阅读说明：本技术 用于火花点火式发动机的发动机冷却系统和方法 (Engine cooling system and method for spark-ignition engine ) 是由 A.K.佩尔费托 S.C.格克勒 于 2018-05-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：公开了用于差别地冷却内燃发动机的系统、装置和方法。一种冷却系统包括第一冷却回路,所述第一冷却回路被配置成将冷却流体的温度降低到第一温度,其中所述第一冷却回路被配置成将所述冷却流体的第一部分分配到所述发动机的气缸壁和非气缸表面或非燃烧表面。所述冷却系统还包括第二冷却回路,所述第二冷却回路被配置成将所述冷却流体的剩余或第二部分的温度降低到低于所述第一温度的第二温度,其中所述第二冷却回路被配置成将所述冷却流体的所述剩余部分分配到所述内燃发动机的一个或多个气缸内的气缸表面或燃烧表面。(Systems, devices, and methods for differentially cooling an internal combustion engine are disclosed. A cooling system includes a first cooling circuit configured to reduce a temperature of a cooling fluid to a first temperature, wherein the first cooling circuit is configured to distribute a first portion of the cooling fluid to a cylinder wall and a non-cylinder surface or a non-combustion surface of the engine. The cooling system further comprises a second cooling circuit configured to reduce the temperature of a remaining or second portion of the cooling fluid to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, wherein the second cooling circuit is configured to distribute the remaining portion of the cooling fluid to a cylinder surface or combustion surface within one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine.)

1. A coolant system for an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:

a first cooling circuit configured to reduce a temperature of a cooling fluid to a first temperature, the first cooling circuit configured to distribute a first portion of the cooling fluid to non-cylinder and/or non-combustion surfaces of the internal combustion engine; and

a second cooling circuit configured to reduce a temperature of a remaining portion of the cooling fluid to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, the second cooling circuit configured to distribute the remaining portion of the cooling fluid onto a cylinder surface or a combustion surface of the internal combustion engine.

2. The coolant system of claim 1, wherein the non-cylinder or non-combustion surface includes one or more engine components not located within a cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

3. The coolant system of claim 1, wherein the cylinder or combustion surface comprises an interior surface within one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine that is not the cylinder wall.

4. The coolant system of claim 3, wherein the cylinder or combustion surface comprises a piston within the one or more cylinders.

5. The coolant system of claim 3, wherein the cylinder or combustion surface comprises a cylinder head.

6. The coolant system of claim 1, wherein the cooling fluid comprises oil.

7. The coolant system of claim 1, wherein the first cooling circuit includes a first heat exchanger.

8. The coolant system of claim 7, wherein the first heat exchanger is an oil cooler.

9. The coolant system of claim 7, wherein the second cooling circuit includes a second heat exchanger.

10. The coolant system of claim 9, wherein the second heat exchanger is an oil cooler.

11. The coolant system of claim 1, wherein the first cooling circuit is connected to a first water circuit configured to reduce the temperature of the cooling fluid.

12. The coolant system of claim 11, wherein the first water circuit includes a first radiator configured to reduce the temperature of the fluid in the first water circuit and to reject heat from the first portion of the cooling fluid.

13. The coolant system of claim 1, wherein the second cooling circuit is connected to a second water circuit configured to reduce the temperature of the remaining portion of the cooling fluid.

14. The coolant system of claim 13, wherein the second water circuit includes a second radiator configured to reduce the temperature of the fluid in the second water circuit and to reject heat from the remainder of the cooling fluid.

15. The coolant system of claim 1, wherein the first temperature of the cooling fluid is between 100 degrees celsius and 130 degrees celsius.

16. The coolant system of claim 1, wherein the second temperature of the remaining portion of the cooling fluid is between 35 degrees celsius and 65 degrees celsius.

17. The coolant system of claim 1, wherein the second temperature of the remaining portion of the cooling fluid is less than 80 degrees celsius.

18. The coolant system of claim 1, wherein the first cooling circuit includes a manifold configured to distribute the first portion of the cooling fluid to the non-cylinder or non-combustion surface and the remaining portion of the cooling fluid to the cylinder or the combustion surface.

19. The coolant system of claim 1, wherein the first and second cooling circuits are connected to a common radiator housing having a radiator section configured to differentially reduce the temperature of the cooling fluid.

20. A method of cooling an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

reducing the cooling fluid in the first cooling circuit to a first temperature;

distributing a first portion of the cooling fluid to non-cylinder and/or non-combustion surfaces of the internal combustion engine;

reducing a remaining portion of the cooling fluid in a second cooling circuit to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature; and is

Distributing the remaining portion of the cooling fluid onto a cylinder surface or a combustion surface of the internal combustion engine.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the non-cylinder or non-combustion surface comprises one or more engine components not located within a cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the cylinder or combustion surface comprises an internal surface other than the cylinder wall within one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the cylinder or combustion surface comprises a piston within the one or more cylinders.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to spark ignition engines and more particularly, but not exclusively, to cooling combustion surfaces of an engine differently than other engine surfaces.

Background

In spark ignition engines, which typically burn fuels that are prone to auto-ignition or knock, combustion system surface temperature is often a key driver of high load engine efficiency and engine load capacity. A single coolant system for an engine typically provides engine coolant having a narrowly controlled temperature range to various surfaces of the engine to be cooled. However, certain surfaces or parts of the engine may function more efficiently at cooler or lower temperatures than other surfaces or parts of the engine. Therefore, cooling all engine surfaces to a narrow temperature range is problematic. Some other problems include: reduced combustion phasing capability, reduced load capacity, and/or reduced engine efficiency, all due to the fact that some engine surfaces and parts may not be cooled efficiently, as compared to the capability that could otherwise be achieved. Accordingly, further improvements in this area of technology are needed to address these and other problems.

Disclosure of Invention

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes unique systems, methods, and/or apparatus for differentially cooling an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, an internal combustion engine includes a coolant system including a first cooling circuit configured to reduce a temperature of a first portion of a cooling fluid to a first temperature, wherein the first cooling circuit is configured to distribute the first portion of the cooling fluid to a non-cylinder or non-combustion surface of the engine. The coolant system further includes a second cooling circuit configured to reduce a temperature of a second portion of the cooling fluid to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature, wherein the second cooling circuit is configured to distribute a remaining portion of the cooling fluid to cylinders or combustion surfaces of the engine.

In some embodiments, the first non-cylinder cooling circuit includes one or more engine components and surfaces that are not part of a combustion surface within a combustion chamber of an engine cylinder and include a cylinder wall surrounding the combustion chamber. The second cylinder cooling circuit includes one or more cylinders, combustion surfaces within the cylinders, and/or cylinder heads (other than the cylinder interior walls) in fluid communication with the combustion reaction within the cylinders, such as piston surfaces, piston rings, crank arms, and the like. In one aspect, the cylinder or combustion surface comprises a cylinder head. In one aspect, each of the one or more cylinders includes a piston and a piston nozzle for expelling a second portion of the cooling fluid into the cylinder or cylinder head and/or against a combustion surface within the combustion chamber. It is contemplated that the cooling fluid comprises oil, but any suitable cooling fluid for cooling combustion surfaces of the engine is contemplated and is not excluded.

In some embodiments, the first cooling circuit comprises a first heat exchanger. In one aspect, the first heat exchanger is an oil cooler. In some embodiments, the second cooling circuit comprises a second heat exchanger. In one aspect, the second heat exchanger is an oil cooler.

In some embodiments, the first cooling circuit is connected to a first water circuit at the first heat exchanger, the first water circuit configured to reduce the temperature of the first portion of the cooling fluid. In one aspect, the first water circuit includes a first radiator configured to reduce the temperature of water in the first water circuit to reject heat in the first portion of the cooling fluid. In some embodiments, the second cooling circuit is connected to a second water circuit at the second heat exchanger, the second water circuit configured to reduce the temperature of the remaining or second portion of the cooling fluid. In one aspect, the second water circuit includes a second radiator configured to reduce the temperature of the water in the second water circuit to reject heat in the remaining or second portion of the cooling fluid. While it is contemplated that the first and second water circuits may include water as the cooling medium, other cooling media are also contemplated, and the use of the term "water" is not intended to be limiting.

In one aspect, the first temperature of the first portion of the cooling fluid is between 100 degrees celsius and 130 degrees celsius. In other aspects, the second temperature of the remaining or second portion of the cooling fluid is between 35 degrees celsius and 65 degrees celsius. In one embodiment, the second temperature of the remaining or second portion of the cooling fluid is less than 80 degrees celsius.

In other embodiments, the first cooling circuit includes a manifold configured to distribute a first portion of the cooling fluid to the non-cylinder cooling circuit and distribute a remaining or second portion of the cooling fluid to the cylinder cooling circuit. In another embodiment, the first and second water circuits are connected to a common radiator housing having separate radiator sections configured to differentially reduce the temperature of the cooling fluid.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method of cooling an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: the method includes the steps of reducing the cooling fluid in the first cooling circuit to a first temperature, distributing a first portion of the cooling fluid to a non-cylinder surface and/or a non-combustion surface of the internal combustion engine, reducing a remaining portion of the cooling fluid in the second cooling circuit to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature, and distributing the remaining portion of the cooling fluid to a cylinder surface or a combustion surface of the internal combustion engine.

In one aspect, the non-cylinder or non-combustion surface includes one or more engine components that are not located within a cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

In another aspect, the cylinder or combustion surface comprises an internal surface other than a cylinder wall within one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine.

In one aspect, the cylinder or combustion surface comprises a piston within one or more cylinders.

This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.

Drawings

The description herein will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a cooling system for an internal combustion engine.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine.

Detailed Description

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of a cooling system 100 of an internal combustion engine 102 that includes one or more cylinders 104 that include one or more combustion surfaces 107 in direct communication with combustion of an air-fuel mixture in the corresponding cylinder 104. The cooling system 100 includes a first or non-cylinder cooling circuit 106 and a second or cylinder cooling circuit 108 connected to one or more cylinders 104 or combustion surfaces 107 or cylinder heads (not shown) through which a cooling fluid passes. The non-cylinder cooling circuit 106 includes one or more engine components that are not cylinders and/or combustion surfaces other than cylinder walls. Some examples of engine components other than cylinders include, for example, engine blocks, engine bearings, turbochargers, cylinder walls, and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems. The cylinder cooling circuit 108 includes one or more cylinders 104, such as the cylinder 200 shown in FIG. 2 and described in more detail below.

The cooling fluid may be any type of fluid suitable for use in an internal combustion engine, such as oil or other lubricant. The cooling system 100 also includes a first cooling circuit 106 and a second cooling circuit 108 fluidly coupled to an oil pan 110 downstream of the engine 102 and the cylinder 104. The sump 110 is configured to receive and collect cooling fluid as a reservoir. The cooling system 100 further includes a pump 112 downstream of the sump 110 and fluidly connected to the sump, wherein the pump 112 is configured to deliver the combined cooling fluid from the first cooling circuit 106 and the second cooling circuit 108 to the first heat exchanger 114.

The first heat exchanger 114 is configured to receive the cooling fluid from the pump 112 at an initial temperature and cool the cooling fluid to a first temperature that is cooler or lower than the initial temperature by dissipating heat. In one embodiment, the first temperature of the cooling fluid is between 100 degrees celsius and 130 degrees celsius. In some embodiments, the first heat exchanger 114 is an oil cooler. In the embodiment shown, the first heat exchanger 114 is connected to a first water circuit 122. The first water circuit 122 includes water (which may also or alternatively be antifreeze or other suitable cooling fluid) that passes through the first heat exchanger 114 and exchanges heat from the cooling fluid to cool the cooling fluid. The first water circuit 122 includes a first radiator 124 that exchanges heat in the water circuit with ambient air to lower the temperature of the water or cooling liquid in the first water circuit 122. In some forms, the first water circuit 122 includes a water pump (not shown) to convey or pump water through the first heat sink 124 for additional heat dissipation. Alternatively, the first radiator 124 may be configured to receive water or cooling liquid from the first water circuit 122 and additional water or cooling liquid from the second cooling circuit 108, as described below.

The first or non-cylinder cooling circuit 106 may also include a manifold 120 configured to divide the cooling fluid into a first portion and a second or remaining portion. The manifold 120 also directs or diverts a first portion of the cooling fluid at the first temperature to the non-cylinder cooling circuit 106 and the remaining portion of the cooling fluid at the first temperature to the second cooling circuit 108. A first portion of the cooling fluid is supplied to the non-cylinder cooling circuit 106 to cool the non-cylinder engine components 102, which may include cylinder walls.

The second or cylinder cooling circuit 108 is fluidly coupled to the manifold 120 and is configured to receive a remaining portion of the cooling fluid at the first temperature from the manifold 120. The second cooling circuit 108 cools or reduces the temperature of the remaining portion of the cooling fluid to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature via a second heat exchanger 126. In one embodiment, the second temperature of the remaining portion of the cooling fluid is between 35 degrees celsius and 65 degrees celsius. In another embodiment, the second temperature of the remaining portion of the cooling fluid is less than 80 degrees celsius.

The second cooling circuit 108 includes a second heat exchanger 126 fluidly coupled to the manifold 120 and in series with the first heat exchanger 114 to receive the remaining portion of the cooling fluid and cool the cooling fluid to a second temperature. In some embodiments, the second heat exchanger 126 is an oil cooler. In some embodiments, the second heat exchanger 126 is fluidly coupled to a second water circuit 130 configured to reduce the temperature of the remaining portion of the cooling fluid. The second water circuit 130 includes a second radiator 132 and water or other suitable cooling fluid that circulates through the second heat exchanger 126 and the second radiator 132 to dissipate heat from the cooling fluid at the first temperature. In other embodiments, the second water circuit 130 is fluidly connected to the first radiator 124 by a branch circuit 134 such that the remainder of the cooling fluid flows to a second or additional section of the first radiator 124 for additional cooling. In this form, the first radiator 124 is bifurcated so that the water or coolant in the second water circuit 134 remains separate and distinct from the water or coolant in the first water circuit 122.

As previously described, the cylinder 104 includes one or more cylinders, such as the cylinder 200 shown in FIG. 2. It should be understood that the cylinder 200 is for illustrative purposes and that other forms of cylinders are within the scope of the present application. The cylinder 200 includes one or more combustion surfaces 202, such as pistons 204 and crank arms, located within a combustion chamber 208. Cylinder 200 also includes a cylinder head. The cylinder 200 includes a piston nozzle 206 configured to inject a remaining or second portion of the cooling fluid from the second cooling circuit 108 onto the combustion surface 202 to cool the combustion surface 202 to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

As a first portion of the cooling fluid passes through the first cooling circuit 106 and the remaining portion of the cooling fluid passes through the second cooling circuit 108, the cooling fluid undergoes a temperature change (the cooling fluid absorbs heat and thus cools the non-cylinder engine component 102 and the cylinder 104 or combustion surface 107). Thereafter, the first portion of the cooling fluid and the remaining portion of the cooling fluid flow to the sump 110 for distribution by the pump 112 through the first and second heat exchangers 114, 126 and through the first and second cooling circuits 106, 108 to repeat the cooling cycle again.

The cooling system 100 is not limited to the components shown. Additional heat exchangers, oil coolers, radiators, pumps, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, etc. may be integrated with the cooling system 100, the first cooling circuit 106, and/or the second cooling circuit 108.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain exemplary embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as "a," "an," "at least one," or "at least a portion" are used, the claims not be limited to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claims. When the language "at least a portion" and/or "a portion" is used, the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.