Combination multi-port valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11168797-B2
Application number	US-201816045151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2018
Priority date	Aug 24, 2017
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

A multi-port valve assembly, which includes a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing such that the rotor is operable for being placed in a plurality of positions, and a first channel integrally formed as part of the rotor. The multi-port valve assembly includes various ports which are all integrally formed as part of the housing. The rotor is rotated such that the multi-port valve assembly is placed in one of a plurality of configurations having two or more flow paths, providing fluid communication between the various ports. The rotor may include a first side channel, a second side channel fluidically isolated from the first side channel, and where the first side channel and the second side channel are fluidically isolated from the first channel. The rotor may also a first channel and a second channel, and the second channel is fluidically isolated from the first channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a multi-port valve assembly, including:
a housing;
a plurality of ports, each of the plurality of ports formed as part of the housing;
a rotor disposed in the housing, and the rotor rotatable about an axis, the rotor selectively in fluid communication with the plurality of ports;
a first channel integrally formed as part of the rotor, such that a portion of the first channel intersects with the axis of the rotor;
a tapered portion integrally formed as part of the first channel, the taper portion formed by substantially linear segments;
a second channel integrally formed as part of the rotor, the second channel being fluidically isolated from the first channel;
a plurality of configurations; and
a plurality of flow paths formed by the orientation of the rotor relative to the housing and the plurality of ports;

wherein the rotor is placed in one of the plurality of configurations relative to the ports and the housing, one of the plurality of configurations including rotating the rotor such that fluid flows from one of the plurality of ports, through the first channel such that fluid flows through the tapered portion and into another two of the plurality of ports.

2. A multi-port valve assembly, comprising:
a housing;
a rotor disposed in the housing, and the rotor rotatable about an axis, the rotor operable for being placed in a plurality of positions;
a first channel integrally formed as part of the rotor, such that a portion of the first channel intersects with the axis of the rotor;
a second channel rotor, the second channel being fluidically isolated from the first channel;
a first port integrally formed as part of the housing;
a second port integrally formed as part of the housing;
a third port integrally formed as part of the housing;
a fourth port integrally formed as part of the housing;
a fifth port integrally formed as part of the housing;
a first flow path, the first flow path including flow from the first port to the third port;
a second flow path, the second flow path including flow from the fourth port, through the first channel, to the fifth port;
a third flow path, the third flow path including flow from the second port to the third port;
a fourth flow path, the fourth flow path including flow from the first port to the fifth port;
a fifth flow path, the fifth flow path including flow from the fourth port, through the first channel, to the third port; and
a sixth flow path, the sixth flow path including flow from the second port to the fifth port;
a plurality of configurations;
a tapered portion integrally formed as part of the first channel, the tapered portion formed by substantially linear segment, and fluid flowing into the fourth port flows into the first channel such that fluid flows through the tapered portion and fluid is dispersed from the tapered portion to two of the first port, the second port, the third port, or the fifth port when the rotor is placed in one of the plurality of configurations;
wherein the rotor is rotated such that the multi-port valve assembly is placed in one of the plurality of configurations having two or more of the first flow path, the second flow path, the third flow path, the fourth flow path, the fifth flow path, and the sixth flow path.

3. The multi-port valve assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a seventh flow path, the seventh flow path including flow from the fifth port, through the second channel, to the second port; and
an eighth flow path, the eighth flow path including flow from the fourth port, through the first channel, to the first port;
wherein the rotor is rotated such that the multi-port valve assembly is placed in one of the plurality of configurations, and each of the plurality of configurations includes at least one of the fifth flow path, the seventh flow path, and the eighth flow path.

4. The multi-port valve assembly of claim 3 , further comprising:
a dispersion configuration which includes the fifth flow path, the seventh flow path, and the eighth flow path;
wherein the rotor is rotated to place the multi-port valve assembly in the dispersion configuration.

5. The multi-port valve assembly of claim 3 , further comprising:
a fifth configuration which includes the seventh flow path and the eighth flow path;
wherein the rotor is rotated to place the multi-port valve assembly in the fifth configuration.

6. The multi-port valve assembly of claim 3 , further comprising:
a sixth configuration which includes fifth flow path and the seventh flow path;
wherein the rotor is rotated to place the multi-port valve assembly in the fifth configuration.

Assignees

• Continental automotive systems inc
• Vitesco Technologies Usa Llc

Inventors

• Dragojlov Alexander
• Koupal Mitchell

Classifications

• F16K11/0876 Primary

  one connecting conduit having the same axis as the spindle · CPC title

• F16K31/535

  for rotating valves (F16K31/54 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K27/067

  with spherical plugs · CPC title

• F16K31/563

  for rotating or pivoting valves · CPC title

• Y10T137/86566

  Rotary plug · CPC title