Rotary Valve Isolated Fluid Pathways Thermal Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotary valves in thermal management systems for motor vehicles lack the ability to provide isolated coolant flows, preventing direct and separate transfer of coolant at different temperatures to specific vehicle systems or components without mixing with other fluid streams.

Innovation Solution

A rotary valve design featuring a housing with multiple inlets and outlets, a rotatable valve body with isolated fluid pathways, and an actuator for controlling fluid connections, allowing direct and isolated flow between specific inlets and outlets, and optionally including throttling and sealing mechanisms to manage fluid flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rotary valve with multiple inlets and outlets is used to direct coolant flows, then the ability to control coolant flow to various heat exchangers is improved, but the ability to provide isolated flows without mixing with other fluid streams is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoolant flow control capabilityVSAvoidflow isolation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body is segmented into multiple independent fluid pathways, each capable of isolating specific inlet-outlet combinations. This segmentation allows the valve to provide both versatile flow control and reliable flow isolation by selectively activating different pathways segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The valve body acts as an intermediary structure with multiple isolated fluid pathways that mediate between the housing's inlets/outlets and the heat exchangers. These intermediary pathways enable direct, isolated coolant transfer without mixing with other fluid streams in the housing chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If coolant flows are mixed in the housing chamber, then thermal management flexibility is reduced, but system complexity is minimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal management flexibilityVSAvoidvalve structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body provides multi-functionality by integrating multiple isolated fluid pathways within a single component. Each pathway can independently control coolant flow between different inlets and outlets, enabling versatile thermal management configurations without requiring multiple separate valves or complex piping systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve body is positioned within the housing as a nested structure, with multiple fluid pathways contained within the single valve body component. This nesting approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining thermal management flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10247317B2Rotary valve with an isolating distribution body

Publication Date: 2019.04.02 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG

AI summary

A rotary valve is provided including a housing with an inner chamber having a first inlet, a first outlet, a second inlet, and a second outlet. A valve body is rotatably positioned in the housing. The valve body includes at least one isolated fluid pathway that, depending upon a rotational position of the valve body, provides at least one of a direct connection of one or more of the inlets to one or more of the outlets, or permits flow from at least an other one of the inlets or the outlets that are not in the direct connection created by the at least one isolated fluid pathway into or from the inner chamber. At least one actuator controls the position of the valve body.