Combined multi-way valve and pump device

Abstract

Title: Combined multi-way valve and pump device The invention relates to a combined multi-way valve and pump device (1), this combined device being configured to receive a fluid, in particular a heat transfer fluid, and comprising: a pump (2) comprising a pump rotor (3) configured to pump fluid, a multi-way valve (4) comprising a valve rotor (5) provided with a fluid distribution opening (6) configured to be selectively placed in at least two distinct fluid positions, the valve rotor comprising a housing configured to at least partially receive the pump rotor (3) so that fluid pumped by the pump rotor (3) can be distributed by the valve rotor (5) through the fluid distribution opening (6) of this valve rotor (5). Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Combined multi-way valve and pump device

[0001] The field of the present invention relates to a combined multi-way valve and pump device configured to receive a fluid, in particular a heat transfer fluid.

[0002] According to the invention, this combined device is used in a management system thermal and configured to cool a battery, particularly a motor vehicle battery.

[0003] Generally speaking, we are seeking to reduce the size of components in vehicles. This is a major challenge. In the context of a thermal management system, one avenue of work is to compact all of its components, in particular the multi-way valve and the pump.

[0004] The invention aims in particular at such an aim.

[0005] The invention thus relates to a combined multi-way valve and pump device, this combined device being configured to receive a fluid, in particular a heat transfer fluid, and comprising:

[0006] - a pump comprising a pump rotor configured to pump fluid,

[0007] - a multi-way valve comprising a valve rotor provided with an opening of fluid distribution configured to be selectively placed in at least two distinct fluid positions, the valve rotor comprising a housing configured to at least partially receive the pump rotor such that fluid pumped by the pump rotor can be distributed by the valve rotor through the fluid distribution opening of this valve rotor.

[0008] The invention makes it possible to integrate, within a single combined device, two functions, namely a multi-way valve function and a pump function, usually carried out on two separate components. This advantageously makes the device more compact.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor housing is configured to fully house the pump rotor, in particular the valve rotor housing having a diameter larger than the diameter of the pump rotor.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the housing of the valve rotor has a height greater than the height of the pump rotor.

[0011] In other words, there is a free space in the housing, under the pump rotor. The pump rotor is thus of relatively small dimensions compared to those of the valve rotor.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor and the pump rotor have a common axis of rotation.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor housing comprises a volute configured to conduct fluid pumped by the pump rotor to the fluid distribution opening of the valve rotor.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the volute extends along the outer periphery of the pump rotor.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid distribution opening of the valve rotor is formed on a skirt of this valve rotor.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, this skirt has a cylindrical shape coaxial with the axis of rotation of the valve rotor.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, this skirt is part of a fluid outlet cup which defines the volute in the housing receiving the pump rotor.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor comprises a fluid conduit, in particular axial, configured to open onto a suction of the pump rotor.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, this fluid conduit is configured to bring fluid from a fluid inlet of the valve to the pump, more precisely to the pump rotor.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, this conduit of the valve rotor extends coaxially with the axis of rotation of the valve rotor.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor conduit opens, at one of its ends, into the outlet cup which forms the housing for the pump rotor.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor conduit opens, at the other of its ends, into a fluid inlet cup.

[0023] Thus fluid entering the valve through the valve fluid inlet first flows through this inlet cup then through the axial conduit and finally through the pump rotor before being conducted via the volute to the fluid distribution opening of the valve rotor.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, this fluid distribution opening of the valve rotor is in one of the fluid positions permitted by the valve, a position which is chosen according to the desired fluid function. The combined device according to the invention thus makes it possible to select the channel to be used of the multi-way valve, while ensuring the circulation of fluid thanks to the pump.

[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor can assume a fluidic position in which all outlet ports are blocked and no fluid exits the multi-port valve.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor can thus comprise a fluid inlet cup and an outlet cup and between the two, an axial conduit.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the inlet cup comprises spokes connecting an edge of the cup to a hub of the valve rotor.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, this hub is connected to a motor.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor is connected to an electric motor, in particular a stepper motor, configured to rotate the valve rotor according to the different fluid positions which correspond respectively to different angular positions.

[0030] For example, the valve comprises one inlet and six outlet ports. In this case, the valve rotor can take six different angular positions, so as to match the fluid distribution opening of the valve rotor with one of these ports.

[0031] Generally, the number of output channels is between two and ten.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor can take between two and ten different angular positions corresponding to as many output channels.

[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, the multi-way valve may comprise a single inlet way.

[0034] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor is made in one piece, for example from a plastic material.

[0035] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor is made of several assembled parts.

[0036] According to one aspect of the invention, the pump is of the centrifugal pump type.

[0037] According to one aspect of the invention, the pump may be of the irreversible or reversible.

[0038] According to one aspect of the invention, the pump rotor comprises a bladed disc provided with an axial fluid suction and configured to deliver the fluid in a centrifugal direction.

[0039] According to one aspect of the invention, the pump rotor is mounted on a shaft of a motor, in particular an electric motor such as a brushless electric motor (also called a brushless motor).

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, the combined device comprises a main body housing the valve rotor and the pump rotor.

[0041] According to one aspect of the invention, the main body comprises openings corresponding to the ways of the multi-way valve.

[0042] According to one aspect of the invention, the outlet channels are arranged around a periphery of this main body.

[0043] According to one aspect of the invention, the main body comprises columns which each form a fluid conduit, these columns being configured to allow the connection of external pipes to create a fluid circuit.

[0044] According to one aspect of the invention, the main body is made in one piece, for example from plastic or metal material or from an alloy.

[0045] According to one aspect of the invention, the main body is assembled with the pump motor and / or the valve motor.

[0046] For example, the pump motor is assembled to one of the axial ends of the main body and the valve motor is assembled to the other of the axial ends of the main body.

[0047] According to one aspect of the invention, a seal is interposed between the valve rotor and the main body, this seal being perforated opposite the ports of the multi-port valve.

[0048] According to one aspect of the invention, the seal has a cylindrical shape coaxial with the axis of rotation of the valve rotor.

[0049] According to one aspect of the invention, the seal extends over the entire height of the valve rotor.

[0050] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve rotor can slide in a sealed manner on this seal, during rotations of the valve rotor.

[0051] The invention also relates to a thermal management system comprising a combined device, in particular configured to cool a battery, in particular a motor vehicle battery.

[0052] According to one aspect of the invention, the thermal management system is configured to allow operation in a battery cooling mode, and / or in a heat recovery mode.

[0053] According to one aspect of the invention, the thermal management system comprises a heat pump.

[0054] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and several exemplary embodiments given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0055] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a perspective representation of the combined device of multi-way valve and pump according to the invention;

[0056] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a sectional view along the axis A-A' of [Fig.l];

[0057] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective representation view of the valve rotor;

[0058] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is another perspective representation of the valve rotor;

[0059] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective representation of the pump and its engine ;

[0060] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective representation of the main body of the combined device.

[0061] The features, variants and the different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0062] Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a combined device 1 configured to receive a heat transfer fluid, and comprising:

[0063] - a pump 2 comprising a pump rotor 3 configured to pump fluid,

[0064] - a multi-way valve 4 comprising a valve rotor 5 provided with an opening of fluid distribution 6 configured to be selectively placed in a plurality of distinct fluid positions.

[0065] The combined device 1 comprises a main body 7 which houses the valve rotor 5 and the pump rotor 3.

[0066] The main body 7 is assembled with a pump motor 8 and a valve motor 9. The pump motor 8 is assembled to one of the axial ends of the main body 7 and the valve motor 9 is assembled to the other of the axial ends of the main body 7.

[0067] Pump 2 is a centrifugal pump. It is of the irreversible type or, alternatively, of the reversible type.

[0068] The valve 4 comprises an inlet 10 and six outlet ways 1 la to 1 If. The valve rotor 5 takes six angular positions, so as to match the fluid distribution opening 6 with one of these outlet ways 1 la to 1 If.

[0069] The valve rotor 5 comprises a housing 12 configured to fully receive the pump rotor 3. Such that the fluid pumped by the pump rotor 3 is distributed by the valve rotor 5 through the fluid distribution opening 6.

[0070] The combined device 1 in sectional view, comprises the housing 12 of the valve rotor 5 which has a diameter and a height greater than the diameter and the height of the pump rotor 3. There is therefore a free space in the housing 12 of the valve rotor 5, under the pump rotor 3.

[0071] The pump rotor 3 is of smaller dimensions compared to those of the valve rotor 5. The valve rotor 5 and the pump rotor 3 have an axis of rotation common.

[0072] The housing 12 of the valve rotor 5 comprises a volute 13 configured to conduct the fluid pumped by the pump rotor 3 towards the fluid distribution opening 6 of the valve rotor 5. These elements are shown in Figures 3 and 4. The volute 13 extends along the outer periphery of the pump rotor 3. The fluid distribution opening 6 is formed on a skirt 14 which has a cylindrical shape coaxial with the axis of rotation of the valve rotor 5.

[0073] This skirt 14 is part of a fluid outlet cup 15 which defines the volute 13 in the housing 12 which receives the pump rotor 3.

[0074] The valve rotor 5 comprises a fluid conduit 16, which is axial, configured to open onto a suction of the pump rotor. This fluid conduit 16 brings fluid from a fluid inlet of the valve to the pump rotor 3.

[0075] The fluid conduit 16 extends coaxially with the axis of rotation of the valve rotor 5. In [Fig. 2], the conduit 16 is shown which opens, at one of its ends, into the outlet cup 15 which forms the housing for the pump rotor 3 and at the other of its ends, into a fluid inlet cup 17.

[0076] Thus the fluid enters the valve 4 through the fluid inlet of the valve 4 circulates first through this inlet cup 17 then through the axial conduit 16 and finally through the pump rotor 3 before being conducted via the volute 13 towards the fluid distribution opening 6 of the valve rotor 5.

[0077] The fluid distribution opening 6 is in a fluidic position which is chosen according to the desired fluidic function. The combined device 1 enables the selection of the use path of the multi-way valve, while enabling the fluid circulation by means of the pump 2. In a variant, the valve rotor 5 takes a fluidic position in which all the outlet paths 1 la to 1 If are blocked and no fluid exits the multi-way valve 4.

[0078] The valve rotor 5 comprises an inlet cup 17 and a fluid outlet cup 15 and between the two, an axial conduit 16, visible in [Fig.2]. The inlet cup 17 comprises spokes 18. These spokes 18 connect an edge of the cup to a hub 19 of the valve rotor 5 shown in [Fig.3]. This hub 19 is connected to the electric motor of the valve 9, which is a stepping motor, configured to rotate the valve rotor 5 according to the fluid positions which correspond respectively to the angular positions.

[0079] The valve rotor 5 is made in one piece, for example in a plastic material or, in a variant, by several assembled parts.

[0080] The pump rotor 3 comprises a bladed disc 20 provided with an axial suction 21 of fluid. The pump rotor 3 is configured to deliver the fluid in a centrifugal direction. The pump rotor 3 is mounted on a shaft 22 of a motor 8 brushless electric motor (also called Brushless motor) shown in figures 2 and 5.

[0081] The main body 7 comprises openings 23a to 23f which correspond to the ports of the multi-way valve 11a to 11f. The outlet ports are arranged around a periphery of the main body 17 visible in [Fig.6].

[0082] The main body 17 comprises columns 24a to 24f which each form a fluid conduit, these columns are configured to allow the connection of external pipes to create a fluid circuit. The main body 7 is made in a single piece of plastic material or, in variants, of metal material or alloy.

[0083] A seal 25 is interposed between the valve rotor 5 and the main body 7, it is perforated opposite the ports of the multi-port valve 11a to 11f. It has a cylindrical shape coaxial with the axis of rotation of the valve rotor 3.

[0084] The seal 25 extends over the entire height of the valve rotor 3.

[0085] The valve rotor 3 slides in a sealed manner on this seal 25, during rotations of the valve rotor 3.

[0086] A thermal management system may be provided which comprises a combined device 1. This thermal management system is configured to cool a motor vehicle battery.

[0087] The thermal management system is configured to allow operation in a battery cooling mode and a heat recovery mode. The thermal management system here comprises a heat pump, and the combined device 1 is configured to regulate the circulations of heat transfer fluid in this heat pump according to different modes.

Claims

Claims

1. Combined device (1) of multi-way valve (4) and pump (2), this combined device (1) being configured to receive a fluid, in particular a heat transfer fluid, and comprising: - a pump (2) comprising a pump rotor (3) configured to pump fluid, - a multi-way valve (4) comprising a valve rotor (5) provided with a fluid distribution opening (6) configured to be selectively placed in at least two distinct fluid positions, the valve rotor comprising a housing (12) configured to at least partially receive the pump rotor (3) so that fluid pumped by the pump rotor (3) can be distributed by the valve rotor (5) through the fluid distribution opening (6) of this valve rotor (5), the valve rotor (5) is connected to an electric motor (9), in particular a stepper motor,configured to rotate the valve rotor (5) according to the different fluid positions which respectively correspond to different angular positions, the pump rotor (3) being mounted on a shaft (22) of a motor (8) different from the electric motor (9) of the valve (5), in particular an electric motor such as a brushless electric motor.,

2. Combined device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (12) of the valve rotor (5) is configured to fully house the pump rotor (3), in particular the housing of the valve rotor (5) having a diameter larger than the diameter of the pump rotor (3).

3. Combined device (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the housing (12) of the valve rotor (5) comprises a volute (13) configured to conduct the fluid pumped by the pump rotor (3) towards the fluid distribution opening (6) of the valve rotor (5).

4. Combined device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the volute (13) extends along the outer periphery of the pump rotor (3).

5. Combined device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid distribution opening (6) of the valve rotor (5) is formed on a skirt (14) of this valve rotor (5).

6. Combined device (1) according to the preceding claim, in combination with any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein this skirt (14) is part of a fluid outlet cup (15) which defines the volute (13) in the housing (12) receiving the pump rotor (3).

7. Combined device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the valve rotor (5) comprises a fluid conduit (16), in particular axial, configured to open onto a suction of the pump rotor.

8. Combined device (1) according to claims 6 and 7, in which the conduit (16) of the valve rotor (5) opens, at one of its ends, into the outlet cup (15) which forms the housing (12) for the pump rotor (3).

9. Combined device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the combined device (1) comprises a main body (7) housing the valve rotor (5) and the pump rotor (3).

10. Thermal management system comprising a combined device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in particular configured to cool a battery, in particular a motor vehicle battery.

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