WO2015091340A1

WO2015091340A1 - Mobile plug for a fluid circuit valve

Info

Publication number: WO2015091340A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/077732
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laure FARUYA; Laurent SOUYRI; Pascal Touitou
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2013-12-19
Filing date: 2014-12-15
Publication date: 2015-06-25
Also published as: FR3015609A1; FR3015609B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile plug for a fluid circuit valve, especially for a motor vehicle, said plug having an outer contact face (5) allowing the closure of at least one fluid circulation opening (20, 22, 24), arranged so as to open up at a wall (16) of an inner cavity of the valve (10), by moving the plug in a direction of movement, said plug comprising a single component defining, with material continuity, said contact face (5) and an opposing inner face (6) designed to be connected to a driving hub that can transmit the movement to said plug.

Description

MOBILE HOUSING FOR A FLUID CIRCUIT VALVE

The present invention relates to a movable plug for a fluid circuit valve, particularly a motor vehicle. It also relates to a fluid circuit valve provided with such a movable plug.

Control valves are known comprising a valve body having a bottom wall into which an axial orifice opens and a side wall into which at least two lateral orifices open. The axial orifice constitutes an inlet channel for the fluid, while the lateral orifices constitute outlet channels for the fluid.

This type of control valve finds particular application in motor vehicle thermal engine cooling circuits. In this case, the axial orifice, forming a fluid inlet, is connected to a cooling fluid inlet coming from the heat engine, while the three lateral orifices, forming a fluid outlet, are connected in parallel to three branches respectively. circuit. This circuit comprises for example a first branch which contains a cooling radiator of the engine, a second branch serving as a bypass of the engine, and a third branch which contains a heater for heating the passenger compartment.

The valve body delimits a housing of revolution for a plug making own regulating member to rotate about an axis of rotation and to take different angular positions. The plug has the function of closing the lateral orifices, in order to prevent the circulation of the fluid and to control the passage of the fluid through the orifices. It is pressed internally against the side wall of the valve body to ensure a seal. Thus, the distribution of the fluid through the output channels is controlled according to the angular position taken by the adjustment member. In patent FR 2 870 313, an exemplary embodiment of a plug comprising a body provided with an angularly open cylindrical envelope-shaped surface is shown. Said body further comprises a deflector for the fluid, said deflector also acting as a hub connecting the plug to its drive shaft. The plug further comprises a sealing segment, attached to the cylindrical casing of the body.

The sealing segment comprises a metal sheet coated with a sintering layer formed of a metal powder, for example bronze. This layer serves to attach to an outer coating made of a low friction material which may be chosen in particular from polyamides or polyfluoroethylenes (PTFE). Thus, the friction force of the plug with the inner wall of the valve is reduced when it rotates.

However, this type of bushel is particularly complex because it comprises several elements. Each element requires a high accuracy of assembly of the segment on the body of the bushel. Therefore, the bushel is long to manufacture and therefore expensive. In addition, the deflector limits the axial positioning of the valve orifices because it directs the fluid in only certain directions.

The invention therefore aims to design a bushel simpler to achieve to improve the productivity of its manufacturing process, and offering greater adaptability to the valve.

For this, the invention relates to a movable plug for a fluid circuit valve, in particular for a motor vehicle, the plug having an outer contact face for closing one or more fluid flow orifices, provided opening at the level of a wall of an internal cavity of the valve, by a displacement of the bushel in a direction of displacement, said plug comprising a single component defining in continuity of material said contact face and an opposite inner face configured to be connected to a drive hub adapted to transmit the movement to said plug.

Thus, it is sufficient to manufacture a single component of the desired angular span to obtain the bushel. It is very simple to make, and thus saves manufacturing costs. In addition, the bushel has no deflector, which increases its potential for adaptation to types of valves of various geometries.

According to various embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:

said component is a plastic material,

said component comprises a proportion of PTFE,

said plug is configured to be connected to a drive arm, forming said hub,

said inner face comprises a fixing groove of said drive arm,

said inner face comprises ribs, derived from the material of said component, for fixing said drive arm,

said component comprises a window allowing the passage of fluid through the plug,

said component comprises a cylindrical sleeve, in the form of an angularly open ring,

the cylindrical sleeve has a cross-section in the shape of a circular arc, provided with an angular opening,

said plug comprises a spring capable of moving ridges bordering the angular opening of the cylindrical sleeve; the angular opening of the sleeve is at least 180 °, preferably 240 °, The invention also relates to a motor vehicle valve, comprising an inner cavity provided with a wall, on which open one or more fluid flow orifices, the cavity defining a housing for a revolution for a movable bushel as specified higher, and one or more drive arms to allow the displacement of the bushel.

said hub comprises a single said drive arm,

the drive arm is fixed halfway between the lateral edges of the bushel,

- The drive arm is fixed to the plug at 90 ° to one of the side edges of the plug, said plug having an angular extent greater than 180 °.

- The drive arm is fixed on a drive shaft by overmolding.

The invention will be better understood in the light of the following description which is given for information only and which is not intended to limit it, accompanied by the attached drawings:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrating a perspective view of a control valve, of the three-way type, according to the invention,

FIG. 2 schematically illustrating a view from above of a control valve, of the three-way type, according to the invention;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrating a perspective view of a drive arm of a valve according to the invention,

- Figure 4 schematically illustrating a perspective view of a bushel according to the invention. Figure 1 shows a control valve 10 which includes a cylindrical body 12 defining an interior cavity of the valve. Said inner cavity is here limited by a bottom wall 14 and a cylindrical side wall 16. In the bottom wall 14 opens an axial orifice 18 defined by a pipe. In the cylindrical side wall 16 open three lateral orifices 20, 22 and 24 delimited by three respective tubes. In the example, the axial orifice 18 constitutes a fluid inlet, while the three lateral orifices 20, 22 and 24 constitute the outputs of the valve 10. It is therefore a four-way valve with a channel input and three output channels. The outlet pipes 20, 22 and 24 open radially into the wall 16. The number of lateral orifices and corresponding radial outlets may of course vary.

Inside the valve body 10, in particular inside said internal cavity, is housed a rotating member 26, also called the drive shaft, which is designed as a generally cylindrical element and which is extended here by a rod 28 (Figure 1). This rod 28 passes through a central opening that includes a lid 30 of circular shape. The rotating member 26 is rotated about an axis by an actuator 36 shown schematically in FIG. It may be, for example, a geared motor consisting of an electric motor coupled to a gearbox, whose position is controlled by a copy of a sensor position, to bring the rotating member 26 in a multiplicity different positions. Alternatively, other types of actuators may be used, for example stepper motors or brushless motors.

The valve 10 comprises a movable plug having the shape of an angular portion of cylindrical envelope. It is suitable for coming into sealing contact with the internal face of the side wall 16. For this purpose, the plug has an external contact face 5 making it possible to seal all or part of orifices 20, 22, 24 for circulating the fluid, by a displacement of the plug in a direction of displacement around its longitudinal axis.

The plug comprises, for example, a cylindrical sleeve 42 open at an angle, represented in FIGS. 2 and 4. In other words, said sleeve 42 comprises an angular opening 7.

The cylindrical sleeve 42 is provided with an inner face 6 extending around an interior volume corresponding to the volume defined by the housing formed in the valve body 10 to receive the plug. The cylindrical sleeve 42 here has an open circular section, making an angle of at least 180 ° or 240 °. The sleeve comprises two edges 44, 46 on either side of the opening 7. The cylindrical sleeve 42 is a single component defining in continuity of material said contact face 5 and the opposite inner face 6. The inner face 6 is configured to be connected to a drive hub adapted to transmit the movement of the drive shaft 26. In other words, said sleeve 42 in itself forms both a sealing segment and a hub hooking solution. Thus, the bushel is simple to manufacture, for example if it is made of a plastic material.

In order to improve the sliding of the outer face against the wall of the cavity, the component may comprise a proportion of PTFE-type material, which is a non-adherent material.

The rotating member 26 is here connected to the cylindrical sleeve 42 integral in rotation with the rotating member 26, by a single drive arm January 1, shown in Figure 3 and form the drive hub of the plug. The drive arm 1 1 is fixed on the one hand to the drive shaft, and on the other hand to the inner face of the cylindrical sleeve 42. For this purpose, the arm 1 1, for example provided in plastic, may be overmoulded on the drive shaft 26.

The use of an arm makes it easy to adapt the assembly comprising the arm and the plug to any type of valve, in particular to the shape of the internal cavity.

In a first embodiment, the inner face 6 of the sleeve comprises a fixing groove for the drive arm January 1. The fixing groove is hollowed out of the material of the cylindrical sleeve 42, in order to allow attachment means 13 of the drive arm 11 to be inserted into the groove.

In a second embodiment, the inner face 6 comprises ribs derived from component material, for fixing the drive arm January 1. In this case also, the ribs allow attachment means 13 of the arm to be maintained. Preferably, the ribs extend on the inner face 6 perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the plug, that is to say, here, longitudinally, so as to connect rotationally the plug 3 and the end of said arm 1 1 training.

The drive arm 1 1 is fixed to the plug at 90 ° to one of the lateral edges of the plug. Thus, the arm January 1 is fixed in the middle of a 180 ° arc of the section of the sleeve or at least an active portion of the sleeve, that is to say, participating in the opening / closing outlet ports 20, 22, 24 of the valve 10, with the possible exception of a discharge opening to safety members of the valve 10, such as a thermostat and / or pressure switch. In Figure 2, the sleeve has an arcuate section of about 240 °. Alternatively, not shown in the figures, the drive arm January 1 is fixed midway from the side edges of the sleeve 42, particularly when the sleeve is active over its entire angular extent. Thus, the force exerted by the arm on the sleeve is effected in the middle of the sleeve 42.

It is understood that, depending on the angular position of the plug, one or more outputs of the valve 10 can be opened or closed. Combined with the plug profile, such a valve 10 allows a multiplicity of control laws, depending on the desired applications, including control laws comprising a zero flow position.

The cylindrical sleeve 42 may comprise a spring 15, to mutually separate the edges 44, 46 bordering the opening 7, to ensure sufficient force to maintain said edges 44, 46 spaced apart. Thanks to the invention, the effect of the spring 15, in particular the spacing, is accentuated because the sleeve has no baffle which reduces the force applied on the edges 44, 46.

The spring 15 is, for example, a rod formed of a spring material, for example spring steel. It is in the form of a wire having a U-bend connecting two branches, which are applied against edges 44, 46 of the sealing segment. The two edges 44, 46 constitute two edges delimiting respectively two grooves 17 parallel and facing each other to receive the two branches of the spring 15. The cylindrical sleeve 42 is thus arranged to radially press the bushel against the side wall 16 to ensure a seal. Thus, the plug can selectively close, and in a sealed manner, the lateral orifices 20, 22 and 24, depending on the angular position of the adjusting member 26, all the more so that the plug has an angular span greater than 180 °. As can be seen in Figure 4, the sleeve 42 is limited in the upper part by an edge 48 in the form of a circular arc and, in the lower part, by an edge 50 also in an arc. It is limited laterally by two parallel edges which constitute the two edges 44, 46 bordering the opening mentioned above.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cylindrical sleeve 42 has a contact face 5 with the side wall of the internal cavity of the valve, the contact face 5 making it possible to close the at least one orifices 20, 22, 24 by a displacement of the cylindrical sleeve 42, in a direction of displacement, here by a rotation about an axis already mentioned above.

The sleeve 42 may also comprise at least one window 19, allowing the fluid to pass through the plug, in order to circulate the fluid in at least one of the outlet orifices 20, 22, 24 when the plug is in a defined position, and which allows for example the closure of at least one other of the outlet orifices 20, 22, 24.

The contact face 5 is further advantageously provided with deformations 2 making it possible to reduce the contact area of the contact face 5 with the inner wall 12 of the valve, and thus to reduce friction when the cylindrical sleeve 42 changes from orientation in the valve 10, as well as to facilitate capture of the particles. To this end, the deformations 2 are, for example, notches concave in the thickness of the cylindrical sleeve 42, in particular notches in the form of spherical caps formed in the hollow material of the plug.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Mobile plug for a fluid circuit valve (10), in particular for a motor vehicle, the plug having an outer contact face (5) for closing off one or more openings (20, 22, 24) for circulating the fluid, provided opening at a wall (16) of an internal cavity of the valve (10), by a displacement of the plug in a direction of displacement, said plug comprising a single component defining in continuity of material said contact face (5). ) and an opposite inner face (6) configured to be connected to a drive hub adapted to transmit the movement to said plug.

The mobile plug according to claim 1, wherein said component is a plastic material.

The mobile plug according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said component comprises a proportion of PTFE.

4. A movable bushel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said plug is configured to be connected to a drive arm (1 1), forming said hub.

5. movable bushel according to the preceding claim, wherein said inner face (6) comprises a fixing groove of said drive arm (1 1).

6. movable plug according to claim 4, wherein said inner face (6) comprises ribs, derived from material of said component, for fixing said drive arm (1 1).

7. A movable bushel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said component comprises a cylindrical sleeve (42) angularly open ring-shaped.

8. Movable plug according to claim 7, wherein the cylindrical sleeve (42) has a circular arc-shaped cross section, provided with an angular opening (7).

9. movable plug according to claim 8, comprising a spring (15) adapted to move ridges (44, 46) bordering the angular opening (7) of the cylindrical sleeve (42).

10. Movable plug according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein an angular extent of the sleeve (42) is at least 180 °, preferably 240 °.

1 1. A motor vehicle valve (10) comprising a movable plug as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, and an interior cavity provided with a wall (16) on which one or more openings (20, 22, 24) ) of circulation of the fluid, the cavity defining a housing of revolution for said plug, said valve further comprising a drive hub to allow the displacement of the plug.

12. Valve (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein said hub comprises a single said drive arm (1 1).

13. Valve according to the preceding claim, wherein the drive arm (1 1) is fixed halfway to the side edges of the plug.

14. Valve according to claim 12, wherein the drive arm (1 1) is fixed to the plug at 90 ° to one of the side edges of the plug, said plug having an angular extent greater than 180 °.

15. Valve according to any one of claims 1 1 to 14, wherein the drive arm (1 1) is fixed on a drive shaft by overmolding.