Electric vehicle heat pump using enhanced valve unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12365215-B2
Application number	US-202418599921-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2024
Priority date	Mar 31, 2021
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for an enhanced heat pump are provided. An example embodiment includes a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, each connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid; and a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports correspond which correspond to the channels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus usable as part of a heat pump for an electric vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, at least one connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid, and wherein the connection ports are oriented in a same direction; and
a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports which correspond to the channels, and wherein the stemshell has a vertical separation, and wherein a subset of the channels are at a first vertical height and a remaining subset are at a second vertical height.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the particular number of connection ports is greater than or equal to 6.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the particular number of connection ports is 8.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein there are 6 channels.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein there are four vertical channels and two horizontal channels.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a controller causes rotation of the stemshell.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the controller rotates the stemshell to specific orientations which correspond to specific heat pump modes.

8. An apparatus usable as part of a heat pump for an electric vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, at least one connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid, wherein the particular number is greater than or equal to 6, and wherein the connection ports are oriented in a same direction; and
a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports which correspond to the channels.

9. An apparatus usable as part of a heat pump for an electric vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, at least one connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid; and
a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports which correspond to the channels, and wherein there are four vertical channels and two horizontal channels.

10. An apparatus usable as part of a heat pump for an electric vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, at least one connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid; and
a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports which correspond to the channels;
wherein the apparatus is configured to receive input information indicating that the electric vehicle is charging, and wherein an updated heat pump mode indicates a reversal of coolant flow as compared to a current heat pump mode.

11. An electric vehicle comprising:
a battery pack;
an electric motor; and
an octovalve, the octovalve being usable as part of a heat pump for an electric vehicle, the octovalve comprising:
a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, at least one connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid, and wherein the connection ports are oriented in a same direction; and
a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports which correspond to the channels, and wherein the stemshell has a vertical separation, and wherein a subset of the channels are at a first vertical height and a remaining subset are at a second vertical height.

12. The electric vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the connections ports are oriented in a same direction.

13. An electric vehicle comprising:
a battery pack;
an electric motor; and
an octovalve, the octovalve being usable as part of a heat pump for an electric vehicle, the octovalve comprising:
a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, at least one connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid, wherein the particular number is greater than or equal to 6, and wherein the connection ports are oriented in a same direction; and
a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports which correspond to the channels.

14. An electric vehicle comprising:
a battery pack;
an electric motor; and
an octovalve, the octovalve being usable as part of a heat pump for an electric vehicle, the octovalve comprising:
a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, at least one connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid; and
a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports which correspond to the channels, and wherein there are four vertical channels and two horizontal channels.

15. An electric vehicle comprising:
a battery pack;
an electric motor; and
an octovalve, the octovalve being usable as part of a heat pump for an electric vehicle, the octovalve comprising:
a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, at least one connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid; and
a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports which correspond to the channels;
wherein the octovalve is configured to receive input information indicating that the electric vehi

Assignees

• Tesla Inc

Inventors

• Pinto Prem
• Hanks Daniel F

Classifications

• B60H1/08

  from other radiator than main radiator · CPC title

• B60H1/00392

  for electric vehicles having only electric drive means · CPC title

• B60H1/00485 Primary

  Valves for air-conditioning devices, e.g. thermostatic valves · CPC title

• B60H1/32284

  comprising two or more secondary circuits, e.g. at evaporator and condenser side · CPC title

• B60H1/00899

  Controlling the flow of liquid in a heat pump system (controlling the properties of the refrigerant liquid, e.g. pressure or temperature, B60H1/3204) · CPC title