Control arrangement for a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

In a control arrangement for the flow of a coolant of a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine having a radiator for cooling the coolant, a pump for pumping the coolant through the cooling circuit and a control element for controlling the flow of the coolant and wherein a radiator circuit including the engine, the coolant pump and the radiator and a short circuit by-passing the radiator are provided, the control element includes flow control means for selectively establishing a flow circuit through either one or both of the radiator and radiator by-pass flow circuits and also for blocking both the radiator and radiator by-pass flow circuits providing for rapid engine warm-up.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A control arrangement for the coolant flow of a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine, having a radiator with a coolant pump for pumping the coolant through said coolant circuit and a control element for controlling the flow of coolant through the cooling circuit, said cooling circuit including a radiator circuit which includes the internal combustion engine, the coolant pump and the radiator, and a short circuit, which includes only the internal combustion engine and the coolant pump, said control element comprising a control valve arranged in said cooling circuit and having respective connections for said radiator circuit and said short circuit, and a common connection for said internal combustion engine and said pump, said control valve including a valve element having selectivity a shut-off position for said radiator circuit and said short circuit, a position providing, selectively, a connection between the radiator circuit or the short circuit and the common connection or a connection of the radiator circuit and the short circuit by-passing the radiator to the common connection for a mixed-mode operation and a position in which both connections for the radiator circuit as well as the short circuit are simultaneously closed by said valve element.  
     
     
         2 . A control arrangement according to    claim 1   , wherein said valve element is operated by an electric motor.  
     
     
         3 . A control arrangement according to    claim 1   , wherein said valve element is a rotary spool valve.  
     
     
         4 . A control arrangement according to    claim 3   , wherein said spool valve has a cylindrical wall and a central axial opening and said connections for said radiator circuit and said short circuit are provided in the circumferential wall and are inlets and said common connection is provided for said central axial opening.  
     
     
         5 . A control arrangement according to    claim 1   , wherein said cooling circuit includes a heating circuit and said heating circuit includes a switching device for interrupting the flow of coolant therethrough.  
     
     
         6 . A control arrangement according to    claim 1   , wherein said control valve is disposed at the inlet region of said coolant pump.  
     
     
         7 . A control arrangement according to    claim 1   , wherein said control valve has a rest position which is assumed by said control valve during an emergency whereby said valve is automatically moved to a position in which a coolant flow connection is established through said radiator circuit.