Vehicle Cooling System with Directed Flows

• US 20090308335A1
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanon Systems Efp Canada Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Magna Powertrain Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Clough, Malcolm J., Scotchmer, Robert, Dipaola, Pasquale
• Granted Patent: US 8,181,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/41.100
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/028 Deaeration devices
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/08 Arrangements of lubricant coolers in lubrication apparatus F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/027 Cooling cylinders and cylinder heads in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2070/04 using electrical heating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/16 by thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/165 characterised by systems with two or more loops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2617 Bypass or relief valve biased open

Abstract

A cooling system for internal combustion engines provides directed flows of heated or cooled coolant to various engine components and/or accessories as needed. By providing directed flows, the overall coolant flow volume is reduced from that of conventional cooling systems, allowing for a smaller capacity water pump to be employed which results in a net energy savings for the engine. Further, by reducing the overall coolant flow volume, the hoses and/or galleries required for the directed flows are reduced from those of conventional cooling systems, providing a cost savings and a weight savings. Finally, by preferably employing an impellor type water pump, the expense of an electric water pump and its associated control circuitry can be avoided. The direct flows are established by a multifunction valve which, in a preferred implementation, comprises a two-plate valve wherein each plate is operated by a wax motor.

Claims

1. A circulating coolant cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a multifunction valve having a plurality of input ports and output ports;

a radiator connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet parts;

a pump for pumping coolant, the pump connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet parts;

a water jacket in the engine block, the water jacket connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet parts;

a water jacket in the engine cylinder head, the water jacket connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet parts;

a heater core for a heater in a passenger compartment, the heater core connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet parts;

a degas bottle to capture and retain gases entrapped in the coolant, the degas bottle connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet parts; and

a heat exchanger for heating or cooling lubricating oil of the engine, the heat exchanger connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet parts and wherein the multifunction valve interconnects the engine and cooling system components operates to permit and inhibit direct flows of coolant as necessary for thermal management of the engine.

2. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 1 wherein, in a first mode, the multifunction valve inhibits coolant flows in said cooling system.

3. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 2 wherein, in a second mode, the multifunction valve permits the flow of coolant from the water pump to the water jacket in the engine cylinder head, through the multifunction valve, and to the heater core.

4. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 3 wherein, in a third mode, the multifunction valve also permits the flow of coolant from the water pump to the water jacket in the engine block and through the heat exchanger for the engine lubricating oil.

5. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 4 wherein, in a fourth mode, the multifunction valve also permits a flow of heated coolant through the degas bottle.

6. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 5 wherein, in a fifth mode, the multifunction valve also permits the flow of heated coolant through the radiator and a inhibits the flow of heated coolant through the heat exchanger for the engine lubricating oil and permits a flow of cooled coolant through the heat exchanger for the engine lubricating oil.

7. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 6 wherein, in a sixth mode, the multifunction valve inhibits the flow of coolant through the heater core.

8. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 4 further comprising a heat exchanger for heating or cooling transmission oil and wherein in the third mode the multifunction valve also permits the flow of coolant from the water pump through the heat exchanger for the transmission oil.

9. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 1 wherein the multifunction valve comprises a dual plate valve.

10. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 9 wherein each plate of the multifunction valve is operated by a wax motor.

11. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 10 wherein each wax motor further includes an electric heater to permit the operation of the wax motors to be overridden electrically.

12. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 1 further comprising a fuel heating heat exchanger.

13. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 1 further comprising a throttle body heat exchanger.

14. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 1 further comprising an EGR valve cooler.

15. The circulating coolant cooling system of claim 1 further comprising a braking system heat exchanger.