Engine cooling system
AssigneeVolvo Trucks North America, Inc.
InventorDennis Langervik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved cooling system for a turbo charged internal combustion engine is disclosed. A conduit connects a pressurizing engine air intake to the cooling system to raise the pressure in the cooling system thereby enabling an increase of the maximum temperature which coolant in the cooling system can reach.
Claims55
A cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a) an expansion tank for coolant;
- b) a conduit connecting an external pressure source to the expansion tank whereby to raise the pressure in the cooling system and thereby enable an increase of the maximum temperature which the coolant in the cooling system can reach;
- and
- c) an arrangement connected to the external pressure source and the expansion tank including a controller that senses a present engine load and in response to the sensed engine load sends signals to said arrangement to cause the arrangement to selectively connect the external pressure source and the expansion tank to control the pressure in the expansion tank based on the sensed present engine load.
A cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a) an expansion tank for coolant;
- b) a conduit connecting a pressurized engine air intake to the expansion tank whereby to raise the pressure in the cooling system and thereby enable an increase of the maximum temperature which the coolant in the cooling system can reach;
- and
- c) an arrangement connected to the external pressure source and the expansion tank including a controller that senses a present engine load and in response to the sensed engine load sends signals to said arrangement to cause the arrangement to selectively connect the external pressure source and the expansion tank to control the pressure in the expansion tank based on the sensed present engine load.
A cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a) an expansion tank for coolant;
- b) a conduit connecting an external pressure source to the expansion tank whereby to raise the pressure in the cooling system and thereby enable an increase of the maximum temperature which the coolant in the cooling system can reach;
- and
- c) an arrangement connected to the external pressure source and the expansion tank that controls the pressure in the expansion tank based on a present engine load wherein said arrangement controls a flow through the conduit to allow flow in two directions.
A cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a) an expansion tank for coolant;
- b) a conduit connecting an external pressure source to the expansion tank whereby to raise the pressure in the cooling system and thereby enable an increase of the maximum temperature which the coolant in the cooling system can reach;
- and
- c) a valve arrangement connected to the external pressure source and the expansion tank including a controller that senses a present engine load and in response to the sensed engine load sends signals to said arrangement to cause the arrangement to selectively connect the external pressure source and the expansion tank to control the pressure in the expansion tank based on the sensed present engine load.
A cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a) an expansion tank for coolant;
- b) a conduit connecting a pressurized engine air intake to the expansion tank whereby to raise the pressure in the cooling system and thereby enable an increase of the maximum temperature which the coolant in the cooling system can reach;
- and
- c) a valve arrangement connected to the external pressure source and the expansion tank including a controller that senses a present engine load and in response to the sensed engine load sends signals to said arrangement to cause the arrangement to selectively connect the external pressure source and the expansion tank to control the pressure in the expansion tank based on the sensed present engine load.
A cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a) an expansion tank for coolant;
- b) a conduit connecting an external pressure source to the expansion tank whereby to raise the pressure in the cooling system and thereby enable an increase of the maximum temperature which the coolant in the cooling system can reach;
- and
- c) a valve arrangement connected to the external pressure source and the expansion tank that controls the pressure in the expansion tank based on a present engine load wherein said valve arrangement controls a flow through the conduit to allow flow in two directions.
In a turbo charged engine, an improved cooling system comprising at least one conduit connecting a pressurized engine air intake to the cooling system to raise the pressure in the cooling system and thereby enable an increase of the maximum temperature which the coolant in the cooling system can reach, said conduit including a first flow control valve permitting flow of air under pressure to the coolant system and a second flow control valve in parallel with the first valve permitting flow of air through said conduit to said intake to maintain the pressure in the expansion tank between a maximum pressure and a threshold pressure.
In a turbo charged engine, an improved cooling system comprising at least one conduit connecting a pressurized engine air intake to the cooling system to raise the pressure in the cooling system and thereby enable an increase of the maximum temperature which the coolant in the cooling system can reach, said conduit including a first spring loaded non-return valve permitting flow of air under pressure to the coolant system and a second spring load non-return valve in parallel with the first valve to allow decompression of the expansion tank through said conduit to maintain the pressure in the expansion tank between a maximum pressure and a threshold pressure.
In a vehicle having a turbo charged engine equipped with a cooling system, an arrangement for elevating the maximum temperature of coolant in the system, the arrangement comprising:
- a) an expansion tank forming a part of the system;
- b) the tank have a pressure relief and coolant overflow valve and a vacuum relief valve;
- c) a conduit connecting a pressurized air intake manifold of the engine to the expansion tank;
- d) a first flow control valve permitting flow of air under pressure to the coolant system;
- and
- e) a second flow control valve in parallel with the first valve permitting flow of air under pressure to the intake to maintain the pressure in the expansion tank between a maximum pressure and a threshold pressure.
The system o calm 31 wherein said first and second flow control valves are spring loaded non-return valves.
In a vehicle having a turbo charged engine equipped with a cooling system, an arrangement for elevating the maximum temperature of coolant in the system, the arrangement comprising:
- a) an expansion tank forming a part of the system;
- b) the tank have a pressure relief and coolant overflow valve and a vacuum relief valve;
- c) a conduit connecting a pressurized air intake manifold of the engine to the expansion tank;
- d) a first spring loaded non-return valve permitting flow of air under pressure to the coolant system;
- and
- e) a second spring loaded non-return valve in parallel with the first flow control valve to allow decompression of the expansion tank to maintain the pressure in the expansion tank between a maximum pressure and a threshold pressure.
A process for improving the performance of a power plant in the form of a turbo charged diesel engine, the process comprising:
- a) coupling a cooling system of the engine to an engine intake manifold via a conduit including a first flow control valve and a second flow control valve in said conduit in parallel with said first flow control valve;
- b) delivering air under pressure from the manifold to the system;
- c) permitting flow of air under pressure through the first flow control valve when said air under pressure exceeds a threshold pressure;
- and,
- d) permitting flow of air under pressure through the second flow control valve when said air under pressure exceeds a maximum pressure.
In a turbo charged engine, an improved cooling system comprising at least one conduit connecting a pressurized air intake to the cooling system to raise the pressure in the cooling system and thereby enable an increase of the maximum temperature which the coolant in the cooling system can reach, said conduit including an electronically controlled two directional, two way control valve, a first pressure sensor is positioned between the control valve and the expansion tank, a second pressure sensor is positioned between the control valve and the intake, an electronic control unit controls said control valve based on pressures sensed by said first and second pressure sensors.
In a vehicle having a turbo charged engine equipped with a cooling system, an arrangement for elevating the maximum temperature of coolant in the system, the arrangement comprising:
- a) an expansion tank forming part of the system;
- b) the tank having a pressure relief and coolant overflow valve and a vacuum relief valve;
- c) a conduit connecting a pressurized air intake manifold of the engine to the expansion tank;
- d) an electronically controlled two directional, two way control valve in said conduit;
- e) a first pressure sensor positioned between the control valve and the expansion tank;
- f) a second pressure sensor positioned between the control valve and the intake manifold;
- and,
- g) an electronic control unit that controls said control valve based on pressures sensed by said first and second pressure sensors.
A method for controlling pressurization of a cooling system for a turbocharged engine, comprising:
- a) measuring at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of coolant pressure, charge air pressure, ambient pressure, coolant temperature, ambient temperature, engine load, cooling system capacity, cooling fan speed, and cooling fan duty cycles;
- and
- b) pressurizing an expansion tank of the cooling system based on said at least one parameter to optimize the pressure in the expansion tank for a state of the engine indicated by the at least one measured parameter.
A method for controlling pressurization of a cooling system for a turbocharged engine, comprising:
- a) detecting a change in the engine load;
- and
- b) changing the pressure in an expansion tank of the cooling system based on the detected engine load change.
A method of diagnosing a condition of a cooling system of an engine in a vehicle, comprising:
- a) detecting a pressure level in the cooling system;
- b) detecting an operating condition of the engine;
- c) comparing the detected pressure level with an expected critical pressure level for the detected operating condition of the engine;
- and
- d) determining a state of the the cooling system based on the comparison of the detected pressure level with the critical pressure level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.