Patent ID: 6920845

Claim:
A multi-port rotary valve for distributing coolant to an engine cooling system comprising: a valve body having a plurality of outlet ports including a radiator port for directing coolant flow to a radiator circuit, a heater port for directing coolant flow to a heater circuit, said plurality of ports are located on a top surface of said valve body; an internal gear driven rotary disc including a gear driven mechanism located on an inner circumference of said rotary disc, wherein said rotary disc includes at least one aperture positioned on a top surface of said rotary disc for regulating predetermined flow paths and flow rates to said plurality of ports; an actuator responsive to a control signal for rotating said rotary disc to regulate said coolant flow to said plurality of ports; an inlet housing body mating with said valve body to encase said rotary disc, said inlet housing body including an inlet port; and a drive gear mounted internal to said inlet housing body residing in said coolant, said internal drive gear being received by said gear driven mechanism and coupled to said actuator, wherein a torque produced by said actuator is transmitted to said internal drive gear for rotating said rotary disc.