Coolant control valve with thermoelectric generator
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorsBiplob Dutta, Raghunath Paralkar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coolant control valve (CCV) includes an outer housing, an actuator, a valve body, and one or more thermoelectric generators (TEGs). The outer housing includes at least one inlet and at least one outlet. The TEG is operatively connected to the actuator and can be a lone source of power to the CCV or assist a primary power source. The CCV can utilize a power management device that can receive power input from either the TEG or the primary power source. The TEG has a first surface and a second surface, either of which can be exposed to air or a cooling system fluid or coolant; the coolant can be water, ethylene glycol, a combination thereof, or any other fluid that is utilized in a system that provides temperature management for a component or system.
Claims20
A coolant control valve comprising:
- an actuator;
- a valve body actuated by the actuator;
- an outer housing having:
- at least one inlet;
- and,
- at least one outlet;
- and,
- at least one thermoelectric generator formed within a wall of the coolant control valve, the at least one thermoelectric generator having:
- a first surface in contact with a first medium;
- and,
- a second surface in contact with a second medium;
- and,
- the at least one thermoelectric generator operatively connected to the actuator.
A coolant control valve comprising:
- an actuator;
- a valve body engaged with the actuator;
- an outer housing having:
- at least one inlet;
- and,
- at least one outlet;
- and,
- at least one thermoelectric generator formed within a wall of the coolant control valve, the at least one thermoelectric generator having:
- a first surface in contact with a first medium;
- and,
- a second surface in contact with a second medium.
A coolant control valve comprising:
- an actuator integrated within the coolant control valve;
- a valve body actuated by the actuator;
- an outer housing having:
- at least one inlet;
- and,
- at least one outlet;
- and,
- at least one thermoelectric generator formed within a wall of the coolant control valve, the at least one thermoelectric generator having:
- a first surface in contact with a first medium;
- and,
- a second surface in contact with a second medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.