Valve configured regulating the flow of fluid between a device, a heater, and a cooler
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F16K-017/38
F16K-031/00
F16K-011/07
F16H-057/04
출원번호
US-0245912
(2016-08-24)
등록번호
US-9976668
(2018-05-22)
발명자
/ 주소
Gao, Xiujie
Li, Dongxu
Johnson, Nancy L.
Semel, Ronald R.
출원인 / 주소
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
대리인 / 주소
Quinn IP Law
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
10
초록▼
A valve directs fluid flow received from a device to one of a heater and a cooler. The valve includes a spool movably disposed in the housing between a first, second, and third position. An actuator is in fluid communication with the fluid. The actuator includes a smart material that deactivates whe
A valve directs fluid flow received from a device to one of a heater and a cooler. The valve includes a spool movably disposed in the housing between a first, second, and third position. An actuator is in fluid communication with the fluid. The actuator includes a smart material that deactivates when the fluid temperature is no greater than a first temperature, partially activated when the fluid temperature is greater than the first temperature, and fully activated when the fluid temperature is at least equal to a second temperature. The spool moves to the first position when deactivated and fluid flows from the cavity, to the heater. The spool moves to the second position when partially activated to prevent fluid from flowing to each of the heater and the cooler. The spool moves to the third position when fully activated and fluid flows from the cavity, to the cooler.
대표청구항▼
1. A valve configured for directing the flow of fluid received from a device to one of a heater and a cooler, within a fluid circuit, as a function of a temperature of the fluid, the valve including: a housing defining a cavity extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, wherein t
1. A valve configured for directing the flow of fluid received from a device to one of a heater and a cooler, within a fluid circuit, as a function of a temperature of the fluid, the valve including: a housing defining a cavity extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, wherein the cavity is configured for receiving and expelling the fluid;a spool disposed in the cavity and movable longitudinally therein between a first position, a second position, and a third position;an actuator operatively disposed within the cavity and configured to be in continuous fluid communication with the fluid received from the device;wherein the actuator includes a smart material configured to be deactivated in response to the temperature of the fluid being no greater than a first temperature, such that the smart material deactivates the actuator;wherein the smart material is configured to be fully activated in response to the temperature of the fluid being at least equal to a second temperature, such that full activation of the smart material causes the actuator to be fully activated;wherein the smart material is configured to be partially activated in response to the temperature of the fluid being greater than the first temperature and less than the second temperature, such that the smart material causes the actuator to be partially activated;wherein the actuator is configured to continuously act on the spool when the actuator is partially activated, such that the spool moves to the second position;wherein the actuator is configured to continuously act on the spool when the actuator is fully activated, such that the spool moves to the third position;wherein the fluid is permitted to flow from the cavity to the heater, and from the heater to the device when the spool is in the first position;wherein the fluid is prevented from flowing to the heater and the cooler when the spool is in the second position; andwherein the fluid is permitted to flow from the cavity to the cooler, and from the cooler to the device when the spool is in the third position. 2. The valve, a set forth in claim 1, wherein valve further includes a biasing device; wherein the actuator acts on the spool in a first longitudinal direction and the biasing device acts on the spool in a second longitudinal direction, opposite the first longitudinal direction, when the actuator is partially activated, such that the actuator acts on the spool to overcome the biasing device to move the spool to the second position;wherein the actuator acts on the spool in the first longitudinal direction when fully activated, such that the actuator acts on the spool to overcome the biasing device to move the spool to the third position; andwherein the biasing device acts on the spool in the second longitudinal direction, when the actuator is deactivated, such that the biasing device acts on the spool to overcome the actuator to move the spool to the first position. 3. The valve, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the spool defines a first recess extending to an end wall, such that the first recess is in facing relationship to the first end of the housing; and wherein a portion of the biasing device is disposed in the first recess, such that the biasing device is operatively disposed to react between the end wall of the spool and the first end of the housing. 4. The valve, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the housing defines an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet; wherein the inlet is configured to provide fluid communication between the device and the cavity;wherein the first outlet is configured to provide fluid communication between the cavity and the heater;wherein the second outlet is configured to provide fluid communication between the cavity and the cooler;wherein the spool divides the cavity into a first portion and a second portion, such that the first portion is configured for receiving fluid directly from the device; andwherein the second portion is configured for receiving the fluid from the first portion, as a function of the temperature of the fluid. 5. The valve, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the spool includes a first section and a leading section, longitudinally extending from the first section, such that the leading section is operatively disposed in the cavity between the first section and the first end of the housing; wherein the first section is radially sized to fit within the cavity such that fluid is prevented from passing within the cavity between the first section and the housing; andwherein the leading section is radially sized to be smaller than the first section, such that the fluid is allowed to flow radially about the leading section. 6. The valve, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the spool further includes a trailing section, longitudinally extending from the first section, opposite the leading section, such that the trailing section is operatively disposed in the cavity between the first section and the second end of the housing; and wherein the trailing section is radially sized to fit within the cavity such that fluid is allowed to flow radially about the trailing section. 7. The valve, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the actuator is operatively disposed in the cavity and configured to react between the first section of the spool and the second end of the housing. 8. The valve, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the actuator is a coil spring; and wherein a portion of the coil spring radially surrounds the trailing section of the spool. 9. The valve, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the spool further includes a second section, longitudinally extending from the leading section, such that the second section is operatively disposed in the cavity between the leading section and the first end of the housing; wherein the second section is radially sized to fit within the cavity, such that fluid is prevented from passing within the cavity between the second section and the housing; andwherein the leading section is radially sized to be smaller than the first section and the second section, such that the fluid is allowed to flow radially about the leading section, between the first section, the second section, and the housing. 10. The valve, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first outlet is longitudinally defined proximate the second end of the housing; wherein the second outlet is longitudinally defined proximate the first end of the housing;wherein inlet is longitudinally defined between the first outlet and the second outlet;wherein the spool defines at least one vent hole configured to provide fluid communication from the first portion of the cavity to the second portion of the cavity;wherein the first portion of the cavity is defined between the first section, the second section, and the housing;wherein the second section of the spool is configured to block the second outlet and allow the fluid to flow from the first portion of the cavity, through the first outlet, when the spool is in the first position;wherein the first section of the spool is configured to block the second outlet and the second section is configured to block the first outlet, such that the fluid is restricted from exiting the cavity through each of the first outlet and the second outlet, when the spool is in the second position; andwherein the first section of the spool is configured to block the first outlet and allow the fluid to flow from the first portion of the cavity, through the at least one vent hole, to the second portion of the cavity, and from the second portion of the cavity, through the second outlet, when the spool is in the third position. 11. The valve, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first section defines a second recess extending longitudinally to a base wall; and wherein a portion of the actuator is disposed in the second recess, such that the biasing device is operatively disposed to react between the base wall of the spool and the second end of the housing. 12. The valve, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the spool defines at least one opening extending between the end wall and the base wall, such that the at least one opening is configured to provide fluid communication between the first portion of the cavity and the second portion of the cavity. 13. The valve, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the inlet is defined longitudinally proximate the second end of the housing, such that the inlet provides continuous fluid communication to the first portion of the cavity; wherein the first outlet is defined longitudinally proximate the first end of the housing;wherein the second outlet is defined longitudinally between the inlet and the first outlet;wherein the spool defines at least one vent hole configured to provide fluid communication from the first portion of the cavity to the second portion of the cavity;wherein the first section of the spool is configured to block the second outlet and allow the fluid to flow from the first portion of the cavity, through the at least one vent hole, to the second portion of the cavity, and from the second portion of the cavity, through the first outlet, when the spool is in the first position;wherein the first section of the spool is configured to block each of the first outlet and the second outlet, such that the fluid is restricted from exiting the cavity through each of the first outlet and the second outlet, when the spool is in the second position; andwherein the first section of the spool is configured to block the first outlet and allow the fluid to flow from the first portion of the cavity, through the second outlet, when the spool is in the third position. 14. The valve, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the inlet is defined longitudinally proximate the second end of the housing, such that the inlet provides continuous fluid communication to the first portion of the cavity; wherein the second outlet is defined longitudinally proximate the first end of the housing;wherein the first outlet is defined longitudinally between the inlet and the first outlet;wherein the spool defines at least one vent hole configured to provide fluid communication from the first portion of the cavity to the second portion of the cavity;wherein the second section of the spool is configured to block fluid flow through the second outlet and allow the fluid to flow from the first portion of the cavity, through the at least one vent hole, to the second portion of the cavity, and from the second portion of the cavity, through the first outlet, when the spool is in the first position;wherein the first section of the spool is configured to block the first outlet and the second section of the spool is configured to block the second outlet, such that the fluid is restricted from exiting the cavity through each of the first outlet and the second outlet, when the spool is in the second position; andwherein the first section of the spool is configured to block the first outlet and allow the fluid to flow from the first portion of the cavity, through the second outlet, when the spool is in the third position. 15. The valve, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the inlet is defined longitudinally proximate the first end of the housing, such that the inlet provides continuously fluid communication to the first portion of the cavity; wherein the second outlet is defined longitudinally proximate the second end of the housing;wherein the first outlet is defined longitudinally between the inlet and the second outlet;wherein the spool defines at least one vent hole configured to provide fluid communication from the first portion of the cavity to the second portion of the cavity;wherein the first section of the spool is configured to block the second outlet and allow the fluid to flow from the first portion of the cavity, through the first outlet, when the spool is in the first position;wherein the first section of the spool is configured to block each of the first outlet and the second outlet, such that the fluid is restricted from exiting the cavity through each of the first outlet and the second outlet, when the spool is in the second position; andwherein the spool is configured to block the first outlet and allow the fluid to flow from the first portion of the cavity, through the at least one vent hole, to the second portion of the cavity, and from the second portion of the cavity, through the second outlet, when the spool is in the third position. 16. The valve, as set forth in claim 15, wherein the actuator is operatively disposed between the spool and the first end of the housing. 17. The valve, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the actuator is operatively secured to each of the first end of the housing and the end wall of the spool, such that the actuator is operatively disposed in the first portion of the cavity; wherein the actuator includes at least one wire comprising the SMA material; andwherein the at least one wire is configured to longitudinally contract when the actuator is partially activated and the actuator is fully activated. 18. The valve, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the biasing device is a coil spring; and wherein the coil spring radially surrounds the actuator device. 19. The valve, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the actuator is a rod assembly including a rod and the at least one wire is a pair of wires operatively extending from opposing ends of the rod; and wherein one of the pair of wires is operatively secured to the first end of the housing and the other of the pair of wires is operatively secured to the end wall of the spool. 20. A fluid circuit configured for regulating the flow of a fluid, the fluid circuit comprising: a device configured for receiving and expelling the fluid;a heater configured for receiving, heating, and expelling the fluid to the device;a cooler configured for receiving, cooling, and expelling the fluid to the device; anda valve configured for directing the flow of fluid received from the device to one of the heater and the cooler, as a function of a temperature of the fluid, the valve including: a housing defining a cavity extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, wherein the cavity is configured for receiving and expelling the fluid;a spool disposed in the cavity and movable longitudinally therein between a first position, a second position, and a third position;an actuator operatively disposed within the cavity and configured to be in continuous fluid communication with the fluid received from the device;wherein the actuator includes a smart material configured to be deactivated in response to the temperature of the fluid being no greater than a first temperature, such that the smart material deactivates the actuator;wherein the smart material is configured to be fully activated in response to the temperature of the fluid being at least equal to a second temperature, such that full activation of the smart material causes the actuator to be fully activated;wherein the smart material is configured to be partially activated in response to the temperature of the fluid being greater than the first temperature and less than the second temperature, such that the smart material causes the actuator to be partially activated;wherein the actuator is configured to continuously act on the spool when the actuator is partially activated, such that the spool moves to the second position;wherein the actuator is configured to continuously act on the spool when the actuator is fully activated, such that the spool moves to the third position;wherein the fluid is permitted to flow from the cavity to the heater, and from the heater to the device when the spool is in the first position;wherein the fluid is prevented from flowing to the heater and the cooler when the spool is in the second position; andwherein the fluid is permitted to flow from the cavity to the cooler, and from the cooler to the device when the spool is in the third position.
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