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US 2004/0103947 A1Published application
Automotive coolant control valve
AssigneeRanco Incorporated of Delaware
InventorsAllan McLane, William D. Kramer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coolant flow valve for controlling the distribution and flow of coolant to replace the radiator thermostat and heater valve currently used in automotive applications. The valve includes a valve rotor rotationally received in a valve housing wherein the rotational orientation thereof determines which combination of flow paths through four different outlet ports is selected.
Claims57
A valve for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- a valve housing having at least one inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports;
- and
- a valve rotor, rotatably disposed within the valve housing, wherein the valve rotor includes a plurality of internal fluid passages within the valve rotor to selectively connect, in fluid relationship, the at least one inlet port with at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports.
A valve for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- a valve housing having at least one inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports;
- a valve rotor, rotatably disposed within the valve housing, wherein the valve rotor can provide a plurality of internal fluid passages within the valve rotor to selectively connect, in fluid relationship, the at least one inlet port with at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports;
- a biasing mechanism to position the valve rotor in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the valve housing;
- and
- a drive mechanism operatively attached to the valve rotor, wherein the drive mechanism includes a motor.
2 more elements
A valve for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- a valve housing having a bottom portion, at least one inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, wherein the at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports are substantially located in a first plane and at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports is substantially located in a second plane and at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports is located on the bottom portion of the valve housing, wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis for the valve rotor and the first plane and the second plane are axially spaced from each other;
- a valve rotor, rotatably disposed within the valve housing, wherein the valve rotor includes a plurality of internal fluid passages within the valve rotor to selectively connect, in fluid relationship, the at least one inlet port with at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports;
- and
- a biasing mechanism disposed about a shaft of the valve rotor to position the valve rotor in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the valve housing.
1 more element
A valve control system for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- a valve housing having at least one inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports;
- a valve rotor, rotatably disposed within the valve housing, wherein the valve rotor includes a plurality of internal fluid passages within the valve rotor to selectively connect, in fluid relationship, the at least one inlet port with at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports;
- a drive mechanism operatively connected to the valve rotor;
- and
- a processor that is operatively connected to the drive mechanism to selectively rotate the valve rotor.
2 more elements
A valve control system for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- a valve housing having at least one inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, wherein the at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports are substantially located in a first plane and at least one other outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports is substantially located in a second plane, wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis for the valve rotor and the first plane and the second plane are axially spaced from each other;
- a valve rotor, rotatably disposed within the valve housing, wherein the valve rotor includes a plurality of internal fluid passages within the valve rotor to selectively connect, in fluid relationship, the at least one inlet port with at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports;
- a biasing mechanism disposed about a shaft of the valve rotor to position the valve rotor in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the valve housing;
- a drive mechanism operatively connected to the valve rotor;
- a processor that is operatively connected to the drive mechanism to selectively rotate the valve rotor;
- at least one sensor that is operatively connected to the processor;
- and
- a fluid pump that is connected, in fluid relationship, to the at least one inlet port.
5 more elements
A valve control system for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- a valve housing having a bottom portion, at least one inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, wherein the at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports are substantially located in a first plane and at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports is substantially located in a second plane and at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports is located on the bottom portion of the valve housing, wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis for the valve rotor and the first plane and the second plane are axially spaced from each other;
- a valve rotor, rotatably disposed within the valve housing, wherein the valve rotor includes a plurality of internal fluid passages within the valve rotor to selectively connect, in fluid relationship, the at least one inlet port with at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports;
- a biasing mechanism disposed about a shaft of the valve rotor to position the valve rotor in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the valve housing;
- a drive mechanism operatively connected to the valve rotor;
- a processor that is operatively connected to the drive mechanism to selectively rotate the valve rotor;
- at least one sensor that is operatively connected to the processor;
- and
- a fluid pump that is connected, in fluid relationship, to the at least one inlet port.
5 more elements
A method for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- receiving fluid in at least one inlet port for a valve housing;
- and
- electively directing the received fluid from the at least one inlet port into a valve rotor that is rotatably disposed within the valve housing and then out through at least one outlet port of a plurality of outlet ports, wherein the valve rotor includes a plurality of internal fluid passages within the valve rotor to selectively connect the at least one inlet port with at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports for the valve housing.
A method for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- receiving fluid in at least one inlet port for a valve housing;
- selectively directing the received fluid from the at least one inlet port into the valve rotor that is rotatably disposed within the valve housing and then out through at least one outlet port of a plurality of outlet ports, wherein the valve rotor includes a plurality of internal fluid passages within the valve rotor to selectively connect the at least one inlet port with at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports for the valve housing;
- positioning the valve rotor in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the valve housing with a biasing mechanism;
- and
- moving the valve rotor to selected rotational orientations within the valve housing with a drive mechanism that is operatively connected to the valve rotor.
2 more elements
A method for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- receiving fluid in at least one inlet port for a valve housing;
- selectively directing the received fluid from the at least one inlet port into a valve rotor that is rotatably disposed within the valve housing and then out through at least one outlet port of a plurality of outlet ports, wherein the valve rotor includes a plurality of internal fluid passages within the valve rotor to selectively connect the at least one inlet port with at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports for the valve housing;
- positioning the valve rotor in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the valve housing with a biasing mechanism;
- and
- moving the valve rotor to selected rotational orientations within the valve housing with a drive mechanism that is operatively connected to the valve rotor, wherein the drive mechanism is controlled by a processor that is operatively attached thereto.
2 more elements
A method for controlling fluid flow comprising:
- receiving fluid in the at least one inlet port for a valve housing;
- selectively directing the received fluid from the at least one inlet port into a valve rotor that is rotatably disposed within the valve housing and then out through at least one outlet port of a plurality of outlet ports, wherein the valve rotor includes a plurality of internal fluid passages within the valve rotor to selectively connect the at least one inlet port with at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports for the valve housing;
- positioning the valve rotor in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the valve housing with a biasing mechanism;
- moving the valve rotor to selected rotational orientations within the valve housing with a drive mechanism that is operatively connected to the valve rotor, wherein the drive mechanism is controlled by a processor that is operatively attached thereto;
- receiving input from the at least one sensor that is operatively connected to the processor;
- providing fluid into the at least one input from a fluid pump that is connected in fluid relationship thereto;
- and
- receiving fluid from at least one outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports into a radiator that is connected in fluid relationship thereto.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.