Valve System With Integrated Pump for Compact Fluid Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems in vehicles suffer from bulkiness, requiring multiple components, significant assembly time, and heat loss due to separate pumps and valves connected by hoses.
Innovation Solution
A valve system integrating a pump with a valve body, featuring a fluid flow acceleration element and an actuator, allowing for a compact design with reduced components and minimal heat loss by aligning or misaligning housing and valve body outlets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate pump and valves are connected by hoses, then the components can be independently manufactured and assembled, but the system becomes bulky requiring much packaging area and assembly time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pump and valve into a single integrated housing structure. The pump chamber and valve body are formed as one unified component with internal fluid passages connecting the pump outlet directly to the valve inlet, eliminating the need for external hoses and reducing packaging area while maintaining independent manufacturing capability through modular internal design
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is nested within the housing structure, with the pump chamber and valve chamber sharing the same external housing. The valve body fits inside the housing with fluid passages that align with the pump outlet, creating a compact nested arrangement that reduces overall system volume and packaging requirements
2Ease of manufacture
If separate pump and valves are connected by hoses, then the components can be independently manufactured, but the system requires many components especially hoses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components (pump, valve, housing, fluid passages) into a single integrated unit. The pump chamber, valve body, and housing are formed as one component with internal passages that eliminate the need for separate hoses and connectors, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving manufacturing independence through modular internal architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated housing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the external housing, contains the pump chamber, houses the valve body, and provides fluid passages for flow distribution. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized production processes
3Ease of manufacture
If separate pump and valves are connected by hoses, then the components can be independently manufactured, but the system results in much heat loss between the pump and valves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pump and valve into a single integrated housing with internal fluid passages that provide direct fluid flow paths. This eliminates the need for external hoses and connectors that would cause heat loss, while the integrated structure maintains thermal continuity and reduces energy loss during fluid transfer between pump and valve chambers
4Ease of manufacture
If separate pump and valves are connected by hoses, then the components can be independently manufactured and assembled, but the system requires much assembly time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pump, valve, housing, and fluid passages into a single pre-assembled integrated unit. This eliminates the need for on-site assembly of multiple separate components including hoses and connectors, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining the ability to manufacture the integrated unit through standardized production processes
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 integrated design reduces packaging space, assembly time, and heat loss while efficiently transferring fluids, offering flexibility in fluid flow control.
Implementation Method 1
the actuator being configured to actuate the fluid flow acceleration element in the at least one first position of the valve system for accelerating a fluid inside the valve body to exit the housing through the aligned at least one valve body outlet and at least one housing outlet
Data Source
Figure 1~2D
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a valve system (1), comprising: - a housing (10) having a housing inlet (11) and at least one housing outlet (12), - a valve body (20) having a valve body inlet (21) and at least one valve body outlet (22), the valve body (20) being arranged inside the housing (10), and the valve body (20) being moveable relative to the housing (10) between at least one first position (FP) of the valve system (1), in which the at least one housing outlet (12) is aligned with the at least one valve body outlet (22), and at least one second position (SP) of the valve system (1), in which the at least one housing outlet (12) is not aligned with the at least one valve body outlet (22), and - a pump (30) having a fluid flow acceleration element (31) and an actuator (32), the actuator (32) being configured to actuate the fluid flow acceleration element (31) in the at least one first position (FP) of the valve system (1) for accelerating a fluid inside the valve body (20) to exit the housing (10) through the aligned at least one valve body outlet (22) and at least one housing outlet (12), the fluid flow acceleration element (31) being arranged inside the valve body (20).