Four-way hydraulic valve flow control body
AssigneeNIO USA, Inc.
InventorMing Fung Wong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve comprising a rotor, the rotor comprising two passageways and two or more sealing faces. The valve allowing for controlling air flow between four directions. The valve can be capable of operating in a number of operation modes depending on a position of the rotor. The valve design can include a valve-housing with three ports in plane with a first plane and one port normal to the first plane. A rotary valve provides a plurality of predetermined flow modes between four ports. The valve comprises an outer layer and a rotatable inner layer. The inner layer allows for a number of different flow configurations between four ports.
Claims20
A valve comprising:
- a housing, the housing having a cavity and comprising first, second, third, and fourth flow ports in fluid communication with the cavity, wherein the first flow port is at a location extending vertically from a center of the housing and wherein the second, third, and fourth flow ports are at radially spaced apart locations extending horizontally from the center of the housing;
- and
- a rotatable rotor positioned within the cavity about a rotation axis, the rotor comprising:
- a first fluid passageway extending from a first opening, the first opening at a position extending from a center of the rotor to a second opening at a first outer radial position of the surface of the rotor;
- a second fluid passageway extending through the rotor between third and fourth openings at second and third outer radial positions of the surface of the rotor;
- a first sealing face;
- and
- a second sealing face,
- wherein in a first position:
- the first sealing face blocks flow to and from one of the second, third, and fourth flow ports, wherein no flow is possible to and from the first flow port;
- and
- the second passageway allows for flow between the other two of the second, third, and fourth flow ports.
A system, comprising:
- a processor;
- a servomotor;
- and
- a valve comprising:
- a housing, the housing comprising a cavity and first, second, third, and fourth flow ports, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth flow ports are in fluid communication with the cavity, wherein the first flow port is at a location extending vertically from a center of the housing, and wherein the second, third, and fourth flow ports are at radially spaced apart locations extending horizontally from the center of the housing;
- and
- a rotor positioned within the cavity, the rotor being rotatable about a rotation axis and comprising:
- a first fluid passageway extending from a first opening, the first opening at a position extending from a center of the rotor to a second opening at a first outer radial position of the surface of the rotor;
- a second fluid passageway extending through the rotor between third and fourth openings at second and third outer radial positions of the surface of the rotor;
- a first sealing face;
- and
- a second sealing face,
- wherein in a first position:
- the first sealing face blocks flow to and from one of the second, third, and fourth flow ports, wherein no flow is possible to and from the first flow port;
- and
- the second passageway allows for flow between the other two of the second, third, and fourth flow ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.