Bypass valve

• US 9,772,632 B1
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Michael Ihns
• Original Assignee: Richard Michael Ihns
• Inventors: Ihns, Richard Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ciric, Ljiljana
• Application Number:
  US14/551,413
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 236 345
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1333 measuring the temperature of incoming fluid

Abstract

A bypass valve for thermally regulating a fluid flow in two directions by opening and closing a bypass fluid flow between the two directions. An example of application of such a bypass valve is for regulating the flow of engine coolant fluid between a vehicle engine and a heat-exchange system for cooling down the engine coolant. The bypass valve includes a housing inside which a first port, a second port, a bypass port and a barrier assembly are arranged. The barrier assembly is movable with respect to the bypass port, so that it can open or close the port depending on fluid temperature. In addition, the barrier assembly is arranged external to the first and second ports, so that it does not interfere with fluid passing through them. The bypass valve therefore provides substantially constant fluid pressure in the first and second ports, avoiding pressure drops associated with conventional bypass valves.

Claims

1. A bypass valve for thermally regulating a fluid flow, said bypass valve comprising:

a first port, configured to at least partially enable a fluid to pass through said valve in a first direction;

a second port, configured to at least partially enable the fluid to pass through said valve in a second direction;

a bypass port, extending between said first port and said second port for providing fluid communication between said first port and said second port;

a barrier assembly, adapted to move between an open position and a closed position in response to a variance in the fluid temperature;

wherein

in said open position, said barrier assembly allows fluid to flow through said bypass port, whereas in said closed position said barrier assembly at least partially inhibits fluid flow through said bypass port; and

wherein

said barrier assembly is movably arranged externally to said first port and said second port and comprises at least one conduit extending through the barrier assembly to permit fluid to pass from said bypass port to a separate space other than said first port and said second port.

2. The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein said barrier assembly extends in a perpendicular orientation with respect to said bypass port, moving between said open position and said closed position.

3. The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein said first port and said second port are parallel to each other.

4. The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein said barrier assembly is movable in a direction parallel to said first direction and said second direction.

5. The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein said barrier assembly comprises a linear thermal actuator element, a barrier affixed to said thermal actuator element, and a spring bearing upon said thermal actuator element and biasing said thermal actuator element towards said open position, said thermal actuator element responsive to the fluid temperature for regulating the fluid flow through said bypass port.

6. The bypass valve according to claim 5, wherein said linear thermal actuator element is arranged extending through said barrier such that an end surface of said linear thermal actuator element is in contact with fluid passing through said bypass port when said bypass valve is in said open position, said end surface capable of sensing a change in temperature.

7. The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein said barrier assembly is arranged at least partially in said separate space, said at least one conduit extending between a first end surface of said barrier assembly that faces said separate space and a second end surface of said barrier assembly opposite to said first end surface, wherein said second end surface is arranged such that said second end surface is inside said bypass port when said valve is in said open position and outside said bypass port when said valve is in said closed position.

8. The bypass valve according to claim 7, wherein said barrier assembly includes an end surface in contact with the fluid passing through said bypass port when said bypass valve is in said open position, said end surface capable of sensing a change in fluid temperature.

9. The bypass valve according to claim 1, wherein said bypass port defines a bypass inlet at said first port and a bypass outlet at said second port wherein said bypass inlet has a cross-sectional area greater than said bypass outlet.

10. The bypass valve according to claim 9, wherein when said bypass valve is in said closed position said barrier blocks said bypass outlet to prevent fluid flow therethrough and only partially blocks said bypass inlet.

11. A bypass valve for thermally regulating a fluid flow, said bypass valve comprising:

a housing comprising a first housing portion sealing affixed to a second housing portion, the first and second housing portions defining;

a first port extending through the first and second housing portions for the passage of a fluid in a first direction,

a second port extending through the first and second housing portions and laterally disposed from said first port for the passage of a fluid in a second direction,

a bypass chamber isolated from said first port and said second port and enclosed by the first and second housing portions,

defining a bypass port extending from said first port to said second port and enclosed by the first and second housing portions, and

a barrier assembly enclosed by the first and second housing portions and disposed in said bypass chamber, wherein the barrier assembly comprises a barrier and is operably configured to translate said barrier between an open position and a closed position in response to a temperature change of the fluid;

wherein

when in said open position, the barrier permits fluid flow between said first port and said second port through said bypass port; and

when in said closed position, the barrier blocks fluid flow between said first port and said second port through said bypass port.

12. The bypass valve according to claim 11, wherein said housing further comprises an O-ring seal disposed between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

13. The bypass valve according to claim 11, wherein said barrier assembly further includes a spring biasing said barrier assembly towards said open position.

14. The bypass valve according to claim 13, wherein said biasing spring is a compression spring.

15. The bypass valve according to claim 11, wherein said barrier assembly further comprises a linear thermal actuator element having a sensor surface and responsive to a temperature change of a fluid in contact with said sensor surface for actuating said barrier assembly to a closed position, and further wherein said barrier is disposed about said linear thermal actuator element.

16. The bypass valve according to claim 11, wherein said bypass port defines a bypass inlet at said first port and a bypass outlet at said second port wherein said bypass inlet has a cross-sectional area greater than said bypass outlet.

17. The bypass valve according to claim 16, wherein when said bypass valve is in said closed position said barrier blocks said bypass outlet to prevent fluid flow therethrough and only partially blocks said bypass inlet.

18. A bypass valve for thermally regulating a fluid flow, said bypass valve comprising:

a housing comprising a first housing portion sealingly affixed to a second housing portion, the first and second housing portions defining;

a first port extending through the first and second housing portions for the passage of a fluid in a first direction,

a second port extending through the first and second housing portions and laterally disposed from said first port for the passage of a fluid in a second direction,

a bypass chamber isolated from said first port and said second port and enclosed by the first and second housing portions,

a bypass port extending from said first port to said second port and enclosed by the first and second housing portions, and

a barrier assembly enclosed by the first and second housing portions and disposed in said bypass chamber, wherein the barrier assembly comprises a barrier and is operably configured to translate said barrier between an open position and a closed position in response to a temperature change of the fluid;

wherein

when in said open position, the barrier permits fluid flow between said first port and said second port through said bypass port; and

when in said closed position, the barrier blocks fluid flow between said first port and said second port through said bypass port; and

further wherein

in both the open position and the closed position, the barrier extends into both the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

19. The bypass valve according to claim 18, wherein said barrier assembly defines at least one conduit therethrough to permit fluid to pass from said bypass port to said bypass chamber.

20. The bypass valve according to claim 18, wherein said barrier assembly is arranged at least partially in said bypass chamber, said at least one conduit extending between a first end surface of said barrier assembly that faces said bypass chamber and a second end surface of said barrier assembly opposite to said first end surface, wherein said second end surface is arranged such that said second end surface is inside said bypass port when said valve is in said open position and outside said bypass port when said valve is in said closed position.

21. The bypass valve according to claim 18, wherein said barrier assembly includes an end surface in contact with the fluid passing through said bypass port when said bypass valve is in said open position, said end surface capable of sensing a change in fluid temperature.

22. The bypass valve according to claim 18, wherein said barrier assembly comprises a linear thermal actuator element, a barrier affixed to said thermal actuator element, and a spring bearing upon said thermal actuator element and biasing said thermal actuator element towards said open position, said thermal actuator element responsive to the fluid temperature for regulating the fluid flow through said bypass port.