Cooling arrangement for air or gas input in a vehicle engine

• US 8,316,805 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Kardos, Zoltan, Söderberg, Erik, Wikström, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOUBRY, JAMES G
• Application Number:
  US12/529,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20100089088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,723 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.04, 123/41.51, 123/196.AB, 123/568.11, 123/568.12, 180/68.1, 180/68.2
• US Class Current: 123/41.04
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/04 concerning exhaust collecting exhaust gases with central suction systems not forming part of vehicles, e.g. in workshops or tunnels B08B15/002, otherwise along carriageways E01C1/005; extensions for melting snow on roads E01H5/00, E01H6/00; exhaust or silencing apparatus for internal combustion engines per se F01N; pipes, joints or supports therefor F16L
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/187 arranged in series
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/02 Intercooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/06 Guiding or ducting air to, or from, ducted fans
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0412 Multiple heat exchangers arranged in parallel or in series
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0431 Details or means to guide the ambient air to the heat exchanger, e.g. having a fan, flaps, a bypass or a special location in the engine compartment
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0475 the intake air cooler being combined with another device, e.g. heater, valve, compressor, filter or EGR cooler, or being assembled on a special engine location
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/05 High pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust system upstream of the turbine and reintroduced into the intake system downstream of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/24 with two or more coolers
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/27 with air-cooled heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooler arrangement in a vehicle powered by a combustion engine. The cooler arrangement comprises a first cooling element for cooling a first medium in the form of a circulating coolant, and a radiator fan adapted to generating an air flow through the first cooling element for cooling the coolant when it circulates through the first cooling element. The cooler arrangement comprises also a tubular casing adapted to serving as a flow passage for the air which passes through the first cooling element and at least one further cooling element for cooling a second medium, which further cooling element is arranged in the flow passage at a position downstream of the first cooling element with respect to the intended direction of flow of the cooling air through the flow passage.

Claims

1. A cooler arrangement in a vehicle powered by combustion engine, the cooler arrangement comprising:

a first cooling element positioned and configured to cool a circulating coolant fluid;

a radiator fan configured and operable to generate an air flow through the first cooling element for cooling the coolant circulating through the first cooling element;

a tubular casing configured as a flow passage for air and positioned to lead air which has passed through the first cooling element;

at least one further cooling element for cooling a second medium, the further cooling element being arranged in the flow passage at a position downstream of the first cooling element with respect to a direction of flow of the air through the flow passage; and

flow-limiting devices configured and operable to be set to a blocking position so as to prevent air from passing through the flow passage to the at least one further cooling element and to be set to a non-blocking position allowing air flow to the at least one further cooling element.

2. The cooler arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising:

the combustion engine;

an inlet line positioned and configured to lead air to the combustion engine;

an exhaust line positioned and configured to lead exhaust gases from the engine;

the at least one further cooling element comprising;

an air-cooled EGR cooler configured and operable for cooling recirculating exhaust gases; and

a connection positioned and configured to lead the recirculating exhaust gases from the EGR cooler to the inlet line of the combustion engine.

3. The cooler arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the air-cooled EGR cooler is configured and operable to subject the recirculating exhaust gases to a first step of cooling, and

the cooler arrangement further comprises:

a second EGR cooler configured and operable to subject the recirculating exhaust gases to a second step of cooling, and

a connection configured to lead the recirculating exhaust gases from the first EGR cooler to the second EGR cooler.

4. The cooler arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the second EGR cooler is situated upstream of the first cooling element with respect to the direction of the air flow through the first cooling element.

5. A cooler arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising:

an air compressor configured to compress air;

the at least one further cooling element comprises an air-cooled charge air cooler configured and operable for cooling the compressed air; and

a connection positioned and configured to lead the cooled compressed air from the charge air cooler to the inlet line of the combustion engine.

6. The cooler arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the air-cooled charge air cooler is configured and operable for subjecting the compressed air from the compressor to a first step of cooling;

and

the cooler arrangement further comprises a second air-cooled charge air cooler downstream of the charge air cooler in a flow of compressed air, the second charge air cooler is configured and operable for subjecting the compressed air to a second step of cooling.

7. The cooler arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the second charge air cooler is situated upstream of the first cooling element with respect to the direction of the flow of the cooling air through the first cooling element.

8. The cooler arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tubular casing is configured and operable to define a flow passage comprising an inlet aperture and one or more outlet apertures.

9. The cooler arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flow-limiting devices comprise a plurality of slatlike elements arranged in parallel and being together pivotable between the blocking position preventing air from passing through the flow passage and the non-blocking position allowing air to pass through the flow passage.

10. The cooler arrangement according to claim 3, further comprising an air compressor for configured to compress air;

wherein the at least one further cooling element comprises an air-cooled charge air cooler configured and operable for cooling of compressed air; and

a connection positioned and configured to lead the cooled compressed air from the charge air cooler to the inlet line of the combustion engine.

11. The cooler arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the air-cooled charge air cooler is positioned and configured to subject the compressed air from the compressor to a first step of cooling, and

the cooler arrangement further comprises a second air-cooled charge air cooler downstream of the charge air cooler in a direction of flow of compressed air, the second charge air cooler is positioned and configured to subject the compressed air to a second step of cooling.

12. The cooler arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the tubular casing is positioned and configured to define a flow passage which comprises an inlet aperture and one or more outlet apertures;

wherein the first cooling element is positioned toward the inlet aperture and the EGR cooler is positioned toward one of the outlet apertures.

13. The cooler arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the tubular casing is positioned and configured to define a flow passage which comprises an inlet aperture and one or more outlet apertures;

wherein the first cooling element is positioned toward the inlet aperture and the charge air cooler is positioned toward one of the outlet apertures.

14. The cooler arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the first cooling element is positioned toward the inlet aperture and the further cooling elements are positioned toward the outlet aperture.

15. The cooler arrangement of claim 10, wherein the flow-limiting devices comprise:

a first flow-limiting device positioned and configured to be pivotable between the blocking position preventing the air flow to the air-cooled charged air cooler and the non-blocking position allowing the air flow to the air-cooled charge air cooler; and

a second flow-limiting device positioned and configured to be pivotable between the blocking position preventing the air flow to the air-cooled EGR cooler and the non-blocking position allowing the air flow to the air-cooled EGR cooler.

16. The cooler arrangement of claim 15, wherein the first flow limiting device is pivotable between the blocking position and the non-blocking position independently of the second flow limiting device.

17. The cooler arrangement of claim 15, wherein the air-cooled charge air cooler is positioned at a first outlet aperture of the tubular casing and the air-cooled EGR cooler is positioned at a second outlet aperture of the tubular casing different from the first outlet aperture.