COOLANT-RETURN MANIFOLD SHUT-OFF VALVE

• US 20110272049A1
• Filed: 05/10/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Jorgensen, Iner M., Desaki, Stanley M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,905,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/625.47
• 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: Y10T 137/86541 Plug
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86871 Plug

Abstract

A vehicular cooling system coolant-return manifold is provided that includes a plurality of ports reconfigurable by the user to open, such that coolant will flow into the manifold, or close, such that coolant will not flow into the manifold. The ports are opened and closed by rotating a valve spool in relation to the manifold body. The ports of the manifold are brought into alignment with holes in the valve spool to open a port such that coolant flows into the manifold. A plurality of positions of the valve spool in relation to the manifold body allow a user to select a position wherein the desired combination of ports are on and off.

Claims

1. A coolant-return manifold for a vehicular cooling system, comprising

a manifold body comprising a plurality of return-circuit ports extending between an exterior of the manifold body and an interior of the manifold body;

and

a tubular internal valve spool disposed inside the manifold body and comprising a plurality of input alignment apertures, said input alignment apertures extending between an outer surface of the valve spool and an interior channel of the valve spool;

wherein the valve spool is rotatable within the manifold body to a plurality of positions, in at least one of said plurality of positions at least one of the plurality of input alignment apertures is in radial alignment with at least one of the return-circuit ports on the manifold body.

2. The coolant-return manifold of claim 1, further comprising a coolant outlet alignment aperture extending between an exterior of the valve spool and an interior of the valve spool to provide liquid communication between the interior channel of the valve spool and an outlet port extending between an exterior of the manifold body and an interior of the manifold body.

3. The coolant-return manifold of claim 2, wherein the outlet port is disposed adjacent an end face of the internal valve spool.

4. The coolant-return manifold of claim 1, wherein the manifold body is tubular.

5. The coolant-return manifold of claim 1, wherein the rotatable valve spool is rotatable with a force selected from the group consisting of manual force rotation, mechanical force rotation, and combinations thereof.

6. The coolant-return manifold of claim 1, wherein the manifold body and internal valve spool are comprised of a material independently selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, and combinations thereof.

7. The coolant-return manifold of claim 1, having from two to five return-circuit ports.

8. The coolant-return manifold of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positions are indexed positions.

9. A coolant-return manifold for a vehicular cooling system, comprising

a tubular manifold body comprising a first return-circuit port and a second return-circuit port spaced longitudinally along the manifold body, and a coolant outlet;

a tubular internal valve spool disposed inside the manifold body, having a plurality of alignment ports extending between an outer surface of the valve spool and a hollow interior of the valve spool;

wherein the valve spool is rotatable within the manifold body to a plurality of positions, in at least one of said plurality of positions at least one of the plurality of alignment ports is in radial alignment with one of the return-circuit ports on the manifold body;

wherein, in a first position;

(a) a first alignment port is radially aligned with the first return-circuit port, such that coolant flowing into the first inlet port will be passed through the first alignment port and into the hollow interior of the valve spool; and

(b) a second alignment port is radially aligned with the coolant outlet, such that coolant flowing into the hollow interior of the valve spool will pass through the second alignment port and coolant outlet; and

wherein, in a second position;

(c) a third alignment port is radially aligned with the first return-circuit port, such that coolant flowing into the first inlet port will be passed through the third alignment port and into the hollow interior of the valve spool;

(d) a fourth alignment port is radially aligned with the second return-circuit port, such that coolant flowing into the second inlet port will be passed through the fourth alignment port and into the hollow interior of the valve spool; and

(e) a fifth alignment port is radially aligned with the coolant outlet, such that coolant flowing into the hollow interior of the valve spool will pass through the fifth alignment port and coolant outlet.

10. The coolant-return manifold of claim 9, wherein the rotatable valve spool is rotatable with a force selected from the group consisting of manual force rotation, mechanical force rotation, and combinations thereof.

11. The coolant-return manifold of claim 9, wherein the manifold body and internal valve spool are comprised of a material independently selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, and combinations thereof.

12. The coolant-return manifold of claim 9, wherein the plurality of positions are indexed positions.