Actuation system for multi-chamber thermal management valve module

摘要

A thermal management valve module having at least one flow chamber is provided, with one or more inlet and outlet ports connected to the at least one flow chamber. A first valve body is rotatably positioned in the at least one flow chamber, and includes a fluid pathway that connects a first port to the flow chamber, which allows separate or mixed flows, or blocks the flow, based on the valve body position. A second valve body is rotatably positioned in the at least one flow chamber, and includes a fluid pathway that connects a second port, which allows separate or mixed flows, or blocks the flow, based on the second valve body position. One or more actuators can be used to independently position the first and second valve bodies. An indirect connection, which can be an epicyclic gear arrangement, allows a single actuator to independently position both valve bodies.

主权项

1. A thermal management valve module, comprising:
a housing with at least one flow chamber; a first port and a second port on the housing; a first valve body rotatably positioned in the at least one flow chamber, the first valve body including a fluid pathway that, in a first rotational position, connects the first port to the at least one flow chamber, and in a second rotational position, prevents flow from the first port, and in an intermediate position, throttles the flow from the first port to the at least one flow chamber; a second valve body rotatably positioned in the at least one flow chamber, the second valve body including a fluid pathway that in a first rotational position of the second valve body connects the second port to the at least one flow chamber, and in a second rotational position of the second valve body, prevents flow from the second port, and in an intermediate position of the second valve body throttles the flow from the second port; an actuator arrangement that controls the positions of the first and second valve bodies, including an actuator shaft that extends axially through the valve bodies that is connected rotationally fixed to one of the valve bodies, and connected by an indirect connection to the other of the valve bodies such that movement of the actuator shaft does not require a corresponding movement of the other valve body; and the rotationally fixed connection is a direct connection of the actuator shaft to the first valve body, and the indirect connection comprises an indexing arm connected to the actuator shaft and a positioning catch located on the second valve body in a same radially extending plane as the indexing arm.