Engine thermal management for internal combustion engine
First Claim
1. An engine thermal management system for an engine having head, with a coolant inlet and head passages connected to the inlet, and a block, with a coolant outlet and block passages connected between the head passages and the outlet, the engine thermal management system comprising:
- a water pump having a pump outlet adapted to operatively engage the coolant inlet and pump a coolant thereto, and a pump inlet;
a multi-port valve having a valve inlet adapted to operatively engage the coolant outlet of the block, a first valve outlet selectively engagable with the valve inlet, and a second valve outlet selectively engagable with the valve inlet;
a radiator operatively engaging the first valve outlet and the pump inlet;
a bypass operatively engaging the second valve outlet and the pump inlet; and
a controller operatively engaging the valve to control the selective engagement of the valve inlet with the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An engine thermal management system and method for a vehicle engine that allows for reduced coolant flow and energy consumption by the system, while avoiding excessive critical metal temperatures in the engine. The engine includes a coolant inlet in a head and a coolant outlet in a block. A variable speed pump pushes the coolant into the head inlet. A multi-port valve receives the coolant exiting the engine block and selectively routes it to various system components. The speed of the pump and the valve are electronically controlled by a control module, based upon various engine and vehicle operating conditions.
56 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. An engine thermal management system for an engine having head, with a coolant inlet and head passages connected to the inlet, and a block, with a coolant outlet and block passages connected between the head passages and the outlet, the engine thermal management system comprising:
-
a water pump having a pump outlet adapted to operatively engage the coolant inlet and pump a coolant thereto, and a pump inlet;
a multi-port valve having a valve inlet adapted to operatively engage the coolant outlet of the block, a first valve outlet selectively engagable with the valve inlet, and a second valve outlet selectively engagable with the valve inlet;
a radiator operatively engaging the first valve outlet and the pump inlet;
a bypass operatively engaging the second valve outlet and the pump inlet; and
a controller operatively engaging the valve to control the selective engagement of the valve inlet with the first valve outlet and the second valve outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A vehicle apparatus comprising:
-
an engine having head, with a coolant inlet and head passages connected to the inlet, and a block, with a coolant outlet and block passages connected between the head passages and the outlet;
a water pump having a pump outlet operatively engaging the coolant inlet and pump a coolant thereto, and a pump inlet;
a multi-port valve having a valve inlet operatively engaging the coolant outlet of the block, a first valve outlet selectively engagable with the valve inlet, a second valve outlet selectively engagable with the valve inlet, a third valve outlet selectively engagable with the valve inlet, and a fourth valve outlet selectively engagable with the valve inlet;
a radiator operatively engaging the first valve outlet and the pump inlet;
a bypass operatively engaging the second valve outlet and the pump inlet;
a heater core operatively engaging the third valve outlet and the pump inlet;
a degas container operatively engaging the fourth valve outlet and the pump inlet; and
a controller operatively engaging the valve to control the selective engagement of the valve inlet with the first valve outlet, the second valve outlet, the third valve outlet and the fourth valve outlet;
- View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of controlling the cooling of an engine, having a block and a head, in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
-
pumping coolant into a coolant inlet in the head of the engine;
routing the coolant through coolant passages in the head;
routing coolant from the coolant passages in the head to coolant passages in the block of the engine;
routing the coolant from the coolant passages in the block to a coolant outlet in the block;
routing the coolant from the coolant outlet in the block to an inlet of a multi-port valve;
selectively routing portions of the coolant from the inlet of the valve to at least one of a radiator, a heater core, a bypass, and a degas container; and
electronically controlling the pumping of the coolant and the routing through the multi-port valve based on engine operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
-
Specification