An automotive coolant multiway valve device
The automotive coolant multiway valve device simplifies fluidic switching and deaeration through a static valve housing and rotatable body with deaeration channels and rotational stops, addressing complexity and efficiency issues in existing designs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- PIERBURG PUMP TECH
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing automotive coolant multiway valve devices require complex fluidic designs and mechanical rotational sensors to manage multiple connection patterns, necessitating multiple steps for filling and deaeration, and lack a configuration allowing all ports to be connected simultaneously for deaeration.
A simplified automotive coolant multiway valve device with a static valve housing and a rotatable valve body that allows for at least five different connection patterns using a limited rotational sector, includes deaeration channels, and utilizes rotational stops to define positions without the need for separate sensors, enabling efficient filling and deaeration in a single step.
The device achieves reliable and efficient fluidic switching of coolant ports with reduced flow resistance and simplified operation by allowing all ports to be connected simultaneously for deaeration, reducing complexity and operational steps.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024081547_15052026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] - 1 - PI.P.23003. WO / EB 07.11.2024
[0002] An automotive coolant multiway valve device
[0003] The invention refers to an automotive coolant multiway valve device for fluidically switching at least five device coolant ports with at least three different connection patterns by means of a single rotatable valve body.
[0004] US 2022 0 178 453 Al discloses a typical six-way valve device with a single rotatable valve body. The valve housing defines six external device ports and internal housing ports which are arranged in two vertical columns of housing port groups of four and two ports. The valve body has a complex fluidic design to define different connection patterns between the six housing ports. The valve body is rotatable only in one rotational direction so that the valve body is completely rotatable over 360° without any mechanical rotational stop. Therefore, a separate rotational sensor arrangement is necessary to reliably detect the exact rotational position of the valve body and the actual fluidic connection pattern. There is no connection pattern available fluidically connecting all housing ports with each other at the same moment to allow a simple deaeration of the multiway valve device so that the filling and deaeration of the interior of the multiway valve device must be performed in several steps with different valve body positions.
[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and reliable automotive coolant multiway valve device.
[0006] This object is solved with an automotive coolant multiway valve device with the features of main claim 1.
[0007] The automotive coolant multiway valve device allows to fluidically switch at least five different device coolant ports with different connection - 2 - PI.P.23003. WO / EB 07.11.2024 patterns. The multiway valve device is provided with a static valve housing which defines a vertical circular valve cavity which can be cylindrical, conical, spherical or can have any other suitable shape of a rotationally symmetric body. The static valve housing defines at least five housing ports each being fluidically connected to exactly one corresponding device coolant port. The housing ports open to the valve cavity and all have a substantially identical opening angle in a horizontal plane of at least 25° to guarantee a relatively large flow cross-section with a low flow resistance. All housing ports are arranged in two vertical columns of housing port groups of at least two housing ports in each group.
[0008] The multiway valve device is provided with a rotatable valve body which is arranged within the circular valve cavity and which is rotatable around a vertical rotation axis with a limited total rotation sector of less than 360°. The valve body therefore is rotatable in both rotational directions and is driven by an electric valve actuator.
[0009] The valve body defines a first pair of two adjacent vertical groups of valve body ports and a second pair of adjacent vertical groups of valve body ports, whereas each valve body port has an opening angle which is substantially equal to the housing port opening angle of at least 25°. The valve body ports are fluidically connected to each other to define different connection pattern. However, one or even more of the valve body ports can simply have a blocking function and is not connected to any other valve body port. The valve body has at least two different functional rotational positions to define at least two different connection patterns between the housing ports. Preferably, the valve body has four different functional rotational positions to define four different connection patterns between the housing ports. - 3 - PI.P.23003. WO / EB 07.11.2024
[0010] The valve body additionally defines at least one separate vertical deaeration channel vertically extending over the functional valve height of the valve body. The deaeration channel is fluidically separated from all valve body ports by a lateral channel wall of the valve body. The vertical deaeration channel defined by the lateral channel wall is only fluidically connectable to the valve body ports indirectly via an opening of a housing port.
[0011] An intermediate valve position of the valve body is the deaeration position of the valve body, in which deaeration position all housing ports are fluidically connected to each other via the internal connection pattern of the valve body, via the openings of the housing ports and via the vertical deaeration channel. In the intermediate deaeration position of the valve body the deaeration channel as well as one adjacent vertical valve body port group both are fluidically connected to the corresponding housing port group.
[0012] Preferably, the automotive coolant multiway valve device is provided with rotational stops so that the two rotational end positions of the valve body are mechanically defined. Preferably, no separate sensors are provided to detect and control the absolute rotational position of the valve body.
[0013] Preferably the valve body is provided with at least two vertical deaeration channels so that, in the deaeration position of the valve body, the first deaeration channel is fluidically connected to the first housing port group and the second deaeration channel is fluidically connected to the second housing port group.
[0014] Preferably, the two vertical housing port groups are arranged exactly opposite to each other as well as the two separate vertical deaeration channels of the valve body are arranged exactly opposite to each other in - 4 - PI.P.23003. WO / EB 07.11.2024
[0015] 180°. The arrangement of the two vertical housing port groups exactly opposite to each other provides a low flow resistance if a housing port of one group is flu id ically connected by the valve body with a housing port of the other group.
[0016] Preferably, the valve body is provided with at least one transversal fluid connection connecting at least one port of the first pair of adjacent valve body port groups with another valve body port of the second pair of two adjacent valve body port groups. This transversal fluid connection opening within the valve body is necessary if in the intermediate deaeration position of the valve body a transversal fluid connection between the two vertical housing port groups cannot be provided by the vertical deaeration channel of the valve body due to geometric reasons.
[0017] Preferably, the limited total rotation sector of the valve body is less than 300°, and is more preferably less than 270°. A rotational angle of 270° or even less is geometrically sufficient to define four different functional positions of the valve body and an additional intermediate deaeration position which is adjacent to one of the four functional valve positions.
[0018] Preferably, the opening angle of each housing port is at least 30° so that a large fluidic cross-section can be realized resulting in a low flow resistance.
[0019] Generally, the lateral deaeration channel wall can have any suitable spatial form. Preferably, the lateral deaeration channel wall is flat and, seen in vertical direction, chord-like which means that in a horizontal cross-section of the valve body the deaeration channel wall defines a chord of a circle.
[0020] Preferably, an edge portion of the deaeration channel wall also defines an edge portion of a valve body port. - 5 - PI.P.23003. WO / EB 07.11.2024
[0021] One embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein figure 1 shows a vertical cross-section of an automotive coolant multiway valve device,
[0022] Figure 2 shows a horizontal cross-section II-II of the multiway valve device of figure 1,
[0023] Figure 3 shows another horizontal cross-section III-III of the multiway valve device of figure 1, and figure 4 shows a perspective view of a valve body of the multiway valve device of figure 1.
[0024] The figures show an automotive coolant multiway valve device 100 for fluid ically switching six device coolant ports 21-26 which are defined by a static valve housing 20 made of a plastic housing body 20'. The valve housing 20 has a top wall 29 and a bottom wall 28, the top wall 29 and the bottom wall 28 both substantially being designed as a circular disk.
[0025] The multiway valve device 100 is part of an automotive liquid coolant circuit for cooling and heating several automotive devices, the coolant circuit comprising devices such as a heat exchanger, a traction battery, an electric traction engine, an interior heating etc. In place of using several switchable valves, the multiway valve device 100 allows to define four different connection patterns between the six device coolant ports 21-26 with only one single valve device.
[0026] The valve housing 20 defines together with a corresponding elastic sealing body 80 a vertical circular valve cavity 30 which is generally rotationally - 6 - PI.P.23003. WO / EB 07.11.2024 symmetric referring to a vertical rotation axis A40 and is, in the present embodiment, slightly conical in shape. The valve cavity 30 is defined by a cavity inner wall 63. The valve housing 20 including the sealing body 80 define six proximal housing ports 31-36 which are arranged in two vertical housing port groups 310, 340, whereas each housing port group 310, 340 has three housing ports 31-33, 34-36. Each housing port group 310, 340 is arranged in a vertical column, both columns lying in one single vertical radial plane, as shown in figure 3. The two vertical housing port groups 310, 340 are provided exactly opposite to each other in 180°. Every housing port 31-36 has an identical housing port opening angle a in a horizontal plane xz of about 35° as shown in figure 2.
[0027] A rotatable plastic valve body 40 is provided and arranged within the circular valve cavity 30. The valve body 40 is provided with a valve body shaft 49 and is rotatable about the vertical rotation axis A40 in both rotational directions and is driven by an electric actuator 110 which is controlled by an electronic valve controller 120. The rotation of the valve body 40 is mechanically limited by corresponding axial stop elements 90, 92 provided at the inside of the housing bottom wall 28 and at the valve body bottom wall. The limited total rotation sector S is about 220° in the present embodiment.
[0028] The valve body 40 defines a first and a second pair of respectively two adjacent vertical groups 41, 42, 43, 44 of in total twelve valve body ports 401-412, wherein every vertical valve body port group 41-44 has three valve body ports 401-403, 404-406, 407-409, 410- 412 each valve port group arranged in a vertical column. Every valve body port 401-412 has an opening angle a' in a horizontal plane, which valve body port opening angle a' is substantially equal to the housing port angle a, and is, in the present embodiment, about 35°. - 7 - PI.P.23003. WO / EB 07.11.2024
[0029] The interior of the valve body 40 defines a fluidic connection pattern for fluidically connecting the housing ports 31-36 in four different connection patterns depending on the four different rotational operational positions of the valve body 40, in which operational positions the two housing port groups 310, 340 are perfectly aligned with two groups 41, 43 or 42, 44 of the valve body ports 401-412. The valve body 40 is therefore provided with at least one transversal fluid connection opening 68 fluidically connecting valve body ports of the first pair of adjacent valve body port groups 41, 42 with one another valve body port of the second pair of two valve body port groups 43, 44. At least one valve body port 407 is not fluidically connected to any other valve body port but is simply blocking the corresponding housing port 31, 34, if the blocking valve body port 407 is perfectly aligned with the corresponding housing port 31, 34.
[0030] Two vertical deaeration channels 60 are provided at the valve body 40, whereas every vertical deaeration channel 60 extends over the functional valve height H which is the height of the vertical groups 31-34 of valve body ports 401-412. The vertical deaeration channel 60 is substantially defined by a lateral deaeration channel wall 62 of the valve body 60, which deaeration channel wall 62 is, in the present embodiment, provided flat and chord-like.
[0031] The two vertical deaeration channels 60 are arranged exactly opposite to each other in 180°, and are arranged circumferentially between the two pairs of adjacent vertical valve body port groups 31, 32 and 33, 34. Each vertical deaeration channel 60 has, seen in the horizontal plane xz, a deaeration channel opening angle a60 of about 70°, as shown in figure 2. In an intermediate valve deaeration position of the valve body 40, as shown in figures 2 and 3, one housing port group 310, 340 respectively is fluidically connected to one vertical valve body port group 41, 43 as well as to the adjacent vertical deaeration channel 60 so that all housing ports - 8 - PI.P.23003. WO / EB 07.11.2024
[0032] 31-36 are fluid ically connected with each other in the intermediate valve deaeration position of the valve body 40. The edge portions 70 of the deaeration channel walls 62 define edge portions of the adjacent twelve valve body ports 401-412.
[0033] In the intermediate valve deaeration position of the valve body 40 shown in figures 2 and three, the multiway valve device 100 can easily be filled with the liquid coolant so that no air remains in the multiway valve device 100.
Claims
- 9 - PI.P.23003. WO / EB 07.11.2024CLAIMS1. An automotive coolant multiway valve device (100) for fluidically switching at least five device coolant ports (21-26), wherein a static valve housing (20) is provided which defines a vertical circular valve cavity (30) and which defines at least five housing ports (31-36) being fluidically connected to the device coolant ports (21-26), wherein every housing port (31-36) has a substantially identical housing port opening angle (a) of at least 25°, wherein all housing ports (31-36) are arranged in two vertical housing port groups (310, 340) of at least two housing ports (31-33, 34-36) each, wherein a rotatable valve body (40) is provided which is arranged within the circular valve cavity (30) and which is rotatable around a vertical rotation axis (A40) within a limited total rotation sector (S) of less than 360°, wherein the valve body (40) defines a first pair of two adjacent vertical groups (41, 42) of valve body ports (401-406) and a second pair of two adjacent vertical groups (43, 44) of valve body ports (407-412), each valve body port (401-412) having an opening angle (a') substantially equal to the housing port opening angle (a), and wherein the valve body (40) additionally defines at least one separate vertical deaeration channel (60) vertically extending over the functional valve height (H) and fluidically separated from all valve body ports (401-412) by a lateral deaeration channel wall (62) of the valve body (40), so that in an intermediate valve deaeration position of the valve body (40) all housing ports (31-36) are fluidically connected with each other.- 10 - PI. P.23003. WO / EB 07.11.20242. The automotive coolant multiway valve device (100) of claim 1, wherein the valve body (40) is provided with at least two separate vertical deaeration channels (60).
3. The automotive coolant multiway valve device (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve body (40) is provided with at least one transversal fluid connection opening (68) connecting at least one valve body port (401) of the first pair of adjacent valve body port groups (41, 42) with another valve body port (410) of the second pair of two valve body port groups (43, 44).
4. The automotive coolant multiway valve device (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the limited total rotation sector (S) is less than 300°, and more preferably is less than 270°.
5. The automotive coolant multiway valve device (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening angle (a) of the housing ports (31-36) is at least 30°.
6. The automotive coolant multiway valve device (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the two vertical housing port groups (310, 340) are provided exactly opposite to each other.
7. The automotive coolant multiway valve device (100) of claims 2 and 6, wherein the two separate vertical deaeration channels (60) are provided exactly opposite to each other.
8. The automotive coolant multiway valve device (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the lateral deaeration channel wall (62) is provided flat and chord-like.- 11 - PI. P.23003. WO / EB 07.11.20249. The automotive coolant multiway valve device (100) of claim 8, wherein an edge portion (70) of the deaeration channel wall (62) also defines an edge portion of a valve body port (401-412).