IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0031160
(2008-02-14)
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등록번호 |
US-8415067
(2013-04-09)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Skala, Glenn W.
- Andreas-Schott, Benno
- Hoch, Martin M.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- GM Global Technology Operations LLC
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대리인 / 주소 |
Fraser Clemens Martin & Miller LLC
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
A three-way diverter assembly with a contoured valve is provided. The three-way diverter assembly includes a housing having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The first inlet and the second inlet are adapted to receive a fluid. The contoured valve is disposed in the
A three-way diverter assembly with a contoured valve is provided. The three-way diverter assembly includes a housing having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The first inlet and the second inlet are adapted to receive a fluid. The contoured valve is disposed in the housing adjacent the first inlet. The contoured valve is rotatable about an axis from a first positional limit to a second positional limit, and to a plurality of positions therebetween. Fuel cell systems having the three-way diverter assembly for regulating temperature and humidity of a fuel cell stack are also provided.
대표청구항
▼
1. A three-way diverter assembly, comprising: a housing having a first inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, the first inlet adapted to receive a fluid; anda contoured valve disposed in the housing adjacent the first inlet, the contoured valve selectively rotatable about an axis from a first p
1. A three-way diverter assembly, comprising: a housing having a first inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, the first inlet adapted to receive a fluid; anda contoured valve disposed in the housing adjacent the first inlet, the contoured valve selectively rotatable about an axis from a first positional limit to a second positional limit,wherein the contoured valve is substantially cup-shaped and has an exposed concave first surface and a convex second surface, the first surface disposed adjacent the first inlet, the second surface disposed adjacent an inner surface of the housing opposite the first inlet, the first surface disposed between the second surface and the first inlet. 2. The three-way diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein the contoured valve selectively causes the fluid to flow to at least one of the first outlet and the second outlet. 3. The three-way diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein the contoured valve includes an elastomeric seal. 4. The three-way diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a second inlet adapted to receive a fluid. 5. The three-way diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein a clearance between the second surface of the contoured valve and the inner surface of the housing militates against a flowing of the fluid therebetween. 6. The three-way diverter assembly of claim 1, further including a pivot shaft disposed through the housing and coupled to the contoured valve, wherein the pivot shaft rotates the contoured valve about the axis when a torque is applied thereto. 7. The three-way diverter assembly of claim 6, wherein the contoured valve includes at least one aperture for receiving the pivot shaft, the at least one aperture having a substantially flat portion configured to receive a substantially flat surface of the pivot shaft and militate against a free rotation of the contoured valve about the pivot shaft. 8. The three-way diverter assembly of claim 1, the housing having a first side and a second side, wherein the first inlet and the first outlet are disposed on the first side and the second inlet and the second outlet are disposed on the second side. 9. The three-way diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein one of the housing and the contoured valve is formed from one of a polymer, a metal, and a composite material. 10. The three-way diverter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first positional limit of the contoured valve is a ninety degree (90°) rotation about the axis from the second positional limit. 11. A fuel cell system, comprising: a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells and having a coolant fluid inlet and a coolant fluid outlet;a pump in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack and adapted to provide a coolant fluid thereto;a radiator having a radiator inlet and a radiator outlet, the radiator in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack and the fluid pump; anda three-way diverter assembly disposed between the radiator and the fuel cell stack and adapted to regulate the temperature of the fuel cell stack, the three-way diverter assembly further comprising: a housing having a first inlet in fluid communication with the coolant fluid outlet of the fuel cell stack, a second inlet in fluid communication with the radiator outlet, a first outlet in fluid communication with the coolant fluid inlet of the fuel cell stack, and a second outlet in fluid communication with radiator inlet, anda contoured valve disposed in the housing adjacent the first inlet, the contoured valve selectively rotatable about an axis from a first positional limit to a second positional limit, wherein the contoured valve is substantially cup-shaped and has an exposed concave first surface and a convex second surface, the first surface disposed adjacent the first inlet, the second surface disposed adjacent an inner surface of the housing opposite the first inlet, the first surface disposed between the second surface and the first inlet;wherein the three-way diverter assembly selectively causes one of a) the coolant fluid to bypass the radiator and flow to the fuel cell stack, b) the coolant fluid to flow to the radiator, and c) a combination of a) and b), to thermostatically regulate the fuel cell stack. 12. The fuel cell system of claim 11, further comprising: an actuator coupled to the contoured valve of the three-way diverter assembly, the actuator selectively rotating the contoured valve about the axis from the first positional limit to the second positional limit. 13. The fuel cell system of claim 12, wherein the actuator is an electric stepper motor providing a precise control of the contoured valve position. 14. The fuel cell system of claim 13, further comprising: a controller in electrical communication with the actuator, the controller selectively controlling the position of the contoured valve to thermostatically regulate the fuel cell stack. 15. The fuel cell system of claim 14, further comprising at least one sensor in electrical communication with the controller and providing a feedback of one of the coolant fluid temperature and fuel cell stack conditions thereto. 16. The fuel cell system of claim 11, wherein i) the contoured valve at the first positional limit forms a substantially fluid tight seal with the housing that causes the coolant fluid to bypass the radiator and flow to the fuel cell stack; ii) the contoured valve at the second positional limit forms a substantially fluid tight seal with the housing that causes the coolant fluid to flow to the radiator prior to flowing to the fuel cell stack; and iii) the contoured valve at the positions between the first positional limit and the second positional limit causes a first portion of the coolant fluid to bypass the radiator and flow to the fuel cell stack and a second portion of the coolant fluid to flow to the fuel cell stack. 17. A fuel cell system, comprising: a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells and having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet;an air compressor in fluid communication with the fuel cell stack and adapted to provide a flow of charged air thereto;a water vapor transfer device in fluid communication with the air compressor and the fuel cell stack and adapted to selectively humidify the charged air; anda three-way diverter assembly in fluid communication with the air compressor and each of the fuel cell stack and the water vapor transfer device, the three-way diverter assembly adapted to regulate a relative humidity of the fuel cell stack, the three-way diverter assembly further comprising: a housing having a first inlet in fluid communication with the air compressor, a first outlet in fluid communication with the water vapor transfer device, and a second outlet in fluid communication with the cathode inlet of the fuel cell stack, anda contoured valve disposed in the housing adjacent the first inlet, the contoured valve selectively rotatable about an axis from a first positional limit to a second positional limit, wherein the contoured valve is substantially cup-shaped and has an exposed concave first surface and a convex second surface, the first surface disposed adjacent the first inlet, the second surface disposed adjacent an inner surface of the housing opposite the first inlet, the first surface disposed between the second surface and the first inlet;wherein the three-way diverter assembly selectively causes one of a) the charged air to bypass the water vapor transfer device and flow to the fuel cell stack, b) the charged air to flow to the water vapor transfer device, and c) a combination of a) and b), to regulate a humidity of the fuel cell stack. 18. The fuel cell system of claim 17, further comprising: an actuator coupled to the contoured valve of the three-way diverter assembly, the actuator selectively rotating the contoured valve about the axis from the first positional limit to the second positional limit;a controller in electrical communication with the actuator, the controller selectively controlling the position of the contoured valve to regulate the humidity of the fuel cell stack; andat least one humidity sensor in electrical communication with the controller and providing a feedback of the charged air humidity thereto.
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