Abstract:
A combination thermal management valve for management of the flow of heat transfer media is provided. The thermal management valve includes a manifold including two or more independently controlled valve assemblies configured to fluidly isolate the heat transfer media from each other. The valve assemblies may be configured to maintain desirable flow characteristics for each thermal medium.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/872,178 filed on Aug. 30, 2013 which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to combination valves for handling a variety of coolant media in one valve module. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Some thermal management systems employ more than one heat transfer medium to facilitate thermal control of different areas. For example, in an automobile, one heat transfer medium is used to facilitate thermal control of the engine and a separate heat transfer medium is used to facilitate thermal control of the transmission. The multiple media may have different thermal transfer characteristics and require different flow rates or pressures to effectively perform the intended function. 
         [0004]    Currently, automobiles use one valve assembly to direct the flow of the engine heat transfer medium and a second valve assembly to direct the flow of the transmission heat transfer medium in response to the thermal response of the different systems. The increasing number of components to be placed in the engine compartment of some automobiles, the difficulty in routing conduit for thermal media, and the drive to reduce material and tooling costs are requiring, among other things, more space efficient thermal management valves. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a need exists for a combination thermal management valve performing the function of an engine thermal management valve and a transmission thermal management valve into a single housing. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Embodiments of combination thermal management valves are provided herein. In some embodiments, a combination thermal management valve comprises a module having a first valve chamber comprising a first inlet in fluid communication with a first outlet via a passage and a second valve chamber, fluidly isolated from the first valve chamber, in fluid communication with a second inlet, a third inlet, and a second outlet. 
         [0007]    A first valve assembly is disposed in the first valve chamber including a sealing disk disposed within the passage and supported for displacement between a first disk position that opens the inlet to fluid communication with the first outlet and a second disk position that closes the first inlet to fluid communication with the first outlet. A second valve assembly is disposed in the second valve chamber including a first sealing element movable between a first element position that closes the second inlet to fluid communication with the second outlet and a second element position that opens the second inlet to fluid communication with the second outlet. 
         [0008]    Other and further embodiments of the present invention are described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Embodiments of the present invention, briefly summarized above and discussed in greater detail below, can be understood by reference to the illustrative embodiments of the invention depicted in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combination thermal management valve in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the combination thermal management valve of  FIG. 1  taken along II-II. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a sectional view of the combination thermal management valve of  FIG. 1  taken along line III-III in a first position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a sectional view of the combination thermal management valve of  FIG. 1  taken along line III-III in a second position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a sectional view of the combination thermal management valve of  FIG. 1  taken along line IV-IV in a first position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  is a sectional view of the combination thermal management valve of  FIG. 1  taken along line IV-IV in a second position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5A  is a sectional view of the combination thermal management valve of  FIG. 1  taken along line V-V in a first position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5B  is a sectional view of the combination thermal management valve of  FIG. 1  taken along line V-V in a second position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a combination thermal management valve in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the combination thermal management valve of  FIG. 6  taken along VII-VII. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8A  is a sectional view of the combination thermal management valve of  FIG. 7  taken along line VIII-VIII in a first position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8B  is a sectional view of the combination thermal management valve of  FIG. 7  taken along line VIII-VIII in a second position. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common in the figures. The figures are not drawn to scale and may be simplified for clarity. It is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation. 
         [0023]    While described in reference to an automobile thermal management valve, the present invention may be modified for a variety of applications while remaining within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, since the range of the potential applications is great, and because it is intended that the present invention be adaptable to many such variations. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Embodiments of an inventive combination thermal management valve are provided herein. The thermal management valve is adapted to control the flow of two separate heat transfer media which may have different thermal transfer characteristics and may require different flow rates or pressures to effectively perform the intended function. For example, for one thermal management function a heat transfer media may be subject to a high flow rate and requires a minimum pressure drop across the valve. Another thermal management function may subject the heat transfer medium to a high pressure flow and tolerate a greater pressure drop across the valve. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  depicts a combination thermal management valve  100  including a module  102 . The module  102  may be formed from a metal or metal alloy or a polymer. In preferred embodiments, the module is formed from a polymer, for example a polyamide or a glass-filled polyamide, in an injection molding process, or a metal, for example cast aluminum. The module  102  includes a first valve chamber  104  integrally formed with a second valve chamber  106  which may be understood from the figures, for example  FIGS. 1-4B , and the following description. First and second valve chambers  104 ,  106  are illustrated as each having a circular cross section connected by a radial web for ease of illustration only. Other shapes could be used with similar benefits, 
         [0026]    The first valve chamber  104  includes a first inlet  108  in controlled fluid communication with a first outlet  110  via a passage  302 . In a preferred embodiment the first valve chamber  104  includes a third outlet  112  also in controlled fluid communication with the passage  302 . In an embodiment, the first valve assembly  300  is disposed in the first valve chamber  104 . The valve assembly  300  includes a valve disk  304  disposed within the passage  302  and supported for angular displacement about an axis  306  to selectively provide fluid communication between the first inlet  108  and the first outlet  110 . Support for angular displacement may be provided by a separate shaft or by protrusions integrally formed with the valve disk  304 . The valve disk  304  is selectively rotated to a first disk position as illustrated in  FIG. 3A  so that the first inlet  108  is at least partially open to fluid communication with first outlet  110 . The valve disk  304  is selectively rotated to a second disk position as illustrated in  FIG. 3B , wherein the first inlet  108  is blocked from fluid communication with the first outlet  110  by the valve disk  304 . 
         [0027]    In the preferred embodiment including a third outlet  112 , the first disk position closes the first inlet  108  to fluid communication with third outlet  112  as illustrated in  FIG. 3A  and the second disk position opens the first inlet  108  to fluid communication with the third outlet  112  as illustrated in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0028]    The valve disk  304  may be positioned in a third position (not shown) in which the valve disk  304  is oriented such that both the first outlet  110  and the third outlet  112  are in fluid communication with the first inlet  108  through the passage  302 . The valve disk  304  may be positioned in any intermediate position between the first position of  FIG. 3A  and the second position of  FIG. 3B  to provide simultaneous fluid communication between first inlet  108 , the first outlet  110 , and third outlet  112 . 
         [0029]    The valve disk  304  is linked to a linear actuator, actuator  308 , for example a solenoid  310 . In the illustrated embodiment, the solenoid  310  has an armature  312  supported for linear displacement perpendicular to the axis of rotation  306  of the valve disk  304 . The armature  312  may be directly linked to the valve disk  304  or may be linked via a linkage  314  comprising one or more segments (one shown in the figures, for example  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B). A first end  316  of the linkage  314  is coupled to the valve disk  304  such that the first end  316  is supported for at least rotational displacement with respect to the valve disk  304 . The linkage  314  is coupled to the valve disk at a location offset from the axis of rotation  302  so that the valve disk  304  rotates about the axis of rotation  302  in response to a linear displacement of the actuator  308 . 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 3A , the valve disk  304  is illustrated in a first disk position which may correspond to a default condition. The default condition may correspond with a first energy condition of the actuator  308 , for example a de-energized condition of the solenoid  310 . In the de-energized position of  FIG. 3A , a resilient member, for example spring  318 , urges the linkage  314  in the upward direction as drawn to position the valve disk  304  in the illustrated orientation of  FIG. 3A . In  FIG. 3B , the valve disk  304  is illustrated in the second position which may correspond to a second energy condition of the actuator  308 , for example an energized condition of the solenoid  310 . 
         [0031]    In the energized condition of  FIG. 3B , the solenoid overcomes the upward (as drawn) urging of the resilient member  318  and displaces the linkage  314  downward, imparting a clockwise moment about the axis of rotation  306 , to position the valve disk  304  in the orientation illustrated in  FIG. 3B . A third position may be provided as discussed above in which the valve disk  304  is incrementally rotated to any third position between the first position and the second position. For example, in a third position (not shown), the valve disk  304  may rotated half way between the first position of  FIG. 3A  and the second position of  FIG. 3B . 
         [0032]    Returning to the non-limiting embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4B , the module  102  includes a second valve chamber  106  fluidly isolated from the first valve chamber  104 . The second valve chamber  106  includes a second inlet  114  and a third inlet  202 , in controlled fluid communication with a second outlet  116  via a second passage  402 . A second valve assembly  400  is disposed in the second valve chamber  106 . The second valve assembly  400  includes a valve member  404  including a valve stem  406  and a first sealing element  408  disposed on a portion of the valve stem  406  disposed within a first valve body  410  and a second valve body  412  and supported for displacement between at least a first valve position ( FIG. 4A ) and a second valve position ( FIG. 4B ). 
         [0033]    The first sealing element  408  is disposed within the second passage  402  and sized and shaped to selectably open or close the second inlet  114  and the third inlet  202  to fluid communication with the second outlet  116 , thus providing selectable fluid communication between the second outlet  116  and the second or third inlet  114 ,  202 , respectively. For ease of illustration only, the sealing element  408  is depicted as a disk having upper and lower flat surfaces to contact the valve bodies in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B. Other suitable shapes for the contact surfaces include, but are not limited to, conical and spherical surfaces. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B the valve stem  406  is coupled to an actuator  414 . In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated, the actuator  414  is a solenoid  416  having a movable armature  418  supported for linear displacement between at least the first position of  FIG. 4A  and a second position of  FIG. 4B . The armature  418  is coupled to the valve stem  406  so that the valve member  404  and the first sealing element  408  are displaced in response to the displacement of the armature  418 . For example, when the armature is in the first position of  FIG. 4A , the valve member  404  and the first sealing element  408  are in the corresponding first valve position. When the armature  418  is in the second position of  FIG. 4B , the valve stem  406  and the first sealing element  408  are displaced to the corresponding second valve position. 
         [0035]    The coil  420  in the solenoid  416  is electrically coupled to a power source (not shown) through a connector  422  for providing a selectable electrical signal, such as a current, to the coil  420 . The armature  418  is movable in response to a current applied to the coil  420 . A first electrical signal and a second electrical signal are provided to the coil  212  corresponding to a first energy condition and a second energy condition, respectively. For example, the first electrical signal may be a zero ampere current corresponding to a de-energized (or default) solenoid condition and the second electrical signal may correspond to a greater, or non-zero ampere, current corresponding to an energized solenoid condition. The first energy condition moves the armature to a first position corresponding to the first valve position ( FIG. 4A ) and the second energy condition moves the armature to a second position corresponding to the second valve position ( FIG. 4B ). 
         [0036]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  correspond with the embodiment of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  in a view taken along line V-V ( FIG. 4A ) and are illustrative of the cooperation of the first and second valve bodies  410 ,  412  in an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the first valve body  410  includes outlet passages  524   a  and  524   b , collectively outlet  524 , formed through a lower portion of the first valve body  410 . Two passages,  524   a  and  524   b , are illustrated, although one passage or more than two passages may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , the first sealing element  408  is abutting against a portion of the second valve body  412 , closing the second inlet  114  to fluid communication with the second outlet  116 . In the position of  FIG. 5A , the third inlet  202  is open to fluid communication with the second outlet  116  through second passage  402 . 
         [0038]    With the valve member  404  in the second element position of  FIG. 5B , the sealing element  408  abuts a portion of the first valve body  410  and closes the third inlet  202  from fluid communication with the second outlet  116 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5B , the second inlet  114  is open to fluid communication with the second outlet  116  through second passage  402 . 
         [0039]    In a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 6 through 8B , a thermal management valve  700  has a first valve chamber  104  as described above and a second valve chamber  706 . The second valve chamber  706  includes a second inlet  714 , a third inlet  702 , a second outlet  716 , and a fourth outlet  704 . The second inlet  714 , third inlet  702 , second outlet  716  and the fourth outlet  704  are in controlled fluid communication through passage  806 . 
         [0040]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, a first sealing element  802  is disposed on a portion of the valve stem  804  between the second inlet  714 , the fourth outlet  704 , and the passage  806  leading to the second outlet  716 . A second sealing element  808  is disposed on a portion of the valve stem  804  between the third inlet  702  and the passage  806  leading to the second outlet  716 . The first and second sealing elements  802 ,  808  are supported on the valve stem  804  for coordinated movement between a first element position ( FIG. 8A ) and a second element position ( FIG. 8B ). 
         [0041]    In the first element position of  FIG. 8A , the first sealing element  802  is spaced apart from the lower end  810  of the passage  806  and opens the second inlet  714  to fluid communication with the second outlet  716  and the fourth outlet  704 . The second sealing element  808  abuts the upper end  812  of the passage  806  and closes the third inlet  702  to fluid communication with the passage  806  and the second outlet  716 . 
         [0042]    In the second element position of  FIG. 8B , the first sealing element  802  abuts the lower end  810  of the passage  806  and closes the second inlet  714  and the fourth outlet  704  to fluid communication with the second outlet  716 . The second sealing element  808  is spaced apart from the upper end  812  of the passage  806  and opens the third inlet  702  to fluid communication with the second outlet  716  through the passage  806 . 
         [0043]    For ease of illustration only, the first and second sealing element  802 ,  808  are depicted as disks having upper and lower flat surfaces to selectively open or close flow paths including the second outlet  716 . Other suitable shapes for the contact surfaces include, but are not limited to, conical and spherical surfaces. 
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the valve stem  804  is coupled to an actuator  814 . In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated, the actuator  814  includes a solenoid  816  having a movable armature  818  supported for linear displacement between at least the first position of  FIG. 8A  and a second position of  FIG. 8B . The actuator  814  functions as described above with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  to displace the first and second sealing elements  802 ,  808 , respectively. 
         [0045]    For ease of description, the non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein comprise two valve assemblies of different construction capable of managing the flow of two heat transfer media. Combination thermal management valves having more than two valve assemblies for managing the flow of two or more heat transfer media are within the scope and spirit of this invention. The disclosed combination thermal management valve may include two or more valve assemblies of similar construction, or of the same construction, within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0046]    Thus embodiments of a combination thermal management valve are provided herein. In the non-limiting embodiments illustrated in the figures, the first valve assembly may be suitable for a fluid flow with a high flow rate and a low pressure drop across the valve, for example a water-based heat transfer medium. The second valve assembly may be suitable for a high pressure flow in which a pressure drop across the valve is acceptable, such as an oil-based heat transfer medium. The inventive combination thermal management valve may advantageously reduce the number of valve bodies necessary to manage the thermal management requirements of an automobile. Accordingly, the assembly cost and the difficulty in routing conduit for thermal media may be advantageously reduced in applications employing the present invention.