# US 11,028,936 B2 · Thermostatic valve for an internal combustion engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,936 B2 - Document ID: US11028936B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/464,520 - Filed: 2017-12-07 - Published: 2019-10-10 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-12 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Torsten Hauk; Carsten Heldberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028936B2 ## CPC - F16K 31/025: {actuated by thermo-electric means} - F01P 7/167: {by adjusting the pre-set temperature according to engine parameters, e.g. engine load, engine speed} - F01P 2025/08: Temperature - F01P 2070/04: using electrical heating elements - F16K 1/12: with streamlined valve member around which the fluid flows when the valve is opened - 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)} - 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) ## Abstract A thermostatic valve for an internal combustion engine, including a housing with a plurality of coolant connections for connection to a coolant circuit of the internal combustion engine, a valve element which is mounted movably in the housing such that a movement of the valve element, at least two coolant connections of the housing are either connectable to one another or separable from one another, an expansion element which is arranged in order, during the operation of the internal combustion engine, to enter into thermal contact with coolant circulating in the coolant circuit, wherein, in the event of a heat-induced expansion, the expansion element moves the valve element in the housing in order to connect the at least two coolant connections, wherein a controllable heating device is provided such that the expansion element can be heated in order to move the valve element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermostatic valve for an internal combustion engine, comprising a housing (10) with a plurality of coolant connections (12, 14) for connection to a coolant circuit of the internal combustion engine, furthermore comprising a valve element (16) which is mounted movably in the housing (10), wherein, by means of a movement of the valve element (16), at least two coolant connections (12, 14) of the housing (10) are either connectable to one another or separable from one another, furthermore comprising an expansion element (24) which is arranged in order, during the operation of the internal combustion engine, to enter into thermal contact with coolant circulating in the coolant circuit, wherein, in the event of a heat-induced expansion, the expansion element (24) moves the valve element (16) in the housing (10) in order to connect the at least two coolant connections (12, 14), wherein a controllable heating device (32, 34) is provided by means of which the expansion element (24) can be heated in order to move the valve element (16), wherein the valve element (16) is movable in the housing (10) between a closed position separating the connection between the at least two coolant connections (12, 14) and a completely open position, wherein, as the valve element (16) moves over a first adjustment path from the closed position to an intermediate position that is between the closed position and the completely open position, the valve element (16) opens up and maintains a constant flow cross section between the at least two coolant connections (12, 14), wherein, as the valve element (16) moves from the intermediate position to the completely open position, the valve element (16) further opens up a flow cross section between the at least two coolant connections (12, 14), said flow cross section increasing until the valve element (16) is in the completely open position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermostatic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating device (32, 34) is an electric heating device (32, 34). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermostatic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve element (16) is a valve element (16) which is axially displaceable in the housing (10). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermostatic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve element (16) is a valve element which is mounted rotatably in the housing (10) and has a spherical or spherical-segment-shaped lateral surface and a plurality of openings which are formed in the lateral surface and, by rotation of the valve element, are connectable to one or more of the coolant connections of the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermostatic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein a control device for activating the heating device (32, 34) is furthermore provided. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The thermostatic valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control device is designed to activate the heating device (32, 34) in such a manner that the expansion element (24) moves the valve element (16) into the complete open position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The thermostatic valve as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one position sensor is provided for detecting the valve element position, wherein measured values of the at least one position sensor are applied to the control device, and wherein the control device activates the heating device (32, 34) on the basis of the measured values of the at least one position sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The thermostatic valve as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one temperature sensor is provided for detecting the temperature of the expansion element, wherein measured values of the at least one temperature sensor are applied to the control device, and wherein the control device activates the heating device on the basis of the measured values of the at least one temperature sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An internal combustion engine comprising a thermostatic valve as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 10 A thermostatic valve for an internal combustion engine, comprising a housing (10) with a plurality of coolant connections (12, 14) for connection to a coolant circuit of the internal combustion engine, furthermore comprising a valve element (16) which is mounted movably in the housing (10), wherein, by means of a movement of the valve element (16), at least two coolant connections (12, 14) of the housing (10) are either connectable to one another or separable from one another, furthermore comprising an expansion element (24) which is arranged in order, during the operation of the internal combustion engine, to enter into thermal contact with coolant circulating in the coolant circuit, wherein, in the event of a heat-induced expansion, the expansion element (24) moves the valve element (16) in the housing (10) in order to connect the at least two coolant connections (12, 14), wherein a controllable heating device (32, 34) is provided by means of which the expansion element (24) can be heated in order to move the valve element (16), wherein the valve element (16), over a first adjustment path in the housing (10) starting from its closed position separating the connection between the at least two coolant connections (12, 14), opens up a constant flow cross section between the at least two coolant connections (12, 14), and in that, during a movement, which takes place beyond the first adjustment path, in the housing (10), the valve element (16) opens up a flow cross section between the at least two coolant connections (12, 14), said flow cross section increasing until the valve element (16) is completely open; wherein the valve element (16) is axially displaceable in the housing (10), wherein the valve element (16) has a cylindrical lateral surface (36), and wherein the housing (10) has a cylindrical inner surface (38), wherein the cylindrical lateral surface (36) of the valve element (16) is located opposite the cylindrical inner surface (38) of the housing (10) and at a constant distance from the cylindrical inner surface (38) of the housing (10) at least over the first adjustment path. ### Claim 11 A thermostatic valve for an internal combustion engine, comprising a housing (10) with a plurality of coolant connections (12, 14) for connection to a coolant circuit of the internal combustion engine, furthermore comprising a valve element (16) which is mounted movably in the housing (10), wherein, by means of a movement of the valve element (16), at least two coolant connections (12, 14) of the housing (10) are either connectable to one another or separable from one another, furthermore comprising an expansion element (24) which is arranged in order, during the operation of the internal combustion engine, to enter into thermal contact with coolant circulating in the coolant circuit, wherein, in the event of a heat-induced expansion, the expansion element (24) moves the valve element (16) in the housing (10) in order to connect the at least two coolant connections (12, 14), wherein a controllable heating device (32, 34) is provided by means of which the expansion element (24) can be heated in order to move the valve element (16), wherein the valve element (16), over a first adjustment path in the housing (10) starting from its closed position separating the connection between the at least two coolant connections (12, 14), opens up a constant flow cross section between the at least two coolant connections (12, 14), and in that, during a movement, which takes place beyond the first adjustment path, in the housing (10), the valve element (16) opens up a flow cross section between the at least two coolant connections (12, 14), said flow cross section increasing until the valve element (16) is completely open; wherein a control device for activating the heating device (32, 34) is provided, wherein the control device is designed to activate the heating device (32, 34) in such a manner that the expansion element (24) holds the valve element (16) within the first adjustment path for a certain period of time.