Integrated Ball Valve Layout for Multi-Loop Vehicle Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of vehicle cooling systems leads to overlapping effects between different cooling elements, resulting in a complicated layout and increased manufacturing costs, with existing control valves failing to simplify the configuration and optimize the cooling system effectively.
Innovation Solution
A control valve with a ball valve mechanism and an integrated electric water pump, which includes a valve housing with inlet and outlet ports, a driving unit, and modular design to simplify the cooling system layout by fluidically connecting or separating cooling lines based on operation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate control valves are used to control different cooling elements, then each cooling element can be controlled independently, but the configuration becomes complex and the layout becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control valve functions into a single integrated control valve body with multiple inlet and outlet ports. This single valve body can control coolant flow to the radiator, heater, chiller, and oil cooler simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple separate valves and reducing system complexity while maintaining independent control capability for each cooling element
Solution Approach 2:
The control valve body is designed as a universal component with multiple inlet ports (first inlet port, second inlet port) and multiple outlet ports (first outlet port, second outlet port, third outlet port), enabling it to perform multiple functions: controlling coolant flow to radiator, heater, chiller, and oil cooler from a single valve location, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate control valves are used to control different cooling elements, then each cooling element can be controlled independently, but the layout of the cooling system becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
By consolidating multiple control valve functions into a single integrated valve body located at one position in the cooling system, the patent reduces the spatial footprint and simplifies the layout. The valve body with its multiple ports eliminates the need for multiple valve locations and associated piping, thereby reducing layout complexity while maintaining full control capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cooling system includes multiple cooling elements, then cooling functionality is enhanced, but the layout becomes complicated and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates control functions for multiple cooling elements (radiator, heater, chiller, oil cooler) into a single control valve assembly, reducing the total number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled. This consolidation reduces manufacturing complexity and costs while preserving the enhanced cooling functionality provided by multiple cooling elements
Solution Approach 2:
The universal control valve body with multiple ports serves as a multi-functional component that can route coolant to different cooling elements based on operational requirements. This single multi-functional component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate valves, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to provide enhanced cooling functionality across multiple elements
Data Source
AI summary
A control valve includes a valve housing, a first inlet port and a second inlet port that are formed on the valve housing and through which a coolant is drawn, a first outlet port and a second outlet port that are formed on the valve housing and through which the coolant is discharged, and a ball valve rotatably disposed within the valve housing, and configured to fluidically communicate the first inlet port and the first outlet port and fluidically communicate the second inlet port and the second outlet port, or fluidically communicate the first inlet port and the second outlet port and fluidically communicate the second inlet port and the first outlet port.