Circulation apparatus for coolant in vehicle

• US 6,357,541 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• 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: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Major, Gregory A., Matsuda, Kenji, Mizutani, Hiroshi, Hirao, Toyotaka, Bian, June
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLEBE, GERALD B
• Application Number:
  US09/326,602
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/68.2, 180/65.2, 180/65.4, 180/68.4, 180/68.1, 180/309, 123/41.01, 123/41.02, 123/41.51, 165/43, 237/12.3 B, 236/34, 236/34.5, 429/120, 429/62
• US Class Current: 180/68.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/02 with liquid cooling
• 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 6/44 Series-parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• 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 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/12 of exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/44 Heat storages, e.g. for cabin heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/46 : Heat pumps, e.g. for cabin heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 : Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• 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 50/61 : by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 : Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 : by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 : by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 : including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/105 : Using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 : Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/14 : Condenser
• 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: F02M 26/28 : with liquid-cooled heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric 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 903/905 : Combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 : Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 : with plurality of drive axles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

A circulation apparatus for coolant in a vehicle, wherein a feature of the invention is that with a circulation apparatus for coolant in a vehicle, it is separated into a coolant circulation system having a first radiator 8 for an engine cooling, and a coolant circulation system having a second radiator 9 for electric motor and engine equipment cooling. With the second radiator 9, various apparatus to be cooled, namely the drive motor and engine equipment are cooled, and there is provided circulation quantity control devices 53, 54, 57 for controlling the quantity of coolant circulated to the various apparatus to be cooled.

Claims

1. A coolant circulation apparatus in a vehicle having a driveline, comprising:

an engine connected for providing power to the driveline and heating the coolant,

a battery, and

a coolant circuit which circulates a coolant mixture of a high temperature coolant heated by said engine and a coolant of a lower temperature than said high temperature coolant to said battery, said coolant circuit including a junction in which the high temperature coolant and the coolant of a lower temperature are combined to form said mixture.

2. The coolant circulation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a radiator for cooling the coolant of a lower temperature.

3. A circulation apparatus for coolant in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein coolant heating means is provided for heating the coolant, and a coolant mixture of a high temperature coolant heated by said coolant heating means and a coolant of a lower temperature than said high temperature coolant is circulated to the apparatus to be cooled.

4. A circulation apparatus for coolant in a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein coolant heating means is provided for heating the coolant, and a coolant mixture of a high temperature coolant heated by said coolant heating means and a coolant of a lower temperature than said high temperature coolant is circulated to the apparatus to be cooled.

5. The coolant circulation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said vehicle is a hybrid vehicle having an electric motor, said radiator being connected for cooling a coolant for said electric motor.

6. The coolant circulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coolant circuit further comprises a battery coolant pump connected to pump the coolant mixture to the battery.