# US 10,866,037 B2 · Process valve manifold and heat exchanger system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,866,037 B2 - Document ID: US10866037B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/012,451 - Filed: 2016-02-01 - Published: 2016-08-18 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-05 - Assignees: Buerkert Werke GmbH - Applicants: Buerkert Werke GmbH - Inventors: Hartmuth Lotha - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10866037B2 ## CPC - F28F 13/06: by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media {(F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026)} - B60H 1/00485: {Valves for air-conditioning devices, e.g. thermostatic valves} - B60H 1/00878: {the components being temperature regulating devices} - F01P 7/161: {by bypassing pumps} - F16K 27/003: {Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements} - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - F01P: COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with cooling of propulsion units in vehicles B60K11/00; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00; {cooling of gas-turbine engines F02C7/12}; heat exchange in general, radiators F28) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A process valve manifold comprises an inlet for a heat transfer medium, a main outlet for the heat transfer medium, a main duct extending between the inlet and the main outlet, ports for secondary circuits, a 3/2-way valve which is arranged in the main duct, and a bypass outlet. The 3/2-way valve is switchable between different positions. The positions determine a flow cross-section by which the bypass outlet and the main outlet are in communication with the main duct. The manifold further comprises control valves for determining a flow cross-section between the main duct and the ports for the secondary circuits. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process valve manifold comprising an inlet for a heat transfer medium, a main outlet for said heat transfer medium, a main duct extending between said inlet and said main outlet, ports for secondary circuits, a 3/2-way valve which is arranged in said main duct, a bypass outlet, said 3/2-way valve having 3 ports and being switchable between different positions, said positions determining a flow cross-section by which said bypass outlet and said main outlet are in communication with said main duct, said positions being continuously variable between a state in which all of the heat transfer medium leaves the process valve manifold through the main outlet and a state in which all of the heat transfer medium leaves the process valve manifold through the bypass outlet, and comprising control valves for determining a flow cross-section between said main duct and said ports for secondary circuits, wherein the main outlet of the process valve manifold is connectable to a fluid communication extending from the main outlet to the inlet and running through a cooling duct of a prime mover, and wherein the bypass outlet is connectable to a bypass flow pipe extending from the bypass outlet to the fluid communication, which bypass flow pipe opens into the fluid communication downstream of the prime mover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process valve manifold of claim 1 wherein branches are being provided for connecting said main duct to said secondary circuits, said branches being arranged between said inlet and said 3/2-way valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process valve manifold of claim 1 wherein at least one throttle is arranged in said main duct. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process valve manifold of claim 1 wherein a plurality of partial modules is being provided, said partial modules being adapted for being mounted separately from each other, said partial modules in combination forming said process valve manifold. ### Claim 5 A heat exchanger system comprising a process valve manifold with an inlet for a heat transfer medium, a main outlet for said heat transfer medium, a main duct extending between said inlet and said main outlet, ports for secondary circuits, and a 3/2-way valve which is arranged in said main duct, and a bypass outlet, said 3/2-way valve having 3 ports and being switchable between different positions, said positions determining a flow cross-section by which said bypass outlet and said main outlet are in communication with said main duct, and comprising control valves for determining a flow cross-section between said main duct and said ports for secondary circuits, wherein a fluid communication exists between said main outlet and said inlet of the process valve manifold, said fluid communication running through a cooling duct of a prime mover, and a bypass flow pipe extends from the bypass outlet to a point along the fluid communication downstream of the prime mover at which point the bypass outlet opens into the fluid communication. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger system of claim 5 wherein said fluid communication runs through an auxiliary heater. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger system of claim 5 wherein said fluid communication runs through a cooler. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger system of claim 5 wherein a pump is arranged in said fluid communication. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger system of claim 5 wherein at least one heat consumer is connected to said process valve manifold by means of a secondary circuit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The heat exchanger system of claim 9 wherein said secondary circuit is connected to said process valve manifold by means of two ports. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The heat exchanger system of claim 10 wherein when said heat transfer medium flows through said main duct a pressure gradient prevails between said ports so that a circulation develops in said secondary circuit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The heat exchanger system of claim 10 wherein a pump is arranged in said secondary circuit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The heat exchanger system of claim 10 wherein said secondary circuit is routed to said heat consumer and back to said process valve manifold such that a circulation develops by natural convection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The heat exchanger system of claim 10 wherein said secondary circuit is controllable by means of at least one of said control valves integrated in said process valve manifold.