WO2003036145A1

WO2003036145A1 - Electric engine coolant control valve

Info

Publication number: WO2003036145A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/033828
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Carson Hawkins; Brian Graichen
Original assignee: Cooper Technology Services LLC
Current assignee: Cooper Technology Services LLC
Priority date: 2001-10-22
Filing date: 2002-10-22
Publication date: 2003-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2004-04-22

Abstract

A valve assembly directs engine coolant either through a bypass port for return to an engine or through a radiator port for direction to a radiator for cooling. The valve assembly includes a valve pivotable over a larger radiator hole and a smaller bypass hole. When the valve is in the live position, the radiator hole is covered by the valve and coolant flows through the bypass hole for return to the engine. When the valve pivots towards the dead position, the bypass hole is covered, exposing the radiator hole. The coolant flows through the radiator hole to the radiator for cooling. The position of the valve depends on a value detected by a temperature sensor.

Description

ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLANT CONTROL VALVE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electric engine coolant control valve assembly including a pivoting valve which controls the flow of an engine coolant.

The temperature of an engine increases during engine operation. Engine coolant flows around the engine to cool the engine. As the temperature of the engine coolant increases, a valve assembly opens and the coolant flows into the radiator for cooling. After heat in the coolant is removed in the radiator, the cooled engine coolant is recirculated back to the engine.

A prior art valve assembly is operated by a linear valve. The linear valve moves between two positions: a fully opened position and a fully closed position. When the temperature of the engine coolant is high, the valve is driven away from the valve seat, allowing engine coolant to flow from the engine and into the radiator. After removal of the heated engine coolant, the valve slides towards the valve seat to stop the flow of coolant to the radiator. In the prior art, the valve moves linearly towards and away from the valve seat. One drawback to the prior art valve assembly is the lack of control of the valve. Since the valve only moves between two positions, the control of the coolant flow through the valve seat is reduced. Hence, there is a need in the art for a valve assembly for refined control the flow of an engine coolant from an engine to a radiator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A valve assembly controls the flow of engine coolant between an engine and a radiator. After the heated coolant exits the engine, the valve assembly directs the coolant either through a bypass port for return to the engine or through a radiator port for direction to a radiator for cooling. A water pump pumps the coolant exiting both the bypass port and the radiator back and to the engine.

The valve assembly includes a valve pivotable over a larger radiator hole and a smaller bypass hole. The larger radiator hole leads to the radiator, and the smaller bypass hole leads back to the engine. When the valve is in the live position, the radiator hole is covered by the valve, and the coolant flows through the bypass hole for recirculation back to the engine. When the valve pivots towards the dead position, the bypass hole is covered by the valve, exposing the radiator hole. The coolant flows through the radiator hole to the radiator for cooling. The coolant is then recirculated back to the engine. A temperature detecting sensor proximate to the engine detects coolant temperature and sends a signal to an engine control unit. When the engine control unit determines the coolant needs to be cooled, an electric signal is generated and the valve pivots away from the live position and towards the dead position. In the dead position, the valve covers the bypass hole, exposing the radiator hole and allowing coolant to enter the radiator for cooling. The position of the valve depends on the value detected by the temperature sensor. A position sensor provides feedback to the engine control unit to confirm the valve is positioned at the desired position. The valve can be positioned at any of an infinite number of positions between the live position and dead position depending on engine requirements. In the event of a power loss, a spring member positioned around the pivot point biases the valve to the dead position, allowing coolant to flow to the radiator.

These and other features of the present invention will be best understood from the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a system employing the valve assembly of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a prior art valve assembly;

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the valve assembly of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the housing of the valve assembly of the present invention in a dead position with the cover removed; Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the housing of the valve assembly of the present invention in a live position with the cover removed; and

Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the valve assembly of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 illustrates a cooling system 20 employing the valve assembly 22 of the present invention. Coolant exits the engine 24 having a temperature sensor 36. The valve assembly 22 directs coolant either through a bypass port 26 for return to the engine 24 or through a radiator port 28 for direction to the radiator 30 for cooling prior to returning to the engine 24. A water pump 32 pumps the coolant exiting from both the bypass port 26 and the radiator 30 back and to the engine 24. The system 20 further includes a heating core 34 which draws hot coolant from the engine 24 and returns the coolant to the water pump 32 which operates continuously. The system 20 further includes an engine control unit 38 which sends a signal 40 to the valve assembly 22 and to the water pump 32.

Figure 2 illustrates a prior art valve assembly 100. A valve assembly 100 includes a valve 102 slidable in the X direction over a valve seat 104 between an open and closed position. As the temperature of the coolant in the engine 108 increases, the valve 102 is driven away from the valve seat 104, allowing the heated coolant to enter the radiator 106 for cooling. When the temperature of the coolant decreases, the valve 102 is driven towards the valve seat 104, preventing or reducing the amount of coolant from flowing through the valve seat 104.

The valve assembly 22 of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 3. The valve assembly 22 includes a cover 44 having an inlet 46 which is secured to a housing 42 by a plurality of attachment members 48 which pass though aligned holes 50 and 52 in the housing 42 and cover 44, respectfully (shown in Figure 6). Preferably, the valve assembly 22 includes a ceramic surface which is durable and provides low leakage, improving emissions and heater performance. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the valve assembly 22 with the cover 44 removed.

The valve assembly 22 includes a valve 54 pivotable about pivot point 58 and driven by a motor 36 which provides high efficiency and torque. In one example, the valve 54 is a paddle valve. The valve 54 pivots over a plate 60 including a larger radiator hole 62 and a smaller bypass hole 64. As shown in Figure 6, the larger radiator hole 62 aligns with a larger radiator port 28 leading to the radiator 30, and the smaller bypass hole 64 aligns with the smaller bypass port 26 leading back to the engine 24. When the cover 44 is attached to the housing 42, the inlet 46 aligns with the radiator port 28, allowing the coolant to flow straight through the valve assembly 22. This allows for high flow rates, low flow resistance, and a low pressure drop. Seals 70 are positioned between the aligned holes 62, 64 and ports 26, 28 to prevent leakage of the coolant. Preferably, the cover 44 includes an extended shoulder portion 72 which presses against the valve 54 during operation to prevent the valve 54 from lifting from the plate 60.

Figure 5 illustrates the electrically controlled valve assembly 22 in the live position in which the radiator hole 62 and is covered by the valve 54. h the live position, coolant from the engine 24 flows through the bypass hole 64 and the bypass port 26, recirculating back to the engine 24. As the valve 54 pivots towards the dead position illustrated in Figure 4, the bypass hole 64 is covered by the valve 54, exposing the radiator hole 62 and radiator port 28. The coolant flows through the radiator hole 62 and the radiator port 28 to the radiator 30. In the radiator 30, heat is removed from the coolant and released to the atmosphere. The coolant is then recirculated back to the engine 24 after passing through the water pump 32.

Returning to Figure 1, as the engine 24 temperature increases and the coolant removes heat from the engine 24, the temperature of the coolant increases. The temperature sensor 36 proximate to the engine 24 detects temperature in the coolant and sends a signal to the engine control unit 38. When the engine control unit 38 determines that the coolant needs to be cooled, a controller 74 generates an external electric signal 40 to electrically activate and pivot the valve 54 towards the dead position, h the dead position, the valve 54 covers the bypass hole 64 and exposes the radiator hole 62, allowing a desired amount of coolant to enter the radiator 30. The position of the valve 54 is dependent on the value detected by the temperature sensor 36. Once the valve 54 is positioned at the desired position, a position sensor 76 provides feedback to the engine control unit 38 to confirm that the valve 54 is positioned at the desired position. The valve 54 can be positioned at any of an infinite number of positions between the live position and dead position depending on engine requirements. For example, if the valve 54 is positioned midway between the dead position and the live position, coolant will flows through both the bypass hole 64 and the radiator hole 62. By positioning the valve 54 at a desired location, the flow of the coolant can be controlled. Efficiency and response time can be increased, and emissions can be reduced.

The valve assembly 22 further includes a spring member 78 positioned around the pivot point 58 which biases the valve 54 to the dead position. One end 80 of the spring member 78 is attached to the valve assembly 22 by a connector 82. In the event of a power loss, the spring member 78 biases the valve 54 to the dead position, allowing coolant to flow to the radiator 30. The spring member 78 acts as a fail-safe mechanism to allow engine cooling to continue in the event of a power loss. The foregoing description is exemplary rather then defined by the limitations within. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, so that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A valve assembly comprising: a housing including an inlet fluid passage, a first outlet fluid passage and a second outlet fluid passage; a valve pivotally attached to said housing at a pivot point to control flow of a fluid, said valve having a first position in which said first outlet fluid passage is at least partially covered by said valve, a second position in which said second outlet fluid passage is at least partially covered by said valve, and a plurality of positions therebetween; and an actuator to pivot said valve to one of said first position, said second position, and said plurality of positions therebetween.

2. The valve assembly as recited in claim 1 further including a cover is secured to said housing by a plurality of attachment members, and said cover has an inlet which forms said inlet fluid passage and aligns with said first outlet fluid passage.

3. The valve assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said cover further includes a protrusion that contacts an upper surface of said valve to prevent lifting of said valve during operation of said valve assembly.

4. The valve assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said actuator is a motor.

5. The valve assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a surface having a first hole which aligns with said first outlet fluid passage and a second hole which aligns with said second outlet fluid passage, and said valve is pivotally attached to and pivots over said surface.

6. The valve assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein a seal is positioned between said first hole and said first outlet fluid passage and said second hole and said second outlet fluid passage.

7. The valve assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid flows through both said first outlet fluid passage and said second outlet fluid passage when said valve is positioned between midway between said first position and said second position.

8. The valve assembly as recited in claim 1 further including a resilient member positioned around said pivot point to bias said valve to said second position.

9. The valve assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said actuators pivots said valve in response to an electrical signal.

10. The valve assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said first outlet fluid passage is an outlet radiator fluid passage, and said second outlet fluid passage is an bypass radiator fluid passage.

11. An engine system comprising: an engine; a valve assembly including a housing having an inlet fluid passage, an outlet radiator fluid passage which leads to a radiator for cooling said fluid, an outlet bypass fluid passage which leads to said engine, a valve pivotally attached to said housing at a pivot point to control flow of a fluid, said valve having a first position in which said radiator passage is covered by said valve, a second position in which said outlet bypass fluid passage is covered by said valve, and a plurality of positions therebetween and an actuator to pivot said valve to one of said first position, said second position, and said plurality of positions therebetween; and said radiator for cooling said fluid from said engine, said cooled fluid returning to said engine.

12. The engine system as recited in claim 11 wherein said fluid flows to said radiator through said outlet radiator fluid passage when said valve is in said second position.

13. The engine system as recited in claim 11 wherein said fluid flows to said engine through said outlet bypass fluid passage when said valve is in said first position.

14. The engine system as recited in claim 11 further including an engine control unit, and said engine further includes a temperature sensor which detects a fluid temperature proximate to said engine and sends a temperature signal relating to said fluid temperature to said engine control unit, and said engine control unit sends said electric signal which is representative of said temperature signal to said valve assembly to pivot said valve to a desired position in response to said temperature signal.

15. The engine system as recited in claim 14 further including a position sensor which determines a position of said valve and provides feedback to said engine control unit confirming that said valve is at said desired position.

16. The engine system as recited in claim 14 further including a pump that pumps said fluid from said bypass port and to said engine and pumps said fluid from said radiator and to said engine.

17. The engine system as recited in claim 16 further including a heating core which draws said fluid from said engine and pumps said fluid to said pump for return to said engine.

18. The engine system as recited in claim 11 further including a cover is secured to said housing by a plurality of attachment members, and said cover has an inlet which aligns with said outlet radiator fluid passage.

19. The engine system as recited in claim 18 wherein said cover further includes a protrusion that contacts an upper surface of said valve to prevent lifting of said valve during operation of said valve assembly.

20. The engine system as recited in claim 11 wherein said actuator is a motor.

21. The engine system as recited in claim 11 wherein said housing includes a surface having a first hole which aligns with said outlet radiator fluid passage and a second hole which aligns with said outlet bypass fluid passage, and said valve is pivotally attached to and pivots over said surface.

22. The engine system as recited in claim 21 wherein a seal is positioned between said first hole and said outlet radiator fluid passage and said second hole and said outlet bypass fluid passage.

23. The engine system as recited in claim 11 wherein said fluid flows through both said outlet radiator fluid passage and said outlet bypass fluid passage when said valve is positioned between midway between said first position and said second position.

24. The engine system as recited in claim 11 further including a resilient member positioned around said pivot point to bias said valve to said second position.

25. The engine system as recited in claim 11 wherein said actuators pivots said valve in response to an electrical signal.

26. An engine system comprising: an engine including a temperature sensor which detects a fluid temperature proximate to said engine; a valve assembly including a housing having an inlet fluid passage, an outlet radiator fluid passage which leads to a radiator for cooling said fluid, an outlet bypass fluid passage which leads to said engine, a valve pivotally attached to said housing at a pivot point to control flow of a fluid, said valve having a first position in which said outlet radiator fluid passage is covered by said valve and said fluid flows through outlet bypass fluid passage, a second position in which said outlet bypass fluid passage is covered by said valve and said fluid flows through said outlet radiator fluid passage, and a plurality of positions therebetween; said radiator for cooling said fluid from said engine, said cooled fluid returning to said engine; an actuator to pivot said valve to one of said first position, said second position, and said plurality of positions therebetween in response to an electrical signal; an engine control unit, and said temperature sensor sends a temperature signal relating to said fluid temperature to said engine control unit, and said engine control unit sends said electric signal which is representative of said temperature signal to said valve assembly to pivot said valve to a desired position in response to said temperature signal; and a position sensor which determines a position of said valve and provides feedback to said engine control unit confirming that said valve is at said desired position.

27. A method of controlling flow of a fluid comprising the steps of: providing a housing including a first fluid passage, a second fluid passage, and a plurality of positions therebetween, and a valve pivotally attached to said housing; providing en electric signal; and pivoting said valve in response to said electric signal between a first position in which said first fluid passage is covered by said valve, a second position in which said second fluid passage is covered by said valve.