Cooling System and Method for a Vehicle Engine

• US 20100139582A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Foster, Elmer S., Nelson, Valerie Anne, Jackson, Ken J., Cusumano, Thomas J., Bilezikjian, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,869,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/41.20
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/021 Cooling cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/024 Cooling cylinder heads
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/027 Cooling cylinders and cylinder heads in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/028 Cooling cylinders and cylinder heads in series
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/105 Using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/125 Driving auxiliary pumps electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/33 Cylinder head temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/02 Arrangements for cooling cylinders or cylinder heads
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/10 Pumping liquid coolant; Arrangements of coolant pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/12 Pump-driving arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/14 the coolant being liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/164 by varying pump speed

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling system for an internal combustion engine. The cooling system can be used in a hybrid electric vehicle. The system includes electric pumps in fluid communication with the engine and a control unit that governs the pumps. The pumps can be configured to supply fluid to either a cylinder block or cylinder head and backflow fluid through either the cylinder block or cylinder heads. Various arrangements of electrical and mechanical pumps are disclosed to control fluid flow and pressure.

Claims

1. A cooling system for an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having a cylinder block and cylinder head, the system comprising:

a first pump in fluid communication with the engine, the first pump being an electric pump;

a second pump in fluid communication with the engine, the second pump being an electric pump;

a control unit that governs the first pump and second pump; and

at least two fluid return channels configured to recirculate fluid to the pumps;

wherein the first pump is configured to supply fluid to the cylinder head;

wherein the second pump is configured to supply fluid to the cylinder block.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the first pump and second pump as a function of engine operation.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the first pump and second pump as a function of engine flow demand.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the first pump and second pump as a function of engine pressure demand.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the first pump and second pump as a function of engine speed.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the first pump and second pump as a function of fluid temperature.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the first pump and second pump as a function of a transmission speed.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second pump are arranged in parallel.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a third pump arranged in series with at least one of the first and second pump.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second pump are arranged to backflow fluid through the engine.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a third pump arranged in parallel with at least one of the first and second pump.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the engine comprises a plurality of cylinders and wherein the cooling system includes a third pump to supply fluid to at least one of the cylinders.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the cooling system includes at least one pump for each cylinder in the plurality of cylinders, each pump configured to supply fluid to a respective cylinder.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third pump, the third pump being a mechanical pump.

15. A cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

at least three electrical water pumps arranged in parallel with respect to each other;

a mechanical water pump in fluid communication with the three electrical water pumps; and

a control unit that governs the electrical water pumps.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the three electric water pumps as a function of engine operation.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the three electric water pumps as a function of engine flow demand.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the three electric water pumps as a function of engine pressure demand.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the three electric water pumps as a function of engine speed.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the three electric water pumps as a function of fluid temperature.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the control unit governs at least one of the three electric water pumps as a function of a transmission speed.