Method and apparatus for cooling engines in buildings at oil well sites and the like

Abstract

An enclosed engine apparatus with auxiliary cooling includes a liquid cooled internal combustion engine located in a building. An auxiliary heat exchanger is operative to transfer heat from a liquid coolant flowing through the auxiliary heat exchanger to an air stream passing through the auxiliary heat exchanger, and the auxiliary heat exchanger is located outside the building. A supply conduit connects to the engine cooling system at a heater supply fitting on the engine and to a supply port of the auxiliary heat exchanger, and a return conduit connects to the cooling system at a heater return fitting on the engine and to a return port of the auxiliary heat exchanger. An electric fan is powered draws air through the auxiliary heat exchanger.

1 . An apparatus for cooling an internal combustion engine located in a building, the engine including a liquid coolant circulating cooling system, the apparatus comprising: 
 an auxiliary heat exchanger operative to transfer heat from a liquid coolant flowing through the auxiliary heat exchanger to an air stream passing through the auxiliary heat exchanger;    a supply conduit adapted for operative connection to a pressurized portion of the cooling system at an input end thereof and operatively connected to a supply port of the auxiliary heat exchanger at an output end thereof;    a return conduit adapted for operative connection to a suction portion of the cooling system at an output end thereof and operatively connected to a return port of the auxiliary radiator at an output end thereof; and    a fan operative to draw air through the auxiliary heat exchanger;    wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger, supply conduit, return conduit, and fan are configured such that the auxiliary heat exchanger can be located outside the building.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the input end of the supply conduit is connected to the cooling system at a heater supply fitting on the engine.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the output end of the return conduit is connected to the cooling system at a heater return fitting on the engine.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fan is driven by an electric motor powered by an electrical system of the engine.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger, supply conduit, return conduit, and fan are configured such that the auxiliary heat exchanger can further be located inside the building.  
     
     
         6 . An enclosed engine apparatus with auxiliary cooling, the apparatus comprising: 
 an internal combustion engine located in a building, the engine including a liquid coolant circulating cooling system and an electrical system;    an oil well pumping apparatus driven by the engine;    an auxiliary heat exchanger operative to transfer heat from a liquid coolant flowing through the auxiliary heat exchanger to an air stream passing through the auxiliary heat exchanger, wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is located outside the building;    a supply conduit operatively connected at an input end thereof to the cooling system at a heater supply fitting on the engine and operatively connected to a supply port of the auxiliary heat exchanger at an output end thereof;    a return conduit operatively connected at an output end thereof to the cooling system at a heater return fitting on the engine and operatively connected to a return port of the auxiliary heat exchanger at an input end thereof; and    a fan powered by the electrical system of the engine and operative to draw air through the auxiliary heat exchanger.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger, supply conduit, return conduit, and fan are configured such that the auxiliary heat exchanger can be moved to a location inside the building.  
     
     
         8 . A method of cooling an internal combustion engine located in a building, the engine including a liquid coolant circulating cooling system and an electrical system, the method comprising: 
 providing an auxiliary heat exchanger operative to transfer heat from a liquid coolant flowing through the auxiliary heat exchanger to an air stream passing through the auxiliary heat exchanger, and locating the auxiliary heat exchanger outside the building;    connecting an input end of a supply conduit to the cooling system at a heater supply fitting on the engine and connecting an output end of the supply conduit to a supply port of the auxiliary heat exchanger;    connecting an output end of a return conduit to the cooling system at a heater return fitting on the engine and connecting an input end of the return conduit to a return port of the auxiliary heat exchanger; and    drawing air through the auxiliary heat exchanger with a fan powered by the electrical system of the engine.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising heating an area of the building interior in cold weather by moving the auxiliary heat exchanger and fan to a location inside the building adjacent to the area to be heated.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the building is located at an oil well site and wherein the engine is operative to drive an oil well pumping apparatus.