# US 8,739,745 B2 · Cooling system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,745 B2 - Document ID: US8739745B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/591,076 - Filed: 2012-08-21 - Published: 2013-02-28 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-23 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Hans Guenter Quix; Jan Mehring; Bernd Brinkmann - Inventors: Hans Guenter Quix; Jan Mehring; Bernd Brinkmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739745B2 ## CPC - F01P 7/165: {characterised by systems with two or more loops} - F01P 2003/027: {Cooling cylinders and cylinder heads in parallel} - 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 A cooling system for an engine. The cooling system includes a flow control element including an inlet in fluidic communication with an outlet of a cylinder head water jacket, a first outlet port in fluidic communication with a heat exchanger, and a second outlet port in fluidic communication with an inlet of an engine block water jacket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A split coolant circuit in an internal combustion engine comprising: a pump; a cylinder head water jacket including an inlet in fluidic communication with an outlet of the pump; an engine block water jacket including an inlet in fluidic communication with an outlet of the cylinder head water jacket; a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger including an outlet in fluidic communication with an inlet of the pump and an inlet in fluidic communication with the outlet of the cylinder head water jacket; and a flow control element and thermostat coupled to the outlet of the cylinder head water jacket, the flow control element including a first outlet port in fluidic communication with an inlet of the engine block water jacket, a second outlet port in fluidic communication an inlet of the first heat exchanger, a third outlet port in fluidic communication with an inlet of the second heat exchanger, and a fourth outlet port from the thermostat in fluidic communication with the first heat exchanger. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The split coolant circuit of claim 1, where the engine block water jacket flows coolant in an opposite direction as coolant flow in the engine block water jacket. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The split coolant circuit of claim 1, further comprising a connecting coolant line in fluidic communication with an outlet of the engine block water jacket and an inlet of the pump, the connecting coolant line opening into a line downstream of the first heat exchanger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The split coolant circuit of claim 1, where the flow control element includes a proportional valve in parallel fluidic communication with the outlet of the cylinder head water jacket, the proportional valve including the first outlet port, the second outlet port, and the third outlet port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The split coolant circuit of claim 4, where connecting coolant lines from the second outlet port and the fourth outlet port fluidly merge upstream of the first heat exchanger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The split coolant circuit of claim 4, where the thermostat and the proportional valve are independently adjustable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The split coolant circuit of claim 4, where the thermostat adjusts coolant flow through the thermostat when coolant temperature exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The split coolant circuit of claim 1, where the second heat exchanger is a cabin heater and the first heat exchanger is a radiator. ### Claim 9 A cooling system in an engine comprising: a combined flow control element and thermostat including an inlet in fluidic communication with an outlet of a cylinder head water jacket, a first outlet port in fluidic communication with a first heat exchanger, a second outlet port in fluidic communication with an inlet of an engine block water jacket, a third outlet port in fluidic communication with a second heat exchanger, and a fourth outlet port from the thermostat in fluidic communication with the first heat exchanger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cooling system of claim 9, where the flow control element adjusts coolant flow through the first and second outlet ports based on coolant temperature, the cooling system without a bypass around the heat exchanger from the outlet of the cylinder head water jacket to the inlet of the engine block water jacket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The cooling system of claim 9, where the flow control element increases coolant flow through the first outlet port and decreases coolant flow through the second outlet port in response to an increase in coolant temperature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The cooling system of claim 9, where the flow control element is controlled by a controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The cooling system of claim 9, where the flow control element comprises a valve, the valve adjusting coolant flow to at least one of the inlet of the engine block water jacket and an inlet of the first heat exchanger and the thermostat adjusting coolant flow to the inlet of the first heat exchanger. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cooling system of claim 13, wherein the valve adjusts coolant flow to the inlet of the engine block water jacket and the inlet of the first heat exchanger. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The cooling system of claim 9, where coolant lines leading from an outlet of the engine block water jacket and an outlet of the heat exchanger fluidly merge and lead to an inlet of a pump. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The cooling system of claim 15, where the pump includes a sole outlet port in fluidic communication with an inlet of the cylinder head water jacket.