"VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR A PUMP WITH IMPROVED REGULATION OF

THE PASSAGE OF COOLING LIQUID"

[0001] This invention relates to a valve assembly for a pump of a cooling circuit, the pump of a cooling circuit that comprises said valve assembly and a pump of a cooling circuit in a further embodiment.

[0002] In particular, this invention is contextualised in the automotive sector, the pump being a component of the cooling system, preferably of vehicle engines, for example cars or motorcycles.

[0003] It is well known that the cooling pump, and the components that compose it, are the most important elements of a cooling circuit for heat engines, especially in vehicles. Thus, great attention is paid to the proper design of these components and the continuous improvement of their performance; an effective operating mode of the cooling system results in an improvement of the performance of the vehicle in its entirety and in particular of the internal combustion engine, such as for example the limitation or reduction of its polluting emissions .

[0004] In particular, research efforts aim at achieving an efficient cooling of the heat engine in all its phases of use; it is in fact preferable to achieve high cooling pushed in the presence of high operating temperatures and/or with engine at full speed, while it is not desirable, or only minimally desirable, that the engine is cooled in the initial working phases, for example immediately after ignition.

[0005] A plurality of patent documents are known in the name of the Applicant in which are described several solutions for valve assemblies or of cooling pumps in which it has addressed the problem of managing the quantity of cooling liquid circulating in the circuit: for example documents BS2012A000355, BS2014A000088 and BS2015A000006.

[0006] However, the main problem of the known valve assemblies is that of not having an effective and precise control of the flow of liquid.

[0007] Specifically, in fact, the known valve assemblies regulate the obstruction, for example arranging itself in open, closed or partialised conditions by acting on the inlet or outlet mouths of the duct through which the cooling liquid flows, guiding the shutter in a frontal position, but distanced from said mouths, for example through suitable cam means.

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a valve assembly, and a cooling pump, suitable to solve this problem, ensuring a predefined regulation of the flow of the cooling liquid.

[0009] This purpose is achieved by a valve assembly realised according to claim 1. This purposes is also achieved by a pump, according to claim 8, comprising said valve assembly and by a pump according to claim 10. The claims dependent on these describe variants of preferred embodiments having further advantageous aspects.

[0010] The characteristics and advantages - of the valve assembly according to this invention will be apparent from the following description, given by way of non- limiting example, in accordance with the accompanying figures, in which:

[0011] - Figures la and lb show a schematic example of a cooling pump comprising a valve' assembly according to this invention, according to a first embodiment ^■ in, respectively, in an open configuration and in a closed configuration;

[0012] - Figures 2a, 2b and 2c show a schematic example of a cooling pump comprising a valve assembly according to this invention, according to a further embodiment in, respectively, a first open configuration, a second open configuration and a closed configuration;

[0013] - Figures 1' and 2 ' respectively illustrate schematic examples of the cooling pumps shown in the above-mentioned Figures 1 and 2, in which they are placed in an intermediate configuration, according to the object of this invention;

[0014] - Figures 3a and 3b represent a schematic section of a cooling pump according to a preferred embodiment, respectively with and without valve assembly;

[0015] - Figure 3c shows a cross section of the pump 3a along the sectional plane V-V.

[0016] - Figures 4 and 4' show a view in separate parts of a valve assembly according to this invention, according to a first embodiment;

[0017] - Figures 4a and 4b represent two perspective views of the valve assembly according to the embodiment referred to in Figure 4 and 4', respectively, an open configuration and a closed configuration;

[0018] - Figures 4a' and 4b' illustrate two section views of the valve assembly shown in Figures 4a and 4b;

[0019] - Figures 5 and 5' show a view in separate parts of a valve assembly according to this invention, according to a further embodiment;

[0020] - Figures 5a, 5b and 5c represent three perspective views of the valve assembly according to the embodiment referred to in Figure 5 and 5' , respectively, an first open configuration, a second open configuration and a closed configuration;

[0021] - Figures 5a' , 5b' and 5c' show three section views of the valve assembly shown in Figures 5a, 5b and 5c;

[0022] - Figures 6', 6'' and 6'" illustrate three perspective views of the valve assembly according to this invention, according to three preferred embodiments;

[0023] - Figure 7 is a diagram showing the trend of the ratio between the opening angle and flow rate of the cooling liquid relative, respectively, to an embodiment of the known art and an embodiment of the solution of this invention .

[0024] In this description, reference number 1 indicates a pump of a cooling circuit, in particular for vehicles, comprising a pump body 2 and an impeller 4 housed in the pump body 2.

[0025] Preferably, the pump 1 is mechanically actuated.

[0026] The pump body 2 is connectable to the cooling circuit of the engine and, in particular, is connectable to a section of aspiration circuit, upstream, from which the liquid is aspirated, and to a section of output circuit, downstream, to which the liquid is fed towards the engine under pressure.

[0027] Downstream of the impeller, the pump body 2 has at least one output channel 8. In some preferred embodiments, the pump body 2 comprises a plurality of output channels 8.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the pump 1 comprises a valve assembly 10, object of the present invention, suitable to limit, on command, the passage of the cooling liquid in ^' the output channel 8.

[0029] In particular, the valve assembly 10 of this invention, is suitable to be configured in an open configuration, in which it permits the passage of cooling liquid, and in a closed configuration, in which it obstructs the passage, cancelling the transit of cooling liquid, and a plurality of intermediate configurations in which the quantity of cooling liquid is partialised.

[0030] Preferably, the pump body 2 comprises a housing compartment 200 to downstream of the impeller 4 in which said valve assembly 10 is houseable.

[0031 ] In a preferred embodiment, the valve assembly 10 is insertable into said housing compartment 200 in a manner removable from it. According to a preferred embodiment, the valve assembly 10 has a cartridge structure, specifically to facilitate the operations of insertion and/or extraction of the valve assembly 10 in the pump body 2.

[0032] Preferably, the valve assembly 10 extends along an axis Y-Y. In addition, preferably, transversely to said axis Y-Y, the valve assembly 10 identifies a through duct 14 for the cooling liquid. In other words, the cooling liquid is forced by the presence of the valve assembly 10 to flow inside a passage delimited by the presence of the valve assembly 10 itself, i.e., the duct 14.

[0033] Preferably, the valve assembly 10 identifies, parallel to the axis Y-Y, a passage area 140 for the cooling liquid.

[0034] Preferably, moreover, the duct 14 is therefore suitable to identify an inlet mouth 14' and an outlet mouth 14'', through which the cooling liquid, respectively, enters and exits the duct 14.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, the valve assembly 10 comprises a shutter 30 drivable in rotation.

[0036] Preferably, said shutter 30 comprises an operating member 31 rotatable in a manner offset with respect to said axis Y-Y between a closed position, an open position and a plurality of intermediate positions between these.

[0037] In other words, at each position of the operating member 31 corresponds to the respective above-mentioned configuration of the valve assembly 10. Therefore, in this description, "open" means a position of the operating member 31 in which the transit of the greatest possible quantity of cooling liquid is allowed; "closed" means a position of the operating member 31 in which no passage of cooling liquid is allowed; "intermediate" means a position of the operating member 31 in which the passage of a predefined quantity of cooling liquid is allowed .

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, the operating member 31, as a function of its angle of rotation with respect to the axis Y-Y, cooperates with the passage area 140 in such a way as to form a passage opening 140' .

[0039] Preferably, the passage opening 140' identified is such as realise a ratio R opening angle a/cooli<ng liquid flow rate Q having a predefined trend.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the ratio R opening angle a/flow of cooling liquid Q has a linear trend, as shown for example in a non-limiting manner in Figure 7.

[0041] In other words, the rotation of the shutter 30 results in an angular positioning of the operating member

31 such as to be suitable to cooperate with the passage area 140 in such a way as to limit the section of the duct 14 through which the cooling liquid transits towards the sole passage opening 140' .

[0042] Preferably, in the open configuration, i.e., with shutter 30 in the open position, the passage opening 140' corresponds to the passage area 140.

[0043] Preferably, the passage area 140 has a shape tapered towards the closed position of the operating member 31.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment, the passage area 140 is delimited by a single window 141, suitably shaped. By way of example, the accompanying figures shown a plurality of shapes of the passage area 140, preferably, constituted by a single window 141, in which is shown a tapered trend of the same.

[0045] In further preferred embodiments (not shown in the accompanying figures), the passage area 140 is delimited by a plurality of specially shaped windows 141.

[0046] In other words, in a preferred embodiment, said passage opening 140' is identifiable with the inlet mouth 14' and/or the outlet mouth 14' of the duct 14. Therefore, preferably, in a preferred embodiment, the operating member 31 cooperates with said inlet mouth 14' .

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment, the valve assembly 10 comprises a valve body 12, preferably cylindrical, that extends in height, transversely containing the duct 14, wherein inside the duct 14, operating member 31 is guided in rotation. In other words, in a preferred embodiment, the valve body 12 is suitable to contain the operating member 31. Preferably, on the valve body 12 is identified the inlet mouth 14' and the outlet mouth 14".

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment, the passage area 140 is formed on the valve body 12. Preferably, for example, said passage area 140 is delimited by the inlet mouth 14' and/or by the outlet mouth 14".

[0049] According to a preferred embodiment, the operating member 31 comprises an active portion 310 and a passive portion 320, disposed with respect to the axis Y-Y of different radii, i.e., they are facing radially one with respect to the other.

[0050] Preferably, the active portion 310 and the passive portion 320 are respectively drivable in rotation around the axis Y-Y. Moreover, according to a preferred embodiment, the active portion 310 is suitable to engage the passive portion 320 for example to drag it in rotation, preferably, in its passage between the open position and the closed position.

[0051] In further preferred embodiments, the operating member 31 comprises elastic means 350, for example a helical spring, suitable to engage the active portion 310 and the passive portion 320, for example, to maintain the active ^' portion 310 in a predefined angular position with respect to the passive portion 320, for example, as described below, to maintain the active portion 310 in a portion of closure with respect to the passive portion 320.

[0052] In fact, according to a preferred embodiment, the passage area 140 is formed on said passive portion 320 and the passage opening 140' is identified in the rotation of the active portion 310 with respect to the passive portion 320. [0053] In other words, the passive portion 320 is rotatable to be arranged transversely to the duct 14, placing the passage area 140 transversely to it, in such a way that said passage opening 140' is delimited as a function of the angle of rotation of the active portion 310.

[0054] This invention also covers a pump 1 of a cooling circuit of a vehicle having the characteristics described above, and also comprising a valve assembly 10 according to what was previously described.

[0055] Preferably, the pump 1 comprises an actuation device engaged with the shutter 30 comprising an electric motor suitable to continuously adjust the angular positioning of the shutter 30. Preferably, the actuation device comprises all the characteristics described and shown in document BS2015A000006. In further embodiments, the actuation device comprises a pneumatic and/or hydraulic actuator .

[0056] In addition, this invention also covers a pump 1 of a cooling circuit of a vehicle, comprising the aforementioned pump body 2 and an impeller 4; the latter, housed in the pump body 2, for the aspiration of cooling liquid and supplying, downstream, cooling liquid under pressure, comprising at least one output channel 8.

[0057] The pump 1 comprises an adjustment valve assembly placed transversally to the output channel 8, identifying, upstream, an inlet portion 8' and, downstream, an outlet portion 8", wherein the valve assembly comprises a shutter movable between a closed position, an opening position and a plurality of intermediate positions between these.

[0058] Preferably, the pump 1 of this invention has an output channel 8 that identifies, transversely to it, a passage area 140 specifically shaped in such a way that the shutter, as a function of its position, is available with respect to said passage area 140, identifying a passage opening 140' . Said passage opening 140' is such as to have a flow rate of cooling liquid with a predefined trend as a function of the movement of the shutter, wherein, in a preferred embodiment, said trend is linear.

[0059] In other words, the pump body 2, and in particular output channel 8, is shaped in such a way as to have a passage area 140 that, when engaged with the shutter, delimits a passage opening 140' such as to allow a regulation of the flow rate, which for example has a linear trend as a function of the position of the shutter. For example a solution of pump body 2 according to what is described above is shown in Figure 3b.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, during design, the pump body 2 provides for said shape and is therefore produced directly comprising a shape of the output channel 8 suitable to identify the passage area 140.

[0061 ] According to a further preferred embodiment, the portion of output channel 8 that identifies the passage area 140 is instead composed by an insert insertable into the pump body 2 frontally to the valve assembly and suitable to operate with it.

[0062] Preferably, inside the pump body 2, the pump 1 comprises a housing compartment 200 that extends transversely to the output channel 8 between the inlet portion 8' and the outlet portion 8", in which the valve assembly is insertable in it in a removable manner.

[0063] According to a preferred embodiment, the shutter 30 is drivable in rotation, comprising an operating member 31 axially offset with respect to the axis Y-Y.

[0064] Preferably, the pump comprises an actuation device engaged with the shutter 30 and comprising an electric motor suitable to continuously adjust the positioning of the shutter 30. Preferably, the actuation device comprises all the characteristics described and shown in document BS2015A000006.

[0065] In further embodiments, the actuation device operating with the shutter 30 comprises a pneumatic and/or hydraulic actuator.

[0066] Preferably, each embodiment of the passage area 140 shown on the shutter 30 or on the valve body 12 in the accompanying figures is also reproducible on the pump body 2 according to what is described above.

[0067] Innovatively, the valve assembly object of the present invention, the cooling pump that contains it and the cooling pump object of the present invention, are particularly suitable for use as part of a cooling system of a vehicle, solving the problem of the known art mentioned above.

[0068] Advantageously, the flow ^' rate of cooling liquid output is adjustable in a predefined manner, for example, in a linear manner, allowing precise and effective circulation of cooling liquid in the cooling circuit.

[0069] Advantageously, the liquid flow rate is adjusted by the design of the shape of the passage area and through its interaction with the shutter, in order to have a specially shaped passage opening, so as to allow regulating the flow of cooling liquid.

[0070] Moreover, advantageously, the pump unit exhibits a linear trend of the liquid flow rate as a function of the angular position of the shutter, and in particular when this is rotated through small angles of rotation starting from the closed position.

[0071 ] Preferably, the valve assembly comprises a shutter drivable in rotation and advantageously, the angular positioning of the shutter, for example by means of an electrical actuating device, allows a regulation of the flow of the cooling liquid, preferably, maintaining linear the ratio between the opening angle and flow rate of cooling liquid.

[0072] Advantageously, the valve assembly ensures a high seal, minimising, to zero, oozing phenomena and the undesired passage of cooling liquid inside it. All this is advantageously obtained with a shutter suitable to be moved in a simple and effective manner, improving both the useful life of the shutter itself and the means that move it.

[0073] According to a still further advantageous aspect, the valve assembly, and in particular the duct and the shutter assembly, have geometry and section such that the flow of the cooling liquid is facilitated, minimising losses of load.

[0074] Advantageously, in the embodiments that provide for the valve body, valve assemblies having the same valve body, but different shutters, are insertable interchangeably in the pump assembly according to the needs that may also occur in the course of the life cycle of the car or motorcycle. A further advantageous aspect of such embodiments is therefore to completely unleash the design of the pump, and in particular the housing cavity, from the specific needs of the shutter.

[0075] Advantageously, the pump is designed in such a way as to comprise the specific passage area that solves the problem by acting with a shutter of any shape.

[0076] A further advantageous aspect also lies in the fact that the pump body comprises an insert insertable into the output channel in which the passage area is created.

[0077] A still further advantageous aspect, lies in the fact that the management of the shutter position is simplified thanks to the regularity with which the cooling liquid flows through the variable passage openings. Advantageously, the hysteresis effects are less pronounced, thus allowing the use of less accurate sensors in the evaluation of the angle of rotation of the shutter.

[0078] Moreover, advantageously, the valve assembly, and the pump of this invention are particularly effective in the regulation of the cooling liquid in solutions in which, respectively, they cooperate with or comprise an actuation device that comprises all the characteristics described and shown in document BS2015A000006.

[0079] In further preferred embodiments, in the design of the passage area and in particular of its shape, on the side opposite to that with the tapering, the passage area is extremely large; advantageously, this solves the problem of any losses of load.

[0080] It is clear that one skilled in the art, in order to meet specific needs, may make changes to the valve assembly and pump described above, all contained within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.