Heating apparatus for vehicle

• US 6,032,869 A
• Filed: 04/02/1997
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Miyata, Manabu, Ito, Koichi, Yamanaka, Yasutoshi, Okumura, Yoshihiko, Inoue, Yoshimitsu, Suzuki, Kazutaka, Sugi, Hikaru, Shirota, Yuichi, Nonoyama, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boles, Derek S.
• Application Number:
  US08/831,239
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 237/2 A, 237/12.3 A, 237/12.3 B, 237/12.3 C, 165/103, 165/DIG. 109
• US Class Current: 237/12.30B
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00314 Arrangements permitting a rapid heating of the heating liquid B60H1/00492, B60H1/03 take precedence; aiding engine start by heating of engine coolants F02N19/10
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2007/146 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2011/205 using heat-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/20 Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine F01P3/22 takes precedence

Abstract

When the engine is stopped while the engine is warmed up, the cooling water in the engine stays therein without flowing out of the engine, and the cooling water in the radiator or the bypass passage is used for heating source for the heating operation. In this way, it is possible to heat the passenger compartment continuously even after the engine is stopped and to suppress the temperature of the cooling water from lowering to reduce the emission at restarting of the engine.

Claims

1. A heating apparatus for a vehicle having a water-cooled engine cooled by cooling water, comprising:

a heat exchanger for heating air by carrying out a heat exchange between the air and the cooling water;

a plurality of circuits in which the cooling water circulates, said plurality of circuits including a circuit in which the cooling water flows through said water-cooled engine and an engine bypass circuit in which the cooling water having flowed out of said heat exchanger bypasses said water-cooled engine and flows into said heat exchanger again;

an electric water pump disposed in said plurality of circuits for generating a flow of the cooling water in said plurality of circuits when an electric power is supplied thereto;

selecting means disposed in said plurality of circuits for selecting at least one of said Plurality of circuits in which the cooling water circulates; and

control means for controlling said selecting means;

and said electric water pump in such a manner that when said water-cooled engine is stopped, said electric water pump is operated and said selecting means selects said engine bypass circuit.

2. A heating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a radiator disposed in said plurality of circuits, for cooling the cooling water, wherein,

said engine bypass circuit includes a first circuit in which the cooling water circulates at least between said heat exchanger and said radiator or a bypass passage bypassing said radiator, and

said control means controls said selecting means such that the cooling water circulates in said first circuit when said engine is stopped.

3. A heating apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a heat accumulating tank disposed in said plurality of circuits for accumulating the cooling water;

wherein,

said engine bypass circuit includes a second circuit formed in parallel with said first circuit in which the cooling water circulates at least between the heat exchanger and said heat accumulating tank and

said control means controls said selecting means such that the cooling water circulates in said first circuit when said engine is stopped and subsequently circulates in said second circuit.

4. A heating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein,

said plurality of circuits includes a third circuit in which the cooling water circulates between said heat exchanger and said engine, independently from said engine bypass circuit, and

said control means controls said selecting means such that the cooling water circulates in said first circuit when said engine is stopped, subsequently circulates in said second circuit, and subsequently circulates in said third circuit.

5. A heating apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a water temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the cooling water;

wherein said control means controls said selecting means based on the temperature detected by said water temperature sensor.

6. A heating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a radiator disposed in said plurality of circuits for cooling the cooling water; and

a heat accumulating tank disposed in said plurality of circuits for accumulating the cooling water;

wherein,

said engine bypass circuit includes a first circuit in which the cooling water circulates at least among said heat exchanger, said radiator or a bypass passage bypassing said radiator, and said heat accumulating tank, and

said control means controls said selecting means such that the cooling water circulates in said first circuit when said engine is stopped.

7. A heating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein,

said plurality of circuits includes a second circuit in which the cooling water circulates between said heat exchanger and said engine, independently from said engine bypass circuit, and

said control means controls said selecting means such that the cooling water circulates in said first circuit when said engine is stopped and subsequently circulates in said second circuit.

8. A heating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said heat accumulating tank is disposed in said second circuit.

9. A heating apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a water temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the cooling water;

wherein said control means controls said selecting means based on the temperature detected by said water temperature sensor.

10. A heating apparatus for a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a water-cooled engine cooled by cooling water, comprising:

a blower for generating an air flow;

an air conditioning duct for introducing the air flow generated by said blower into said passenger compartment;

a heat exchanger for heating the air blown from said blower by using the cooling water flowing therethrough as a heating source;

a plurality of circuits in which the cooling water circulates said plurality of circuits including a circuit in which the cooling water flows through said water-cooled engine and an engine bypass circuit in which the cooling water having flowed out of said heat exchanger bypasses said water-cooled engine and flows into said heat exchanger again;

an electric water pump disposed in said plurality of circuits for generating a flow of the cooling water in said plurality of circuits when an electric power is supplied thereto;

selecting means disposed in said plurality of circuits for selecting one of said plurality of circuits in which the cooling water circulates; and

control means for controlling said selecting means;

and said electric water pump in such a manner that when said water-cooled engine is stopped, said electric water pump is operated and said selecting means selects said engine bypass circuit.