26 to a partial flow shared between the fluidly connected circuits 6 and 26, is realized by continuously adjusting the rotational position of the valve body 40 and thus the operating state of the thermal management system 2 between the second and third operating states.Consequently, the eleventh operating state shown as an example can be advantageously used, for example, to utilize the heat from the heater 30 in the air conditioning circuit 26 both to heat the vehicle interior via the heat exchanger 32 and simultaneously to heat the drive battery 4 in the battery circuit 6. The continuous adjustment of the rotational position of the valve body 40 of the multi-way valve 34 between the second and third rotational positions of the valve body 40 is used to regulate the heat dissipation to the battery circuit 6.

[0047] By means of the thermal management system 2 with the multi-way valve 34, it is thus possible to control a plurality of external flow channels of a fluid system with a plurality of fluid circuits in a simple manner in terms of design and circuitry. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate the need for a plurality of conventional multi-way valves and replace them with just a single multi-way valve according to the invention, namely the multi-way valve 34. Accordingly, the assembly effort and costs, as well as the required installation space, are reduced.

[0048] The invention is not limited to the present embodiment. For example, the invention can also be advantageously used in other types of vehicles. In particular, the invention is not limited to the details of the present

[0049] Embodiment limited. Only the appended claims determine the scope of the invention.

[0050] For example, it is possible to vary the geometry of the multi-way valve according to the invention explained above. See also the relevant explanations in the description of the specific embodiment. For example, exchanging the upper and lower levels of the valve body 40 is conceivable. Accordingly, the first level 44 can replace the second level 50 and the second level 50 can replace the first level 44. Furthermore, the Fig. 14a and 14b briefly explained variant of the multi-way valve 34 is conceivable. For example, the valve body of the multi-way valve 34, as shown in the Fig. 14a and 14bObviously, other modifications are also conceivable; the person skilled in the art will select the appropriate geometry for the multi-way valve according to the invention, i.e. the housing as well as the seal and / or the valve body, depending on the requirements of the individual case. Purely by way of example, reference is made here to the further possibility that the valve body, for example, is arranged centrally along the vertical sectional plane through the third connecting channel designed as a central channel to the present embodiment together with the variant according to Fig. 14a and 14b can be mirrored. List of reference symbols

[0051] 2Thermal management system 4Drive battery 6Battery circuit 10Coolant pump battery circuit 12Chiller 14Electric drive 16Power electronics 18Drive circuit 20Coolant pump drive circuit 22Radiator 24Bypass to radiator 26Air conditioning circuit 28Coolant pump air conditioning circuit 30Heater 32Heat exchanger 34Multi-way valve 36Housing 38Rotary axis valve body 40Valve body 42Seal 44First level valve body 46First connecting channel 48First connecting channel 50Second level valve body 52Second connecting channel 54Second connecting channel 55Second connecting channel; only variant according to Fig. 14a and 14b 56Third connecting channel A to GHousing openings, with corresponding sealing openings

Claims

1. A multiway valve (34) for an electric vehicle, comprising a housing (36) with at least six housing openings (A to G) each for flow-conducting connection to an external flow channel for a fluid and a valve body (40) arranged in the housing (36) rotatably about an axis of rotation (38) for flow-conducting connection of at least two of the housing openings (A to G) of the housing (36), in which a seal (42) with sealing openings corresponding to the housing openings (A to G) in the housing (36) is arranged between the housing (36) and the valve body (40) for sealing the flow-conducting connections from the free environment, and in which the valve body (40) has a first plane (44) with at least two first connecting channels (46, 48) and a second plane (50) arranged parallel to the first plane (44) with at least two second connecting channels (52, 54; 52, 54, 55), in which the connecting channels (46, 48, 52, 54; 46, 48, 52, 54, 55) are fluidically separated from one another and can each be connected in a flow-conducting manner to at least two of the housing openings (A to G) of the housing (36) by means of a rotation of the valve body (40) into a respectively predetermined rotational position of the valve body (40), and in which at least one pairing of the housing openings (A to G) and the corresponding sealing openings extends over the first and second planes (44, 50) in such a way that this pairing (A, B, C, F, G) is assigned in a flow-conducting manner to the first plane (44) with the first connecting channels (46, 48) and to the second plane (50) with the second connecting channels (52, 54; 52, 54, 55) and, depending on the rotational position of the valve body (40), can be connected to one of the first and / or one of the second connecting channels (46, 48, 52, 54; 46, 48, 52, 54, 55) in a flow-conducting manner essentially without a reduction in cross-section, related to a flow from the respective connecting channel (46, 48, 52, 54; 46, 48, 52, 54, 55) in the direction of the aforementioned pairing (A, B, C, F, G), characterized in that at least two pairings of housing openings (A to G) and the corresponding sealing openings are arranged one above the other in such a way that one of the aforementioned pairing (D) is assigned to the first plane (44) with the first connecting channels (46, 48) and the other of the aforementioned pairing (E) is assigned to the second plane (50) with the second connecting channels (52, 54; 52, 54, 55) in a flow-conducting manner.

2. A multiway valve (34) according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of the pairings of housing openings (A to G) and the corresponding sealing openings extend over the first and second planes (44, 50) in such a way that these pairings (A, B, C, F, G) are assigned to the first plane (44) with the first connecting channels (46, 48) and to the second plane (50) with the second connecting channels (52, 54; 52, 54, 55) and, depending on the rotational position of the valve body (40), can be connected to one of the first and / or one of the second connecting channels (46, 48, 52, 54; 46, 48, 52, 54, 55) in a flow-conducting manner, essentially without a reduction in cross-section, related to a flow from the respective connecting channel (46, 48, 52, 54; 46, 48, 52, 54, 55) in the direction of the aforementioned pairings (A, B, C, F, G).

3. A multiway valve (34) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the valve body (40) additionally has at least one third connecting channel (56) for flow-conducting connection of at least two of the housing openings (A to G) that is fluidically separated from the first and second connecting channel (46, 48, 52, 54; 46, 48, 52, 54, 55), with said third connecting channel (56) extending over the first and second planes (44, 50), preferably such that the third connecting channel (56) is designed as a central channel.

4. A multiway valve (34) according to claim 3, characterized in that the two pairings of housing openings (D, E) arranged above one another and the corresponding sealing openings and the third connecting channel (56) are designed to match one another in such a way that the third connecting channel (56) can be connected to at least one of the two pairings (D, E) in a flow-conducting manner.

5. A multiway valve (34) according to one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that the pairings of housing openings (A to G) and the corresponding sealing openings are arranged symmetrically about the axis of rotation (38) of the valve body (40) in such a way that centers of gravity of the aforementioned pairings (A to G) are positioned at 0°, at 60°, at 120°, at 180°, at 240° and at 300°.

6. A multiway valve (34) according to one of claims 1 through 5, characterized in that an extension of the respective pairing of housing openings (A to G) and the corresponding sealing openings corresponds in each case to an angle of 30° relative to the axis of rotation (38) of the valve body (40).

7. A multiway valve (34) according to one of claims 1 through 6, characterized in that the first and second connecting channels (46, 48, 52, 54; 46, 48, 52, 54, 55) have extensions that, relative to the axis of rotation (38) of the valve body (40) and a contact surface of the valve body (40) with the seal (42), correspond to the following angle groups a or b: a) 90° in each case; b) in some cases 120°, in some cases 90°, preferably such that the at least one third connecting channel (56) has an extension that, relative to the axis of rotation (38) of the valve body (40) and the contact surface of the valve body (40) with the seal (42), corresponds to an angle of 30°.

8. A multiway valve (34) according to one of claims 1 through 7, characterized in that the pairings of housing openings (A to G) and the corresponding sealing openings and the valve body (40) with the connecting channels (46, 48, 52, 54, 56; 46, 48, 52, 54, 55, 56) are designed to match one another in such a way that a fluid flowing in through one of the housing openings (A to G) can be split by means of the valve body (40) into at least two other of the housing openings (A to G) depending on the rotational position of the valve body (40).

9. A thermal management system (2) for an electric vehicle, comprising a controller, a battery circuit (6) connected in a heat-transmitting manner to a drive battery (4) of the electric vehicle, a drive circuit (18) connected in a heat-transmitting manner to an electric drive (14) of the electric vehicle and / or to power electronics (16) for an electric drive (14), and an air-conditioning circuit (26) connected in a heat-transmitting manner to a vehicle interior of the electric vehicle, in which the battery circuit (6), the drive circuit (18) and the air-conditioning circuit (26) can each be operated with a coolant and can be connected or disconnected from one another in a coolant-conducting manner by means of at least one controllable coolant valve, characterized in that the at least one coolant valve is designed as a single multiway valve (34) according to one of claims 1 through 8.

10. A thermal management system (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that the multiway valve (34) has a total of seven pairings of housing openings (A to G) and the corresponding sealing openings, with the drive circuit (18) being connected in a flow-conducting manner to three of the aforementioned pairings and the battery circuit (6) and the air-conditioning circuit (26) each being connected in a flow-conducting manner to two of the aforementioned pairings.