Water Outlet

Abstract

To provide a water outlet capable of improving temperature detection accuracy at a cooling liquid outlet of an internal combustion engine.SOLUTION: A flow passage formation chamber 10 is provided with: a first flow passage F1 for allowing a cooling liquid to flow from the inside of a rectification wall 15 toward a first outlet 11; and a second flow passage F2 for allowing the cooling liquid to turn at a tip in a longitudinal direction of the rectification wall from the inside of the rectification wall, and to flow toward a second outlet 12 via the outside of the rectification wall. A temperature sensing portion 7a of a temperature sensor 7 is disposed in a region where the first flow passage and the second flow passage are overlapped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a water outlet provided at a coolant outlet of an internal combustion engine. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a water outlet is attached to the coolant outlet of an internal combustion engine. Patent Document 1 discloses a water outlet having multiple connection parts, each of which is connected to a pipe leading to various devices such as a radiator, a heating heat exchanger, etc. This water outlet is equipped with a temperature sensor that can detect the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a main passage through which the coolant flowing out of the internal combustion engine returns to the internal combustion engine via a radiator, a bypass passage through which the coolant flowing out of the internal combustion engine returns directly to the internal combustion engine, and a thermostat that opens and closes the bypass passage depending on the temperature of the coolant in the main passage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-214064 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-70760 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When using a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the coolant flowing out of the internal combustion engine, it is preferable to place the temperature-sensing part of the temperature sensor close to the coolant outlet of the internal combustion engine. However, the location of the temperature sensor cannot be freely set because it is restricted by the layout of other parts that make up the vehicle. In addition, the position of the connection points for connecting various pipes to the water outlet cannot be freely set depending on the layout of the vehicle. Furthermore, depending on the open / close status of the pipes, stagnation may occur in the flow of coolant passing through the water outlet, and if the temperature sensor is located in this area, it is difficult to accurately detect the temperature of the coolant outlet of the internal combustion engine. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a water outlet that can improve the accuracy of temperature detection at the coolant outlet of an internal combustion engine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the water outlet according to the present invention is attached to a coolant outlet of an internal combustion engine and forms a flow path forming chamber between the water outlet and the internal combustion engine. The water outlet has a first connection part connected to a main passage leading to a radiator, and a second connection part connected to a bypass passage that bypasses the radiator. The flow path forming chamber is formed with a coolant inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, and the coolant flowing out of the internal combustion engine flows into the flow path forming chamber from the inlet and flows out from the first outlet to the first connecting portion or from the second outlet to the second connecting portion. The water outlet includes a flow straightening wall extending from between the inlet and the second outlet toward the first outlet. The inlet side of the flow straightening wall is the inside of the flow straightening wall, and the second outlet side is the outside of the flow straightening wall. The flow path forming chamber is formed with a first flow path through which the coolant flows from the inside of the flow straightening wall toward the first outlet, and a second flow path through which the coolant flows from the inside of the flow straightening wall, turns around at a longitudinal tip of the flow straightening wall, passes outside the flow straightening wall, and flows toward the second outlet. A temperature sensing portion of a temperature sensor is disposed in a region where the first flow path and the second flow path overlap.

[0006] According to the above configuration, when the main passage is open, the coolant that flows out of the coolant outlet of the internal combustion engine and flows into the passage-forming chamber from the inlet flows through the first passage toward the first outlet. On the other hand, when the main passage is closed, the coolant that flows into the passage-forming chamber from the inlet flows through the second passage toward the second outlet. The temperature-sensing portion of the temperature sensor is provided at an overlapping portion of the first passage and the second passage, where coolant flows regardless of whether the main passage is open or closed. This improves the accuracy of the temperature sensor in detecting the temperature of the coolant outlet of the internal combustion engine.

[0007] Furthermore, in the water outlet, when an imaginary line is drawn connecting a position on the outer periphery of the first outlet closest to the second outlet and an outer tip of the straightening wall, and the flow path forming chamber is divided into the inlet side and the second outlet side by the straightening wall and the imaginary line, the temperature sensing portion may be located in the inlet side region of the straightening wall and the imaginary line. In this way, by providing the temperature sensing portion of the temperature sensor near the straightening wall in the inlet side region, it is easy to arrange the temperature sensing portion in the overlapping portion of the first flow path and the second flow path. Therefore, a decrease in the temperature detection accuracy of the temperature sensor can be reliably suppressed.

[0008] The water outlet may also include a baffle plate extending in a direction crossing the first flow path, the baffle plate being located closer to the first outlet than the temperature sensing portion of the first flow path. In this way, the flow rate of the cooling liquid from the inlet to the first outlet is suppressed by the baffle, so that the flow rate of the cooling liquid toward the second outlet can be secured. Furthermore, since the baffle is provided downstream of the temperature-sensing part, the temperature sensitivity of the temperature sensor can be improved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The water outlet according to the present invention can improve the accuracy of temperature detection at the coolant outlet of an internal combustion engine. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing one state of an engine cooling system including a water outlet according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another state of the engine cooling system including the water outlet according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the water outlet according to this embodiment as seen from the back side. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the back side of the water outlet showing the arrangement area of ​​the temperature sensing portion of the temperature sensor. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state in which the water outlet is attached to the cylinder head. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the first flow path in the flow path forming chamber of the water outlet. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the second flow path in the flow path forming chamber of the water outlet. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified example of the water outlet according to the present embodiment, seen from the back side. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional engine cooling system. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a conventional water outlet as seen from the rear side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A water outlet according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing an example of an engine cooling system for cooling an engine 20 as an internal combustion engine, and include a water outlet 100 according to this embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a first state of the engine cooling system. In the first state, communication between the engine 20 and a radiator 60 is blocked by a thermostat 70. FIG. 2 shows a second state of the engine cooling system. In the second state, communication between the engine 20 and the radiator 60 is permitted.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cooling circuit is connected to an engine (internal combustion engine) 20. This cooling circuit includes a main passage 31 through which the coolant flowing out from a coolant outlet 21 of the engine 20 returns to the engine 20 via a radiator 60, and a bypass passage 32 through which the coolant flowing out from the coolant outlet 21 returns to the engine 20 without passing through the radiator 60 (bypassing the radiator 60). The main passage 31 and the bypass passage 32 join downstream of the radiator 60 and are connected to a coolant inlet 22 of the engine 20. A water pump 80 is provided at the coolant inlet 22 to send coolant to the engine 20. The main passage 31 and the bypass passage 32 join between the radiator 60 and the water pump 80. A thermostat 70 is provided at this joining point. The thermostat 70 opens and closes the main passage 31 depending on the coolant temperature in the bypass passage 32.

[0013] Specifically, when the coolant temperature is lower than the valve opening temperature of the thermostat 70, the thermostat 70 closes the main passage 31 and opens the bypass passage 32. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the coolant flowing out of the engine 20 passes through the bypass passage 32 and returns to the engine 20 without passing through the radiator 60. On the other hand, when the coolant temperature becomes higher than the valve opening temperature of the thermostat 70, the thermostat 70 opens the main passage 31. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the coolant flowing out of the engine 20 passes through the main passage 31, is cooled by the radiator 60, and returns to the engine 20. 2, the thermostat 70 opens the main passage 31 and closes the bypass passage 32. However, the bypass passage 32 may be always open.

[0014] A water outlet 100 is attached to the coolant outlet 21 of the engine 20. The water outlet 100 is connected to a pipe constituting the main passage 31 and a pipe constituting the bypass passage 32. In other words, the coolant flowing out from the engine 20 branches at the water outlet 100 and is guided to each pipe. A temperature sensor 7 (FIG. 3), which will be described later, is attached to the water outlet 100 to detect the temperature of the coolant on the engine outlet side. The engine 20, the water outlet 100, and the temperature sensor 7 constitute an internal combustion engine device D.

[0015] The engine 20 includes a cylinder block 24 in which pistons reciprocate through cylinders and convert this reciprocating motion into rotational motion, and a cylinder head 25 disposed on the cylinder block 24. The cylinder block 24 has a block-side water jacket 28 for coolant around its periphery. The block-side water jacket 28 has a flow path for coolant that cools the cylinder block 24. The cylinder head 25 also has a head-side water jacket 29 disposed around its periphery. The head-side water jacket 29 has a flow path for coolant that cools the cylinder head 25. The flow path of the block-side water jacket 28 communicates with the flow path of the head-side water jacket 29. A coolant inlet 22 is provided in the block-side water jacket 28. A coolant outlet 21 is provided in the head-side water jacket 29.

[0016] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the water outlet 100 according to this embodiment, seen from the back side. The water outlet 100 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. The water outlet 100 is fixed to the cylinder head 25 (Figure 5) with bolts (not shown) so as to cover the coolant outlet 21. This water outlet 100 includes a main body 1 having a recess to form a space between it and the cylinder head 25, a first connection portion 2 and a second connection portion 3 provided to rise outward from the bottom 1a side of this main body 1, and an annular flange 4 that projects outward from the opening edge of the main body 1.

[0017] One end of a pipe constituting the main passage 31 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is connected to the first connecting part 2. On the other hand, one end of a pipe constituting the bypass passage 32 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is connected to the second connecting part 3.

[0018] As shown in Figure 3, the main body 1 of the water outlet 100 has a concave shape and is recessed in a direction away from the cylinder head 25. A recess 25b (Figure 6) recessed in a direction away from the water outlet 100 is also provided on the cylinder head 25 side. Between the cylinder head 25 and the water outlet 100, a flow path forming chamber 10 is formed into which the coolant flowing out from the cylinder head 25 flows.

[0019] The coolant that flows out of the cylinder head 25 flows into the flow passage forming chamber 10 from the coolant outlet 21. When this flow of the coolant is viewed from the flow passage forming chamber 10 side, the coolant outlet 21 of the engine 20 becomes the coolant inlet 9. In other words, the coolant outlet 21 of the engine 20 and the inlet 9 of the flow passage forming chamber 10 are one (common) opening, and this opening is called the coolant outlet 21 when viewed from the engine 20 side, and is called the inlet 9 when viewed from the flow passage forming chamber 10 side.

[0020] For this reason, in the flow passage forming chamber 10, the coolant inlet 9 is formed on the cylinder head 25 side. Furthermore, a first outlet 11 and a second outlet 12, which serve as coolant outlets, are formed on the water outlet 100 side of the flow passage forming chamber 10. The first outlet 11 serves as the coolant inlet of the first connecting portion 2, and the coolant flows from the first connecting portion 2 to the main passage 31. The second outlet 12 serves as the coolant inlet of the second connecting portion 3, and the coolant flows from the second connecting portion 3 to the bypass passage 32.

[0021] 3, 4, 7, and 8, the position of the inlet 9 is indicated by an ellipse with two-dot chain lines to clarify the position of the inlet 9 relative to the first outlet 11 and the second outlet 12. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the joint surface 40 of the water outlet 100 that contacts the cylinder head 25 (plan view) with the water outlet 100 attached to the cylinder head 25 (water outlet attached state), the inlet 9, first outlet 11, and second outlet 12 of the flow path forming chamber 10 are arranged in a triangular shape.

[0022] A plurality of bolt holes 4a are formed in the flange 4. Bolts (not shown) are inserted into these bolt holes 4a so as to be fastened to the cylinder head 25. The flange 4 is formed with a mating surface 40 that contacts the cylinder head 25, and a groove 4b that is recessed into the mating surface 40. The groove 4b is annular, and is positioned so as to surround the opening of the concave-shaped main body 1 when the water outlet is attached. An annular gasket 6 fits into the groove 4b. In the water outlet installation state in which the flange 4 is fixed to the cylinder head 25 with bolts, the opening of the main body 1 faces the opening of the recess 25b of the cylinder head 25, and the gasket 6 seals the gap between the mating surface 40 of the flange 4 and the mating surface of the cylinder head 25. This prevents the coolant in the flow passage forming chamber 10 from leaking from the joint between the cylinder head 25 and the water outlet 100.

[0023] As described above, the main body 1 has a concave shape. Inside the main body 1, a flow straightening wall 15 is provided so as to rise from the bottom 1a of the main body 1 toward the cylinder head 25. In addition, a temperature sensor 7 is attached to the center of the main body 1. The flow straightening wall 15 has a base end connected to the peripheral wall 1b of the main body 1 and a tip end extending to the center of the bottom 1a. In a plan view, the flow straightening wall 15 is located between the inlet 9 and the second outlet 12 of the flow passage forming chamber 10, and is slightly curved (draws a gentle curve) so as to bulge toward the second outlet 12. In addition, the tip of the flow straightening wall 15 in the height direction is located near the joint surface when viewed from a direction along the joint surface between the flange 4 and the cylinder head 25 (side view). This flow straightening wall 15 promotes the flow of the coolant from the inlet 9 of the flow channel forming chamber 10 toward the first outlet 11. On the other hand, the flow straightening wall 15 obstructs the flow of the coolant from the inlet 9 of the flow channel forming chamber 10 toward the second outlet 12, and encourages the coolant to bypass the flow straightening wall 15 and flow toward the second outlet 12. In this way, the flow straightening wall 15 is provided so as to separate the inlet 9 and the second outlet of the flow channel forming chamber 10.

[0024] For ease of explanation, the inlet 9 side as viewed from the flow straightening wall 15 is referred to as the inside of the flow straightening wall 15, and the second outlet 12 side as viewed from the flow straightening wall 15 is referred to as the outside of the flow straightening wall 15. As shown in Fig. 9 , by providing this flow straightening wall 15, a first flow path F1 is formed in the flow path forming chamber 10, in which the coolant flowing in from the inlet 9 passes inside the flow straightening wall 15 and flows toward the first outlet 11 as if urged by the flow straightening wall 15. Furthermore, a second flow path F2 is formed in the flow path forming chamber 10, in which the coolant flowing in from the inlet 9 passes inside the flow straightening wall 15, turns back at a tip 15b of the flow straightening wall 15 in the length direction, passes outside the flow straightening wall 15, and makes a U-turn toward the second outlet 12.

[0025] The temperature sensor 7 has a temperature-sensing part 7a for detecting temperature. As shown in Fig. 8, the temperature sensor 7 is provided so that the temperature-sensing part 7a is inserted into the flow path forming chamber 10 from the bottom 1a of the main body 1, approximately perpendicular to the joining surfaces 25a, 40. The temperature-sensing part 7a is disposed in the region where the first flow path F1 and the second flow path F2 overlap. Referring to Figure 4, in this embodiment, when an imaginary line L1 is drawn connecting the position on the outer peripheral edge of the first outlet 11 closest to the second outlet 12 and the tip of the outer side 15b of the straightening wall 15, and the flow path forming chamber 10 is divided by the straightening wall 15 and the imaginary line L1 into an area E1 on the inlet 9 side and an area E2 on the second outlet 12 side, the temperature sensing portion 7a is located near the tip 15b of the straightening wall 15, in the area E1 on the inlet 9 side.

[0026] The effects of the water outlet 100 according to this embodiment will be described below in comparison with the conventional structure shown in FIGS.

[0027] 11, a flow path forming chamber 201 is formed between a conventional water outlet 200 and an engine 50. The flow path forming chamber 201 has a flow path (first flow path r1) of coolant directed from an inlet 203 to a first outlet 204, and a flow path (second flow path r2) of coolant directed from the inlet 203 to a second outlet 205. The temperature sensor 250 detects the temperature of the coolant flowing through the first flow path r1.

[0028] Referring to Figure 10, the first outlet 204 communicates with the main passage 31 connected to the radiator 60. The main passage 31 is opened and closed by the thermostat 70 according to the temperature of the bypass passage 32. When the main passage 31 is closed, the coolant does not move through the first outlet 204. As a result, stagnation occurs in the flow of the coolant between the inlet 203 of the flow passage forming chamber 201 and the first outlet 204 in Figure 11. If the temperature sensing part 250a is located in the part where this stagnation occurs, the temperature detection accuracy of the temperature sensor 250 decreases, and the temperature of the coolant outlet 51 of the engine 50 cannot be detected accurately.

[0029] In contrast to this, the water outlet 100 of the present embodiment is provided with a flow straightening wall 15. As a result, the flow path forming chamber 10 is formed with a first flow path F1 through which the coolant flows from the inside of the flow straightening wall 15 toward the first outlet 11, and a second flow path F2 through which the coolant flows from the inside of the flow straightening wall 15, turns back at the tip of the flow straightening wall 15 in the length direction, passes outside the flow straightening wall 15, and flows toward the second outlet 12. The temperature sensing part 7a of the temperature sensor 7 is disposed in the area where the first flow path F1 and the second flow path F2 overlap.

[0030] The second outlet 12 is connected to a bypass passage 32 whose temperature is sensed by the thermostat 70. Even when the thermostat 70 closes the main passage 31, the bypass passage 32 allows the coolant to flow through the bypass passage 32 for the thermostat 70 to sense the temperature. Therefore, even when the main passage 31 is closed and the coolant no longer flows through the first outlet 11, the coolant still flows through the second outlet 12, and the coolant flows through the second passage F2. In this embodiment, the temperature-sensing portion 7a of the temperature sensor 7 is located at the overlapping portion of the first passage F1 and the second passage F2, so that the temperature sensor 7 can always detect the temperature of the portion where the coolant flows, thereby improving the accuracy of temperature detection of the coolant outlet 21. Furthermore, by providing the flow straightening wall 15 on the bottom 1a of the water outlet 100, it is possible to prevent the water outlet 100 from being warped and deformed by the reaction force of the gasket 6. This makes it possible to maintain good sealing performance of the gasket 6.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when an imaginary line L1 is drawn connecting a position on the outer circumferential edge of the first outlet 11 closest to the second outlet 12 and the outer tip of the flow straightening wall 15, and the flow path forming chamber 10 is divided by the flow straightening wall 15 and the imaginary line L1 into an area E1 on the inlet 9 side and an area E2 on the second outlet 12 side, the temperature sensitive part 7a of the temperature sensor 7 is located in the inlet side area E1. If the temperature sensitive part 7a of the temperature sensor 7 is provided near the flow straightening wall 15 in this area E1, it becomes easy to arrange the temperature sensitive part 7a in the overlapping area of ​​the first flow path F1 and the second flow path F2, and a decrease in the temperature detection accuracy of the temperature sensor 7 can be reliably suppressed.

[0032] 9, the water outlet 100 may include a baffle 16 extending in a direction crossing the first flow path F1. This baffle 16 is located closer to the first outlet 11 than the temperature-sensing part 7a of the first flow path F1. With this configuration, the baffle 16 restricts the flow rate of the coolant from the inlet 9 toward the first outlet 11, thereby ensuring the flow rate of the coolant toward the second outlet 12. Furthermore, since the baffle 16 is located downstream of the temperature-sensing part 7a, the temperature sensitivity of the temperature sensor 7 can be improved. The flow rate toward the radiator 60 side and the flow rate toward the bypass passage 32 side can be adjusted by changing the heights of the flow straightening wall 15 and the baffle plate 16. The baffle plate 16 may be omitted.

[0033] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, modifications, variations and changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 2 First connection part 3 Second connection part 7 Temperature Sensor 7a Temperature sensing part 9 Entrance 10. Flow path forming chamber 11 First exit 12 Second exit 15, 23 Rectification wall 16 Baffle Plate 20 Engine (internal combustion engine) 21 Coolant outlet 25 cylinder head 31 Main passage 32 Bypass Road 60 Radiator 100 Water Outlet D. Internal combustion engine device F1 First flow path F2 Second flow path L1 Virtual Line

Claims

1. a coolant passage forming chamber formed between the coolant passage and the internal combustion engine; a first connection portion connected to a main passage leading to a radiator; a second connection portion connected to a bypass passage that bypasses the radiator, The flow path forming chamber is formed with an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet for the coolant, the coolant flowing out from the internal combustion engine flows into the flow path forming chamber through the inlet and flows out from the first outlet to the first connecting portion or from the second outlet to the second connecting portion, a flow straightening wall extending from between the inlet and the second outlet toward the first outlet, When viewed from the straightening wall, the inlet side is the inside of the straightening wall, and the second outlet side is the outside of the straightening wall, The flow path forming chamber includes: a first flow path through which the coolant flows from an inner side of the flow straightening wall toward the first outlet; a second flow path is formed in which the coolant flows from the inside of the straightening wall, turns around at the end in the length direction of the straightening wall, passes through the outside of the straightening wall, and flows toward the second outlet; a temperature sensing portion of a temperature sensor is disposed in a region where the first flow path and the second flow path overlap; a baffle plate extending in a direction crossing the first flow path; the baffle plate is located on the first outlet side of the first flow path relative to the temperature sensing portion A water outlet characterized by:

2. When an imaginary line is drawn connecting a position on the outer circumferential edge of the first outlet closest to the second outlet and an outer tip of the flow straightening wall, and the flow path forming chamber is divided into the inlet side and the second outlet side by the flow straightening wall and the imaginary line, The temperature sensing portion is located in a region on the inlet side of the flow straightening wall and the imaginary line.

2. The water outlet according to claim 1, wherein the outlet is a water outlet.

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