# US 2016/0252001 A1 · Manifold for an engine assembly

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2016/0252001 A1
- Document ID: US20160252001A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/692,036
- Filed: 2015-04-21
- Published: 2016-09-01
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-26
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Akram R. Zahdeh; Steven M. Yocum
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160252001A1

## CPC

- F01P 11/0285: {Venting devices}
- F01P 3/12: Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts
- F01P 2060/12: Turbo charger
- F01P 2060/16: Outlet manifold
- 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)

## Abstract

An engine assembly includes a turbocharger and a fluid conduit. The fluid conduit is thermally coupled to the turbocharger such that the coolant flowing through the fluid conduit can extract heat from the turbocharger. The engine assembly includes a surge tank and an engine head defining a coolant gallery. Further, the engine assembly includes an exhaust manifold integrated with the engine head. The coolant gallery is thermally coupled to the exhaust manifold such that the coolant can extract heat from the exhaust manifold. The engine assembly further includes a coolant manifold in fluid communication with the fluid conduit and the coolant gallery. The coolant manifold defines a venting orifice in fluid communication with the surge tank. Further, the coolant manifold defines a joint passageway in fluid communication with the fluid conduit. Moreover, the coolant manifold defines an interconnection passageway fluidly interconnecting the joint passageway and the coolant gallery.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An engine assembly, comprising:
a turbocharger;
a fluid conduit configured to carry a first coolant, wherein the fluid conduit is thermally coupled to the turbocharger such that the first coolant flowing through the fluid conduit can extract heat from the turbocharger;
a surge tank;
an engine head defining a coolant gallery, wherein the coolant gallery is configured to carry a second coolant;
an exhaust manifold integrated with the engine head, wherein the coolant gallery is thermally coupled to the exhaust manifold such that the second coolant can extract heat from the exhaust manifold;
a coolant manifold in fluid communication with the fluid conduit and the coolant gallery, wherein the coolant manifold defines:
a venting orifice in fluid communication with the surge tank in order to allow vapors to vent from the coolant manifold to the surge tank;
a joint passageway in fluid communication with the fluid conduit in order to allow the first coolant to flow from the fluid conduit to the coolant manifold; and
an interconnection passageway fluidly interconnecting the joint passageway and the coolant gallery in order to allow the first coolant to flow from the joint passageway to the coolant gallery.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the joint passageway has a larger cross-sectional area than the venting orifice in order to minimize a flow of liquid to the surge tank through the venting orifice.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The engine assembly of claim 2, wherein the interconnection passageway has a larger cross-sectional area than the venting orifice in order to minimize the flow of liquid to the surge tank through the venting orifice.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the coolant manifold is directly coupled to the engine head.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The engine assembly of claim 4, wherein the coolant gallery in direct fluid communication with the interconnection passageway.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The engine assembly of claim 5, further comprising at least one fastener extending through the coolant manifold and the engine head in order to couple the coolant manifold to the engine head.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the joint passageway is obliquely angled relative to the venting orifice.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The engine assembly of claim 7, wherein the joint passageway is obliquely angled relative to the interconnection passageway.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the interconnection passageway and the venting orifice are parallel to each other.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The engine assembly of claim 1, further comprising a venting conduit fluidly interconnecting the surge tank and the venting orifice.

### Claim 11

A coolant manifold, comprising:
a manifold body defining:
a venting orifice configured to be fluidly coupled to a surge tank in order to allow vapors to vent from the manifold body to the surge tank;
a joint passageway configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid conduit in order to allow coolant to flow from the fluid conduit to the manifold body; and
an interconnection passageway fluidly coupled to the joint passageway, wherein the interconnection passageway is configured to be fluidly coupled to a coolant gallery in order to allow the coolant to flow from the joint passageway to the coolant gallery.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The coolant manifold of claim 11, wherein the manifold body defines a vent in fluid communication with the venting orifice.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The coolant manifold of claim 12, wherein the joint passageway is obliquely angled relative to the interconnection passageway.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The coolant manifold of claim 13, wherein the interconnection passageway and the venting orifice are parallel to each other.

### Claim 15

A method, comprising:
moving hot coolant to a joint passageway of a coolant manifold, wherein the coolant manifold defines a venting orifice in fluid communication with a surge tank, the joint passageway, and an interconnection passageway fluidly interconnecting the venting orifice and the joint passageway;
venting vapors of the coolant through the venting orifice; and
moving the coolant from the coolant manifold to a coolant gallery defined by an engine head.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising transferring the vapors to a surge tank.