Cooling circuit

• US 8,985,066 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Company KG (MAHLE-STIFTUNG GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Company KG (MAHLE-STIFTUNG GmbH)
• Inventors: Lutz, Rainer, Bruemmer, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): McMahon, M
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLBROOK, TEUTA BAJRAMOVIC
• Application Number:
  US13/672,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20130118423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.01, 123/41.02, 123/41.08, 123/41.09, 123/41.1, 123/41.14, 123/41.21, 123/41.29
• US Class Current: 123/41.09
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 5/02 the devices using heat
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/00 Component parts, details, or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01P1/00 - F01P9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/16 Outlet manifold
• 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: F02G 2260/00 Recuperating heat from exhaust gases of combustion engines and heat from cooling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 5/04 in combination with other waste heat from combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A cooling circuit, in particular of a motor is provided that includes a drive unit with a cooling circuit, through which coolant heated in the drive unit flows, a first heat exchanger which emits heat from the coolant to the environment and a device for energy recovery with a second heat exchanger, which is switched into the cooling circuit. A line section of the cooling circuit is connectable in parallel to the second heat exchanger that includes a hydraulic element, which guides a defined coolant flow to the second heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A cooling circuit for cooling a motor of a vehicle, the cooling circuit comprising:

a drive unit that is configured to facilitate a flow of a heated coolant in the cooling circuit, the heated coolant being heated in the drive unit;

a first heat exchanger that is adapted to emit heat from the coolant to the environment;

a device for heat recovery;

a second heat exchanger, which is switched into the cooling circuit; and

a line section of the cooling circuit connected in parallel to the second heat exchanger, the line section including a hydraulic element, such that the hydraulic element is connected in parallel with the second heat exchanger, wherein the hydraulic element feeds a defined coolant flow to the second heat exchanger,

wherein a bypass line is provided, which seen in a flow direction of the coolant, branches in the cooling circuit before the first heat exchanger and opens after it, and wherein a thermostatic valve is arranged after the first heat exchanger which mixes coolant from the bypass line and the first heat exchanger to a temperature that is selectable.

2. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic element is configured as a pressure relief valve.

3. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic element is configured as a throttle valve.

4. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger is arranged after the first heat exchanger in a flow direction of the coolant.

5. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger is arranged after the thermostatic valve in the flow direction of the coolant.

6. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger is arranged after the drive unit and before the first heat exchanger in a flow direction of the coolant.

7. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein a further thermostatic valve interacts with the bypass line such that below a temperature that is selectable, a predominant proportion of the coolant circumvents the first heat exchanger.

8. The cooling circuit according to claim 7, wherein the further thermostatic valve has a higher switching temperature than the thermostatic valve.

9. The cooling circuit according to claim 7, wherein the further thermostatic valve holds a main branch through the first heat exchanger partially open.

10. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein a further bypass line in the flow direction of the coolant branches in the cooling circuit before the first heat exchanger and opens after the second heat exchanger, and wherein a further thermostatic valve is arranged in the further bypass line.

11. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein a pump is arranged directly after the thermostatic valve in the flow direction of the coolant.

12. The cooling circuit according to claim 1, wherein a pump is arranged in the coolant circuit before the drive unit in a flow direction of coolant.

13. A cooling circuit for cooling a motor of a vehicle, the cooling circuit comprising:

a drive unit that is configured to facilitate a flow of a heated coolant in the cooling circuit, the heated coolant being heated in the drive unit;

a first heat exchanger that is adapted to emit heat from the coolant to the environment;

a device for heat recovery;

a second heat exchanger, which is switched into the cooling circuit; and

a line section of the cooling circuit connected in parallel to the second heat exchanger, the line section including a hydraulic element, such that the hydraulic element is connected in parallel with the second heat exchanger, wherein the hydraulic element feeds a defined coolant flow to the second heat exchanger,

wherein the second heat exchanger is configured as a condenser of the device for heat recovery.

14. A cooling circuit for cooling a motor of a vehicle, the cooling circuit comprising:

a drive unit that facilitates a flow of a heated coolant in the cooling circuit, the heated coolant being heated in the drive unit;

a first heat exchanger that emits heat from the coolant to the environment; and

a second heat exchanger,

wherein the second heat exchanger is connected in parallel to a line section of the cooling circuit, the line section including a hydraulic element, such that the hydraulic element is connected in parallel with the second heat exchanger, and

wherein the hydraulic element feeds a defined coolant flow to the second heat exchanger,

the cooling circuit further comprising a first bypass line, which seen in a flow direction of the coolant, branches in the cooling circuit before the first heat exchanger and opens after the first heat exchanger, and wherein a first thermostatic valve is arranged after the first heat exchanger which mixes coolant from the bypass line and the first heat exchanger to a temperature that is selectable; and

further comprising a second bypass line in the flow direction of the coolant that branches in the cooling circuit before the first heat exchanger and opens after the second heat exchanger, and wherein a second thermostatic valve is arranged in the second bypass line.