Compact rotary valve body for coolant control valve

#Example aspects described herein relate to rotary valve bodies for coolant control valves used within fluid cooling systems of vehicular powertrains.

#As fuel economy gains importance in the transportation industry, efforts have increased to achieve higher internal combustion (IC) engine efficiencies and to seek alternative powertrains. Coolant control valves (CCVs) can be arranged to provide coolant flow control for temperature management of various powertrain components including IC engines, transmissions and various components of hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles.

#A portion of CCVs are electro-mechanical in design, incorporating an actuator assembly that interfaces with a mechanical rotary valve body to provide a controlled flow of coolant to a selected powertrain component or system via one or more fluid flow ports. An electric motor, controlled by the engine control unit, is often employed within an actuator assembly of the CCV to achieve a desired angular position of the rotary valve body. A transmission or gear train can be utilized between the electric motor and rotary valve body. The rotary valve body, in some instances a complex multi-lobed design, and an outer housing of the CCV are often constructed of plastic and manufactured by an injection molded process.

#The above mentioned and other features and advantages of the embodiments described herein, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and better understood by reference to the following descriptions of multiple example embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. A brief description of the drawings now follows.

#FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a coolant control valve (CCV) having a compact rotary valve body.

#FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the CCV of FIG. 1A, showing the compact rotary valve body and first, second, and third seal bodies.

#Identically labeled elements appearing in different figures refer to the same elements but may not be referenced in the description for all figures. The exemplification set out herein illustrates at least one embodiment, in at least one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any manner. Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “inner,” “outer,” “inwardly,” and “outwardly” refer to directions towards and away from the parts referenced in the drawings. Axially refers to directions along a diametric central axis. Radially refers to directions that are perpendicular to the central axis. The words “left”, “right”, “up”, “upward”, “down”, and “downward” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The terminology includes the words specifically noted above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

#FIG. 7 shows a prior art rotary valve body 140 that has a rotational axis 141, a first lobe 142 with a first fluid opening 144A, and a second lobe 143 with a second 144B and a third 144C fluid opening. The first fluid opening 144A has a width X1 larger than a width X2 of the second fluid opening due to differences in design flow rates. The rotary valve body 140 facilitates metered fluid flow through the three fluid openings 144A-C with the two axially adjacent lobes 142, 143. The two axially adjacent lobes 142, 143 lengthen the rotary valve body 140, which, not only increases coolant control valve (CCV) packaging, but also increases design complexity and associated injection mold tooling costs of the rotary valve body 140 and outer housing (not shown) that surrounds the rotary valve body 140.

#FIGS. 1A and 1B show perspective and exploded perspective views, respectively, of a CCV 10 having an example embodiment of a compact rotary valve body 40; FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the CCV of FIG. 1A. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the rotary valve body 40. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a first seal body 60, a second seal body 70, and a third seal body 80. FIGS. 5A through 5C shows the rotary valve body 40 in three different rotational positions with respect to the first seal body 60, second seal body 70, and third seal body 80, and respective optional first resilient element 64, second resilient element 74, and third resilient element 84. The following description should be read in light of FIGS. 1A through 5C. The CCV 10 includes an actuator assembly 30, an outer housing 20, the rotary valve body 40, the first seal body 60, the second seal body 70, the third seal body 80 and respective optional resilient elements 64, 74, 84. The outer housing 20 includes a first inlet 22, a second inlet 24, and an outlet 26. The term “inlet” represents any form of a fluid entrance to the outer housing 20, and the term “outlet” represents any form of a fluid exit from the outer housing 20. Different forms, configurations and number of inlets and outlets on the outer housing 20 are possible. For example, a single inlet and multiple outlets could be arranged on the outer housing 20 of the CCV 10. Furthermore, the inlets and outlets could be formed as ports or tubular-type protrusions in order to facilitate incoming or outgoing fluid flow. The first seal body 60 is arranged in the first inlet 22, the second seal body 70 is arranged in the outlet 26, and the third seal body 80 is arranged in the second inlet 24. The actuator assembly 30 includes an actuator housing 34 and an actuator 32. As shown, the actuator 32 can be in the form of an electric motor, however, many different types of actuators are possible. Additionally, the actuator housing 34 could be eliminated by integrating a space within the outer housing 20 of the CCV 10 to package the actuator 32.