Apparatus and method for internal combustion engine cooling system

Abstract

In the field of cooling of internal combustion engines a known characteristic of thermostatic flow control valves is their lagging control response to variable rates of internal heat generation in the engine. Further, there is a thermal inertia effect due to engine mass and internal fluids masses which masks imbalances between instantaneous internal heating and cooling rates, in many cases allowing internal temperatures to rise excessively and pre-ignition damage or other heat-related component damage to occur to the engine system. The invention seeks to overcome these known characteristics using simple apparatus with a method to effect improved operation of the cooling system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Means for regulating cooling water flow rate in an internal combustion engine system comprising at least an engine with an external radiator, cooling water supply and return passageway means connecting between said engine and said radiator, a fan means arranged to motivate air flow through said radiator, a cooling water pump means arranged to motivate cooling water flow through said engine and said radiator via said cooling water supply and return passageway means, a first and an additional thermostatic valve means mounted in said cooling water supply and return passageway means being arranged series-wise in the cooling water flow path with said first thermostatic valve means having a lower temperature set point and said additional thermostatic valve means having a higher temperature set point, said additional thermostatic valve means being arranged with a first operating position and a second by-pass position, 
 said additional thermostatic valve means being controlled by an actuating means between said first operating position and said second by-pass position, said actuating means being controlled by a logical controller means, said logical controller means being arranged to receive variable input information and to perform logical interpretation of said variable input information,    said variable input information being at least the amount of power output being developed by said engine,    said logical interpretation of said variable input information including logical “AND”, “OR”, “NOT”, “MORE THAN” and “LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO” comparisons among multiple ones of said variable input information and pre-arranged values stored in said logical controller means enabling the determination of controlling said actuator means to control said additional thermostatic control valve means into said first operating position or said second by-pass position,    the op ration of said actuator means enabling control of said cooling water flow rate by said first thermostatic control valve means or by said additional thermostatic control valve means in response to said logical interpretation of said variable input information for the purpose of controlling the cooling water flow rate in said internal combustion engine.    
     
     
         2 . Means for regulating cooling water flow in an internal combustion engine system as in  claim 1  wherein said input information is the temperature of said cooling water in combination with the amount of power output being developed by said engine.  
     
     
         3 . In a motor vehicle motivated by an internal combustion engine, means for regulating cooling water flow rate in said engine as in  claim 1  wherein said input information includes at least one of the temperature of said cooling water, the occurrence and severity of engine knock, the oxygen content of the exhaust gases, the temperature of the exhaust gases, the ignition timing, the speed of the vehicle, the temperature of the ambient air and whether or not the motor vehicle's brakes are being applied in combination with the amount of power output being developed by said internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         4 . Means for regulating cooling water temperature in an internal combustion engine system comprising at least an engine with an external radiator, cooling water supply and return passageway means connecting between said engine and said radiator, a fan means arranged to motivate air flow through said radiator, a cooling water pump means arranged to motivate cooling water flow through said engine and said radiator via said cooling water supply and return passageway means, a first and an additional thermostatic valve means mounted in said cooling water supply and return passageway means being arranged series-wise in the cooling water flow path with said first thermostatic valve means having a lower temperature set point and said additional thermostatic valve means having a higher temperature set point, said additional thermostatic valve means being arranged with a first operating position and a second by-pass position, 
 said additional thermostatic valve means being controlled by an actuating means between said first operating position and said second by-pass position, said actuating means being controlled by a logical controller means, said logical controller means being arranged to receive variable input information and to perform logical interpretation of said variable input information,    said variable input information being at least the amount of power output being developed by said engine,    said logical interpretation of said input information including “AND”, “OR”, “NOT”, “MORE THAN” and “LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO” comparisons among multiple ones of said variable input information and pre-arranged values stored in said logical controller means enabling the determination of controlling said actuator means to control said additional thermostatic control valve means into said first operating position or said second by-pass position,    the operation of said actuator means enabling control of said cooling water temperature by said first thermostatic control valve means or by said additional thermostatic control valve means in response to said logical interpretation of said variable input information for the purpose of controlling said cooling water temperature in said internal combustion engine.    
     
     
         5 . Means for regulating cooling water temperature in an internal combustion engine system as in  claim 4  wherein said variable input information is the temperature of said cooling water in combination with the amount of power output being developed by said engine.  
     
     
         6 . In a motor vehicle motivated by an internal combustion engine, means for regulating cooling water temperature in said engine as in  claim 4  wherein said input information includes at least one of the temperature of said cooling water, the occurrence and severity of engine knock, the oxygen content of the exhaust gases, the temperature of the exhaust gases, the speed of the vehicle, the temperature of the ambient air and whether or not the motor vehicle's brakes are being applied in combination with the amount of power output being developed by said internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         7 . Means for regulating cooling water flow rate in an internal combustion engine system comprising at least an engine with an external radiator, cooling water supply and return passageway means connecting between said engine and said radiator, a fan means arranged to motivate air flow through said radiator, a cooling water pump means arranged to motivate cooling water flow through said engine and said radiator via said cooling water supply and return passageway means, a first and an additional thermostatic valve means mounted in said cooling water supply and return passageway means being arranged in parallel flow relationship in the cooling water flow path with said first thermostatic valve means having a lower temperature set point and said additional thermostatic valve means having a higher temperature set point, said first thermostatic control valve means also having a series-wise block valve means, said block valve means being arranged with a first open position and a second closed position, 
 said block valve means being controlled by an actuating means between said first open position and said second closed position, said actuating means being controlled by a logical controller means, said logical controller means being arranged to receive variable input information and to perform logical interpretation of said variable input information,    said variable input information being at least the amount of power output being developed by said engine,    said logical interpretation of said variable input information including logical “AND”, “OR”, “NOT”, “MORE THAN” and “LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO” comparisons among multiple ones of said variable input information and pre-arranged values stored in said logical controller means enabling the determination of controlling said actuator means to control said block valve means into said first open position or said second closed position,    the operation of said actuator means enabling control of said cooling water flow rate by said first thermostatic control valve means or by said additional thermostatic control valve means in response to said logical interpretation of said variable input information for the purpose of controlling the cooling water flow rate in said internal combustion engine.    
     
     
         8 . Means for controlling the predisposition of an internal combustion engine system towards pre-ignition of fuel-air mixtures in the combustion chambers, said internal combustion engine system comprising at least an engine with an external radiator, cooling water supply and return passageway means connecting between said engine and said radiator, a fan means arranged to motivate air flow through said radiator, a cooling water pump means arranged to motivate cooling water flow through said engine and said radiator via said cooling water supply and return passageway means, a first and an additional thermostatic valve means mounted in said cooling water supply and return passageway means being arranged series-wise in the cooling water flow path with said first thermostatic valve means having a lower temperature set point and said additional thermostatic valve means having a higher temperature set point, said additional thermostatic valve means being arranged with a first operating position and a second by-pass position, 
 said additional thermostatic valve means being controlled by an actuating means between said first operating position and said second by-pass position, said actuating means being controlled by a logical controller means, said logical controller means being arranged to receive variable input information and to perform logical interpretation of said variable input information,    said variable input information being at least the amount of power output being developed by said engine,    said logical interpretation of said variable input information including logical “AND”, “OR”, “NOT”, “MORE THAN” and “LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO” comparisons among multiple ones of said variable input information and pre-arranged values stored in said logical controller means enabling the determination of controlling said actuator means to control said additional thermostatic control valve means into said first operating position or said second by-pass position,    the operation of said actuator means enabling control of said cooling water flow rate by said first thermostatic control valve means or by said additional thermostatic control valve means in response to said logical interpretation of said variable input information for the purpose of controlling said cooling water flow rate in said internal combustion engine and thereby to control its internal temperature,    the effectiveness of said control of internal temperature minimizing said predisposition of said internal combustion engine towards said pre-ignition of said fuel-air mixtures in said combustion chambers.