Cooling system for internal combustion engine

• US 6,196,167 B1
• Filed: 02/01/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Marsh, Gregory Alan, Valentine, Peter Loring
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John
• Application Number:
  US09/241,111
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.08, 123/41.09, 123/41.1, 123/41.31, 123/41.51, 236/34.5
• US Class Current: 123/41.09
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2007/146 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/02 Intercooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/04 Lubricant cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2070/06 Using intake pressure as actuating fluid
• 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 7/14 the coolant being liquid
• 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 cooling system for a turbo-charged internal combustion engine utilizing a unified flow control valve capable of changing the mode of operation of the system in response to a varying heat demand. The unified flow control valve may be a solenoid operated slider valve having a cylinder with connections to the engine water jacket outlet, the intercooler inlet, the radiator inlet and outlet, and the water tank, and a piston having rows of openings which when aligned with the cylinder connections provide flow paths corresponding to various modes of operation.

Claims

1. A cooling system for a turbo-charged internal combustion engine for a locomotive or off highway vehicle comprising:

a tank operable to contain coolant and having an inlet and an outlet;

a pump associated with said tank and operable to circulate said coolant throughout the cooling system;

an engine coolant jacket in heat transfer relationship with the engine having an inlet in fluid communication with said tank outlet and outlet;

a combustion air intercooler having an inlet;

a radiator having an inlet and an outlet; and

a single flow control valve connected in fluid communication with said water jacket outlet, said intercooler inlet, said radiator inlet, said radiator outlet, and said tank inlet and controllable to operate in a plurality of flow connection modes for selectively regulating the flow of coolant throughout said jacket, intercooler, radiator and tank, and thus the temperature of the engine under varying engine operating and environmental conditions.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein said flow control valve comprises three flow paths for said cooling water:

a first flow path connecting said water jacket outlet to said radiator inlet, and connecting said radiator outlet to said intercooler inlet;

a second flow path connecting said water jacket outlet to said radiator inlet and said intercooler inlet, and connecting said radiator outlet to said water tank inlet; and

a third flow path connecting said water jacket outlet to said intercooler inlet and said water tank inlet, and connecting said radiator inlet and outlet to said water tank inlet.

3. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein said flow control valve further comprises:

a cylinder having openings connected to said water jacket outlet, said intercooler inlet, said radiator inlet, said radiator outlet, and said water tank inlet;

a piston disposed within said cylinder and having a plurality of sets of openings formed therein, said piston operable to be moved to a plurality of positions within said cylinder;

a first of said positions aligning the openings in said cylinder with a first set of openings in said piston to form said first flow path;

a second of said positions aligning the openings in said cylinder with a second set of openings in said piston to form said second flow path; and

a third of said positions aligning the openings in said cylinder with a third set of openings in said piston to form said third flow path.

4. The cooling system of claim 3, further comprising a means to prevent rotation of said piston within said cylinder.

5. The cooling system of claim 3, further comprising a breather passage connected between opposed ends of said cylinder.

6. The cooling system of claim 5, further comprising a connection between said breather passage and said water tank inlet.

7. The cooling system of claim 3, wherein said flow control valve further comprises an actuator operable to move said piston among said plurality of positions.

8. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein said actuator is operated by pressurized air, and further comprising a vent between said actuator and said cylinder.

9. The cooling system of claim 3, further comprising a seal between said cylinder and said piston.

10. A cooling system for a turbo-charged internal combustion engine having an intercooler for conditioning incoming combustion air for a locomotive or off highway vehicle, the cooling system comprising:

a coolant tank for storing cooling water;

a pump for circulating said coolant throughout the cooling system;

an oil cooler in fluid communication between said tank and said pump;

a water jacket in heat transfer relationship with the engine proximate said engine and in fluid communication with said pump;

a radiator; and

a single flow control valve having connections to an outlet of said jacket, an inlet of said intercooler, an inlet of said tank, and an inlet and an outlet of said radiator and controllable to operate in a plurality of fluid flow connection modes for selectively regulating the flow of coolant through said jacket, oil cooler, radiator and tank, and thus the temperature of the engine under varying engine operating and environmental conditions.

11. The cooling system of claim 10, wherein said flow control valve comprises a first set of openings operable to fluidly connect said water jacket outlet to said radiator inlet, and to connect said radiator outlet to said intercooler inlet.

12. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein said flow control valve comprises a second set of openings operable to fluidly connect said water jacket outlet to said radiator inlet and said intercooler inlet, and to connect said radiator outlet to said water tank inlet.

13. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein said flow control valve comprises a third set of openings operable to fluidly connect said water jacket outlet to said intercooler inlet and said water tank inlet, and to connect said radiator inlet and outlet to said water tank inlet.

14. The cooling system of claim 13, wherein said flow control valve further comprises:

a cylinder having connections to said water jacket outlet, said intercooler inlet, said radiator inlet and outlet, and said water tank inlet; and

a piston disposed with said cylinder and having said first, second and third sets of openings formed therein.