Device for controlling the flow of a coolant, and circuit including such a device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9897366-B2
Application number	US-201214240575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2012
Priority date	Aug 25, 2011
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to a device ( 1 ) for controlling the flow of a coolant in a circuit ( 20 ) and capable of being exposed to a flow ( 26 ) of outside air at the front surface of a vehicle ( 21 ), including a means for controlling the flow of coolant, at least one opening of which is placed under the control of a thermostatic detection means, characterized in that the thermostatic detection means includes a thermally conductive surface ( 9 ) exposed to said flow ( 26 ) of outside air. The invention also relates to the coolant circuit ( 20 ) including said control device ( 1 ), and to a vehicle ( 21 ) provided with such a circuit. The invention can be used for motor vehicles.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for controlling a circulation of a coolant in a circuit and capable of being exposed to a flow of outside air on the front face of a vehicle, the device comprising; a means for controlling the circulation of the coolant with at least one opening placed under a control of a thermostatic detection means, in which the thermostatic detection means comprises a thermoconductive surface exposed to the flow of outside air, the device further comprising a body from which the thermoconductive surface emerges, and wherein the body comprising at least one first inlet connected to a first outlet via a first duct, the circulation of the coolant in the first duct being placed under the control of the means for controlling, and a second inlet connected to a second outlet via a second duct, the at least one first inlet and the second outlet being connected by a means for bypassing the means for controlling the circulation of the coolant and wherein the thermostatic detection means is a chamber containing the coolant which thermally responsive to the temperature of the flow of outside air through the thermoconductive surface.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , in which the thermostatic detection means is delimited on one side by the thermoconductive surface and on the other side by a deformable membrane.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , in which the thermoconductive surface is produced in a material with a thermal conductivity at least equal to 30 W·m −1 ·K −1 .

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , in which the means for controlling the circulation of the coolant comprises a seat which receives a stop plug linked to the thermostatic detection means by a rod.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , in which the means for bypassing the means for controlling the circulation of the coolant comprises a bypass duct and a head loss device.

6. The device as claimed in claim 2 , in which the thermoconductive surface is produced in a material with a thermal conductivity at least equal to 30 W·m −1 ·K −1 .

7. The device as claimed in claim 3 , in which the means for controlling the circulation of coolant comprises a seat which receives a stop plug linked to the thermostatic detection means by a rod.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first duct, the second duct, and the means for bypassing each having a separate flow path.

9. A coolant circuit comprising a compressor, a first exchanger arranged to produce heat exchange between the coolant and a heat transfer liquid, an expansion means and an evaporator intended to cool a flow of inside air which passes through the evaporator by heat exchange with the coolant, wherein the coolant circuit comprises a second exchanger arranged to produce a heat exchange between a flow of outside air on the front face of a vehicle and the coolant and the device for controlling the circulation of the coolant as claimed in claim 1 .

10. A vehicle comprising the coolant circuit as claimed in claim 9 and a front face capable of being passed through by a flow of air outside the vehicle, said front face comprising the second exchanger, the device for controlling the circulation of the coolant being arranged on the front face so that the thermoconductive surface is exposed to the flow of outside air.

11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 , comprising an engine compartment in which is installed at least one power train of the vehicle, characterized in that the vehicle comprises a means for thermally insulating the thermoconductive surface with respect to the engine compartment.

Assignees

• Yahia Mohamed
• Valeo Systemes Thermiques

Inventors

• Yahia Mohamed

Classifications

• B60H1/00885

  Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps (B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485) · CPC title

• F25D17/02 Primary

  for circulating liquids, e.g. brine · CPC title

• B60H1/00485 Primary

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

• G05D23/023

  the sensing element being placed outside a regulating fluid flow · CPC title

• F25B49/02

  for compression type machines, plants or systems · CPC title