Valve for a liquid system of a vehicle
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-18
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle fluid system valves are complex and costly to produce, with limited functionality and versatility, particularly in thermal management systems like coolant systems for electric vehicles.
A valve design that allows at least three valve housing openings to be connected flow-conductively through a single connection passage, simplifying construction and production while enabling multiple switching states, with a common connection passage between levels, reducing structural complexity and enhancing functionality.
The valve achieves significant simplification in construction and production while offering comparable functionality to more complex systems, enabling a wide range of applications, including complex coolant systems for electric vehicles with multiple switching states and efficient fluid connections.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024060351_14112024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Valve for a vehicle fluid system
[0002] Description
[0003] The present invention relates to a valve for a fluid system of a vehicle of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1.
[0004] Such valves for fluid systems of vehicles are already known from the state of the art in numerous design variants.The known valve for a fluid system of a vehicle comprises a valve housing with a base, a cover and a plurality of valve housing openings arranged in a side wall of the valve housing, a valve body arranged in the valve housing so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis, with a first plane arranged perpendicular to the rotation axis and having at least one first connecting passage, and with a second plane arranged perpendicular to the rotation axis and fluidically separated from the first plane by means of an intermediate base, having at least one second connecting passage, in each case for the flow-conducting connection of at least two valve housing openings of the plurality of valve housing openings, a valve seal arranged between the valve housing and the valve body with valve seal openings corresponding to the valve housing openings, and a valve drive for automatically rotating the valve body about the rotation axis.
[0005] This is where the present invention comes in.
[0006] The present invention is based on the object of improving a valve for a fluid system of a vehicle.
[0007] This object is achieved by a valve for a fluid system of a vehicle having the features of claim 1, which is characterized in that one of the at least one first and / or the at least one second connecting passage is designed such that, depending on a switching state of the valve, at least three valve housing openings associated with the same plane as this connecting passage can be fluidly connected to one another by means of this connecting passage. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of the invention.
[0008] A significant advantage of the valve according to the invention lies in the fact that it improves the valve for a vehicle's fluid system. Due to the inventive design of the valve for a vehicle's fluid system, the valve is significantly simplified in terms of design, manufacturing technology, and circuitry. At the same time, the functionality of the valve according to the invention for a vehicle's fluid system is comparable to that of far more complex valves or the use of a plurality of simpler valves.
[0009] In principle, the valve according to the invention for a vehicle's fluid system can be freely selected within wide, suitable limits in terms of type, function, material, and dimensions. The possible applications of the valve according to the invention are correspondingly diverse. Purely as an example, reference should be made here to thermal management systems of electric vehicles, in particular their coolant systems.
[0010] An advantageous development of the valve according to the invention provides that a total of three valve housing openings are assigned to the aforementioned plane, preferably that these three valve housing openings are assigned only to the aforementioned plane. This provides an embodiment of the invention that is relatively simple in terms of design and manufacturing technology, but which already allows a large number of switching states of the valve according to the invention to be realized.
[0011] A further advantageous development of the valve according to the invention provides that the aforementioned connecting passage is delimited by at least one valve body wall, preferably that the at least one valve body wall is formed as a total of three valve body walls. This allows the aforementioned connecting passage to be implemented in a particularly simple manner in terms of design and manufacturing technology. This applies in particular to the preferred embodiment of this development.
[0012] An advantageous development of the aforementioned development of the valve according to the invention provides that the aforementioned connecting passage is fluidically separated from at least one further connecting passage of the aforementioned level by means of at least one of the at least one valve body walls. Preferably, the valve body and the intermediate base are designed such that the aforementioned connecting passage and / or the further connecting passage form / forms a flow-conducting connection between the first level and the second level. In this way, the structural complexity in manufacturing the valve according to the invention is significantly reduced while simultaneously improving the functionality of the valve according to the invention.The preferred embodiment of this further development has the additional advantage that a flow-conducting connection between the two levels is additionally established by means of the aforementioned connecting passage and / or the further connecting passage.
[0013] An advantageous development of one of the last two developments of the valve according to the invention provides that, on the one hand, at least one valve housing opening, preferably four valve housing openings, and at least one first connecting passage, preferably three first connecting passages, particularly preferably that the three first connecting passages are fluidically separated from one another only by a single valve body wall, are assigned to the first level, and, on the other hand, at least three valve housing openings and at least two connecting passages are assigned to the second level, preferably that the second connecting passages are separated only by a single valve body wall. This provides an embodiment of the valve according to the invention that is very advantageous in practice. This applies particularly to the respectively preferred and in particular to the particularly preferred embodiment of this development.
[0014] Another advantageous development of the valve according to the invention provides that the valve body and the intermediate base are designed such that one of the first connecting passages and one of the second connecting passages are formed as a single, common connecting passage. In this way, a flow-conducting connection between the first level and the second level can be realized in a very simple manner in terms of design and manufacturing technology.
[0015] A further advantageous development of the valve according to the invention provides that a plurality of switching states can be realized by means of the valve, preferably that at least five switching states can be realized, particularly preferably that a transition of the valve from the first switching state in numerically ascending order up to a sixth switching state takes place stepwise or continuously in each case by rotating the valve body in a first direction of rotation by 36° and a transition of the valve from the sixth switching state directly into the first switching state by rotating the valve body in this first direction of rotation by 180°. As a result, a multitude of flow-conducting connections are possible solely by means of the valve according to the invention. This applies in particular to the preferred embodiment of this development.The particularly preferred embodiment of this further development has the further advantage that, on the one hand, there is a sufficiently large distance between the adjacent valve housing openings and, on the other hand, the transition between the individual switching states can take place sufficiently quickly.
[0016] An advantageous development of the above-mentioned development of the valve according to the invention provides that in the first switching state, the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening A assigned to the first level with a valve housing opening B assigned to the first level, a valve housing opening C assigned to the first level with a valve housing opening D assigned to the first level, a valve housing opening E assigned to the second level with valve housing openings F and G also assigned to the second level.
[0017] Alternatively or additionally, an advantageous development of the valve according to the invention according to claim 7 or 8 provides that in the second switching state the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening B assigned to the first level with a valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level, a valve housing opening E assigned to the second level with a valve housing opening G also assigned to the second level.
[0018] Alternatively or additionally, an advantageous development of the valve according to the invention according to one of claims 7 to 9 provides that in the third switching state the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening B assigned to the first level with a valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level, a valve housing opening C assigned to the first level with a valve housing opening G assigned to the second level, a valve housing opening E assigned to the second level with a valve housing opening F also assigned to the second level.
[0019] Alternatively or additionally, an advantageous development of the valve according to the invention according to one of claims 7 to 10 provides that in the fourth switching state the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening A assigned to the first level with a valve housing opening B also assigned to the first level, a valve housing opening C assigned to the first level with a valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level, a valve housing opening E assigned to the second level with a valve housing opening F also assigned to the second level.Alternatively or additionally, an advantageous development of the valve according to the invention according to one of claims 7 to 11 provides that in the fifth switching state the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening A assigned to the first level with a valve housing opening E assigned to the second level, a valve housing opening C assigned to the first level with a valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level, a valve housing opening F assigned to the second level with a valve housing opening G also assigned to the second level.
[0020] Alternatively or additionally, an advantageous development of the valve according to the invention according to one of claims 7 to 12 provides that in the sixth switching state the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening A assigned to the first level with a valve housing opening E assigned to the second level, a valve housing opening B assigned to the first level with a valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level.
[0021] In this way, a variety of practically relevant connections of valve housing openings and thus of the fluid lines connected to them are possible. Accordingly, it is possible to implement both simpler coolant systems and more complex coolant systems, such as those required in modern electric vehicles, using just a single valve, namely the valve according to the invention.
[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below using the attached, roughly schematic drawing. It shows:
[0023] Fig. 1 a shows an embodiment of the valve according to the invention in a fluid system of a vehicle, in a first switching state of the valve, in a process diagram, Fig. 1 b shows the embodiment according to Fig. 1 a with the two levels of the valve in an individual representation, each in a cross-section through the respective level,
[0024] Fig. 2a shows the embodiment in a second switching state of the valve, in an analogous representation to Fig. 1a,
[0025] Fig. 2b shows the embodiment in the second switching state of the valve, in an analogous representation to Fig. 1 b,
[0026] Fig. 3a shows the embodiment in a third switching state of the valve, in an analogous representation to Fig. 1a,
[0027] Fig. 3b the embodiment in the third switching state of the valve, in an analogous representation to Fig. 1 b,
[0028] Fig. 4a shows the embodiment in a fourth switching state of the valve, in an analogous representation to Fig. 1a,
[0029] Fig. 4b the embodiment in the fourth switching state of the valve, in an analogous representation to Fig. 1 b,
[0030] Fig. 5a shows the embodiment in a fifth switching state of the valve, in an analogous representation to Fig. 1a,
[0031] Fig. 5b the embodiment in the fifth switching state of the valve, in an analogous representation to Fig. 1 b,
[0032] Fig. 6a the embodiment in a sixth switching state of the valve, in an analogous representation to Fig. 1a and
[0033] Fig. 6b shows the embodiment in the sixth switching state of the valve, in an analogous representation to Fig. 1 b.
[0034] In Figs. 1a to 6b, an embodiment of the valve according to the invention for a fluid system of a vehicle is shown purely by way of example.
[0035] The vehicle is designed as an electric vehicle and is not shown in detail. The fluid system 2 is designed as a coolant system for the electric vehicle and has valve 4 as its only valve. In addition to valve 4, the fluid system 2 in the present exemplary embodiment comprises a first coolant pump 6, a drive battery 8, a coolant tank 10, a front radiator 12, a second coolant pump 14, power electronics 16 and an electric motor 18 interacting with the power electronics 16 in a manner known to those skilled in the art, namely interacting as a so-called drive train, for driving the vehicle, an electric auxiliary heater 20 and a chiller 22. The aforementioned components are merely examples of a coolant system of a vehicle. In other exemplary embodiments, the coolant system can alternatively or additionally contain other components.A person skilled in the art will select the appropriate components based on the specific requirements of the individual case. Of course, the valve according to the invention can also be advantageously used for other fluid systems in a vehicle.
[0036] The valve 4 for the liquid system 2 comprises a valve housing with a base 24, a cover (not shown) and a plurality of valve housing openings A, B, C, D, E, F, G arranged in a side wall 26 of the valve housing, a valve housing opening which is arranged in the valve housing by a direction perpendicular to the respective image plane of Fig.1a to 6b, a valve body 28 is rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation extending therefrom, with a first plane 30 arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation with at least one first connecting passage 32, 34, 36, and with a second plane 38 arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation with at least one second connecting passage 34, 40, each for the flow-conducting connection of at least two valve housing openings A to G of the plurality of valve housing openings A to G, a valve seal (not shown) arranged between the valve housing and the valve body 28 with valve seal openings corresponding to the valve housing openings A to G, and a valve drive (likewise not shown) for the automatic rotation of the valve body 28 about the axis of rotation. The first plane 30 and the second plane 38 are fluidically separated from one another by means of an intermediate floor 42.The valve body 28 and the intermediate floor 42 are designed here such that one of the first connecting passages and one of the second connecting passages are designed as a single common connecting passage 34. See in particular Figs. 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b and 6b. In each of these figures, a cross-section through the first plane 30 is shown in the image plane on the left and a cross-section through the second plane 38 is shown on the right. In the present exemplary embodiment, the second plane 38 is arranged above the first plane 30. However, this is not absolutely necessary, so that in other embodiments of the invention the first plane can also be arranged above the second plane. The valve housing openings A to G can also be arranged in a mirror image in the respective image plane of Figs. 1a to 6b. Analogously, the connecting passages 32, 34, 36 and 40 would then also be mirrored.
[0037] According to the invention, one of the at least one second connecting passage, namely the second connecting passage 40, is designed such that, depending on a switching state of the valve 4, at least three valve housing openings E, F, G assigned to the same plane as this connecting passage 40, namely the second plane 38, can be connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner by means of this connecting passage 40.
[0038] As already explained above, a total of three valve housing openings E, F, G are assigned to the aforementioned plane, namely the second plane 38, whereby these three valve housing openings E, F, G are assigned only to the aforementioned plane 38 in the present exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, the aforementioned connecting passage 40 is delimited by at least one valve body wall, whereby the at least one valve body wall is designed here as a total of three valve body walls 44, 46, 48.In addition, the aforementioned connecting passage 40 is fluidically separated from at least one further connecting passage, namely the connecting passage 34, of the aforementioned level, namely the second level 38, by means of at least one of the at least one valve body wall, namely only the valve body wall 44, wherein the valve body 28 and the intermediate floor 42 are designed such that the further connecting passage 34 forms a flow-conducting connection between the first level 30 and the second level 38.
[0039] As already explained above, at least one valve housing opening, namely four valve housing openings A, B, C, D, and at least one first connecting passage, namely three first connecting passages 32, 34, 36, are assigned to the first level 30, wherein the three first connecting passages 32, 34, 36 are fluidically separated from one another only by a single valve body wall 50.
[0040] In the following, the functioning of the valve according to the invention according to the present embodiment is explained in more detail with reference to Figs. 1 a to 6b.
[0041] By means of the valve 4, a plurality of switching states, namely six switching states, can be realized, wherein a transition of the valve 4 from the first switching state in numerically ascending order up to the sixth switching state occurs stepwise or continuously by means of a rotation of the valve body 28 in a first direction of rotation by 36°, and a transition of the valve 4 from the sixth switching state directly to the first switching state occurs by a rotation of the valve body 28 in this first direction of rotation by 180°. This first direction of rotation corresponds in Figs. 1a to 6b to a counterclockwise rotation of the valve body 28 in the respective image plane about the axis of rotation.
[0042] In the first switching state, the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: the valve housing opening A assigned to the first level 30 with the valve housing opening B assigned to the first level 30, the valve housing opening C assigned to the first level 30 with the valve housing opening D assigned to the first level 30, the valve housing opening E assigned to the second level 38 with the valve housing openings F and G also assigned to the second level 38. See Figs. 1a and 1b. In the second switching state, the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: the valve housing opening B assigned to the first level 30 with the valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level 30, the valve housing opening E assigned to the second level 38 with the valve housing opening G also assigned to the second level 38. See Figs. 2a and 2b.
[0043] In the third switching state, the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: the valve housing opening B assigned to the first level 30 with the valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level 30, the valve housing opening C assigned to the first level 30 with the valve housing opening G assigned to the second level 38, the valve housing opening E assigned to the second level 38 with the valve housing opening F also assigned to the second level 38. See Figs. 3a and 3b.
[0044] In the fourth switching state, the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: the valve housing opening A assigned to the first level 30 with the valve housing opening B also assigned to the first level 30, the valve housing opening C assigned to the first level 30 with the valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level 30, the valve housing opening E assigned to the second level 38 with the valve housing opening F also assigned to the second level 38. See Figs. 4a and 4b.
[0045] In the fifth switching state, the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: the valve housing opening A assigned to the first level 30 with the valve housing opening E assigned to the second level 38, the valve housing opening C assigned to the first level 30 with the valve housing opening D, which is also assigned to the first level 30, the valve housing opening F assigned to the second level 38 with the valve housing opening G, which is also assigned to the second level 38. See Figs. 5a and 5b. In the sixth switching state, the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: the valve housing opening A assigned to the first level 30 with the valve housing opening E assigned to the second level 38, the valve housing opening B assigned to the first level 30 with the valve housing opening D, which is also assigned to the first level 30. See Figs. 6a and 6b.
[0046] To achieve one of the aforementioned switching states of valve 4, valve 4, designed as a central distribution valve with valve body 28 and two levels 30, 38, is adjusted by a common shaft (not shown), namely, rotated about the axis of rotation in a manner known per se to those skilled in the art. Valve 4 has the aforementioned seven connections A to G with the following assignment: A as return from drive battery 8; B as supply to chiller 22; C as supply to front radiator 12; D as return from the drive train, namely the power electronics 16 with electric motor 18; E as supply to the drive train; F as return from front radiator 12; G as return from chiller 22 and as supply to drive battery 8.
[0047] The invention is not limited to the present embodiment. Reference is made, for example, to the relevant statements in the introduction to the description as well as to the optional or alternative features mentioned in the specific part of the description.
[0048] List of reference symbols
[0049] A to G valve housing opening
[0050] 2 Fluid system
[0051] 4 valve
[0052] 6 First coolant pump
[0053] 8 traction battery
[0054] 10 Coolant tank
[0055] 12 front radiator
[0056] 14 Second coolant pump
[0057] 16 Power electronics
[0058] 18 electric motor
[0059] 20 additional heaters
[0060] 22 chillers
[0061] 24 Bottom of the valve housing
[0062] 26 Side wall of the valve housing
[0063] 28 valve bodies
[0064] 30 First Level
[0065] 32 First connecting passage
[0066] 34 Common first and second connecting passage
[0067] 36 First connecting passage
[0068] 38 Second Level
[0069] 40 Second connecting passage
[0070] 42 intermediate floor
[0071] 44 Valve body wall
[0072] 46 Valve body wall
[0073] 48 Valve body wall
[0074] 50 valve body wall
Claims
Patent claims 1. A valve (4) for a fluid system (2) of a vehicle, comprising a valve housing with a base (24), a cover, and a plurality of valve housing openings (A to G) arranged in a side wall (26) of the valve housing, a valve body (28) arranged in the valve housing so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis, having a first plane (30) arranged perpendicular to the rotational axis and having at least one first connecting passage (32, 34, 36), and having a second plane (38) arranged perpendicular to the rotational axis and fluidically separated from the first plane (30) by means of an intermediate base (42), having at least one second connecting passage (34, 40), each for the flow-conducting connection of at least two valve housing openings (A to G) of the plurality of valve housing openings (A to G),a valve seal arranged between the valve housing and the valve body (28) with valve seal openings corresponding to the valve housing openings (A to G) and a valve drive for automatically rotating the valve body (28) about the axis of rotation, characterized in that one of the at least one first and / or the at least one second connecting passage (40) is designed such that, depending on a switching state of the valve (4), at least three valve housing openings (E, F, G) assigned to the same plane (38) as this connecting passage (40) can be connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner by means of this connecting passage (40).
2. Valve (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that that a total of three valve housing openings (E, F, G) are assigned to the aforementioned plane (38), preferably that these three valve housing openings (E, F, G) are assigned only to the aforementioned plane (38).
3. Valve (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the aforementioned connecting passage (40) is delimited by means of at least one valve body wall (44, 46, 48), preferably that the at least one valve body wall (44, 46, 48) is designed as a total of three valve body walls (44, 46, 48).
4. Valve (4) according to claim 3, characterized in that the aforementioned connecting passage (40) is fluidically separated from at least one further connecting passage (34) of the aforementioned level (38) by means of at least one of the at least one valve body wall (44), preferably that the valve body (28) and the intermediate floor (42) are designed such that the aforementioned connecting passage and / or the further connecting passage (34) form / forms a flow-conducting connection between the first level (30) and the second level (38).
5. Valve (4) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that on the one hand the first plane (30) has at least one valve housing opening (A to D), preferably four valve housing openings (A to D), and at least one first connecting passage (32, 34, 36), preferably three first connecting passages (32, 34, 36), particularly preferably that the three first connecting passages (32, 34, 36) are separated from each other only by a single valve body wall (50) are fluidically separated, and on the other hand at least three valve housing openings (E to G) and at least two connecting passages (34, 40) are assigned to the second level (38), preferably that the second connecting passages (34, 40) are separated only by a single valve body wall (44).
6. Valve (4) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the valve body (28) and the intermediate base (42) are designed such that one of the first connecting passages and one of the second connecting passages are designed as a single common connecting passage (34).
7. Valve (4) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a plurality of switching states can be realized by means of the valve (4), preferably that at least five switching states can be realized, particularly preferably that a transfer of the valve (4) from the first switching state in numerically ascending order up to a sixth switching state takes place stepwise or continuously in each case by means of a rotation of the valve body (28) in a first direction of rotation by 36° and a transfer of the valve (4) from the sixth switching state directly into the first switching state takes place by a rotation of the valve body (28) in this first direction of rotation by 180°.
8. Valve (4) according to claim 7, characterized in that in the first switching state, the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening A assigned to the first level (30) with a valve housing opening B assigned to the first level (30), one of the first level (30) associated valve housing opening C with a valve housing opening D associated with the first level (30), a valve housing opening E associated with the second level (38) with valve housing openings F and G also associated with the second level (38).
9. Valve (4) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that in the second switching state the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening B assigned to the first level (30) with a valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level (30), a valve housing opening E assigned to the second level (38) with a valve housing opening G also assigned to the second level (38).
10. Valve (4) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that in the third switching state the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening B assigned to the first level (30) with a valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level (30), a valve housing opening C assigned to the first level (30) with a valve housing opening G assigned to the second level (38), a valve housing opening E assigned to the second level (38) with a valve housing opening F also assigned to the second level (38).
11. Valve (4) according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that in the fourth switching state, the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening A assigned to the first level (30) with a valve housing opening B also assigned to the first level (30), one of the first level (30) associated valve housing opening C with a valve housing opening D also associated with the first level (30), a valve housing opening E associated with the second level (38) with a valve housing opening F also associated with the second level (38).
12. Valve (4) according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that in the fifth switching state the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening A assigned to the first level (30) with a valve housing opening E assigned to the second level (38), a valve housing opening C assigned to the first level (30) with a valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level (30), a valve housing opening F assigned to the second level (38) with a valve housing opening G also assigned to the second level (38).
13. Valve (4) according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that in the sixth switching state the following valve housing openings are connected to one another in a flow-conducting manner: a valve housing opening A assigned to the first level (30) with a valve housing opening E assigned to the second level (38), a valve housing opening B assigned to the first level (30) with a valve housing opening D also assigned to the first level (30).