Flow channel for an integrated pump with rotary valve
A fluid pump includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet. A cavity located in the pump housing receives the fluid from the fluid inlet. A first flow channel fluidically connects the cavity to the first fluid outlet. An impeller positioned in the cavity moves the fluid from the cavity at a first rate of fluid flow. A valve mounted between the impeller and the first flow channel is positionable to direct the fluid from the cavity at the first rate of fluid flow to enter the first fluid channel and exit the first fluid outlet at a second rate of fluid flow.
1 . A fluid pump comprising:
a housing having a fluid inlet and at least a first fluid outlet;
a cavity receiving the fluid from the fluid inlet;
a first flow channel connecting the cavity to the first fluid outlet;
an impeller located in the cavity for moving fluid from the cavity at a first rate of fluid flow;
a valve coupled to an actuator mounted between the impeller and the first flow channel, the valve having a valve annular wall with an opening extending through the valve annular wall fluidically connecting the cavity to the first flow channel and an interior surface that is spirally voluted from a thicker wall section at a first end of the opening to a thinner wall section at a second end of the opening, wherein responsive to the actuator, the valve is positionable to direct the fluid from the cavity at the first rate of fluid flow to enter the first flow channel through the opening and exit the first fluid outlet at a second rate of fluid flow.
2 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the impeller is arranged to rotate inside the interior surface of the valve annular wall.
3 . The pump of claim 1 , wherein the first flow channel is located in the housing between an inner surface of the housing and a portion of an exterior surface of the valve annular wall proximate the first fluid outlet.
4 . The pump of claim 3 , wherein the first flow channel extends from an end wall to an outlet wall of the first fluid outlet.
5 . The pump of claim 4 , wherein the fluid in the cavity is blocked from entering the first flow channel when a wall portion of the valve annular wall at the first end of the opening is seated against the end wall.
6 . The pump of claim 4 , wherein the fluid from the cavity exits the first fluid outlet at the first rate of fluid flow when a wall portion of the valve annular wall at the first end of the valve opening is seated against the outlet wall of the first fluid outlet.
7 . The pump of claim 4 , wherein the second rate of fluid flow is altered by the distance that the first end of the valve opening is moved from the end wall.
8 . The pump of claim 7 , wherein the actuator is arranged to unseat a wall portion of the valve annular wall at the first end of the valve opening from the end wall and to selectively move the valve opening until the valve annular wall seats against the outlet wall.
9 . The pump of claim 7 , wherein the housing includes at least a second fluid outlet and at least a second flow channel, the second flow channel located in the housing between an inner surface of the housing and a portion of an exterior surface of the valve proximate the second fluid outlet.
10 . The pump of claim 9 , wherein the second flow channel extends from an end wall to an outlet wall of the second fluid outlet.
11 . The pump of claim 10 , wherein the fluid in the cavity is blocked from entering the second flow channel when a second wall portion of the valve annular wall at the second end of the opening is seated against the outlet wall of the second fluid outlet.
12 . The pump of claim 11 , wherein the fluid from the cavity enters the flow channel at the first rate of fluid flow when the second wall portion of the valve annular wall at the second end of the valve opening is seated against the end wall of the second fluid outlet.
13 . The pump of claim 11 , wherein the second rate of fluid flow is altered by the distance that the second end of the valve opening is moved from the outlet wall of the second fluid outlet.
14 . The pump of claim 11 , wherein the second rate of fluid flow from the first fluid outlet is proportional to the second rate of fluid flow from the second fluid outlet.
15 . A method for producing a distributed rate of fluid flow from a fluid pump, the fluid pump having a fluid inlet and at least a first fluid outlet, the method comprising:
receiving a fluid into a cavity contained in the pump from the fluid inlet;
providing a first flow channel fluidically connecting the cavity to the first fluid outlet;
pumping the fluid from the cavity at a first rate of fluid flow; and
selectively directing the fluid from the cavity into the first flow channel using a valve having a valve annular wall with an opening extending through the valve annular wall that fluidically connects the cavity to the first flow channel and an interior surface that is spirally voluted from a thicker wall section at a first end of the opening to a thinner wall section at a second end of the opening, the valve mounted between the impeller and the first flow channel and coupled to an actuator, wherein responsive to the actuator, the valve is movable to direct the fluid from the cavity at the first rate of fluid flow to enter the first flow channel through the opening and exit the first fluid outlet at a second rate of fluid flow.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the pump further includes a second fluid outlet and a second flow channel fluidically connected to the pump cavity, wherein the valve is movable by the actuator to direct the fluid at the first rate of fluid flow to enter the second flow channel and exit the second fluid outlet at the second rate of fluid flow.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second rate of fluid flow from the first fluid outlet is proportional to the second rate of fluid flow from the second fluid outlet.