Multi-passage coolant valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11614173-B2
Application number	US-202117179836-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2021
Priority date	Sep 9, 2020
Publication date	Mar 28, 2023
Grant date	Mar 28, 2023

Abstract

A multi-passage coolant valve may include an outer housing including an outer body formed with a first outer inlet, a second outer inlet, a first outer outlet, and a second outer outlet, and an auxiliary body formed with a third outer outlet, and an inner housing rotatably provided in the outer housing. As the inner housing rotates by a predetermined angle, the first outer inlet and the first outer outlet are fluidly communicated with each other, the first outer inlet and the second outer outlet communicate with each other, and the second outer inlet and the third outer outlet communicate with each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multi-passage coolant valve comprising:
an outer housing having an outer body formed with a first outer inlet, a second outer inlet, a first outer outlet, and a second outer outlet, and an auxiliary body formed with a third outer outlet; and
an inner housing rotatably provided in the outer housing;
wherein, as the inner housing rotates by a predetermined angle, the first outer inlet and the first outer outlet are fluidly communicated with each other;
wherein the first outer inlet and the second outer outlet communicate with each other, and the second outer inlet and the third outer outlet communicate with each other, or
wherein the first outer inlet and the second outer outlet communicate with each other, and the second outer inlet and the first outer outlet communicate with each other, or
wherein the first outer inlet and the third outer outlet communicate with each other, the second outer inlet and the second outer outlet communicate with each other, and the second outer inlet and the first outer outlet communicate with each other;
wherein the outer body includes a central chamber for installing the inner housing;
wherein the auxiliary body forming an auxiliary chamber is formed in a lateral side of the outer body;
wherein a first auxiliary outlet and a second auxiliary outlet are formed between the central chamber and the auxiliary chamber;
wherein the first outer inlet is formed on an upper center of the outer body;
wherein the second outer inlet is eccentrically formed with the first outer inlet at a predetermined distance on the outer body;
wherein the first outer outlet is formed in a lateral side of the outer body;
wherein the second outer outlet is disposed at a predetermined angle from the first outer outlet on the lateral side of the outer body;
wherein the third outer outlet is disposed at a predetermined angle from the second outer outlet on the lateral side of the auxiliary body;
wherein the first auxiliary outlet is formed 90 degrees apart from the first outer outlet in the circumferential direction;
wherein the second auxiliary outlet is formed 90 degrees apart from the first auxiliary outlet in the circumferential direction; and
wherein the third outer outlet is formed 90 degrees apart from the second auxiliary outlet in the circumferential direction.

2. The multi-passage coolant valve of claim 1 , wherein:
the inner housing includes:
an inner body;
a separation wall dividing the inner body into a first inner chamber and a second inner chamber;
a first inner inlet formed in an upper center of the inner body and connected to the first outer inlet;
a second inner inlet to a fourth inner inlet formed on an upper surface of the inner body and selectively connected to the second outer inlet;
a first inner outlet formed in a lateral side of the inner body and connected to the first inner inlet;
a second inner outlet formed in a lateral side of the inner body and communicated with the second inner inlet through the first inner chamber;
a third inner outlet formed in a lateral side of the inner body and communicated with the third inner inlet through the second inner chamber; and
a fourth inner outlet formed in a lateral side of the inner body and communicated with the fourth inner inlet through the second inner chamber.

3. The multi-passage coolant valve of claim 2 , wherein:
the second inner inlet is eccentrically formed apart from the first inner inlet at a predetermined distance on the first inner chamber;
the third inner inlet is formed 90 degrees apart from the second inner inlet in the circumferential direction on an upper portion of the second inner chamber; and
the fourth inner inlet is formed 90 degrees apart from the third inner inlet in the circumferential direction on an upper portion of the second inner chamber.

4. The multi-passage coolant valve of claim 2 , wherein:
the first inner outlet, the second inner outlet, the third inner outlet, and the fourth inner outlet are formed 90 degrees apart from each other in the circumferential direction.

5. The multi-passage coolant valve of claim 1 , wherein:
a first inner inlet and a first inner outlet communicate with each other through an inner connection conduit formed a first inner chamber.

6. The multi-passage coolant valve of claim 1 , wherein:
the inner housing operates in a first mode to a fourth mode which rotates at 90 degree intervals inside the outer housing.

7. The multi-passage coolant valve of claim 6 , wherein:
in the first mode, the first outer inlet communicates with the first outer outlet through the first inner inlet and the second inner outlet, and the second outer inlet is blocked from the second inner inlet to the fourth inner inlet,
such that coolant flowing in the first outer inlet is discharged to the first outer outlet through the first inner inlet and the first inner outlet.

8. The multi-passage coolant valve of claim 6 , wherein:
in the second mode, the first outer inlet communicates with the second outer outlet through the first inner inlet, the first inner outlet, and the first auxiliary outlet, and
the second outer inlet communicates with the third outer outlet through the second inner inlet and the third inner outlet,
such that coolant flowing in the first outer inlet is discharged to the second outer outlet, and
the coolant flowing in the second outer inlet is discharged to the third outer outlet.

9. The multi-passage coolant valve of claim 6 , wherein:
in the third mode,
the first outer inlet communicates with the second outer outlet through the first inner inlet, the first inner outlet, and the second auxiliary outlet, and
the second outer inlet communicates with the first outer outlet through the second inner inlet and the third inner outlet,
such that coolant flowing in the first outer inlet is discharged to the second outer outlet, and
coolant flowing in the second outer inlet is discharged to the first outer outlet.

10. The multi-passage coolant valve of claim 6 , wherein:
in the fourth mode,
the first outer inlet communicates with the third outer outlet through the first inner inlet and the first inner outlet,
the second outer inlet communicates with the second outer outlet through the third inner inlet and the second auxiliary outlet,
the second outer inlet communicates with the third outer outlet through the third inner inlet and the fourth inner outlet, and
such that coolant flowing in the first outer inlet is discharged to the third outer outlet, and
coolant flowing in the second outer inlet is discharged to the first outer outlet and the second outer outlet.

11. The multi-passage coolant valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator generating power for rotating the inner housing; and
an actuator housing accommodating the actuator by coupling with a lower portion of the outer housing.

12. The multi-passage coolant valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sealing member provided in the first outer inlet, the second outer inlet, the first outer outlet, the first auxiliary outlet, the second auxiliary outlet, the third outer outlet, and an inner side of the outer housing, respectively.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Kim Yeonho

Classifications

• F16K11/085 Primary

  with cylindrical plug · CPC title

• F16K31/041

  for rotating valves (F16K31/055 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K11/072 Primary

  with pivoted closure members · CPC title

• F16K27/0263 Primary

  multiple way valves · CPC title

• F16K27/04

  of sliding valves · CPC title