초록 ▼

A valve includes a body having an interior and defining at least one inlet passageway and discharge passageway. The valve also includes a flow diverter disposed within the body between the inlet and discharge passageways to receive a fluid from the inlet passageway in an inlet direction. The diverte

A valve includes a body having an interior and defining at least one inlet passageway and discharge passageway. The valve also includes a flow diverter disposed within the body between the inlet and discharge passageways to receive a fluid from the inlet passageway in an inlet direction. The diverter is adapted to discharge the fluid to at least one discharge passageway in a direction that differs from the inlet direction. The diverter is rotatable to vary the discharge direction. According to one embodiment, the discharge direction is substantially perpendicular to the inlet direction. In another embodiment, a series of fluid passages are formed between the diverter and the interior of the valve body to permit a small firm or thickness of fluid to extend between portions of the diverter and the valve body, thereby forming a fluid bearing.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A valve for controlling flow of coolant through a coolant system in a vehicle, the valve comprising: a body having a side wall with a substantially cylindrical inner surface defining an interior, a front end, a back end, an inlet passageway formed in one of either the front end, the back end or t

1. A valve for controlling flow of coolant through a coolant system in a vehicle, the valve comprising: a body having a side wall with a substantially cylindrical inner surface defining an interior, a front end, a back end, an inlet passageway formed in one of either the front end, the back end or the side wall, and at least two discharge passageways formed in one of either the front end, the back end or the side wall;a flow diverter having a side wall with a substantially cylindrical outer surface, the flow diverter disposed within the interior of the body between the inlet passageway and the discharge passageways and positioned such that the outer surface of the flow diverter side wall is positioned adjacent to the cylindrical surface of the body side wall, the flow diverter having a hollow interior, an inlet formed in the flow diverter and adapted to receive a flow of a fluid from the inlet passageway in an inlet direction, and at least one discharge opening formed in the flow diverter and adapted to discharge at least a portion of the flow of the fluid into one of the discharge passageways in a discharge direction that is different from the inlet direction,the flow diverter having a central axis and being rotatable with respect to the body about the central axis to vary the position of one of either the inlet or the at least one discharge opening relative to the inlet passageway for controlling the discharge of at least a portion of the flow of the fluid; anda motor coupled to the flow diverter for rotating the flow diverter with respect to the body;the valve including a fluid bearing defined by and located between the flow diverter and the body to facilitate rotation of the flow diverter with respect to the body, the fluid bearing including a plurality of grooves formed on an inner surface of the body or an outer surface of the flow diverter, the grooves adapted to receive a fluid to create the fluid bearing between the body and the flow diverter. 2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the flow diverter includes an open end, and an end wall opposite the open end of the flow diverter. 3. The valve according to claim 1 , further comprising a mounting plate on the back end of the body, the mounting plate adapted to receive a plurality of fasteners for removeably attaching the valve body to the motor to facilitate removal of the valve body from the motor for providing access to the valve interior for repair or replacement of a valve component, and wherein the front end of the body has an opening and includes a flange, the body further including a closure plate mounted to the flange to enclose the flow diverter within the interior of the main junction of the body. 4. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid bearing includes a plurality of grooves on at least a portion of the outer surface of the flow diverter and a plurality of grooves on at least a portion of the inner surface of the body, the grooves adapted to receive a fluid. 5. A coolant system for an automobile having a circulated coolant fluid, the coolant system comprising: a water pump fluidly connected to an engine of he automobile for discharging a flow of the coolant fluid;a valve according to claim 1, the inlet passageway of the valve being fluidly connected to the water pump;radiator;a radiator inlet line connected to the radiator and one of the discharge passageways to deliver coolant fluid to the radiator from the valve:a radiator return line connected to the radiator and the engine;a radiator bypass line connected to the radiator return line and the other discharge passageway of the valve for channeling coolant fluid between the valve and the radiator return line; andwherein the flow diverter of the valve controls flow from the water pump to either the radiator inlet in or the radiator bypass line. 6. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the body side wall includes a main junction located between the net passageway and the discharge passageways. 7. The valve according to claim 6, further comprising a groove formed in an outer surface of the flow diverter side wall and a seal member located within the groove and adapted to seal against the cylindrical wail of the body to prevent leakage between the flow diverter and the valve body. 8. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least two discharge passageways include a first discharge passageway and a second discharge passageway, and wherein the flow diverter is rotatable between first and second flow positions, the passageways and the flow diverter arranged such that the flow diverter directs fluid from the interior of the flow diverter into the first passageway when the flow diverter is in the first flow position and directs fluid from the interior of the flow diverter into the second passageway when the flow diverter is in the second flow position. 9. The valve according to claim 8, wherein the discharge opening extends around approximately one-half of a circumference of the cylindrical wall of the flow diverter. 10. The valve according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of grooves are formed on the inner surface of the body. 11. The valve according to claim 10, wherein the grooves extend ion longitudinally along at least a portion of the body. 12. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of grooves are formed on the outer surface of the flow diverter. 13. The valve according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the grooves extends to the discharge opening. 14. A valve for controlling flow of coolant through a coolant system in a vehicle, the valve comprising: a body having a side wall with a substantially cylindrical inner surface defining an interior, a front end, a back end, an inlet passageway formed in one of either the front end, the back end or the side wall, and at least two discharge passageways formed in one of either the front end, the back end or the side wall;a flow diverter having a side wall with a substantially cylindrical outer surface, the flow diverter disposed within the interior of the body between the inlet passageway and the discharge passageways and positioned such that the outer surface of the flow diverter side wall is adjacent to the cylindrical surface of the body side wall, the flow diverter having a hollow interior, an inlet formed in the flow diverter and adapted to receive a flow of a fluid from the inlet passageway in an inlet direction, and at least one discharge opening formed in the flow diverter and adapted to discharge at least a portion of the flow of the fluid into one of the discharge passageways in a discharge direction that is different from the inlet direction,the flow diverter being rotatable with respect to the body about an axis of rotation to vary the discharge direction of at least a portion of the flow of the fluid, the flow diverter having at least one discharge opening that is substantially noncircular;the valve including a fluid bearing defined by and located between the flow diverter and the body to facilitate rotation of the flow diverter with respect to the body, the fluid bearing including grooves formed on an inner surface of the body or an outer surface of the flow diverter the grooves adapted to receive a fluid to create the fluid bearing between the body and the flow diverter. 15. The valve according to claim 14, wherein the inlet direction is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation for the flow diverter. 16. The valve according to claim 14, wherein the inlet passageway in the body is located in the front end and the discharge passageways are formed in the side wail of the body, the flow diverter being rotatably received within the interior of the body and wherein the inlet is formed on an end of the flow diverter and located in alignment with the inlet passageway when the flow diverter is located within the body, and the discharge opening being located on the side wall of the flow diverter and adapted to be aligned with one of the discharge passageway depending on the rotational position of the flow diverter relative to the body. 17. The valve according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of grooves are formed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the body. 18. The valve according to claim 14, wherein the fluid bearing includes a plurality of grooves on at least a portion of the outer surface of the flow diverter and a plurality of grooves on at least a portion of the inner surface of the body, the grooves adapted to receive a fluid. 19. The valve according to claim 14, wherein each of the discharge passageways of the body has a substantially circular cross-section. 20. The valve according to claim 19, wherein the non-circular shape of discharge opening in the flow diverter is defined by at least one flow-controlling tongue projecting inwardly into the discharge opening. 21. The valve according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of grooves are formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the flow diverter. 22. The valve according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the grooves extends to the discharge opening. 23. The valve according to claim 14 further comprising a motor driven shaft coupled to the flow diverter for rotating the flow diverter with respect to the body. 24. The valve according to claim 23, wherein the flow diverter includes a socket on an end wall of the flow diverter and wherein the motor driven shaft is coupled to the socket for torque transfer between the shaft and the flow diverter. 25. The valve according to claim 24, wherein he body includes a mounting plate at an end of the body for mounting the body to a support member. 26. The valve according to claim 25 further comprising a bushing mounted in the mounting plate, the bushing adapted to receive the shaft to facilitate relative rotation between the shaft and the body. 27. A valve for controlling flow of coolant through a coolant system in a vehicle, the valve comprising: a body having a side wall with a substantially cylindrical inner surface defining an interior, a front end, a back end, at least on inlet passageway formed in one of either the front end, the back end or the side wall, and at, least one discharge passageway formed in one of either the front end, the back end or the side wall; anda flow-controlling diverter having a side wall with a substantially cylindrical outer surface, the flow diverter being rotatably disposed within the interior of the body between the at least one inlet passageway and the at least one discharge passageway and positioned such that the outer surface of the flow diverter side wall is adjacent to the cylindrical surface of the body side wall, the diverter including a hollow interior, an inlet formed in the flow diverter and adapted to receive a flow of a fluid from the at least one inlet passageway in an inlet direction and at least one discharge opening formed in the flow diverter and adapted to discharge at least a portion of the flow of the fluid into the at least one of the discharge passageway in a discharge direction that is substantially perpendicular to the inlet direction;the valve including a fluid bearing defined by and located between the flow-controlling diverter and the body to facilitate rotation of the flow-controlling diverter with respect to the body, the fluid bearing including a plurality of grooves formed on an inner surface of the body or an outer surface of the flow-controlling diverter, the grooves adapted to receive a fluid to create the fluid bearing between the body and the flow diverter. 28. The valve according to claim 27, wherein the plurality of grooves are formed on at least a portion of the inner surface of the body. 29. The valve according to claim 27, wherein the fluid bearing includes a plurality of grooves on at least a portion of the outer surface of the flow-controlling diverter and a plurality of grooves on at least a portion of the inner surface of the body, the grooves adapted to receive a fluid. 30. The valve according to 27, wherein plurality of grooves are formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the flow-controlling diverter. 31. The valve according to claim 30, wherein at least one of the grooves extends to the at least one discharge opening.