System of rotary valves for separate heat transfer fluid circuits having different dynamics

Abstract

The invention relates to a system of valves for controlling two separate heat transfer fluid circuits, comprising, on the same shaft rotated by a single motor (6), two slide gates (12, 22) fitted in a body (2) and axially offset on two planes, forming in each plane a valve for controlling a circuit (10, 20), wherein, for at least one proportional rotation range of the shaft, the motor (6) has progressive control allowing intermediate stops in this range with only one first valve (10) modifying the state of its circuit, and, for another range of rotation, the motor (6) has non-stop switching control between the ends of this range in order to give two states of the second valve (20).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title: ROTARY VALVE SYSTEM FOR SEPARATE HEAT TRANSFER FLUID CIRCUITS WITH DIFFERENT DYNAMICS. The present invention claims priority from French application No. 2212951 filed on 08.12.2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to a rotary valve system for controlling passages in two separate heat transfer fluid circuits, as well as a motor vehicle comprising a heat transfer fluid circuit equipped with such a valve system.A known type of rotary hydraulic circuit valve system, used for controlling a braking system of a motor vehicle, presented in particular by document FR-A1 -3040202, comprises a rotary shaft having transverse bores, fitted in a body and driven by a motor, the shaft and the body comprising two series of bores arranged in two planes perpendicular to the shaft and offset, forming two stages. The two stages of bores of the shaft form two valves of two particular valves which control two independent circuits. The linked rotation of the two valves puts bores in communication for each plane in order to ensure different fluid passages in each circuit.Another known type of rotary valve system for a hydraulic circuit, used for controlling a heat transfer fluid for a motor vehicle thermal engine, presented in particular by document EP-A1-1482222, similarly comprises a drum driven in rotation along its axis, comprising two series of holes forming two valve spools arranged on two offset planes, aligned with holes in the body to control two separate circuits. . For these types of valves, with a single motor driving the two spools fixed on the same axis, it is possible to control two separate circuits according to sequences which are linked together because of their rotations which are identical. . However, this type of linked valve only makes it possible to produce controls having identical dynamics for the two circuits.In particular, it is possible to produce two valves with a rapid dynamic with one type of motorization, the motorization switching from one stable position to another quickly to form on the two valves specific opening and closing cycles on the two circuits, which are linked together. An all-or-nothing switching operation, called "switch over" in English, is obtained on the two valves.

[0003] 008. It is also possible to produce valves with slow and progressive dynamics for both with another type of motorization, with a motorization that allows intermediate stops over the entire range between two final positions, in order to simultaneously carry out proportional opening and closing cycles on both valves that are linked together.

[0004] 009. However, on certain heat transfer fluid distribution systems comprising two separate circuits, it may be necessary on one circuit to have a valve which quickly moves from one stable position to another to achieve a switch between opening and closing, and on another circuit to have a proportional valve allowing all intermediate positions in order to progressively regulate the fluid passages.

[0005] 010. In this case, two valves must be provided, each equipped with its own independent motor; the two valves cannot be linked in order to obtain for each the dynamics corresponding to its type of valve.

[0006] 011. We obtain a system with two motors posing problems of control complexity, space requirements with the two separate valve axes each equipped with an independent motor, mass represented by the entire system, and cost to provide the two motors. In particular in the case of an electric motor, it is necessary to provide two electric motors each equipped with its own electric control, and two independent mechanical speed reducers.

[0007] 012. The present invention aims in particular to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0008] 013. To this end, it proposes a system of valves for controlling two separate heat transfer fluid circuits, comprising on the same axis driven in rotation by a single motor, two valves adjusted in a body, axially offset on two planes, forming in each plane a control valve for a circuit, this system of valves being remarkable in that for at least one proportional rotation range of the axis the motor includes a progressive control allowing intermediate stops over this range with only a first valve modifying the state of its circuit, and for another rotation range the motor includes a control continuously switching between two states of the second valve formed at the ends of this range.

[0009] 014. An advantage of this valve system is that a single motor is used, allowing for a single motor and reducer with a small footprint and reduced mass, with simplified control and limited cost. Depending on the range, two different dynamics can be provided for the rotational drive of the shaft, and with a combined arrangement of adapted angular arrangements of the bores of the valves and the body, to obtain in the same assembly a proportional valve and a valve that quickly switches between two states.

[0010] 015. In particular, it is possible to control two separate parts of the same hydraulic circuit requiring very different valve control characteristics in a simple, compact and economical manner.

[0011] 016. The valve system according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, which may be combined with each other.

[0012] 017. Advantageously, the first valve is a proportional valve which distributes the flow coming from two inlets to a first common outlet.

[0013] 018. Advantageously, the second valve achieves a complete flow switch between a third inlet and a fourth inlet to a second common outlet.

[0014] 019. In particular, the valve system may comprise two progressive rotation ranges which frame a single rotation range with control switching between two states.

[0015] 020. In this case, the progressive rotation ranges can be formed over 60° and the rotation range with control switching between two states over 180°.

[0016] 021. In particular, the valve of the first valve may comprise in its cross section two solid angular sectors which frame a fluid passage, the valve of the second valve comprising in its cross section a single solid angular sector.

[0017] 022. Advantageously, the motorization has two rotation speeds, including a slow speed for the progressive rotation range and a fast speed for the non-stop rotation range.

[0018] 023. In this case, advantageously the slow speed represents less than 20% of the fast speed.

[0019] 024. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a powertrain equipped with a heat transfer fluid circuit, comprising a valve system having any one of the preceding characteristics. . In particular, this valve system can distribute the heat transfer fluid to a first component and a second heat exchange component, the first outlet being connected to the second inlet, and to a first component which delivers this fluid to the first inlet, the second outlet being connected to the fourth inlet, and to a second component which delivers this fluid to the third inlet. . The invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will appear more clearly on reading the description below given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: . [Fig. 1] is an axial sectional diagram of a valve system according to the invention; . [Fig.2] is a diagram showing a top view of the valves of the two valves for the first three angular positions; . [Fig. 3] is a diagram showing the valves of the two valves for the following three angular positions; . [Fig. 4] is a diagram showing the openings and closings of the different passages of these two valves as a function of the angular positions, and the speed of the motorization; and . [Fig. 5] is a diagram showing part of a cooling circuit of a motorization of a motor vehicle equipped with such a valve system. Figure 1 shows a valve system comprising a body 2 containing a cylinder 4 rotating about a vertical axis, forming an upper valve 16 and a lower valve 26, driven by an actuator 6 fixed above, comprising an electric motor and a mechanical speed reducer 8.The qualifications of upper and lower relate to the presentation of figure 1, the valve system being able to be used in all orientations. A first valve 10 arranged in an upper plane perpendicular to the axis, has holes in the body 12 and holes 14 in the upper plug 16, which following the rotation of this plug can be put into correspondence to open passages of this first valve. A second valve 20 arranged on a parallel lower plane, has holes in the body 22 and holes 24 in the lower plug 26 which in the same way, following the rotation of this plug can be put into correspondence to open passages of this second valve. 034. The rotation of the cylinder 4 by the actuator simultaneously controls the rotation of the two plugs 16, 26 which then have the same angular position.

[0020] 035. Figure 2 shows in the first column above the first valve 10 and below the second valve 20, for an initial position of the valves 16, 26 at 0°, in the second column a second position of the valves at 30° after a rotation in the trigonometric or direct direction, and in the third column a third position of the valves at 60°.

[0021] 036. The first valve 10 comprises a first inlet A, a second inlet B offset by 60° in the direct direction relative to this first inlet, and a first outlet OUT1 arranged in the extension of the second inlet B. The upper valve 16 comprises a first solid angular sector 32 and a second solid angular sector 34, with an intermediate fluid passage between these two sectors. The two solid sectors 32, 34 cover a little less than 180°.

[0022] 037. For the first column showing the position of the valves 12, 24 at 0°, the first solid sector 32 closes the first inlet A, the second inlet B aligned with the intermediate passage is open towards the first outlet OUT1.

[0023] 038. The second valve 20 has a third inlet D, a fourth inlet E arranged in the extension of this third inlet, and a second outlet OUT2 offset by 90° in the forward direction relative to this third inlet. The lower valve 26 has a single solid angular sector 36 having an angle of 150°, which closes the third inlet D by its front side in the forward direction.

[0024] 039. The solid sectors 32, 34, 36 and the closed passages are shown on the diagrams in black, the holes and the open passages in white, the half-open passages in hatched lines.

[0025] 040. Figure 4 shows, as a function of the angular position of the valves 12, 24 arranged on the horizontal axis, at the top the fluid passages of the upper inlets A, B on the vertical axis, which go from 0 in the closed state to 1 in the completely open state, and in the middle the fluid passages of the lower inlets C, D which go from 0 to 1.

[0026] 041 . The lower part presents for these same angular positions the rotation speed of the valves 16, 26 given by the electric motor of the actuator 6, which goes on the vertical axis from 0 representing the stop to 1 representing its maximum speed. . For the position of the valves at 0° the first inlet A is closed and the second inlet B is fully open, the fluid of the first valve 10 passes freely from this second inlet to the first outlet OUT1 . The third inlet D is closed, the fourth inlet E is open, the fluid of the second valve 20 passes freely from this fourth inlet to the second outlet OUT2. . For the second column presenting the position of the valves at 30°, the first sector 32 of the first valve 10 has started to close the second inlet B and to open the first inlet A. The sector 36 of the second valve 26 keeps the third inlet D closed. .In the diagram of Figure 4, we obtain a progressive closing of the passage of the second inlet B and simultaneously a progressive opening of the first inlet A. The second valve 20 does not change state. . For the third column presenting the position of the valves at 60°, the first sector 32 of the first valve 10 has finished closing the second inlet B and opening the first inlet A. The sector 36 of the second valve 26 keeps the third inlet D closed. . In the diagram of Figure 4, we obtain a complete closing of the passage of the second inlet B and simultaneously a complete opening of the first inlet A. The second valve 20 does not change state. .For these movements of the valve between 0 and 60°, the actuator 6 drives the rotation with a low speed, which advantageously represents less than 20% of the maximum speed, in this example 10%, this low speed allowing fine regulation of the distribution of the flow rates between the first inlet A and the second inlet B, with the possibility of stopping in all the intermediate positions between the ends of the range. In particular, the high speed can be 60 rpm, and the low speed 6 rpm. . Figure 3 similarly shows in the first column above the first valve 10 and below the second valve 20 for an initial position of the valves at 240°, in the second column for a position of the valves at 270° and in the third column for a position of the valves at 300°. .The valves 12, 24 are moved from the 60° position to the 240° position presented by the first column, by a high speed of the motorization to cover these 180°, which gives a rapid switching of the first valve 10 passing from a complete opening of the first inlet A to its closing, and from the complete closing of the second inlet B to its opening. The second valve 20 also passes through a rapid switching from a complete closing of the third inlet D to its opening, and from the complete opening of the fourth inlet E to its closing.

[0027] 050. For this position at 240° the two outputs OUT1 and OUT2 are always open, we obtain for the first valve 10 a complete passage through the second input B which reproduces the state at 0°, and for the second valve 20 a complete passage through the third input D.

[0028] 051. For the second column showing the position of the valves at 270°, for the first valve 10 there is a progressive closing of the second inlet B and a progressive opening of the first inlet A. The state of the second valve 20 does not change.

[0029] 052. For the third column showing the position of the valves at 300°, for the first valve 10 we have a complete closure of the second inlet B and a complete opening of the first inlet A. The state of the second valve 20 still does not change.

[0030] 053. The actuator 6 carries out the transition from the position of the valves at 240° to the position at 300° with the low speed, to allow a progressive regulation of the distribution of the flows of the first proportional valve 10 between its two inputs A, B. The position of the valves between 300 and 360° is not functional.

[0031] 054. With a single motorization comprising two rotation speeds, for the first valve 10, a first flow distribution regulation range between 0 and 60° is obtained with the second valve 20 having a passage through its fourth inlet E, and a second regulation range between 240 and 300° with this second valve having a passage through its third inlet D.

[0032] 055. Figure 5 shows part of a cooling circuit for a motor vehicle engine, comprising a six-way valve system 40 which distributes the heat transfer fluid to a first component 42 and a second heat exchange component 44. The first output OUT1 is connected to the second inlet B, and to a first component 40 which delivers this fluid to the first inlet A. The second output OUT2 is connected to the fourth inlet E, and to a second component 42 which delivers this fluid to the third inlet D.

[0033] 056. The valve system 40 thus makes it possible to achieve, with the flow rate of the first output OUT1, a proportional passage in the first component 42, which varies progressively from a zero passage to a complete passage without interrupting the flow rate of this output. It also allows, in parallel with this proportional adjustment, with the flow rate of the second output OUT2, a passage in the second component 44 which changes from all to nothing without interrupting the flow rate of this output. The changes of state of the two valves 10, 20 always allow a passage of the heat transfer fluid for each circuit, which is shunted when this fluid must not pass through the heat exchange components 42, 44.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Control valve system for two separate heat transfer fluid circuits, comprising on the same axis driven in rotation by a single motor (6), two valves (12, 22) fitted in a body (2), axially offset on two planes forming in each plane a control valve for a circuit (10, 20), characterized in that for at least one proportional rotation range of the axis the motor (6) comprises a progressive control allowing intermediate stops over this range with only a first valve (10) modifying the state of its circuit, and for another rotation range the motor (6) comprises a control switching continuously between the ends of this range to give two states of the second valve (20).

2. Valve system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first valve (10) is a proportional valve which distributes the flow coming from two inputs (A, B) to a first common output (OUT1).

3. Valve system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second valve (20) performs a complete flow switch between a third inlet (C) and a fourth inlet (D) to a second common outlet (OUT2).

4. Valve system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two progressive rotation ranges which frame a single rotation range with control switching between two states.

5. Valve system according to claim 4, characterized in that the progressive rotation ranges are formed over 60° and the rotation range with control switching between two states over 180°.

6. Valve system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve (12) of the first valve (10) comprises in its cross section two solid angular sectors (32, 34) which frame a fluid passage, the valve (22) of the second valve (20) comprising in its cross section a single solid angular sector (36).

7. Valve system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motorization (6) has two rotation speeds, comprising a slow speed for the progressive rotation range and a fast speed for the non-stop rotation range.

8. Valve system according to claim 7, characterized in that the slow speed represents less than 20% of the fast speed.

9. Motor vehicle comprising a powertrain equipped with a heat transfer fluid cooling circuit, characterized in that this circuit comprises a valve system (40) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 9, equipped with a valve system (40) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that this valve system (40) distributes the heat transfer fluid to a first component (42) and a second heat exchange component (44), the first outlet (OUT1) being connected to the second inlet (B), and to a first component (40) which delivers this fluid to the first inlet (A), the second outlet (OUT2) being connected to the fourth inlet (E), and to a second component (42) which delivers this fluid to the third inlet (D).

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