Inlet manifold temperature control system for an internal combustion engine

A turbocharged engine's intake air temperature regulator comprising:

• a) a heat exchange chamber for transferring heat between a charge air from said turbocharger and a coolant;
• b) a first temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of said charge air;
• c) a second temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of said coolant;
• and
• d) a controller that partially closes a valve in a coolant supply line to thereby partially inhibit the flow of said coolant into said heat exchange chamber when said first temperature sensor senses a lower temperature than said second temperature sensor.

A turbocharged engine's intake air temperature regulator means comprising:

• a) a heat exchange chamber means for transferring heat between a charge air from said turbocharger and a coolant;
• b) a first temperature sensor means for sensing a temperature of said charge air;
• c) a second temperature sensor means for sensing a temperature of said coolant;
• and
• d) a controller means that partially closes a valve in a coolant supply line to thereby partially inhibit the flow of said coolant into said heat exchange chamber means when said first temperature sensor means senses a lower temperature than said second temperature sensor means.

A method for regulating the cooling of a turbocharged engine's intake air wherein said engine has a heat exchanger for transferring heat between a coolant and said turbocharged intake air from a turbocharger comprising the steps of:

• a) determining if the temperature of a coolant for cooling said turbocharged engine air is greater than the temperature of said charge air comprising the steps of:
• i) placing a first temperature sensing device in an engine's intake air duct upstream of said heat exchanger;
• ii) placing a second temperature sensing device in a tube holding said coolant, said tube being proximate and upstream of said heat exchanger;
• and
• iii) sensing the temperature of said charge air entering into said heat exchanger located in said intake air duct, and said coolant entering into said heat exchanger;
• and
• b) substantially, but not completely, stopping said coolant from exchanging heat with a charge air from said turbocharger when said coolant is hotter than said charge air.

A turbocharged engine's intake air temperature regulator comprising:

• a) a heat exchange chamber for transferring heat between a charge air from said turbocharger and a coolant;
• b) a first temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of said charge air;
• c) a second temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of said coolant, said second temperature sensor located in tubing holding said coolant and proximate said heat exchanger so as to sense the temperature of said coolant entering said heat exchange chamber;
• and
• d) a controller that at least partially closes a valve in a coolant supply line to thereby at least partially inhibit the flow of said coolant into said heat exchange chamber when said first temperature sensor senses a lower temperature than said second temperature sensor.

A turbocharged engine's intake air temperature regulator means comprising:

• a) a heat exchange chamber means for transferring heat between a charge air from said turbocharger and a coolant;
• b) a first temperature sensor means for sensing a temperature of said charge air;
• c) a second temperature sensor means for sensing a temperature of said coolant located in tubing holding said coolant and proximate said heat exchanger so as to sense the temperature of said coolant entering said heat exchange chamber means;
• and
• d) a controller means that at least partially closes a valve in a coolant supply line to thereby at least partially inhibit the flow of said coolant into said heat exchange chamber means when said temperature sensor means senses a lower temperature than said second temperature sensor means.