Turbocharged engine cooling system with two two-pass radiators

• US 6,158,398 A
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Betz, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Willis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Katrina B.
• Application Number:
  US09/316,859
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.29, 123/41.51, 123/41.31, 123/563, 60/599
• US Class Current: 123/41.29
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/105 Using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2007/143 using restrictions
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/02 Intercooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/04 Lubricant cooler
• 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 7/165 characterised by systems with two or more loops
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0443 Layout of the coolant or refrigerant circuit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A dual circuit cooling system for a vehicle having an engine and a turbocharger aftercooler includes a modular radiator system having partitions in the tanks of the radiator. The partitions create separate radiator sections, and the partitions contain orifices that provide a crossover function between the sections. During cooler engine operating temperatures the engine thermostat closes which causes engine coolant to be circulated mainly within the engine, and which also causes pressure downstream of the thermostat to drop. The reduced pressure allows coolant from the aftercooler circuit to pass through a first crossover and circulate through the main radiator, then through a second crossover and back to the aftercooler circuit. During higher engine temperatures the thermostat opens, equalizing pressure between the circuits, thus creating normal flow through the circuits.

Claims

1. A cooling system for an engine and an aftercooler associated with the engine comprising:

at least a primary radiator having at least one primary radiator outlet and at least one primary radiator inlet;

at least one jacket water (JW) pump disposed for pumping coolant from the primary radiate outlet to the engine;

at least one upstream secondary radiator having at least one secondary radiator inlet in communication with the aftercooler, the secondary radiator also having at least one secondary radiator outlet communicating with the aftercooler;

at least a first crossover establishing a pathway for fluid communication between the primary radiator outlet and the secondary radiator outlet;

at least a second crossover establishing a pathway for fluid communication between the primary radiator inlet and an outlet of the aftercooler; and

at least a downstream secondary radiator in fluid communication with the upstream secondary radiator via an interconnect, the first crossover establishing fluid communication between the interconnect and the primary radiator outlet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the radiators is a two-pass radiator, and the system further comprises at least one shunt tank disposed above the JW pump in fluid communication with a suction thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least flow restrictor disposed in at least one of the crossovers.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one flow restrictor in fluid communication with the primary radiator inlet.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one flow restrictor in fluid communication with the primary radiator outlet.

6. The system of claim 1, in combination with an engine.

7. The combination of claim 6, in further combination with a vehicle.

8. A cooling system for an engine of a vehicle having an aftercooler, comprising at least a primary radiator having at least one primary radiator outlet and at least one primary radiator inlet;

at least one jacket water (JW) pump disposed for pumping coolant from the primary radiator outlet to the engine;

at least one upstream secondary radiator having at least one secondary radiator inlet in communication with the aftercooler, the secondary radiator also having at least one secondary radiator outlet communicating with the aftercooler;

at least a first crossover establishing a pathway for fluid communication between the primal radiator outlet and the secondary radiator outlet; and

at least a downstream secondary radiator in fluid communication with the upstream secondary radiator via an interconnect, the first crossover establishing fluid communication between the interconnect and the primary radiator outlet.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the radiators is a two-pass radiator, and the system further comprises at least one shunt tank disposed above the JW pump in fluid communication with a suction thereof.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

at least a second crossover establishing a pathway for fluid communication between the primary radiator inlet and an outlet of the aftercooler.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising at least flow restrictor disposed in at least one of the crossovers.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising at least one flow restrictor in fluid communication with the primary radiator inlet.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising at least one flow restrictor in fluid communication with the primary radiator outlet.

14. The system of claim 8, in combination with an engine.

15. The combination of claim 14, in further combination with a vehicle.

16. A cooling system for an engine and an aftercooler associated with the engine, comprising:

at least a primary radiator having at least one primary radiator outlet and at least one primary radiator inlet;

at least one jacket water (JW) pump disposed for pumping coolant from the primary radiator outlet to the engine;

at least one upstream secondary radiator having at least one secondary radiator inlet in communication with the aftercooler, the secondary radiator also having at least one secondary radiator outlet communicating with the aftercooler;

at least a second crossover establishing a pathway for fluid communication between the primary radiator inlet and an outlet of the aftercooler;

at least a first crossover establishing a pathway for fluid communication between the primary radiator outlet and the secondary radiator outlet; and

at least a downstream secondary radiator in fluid communication with the upstream secondary radiator via an interconnect, the first crossover establishing fluid communication between the interconnect and the primary radiator outlet.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the radiators is a two-pass radiator, and the system further comprises at least one shunt tank disposed above the JW pump in fluid communication with a suction thereof.

18. A cooling system for an engine and an aftercooler associated with the engine, comprising:

an aftercooler cooling circuit and an engine cooling circuit, at least one of the circuits having an effective variable capacity established by virtue of at least one crossover between the circuits, the aftercooler cooling circuit including at least two two-pass secondary radiators, at least one orifice being disposed in the system for defining a no-flow condition in the crossover.