# US 8,464,669 B2 · Cooling circuit for an internal combustion engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,669 B2 - Document ID: US8464669B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/042,632 - Filed: 2011-03-08 - Published: 2011-09-08 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2010-03-08 - Assignees: Audi AG - Applicants: Matthias Honzen; Markus Koehne; Volker Boestfleisch; Hermann Henning - Inventors: Matthias Honzen; Markus Koehne; Volker Boestfleisch; Hermann Henning - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464669B2 ## CPC - F01P 3/02: Arrangements for cooling cylinders or cylinder heads - F01P 3/12: Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts - F01P 2003/027: {Cooling cylinders and cylinder heads in parallel} - F01P 2060/02: Intercooler - F01P 2060/04: Lubricant cooler - F01P 2060/16: Outlet manifold - F01P: COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with cooling of propulsion units in vehicles B60K11/00; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00; {cooling of gas-turbine engines F02C7/12}; heat exchange in general, radiators F28) ## Abstract Cooling circuit for an internal combustion engine 2, having an internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder head and one crankcase, a coolant pump, a primary heat exchanger, and a heat exchanger for an operating medium of the internal combustion engine, the cooling circuit 1 downstream of the coolant pump being divided between a branch site A and a connection site B so that at least one cylinder head is incorporated in a cylinder head branch circuit and the crankcase is incorporated in a crankcase branch circuit and the heat exchanger for an operating medium being located in the cylinder head branch circuit downstream of the at least one cylinder head. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cooling circuit for an internal combustion engine, having an internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder head and one crankcase, a coolant pump, a primary heat exchanger, and a heat exchanger for an operating medium of the internal combustion engine, the cooling circuit downstream of the coolant pump being divided between a branch site (A) and a connection site (B) so that at least one cylinder head is incorporated in a cylinder head branch circuit and the crankcase is incorporated in a crankcase branch circuit wherein the heat exchanger for an operating medium is located in the cylinder head branch circuit downstream of the at least one cylinder head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cooling circuit according to claim 1 wherein, a shutoff valve is located in the crankcase branch circuit downstream of the crankcase. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cooling circuit according to claim 1 wherein, the primary heat exchanger is located downstream of the connection site (B). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cooling circuit according to claim 1 wherein, there is a control valve between the coolant pump and the primary heat exchanger. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cooling circuit according to claim 4 wherein, the control valve is designed as a map-controlled thermostat. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cooling circuit according to claim 1 wherein, between the primary heat exchanger and the connection site (B), a bypass line which is coupled to the control valve branches off. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cooling circuit according to claims 1 wherein, flow takes place in parallel through two or more cylinder heads in the cylinder head branch circuit and the heat exchanger for an operating medium is located downstream of the cylinder heads. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cooling circuit according to claim 1 wherein, the heat exchanger for an operating medium is designed as a charging air cooler. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cooling circuit according to claim 1 wherein, the heat exchanger for an operating medium is designed as an exhaust gas cooler. ### Claim 10 A cooling system for an internal combustion chamber of a motor vehicle comprising: a first fluid circuit including a crankcase of said engine, a primary heat exchanger and a pump for propelling a cooling fluid therethough; and a second fluid circuit including at least one cylinder head of said engine and at least one of a second heat exchanger interconnecting a first juncture point of said first circuit between said pump and said crankcase and a second juncture point of said first circuit between said crankcase and said first heat exchanger. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A system according to claim 10 including a shutoff valve between said crankcase and said second juncture point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A system according to claim 10 including a control valve in said first circuit between said primary heat exchanger and said pump. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A system according to claim 12 including a third circuit interconnecting said first circuit at a third junction point disposed between said second junction and said primary heat exchanger, and said control valve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A system according to claim 12 wherein said controll valve is thermostatically operated. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A system according to claim 10 wherein said first heat exchanger has a greater capacity than said second heat exchanger. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) A system according to claim 10 wherein said second heat exchanger is disposed in one of a group consisting of an exhaust gas recirculating line, a heating system, an oil cooler and a radiator.