Vehicle Cooling Multi-Valve with Circumferential Flow Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-valves in vehicle cooling systems have a limited number of fluid connections, requiring a large number of individual valves to control fluid flow, increasing complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A multi-valve design with a valve unit having fluid channel structures offset in the circumferential direction, allowing multiple inlets to be connected to multiple outlets through various switching positions, reducing the number of required valves by enabling more flexible and efficient fluid connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a multi-valve combines multiple valves to control fluid flow, then the number of valves is reduced, but the number of fluid connections is limited by the valve construction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second circumferential arrangement of fluid connections (inlets and outlets) in addition to the first circumferential arrangement. This multi-dimensional arrangement allows the valve unit to connect a larger number of fluid connections by utilizing multiple circumferential layers, thereby increasing versatility without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve unit is divided into multiple switching positions, with each switching position assigned to a specific fluid channel structure. This segmentation allows independent control of different fluid connections, enabling the multi-valve to handle a larger number of fluid connections with greater flexibility while maintaining manageable device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valves are used to control fluid flow in different components, then each component can be cooled independently, but the complexity and costs of the cooling system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple valve functions into a single multi-valve unit with a unified valve housing and integrated valve unit. This merging approach maintains the ability to independently control cooling for different components while reducing the overall number of separate valves, thereby decreasing system complexity and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve unit is designed with multiple switching positions that can connect different inlets to different outlets, allowing a single multi-valve to perform the functions of multiple individual valves. This multi-functionality enables independent cooling control for various components while using fewer valve units, reducing system 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 design allows for a large number of inlets to be connected to a large number of outlets, reducing the overall number of valves needed, while maintaining a compact and cost-effective solution with reduced radial and axial installation space.
Implementation Method 1
a valve unit, which is arranged inside the cylindrical valve chamber of the valve housing and can be rotated about an axis of rotation between a plurality of switching positions by means of an actuator
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-valve for a cooling system of a motor vehicle includes: a valve housing, which has a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets and delimits a cylindrical valve chamber, the plurality of inlets and the plurality of outlets opening into the cylindrical valve chamber; and a valve unit, which is arranged inside the cylindrical valve chamber of the valve housing and is rotatable about an axis of rotation between a plurality of switching positions by an actuator. Depending on a switching position of the valve unit, different inlets of the plurality of inlets are fluidically connectable to different outlets of the plurality of outlets. The valve unit has a plurality of fluid channel structures which are offset from one another in a circumferential direction. Each switching position of the plurality of switching positions is respectively assigned a fluid channel structure of the plurality of fluid channel structures.