US 11,932,078 B2
Electric vehicle heat pump using enhanced valve unit
Prem Pinto, San Jose, CA (US); and Daniel F. Hanks, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Assigned to Tesla, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by Tesla, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/657,320.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/200,874, filed on Mar. 31, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0314735 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. B60H 1/00 (2006.01); B60H 1/08 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/00342 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00392 (2013.01); B60H 1/00485 (2013.01); B60H 1/08 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus usable as part of a heat pump for an electric vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a housing, the housing having a particular number of connection ports, each connection port being connected to a component of the electric vehicle, and the connection ports being configured to pass fluid,
wherein the connections ports are oriented in a same direction; and
a stemshell positioned within the housing, the stemshell comprising a plurality of channels, wherein at least a portion of the channels are in fluidic connection with the connection ports, wherein the stemshell is configured to rotate within the housing, and wherein rotation causes adjustment of the connection ports which correspond to the channels.