WO2007093832A1

WO2007093832A1 - Engine fluids temperature maintenance method and the fluids temperature control apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007093832A1
Application number: PCT/GE2006/000008
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zaza Akhmeteli; George Kandelaki
Original assignee: Zaza Akhmeteli; George Kandelaki
Priority date: 2006-02-17
Filing date: 2006-07-18
Publication date: 2007-08-23
Also published as: GEP20074041B

Abstract

Internal-combustion engine fluids temperature maintenance method comprises the pumping out of consequently heated coolant and lubrication fluids from cooling and lubricating systems after an engine stops running, the maintenance process (of fluids and their temperature) is realized by means of drain-pipes (6 and 13) for draining into subsequent systems and into self- contained heat-insulated tanks (4 and 5) connected with flow pipes (7), whereas the lubrication fluid is fed back into relevant system through the temperature maintained lubrication fluid pressure jetting directly over cylinder block.

Description

ENGINE FLUIDS TEMPERATURE MAINTENANCE METHOD AND THE FLUIDS TEMPERATURE CONTROL APPARATUS

The invention belongs to engineering, in particular, to engine modeling and can be used under low temperature conditions for facilitating engine activation, by means of maintaining the temperature of engine coolant and lubrication fluids.

The problem of engines activation under low temperature conditions depends on a number of factors, e.g.: a) Increase of engine activation point that is caused by augmentation of lubrication fluid residue in an engine; b) Reduction of gaps between friction surfaces; c) Worsening of fuel flammability and etc.

The engine fluids temperature mode control apparatus is a common device comprising a pump and a tank, accordingly connected to pipes for inlet and outlet of fluids into/out of an engine, a forcing element and a heat insulated tank (thermos). Besides, the heat insulated tank is placed above the pipe for feeding the engine with fluid; in addition, the apparatus is outfitted with various electrical means, which are essential for its operation, such as time relay, additional pumps, electromagnetic valves and etc [I].

Although, this apparatus is designed for engine heating, its penalty is the feature comprising the maintenance of a temperature mode of engine lubrication fluid (or coolant fluid) only separately and feeding the engine with it by gravity flow as the storage tank is placed above the fluid feed pipe that is an essential condition for operating the given apparatus. In terms of it, it is impossible to achieve complete heating of engine before its activation, as the several essential conditions for operating the apparatus even more complicate its structure, they make dimensions upsized from the perspective they should be placed together in an automobile, and this proves to be unsuitable from the compactness standpoint. The method plus the apparatus for maintaining the temperature mode in the internal-combustion engine is a common device comprising cooling and lubricating systems, piping system for accordingly coolant and lubrication fluids circulation, thermo-accumulator, through maintaining temperature of generated lubrication and coolant fluids whereupon supplying the engine with them. The piping valves system for providing the given fluids with additional heating by means of fuel gases is also utilized in the given apparatus [2].

The penalty of the given apparatus is the complexity of its structure, expressed as multitude of its component elements and units and the complexity of a thermo-accumulator i.e. heat insulation tank as well. Multitude of valves and connection pipes, leading us to augmentation of their interconnection, reduces reliability of the whole apparatus run. This apparatus requires a constant control and regulation, which results in its viability reduction. The internal-combustion engine comprising lubricating system, cooling system, fluid transmission and heat-insulated tank, which is connected with flow pipes, is found as the prototype for the invention. The heat-insulated tank comprises an internal tank enclosing a heat accumulating substance in it. Besides, the tank is divided into several compartments for storing the lubrication and coolant fluids. In addition, the internal tank is outfitted with an electric heater for maintaining the heat-accumulating substance under melted condition.

After the given engine has stopped, the lubrication and coolant fluids are pumped out from it and drained into a special compartment of the heat-insulated tank, wherein they will be stored for a long period. Maintenance of coolant and lubricant fluids temperature is made by means of heat-accumulating substance that is under constant melted condition by means of electric heater and is enclosed in the internal tank [3].

A penalty of the given engine is also the complexity of its structure; in particular, it is additionally outfitted with heated coil, which is conducted in the internal tank for additional heating of coolant fluid, besides, the structure of the heat-insulated tank is itself complex and its overall dimensions are large. Besides, maintenance of lubrication and coolant fluids requires large amount of electricity consumption as it is necessary to keep a heat-accumulation substance under constant melting condition. Based on the complexity of the given apparatus it is impossible to store the coolant and lubrication fluids in tanks separately and to place these tanks in different places, which will create additional problem while placing them in automobiles. The object of the invention is to invent the method and the apparatus for maintaining a temperature mode of internal-combustion engine coolant and lubrication fluids with rather simpler and maximally nestled structure, reliable from the standpoint of connections minimization, which will be highly effective and will require short heating time before engine activation. Consumptions for maintaining a temperature mode of lubrication and coolant fluids will be low as compared with the previous, safe from the fire prevention standpoint and its efficiency will be high. The given objective can be achieved through a method of maintaining fluids in an engine and by means of the apparatus, wherein a maintenance mode comprises the pumping out of consequently heated coolant and lubrication fluids from lubricating and cooling systems after an engine stops and their feed back into relevant systems directly before an engine activation for simplifying the heating and activation process; besides, heated coolant and lubrication fluids and their temperature maintenance is realized separately in self-contained heat- insulated tanks by means of flow and drain pipes connected to subsequent systems, whereas the lubrication fluid is circulated back into relevant system through the temperature maintained lubrication fluid pressure jetting directly over engine cylinder block.

The method also comprises the maintenance of coolant and lubrication fluids temperature while storing them by means of a control regulator installed in each heat-insulated tank.

According to the method, the filtration process will take place while the coolant and lubrication fluids are drained into subsequent tanks after they are pumped out from the engine coolant and lubrication systems.

Coolant and lubrication fluids filtration is made by means of filters installed on each drain-tube.

The given apparatus, for maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature, comprises the engine cooling system outfitted with the coolant jacket, radiator and the circulation pipe for coolant fluid, lubrication system, heat- insulated tank, which is connected to cooling and lubricating systems for pumping lubrication and coolant fluids in them via drain-pipe after an engine stops, electrical pumps and filters. Heat-insulated tank is made of two self-contained heat-insulated tanks for keeping coolant and lubrication fluids separately; besides, the apparatus is additionally outfitted with the mechanism for pressurizing the temperature-maintained lubrication fluid into the lubricating system, fluids temperature control-regulator and the control unit as well.

The given electrical pumps are the electrical suction-pumps and they are installed on each heat-insulated tank.

The mechanism for pressurizing temperature-maintained lubrication fluid into lubricating system is made so as to be the inflator and perforated pipe connected via delivery pipe to it.

The inflator of the mechanism for pressurizing temperature-maintained lubrication fluid into lubricating system is installed on lubrication fluid storage heat-insulated tank. Perforated pipe of the mechanism for pressurizing temperature-maintained lubrication fluid into lubricating system is made as to be installed on top of an engine cylinder block.

Temperature control regulator is installed in each heat-insulated tank and fabricated as a temperature sensor and heating element. All temperature sensor and heating elements installed in each heat-insulated tank are connected to control unit.

Control unit is made as to be connected to the electric system. The above-mentioned filters are installed on the drain pipe connecting the coolant and lubrication system to each heat-insulated tank. The apparatus is additionally outfitted with at least two air-valves, from which one is made as to be installed on the top of the cylinder block and the second is placed on the coolant system extensive small tank.

The coolant fluid storage heat-insulated tank and the coolant system connector drain pipe is the pipe which circulates the temperature-maintained coolant fluid back to the specified system.

Drain and flow pipes are equipped with valves and their gates. Valves and their (opening/closing) elements are set in each heat-insulated tank.

The valves with (opening/closing) elements are connected to electric pumps and the control unit too. Heating element is made as electric heating element.

Heating element is made as surface-distribution thermodependant electrical heater.

Electrical unit heater is made as tubular electrical heater. Electrical heater is made of glass-plastic thin-layered electrical heater. The technical result of the invention is the simplicity and compactness of its structure, raising efficiency of engine heating and reliability, minimization of consumptions and lengthening the life of engine.

Simplicity and compactness of the structure is achieved as a result of storing coolant and lubricant fluid by maintaining their temperature separately in self- contained heat-insulated tanks connected with drain and flow pipes, and also as a result of that the heat-insulated tank consists of two self-contained heat-insulated tanks intended for storing coolant and lubrication fluids separately and the insulation of tanks significantly simplifies the whole structure of the apparatus and its small dimensions allow to place them nestled in automobile without occupying additional compartments, i.e. lubrication fluid storage tank can be placed in an engine compartment, and the coolant either in a passenger compartment or in a luggage space and etc. Besides, the structure simplicity can be also achieved by that the pipe draining the coolant fluid into heat-insulated tanks is at the same time the pipe circulating the temperature-maintained fluid back to the coolant system, which eliminates the need of additional flow pipe.

For raising the reliability and engine heating efficiency the apparatus is outfitted with auxiliary mechanism for pressurizing the temperature-maintained lubrication substance that is made so as to be placed on top of engine cylinder block for it is much easier to perform a pressure jetting of lubrication substance over the top of an engine cylinder block, which not only ensures the lubrication of each detail or component but also provides heating as the lubrication fluid starts flowing via channels into a crank case and transfers heating to the whole case. Heating efficiency is also increased as a result of that each heat-insulated tank is outfitted with a temperature control regulator for fluid that is kept in it, for in the event that the temperature of fluid changes, the control-regulator gives the signal to the control unit that switches the regulator's heater on, which after raising the fluid temperature up to a required level is automatically switched off. Hereby, the electricity consumption on temperature maintenance is low and there is no necessity to provide a heater element with constant heating.

Electric heating element designing so as to be a distributor thermodependant electric heater or a tubular electric heater or glass-plastic thin-layered electric heater significantly minimizes fire danger causing conditions.

Since an engine has stopped and at pumping coolant and lubrication fluids out, their filtration, which is made by means of filters installed on a drain pipe, ensures maintenance of cleaned fluids in heat-insulated tanks; consequently, prevents us from feasible problems, which can be caused by particles of dirt or undesirable partitions coming between friction surfaces, while circulating the fluids, especially the lubrication oil back; all these significantly increases engine efficiency, i.e. lengthens its life.

The invention is presented by means of drawings. Fig. 1: Schematic layout of the apparatus; Fig. 2: Heat-insulated tanks;

Fig. 3: Engine profile, alignment of perforated pipe delivering the lubrication fluid by means of pressure and the movement of temperature- maintained lubrication fluid through lubricating system channels.

The apparatus comprises engine (1) coolant system outfitted with coolant jacket {not shown for clearness), radiators (2), which by means of circulation pipes {not shown for clearance) are connected to engine, lubricating system (3), two self-contained heat-insulated tanks (4 and 5) for maintaining coolant and lubrication fluids (6 and 7) separately, drain and flow pipes connected to lubrication fluid tank (5), and electrical pumps and inflators (8 and 9) installed on the same tank, perforated pipe (10) installed on top of engine cylinder block, which together with a flow pipe (7) and the inflator (9) provides the mean for pressurizing the lubrication fluid (11) into engine. Electric pump (12) is placed in coolant fluid storage tank (5) that is connected to cooling system via pipe (13), in particular, in this reference to a radiator 2. The apparatus is outfitted with a control unit (14), which can be connected to electric system. Besides, each tank is outfitted with temperature control-regulators (15), made as a temperature sensor (16) and a heating element (17) connected to control unit. For the expert in this field it is obvious that the heating element can be selected based on features of lubrication and coolant fluids and it can be a surface-distribution thermodependant electric heater, either tubular or glass-plastic thin layered electric heater and etc. At the same time it is obvious that such a performance does not exclude this to be a different type of electric heater of technique levels, which would be reliable and based on fluids features (as it is in direct contact with them) less dangerous from the fire standpoint. The filters (18 and 19) are installed on each drain pipe for pumping of fluids into heat-insulated tank and their filtration; in addition, electromagnetic valves (20 and 21) are installed on pipes in front of filters. The reference method of this kind for the invention realization comprises the pipe for draining coolant fluid into heat-insulated tank, which at the same time is the pipe that recirculates fluid back into the coolant system, which has a branching (22) on connected at the given pipeline before valve and the places beyond filter. The given branching is outfitted also with electromagnetic valve (23); each electromagnetic valve is connected to a control unit. The apparatus is outfitted also with air-valves (24 and 25), one is installed on extensive small tank (26) connected to a radiator and the second on roof of engine cylinder block (27). The given valves are provided for preventing the risk of over-pressurization in coolant and lubrication systems while pressurizing fluids from heat-insulated tank. The invention implementation reference of this kind comprises each heat- insulated tank to be outfitted with floaters (28, 29, 30 and 31), switch on elements (32, 33, 34 and 35) and electromagnetic valves (36, 37 and 38). Two pipes (39 and 40), which are connected to relevant pumps, are set in the lubrication fluid storage heat-insulated tank, and one pipe (41) that is also connected to an electric pump is set in coolant fluid storage heat-insulated tank. The alignment of listed elements in tanks, controlling the fluids circulation, i.e. their inlet and outlet by means of switching on/off the specially set in electromagnetic valves and activation/switching-off of electric pumps does not exclude a different utilization of these tanks, based on available technique level, in the way enabling the apparatus to provide desirable operation.

The apparatus operates in the following way: Following the engine cutoff, the generated hot lubrication fluid will be drained into engine (1) lubricating system crank case (3), at the time when generated hot coolant fluid drains into the radiator (2), whereupon they activate the electrical pumps (8 and 12) installed on heat-insulated tanks, the electromagnetic valves (20 and 21) start opening and as a result the lubrication and coolant fluids flow and drain into tank consequently, once the fluids pumping is over (at filling up a tank) the tank floaters (29 and 31) will raise up and force on subsequent switch elements (33 and 35), while switching them on by means of signal given from the control unit the given electromagnetic valves (36 and 37) will be closed and the pumps will stop running. Fluids pumped into heat-insulated tanks are kept as temperature-maintained before the engine activates again. In case if the temperature of fluids kept in heat- insulated tanks for a long period of time has changed i.e. the temperature sensor (16) is lower than before, it will give a signal to the control unit (14), which activates an electric heating element placed in the tank, duration of an electric heating element activation process depends on a fluid temperature. At achieving the working or starting temperature of fluids, the sensor will give a signal to the control block, which will switch off the electric heating element. It is obvious that the insulation of each heat-insulated tank allows an independent regulation of their fluid temperature; i.e. either in separate tanks or simultaneously in both as required.

Electrical pumps (9 and 12) are switched on before engine activation and temperature-maintained lubrication and coolant fluids will be concurrently recirculated back to corresponding systems; besides, lubrication fluid via flow pipe (7) will be supplied to perforated pipe (10) mounted on top of an engine cylinder block, whereof it is pressurized for the above-given positive effect, and the coolant fluid to the coolant system, in particular, to radiator via the same pipe, as distinct from the electromagnetic valve (21) it is closed by this time and the coolant fluid flows via branching (22) into the radiator. Although, it also should be noted that the temperature-maintained coolant fluid radiator (2) supply does not exclude supplying to another coolant system, e.g. to an engine coolant jacket, which is not a problem at all according to the expert in the given field. It is also noteworthy that the given apparatus not only enables the maintenance of fluids temperature but also provides them with higher temperature heating than starting temperature, by taking environmental temperature into account as well; heating is provided by means of electric heater elements, which are installed in tanks. As it was already marked above, this process can be performed only under highly severe conditions i.e. under very low environment temperature.

Supplying the engine with by this way maintained and heated lubrication and coolant fluids before its activation warms it up, this creates suitable conditions for its easy activation.

Air-valves are used for preventing the possibility of overpressurization in the systems while circulating fluids from heat-insulated tanks back to subsequent systems; although, it should be noted that their alignment is possible at any acceptable place, which would circumvent us from above-mentioned problem.

It is apparent that the described apparatus and the listed elements activation is ensured by transmitting a special signal to the control unit, which is performed by means of subsequent push button or buttons set in a passenger compartment. We will not pause here on control unit structural features, as its performance based on recent technique is not the matter of problem or the kind of units can be alternatively utilized in similar systems outfitted with the same functions.

Claims

1. Internal-combustion engine fluids temperature maintenance method comprising the pumping out of consequently heated coolant and lubrication fluids from cooling and lubricating systems after en engine stops running, their storage and their temperature maintenance, circulation of the fluids back to corresponding systems directly before an engine activation for facilitating engine heating and activation processes, is characterized in that the heated coolant and lubrication fluids storage and their temperature maintenance is realized separately in self-contained heat- insulated tanks by means of the flow and drain pipes connected to corresponding systems, whereas the lubrication fluid is fed back into relevant system through the temperature maintained lubrication fluid pressure jetting directly over cylinder block.

2. Internal-combustion engine fluids temperature maintenance method, according to the claim 1, characterized in that while preserving the coolant and lubrication fluids, their temperature maintenance is carried out additionally by means of a control regulator installed in each heat- insulated tank.

3. Internal-combustion engine fluids temperature maintenance method, according to the claims 1-2, characterized in that the coolant and lubrication fluids are filtrated while being pumped out from an engine cooling and lubricating systems into corresponding tanks.

4. Internal-combustion engine fluids temperature maintenance method, according to the claims 1-13, characterized in that the coolant and lubrication fluids filtration is made by filters installed on each drain pipe.

5. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature, having an engine coolant system outfitted with en engine coolant jacket, radiator and coolant fluid circulation pipe, lubricating system, heat-insulated tank connected to cooling and lubricating systems for pumping the coolant and lubrication fluids by means of drain-pipe into them since an engine stops running, electrical pumps and filters, characterized in that the heat-insulated tank is designed as enclosing the two self-contained heat-insulated tanks for maintaining coolant and lubrication temperature separately from each other, besides, the apparatus is additionally outfitted with a mechanism for pressurizing the temperature-maintained lubrication fluid into lubricating system, also with the control-regulator for controlling the fluids temperature in tanks, as well as with the control unit.

6. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claim 5 characterized in that the above- given electrical pumps are the suction pumps and they are installed on each heat-insulated tank.

7. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claims 5-6 characterized in that the mechanism for supplying the temperature-maintained fluids to lubrication system by means of pressurization, is made as an electrical pump and the perforated pipe connected to it by means of flow pipe.

8. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claims 5-7 characterized in that the inflator of the mechanism for supplying the temperature-maintained fluids to lubrication system by means of pressurization, is installed on the lubrication fluid storage heat-insulated tank.

9. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claims 5-8 characterized in that the perforated pipe of the mechanism for supplying the temperature- maintained lubrication fluid to the lubricating system by means of pressurization is made so as being installed directly on top of the engine cylinder block.

10. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claims 5-9 characterized in that the temperature control-regulator mechanism is installed in each heat- insulated tanks and made so as being a temperature sensor and heating element as well.

11. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claims 5-10 characterized in that the temperature sensors and heat elements installed in each tank are connected to the control unit.

12. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claims 5-11 characterized in that the control unit is made so as to be connected to electric system.

13. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claims 5-12 characterized in that the above-mentioned filters are fixed on drain-pipe connecting the coolant and lubrication systems to each heat-insulated tank.

14. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claims 5-13 characterized in that it is additionally outfitted with at least two air-valves, from which one is made so as to be installed on top of engine cylinder block, and the second on cooling system extensive small tank.

15. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claims 5-14 characterized in that the drain-pipe connecting the coolant system with coolant fluid storage heat- insulated tank, is at the same time the pipe, which circulates the temperature-maintained coolant fluid back to the above-mentioned system.

16. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claims 5-15 characterized in that the drain and flow pipes are outfitted with valves and their opening/closing elements.

17. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claims 5-16 characterized in that with its valves and their opening/closing elements it is placed in each heat- insulated tank.

18. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to claims 5-16 characterized in that the apparatus itself together with its valves and the opening/closing elements is connected to electrical pumps and the control unit.

19. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to claims 5-18 characterized in that the heating element is made so as to be an electric heating element.

20. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to claim 19 characterized in that the electric heating element is made as to be a surface-distribution thermodependant electric heater.

21. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claim 19 characterized in that the electrical heating element is made as to be a tubular electrical heater.

22. The apparatus maintaining the internal-combustion engine fluids temperature according to the claim 19 characterized in that the electrical heating element is made as to be a glass-plastic thin-layered electric heater.