Coolant Flow Valve with Main and Sub-Valve Engine Cooling Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow control valves do not effectively adjust the flow rates of cooling water circulating through cylinder blocks and cylinder heads, limiting their ability to improve cooling efficiency during engine warm-up, especially at cold startup conditions.
Innovation Solution
A flow control valve apparatus with a housing having multiple flow ports, a main valve that selectively circulates cooling water based on rotational angles, and a sub-valve that adjusts the flow rate of cooling water through the cylinder head port by altering its opening amount, allowing for variable flow rate control based on operational conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a flow control valve is used to adjust cooling water flow rates, then engine warm-up time is reduced and fuel efficiency is improved, but the ability to separately adjust flow rates for cylinder blocks and cylinder heads is limited, reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control valve is divided into a main valve and a sub-valve. The main valve selectively opens/closes flow ports based on rotational angle, while the sub-valve independently adjusts the opening amount of the second port. This segmentation allows separate control of cooling water flow rates for cylinder blocks and cylinder heads, resolving the contradiction between rapid warm-up and adaptable cooling control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the flow control valve selectively circulates cooling water through flow ports, then cooling water distribution is improved, but the structure becomes more complex with multiple valves and ports
Solution Approach 1:
The main valve and sub-valve are integrated into a single housing structure with shared rotational control. The sub-valve is disposed within the second port of the housing and rotates together with the main valve, allowing coordinated control while maintaining a compact, unified structure that minimizes complexity despite the enhanced functionality.
3Measurement precision
If the sub-valve adjusts the opening amount of the second port, then flow rate precision for cylinder head cooling is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-valve is nested within the second port structure of the housing, with its rotational axis aligned with the main valve. This nested configuration allows the sub-valve to adjust the opening amount of the second port while sharing the rotational control mechanism with the main valve, achieving precise flow rate control without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus optimally adjusts cooling water flow rates to enhance cooling performance and rapid engine warm-up, improving fuel efficiency and durability by ensuring appropriate cooling for both cylinder blocks and cylinder heads.
Implementation Method 1
a main valve rotatably disposed in the housing and configured to selectively circulate cooling water through some of the flow ports based on rotational angles
Implementation Method 2
a sub-valve disposed in the second port of the housing and configured to adjust a flow rate of the cooling water flowing through the second port by adjusting the opening amount of the second port
Data Source
AI summary
A flow control valve apparatus is provided in which a main valve adjusts the flow rate of cooling water by operating a plurality of ports and a sub-valve that operates with the main valve adjusts the flow rates of the cooling water circulating through a cylinder block and a cylinder head. The flow rate of the cooling water is variously adjusted based on the operation conditions of a vehicle.