Rotary fluid regulator

Abstract

A rotary fluid regulator (1, 300) has a housing (2) with at least one inlet opening (3, 4) and at least one outlet opening (5). A valve element (7, 100) is received rotatably in the housing (2) and is a hollow fluid duct (8). A drive element (19, 301, 401, 501) is provided to rotate the valve element (7, 100) so that a fluidic connection between the at least one inlet opening (3, 4) and the at least one outlet opening (5) can be adjusted or blocked. A brake element is provided for influencing or blocking the movement of the valve element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary fluid regulator comprising:
 a valve housing with first, second and third openings for accommodating flows of fluid relative to the housing; 
 a valve element received rotatably in the valve housing and being hollow to form first and second fluid ducts, the first fluid duct being mounted rotatably in the first opening of the valve housing so that the second fluid duct is movable in the valve housing between a first position where the second fluid duct does not communicate with either of the second and third openings of the valve housing, a second position where the second fluid duct communicates with second opening of the valve housing and a third position where the second fluid duct communicates with the third opening of the valve housing; 
 a drive element housing mounted externally of the valve housing; 
 a displaceable element having a first end mounted in the drive element housing and a second end configured for rotating the valve element about the first fluid duct and adjusting or blocking a fluidic connection between the first opening and the second and third openings; and 
 a magnetorheological brake element having a brake housing surrounding a portion of the displaceable element between the valve housing and drive element housing, a magnetorheological material in the brake housing and surrounding a portion of the displaceable element in the brake housing, the magnetorheological material being activatable for influencing or blocking movement of the displaceable element and rotational movement of the valve element in the valve housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The rotary fluid regulator of  claim 1 , wherein the second and third openings are second and third outlet openings, so that a fluid flow can be distributed to the second outlet opening or the third outlet opening. 
     
     
       3. The rotary fluid regulator of  claim 1 , wherein the second and third openings are second and third inlet openings so that a fluid flow can be fed to the second inlet opening or the third inlet opening. 
     
     
       4. The rotary fluid regulator of  claim 1 , wherein the drive element is an electric motor, and has an output element connected by a mechanism to the valve element to rotate the valve element. 
     
     
       5. The rotary fluid regulator of  claim 4 , wherein the mechanism is a toothed-rack mechanism or a toothed-wheel mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The rotary fluid regulator of  claim 4 , further comprising a spring that acts on the mechanism, on the drive element or on the valve element to cause a force to be exerted in a direction of a predefined position of the valve element. 
     
     
       7. The rotary fluid regulator of  claim 1 , wherein the drive element is a hydraulic or pneumatic drive element, and has an output element connected by a mechanism to the valve element to rotate the valve element. 
     
     
       8. The rotary fluid regulator of  claim 1 , wherein the brake housing has a chamber, the magnetorheological material being in the chamber and being configured so that in a magnetized state, the magnetorheological material inhibits the displacement of the displaceable element in the chamber and, in a non-magnetized state, the magnetorheological material substantially does not inhibit the displacement of the displaceable element. 
     
     
       9. The rotary fluid regulator of  claim 8 , wherein the displaceable element is a piston or slide that is longitudinally displaceable in the chamber. 
     
     
       10. The rotary fluid regulator of  claim 8 , further comprising an electromagnet or coil arranged around the brake housing.