CN115342204A

CN115342204A - Valve group

Info

Publication number: CN115342204A
Application number: CN202110530401.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 乔基奥·基隆迪
Original assignee: UFI Filters SpA
Current assignee: UFI Filters SpA
Priority date: 2021-05-14
Filing date: 2021-05-14
Publication date: 2022-11-15

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve group (1) which can be housed in a duct (8), the duct (8) extending along a duct axis (C-C), comprising a duct side wall (80) and a first duct opening (81) and a second duct opening (82) axially spaced in fluid connection with an operating group and a heat exchanger group (920), respectively. The valve group (1) extends in length along an axis (X-X) coinciding, in the containment configuration, with the duct axis (C-C) and comprises: i) A valve body (2); ii) a shield (3); iii) A control device (4) which engages with the valve body (2) and the shutter (3) to control the position of the shutter (3) along the axis (X-X) between a base position and an adjustment position. The valve group is suitable for being very stable and capable of guaranteeing high resistance even if high-viscosity oil exists, and does not influence the accurate management of the flowing of the oil.

Description

Valve group

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a valve block for an oil passage of a vehicle. Further, the invention relates to an oil management assembly of a vehicle forming part of a pressurized oil circuit, the oil management assembly comprising said valve block.

Background

It is known to have various fluid circuits in vehicles in which a predetermined amount of oil flows. The purpose of such circuits is to fluidly communicate a plurality of different components or operating groups contained in the vehicle. For example, an engine block or a transmission block typically uses oil to regulate its temperature and/or lubrication of the respective moving parts.

The oil in the vehicle is subjected to a pumping or suction action that makes it circulate, while being subjected to other specific operations, such as changing its temperature or cleaning and filtering. Such operations are performed by specific sets of operations having specific characteristics.

Specific oil management assemblies are also known which are adapted to include one or more of the aforementioned operating groups by placing them in fluid communication with each other or with other vehicle operating groups, such as an engine group or a transmission group.

In practice, such oil management assemblies are generally operatively connected to a basic specific vehicle component or operating group (for which the characteristics of the oil are important), for example to the engine block, or to the gearbox group (automatic type), or to the transmission group.

Thus, depending on the type of operation group involved, the oil management component is adapted to manage the characteristics of the oil by, for example, changing the temperature or by performing a specific filtering operation. Therefore, effective management of oil and its characteristics is extremely important for accurate and efficient operation of the vehicle itself and the basic vehicle operating group that uses pressurized oil circuits.

In the prior art, solutions of valve packs and oil management assemblies are known, wherein different situations and different operating conditions of the oil and oil management have been solved, such as the temperature of the oil and/or the accurate management of the filtering and cleaning of the oil.

However, in known embodiments, when the viscosity of the oil changes, the corresponding valve group is no longer safe and effective. In other words, it has been observed that the valve block of some embodiments can break and/or fail in the event that the oil has a high viscosity.

Disclosure of Invention

There is a great felt need to provide a valve group that solves the aforementioned technical problem.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a valve group suitable for being stable and guaranteeing high resistance even in the presence of oil of high viscosity, without obviously affecting the precise management of the flow of oil.

This object is achieved by a valve manifold as claimed in claim 1, by an oil circuit comprising the valve manifold according to claim 22 and by an oil management assembly comprising the valve manifold according to claim 23. The claims depending on the preceding claims present preferred variants implying further advantageous aspects.

Drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of preferred exemplary embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example, which is provided hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1a,1b,1c,1d,1e,1f,1g,1h and 1i diagrammatically show different particular embodiments of the oil circuit comprising a valve group according to the present invention;

figure 2 shows a view of the separated components of a valve group according to a first embodiment of the invention;

fig. 3 shows an assembled view of the valve block of fig. 2;

figures 4a and 4b show a cross-section of the valve group of figure 3 housed in the duct with the shutter in the base position and in the adjustment position;

figure 5 shows a view of the separated components of a valve group according to a second embodiment of the invention;

fig. 6 shows an assembled view of the valve block of fig. 5;

figures 7a, 7b and 7c show cross-sectional views of the valve block of figure 6 received in a pipe with the shutter in the base position, in the adjustment position and in the safety position;

fig. 8 shows a view of separate parts of a valve group according to a third embodiment of the invention;

fig. 9 shows the valve block of fig. 8 in an assembled view;

figures 10a and 10b show a cross-section of the valve block of figure 9 housed in the duct with the shutter in the base position and in the adjustment position.

Detailed Description

In the figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a valve group according to the invention.

Furthermore, in the figures, reference numeral 900 denotes an oil management assembly of the vehicle, which is also the subject of the present invention.

In particular, the valve group 1 is suitable to be part of a pressurized oil circuit of a vehicle. The valve group 1 is therefore suitable for managing the fluid connections of a plurality of operating groups.

According to a preferred embodiment, the "operating group" is intended to indicate a plurality of groups and components of the vehicle, such as an engine group, a transmission group, a gearbox group, but also a filter group or a heat exchanger group or a pump group. Preferably, an operating group is intended to mean a component designed to perform a specific operation of the vehicle (for example for the movement of the vehicle), but at the same time also to perform a specific operation on the oil (for example a filtering or temperature regulation operation).

According to the invention, the valve group 1 is suitable for managing the flow of oil towards a heat exchanger group or towards another vehicle operating group. In some embodiments, the vehicle operations group is a filtration group. In other embodiments, the vehicle operating group is a gearbox group or a transmission group or an engine group, i.e. a group that needs to receive a certain amount of pressurized oil for optimal operation.

According to a preferred embodiment, the oil management assembly 900 may be mounted (e.g., via a specially shaped flange) on a sending unit or on a drive train or on a gearbox set of a motor vehicle for fluid connection therewith.

According to other preferred embodiments, the oil management assembly 900 may also be installed on other operational groups of the vehicle.

According to the present invention, the oil management assembly includes a heat exchanger stack 920. In a preferred embodiment, heat exchanger set 920 is of the plate type, adapted to define alternating continuous channels for coolant (e.g., water) and for oil, so that oil in contact with the plates exchanges heat therewith or therefrom to raise or lower the temperature thereof. The invention is not limited as to the type of heat exchanger bank.

Furthermore, the oil management assembly 900 includes a support stack 980 and the heat exchanger stack 920. Preferably, the support group 980 is fixable to the engine block or other operating group of the vehicle (for example by means of a specially shaped flange).

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, oil management assembly 900 is adapted to fluidly connect heat exchanger package 920 with other operational packages of the vehicle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the same oil management component 900 comprises said group of operations 910, for example in the form of a filtering group 910. In other words, support group 980 serves, for example, to house, support and, in particular, fluidly connect heat exchanger group 920 and said filter group 910.

According to the invention, the valve group 1 can be housed in a duct 8 in fluid connection with the vehicle operating group and with the heat exchanger group 920.

Preferably, said conduit 8 is obtained in an oil management assembly 900. Preferably, said duct 8 is obtained in a support group 980 of said oil management assembly 900.

According to a preferred embodiment, the duct 8 extends along a duct axis C-C.

Preferably, the conduit 8 comprises an inlet mouth 89, the inlet mouth 89 being fluidly connectable to a circulation conduit of the vehicle oil circuit to allow oil to enter the conduit 8.

According to a preferred embodiment, the duct 8 comprises a duct mouth 85 axially distanced from said inlet mouth 89.

Further, the duct 8 comprises a duct side wall 80.

In addition, duct 8 comprises a first duct opening 81 and a second duct opening 82 for fluid connection respectively with a vehicle operating group (preferably, but not necessarily, a filtering group 910) and with said heat exchanger group 920.

The first and

second conduit openings

81 and 82 are each axially spaced apart along the conduit axis C-C.

According to a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned support group 980 is a "solid" part, for example made of aluminium or plastic, and the duct 8 is obtained in this "solid" part. In other words, the side walls of the duct 80 are obtained in said "solid" part.

According to the invention, the valve group 1 can be at least partially housed in the duct 8.

According to a preferred embodiment, the valve group 1 can be inserted/extracted as a cartridge in/from the duct 8 through the duct mouth 85. In particular, the valve group 1 can be substantially or at least partially inserted into the duct 8 with a single operation.

The valve group 1 extends in length along an axis X-X. In the configuration in which the valve group 1 is housed in the duct 8, said axis X-X coincides with said duct axis C-C.

According to the invention, the valve group 1 comprises a plurality of specific components.

The valve group 1 comprises a valve body 2 extending along an axis X-X. Preferably, the valve body 2 includes a valve body cavity 200. Oil is adapted to flow in the valve body cavity 200.

In practice, the valve body 2 extends along the axis X-X between the first end 20 and the second end 25, the oil flowing through the first end 20.

Preferably, the first end 20 is the inlet end for oil in the valve body cavity 200.

Preferably, said second end 25 is conversely a closed end preventing further oil flow.

In other words, said second end 25 is conversely a closed end preventing further flow of oil beyond the housing space of the valve group 1 in the duct 8.

According to a preferred embodiment, said second end 25 is an inner wall of the duct 8 arranged away from the first end 20 along the axis X-X.

According to the invention, the valve body 2 comprises a first valve body opening 21 and a second valve body opening 22, axially spaced from each other along the axis X-X.

In the configuration in which the valve group 1 is housed in the duct 8, the first valve body opening 21 and the second valve body opening 22 face the first duct opening 81 and the second duct opening 82.

According to the invention, the valve body 2 further comprises at least one guide groove 26, said guide groove 26 extending axially with respect to the axis X-X. The function of this guide groove 26 will be described fully below and will be prominent.

Preferably, the valve body 2 comprises a plurality of guide grooves 26, preferably two guide grooves 26, preferably three guide grooves 26, equally angularly spaced, the guide grooves 26 extending axially with respect to the axis X-X.

Preferably, each guide slot 26 is laterally delimited by a guide wall 260.

In embodiments where a second end 25 is present, the second end 25 is adapted to engage the spout 85, thereby sealing the spout 85, in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, said second end 25 has a particular shape, for example comprising a particular groove, to engage with the duct mouth 85, or can be mounted to the support group 980 by means of a particular screw arrangement.

According to a preferred embodiment, said second end 25 comprises a closed wall.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second end 25 comprises and houses a sealing ring 259 adapted to engage with the side wall of the duct 80.

According to a preferred embodiment, the valve group 1 comprises a shutter 3.

The shutter 3 extends along an axis X-X and is mounted axially movable on the valve body 2.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shield 3 comprises a shield body 30 mounted axially movably on the valve body 2.

Thus, according to the invention, in the configuration in which the valve group 1 is housed in the duct 8, the shutter 3, in particular the shutter body 30, is radially between the valve body 2 and the duct side wall 80.

The shutter 3 includes a first shutter opening 31 and a second shutter opening 32.

Preferably, the first and

second shutter openings

31 and 32 are contained in the shutter main body 30.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the shutter 3 comprises a guide element 36, the guide element 36 extending radially through the guide slot 26.

Thus, preferably the guide element 36 guides the trajectory of the shield relative to the axis X-X by engaging the guide wall 260 through the guide slot 26.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shutter 3 comprises a plurality of guide elements 36 extending radially through the respective guide slots 26.

According to a preferred embodiment, the guide elements 36 extend radially in engagement with each other in the intermediate shutter portion 360 (e.g. within the valve body cavity 200).

According to a preferred embodiment, each guide slot 26 extends linearly parallel to the axis X-X with respect to the axis X-X, so as to guide the shutter 3 in a linear movement parallel to the axis X-X.

According to a variant embodiment, each guide slot 26 extends in a curvilinear development with respect to the axis X-X, for example in a spiral, so as to guide the shutter 3 in a roto-translational movement (i.e. along the axis X-X and about the axis X-X). According to such preferred embodiment, the openings described above are axially and angularly spaced from each other with respect to the axis X-X.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shield 3 is made of plastic material.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shutter body 30 is made of a plastic material.

According to the invention, the valve group 1 comprises a control device 4, the control device 4 being engaged with the valve body 2 and with the shutter 3 to control the position of the shutter 3 along the axis X-X.

According to the invention, the control device 4 is adapted to control the position of the shutter 3 between a basic position, in which the fluid passage section defined by the alignment of the first shutter opening 31 with the first valve body opening 21 is greater than or equal to the fluid passage section defined by the alignment of the second shutter opening 32 with the second valve body opening 22, and an adjustment position, in which the fluid passage section defined by the alignment of the first shutter opening 31 with the first valve body opening 21 is smaller than the fluid passage section defined by the alignment of the second shutter opening 32 with the second valve body opening 22.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the base position, the oil flow flowing in the duct 8 is adapted to flow more through the first duct opening 81 towards the vehicle operating group, i.e. towards the engine, transmission or gearbox group or towards the filtering group 910, or at a point downstream of the oil circuit of the heat exchanger 920.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the base position, the oil flow flowing in the duct 8 is divided into substantially equal portions towards the vehicle operating group (i.e. towards the engine group, the transmission group or the gearbox group or towards the filtering group 910 and towards the heat exchanger 920.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the adjustment position, the oil flow flowing in the duct 8 is adapted to flow more through the second duct opening 82 towards the heat exchanger group 920. In such an adjustment position, the valve group 1 is therefore suitable for controlling the adjustment of the oil temperature.

In other words, the valve group 1 is adapted to adjust the preferential direction of the oil flow. Preferably, the valve group 1 then adjusts the appropriate flow quantity towards the operating group or towards the heat exchanger group as required. According to a preferred embodiment, an egress instruction towards one operational group does not block egress instructions towards other operational groups.

However, according to a preferred embodiment, in the base position, the fluid passage cross-section defined by the alignment of the second shutter opening 32 with the second valve body opening 22 is substantially zero due to the substantial misalignment of the second shutter opening 32 and the second valve body opening 22, and in the regulation position, the fluid passage cross-section defined by the alignment of the first shutter opening 31 with the first valve body opening 21 is substantially zero due to the substantial misalignment of the first shutter opening 31 with the first valve body opening 21.

In other words, the valve group 1 is suitable for regulating the flow in an on-off mode. Preferably, the valve group 1 regulates the oil flow towards the operating group or towards the heat exchanger group.

According to this embodiment, a substantially zero fluid passage cross-section means that the passage cross-section defined by the misalignment of the shutter opening with respect to the valve body opening is such that the flow rate of the oil is not more than 5% of the oil flow observed with the shutter opening and the valve body opening perfectly aligned.

According to this embodiment, the use of an on/off mode does not exclude any possibility of leakage through the relevant opening, depending on the permeability of the part interacting with the valve. Specifically, leakage means that the oil flow rate is no more than 5% of the flow rate observed when the fluid passage section is fully open.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control device 4 comprises a control member 40 engaged with the valve body 2 and the shutter 3.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control member 40 is operable according to the operating conditions of the oil in order to position the shutter 3 in the adjustment position, when required, so as to direct the oil towards the heat exchanger group 920.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control member 40 is operable according to the oil temperature.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control member 40 is operable according to oil pressure.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control means 40 is therefore adapted to control according to the detected oil temperature and/or oil pressure.

According to some preferred embodiments, the control member 40, and therefore the valve group 1, is operatively connected to specific detection sensor elements (for example, temperature and/or pressure). Preferably, said temperature and/or pressure detection element is connected to an oil circuit and/or a vehicle operating group. Preferably, the control member 40, and therefore the valve group, is operatively connected to an electronic control unit ECU of the vehicle.

Preferably, the control member 40, and therefore the valve group, comprises an electrical connector for connection with the electronic control unit ECU of the vehicle.

Preferably, the control member 40 and therefore the valve group comprise an electric drive connected by wireless technology to the electronic control unit ECU of the vehicle.

Preferably, the control member 40, and therefore the valve group, is operatively connected to an electronic control unit ECU of the vehicle, which enables the control device 4 to operate on the basis of parameters (for example, temperature/pressure) measured by sensor elements which are in turn operatively connected to the electronic control unit ECU.

According to another preferred embodiment, the control member 40 is adapted to detect the oil temperature and react accordingly.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control member 40 is of the temperature-sensitive type.

Preferably, the control means 40 comprise a paraffin element 400.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control member 40 is housed in the valve body cavity 200, engaging the second end 25 and the at least one guide element 36.

Preferably, the control member 40 with the wax element 400 is engaged with the guide element 36 in a region close to the axis X-X.

Preferably, in embodiments comprising a plurality of guide elements 36, the control member 40 with the wax element 400 engages the guide elements 36 at the intermediate shutter position 360.

Preferably, the paraffin element 400 is thus housed in the valve body cavity 200.

Preferably, a wax element 400 is located near the second end 25.

Preferably, the wax element 400 faces the first valve body opening 21 in the radial direction.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control member 40 comprises an electrically controlled actuator 410 and a control pin 415, the control pin 415 being axially moved by the electrically controlled actuator 410.

Preferably, the electronically controlled drive 410 is an electric motor. Preferably, the motor is brushless or brush-type.

Preferably, electronically controlled driver 410 includes a solenoid element.

According to such preferred embodiment, the electrically controlled actuator 410 is housed at the second end 25 and the control pin 415 is engaged with said at least one guide element 36.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control pin 415 engages the guide element 36 in a region near the axis X-X.

Preferably, in embodiments including multiple guide elements 36, the control pin 415 engages the guide 36 at the intermediate blinder portion 360.

According to a preferred embodiment, an electrically controlled actuator 410 is located outside the valve body cavity 200 at the second end 25. For example, it is preferred that the electronically controlled actuators 410 be located outside of the support group 980.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the event of a damage or malfunction of the electrically controlled drive 410, the shutter 3 is in a safety position in which the first shutter opening 31 and the first valve body opening 21 are at least partially aligned and the second shutter opening 32 and the second valve body opening 22 are at least partially aligned. Therefore, preferably, when the electrically controlled drive 410 is damaged or malfunctions, the shutter 3 is in a safe condition, ensuring a predetermined inflow of oil through both the second pipe opening 82 and the first pipe opening 81. Such a situation is shown for example in fig. 7 c.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control member 40 comprises a shape memory element 420, one end of which engages the valve body 2 and the other end of which engages the shutter 3.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shape-memory element 420 extends along the axis X-X, being fitted on the valve body 2 so as to be radially between the valve body 2 and the duct side wall 80, in the configuration in which the valve group 1 is housed in the duct 8, with one side engaging the second end 25 and the other side engaging the first shutter edge 38. According to a preferred embodiment, the shape memory element 420 is a coil spring.

According to an alternative embodiment, the control member 40 comprises an electrically powered paraffin element 400.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, the control device 4 comprises a return member 45, the return member 45 being adapted to perform an action on the shutter 3 opposite to that of the control member 40, in order to bring the shutter 3 back to the base position.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, the control device 4 comprises a return member 45, the return member 45 being adapted to perform an action on the shutter 3 opposite to that of the control member 40, in order to bring the shutter 3 back to the safety position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the return member 45 is a spring extending along the axis X-X, which is mounted axially movable on the valve body 2 so as to be radially between the valve body 2 and the duct side wall 80 in the configuration in which the valve group 1 is housed in the duct 8, with one end engaging the abutment element 20' placed at the first end 20 and the other end engaging the second shutter edge 39.

According to a preferred embodiment, the valve body 20 and the shutter 3 have a substantially axially symmetrical extension.

According to the invention, the term "opening" refers to an opening through which oil flows. Specifically, the shape and number of the fluid passages constituting the respective openings are not limited in the present invention. In practice, as shown in the figures, a plurality of fluid channels correspond to the openings.

According to a preferred embodiment, each of the

conduit openings

81, 82, each of the

valve body openings

21, 22, and each of the

shutter openings

31, 32 are formed by a plurality of fluid passages axially spaced from one another.

Preferably, each fluid channel extends in circumferential section with respect to the conduit axis C-C and the axis X-X.

In particular, advantageously, this embodiment is suitable for regulating the flow of oil in correspondence of the short axial stroke of the shutter, increasing the compactness of the valve group, optimizing the use of the available space and reducing the response time of the valve in terms of managing the flow of oil. Such specific embodiments are broadly shown in fig. 2-10.

Innovatively, the valve group, the pressurized oil circuit comprising the valve group and the oil management assembly comprising the valve group fully achieve the objects of the present invention and overcome the typical problems of the prior art.

Advantageously, in practice, the valve group is adapted to manage and direct the oil in an optimally feasible manner according to its physical characteristics, so as to allow the engine and/or the gearbox and/or the transmission group to always work under optimal conditions.

In particular, by managing the passage of the oil through the heat exchanger group, the oil is heated or cooled in such a way that it returns to the engine group, the gearbox group or the transmission group at the desired temperature, preferably the optimal temperature.

In fact, advantageously, in operating conditions corresponding to a cold engine block (or gearbox group, or transmission group) in which the oil temperature is too low, the valve group directs the oil towards the heat exchanger in the shortest possible time to heat the oil. In other words, advantageously, the valve group is adapted to control the oil according to the oil temperature in order to speed up the reheating and therefore the heating step of the engine itself.

Advantageously, the valve group is simple and economical to manufacture.

Advantageously, the valve group is adapted to operate effectively even in the presence of oil of high viscosity.

Advantageously, the valve block is designed such that its components can operate even when subjected to high stresses.

Advantageously, the set of shutters may be positioned almost entirely outside the intermediate chamber. Advantageously, the shutter set is protected by the valve body.

Advantageously, the main components of the valve group are arranged so as not to obstruct the circulation of oil in the internal cavity of the valve body, thereby reducing the pressure drop in the oil circuit due to the presence of the valve and not affecting the ability to manage the flow of oil.

Advantageously, the shutter is radially positioned between the inner surface of the duct and the outer surface of the valve body to minimize the adverse effect of any traction force exerted by the oil (in particular at low temperatures (high viscosity)), thus ensuring a better control of the position of the shutter, reducing the stresses on the control means, thus increasing the reliability of the valve group.

Advantageously, the valve body of the valve group is a multifunctional element, suitable to support both the control device and the shutter, while guiding the movement of the shutter through a guide groove obtained on the valve body itself.

Advantageously, the valve body of the valve group is a multifunctional element, suitable to support both the control device and the shutter, while guiding the movement of the shutter through a guide slot obtained on the valve body itself, and while closing the end that houses the conduit.

Advantageously, a large amount of oil is regulated by including the shortest shutter travel.

Advantageously, the flow of oil is managed by the shortest axial shutter travel, simplifying the structure of the control device.

Advantageously, the offset of the control pin of the electric drive is minimized to ensure a higher level of reliability of the valve group and to reduce its cost.

Advantageously, the valve group also comprises a specific safety function, which is incorporated even in the presence of damage or failure of the electrically controlled actuator, so as to always ensure a certain flow of oil to the heat exchanger, avoiding undesired overheating of the oil circuit and/or degradation of the oil quality.

Advantageously, the valve group has the same components described above, varying only in size from one application to another, depending on the application of the valve group, for example on the type of pressurized oil circuit it is intended for, whether it is used in the engine circuit or in the gearbox circuit or in the transmission circuit, or whether it is used in small or medium motor vehicles or industrial vehicles.

Advantageously, the valve group can be implemented both on vehicles powered by internal combustion engines and on vehicles using hybrid or electric power.

Furthermore, advantageously, a specific design of the piping is not necessary, as the valve block can act on the oil independently. In other words, advantageously, it is not necessary to provide a duct with specific shoulders at different positions of the shutter, since the valve group is positioned as described by direct operation with the shutter, changing its position according to different operating conditions.

Obviously, in order to satisfy contingent needs, a person skilled in the art may make modifications to the valve group or to the oil circuit or to the filtering assembly that are fully encompassed by the scope of protection defined by the following claims.

List of reference numerals:

1. valve group

2. Valve body

20. First end

20' abutting element

21. First valve body opening

22. Opening of the second valve body

25. Second end

259. Sealing washer

26. Guiding groove

260. Guide wall

200. Valve body cavity

81. First pipeline opening

82. Second pipe opening

3. Shielding piece

31. First shield opening

32. Second shield opening

36. Guide element

38. First shield edge

39. Second shield edge

4. Control device

40. Control member

400. Paraffin element

410. Electric control driver

415. Control pin

420. Shape memory element

8. Pipeline

80. Side wall of pipeline

81. First pipeline opening

82. Second pipe opening

85. Pipeline nozzle

89. Inlet nozzle

900. Oil management assembly

910. Operation group

920. Heat exchanger group

980. Support set

C-C pipeline axis

The X-X axis.

Claims

1. Valve group (1) which can be housed in a duct (8) of an oil circuit, wherein the duct (8) is in fluid communication with a vehicle operating group and a heat exchanger group (920), wherein the duct (8) extends along a duct axis (C-C), the duct (8) comprising a duct side wall (80) and a first duct opening (81) and a second duct opening (82), the first duct opening (81) and the second duct opening (82) being axially spaced on the duct side wall (80), the first duct opening (81) and the second duct opening (82) being in fluid connection with the operating group and the heat exchanger group (920), respectively;

wherein the valve group (1) extends in length along an axis (X-X) coinciding with the duct axis (C-C) in a configuration housed in the duct (8), and the valve group (1) comprises:

i) A valve body (2) comprising a valve body cavity (200), said valve body cavity (200) extending along said axis (X-X) between a first end (20) and a second end (25), through which first end (20) oil flows into said valve body cavity (200), and said first end (20) and said second end (25) being axially spaced apart, wherein said valve body (2) comprises a first valve body opening (21) and a second valve body opening (22), said first valve body opening (21) and said second valve body opening (22) being axially spaced apart to face said first duct opening (81) and said second duct opening (82), respectively, in a configuration in which said valve group (1) is housed in said duct (8), wherein said valve body (2) further comprises at least one guide slot (26), said guide slot (26) extending axially with respect to said axis (X-X);

ii) a shutter (3) extending along said axis (X-X), comprising a shutter body (30), said shutter body (30) being mounted axially movable on said valve body (2) so as to be radially between said valve body (2) and said duct side wall (80) in the configuration in which said valve group (1) is housed in said duct (8), wherein said shutter (3) comprises a first shutter opening (31) and a second shutter opening (32) on said shutter body (30), wherein said shutter (3) comprises a guide element (36) extending radially through said guide slot (26);

iii) A control device (4) which engages with the valve body (2) and the shutter (3) to control the position of the shutter (3) along the axis (X-X) between a base position, in which the fluid passage section defined by the alignment of the first shutter opening (31) with the first valve body opening (21) is greater than or equal to the fluid passage section defined by the alignment of the second shutter opening (32) with the second valve body opening (22), and an adjustment position, in which the fluid passage section defined by the alignment of the first shutter opening (31) with the first valve body opening (21) is smaller than the fluid passage section defined by the alignment of the second shutter opening (32) with the second valve body opening (22).

2. Valve group (1) according to claim 1, wherein in the basic position, the fluid passage section defined by the alignment of the second shutter opening (32) with the second valve body opening (22) is substantially zero, due to the substantial misalignment of the second shutter opening (32) and the second valve body opening (22), and wherein in the regulation position, the fluid passage section defined by the alignment of the first shutter opening (31) with the first valve body opening (21) is substantially zero, due to the substantial misalignment of the first shutter opening (31) with the first valve body opening (21).

3. Valve group (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein each duct opening (81, 82), each valve body opening (21, 22) and each shutter opening (31, 32) constitute a plurality of fluid channels axially spaced from each other, preferably each fluid channel extending on a circumferential section with respect to the duct axis (C-C) and the axis (X-X).

4. Valve group (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the valve body (2) comprises a plurality of guiding slots (26), preferably two guiding slots (26), preferably three guiding slots (26), equally angularly spaced apart, the guiding slots (26) extending axially with respect to the axis (X-X), wherein the shutter (3) comprises a plurality of guiding elements (36) extending radially through each guiding slot (26).

5. Valve group (1) according to claim 4, wherein the guide elements (36) extend radially to mutually engage, for example, at an intermediate shutter portion (360) within the valve body cavity (200).

6. Valve group (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the at least one guide groove (26) extends linearly with respect to the axis (X-X) parallel thereto, so that the action of the control means (4) corresponds to the axial translation of the shutter (3).

7. Valve group (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the control means (4) comprise a control member (40) engaged with the valve body (2) and with the shutter (3), wherein the control member (40) is operable according to the operating conditions of the oil to guide the shutter (3) at the base position or at the regulation position.

8. Valve group (1) according to claim 7, wherein the control member (40) is temperature-sensitive, for example comprising a paraffin element (400), wherein the control member (40) is housed in the valve body cavity (200), engaging the second end (25) and at least one guide element (36).

9. Valve group (1) according to claim 7, wherein the control member (40) comprises an electrically controlled actuator (410) and a control pin (415), the control pin (415) being axially moved by the electrically controlled actuator (410), wherein the electrically controlled actuator (410) is housed at the second end (25) and the control pin (415) is engaged with at least one guide element (36).

10. Valve group (1) according to claim 9, wherein the electrically controlled actuator (410) is housed outside the valve body cavity (200) at the second end (25).

11. Valve group (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein in the event of damage and/or failure of the electrically controlled actuator (410), the shutter (3) can be positioned in a safety position in which the first shutter opening (31) and the first valve body opening (21) are at least partially aligned and the second shutter opening (32) and the second valve body opening (22) are at least partially aligned.

12. Valve group (1) according to claim 7, wherein the control member (40) comprises a shape memory element (420), the shape memory element (420) being engaged, on one end, with the valve body (2) and, on the other end, with the shutter (3).

13. Valve group (1) according to claim 12, wherein the shape-memory element (420), extending along the axis (X-X), is fitted on the valve body (2) so as to be radially between the valve body (2) and the duct side wall (80), in a configuration in which the valve group (1) is housed in the duct (8), with one side engaging the second end (25) and the other side engaging a first shutter edge (38).

14. Valve group (1) according to claim 13, wherein the shape-memory element (420) is a helical spring.

15. Valve group (1) according to any of the claims from 7 to 14, wherein the control means (4) comprise a return member (45), the return member (45) being suitable to perform an action on the shutter (3) opposite to the action of the control member (40) to bring the shutter (3) to the base position.

16. Valve group (1) according to claim 15, in combination with claim 11, wherein the return member (45) is adapted to perform an action on the shutter (3) opposite to the action of the control member (40) to bring the shutter (3) to the safety position.

17. Valve group (1) according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the return member (45) is a spring extending along the axis (X-X) and axially movably fitted on the valve body (2) so as to be radially interposed between the valve body (2) and the duct side wall (80) in the configuration in which the valve group (1) is housed in the duct (8), with one end engaged with an abutment element (20') placed at the first end (20) and the other end engaged with a second shutter edge (39).

18. Valve group (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the valve body (2) and the shutter (30) have a substantially axially symmetrical extension.

19. Valve group (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the second end (25) is closed and blocks the flow of oil.

20. Valve group (1) according to claim 19, wherein the duct (8) comprises a duct mouth (85) and the second end (25) sealingly engages the duct mouth (85) to close the duct mouth (85).

21. Valve group (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the valve group (1) is of the cartridge type, insertable/extractable from the duct (8).

22. Oil circuit of a vehicle comprising a valve group (1) according to any of the previous claims.

23. An oil management assembly (900) of an oil circuit of a vehicle, fluidly connected to a vehicle operating group, such as to an engine assembly, or to a transmission assembly, comprising:

i) A heat exchanger group (920);

ii) a support assembly (980) comprising at least one duct (8), said duct (8) extending along a duct axis (C-C), comprising a duct side wall (80), said duct (8) comprising a first duct opening (81) and a second duct opening (82) on said duct side wall (80), said first duct opening (81) and said second duct opening (82) being for fluid connection with said operating group and said heat exchanger group (920), respectively;

iii) Valve group (1) according to any of the claims from 1 to 21, which can be housed in the duct (8).

24. Oil management assembly (900) of an oil circuit of a vehicle according to claim 23, fluidly connectable to a vehicle operating group, such as a vehicle gearbox assembly or an engine assembly, comprising:

iv) an oil filter group (910) supported by the duct (8) and fluidly connected to the support assembly (980), wherein the first duct opening (81) is fluidly connected to the oil filter assembly (910).