Dual Valve Thermostat for Combustion Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermostat valves for combustion engines require a large installation space to achieve multiple switch positions due to the need for numerous openings on the valve element's shell surface, limiting their flexibility and compactness.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual valve element system with a spherical or spherical-segment shaped shell surface, where one valve element is rotatable and can selectively connect with cooling fluid connections, and a second valve element can be driven to open or close these connections, allowing for more flexible switching states within a compact housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple openings are provided on the shell surface of a single valve element to achieve many switch positions, then the flexibility and number of switching states are improved, but the shell surface area and installation space required are enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element is divided into two separate valve elements, each with fewer openings. The first valve element has openings for connecting to cooling fluid connections, while the second valve element has openings for closing or opening these connections. This segmentation allows achieving multiple switching states without requiring a single large valve element with many openings, thus reducing the installation space while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a second degree of freedom by adding a second rotatable valve element. Instead of achieving all switching functions through rotation of a single valve element in one dimension, the system uses two valve elements that can rotate independently, creating a two-dimensional switching space that achieves more states within a compact footprint.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shell surface of the valve element is enlarged to provide more openings for flexible switching, then the number of achievable switch positions is improved, but the construction space of the housing and entire thermostat valve is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element is divided into two separate valve elements, each with fewer openings. The first valve element has openings for connecting to cooling fluid connections, while the second valve element has openings for closing or opening these connections. This segmentation allows achieving multiple switching states without requiring a single large valve element with many openings, thus reducing the installation space while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a second degree of freedom by adding a second rotatable valve element. Instead of achieving all switching functions through rotation of a single valve element in one dimension, the system uses two valve elements that can rotate independently, creating a two-dimensional switching space that achieves more states within a compact footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a thermostat valve for a combustion engine, comprising a housing, which has several cooling fluid connections, and comprising at least one first hollow valve element, which has a spherical or spherical-segment shaped shell surface and is mounted rotatably in the housing, wherein the at least one first valve element comprises several openings limited by the shell surface, which openings can be selectively connected with one or several of the cooling fluid connections of the housing by rotation of the at least one first valve element, wherein at least one second valve element is provided which is rotatable in the housing relative to the at least one first valve element, wherein the at least one second valve element can selectively close or open one or several of the cooling fluid connections of the housing through rotation, and wherein a rotational drive is provided, with which the at least one first valve element and/or the at least one second valve element can be driven rotatably.