Valve configured for regulating the flow of fluid between a device and a cooler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10082215-B2
Application number	US-201615253160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2016
Priority date	Aug 31, 2016
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

A fluid circuit includes a device, a cooler, and a valve. The valve includes a housing, a sealing member, a biasing device, and an actuator. The sealing member moves inside the housing between a first position and a second position. The actuator includes a smart material that is activated when the temperature of a fluid inside the housing exhibiting at least a first temperature, causing the sealing member to move to the second position. The smart material is deactivated when the fluid is a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature, causing the sealing member to move to the first position. The fluid flows from the housing to the device and then to the housing when the sealing member is in the first position. The fluid flows from the housing to the cooler and then to the device when the sealing member is in the second position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valve configured for directing the flow of fluid received from a device to one of the device and a cooler within a fluid circuit, the valve comprising:
a housing defining a cavity extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, wherein the cavity is configured for receiving and expelling the fluid;
wherein the housing includes a first reaction surface and a second reaction surface, wherein the second reaction surface is disposed in spaced and facing relationship to the first reaction surface along the longitudinal axis;
a sealing member disposed in the cavity and movable therein along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position, wherein the sealing member includes a barrel extending along the longitudinal axis between a first face and a second face;
wherein the sealing member further includes a flange that radially surrounds the longitudinal axis and presents a second side, opposite the first face, such that the second side is disposed in facing relationship to the second reaction surface;
wherein the flange defines at least one vent hole extending between the first face and the second face;
a biasing device operatively disposed in the cavity to continuously react between the sealing member and the first reaction surface of the housing to apply a first force to the sealing member, in a first longitudinal direction; and
an actuator radially surrounding the barrel such that the actuator is operatively disposed in the cavity to react between the second side of the flange of the sealing member and the second reaction surface of the housing to apply a second force to the sealing member, in a second longitudinal direction, opposite the first longitudinal direction;
wherein the actuator is configured to be in continuous fluid contact with the fluid and the actuator includes a smart material configured to be activated in response to the temperature of the fluid in the cavity having at least a first temperature such that activation of the smart material activates the actuator;
wherein the smart material is configured to be deactivated in response to a temperature of the fluid in the cavity being a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature such that the smart material deactivates the actuator;
wherein the first force is greater than the second force when the actuator is deactivated, such that the sealing member moves in the first longitudinal direction from the second position to the first position;
wherein the second force is greater than the first force when the actuator is activated, such that the sealing member moves in the second longitudinal direction from the first position to the second position;
wherein the fluid is only permitted to flow between the cavity, the cooler, and the device when the sealing member is in the second position; and
wherein the fluid is only permitted to flow from the cavity to the device and from the device to the cavity when the sealing member is in the first position.

2. The valve, as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a guide pin longitudinally extending in fixed relationship from the second end of the housing;
wherein the second face of the sealing member defines a relief and a portion of the guide pin operatively extends into the relief, such that the guide pin the portion of the guide pin remains within the relief as the sealing member moves between the first position and the second position.

3. A valve configured for directing the flow of fluid received from a device to one of the device and a cooler within a fluid circuit, the valve comprising:
a housing defining a cavity extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, wherein the cavity is configured for receiving and expelling the fluid;
wherein the housing defines an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
wherein the housing includes a first reaction surface and a second reaction surface, wherein the second reaction surface is disposed in spaced and facing relationship to the first reaction surface along the longitudinal axis;
a sealing member disposed in the cavity and movable therein along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position, wherein the sealing member includes a barrel extending along the longitudinal axis between a first face and a second face;
wherein the inlet is configured to provide fluid communication from the device to the cavity when the sealing member is in each of the first position and the second position;
wherein the first outlet is configured to provide fluid communication from the cavity to the device when the sealing member is in the first position;
wherein the second outlet is configured to provide fluid communication from the cavity to the cooler when the sealing member is in the second position;
wherein the device is configured to receive fluid from the cooler when the sealing member is in the second position;
wherein the sealing member further includes a flange that radially surrounds the longitudinal axis and presents a second side, opposite the first face, such that the second side is disposed in facing relationship to the second reaction surface;
wherein the first face of the sealing member is radially surrounded by a first seating face that is beveled;
wherein the first seating face is configured to not be in sealing contact relationship with the housing when the sealing member is in the first position, such that fluid flows out of the cavity through the first outlet; and
wherein the first seating face is configured to be in sealing contact relationship with the housing when the sealing member is in the second position, such that fluid is prevented from flowing from the cavity through the first outlet;
a biasing device operatively disposed in the cavity to continuously react between the sealing member and the first reaction surface of the housing to apply a first force to the sealing member, in a first longitudinal direction; and
an actuator radially surrounding the barrel such that the actuator is operatively disposed in the cavity to react between the second side of the flange of the sealing member and the second reaction surface of the housing to apply a second force to the sealing member, in a second longitudinal direction, opposite the first longitudinal direction;
wherein the actuator is configured to be in continuous fluid contact with the fluid and the actuator includes a smart material configured to be activated in response to the temperature of the fluid in the cavity having at least a first temperature such that activation of the smart material activates the actuator;
wherein the smart material is configured to be deactivated in response to a temperature of the fluid in the cavity being a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature such that the smart material deactivates the actuator;
wherein the first force is greater than the second force when the actuator is deactivated, such that the sealing member moves in the first longitudinal direction from the second position to the first position;
wherein the second force is greater than the first force when the actuator is activated, such that the sealing member moves in the second longitudinal direction from the first position to the second position;
wherein the fluid is only permitted to flow between the cavity, the cooler, and the device when the sealing member is in the second position; and
wherein the fluid is only permitted to flow from the cavity to the device and from the device to the cavity when the sealing member is in the first position.

4. The valve, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the housing includes a first sealing surface disposed in facing relationship to the second end of the housing;
wherein the first sealing surface defines the fi

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc
• Dynalloy Inc

Inventors

• Gao Xiujie
• Johnson Nancy L
• Olson Bret M
• Neelakantan Vijay A
• Ownby Tyler P
• Brown James H

Classifications

• F03G7/065

  using a shape memory element · CPC title

• F16K1/12

  with streamlined valve member around which the fluid flows when the valve is opened · CPC title

• F16K31/002 Primary

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

• Y10T137/7737

  Thermal responsive · CPC title

• F03G7/06145

  Springs · CPC title