Integral water pump/engine block bypass cooling system

A temperature control system for an internal combustion engine including an engine block, a cylinder head, and an oil pan, the system also including a radiator adapted for cooling a temperature control fluid, the system comprising:

• a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of temperature control fluid along a passageway between the engine and the radiator, the first flow control valve being actuatable between an open state for permitting flow of temperature control fluid along the passageway and a closed state for inhibiting a flow of temperature control fluid along the passageway;
• a water pump adapted for directing a flow of temperature control fluid into the engine, the water pump comprising
• a housing,
• an impeller rotatably mounted within the housing, the impeller adapted for causing the temperature control fluid to flow out of the water pump,
• at least one flow channel located in the housing and extending to an opening in the engine block, the flow channel being operative for directing the flow of temperature control fluid from within the housing into the engine block;
• and
• at least one flow restrictor valve adapted for controlling the flow of temperature control fluid along the flow channel, the flow restrictor valve being mounted to the water pump housing and being actuatable between a first position and a second position, the flow restrictor valve permitting flow of temperature control fluid along the flow channel when in its first position and restricting the flow of temperature control fluid along the flow channel when in its second position;
• and
• an engine computer for controlling the state of the first flow control valve and the position of the flow restrictor valve based on predetermined values.

A method for controlling the flow of temperature control fluid in an internal combustion engine, the engine including an engine block, a cylinder head, and a water pump for circulating a flow of temperature control fluid, the water pump having at least one valve located within it for controlling the flow of the temperature control fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting the temperature of engine oil;
• detecting the temperature of ambient air;
• detecting the temperature of the temperature control fluid;
• comparing the detected engine oil temperature to a predetermined engine oil temperature value;
• determining a set of predetermined temperature control values based on the comparison of the detected engine oil temperature to the predetermined engine oil temperature value;
• comparing the detected temperature control fluid temperature and the detected ambient air temperature to the set of predetermined temperature control values for determining a desired position of the valve;
• actuating the valve within the water pump so as to place the valve in the desired position for controlling the flow of the temperature control fluid.