Dual fluid valve apparatus and system for controlling two fluid streams incorporating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10072902-B2
Application number	US-201715446195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2017
Priority date	Mar 2, 2016
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

A valve apparatus for controlling the flow of two sources of a first fluid while preventing mixing of the two fluid sources is disclosed along with a system incorporating the same. The valve apparatus has a first valve chamber with a first valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a first fluid, such as a heated coolant, from a first source. A second valve chamber with a second valve mechanism controls the flow of a first fluid, such as a cooled coolant, from a second source, the first and second valve chambers being fluidly isolated from each other. At least one thermal actuator arranged within a control chamber or control manifold controls operation of the first and second valve mechanisms, the thermal actuator having a first activation temperature for controlling the first valve mechanism and a second activation temperature for controlling the second valve mechanism. A control fluid passing through the control chamber, or control manifold, dictates the operational settings of the first and second valve mechanisms, respectively. The control fluid may comprise a fluid to be heated and/or cooled, such as a transmission fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve apparatus, comprising:
a first valve chamber having a first inlet for receiving a fluid from a first fluid source and a first outlet for discharging said fluid from said first valve chamber;
a second valve chamber having a second inlet for receiving a fluid from a second fluid source and a second outlet for discharging said fluid from said second valve chamber;
a control chamber fluidly isolated from said first valve chamber and said second valve chamber, said control chamber having a control fluid inlet for receiving a control fluid from a control fluid source and a control fluid outlet for discharging said control fluid from said control chamber of said valve apparatus;
a first valve mechanism arranged within said first valve chamber for controlling fluid flow between said first inlet and said first outlet;
a second valve mechanism arranged within said second valve chamber for controlling fluid flow between said second inlet and second outlet;
a thermal actuator arranged within said control chamber and operatively coupled to said first valve mechanism and said second valve mechanism, said thermal actuator having a first activation temperature associated with said first valve mechanism and a second activation temperature associated with said second valve mechanism;
wherein said first valve chamber is fluidly isolated from said second valve chamber.

2. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an outlet fluid line interconnecting said first outlet and said second outlet.

3. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a main body having a main bore formed therein extending therethrough from a first open end to a second open end;
a first valve housing secured to said main body at said first open end and defining said first valve chamber;
a second valve housing secured to said main body at said second open end and defining said second valve chamber;
wherein said main bore interconnects said first valve chamber and said second valve chamber defining said control chamber;
a first valve cap arranged at the junction of said first valve chamber and said control chamber fluidly isolating said first valve chamber from said control chamber;
a second valve cap arranged at the junction of said second valve chamber and said control chamber fluidly isolating said second valve chamber from said control chamber; and
wherein said second activation temperature is greater than said first activation temperature and wherein said at least one thermal actuator is operatively coupled to the first and second valve mechanisms through said first and second valve caps, respectively.

4. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said thermal actuator comprises a first thermal actuator operatively coupled to said first valve mechanism and a second thermal actuator operatively coupled to said second valve mechanism, said first and second actuators each comprising an actuator casing for housing a corresponding thermal material and a piston having a first end mounted within the corresponding actuator casing and a second end protruding from said actuator casing, wherein said piston is moveable between a first retracted position and a second extended position, the piston of said first actuator being operatively coupled to said first valve mechanism and the piston of said second actuator being operatively coupled to said second valve mechanism.

5. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , having:
a first operational state wherein said first valve mechanism has a first, open position permitting fluid flow between said first inlet and first outlet and said second valve mechanism is in a first, closed position preventing fluid flow between said second inlet and said second outlet;
a second operational state wherein said first valve mechanism is in a second, closed position preventing fluid flow between said first inlet and said first outlet and said second valve mechanism is in said first, closed position preventing fluid flow between said second inlet and said second outlet; and
a third operational state wherein said first valve mechanism is in said second closed position preventing fluid flow between said first inlet and said first outlet and said second valve mechanism is in a second, open position permitting fluid flow between said second inlet and second outlet;
wherein fluid from said first fluid source is directed to said outlet fluid line in said first operational state, and fluid from said second fluid source is directed to said outlet fluid line in said third operational state.

6. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said at least one thermal actuator comprises an actuator housing having first and second chambers formed therein for housing respective first and second thermal materials;
a first piston operatively coupled to said first thermal material housed within said first chamber and movable between a first retracted position and second expanded position, said first piston being operatively coupled to said first valve mechanism;
a second piston operatively coupled to said second thermal material within said second chamber and movable between a first retracted position and second expanded position, said second piston being operatively coupled to said second valve mechanism.

7. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said first and second valve caps each comprise a first end for sealingly engaging within an open end of the corresponding first or second valve housing, and a second end for engaging with the corresponding thermal actuator, each valve cap having an opening extending therethrough for receiving the piston of the corresponding actuator, the piston being slidalble within the opening formed in said corresponding valve cap;
wherein said first valve mechanism and said second valve mechanism each comprise:
a sleeve member slidable within the first or second valve chamber and being sized so as to seal against the walls of the corresponding first or second valve chamber;
an intermediate shaft extending away from an end of said sleeve member and slidingly engaged within the opening extending through the corresponding valve cap, the intermediate shaft engaging with the piston of the corresponding thermal actuator for movement with the piston.

8. A valve apparatus, comprising:
a main body having a main bore formed therein;
a first valve housing secured to said main body and defining a first valve chamber;
a second valve housing secured to said main body and defining a second valve chamber;
a first inlet and a first outlet formed in said first valve housing in fluid communication with said first valve chamber;
a second inlet and a second outlet in fluid communication with said second valve chamber;
a first valve mechanism arranged within said first valve housing for controlling flow from said first inlet to said first outlet;
a second valve mechanism arranged within said second valve housing for controlling flow from said second inlet to said second outlet;
a thermal actuator positioned in said main bore of said main body and operatively coupled to said first valve mechanism and said second valve mechanism, said thermal actuator having a first activation setting for operating said first valve mechanism and a second activation setting for operating said second valve mechanism;
a control fluid inlet opening formed in said main body and extending into said main bore providing fluid access to said thermal actuator and a control fluid outlet opening formed in said main body for discharging a control fluid from said main bore;
wherein said first valve chamber is fluidly isolated from said second valve chamber.

9. The valve appar

Assignees

• Dana Canada Corp

Inventors

• Sheppard Jeff
• Gerges Ihab Edward

Classifications

• F16K31/002 Primary

  actuated by temperature variation (thermo-electric F16K31/025) · CPC title

• F16K11/22 Primary

  with an actuating member for each valve, e.g. interconnected to form multiple-way valves · CPC title

• F01P11/08 Primary

  Arrangements of lubricant coolers (in lubrication apparatus F01M) · CPC title

• F01P2060/045

  for transmissions · CPC title

• F28F27/02 Primary

  for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels ({static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026}; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12) · CPC title