Cooling system for an internal combustion engine

• US 9,567,892 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Bilancia, Michele
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Long T
• Application Number:
  US14/514,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20150101549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.01, 123/41.31, 123/41.02, 123/41.3, 123/41.57, 123/41.71
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/046 Exhaust manifolds with cooling jacket
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 1/06 Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/027 Cooling cylinders and cylinder heads in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/02 Intercooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/04 Lubricant cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/02 Arrangements for cooling cylinders or cylinder heads
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 1/243 Cylinder heads and inlet or exhaust manifolds integrally cast together
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 1/36 for liquid cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A cooling system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The cooling system includes a radiator for exchanging heat between a coolant and ambient air, and a coolant pump for circulating the coolant. The coolant system further includes a first set of fluid connection branches between the coolant pump and the engine block, the cylinder head and the exhaust manifold and a second set of fluid connection branches between the engine block, cylinder head and exhaust manifold and the radiator and/or the coolant pump. A first controlled valve intercepts the coolant towards the radiator so that the coolant is recirculated towards the coolant pump. A second controlled valve intercepts the coolant from the cylinder block. A third controlled valve intercepts the coolant from the integrated exhaust manifold.

Claims

1. A cooling system for an internal combustion engine having an engine block, a cylinder head and an exhaust manifold integrated in the cylinder head, the cooling system comprising:

a radiator for exchanging heat between a coolant and ambient air;

a coolant pump for circulating the coolant;

a first set of fluid connection branches between the coolant pump and the engine block, the cylinder head and the exhaust manifold;

a second set of fluid connection branches between the engine block, cylinder head and exhaust manifold and at least one of the radiator and the coolant pump;

a first three-way controlled valve that selectively controls a flow of the coolant from the exhaust manifold, the cylinder head, and the engine block towards the radiator and the coolant pump;

a second two-way controlled valve that selectively controls a flow of the coolant from the cylinder block to the first controlled valve; and

a third two-way controlled valve that selectively controls a flow of the coolant from the integrated exhaust manifold to the first controlled valve; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the first controlled valve, the second controlled valve, and the third controlled valve.

2. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said first three-way controlled valve further comprising an inlet for collecting coolant coming from the internal combustion engine, a first outlet in fluid connection with the coolant pump and a second outlet in a fluid connection with the radiator.

3. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said second controlled valve is located downstream the engine block and in a fluid connection with said first controlled valve.

4. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said third controlled valve is located downstream the exhaust manifold and in a fluid connection with said first controlled valve.

5. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling system further comprises an oil heat exchanger.

6. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling system further comprises an electric heater.

7. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured to switch on the coolant pump, to close the second and the third controlled valves, and to open the first outlet of the first controlled valve so that the coolant flows from the coolant pump to the cylinder head and back to the coolant pump, by-passing the radiator.

8. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the system being configured to keep the coolant pump switched on, to close the second controlled valve and to open the first outlet of the first controlled valve and the third controlled valve, so that a first given amount of the coolant flows from the coolant pump to the cylinder head, a second given amount of the coolant flows from the coolant pump to the exhaust manifold, both first and second given amounts of coolant flowing back to the coolant pump, by-passing the radiator.

9. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the system being configured to keep the coolant pump switched on, to open the first outlet of the first controlled valve, the second controlled valve and the third controller valve, so that a first given amount of the coolant flows from the coolant pump to the cylinder head, a second given amount of the coolant flows from the coolant pump to the exhaust manifold, a third given amount of the coolant flows from the coolant pump to the engine block, both first, second and third given amounts of coolant flowing back to the coolant pump, by-passing the radiator.

10. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the system being configured to keep the coolant pump switched on, to open the second outlet of the first controlled valve, the second controlled valve and the third controlled valve, so that a first given amount of the coolant flows from the coolant pump to the cylinder head, a second given amount of the coolant flows from the coolant pump to the exhaust manifold, a third given amount of the coolant flows from the coolant pump to the engine block, both first, second and third given amount of coolant flowing back to the radiator and then to the coolant pump.

11. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the system being configured to open the third controlled valve if an exhaust gas temperature is higher than an exhaust gas temperature threshold (Tthr).

12. The cooling system according to claim 11, wherein said exhaust gas temperature threshold (Tthr) is equal to 200°

C.

13. An internal combustion engine comprising an engine block, a cylinder head, an exhaust manifold integrated in the cylinder head and a cooling system according to claim 1.