Extractable Valve Group with Segmented Active Portions for Vehicle Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling pump systems for vehicles face challenges in effectively regulating the flow of cooling liquid, particularly in efficiently cooling the engine and other components while maintaining durability and avoiding space constraints within the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A pump group with a valve system that includes an impeller, a housing compartment for the valve group, and actuation means to rotate active portions, allowing for open, obturation, and regulation configurations to manage cooling liquid flow between inlet and outlet channels, ensuring effective regulation without compromising durability or space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the valve group uses a single obturator to regulate cooling liquid flow, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to regulate flow to multiple circuits is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow regulation capabilityVSAvoidvalve group structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single obturator is divided into multiple active portions (first, second, and third active portions) that can independently regulate flow to different circuits. Each active portion can be positioned independently to control cooling liquid distribution between the engine and additional components, enabling versatile flow regulation without requiring multiple separate valves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The valve group structure is designed to perform multiple functions using a single integrated obturator. The same obturator can regulate flow to the engine, to additional components, or to both simultaneously, making the device universal for various cooling circuit configurations without increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the valve group adds more components to regulate flow to additional components, then the adaptability improves, but the space availability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling circuit configurationVSAvoidpump group space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The valve group for regulating flow to additional components is merged with the existing pump group structure. The obturator with multiple active portions is integrated into the same housing compartment, eliminating the need for separate valve assemblies and reducing overall space requirements while maintaining adaptability for multiple cooling circuits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve group is nested within the existing pump group housing compartment. The obturator structure is positioned inside the housing compartment, utilizing the available space efficiently. The inlet delivery channel and outlet delivery channels are arranged to fit within the existing pump geometry, minimizing additional volume requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Manufacturing precision

If the valve group uses complex movement means to achieve precise flow regulation, then the manufacturing precision improves, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow regulation precisionVSAvoidvalve group durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The obturator features localized sealing portions at each active portion (first, second, and third sealing portions) that provide precise flow control at specific locations. Each sealing portion engages with corresponding sealing surfaces in the housing compartment, enabling precise flow regulation without requiring complex overall movement mechanisms, thus maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution enables efficient regulation of cooling liquid flow to both the engine and other components, maintaining durability and avoiding space issues, while ensuring effective cooling without creating turbulence, thus optimizing the cooling system's performance within the vehicle's constraints.

Implementation Method 1

The impeller 4, set in rotation about an impeller axis R-R, is suitable to aspirate the cooling liquid from the aspiration section and to send it under pressure to the out put section

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

The active portions 31 respectively commandable in rotation are suitable to regulate the passage of cooling liquid towards a respective channel of the cooling system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical obstruction:

Data Source

PatentEP3368772B1Extractable valve group with obturator group with a plurality of active portions

Publication Date: 2019.07.31 IND SALERI ITALO

Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
Figure 3~3'

AI summary

A valve group (10) for a pump (1) of a cooling circuit of a vehicle suitable to regulate the passage of a predefined quantity of cooling liquid in the cooling circuit extractably insertable in the pump body (2). The valve group (10) includes a rotatable obturator group (30) that comprises a plurality of active portions (31) arranged axially side by side, and positioned angularly offset between them. The rotation of each active portion (311, 312) corresponds to the regulation of the passage of cooling liquid towards a respective channel of the cooling system.