Cooling apparatus for vehicular engine

• US 6,321,697 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1999
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Matsuda, Kenji, Major, Gregory A., Mizutani, Hiroshi, Bian, June
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Willis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, HAI H
• Application Number:
  US09/326,610
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 123/568.12, 123/41.29, 123/41.31, 123/563, 605/99
• US Class Current: 123/41.29
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2031/30 Cooling after the engine is stopped
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/02 Intercooler
• 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: F02B 29/0493 Controlling the air charge temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/28 with liquid-cooled heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

The invention provides a cooling apparatus for a vehicular engine which can improve the life of at least one of, an exhaust gas recirculation unit and an intercooler.

With the cooling apparatus for a vehicular engine of the invention, then with a vehicular engine (an automobile in this example) provided with at least one of an exhaust gas recirculation unit (EGR) 50a and an intercooler 50 for a turbocharger 100, there is provided a radiator 9, and an electric pump 53 for circulating coolant to carry heat generated by at least one of the exhaust gas recirculation unit (EGR) 50a and the intercooler 50 to the radiator 9. When the automobile engine 3 is stopped, the operation of the electric pump 53 continues for a fixed period so that the coolant cooled by the radiator 9 is circulated to at least one of the EGR 50a and the intercooler 50b to provide cooling to thus rapidly reduce the temperature. The electric pump 53 is then stopped when a low temperature is reached.

Claims

1. A cooling apparatus for a vehicular engine having an exhaust gas recirculation unit and a turbo charger intercooler, comprising:

a coolant circulation circuit connected to the turbo charger intercooler and the exhaust gas recirculation unit;

a radiator communicated to said coolant circulation circuit; and

an electric pump configured to circulate coolant in said coolant circulation circuit to carry heat generated by said turbo charger intercooler and said exhaust gas recirculation unit to said radiator, and configured to continue pumping the coolant for a fixed period of time after the vehicular engine is stopped,

wherein said radiator, said turbo charger intercooler and said exhaust gas recirculation unit are arranged in an order of said radiator, said turbo charger intercooler and said exhaust gas recirculation unit in said coolant circulation circuit.

2. A cooling apparatus for a vehicular engine according to claim 1, wherein said radiator, said electric pump, said turbo charger intercooler and said exhaust gas recirculation unit are arranged in an order of said radiator, said electric pump, said turbo charger intercooler and said exhaust gas recirculation unit in said coolant circulation circuit.