Patent Application
20200182201
This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0155998, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 6, 2018, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler and, in particular embodiments, to an EGR cooler installed at a cylinder block.
An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is a system installed in a vehicle to reduce harmful exhaust gases.
Generally, NOx is increased when the proportion of air in a mixer is high and combustion is good. Therefore, the EGR system is a system for mixing a portion (for example, 5% to 20%) of an exhaust gas discharged from an engine again in the mixer to reduce the amount of oxygen in the mixer and obstruct combustion, thereby suppressing the occurrence of NOx.
Generally, since exhaust gas exhausted from the engine has very high temperature, the EGR system has a EGR cooler in order to reduce temperature of the recirculated exhaust gas.
The related art EGR cooler includes a cooling structure installed inside a separate housing, requires various components such as a nipple, or the like, for connecting a recirculation line through which a recirculating gas flows outside of the housing, and incurs high manufacturing cost of a vehicle due to an increase in length of the recirculation line.
Also, since it is difficult to firmly fix the EGR cooler inside the vehicle, the EGR cooler housing wobbles, while the vehicle is driving, causing excessive vibration.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Embodiments of the present invention can provide an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler having advantages of reducing manufacturing cost of a vehicle.
Embodiments of the present invention can also provide an EGR cooler having advantages of reducing vibration caused as a vehicle is driving.
An EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a cylinder block having a mounting space and having a coolant inlet in which a coolant is flowing into the mounting space and a coolant outlet in which the coolant is exhausted. A cover plate covers the mounting space and forms an exhaust inlet though which the exhaust gas is flow in and an exhaust outlet through which the exhaust gas is exhausted. A plurality of tubes is mounted in the mounting space. The exhaust gas flows in the tubes. In inlet tank is mounted in the mounting space and distributes the exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust inlet of the cover plate to the tubes. An outlet tank is mounted in the mounting space and guides the exhaust gas exhausted from the tubes to the exhaust outlet of the cover plate.
The plurality of tubes may be stacked in left-and-right direction and up-and-down direction. At least one spacer may be formed on the outer surface of the tube to maintain a constant distance between the plurality of tubes.
An inlet header which forms a plurality of tube inlet holes corresponding to the plurality of tube may be interposed between the plurality of tubes and the inlet tank, and the exhaust gas may be distributed to the plurality of tubes from the inlet tank.
An outlet header which forms a plurality of tube outlet holes corresponding to the plurality of tubes may be interposed between the plurality of tubes and the outlet tank, and the exhaust gas may be exhausted to the outlet tank from the plurality of tubes.
An inlet tank hole communicated with the exhaust inlet of the cover plate and a header inlet inserting portion for mounting the inlet header may be formed in the inlet tank.
An header outlet inserting portion for mounting the outlet header and an outlet tank hole communicates with the exhaust outlet of the cover plate may be formed in the outlet tank.
A cover bending portion which is bent to the opposite side of the cylinder block may be formed on the outer side of the cover plate.
Guide protrusions may be formed to guide the flow of the coolant and the guide protrusions may be formed to be protruded toward the mounting space.
Plurality of protrusions may be protruded toward the opposite side of the mounting space in order to prevent noise generated at an engine from being transmitted to the outside.
The EGR cooler may further include a gasket disposed between the cover plate and the cylinder block.
The EGR cooler may further include an inlet pipe installed in the exhaust inlet of the cover plate; and an outlet pipe installed in the exhaust outlet of the cover plate.
The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe may be formed as a bellows shape having a corrugation.
The EGR cooler may further include an inlet flange mounted to the inlet pipe; and an outlet flange mounted to the outlet pipe.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as described above, the cover plate, the inlet tank and the outlet tank manufactured by the pressing process are assembled by welding, thereby simplifying the structure of the EGR cooler and reducing material cost and total weight.
The drawings are used to be referred to in describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, so a technical concept of the present invention should not be meant to restrict the invention to the accompanying drawings.
The following reference numerals can be used in conjunction with the drawings:
The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
In order to clarify the present invention, parts irrespective of description will be omitted, and similar reference numerals are used for the similar parts throughout the specification.
The size and thickness of each element are arbitrarily illustrated in the drawings, and the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity.
First, an engine system to which an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
The engine 20 includes a plurality of combustion chambers 21 for generating power necessary for driving of a vehicle by combustion of fuel, and the engine 20 is connected to an intake line 10 through which an intake gas supplied to the combustion chambers 21 flows and an exhaust line 40 through which an exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chambers 21 flows.
The exhaust line 40 is provided with a catalytic converter 60 for purifying various harmful substances contained in the exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chambers 21. The catalytic converter 60 may include a three-way catalyst (TWC).
The engine system of the present invention may further include a turbocharger 70 for compressing intake air supplied to the combustion chambers 21.
The turbocharger 70 compresses an intake gas (external air+recirculation gas) flowing through the intake line 10 and supplies the compressed air to the combustion chambers 21. The turbocharger 70 includes a turbine 71 provided in the exhaust line 40 and rotated by the exhaust gas discharged from the combustion chambers 21 and a compressor 72 cooperatively rotated with the turbine 71 and compressing the intake gas.
The exhaust gas recirculation apparatus 50 includes an EGR line 52, an EGR cooler 100, and an EGR valve 54.
The EGR line 52 is branched from the exhaust line 40 downstream of the turbine 71 and joins the intake line 10 upstream of the compressor 72. The EGR cooler 100 is disposed at the EGR line and cools the exhaust gas flowing through the EGR line 52. The EGR valve 54 is disposed at a position where the EGR line and the intake line 10 join and regulates the amount of a recirculation gas flowing to the intake line 10. Here, the exhaust gas supplied to the intake line 10 through the recirculation line 52 is called a recirculation gas.
As the exhaust gas recirculation apparatus 50, a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation apparatus will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and may also be applied to a high pressure exhaust gas recirculation apparatus.
Hereinafter, an EGR cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The EGR cooler 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a cover plate 160 covering a mounting space formed in a cylinder block, a plurality of tube 110 mounted in the mounting space, an inlet tank 120 guiding exhaust gas flowing in through the cover plate 160 to the plurality of tube 110, and an outlet tank 130 exhausting exhaust gas exhausted from the plurality of tube 110 to outside of the cover plate 160.
Referring to
Referring to
The tube 110 is formed as a pipe shape having both ends open so that exhaust gas flows therein, and may be formed into a hexahedron or cylinder shape having a long length.
Coolant passages which coolant flowing through the coolant inlet flows are formed between the plurality of tubes 110. That is, the coolant passages may be formed between an inner side of the mounting space and the corresponding tubes 110, between the adjacent tubes 110, and between the cover plate 160 and the corresponding tubes 110.
As shown in
Referring to
A cover bending portion 163, which is bent to the opposite side of the cylinder block, is formed on the outer side of the cover plate 160. The cover bending portion 163 serves to reinforce the rigidity of the cover plate 160.
At the central portion of the cover plate 160, a plurality of protrusions 165 are formed protrude toward the opposite side of the mounting space of the cylinder block. The plurality of protrusions 165 prevent noise generated at the engine from being transmitted to the outside.
In detail, when the coolant flows through the coolant passage formed between the cover plate 160 and the tube 110, a flow rate change occurs by protrusion 165. Therefore, the noise generated when the coolant passes through the coolant passage is reduced, and the noise is not transmitted to the outside.
At both sides of the protrusion 165, guide protrusions 167 are formed to guide the flow of the coolant in the mounting space. The guide protrusions 167 serve to keep the spacing of the coolant passages formed between the cover plate 160 and the tube 110 adjacent to the cover plate 160 uneven. Therefore, the guide protrusions 167 change the pressure of the coolant flowing through the coolant passage formed between the cover plate 160 and the tube 110, thereby the flow rate of the coolant flowing through the coolant passage is changed.
Meanwhile, cover engage holes 169 are formed on the cover plate 160, and block engage holes corresponding to the cover engage holes 169 are formed on the mounting space 31. After the cover plate 160 is seated in the cylinder block, an engage bolt passing through the cover engage hole 169 is screwed into the block engage hole to join the cover plate 160 and the cylinder block.
A gasket 170 is installed between the cover plate 160 and the cylinder block to close and seal the mounting space 31 of the cylinder block 30 with the outside to prevent the coolant flowing in the mounting space from leaking to the outside. Gasket engage holes 172 corresponding to the cover engage hole 169 of the cover plate 160 are formed in the gasket 170.
Exhaust gas that is flowing through the exhaust inlet 161 of the cover plate 160 is distributed to the plurality of tubes 110 through the inlet tank 120. At this time, an inlet header 140 is interposed between the inlet tank 120 and the plurality of tubes 110, and exhaust gas passing through the inlet tank 120 is distributed to a plurality of tubes 110.
The exhaust gas passing through a plurality of tubes 110 is guided by the outlet tank 130 and exhausted to the outside through the exhaust outlet 162 of the cover plate 160. At this time, an outlet header 150 is interposed between the plurality of tubes 110 and the outlet tank 130, and exhaust gas passing through the plurality of tubes 110 is collected in the outlet tank 130.
Referring to
A plurality of tube inlet holes 142 corresponding to the tubes 110 are formed in the inlet header 140, and an inlet header bending portion 144 is formed at an outer portion of the inlet header 140 so as to be inserted into the header inlet inserting portion 124. The plurality of tube inlet holes 142 may be formed in a quadrangle or circular shape depending on the shape of the end of the tube 110. The inlet header bending portion 144 is inserted into the header inlet inserting portion 124 of the inlet tank 120 to assemble the inlet header 140 and the inlet tank 120.
Referring to
The outlet header 150 may have the same shape as the inlet header 140. That is, a plurality of tube outlet hole 152 corresponding to the tubes 110 are formed in the outlet header 150, and an outlet header bending portion is formed at an outer portion of the outlet header 150 so as to be inserted into the header outlet inserting portion 134. The plurality of tube outlet hole 152 may be formed in a quadrangle or circular shape depending on the shape of the end of the tube 110.
The outlet header bending portion 154 is inserted into the header outlet inserting portion 134 of the outlet tank 130 to assemble the outlet header 150 and the outlet tank 130.
In this way, the inlet tank 120 and the outlet tank 130 are formed in the same shape, and the inlet header 140 and the outlet header 150 are formed in the same shape, thereby reducing manufacturing cost.
The EGR line is disposed in the exhaust inlet 161 of the cover plate 160. The EGR line is assembled to an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe through an inlet flange and an outlet flange.
In detail, the inlet pipe 180 of a cylinder shape is fixedly installed in an exhaust inlet 161 of the cover plate 160, and the exhaust pipe 180 of a cylinder shape is fixedly installed at the exhaust outlet 162. The inlet pipe 180 and the outlet pipe 180 can be fixed to the exhaust inlet 161 and the exhaust outlet 162 through a brazing welding.
For this purpose, the inlet pipe 180 and the outlet pipe 180 may have a brazing portion 182 formed at an end thereof extending radially outward (see
The body of the inlet pipe 180 and the outlet pipe 180 may be formed as a bellows shape having a corrugation 184 (see
The inlet pipe 180 and the outlet pipe 180 may be formed in the same shape. Therefore, by using the inlet pipe 180 and the outlet pipe 180 having the same shape, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
An inlet flange 190 and an outlet flange 190 are fixedly mounted to the ends of the inlet pipe 180 and the outlet pipe 180, respectively. The EGR line is fixedly mounted to the inlet flange 190 and the outlet flange 190, respectively. The inlet flange 190 and the outlet flange 190 may be formed in the same shape. Thus, by using inlet flange 190 and outlet flange 190 having the same shape, manufacturing cost can be reduced.
Flange engage holes 192 are formed on both sides of the inlet flange 190 and the outlet flange 190, and the EGR line is assemble through the flange engage hole 192.
Hereinafter, the operation of the EGR cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as described above will be described in detail.
The exhaust gas flowing through the EGR line is flowing into the exhaust inlet 161 of the cover plate 160 via the inlet flange 190 and the inlet pipe 180. Exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust inlet 161 of the cover plate 160 is distributed to the plurality of tubes 110 via an inlet tank 120 and an inlet header 140 and flows through the plurality of tubes 110.
At the same time, a portion of the cooling water which has circulated through a water jacket (not shown) of the cylinder block 30 is introduced to the mounting space 31 through the cooling water inlet 33 formed at the cylinder block 30.
The exhaust gas flowing through the plurality of tube 110 is heat-exchanged with the coolant introduced to the mounting space, and thus, a temperature of the exhaust gas is lowered.
The exhaust gas, which is lowered in temperature by the heat exchange with the coolant, is temporarily collected from the plurality of tubes 110 through the outlet header 150 to the outlet tank 130. The exhaust gas temporarily collected in the outlet tank 130 is exhausted to the EGR line via the outlet pipe 180 and the outlet flange 190 installed on the cover plate 160.
While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2018-0155998 | Dec 2018 | KR | national |
