Arrangement and procedure for pressurizing a cooling system to cool an internal combustion engine in a vehicle

Abstract

An arrangement and procedure for pressurizing a cooling system that cools an internal combustion engine (2) in a vehicle (1). The cooling system includes a coolant pump (3) for circulating the coolant in the cooling system, an expansion tank (12) allowing the coolant in the cooling system to expand, and a pressure relief valve (15) that releases air when a specific pressure is reached in the cooling system. A compressed air-entraining device (17-21) allows compressed air to be supplied to the cooling system by supplying a continuous air flow to the cooling system while the internal combustion engine (2) is operational, and to supplying an air flow of a size at least equal to the estimated leakage from the cooling system.

Description

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART[0001]The present invention relates to an arrangement and procedure for pressurizing a cooling system to cool an internal combustion engine in a vehicle according to the preamble of patent claims 1 and 11.[0002]The coolant circulating in a cooling system for cooling an internal combustion engine generally has an operating temperature of some 80-100° C. When cold-started, the coolant in the internal combustion engine is at a considerably lower temperature. However, the coolant occupies a greater volume in the cooling system when warm than when cold. In order to allow the volume of the coolant to change in an operational state, the cooling system includes an expansion tank. The expansion tank is made up of an enclosed space containing air and coolant. The expansion tank is fitted with a filler cap and a pressure relief valve which limits the pressure in the latter as well as a non-return valve which prevents underpressure occurring in the tank....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention relates to a cooling system for vehicles that uses compressed air to cool the system. The system includes a pressurizing agent, which uses compressed air from a tank to cool the system. The pressurizing agent can be controlled by a control unit that receives information about the vehicle's engine and uses the information to open or close a valve to control the supply of compressed air. The compressed air is conveyed to an expansion tank in the cooling system, which raises the pressure in the tank and acts on the coolant to transfer the pressure to other parts of the system. This system helps to efficiently cool the vehicle's cooling system.

Problems solved by technology

When operational, a slight amount of air and fluid leakage thus occurs in the cooling system.

Such leakage results in a gradual reduction in the overpressure in the cooling system as the cooling system operates continuously with the hot coolant.

Too great a flow of compressed air to the cooling system results in very frequent opening of the pressure relief valve and unduly great consumption of compressed air.

Although the leakage can be estimated with relatively great accuracy, there still needs to be a certain margin for error so that the influx of compressed air to the cooling system is certain to equal the actual leakage.

The leakage in the cooling system is not constant but related to the size of the overpressure in the cooling system.

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