Thermal Storage Expansion Tank
AssigneesDENSO International America, Inc., Denso Corporation
InventorsAlec BERGWEILER, Dwayne TAYLOR, Robert BRINKER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A temperature control system for an engine. The system includes a thermal storage expansion tank defining a thermally insulated interior volume for storing engine coolant. The system further includes a pump that pumps engine coolant that has exited the thermal storage expansion tank back into the thermally insulated interior volume of the thermal storage expansion tank and forces air out of the thermal storage expansion tank to store coolant in the thermally insulated interior volume when the engine is off.
Claims20
A temperature control system for an engine, the system comprising:
- a thermal storage expansion tank defining a thermally insulated interior volume for storing engine coolant;
- and
- a pump that pumps engine coolant that has exited the thermal storage expansion tank back into the thermally insulated interior volume of the thermal storage expansion tank and forces air out of the thermal storage expansion tank to store coolant in the thermally insulated interior volume when the engine is off.
A temperature control system for an engine, the system comprising:
- a thermal storage expansion tank for storing engine coolant;
- a radiator;
- and
- a coolant flow control system connecting the thermal storage expansion tank, the radiator, and the engine to permit coolant flow therebetween;
- wherein:
- when the engine is on, the coolant flow control system allows coolant heated by the engine to flow to the thermal storage expansion tank to allow the coolant to expand and allow the system to degass;
- when the engine is off, the coolant flow control system fills the thermal storage expansion tank with heated coolant and removes air from within the thermal storage expansion tank to store heated coolant within the thermal storage expansion tank;
- and
- when the engine is turned back on, the coolant flow control system directs stored heated coolant from the thermal storage expansion tank to the engine to heat the engine and directs air back into the thermal storage expansion tank.
A method for controlling temperature of an engine, the method comprising:
- pumping engine coolant that has exited a thermally insulated interior volume of a thermal storage expansion tank back into the thermally insulated interior volume, and forcing air out from within the thermally insulated interior volume, to store coolant in the thermally insulated interior volume when the engine is off;
- and
- directing the coolant stored within the thermally insulated interior volume of the thermal storage expansion tank to the engine when the engine is restarted to facilitate warmup of the engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.