Cooling circuit of a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a cooling circuit of a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine having a coolant pump, an electrical mixing valve, a radiator, a heater and transmission oil heat exchangers.

[0002] Page 156 of the text book Braess/Seiffert: Vieweg Handbuch Kraftfahrzeugtechnik; 1st Edition; October 2000, shows a cooling circuit which is customary for motor vehicles, and which includes a main cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine including a mixing valve (thermostat), a radiator and a coolant pump. The coolant is pumped into the internal combustion engine by the coolant pump, takes up heat in the internal combustion engine, and, at the thermostat, is returned to the internal combustion engine if the coolant is still cool, or the coolant is conducted through the radiator in order to dissipate heat if the coolant is hot. Then, the coolant flows back to the internal combustion engine. The position of the thermostat in the circuit is upstream or downstream of the radiator. In addition, there are also one or more sub-circuits with a heater for heating the interior of the vehicle, an oil-water heat exchanger for heating the engine oil of the internal combustion engine during cold operating states and/or cooling the engine oil during hot operating states. In addition, the sub-circuit may also include a heat exchanger for the transmission oil, a cooler for the exhaust-gas re-circulation and, under certain circumstances, also a charge air cooler. Moreover, it is known to electrically actuate the mixing valve (thermostat).

[0003] It is the object of the present invention to provide a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine with a transmission of a motor vehicle by which the fuel consumption and the exhaust emissions of the motor vehicle are reduced during operation, in particular during the engine warm-up phase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In a cooling circuit of a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle having a coolant pump, an electrical mixing valve, a radiator, a heater, an engine-oil heat exchanger, a transmission-oil cooler with a heat flux from the transmission oil to the ambient air, a transmission-oil heat exchanger providing for a heat flux between the transmission oil and the cooling water and being arranged in parallel flow circuit with the transmission-oil cooler, and an actuator for controlling the oil flow distribution, an electrical mixing valve is arranged between the transmission-oil cooler and the transmission-oil heat exchanger, such that the heat transfer in the transmission-oil heat exchanger can be controlled by the electrical mixing valve by controlling the coolant flow through the transmission oil heat exchanger and the radiator.

[0005] By means of the actuator, the oil flow of the transmission is distributed as a function of the quantity and direction of the heat flux in the oil. If the transmission oil is cold, the whole oil flow is conducted through the transmission-oil heat exchanger, so that the transmission oil is heated by the engine-cooling water. Rapid heating of the transmission oil reduces the friction in the transmission and therefore the overall fuel consumption of the motor vehicle. When the transmission oil is hot, the transmission oil is passed to the transmission-oil cooler, by switching over the actuator, in order to dissipate the heat to the environment and to prevent overheating of the oil. If the transmission oil is hotter than the engine oil, as it may occur, for example, during prolonged periods of driving downhill, the actuator is used to direct the transmission oil flow to the transmission-oil heat exchanger, in order to control the temperature of the engine oil.

[0006] Moreover, the heat transfer in the transmission-oil heat exchanger can be controlled by the fact that the cooling-water stream through the transmission-oil heat exchanger can be controlled by means of the electric mixing valve. Controlling the cooling-water flow through the transmission-oil heat exchanger allows better matching of the heat transfer from the transmission oil to the cooling water or vice versa, since, by setting different quantitative flows of cooling water with an approximately constant quantitative flow of transmission oil, it is possible to set the required heat transfer to the cooling water without dissipating heat to the environment via the transmission-oil cooler.

[0007] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the actuator is controlled as a function of various operating parameters, such as ambient temperature, cooling-water temperature, driving speed or engine speed. This makes it possible to control the heat transfer as required.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the actuator is controlled as a function of the temperature of the transmission oil. The actuator may simply be controlled as a function of temperature, for example, by means of a temperature-dependent expansion regulator (thermostat). This is a simple and inexpensive option for implementing the actuator for transmission-oil distribution.

[0009] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuator can be controlled by a control unit. If a plurality of parameters are to be included in the control characteristic, it is advantageous for them to be controlled jointly by a common control unit. This allows regulation on the basis of a parameter-dependent characteristic diagram, in order to allow heat transfer which is optimized with regard to consumption and emissions of the motor vehicle.

[0010] In a favorable embodiment of the invention, the actuator is arranged downstream of the transmission-oil cooler and the transmission-oil heat exchanger. In this case, the actuator is arranged at the point at which the two partial streams from the transmission-oil cooler and the transmission-oil heat exchanger join to form a common oil return line. Arranging the actuator downstream of the heat-releasing or heat-absorbing components allows good regulation, known as output regulation, of the transmission-oil temperature, since the actual temperature of the oil flowing back can be accurately controlled.

[0011] As an alternative hereto, an embodiment of the invention with the actuator upstream of the branch to the transmission-oil cooler and transmission-oil heat exchanger is possible. This embodiment is known as input regulation and, although having a slightly lower regulation quality than output regulation, offers a variant, which may be required under certain circumstances for reasons of lack of installation space.

[0012] In a further favorable embodiment of the invention, the cooling-water side of the transmission-oil heat exchanger is connected in parallel with the radiator. In this embodiment the transmission-oil heat exchanger is arranged in what is known as the short-circuit line between the electrical mixing valve and the coolant pump. This short-circuit line is already present in the cooling-water circuit, and therefore no additional structural outlay is required. The electrical mixing valve allows the cooling-water flow in the transmission-oil heat exchanger to be controlled in addition to the oil flow. With this arrangement, it is possible, for example in the warm-up phase, to direct all the cooling-water through the transmission-oil heat exchanger, in order to provide for rapid heating of the transmission oil.

[0013] In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the cooling-water side of the transmission-oil heat exchanger is connected in series with the heater in a sub-circuit. An engine-oil heat exchanger may be connected in parallel or in series with the transmission-oil heat exchanger. With this arrangement, the transmission oil can be at least partially heated even when the short-circuit cycle is completely closed during the starting phase of the internal combustion engine. Even in the cold-start phase, some—although under certain circumstances only a very small amount—of the cooling water flows through the heating circuit. This allows heat transfer from the heated cooling water to the engine oil and the transmission oil, so that the friction in the internal combustion engine and in the transmission is reduced by the heated oil.

[0014] Further features and combinations of features will become apparent from the following description of the invention on the basis of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]
FIG. 1 shows a cooling circuit diagram of an internal combustion engine with a transmission-oil heat exchanger, which is connected in parallel with the radiator,

[0016]
FIG. 2 shows a cooling circuit diagram of an internal combustion engine with a transmission-oil heat exchanger, which is connected in parallel with the radiator and through which cooling water from the heater circuit flows,

[0017]
FIG. 3 shows a cooling circuit diagram of an internal combustion engine with a transmission-oil heat exchanger, which is connected in parallel with the engine-oil heat exchanger in the heater circuit, and

[0018]
FIG. 4 shows a cooling circuit diagram of an internal combustion engine with a transmission-oil heat exchanger, which is arranged downstream of the engine-oil heat exchanger in the heater circuit.

[0019]
FIG. 1 depicts a cooling circuit 1 of an internal combustion engine 2a, 2b with a transmission 3 in a motor vehicle (not shown). The cooling water flows from the engine block 2a of the internal combustion engine via the cylinder head 2b and the coolant feed line 4 to the electrical mixing valve 5. From the electrical mixing valve 5, the cooling water, depending on the position of the electrical mixing valve, flows either via the radiator 6 and the transmission-oil cooler 7 or in the short-circuit cycle 8 through the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 to the water pump 10. The water pump 10 is mechanically or electrically driven and is designed to be switchable. From there, the cooling water is pumped through the return line 11 to the engine block 2a. Furthermore, the cooling circuit 1 also comprises a heating circuit 12, which

[0020] branches off in the cylinder head 2b or from the coolant feed line 4,

[0021] extends through an EGR cooler 13 for exhaust gas which is to be re-circulated,

[0022] a heater 14 for the vehicle heating system,

[0023] an optional electrical additional water pump 15,

[0024] an engine-oil heat exchanger 16 and

[0025] the water pump 10.

[0026] A bypass line 20 may be provided for bypassing the heater 14, at high outside temperatures at which heating of the passenger compartment is not required.

[0027] The transmission oil flows in a transmission-oil circuit including a feed line 17 and is directed to the transmission-oil cooler 7 and/or the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9. After passing through these two elements, the oil flows are combined in the actuator 18 and flow back to the transmission 3 in the transmission-oil return line 19.

[0028] By adjustment of the electrical mixing valve 5, the actuator 18, the water pump 10 and the additional electrical water pump 15, different cooling-water and transmission-oil flows can be provided as a function of the operating state of the internal combustion engine 1 and of the transmission 3. There are the following operating states: the internal combustion engine 1 and the transmission 3 are cold, i.e. the internal combustion engine and the transmission are in a state, which immediately follows a cold start. In this operating state, the cooling water is stationary or only flows with a low volumetric flow, set in motion by the water pump 10 or the electrical additional water pump 15. At the start, the electrical mixing valve 5 is completely closed, and a flow of water only takes place via the heating circuit 12 if the electrical additional pump 15 is switched on. Heat from the cooling water, of which there is only a small amount, is dissipated via the heater 14 to the vehicle interior and via the engine-oil heat exchanger 16 to the engine oil. The actuator 18 is positioned in such a way that there is a flow through the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9. Since there is no cooling water flowing through the closed electrical mixing valve 5, there is no heat transfer taking place in the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9, i.e. there is a transmission-oil short circuit and the oil does not become colder.

[0029] If the internal combustion engine 2a, 2b is already warm but the transmission 3 is still cold, it is advantageous for the overall efficiency of the vehicle if the transmission oil is heated quickly using waste heat from the internal combustion engine, in order to reduce the friction by the transmission oil, which has a lower viscosity. In this case, the water pump 10 is set in operation and the electrical mixing valve 5 opens the short-circuit cycle 8, so that hot cooling water flows through the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9. The electrical mixing valve 5 is only opened sufficiently for enough cooling water to flow through the heating circuit 12 to supply the heater 14 and the engine-oil heat exchanger 16 with heat, while the remaining cooling water flows through the short-circuit cycle 8. The actuator 9 is set in such a way that the transmission oil flows through the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9. In this way, during the cold start, the various heat-absorbing locations in the cooling circuit are supplied with heat according to their heat consumption but also according to their priority. For example, the internal combustion engine for functional reasons, and the vehicle heater for comfort reasons, are preferentially supplied with heat rather than the transmission, which, during a cold start is briefly operated with a higher level of friction on account of the cooler oil. Once the engine oil is hot but the transmission oil is still cold, the cooling-water flow through the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 is increased by the electrical mixing valve 5, and in this way the heat transfer to the transmission oil is increased.

[0030] As the cooling-water temperature rises, the electrical mixing valve 5 opens the cooling circuit via the radiator 6, in order not to allow the cooling water to become too hot, but the short-circuit cycle 8 through the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 continues to remain at least partially open, in order to allow heat transfer to the transmission oil.

[0031] When, or just before, the maximum permissible temperature of the transmission oil is reached, the actuator 18 switches over, and the transmission oil flows through the transmission-oil cooler 7, where it is cooled. The electrical mixing valve 5 directs all the cooling water to the radiator 6.

[0032] If the engine oil cools down and the transmission oil is still in the region of the maximum permissible temperature (when driving downhill for prolonged periods in an overrun mode, the internal combustion engine 2a, 2b cools down and the transmission 3 heats up), it is useful to heat the engine oil using the transmission oil by means of the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9. For this purpose, the electrical mixing valve 5 directs the cooling water in the short-circuit cycle 8 through the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9, through which hot transmission oil flows because of the corresponding position of the actuator 18. In this case, it is necessary for the actuator 18 to be electrically operated by a control unit (not shown). In the other operating states, the actuator 18 may be a thermostat, which reacts only to the transmission-oil temperature, i.e. an optimum cooling-circuit control is equipped with an electrically driven actuator 18, but for a somewhat simpler, less expensive arrangement, a thermostat is used as actuator 18. The actuator may also be arranged upstream of the transmission oil cooler 7 and the heat exchanger 9 as indicated in dashed lines and by the reference numeral 18′.

[0033]
FIG. 2 depicts a cooling circuit 1 of an internal combustion engine 2a, 2b with a transmission 3 in a motor vehicle (not shown). The cooling water flows from the engine block 2a of the internal combustion engine, via the cylinder head 2b and the coolant feed line 4, to the electrical mixing valve 5. From the electrical mixing valve 5, the cooling water, depending on the position of the electrical mixing valve, flows either via the radiator 6 and the transmission-oil cooler 7 or in the short-circuit 8 through the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 to the water pump 10. The water pump 10 is mechanically or electrically driven and is switchable. From there, the cooling water is pumped through the return line 11 to the engine block 2a. Furthermore, the cooling circuit 1 also comprises a heating circuit 12, which

[0034] branches off at the cylinder head 2b or from the coolant feed line 4,

[0035] extends through an EGR cooler 13 for exhaust gas which is to be re-circulated,

[0036] a heater 14 for the vehicle heating,

[0037] an optional electrical additional water pump 15, and

[0038] an engine-oil heat exchanger 16 to the short-circuit 8 upstream of the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9.

[0039] A bypass line 20 may be provided so that the heater 14, can be simply bypassed at high outside temperatures at which heating of the passenger compartment is not required.

[0040] The transmission oil, which is to be cooled is directed via a transmission-oil feed line 17 to the transmission-oil cooler 7 and/or the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9. After passing through these two elements, the oil flows are combined in the actuator 18 and flow back to the transmission 3 in the transmission-oil return line 19.

[0041] Because of the possibility of adjusting the electrical mixing valve 5, the actuator 18, the water pump 10 and the electrical additional water pump 15, different cooling-water and transmission-oil flows can be established as a function of the operating state of the internal combustion engine 1 and of the transmission 3. There are the following operating states: the internal combustion engine 1 and the transmission 3 are cold, i.e. the internal combustion engine and the transmission are in a state, which immediately follows a cold start. In this operating state, the cooling water is stationary or only flows with a low volumetric flow, set in motion by the water pump 10 or the electrical additional water pump 15. At the start, the electrical mixing valve 5 is completely closed, and a flow of water only takes place via the heating circuit 12 if the electrical additional pump 15 is switched on. Heat from the cooling water, of which there is only a small amount, is dissipated via the heater 14 to the vehicle (not shown) and via the engine-oil heat exchanger 16 to the engine oil. The cooling water then flows back via the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 and the water pump 10 to the internal combustion engine 2a, 2b. The sizes and efficiencies of the engine-oil heat exchanger 16 and of the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 are matched to one another in such a way that the transmission-oil heat exchanger only transfers large quantities of heat at relatively high cooling-water volumetric flows. This ensures heating of the engine oil at an earlier time than the heating of the transmission oil.

[0042] In the other operating areas, this arrangement behaves in the same way as the cooling circuit shown in FIG. 1.

[0043]
FIG. 3 diagrammatically depicts a cooling circuit 1 of an internal combustion engine 2a, 2b with a transmission 3 in a motor vehicle (not shown). The cooling water flows from the engine block 2a of the internal combustion engine, via the cylinder head 2b and the coolant feed line 4, to the electrical mixing valve 5. From the electrical mixing valve 5, the cooling water, depending on the position of the electrical mixing valve, flows either via the radiator 6 and the transmission-oil cooler 7 or through the short-circuit 8 to the water pump 10. The water pump 10 is mechanically or electrically driven and is designed to be switchable. From there, the cooling water is pumped through the return line 11 to the engine block 2a. The cooling circuit 1 also comprises a heating circuit 12, which

[0044] branches off at the cylinder head 2b or from the coolant feed line 4,

[0045] leads through an EGR cooler 13 for exhaust gas which is to be recirculated,

[0046] a heater 14 for heating the vehicle (not shown),

[0047] an optional electrical additional water pump 15, and

[0048] a transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 with an engine-oil heat exchanger 16 connected in parallel therewith, to the water pump feed line directly upstream of the water pump 10.

[0049] The water flow to the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 and of the engine-oil heat exchanger 16 with regard to the heat transfer between engine oil and transmission oil, on the one hand, and cooling water, on the other hand, is determined by means of their size and/or efficiencies or by means of an additional actuator 21, which regulates the cooling-water distribution in the heating circuit between the two heat exchangers. The engine-oil temperature is preferably increased by the absorption of heat from the cooling water during a cold start.

[0050] A bypass line 20 may be arranged at the heater 14, for bypassing the heater at high outside temperatures at which heating of the passenger compartment is not required.

[0051] The transmission oil, which is to be cooled, flows via a transmission-oil feed line 17 and is distributed to the transmission-oil cooler 7 and/or the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9. After passing through these two elements, the oil flows are combined in the actuator 18 and returned to the transmission 3 in the transmission-oil return line 19.

[0052] Because of the possibility of adjusting the electrical mixing valve 5, the actuator 18, the water pump 10 and the electrical additional water pump 15, different cooling-water and transmission-oil flows can be provided as a function of the operating state of the internal combustion engine 1 and of the transmission 3. There are the following operating states: the internal combustion engine 1 and the transmission 3 are cold, i.e. the internal combustion engine and the transmission are in a state which immediately follows a cold start. In this operating state, the cooling water is stationary or only flows with a low volumetric flow, set in motion by the water pump 10 or the electrical additional water pump 15. At the start, the electrical mixing valve 5 is completely closed and a flow of water occurs only via the heating circuit 12 if the electrical additional pump 15 is switched on. Heat from the cooling water, of which there is only a small amount, is dissipated via the heater 14 to the vehicle (not shown) and via the engine-oil heat exchanger 16 to the engine oil. As the cooling-water temperature rises, the water flow through the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9, which is connected in parallel with the engine-oil heat exchanger 16, is switched on. At higher cooling-water temperatures heat is dissipated also to the transmission oil. This ensures heating of the engine oil takes place at an earlier time than the heating of the transmission oil.

[0053] As the cooling water is heated further, the electrical mixing valve 5 first opens the short-circuit 8, and as heating continues it then opens the inlet to the radiator 6. However, this takes place to such a small degree that a large quantity of cooling water and therefore a large quantity of heat continues to be pumped through the engine-oil heat exchanger 16 and the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 in the heating circuit 12.

[0054] In the other operating areas, this arrangement behaves in the same way as the cooling circuit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e. all the actuators and switching options are controlled in such a way that the engine oil is heated first, followed by the vehicle interior and the transmission oil, in this order. If the manufacturer has a different priority with regard to comfort or different statutory requirements with regard to emissions during a cold start, a different heating sequence is, of course, also possible. When the vehicle has been heated to its operating temperature, the entire cooling circuit 1 is connected in such a way that the cooling water, the engine oil and the transmission oil are each maintained at their optimum operating temperature.

[0055]
FIG. 4 diagrammatically depicts a cooling circuit 1 of an internal combustion engine 2a, 2b with a transmission 3 in a motor vehicle (not shown). The cooling water flows from the engine block 2a of the internal combustion engine, via the cylinder head 2b and the coolant feed line 4, to the electrical mixing valve 5. From the electrical mixing valve 5, the cooling water, depending on the position of the electrical mixing valve 5, flows either via the radiator 6 and the transmission-oil cooler 7 or the short-circuit 8 to the water pump 10. The water pump 10 is mechanically or electrically driven and is designed to be switchable. From there, the cooling water is pumped through the return line 11 to the engine block 2a. Furthermore, the cooling circuit 1 also comprises a heating circuit 12, which

[0056] branches off at the cylinder head 2b or from the coolant feed line 4,

[0057] extends through an EGR cooler 13 for exhaust gas which is to be recirculated,

[0058] a heater 14 for heating the vehicle (not shown),

[0059] an optional electrical additional water pump 15, and

[0060] an engine-oil heat exchanger 16 having a transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 connected in series therewith, to the pump feed line directly upstream of the water pump 10.

[0061] The water flow to the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 and of the engine-oil heat exchanger 16 with regard to the heat transfer between engine oil and transmission oil, on the one hand, and cooling water, on the other hand, is determined by means of their size and/or efficiencies, the engine-oil temperature preferably being increased by the absorption of heat from the cooling water during a cold start.

[0062] A bypass line 20 which may be arranged at the heater 14 for bypassing the heater 14 at high outside temperatures at which heating of the passenger compartment is not required.

[0063] Furthermore, two bypass lines 22, 23 may be bypassing the engine-oil heat exchanger 16 and the transmission-oil heat exchanger 19. These bypass lines 22, 23 are used when the cooling water, engine oil and transmission oil are hot since then there is no need for heat to be transferred between the media and the flow resistance in the the heat exchangers 9, 16 is avoided.

[0064] The transmission oil which is to be cooled flows via a transmission-oil feed line 17 and is distributed to both the transmission-oil cooler 7 and/or the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9. After passing through these two elements, the oil flows are combined in the actuator 18 and returned to the transmission 3 in the transmission-oil return line 19.

[0065] Because of the possibility of adjusting the electrical mixing valve 5, the actuator 18, the water pump 10 and the electrical additional water pump 15, different cooling-water and transmission-oil flows can be established as a function of the operating state of the internal combustion engine 1 and of the transmission 3. There are the following operating states: the internal combustion engine 1 and the transmission 3 are cold, i.e. the internal combustion engine and the transmission are in a state immediately following a cold start. In this operating state, the cooling water is stationary or only flows with a low volumetric flow set in motion by the water pump 10 or the electrical additional water pump 15. At the start, the electrical mixing valve 5 is completely closed and water flows only through the heating circuit 12 if the electrical additional pump 15 is switched on. Heat from the cooling water, of which there is only a small amount, is dissipated via the heater 14 to the vehicle interior (not shown) and via the engine-oil heat exchanger 16 to the engine oil. As the cooling-water temperature rises, the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9, which is connected in series with the engine-oil heat exchanger 16, transmits heat also to the transmission oil. This ensures that the engine oil is heated at an earlier time than the transmission oil. In this early cold-starting phase, it is possible to bypass the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 via the bypass line 23, in order to heat the engine cooling water and the engine oil even more quickly.

[0066] As the cooling water is heated further, the electrical mixing valve 5 first opens the short-circuit 8, and as heating continues it then opens the inlet to the radiator 6. However, this takes place to such a small degree that a large quantity of cooling water and therefore a large quantity of heat continues to be pumped through the engine-oil heat exchanger 16 and the transmission-oil heat exchanger 9 in the heating circuit 12.

[0067] In the other operating areas, this arrangement behaves in the same way as the cooling circuit shown in FIG. 3, i.e. all the actuators and switching options are controlled in such a way that the engine oil is heated first, followed by the vehicle heating and the transmission oil, in this order. If the manufacturer has a different priority with regard to comfort or different statutory regulations with regard to emissions during a cold start, a different heating sequence is, of course, also possible. When the vehicle has been heated to its operating temperature, the entire cooling circuit 1 is connected in such a way that the cooling water, the engine oil and the transmission oil are all maintained at their optimum operating temperatures.

Cooling circuit of a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine

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