Valve assembly integrated into a coolant pump and method for controlling the same

• US 10,227,987 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2017
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Germany GmbH
• Original Assignee: BorgWarner Emissions Systems LLC (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hill, Chris Andrew, LeBlanc, Daniel Robert, Herrmann, Christian Theodor, Auer, Markus Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Long T
• Application Number:
  US15/827,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20180172009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/125 Driving auxiliary pumps electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2007/146 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/32 Engine outcoming fluid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/44 Outlet manifold temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/46 Engine parts temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/10 Pumping liquid coolant; Arrangements of coolant pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/12 Pump-driving arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/162 by cutting in and out of pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/167 by adjusting the pre-set temperature according to engine parameters, e.g. engine load, engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0022 throttling valves or valves varying the pump inlet opening or the outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/5806 Cooling the drive system
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0856 having all the connecting conduits situated in more than one plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/041 for rotating valves F16K31/055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/528 with pin and slot
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/535 for rotating valves F16K31/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/0471 between housing and plug
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/12 Arrangements for modifying the way in which the rate of flow varies during the actuation of the valve

Abstract

A pump assembly is fluidly coupled to a vehicle engine for moving a fluid. The pump assembly includes a pump housing and an impeller disposed in the pump housing for moving the fluid in the pump housing towards an outlet. Additionally, the pump assembly includes a valve assembly integrated with the pump housing. The valve assembly includes a barrel disposed in the pump housing and having at least one inlet, wherein the at least one inlet is configured to provide controlled flow of the fluid into the pump housing. A sleeve is rotatably coupled to the barrel for selectively controlling the flow of the fluid into the at least one inlet of the barrel. Additionally, the valve assembly includes an actuator assembly operably coupled to the sleeve and configured to rotate the sleeve between a first position and a second position.

Claims

1. A pump assembly fluidly coupled to an engine of a vehicle for moving a fluid, said pump assembly comprising:

a pump housing defining an outlet;

an impeller disposed in said pump housing for moving the fluid in said pump housing towards said outlet; and

a valve assembly integrated with said pump housing, said valve assembly comprising;

a barrel disposed in said pump housing and defining at least one inlet configured to provide controlled flow of the fluid into said pump housing;

a sleeve disposed in said barrel and rotatably coupled to said barrel for selectively controlling the flow of the fluid into said at least one inlet of said barrel, wherein said sleeve is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position;

an actuator assembly operably coupled to said sleeve and configured to rotate said sleeve between said first position and said second position; and

an adaptor seal disposed about said barrel for preventing leakage of the fluid between said barrel and said pump housing.

2. The pump assembly of claim 1, wherein said valve assembly is at least partially disposed in said pump housing.

3. The pump assembly of claim 2, wherein said pump housing defines a hot bottle port for inletting fluid from a coolant reservoir of the vehicle, an EGR port for inletting fluid from an exhaust gas recirculation system of the vehicle, a bypass port for inletting fluid from the engine of the vehicle, and a radiator port for inletting fluid from a radiator of the vehicle, and wherein each of said ports correspond to at least one of said plurality of inlets.

4. The pump assembly of claim 3, wherein at least two of said ports are controlled ports.

5. The pump assembly of claim 1, wherein said barrel and said sleeve are enclosed within said pump housing.

6. The pump assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one inlet of said barrel comprises a plurality of inlets.

7. The pump assembly of claim 1, wherein said pump housing defines a hot bottle port for inletting fluid from a coolant reservoir of the vehicle, an EGR port for inletting fluid from an exhaust gas recirculation system of the vehicle, a bypass port for inletting fluid from the engine of the vehicle, a heater core port for inletting fluid from a heater core of the vehicle, and a radiator port for inletting fluid from a radiator of the vehicle, and wherein each of said ports correspond to at least one of said plurality of inlets.

8. The pump assembly of claim 7, wherein said sleeve is configured such that said radiator port and said bypass port are both controlled ports.

9. The pump assembly of claim 7, wherein when said sleeve is in said first position, said radiator port is open and said bypass port is closed.

10. The pump assembly of claim 9, wherein when said sleeve is in said second position, said radiator port is closed and said bypass port is open.

11. The pump assembly of claim 7, further comprising a radiator seal disposed at said radiator port for preventing leaks of the fluid when said sleeve is in said first position, in said second position, or therebetween.

12. The pump assembly of claim 7, further comprising a bypass seal disposed at said bypass port for preventing leaks of the fluid when said sleeve is in said first position, in said second position, or therebetween.

13. The pump assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cover for enclosing said valve assembly and an adaptor plate for engaging said valve assembly to said cover.

14. The pump assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuator assembly further comprises an actuator shaft configured to rotate said sleeve between said first position and said second position.

15. The pump assembly of claim 1, wherein said impeller and said pump housing comprise a dual mode coolant pump.

16. A cooling system comprising:

an engine;

a coolant reservoir;

an exhaust gas recirculation system;

a heater core;

a radiator;

a pump assembly fluidly coupled to said engine for moving a fluid, said pump assembly comprising;

a pump housing;

an impeller disposed in said pump housing for moving the fluid in said pump housing towards an outlet; and

a valve assembly integrated with said pump housing, said valve assembly comprising;

a barrel disposed in said pump housing and defining at least one inlet configured to provide controlled flow of the fluid into said pump housing;

a sleeve disposed in said barrel and rotatably coupled to said barrel for selectively controlling the flow of the fluid into the at least one inlet of said barrel, wherein said sleeve is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position;

an actuator assembly operably coupled to said sleeve and configured to rotate said sleeve between said first position and said second position; and

an adaptor seal disposed about said barrel for preventing leakage of the fluid between said barrel and said pump housing.

17. The cooling system of claim 16, wherein said valve assembly is at least partially disposed in said pump housing.

18. The cooling system of claim 16, wherein said barrel and said sleeve are enclosed within said pump housing.

19. The cooling system of claim 16, wherein said pump housing defines a hot bottle port for inletting fluid from said coolant reservoir, an EGR port for inletting fluid from said exhaust gas recirculation system, a bypass port for inletting fluid from said engine, a heater core port for inletting fluid from said heater core, and a radiator port for inletting fluid from said radiator.

20. The cooling system of claim 16, wherein at least two of said ports are controlled ports.