Thermal control module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016258342-A1
Application number	US-201514838871-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 28, 2015
Priority date	Mar 4, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An engine assembly includes an engine head defining a block coolant outlet, a head coolant outlet, and a block coolant inlet. The engine assembly further includes a thermal control module coupled to the engine head. The thermal control module includes a support body and a hot coolant gallery supported by the support body. The hot coolant gallery is in fluid communication with the head coolant outlet and the block coolant outlet. The engine assembly also includes a cold coolant gallery supported by the support body. The cold coolant gallery is in fluid communication with the block coolant inlet. The engine assembly additionally includes a bypass conduit fluidly coupled between the hot coolant gallery and the cold coolant gallery. The support body supports the bypass conduit.

First claim

1 . An engine assembly, comprising:
an engine head defining a block coolant outlet, a head coolant outlet, and a block coolant inlet; a thermal control module coupled to the engine head, wherein the thermal control module includes:
a support body;
a hot coolant gallery supported by the support body, wherein the hot coolant gallery is in fluid communication with the head coolant outlet and the block coolant outlet;
a cold coolant gallery supported by the support body, wherein the cold coolant gallery is in fluid communication with the block coolant inlet; and
a bypass conduit fluidly coupled between the hot coolant gallery and the cold coolant gallery, wherein the support body supports the bypass conduit.

2 . The engine assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thermal control module is directly coupled to the engine head.

3 . The engine assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pump coupled to the cold coolant gallery.

4 . The engine assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thermal control module further includes a first valve coupled between the hot coolant gallery and the head coolant outlet in order to control the flow of a coolant between the head coolant outlet and the hot coolant gallery.

5 . The engine assembly of claim 4 , wherein the thermal control module further includes a second valve coupled between the hot coolant gallery and the block coolant outlet in order to control the flow of the coolant between the block coolant outlet and the hot coolant gallery.

6 . The engine assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a heater core, wherein the thermal control module further includes a third valve fluidly coupled between the hot coolant gallery and the heater core in order to control the flow of the coolant from the hot coolant gallery to the heater core.

7 . The engine assembly of claim 6 , wherein the heater core is in fluid communication with the bypass conduit.

8 . The engine assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a transmission oil cooler, wherein the thermal control module further includes a fourth valve coupled to the cold coolant gallery, the hot coolant gallery, and the transmission oil cooler in order to control the flow of the coolant from the cold coolant gallery and the hot coolant gallery to the transmission oil cooler.

9 . The engine assembly of claim 8 , wherein the transmission oil cooler is in fluid communication with the bypass conduit.

10 . The engine assembly of claim 9 , further comprising an engine oil cooler, wherein the thermal control module further includes a fifth valve coupled to the cold coolant gallery, the hot coolant gallery, and the engine oil cooler in order to control the flow of the coolant from the cold coolant gallery and the hot coolant gallery to the engine oil cooler.

11 . The engine assembly of claim 10 , wherein the engine oil cooler is in fluid communication with the bypass conduit.

12 . The engine assembly of claim 11 , wherein the thermal control module includes a sixth valve coupled between the hot coolant gallery and the bypass conduit in order to control a flow of coolant between the hot coolant gallery and the bypass conduit.

13 . The engine assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a radiator, wherein the thermal control module further includes a seventh valve coupled between the hot coolant gallery and the radiator in order to control a flow of the coolant between the hot coolant gallery and the radiator.

14 . A thermal control module, comprising:
a support body; a hot coolant gallery supported by the support body; a cold coolant gallery supported by the support body; and a bypass conduit fluidly coupled between the hot coolant gallery and the cold coolant gallery, wherein the bypass conduit is supported by the support body; and a pump fluidly coupled to the cold coolant gallery, wherein the pump is supported by the support body.

15 . The thermal control module of claim 14 , further comprising a first valve coupled between the hot coolant gallery and a head coolant outlet of an engine head in order to control the flow of a coolant between the head coolant outlet and the hot coolant gallery.

16 . The thermal control module of claim 15 , further comprising a second valve coupled between the hot coolant gallery and a block coolant outlet of the engine head in order to control the flow of the coolant between the block coolant outlet and the hot coolant gallery.

17 . The thermal control module of claim 16 , further comprising a third valve coupled between the hot coolant gallery and a heater core in order to control the flow of the coolant from the hot coolant gallery to the heater core.

18 . The thermal control module of claim 17 , further comprising a fourth valve coupled to the cold coolant gallery, the hot coolant gallery, and a transmission oil cooler in order to control the flow of the coolant from the cold coolant gallery and the hot coolant gallery to the transmission oil cooler.

19 . The thermal control module of claim 18 , further comprising a fifth valve coupled to the cold coolant gallery, the hot coolant gallery, and an engine oil cooler in order to control the flow of the coolant from the cold coolant gallery and the hot coolant gallery to the engine oil cooler.

20 . The thermal control module of claim 19 , further comprising a sixth valve coupled between the hot coolant gallery and the bypass conduit in order to control a flow of coolant between the hot coolant gallery and the bypass conduit.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Zahdeh Akram R

Classifications

• F01P11/08

  Arrangements of lubricant coolers (in lubrication apparatus F01M) · CPC title

• F01P7/16 Primary

  by thermostatic control · CPC title

• F01P2007/146

  using valves · CPC title

• F01P7/165 Primary

  characterised by systems with two or more loops · CPC title

• F01P2003/027

  Cooling cylinders and cylinder heads in parallel · CPC title