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US 6,688,333 B2Granted
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.
Claims41
A valve for distributing and regulating the flow of coolant issuing from a water pump to a radiator, a bypass circuit and a heater, comprising:
- a valve housing having ports formed therein including an inlet port configured to receive coolant issuing from a water pump, a first outlet port configured to direct coolant to a radiator, a second outlet port configured to direct coolant to a bypass circuit and a third outlet port configured to direct coolant to a heater;
- and
- a valve rotor rotationally disposed within the valve housing, having a plurality of internal fluid passages and configured to set the inlet port in fluid communication with a selected combination of the outlet ports.
A valve for distributing and regulating the flow of coolant issuing from a water pump to a radiator, a bypass circuit and a heater, comprising:
- a valve housing having ports formed therein including an inlet port configured to receive coolant issuing from a water pump, a first outlet port configured to direct coolant to a radiator, a second outlet port configured to direct coolant to a bypass circuit and a third outlet port configured to direct coolant to a heater;
- and
- a valve rotor rotationally disposed within the valve housing configured to set the inlet port in fluid communication with a selected combination of the outlet ports, wherein the valve inlet port and the radiator port are formed in diametrically opposed locations in the valve housing and the valve rotor has a first fluid passage formed therein configured to become aligned with the inlet port and the radiator port at a preselected rotational orientation so as to provide a linear and unobstructed flow path for coolant through the valve.
A valve for distributing and regulating the flow of coolant issuing from a water pump to a radiator, a bypass circuit and a heater, comprising:
- a valve housing having ports formed therein including an inlet port configured to receive coolant issuing from a water pump, a first outlet port configured to direct coolant to a radiator, a second outlet port configured to direct coolant to a bypass circuit and a third outlet port configured to direct coolant to a heater;
- and
- a valve rotor rotationally disposed within the valve housing configured to set the inlet port in fluid communication with a selected combination of the outlet ports, further comprising a degassing port formed in the valve housing and the valve rotor has a fluid passage formed therein for setting the inlet port into fluid communication with the degassing port when the valve rotor is in preselected rotational orientations relative to the valve housing.
A valve for distributing and regulating the flow of coolant issuing from a water pump to a radiator, a bypass line and a heater comprising:
- a valve housing having ports formed therein including an inlet port configured to receive coolant issuing from a water pump, a first outlet port configured to direct coolant to a radiator, a second outlet port configured to direct coolant to a bypass line and a third outlet port configured to direct coolant to a heater;
- 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 provide fluid communication between the inlet port and at least one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port and the third outlet port;
- and
- a drive mechanism that is operatively connected to the valve rotor for moving the valve rotor into at least one preselected rotational orientation.
1 more element
A valve for distributing and regulating the flow of coolant issuing from a water pump to a radiator, a bypass line and a heater comprising:
- a valve housing having ports formed therein including an inlet port configured to receive coolant issuing from a water pump, a first outlet port configured to direct coolant to a radiator, a second outlet port configured to direct coolant to a bypass line and a third outlet port configured to direct coolant to a heater;
- a valve rotor, rotatable disposed within the valve housing, wherein the valve rotor can provide at least one internal fluid passage within the valve rotor to provide fluid communication between the inlet port and at least one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port and the third outlet port, wherein the at least one internal fluid passage includes a first fluid passage that extends down along a central axis of the valve rotor and the at least one internal fluid passage includes a second fluid passage that extends from the first fluid passage to a first opening in an outer surface of the valve rotor and the at least one internal fluid passage includes a third fluid passage that extends from the first fluid passage to a second opening in the outer surface of the valve rotor and the at least one internal fluid passage includes a fourth fluid passage that extends from the first fluid passage to a third opening in the outer surface of the valve rotor, wherein the first opening, second opening and third opening can be positioned by the rotation of the valve rotor via the drive mechanism to selectively control coolant flow from the inlet port to the first outlet port;
- and
- a drive mechanism that is operatively connected to the valve rotor for moving the valve rotor into at least one preselected rotational orientation.
1 more element
A valve for distributing and regulating the flow of coolant issuing from a water pump to a radiator, a bypass line and a heater comprising:
- a valve housing having ports formed therein including an inlet port configured to receive coolant issuing from a water pump, a first outlet port configured to direct coolant to a radiator, a second outlet port configured to direct coolant to a bypass line and a third outlet port configured to direct coolant to a heater;
- a valve rotor, rotatable disposed within the valve housing, wherein the valve rotor can provide at least one internal fluid passage within the valve rotor to provide fluid communication between the inlet port and at least one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port and the third outlet port, wherein the at least one internal fluid passage includes a plurality of axially extending internal fluid passages located within the valve rotor and further comprising a fourth outlet port located on a bottom portion of the valve housing, wherein the plurality of axially extending internal fluid passages includes a first fluid passage, having a first diameter, that extends down along a central axis of the valve rotor and having a first opening in a top portion of the valve rotor and a second opening in a bottom portion of the valve rotor and at least one second fluid passage that is parallel to the first fluid passage, having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, wherein the at least one second fluid passage only extends for a portion of a length of the valve rotor to at least one third opening in a bottom portion of the valve rotor, wherein the at least one third opening can be selectively positioned by the rotation of the valve rotor via the drive mechanism to selectively provide degassing of the coolant, passing within the valve, via the fourth outlet port;
- and
- a drive mechanism that is operatively connected to the valve rotor for moving the valve rotor into at least one preselected rotational orientation.
1 more element
A valve for distributing and regulating the flow of coolant issuing from a water pump to a radiator, a bypass line and a heater comprising:
- a valve housing having ports formed therein including an inlet port configured to receive coolant issuing from a water pump, a first outlet port configured to direct coolant to a radiator, a second outlet port configured to direct coolant to a bypass line and a third outlet port configured to direct coolant to a heater, wherein the inlet port and first outlet port are located in a first plane and the second outlet port and the third outlet port are located in a second plane;
- a valve rotor, rotatably disposed within the valve housing, wherein the valve rotor can provide at least one internal fluid passage within the valve rotor to provide fluid communication between the inlet port and at least one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port and the third outlet port;
- and
- a drive mechanism that is operatively connected to the valve rotor for moving the valve rotor into at least one preselected rotational orientation.
1 more element
A valve for distributing and regulating the flow of coolant issuing from a water pump to a radiator, a bypass line and a heater comprising:
- a valve housing having ports formed therein including an inlet port configured to receive coolant issuing from a water pump, a first outlet port configured to direct coolant to a radiator, a second outlet port configured to direct coolant to a bypass line and a third outlet port configured to direct coolant to a heater, wherein the inlet port and first outlet port are located in a first plane and the second outlet port and the third outlet port are located in a second plane;
- a valve rotor, rotatably disposed within the valve housing, wherein the valve rotor can provide at least one internal fluid passage within the valve rotor to provide fluid communication between the inlet port and at least one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port and the third outlet port, wherein the at least one internal fluid passage includes a first fluid passage parallel to a central axis of the valve rotor and the at least one internal fluid passage includes a second fluid passage from the first fluid passage to a first surface opening in the valve rotor in the first plane, the at least one internal fluid passage includes a third fluid passage from the first fluid passage to a second surface opening in the valve rotor in the first plane, the at least one internal fluid passage includes a fourth fluid passage from the first fluid passage to a third surface opening in the valve rotor in the first plane, wherein the second fluid passage, the third fluid passage and the fourth fluid passage can be positioned by the rotation of the valve rotor via the drive mechanism to selectively control coolant flow from the inlet port to the first outlet port in the first plane and the at least one internal fluid passage includes at least one fifth fluid passage from the first fluid passage to at least one fourth surface opening in the valve rotor in the second plane, wherein the at least one fifth fluid passage can be positioned by the rotation of the valve rotor via the drive mechanism to selectively control coolant flow from the inlet port to the second outlet port in the second plane and the third outlet port in the second plane;
- and
- a drive mechanism that is operatively connected to the valve rotor for moving the valve rotor into at least one preselected rotational orientation.
1 more element
A valve for distributing and regulating the flow of coolant issuing from a water pump to a radiator, a bypass line and a heater comprising:
- a valve housing having a bottom portion and having ports formed therein including an inlet port configured to receive coolant issuing from a water pump, a first outlet port configured to direct coolant to a radiator, a second outlet port configured to direct coolant to a bypass line, a third outlet port configured to direct coolant to a heater and a fourth outlet port configured to degas coolant within the valve, wherein the inlet port and the first outlet port are located in a first plane and the second outlet port and the third outlet port are located in a second plane and the fourth outlet port is located on the bottom portion of the valve housing, wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular to a central 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 can provide at least one internal fluid passage to provide fluid communication between the inlet port and at least one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port and the third outlet port;
- and
- a drive mechanism that is operatively connected to the valve rotor for moving the valve rotor into at least one preselected rotational orientation.
1 more element
A valve for distributing and regulating the flow of coolant issuing from a water pump to a radiator, a bypass line and a heater comprising:
- a valve housing having a bottom portion and having ports formed therein including an inlet port configured to receive coolant issuing from a water pump, a first outlet port configured to direct coolant to a radiator, a second outlet port configured to direct coolant to a bypass line, a third outlet port configured to direct coolant to a heater and a fourth outlet port configured to degas coolant within the valve, wherein the inlet port and the first outlet port are located in a first plane and the second outlet port and the third outlet port are located in a second plane and the fourth outlet port is located on the bottom portion of the valve housing, wherein the first plane and the second plane are substantially perpendicular to a central axis for the valve rotor and the first plane and the second plane are axially spaced from each other;
- a valve rotor, rotatable disposed within the valve housing, wherein the valve rotor can provide at least one internal fluid passage to provide fluid communication between the inlet port and at least one of the first outlet port, the second outlet port and the third outlet port, wherein the at least one internal fluid passage includes a first fluid passage parallel to a central axis of the valve rotor and having a first surface opening in a top portion of the valve rotor and a second surface opening in the bottom portion of the valve rotor and the at least one internal fluid passage includes a second fluid passage from the first fluid passage to a third surface opening in the valve rotor in the first plane and the at least one internal fluid passage includes a third fluid passage from the first fluid passage to a fourth surface opening in the valve rotor in the first plane and the at least one internal fluid passage includes a fourth fluid passage from the first fluid passage to a fifth surface opening in the valve rotor in the first plane, wherein the second fluid passage, the third fluid passage and the fourth fluid passage can be positioned by the rotation of the valve rotor via the drive mechanism to selectively control coolant flow from the inlet port to the first outlet port in the first plane and the at least one internal fluid passage includes a fifth fluid passage from the first fluid passage to a sixth surface opening in the valve rotor in the second plane, wherein the fifth fluid passage can be positioned by the rotation of the valve rotor via the drive mechanism to selectively control coolant flow from the inlet port to the second outlet port in the second plane and the third outlet port in the second plane and the at least one internal fluid passage includes at least one sixth fluid passage from the first fluid passage to at least one seventh surface opening in the bottom portion of the valve rotor, wherein the at least one sixth fluid passage can be positioned by the rotation of the valve rotor via the drive mechanism to selectively provide degassing of coolant, passing within the valve, via the fourth outlet port;
- and
- a drive mechanism that is operatively connected to the valve rotor for moving the valve rotor into at least one preselected rotational orientation.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.