Integrated pump, coolant flow control and heat exchange device

Abstract

A coolant flow control system includes an integrated pump for delivering an engine coolant to an engine, coolant flow control and heat exchange device. According to the system, coolant flow from the engine is delivered back to the engine after passing through the valve body part and then the heat exchange part in which it passes over the heat exchange part. Systems of the invention are particularly useful with all-electric and hybrid vehicles.

1 . An integrated coolant flow control and heat exchange device for a vehicle, the device comprising:
 (a) a pump for delivering engine coolant to an engine;   (b) a heat exchange part which discharges the coolant from the heat exchange part toward the pump; and   (c) a coolant flow control unit,   wherein the pump and heat exchange part form an integrated unit.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is coupled with an electric engine. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is coupled with a hybrid engine system. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the heat exchange part comprises an outlet for discharging coolant from the heat exchange part towards the pump, a first inlet for receiving a coolant coming from a radiator, a second inlet for receiving a coolant coming from a unit heater, and a heat exchanger provided inside the heat exchange part, the heat exchanger including an inlet for receiving from a source of supply a vehicle fluid and an outlet for discharging the vehicle fluid from the heat exchanger toward the supply source by which the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the supply source. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device further comprises a valve body part which comprises an inlet for receiving from a coolant coming from the engine, a first outlet for discharging a coolant from the valve body part toward the radiator, and a second outlet for discharging a coolant from the valve body part toward the unit heater, wherein the valve body part further includes a third outlet, the heat exchange part further comprises a third inlet, and the third outlet of the valve body part is connected to the third inlet of the heat exchange part thereby making the valve body part and the heat exchange part in fluid communication with each other which functions as the engine bypass so that none, some or all of the coolant inside the valve body part can be delivered to the heat exchange part to warm up and cool down the vehicle fluid inside the heat exchanger by heat exchange therebetween 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the valve body part further includes a third outlet, the heat exchange part further includes a third inlet, and the third outlet of the valve body part is connected to the third inlet of the heat exchange part thereby making the valve body part and the heat exchange part in fluid communication with each other which functions as the engine bypass so that none, some or all of the coolant inside the valve body part can be delivered to the heat exchange part to warm up and cool down the vehicle fluid inside the heat exchanger by heat exchange therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . A vehicle system comprising an engine system and a device of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle system of  claim 7  wherein the engine system comprises an electric engine. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle system of  claim 7  wherein the engine system comprises an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle system of  claim 7  wherein the vehicle system comprises (1) an internal combustion engine and/or an electric engine, (2) a transmission, (3) a unit heater, (4) a radiator, and (5) an engine control module. 
     
     
         11 . A coolant flow control system for a vehicle, comprising:
 an engine;   a pump in fluid communication with the engine for delivering a coolant to the engine;   an integrated coolant flow control and heat exchange device including a valve body part and a heat exchange part in fluid communication with the valve body part, the valve body part being in fluid communication with the engine so as to receive all of the coolant coming from the engine, and ;   a radiator provided in a first branch coolant circuit and being in fluid communication with the valve body part so as to receive none, some or all of the coolant coming from the valve body part; and   a unit heater provided in a second branch coolant circuit and being in fluid communication with valve body part so as to receive none, some or all of the coolant coming from the valve body part, and   an engine bypass provided in a third branch coolant circuit and being in fluid communication with the valve body part so as to receive none, some or all of the coolant coming from the valve body part,   wherein the coolant passing through the first branch coolant circuit is delivered back to the pump after passing through the heat exchange part, and the coolant passing through the second branch coolant circuit is delivered back to the pump after passing through the heat exchange part and the coolant passing through the third branch coolant circuit is delivered back to the pump after passing through the heat exchange part.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve body part further includes a flow wall for flow control within all the coolant branch circuits through varying size openings on the flow wall. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle system of  claim 11  wherein the vehicle system comprises (1) an internal combustion engine and/or an electric engine, (2) a transmission, (3) a unit heater, (4) a radiator, and (5) an engine control module. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle system of device of  claim 11  further comprising an actuator operable in response to a control signal from the engine control module so as to selectively operate the movement of the flow wall which opens, varies and/or closes the flow through the outlets of the valve body part. 
     
     
         15 . A coolant flow control system for a vehicle, comprising:
 an engine;   a pump in fluid communication with the engine for delivering a coolant to the engine;   an integrated coolant flow control and heat exchange device including a valve body part and a heat exchange part in fluid communication with the valve body part, the valve body part being in fluid communication with the engine so as to receive all of the coolant coming from the engine, and wherein the pump and heat exchange device are integrated;   a radiator provided in a first branch coolant circuit and being in fluid communication with the valve body part so as to receive none, some or all of the coolant coming from the valve body part; and   a unit heater provided in a second branch coolant circuit and being in fluid communication with valve body part so as to receive none, some or all of the coolant coming from the valve body part, and   an engine bypass provided in a third branch coolant circuit and being in fluid communication with the valve body part so as to receive none, some or all of the coolant coming from the valve body part,   wherein the coolant passing through the first branch coolant circuit is delivered back to the pump after passing through the heat exchange part, and the coolant passing through the second branch coolant circuit is delivered back to the pump after passing through the heat exchange part and the coolant passing through the third branch coolant circuit is delivered back to the pump after passing through the heat exchange part.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , further comprising at least one additional heat exchanger for cooling or warming which can be connected in parallel or series with existing circuits like the throttle body connected to the unit heater, or can be in series or parallel with the other branch coolant circuit, or can have its own independent branch circuit but deliver the coolant back to the pump after passing through the heat exchange part. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the heat exchange part includes therein a first heat exchanger for receiving, accommodating and discharging a first vehicle fluid whereby the first vehicle fluid in the heat exchanger can be warmed or cooled by heat exchange with the coolant in the heat exchange part.