CN104520552B - Valve blocks for vehicle cooling systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a valve group (10) for a vehicle cooling system, comprising: a first duct (20) adapted to allow a first flow (P1) of cooling liquid to enter through a first mouth (21); a second duct (30) adapted to allow a second flow (P2) of cooling liquid to enter through a second mouth (31); an exit duct (50) in fluid communication with the first and second ducts for exit of the first and second streams (P1, P2); a closure element (80) movable between a closed position, in which it is positioned on said first and second mouths (21, 31) to block the entry of the cooling liquid, and an open position, in which it is distanced from said mouths to allow the fluid communication of said first and second ducts with said exit duct (50); a control device (90) comprising a control element (91) adapted to translate and move the closure element (80) between a closed position and an open position.

Description

Valve blocks for vehicle cooling systems

technical field

The invention relates to a valve group for a cooling system, in particular to a valve group for a cooling system of a vehicle.

In particular, the valve group is adapted for use in a cooling system of a vehicle adapted to cool an endothermic motor having a double cylinder bank. The vehicle is preferably a car or a motorcycle.

Although the valve group referred to by the present invention is suitable for cooling the cylinder bank of a heat-absorbing motor, the valve group is also suitable for controlling the cooling of other components of the vehicle; preferably, depending on the embodiment of the system, said other components are external to the motor. Additional components or additional components of the motor other than cylinder banks, such as the head.

Background technique

It is well known that cooling systems or cooling circuits for thermic motors, especially in the field of vehicles, are very complex in construction and require special attention to the components and their relationship. fluid connectivity between them. Therefore, a huge effort needs to be put into properly designing these components (such as pumps or valves), with an emphasis on continuous improvement in performance.

An example of a cooling pump is shown in the applicant's BS2010A000122 document.

Known valve groups are suitable for controlling the cooling of other components downstream of the cooling pump, as well as for controlling the cooling of further elements of the motor or other interior components of the vehicle.

The valve block needs to be as small in size as possible, as easy to operate as possible and as reliable as possible.

On the contrary, when manufacturing valve blocks of small size and as simple as possible to handle, the valve blocks are generally not very reliable, in particular there are problems of leakage.

Contents of the invention

The object of the present invention is to make a valve block for a cooling system suitable for controlling the flow between the main cooling line and the secondary, bled off or capillary line of a cylinder bank of a motor Fluid communication, the valve group is manufactured according to the aforementioned needs, but with better reliability.

This object is achieved by a valve block produced according to the invention.

Description of drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the valve group according to the invention will become apparent from the description given hereinafter as a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a view of a cooling system for a vehicle with a hot motor according to one embodiment of the invention, with a double cylinder bank comprising a valve bank, wherein the coolant controlled by the valve bank is adapted to cool the vehicle Other parts external to the endothermic motor;

- Figure 1a shows a further view of a cooling system for a hot motor vehicle according to another embodiment of the invention, with a double cylinder bank comprising a valve bank, wherein the coolant controlled by the valve bank is suitable for cooling of other parts of the heat-absorbing motor, such as the cylinder head;

- Figure 2 is an axonometric view of a valve according to one embodiment of the invention;

- Figures 3a and 3b are two cross-sectional views of the valve block in Figure 2 in the closed configuration and in the open configuration;

- Figures 4a and 4b are two isometric views of a valve block according to another embodiment of the invention in a closed configuration and in an open configuration;

- Figures 5a and 5b are two cross-sectional views of the valve block of Figures 4a and 4b respectively in a closed configuration and in an open configuration.

detailed description

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 denotes a valve group for cooling system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The valve block 10 is used in particular for a vehicle cooling system 1 , preferably an automobile or motorcycle, and in particular for a vehicle cooling system of a heat-absorbing internal combustion engine 501 having two cylinder banks 502 and 503 .

In a preferred embodiment, the valve block 10 comprises two inlet ducts 20 and 30 adapted to allow cooling liquid to enter the interior of the valve block 10 .

In particular, the valve block 10 comprises a first conduit 20 adapted to allow cooling liquid to enter the valve block 10 through a first mouth 21 ; the first conduit 20 is dimensioned to allow the passage of a first flow P1 of cooling liquid.

Likewise, the valve block 10 comprises a second conduit 30 adapted to allow cooling liquid to enter the valve block 10 through a second mouth 31; the second conduit 30 is dimensioned to allow a second flow P2 of cooling liquid pass.

Preferably, the dimensions of the first conduit 20 can be matched to the dimensions of the second conduit 30 so that the first flow P1 can be quantitatively matched to the second flow P2.

In a preferred embodiment, the first conduit 20 is separate from the second conduit 30 .

For example, two pipes run in opposite or parallel or perpendicular directions without meeting, so as to join two flows along the extension of the two pipes.

In a preferred embodiment, the two conduits meet in a part of both while keeping the streams P1 and P2 separate from each other; indeed, in a preferred embodiment, the first conduit 20 (at least in its final part, e.g. The first mouth 21 ) extends around the second duct 30 (at least in its last part, eg the second mouth 31 ).

Preferably, to allow exit from the valve block, the valve block 10 includes an exit conduit 50 in fluid communication with the first conduit 20 and the second conduit 30; The first flow P1 and the second flow P2 of cooling liquid are thus adapted to leave the valve block 10 by leaving the duct 50 .

Preferably, the valve block 10 comprises a closure element 80 in order to regulate the aforementioned coolant exit.

The closure element 80 is movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the closing element 80 is positioned on said first mouth 21 and the second mouth 31 accordingly and blocks the entry of cooling liquid from the first duct 20 and from the second duct 30; while in the open position , the closure element is away from the first mouth 21 and the second mouth 31 so as to allow the first pipe 20 and the second pipe 30 to be in fluid communication with the exit pipe 50;

Preferably, the closure element 80 is positioned for sealing said first mouth 21 and second mouth 31 when the closure element 80 is in the closed position. In other words, the presence of the closure element 80 sealingly blocks the circulation of the cooling liquid and in particular the circulation of the first flow and the circulation of the second flow P2.

In a preferred embodiment, the valve block 10 comprises specific control means 90 for positioning said closure element 80 .

Preferably, the control means 90 comprise a control element 91 translatable along an axis adapted to engage the closure element 80 and to move the closure element between the aforementioned closed and open positions.

As said, in the closed position, the closure element 80 prevents any leakage of the first mouth 21 and the second mouth 31 at the location of the closure element; in particular, this is due to the fact that when the control device 90 will When the closure element 80 is positioned in the closed position, the force exerted by the control means on the closure element 80 is greater than the force of the first flow P1 and the second flow P2 emerging from said mouth.

In particular, the engagement between the control element 91 and the closure element 80 may vary in different embodiments. In fact, in some variants, said interaction between components is of the direct type, whereas in other embodiments it is indirect, that is to say by means of additional specific components.

In a preferred embodiment, the control element 91 engages the closure element 80 in a direct manner so as to translate the closure element axially.

In other words, the translation of the closure element 80 corresponds to the translation of the control element 91 .

Preferably, the closure element 80 comprises a trunk 81 directly connected to the control element 91 and to the head 82 (preferably at the other end of the trunk 81 ); the head 82 is adapted to pass in translation The trunk portion 81 is positioned on the first mouth portion 21 and on the second mouth portion 31 by moving the trunk portion 81 in the same manner.

Thus, in the described embodiment, the closure element 80 is generally mushroom-shaped.

Preferably, according to the described embodiment, the first conduit 20 and the second conduit 30 have radially to the main Stem 81 or an extension parallel to the trunk.

In another embodiment variant, the control element 91 engages the closure element 80 indirectly; in particular, the control element and the closure element communicate with each other by means of a rod 92 included in the control device 90, which is adapted to connect the control The axial movement of the element 91 is converted into a rotational movement of the closure element 80 .

Preferably, in practice, the closure element 80 comprises a pin 85 connected to said lever 92 and comprises a blade 86 adapted to be positioned so as to be articulated with the rotation of the lever 92 and thus The pin 85 rotates to be positioned on the first mouth portion 21 and the second mouth portion 31 .

Thus, the vane 86 is adapted to be positioned over the two mouths so as to seal the two mouths and thus block the flows P1 and P2.

In a preferred embodiment, the valve block 10 is included between the first mouth 21 and the second mouth 31 and the outlet pipe 50, both in the embodiment of the direct engagement between the different parts and in the embodiment of the indirect engagement. Between the mixing chamber 40.

Preferably, the mixing chamber 40 is furthermore adapted to accommodate a closure element 80 between the closed position and the open position. In other words, the mixing chamber is suitably sized and manufactured according to the dimensions of the closure element 80 itself and the space it occupies when it is moved.

In a preferred embodiment, the first flow P1 and the second flow P2 are joined in a mixing chamber and then exit the valve block 10 through exit conduit 50 .

In a preferred embodiment, said control means 80 comprise actuators, preferably pneumatic, preferably vacuum actuators.

In other embodiments, the control means comprise one or more mechanical or electronic elements adapted to move the control element 81 in translation along the axis.

A cooling system 1 according to the invention for a vehicle having a heat absorption motor with a double cylinder bank 501 comprising at least one valve is described below in a non-limiting manner. In the description of the cooling system described below, reference will also be made to the drawings in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1 a , which schematically show the logical scheme of the system in two embodiments.

Preferably, the cooling system 1 further includes a cooling pump 100 and a valve group 10 .

Preferably, said cooling pump 100 is adapted to move two main streams PP1 and PP2 of cooling liquid towards two respective cylinder banks 502 and 503 of the endothermic motor through two respective main ducts 2 and 3 .

Preferably, the main ducts 2 and 3 comprise main inlet ducts 2', 3' in the input of the respective cylinder bank and main exit ducts 2", 3" in the output of the respective cylinder bank. Said main exit ducts 2 ″, 3 ″ are in fluid communication with a single main return duct 5 ″ adapted to return cooling liquid to the pump 100 .

The cooling system 1 comprises a valve group 10 according to the embodiment described above, the valve group in the system 1 being proven suitable for controlling the cooling of other parts of the vehicle, preferably parts external to the heat-absorbing motor (figure 1) or components inside the endothermic motor, such as the head ( FIG. 1 a ) and the cylinder bank; preferably said components are located upstream of the valve block 10 ( FIGS. 1 and 1 a ) or in other embodiments said components Positioned downstream of the valve block.

In the described embodiment, the first conduit 20 and the second conduit 30 of the valve block 10 communicate with capillary conduits 22 and 32 respectively, which branch off from the two main conduits 2, 3, preferably from the main inlet conduit 2' and 3' branch out. Conversely, the exit conduit 50 is preferably in fluid communication with the return exit conduit 5'

Finally, preferably, the system 1 provides in the input of the cooling pump 100 a pump inlet duct 5 in fluid communication with the main return duct 5 ″ from the cylinder banks 502 , 503 and the return exit duct 5 ′ from the valve group 10 .

In a preferred embodiment, the capillary channels 22 and 32 are adapted to allow the passage of the first flow P1 and the second flow P2 ; In other words, preferably, the amount of the first flow P1 is generally one-tenth of the first main flow PP1, and the amount of the second flow P2 is generally one-tenth of the second main flow PP2.

Preferably, therefore, the two capillary ducts 22 and 32 are adapted to cool additional components other than the cylinder banks 502 and 503 of the endothermic motor, for example inside the endothermic motor such as the head or base (Fig. 1a) Or even an additional component 600 (FIG. 1) external to the endothermic motor.

Preferably, due to the characteristics of the valve group 10 as described above, in the closed position, the valve group keeps the first flow P1 and the second flow P2 separated and thus keeps the respective main flows PP1 and PP2 separated.

Inventively, the valve group to which the present invention relates is positioned in the cooling system of the vehicle and the associated motor, allowing timely and reliable control of the passage of two separate flows of cooling fluid.

Advantageously, the two liquid streams remain separated from each other until reaching the valve group.

Furthermore, advantageously, the flows of cooling liquid only mix with each other downstream of the closing element.

According to another advantageous aspect, the valve group, in particular the closing element of the valve group, when in the closed position, positions itself on the pipe mouth so as to block the passage of the flow in the input; therefore it is necessary to keep the closing element closed. The forces need to be corrected in order to withstand the forces produced by the two streams; advantageously, this all proves to be very simple and in this way achieves a hermetic closure keeping the two liquid streams completely separated, avoiding leaks or the like The problem.

According to yet another advantageous aspect, by positioning the closure element directly on the mouth a hindrance is thus achieved without sealing surfaces.

Advantageously, the valve block is adapted to operate with pipes of small dimensions, particularly suitable for moving limited flows.

Furthermore, advantageously, the movement of the closure element can be achieved in an extremely simple manner by means of control means adapted to translate along the axis.

According to another advantageous aspect, the geometry of the valve block is extremely simple.

According to another advantageous aspect, the valve block proves to be extremely compact and has reduced dimensions and is therefore easy to insert into the vehicle interior. Advantageously, in practice, the only space occupied by the valve group is the space required due to the size of the control element and the space required for moving it.

Advantageously, in the cooling system, the cylinder banks and other components of the endothermic motor can be cooled or their cooling is controllable thanks to the valve group; in particular, other internal components of the endothermic motor can be cooled, or the endothermic motor can be cooled Additional external parts of the motor.

It is obvious that a person skilled in the art can make modifications to the above-described valve group and system to meet specific needs, and these modifications are all included within the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims (15)

1. A valve group (10) for a cooling system for a vehicle, the valve group comprising: - a first conduit (20) adapted to allow a first flow (P1) of cooling liquid to enter through the first mouth (21); - a second conduit (30), separate from said first conduit (20), said second conduit being adapted to allow a second flow (P2) of cooling liquid to enter through a second mouth (31 ) ; - an exit conduit (50) in fluid communication with said first conduit (20) and in fluid communication with said second conduit (30), said exit conduit being adapted to allow said first flow (P1) of cooling liquid ) and said second flow (P2) leaves; - a closure element (80) movable between a closed position and an open position in which said closure element (80) is positioned correspondingly between said first mouth (21) and said on said second mouth (31) and blocks the entry of cooling liquid from said first duct (20) and said second duct (30), in said open position said closure element is away from said first mouth (21) and said second mouth (31) and allow fluid communication between said first conduit (20) and said second conduit (30) and said exit conduit (50); - Control means (90) comprising an axis-translatable control element (91) adapted to engage said closure element (80) and move between said closed position and said open position said closure element; Characterized in that, at least in the last part of the first duct, the first duct (20) extends around the second duct (30) at least at the last part of the second duct. 2. Valve block (10) according to claim 1 , wherein in the closed position, the closure element (80) is positioned such that the first mouth (21 ) and the second mouth (31) SEAL. 3. The valve block (10) according to claim 1, wherein, in the closed position, the force exerted by the control device (90) on the closing element (80) is greater than that exerted by the first flow (P1) and the force exerted by said second flow (P2) on said closure element. 4. Valve block (10) according to claim 1, wherein said control element (91 ) engages said closing element (80) in axial translation in a direct manner. 5. Valve block (10) according to claim 4, wherein said closure element (80) comprises a stem (81 ) connected to said control element (91 ) and comprises a head (82) which A portion is adapted to be positioned on said first mouth portion (21) and said second mouth portion (31) when said trunk portion (81) is moved in translation. 6. Valve block (10) according to claim 1, wherein said control element (91 ) engages said closure element (80) indirectly by means of a rod (92) adapted to An axial movement of the control element (91) is converted into a rotational movement of the closure element (80). 7. Valve block (10) according to claim 6, wherein said closure element (80) comprises a pin (85) connected to a rod (92) and comprises a blade (86) adapted to To be positioned on said first mouth (21) and said second mouth (31) when said pin (85) is rotated. 8. Valve block (10) according to claim 1, wherein said control means (90) comprises an actuator. 9. Valve block (10) according to claim 1, said valve block comprised between said first mouth (21) and said second mouth (31) and said exit duct (50) A mixing chamber (40) adapted to accommodate said closure element (80) between said closed position and said open position. 10. Valve block (10) according to claim 1, wherein the last part of the first conduit is the first mouth (21). 11. The valve block (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first duct (20) extends at least around the second mouth (31 ). 12. Valve block (10) according to claim 8, wherein said actuator is pneumatic. 13. A cooling system (1) for an endothermic motor vehicle with double cylinder banks (501), said cooling system comprising: - a cooling pump (100) adapted to direct the two main streams (PP1, PP2) of cooling fluid through two respective main pipes (2, 3) towards the two respective cylinder banks of said endothermic motor (502, 503) movement, wherein the main ducts include main inlet ducts (2', 3') in the input of the corresponding cylinder bank and main exit ducts (2", 3' in the output of the corresponding cylinder bank 3"), and wherein said main exit ducts (2", 3") are in fluid communication with a single main return duct (5") leading to said cooling pump (100); - a valve group (10), said valve group being a valve group according to claim 1, said valve group being adapted to control the cooling of further vehicle components, wherein said first of said valve group (10) The pipe (20) and the second pipe (30) communicate with two capillary pipes (22, 32) respectively, and the two capillary pipes are branched from the two main pipes (2, 3), and wherein the said exit conduit (50) is in fluid communication with a return exit conduit (5') from said cooling pump (100); - pump inlet duct (5) in the input section of said cooling pump (100) and connected to said main return duct (5") from said cylinder banks (502, 503) and from said Said return of valve group (10) is in fluid communication out of conduit (5'). 14. Cooling system (1) according to claim 13, wherein said capillary duct (22, 32) is adapted to allow passage of said first flow (P1) and said second flow (P2), and said The capillary channels are generally designed to have dimensions that are orders of magnitude smaller than the corresponding said main channels (2, 3). 15. Cooling system (1) according to claim 13, wherein in said closed position said valve block (10) keeps said first flow (P1) and said second flow (P2) separated, And thus keep the respective said main streams (PP1, PP2) separate.