GB2108262A

GB2108262A - Liquid-cooled i.c. engine

Info

Publication number: GB2108262A
Application number: GB08230290A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Niels Thure Hallin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-10-29
Filing date: 1982-10-22
Publication date: 1983-05-11
Also published as: SE444348B; DK147207C; SE8206125D0; SE8206125L; DE3238919A1; DK147207B; DK477681A; GB2108262B

Abstract

An insulated tank (2) is provided in circuit with the cooling system of a liquid-cooled i.c. engine (1) to receive hot coolant when the engine is stopped, and return it to the engine when the engine is re-started to alleviate problems of cold starts. The tank (2) is divided into two chambers (2', 2'') by a piston (4), and a reversible pump (3) is provided for transferring hot coolant between the engine and the chamber (2'), and cold coolant between the chamber (2'') and the engine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Liquid-cooled i.c. engine The invention relates to liquid-cooled internal combustion engines in which the cylinder block of said engine is provided with ducts for circulating coolant which also passes through an air-cooled heat exchanger.

Cold starts of such engines resuit in high fuel consumption and increased wear and tear, as is well-known.

According to the invention, a liquid-cooled i.c.

engine having a cooling system including ducts in the cylinder block of said engine and an air-cooled heat exchanger, is characterised in that an insulated storage tank is provided to receive hot coolant when the engine is stopped, for subsequent return to the cylinder block.

As long as the coolant in the tank remains warm, the cylinder block can be warmed up by the return before starting the engine, thus alleviating the problem arising from cold starting.

The invention is more particularly described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional view of the storage tank shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows an engine with liquid cooling, the cylinder block 1 of which is provided with a number of (not further shown) ducts for the circulation of coolant, which is directed through an air-cooled heat-exchanger, or radiator. One of the radiator connections is branched via a hose 5' to a reversible pump 3 connected with a first chamber 2' of an insulated storage tank 2. In the storage tank said first chamber 2' is separated from a second chamber 2" by means of a reciprocable piston 4. The second chamber 2" is connected via a hose 5" to a branch of the other radiator connection.

As long as the engine is running the coolant is warming in the cylinder block 1. When the engine is stopped, the pump 3 is activated in such a manner that the hot coolant is directed to the first chamber 2' of the storage tank. This will shift the piston 4, and as a result un-warmed coolant from the second chamber 2" is conveyed to the cylinder block 1.

Before the engine is restarted the pump 3 is activated again, however, with the opposite direction of flow, in such a manner that the coolant from the insulated storage tank 2 is conveyed to the cylinder block 1, while cold liquid is directed from the cylinder block to the storage tank.

In order to avoid heat exchange between the warm and the cold coolant in the two chambers the piston 4 requires appropriate insulation.

The motor of the pump can be stopped by way of terminal switches activated by the piston 4 in the storage tank, or more expediently by a timing relay ensuring that the pump is operating only for a period relative to the volume of the storage tank 2.

1. A liquid-cooled i.c. engine having a cooling system including ducts in the cylinder block of said engine and an air-cooled heat exchanger, characterized in that an insulated storage tank is provided to receive hot coolant when the engine is stopped, for subsequent return to the cylinder block before restarting of the engine.

2. An engine according to Claim 1, provided with a pump for directing said coolant to and from the storage tank.

3. An engine as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the storage tank is divided into two chambers by a reciprocable piston and the chambers are respectively connected via hoses to the cooling ducts of the cylinder block, and the pump is a reversible pump.

4. An engine according to Claim 3 in which the piston is heat-insulated.

5. An i.c. engine substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Liquid-cooled i.c. engine The invention relates to liquid-cooled internal combustion engines in which the cylinder block of said engine is provided with ducts for circulating coolant which also passes through an air-cooled heat exchanger. Cold starts of such engines resuit in high fuel consumption and increased wear and tear, as is well-known. According to the invention, a liquid-cooled i.c. engine having a cooling system including ducts in the cylinder block of said engine and an air-cooled heat exchanger, is characterised in that an insulated storage tank is provided to receive hot coolant when the engine is stopped, for subsequent return to the cylinder block. As long as the coolant in the tank remains warm, the cylinder block can be warmed up by the return before starting the engine, thus alleviating the problem arising from cold starting. The invention is more particularly described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional view of the storage tank shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows an engine with liquid cooling, the cylinder block 1 of which is provided with a number of (not further shown) ducts for the circulation of coolant, which is directed through an air-cooled heat-exchanger, or radiator. One of the radiator connections is branched via a hose 5' to a reversible pump 3 connected with a first chamber 2' of an insulated storage tank 2. In the storage tank said first chamber 2' is separated from a second chamber 2" by means of a reciprocable piston 4. The second chamber 2" is connected via a hose 5" to a branch of the other radiator connection. As long as the engine is running the coolant is warming in the cylinder block 1. When the engine is stopped, the pump 3 is activated in such a manner that the hot coolant is directed to the first chamber 2' of the storage tank. This will shift the piston 4, and as a result un-warmed coolant from the second chamber 2" is conveyed to the cylinder block 1. Before the engine is restarted the pump 3 is activated again, however, with the opposite direction of flow, in such a manner that the coolant from the insulated storage tank 2 is conveyed to the cylinder block 1, while cold liquid is directed from the cylinder block to the storage tank. In order to avoid heat exchange between the warm and the cold coolant in the two chambers the piston 4 requires appropriate insulation. The motor of the pump can be stopped by way of terminal switches activated by the piston 4 in the storage tank, or more expediently by a timing relay ensuring that the pump is operating only for a period relative to the volume of the storage tank 2. CLAIMS

4. An engine according to Claim 3 in which the piston is heat-insulated.