Multi-way valve, thermal management apparatus, energy storage device, and vehicle

Abstract

Provided are a multi-way valve (10), a thermal management apparatus (20), an energy storage device, and a vehicle, relating to the technical field of energy, and solving the problems of complex structures and the like of current multi-way valves. The multi-way valve (10) can comprise a housing (11), at least two valve cores (12, 13), a transmission assembly (14), and a driver assembly (15); a cavity (111) is formed in the housing (11), and the at least two valve cores (12, 13) are rotatably arranged in the cavity (111) and are sequentially arranged in the axial direction; the transmission assembly (14) is connected to the at least two valve cores (12, 13), and the driver assembly (15) is arranged at a first end of the housing (11) and is connected to the transmission assembly (14); the driver assembly (15) is used for driving each valve core (12, 13) to rotate by means of the transmission assembly (14). The plurality of valve cores (12, 13) are sequentially arranged in the axial direction, so that the radial size of the multi-way valve (10) is not additionally increased, thereby realizing the miniaturization design of the multi-way valve (10); the driver assembly (15) can drive each valve core (12, 13) to rotate by means of the transmission assembly (14), thereby being capable of avoiding mutual interference between different valve cores (12, 13), and achieving good flexibility and reliability when a connection or disconnection state between different abutment openings (110a-110h) needs to be switched.

Description

Multi-way valve, thermal management device, energy storage device and vehicle

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on July 3, 2023, with application number 202310807980.5 and application name “A multi-way valve, thermal management device, energy storage equipment and vehicle”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of energy technology, and in particular to a multi-way valve, a thermal management device, an energy storage device, and a vehicle. Background Art

[0004] With the continuous development and application of technologies such as new energy vehicles and energy storage, the number and complexity of pipelines in thermal management devices have increased significantly. For example, in the case of new energy vehicles, the vehicle may include a battery pack, a motor, and a thermal management device. The battery pack can provide electrical energy to the motor, which, when in operation, drives the wheels, thereby realizing the vehicle's driving function. The thermal management device can cool or heat the battery pack and motor to keep them within a normal temperature range. In addition, the thermal management device can also effectively regulate the temperature of the passenger compartment to meet the user's cooling or heating needs. In actual applications, the thermal management device can effectively regulate the heat of the battery pack, motor, and passenger compartment through pipelines. The pipelines are equipped with multi-way valves that can adjust the flow path of the cooling medium in the pipelines, thereby achieving flexible regulation.

[0005] However, the current multi-way valve has problems such as complex structure and unreasonable design, which is not conducive to achieving miniaturized design.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a multi-way valve, a thermal management device, an energy storage device and a vehicle with a simple structure that is conducive to miniaturization design.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides a multi-way valve, which may include a housing, at least two valve cores, a transmission assembly, and a driver assembly. The housing is configured to accommodate the at least two valve cores. Each of the at least two valve cores is configured to rotate relative to the housing, and the at least two valve cores are arranged axially in sequence. The driver assembly is disposed outside the housing and is configured to drive each valve core to rotate separately via the transmission assembly.

[0009] In the multi-way valve provided in the present application, each valve core has a flow channel, which can effectively increase the number of flow channels in the multi-way valve and the number of docking ports in the housing. In addition, multiple valve cores are arranged in sequence along the axial direction, which does not increase the radial size of the multi-way valve, thereby helping to achieve a miniaturized design of the multi-way valve. In addition, the docking ports in the housing can be distributed in the axial direction, thereby being able to provide more docking ports with larger diameters on a limited outer peripheral surface, which is conducive to ensuring the flow rate of the multi-way valve. The driver assembly can drive each valve core to rotate separately through the transmission assembly, which can avoid mutual interference between different valve cores. Therefore, when it is necessary to switch the connected or disconnected state between different docking ports, it has better flexibility and reliability.

[0010] In one example, the at least two valve cores may include a first valve core and a second valve core. The driver assembly may include a first driver and a second driver. The transmission assembly may include a first shaft and a second shaft, and the axis of the first shaft coincides with the axis of the second shaft. The first shaft is connected to the first driver and the first valve core, so that the first driver can drive the first valve core to rotate through the first shaft. The second shaft is connected to the second driver and the second valve core, so that the second driver can drive the second valve core to rotate through the second shaft. In summary, the first driver and the second driver can drive the first valve core and the second valve core to rotate respectively through two different shafts.

[0011] In a specific configuration, the first shaft may have a first end connected to the first driver, and the second shaft may have a second end connected to the second driver. The first end of the first shaft and the second end of the second shaft are arranged in sequence along the axial direction so that both the first shaft and the second shaft can be effectively connected to the corresponding driver.

[0012] In one example, the at least two valve cores may include a third valve core and a fourth valve core. The driver assembly includes a third driver having an output shaft. The transmission assembly includes a third shaft and a fourth shaft, wherein the axes of the third shaft and the fourth shaft coincide with each other. The third shaft is connected to the third valve core, and the fourth shaft is connected to the fourth valve core. The transmission assembly also includes a first one-way transmission member and a second one-way transmission member. The first one-way transmission member is connected to the output shaft and the third shaft, and the second one-way transmission member is connected to the output shaft and the fourth shaft. When the output shaft rotates in a first rotational direction, the first one-way transmission member drives the third shaft and the third valve core to rotate. When the output shaft rotates in a second rotational direction, the second one-way transmission member drives the fourth shaft and the fourth valve core to rotate. The first and second rotational directions are opposite. In summary, the output shaft of the third driver can drive different valve cores to rotate when rotating in different rotational directions, allowing a single driver to drive different valve cores to rotate separately, thereby reducing the number of drivers used.

[0013] In the above example, the one-way transmission member is located between the driver and the shaft body. However, in actual application, the one-way transmission member can also be located between the shaft body and the valve core.

[0014] For example, in one embodiment, the at least two valve cores include a third valve core and a fourth valve core. The driver assembly includes a third driver; the transmission assembly includes a third shaft, and the third shaft is connected to the third driver. The transmission assembly also includes a first one-way transmission member and a second one-way transmission member, wherein the first one-way transmission member is connected to the third valve core and the third shaft, and the second one-way transmission member is connected to the fourth valve core and the third shaft. When the third shaft rotates in a first rotational direction, the first one-way transmission member drives the third valve core to rotate. When the third shaft rotates in a second rotational direction, the second one-way transmission member drives the fourth valve core to rotate, and the first and second rotational directions are opposite.

[0015] In a specific configuration, in two adjacent valve cores, each valve core has an opening arranged toward the other valve core, and when the two adjacent valve cores are at a first relative angle, the two openings are connected to achieve communication between the channels of the two valve cores.

[0016] In one example, at least one valve core includes at least two flow channels, and the at least two flow channels are separated in the axial direction. After the flow channels in the valve core are distributed in the axial direction, radial space can be avoided and the number of flow channels provided can be increased.

[0017] In one example, the housing includes a cavity and a plurality of docking ports, the cavity is used to accommodate the at least two valve cores, the plurality of docking ports are used to respectively connect the cavity, and the plurality of docking ports are arranged in sequence along the axial direction.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present application further provides a thermal management device that may include a controller, multiple heat exchangers, and the aforementioned multi-way valve. The multi-way valve is connected between at least two heat exchangers and is used to connect or disconnect the passage between the two heat exchangers. The controller is connected to a driver assembly and is used to control the rotation angle of the valve core through the driver assembly to connect or disconnect the different heat exchangers, thereby enabling heat exchange between the different heat exchangers.

[0019] In the thermal management device provided herein, the aforementioned multi-way valve is equipped to enable a single multi-way valve to connect to a large number of heat exchangers, thereby effectively controlling the connectivity or disconnection between different heat exchangers. Furthermore, the aforementioned multi-way valve has a simple structure and is easy to deploy, effectively enhancing the convenience of deploying the thermal management device.

[0020] In one example, the thermal management device may include a heat pump device and a radiator. The heat pump device includes a compressor, a condenser, a throttle valve, and an evaporator that are sequentially connected through a circulation pipeline. A multi-way valve is connected between the condenser and the radiator to connect or disconnect the passage between the condenser and the radiator; and / or, a multi-way valve is connected between the evaporator and the radiator to connect or disconnect the passage between the evaporator and the radiator. By equipping a heat pump system, the energy consumption of the thermal management system can be effectively reduced. In addition, the heat pump system can effectively improve the heating capacity of the thermal management system in a low-temperature environment and the cooling capacity in a high-temperature environment.

[0021] In one example, the thermal management device may further include a cold plate. The multi-way valve is connected between the cold plate and the radiator, and is used to connect or disconnect the passage between the cold plate and the radiator.

[0022] In one example, the multi-way valve is further connected between the cold plate and the condenser to connect or disconnect the passage between the cold plate and the condenser; and / or, the multi-way valve is connected between the cold plate and the evaporator to connect or disconnect the passage between the cold plate and the evaporator.

[0023] In one example, the condenser, evaporator, radiator, and cold plate are all connected to the same multi-way valve. This means that multiple heat exchangers can be connected using one multi-way valve, which helps reduce the number of multi-way valves required.

[0024] On the third aspect, the present application also provides an energy storage device, which may include a battery pack, a power conversion circuit and the above-mentioned thermal management device, and the heat exchanger in the thermal management device may be in thermal contact with the battery pack. The power conversion circuit is connected to the battery pack and is used to convert AC power into DC power and then provide it to the battery pack, or to convert DC power from the battery pack into AC power. By applying the above-mentioned thermal management device, the heat exchanger can heat up or cool the battery pack so that the battery pack is within a normal temperature range, which can effectively improve the charging and discharging efficiency and safety of the battery pack.

[0025] Fourthly, the present application also provides a vehicle that may include a battery pack, a motor, and the aforementioned thermal management device. Some heat exchangers in the thermal management device may be in thermal contact with the battery pack, while others may be in thermal contact with the motor. By equipping the aforementioned thermal management device, the heat exchangers can heat or cool the battery pack and motor, effectively ensuring the operational reliability of components such as the battery pack and motor. Furthermore, the thermal management device is relatively flexible in deployment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG1 is a block diagram of a possible thermal management device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] FIG2 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application after the valve core is rotated;

[0029] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] FIG6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multi-way valve according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] FIG7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of a one-way shaft provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] FIG9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of another multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] FIG13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] FIG14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] FIG15 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a partial structure of another multi-way valve provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG16 is a block diagram of a thermal management device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG17 is a schematic diagram of a flow path of a medium in a thermal management device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG18 is a schematic diagram of another flow path of a medium in a thermal management device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG19 is a schematic diagram of another flow path of a medium in a thermal management device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG20 is a schematic diagram of another flow path of a medium in a thermal management device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG21 is a schematic diagram of another flow path of a medium in a thermal management device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG22 is a schematic diagram of another flow path of a medium in a thermal management device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG23 is a schematic diagram of another flow path of a medium in a thermal management device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG24 is a structural block diagram of an energy storage device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Figure 25 is a structural block diagram of a vehicle provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application clearer, this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0052] In order to facilitate understanding of the multi-way valve provided in the embodiment of the present application, its application scenario is first introduced below.

[0053] The multi-way valve provided in the embodiment of the present application can be used in a thermal management device to achieve connectivity or disconnection between pipelines, thereby effectively regulating the flow path of the coolant.

[0054] For example, as shown in FIG1 , a possible thermal management device may include a radiator 01 and a condenser 02. Both the radiator 01 and the condenser 02 are connected to the pipeline 03. When the coolant circulates in the pipeline 03, it can exchange heat with the radiator 01 and the condenser 02, thereby realizing the function of heat transfer. In addition, different pipelines are connected to the docking port of the multi-way valve 04. By changing the rotation position of the valve core in the multi-way valve 04, the connection or disconnection between different pipelines can be achieved, thereby effectively regulating the flow path of the coolant. It should be noted that in specific applications, the thermal management device may also include devices such as a water pump, a heater, a compressor or an expansion valve. Among them, the number and type of devices equipped in the thermal management device can be set in a more conventional manner at present, which will not be elaborated here.

[0055] As shown in Figure 2, multi-way valve 04 can include a housing 041 and a valve core 042 disposed within housing 041. The housing has four docking ports for connecting to external pipelines: docking port 1, docking port 2, docking port 3, and docking port 4. Valve core 042 has two flow channels: a first flow channel 0421 and a second flow channel 0422.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 2 , the docking port 1 and the docking port 4 may be communicated with each other through a first flow channel 0421 , and the docking port 2 and the docking port 3 may be communicated with each other through a second flow channel 0422 .

[0057] As shown in Figure 3, valve core 042 has now rotated 90° counterclockwise, allowing connection between docking port 1 and docking port 2 via second flow channel 0422, and connection between docking port 3 and docking port 4 via first flow channel 0421. In other words, by changing the rotation angle of valve core 042, the connection state between different docking ports can be effectively switched.

[0058] With the development and widespread popularity of thermal management devices, the structure of thermal management devices has become more and more complex, and the number of pipelines has also increased. However, in the current multi-way valve 04, due to the limited size, it is difficult for the shell 041 to provide more docking ports, and it is also difficult for the valve core 042 to provide more flow channels. Alternatively, when the number of docking ports is large, the caliber of a single docking port will be significantly reduced, thereby reducing the flow rate of the multi-way valve. For this reason, in the prior art, a larger number of multi-way valves are usually equipped in the thermal management device. However, when the number of multi-way valves 04 is large, the cost of use and the difficulty of layout will be significantly increased, and a large number of multi-way valves will also take up more space.

[0059] To this end, an embodiment of the present application provides a multi-way valve with a simple structure that is conducive to miniaturization design.

[0060] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application clearer, this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0061] In an embodiment of the present application, a multi-way valve includes a housing, at least two valve cores, a transmission assembly, and a driver assembly. The housing is configured to accommodate the at least two valve cores. Each of the at least two valve cores is configured to rotate relative to the housing, and the at least two valve cores are arranged axially in sequence. The driver assembly is disposed outside the housing and is configured to drive each valve core to rotate individually via the transmission assembly. In this embodiment of the present application, the axial direction is the same as the axial direction of the rotation of the valve core.

[0062] In one embodiment, the housing includes a cavity and a plurality of docking ports, the cavity is used to accommodate the at least two valve cores, the plurality of docking ports are used to respectively communicate with the cavity, and the plurality of docking ports are arranged in sequence along the axial direction.

[0063] In one embodiment, in two adjacent valve cores, each valve core has an opening arranged toward the other valve core, and the two openings are connected when the two adjacent valve cores are at a first relative angle.

[0064] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, in an example provided in the present application, the multi-way valve 10 may include a housing 11, a first valve core 12, a second valve core 13, a transmission assembly 14 and a driver assembly 15. The interior of the housing 11 has a cavity 111, and the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13 are rotatably arranged in the cavity 111, and the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13 are arranged in sequence along the axial direction. By adjusting the rotation angle of the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13, the connection or disconnection between different docking ports can be achieved. The driver assembly 15 is used to generate a mechanical driving force, and the transmission assembly 14 is connected to the first valve core 12, the second valve core 13 and the driver assembly 15, and is used to transmit the mechanical driving force generated by the driver assembly 15 to the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13, so that the driver assembly 15 can drive each of the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13 to rotate respectively through the transmission assembly 14.

[0065] In the multi-way valve 10 provided in the present application, there is a flow channel in the first valve core 12, and there is also a flow channel in the second valve core 13, which can effectively increase the number of flow channels in the multi-way valve 10 and the number of docking ports in the housing 11. In addition, the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13 are arranged in sequence along the axial direction, which will not increase the radial dimension of the multi-way valve 10, thereby helping to achieve a miniaturized design of the multi-way valve 10. In addition, the docking ports in the housing 11 can be distributed in the axial direction, thereby being able to set more larger-diameter docking ports on a limited outer peripheral surface, which is conducive to ensuring the flow rate of the multi-way valve 10. The driver assembly 15 can drive the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13 to rotate separately through the transmission assembly 14, which can avoid mutual interference between the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13. Therefore, when it is necessary to switch the connection or disconnection state between different docking ports, it has better flexibility and reliability.

[0066] First of all, it should be noted that in order to facilitate understanding of the technical solution of the present application, in the example provided in the present application, the first valve core 12 has two flow channels, namely flow channel 120a and flow channel 120b. The second valve core 13 has two flow channels, namely flow channel 130a and flow channel 130b. The housing 11 has eight docking ports, namely docking port 110a, docking port 110b, docking port 110c, docking port 110d, docking port 110e, docking port 110f, docking port 110g and docking port 110h. Among them, docking port 110a, docking port 110b, docking port 110c and docking port 110d are arranged corresponding to the first valve core 12, and can be connected to the flow channels 120a and flow channels 120b in the first valve core 12. The docking ports 110 e , 110 f , 110 g and 110 h are provided corresponding to the second valve core 13 and can be communicated with the flow channels 130 a and 130 b in the second valve core 13 .

[0067] In other examples, the first valve core 12 may also have one flow channel, three flow channels, or more flow channels. The second valve core 13 may also have one flow channel, three flow channels, or more flow channels, which is not limited in this application.

[0068] In practical applications, the structure and shape of the housing 11 can be various.

[0069] For example, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, in an example provided in this application, the housing 11 is a cylindrical structure having a first end (the upper end in Figure 5) and a second end (the lower end in Figure 5) disposed opposite to each other. The interior of the housing 11 has a cylindrical cavity 111.

[0070] The first end of the housing 11 is provided with a driver assembly 15, and the second end is provided with an end cap 18. The driver assembly 15 can cover the first end of the housing 11, and the end cap 18 can cover the second end to ensure the airtightness of the cavity 111.

[0071] Specifically, the driver assembly 15 includes a housing 151, a first driver 152, and a second driver 153. The first driver 152 and the second driver 153 are both disposed in the housing 151. Specifically, the first driver 152 and the second driver 153 can be devices capable of generating driving force, such as motors. The present application does not limit the specific types of the first driver 152 and the second driver 153.

[0072] In the example provided herein, the driver assembly 15 is an integrated structure. In practical applications, the first driver 152 and the second driver 153 in the driver assembly 15 can be disposed on the same side (e.g., the first end) of the housing 11. This facilitates manufacturing and assembly. Furthermore, the routing of the conductive circuits is also facilitated during specific layout.

[0073] Alternatively, it can be understood that if the first driver 152 is set in the housing 151 and the second driver 153 is set in the end cover 18. When wiring, two independent cables are required to connect the first driver 152 and the second driver 153, which increases the cable routing path and routing difficulty. In the example provided in this application, after the first driver 152 and the second driver 153 are integrated into the housing 151, when wiring, the cables used to connect the first driver 152 and the second driver 153 can be located in the same routing path, which helps to reduce the cable routing path and routing difficulty. In addition, there is no need to provide a mounting position for the driver in the end cover 18, so the structure of the end cover 18 can be relatively simple, which helps to improve the convenience during manufacturing. In addition, in some examples, a docking port can also be set in the end cover 18, thereby effectively increasing the number of docking ports and the flexibility of their routing positions. In the following examples, the docking ports are all set on the outer circumference of the housing 11 as an example for specific description.

[0074] In addition, in specific configurations, the structures of the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13 can be various.

[0075] For example, as shown in Figure 5, in one embodiment provided herein, the first valve core 12 is generally cylindrical. Specifically, the first valve core 12 comprises a plate 121 and a plate 122 disposed opposite each other, with a partition 123 disposed between the plates 121 and 122. One side of the partition 123 defines a flow channel 120a, and the other side of the partition 123 defines a flow channel 120b.

[0076] The second valve core 13 has a substantially similar structure to the first valve core 12, namely, the second valve core 13 comprises a plate body 131 and a plate body 132 disposed opposite each other, with a partition 133 disposed between the plate bodies 131 and 132. One side of the partition 133 is a flow channel 130a, and the other side of the partition 133 is a flow channel 130b.

[0077] As shown in Figure 5, the edges of the plate body 121 and the plate body 122 of the first valve core 12 are tightly fitted with the inner wall of the cavity 111, and the edges of the plate body 131 and the plate body 132 of the second valve core 13 are also tightly fitted with the inner wall of the cavity 111, so that the flow channels 120a, 120b, 130a and 130b have better sealing properties.

[0078] In addition, when the transmission assembly 14 is configured, the types of the transmission assembly 14 may also be various.

[0079] For example, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, in one example provided herein, the transmission assembly 14 includes a first shaft 141 and a second shaft 142, and the axes of the first shaft 141 and the second shaft 142 coincide with each other. The first shaft 141 is connected to the first driver 152 and the first valve core 12, and the second shaft 142 is connected to the second driver 153 and the second valve core 13.

[0080] Specifically, in the example provided in the present application, the first shaft body 141 and the first valve core 12 are an integral structure. The first shaft body 141 is located at the axis of the first valve core 12, and the first end of the first shaft body 141 (such as the upper end in FIG6 ) extends out of the outer surface of the first valve core 12. In addition, the outer peripheral surface of the first end of the first shaft body 141 has a toothed portion 1411. The output shaft 1521 of the first driver 152 has a toothed portion 1522 that meshes with the toothed portion 1411. When the output shaft 1521 of the first driver 152 rotates, it can drive the first shaft body 141 and the first valve core 12 to rotate synchronously.

[0081] In addition, the second shaft body 142 and the second valve core 13 are an integral structure. The second shaft body 142 is located at the axis of the second valve core 13, and the second end of the second shaft body 142 (such as the upper end in Figure 6) extends from the first end of the first shaft body 141. In addition, the diameter of the second shaft body 142 is smaller than the diameter of the first shaft body 141, the axis of the first shaft body 141 has a through hole, the second shaft body 142 is inserted into the through hole, the second end of the second shaft body 142 extends from the first shaft body 141, and the first end and the second end are arranged in sequence along the axial direction. In addition, the outer peripheral surface of the second end of the second shaft body 142 also has a toothed portion 1421, and the output shaft 1531 of the second driver 153 has a toothed portion 1532 that meshes with the toothed portion 1421. When the output shaft 1531 of the second driver 153 rotates, it can drive the second shaft body 142 and the second valve core 13 to rotate synchronously. In addition, when the first end of the first shaft body 141 (or the tooth-shaped portion 1411) and the second end of the second shaft body 142 (or the tooth-shaped portion 1421) are arranged in sequence along the axial direction, positional interference between the first shaft body 141 and the second shaft body 142 can be avoided, so that the first end of the first shaft body 141 can be effectively connected to the first driver 152, and the second end of the second shaft body 142 can be effectively connected to the second driver 153.

[0082] In the above example, the first shaft body 141 and the first valve core 12 are of an integrated structural design. During the manufacturing process, the first shaft body 141 and the first valve core 12 can be formed at the same time, and a fixed connection between the first shaft body 141 and the first valve core 12 can be achieved. In other examples, the first shaft body 141 and the first valve core 12 can also be independent structures, and the first shaft body 141 and the first valve core 12 can be fixedly connected by welding or other methods. This application does not limit the manufacturing method and connection method of the first shaft body 141 and the first valve core 12. In addition, in other examples, the second shaft body 142 and the second valve core 13 can also be independent structures, which will not be elaborated here.

[0083] It should be noted that the first shaft 141 and the second shaft 142 are designed to be nested and can rotate relative to each other. Therefore, when the first shaft 141 rotates, it does not drive the second shaft 142 to rotate. Correspondingly, when the second shaft 142 rotates, it does not drive the first shaft 141 to rotate.

[0084] In summary, in the example provided in the present application, the first driver 152 can drive the first valve core 12 to rotate independently through the first shaft 141, and the second driver 153 can drive the second valve core 13 to rotate independently through the second shaft 142, so that the driver assembly 15 can drive the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13 to rotate independently.

[0085] In the above example, each valve core is equipped with an independent driver to realize the rotation function. In other examples, a single driver can also drive the two valve cores to rotate separately, thereby reducing the number of driver configurations.

[0086] For example, as shown in FIG7 , in one example provided herein, the multi-way valve 10 includes a third valve core 16 and a fourth valve core 17. The driver assembly 15 may include a third driver 154, and the third driver 154 has an output shaft 1541. The transmission assembly 14 includes a third shaft 143 and a fourth shaft 144, and the axes of the third shaft 143 and the fourth shaft 144 coincide with each other. The third shaft 143 is connected to the third valve core 16, and the fourth shaft 144 is connected to the fourth valve core 17.

[0087] The transmission assembly 14 further includes a first one-way transmission member 145 and a second one-way transmission member 146. The first one-way transmission member 145 is connected to the output shaft 1541 and the third shaft 143, while the second one-way transmission member 146 is connected to the output shaft 1541 and the fourth shaft 144. When the output shaft 1541 rotates in a first rotational direction, the first one-way transmission member 145 drives the third shaft 143 and the third valve core 16 to rotate. When the output shaft 1541 rotates in a second rotational direction, the second one-way transmission member 146 drives the fourth shaft 144 and the fourth valve core 17 to rotate. The first and second rotational directions are opposite.

[0088] Specifically, the first one-way transmission member 145 and the second one-way transmission member 146 can only transmit a unidirectional driving force. In actual application, the first one-way transmission member 145 and the second one-way transmission member 146 can specifically be a one-way bearing or a ratchet mechanism, etc. This application does not limit the specific type of the first one-way transmission member 145 and the second one-way transmission member 146.

[0089] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solution of the present application, the following explanation is given by taking the first one-way transmission member 145 and the second one-way transmission member 146 as one-way bearings as an example.

[0090] As shown in Figure 8 , one-way bearing 05 can include a coaxially arranged inner ring 051 and outer ring 052. When inner ring 051 rotates in a certain direction (e.g., clockwise), outer ring 052 rotates synchronously with inner ring 051. When inner ring 051 rotates in another direction (e.g., counterclockwise), outer ring 052 does not rotate with the inner ring, thus achieving the unidirectional rotation function of one-way bearing 05. One-way bearing 05 can be of a commonly used type and will not be described in detail here.

[0091] As shown in FIG7 , in one example provided herein, the third shaft 143 is fixedly connected to the third valve core 16, and a first one-way transmission member 145 is connected between the third shaft 143 and the gear 40. The gear 40 meshes with the toothed portion 1542 of the output shaft 1541 of the third driver 154. The fourth shaft 144 is fixedly connected to the fourth valve core 17, and a second one-way transmission member 146 is connected between the fourth shaft 144 and the gear 40. When the output shaft 1541 of the third driver 154 rotates in a first rotational direction, the first one-way transmission member 145 drives the third shaft 143 and the third valve core 16 to rotate, while the fourth shaft 144 and the fourth valve core 17 are prevented from rotating. When the output shaft 1541 of the third driver 154 rotates in a second rotational direction, the second one-way transmission member 146 drives the fourth shaft 144 and the fourth valve core 17 to rotate, while the third shaft 143 and the third valve core 16 are prevented from rotating.

[0092] In summary, the output shaft 1541 of the third driver 154 can drive different valve cores to rotate when rotating in different directions, so that a single driver can drive different valve cores to rotate respectively, thereby reducing the number of drivers used.

[0093] In addition, in the above example, the first one-way transmission member 145 is located in the transmission path between the third driver 154 and the third shaft 143, and the second one-way transmission member 146 is located in the transmission path between the third driver 154 and the fourth shaft 144. However, the first one-way transmission member 145 and the second one-way transmission member 146 may also be connected at other locations.

[0094] For example, as shown in Figure 9, in an example provided in the present application, the first one-way transmission member 145 is connected between the third shaft 143 and the third valve core 16, the second one-way transmission member 146 is connected between the fourth shaft 144 and the fourth valve core 17, and the gear 40 is fixedly connected to the third shaft 143 and the fourth shaft 144.

[0095] When the output shaft 1541 of the third driver 154 rotates, the meshing action of the toothed portion 1542 and the gear 40 causes the third shaft 143 and the fourth shaft 144 to rotate synchronously with the output shaft 1541. Furthermore, when the output shaft 1541 of the third driver 154 rotates in the first rotational direction, the third shaft 143 can drive the third valve core 16 to rotate via the first one-way transmission member 145, while preventing the fourth valve core 17 from rotating. When the output shaft 1541 of the third driver 154 rotates in the second rotational direction, the fourth valve core 17 can be driven to rotate via the second one-way transmission member 146, while preventing the third valve core 16 from rotating.

[0096] In addition, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 , in another example provided in the present application, in some cases, the flow passages between two adjacent valve cores may also be connected.

[0097] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10 , in an example provided in the present application, the first valve core 12 has an opening 1221 disposed toward the second valve core 13 , and the second valve core 13 has an opening 1311 disposed toward the first valve core 12 .

[0098] As shown in Figure 10, at this time, the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13 are at a first relative angle, so that the flow channel 120a and the flow channel 130a can be connected through the docking between the opening 1221 and the opening 1311. In addition, as shown in Figure 11, the first valve core 12 and the second valve core 13 are at a second relative angle, the plate body 131 and the opening 1221 are tightly fitted, and the plate body 122 and the opening 1311 are tightly fitted, thereby ensuring the tightness of the flow channels 120a and 130a. Among them, Figures 10 and 11 are both schematic diagrams of the exploded structure. In actual application, the opposing plate surfaces of the plate body 122 and the plate body 131 are in a tightly fitted position.

[0099] It should be noted that the first relative angle mentioned above refers to a range within which, in the axial direction, the opening 1221 overlaps with the opening 1311. The second relative angle mentioned above refers to any angle other than the first relative angle.

[0100] In actual application, the shapes, positions and numbers of the openings 1221 and 1311 can be flexibly set according to actual needs, and will not be described in detail here.

[0101] The above example illustrates a multi-way valve 10 having two valve cores. In practice, the multi-way valve 10 may also include three, four, or more valve cores. Furthermore, when the multi-way valve 10 includes three or more valve cores, each actuator can drive a corresponding valve core to rotate, or a single actuator can drive two valve cores to rotate.

[0102] For example, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, in one example provided herein, each driver can drive a corresponding valve core to rotate. Specifically, the multi-way valve 10 may include three valve cores, namely a first valve core 12, a second valve core 13, and a third valve core 16. The first valve core 12, the second valve core 13, and the third valve core 16 are arranged in axial sequence. Furthermore, the transmission shaft assembly 14 includes a first shaft 141, a second shaft 142, and a third shaft 143. The driver assembly 15 includes a first driver 152, a second driver 153, and a third driver 154. The first shaft 141 is connected to the first driver 152 and the first valve core 12, such that the first driver 152 can drive the first valve core 12 to rotate via the first shaft 141. The second shaft 142 is connected to the second driver 153 and the second valve core 13, such that the second driver 153 can drive the second valve core 13 to rotate via the second shaft 142. The third shaft 143 is connected to the third driver 154 and the third valve core 16 , so that the third driver 154 can drive the third valve core 16 to rotate through the third shaft 143 .

[0103] Or it can be understood that, compared with the multi-way valve 10 shown in Figure 6, Figure 13 adds a third valve core 16, a third shaft body 143 and a third driver 154. Therefore, the specific structure of the first driver 152, the first shaft body 141, the second driver 153 and the second shaft body 142 can refer to the above specific description and will not be repeated here.

[0104] The third shaft 143 and the third valve core 16 are an integral structure. The third shaft 143 is located at the axis of the third valve core 16, and the first end of the third shaft 143 (such as the upper end in FIG13 ) extends beyond one end of the second shaft 142. In addition, the diameter of the third shaft 143 is smaller than the diameter of the second shaft 142. The axis of the second shaft 142 has a through hole, and the third shaft 143 is inserted into the through hole. In addition, the first end of the third shaft 143 has a toothed portion 1431 on the outer peripheral surface. The output shaft of the third driver 154 has a toothed portion that meshes with the toothed portion. When the output shaft of the third driver 154 rotates, it can drive the third shaft 143 and the third valve core 16 to rotate synchronously.

[0105] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 14, in another example provided herein, the first driver 152 can drive one valve core to rotate, and the third driver 154 can drive two valve cores to rotate. Specifically, the multi-way valve 10 may include three valve cores: a first valve core 12, a third valve core 16, and a fourth valve core 17. The first valve core 12, the third valve core 16, and the fourth valve core 17 are arranged axially in sequence. Furthermore, the transmission assembly 14 includes a first shaft 141, a third shaft 143, a fourth shaft 144, a first one-way transmission member 145, and a second one-way transmission member 146. The output shaft of the first driver 152 is connected to the first valve core 12 via the first shaft 141, allowing the first valve core 12 to rotate synchronously with the output shaft of the first driver 152. The output shaft of the third driver 154 meshes with the gear 40, allowing the gear 40 to rotate synchronously with the output shaft of the third driver 154. Furthermore, the gear 40 is connected to the third shaft 143 via a first one-way transmission member 145, and is also connected to the fourth shaft 144 via a second one-way transmission member 146. When the gear 40 rotates in a first rotational direction, the first one-way transmission member 145 drives the third shaft 143 and the third valve core 16 to rotate, while the fourth shaft 144 and the fourth valve core 17 are not rotated. When the gear 40 rotates in a second rotational direction, the second one-way transmission member 146 drives the fourth shaft 144 and the fourth valve core 17 to rotate, while the third shaft 143 and the third valve core 16 are not rotated.

[0106] In addition, during specific implementation, the number and arrangement of the valve core, the driver and the one-way transmission member can be reasonably selected according to actual needs, which will not be elaborated here.

[0107] In addition, in the above examples, the flow passages of the valve core are distributed in the radial direction. However, in other examples, the flow passages of the valve core may also be distributed in the axial direction.

[0108] For example, as shown in FIG15 , in an example provided in this application, the valve core has four flow channels, namely, flow channel 120 a, flow channel 120 b, flow channel 120 c, and flow channel 120 d. Flow channels 120 a and 120 b are located in the same layer in the axial direction, and flow channels 120 c and 120 d are located in the same layer in the axial direction.

[0109] Of course, in the specific configuration, the housing 11 of the multi-way valve 10 also has a docking port for communicating with each of the above-mentioned flow channels, which will not be described in detail here. In the example provided in this application, the flow channels in the valve core can be distributed in the axial direction, which can avoid occupying radial space and also help increase the number of flow channels. Alternatively, it can be understood that the valve core in Figure 15 can be considered as the two first valve cores 12 or second valve cores 13 of the integrated structure shown in Figure 5.

[0110] In actual application, the multi-way valve 10 can be used in various scenarios where the flow path of the coolant needs to be regulated.

[0111] For example, as shown in Figure 16, an embodiment of the present application further provides a thermal management device 20, which may include a multi-way valve 10 and multiple heat exchangers. The multi-way valve 10 may be connected between at least two heat exchangers to connect or disconnect the passage between the at least two heat exchangers.

[0112] In specific applications, the heat exchanger can be an evaporator, a condenser, a heater, or a cold plate, etc. This application does not limit the specific type of heat exchanger. As shown in Figure 16, in the example provided in this application, the multiple heat exchangers are cold plate 211, radiator 221, condenser 242, and evaporator 244.

[0113] Specifically, the thermal management device 20 may include a first circulation pipeline 21, a second circulation pipeline 22, a third circulation pipeline 23, a heat pump device 24, and a multi-way valve 10. The first circulation pipeline 21, the second circulation pipeline 22, and the third circulation pipeline 23 are all connected to the multi-way valve 10. The multi-way valve 10 can effectively control the connection or disconnection status of the different circulation pipelines themselves. In addition, the multi-way valve can also effectively control the connection or disconnection status between the different circulation pipelines, thereby achieving heat exchange between the different circulation pipelines.

[0114] Specifically, in the example provided herein, the first circulation pipeline 21 includes a cold plate 211 and a water pump 212. The water pump 212 is used to accelerate the flow of coolant through the first circulation pipeline 21, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the cold plate 211. In actual applications, the heat dissipation device can be thermally bonded to the cold plate 211, allowing the heat dissipation device to be cooled by the cold plate 211.

[0115] The second circulation pipeline 22 includes a radiator 221 and a water pump 222. The water pump 222 is used to accelerate the flow of coolant through the second circulation pipeline 22, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the radiator 221. In practice, the radiator 221 can effectively exchange heat with the external environment, thereby allowing the external air to cool or heat the radiator 221.

[0116] The heat pump device 24 may include a compressor 241, a condenser 242, a throttle valve 243, and an evaporator 244, which are sequentially connected via a circulation pipeline. When the medium circulates through the path formed by the compressor 241, condenser 242, throttle valve 243, and evaporator 244, the temperature of the evaporator 244 is lower and the temperature of the condenser 242 is higher, thereby achieving heat transfer or transportation between the evaporator 244 and the condenser 242.

[0117] The heat pump device 24 is connected to the multi-way valve 10 through the third circulation pipeline 23, so that heat exchange can be achieved between the heat pump device 24 and other circulation pipelines (such as the first circulation pipeline 21, the second circulation pipeline 22 and the third circulation pipeline 23).

[0118] For example, the condenser 242 in the heat pump device 24 can be connected to the second circulation pipeline 22 through the third circulation pipeline 23 and the multi-way valve 10, so that the heat of the condenser 242 can be transferred to the radiator 221 and dissipated to the outside, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the heat pump device 24. Among them, the evaporator 244 in the heat pump device 24 can be in thermal contact with the device to be cooled, thereby cooling the device to be cooled.

[0119] Alternatively, in some examples, the evaporator 244 in the heat pump device 24 can be connected to the multi-way valve 10 via the circulation line 25 , so that the cooling energy in the evaporator 244 can be transferred to the cold plate 211 to improve the cooling efficiency of the cold plate 211 .

[0120] In actual applications, the flow paths and flow directions of the cooling medium in different circulation pipelines can be diverse.

[0121] For example, as shown in FIG17 , in an example provided in this application, when the ambient temperature is relatively suitable (such as in spring or autumn), the operating mode of the thermal management device 20 is as follows:

[0122] Specifically, Figure 17 shows a circulation path. Cold plate 211 can dissipate heat through radiator 221. The cooling medium's circulation path is, in order: cold plate 211, water pump 212, docking port 4, docking port 6, water pump 222, radiator 221, docking port 5, and docking port 1.

[0123] In addition, as shown in FIG18 , in another example provided in this application, when the ambient temperature is high (such as in summer), the working mode of the thermal management device 20 is as follows:

[0124] Specifically, in FIG. 18 , three circulation paths are shown.

[0125] In the first circulation path, the heat pump device 24 can perform cooling work, wherein the circulation path of the refrigerant medium is: compressor 241, condenser 242, throttle valve 243 and evaporator 244 in sequence.

[0126] In the second circulation path, the condenser 242 can dissipate heat through the radiator 221. The circulation path of the cooling medium is: condenser 242, docking port 7, docking port 6, water pump 222, radiator 221, docking port 5 and docking port 8.

[0127] In the third circulation path, the cold plate 211 can dissipate heat through the evaporator 244. The circulation path of the cooling medium is: cold plate 211, water pump 212, docking port 4, docking port 3, evaporator 244, docking port 2 and docking port 1.

[0128] In addition, as shown in FIG19 , in another example provided in this application, when the ambient temperature is low (such as in winter), the working mode of the thermal management device 20 is as follows:

[0129] Specifically, in FIG. 19 , three circulation paths are shown.

[0130] In the first circulation path, the heat pump device 24 can perform heating, wherein the circulation path of the refrigerant medium is: compressor 241, condenser 242, throttle valve 243 and evaporator 244 in sequence.

[0131] In the second circulation path, the evaporator 244 can be heated by the radiator 221. The cooling medium flows through the evaporator 244, the docking port 2, the docking port 6, the water pump 222, the radiator 221, the docking port 5 and the docking port 3.

[0132] In the third circulation path, the cold plate 211 can be heated by the condenser 242. The cooling medium flows through the cold plate 211, the water pump 212, the docking port 4, the docking port 8, the condenser 242, the docking port 7, and the docking port 1.

[0133] Please refer to Figures 4 and 5 in conjunction. In the example provided in this application, the multi-way valve 10 includes two valve cores, namely a first valve core 12 and a second valve core 13. The housing 11 has eight docking ports, namely docking port 110a, docking port 110b, docking port 110c, docking port 110d, docking port 110e, docking port 110f, docking port 110g, and docking port 110h. Among them, docking ports 110a, docking port 110b, docking port 110c, and docking port 110d are provided corresponding to the first valve core 12 and can communicate with the flow channels 120a and 120b in the first valve core 12. Docking ports 110e, docking port 110f, docking port 110g, and docking port 110h are provided corresponding to the second valve core 13 and can communicate with the flow channels 130a and 130b in the second valve core 13.

[0134] Please refer to Figures 4, 5 and 20, where docking interface 110a is docking interface 1, docking interface 110b is docking interface 2, docking interface 110c is docking interface 3, and docking interface 110d is docking interface 4. Docking interface 110e is docking interface 5, docking interface 110f is docking interface 6, docking interface 110g is docking interface 7, and docking interface 110h is docking interface 8.

[0135] During specific settings, different flow channels can be selectively connected to the docking ports corresponding to the first valve core 12 (such as docking port 110a, docking port 110b, docking port 110c and docking port 110d), and can also be selectively connected to the docking ports corresponding to the second valve core 13 (such as docking port 110e, docking port 110f, docking port 110g and docking port 110h).

[0136] For example, as shown in Figure 20, in an example provided in the present application, for ease of understanding, the first valve core 12 and the docking port corresponding to the first valve core 12 are represented as a multi-way valve 10a, and the second valve core 13 and the docking port corresponding to the second valve core 13 are represented as a multi-way valve 10b.

[0137] In actual applications, the flow paths and flow directions of the cooling medium in different circulation pipelines can be diverse.

[0138] For example, as shown in FIG21 , in an example provided in this application, when the ambient temperature is relatively suitable (such as in spring or autumn), the operating mode of the thermal management device 20 is as follows:

[0139] Specifically, Figure 21 shows a circulation path. Cold plate 211 can dissipate heat through radiator 221. The cooling medium's circulation path is, in order: cold plate 211, water pump 212, docking port 4, docking port 6, water pump 222, radiator 221, docking port 5, and docking port 1.

[0140] In addition, as shown in FIG22 , in another example provided in this application, when the ambient temperature is high (such as in summer), the working mode of the thermal management device 20 is as follows:

[0141] Specifically, in FIG. 22 , three circulation paths are shown.

[0142] In the first circulation path, the heat pump device 24 can perform cooling work, wherein the circulation path of the refrigerant medium is: compressor 241, condenser 242, throttle valve 243 and evaporator 244 in sequence.

[0143] In the second circulation path, the condenser 242 can dissipate heat through the radiator 221. The circulation path of the cooling medium is: condenser 242, docking port 7, docking port 6, water pump 222, radiator 221, docking port 5 and docking port 8.

[0144] In the third circulation path, the cold plate 211 can dissipate heat through the evaporator 244. The circulation path of the cooling medium is: cold plate 211, water pump 212, docking port 4, docking port 3, evaporator 244, docking port 2 and docking port 1.

[0145] In addition, as shown in FIG23 , in another example provided in this application, when the ambient temperature is low (such as in winter), the working mode of the thermal management device 20 is as follows:

[0146] Specifically, in FIG. 23 , three circulation paths are shown.

[0147] In the first circulation path, the heat pump device 24 can perform heating work, wherein the circulation path of the refrigerant medium is: compressor 241, condenser 242, throttle valve 243 and evaporator 244 in sequence.

[0148] In the second circulation path, the evaporator 244 can be heated by the radiator 221. The cooling medium flows through the evaporator 244, the docking port 2, the docking port 6, the water pump 222, the radiator 221, the docking port 5 and the docking port 3.

[0149] In the third circulation path, the cold plate 211 can be heated by the condenser 242. The cooling medium flows through the cold plate 211, the water pump 212, the docking port 4, the docking port 8, the condenser 242, the docking port 7, and the docking port 1.

[0150] In the example provided above, only one possible architecture of the thermal management device 20 is represented. However, in specific applications, the thermal management device 20 may also include a controller, which can be connected to the driver in the multi-way valve 10 to control the rotation angle of the valve core through the driver, thereby achieving connectivity or disconnection between different docking ports, and ultimately achieving the circulation of coolant between different thermal circulation pipelines. In addition, in actual applications, the number of circulation pipelines included in the thermal management device 20 can be flexibly increased or decreased according to actual needs. The type and number of devices included in each thermal circulation pipeline can also be flexibly selected and adjusted according to actual needs, and this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0151] It is understandable that in actual application, the thermal management device 20 may also include devices such as temperature sensors and humidity sensors. In addition, the thermal management device 20 may also be equipped with multiple multi-way valves 10. The thermal management device will not be described in detail here.

[0152] As shown in Figure 24, in actual applications, the thermal management device 20 can be used in an energy storage device. The energy storage device may include a battery pack, a power conversion circuit, and the thermal management device 20 described above. The power conversion circuit is connected to the battery pack and is used to convert AC power into DC power before supplying it to the battery pack, or to convert DC power from the battery pack into AC power.

[0153] Referring to Figures 23 and 24 , the cold plate 211 in the thermal management device 20 can be in thermal contact with the battery pack. By utilizing the thermal management device 20, a heat exchanger can heat or cool the battery pack, keeping it within a normal temperature range and effectively improving the battery pack's charge and discharge efficiency and safety.

[0154] In addition, as shown in Figure 25, the thermal management device 20 can also be used in a vehicle, which may include components such as a battery pack and a motor. The thermal management device 20 is thermally connected to the battery pack and the motor to effectively control the temperature of the battery pack and the motor.

[0155] Referring to Figures 23 and 25 , the cold plate 211 in the thermal management device 20 can be in thermal contact with the battery pack, and the evaporator 244 can be in thermal contact with the motor. By equipping the thermal management device 20, the battery pack and motor can be heated or cooled, effectively ensuring the operational reliability of components such as the battery pack and motor. Furthermore, the thermal management device offers greater flexibility in deployment. Furthermore, in actual use, the evaporator 244 or condenser 242 can also provide cooling or heating to the passenger compartment to enhance passenger comfort.

[0156] In other examples, the thermal management device 20 can also be used in an energy storage cabinet to control the temperature of the energy storage cabinet, or to achieve functions such as dehumidification. This application does not limit the specific application scenarios of the multi-way valve 10 and the thermal management device 20.

[0157] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0158] In this application, "plurality" refers to two or more. "and / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural.

[0159] It is understood that the various numbers used in the embodiments of this application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not necessarily imply a specific order of execution; the order of execution of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic.

Claims

1. A multi-way valve, characterized in that: include: A housing for accommodating the at least two valve cores; At least two valve cores, each of which is used to rotate relative to the housing, and the at least two valve cores are arranged in sequence along the axial direction; The driver assembly is arranged on the outer side of the shell, and is used for driving each valve core to rotate respectively through the transmission assembly.

2. The multi-way valve according to claim 1, characterized in that: The at least two valve cores include a first valve core and a second valve core; The driver assembly includes a first driver and a second driver; The transmission assembly includes a first shaft and a second shaft, and the axes of the first shaft and the second shaft coincide with each other; The first shaft is connected to the first driver and the first valve core, and the second shaft is connected to the second driver and the second valve core.

3. The multi-way valve according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first shaft has a first end connected to the first driver, and the second shaft has a second end connected to the second driver; The first end of the first shaft body and the second end of the second shaft body are sequentially arranged along the axial direction.

4. The multi-way valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The at least two valve cores include a third valve core and a fourth valve core; The driver assembly includes a third driver having an output shaft; The transmission assembly includes a third shaft and a fourth shaft, and the axes of the third shaft coincide with those of the fourth shaft. The third shaft is connected to the third valve core, and the fourth shaft is connected to the fourth valve core. The transmission assembly further includes a first one-way transmission member and a second one-way transmission member, wherein the first one-way transmission member is connected to the output shaft and the third shaft body, and the second one-way transmission member is connected to the output shaft and the fourth shaft body; When the output shaft rotates along the first rotation direction, the first one-way transmission member drives the third shaft body and the third valve core to rotate; when the output shaft rotates along the second rotation direction, the second one-way transmission member drives the fourth shaft body and the fourth valve core to rotate, and the first rotation direction and the second rotation direction are opposite.

5. The multi-way valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The at least two valve cores include a third valve core and a fourth valve core; The driver assembly includes a third driver; The transmission assembly includes a third shaft body, and the third shaft body is connected to the third driver; The transmission assembly further comprises a first one-way transmission member and a second one-way transmission member, wherein the first one-way transmission member is connected to the third valve core and the third shaft, and the second one-way transmission member is connected to the fourth valve core and the third shaft; When the third shaft rotates along the first rotation direction, the first one-way transmission member drives the third valve core to rotate; when the third shaft rotates along the second rotation direction, the second one-way transmission member drives the fourth valve core to rotate, and the first rotation direction and the second rotation direction are opposite.

6. The multi-way valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: In two adjacent valve cores, each valve core has an opening arranged toward the other valve core, and the two openings are connected when the two adjacent valve cores are at a first relative angle.

7. The multi-way valve according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: At least one of the valve cores includes at least two flow channels, and the at least two flow channels are separated and arranged in the axial direction.

8. The multi-way valve according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The housing comprises a cavity and a plurality of docking ports, wherein the cavity is used to accommodate the at least two valve cores, and the plurality of docking ports are used to respectively communicate with the cavity, and the plurality of docking ports are sequentially arranged along the axial direction.

9. A thermal management device, characterized in that: It comprises a controller, a plurality of heat exchangers and at least one multi-way valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the controller is connected to the drive assembly in the multi-way valve, the controller is used to control the rotation angle of the valve core through the drive assembly, and the at least one multi-way valve is used to connect or disconnect the passage between at least two of the heat exchangers.

10. The thermal management device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The thermal management device includes a heat pump device and a radiator, the multiple heat exchangers include an evaporator and a condenser, the heat pump device includes a compressor, a condenser, a throttle valve and an evaporator connected in sequence through a circulation pipeline, and the at least one multi-way valve is used for: connecting or disconnecting a passage between the condenser and the radiator; and / or, The passage between the evaporator and the radiator is opened or closed.

11. The thermal management device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The plurality of heat exchangers include a cold plate, and the at least one multi-way valve is used to connect or disconnect a passage between the cold plate and the radiator.

12. The thermal management device according to claim 11, characterized in that: The at least one multi-way valve is further configured to: connecting or disconnecting the passage between the cold plate and the condenser; and / or, The passage between the cold plate and the evaporator is opened or closed.

13. The thermal management device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The condenser, the evaporator, the radiator and the cold plate are all connected to the same multi-way valve.

14. An energy storage device, characterized in that: comprising a battery pack, a power conversion circuit, and a thermal management device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of heat exchangers is in thermal contact with the battery pack; The power conversion circuit is electrically connected to the battery pack, and is used to convert AC power into DC power and then provide it to the battery pack, or to convert DC power from the battery pack into AC power.

15. A vehicle, characterized in that: It includes a battery pack and a motor, and also includes a thermal management device as described in any one of claims 9 to 13, at least one of the multiple heat exchangers is in thermal contact with the battery pack, and at least one of the multiple heat exchangers is in thermal contact with the motor.

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