Multi-way valve

A multi-way valve comprising

• a valve housing coupled to a manifold of thermal fluid circuits, the valve housing including a valve housing body and a housing cover coupled to the valve housing body, the valve housing body shaped to define a valve cavity and a plurality of apertures that open into the valve cavity, and the housing cover coupled to the valve housing to close a top opening to the valve cavity, and
• a valve flow controller including a valve rotor arranged in the valve cavity of the valve housing body and configured to rotate relative to the valve housing body about a valve axis and an actuator coupled to the valve rotor to drive rotation of the valve rotor about the valve axis, wherein the valve rotor cooperates with the valve housing to define a plurality of flow paths when the valve rotor is rotated about the valve axis to a plurality of different predetermined positions to control a flow of fluid through the valve housing, and
• a sealing system configured to seal between the valve rotor and the valve housing in the valve cavity, the sealing system including a seal coupled to the valve rotor for rotation therewith and arranged axially between the valve flow rotor and a bottom surface of the valve housing and a biasing assembly configured to selectively apply an axial force on the valve rotor to urge the valve rotor toward the plurality of apertures formed in the valve housing body when the valve rotor is in one of the plurality of different predetermined positions to increase sealing between the valve rotor and the valve housing,
• wherein the seal of the sealing system includes an outer ring that extends circumferentially about the valve axis at an outer edge of the valve housing body and a dividing member that extends between opposite sides of the outer ring.

A multi-way valve comprising

• a valve housing that extends axially along a valve axis, the valve housing formed to include a valve cavity and a plurality of apertures that open into the valve cavity,
• a valve flow controller including a valve rotor arranged in the valve cavity of the valve housing and configured to rotate relative to the valve housing about a valve axis and an actuator coupled to the valve rotor to drive rotation of the valve rotor about the valve axis, wherein the valve rotor cooperates with the valve housing to define a plurality of flow paths when the valve rotor is rotated about the valve axis to a plurality of different predetermined positions to control a flow of fluid through the valve housing, and
• a sealing system configured to seal between the valve rotor and the valve housing in the valve cavity, the sealing system including a seal coupled to the valve rotor for rotation therewith and arranged axially between the valve flow rotor and a bottom surface of the valve housing and biasing means for applying an axial force on the valve rotor to urge the seal into engagement with the bottom surface of the valve housing when the valve rotor is in one of the plurality of different predetermined positions to improve sealing between the valve rotor and the valve housing and for removing at least some of the axial force on the valve rotor to reduce friction between the seal and the valve housing when the valve rotor is rotated about the valve axis from one position to another position included in the plurality of different predetermined positions,
• wherein the valve housing includes a valve housing body and a housing cover coupled to the valve housing body, the valve housing body shaped to define the valve cavity and the plurality of apertures that open into the valve cavity, and the housing cover coupled to the valve housing to close a top opening to the valve cavity, and
• wherein the plurality of apertures formed in the valve housing body include a center aperture that extends axially through the valve housing body at the valve axis and four outer apertures that are spaced apart circumferentially about the valve axis around the center aperture.