ROTARY VALVE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a rotary valve comprising a valve housing with a valve chamber, wherein the valve chamber has at least one chamber wall into which at least two fluid openings are introduced, wherein the valve chamber accommodates a valve core, wherein the valve core is provided with a channel structure which cooperates with the fluid openings, wherein the valve core is rotatably mounted in the valve chamber.

[0002] Such a rotary valve is known, for example, from DE 10 2018 009 680 A1. Rotary valves of this type are frequently used in cooling circuits to control the coolant flow. A cooling fluid can flow in and out through the fluid openings in the valve housing. The channel structure incorporated into the valve core controls the coolant flow. Depending on the design and number of fluid openings, different cooling circuits can be controlled, the volume flow can be regulated, or the flow direction can be adjusted.

[0003] The rotary valve design is advantageous because the coolant flow is adjusted by rotating the valve core, while the corresponding actuator for rotating the valve core is simple and easy to control. Accordingly, rotary valves and the associated actuators are cost-effective to manufacture. Furthermore, rotary valves require very little installation space.

[0004] Such rotary valves are particularly advantageous for use in temperature control circuits in the field of electromobility. To achieve a long range in electric vehicles, for example, it is necessary to control the temperature of electrical components. Electric vehicle components that require temperature control include, in particular, electrical energy storage units, but also power electronics or connectors for rapid charging devices. An electrical energy storage unit has its best possible capacity only within a very narrow temperature range. Therefore, it is necessary to heat the electrical energy storage units of electric vehicles at low ambient temperatures and cool them at high outside temperatures or during high load changes.

[0005] For this purpose, it is known to provide a temperature control circuit through which a temperature control medium flows. Depending on the requirements, the temperature control medium can be either heated in a heating device or cooled in a cooling device. The flow of the temperature control medium is controlled, at least in part, via a rotary valve. This may require complex channel structures in the valve core.

[0006] DE 10 2015 000 424 B3 shows a valve in which the valve body is concentrically enclosed by a hollow cylinder. US 2022 / 0090691 A1 shows a valve with a multi-part valve core, the elements of which are arranged axially one above the other. EP 4 008 935 A1 shows a rotary valve with a multi-part valve housing. WO 2022 / 184 915 A1 shows a rotary valve with a two-part valve core.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of providing a rotary valve which can be manufactured cost-effectively and which enables complex control of temperature control circuits.

[0008] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The subclaims refer to advantageous embodiments.

[0009] The rotary valve according to the invention comprises a valve housing with a valve chamber, wherein the valve chamber has at least one chamber wall into which at least two fluid openings are introduced, wherein the valve chamber accommodates a valve core, wherein the valve core is provided with a channel structure which interacts with the fluid openings, wherein the valve core is rotatably mounted in the valve chamber, wherein the valve core is formed in at least two parts.

[0010] Due to the at least two-part design of the valve core, it is possible to realize complex channel structures in the valve core, whereby the valve core can be manufactured simply and cost-effectively at the same time.

[0011] The valve core has at least an inner part and an outer part, with the outer part at least partially surrounding the inner part circumferentially. In this embodiment, the inner part is inserted within the outer part, for example, into the outer part, which enables the design of a particularly complex channel structure, particularly in the inner part. The outer part, on the other hand, is in contact with the chamber wall of the valve chamber and can be designed to provide a particularly good seal against the chamber wall.

[0012] It is conceivable that several inner parts are provided. Several inner parts can be nested in a box-like manner. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that several inner parts are provided, each extending over a circular sector, with several inner parts arranged next to one another distributed around the circumference. In both configurations, particularly complex channel structures can be formed cost-effectively. According to a further alternative, several inner parts can be nested and further inner parts can be arranged next to one another.

[0013] The outer part is designed as a sleeve and accommodates at least one inner part. With this design, the outer part can at least partially cover the inner part in the circumferential direction, so that the inner part is particularly well protected against damage. In particular, the inner part can be prevented from jamming against the chamber wall. The outer part is designed as a sleeve and the inner part is particularly well protected against damage, especially during assembly. With this design, the outer part can also lie flat against the chamber wall of the valve chamber, so that the risk of internal leaks within the rotary valve can be reduced.

[0014] To improve the seal, the chamber wall can be provided at least in sections with an elastic coating, for example made of elastomeric material.

[0015] The at least one inner part is rib-like. This allows the inner part to be designed particularly lightly and with minimal use of material, and the inner part can be optimized for the transport function of the channel structure. The outer circumferential wall of the channels formed in the inner part can be formed by the outer part, which simplifies the manufacture of the inner part. According to the invention, the inner part is made of plastic. Therefore, injection molding is particularly suitable for its manufacture. A rib-like design of the inner part also makes it possible to realize particularly complex channel structures in the valve core.

[0016] Perforations can be incorporated into the outer part. Depending on the position of the valve core, the perforations are in contact with the fluid openings and allow the temperature control medium to pass through the fluid openings into the channel structure of the inner part.

[0017] The channel structure can be formed in the at least one inner part. The channel structure is protected by the outer part, allowing a particularly complex channel structure to be realized.

[0018] The at least one inner part and the outer part can be connected to one another by a material fit. For this purpose, the at least one inner part and the outer part can be connected to one another with an adhesive. Preferably, the at least one inner part and the outer part are connected to one another via a welded connection, for example by laser welding or ultrasonic welding. The welded connection can be linear and, for example, arranged around the openings. It is also conceivable for the welded connection arranged around the opening to be set back so that the weld seam does not impair the sealing function between the valve core and valve housing. Due to the material fit, the inner part and outer part form a strong bond, thus ensuring safe and long-lasting operation of the rotary valve.

[0019] The at least one inner part and the outer part can be connected to each other in a form-fitting manner. This configuration allows the inner part and outer part to be connected particularly quickly and easily. It is also conceivable to connect the inner part and outer part both by a material fit and by a form-fitting manner.

[0020] The at least one inner part and the outer part can be connected to each other in a fluid-tight manner. This prevents a fluid from overflowing from one channel of the channel structure of the inner part into another channel of the channel structure.

[0021] The outer part of the valve core can be sealed against the wall of the valve chamber, at least in sections. This can prevent leaks from occurring within the valve chamber, which could impair the functionality of the rotary valve.

[0022] A sealing contour can be assigned to the outer part and / or the inner part. The sealing contour is preferably arranged on the outside in the region of the openings in the outer part and can, for example, be formed along the circumferential edges of the openings. The sealing contour can represent a separate component or be molded directly onto the outer part. It is particularly conceivable to form the sealing contour from thermoplastic elastomer and to mold this directly with the outer part. It is also conceivable to design the sealing contour as a sealing ring or sealing lip. Furthermore, the sealing contour can be arranged in a groove formed in the outer part.

[0023] In alternative embodiments, the valve housing and the valve core are conical. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the outer part to be provided with a channel structure. Furthermore, it is conceivable to arrange several outer parts within one another, with one outer part accommodating another outer part. The outer part can be formed in several parts, in particular in the shape of a circular sector. In this context, it is particularly conceivable for the outer part to comprise two half-shells.

[0024] An embodiment of the rotary valve according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. The figures show, schematically: Fig. 1 shows a rotary valve; Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the valve core of the rotary valve; Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of the inner part of the valve core; Fig. 4 shows the outer part of the valve core; Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of a valve core; Fig. 6 shows a valve core in which the inner and outer parts are welded.

[0025] Figure 1shows a rotary valve 1, which forms a component of a temperature control circuit of an interior facility to be air-conditioned. In this case, the rotary valve 1 is used in electromobility applications as a component of the temperature control circuit of an electric vehicle. The rotary valve 1 is integrated into a temperature control circuit of an electric motor drive of an electric vehicle and directs volume flows of the medium fed into the temperature control circuit to the electrical energy storage units and electric motors, as well as to the power electronics. The rotary valve 1 can be used to modify the temperature control medium flows of the temperature control circuit.

[0026] In particular, it is conceivable to modify the volume flow of the temperature control medium, for example, to increase or decrease it. Furthermore, by rotating the valve core 7, different fluid openings 5 ​​can be connected in a flow-conducting manner, thus changing the flow direction of the temperature control medium. In this respect, the rotary valve 1 according to the invention also forms a directional valve through which various components of the devices to be temperature-controlled can be individually and specifically supplied with temperature control medium and, if necessary, also separated from the temperature control medium flow.

[0027] Depending on the ambient temperature and power requirements, for example, a temperature control medium flow can initially be directed exclusively to the electrical energy storage units, where it can cool or heat the electrical energy storage units depending on the ambient temperature. For high power requirements, a coolant flow can be directed to the power electronics and also to the electric motors to cool these components. The coolant flow is modified using rotary valve 1. Rotary valve 1 can replace several solenoid valves, allowing the overall temperature control circuit to be manufactured cost-effectively.

[0028] Figure 1shows a rotary valve 1 with a valve housing 2 made of plastic, in which a valve chamber 3 is arranged. The valve chamber 3 has a chamber wall 4 into which several fluid openings 5 ​​are introduced. The valve chamber 3 has a receiving opening 6 on its front side and the valve chamber 3 receives a valve core 7. The receiving opening 6 is provided with a cover into which a passage for the drive shaft 13 is introduced. The valve core 7 is provided with a channel structure 8 which interacts with the fluid openings 5. The valve core 7 is rotatably mounted in the valve chamber 3 and is provided with a drive shaft 13 via which the valve core 7 can be set in rotation by an actuator.

[0029] Figure 2 shows in detail the valve core 7 of the rotary valve 1 according to Figure 1The valve core 7 has an inner part 9 and an outer part 10, with the outer part 10 surrounding the inner part 9 on its circumference. The outer part 10 is designed as a sleeve and accommodates the inner part 9. The inner part 9 and the outer part 10 are made of plastic.

[0030] Perforations 11 are formed in the outer part 10. The channel structure 8 is formed in the inner part 9. Via the perforations 11 formed in the outer part 10, the channel structure 8 is selectively in contact with one or more fluid openings 5.

[0031] Figure 3 shows in detail the inner part 9 of the Figure 2The valve core 7 shown in FIG. It can be seen that the inner part 9 is rib-like. The inner part 9 is made of plastic and manufactured by injection molding. Depending on the design of the channel structure 8, it is conceivable to form the inner part 9 in several parts, wherein several inner parts 9 can be inserted into one another and / or several inner parts 9 can be arranged next to one another in the manner of a circular sector and viewed in the circumferential direction. The channel structure 8 is formed in the inner part 9.

[0032] Figure 4 shows in detail the outer part 10 of the Figure 2 The outer part 10 is designed in the form of a sleeve, with a plurality of openings 11 formed in the peripheral wall. Each opening 11 is assigned a sealing contour 14, which is arranged in the area of ​​the edges of the openings 11. The sealing contour 14 is made of thermoplastic elastomer and is firmly connected to the outer part 10.

[0033] Figure 5 shows an alternative design of the Figure 2 shown valve core 7. In the present embodiment, the outer part 10 is also rib-like, so that the channel structure 8 can have a particularly complex shape, which is formed both in the inner part 9 and the outer part.

[0034] Figure 6 shows the valve core 7 according to Figure 2 In the present embodiment, it can be seen that the inner part 9 and the outer part 10 are integrally connected to one another via a welded joint 12. The welded joint is arranged in the areas of the openings 11 and is linear. In addition to the secure connection of the inner part 9 and the outer part 10, the welded joint 12 ensures that no leaks occur within the valve core 7 in the area of ​​the openings 11.

Claims

1. A rotary valve (1), comprising a valve housing (2) having a valve chamber (3), the valve chamber (3) having at least one chamber wall (4) in which at least two fluid openings (5) are formed, the valve chamber (3) accommodating a valve core (7), the valve core (7) being provided with a channel structure (8) which interacts with the fluid openings (5), the valve core (7) being rotatably mounted in the valve chamber (3), the valve core (7) being formed in at least two parts, the valve core (7) having at least one inner part (9) and an outer part (10), the outer part (10) at least partially surrounding the at least one inner part (9) circumferentially, the outer part (10) being formed as a sleeve and accommodating the at least one inner part (9), and the at least one inner part (9) being formed in a rib-like manner, characterized in that the valve core (7) is made of plastics material.

2. The rotary valve according to claim 1, characterized in that apertures (11) are formed in the outer part (10).

3. The rotary valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the channel structure (8) is formed in the at least one inner part (9).

4. The rotary valve according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one inner part (9) and the outer part (10) are integrally bonded to one another.

5. The rotary valve according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one inner part (9) and the outer part (10) are form-fittingly interconnected.

6. The rotary valve according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the outer part (10) of the valve core (7) lies sealingly, at least in part, against the chamber wall (4) of the valve chamber (3).

7. The rotary valve according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a sealing contour is assigned to the outer part (10) and / or the at least one inner part (9).

8. The rotary valve according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the channel structure (8) is formed in the outer part (10).

9. The rotary valve according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the valve core (7) has a plurality of outer parts (10).

10. The rotary valve according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the valve housing (2) and the valve core (7) are made of plastics material.

11. A temperature control circuit of a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, comprising at least one rotary valve (1) according to any of the preceding claims.