Rotary Cooling Water Valve Layout for Tight Engine Bay Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve devices for controlling cooling medium flow rates in internal combustion engines occupy valuable space between the engine and electric power converting devices, making it challenging to manage limited space efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A valve device with a rotatable valve member and multiple opened portions, which changes communication ratios between ports depending on its rotational position, allowing for efficient control of cooling medium flow rates without increasing the size of the engine and its peripherals by effectively utilizing the space between the engine and electric power converting device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve device is installed to control cooling medium flow rate, then the cooling control function is improved, but the space occupation in the engine room increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve device merges the cooling medium flow control function with the existing engine room space by positioning it between the engine and electric power converting device, effectively utilizing the limited available space without requiring additional installation area
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member is designed to be rotatable around its axis line, dynamically changing the communication ratio between opened portions and ports based on rotational position, enabling flexible flow rate control while maintaining a compact structure
2Area of stationary object
If the valve device is positioned between the engine and electric power converting device, then the space utilization is improved, but the installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve device is designed with multiple ports and multiple opened portions that can control flow rates to multiple destinations, providing multi-functionality that simplifies the overall system architecture by replacing multiple separate valves with a single integrated device
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling-water control valve, which controls a flow rate of cooling water for an engine, includes a housing and a valve member. The housing has multiple outlet ports. The valve member is movably provided in the housing, so that it is rotatable around an axis line of the valve member. The valve member has multiple opened portions. Each of the opened portions is formed at a position, which is different from one another in an axial direction of the valve member. Each of the opened portions is operatively communicated to one of the outlet ports. The valve member changes a communication ratio between the opened portion and the outlet port depending on a rotational position of the valve member. The cooling-water control valve is provided at a position between the engine and an electric power converting device.