Device and method for engine cooling

• US 5,036,803 A
• Filed: 03/26/1990
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Nolting, Peter, Scheidel, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US07/466,285
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.01, 123/41.02, 123/41.04, 123/41.05, 123/41.1, 123/41.15, 123/41.44, 123/44.47, 123/440, 237/12.3 B
• US Class Current: 123/41.1
• 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 2007/143 using restrictions
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2007/146 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2023/08 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/04 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/08 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/12 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/13 Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/32 Engine outcoming fluid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/46 Engine parts temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/48 Engine room temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/64 Number of revolutions
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/66 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2031/00 Fail safe
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2031/20 Warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2031/34 Limping home
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/10 Pumping liquid coolant; Arrangements of coolant pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/026 Thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/04 : by varying pump speed, e.g. by changing pump-drive gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/12 : by thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/164 : by varying pump speed
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/167 : by adjusting the pre-set temperature according to engine parameters, e.g. engine load, engine speed

Abstract

A device for engine cooling includes at least one mechanical coolant pump driven by the engine to be cooled and at least one electric coolant pump controlled by an electronic switching device being provided in at least one cooling circuit of an engine to be cooled. The conveying capacity of the electric pump is set as a function of operating variables of the engine to be cooled and of further variables, while the mechanical pump is designed for a basic conveying capacity. In the coolant circuit a heat exchanger which is operated as a radiator, the cooling capacity of which can be altered with the aid of a radiator blind and of a fan, is arranged in a first coolant path. An additional heat exchanger, the waste heat of which is used for heating purposes or for further engine cooling, is arranged in an additional coolant path or in a separate coolant circuit.

Claims

1. A device for cooling an engine having a coolant circuit which contains a heat exchanger, which is arranged in a first coolant path and can be operated as a radiator, said coolant circuit having a bypass leading around said heat exchanger to form a second coolant path, the distribution of the coolant flow to the heat exchanger and to the bypass being effected at least as a function of a coolant temperature, said coolant circuit having an electric coolant pump, the conveying capacity of which can be altered, wherein said coolant circuit having a third coolant path with an additional heat exchanger (20), said device also comprising at least one coolant temperature sensor, an electronic switching device (24) which controls the electric pump (23) as a function of the coolant temperature detectable by said coolant temperature sensor (27), said device also comprising a separate coolant circuit having a first and second coolant connection (50, 51) at the engine (10), which contains said additional heat exchanger (20) as well as an additional electric coolant pump (54) having a conveying capacity which can be altered by the electronic switching device (24), said device also comprising a mechanical coolant pump (22) located in said coolant circuit and having a conveying capacity, which is driven by the engine (10) to be cooled and the conveying capacity of which is set to a specifiable part of a required cooling capacity.

2. Device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one engine temperature sensor (26), an operating temperature of the engine (10) detected by said engine temperature sensor (26) being fed as an input signal to the electronic switching device (24).

3. Device according to claim 1, further comprising an engine compartment temperature sensor (29), a temperature detected by said engine compartment temperature sensor (29) in an immediate vicinity of the engine (10) being fed as an input signal to the electronic switching device (24).

4. Device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one engine part temperature sensor (30) for a temperature of at least one engine part to be cooled, said temperature being picked up by said engine part temperature sensor (30) being fed as an input signal to the electronic switching device (24).

5. Device according to claim 1, further comprising an ambient temperature sensor (31), an ambient temperature detected by said ambient temperature sensor (31) being fed to the electronic switching device (24).

6. Device according to claim 1, further comprising an engine speed sensor (25), a speed of the engine (10) detected by said engine speed sensor (25) being fed to the electronic switching device (24).

7. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor (28), a pressure of a coolant of the engine (10) detected by said pressure sensor (28) being fed to the electronic switching device (24).

8. Device according to claim 1, further comprising an electric fan (37,38) which is connected to and controlled by the electronic switching device (24) for air-cooling said heat exchanger (16,20) arranged in the coolant path (15;

17;

19;

52,53).

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the engine (10) to be cooled is in a motor vehicle, and further comprising a travelling speed sensor (32), a travelling speed of the motor vehicle detected by said travelling speed sensor (32) being fed as a further input signal to the electronic switching device (24).

10. Device according to claim 9, further comprising a heating/ventilation controller (33) and wherein a signal emitted by said heating/ventilation controller (33) is fed to the electronic switching device (24).

11. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a blind (36), which can be actuated by the electronic switching device (24) via a actuator (35) for influencing the air flow through the heat exchanger (16).

12. A device according to claim 1 further comprising an air flap (41) positioned adjacent said additional heat exchanger (20), two air ducts (42,43) positioned in the vicinity of said air flap (41) and an actuator (39) connected to said air flap (41), the air heated by said additional heat exchanger (20) being distributed to the two air ducts (42,43) by means of the air flap (41) which can be actuated by the electronic switching device (24) via said actuator (39).

13. Device according to claim 1, wherein the electric coolant pump (23) and the mechanical coolant pump (22) are connected in series.