WO2015091403A1 - Movable barrel for a fluid circuit valve - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a movable barrel (42) for a fluid circuit valve, in particular for a motor vehicle, the barrel being delimited by the edges and having a contact face (5) for closing off one of the fluid circuit holes opening on the wall of an interior cavity of the valve, by a movement of the contact face in a movement direction, said contact face having deformations (2) configured to reduce the contact area of the contact face with the wall of the valve, said contact face comprising areas without deformations, said areas without deformations being sized and positioned so as to provide, in an angular manner, a minimum distance, both between the two holes when they are closed off by the barrel, and between the one or more closed off holes and the edges of the barrel, said minimum distance being configured to avoid leaks of the fluid.

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 an engine cooling radiator, a second branch for cooling various organs, 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.

The plug thus has a contact face with the side wall, this face moving against the side wall when the plug changes orientation. To avoid a large frictional force, the contact face is provided with deformations, for example notches concave in the thickness of the plug, which limit the surface actually in contact with the side wall and provide a lubricating effect through an accumulation fluid inside. Thus the sliding of the contact face against the side wall of the valve is facilitated and allows the use of a less powerful engine, which therefore has a smaller footprint. However, in current devices, leak rates to the outlets that are closed are important because the seal is not completely assured, especially because of the presence of these notches. Indeed, a portion of the fluid can pass gradually by the notches to one of the edges of the plug, or to a window for cooperating with one of the valve outlet openings, while the fluid should be retained. These leaks have significant consequences on the operation of the valve and the cooling circuit in general.

The invention therefore aims to improve the sealing of the plug and therefore prevent leakage of fluids.

For this, the invention relates to a movable valve for a fluid circuit valve, particularly for a motor vehicle, the plug being delimited by edges and has a contact face for closing one or more fluid flow orifices, provided opening at a wall of an internal cavity of the valve, by a displacement of the face of contact in a direction of displacement, said contact face being provided with deformations configured to reduce the contact area of the contact face with the wall of the valve, said contact face comprising zones without deformations, said zones without deformations being dimensioned and positioned so as to extend over a minimum distance, on the one hand between two orifices when they are closed off by the plug, and on the other hand between the orifices or plugs closed and the edges of said plug, said minimum distance being configured to limit fluid leaks. The term "zone without deformations" means a smooth zone, that is to say free of deformations formed elsewhere on the plug to limit the contact area with the wall of the valve.

Thus, the fluid is not likely to pass through the deformations step by step to slip into the circulation holes which are closed by the plug, whether the fluid present at the edges of the bushel or at the level of another closed circulation port. Indeed, a zone without deformation is disposed between two closed orifices, and between each closed orifice and each edge of the plug. The minimum distance ensures a sufficient gap between each closed orifice and each edge and a first deformation which could guide the fluid to a closed orifice.

Therefore, the valve distributes the fluid more efficiently because the leak rates are greatly reduced, especially at flow rates of less than 3 liters per hour, or even 1 liter per hour through the larger section outlet of the valve.

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

the movable plug comprises a window allowing the passage of fluid through the plug, said zones without deformations being dimensioned and positioned so as to extend over a minimum distance between said window and on the one hand the edges of said plug, and on the other hand the orifices or plugs closed,

- the minimum distance is at least 2mm,

 the minimum distance is preferably 5 mm,

 - The plug comprises a cylindrical sleeve and a support member of said sleeve, the cylindrical sleeve being provided with an inner face extending around an internal volume of said support member, the cylindrical sleeve comprising said contact surface,

 the plug has a circular cross section provided with an angular opening,

 the cross section of the plug is at an angle of at least 180 °, preferably 240 °,

 the cross section of the plug is at an angle of preferably 270 °,

 the plug comprises a spring capable of moving away from the edges of the plug bordering the angular opening,

 the deformations are arranged so that at least one of said deformations is on an angular path of the plug over an entire height of said plug, and is intended to pass in front of at least one of said valve circulation orifices,

 the deformations are arranged in staggered rows,

 the deformations are circular,

 - the deformations are notches,

 the plug comprises a PTFE material.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle valve comprising such a movable plug. 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 cross-sectional view of a valve comprising a plug according to the invention,

 - Figure 3 illustrating in elevational view, a movable plug of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show 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 by a cylindrical side wall 16 of axis X-X '. 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.

In another variant, the valve body 12 is solid and said internal cavity is defined by a housing formed in the body 12 of the valve, in particular by machining. Again, the valve 10 may comprise an inlet opening axially into said internal cavity and one or more lateral outlets, in particular radial, communicating with outlet ducts, formed in the body 12 of the valve 10. Inside the valve body 10, in particular inside said internal cavity, is housed a rotating member 26, also called a hub, which is designed as a generally cylindrical element and is extended here. by a rod 28. 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 XX '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 rotating member 26 is connected to a movable plug 42 having the shape of an angular portion of a cylindrical envelope integral in rotation with the rotating member, for example by means of a finger not shown in the figures. Said plug 42 is adapted to come into sealing contact with the internal face of the side wall 16. The plug 42 comprises for example a cylindrical sleeve open at an angle, and is in particular made of PTFE material. In other words, said plug 42, here said sleeve, comprises an angular opening 7.

Alternatively, the plug 42 comprises for example a cylindrical sleeve and a support member, not shown in the figures, which are both open angularly. The sleeve is made in this case made of PTFE material. In other words, said cylindrical sleeve and the support member each comprise an angular opening 7. The support member is integral in rotation with said rotating member 26, and may even be continuous material of the latter. It is understood that, depending on the angular position of the plug 42, one or more outputs of the valve 10 can be opened or closed. Combined with the profile of the plug 42, such a valve 10 allows a multiplicity of control laws, depending on the desired applications, including control laws comprising a zero flow position.

The plug 42 is provided with an inner face extending around an interior volume. The plug 42 has here an open circular section, making an angle of at least 180 °, or even 270 °. The plug 42 comprises two edges 44, 46 on either side of the opening 7.

The plug 42 may further comprise a spring, not shown in this figure, to mutually separate the edges 44, 46 bordering the opening 7, to ensure sufficient force to maintain said edges 44, 46 spaced apart.

The spring is, for example, a rod formed of a spring material, for example spring steel. It is made in the form of a wire having a U-bend connecting two branches, which are applied against the edges 44, 46 of the plug 42, in particular the sleeve. The two edges 44, 46 constitute two edges delimiting respectively two parallel grooves and facing each other to receive the two branches of the spring member. The plug 42 is thus arranged to radially press the plug 42 against the side wall 16 to ensure a seal as shown by the radial arrows P. Thus, the plug can seal selectively, and in a sealed manner, the lateral orifices 20, 22 and 24, depending on the angular position of the adjusting member 26.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the plug 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 bordering the opening mentioned above. A window may be fitted in the plug 42 to provide a passage towards one of the outlet orifices 20, 22 and 24 in certain positions of the plug 42.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plug 42 has a contact face with the side wall of the internal cavity of the valve, the contact face 5 making it possible to seal the circulation orifice or holes 20, 22, 24 by a displacement of the plug 42, in a direction of displacement, here by a rotation about the axis XX 'as already mentioned above.

The contact face 5 is further 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 plug 42 changes its orientation in the valve 10. For this purpose, the deformations 2 are, for example, concave notches in the thickness of the plug 42, in particular notches in the form of spherical caps formed hollow in the material of the plug 42. The bushel 42 comprises a multitude of deformations 2 on the contact face 5, to reduce friction and to facilitate the capture of the particles. Nevertheless, the contact face 5 also includes areas without deformations 6 to ensure sealing by avoiding leakage from one to the next by the deformations. By the term "zone without deformation" is meant an area of the outer surface of the plug 42 which has a smooth surface. Said zones 6 without deformations are dimensioned and positioned so as to have a minimum distance D without deformations 2, on the one hand between two outlet orifices 20, 22, 24 when they are closed by the plug 42, and on the other hand between the outlet opening or openings 20, 22, 24 closed and the edges 44, 46, 48, 50 of said plug 42. In order to limit fluid leakage, the minimum distance D is advantageously 2 mm or even 5 mm. This minimum distance D makes it possible to greatly reduce the leakage rates in the closed flow orifices 20, 22, 24.

As already said, the plug 42 may also comprise a window, not shown in the figures, allowing the fluid to pass through the plug 42, in order to circulate the fluid in an outlet orifice 20, 22, 24 when the plug 42 is in a defined position, which allows for example the closure of another outlet port 20, 22, 24. Also in this case, zones 6 without deformations 2 are dimensioned and positioned so as to have a minimum distance D, for example 2 or 5 mm, without deformations 2 between the window and the edges 44, 46, 48, 50 of said plug 42, and between the window and the outlet orifice or openings 20, 22, 24 closed.

The deformations 2 may advantageously be arranged on the contact face 5 so that a line parallel to the direction of movement and belonging to the contact face 5 always passes through at least one deformation 2. In other words, at least one deformation 2 is located on an angular path of the plug 42 over the entire height h of said plug 42. Thus, when a particle is inserted between the plug 42 and the wall 12 of the valve 10, it inevitably encounters a deformation 2 inside. from which she is trapped. Such particles are present in the coolant circulating in a cooling circuit provided with such a valve. This deformation 2 passes in front of at least one of the circulation orifices 20, 22, 24 of the valve 10 when the plug is moved. The deformation 2 thus guides the particle to this orifice 20, 22, 24 in order to evacuate it. This arrangement of the deformations 2 prevents clogging and blocking of the valve 10.

According to a preferred embodiment, the deformations 2 are arranged in staggered rows, that is to say a deformation 2 is in the center of a square, whose four corners are also occupied by deformations 2. The dimensions of the square are chosen as a function of the diameter of the deformations 2, so that a line parallel to the direction of movement of the plug 42, meets a deformation 2 regardless of the position of this line on the square. For this, the square has a side whose length is at most equal to twice the diameter of a deformation 2. The notches have for example a diameter of about 3 mm and a depth of 0.5 to 1 mm, the square having by therefore a length of 6mm. The deformations or notches 2 have, for example, a depth representing 10 to 50% of the thickness of the plug 42. Preferably, the depth of the deformations or notches is greater than the maximum size of a particle present in the circulating heat transfer fluid in a circuit provided with such a valve.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. Bushel (42) movable for a valve (10) fluid circuit, especially for a motor vehicle, the plug (42) being delimited by edges and having a contact face (5) for closing one or more openings (20). , 22, 24) provided for opening at a wall (16) of an internal cavity of the valve (10) by a displacement of the contact face (5) in a direction of movement, said contact face (5) being provided with deformations (2) configured to reduce the contact area of the contact face (5) with the wall (16) of the valve (10), said contact face (5) comprising zones without deformations (2), said non-deforming zones (2) being dimensioned and positioned so as to extend over a minimum distance, on the one hand between two orifices (20, 22, 24) when they are closed by the plug (42), and secondly between the orifices (20, 22, 24) closed and the edges of said plug (42), the adite minimum distance being configured to limit fluid leakage.  2. movable plug according to claim 1, comprising a window for the passage of fluid through the plug (42), said non-deforming zones (2) being dimensioned and positioned so as to extend over a minimum distance between said window and , on the one hand the edges of said plug (42), and on the other hand the orifices (20, 22, 24) closed.  3. Movable bushel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the minimum distance is at least 2 mm. 4. movable plug according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a cylindrical sleeve and a support member of said sleeve, the cylindrical sleeve being provided with an inner face extending around an inner volume of said support member the cylindrical sleeve comprising said contact surface (5). 5. movable plug according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plug (42) has a circular cross section, provided with an angular opening (7).  The movable plug of claim 5, wherein the cross section of the plug (42) is at least 180 °, preferably 240 °.  7. movable plug according to any one of claims 5 and 6, comprising a spring adapted to move ridges (44, 46) of the plug (42) bordering the angular opening (7).  Mobile plug according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deformations are arranged such that at least one of said deformations (2) is on an angular path of the plug (42) over an entire height of said bushel (42), and is intended to pass in front of at least one of said openings (20, 22, 24) for circulation of the valve (10).  9. movable bushel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deformations (2) which arranged staggered.  10. A movable bushel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deformations (2) are circular.  1 1. Mobile bushel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deformations (2) are notches.  The mobile plug according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a PTFE material.  A motor vehicle valve (10) comprising a movable plug 42 such as that specified in any one of the preceding claims.