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US 12,180,868 B1Granted
Adjustable valve assembly and strategy for controlling a fluid system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsPhani Chandar Reddy Konatham, Ye Tian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid system includes a housing having a valve bore, a fluid supply conduit, and a valve positioned in the valve bore and defining a valve axis. The valve has a first outer sealing surface, a second outer sealing surface, and an inner surface forming a fluid passage extending between a fluid inlet fluidly connected to the fluid supply conduit, and at least one fluid outlet spaced axially from the first outer sealing surface and the second outer sealing surface. A thermoactuator is coupled to the valve and exposed to a flow of fluid from the fluid supply conduit. The working fluid in the fluid system may include engine oil.
Claims17
A valve assembly comprising:
- a valve body defining a valve axis extending between a first axial valve body end and a second axial valve body end, the valve body having formed therein a fluid inlet in the first axial valve body end, and a fluid outlet located axially between the first axial valve body end and the second axial valve body end;
- the valve body further including a first outer sealing surface, a second outer sealing surface, and an inner surface forming a fluid passage extending between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
- the first axial valve body end including a terminal axial end, the inner surface extending to the terminal axial end and the fluid passage opening in the terminal axial end;
- and
- a thermoactuator coupled to one of the first axial valve body end or the second axial valve body end;
- wherein the thermoactuator is coupled to the first axial valve body end, and further comprising a biasing spring coupled to the second axial valve body end;
- and
- wherein the valve assembly further includes at least a portion of an engine housing, and the valve body is within the at least a portion of an engine housing so as to convey engine oil between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.
5 more elements
A fluid system comprising:
- a housing having a valve bore, a first fluid feed conduit, and a second fluid feed conduit formed therein;
- a fluid supply pan attached to the housing;
- a pump supported on the housing outside of the fluid supply pan;
- a suction conduit formed in the housing and fluidly connecting between the fluid supply pan and the pump;
- a fluid supply conduit formed in the housing and fluidly connecting between the pump and the valve bore;
- a valve positioned in the valve bore and defining a valve axis, the valve including a first outer sealing surface, a second outer sealing surface, and forming a fluid passage extending between a fluid inlet fluidly connected to the fluid supply conduit, and at least one fluid outlet;
- the valve is movable between a first service location in the valve bore where the fluid passage fluidly connects the fluid supply conduit to at least one of the first fluid feed conduit and the second fluid feed conduit in a first fluid connection pattern, and a second service location in the valve bore where the fluid passage fluidly connects the fluid supply conduit to at least one of the first fluid feed conduit and the second fluid feed conduit in a second fluid connection pattern;
- and
- a thermoactuator coupled to the valve and exposed to a flow of engine oil from the fluid supply conduit;
- wherein the housing includes an engine housing;
- and
- wherein the thermoactuator includes a linear wax actuator having a piston movable relative to the actuator body to move the valve between the first service location and the second service location.
9 more elements
A method of operating an engine system comprising:
- feeding engine oil from a fluid supply conduit into a passage in a valve positioned at a first service location in a valve bore in an engine housing attached to an oil pan, the valve defining a valve axis extending between a first axial end including a terminal axial end and a second axial end, a fluid outlet located axially between the first axial end and the second axial end, a first outer sealing surface, a second outer sealing surface, and an inner surface forming the passage, and extending to the terminal axial end;
- feeding the engine oil from the passage into a first feed conduit fluidly connected to the passage at the first service location;
- exchanging heat between the engine oil and a thermoactuator coupled to the first axial end of the valve;
- operating the thermoactuator based on the exchanging heat to adjust the valve to a second service location in the valve bore, in opposition to a biasing force of a biasing spring coupled to the second axial end;
- and
- feeding the engine oil from the passage into a second feed conduit fluidly connected to the passage at the second service location.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.