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(11) | EP 2 578 838 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
COOLING SYSTEM FOR AN ENGINE KÜHLSYSTEM FÜR EINEN MOTOR SYSTÈME DE REFROIDISSEMENT POUR MOTEUR |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling system for a vehicle engine, the system comprising an expansion tank, a water pump and a radiator, wherein the water pump is connected upstream the engine and downstream the radiator.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Friction from a vehicle engine's operation results in extremely high temperatures. To avoid the overheating of engines, automakers install cooling systems in automobiles. As larger and more powerful engines are getting manufactured, however, the cooling system technology needed to adapt to the demands of these new engines. In turn, some car-manufacturing companies created new cooling components. A clear example of such is the expansion tank.
[0003] An expansion tank is a container that provides extra storage space for the expansion of a coolant, a fluid used to dissipate heat. An expansion tank hose ensures the optimum flow of coolant as it connects the vehicle's radiator with an expansion tank. An expansion tank is sometimes called coolant reservoir or overflow canister.
[0004] When engines heat up, the coolant consequently expands. Without the expansion tank, however, the coolant will just flow out of the cooling system and get displaced to the ground. Expansion tank hoses are crucial in engine cooling systems. Without these components, coolant is not delivered to overflow canisters and cooling systems become very ineffective.
[0005] Aside from containing the coolant that has expanded with heat, the expansion tank also makes the cooling system more efficient by eliminating the air bubbles from the coolant. Coolant without air bubbles absorbs heat much faster. When the engine is sufficiently cooled, a vacuum in the cooling system sucks back the coolant through the expansion tank hose. A properly functioning cooling system does not lose any coolant as the tank hose completes it as a virtually closed system. Even if the level of coolant in the expansion tank rises and falls, the radiator remains full all the time.
[0006] However, initially when heating up an engine power is used to increase the temperature of the coolant. Cooling systems with cabin heater pipes and degasing systems are known from FR 2 317 489 or KR 2010 0024249.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a cooling system which decreases the amount of coolant that needs to be used and thus heated.
[0009] According to the present invention a cooling system for a vehicle engine is provided. The system comprises an expansion tank, a water pump and a radiator, wherein the water pump is connected upstream the engine and downstream the radiator. Further, the engine comprises a second coolant outlet connected to a cabin heater and an air relief valve connected downstream said second coolant outlet and upstream said cabin heater on the cabin heater pipe. The air relief valve is connected to the expansion tank with a degas line, and the expansion tank outlet is connected upstream the water pump.
[0010] Thus, by introducing the air relief valve the coolant in the expansion tank need not be heated under normal conditions. This of course saves fuel. Measurements made on one setup have shown that the fuel consumption is 0.4% lower with a blocked flow in engine deaeration. This does not mean that all flow is blocked, an air relief valve should let gas/air through but stop or at least minimize the flow of coolant through the valve.
[0011] According to the invention, the air relief valve comprises a ball valve. If gas/air is present in the coolant tests have shown that the air leakage is about 50 times greater than compared to the leakage of coolant. Further, the tests have also shown that when there is only coolant left in the system, the valve is tight. The situation with air/gas in the coolant generally arises when coolant is filled into the cooling system which with a normally functioning system is very seldom.
[0012] According to the present invention the air relief valve further comprises a first volume part upstream of the ball holding volume. This volume functions as a "calm room" which catches the gas/air-bubbles. Preferably this first volume of the air relief valve has a cylindrical shape, a major reason being the advantage from a production point of view. Further, the length of the first volume is between 5 and 15 mm and also is to have the diameter of the first volume between 5 and 10 mm.
[0013] According to a further aspect of the invention the ball in the ball valve is a steel ball. One of the advantages is the relatively low cost of steel and another being that it is easy to produce. Preferably, the ball has a diameter between 2 and 5 mm and more preferably the ball has a diameter between 2,5 and 3,5 mm.
[0014] The ball valve holding the ball has according to the present invention a cylinder shaped part with a diameter between 5 and 10 mm. Further, the volume holding the ball has according to yet another aspect of the present invention a length between 5 and 60 mm.
[0015] According to the present invention the opening between the first volume and the ball holding volume has a diameter between 1 and 4 mm.
[0016] Preferably, the housing of the air relief valve is made of a plastic material. Using a plastic material is beneficial from both a cost perspective and from a manufacturing point of view.
[0017] According to a further aspect of the present invention the opening in the cabin heater pipe for the air relief valve has a diameter between 6 and 11 mm.
[0018] Also according to the invention is that the air relief valve is arranged perpendicular to the flow in the cabin heater pipe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0019] The cooling system according to the present invention is explained below in more detail with reference to the figures.
Figure 1 is a cross section of an air relief valve according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic layout of an engine with a cooling system according to the present invention.
DISCLOSURE OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The cooling system according to the present invention will be explained with reference made to the enclosed figures. The examples are chosen in order to facilitate the reading and understanding of the invention.
[0021] Figure 1 is a cross section of an air relief valve 7 arranged on a cabin heater pipe 8 and further connected downstream to a degas line 9. The air relief valve 7 comprises a ball valve part 11 and upstream the ball valve 11 a calm room 12. Gas or air bubbles 17 are caught in the calm room 12 after having flowed through an opening in the cabin heater pipe 8. In one embodiment the diameter of the opening in the cabin heater pipe 8 is 8,5 mm as well as the diameter of the calm room 12. If present, the bubbles 17 flows through the length of the calm room 12 which in one embodiment is 10 mm and thereafter passes through an opening 15 with a diameter of 2 mm. The bubbles now enter the ball valve 11 wherein the volume 13 holding the ball 14 has a diameter of 4 mm. The ball 14 is in this case a steel ball with a diameter of 3 mm.
[0022] Figure 2 shows a cooling system for a vehicle engine 1. The system comprises an expansion tank 2, a water pump 3 and a radiator 4, wherein the water pump 3 is connected upstream the engine 1 and downstream the radiator 4. The engine 1 further comprises a second coolant outlet 5 connected to a cabin heater 6 and an air relief valve 7 connected downstream said second coolant outlet 5 and upstream said cabin heater 6 on the cabin heater pipe 8. The air relief valve 7 is connected to the expansion tank 2 with a degas line 9 and the expansion tank outlet 10 is connected upstream the water pump 3.
[0023] In figure 2 there is also shown a fuel operated heater 18, a further valve 19 and an electric water pump (start/stop) 20 in connection with the air relief valve 7 and the cabin heater 6. In the engine 1 area there is a turbo 21, oil cooler 22 and thermostat 23 for the oil cooler. Upstream the radiator 4 there is a further thermostat 24 and with the radiator there is shown a sub cooler 25 and charge air cooler 26, the sub cooler further being connected to a transmission oil cooler 27. The thermostat 23 is connected to an electric water pump 28 and then to exhaust gas recirculation 29. In connection with the second coolant outlet 5 there is also a coolant temperature sensor.
[0024] The foregoing is a disclosure of an example practicing the present invention. However, it is apparent that method incorporating modifications and variations will be obvious to one skilled in the art. Inasmuch as the foregoing disclosure is intended to enable one skilled in the art to practice the instant invention, it should not be construed to be limited thereby, but should be construed to include such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims. For instance, the relative dimensions of the ball 14 and the diameter of the ball holding volume 13 could vary.
1. A cooling system for a vehicle engine (1), the system comprising an expansion tank
(2), a water pump (3) and a radiator (4), wherein the water pump (3) is connected
upstream the engine (1) and downstream the radiator (4), where the engine (1) further
comprises a second coolant outlet (5) connected to a cabin heater (6) and an air relief
valve (7) connected downstream said second coolant outlet (5) and upstream said cabin
heater (6) on the cabin heater pipe (8), the air relief valve (7) being connected
to the expansion tank (2) with a degas line (9), the expansion tank outlet (10) being
connected upstream the water pump (3), where the air relief valve (7) comprises a
ball holding volume (13) with a ball valve (11), wherein the air relief valve (7)
further comprises a first volume part (12) upstream of the ball holding volume (13),
where the diameter of the first volume (12) is between 5 and 10 mm and where the opening
(15) between the first volume (12) and the ball holding volume (13) has a diameter
between 1 and 4 mm, wherein the first volume (12) of the air relief valve has a cylindrical
shape, and wherein the air relief valve (7) is arranged perpendicular to the flow
in the cabin heater pipe (8).
2. A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the length of the first volume (12)
is between 5 and 15 mm.
3. A cooling system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ball (14) is a steel
ball.
4. A cooling system according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the ball (14) has
a diameter between 2 and 5 mm.
5. A cooling system according to claim 4, wherein the ball (14) has a diameter between
2,5 and 3,5 mm.
6. A cooling system according to any of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the volume (13) of
the ball valve (7) holding the ball comprises a cylinder shaped part with a diameter
between 2,5 and 6,5 mm.
7. A cooling system according to claim 6, wherein the volume (13) holding the ball (14)
has a length between 5 and 60 mm.
8. A cooling system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the housing (16)
of the air relief valve (7) is made of a plastic material.
9. A cooling system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the opening (17)
in the cabin heater pipe (8) for the air relief valve (7) has a diameter between 6
and 11 mm.
1. Kühlsystem für einen Fahrzeugmotor (1), wobei das System ein Ausdehnungsgefäß (2),
eine Wasserpumpe (3) und einen Kühler (4) umfasst, wobei die Wasserpumpe (3) stromaufwärts
von dem Motor (1) und stromabwärts von dem Kühler (4) angeschlossen ist, wobei der
Motor (1) ferner einen zweiten Kühlmittelauslass (5), der mit einer Fahrgastraumheizung
(6) verbunden ist, und ein Entlüftungsventil (7), das stromabwärts von dem zweiten
Kühlmittelauslass (5) und stromabwärts von der Fahrgastraumheizung (6) an dem Fahrgastraumheizungsrohr
(8) angeschlossen ist, umfasst, wobei das Entlüftungsventil (7) über eine Entgasungsleitung
(9) mit dem Ausdehnungsgefäß (2) verbunden ist, wobei der Ausdehnungsgefäßauslass
(10) stromaufwärts von der Wasserpumpe (3) angeschlossen ist, wobei das Entlüftungsventil
(7) einen eine Kugel enthaltenden Raum (13) mit einem Kugelventil (11) umfasst, wobei
das Entlüftungsventil (7) ferner einen ersten Raumteil (12) stromaufwärts von dem
eine Kugel enthaltenden Raum (13) umfasst, wobei der Durchmesser des ersten Raums
(12) zwischen 5 und 10 mm beträgt und wobei die Öffnung (15) zwischen dem ersten Raum
(12) und dem eine Kugel enthaltenden Raum (13) einen Durchmesser zwischen 1 und 4
mm aufweist, wobei der erste Raum (12) des Entlüftungsventils eine zylindrische Form
aufweist und wobei das Entlüftungsventil (7) rechtwinklig zu dem Strom in dem Fahrgastraumheizungsrohr
(8) angeordnet ist.
2. Kühlsystem nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Länge des ersten Raums (12) zwischen 5 und 15
mm beträgt.
3. Kühlsystem nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, wobei die Kugel (14) eine Stahlkugel ist.
4. Kühlsystem nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei die Kugel (14) einen Durchmesser
zwischen 2 und 5 mm aufweist.
5. Kühlsystem nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Kugel (14) einen Durchmesser zwischen 2,5 und
3,5 mm aufweist.
6. Kühlsystem nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei der Raum (13) des Kugelventils
(7), der die Kugel enthält, einen zylinderförmigen Teil mit einem Durchmesser zwischen
2,5 und 6,5 mm umfasst.
7. Kühlsystem nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Raum (13), der die Kugel (14) enthält, eine
Länge zwischen 5 und 60 mm aufweist.
8. Kühlsystem nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Gehäuse (16) des Entlüftungsventils
(7) aus einem Kunststoffmaterial hergestellt ist.
9. Kühlsystem nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Öffnung (17) in dem
Fahrgastraumheizungsrohr (8) für das Entlüftungsventil (7) einen Durchmesser zwischen
6 und 11 mm aufweist.
1. Système de refroidissement pour un moteur (1) de véhicule, le système comprenant un
réservoir d'expansion (2), une pompe à eau (3) et un radiateur (4), dans lequel la
pompe à eau (3) est raccordée en amont du moteur (1) et en aval du radiateur (4),
dans lequel le moteur (1) comprend en outre une seconde sortie de liquide de refroidissement
(5) raccordée à un dispositif de chauffage de cabine (6) et une soupape de dégagement
d'air (7) raccordée en aval de ladite seconde sortie de liquide de refroidissement
(5) et en amont dudit dispositif de chauffage de cabine (6) sur le tuyau de chauffage
de cabine (8), la soupape de dégagement d'air (7) étant raccordée au réservoir d'expansion
(2) par une conduite de dégazage (9), la sortie (10) du réservoir d'expansion étant
raccordée en amont de la pompe à eau (3), dans lequel la soupape de dégagement d'air
(7) comprend un volume de retenue de bille (13) avec un clapet à bille (11), dans
lequel la soupape de dégagement d'air (7) comprend en outre une première partie de
volume (12) en amont du volume de retenue de bille (13), dans lequel le diamètre du
premier volume (12) est compris entre 5 et 10 mm et dans lequel l'ouverture (15) entre
le premier volume (12) et le volume de retenue de bille (13) présente un diamètre
compris entre 1 et 4 mm, dans lequel le premier volume (12) de la soupape de dégagement
d'air présente une forme cylindrique, et dans lequel la soupape de dégagement d'air
(7) est disposée perpendiculairement à l'écoulement dans le tuyau de chauffage de
cabine (8).
2. Système de refroidissement selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la longueur du premier
volume (12) est comprise entre 5 et 15 mm.
3. Système de refroidissement selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel
la bille (14) est une bille d'acier.
4. Système de refroidissement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel
la bille (14) présente un diamètre compris entre 2 et 5 mm.
5. Système de refroidissement selon la revendication 4, dans lequel la bille (14) présente
un diamètre compris entre 2,5 et 3,5 mm.
6. Système de refroidissement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel
le volume (13) du clapet à bille (7) retenant la bille comprend une partie en forme
de cylindre d'un diamètre compris entre 2,5 et 6,5 mm.
7. Système de refroidissement selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le volume (13) retenant
la bille (14) présente une longueur comprise entre 5 et 60 mm.
8. Système de refroidissement selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel le logement (16) de la soupape de dégagement d'air (7) est fait d'un matériau
plastique.
9. Système de refroidissement selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel l'ouverture (17) dans le tuyau de chauffage de cabine (8) pour la soupape
de dégagement d'air (7) présente un diamètre compris entre 6 et 11 mm.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description