DE102009014048A1 - Heat management module for cooling system of internal combustion engine, has supply connection for cooling water of bypass cycle, where supply connection is arranged at valve housing - Google Patents

Abstract

The heat management module (6) has a supply connection for cooling water of a bypass cycle (3), where the supply connection is arranged at a valve housing. Another supply connection is provided for the cooling water of a cooling cycle (2). A drive unit has a combined rotary-translative drive movement generating rotary sliding piston which uses a change pressure line (7) for front-sided pressure application. The change pressure line is diverted from a cooling system. An independent claim is also included for a cooling system with cooling water pumps.

Description

The The present invention relates to a thermal management module the cooling system of an internal combustion engine with at least a arranged on a valve housing first supply port for Cooling water of a bypass circuit and at least one adjacent second feed connection for cooling water a cooler circuit, depending on the position of one in the valve body housed valve member with a discharge port can be connected, wherein on the valve housing drive means are provided for actuating the valve member. Furthermore the invention also a cooling system, which is such a Thermal management module includes.

A Internal combustion engine usually has two coolant circuits on. This leads a bypass circuit, which also short circuit is called, the internal combustion engine, the cooling water closed again without cooling. In addition, provided Radiator circuit flows through the cooling water previously referred to as a cooler heat exchanger before it is returned to the internal combustion engine. In the heat exchanger is excess Heat dissipated and sent to a secondary Coolant delivered. Both cooling circuits of the internal combustion engine can be switched on simultaneously or shifted in time become. By the targeted distribution of the cooling water flow on both circuits is the internal combustion engine adjusted in the range of the optimum coolant temperature. This is primarily the compliance with the permissible Limit temperatures for engine and transmission ensured. Dar also needs to meet the competing demands with regard to a consumption-optimized warm-up also a rapid Interior climate control are taken into account. In modern cooling systems In the prior art this usually becomes flexible controllable valves, such as an electric coolant pump, their speed is not fixedly coupled to the speed of the crankshaft is, as well as an electrically controllable characteristic thermostat, electric fan and heating valves implemented. This is the design of the cooling system to the aforementioned boundary conditions including a flexible Thermal management possible. By intelligent Thermal management can also be fuel consumption and reduce noise emissions. Especially suitable for it are an externally cooled exhaust gas recirculation as well as the shortening of the warm-up phase due to coolant standstill and a decoupling of thermal masses. By the adaptation the coolant temperature to the present load range of the internal combustion engine with the aid of a thermal management module These goals can be achieved.

The US 4,644,909 discloses such a thermal management module. The thermal management module comprises a valve mechanism with which a radiator circuit and / or a bypass circuit of a cooling system can be switched. This is done by means of an electric motor, which is controlled by an electronic control, the input side evaluates the signal of a cooling water temperature sensor to actuate the valve mechanism depending on the prevailing cooling water temperature, so that the mixing ratio of the cooling water between the two cooling circuits and is set with a predetermined cooling water temperature , The valve mechanism includes a valve spool that performs either a linear or rotational indexing movement. Accordingly, the electric motor drive is designed either as a linear drive, for example in the form of a proportional magnet, or as an electric stepper motor for generating the rotary switching movement.

From the DE 198 49 492 A1 shows another heat management module, which has a valve member for switching a bypass circuit and a radiator circuit of a cooling system. The valve member is designed in this prior art as a rotary valve. The rotary valve is driven by an electric motor, wherein the valve member can bring either in a blocking position for the radiator circuit and the bypass circuit or can bring in an open position between the radiator circuit or the bypass circuit. Moreover, it is also possible to produce a mixed operation by simultaneous connection of the cooler circuit and the bypass circuit with the discharge port in order to realize a heat management within the cooling system by a map-controlled cooling. By selecting a suitable switching position of the valve mechanism optimal coolant temperature is possible for each operating condition of the internal combustion engine, which leads to the aforementioned reduction in fuel consumption and pollutant emissions while sparing the internal combustion engine.

A disadvantage of this prior art, however, affects the electromotive drive of the valve mechanism. For an electric motor drive in a thermal management module, which has a cooling water flowed valve mechanism, it must be a reliable permanent density separation of cooling water flowed through and electrical / mechanical component areas he possible. Otherwise, for example, undesirable coolant flowing over a seal leakage in the area of the electromotive drive means could cause an electrical short circuit or progressive wear there, which leads to the failure of the drive for the thermal management module. Furthermore, the requirements for electromechanical components in vehicle construction with regard to the prevailing ambient conditions in the area of the cooling system usually only by complex structures to realize, which are able to meet the specific higher temperatures, the required sealing properties, the desired power consumption and service life.

So For example, it has already been tried, the electromotive Drive a valve mechanism of a thermal management module in a separate housing accommodate and over to transfer a spur gear to the valve mechanism. By Although the separate housing is a Dichtungsleckagebedingtes Penetration of cooling water into the electric motor drive prevented, however, this requires spatial separation the technical complexity of an additional gear stage for power transmission as well as a fairly large overall Space.

It The object of the present invention is a thermal management module a cooling system for an internal combustion engine to create, which is compact and robust and constructed Reliable in the cooling system with simple technical means operate.

The Task is based on a thermal management module according to the The preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with the characterizing one Characteristics solved. The subsequent dependent ones Claims give advantageous developments of the invention again.

The The invention includes the technical teaching that the drive means for actuating the valve member of a thermal management module a combined rotational translational drive motion generating Rotary push piston, which includes one from the cooling system uses branching supply pressure line for frontal pressurization.

Of the Advantage of the invention is solution especially in that in relation to electromechanical Drives the high power density and robustness of hydraulic Drives is harnessed. The inventive Solution is doing it anyway in the cooling system available hydraulic pressure energy for actuating the Valve member to use. Because the required driving force directly arises on the control element, a permanently pressure-tight executed Transfer of power to the control element accounts. Consequently the system works free of external leakage.

Preferably should the rotary-slide piston to implement the rotational motion component at least one helical groove with non-self-hanging Have slope, the form-fitting with corresponding Pin means cooperates on the part of the valve housing. Of course, it is also conceivable, in the context of a kinematic reversal the rotary slide piston with a screw-shaped pin or thread and the valve housing with corresponding thereto To provide Nutmitteln to the inventive rotary-sliding work movement perform.

By the introduction of the crossed to the longitudinal axis the valve member extending grooves or pins on the outer shell, in which the firmly connected to the valve body, this protrude corresponding guide pin is ensured that the valve member in translational drive, helical against the fixed housing and its connections emotional. As a result, the control path is extended at the same Axialhub what leads to a higher quality of control. Alternatively can with constant control quality of the necessary space be minimized.

to Realization of a possible proportional change the passage cross section of the valve member to change the drive path for the valve member is proposed that the piston is introduced in a flow area and to the screw geometry shape-adapted control openings for coolant flows that overlap with valve body fixed connections. Such control openings extend along a Part of the circumference, preferably approximately in the direction of the helical groove means and act in contrast in approximately circular connections on the part of the valve housing together. Preferably, two are opposite each other arranged on the valve housing supply ports provided, which cooperate with a discharge port, which However, the front side of the valve housing is arranged. The Coolant flows through the valve member in so far Longitudinal direction.

As a result, it is advantageous if the rotary-slide piston as a hollow cylindrical member with a floor separating the flow area from the drive area is trained.

This offers a favorable condition for the fact that the drive range of the rotary-slide piston can be carried out in the manner of a hydraulic piston, which can be acted upon by the associated valve housing-side control chamber with the cooling system pressure. Thus, the non-flow area of the valve member is designed as a hydraulic piston and is the moving part of a hydraulically acting in principle rotary linear motor, which beauf on one side according to the invention function with the control pressure of the coolant circuit strikes the valve member relative to the valve housing moves helically.

in the Cooperation with the hydraulic drive of the valve member is according to a measure improving the invention suggested that opposite to that of the control chamber Hydraulic pressure exerted on the rotary slide piston a spring element acts as a compression spring between the valve housing and the opposite end of the drive range of the rotary-sliding piston is arranged. In other words, it works contrary to the hydraulic pressure, a spring force, which between the valve member and a valve housing side Stop is arranged and so the valve member with pressure-free control chamber returns to the starting position. This is a Emergency running functionality of the valve member given.

To another measure improving the invention we suggested that between the drive area and the flow area the valve member is arranged an elastomeric sealing element. This elastomeric sealing element separates the non-perfused control chamber from the flow-th control space of the rotary slide piston, the inside of the hollow cylindrical member located. To allow a completely leak-free seal, For example, the elastomeric sealing element can be designed as a closed container-shaped Be formed pressure diaphragm with control pressure port. This container-shaped Pressure membrane fills out the control chamber and presses during expansion, the front side against the rotary-sliding piston to the initiate inventive drive motion.

The Direction of movement of the valve member depends in principle the respective pressure conditions at the control pressure connection, which advantageously needs an upstream Directional valve with the pressure side or the suction side of the adapted Cooling water pump is connected. A change in the direction of movement of the Valve member takes place in conjunction with the permanently acting Spring element by switching between pressure and suction side at the control pressure connection through the upstream directional valve.

When such a directional control valve is preferably an electromagnetic actuated push or seat valve with 4/3 valve function, wherein an integrated return spring, the directional control valve in the de-energized State switches to such a preferred position, which is an emergency operation for the heat management module. This preferred position can while the venting position of the directional valve be, which the control chamber is placed in the depressurized state, so due the compression spring acting on the rotary slide piston defined Starting position is taken, in which the control opening the radiator circuit is open and coolant passes the bypass circuit.

The inventive feed pressure line for actuation of the above-described thermal management module goes preferably from the region of the outflow-side connection in the Cooling system integrated cooling water pump off. Because Here, the cooling water pressure in the entire system is still free of pressure drop and thus the largest, so that the interpretation of the Drive for the rotary slide piston based on the prevailing maximum Kühlwas serdrucks can take place. This leaves this dimension as small as possible, which benefits the compactness of the thermal management module.

Further, The measures improving the invention will be described below together with the description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the figures shown in more detail. It shows:

1 a schematic representation of a cooling system of an internal combustion engine with integrated thermal management module,

2 a schematic longitudinal section through the 1 used thermal management module according to a first embodiment, and

3 an alternative embodiment for a rotary sliding piston for a thermal management module.

According to 1 is the cooling system of an internal combustion engine 1 essentially from a cooler circuit 2 and a bypass circuit 3 , The cooler circuit 2 This leads through the internal combustion engine 1 heated cooling water by acting as a heat exchanger cooler 4 , so that after cooling via a downstream coolant pump 5 the cooling water back in the internal combustion engine 1 is available for cooling.

During radiator circuit 2 and bypass circuit 3 usually during normal operation of the internal combustion engine 1 be used, with an adjustment of the desired cooling water temperature via a mixture of both circuits is possible, the bypass circuit 3 especially during the warm-up phase of the internal combustion engine 1 used to bypass the radiator 4 To heat the cooling water as fast as possible near the optimum temperature. The choice between radiator circuit 2 as well as bypass circuit 3 or a mix between the two Circling is done by a thermal management module 6 , For actuating the heat management module 6 is via a branching from the cooling system supply pressure line 7 Pressure removed from the cooling system.

The coolant pump 5 is not flow-controlled and mechanically to the crankshaft speed of the internal combustion engine 1 coupled. A classic thermostat is eliminated because its function completely from the thermal management module 6 is taken over. This is a load-dependent temperature of the internal combustion engine 1 achieved in order to optimize the combustion process, to reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. The temperature specification for the cooling water is provided depending on the load by the engine control unit and by the thermal management module 6 set as actuator.

To 2 includes the thermal management module 6 a valve housing 12 at which a first supply port 9 for the cooling water of the bypass circuit not shown here 3 and another on the valve body 12 arranged second feed connection 8th for the cooling water - also not shown here - cooler circuit 2 is arranged. Depending on the position of the rotary sliding piston 10 trained and inside the valve body 12 arranged valve member are the two supply ports 8th and 9 optionally with a likewise on the valve housing 12 arranged discharge port 11 connectable.

For actuating the rotary slide piston 10 there is a frontal pressurization by the of the feed pressure line 7 removed cooling system pressure in accordance with a directional control valve 13 , The upstream directional valve 13 is work line side with a pilot pressure port 14 on the valve body 12 connected. While pressurizing via the control pressure port 14 the turn-slide piston 10 in which one direction moves, one moves on to the control pressure port 14 opposite end of the valve housing 12 integrated spring element 15 the turn-slide piston 10 in the opposite direction. To realize an emergency function, the electromagnetically actuated directional control valve 13 in de-energized state by return spring 16 switched to a preferred position.

The rotary sliding piston 10 has a helical groove to implement the rotary motion component 17 that form-fit with associated pin means 18 from the valve body 12 interacts. The rotary sliding piston 10 is in principle a hollow cylindrical component with a flow area separating from a drive area bottom 19 , The drive range of the rotary slide piston 10 is designed in the manner of a hydraulic piston, via the associated valve housing-side control chamber 20 via control pressure connection 14 can be acted upon with a coming from the cooling system pressure. For leak-free sealing is the control chamber 20 from a closed, balloon-like container-shaped pressure membrane, namely the elastomeric sealing element 21 , filled out. The sealing element 21 is with the control pressure connection 14 connected.

The 3 shows in isolation the rotary-slide piston used in the embodiment described above 10 , The rotary sliding piston 10 is divided into a flow area 23 and a here on the control chamber side subsequent drive area 24 , Several equidistant from each other along the circumference arranged grooves 17 are here on the part of the drive area 24 in the rotary slide piston 10 brought in. In the flow area 23 on the other hand, there are approximately opposite control openings 22a and 22b for the coolant flows caused by the drive movement of the rotary slide piston 10 in overlap with the - not shown here - valve housing side connections 8th and 9 let bring.

After the in 4 illustrated another embodiment of a rotary-slide piston 10 ' are helical grooves 17 ' in the flow area 23 brought in. In this alternative embodiment, the corresponding pin for this purpose at the appropriate location on the part of the valve housing not shown 12 to arrange.

The The invention is not limited to the two above described embodiments, but also includes Modifications thereof, which of the scope of the following Claims are included. That's the way it is, for example also conceivable, on the part of the rotary sliding piston pin-like or To attach thread-like formations, which in corresponding helical grooves of the valve housing engage, according to the invention rotationally translatory To generate drive movement.

1

Internal combustion engine

2

cooling circuit

3

bypass circuit

4

cooler

5

Cooling water pump

6

Thermal management module

7

Feed pressure line

8th

first supply port

9

second supply port

10

Rotary slide piston

11

exhaust port

12

valve housing

13

way valve

14

Control pressure connection

15

spring element

16

Return spring

17

groove

18

pin means

19

ground

20

control chamber

21

sealing element

22

control port

23

Flow range

24

driving range

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 4644909 [0003]
• - DE 19849492 A1 [0004]

Claims (12)

Thermal management module ( 6 ) of the cooling system of an internal combustion engine ( 1 ) with at least one on a valve housing ( 12 ) arranged first feed terminal ( 8th ) for cooling water of a bypass circuit ( 3 ) and at least one adjacent second feed port ( 9 ) for cooling water of a cooler circuit ( 2 ), which, depending on the position of one in the valve housing ( 12 ) accommodated valve member with a discharge port ( 11 ) are connectable, wherein the valve housing ( 12 ) Drive means are provided for actuation of the valve member, characterized in that the drive means comprise a combined rotationally translational drive motion generating rotary-slide piston ( 10 ) comprising a supply pressure line branching from the cooling system ( 7 ) uses for the front side pressurization. Thermal management module according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary sliding piston ( 10 ) for implementing the rotary motion component at least one helical groove ( 17 ) or journal with non-self-locking pitch, which is positively connected with corresponding journal or groove means ( 18 ) on the part of the valve housing ( 12 ) cooperates. Thermal management module according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary sliding piston ( 10 ) in a flow area ( 23 ) introduced to the screw geometry adjusted control openings ( 22a . 22b ) for coolant flows that extend relative to valve body fixed ports ( 8th . 9 ) in overlap. Thermal management module according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary sliding piston ( 10 ) as a hollow cylindrical member having a flow area ( 23 ) from the drive area ( 24 ) separating soil ( 19 ) is trained. Thermal management module according to claim 3, characterized in that the drive region ( 24 ) of the rotary sliding piston ( 10 ) is designed in the manner of a hydraulic piston, which via the associated valve housing-side control chamber ( 20 ) can be acted upon by the cooling system pressure. Thermal management module according to claim 5, characterized in that opposite to that of the control chamber ( 20 ) on the rotary sliding piston ( 10 ) applied hydraulic pressure a spring element ( 11 ) acting as a compression spring between the valve housing ( 12 ) and the drive area ( 24 ) opposite end of the rotary slide piston ( 10 ) is arranged. Thermal management module according to claim 3, characterized in that between the drive region ( 24 ) and the flow area ( 23 ) of the rotary sliding piston ( 10 ) an elastomeric sealing element ( 21 ) is arranged to the non-flow through control chamber ( 20 ) of a flow-through control space of the rotary-slide piston ( 10 ) to separate. Thermal management module according to claim 7, characterized in that for leakage-free sealing the elastomeric sealing element ( 21 ) as a closed container-shaped pressure diaphragm with control pressure connection ( 14 ) is trained. Thermal management module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for changing the direction of movement of the rotary sliding piston ( 10 ) the control pressure connection ( 14 ) from an upstream directional control valve ( 13 ) is acted upon from whose switching from pressure to suction side a return movement by the force of the spring element ( 15 ) triggers. Thermal management module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upstream directional control valve ( 13 ) is electromagnetically actuated, wherein a return spring ( 16 ) the directional valve ( 13 ) is switched to a preferred position in the de-energized state in order to provide a limp home function for the thermal management module ( 6 ) to accomplish. Cooling system of an internal combustion engine ( 1 ) with at least one cooling circuit ( 2 ) and a bypass circuit ( 3 ), which by coolant pump ( 5 ) and in accordance with a thermal management module ( 6 ) are controllable according to one of the preceding claims. Cooling system according to claim 11, characterized in that the feed pressure line ( 7 ) for actuating the rotary sliding piston ( 10 ) from the region of the outflow-side connection of the cooling water pump integrated in the cooling system ( 5 ).