Internal combustion engine with regenerator

• US 6,895,904 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwatani, Kazuki, Suzuki, Makoto, Kobayashi, Hideo, Arisawa, Katuhiko, Tabata, Masakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US10/684,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20040079298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.14, 123/142.5 R
• US Class Current: 123/41.14
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/20 concerning atmospheric freezing conditions, e.g. automatically draining or heating during frosty weather
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2007/146 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2011/205 using heat-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/16 by thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/10 by heating of engine coolants

Abstract

An internal combustion engine includes a circulation system which circulates a heat medium, a cylinder head part channel which circulates the heat medium into a cylinder head, a cylinder block part channel which circulates the heat medium into a cylinder block, a connecting channel which connects the cylinder head part channel with the cylinder block part channel, a heat supply device that supplies heat accumulated in the regenerator to the internal combustion engine, and restraining device that restrains heat circulation in the connecting channel when heat is supplied by the heat supply device or the internal combustion engine is under cold conditions.

Claims

1. A system including an internal combustion engine comprising:

a regenerator that accumulates heat from a heat medium and transfers heat to the heat medium;

a circulation system that circulates the heat medium;

a heat medium supply device, provided in line with the circulation system, that supplies the heat medium including heat accumulated by the regenerator to the circulation system;

a heat exchanger that lowers the temperature of the heat medium; and

a connecting restraint device that restrains circulation of the heat medium into the heat exchanger (a) when the heat medium is supplied by the heat supply device while the internal combustion engine is stopped and/or (b) when the internal combustion engine is under a cold condition,

wherein the connecting restraint device includes a pressure-sensing valve, provided in line with the circulation system, which operates according to a difference in pressure between the pressures of the heat medium flowing before and after the connecting restraint device and thereby performs the restraint of the circulation of the heat medium into the heat exchanger.

2. A system including an internal combustion engine comprising:

a regenerator that accumulates heat from a heat medium and transfers heat to the heat medium;

a circulation system that circulates the heat medium;

a heat medium supply device, provided in line with the circulation system, that supplies the heat medium including heat accumulated by the regenerator to the circulation system;

a heat exchanger that lowers the temperature of the heat medium; and

a connecting restraint device that restrains circulation of the heat medium into the heat exchanger (a) when the heat medium is supplied by the heat supply device while the internal combustion engine is stopped and/or (b) when the internal combustion engine is under a cold condition,

wherein the connecting restraint device includes a one-way valve, provided in line with the circulation system, which opens when the valve receives pressure in a predetermined direction.

3. A system including an internal combustion engine comprising:

a regenerator that accumulates heat from a heat medium and transfers heat to the heat medium;

a circulation system that circulates the heat medium;

a heat medium supply device, provided in line with the circulation system, that supplies the heat medium including heat accumulated by the regenerator to the circulation system;

a bypass channel that connects an inlet side of the internal combustion engine with an outlet side of the internal combustion engine;

a temperature controller that reintroduces the heat medium circulated into the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is under a cold condition through the bypass channel; and

a connecting restraint device that is capable of restraining circulation of the heat medium into the bypass channel when the heat medium, including heat accumulated by the regenerator, is supplied to the internal combustion engine.

4. A system including an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, wherein the connecting restraint device is a thermostat valve which closes at temperatures no greater than a predetermined temperature and thereby performs the restraint of the circulation of the heat medium into the heat exchanger.

5. A system including an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, wherein the connecting restraint device includes a pressure-sensing valve, provided in line with the circulation system, which operates according to a difference in pressure between the pressures of the heat medium before and after the connecting restraint device and thereby performs the restraint of the circulation of the heat medium into the heat exchanger.

6. A system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, wherein the connecting restraint device includes an electromagnetic opening and closing valve.

7. A system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, further comprising a heat exchanger.

8. A system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, wherein the connecting restraint device is capable of restraining circulation of the heat medium into the bypass channel when the internal combustion engine is stopped.

9. A system for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, further comprising an additional connecting restraint device, wherein the connecting restraint device and the additional connecting restraint device restrain circulation of the heat medium into said regenerator, a heat exchanger, and a radiator when the internal combustion engine is operated under a cold condition.