FR3033616B1 - MOTOR FLOW ADAPTER VALVE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates mainly to a valve (16) for a motor vehicle heat engine cooling circuit comprising: at least one inlet orifice (28) intended to be connected to a coolant outlet of said engine, at least three outlet ports (29a-29c) intended to be in communication respectively with a first heat exchanger, such as a radiator, a second heat exchanger such as a heater, and a short-circuit conduit, and shutter members (30a-30c) actuated by control means (31a-31c) for selectively opening or closing an associated outlet port (29a-29c), characterized in that said control means (31a-31c) are configured to allow at least two different opening positions of the shutter elements (30a-30c) associated with said first heat exchanger and said short circuit conduit, so as to obtain at least two flow rates of different coolant circulation in said engine, especially when there is a circulation of coolant in the radiator branch.

Description

MOTOR FLOW ADAPTER VALVE

The present invention relates primarily to a motor flow matching valve.

[0002] A heat engine comprises, in a manner known per se, a cooling circuit for evacuating the heat produced by its operation. More specifically, the engine has pipes in its housing and its cylinder head to be traversed by coolant. A discharge pump located upstream of the engine ensures the circulation of the coolant in the engine tubes.

The liquid outlet of the engine is connected to an output housing including a valve as described in FR2955168 and a corresponding temperature measuring device. The valve is in connection with a radiator whose function is to cool the coolant. The radiator has an outlet connected to an inlet of the discharge pump via a liquid inlet manifold and another outlet connected to the inlet of a degassing housing.

The degassing box removes bubbles of gas present in the coolant. Gas bubbles appear in the coolant punctually when the engine is hot or when there is a filling fault or a malfunction of the engine. The degassed coolant is then piped to the coolant inlet manifold.

This inlet manifold also connects an outlet of the valve to an inlet of the discharge pump via a short-circuit conduit which allows short-circuit the radiator.

The valve also comprises a coolant outlet pipe for supplying a coolant heater whose function is to generate heating in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The coolant recovered at the outlet of the heater is returned to the discharge pump via the inlet manifold.

The valves of the state of the art can control the flow of the coolant when the branch of the radiator is closed. However, as shown in FIG. 1, in which the abbreviations Qmot, Qaero, Qcc and Qrad respectively correspond to the flow rate of the motor, the flow rate of the heater, the flow in the short-circuit duct and the flow rate in the radiator, when the branch of the radiator opens, the flow circulating in the engine is maximum. Such a configuration does not allow to reach optimum cooling temperatures of the engine.

The invention aims to effectively overcome this disadvantage by providing a valve for a motor vehicle heat engine cooling circuit comprising: - at least one inlet port intended to be connected to a coolant outlet of said engine thermal, - at least three outlet ports intended to be in communication respectively with a first heat exchanger, such as a radiator, a second heat exchanger such as a heater, and a short-circuit conduit, and - elements d shutter operated by control means for selectively opening or closing an associated outlet port, characterized in that said control means is configured to allow at least two different opening positions of the shutter elements associated with said first heat exchanger and said short-circuit conduit, so as to obtain at least two liquid circulation rates of different cooling in said heat engine especially when there is a circulation of coolant in a branch of the first heat exchanger (the radiator).

The invention thus makes it possible to modify the flow rate and the temperature of the engine during the regulation phase when the radiator branch is open. Controlling the motor flow makes it possible to limit the hydraulic torque of the discharge pump and to keep the combustion chamber wall temperature high in order to limit the friction between the piston rings and the cylinder and to improve the combustion efficiency.

According to one embodiment, the coolant circulation flow rate is selectable according to a control law.

According to one embodiment, said control law is based on a coolant temperature in the exchangers and / or an external temperature and / or an oil temperature and / or a material temperature of the engine estimated or measured heat. The term "material temperature" means the temperature of one of the parts of the engine, for example the cylinder head or the housing.

According to one embodiment, when the temperature or temperatures are lower than one or more thresholds, said control means are configured to allow a low flow rate in said engine particularly when there is a circulation of coolant in a branch comprising the first heat exchanger.

According to one embodiment, when the temperature or temperatures exceed one or more thresholds, said control means are configured to allow a high flow rate in said heat engine especially when there is a circulation of coolant in a branch. having the first heat exchanger.

In one embodiment, the thresholds depend on a load and / or a speed of said engine.

According to one embodiment, said control means are constituted by at least three at least three cam profiles each associated with one of the shutter elements.

In one embodiment, said three cam profiles belong to a single cam.

In one embodiment, said control means are actuated by a single actuator.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle engine cooling circuit comprising a valve as previously defined.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling a valve for a motor vehicle heat engine cooling circuit as defined above, characterized in that said method comprises a step of selecting a position from at least one of two different opening positions of the closure elements associated with said first heat exchanger and said short-circuit conduit, so as to obtain a flow rate of at least two different coolant flow rates in said engine, particularly when there is a circulation of coolant in a branch containing said first heat exchanger.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows and the examination of the figures that accompany it. These figures are given for illustrative but not limiting of the invention.

FIG. 1, already described, is a diagram representing the flows passing through the various elements of the cooling circuit as a function of the angle of the cam of the valve according to the state of the art for an engine speed of the engine. order of 3000 rpm; Figure 2 is a schematic functional representation of a cooling circuit provided with a valve according to the present invention; Figures 3a to 3e are schematic representations of the different positions of a valve according to the present invention during the different phases of operation of the cooling circuit; Figure 4 is a diagram showing the flows through the various elements of the cooling circuit according to the cam angle of the valve according to the present invention for an engine speed of the order of 3000 revolutions per minute.

Identical elements, similar, or the like retain the same reference from one figure to another.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a cooling circuit 10 comprising a delivery pump 11 situated upstream of the heat engine 12 which circulates a cooling liquid, such as a mixture of water and of antifreeze, in the tubes of the engine 12.

The liquid outlet of the engine 12 is connected to an output housing 13 including a valve 16 described in more detail below and a corresponding temperature measuring device 23 (not shown). The outlet housing 13 is in communication with a radiator 17 whose function is to cool this liquid. The radiator 17 has an outlet connected to an inlet of the discharge pump 11 via a coolant inlet manifold 18 and another outlet connected to the inlet of a degassing housing 19.

The degassing box 19 can remove gas bubbles present in the coolant. Gas bubbles appear in the coolant, in particular during a filling fault or during a malfunction of the engine 12. The degassed coolant is then conveyed by means of a pipe to the inlet manifold 18 of the engine. cooling liquid.

This inlet manifold 18 also connects an outlet of the valve 16 to an inlet of the discharge pump 11, via a short-circuit conduit 21 which allows short-circuiting the radiator 17. The closed loop and realized allows the rise in temperature of the liquid flowing in the pump 11, the short-circuit conduit 21, and the housing and / or the cylinder head of the engine 12.

The valve 16 is also connected to a coolant outlet pipe for supplying a heater 22 with coolant whose function is to generate heating in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The coolant recovered at the outlet of the heater 22 is returned to the delivery pump 11 via the inlet manifold 18.

Furthermore, in the case where the vehicle is equipped with a turbocharger type supercharging device 25, the circuit 10 may comprise a dedicated branch 26 provided with an additional pump for discharging the cooling liquid from a water / oil exchanger from the engine 12 to the turbocharger 25 to cool it when the latter is stopped.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3a to 3e, the valve 16 comprises an inlet orifice 28 intended to be connected to a coolant outlet of the heat engine 12, as well as three outlet orifices 29a-29c. intended to be in communication respectively with the heater 22, the short-circuit conduit 21, and the radiator 17.

Shutoff elements 30a-30c each associated with an outlet port 29a-29c are actuated by control means 31 for selectively opening or closing an associated outlet port 29a-29c. Each closure element 30a-30c is movable between at least one opening position in which the closure element 30a-30c allows the circulation of liquid in the associated outlet pipe, and a closing position in which the shutter member 30a-30c bears against a corresponding seat so that the shutter member 30a-30c blocks the flow of fluid.

The control means 31 are constituted by three cam profiles 31a-31c each associated with one of the shutter elements 30a-30c. The three cam profiles 31a-31c belong to a single rotary cam. Alternatively, the three cam profiles 31a-31c each belong to a different cam.

Alternatively, the control means 31 are constituted by the displacement of one or more sliders to ensure axial displacement of the different closure elements 30a-30c relative to their seat. The control means 31a-31c are preferably actuated by a single actuator 32.

The operation of the cooling circuit 10 is described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

In a so-called preheating phase PO, all the shutter elements 30a-30c are initially in the closed position as shown in Figure 3a. The shutter member 30a associated with the heater 22 is then opened as shown in Figure 3b to create a first coolant loop. The corresponding flow Qaéro then increases progressively inside the heater 22 to reach a maximum value (see Figure 4). The shutter element 30b associated with the short-circuit conduit 21 is then opened as shown in FIG. 3c to create a second coolant loop. The corresponding flow Qcc then increases progressively inside the short-circuit conduit 21 to reach a floor value.

Following the increase in temperature of the coolant, the shutter member 30c associated with the radiator 17 opens to allow the circulation of liquid within the circulation branch having the radiator 17 and the element 18 (inlet manifold), and if necessary the degassing housing 19 to loop back to the motor 12. This allows to take calories from the coolant. Then enters the temperature control phases P1, P1 '.

The coolant flow rate in the engine 12 is selected according to a control law. This control law is based on a coolant temperature in the exchangers 17, 22 and / or an external temperature and / or an oil temperature and / or an engine material temperature 12 estimated or measured.

More specifically, when the temperature or temperatures exceed one or more thresholds, the control means 31a-31c are configured to allow a high flow rate in the heat engine 12 (see phase P1). In this case, the control means 31a-31c are moved in rotation, so that the closure elements 30b and 30c respectively associated with the short-circuit conduit 21 and the radiator 17 are in a position of large opening while the shutter member 30a associated with the heater 22 remains in an open position, as shown in Figure 3d.

When the temperature or temperatures are lower than one or more thresholds, the control means 31a-31c are configured to allow a low flow rate in the engine 12 (see phase P1 '). In this case, the control means 31a-31c are moved, so that the shutter elements 30b and 30c respectively associated with the short-circuit conduit 21 and the radiator 17 are in a position of small opening, while the 30a shutter member associated with the heater 22 remains in an open position, as shown in Figure 3e.

The temperature thresholds considered depend preferably on a load and / or a speed of the heat engine 12.

Once the control phases P1, P1 'are completed, the control means 31a-31c are moved, so that the shutter elements 30a, 30b, and 30c pass into their closed position, which corresponds to the configuration of Figure 3a. The Qmot, Qaero, Qrad, and Qcc rates then decrease gradually to reach a zero value (see phase P2). This phase does not necessarily exist, the shape of the cam makes it possible to have this circulation but is not necessarily to be used during the conditions of life of the engine.

Claims (10)

A valve (16) for a motor vehicle heat engine cooling circuit (10) comprising: at least one inlet port (28) for connection to a coolant outlet of said engine ( At least three outlet openings (29a-29c) intended to communicate with a first heat exchanger (17), such as a radiator, a second heat exchanger such as a heater (22), and a short-circuit conduit (21), and - shut-off elements (30a-30c) actuated by control means (31a-31c) for selectively opening or closing an associated output port (29a-29c), characterized in that said control means (31a-31c) are configured to allow at least two different opening positions of the shutter members (30a-30c) associated with said first heat exchanger (17) and said short circuit conduit ( 21), so as to obtain at least two flow rates of different coolant circulation in said engine (12). 2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the coolant flow rate is selectable according to a control law. Valve according to claim 2, characterized in that said control law is based on a coolant temperature in the exchangers (17, 22) and / or an outside temperature and / or an oil temperature and / or a material temperature of the engine (12) estimated or measured. 4. Valve according to claim 3, characterized in that when the temperature or temperatures are lower than one or more thresholds, said control means (31a-31c) are configured to allow a low flow rate in said engine (12) , especially when there is a circulation of coolant in a branch having the first heat exchanger. 5. Valve according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that when the temperature or temperatures exceed one or more thresholds, said control means (31a-31c) are configured to allow a high flow rate in said engine (12) , especially when there is a circulation of coolant in a branch having the first heat exchanger. 6. Valve according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said thresholds depend on a load and / or a speed of said engine (12). 7. Valve according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said control means (31) consist of at least at least three cam profiles (31a-31c) each associated with one of the closure elements (30a-30c). 8. Valve according to claim 7, characterized in that said three cam profiles (31a-31c) belong to a single cam. 9. A motor vehicle heat engine cooling system (12) having a valve (16) as defined in any one of the preceding claims. 10. A method for controlling a valve (16) for a motor vehicle heat engine cooling circuit (12) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said method comprises a step of selecting a position among at least two different opening positions of the closure elements (30a-30c) associated with said first heat exchanger (17) and said short-circuit conduit (21), so as to obtain a flow rate among at least two different coolant flow rates in said heat engine (12), especially when there is a circulation of cooling liquid in a branch containing said first heat exchanger (17).