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US 4,367,699 AGranted
Boiling liquid engine cooling system
AssigneeEVC Associates Limited Partnership
InventorJohn W. Evans
Life of this patent
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AssigneeEVC Associates Limited Partnership
InventorJohn W. Evans
Estimating the term…
A boiling liquid coolant system for a vehicular internal combustion engine which operates at a virtually constant predetermined pressure and predetermined temperature having a condenser which assures that all vaporized coolant is condensed under all engine operating conditions by matching the rate of condensation of vaporized coolant in the condenser to the rate vaporized coolant is generated by the engine and flows to the condenser during operation of the engine. In one embodiment, an electrically-driven fan is actuated by a thermal or pressure sensitive switch in the condenser for assuring an adequate flow of ambient air across the condenser tubes during high ambient air temperature engine operating conditions, e.g., low speed, under load or stationary idle conditions of engine operation, and during the hot soak period after engine shutdown. Condensate may be returned to a gravity supply tank by either an electric or an engine-driven pump, and a non-return flow valve assures that vapor cannot flow from the separation tank of the system to the sump in the absence of the flow of liquid coolant from the sump to the separation tank. A pipe may connect the upper and lower parts of the engine cooling jacket through a pump for positive direct circulation, without heat loss, of liquid coolant in the jacket to shorten engine warm up time. Other features include a perforated inlet tube extending into a vapor separator/condenser supply tank, a U-trap in the liquid coolant supply line, a combined pressure/vaccum relief vent valve, and a passenger compartment heater and oil temperature control integral with the separation tank.
In a boiling liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine including a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, said cooling system including a separation tank coupled to said coolant inlet and coolant outlet for separating vaporized coolant from liquid coolant, condenser means coupled to said separation tank for condensing vaporized coolant flowing from said separation tank to said condenser means during operation of said engine, sump means coupled to said condenser means for receiving condensed coolant from said condenser means, said sump means being coupled to said separation tank for returning liquid coolant to said separation tank and to said engine, and vent means for venting non-condensible gases from said cooling system during operation of said engine, the improvement comprising said condenser means including means adapted to flow ambient air in heat exchange relation with said condenser means, and means, coupled to said air flow means and responsive to the presence of vaporized coolant at a selected location in said condenser means, for actuating said air flow means under high ambient air temperature engine operating conditions, whereby the rate of condensation of vaporized coolant in said condenser means is matched to the rate vaporized coolant is generated by said engine and flows to said condenser means and the flow of vaporized coolant from said condenser means into said sump means is prevented during operation of said engine, and a virtually constant predetermined pressure and predetermined temperature are maintained in said cooling system under all engine operating conditions.
In a boiling liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine including a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, said cooling system including a separation tank coupled to said coolant inlet and coolant outlet for separating vaporized coolant from liquid coolant, condenser means coupled to said separation tank for condensing vaporized coolant flowing from said separation tank to said condenser means during operation of said engine, sump means coupled to said condenser means for receiving condensed coolant from said condenser means, said sump means being coupled to said separation tank for returning liquid coolant to said separation tank and to said engine, and vent means for venting non-condensible gases from said cooling system to the atmosphere during operation of said engine, the improvement comprising said vent means being coupled to said sump means and said condenser means including fan means disposed adjacent said condenser means for drawing ambient air over said condenser means, and means, coupled to said fan means and responsive to the presence of vaporized coolant at a selected location in said condenser means, for actuating said fan means during high ambient air temperature engine operating conditions, said cooling system further comprising means coupled to said sump means and the separation tank for preventing the flow of vaporized coolant from said separation tank to said sump means during engine operating conditions under which there is an absence of coolant flow from said sump means to said separation tank, whereby the flow of vaporized coolant from said cooling system to the atmosphere through said vent means is prevented under all engine operating conditions.
In a boiling liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with at least one cylinder and a cylinder head, at least one inlet for coolant located in the lower part of the cylinder block and at least one outlet for coolant located in the upper part of the cylinder head, the coolant system including a separation tank having a liquid coolant outlet in the lower part of the tank connected to the coolant inlet of the cylinder block, a vaporized coolant inlet connected to the coolant outlet of the cylinder head, a vapor outlet in the upper part of the tank, and a condensate inlet;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.