Valve assembly for controlling coolant flow exiting an engine
AssigneeDana Corporation
InventorsMichael Creech, Reed K. Hauck, Phillip James Weis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A valve assembly for controlling the amount of coolant exiting an engine is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve housing that is mounted to the engine and defines a passage that is in fluid communication with a coolant outlet in the engine. A motor in the valve housing drives a valve shaft that extends into the passage and on which a butterfly valve plate is mounted. The physical geometry of the inventive assembly is not significantly effected by changes in coolant temperature or coolant contamination and the integrates the valve member and actuator in a single assembly to improve packaging and material use and eliminates potential coolant leak points.
Claims20
A valve assembly for controlling an amount of coolant exiting an engine, comprising:
- a valve housing mounted to said engine and having a passage extending therethrough, said passage in fluid communication with a coolant outlet in said engine;
- a motor disposed within said housing and having a motor shaft extending therefrom;
- a valve shaft configured to rotate responsive to rotation of said motor shaft;
- and,
- a plate rotatably supported on said valve shaft within said passage
- wherein a rotational position of said plate controls said amount of coolant exiting said engine.
A valve assembly for controlling an amount of coolant exiting an engine, comprising:
- a valve housing mounted to said engine and having a passage extending therethrough, said passage in fluid communication with a coolant outlet in said engine;
- a motor disposed within said housing and having a motor shaft extending therefrom;
- a valve shaft configured to rotate responsive to rotation of said motor shaft;
- and,
- a plate rotatably supported on said valve shaft within said passage
- wherein a rotational position of said plate controls said amount of coolant exiting said engine and said rotational position is determined responsive to a temperature of said engine.
A valve assembly for controlling an amount of coolant exiting an engine, comprising:
- a valve housing mounted to said engine and having a passage extending therethrough, said passage in fluid communication with a coolant outlet in said engine;
- a motor disposed within said housing and having a motor shaft extending therefrom;
- a valve shaft configured ton rotate responsive to rotation of said motor shaft;
- and,
- a plate rotatably supported on said valve shaft within said passage
- wherein a rotational position of said plate controls said amount of coolant exiting said engine and said plate rotates through an angular span of less than ninety degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.