Method and apparatus to regulate coolant pump inlet pressure

Abstract

A method of regulating coolant pump inlet pressure of an internal combustion engine, the method including the steps of producing pressurized air by way of a mechanism and directing a portion of the pressurized air coming from the mechanism to a coolant system of the internal combustion engine.

1 . A method of regulating coolant pump inlet pressure of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the steps of:
 producing pressurized air by way of a mechanism; and   directing a portion of said pressurized air coming from said mechanism to a coolant system of the internal combustion engine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said directing step includes the step of regulating a pressure of said portion of pressurized air going to said coolant system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism is a turbocharger. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of passing air from said turbocharger through a cooling device before carrying out said directing step. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of limiting a flow of air from said turbocharger to become said portion of air. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of regulating air pressure in said coolant system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said step of regulating air pressure is carried out by way of a pressure regulator that regulates a pressure of said portion of air before said portion of air arrives at a surge tank of said coolant system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said step of regulating air pressure is carried out by way of a pressure regulator that bleeds air from a surge tank of said coolant system to thereby regulate air pressure in said coolant system. 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle using an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a chassis coupled to the engine, the engine having a cooling system;   an air pressurizing device configured to compress air; and   a surge tank fluidly coupled to said cooling system, said surge tank coupled to said air pressurizing device to thereby receive a portion of the compressed air.   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the portion of the compressed air is sent to said surge tank at a predetermined regulated pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein said air pressurizing device is a turbocharger. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising a pressure regulator positioned downstream from said turbocharger, said pressure regulator being fluidly coupled to said surge tank, said pressure regulator being positioned one of upstream from said surge tank and downstream from said surge tank. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 12 , further comprising a flow limiting device fluidly coupled to said turbocharger downstream from said turbocharger, said flow limiting device being upstream of said pressure regulator. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising an air cooling device coupled to said turbocharger downstream from said turbocharger, the portion of the compressed air being directed to said surge tank after traversing said air cooling device. 
     
     
         15 . An internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a cooling system;   an air pressurizing device configured to compress air; and   a surge tank fluidly coupled to said cooling system, said surge tank coupled to said air pressurizing device to thereby receive a portion of the compressed air.   
     
     
         16 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 15 , wherein the portion of the compressed air is sent to said surge tank at a predetermined regulated pressure. 
     
     
         17 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 15 , wherein said air pressurizing device is a turbocharger. 
     
     
         18 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 17 , further comprising a pressure regulator positioned downstream from said turbocharger, said pressure regulator being fluidly coupled to said surge tank, said pressure regulator being positioned one of upstream from said surge tank and downstream from said surge tank. 
     
     
         19 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 18 , further comprising a flow limiting device fluidly coupled to said turbocharger downstream from said turbocharger, said flow limiting device being upstream of said pressure regulator. 
     
     
         20 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 17 , further comprising an air cooling device coupled to said turbocharger downstream from said turbocharger, the portion of the compressed air being directed to said surge tank after traversing said air cooling device.