FR3144640A1 - Fluid control valve and its assembly method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve comprising: - a body (1) having an internal housing, - fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices (B1, D1, B2), - a member (3) movable in rotation in said housing around an axis (X-X) and having flow openings (310, 320, 330), - seals (4) ensuring a seal between the openings and the orifices, in which: - the orifices are arranged in the body at distinct stages, - the rotating member comprises several bushels (31, 32, 33) each located at one of said stages and whose external walls are included in a common envelope of frustoconical shape, - a holder seal (2) is installed in the internal housing of the body, - the seal holder has seal housings in which the seals are installed, - each seal housing has an axis perpendicular to the envelope. Figure 6

Description

Fluid control valve and its assembly method

The invention relates to a fluid control valve. The invention also relates to a process for automated assembly of such a valve.

The invention relates in particular to the technical field of fluid control valves, in particular used to control the circulation of a cooling fluid in a motor vehicle heat exchanger system.

State of the art

Heat exchanger systems for vehicle engines, particularly automobiles, include a cooling circuit making it possible to route one or more cooling fluids in several branches or sub-circuits. Valves integrated into these circuits make it possible to control the flow of fluid in the different branches according to thermal needs and/or according to desired temperature ranges.

Patent documents WO2014/187452 and EP1529937 disclose such a valve comprising a valve body – or casing – having an internal housing. Fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices open on the one hand into this housing and on the other hand onto an external surface of the casing. A rotating member in the form of a spherical plug is mounted to rotate in the housing so as to control the circulation of fluid between these orifices. The ball is moved by an electric motor type actuator. The fluid inlet and/or outlet ports include annular seals in sealing contact with the ball valve. These prior art valves, however, have a certain number of drawbacks.

Mounting the plug in the casing appears complicated due to the spherical shape of said plug and/or requires a particularly complex design of the valve making its large-scale industrialization difficult. Also, to ensure optimal sealing in the valves of WO2014/187452 and EP1529937, it is necessary to stress the seals by attached spring elements. This results in increased friction between the joints and the ball valve so that the actuator must provide a relatively large torque to rotate said ball valve. In addition, the number of fluid circulation paths (or operating modes) is limited.

The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to propose a valve whose design and assembly are easy, making it possible to simplify the industrialization process. The invention also aims to propose a solution for limiting the friction between the seals and the rotation member so as to limit the torque necessary for rotating said member and reduce the bulk and/or the power. consumed by the actuator. An additional objective of the invention is to propose a valve making it possible to offer more operating modes.

Presentation of the invention

The solution proposed by the invention is a fluid control valve comprising:
- a valve body having an internal housing,
fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices opening into the internal housing,
- a rotary member having fluid flow openings, which member is mounted movable in rotation in the internal housing around an axis of rotation, so as to control the circulation of fluid between said flow openings and the orifices fluid inlet and/or outlet,
- annular seals in sealed contact with the rotating member to ensure fluid tightness between the fluid flow openings and the fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices,
and in which:
- the inlet and/or outlet orifices are arranged in the body on stages distinct from each other,
- the rotating member comprises several bushels arranged one above the other along the axis of rotation, each bushel being located on one of said stages and whose external walls are included in a common envelope of frustoconical shape,
- a one-piece seal holder is installed in the internal housing of the body, which seal holder has an internal housing in which the rotating member is mounted,
- the seal holder has seal housings in fluid communication with the inlet and/or outlet orifices and in which the seals are installed,
- each joint housing has an axis perpendicular to the frustoconical envelope, the joints being installed along this axis.

The use of a rotating member made up of several distinct bushels makes it possible to design each one in a specific manner in order to very simply offer all the combinations suitable for the desired operating modes. The number of possible operating modes is therefore increased tenfold compared to the aforementioned valves of the prior art, while maintaining a small radial footprint. In addition, the configuration of the valves whose external walls are included in a common envelope of frustoconical shape allows easy assembly of the rotating member in the seal housing, which can also be installed very simply in the valve body. The valve can ultimately be made up of only three parts (rotating member, seal holder and valve body) thus allowing a relatively simple industrialization process. In addition, the applicant has surprisingly noted that the specific orientation of the seal housings and the seals makes it possible to limit the friction between said seals and the bushels so that the torque necessary for the rotation of the organ is reduced. A smaller actuator and/or with a lower power consumption than those fitted to the valves of the aforementioned prior art can thus be used.

Other advantageous features of the invention are listed below. Each of these characteristics can be considered alone or in combination with the notable characteristics defined above. Each of these characteristics contributes, where appropriate, to the resolution of specific technical problems defined further in the description and to which the other characteristics defined above do not necessarily contribute. The following characteristics may thus be the subject, where appropriate, of one or more divisional patent applications:

According to one embodiment, the frustoconical envelope has a slope inclined at an angle between 0.1° and 5° relative to the axis of rotation.

According to one embodiment, each bushel has a spherical zone shape, a sphere or a substantially spherical shape.

According to one embodiment, each seal has a proximal part in contact with the external wall of a plug and a distal part in contact with a shoulder provided in the corresponding seal housing or in contact with an internal wall of the housing of the valve body.

According to one embodiment, the distal part of each seal has one or more lips in contact with the shoulder or the valve body and forming a spring element so as to force the proximal part of said seal against the external wall of the plug corresponding.

According to one embodiment, the proximal part of each seal is coated with a polytetrafluoroethylene coating.

According to one embodiment, the internal wall of the seals is provided with an insert.

According to one embodiment, the internal housing of the valve body has a first series of fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices, a second series of fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices and a third series of fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices opening on the one hand into said housing and on the other hand onto an external surface of said body, at stages distinct from each other.

According to one embodiment, at least two bushels having fluid flow openings are connected to each other by a cavity or passage arranged in the rotating member in such a way that the fluid can flow simultaneously at through said openings and through said organ.

According to one embodiment, the cavity or passage opens out at one end of the rotating member, which cavity or passage being in fluid communication with a fluid inlet and/or outlet orifice arranged in a bottom wall of the body of valve.

According to one embodiment, the rotating member comprises a rod shaped in the cavity or passage and forming an axis of rotation of said member, which rod is housed in a cup-shaped guide arranged in a bottom wall of the valve body.

According to one embodiment, the rotating member has another bushel distinct from the two bushels connected by the cavity or passage; a sealing element ensures fluid tightness in the internal housing of the seal holder, between said other bushel and the two said bushels.

According to one embodiment, the internal housing of the seal holder is closed at one of its ends by a wall forming a cover, which cover seals the internal housing of the valve body.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of automated assembly of a valve conforming to one of the preceding characteristics, comprising the following successive steps:
- automatically insert the rotating member into the internal housing of the joint holder from an open end of said joint holder, the insertion being carried out along the axis of rotation,
- automatically install the seals in the seal housings,
- insert in an automated manner the assembly consisting of the seal holder, the seals and the rotating member into the internal housing of the valve body, through an opening provided in said body, the insertion being carried out according to the rotation axis.
Brief description of the figures

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better on reading the description of the embodiments which follow, with reference to the appended drawings, produced as indicative and non-limiting examples and in which:
is a perspective view of a valve body of a valve according to the invention.
And are views in longitudinal section of the valve body of the .
, And are sectional views respectively along AA, BB and CC of the valve body of the .
And are perspective views of a seal holder according to the invention.
And are perspective views of a rotating member according to the invention.
is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotating member of Figures 3A and 3B.
schematizes the common envelope in which the external walls of the bushels of the rotating member are included.
, And are cross-sectional views of a valve according to the invention, respectively at a first stage (at the level of the section along AA of the ), a second floor (at the level of the section according to BB of the ) and a third floor (at the level of the cut according to CC of the ).
illustrates a seal according to the invention.
is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to the invention, in the assembled state.
partially illustrates the installation of a seal.
is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in the assembled state.

To possibly complete their current definition, the following clarifications are made to certain terms used in the claims and the description:

- As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the possible use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", etc., to describe an object merely indicates that different occurrences of similar objects are mentioned and does not imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, whether in time, space, classification, or some other way.

- “X and/or Y” means: X alone or Y alone or X+Y.

- Generally speaking, we will appreciate that in the various attached drawings, the objects are arbitrarily drawn to facilitate their reading.

Valve body

Referring to Figures 1A to 1F, the valve which is the subject of the invention comprises a valve body 1 (or casing, the two terms being synonymous) consisting of a side wall 10 of generally cylindrical shape with axis X-X and a bottom wall 11.

The body 1 has an internal housing 12 which extends along the axis X-X, from the bottom wall 11 to an open end of said body opposite to said bottom wall and which is of generally cylindrical shape.

According to one embodiment, the body 1 is made of a rigid material, for example of the steel, metal, plastic, etc. type.

In the side wall 10 are arranged fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3 which open into the housing 12. According to one embodiment, an inlet orifice and/or or fluid outlet 1323 is arranged at the bottom wall 11 and opens into the housing 12.

The orifices A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3 are distributed over three levels or stages: a first series A1, B1, C1, D1 installed on a first floor, at least one orifice B2 installed on a second floor and at least a C3 orifice installed on a third floor. These stages are distinct from each other and located in parallel planes normal to the X-X axis. In the appended figures, the first stage has four orifices, the second stage one orifice and the third stage one orifice, but a different number of orifices can be provided at one and/or the other of the stages. Likewise, a higher or lower number of floors can be planned (for example between 2 and 5 floors).

The orifices B1 and B2 on the one hand and C1 and C3 on the other hand are preferentially aligned although this configuration is not essential to the operation of the valve. According to a preferred embodiment, the orifices A1, B1, C1, D1 of the first series are positioned at 90° from each other.

According to the embodiment of Figures 1A to 1F, the orifices A1 and C1 are each connected to a tube 13 which projects from the external surface of the side wall 10. The orifice C3 is extended by a bent conduit opening at the level of the bottom wall 11, but could be connected to a tube similar to the tubes 13. The orifices B1 and B2 open into a common channel or conduit B arranged in the side wall 10. The first stage and the second stage are thus in fluid communication through channel B. This channel B is for example oriented parallel to the axis X-X and extends from the bottom wall 11 to the open end of the body 1. Channel B can open at its two ends or be one-eyed. Other configurations of channel B are however possible. The orifice D1 opens into a channel or conduit D arranged in the side wall 10. This channel D is for example oriented parallel to the axis XX and extends from the bottom wall 11 to the open end of the body 1. Channel D can open at both ends or be blind. Other configurations of channel D are however possible. Port D1 could be connected to a tube similar to tubes 13.

The bottom wall 11 can also have an orifice 1323 opening into the housing 12. This orifice 1323 can be connected to a tube similar to the tubes 13.

According to one embodiment, the housing 12 has axial grooves 120 oriented parallel to the axis X-X and which extend from the bottom wall 11 to the open end of the body 1. These grooves 120 are used to place in the position of the seal holder 2 as explained further in the description.

Seal holder

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a joint holder 2 configured to be installed in the housing 12, between the body 1 and the rotating member described further in the description. The joint holder 2 is in one piece and consists of a side wall 20 delimiting an internal housing 22 extending along the axis X-X and in which the rotating member 3 described further in the description is mounted. The side wall 20 has a shape complementary to the internal housing 12 of the body 1 and in particular complementary to the grooves 120 so as to ensure the positioning of the seal holder 2 in said housing. The contact between the external surface of the wall 20 and the internal wall of the housing 12 is preferably a tight contact ensuring fluid tightness. However, this sealing can only be ensured by the seals 4 described further in the description.

In Figures 2A and 2B, the internal housing 22 of the seal holder 2 is open at one of its ends and closed at another end by a wall 23 forming a cover. According to a preferred embodiment, the cover 23 forms an integral part of the seal holder 2. According to a variant embodiment, the seal holder 2 is open at its two ends, the cover 23 being attached subsequently. The cover 23 has an orifice 230 for the passage of a shaft 300 of the member 3.

According to one embodiment, the joint holder 2 is made of a rigid material, for example of steel, metal, plastic, etc. type. It is preferably made of PPS (polyphenylene sulphide) or PA (polyamide).

In the wall 20, openings AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3 are provided. These openings open on the one hand into the housing 22 and on the other hand onto the external surface of the side wall 20. The openings AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3 are respectively complementary to the orifices A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3 so that when the seal holder 2 is installed in the body 1, the orifice A1 opens into the opening AO1, the orifice B1 opens into the opening BO1, the orifice C1 opens into the opening CO1, the orifice D1 opens into the opening DO1, the orifice B2 opens into the opening BO2 and the orifice C3 opens into the opening CO3. The openings AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3 are thus in fluid communication with the orifices A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3.

In Figures 2A and 2B, the configuration of the wall 20 is such that it extends only at the level of the openings AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3. Thus, the wall 20 extends into the first floor where the orifices A1, B1, C1, D1 and the openings AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1 are located; partially in the second floor where the B2 port and the BO2 opening are located, up to the third floor only in the area where the C3 port and the CO3 opening are located. This configuration allows a saving of material capable of lightening the weight of the joint holder 2. According to another embodiment, the wall 20 extends over the entire length of the joint holder 2.

The openings AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3 constitute seal housings in fluid communication with the orifices A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3, and in which the seals 4 are installed.

Rotating body

The valve also includes a rotary member 3 mounted movable in rotation in the housing 12, around the axis XX. A preferred embodiment of this rotating member 3 is illustrated in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C. In use, the member 3 takes different angular positions making it possible to control the circulation of fluid through the orifices A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3 of the valve.

The member 3 comprises several bushels 31, 32, 33 arranged one above the other along the axis XX. The number of bushels corresponds to the number of stages of the valve. According to the embodiment of the appended figures, a first bushel 31 is located at the level of the first stage (i.e. at the level of the orifices A1, B1, C1 and D1), a second bushel 32 is located at the level of the second stage (i.e. at the level of port B2) and a third plug 33 is located at the level of the third stage (i.e. at the level of port C3).

To reduce friction, the bushels 31, 32, 33 are advantageously made of plastic material, preferably PPS (polyphenylene sulphide) or PA (polyamide). They form a single piece obtained by molding and/or machining the member 3. According to an alternative embodiment, the bushels 31, 32, 33 can be produced independently of each other and assembled together for example by gluing, welding or screwing. .

According to a preferred embodiment, the external wall of each bushel 31, 32, 33 has the shape of a spherical zone (sphere truncated by its spherical caps by two parallel planes, and in particular two planes perpendicular to the axis XX). Other equivalent shapes are however possible, such as spherical or substantially spherical shapes, for example flattened ellipsoids. These shapes are particularly advantageous in that they make it possible to further reduce the areas of friction between the rotating member and the seals and those described further in the description, this area being limited to linear contact. For example, bushels 31, 32, 33 have a diameter of between 1 cm and 5 cm.

By relating to the , the external walls of the bushels 31, 32, 33 are included in a common envelope E of frustoconical shape. In this figure, the diameters of the bushels have deliberately been amplified to illustrate this characteristic more clearly. This configuration of the bushels 31, 32, 33 allows easy assembly of the member 3 in the seal holder 2 and ensures optimal sealing with limited friction between the seals and the bushels 31, 32, 33 as explained more before in the description. A good compromise between simplicity of manufacturing and assembly and effectiveness of sealing is obtained when the envelope E has an inclined slope of an angle α of between 0.1° and 5° relative to the axis XX. On the , the diameter of the bushels 31, 32, 33 increases according to the slope of the envelope E (i.e. as the envelope E moves away from the axis XX).

One end of the member 3 is provided with a shaft 300 extending along the axis X-X and adapted to engage with the actuator 8 ensuring its rotation. In the attached figures, this shaft 300 is located at the end of the first bushel 31.

The rotating member 3 is configured so as to have angular positions making it possible to control the circulation of fluid at the different stages. To do this, the member 3 has fluid flow openings.

In Figures 3A, 3B and 3C, the first plug 31 comprises a fluid flow opening 310 configured to control the circulation of fluid at the first stage, in particular between at least two orifices A1, B1, C1, D1 of said first floor. This opening 310 is preferably arranged on an angular sector between 90° and 180°, that is to say an angular sector capable of covering at least two orifices of the first stage. In the angular position of the , the opening 310 is positioned opposite the orifices B1 and C1, so that these two orifices are in fluid communication; and the orifices A1 and D1 are closed by the external wall of the first bushel 31. The opening 310 can however be arranged in a different angular sector, for example 20° or 270°. According to one embodiment, the opening 310 is configured so that the first plug 31 has at least one angular position preventing, at the level of the first stage, any circulation of fluid between the different orifices A1, B1, C1, D1.

The second valve 32 includes a fluid flow opening 320 configured to control the circulation of fluid at the second stage, in particular at the port B2. This opening 320 is preferably arranged on an angular sector between 90° and 180°, but can however be arranged on a different angular sector, for example 20° or 270°. According to one embodiment, the opening 320 is offset by 180° from the opening 310. In the angular position of the , the opening 320 is positioned opposite the orifice B2. Combined with the angular position of the , the orifices C1, B1 and B2 (via conduit B) are in fluid communication.

The third valve 33 comprises a fluid flow opening 330 configured to control the circulation of fluid at the level of the third stage, in particular at the level of the orifice C3. This opening 330 is preferably arranged on an angular sector corresponding to that of the orifice C3, but can however be arranged on a different angular sector, for example 20°, 90° or 120°. According to one embodiment, the opening 330 is offset by 180° from the opening 320. In the angular position of the , the opening 330 is positioned opposite the orifice C3. Combined with the angular position of Figures 4A and 4B, the orifices C1, B1 and B2 (via conduit B) and C3 (via cavity 323) are in fluid communication.

By relating to the , the openings 320 and 330 are connected to each other by a cavity or passage 323 in such a way that the fluid can flow simultaneously through the two said openings and therefore through the member 3. The second stage and the third stage can thus be in fluid communication. This cavity 323 does not communicate with the opening 310.

On the , the cavity 323 opens at the end of the third bushel 33 (i.e. at one end of the member 3) so that said cavity is in fluid communication with the orifice 1323 arranged in the bottom wall 11. In the example of the appended figures, the opening 3230 of the cavity 323 is such that said cavity is in fluid communication with the orifice 1323 whatever the angular position of the member 3. This opening 3230 can however be arranged on a predefined angular sector, so that said cavity is in fluid communication with the orifice 1323 only in one or more angular positions of the member 3.

The different angular positions of the member 3 offer a large number of possible combinations of fluidic connections between the orifices of A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3, 1323 of the valve, in comparison with the valves of the aforementioned prior art. Each combination provides a particular operating mode. In particular, the common channel or conduit B makes it possible to put the first stage in fluid communication with the second stage and/or the third stage. And the cavity or passage 323 makes it possible to put the second stage and the third stage into fluid communication.

On the , the member 3 further comprises a rod 3231 shaped in the cavity 323 and forming an axis of rotation of the member 3. This rod 3231 is adapted to be housed in a guide 123 in the shape of a cup visible in Figures 1A to 1F and arranged on the bottom wall 11. The rod 3231 preferably comprises a point-shaped end so as to limit friction with the guide 123.

Seals

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the sealing elements 4 are each designed in the form of an annular seal bearing in a sealed manner on the external surface of the bushels 31, 32, 33. When the latter have a shape of spherical zone, sphere or a substantially spherical shape, the contact between the joints and said bushels is limited to a linear contact. This results in a particularly reduced friction zone, so that friction is negligible.

According to one embodiment, the seals 4 are made of elastomeric material, preferably in ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM, EPM type). Other elastomer materials can however be provided, such as for example fluorocarbon rubbers (e.g. Viton®) or butyl rubbers.

Each joint 4 has a proximal part 40 in contact with the external wall of a plug 31, 32, 33 and a distal part 41 in contact with a shoulder arranged in the corresponding joint housing AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3 or in contact with valve body 1.

The proximal part 40 advantageously has a convexity or a curvature so as to further limit the contact surface (friction zone) with the external wall of the corresponding plug 31, 32, 33. To further reduce friction, the proximal part 40 is advantageously covered with a coating 400 based on fluoropolymer, the best results being obtained with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating.

The distal part 41 has one or more lips 410 in contact with the shoulder of the corresponding joint housing or, preferably, in contact with the internal wall of the housing 12 of the body 1 ( ). These lips 410 form a spring element making it possible to force the proximal part 40 against the external wall of the plug 31, 32, 33. The configuration of these lips 410, in particular their length L _410, makes it possible to generate a controlled force of the seal 4 against the wall external of the plug 31, 32, 33, and therefore ensure optimal sealing while limiting friction. For example, the lips 410 are in the form of a bump or nipple whose diameter (length L ₄₁₀ ) is between 0.2 mm and 1 mm.

The internal wall of the seal 4 is advantageously provided with an insert 42, advantageously made of plastic or metallic material. This insert 42 makes it possible to stiffen the seal 4 and facilitate its handling and its positioning in the corresponding housing, particularly when this positioning is carried out as part of an automatic industrialization process. The insert 42 also makes it possible to constrain the external wall of the seal 4 against the internal wall of the corresponding housing so as to have a tight contact between said seal and said housing. According to one embodiment, the insert 42 is in the form of an annular ring, possibly split, inserted into the seal 4 before or after positioning said seal in its housing.

Valve assembly

There illustrates an assembled valve. According to a preferred embodiment, the valve is assembled according to the following steps. The member 3 is first inserted along the axis XX into the internal housing 22 of the joint holder 2, from the open end thereof, the shaft 300 of said member passing through the orifice 230 of the cover 23. This insertion can easily be carried out automatically.

When the member 3 is installed in the seal holder 2, the seals 4 are inserted into the housings AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3. This insertion is carried out from the external face of the side wall 20. This insertion can easily be carried out automatically. The insert 42 can be installed in the joint 4 before or after its installation in the corresponding housing. To the extent that the seals 4 are put in place after the member 3 is installed in the seal holder 2, said seals are not crushed, their physical integrity and their positioning being preserved. Conversely, if the member 3 is installed in the seal holder 2 after the seals 4 are installed in their housing, the equatorial part of the bushels 31, 32, 33 would crush the seals 4 with the risk of crushing them and/or or modify their positioning ensuring optimal sealing.

The assembly formed by the member 3, the seal holder 2 and the seals 4 is then installed in the internal housing 12 of the body 1, from the open end of said housing. This insertion can easily be carried out automatically. When this assembly is in position in the body 1, the lips 410 of the seals 4 are compressed against the internal wall of the housing 12 of the body 1 so that, by spring effect, their proximal part 40 is constrained against the external wall of the plug 31 , 32, 33 to ensure controlled fluid tightness.

The cover 23 seals the internal housing 12 of the body 1. The fixing of the cover 23 on the body 1 is advantageously done by means of screw elements, seals being advantageously arranged in said cover and/or at the open end of housing 12 of body 1 to ensure sealing.

The valve is thus made up of only three parts (rotating member 3, seal holder 2 – and seals 4 – and valve body 1) allowing a relatively simple industrialization process.

An actuator 8, of the rotary motor type, ensures the rotation of the member 3, the bushels 31, 32, 33 being driven simultaneously in rotation and having the same number of angular positions. The actuator 8 is preferably fixed on the cover 23 of the seal holder 2 and engages with the shaft 300 of the member 3.

Depending on the embodiment of the , a seal is provided between the floors, in particular between the first floor on the one hand and the second floor and the third floor on the other hand. This sealing is ensured by a sealing element 50, for example of the O-ring or lip seal type, installed on the external wall of the member 3 or on the wall of the internal housing of the seal holder 2, at the level of the junction between the first bushel 31 and the second bushel 32. This sealing element 50 ensures fluid tightness in the internal housing of the seal holder 2, between the first bushel 31 and the other bushels 32, 33. This additional sealing allows to completely isolate the first stage from the lower stages, which may be desirable when fluids of different nature circulate in each of these stages. To the extent that the second bushel 32 and the third bushel 33 are in fluid communication through the cavity 323, a seal between these two said bushels is not necessary.

The valve which is the subject of the invention is particularly suitable for being installed in a motor vehicle heat exchanger system, which system is configured to allow the cooling and/or heating of the passenger compartment of the vehicle and/or other elements of said vehicle (engine, batteries, radiator, etc.). The orifices A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3, 1323 are in particular connected to branches or fluid circulation sub-circuits of the system.

There partially illustrates a joint assembly, the angulations having deliberately been amplified to more clearly illustrate the characteristics which follow. Likewise, the inclined shape of the walls of the seal holder 2 and/or the body 1 do not necessarily correspond to industrial reality, these walls being able in particular to be parallel, or substantially parallel to the axis XX.

On this the first plug 31 is shown in an angular position where its flow opening 310 is positioned in alignment with the orifice A1 of the body 1 and the opening AO1 of the seal holder 2. The opening AO1 forms the housing of the seal 4. This housing has an axis YY perpendicular to the envelope E (with a tolerance of ± 10% of the angle α) so that the seal 4 is installed along this axis. This configuration applies to each housing AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3, to each joint 4 and has several advantages described below.

The joints 4 being mounted at an angle to the axis of rotation X-X, they form a cradle ensuring the correct positioning of the member 3.

Furthermore, due to their inclination, the joints 4 exert a stress F along the axis YY having a component _F ), which component tends to limit the friction between said joints and the bushels 31, 32, 33 so that the torque necessary for the rotation of the member 3 is reduced. Indeed, the component _F ) and in fact, the friction in this area. The component _F

The arrangement of the different elements and/or means and/or steps of the invention, in the embodiments described above, should not be understood as requiring such an arrangement in all implementations. In any case, it will be understood that various modifications can be made to these elements and/or means and/or steps, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Especially :
- The valve can have more stages, for example four or five stages, each of said stages being associated with a bushel.
- The second stage and the third stage may have more than one orifice.
- The grooves 120 are not essential, the side walls 10 may be devoid of them.
- Ports A1, B1, C1, D1 of the first series are not necessarily positioned at 90° from each other.
- The flow openings 310, 320, 330 arranged in bushels 31, 32, 33 can have other configurations depending on the desired operating modes.
- The cavity or passage 323 can be configured to put the opening 310 of the first bushel in fluid communication with the opening 320 of the second bushel 32 or with the opening 330 of the third bushel 33.

Additionally, one or more features set forth only in one embodiment may be combined with one or more other features set forth only in another embodiment. Likewise, one or more characteristics presented only in one embodiment can be generalized to other embodiments, even if this or these characteristics are described only in combination with other characteristics.

Claims (14)

Fluid control valve including:

• a valve body (1) having an internal housing (12),
• fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices (A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3) opening into the internal housing (12),
• a rotating member (3) having fluid flow openings (310, 320, 330), which member is mounted movable in rotation in the internal housing (12) around an axis of rotation (XX), so as to control the circulation of fluid between said flow openings and the fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices (A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3),
• annular seals (4) in sealed contact with the rotating member (3) to ensure fluid tightness between the fluid flow openings (310, 320, 330) and the inlet orifices and/or fluid outlet (A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3),

characterized e in that:

• the inlet and/or outlet orifices (A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3) are arranged in the body (1) on stages distinct from each other,
• the rotating member (3) comprises several bushels (31, 32, 33) arranged one above the other along the axis of rotation (XX), each bushel being located on one of said stages and whose walls external are included in a common envelope (E) of frustoconical shape,
• a one-piece joint holder (2) is installed in the internal housing (12) of the body (1), which joint holder has an internal housing (22) in which the rotating member (3) is mounted,
• the seal holder (2) has seal housings (AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3) in fluid communication with the inlet and/or outlet ports (A1, B1, C1, D1, B2, C3) and in which the seals (4) are installed,
• each joint housing (AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3) has an axis (YY) perpendicular to the frustoconical envelope (E), the joints (4) being installed along this axis.

Valve according to claim 1, in which the frustoconical envelope (E) has an inclined slope of an angle (α) of between 0.1° and 5° relative to the axis of rotation (X-X). Valve according to one of the preceding claims, in which each plug (31, 32, 33) has a spherical zone shape, a sphere or a substantially spherical shape. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, in which each seal (4) has a proximal part (40) in contact with the external wall of a plug (31, 32, 33) and a distal part (41) in contact with a shoulder provided in the corresponding seal housing (AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3) or in contact with an internal wall of the housing (12) of the valve body (1). Valve according to claim 4, in which the distal part (41) has one or more lips (410) in contact with the shoulder or the valve body (1) and forming a spring element so as to constrain the proximal part (40) against the external wall of the corresponding bushel (31, 32, 33). Valve according to one of claims 4 or 5, in which the proximal part (40) is coated with a coating (400) of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Valve according to one of the preceding claims in which the internal wall of the seals (4) is provided with an insert (42). Valve according to one of the preceding claims in which the internal housing (12) of the valve body (1) has a first series of fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices (A1, B1, C1, D1), a second series of fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices (B2) and a third series of fluid inlet and/or outlet orifices (C3) opening on the one hand into said housing (12) and on the other hand on an external surface of said body, on stages distinct from each other. Valve according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least two bushels (32, 33) having fluid flow openings (320, 330) are connected to each other by a cavity or passage (323) arranged in the rotating member (3) in such a way that the fluid can flow simultaneously through said openings and through said member. Valve according to claim 9, in which the cavity or passage (323) opens at one end of the rotary member (3), which cavity or passage being in fluid communication with a fluid inlet and/or outlet orifice ( 1323) arranged in a bottom wall (11) of the valve body (1). Valve according to one of claims 9 or 10, in which the rotary member (3) comprises a rod (3231) shaped in the cavity or passage (323) and forming an axis of rotation of said member, which rod is housed in a guide (123) in the shape of a cup arranged in a bottom wall (11) of the valve body (1). Valve according to one of claims 9 to 11, in which:

• the rotating member (3) has another bushel (31) distinct from the two bushels (32, 33) connected by the cavity or passage (323),
• a sealing element (50) ensures fluid tightness in the internal housing (22) of the seal holder (2), between said other plug (31) and the two said plugs (32, 33).

Valve according to one of the preceding claims, in which the internal housing (22) of the seal holder (2) is closed at one of its ends by a wall (23) forming a cover, which cover seals the internal housing (12) of the valve body (1). Process for automated assembly of a valve according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following successive steps:

• automatically insert the rotating member (3) into the internal housing (22) of the joint holder (2) from an open end of said joint holder, the insertion being carried out along the axis of rotation (XX),
• automatically install the seals (4) in the seal housings (AO1, BO1, CO1, DO1, BO2, CO3),
• automatically insert the assembly consisting of the seal holder (2), the seals (4) and the rotating member (3) into the internal housing (12) of the valve body (1), through a opening arranged in said body, the insertion being carried out along the axis of rotation (XX).