EP3293380B1 - Internal combustion engine comprising a coolant circuit and terrestrial vehicle comprising said internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Internal combustion engine comprising a coolant circuit and terrestrial vehicle comprising said internal combustion engine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3293380B1
EP3293380B1 EP17190664.7A EP17190664A EP3293380B1 EP 3293380 B1 EP3293380 B1 EP 3293380B1 EP 17190664 A EP17190664 A EP 17190664A EP 3293380 B1 EP3293380 B1 EP 3293380B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coolant
combustion engine
internal combustion
sensor
engine
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Application number
EP17190664.7A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3293380A1 (en
Inventor
Manuel Varwick
Christian Krug
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Iveco Magirus AG
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Iveco Magirus AG
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Publication date
Priority claimed from IT102016000091701A external-priority patent/IT201600091701A1/en
Priority claimed from IT102016000091703A external-priority patent/IT201600091703A1/en
Application filed by Iveco Magirus AG filed Critical Iveco Magirus AG
Publication of EP3293380A1 publication Critical patent/EP3293380A1/en
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Publication of EP3293380B1 publication Critical patent/EP3293380B1/en
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01P—COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01P11/00—Component parts, details, or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01P1/00 - F01P9/00
    • F01P11/14—Indicating devices; Other safety devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01P—COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01P3/00—Liquid cooling
    • F01P2003/001—Cooling liquid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01P—COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01P2025/00—Measuring
    • F01P2025/80—Concentration anti-freeze

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a coolant circuit and land vehicle, preferably industrial vehicles, comprising said internal combustion engine.
  • the quality of coolant of the internal combustion engines is important for save the integrity of the combustion engine itself.
  • glycol is mixed to water to provide freeze protection.
  • the addition of glycol slightly reduces the heat transfer of the water, but in most climates and applications, freeze protection is critical.
  • coolants degrade over time as the ethylene glycol breaks down into primarily glycolic and formic acids. Degradation occurs more quickly in engines operating at higher temperatures or those that allow more air into cooling systems.
  • US2005034510 A1 discloses a Coolant Service Monitoring System (CSMS) utilizing sensors to monitor the pH of the coolant mixture, as well as the DC voltage of the coolant with respect to ground. By monitoring the pH and voltage, the sensors can notify the operator when unsafe coolant conditions are present.
  • CSMS Coolant Service Monitoring System
  • the main object of the present invention is to customize the time interval for replacing coolant for each internal combustion engine.
  • the coolant is tested on an annual basis if it is intended to operate the system for several years between coolant changes, and particularly where the coolant is used in severe applications.
  • a PH sensor PHS is coupled with the coolant circuit C in order to monitor the coolant acidity constantly, namely according to relatively short time intervals.
  • each measurement does not requires the depressurization of the coolant circuit in order to sample the coolant.
  • an internal combustion engine E preferably a Diesel or a spark engine is provided with a coolant circuit where coolant is recirculated by a pump P in order to pass through an external radiator R.
  • the coolant circuit comprises a PH sensor arranged in such a way to sense its acidity.
  • the PH sensor is operationally connected to elaborating means ECU suitable to manage an electric signal produced by said PH sensor and to calculate a PH of coolant and to signal a deterioration of the coolant requiring the replacement thereof with fresh one on the basis of said PH.
  • said signaling is carried out when such electric signal indicates that PH is under a predetermined threshold, for example, 7.
  • the coolant circuit comprises an expansion tank ET, see figures 1 and 2 , and said PH sensor PHS is coupled with said expansion tank so as to have at least its own sensing portion immersed into the coolant.
  • said elaborating means ECU are arranged to calculate a PH value of the coolant when the coolant temperature is under a predetermined upper threshold and preferably within a predetermined temperature range defined by said upper threshold and a lower threshold.
  • a temperature sensor TS is already associated to the cooling circuit for different purposes e.g. to adjust the fuel injection.
  • the temperature sensed by said temperature sensor is also used in order to enable the PH calculation.
  • the pH measurement is carried out only when the coolant temperature falls within a predetermined temperature interval.
  • said elaborating means ECU are arranged to measure a PH value of the coolant when the combustion engine is switched off, preferably the ignition is off and the combustion engine is stationary.
  • the internal combustion engines are provided with an engine speed sensor SS associated to the crankshaft CS of combustion engine.
  • the speed sensed by said speed sensor SS is also used in order to enable the PH calculation.
  • the combustion engine When a land industrial vehicle implements said internal combustion engine, the combustion engine is considered to be stationary when the vehicle, as a whole, is stationary, thus also the ABS sensor can be used in order to determine if the vehicle is stationary.
  • the coolant replacement is customized according to the usage of the engine and, in general, the land vehicle comprising the internal combustion engine. In this way, the maintenance of the combustion engine is more adherent to the real conditions of the coolant.
  • the engine start in inhibited, because it indicates a strong contamination of the coolant that could lead to the irreversible damage of the internal combustion engine.
  • the described invention can be implemented advantageously in a computer program comprising program code means for performing one or more steps of such method, when such program is run on a computer.
  • the patent shall also cover such computer program and the computer-readable medium that comprises a recorded message, such computer-readable medium comprising the program code means for performing one or more steps of such method, when such program is run on a computer.
  • the PH sensor senses the PH of the coolant and elaborating means signal, for example through a lamp in the vehicle instrument panel, a deterioration of the coolant requiring its replacement with fresh one.
  • the calculation of the PH, or equivalently the signaling, can be subordinated to other conditions such as the coolant temperature, the operating condition of the internal combustion engine and its stationary as described above.
  • the elaborating means are also suitable to construe a linear regression on the PH values sensed/calculated in order to estimate the remaining time or range before the coolant deterioration and to show, through a display, for example in the instrument pane, such time (in terms of days or months) or range (in terms of mileage) remaining before said deterioration.
  • said elaborating means can coincide with the engine control unit (ECU) or other electronic control units usually implemented to monitor and control the combustion engine and preferably also its After Treatment System (ATS).
  • ECU engine control unit
  • ATS After Treatment System

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combined Controls Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)

Description

    FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a coolant circuit and land vehicle, preferably industrial vehicles, comprising said internal combustion engine.
    • DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
  • The quality of coolant of the internal combustion engines is important for save the integrity of the combustion engine itself.
  • One-third of heat energy produced by an internal combustion engine is taken away by the coolant. This heat removed by the coolant provides a balance in the overall removal of engine heat that is critical in ensuring that the engine operates properly.
  • Glycol is mixed to water to provide freeze protection. The addition of glycol slightly reduces the heat transfer of the water, but in most climates and applications, freeze protection is critical.
  • In general, coolants degrade over time as the ethylene glycol breaks down into primarily glycolic and formic acids. Degradation occurs more quickly in engines operating at higher temperatures or those that allow more air into cooling systems.
  • However, it is not possible to predict the usage of each specific engine, due to the specific mission to which each industrial vehicle is used, thus an average replacing interval is recommended by the manufacturers.
  • US2005034510 A1 discloses a Coolant Service Monitoring System (CSMS) utilizing sensors to monitor the pH of the coolant mixture, as well as the DC voltage of the coolant with respect to ground. By monitoring the pH and voltage, the sensors can notify the operator when unsafe coolant conditions are present.
  • Other prior art documents that discloses known systems in the art are US2007235458 A1 , US2003173970 A1 , US5094757 A or US2014303831 A1 .
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The main object of the present invention is to customize the time interval for replacing coolant for each internal combustion engine.
  • The aforementioned object is reached by an internal combustion engine and a method as claimed in the appended independent claims.
  • Preferred embodiments of the invention are realized according to the claims dependent or related to the above independent claims.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The invention will become fully clear from the following detailed description, given by way of a mere exemplifying and non limiting example, to be read with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
    • Fig. 1 shows an internal combustion engine provided with a coolant circuit;
    • Fig. 2 shows a detail of the circuit of figure 1 ;
    • Fig. 3 shows a land industrial vehicle comprising the combustion engine of figure 1.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • According to certain practices the coolant is tested on an annual basis if it is intended to operate the system for several years between coolant changes, and particularly where the coolant is used in severe applications.
  • In order to determine the coolant efficiency, one test ensures the PH is still above 7.0. Some coolant technologies can protect as low as PH 6.5, however, it is not good practice to allow a coolant to operate below a PH of, for example, 7.0.
  • However, it is known that certain additives let the coolant to change its acidity in a short time period.
  • Also a coolant based on water and ethylene glycol suffers such a problem.
  • Preferably, a PH sensor PHS is coupled with the coolant circuit C in order to monitor the coolant acidity constantly, namely according to relatively short time intervals.
  • Advantageously, each measurement does not requires the depressurization of the coolant circuit in order to sample the coolant.
  • According to figure 1, an internal combustion engine E, preferably a Diesel or a spark engine is provided with a coolant circuit where coolant is recirculated by a pump P in order to pass through an external radiator R. Advantageously, the coolant circuit comprises a PH sensor arranged in such a way to sense its acidity.
  • The PH sensor is operationally connected to elaborating means ECU suitable to manage an electric signal produced by said PH sensor and to calculate a PH of coolant and to signal a deterioration of the coolant requiring the replacement thereof with fresh one on the basis of said PH.
  • Preferably, said signaling is carried out when such electric signal indicates that PH is under a predetermined threshold, for example, 7.
  • Advantageously, the coolant circuit comprises an expansion tank ET, see figures 1 and 2, and said PH sensor PHS is coupled with said expansion tank so as to have at least its own sensing portion immersed into the coolant.
  • Advantageously, said elaborating means ECU are arranged to calculate a PH value of the coolant when the coolant temperature is under a predetermined upper threshold and preferably within a predetermined temperature range defined by said upper threshold and a lower threshold.
  • Usually a temperature sensor TS is already associated to the cooling circuit for different purposes e.g. to adjust the fuel injection. The temperature sensed by said temperature sensor, is also used in order to enable the PH calculation.
  • In other words, the pH measurement is carried out only when the coolant temperature falls within a predetermined temperature interval.
  • Advantageously, said elaborating means ECU are arranged to measure a PH value of the coolant when the combustion engine is switched off, preferably the ignition is off and the combustion engine is stationary.
  • Usually, the internal combustion engines are provided with an engine speed sensor SS associated to the crankshaft CS of combustion engine. Thus the speed sensed by said speed sensor SS, is also used in order to enable the PH calculation.
  • When a land industrial vehicle implements said internal combustion engine, the combustion engine is considered to be stationary when the vehicle, as a whole, is stationary, thus also the ABS sensor can be used in order to determine if the vehicle is stationary.
  • Thanks to the present invention, the coolant replacement is customized according to the usage of the engine and, in general, the land vehicle comprising the internal combustion engine. In this way, the maintenance of the combustion engine is more adherent to the real conditions of the coolant.
  • Preferably, in case the pH fall under a predetermined threshold, the engine start in inhibited, because it indicates a strong contamination of the coolant that could lead to the irreversible damage of the internal combustion engine.
  • The described invention can be implemented advantageously in a computer program comprising program code means for performing one or more steps of such method, when such program is run on a computer. For this reason, the patent shall also cover such computer program and the computer-readable medium that comprises a recorded message, such computer-readable medium comprising the program code means for performing one or more steps of such method, when such program is run on a computer.
  • Preferably, the PH sensor senses the PH of the coolant and elaborating means signal, for example through a lamp in the vehicle instrument panel, a deterioration of the coolant requiring its replacement with fresh one. The calculation of the PH, or equivalently the signaling, can be subordinated to other conditions such as the coolant temperature, the operating condition of the internal combustion engine and its stationary as described above.
  • Preferably, the elaborating means are also suitable to construe a linear regression on the PH values sensed/calculated in order to estimate the remaining time or range before the coolant deterioration and to show, through a display, for example in the instrument pane, such time (in terms of days or months) or range (in terms of mileage) remaining before said deterioration.
  • It should be understood that said elaborating means can coincide with the engine control unit (ECU) or other electronic control units usually implemented to monitor and control the combustion engine and preferably also its After Treatment System (ATS).
  • It should be understood that all the single features and/or embodiments can be combined between each other. In addition, the features disclosed in the prior art background are introduced only in order to better understand the invention and not as a declaration about the existence of known prior art.
  • Further implementation details will not be described, as the man skilled in the art is able to carry out the invention starting from the teaching of the above description.
  • It is clear that modifications can be made to the internal combustion engine of the invention which do not extend beyond the scope of protection defined by the appended set of claims.

Claims (15)

  1. Internal combustion engine (E) comprising a coolant circuit (C) wherein coolant is recirculated through a pump (P) and wherein a PH sensor (PHS) is arranged in such a way to sense PH thereof and to signal a deterioration of the coolant requiring a replacement thereof with fresh one on the basis of said PH sensed, the internal combustion engine being characterized in that said PH sensor is operationally connected with a control unit, characterized in that the control unit is arranged to manage an electric signal produced by said PH sensor and to calculate said PH value of the coolant, and configured to carry out said calculation only when the coolant temperature is under a predetermined upper threshold.
  2. Engine according to claim 1, wherein said signaling is carried out when such electric signal indicates that PH is under a predetermined threshold.
  3. Engine according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said PH sensor is operationally connected with a control unit, arranged to calculate said PH value of the coolant, and configured to carry out said calculation when the combustion engine is switched off.
  4. Engine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said PH sensor is operationally connected with a control unit, arranged to calculate said PH value of the coolant, and configured to carry out said calculation when the ignition is off and stationary.
  5. Engine according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor (TS) associated with said coolant circuit and/or a speed sensor (SS) associated with a crankshaft (CS) of said internal combustion engine.
  6. Engine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said coolant circuit further comprises an expansion tank (ET) and wherein said PH sensor PHS is coupled with said expansion tank so as to have at least its own sensing portion immersed into the coolant.
  7. Engine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said control unit is programmed to inhibit the engine start when said pH value of the coolant is below a predetermined value.
  8. Engine according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said control unit is an engine control unit (ECU).
  9. Method to determine a coolant replacement in an internal combustion engine according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in comprising the step to manage an electric signal produced by said PH sensor and to calculate a PH of said coolant only when the coolant temperature is under a predetermined threshold or within a temperature range.
  10. Method according to claim 9, comprising said step to calculate a PH of said coolant only when the coolant temperature is under a predetermined threshold or within a temperature range and when the internal combustion engine is switched off.
  11. Method according to any one of claims 9 or 10, comprising said step to calculate a PH of said coolant only when the coolant temperature is under a predetermined threshold or within a temperature range and the ignition is off and/or when the internal combustion engine is stationary.
  12. Method according to any of claims 9 to 11, further comprising the step of acquiring PH values and to construe a linear regression on said PH values in order to estimate a remaining time or range before the coolant deterioration and a consequent step of showing, through a display such time or range remaining before said deterioration.
  13. Vehicle (LV) comprising the internal combustion engine (E) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
  14. Computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to perform all the steps of claim 9 to 12 when said program is run on a computer.
  15. A computer readable medium having a program recorded thereon, said computer readable medium comprising computer program code means adapted to perform all the steps of claim 9 to 12, when said program is run on a computer.
EP17190664.7A 2016-09-12 2017-09-12 Internal combustion engine comprising a coolant circuit and terrestrial vehicle comprising said internal combustion engine Active EP3293380B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102016000091701A IT201600091701A1 (en) 2016-09-12 2016-09-12 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE INCLUDING A REFRIGERATION AND VEHICLE TERRESTRIAL CIRCUIT INCLUDING SUCH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
IT102016000091703A IT201600091703A1 (en) 2016-09-12 2016-09-12 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE INCLUDING A REFRIGERATION AND VEHICLE TERRESTRIAL CIRCUIT INCLUDING SUCH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

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EP3293380A1 EP3293380A1 (en) 2018-03-14
EP3293380B1 true EP3293380B1 (en) 2021-11-03

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EP17190664.7A Active EP3293380B1 (en) 2016-09-12 2017-09-12 Internal combustion engine comprising a coolant circuit and terrestrial vehicle comprising said internal combustion engine

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Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3119866A1 (en) * 2021-02-16 2022-08-19 Valeo Systemes Thermiques Cooling loop, in particular for a motor vehicle, and sensor on board said loop
WO2023223074A1 (en) * 2022-05-17 2023-11-23 Volvo Truck Corporation Active coolant monitoring and leak mitigation in vehicle cooling systems

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5094757A (en) * 1990-05-24 1992-03-10 Radiator Robot, Inc. Radiator cooling system cleaner/refiner
DE10310051A1 (en) * 2002-03-08 2003-10-30 Denso Corp Device and method for detecting oil deterioration
US20050034510A1 (en) * 2003-08-12 2005-02-17 Han Charlie Bun Coolant service monitoring system
US20070235458A1 (en) * 2006-04-10 2007-10-11 Mann & Hummel Gmbh Modular liquid reservoir
US9275500B2 (en) * 2013-04-04 2016-03-01 Hyundai Motor Company System and method for detecting the condition of a coolant in a vehicle

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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