Nested Rotary Coolant Valve Assembly for Compact Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coolant control valves lack an efficient and compact design that allows for precise temperature and flow rate management while minimizing axial length, limiting their ability to provide a full range of fluid flow control configurations.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a rotor control assembly with a primary and secondary rotary valve nested within each other, allowing for rotation around an axis of rotation to achieve various flow configurations, including zero flow, first flow, second flow, and third flow configurations, using an actuator to control the positioning and alignment of the valves within a housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional single rotary valve design is used, then the valve structure is simple, but the axial length is excessive and flow control precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested rotary valve assembly where a secondary rotary valve is positioned inside a primary rotary valve, both sharing a common axis of rotation. This nesting arrangement allows two independent flow control mechanisms to occupy the same axial space, thereby reducing the overall axial length of the valve assembly while maintaining the ability to provide multiple flow control configurations and enhanced precision
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple rotary valves are placed sequentially along the axis, then flow control configurations are improved, but the axial length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the secondary rotary valve inside the primary rotary valve, both rotating around a common axis. This nested configuration enables multiple flow control settings (zero flow, first flow, second flow, third flow configurations) without increasing axial length, as both valves occupy the same axial footprint rather than being arranged sequentially along the axis
3Length of moving object
If a compact nested rotary valve assembly is implemented, then axial length is minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested rotary valve assembly performs multiple functions: the primary rotary valve provides coarse flow control while the secondary rotary valve provides fine flow control, and together they can achieve zero flow, first flow, second flow, and third flow configurations. This multi-functionality is achieved within a compact nested structure, reducing axial length while the complexity is managed through coordinated rotation of both valves around a common axis
Data Source
AI summary
A coolant control valve, including: a housing with a first port and a second port; a primary rotary valve disposed within the housing and including a primary body; and a secondary rotary valve disposed within the housing and including a secondary body. The primary rotary valve and the secondary rotary valve are rotatable around the axis of rotation by at least one actuator to a first configuration. In a first configuration of the primary rotary valve and the secondary rotary valve around the axis of rotation: a first straight line, orthogonal to the axis of rotation, passes through the primary body and the first port; and a second straight line, orthogonal to the axis of rotation and co-planar with the first straight line, passes through the secondary body and the second port.