EP2486255B1 - Cooling system, in particular for an internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cooling system, in particular for an internal combustion engine, according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is known to diesel engine locomotive cooling systems to fill these in a two-stage process. Here, a manual changeover of a valve, after a minimum level is displayed in a sight glass of a surge tank to subsequently fill the surge tank via a direct inflow. Such cooling circuits are out WO88 / 09429 or US5,390,636 known.

It is the object of the invention to provide a cooling system by means of which a simple and user-safe filling can take place.

This object is achieved for an aforementioned cooling system according to the invention with the characterizing features of claim 1. By combining the automatic shut-off with the opening into the lower part of the cooling circuit filling line, the entire filling take place automatically, wherein first the cooling circuit for optimum ventilation from below runs full and is subsequently filled without further intervention by the operator of the expansion tank on the compensation line. Upon reaching a predetermined level in the expansion tank, the filling line is then automatically shut off.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the shut-off member is designed as a float valve, wherein in particular a float is disposed within the surge tank. Such float valves provide a reliable, low-maintenance and especially purely mechanical solution to an automatic shut-off of the filling during the filling to guaran th. In a preferred development for this purpose the float valve is arranged as a shut-off valve in the filling, wherein the filling line from the float valve to the lower Area of the cooling circuit leads. In a preferred, but not necessary detailed design, the float valve comprises a linearly movable valve slide, wherein the valve slide forms a closure between a float side and a line side of the float valve. As a result, a simple and reliable construction of the float valve is made possible, which are comparable in terms of construction costs, for example, with float valves according to the prior art, in which a direct filling of the expansion tank via the float valve.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the shut-off member is designed as a level controller. The level controller is particularly preferably formed mechanically, so that can be dispensed with a circuit for operating the level controller. In an expedient detailed design of the level controller is arranged on the surge tank, preferably a shuttle line leads from the surge tank to the level controller.

Generally preferred, it is provided to save costs and simplify operation, the total of not more than two manually operated valves are provided, namely exactly one inflow valve and exactly one drain valve. As a result, a required there control valve can be saved compared to the prior art.

In a generally preferred embodiment, the cooling system according to the invention is part of an internal combustion engine of a locomotive.

The cooling system according to the invention advantageously comprises a total amount of coolant of more than 100 liters, in particular of more than 500 liters. With such quantities of coolant, the advantages of the invention are particularly evident due to the long filling times.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below and from the dependent claims.

Fig. 1

zeigt ein Kühlsystem nach dem Stand der Technik.

Fig. 2

zeigt ein Kühlsystem gemäß einem ersten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsbeispiel.

Fig. 3

zeigt eine Schnittansicht eines Schwimmerventils des Ausführungsbeispiels nach Fig. 2.

Fig. 4

zeigt ein Kühlsystem gemäß einem zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsbeispiel.

Hereinafter, several embodiments of the invention will be described and explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

shows a cooling system according to the prior art.

Fig. 2

shows a cooling system according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3

shows a sectional view of a float valve of the embodiment according to Fig. 2 ,

Fig. 4

shows a cooling system according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Cooling system according to the prior art:

This in Fig. 1 Known, known cooling system according to the prior art comprises a cooling circuit 1 ', which is connected to a arranged with respect to gravity above the expansion tank 2' by means of a compensation line 3 '.

A filling line 4 'leads from an Anschuss, in whose area a manually operable inflow valve 5' is provided in the form of a ball valve, to a 2-way valve 6 '. Depending on the position of the 2-way valve 6 'to be filled refrigerant is passed into a first branch a or b in a second branch, wherein the first branch a in a lower region or sump of the cooling circuit 1' opens. The second branch b opens via a float valve 7 'in an upper region of the surge tank 2', wherein in the region of the confluence a drain valve 8 'is provided. Furthermore, in the surge tank 2 'also a sight glass 2a' is provided.

• Zunächst wird mittels des 2-Wege-Ventils 6' der Zweig a eingestellt und das Zuflussventil 5' geöffnet. Unter Entlüftung des Kühlkreises strömt Kühlmittel durch den unteren Bereich des Kühlkreises 1' ein, bis eine Bedienperson Kühlmittel im Schauglas 2a' erblickt (untere gestrichelte Linie), also nach vollständiger Befüllung des Kühlkreises und vor vollständiger Befüllung des Ausgleichsbehälters. Dann wird das Ventil 6' durch die Bedienperson auf den zweiten Zweig b umgestellt, so dass das Kühlmittel durch das Schwimmerventil 7' in den Ausgleichsbehälter 2' strömt. Bei Erreichen des gewünschten Füllstands des Ausgleichsbehälters (obere gestrichelte Linie) schließt das Schwimmerventil 7', so dass eine Überfüllung des Ausgleichsbehälters vermieden wird.

The filling of the cooling system according to the prior art proceeds as follows:

• First, by means of the 2-way valve 6 ', the branch a is set and the inflow valve 5' is opened. With ventilation of the cooling circuit coolant flows through the lower portion of the cooling circuit 1 'until an operator sees coolant in the sight glass 2a' (lower dashed line), ie after complete filling of the cooling circuit and before complete filling of the expansion tank. Then, the valve 6 'is changed by the operator to the second branch b, so that the coolant flows through the float valve 7' in the surge tank 2 '. Upon reaching the desired level of the surge tank (upper dashed line) closes the float valve 7 ', so that overfilling of the surge tank is avoided.

The first embodiment of a cooling system according to the invention Fig. 2 includes in the same arrangement as in the prior art, a cooling circuit 1 with arranged above the expansion tank 2, which is connected via a compensation line 3. Likewise, there is a filling line 4, which can be flowed through in the region of a connection by means of an inflow valve 5 with coolant for filling the cooling system.

In contrast to the prior art, there is no branching of the filling line, but the filling line 4 leads only via an automatic shut-off 7 to its confluence with the lower region of the cooling circuit 1 There is also a drain valve 8 is arranged.

The shut-off member 7 is designed as a float valve, so that the filling line 4 is blocked in dependence on a coolant level (dashed line) in the expansion tank 2. In contrast to the prior art, the coolant can not flow directly through the float valve 7 in the surge tank 2, but arranged within the surge tank 2 float 7a of the float valve 7 serves only as a mechanical filling level sensor actuation of the blocking of the completely outside the surge tank 2 extending filling line 4th

Fig. 3 shows a sketch of a possible, but not necessary realization of such a float valve 7. The float valve 7 is flanged by means of a flange plate 7b at a lateral opening in the expansion tank 2. on the flange plate is a hollow cylindrical passage 7 c, in which a cylindrical valve spool 7 d is received. The valve spool 7 d is connected via a link mechanism 7 e to the float 7 a, so that a lifting of the float 7 a movement of the valve spool 7 e in the closing direction, or in Fig. 3 to the right, causes.

In the fully closed position, an end seal 7f of the valve spool 7d lies in a valve seat 7g, whereby a flow through the float valve from an inlet 7h to an outlet 7i is closed.

The valve spool 7d of the float valve 7 thus forms a closure in each position between the float side or the interior of the expansion tank and the line side or the area of the float valve 7 through which coolant can flow.

• Durch Öffnen des Zuflussventils 5 wird Kühlmittel von unten in den Kühlkreislauf 1 eingeströmt, bis dieser vollständig gefüllt und entlüftet ist. Ohne weitere Maßnahmen strömt dann das Kühlmittel durch die Ausgleichsleitung 3 in den Ausgleichsbehälter 2, bis der Füllstand bzw. der Schwimmer 7a eine Höhe erreicht, in der das Schwimmerventil 7 schließt bzw. die weiterhin in den unteren Bereich des Kühlkreises einmündende Füllleitung 4 versperrt. Ein Überlaufen des Ausgleichsbehälters ist dadurch vermieden. Zuletzt wird das Zuflussventil 5 wieder geschlossen.

The filling according to the first embodiment of the invention proceeds as follows:

• By opening the inflow valve 5 coolant is flowed from below into the cooling circuit 1 until it is completely filled and vented. Without further measures, the coolant then flows through the equalization line 3 into the expansion tank 2 until the level or float 7a reaches a level at which the float valve 7 closes or the filling line 4, which continues to flow into the lower area of the cooling circuit. Overflowing of the expansion tank is thereby avoided. Finally, the inflow valve 5 is closed again.

A comparison of the embodiment according to the invention with the prior art shows that in particular the 2-way valve 6 'is dispensed with. Overall, there are only two manually operated valves, namely the inflow valve 5 and the drain valve. 8

The second embodiment according to the invention Fig. 4 differs from the example Fig. 2 only in that instead of the float valve 7, a mechanical level controller 9 is provided as a concrete formation of the automatic shut-off, by means of which the Fill line 4 is blocked when reaching a predetermined level in the expansion tank. For this purpose, an air-conducting pendulum line 10 leads from the expansion tank to the level controller 9, which is arranged on the outside of the expansion tank.

The level controller 9 may be formed in any known manner. In the present case, the mechanical level controller is shown as a rectangular symbol in which a branch and a gate valve are arranged.

The cooling systems described above are used in diesel engine locomotives, respectively. The filling amount of the cooling circuit 1 is typically about 700 l, the reservoir having a capacity of about 140 l.

Claims (9)

1. Cooling system, in particular for an internal combustion engine, comprising
   a cooling circuit (1) for circulating a liquid coolant, and
   an expansion tank (2) connected to the cooling circuit (1) by means of an equalization pipe (3) during operation, said expansion tank being arranged at least partially above the cooling circuit (1),
   wherein a filling pipe (4) is provided for filling the cooling circuit (1), the filling pipe leading from a connection to a lower region of the cooling circuit (1), characterised in that
   the filling pipe (4) can be blocked by an automatic blocking element (7, 9) which automatically blocks the filling pipe (4) when a predetermined level in the expansion tank (2) has been reached.
2. Cooling system according to claim 1, characterised in that the blocking element (7) is formed as a float valve, wherein in particular one float (7a) is arranged inside the expansion tank (2).
3. Cooling system according to claim 2, characterised in that the float valve (7) is arranged as blocking valve in the filling pipe (4), wherein the filling pipe (4) leads from the float valve (7) to the lower region of the cooling circuit (1).
4. Cooling system according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the float valve (7) comprises a linearly movable valve slide (7d), wherein the valve slide (7d) forms a closure between a float side and a line side of the float valve (7).
5. Cooling system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the blocking element (9) is in particular formed as a mechanical level controller.
6. Cooling system according to claim 5, characterised in that the level controller (9) is arranged on the expansion tank (2), wherein in particular a reciprocation line (10) leads from the expansion tank (2) to the level controller (9).
7. Cooling system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that in total not more than two manually operable valves (5, 8) are provided, i.e. exactly one inlet valve (5) and exactly one drain valve (8).
8. Cooling system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cooling system is part of an internal combustion engine of a locomotive.
9. Cooling system according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the total amount of the coolant is more than 100 litres, in particular more than 500 litres.

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