Apparatus and method for cold weather protection of large diesel engines

• US 4,711,204 A
• Filed: 08/08/1983
• Issued: 12/08/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Power, Fluid & Metals, Inc.
• Original Assignee: David M. Rusconi
• Inventors: Rusconi, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENNETT, HENRY A
• Application Number:
  US06/521,436
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 126/247, 122/26, 237/1 R, 237/12.3 R, 237/12.3 C, 123/142.5 R, 123/41.44
• US Class Current: 123/142.50R
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/14 Indicating devices; Other safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/18 Heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/20 Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine F01P3/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/10 by heating of engine coolants

Abstract

An apparatus particularly adapted to installation in large railroad diesels or other large diesel applications which provides heated coolant for circulation in the large engine during shutdown or layover periods, also providing heat for accessories and electrical charge for batteries. Main engine fuel supply is used to run a small diesel engine which drives an inverter and a centrifugal pump, the discharge of which is severely stifled or throttled, the inefficiency of the pumping action converting much of the energy of the pump into heat absorbed in the coolant which is then pumped through the regular cooling lines in reverse flow, and to accessories as desired.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing thermal energy to the coolant in a large liquid-cooled diesel engine in cold weather conditions while said engine is not operating, said apparatus comprising:

a small liquid-cooled diesel engine mounted in cooperative relationship with said large diesel engine, and adapted to obtain its fuel from the supply provided for said large diesel engine;

pumping means driven by said small diesel engine, said pumping means being so interconnected with the cooling system associated with said large diesel engine and any accessory equipment appurtenant thereto that, when the small diesel engine and its pumping means are operating, said pumping means circulates coolant in the coolant and accessory systems of said large diesel engine, providing that

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 further providing that said small diesel engine also drives electrical means to provide electrical charging current to batteries associated with said large diesel engine.

2. restrictions are fixedly installed in the piping closely associated with the discharge of said pumping means, said restrictions acting to reduce substantially the diameter of the passage for flow of the coolant at the pump discharge, thus stifling the flow of the coolant circulated by said pumping means and converting a portion of the work done by said pumping means into heat energy absorbed into the coolant liquid, at the same time reducing the rate of flow of said coolant and increasing the work done by said small diesel engine, thereby increasing the heat generated by said small diesel engine, further providing

that a portion of said coolant circulated by said pumping means, after passing through one said restriction in associated piping and having been heated thereby, is further divided by piping means and directed so as to flow partly through the engine cooling jacket of said small diesel engine and partly in a heat exchange relationship with the exhaust gases of said small diesel engine, whereby additional heat energy is imparted to said coolant, said coolant then being directed by piping means to be combined and directed to the engine cooling system of said large diesel engine, further providing

that the remaining portion of said coolant flow discharged from said pumping means, after passing through a second said restriction associated with the said discharge and being heated thereby, is directed by piping means to said accessory systems associated with said large diesel engine;

further providing temperature sensing means closely associated with the coolant in said large diesel engine, governor means to control the operation of said small diesel engine at a constant speed selected from a plurality of constant operating speeds provided, and control means to select the said governor speed range based on coolant temperature.

7. Method as in claim 2, further providing that restrictor means in an additional line associated with the discharge of said pumping means imparts heat energy to coolant flowing through said restrictor means, which said coolant is directed by piping means to accessory systems associated with said large diesel engine.

9. Method as in claim 2 further providing that said small diesel engine is controlled at preselected speeds by control means and temperature sensing means closely associated with the coolant in said large diesel engine.

3. Method for providing heat to the coolant of a large diesel engine in cold weather, when said large diesel engine is not operating, in which said method a small diesel engine associated with said large diesel engine drives a pumping means to circulate said coolant within said large diesel engine and any accessories appurtenant thereto, wherein the normal discharge capacity of said pumping means is stifled by means of restrictor means in the piping closely associated with the discharge of said pumping means, so that said pumping means operates inefficiently, and heat energy from said inefficient operation is imparted directly into the coolant passing through said pumping means and said associated restrictions, further providing that piping means direct a portion of said coolant to pass in a heat exchange relationship through the engine cooling jacket of said small diesel engine and another portion to pass in a heat exchange relationship with the exhaust gases of said small diesel engine, said coolant being again combined and directed by piping means to the large diesel engine.

11. Apparatus as in claim 3 further providing that the portion of the coolant fluid circulated by said pumping means which is not passed through a heat exchange relation with said auxiliary engine flows through a second discharge restriction means to fluid passage means to conduct said heated coolant fluid to accessories appurtenant to said main engine.

13. Apparatus as in claim 11 further providing that said auxiliary engine provides power for pumping and heating lubricating oil associated with said main engine.

4. Apparatus for maintaining a large diesel engine in safe restarting condition in low ambient temperatures by imparting thermal energy to the main engine coolant fluid, including centrifugal pump means driven by an auxiliary engine, said pumping means being loaded to a near stall condition by restriction means associated with the discharge lines of said pumping means so that heat energy is generated within said pump means and injected directly into the coolant being circulated by said pump means, further providing

that flow of said coolant fluid circulated by said pumping means is divided so that a portion of said flow is directed through fluid passage means to a heat exchange relation with said auxiliary engine, where said flow is again divided so that

a portion of said coolant fluid being circulated passes through the engine cooling jacket of said auxiliary engine, while

another portion passes in a heat exchange relation with the exhaust gases from said auxiliary engine.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 further providing that said small diesel engine is equipped with a second power driving means for providing power for other optional purposes.

8. Method as in claim 6 further providing that small diesel engine also drives an electrical charging means to provide a method to maintain the batteries associated with said large diesel engine at full charge.

10. Method as in claim 8 further providing that said small diesel engine is capable of providing a second powered drive shaft available for other optional purposes.

12. Apparatus as in claim 10 further providing electrical generator means to provide charging current for batteries or accessories appurtenant to said main engine.