To satisfy the diverse thermal management needs of different powertrains with a common building set, Bosch has developed a camshaft driven sliding gate coolant module that can be easily adapted to different powertrains within a vehicle platform. A single actuator in the 2 N-m range controls from 8 to 24 flow paths through up to 10 discrete modes, including proportional metering. Pressure drop across each valve is less than 5 kPa at 2000 L/hr. Individual flow paths can be added or removed without significant reinvestment. For context, current state-of-the-art requires ~3x the torque and is limited to ~8 flow paths per actuator.

Integrating this concept with Bosch’s R290 Heat Pump Unit (HPU) efficiently satisfies all heating and cooling needs of the vehicle.

Modern vehicles, particularly electrified vehicles like hybrids and battery electric vehicles, rely heavily on sophisticated thermal management systems to regulate the temperature of components including batteries, power electronics, axles, internal combustion engines, and cabin comfort. Conventional coolant valves control up to eight fluid flow paths per actuator. Systems requiring 20 or more controlled flow paths with 3-6 interlinked multiport valves become prohibitive, and modularity is difficult to achieve; a valve (and its actuator) are challenging to remove without redesigning the complete system.

At the heart of Bosch’s Sliding Gate Coolant Module is a simple, robust metal sliding gate moving between two fixed gates. A unique cam directly drives each gate open and pulls it back closed. Gates can be arranged to allow multiple flow paths to and from each subsystem as required. Modularity can be achieved by multiple solutions, depending on which is the most space and cost effective:

• A neutral cam can be installed leaving a gate closed (or open) throughout the modes
• A solid gate can be installed preventing flow
• Fixed gates can be molded without flow openings
• The valve manifolds can have the flow openings closed in the mold

Six patents are pending on Bosch’s Flexible Thermal Units including Sliding Gate Coolant Modules.