COOLING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

• US 20100186684A1
• Filed: 08/17/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aichi Machine Industry Company Limited (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Aichi Machine Industry Company Limited (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Utsuno, Kazunori
• Granted Patent: US 8,220,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/41.100
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/02 the devices using heat
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/18 Heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/16 by thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A cooling system for cooling an internal combustion engine includes a first portion, a second portion and a bypass valve. The first portion forms a first fluid chamber through which a cooling medium passes as it flows from the engine to a heater that utilizes heat generated by the internal combustion engine. The second portion forms a second fluid chamber through which the cooling medium passes as it flows from the heater to the engine. The second fluid chamber is arranged adjacent to the first fluid chamber. The bypass valve is arranged inside the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber to form a bypass flow passage connecting the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber. The bypass valve is configured and arranged to automatically close the bypass flow passage when a temperature of the cooling medium is equal to or higher than a first prescribed temperature.

Claims

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

a first portion forming a first fluid chamber through which a cooling medium passes as the cooling medium flows from the internal combustion engine to a heater that utilizes heat generated by the internal combustion engine;

a second portion forming a second fluid chamber through which the cooling medium passes as the cooling medium flows from the heater to the internal combustion engine, the second fluid chamber being arranged adjacent to the first fluid chamber; and

a bypass valve arranged inside the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber to form a bypass flow passage connecting the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, the bypass valve being configured and arranged to automatically close the bypass flow passage when a temperature of the cooling medium is equal to or higher than a first prescribed temperature.

2. The cooling system recited in claim 1, wherein

the bypass valve is configured and arranged such that a flow resistance occurring when the cooling medium flows from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber through the bypass valve is smaller than a flow resistance occurring when the cooling medium flows from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber through the heater.

3. The cooling system recited in claim 1, wherein

the first portion includes a partitioning wall partitioning between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber with the bypass valve being disposed in the partitioning wall.

4. The cooling system recited in claim 1, further comprising

a third portion forming a gas flow passage disposed closely adjacent to the first fluid chamber, the gas flow passage being configured and arranged to be connected to an exhaust manifold of the internal combustion engine so that an exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine passes through the gas flow passage.

5. The cooling system recited in claim 4, further comprising

a gas control valve disposed in the gas flow passage to automatically close the gas flow passage when a temperature of the exhaust gas is equal to or higher than a second prescribed temperature.

6. The cooling system recited in claim 1, wherein

the bypass valve is a thermostatic valve configured and arranged to open and close automatically in accordance with a temperature of the cooling medium.

7. The cooling system recited in claim 1, wherein

the first and second portions are integrally formed in an outlet cover member configured and arranged to be fixedly coupled to the internal combustion engine.