Vehicle cooling system with directed flows
First Claim
1. A circulating coolant cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a multifunction valve having a plurality of inlet ports and output ports, a first moveable plate, a second moveable plate and an operator for moving the plates to selectively open and close passageways interconnecting the inlet and output ports, the first moveable plate selectively restricting and unrestricting fluid flow through a first one of the plurality of inlet ports and first and second ones of the plurality of output ports, the second moveable plate selectively restricting and unrestricting fluid flow through second and third ones of the plurality of inlet ports;
a radiator connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports;
a pump for pumping coolant, the pump connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports;
a water jacket in an engine block, the water jacket connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports;
a water jacket in an engine cylinder head, the cylinder head water jacket connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports;
a heater core for a heater in a passenger compartment, the heater core connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports;
a degas bottle to capture and retain gases entrapped in the coolant, the degas bottle connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; and
a heat exchanger for heating and cooling lubricating oil, the heat exchanger connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports, wherein the multifunction valve interconnects the engine and cooling system components and operates to permit and inhibit flows of coolant as necessary for thermal management of the engine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cooling system for internal combustion engines provides directed flows of heated or cooled coolant to various engine components and/or accessories as needed. By providing directed flows, the overall coolant flow volume is reduced from that of conventional cooling systems, allowing for a smaller capacity water pump to be employed which results in a net energy savings for the engine. Further, by reducing the overall coolant flow volume, the hoses and/or galleries required for the directed flows are reduced from those of conventional cooling systems, providing a cost savings and a weight savings. Finally, by preferably employing an impellor type water pump, the expense of an electric water pump and its associated control circuitry can be avoided. The direct flows are established by a multifunction valve which, in a preferred implementation, comprises a two-plate valve wherein each plate is operated by a wax motor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circulating coolant cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a multifunction valve having a plurality of inlet ports and output ports, a first moveable plate, a second moveable plate and an operator for moving the plates to selectively open and close passageways interconnecting the inlet and output ports, the first moveable plate selectively restricting and unrestricting fluid flow through a first one of the plurality of inlet ports and first and second ones of the plurality of output ports, the second moveable plate selectively restricting and unrestricting fluid flow through second and third ones of the plurality of inlet ports; a radiator connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; a pump for pumping coolant, the pump connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; a water jacket in an engine block, the water jacket connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; a water jacket in an engine cylinder head, the cylinder head water jacket connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; a heater core for a heater in a passenger compartment, the heater core connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; a degas bottle to capture and retain gases entrapped in the coolant, the degas bottle connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; and a heat exchanger for heating and cooling lubricating oil, the heat exchanger connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports, wherein the multifunction valve interconnects the engine and cooling system components and operates to permit and inhibit flows of coolant as necessary for thermal management of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A circulating coolant cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a multifunction valve having a plurality of inlet ports and output ports, a first moveable plate, a second moveable plate and an operator for moving the plates to selectively open and close passageways interconnecting the inlet and output ports; a radiator connected between a first one of said inlet ports and a first one of said outlet ports; a pump for pumping coolant, the pump connected between said first one of said inlet ports and a second one of said outlet ports; a water jacket in an engine block, the water jacket connected between a second one of said inlet ports and said second one of said outlet ports; a water jacket in an engine cylinder head, the cylinder head water jacket connected between a third one of said inlet ports and said second one of said outlet ports; a heater core for a heater in a passenger compartment, the heater core connected between said first one of said inlet ports and a third one of said outlet ports; and a degas bottle to capture and retain gases entrapped in the coolant, the degas bottle connected between a fourth one of said inlet ports and said first one of said outlet ports, wherein the multifunction valve is operable to modulate a flow of coolant through the heater core ranging from no flow to a maximum flow capacity of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20)
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16. A circulating coolant cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a multifunction valve having a plurality of inlet ports and output ports, a first moveable plate, a second moveable plate and an operator for moving the plates to selectively open and close passageways interconnecting the inlet and output ports, the first moveable plate selectively restricting and unrestricting fluid flow through a first one of the plurality of inlet ports and first and second ones of the plurality of output ports, the second moveable plate selectively restricting and unrestricting fluid flow through second and third ones of the plurality of inlet ports; a radiator connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; a pump for pumping coolant, the pump connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; a water jacket in an engine block, the water jacket connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; a water jacket in an engine cylinder head, the cylinder head water jacket connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; a heater core for a heater in a passenger compartment, the heater core connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; a degas bottle to capture and retain gases entrapped in the coolant, the degas bottle connected between one of said inlet ports and one of said outlet ports; and an EGR valve cooler connected between one of the inlet ports and outlet ports. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification