COOLING SYSTEM

• US 20120103283A1
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mehring, Jan, Kuhlbach, Kai Sebastian, Steiner, Bernd, Tobergte, Michael, Quix, Hans Guenter
• Granted Patent: US 9,222,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/41.02
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/029 Expansion reservoirs
• 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 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/12 Turbo charger
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/02 Arrangements for cooling cylinders or cylinder heads

Abstract

A cooling system for an engine is provided. In one embodiment, an internal combustion engine comprises a cabin heat exchanger circuit including a connecting line opening on an inlet side into a cylinder block coolant jacket, a main coolant pump arranged in the cabin heat exchanger circuit, an auxiliary coolant pump arranged in the connecting line, and a check valve. In this way, additional cooling and/or heating may be provided to the engine and associated components by the auxiliary coolant pump.

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine, comprising:

a cabin heat exchanger circuit including a connecting line opening on an inlet side into a cylinder block coolant jacket;

a main coolant pump arranged in the cabin heat exchanger circuit;

an auxiliary coolant pump arranged in the connecting line; and

a check valve.

2. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabin heat exchanger circuit is connected to a cylinder head coolant jacket.

3. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabin heat exchanger circuit is connected to a turbine casing of a turbocharger.

4. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the check valve is arranged on the outlet side of the cylinder block in a line leading to the heat exchanger circuit.

5. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main coolant pump is a mechanical pump, and the auxiliary coolant pump is an electric pump.

6. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control system including instructions to:

activating or deactivating the main coolant pump and the auxiliary coolant pump in accordance with operating states of the internal combustion engine.

7. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the main coolant pump delivers coolant and the auxiliary coolant pump is inactive during a warm-up phase if no demand for cabin heating or a moderate demand for cabin heating is detected.

8. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the main coolant pump and the auxiliary coolant pump are activated if an extensive demand for cabin heating is detected during the warm-up phase.

9. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the main coolant pump is inactivated and the auxiliary coolant pump is operated at maximum power, such that coolant circulates in the cabin heat exchanger circuit, flowing through the cylinder block, if the internal combustion engine is in a stop state, and a demand for cabin heating is detected, and/or if a “

hot soak phase”

is detected.

10. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 6, wherein both the main coolant pump and the auxiliary coolant pump are operated if a high demand operating state is detected and/or if the system detects that the internal combustion engine is being operated at high load or speed.

11. A method for cooling an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

during a warm-up phase of the engine,

operating a main coolant pump to flow coolant through a first coolant loop; and

operating an auxiliary coolant pump to flow coolant through a second coolant loop based on a heating demand of a passenger cabin of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising during an automatic stop condition of the engine where the engine is automatically shut down, shutting down the main coolant pump and operating the auxiliary coolant based on the heating demand.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising during an automatic stop condition of the engine where the engine is automatically shut down, shutting down the main coolant pump and operating the auxiliary coolant based on a temperature of a turbine coupled to the engine.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising operating both the main coolant pump and the auxiliary coolant pump when engine speed and load are above a threshold.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein operating the auxiliary coolant pump to flow coolant through the second coolant loop based on the heating demand of a passenger cabin of the vehicle further comprises operating the auxiliary coolant pump when the heating demand is above a threshold.

16. A cooling system for an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

a first coolant loop including a main coolant pump, a cylinder head coolant jacket, a turbine in a turbine casing, and a heat exchanger;

a second coolant loop including an auxiliary coolant pump, a cylinder block coolant jacket, and a check valve; and

a control system including instructions to;

during an automatic stop of the engine, operate the auxiliary pump based on a heat demand of a passenger cabin of the vehicle.

17. The cooling system of claim 16, wherein the control system includes instructions to, during an automatic stop of the engine, operate the auxiliary pump based on a temperature of the turbine.

18. The cooling system of claim 16, wherein the control system includes instructions to, when a temperature of the coolant is below a threshold, operate the auxiliary pump based on the heat demand.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the main coolant pump is mechanically driven by the engine, and wherein the auxiliary coolant pump is electrically driven by an external motor controlled by the control system.