AUTOMATED NO-IDLE HEATING AND ENGINE PRE-HEAT USING ENGINE COOLANT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A motor vehicle comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
an engine cooling system for the internal combustion engine including a pump for circulating coolant through the internal combustion engine;
an auxiliary coolant beater including an auxiliary pump;
a passenger cabin;
a primary heat exchanger installed with respect to the passenger cabin to release heat into the passenger cabin;
an auxiliary heat exchanger installed with respect to the passenger cabin to release heat into the passenger cabin;
a coolant circulating circuit connected to the auxiliary pump from which coolant can be selectively delivered to any one of the engine cooling system, the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger and the auxiliary coolant heater;
an engine cooling system outlet control valve, a primary heat exchanger flow control valve, an auxiliary heat exchanger flow control valve and an auxiliary heater flow control valve, the engine cooling system outlet control valve providing for selectively isolating the engine cooling system within and interconnecting the engine cooling system to coolant circulating circuit, and the primary heat exchanger flow control valve, the auxiliary heat exchanger flow control valve and the auxiliary heater flow control valve providing for cutting off and allowing the flow of coolant through the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger and the auxiliary heater, respectively;
a climate controller coupled to open, close and modulate the engine cooling system outlet control valve, the primary heat exchanger flow control valve, the auxiliary heat exchanger flow control valve and the auxiliary heater flow control valve in response to selection of one of a plurality of operating states; and
the plurality of operating states including a first state where the auxiliary heater is running and the internal combustion engine is off, a second state where the engine is off and the auxiliary heater is on, a third state where the internal combustion engine and the auxiliary heater are concurrently running and in which the engine cooling system outlet control valve is closed to isolate the engine cooling system, and a fourth state where the internal combustion engine is on and the auxiliary heater is off.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To avoid engine idling to support cabin heating, an auxiliary coolant heater can heat engine coolant and pump it through compartment heaters or the engine cooling system. The coolant flow control system provides great flexibility in selectively distributing heated coolant for heating and engine preheating.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A motor vehicle comprising:
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an internal combustion engine; an engine cooling system for the internal combustion engine including a pump for circulating coolant through the internal combustion engine; an auxiliary coolant beater including an auxiliary pump; a passenger cabin; a primary heat exchanger installed with respect to the passenger cabin to release heat into the passenger cabin; an auxiliary heat exchanger installed with respect to the passenger cabin to release heat into the passenger cabin; a coolant circulating circuit connected to the auxiliary pump from which coolant can be selectively delivered to any one of the engine cooling system, the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger and the auxiliary coolant heater; an engine cooling system outlet control valve, a primary heat exchanger flow control valve, an auxiliary heat exchanger flow control valve and an auxiliary heater flow control valve, the engine cooling system outlet control valve providing for selectively isolating the engine cooling system within and interconnecting the engine cooling system to coolant circulating circuit, and the primary heat exchanger flow control valve, the auxiliary heat exchanger flow control valve and the auxiliary heater flow control valve providing for cutting off and allowing the flow of coolant through the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger and the auxiliary heater, respectively; a climate controller coupled to open, close and modulate the engine cooling system outlet control valve, the primary heat exchanger flow control valve, the auxiliary heat exchanger flow control valve and the auxiliary heater flow control valve in response to selection of one of a plurality of operating states; and the plurality of operating states including a first state where the auxiliary heater is running and the internal combustion engine is off, a second state where the engine is off and the auxiliary heater is on, a third state where the internal combustion engine and the auxiliary heater are concurrently running and in which the engine cooling system outlet control valve is closed to isolate the engine cooling system, and a fourth state where the internal combustion engine is on and the auxiliary heater is off. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A coolant circulation circuit for climate control and preheat comprising:
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a primary heat source for coolant having a primary pump and an internal coolant circulation subcircuit; an auxiliary coolant heater including an auxiliary pump; a primary heat exchanger for sinking beat from circulating coolant; an auxiliary beat exchanger for sinking heat from circulating coolant; connections between the internal coolant circulation sub-circuit and the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger and the auxiliary coolant heater; an outlet control valve for the internal coolant circulation sub-circuit, a primary heat exchanger flow control valve, an auxiliary heat exchanger flow control valve and an auxiliary heater flow control valve, the outlet control valve allowing for isolation of the internal coolant circulation sub-circuit; the primary heat exchanger flow control valve, the auxiliary heat exchanger flow control valve and the auxiliary heater flow control valve providing for cutting off and allowing the flow of coolant through anymore or more of the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger or the auxiliary heater, respectively; a controller coupled to open, close and modulate the outlet control valve, the primary heat exchanger flow control valve, the auxiliary heat exchanger flow control valve and the auxiliary heater flow control valve in response to selection of one of a plurality of operating states; and
the plurality of operating states including a first state where the auxiliary heater is running and the primary heat source is off, a second state where the primary heat source is off and the auxiliary heater is on, a third state where the primary heat source and the auxiliary heater are concurrently on, and a fourth state in which the primary heat source is on and the auxiliary heater is off. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification