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US 10,119,620 B2Granted
Thermal management valve
AssigneeFlextronics Global Services Canada Inc. Services Globaux Flextronics Canada Inc.
InventorMatthew Peterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three-port fluid control valve and a valve assembly using the fluid control valve are provided herein. The valve includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and a sealing element to selectably open one inlet to fluid communication with an outlet and to close the other inlet to fluid communication with the outlet. The valve system includes an actuator, for example a solenoid, to provide accurate and responsive control of the position of the sealing element.
Claims20
A fluid control valve, comprising:
- a first valve body including an outlet, a first inlet channel defining a first flow direction, and a first cavity formed through an upper surface of the first valve body in fluid communication with the first inlet;
- a second valve body having a bottom surface disposed on and coupled in a fluid-tight manner to the upper surface of the first valve body, the second valve body including a second inlet channel defining a second flow direction and a second cavity having a lip, the second cavity formed through the bottom surface of the second valve body and in fluid communication with the second inlet;
- and
- a valve member, including a valve stem having a distal portion, a middle portion and a proximal portion, and a sealing element disposed on the middle portion of the valve stem, the sealing element is a disk with opposite flat upper and lower sealing surfaces extending substantially parallel to the first and second flow directions, wherein
- the outlet is in selectable fluid communication with the first inlet and the second inlet,
- an opening of the first inlet channel is formed through a first outer side wall of the first valve body,
- an opening of the second inlet channel is formed through a first outer side wall of the second valve body,
- the first cavity extends a first radial distance from the valve member to a side wall of the first cavity and the second cavity extends a second radial distance from the valve member and to a side wall of the second cavity, the first radial distance being greater than the second radial distance such that a ledge is formed between the side wall of the first cavity and the side wall of the second cavity on a portion of the upper surface of the first valve body,
- the valve stem extends in a first direction between the first valve body and the second valve body, perpendicular to the first inlet channel and the second inlet channel, supported within the first valve body and the second valve body and configured to be displaced in the first direction between at least a first valve position and a second valve position, and
- the upper flat sealing surface of the sealing element presses on the lip in the first valve position and the lower flat sealing surface of the sealing element is located within the second valve body and presses on the ledge in the second valve position.
7 more elements
A fluid control valve assembly, comprising:
- a first valve body including an outlet, a first inlet channel, and a first cavity formed through an upper surface of the first valve body, the first cavity in fluid communication with the first inlet;
- a second valve body having a bottom surface disposed on and coupled in a fluid-tight manner to the upper surface of the first valve body, the second valve body including a second inlet channel and a second cavity having a lip, the second cavity formed through the bottom surface of the second valve body and in fluid communication with the second inlet;
- an actuator having a movable armature supported for linear displacement between at least a first position and a second position;
- and
- a valve member including a valve stem having a distal portion, a middle portion and a proximal portion, and a sealing element disposed on the middle portion of the valve stem having upper and lower sealing surfaces, the valve stem coupled to the armature and supported within the first valve body and second valve body and configured to be displaced in a first direction between at least a first valve position and a second valve position in response to the linear displacement of the armature, wherein
- the outlet is in selectable fluid communication with the first inlet and the second inlet,
- an opening of the first inlet channel is formed through a first outer side wall of the first valve body,
- an opening of the second inlet channel is formed through a first outer side wall of the second valve body,
- the first cavity extends a first radial distance from the valve member to a side wall of the first cavity and the second cavity extends a second radial distance from the valve member and to a side wall of the second cavity, the first radial distance being greater than the second radial distance such that a ledge is formed between the side wall of the first cavity and the side wall of the second cavity on a portion of the upper surface of the first valve body,
- the valve stem extends in the first direction between the first valve body and the second valve body, perpendicular to the first inlet channel and the second inlet channel, and
- the lower sealing surface of the sealing element is located within the second valve body and presses on the ledge in the second valve position to allow fluid communication from the second inlet channel, along the upper sealing surface of the sealing element, to the outlet.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.