Common Fill Port for Isolated Vehicle Fluid Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern automobiles with multiple fluid circuits for cooling and heating require efficient filling methods that minimize redundant processes and equipment, while ensuring thermal isolation between circuits operating at different temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A system with a common fill port for multiple isolated fluid circuits, utilizing a valve with a plunger and retaining clip to fluidly couple and isolate the circuits during filling, allowing fluid to flow between them when open and isolating them when closed, reducing the need for separate fill ports and equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple fluid circuits are filled through separate fill ports, then each circuit can be filled independently, but the filling process becomes more complex and requires more equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate fill ports into a single common fill port that can service multiple fluid circuits. The conduit with valve allows fluid to be introduced into multiple circuits through one access point, reducing the number of fill ports from multiple to one, thereby simplifying the filling process and reducing equipment requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The common fill port and conduit system serves multiple functions by being able to fill different fluid circuits sequentially or simultaneously depending on valve configuration. This universal interface replaces multiple dedicated fill ports, allowing a single piece of equipment to perform multiple filling operations.
2Ease of manufacture
If fluid circuits are connected to allow fluid flow between them, then filling is simplified, but thermal isolation between circuits is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The valve in the conduit is designed to be dynamically controllable, allowing it to switch between open and closed states. When open, fluid can flow between circuits for simplified filling; when closed, thermal isolation is maintained. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to adapt its configuration based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is pre-configured in a closed state to maintain thermal isolation, and can be opened temporarily during the filling process to allow fluid communication. This preliminary configuration ensures that thermal isolation is the default state, with fluid flow enabled only when needed for filling operations.
3Temperature
If a valve is added to isolate fluid circuits, then thermal isolation is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve acts as an intermediary component within the conduit that provides controlled fluid flow. Rather than requiring complex external isolation mechanisms, the valve integrates directly into the fluid pathway, providing thermal isolation through a simple flow-control element that adds minimal complexity compared to alternative isolation methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle having multiple isolated fluid circuits configured to be filled through a common fill port includes a first fluid circuit disposed within the vehicle, the first fluid circuit having a first fill port, a second fluid circuit disposed within the vehicle, and a conduit defining a fluid passageway between the first fluid circuit and second fluid circuit, the conduit including a valve. The valve is configured such that the first and second fluid circuits are fluidly coupled via the passageway when the valve is open, and are fluidly isolated when the valve is closed.