EP2615273A1

EP2615273A1 - Cooling system for an engine

Info

Publication number: EP2615273A1
Application number: EP12150700.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bengt Salekärr; Stefan Sundemo; John Nilsson; Peter Holmblad; Kaj Johansson; Ulf Jonason
Original assignee: Volvo Car Corp
Current assignee: Volvo Car Corp
Priority date: 2012-01-11
Filing date: 2012-01-11
Publication date: 2013-07-17

Abstract

A degas unit (1) for a cooling system circuit in a vehicle engine, the cooling system circuit comprising an expansion tank, a water pump and a radiator, has a housing (2) with an inlet (3) and an outlet (4). The degas unit (1) further comprises a mesh (5) arranged in said housing (2) between the inlet (3) and the outlet (4) allowing for gas to pass through.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a degas unit for a cooling system circuit in a vehicle engine, the cooling system circuit comprising an expansion tank, a water pump and a radiator, wherein the degas unit has a housing with an inlet and an outset. The invention also relates to a cooling system circuit comprising a degas unit.

BACKGROUND

Friction from a vehicle engine's operation results in extremely high temperatures. To avoid the overheating of engines, automakers install cooling systems in automobiles. As larger and more powerful engines are getting manufactured, however, the cooling system technology needed to adapt to the demands of these new engines. In turn, some car-manufacturing companies created new cooling component. A clear example of such is the expansion tank.
An expansion tank is a container that provides extra storage space for the expansion of a coolant, a fluid used to dissipate heat. An expansion tank hose ensures the optimum flow of coolant as it connects the vehicle's radiator with an expansion tank. An expansion tank is sometimes called coolant reservoir or overflow canister.
When engines heat up, the coolant consequently expands. Without the expansion tank, however, the coolant will just flow out of the cooling system and get displaced to the ground. Expansion tank hoses are crucial in engine cooling systems. Without these components, coolant is not delivered to overflow canisters and cooling systems become very ineffective.
Aside from containing the coolant that has expanded with heat, the expansion tank also makes the cooling system more efficient by eliminating the air bubbles from the coolant. Coolant without air bubbles absorbs heat much faster. When the engine is sufficiently cooled, a vacuum in the cooling system sucks back the coolant through the expansion tank hose. A properly functioning cooling system does not lose any coolant as the tank hose completes it as a virtually closed system. Even if the level of coolant in the expansion tank rises and falls, the radiator remains full all the time.
However, initially when heating up an engine power is used to increase the temperature of the coolant.

SUMMARY OF THE INTENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a cooling system which decreases the amount of coolant that needs to be used and thus heated.
A degas unit for a cooling system circuit in a vehicle engine is provided. The cooling system circuit comprising an expansion tank, a water pump and a radiator. The degas unit has a housing with an inlet and an outlet. The degas unit further comprises a mesh arranged in said housing between the inlet and the outlet allowing for gas to pass through. By having a mesh, most of the gas in the coolant will flow through the mesh whilst most of the coolant or at least a reduced amount of coolant will flow through the degas unit.
According to one aspect of the present invention the mesh comprises a fluoropolymer. An example is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. For some systems it might not be desirable to have a too tight a mesh, i.e. a small flow rate of coolant might be desirable.
Preferably the cross section area of the mesh is larger than the cross section area of the inlet. A larger area serves to provide for better degassing, i.e. the gas in the coolant will have a larger contact surface and thus simplify the passing of the gas through the mesh.
The mesh might function as a particle fitter if particles are present in the coolant. Thus, according to further aspect of the present invention the housing comprises two parts. The idea is that the housing could be possible to open in order to replace the mesh or simply to clean the mesh.
According to one possible embodiment of a cooling system circuit with a degas unit according to the above the outlet is connected to the expansion tank in the circuit. For some cooling system circuit constructions it is necessary to have at least a small flow rate from the circuit to the expansion tank.
According to another possible embodiment of a cooling system circuit with a degas unit according to the above the outlet comprises an opening to the ambient air. If no coolant flow rate is desired the mesh could be chosen such that only air/gas can pass through.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The cooling system according to the present invention is explained below in more detail with reference to figure 1 which is a principal sketch of a degas unit according to the present invention in connection with a cooling system circuit.

DISCLOSURE OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The cooling system according to the present invention will be explained with reference made to the enclosed figure. The example is chosen in order to facilitate the reading and understanding of the invention
Figure showy a degas unit 1 for a cooling system circuit in a vehicle engine. The cooling system circuit comprises an expansion tan, a water pump and a radiator (not shown). The degas unit 1 has a housing 2 with an inlet 3 and an outlet 4. The degas unit 1 further comprises a mesh 5 arranged in said housing 2 between the inlet 3 and the outlet 4 allowing for gas to pass through.
As can be seen the cross section area of the mesh 5 is larger than the cross section area of the inlet 3. In the embodiment shown the housing is one single unit, i.e. upon the event that the mesh 5 is clogged with particles the whole unit 1 needs to be replaced.
The inlet 3 of the degas unit 1 is connected to a part 6 of a cooling circuit. The outlet 4 is connected to the expansion tank or degas bottle via a bleeder hose 7.
The foregoing is a disclosure of an example practicing the present invention. However, it is apparent that method incorporating modifications and variations will be obvious to one skilled in the art. Inasmuch as the foregoing disclosure is intended to enable one skilled in the art to practice the instant invention, it should not be construed to be limited thereby, but should be construed to include such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims. For instance, the housing could be made up of two parts. The two parts could for example be screwed together and thereby allowing for disassembling and maintenance.

Claims

A degas unit (1) for a cooling system circuit in a vehicle engine, the cooling system circuit comprising an expansion tank, a water pump and a radiator, wherein the degas unit (1) has a housing (2) with an inlet (3) and an outlet (4),
characterised in
that the degas unit (1) further comprises a mesh (5) arranged in said housing (2) between the inlet (3) and the outlet (4) allowing for gas to pass through.
A degas unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mesh (5) comprises a ftuoropolymer.
A degas unit (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cross section area of the mesh (5) is larger than the cross section area of the inlet (3).
A degas unit (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (2) comprises two parts.
A cooling system circuit comprising a degas unit (1) according to any of the previous claims.
A cooling system circuit according to claim 5, wherein the outlet (4) is connected to the expansion tank.
A cooling system circuit according to claim 5, wherein the outlet (4) comprises an opening to the ambient air,