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US 10,920,654 B2Granted
Connector
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsChris Leck, Duncan Scholtes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector for an engine cooling system is provided. The connector may be located in a chamber with two inlets and an outlet. The connector may include a thermostatic valve. A temperature sensitive element may move the thermostatic valve between an open and closed position. A pressure relief valve may also be incorporated into the thermostatic valve. An engine cooling system comprising the connector is also provided.
Claims17
A connector for an engine cooling system, the connector comprising:
- a first inlet;
- a second inlet;
- an outlet;
- a chamber in fluidic communication with the first inlet, second inlet and the outlet;
- a thermostatic valve provided within the chamber, the thermostatic valve configured to selectively restrict flow from the first inlet to the outlet, wherein the thermostatic valve is arranged such that fluid from the second inlet passes through the chamber to the outlet and is in thermal communication with the thermostatic valve, such that the thermostatic valve opens or closes in response to a temperature of the fluid from the second inlet;
- and a pressure relief valve provided within the chamber and within a flow path from the first inlet to the outlet, the pressure relief valve opening in response to a pressure of fluid at the first inlet to bypass the thermostatic valve, wherein the pressure relief valve is integrated into the thermostatic valve, wherein the first inlet receives coolant flow from a duct downstream of an engine thermostat, the second inlet receives coolant from a duct downstream of an ancillary engine component, and the outlet outputs coolant flow to a bypass passage which bypasses a radiator.
3 more elements
An engine cooling system including a connector, the connector comprising:
- a first inlet;
- a second inlet positioned to flow coolant to an outlet side of a thermostatic valve;
- an outlet;
- a chamber in fluidic communication with the first inlet, the second inlets and the outlet;
- the thermostatic valve positioned between the first inlet and the chamber, the thermostatic valve movable between an open position and closed position in response to a temperature of fluid from the second inlet, the closed position of thermostatic valve restricting flow from the first inlet to the chamber outlet;
- a pressure relief valve integrated into the thermostatic valve, the pressure relief valve positioned to allow bypass flow from the first inlet past the thermostatic valve to the outlet, the pressure relief valve blocking the bypass flow in a closed position;
- wherein the first inlet is downstream from an engine thermostat, the second inlet is downstream from an ancillary vehicle component, and the outlet is upstream of a bypass passage which bypasses a radiator.
4 more elements
A vehicle including a connector within an engine cooling system, the connector comprising:
- a first inlet;
- a second inlet positioned to flow coolant downstream of a thermostatic valve;
- an outlet;
- a chamber connected to the first inlet, the second inlet, and the outlet;
- the thermostatic valve positioned between the first inlet and the chamber and movable between an open position and closed position in response to a temperature of a fluid, the thermostatic valve positioned to block fluid flow from the first inlet to the outlet in a closed position;
- a pressure relief valve integrated into the thermostatic valve, the pressure relief valve positioned to block fluid flow through a bypass channel from the first inlet to the outlet in a closed position and the bypass channel extending through or around the thermostatic valve, wherein the thermostatic valve includes a temperature sensitive element positioned downstream of a thermostatic valve element extending across the first inlet, and wherein fluid flow from the second inlet contacts the temperature sensitive element.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.