# US 10,245,917 B2 · Exhaust gas heat recovery system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,917 B2 - Document ID: US10245917B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/689,862 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2013-04-11 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-29 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Adeel Ahmed; Brian L. Spohn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245917B2 ## CPC - F01N 5/02: the devices using heat - F16H 57/0413: {Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor} - F01N 2240/02: a heat exchanger - F01P 2060/16: Outlet manifold - F16H 57/0417: {Heat exchangers adapted or integrated in the gearing} - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - F16H: GEARING - F01P: COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with cooling of propulsion units in vehicles B60K11/00; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00; {cooling of gas-turbine engines F02C7/12}; heat exchange in general, radiators F28) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A powertrain includes an engine, an exhaust system including an exhaust passageway in fluid communication with the engine, an exhaust gas heat exchanger, a transmission having a transmission cooling system, a transmission heat exchanger, a heater core, a pump, and an engine coolant circuit. The engine coolant circuit provides fluid communication between the engine, the exhaust gas heat exchanger, the transmission heat exchanger, the heater core, and the pump. The exhaust gas heat exchanger is operatively connected to the exhaust system and configured to transfer heat between the engine coolant circuit and the exhaust system. The transmission heat exchanger is operatively connected to the transmission cooling system and configured to transfer heat between the engine coolant circuit and the transmission cooling system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A powertrain comprising: an engine including a primary pump incorporated therewith; an exhaust system including an exhaust passageway in fluid communication with the engine; an exhaust gas heat exchanger; a transmission having a transmission cooling system; a transmission heat exchanger; a heater core; an auxiliary pump separate from the primary pump; an engine coolant circuit defining a plurality of passageways that connect the auxiliary pump, the engine, the heater core, the transmission heat exchanger, and the exhaust gas heat exchanger in series, with one of the passageways connected to the engine to define an outlet from the engine and another one of the passageways connected to the engine to define a return to the engine; and wherein the auxiliary pump is positioned proximal to the return to the engine or positioned adjacent to the heater core; wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger is operatively connected to the exhaust system and configured to transfer heat between the engine coolant circuit and the exhaust system; and wherein the transmission heat exchanger is operatively connected to the transmission cooling system and configured to transfer heat between the engine coolant circuit and the transmission cooling system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the engine coolant circuit defines a bypass passageway that bypasses one of the transmission heat exchanger, the heater core, and the auxiliary pump. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The powertrain of claim 2, further comprising a valve configured to control fluid flow through the bypass passageway. ### Claim 4 A powertrain comprising: an engine; an exhaust system including an exhaust passageway in fluid communication with the engine; an exhaust gas heat exchanger; a transmission having a transmission cooling system; a transmission heat exchanger; a heater core configured to transfer heat to a passenger compartment; a pump; an engine coolant circuit providing fluid communication between the engine, the exhaust gas heat exchanger, the transmission heat exchanger, the heater core, and the pump; wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger is operatively connected to the exhaust system and configured to transfer heat between the engine coolant circuit and the exhaust system; wherein the transmission heat exchanger is operatively connected to the transmission cooling system and configured to transfer heat between the engine coolant circuit and the transmission cooling system; a plurality of variable restriction orifices configured to control fluid flow through respective portions of the engine coolant circuit; and wherein the plurality of variable restriction orifices includes a first variable restriction orifice that is configured to control fluid flow through the transmission heat exchanger and a second variable restriction orifice that is configured to control fluid flow through the heater core, wherein the transmission heat exchanger and the heater core are arranged in parallel fluid communication. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the plurality of passageways include a first passageway that provides fluid communication between the engine and the heater core, a second passageway that provides fluid communication between the heater core and the transmission heat exchanger, a third passageway that provides fluid communication between the transmission heat exchanger and the exhaust gas heat exchanger, a fourth passageway that provides fluid communication between the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the auxiliary pump, and a fifth passageway that provides fluid communication between the auxiliary pump and the engine; and wherein the first passageway is the passageway that connects to the engine to define the outlet from the engine and the fifth passageway is the passageway that connects to the engine to define the return to the engine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The powertrain of claim 5, wherein the engine coolant circuit defines a heater core bypass that provides fluid communication between the engine and the transmission heat exchanger; and wherein the engine coolant circuit includes a heater core bypass valve operatively connected to the engine coolant circuit and configured to control fluid flow through the heater core and the heater core bypass. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The powertrain of claim 5, wherein the engine coolant circuit defines a pump bypass that provides fluid communication between the transmission heat exchanger and the engine; and wherein the engine coolant circuit includes a one-way valve that restricts flow through the pump bypass to one direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The powertrain of claim 5, wherein the engine coolant circuit defines a transmission heat exchanger bypass that provides fluid communication between the heater core and the exhaust gas heat exchanger; and wherein the engine coolant circuit includes a transmission heat exchanger bypass valve operatively connected to the engine coolant circuit and configured to control fluid flow through the transmission heat exchanger and the transmission heat exchanger bypass. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the plurality of passageways include a first passageway that provides fluid communication between the engine and the heater core, a second passageway that provides fluid communication between the heater core and the exhaust gas heat exchanger, a third passageway that provides fluid communication between the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the transmission heat exchanger, a fourth passageway that provides fluid communication between the transmission heat exchanger and the auxiliary pump, and a fifth passageway that provides fluid communication between the auxiliary pump and the engine; and wherein the first passageway is the passageway that connects to the engine to define the outlet from the engine and the fifth passageway is the passageway that connects to the engine to define the return to the engine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The powertrain of claim 9, wherein the engine coolant circuit defines a heater core bypass that provides fluid communication between the engine and the exhaust gas heat exchanger; and wherein the engine coolant circuit includes a heater core bypass valve operatively connected to the engine coolant circuit and configured to control fluid flow through the heater core and the heater core bypass. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The powertrain of claim 9, wherein the engine coolant circuit defines a pump bypass that provides fluid communication between the transmission heat exchanger and the engine; and wherein the engine coolant circuit includes a one-way valve that restricts flow through the pump bypass to one direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The powertrain of claim 9, wherein the engine coolant circuit defines a transmission heat exchanger bypass that provides fluid communication between the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the auxiliary pump; and wherein the engine coolant circuit includes a transmission heat exchanger bypass valve operatively connected to the engine coolant circuit and configured to control fluid flow through the transmission heat exchanger and the transmission heat exchanger bypass. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The powertrain of claim 9, wherein the engine coolant circuit defines a heater core bypass that provides fluid communication between the engine and the transmission heat exchanger; wherein the engine coolant circuit includes a heater core bypass valve operatively connected to the engine coolant circuit and configured to control fluid flow through the heater core and the heater core bypass; wherein the engine coolant circuit defines an exhaust gas heat exchanger bypass in fluid communication with the heater core bypass; and wherein the engine coolant circuit includes a one-way valve that restricts flow through the exhaust gas heat exchanger bypass to one direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The powertrain of claim 4, wherein the engine coolant circuit includes an exhaust gas heat exchanger bypass; and wherein the plurality of variable restriction orifices includes a third variable restriction orifice configured to control fluid flow through the exhaust gas heat exchanger bypass. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the plurality of passageways include a first passageway that provides fluid communication between the engine and the heater core, a second passageway that provides fluid communication between the auxiliary pump and the transmission heat exchanger, a third passageway that provides fluid communication between the transmission heat exchanger and the exhaust gas heat exchanger, and a fourth passageway that provides fluid communication between the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the engine; and wherein the first passageway is the passageway that connects to the engine to define the outlet from the engine and the fourth passageway is the passageway that connects to the engine to define the return to the engine.