System for cooling drive units and for heating the inner space of a hybrid vehicle

• US 6,213,233 B1
• Filed: 04/05/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Swatch Group Management Services AG (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Swatch Group Management Services AG (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Sonntag, Rainer, Apter, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): MAR, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US09/281,824
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.3, 180/68.4, 180/65.2, 180/69.6, 180/65.4, 180/65.3, 165/41, 165/42, 165/43, 123/142.5 R, 237/12.3 B
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/004 for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/034 from the cooling liquid of the propulsion plant and from an electric heating device
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2218 controlling the operation of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/22 characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/105 Using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2007/146 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/18 Heater
• 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: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/904 Component specially adapted for hev
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

A combined system for cooling drive units and for heating the inner space of a hybrid vehicle comprises a cooling circuit, in which are connected in series an internal combustion engine, a thermostat valve, a cooler and an electrovalve. The system comprises a cooler bypass in which are arranged an electric heater and a heat exchanger for heating the inner space of the vehicle. According to the mode of operation of the hybrid vehicle, the heat exchanger (68) may take up heat from the internal combustion engine or from the electric heater (80), wherein, in the electric operating mode, i.e. with the internal combustion engine not running, for the purpose of keeping the heat losses low, an uncoupling of the internal combustion engine and cooler (26) from the heat exchanger (68) is made possible by means of the thermostat valve and electrovalve.

Claims

1. A system for cooling drive units and for heating the inner space of a hybrid vehicle comprising a cooling circuit in which are connected in series an internal combustion engine, which forms a first heat source, and a cooler, said cooling circuit comprising, in the coolant flow direction, an outgoing connection leading from the internal combustion engine to the cooler and a return connection leading from the cooler to the internal combustion engine, wherein the system further comprises:

a first control means connected in the outgoing connection and dividing said outgoing connection into first and second outgoing connection sections arranged respectively between the internal combustion engine and the first control means and between the first control means and the cooler;

a first cooler bypass connected between the first control means and the return connection;

a second cooler bypass connected between the first outgoing connection section and the return connection; and

a second heat source and a heat exchanger for heating the inner space of the vehicle, said second heat source and said heat exchanger being connected in series in said second cooler bypass,

said second cooler bypass defining a first heating circuit which comprises the internal combustion engine, the second heat source and the heat exchanger,

said first control means being formed such that a first connection is provided from the internal combustion engine to the cooler and a second connection is provided from the internal combustion engine into the first cooler bypass; and

wherein the system further comprises uncoupling means connected in said first heating circuit for uncoupling the internal combustion engine from said first heating circuit and thereby defining a second heating circuit comprising the second heat source and the heat exchanger but bypassing the internal combustion engine,

said uncoupling means comprising a second control means connected in the return connection and dividing said return connection into first and second return connection sections arranged respectively between the cooler and the second control means and between the second control means and the internal combustion engine, said second cooler bypass opening into said first return connection section.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first cooler bypass opens into the second return connection section, and said uncoupling means further comprise an internal combustion engine bypass provided between the second control means and a section of the second cooler bypass which is arranged between the first outgoing connection section and the heat exchanger, said second control means being formed such that a first connection is provided from the cooler to the internal combustion engine and a second connection is provided from the cooler into the internal combustion engine bypass.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein a coolant pump is connected in the internal combustion engine bypass.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first cooler bypass opens into the first return connection section, said second control means being formed such that a connection is provided from the cooler to the internal combustion engine and an interruption is provided in the return connection.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first control means is a thermostat valve.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein uncoupling of the internal combustion engine from the first heating circuit is provided for the electric operating mode of the hybrid vehicle.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the second control means is an electrovalve.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein a first coolant pump is connected in the cooling circuit and wherein the system comprises a second coolant pump.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein a coolant pump is connected in the second cooler bypass.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the second heat source is an electric heater.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein an electric machine which can be operated as a generator and which is in driving connection with the internal combustion engine is connected in the return connection.