Split temperature regulating system and method for turbo charged internal combustion engine

• US 5,415,147 A
• Filed: 12/23/1993
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Nagle, Jan A., Marsh, Gregory A., Smith, Myron L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREAY, CHARLES GRANT
• Application Number:
  US08/175,208
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.29, 123/41.31, 123/593, 60/599
• US Class Current: 123/563
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2023/08 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/13 Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/30 Engine incoming fluid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/40 Oil temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/50 using two or more temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/02 Intercooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/04 Lubricant cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/12 Turbo charger
• 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: F01P 7/04 by varying pump speed, e.g. by changing pump-drive gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/165 characterised by systems with two or more loops
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/167 by adjusting the pre-set temperature according to engine parameters, e.g. engine load, engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/00 Engines characterised by provision for charging or scavenging not provided for in groups F02B25/00, F02B27/00 or F02B33/00 - F02B39/00; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0443 Layout of the coolant or refrigerant circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0493 Controlling the air charge temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A temperature regulating system for a turbo charged engine and the compressed charging air from the turbo charger is disclosed. The heat regulating system employs coolant fluid which flows through the engine to transfer heat from the engine. Depending on the operating conditions of the engine the heated coolant from the engine is distributed among one or more of a plurality of flow paths. In one of the flow paths the coolant flows through a primary radiator where the coolant is cooled. A fan forces air into contact with the radiator to transfer heat from the radiator. A portion of the coolant exiting the radiator flows through a subcooler where the coolant is further cooled. The coolant from the subcooler may be directed to the charged air cooler for cooling the compressed air before flowing back to the engine. In a second flow path, coolant which has not flowed through the radiator, flows through the charged air cooler to heat the compressed air. A controller responds to input from at least one sensing device and actuates a valving arrangement to distribute the coolant from the engine among the flow paths.

Claims

1. A temperature regulating system for a turbo charged internal combustion engine with a turbo charger means for providing compressed air to the engine, coolant for transferring heat from the engine, radiator means in fluid communication with the engine for exchanging heat with the coolant which flows through the radiator means, fan means for forcing air into contact with the radiator means, and a charged air cooler means for exchanging heat between the coolant and the compressed air from the turbo charger means, the system comprising:

subcooler means in fluid communication with the radiator means for cooling a portion of the coolant exiting the radiator means;

means for distributing the flow of coolant from the engine among at least one of a plurality of flow paths, the flow paths including a first flow path between the engine and the radiator means and a second flow path between the engine and the air cooler means without the coolant flowing through the radiator, the distributing means including,

first valve means for regulating a first flow of coolant from the engine along the first flow path to the engine,

second valve means for regulating a second flow of coolant along the second flow path; and

control means for actuating the second valve means in response to the temperature of the coolant at a predetermined location along the heat regulating system.

2. The heat regulating system of claim 1 further including means for actuating the first valve in response to the temperature of the coolant at a predetermined location along the heat regulating system.

3. The heat regulating system of claim 2 wherein the control means includes the first valve actuating means.

4. The heat regulating system of claim 1 further including means for regulating the speed of the fan in response to the temperature of the coolant at a predetermined location along the heat regulating system.

5. The heat regulating system of claim 4 wherein the fan speed regulating means includes means for regulating the speed of the fan in response to the ambient temperature.

6. The heat regulating system of claim 4 wherein the control means includes the fan speed regulating means.

7. The heat regulating system of claim 4 wherein the fan speed regulating means includes means for regulating a speed of the fan means in response to the power output of the engine.

8. The heat regulating system of claim 1 wherein the control system means includes means for actuating the second valve in response to the power output of the engine.

9. The heat regulating system of claim 1 wherein the control system means includes means for actuating the second valve in response to the ambient temperature.

10. The heat regulating system of claim 1 wherein the first valve means includes means for preventing the flow of coolant to the radiator means in response to the ambient temperature.

11. The heat regulating system of claim 1 wherein the first valve means includes means for preventing the flow of coolant to the radiator means in response to the power output of the engine.

12. The heat regulating system of claim 1 further including means in fluid communication with the radiator for draining the radiator means when the first valve means prevents the flow of coolant along the first flow path.

13. The heat regulating system of claim 1 wherein the first flow path includes coolant flowing through the radiator and further including means for proportioning the first flow exiting the radiator means into a plurality of flow paths, the plurality including a third flow path from the radiator through the subcooler.

14. The heat regulating system of claim 13 wherein the third flow path includes a flow path between the subcooler means and the charger cooler means and the second valve means includes means for regulating the flow of coolant along the third flow path.

15. The heat regulating system of claim 1 wherein the distributing means includes means for proportioning the flow of coolant exiting the engine, between the first flow path and the second flow path.

16. A heat regulating system for an internal combustion engine having a turbo charger means for providing compressed air to the engine, coolant for transferring heat from the engine, radiator means for exchanging heat with the coolant which flows through the radiator means, fan means for forcing air into contact with the radiator means, coolant tank means for collecting the coolant flowing from the engine and a charged air cooler means for exchanging heat between the coolant and the compressed air from the turbo charger means, the system comprising:

first valve means for regulating a first flow of the coolant between the engine and the radiator means;

a subcooler radiator means in fluid communication with the radiator means for cooling at least a portion of the first flow of coolant exiting from the radiator means;

second valve means for regulating a second flow of coolant between the engine and the air cooler means, the second flow bypassing the radiator means; and

control system means including,

means for actuating the second valve means in response to the temperature of the coolant at a predetermined location along the heat regulating system,

means for actuating the first valve in response to the temperature of the coolant at the predetermined location along the heat regulating system, and

means for regulating the speed of the fan in response to the temperature of the coolant at the predetermined location along the heat regulating system.

17. A method for regulating the temperature of a turbo charged internal combustion engine and compressed air provided to the engine by a turbo charger means with a system having coolant for transferring heat from the engine, radiator means in fluid communication with the engine for exchanging heat with the coolant which flows through the radiator means, fan means for forcing air into contact with the radiator means, and a charged air cooler means for exchanging heat between the coolant and the compressed air from the turbo charger means, the method comprising:

flowing the coolant through the engine;

distributing the flow of coolant exiting the engine among at least one of a plurality of flow paths, the flow paths including a first flow path from the engine through the radiator means and a second flow path between the engine and the air cooler means, the second flow path bypassing the radiator, the distributing including,

regulating a first flow of coolant from the engine along the first flow path, the regulating including actuating a first valve means,

cooling a portion of the flow of coolant exiting the radiator means, the cooling including passing the portion through a subcooler means, the subcooler means being in fluid communication with the radiator means, and

regulating a second flow of coolant along the second flow path, the regulating including actuating a second valve means, and

providing a control signal to actuate the second valve means in response to the temperature of the coolant at a predetermined location along the heat regulating system.

18. The method of claim 17 further including regulating the speed of the fan in response to the temperature of the coolant at the predetermined location along the heat regulating system, the distributing including providing a control signal to actuate the first valve in response to the temperature of the coolant at the predetermined location along the heat regulating system.