US-20260126125-A1 - VALVE SYSTEM

US20260126125A1US 20260126125 A1US20260126125 A1US 20260126125A1US-20260126125-A1

Abstract

A valve system including a first valve body defining an outlet configured to distribute a fluid; a second valve body configured to be received within the first valve body and to be transitioned between at least a first position corresponding to a fully-open state of the valve system and a second position corresponding to a closed state of the valve system; a motor configured to transition the second valve body between the first position and the second position by rotating a shaft about an axis of rotation in a series of angular steps; and a control unit configured to operate the motor to transition the second valve body between the first position and the second position.

Inventors

Michael Weaver

Assignees

VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251027
Priority Date: 20241106

Claims (15)

1 . A valve system configured for use in a lubrication system of a vehicle, the valve system comprising: a first valve body defining an outlet configured to distribute a fluid; a second valve body configured to be received within the first valve body and to be transitioned between at least a first position corresponding to a fully-open state of the valve system and a second position corresponding to a closed state of the valve system; a motor configured to transition the second valve body between the first position and the second position by rotating a shaft about an axis of rotation in a series of angular steps; and a control unit configured to operate the motor to transition the second valve body between the first position and the second position.
2 . The valve system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to prompt a plurality of pulses of electric current to be transmitted to the motor by an electric power source.
3 . The valve system of claim 2 , wherein each step in the series of steps of the motor corresponds to a pulse of the plurality of pulses transmitted to the motor by the electric power source.
4 . The valve system of claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to include between 6 and 400 steps per full rotation of the shaft.
5 . The valve system of claim 1 , comprising a gear train configured to receive rotational force imparted by the shaft and to impart rotational force on the second valve body to transition the second valve body between the first position and the second position.
6 . The valve system of claim 5 , wherein the gear train includes a central gear configured to be rotated by the shaft, a plurality of peripheral gears configured to mesh with the central gear and to revolve about the central gear, and an outer ring gear configured to mesh with the plurality of peripheral gears about the central gear.
7 . The valve system of claim 6 , wherein the outer ring gear is coupled to at least a portion of the second valve body.
8 . The valve system of claim 1 , comprising a bias member configured to bias the second valve body toward the first position.
9 . A lubrication system configured for use on a vehicle, the lubrication system comprising: a reservoir configured to store a supply of a fluid; an injection member configured to receive the fluid and to apply the fluid toward a piston of an engine of a vehicle; and the valve system of claim 1 .
10 . The lubrication system of claim 9 , wherein the valve system is configured to control a flow of the fluid between the reservoir and the injection member.
11 . The lubrication system of claim 9 , wherein the injection member is capable of applying the fluid toward the piston when the valve system is in the fully-open state and the injection member is no longer capable of applying the fluid toward the piston when the valve system is in the closed state.
12 . A method of controlling a flow of a fluid in a lubrication system of a vehicle, the method comprising: providing the valve system of claim 1 ; and rotating the shaft of the motor about the axis of rotation in the series of angular steps to transition the second valve body between the first position and the second position.
13 . The method of claim 12 , comprising imparting rotational force on a gear train to transition the second valve body between the first position and the second position.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein imparting rotational force on the gear train includes rotating a central gear with the shaft, meshing a plurality of peripheral gears with the central gear, and meshing an outer ring gear with the plurality of peripheral gears about the central gear.
15 . A vehicle comprising the valve system of claim 1 .

Description

PRIORITY APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 24211259.7, filed on Nov. 6, 2024, and entitled “VALVE SYSTEM,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates generally to a system for cooling and/or lubricating one or more part of a mechanical device. In particular aspects, the disclosure relates to a piston cooling jet system configured for use on a vehicle to cool and/or lubricate one or more part of an engine of a vehicle. The disclosure may relate to heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, buses, and/or construction equipment, among other vehicle types. However, although the disclosure may be described with respect to a particular vehicle, the disclosure is not restricted to any particular vehicle. BACKGROUND An internal combustion engine and/or hybrid internal combustion engine of a vehicle typically includes an engine block defining one or more cylinder configured for reciprocation of a piston. Friction caused by contacting surfaces of the piston and the cylinder during reciprocation of the piston generates heat and produces wear on the piston and the cylinder, resulting in diminished mechanical efficiency and, eventually, mechanical failure, such as a piston seizure. A piston cooling jet in communication with a supply of a lubricant, such as oil, may be employed to apply the lubricant to the piston to absorb heat and reduce friction corresponding to the piston and the cylinder. The supply of lubricant to the piston cooling jet may be regulated by use of a valve in communication with the piston cooling jet. In particular, a solenoid valve, which is configured to use electromagnetism to open and/or close a port in communication with the piston cooling jet, is commonly used to regulate supply of lubricant to the piston cooling jet. However, pressure and flow control of lubricant through a solenoid valve is typically varied and inaccurate due at least in part to reliance on sensitivity to fluctuations in voltage. Further, a position and/or state of a solenoid valve is typically unknown and/or unable to be fixed. Accordingly, use of a solenoid valve may lead to unnecessary and/or insufficient supply of lubricant to the piston cooling jet and, thus, to the piston. Additionally, a solenoid valve typically does not have sufficient strength and/or robustness to overcome debris that may be found in the lubricant. As such, use of a solenoid valve to regulate supply of lubricant to the piston cooling jet may result in inefficient lubricant consumption and/or premature mechanical failure of the piston. It is desirable to provide a valve system configured for use on a vehicle having increased valve control, accuracy, and strength to thereby enhance mechanical efficiency and prevent mechanical failure of a piston in an engine of a vehicle. SUMMARY According to aspects of the disclosure, a valve system configured for use in a lubrication system of a vehicle is provided. The valve system includes a first valve body defining an outlet configured to distribute a fluid. The valve system includes a second valve body configured to be received within the first valve body and to be transitioned between at least a first position corresponding to a fully-open state of the valve system and a second position corresponding to a closed state of the valve system. The valve system includes a motor configured to transition the second valve body between the first position and the second position by rotating a shaft about an axis of rotation in a series of angular steps. The valve system includes a control unit configured to operate the motor to transition the second valve body between the first position and the second position. According to aspects of the disclosure, the control unit may be configured to prompt a plurality of pulses of electric current to be transmitted to the motor by an electric power source. According to aspects of the disclosure, each step in the series of steps of the motor may correspond to a pulse of the plurality of pulses transmitted to the motor by the electric power source. According to aspects of the disclosure, the motor may be configured to include between 6 and 400 steps per full rotation of the shaft. According to aspects of the disclosure, the motor may include a stator and a rotor surrounded by the stator. According to aspects of the disclosure, the valve system may include a gear train configured to receive rotational force imparted by the shaft and to impart rotational force on the second valve body to transition the second valve body between the first position and the second position. According to aspects of the disclosure, the gear train may include a central gear configured to be rotated by the shaft, a plurality of peripheral gears configured to mesh with the central gear and to revolve about the central gear, and an outer ring gear configured to mesh with the plurality of peripheral gears about t