Cooling Apparatus Valve Control via Pump Pressure Differential
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling apparatuses for internal combustion engines face challenges in efficiently adjusting coolant flow rates through radiators and circulation circuits, particularly in maintaining optimal coolant temperatures and flow rates during engine warm-up and operation, due to limitations in valve actuation and pressure differential control.
Innovation Solution
A cooling apparatus with a flow rate adjustment valve that utilizes a controller to adjust the pump discharge amount, which in turn changes the pressure difference across the valve member, allowing the valve to open or close to adjust the radiator flow rate, even without a dedicated actuator, and includes a memory map to correlate pump discharge with target coolant amounts for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a flow rate adjustment valve with a single actuator is used to control both radiator flow and bypass flow, then the device complexity is reduced, but the control precision and reliability of coolant flow rate adjustment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow rate adjustment valve is divided into a first valve member controlling radiator flow and a second valve member controlling bypass flow, with separate actuators for each. This segmentation allows independent control of each flow path, improving control precision while maintaining system simplicity through functional separation.
2Productivity
If the pump discharge amount is increased to increase radiator flow rate, then the coolant circulation efficiency is improved, but the pressure difference across the valve member decreases, causing the valve to close and reducing flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors the pump discharge amount and adjusts the valve member open degree in response to changes in pressure difference. When pump discharge increases and pressure difference decreases, the controller compensates by increasing valve opening to maintain target radiator flow rate, creating a closed-loop feedback control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the valve member open degree as a control parameter in response to changing pressure difference conditions. By modifying the valve opening parameter based on real-time pressure feedback, the system maintains optimal flow rates despite variations in pump discharge and system pressure.
3Reliability
If the valve member is biased in the valve-closing direction, then the valve reliability and sealing are improved, but the valve responsiveness to pressure difference changes and flow rate adjustment capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member biasing component provides automatic sealing force without requiring additional actuation. The biasing force ensures the valve closes reliably when pressure difference decreases, while the controller compensates by adjusting the open degree to maintain flow rate, achieving both reliability and responsiveness through coordinated passive-active control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for dynamic adjustment of radiator flow rates and coolant circulation amounts based on target values, maintaining optimal coolant temperatures and flow rates, reducing deviations and preventing overheating, while also limiting power consumption during engine warm-up.
Implementation Method 1
a valve member biasing component (35) configured to bias the valve member (33) in a valve-closing direction
Implementation Method 2
the pump being configured to change a discharge amount of coolant... when a pressure difference increases between a position upstream of the valve member and a position downstream
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
A cooling apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a pump, a radiator, a flow rate adjustment valve, a bypass passage, and a controller. The flow rate adjustment valve includes a valve member that rotates to change an open degree of the flow rate adjustment valve and a valve member biasing component that biases the valve member in a valve-closing direction in which the open degree decreases. The valve member rotates in a valve-opening direction in which the open degree increases when a pressure difference increases between positions upstream and downstream of the valve member in a flow direction of coolant in the circulation circuit and rotate in the valve-closing direction when the pressure difference decreases. The controller increases the pump discharge amount as a target radiator flow rate that is a target of an amount of coolant passing through the radiator increases.