MULTIWAY CONTROL VALVE HAVING A SEALING CARRIER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multiway valve for controlling at least one flow of at least one fluid, in particular within a motor vehicle, including at least one housing and one valve member disposed at least in areas within at least one valve space which is configured at least in areas within the housing, and by way of changing a rotary position of the valve member within the valve space about a first rotary axis, at least the amount of an inflow of the fluid from at least one first fluid connector into the valve space and/or at least the amount of outflow of the fluid out of the valve space is adjustable by at least one second fluid connector, and the multiway valve includes at least one insert which is disposed at least in areas between the valve member and the housing and is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the housing.

Claims

1. The present invention relates to a multiway valve (1, 1′) for controlling at least one flow of at least one fluid, in particular within a motor vehicle, comprising at least one housing (3) and one valve member (7) disposed at least in areas within at least one valve space (5) which is configured at least in areas within the housing (3), wherein by way of changing a rotary position of the valve member (7) within the valve space (5) about a first rotary axis (D), at least the amount of inflow of the fluid from at least one first fluid connector (11) into the valve space (5) and/or at least the amount of outflow of the fluid out of the valve space (5) is adjustable by at least one second fluid connector (13, 15), wherein the multiway valve (1) comprises at least one insert (17) which is disposed at least in areas between the valve member (7) and the housing (3) and is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the housing (3), characterized in that: the insert (17) comprises at least one sealing arrangement (18).

2. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: the fluid comprises at least one heating fluid and/or cooling fluid and/or that the fluid comprises at least one liquid, at least one gas and/or at least one gel.

3. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: the first fluid connector (11) and/or the second fluid connector (13, 15) is/are at least in areas enclosed by the housing (3).

4. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: at least two, in particular a plurality of first fluid connectors (11) and/or second fluid connectors (13, 15) are provided, preferably that the first fluid connector comprises at least one main inlet (11), and/or that at least one second fluid connector comprises at least one main outlet (13) and that at least one further second fluid connector comprises a bypass outlet (15), in particular that the main inlet (11) is connectable, in particular is connected, to at least one heating and/or cooling circuit of the motor vehicle, and/or that the main outlet (13) is connectable, in particular connected, to at least one radiator of the motor vehicle and/or that the bypass outlet (15) is connectable, in particular is connected, to at least one bypass line, in particular bypassing the radiator.

5. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: the valve member comprises at least one rotary piston (7), at least one rotary ball, at least one rotary piston segment and/or at least one rotary ball segment.

6. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: in at least a first position of the valve member (7), a connection between a first first fluid connector, in particular the main inlet (11), and a first second fluid connector, in particular the main outlet (13), is open and that, in at least a second position of the valve member (7), a connection between a second first fluid connector, in particular the main inlet (11), and a second second fluid connector, in particular the bypass outlet (15), is open.

7. The multiway valve as recited in claim 6, characterized in that: the first first fluid connector (11) and the second first fluid connector are identical or that the first second fluid connector and the second second fluid connector are identical, that, in the first position of the valve member (7), the connection between the second first fluid connector (11) and the second second fluid connector (15) is closed and/or that, in the second position of the valve member (7), the connection between the first first fluid connector (11) and the first second fluid connector (13) is or are closed.

8. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: in at least a third position, preferably a position between the first position and the second position, a connection between the first first fluid connector (11) on the one hand and the first second fluid connector (13) and/or the second second fluid connector (15) on the other hand, and/or that a connection between the second first fluid connector (11) on the one hand and the first second fluid connector (13) and/or the second second fluid connector (15) on the other hand is or are at least partially open.

9. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: at least one first fluid connector (11) and/or at least one second fluid connector (13) is situated in the housing (3) in such a manner that the fluid in relation to the first rotary axis (D) flows in the radial direction into the valve space (5) or out of the valve space (5) and/or at least one first fluid connector and/or at least one second fluid connector (13) is situated in the housing in such a manner that the fluid in relation to the first rotary axis (D) flows in the axial direction into the valve space (5) or out of the valve space (5).

10. The multiway valve as recited in claim 9, characterized in that: the fluid flows through the main inlet (11) in a radial direction into the valve space (5), flows through the main outlet (13) in an axial direction out of the valve space (5) and/or flows through the bypass outlet (15) in a radial direction out of the valve space (5).

11. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: at least one fixing device (23), by means of which the insert (17) is held at least in a rotary fixed manner, in particular is held non-positively and/or positively, at least about the first rotary axis (D) relative to the housing (3), in particular comprising at least two fixing elements (25, 27), for example tongue-and-groove elements, threaded elements and/or clip elements, configured in a complementary manner to each other, and, on the one hand, preferably configured at least in areas at the insert (17) and/or, on the other hand, at least in areas at the housing (3).

12. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: the sealing arrangement (18) comprises, at least on the side facing the valve member (7), at least in areas a material reducing a friction between the valve member (7) and the insert (17), preferably polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidenfluoride (PVDF) and/or perflouroalkoxy polymer (PFA), in particular in the form of at least one coating and/or in that the insert (17) comprises the material reducing the friction at least in areas, preferably is made at least in areas from this material.

13. The multiway valve as recited claim 1, characterized in that: the sealing arrangement (18) comprises, in particular on the surface facing away from the valve member (7) and/or facing the housing (3), at least one sealing element (19) connected to the insert (17) in a positive, non-positive and/or intermaterial manner, wherein in particular the sealing element (19) is connected to the insert (17) at least in areas by way of injection molding, welding, vulcanizing, positioning in at least one recess and/or groove, adhesive bonding, clipping and/or spraying.

14. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: the sealing arrangement (18), in particular the sealing element (19), comprises at least one first first sealing area (21a), which is situated in the area of at least one first fluid connector (11), preferably a first fluid connector (11) enabling a radial flow of the fluid into the valve space (5) in relation to the first rotary axis (D), in particular in the area of run-in of the first fluid connector (11) into the valve space (5), preferably completely surrounding the area of run-in, and/or at least one second second sealing area (21b), which is situated in the area of at least one second fluid connector (15), preferably a second fluid connector enabling a radial flow of the fluid out of the valve space (5) in relation to the first rotary axis (D), in particular in the area of run-in of the second fluid connector (15) into the valve space (5), preferably completely surrounding the area of run-in of the second fluid connector (15).

15. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: the sealing element (19) at least in areas comprises at least one elastic material, for example ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM), comprises at least one lip seal and/or multiple-lip seal, and/or that the valve member (7) on the surface facing the insert (17) has at least one first contouring (35) and/or that the carrier (17) on the surface facing the valve member (7) has at least in areas one second contouring, and/or wherein the first contouring and/or the second contouring comprise at least one ridge, at least one edge (35) and/or at least one bead.

16. The multiway valve as recited in claim 15, characterized in that: with the aid of the first contouring (35) and/or the second contouring, in at least a fourth position of the valve member (7), a pressure, by means of which the sealing arrangement, in particular the sealing element, is urged at least in areas in the direction of the housing, is increased, and/or that the first contouring is in contact with the second contouring (35) and/or the material reducing the friction.

17. The multiway valve as recited in claim 16, characterized in that: the fourth position corresponds to the first position and/or the second position, in particular that, in the first position, the first sealing area (21a) is prestressed against the inner wall of the valve space (5) and/or is urged in the direction of the inner wall, and/or, in the second position, the second sealing area (21b) is prestressed against the inner wall of the valve space (5) and/or is urged in the direction of the inner wall.

18. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized in that: the first sealing area (21a) and the second sealing area (21b) have a substantially identical surface shape and/or circumference shape and are situated in an off-set manner to each other along the circumference of the insert (17), that the second contouring comprises at least one first second contouring area overlapping at least in areas with the first sealing area (21a) and at least one second second contouring area overlapping at least in areas with the second sealing area (21b), and/or that the first sealing area (21a), in the first position, overlaps the first contouring area (35) at least in areas and/or that the second sealing area (21b), in the second position, overlaps the first contouring area (35) at least in areas, in particular is, in the first position, situated in the surface area of the carrier (17) facing away from the first sealing area (21a) and/or abuts at the surface area of the carrier (17) facing away from the first sealing area (21a) and/or, in the second position, is situated in the surface area of the carrier (17) facing away from the second sealing area (21b) and/or abuts at the surface area of the carrier (17) facing away from the second sealing area (21b), preferably, that the first sealing area (21a) as well as also the second sealing area (21b) have a surface shape, circumference shape and/or contour complementary to the first contouring (35).

19. The multiway valve as recited in claim 1, characterized by: at least one cover (9) at least in areas closing the valve space (5) and/or at least releasably connectable to the housing (3), in particular attachable to the housing (3), wherein preferably the fixing device, in particular at least one fixing element, is at least in areas enclosed by the cover (9).

20. The multiway valve as recited in claim 19, characterized by: at least one first, in particular fixedly specified, sealing member situated at least in areas between the housing (3) and the cover (9), in particular comprising at least one quad ring (29), wherein the first sealing member (29) at least in areas is enclosed by the housing (3) and/or the cover (9) and/or is attached to the housing and/or the cover.

21. The multiway valve as recited in claim 18, characterized in that: the valve member (7) at least in areas is mounted in at least one second sealing member (31), which is disposed at least in areas in the cover (9), in particular is connected to the cover (9) and/or is at least in areas enclosed by the cover (9), preferably, that the second sealing member comprises at least one radial shaft seal, in particular, a radial shaft seal ring (31).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Further features and advantages of the present invention result from the subsequent description, in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are described on the basis of schematic drawings.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a perspective top view onto a multiway valve according to the present invention;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows an illustration of the multiway valve of FIG. 1, however, having a semi-transparently illustrated housing;

[0048] FIG. 3a shows a detailed view of the multiway valve according to cutout A of FIG. 2, however without a housing;

[0049] FIG. 3b shows a detailed view according to FIG. 3a of a further embodiment of the multiway valve according to the present invention;

[0050] FIG. 4a shows a view according to FIG. 3b by omitting the cover and, thus, of the semi-transparent illustration of the carrier in a first position of the valve member;

[0051] FIG. 4b shows a view according to FIG. 4a of the second embodiment of FIG. 3b;

[0052] FIG. 5a shows a view according to FIG. 4a, however in a second position of the valve member; and

[0053] FIG. 5b shows a view according to FIG. 5a of the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0054] According to FIG. 1, a multiway valve 1 according to the present invention includes a housing 3. As can be seen from FIG. 2, a valve space 5 is configured within housing 3. In valve space 5, a valve member is disposed in the form of a rotary piston 7. Rotary piston 7 is rotatably mounted about a first rotary axis D and is moved via an actuator, which is not shown.

[0055] Housing 1 is closed with the aid of a cover 9, a part of rotary piston 7 protruding through cover 9.

[0056] In housing 3, a first fluid connector is configured in the form of a main inlet 11. Moreover, housing 3 has a first second fluid connector in the form of a main outlet 13 and a second second fluid connector in the form of a bypass outlet 15. By way of main inlet 11, a fluid may be supplied in the radial direction in relation to rotary axis D into valve space 5, while a fluid from valve space 5 outflows through main outlet 13 in an axial direction in relation to axis D and the fluid flows out of valve space 5 via bypass outlet 15 in a radial direction in relation to rotary axis D.

[0057] As may be concluded in particular from FIG. 2, an insert 17 is disposed within valve space 5. Insert 17 includes a material having a low frictional resistance, in particular polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) and, preferably, insert 17 is made in areas from this material or has at least on the inner wall facing rotary piston 7 a coating having this material.

[0058] As it can be furthermore concluded from FIG. 2, a sealing element 19 is disposed as part of a sealing arrangement 18 on an outer surface of insert 17 facing the housing. The sealing element is formed by an EPDM lip seal inserted in a groove in insert 17. Sealing element 19 has a first sealing area 21a and a second sealing area 21b.

[0059] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 3a through 5b, first sealing area 21a and second sealing area 21b are congruently formed; however, they are situated in different positions around the circumferential area of insert 17. As can be furthermore concluded from FIG. 2, insert 17 is rotatably fixedly mounted within housing 3 with the aid of a fixing device 23. In this instance, fixing device 23 has ridges 25, which are configured within housing 3, and thereto complementary recesses 27, which are configured in insert 17. When ridges 25 engage with recesses 27, a positive attachment of insert 17 in relation to rotary axis D is achieved.

[0060] FIG. 3a shows a view according to cutout A of FIG. 2 by omitting housing 3. As can be concluded from FIG. 3a, a first fixedly specified sealing member in the form of a quad ring 29 is disposed at cover 9. With the aid of quad ring 29, a sealing of housing 3 and of cover 9 results. Rotary piston 7 is held in cover 9 with the aid of a second sealing member, including at least one axial shaft sealing ring 29, indicated in FIG. 3a.

[0061] The second embodiment of a multiway valve 1′ illustrated in FIG. 3b differs from the first embodiment of FIG. 3a in that the cover and the housing are connected to each other by way of welding, so that the first sealing member in the form of quad ring 29 can be forgone.

[0062] On the basis of FIGS. 4a through 5b, the mode of operation of multiway valve 1 is now described. In FIGS. 4a and 4b, rotary piston 7 is shown in a first position. In this position, a connection between main inlet 11 and main outlet 13 is open in that there is a fluidal connection between the main inlet and the main outlet. In contrast, a connection between main inlet 11 and a connection channel 33 configured in rotary piston 7 is closed, in particular connection channel 33 and bypass outlet 15 connected thereto in the first position are sealed vis-à-vis main inlet 11 and main outlet 13. Furthermore, rotary piston 7 has a first contouring in the form of a sealing edge 35. As can be concluded in particular from FIGS. 4a and 4b, sealing edge 35 in the first position is positioned opposite second sealing area 21b of sealing arrangement 18 or sealing element 19.

[0063] On account of this positioning, a pressing of sealing element 19, in particular of sealing area 21b, against the inner wall of valve space 5 results, in particular in the area in which bypass outlet 15 runs into valve space 5. In so doing, it is ensured that, with the aid of sealing area 21b, a sealing of the gap between insert 17 and housing 3 is achieved in such a manner that only a fluid flow between main inlet 11 and main outlet 13 is enabled and that this intermediate area between insert 17 and housing 3 is sealed with respect to the remaining area of valve space 5. Sealing edge 35 also ensures that a sealing in the area of the inner wall of insert 17 is achieved, so that no fluid is able to enter the intermediate space between rotary piston 7 and insert 17 in the area of bypass outlet 15 and of connection channel 33.

[0064] If rotary piston 7 is now transferred into the position shown in FIG. 5a or 5b, sealing edge 35 is in such a position that first sealing area 21a enters the area which is located between sealing edge 35 and the housing wall of valve space 5. In so doing, it is ensured that a best possible sealing of the opening communicating with bypass outlet 15 results in insert 17 vis-à-vis main outlet 13. This effects that a fluid supplied via main inlet 11 is exclusively guided via connection channel 33 to bypass outlet 15, while a fluid flow through main outlet 13 is completely inhibited. In this instance, the area between the housing wall and insert 17 is sealed by first sealing area 21a in the area of bypass outlet 15 as well as also in the area of main inlet 11, while a sealing of the area between insert 17 and rotary piston 7 is achieved on the inner side of insert 17 by the interplay of sealing edge 35 and the inner surface of insert 17. In so doing, a completely sealed fluid path, vis-à-vis the remaining areas of valve 1, is established from the main inlet via the opening in insert 17, through connection channel 33 and the further opening in the insert to bypass outlet 15.

[0065] If rotary piston 7 is located in an intermediate position between the first position shown in FIG. 4a or 4b and the second position shown in FIG. 5a or 5b, a partial fluid flow through main outlet 13 and bypass outlet 15 results depending on the overlap of connection channel 33 with the opening in insert 17 communicating with main inlet 11. In this instance, a leakage between the inner wall of valve space 5 and insert 17 occurs, because sealing edge 35 is also offset relative to first sealing area 21a as well as also to second sealing area 21b, so that sealing element 19 is no longer pressed to a maximum against the inner wall of inner space 5. This results in also reducing the prestress between insert 17 and sealing edge 35, so that even lower frictional forces occur and so that less torque is necessary to rotate rotary piston 7.

[0066] Alternative embodiments not shown may provide that on the surface of insert 17 facing away from respective sealing areas 21a, 21b, which faces rotary piston 7, an additional contouring, in particular ridges, is/are provided to further increase the difference in the contact pressure between the positions in which sealing edge 35 overlaps with the respective sealing areas and the positions in which this is not the case.

[0067] The features illustrated or described in the preceding description, the claims and the drawings may, individually as well as also in any combination, be substantial for the present invention in its various embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0068] 1, 1′ multiway valve

[0069] 3 housing

[0070] 5 valve space

[0071] 7 rotary piston

[0072] 9 cover

[0073] 11 main inlet

[0074] 13 main outlet

[0075] 15 bypass outlet

[0076] 17 insert

[0077] 18 sealing arrangement

[0078] 19 sealing element

[0079] 21a sealing area

[0080] 21b sealing area

[0081] 23 fixing device

[0082] 25 ridge

[0083] 27 recess

[0084] 29 quad ring

[0085] 31 radial shaft seal ring

[0086] 33 connection channel

[0087] 35 sealing edge

[0088] A cutout

[0089] D rotary axis