Arrangement and procedure for pressurizing a cooling system to cool an internal combustion engine in a vehicle

Abstract

An arrangement and procedure for pressurizing a cooling system that cools an internal combustion engine ( 2 ) in a vehicle ( 1 ). The cooling system includes a coolant pump ( 3 ) for circulating the coolant in the cooling system, an expansion tank ( 12 ) allowing the coolant in the cooling system to expand, and a pressure relief valve ( 15 ) that releases air when a specific pressure is reached in the cooling system. A compressed air-entraining device ( 17 - 21 ) allows compressed air to be supplied to the cooling system by supplying a continuous air flow to the cooling system while the internal combustion engine ( 2 ) is operational, and to supplying an air flow of a size at least equal to the estimated leakage from the cooling system.

1 . An arrangement for pressurizing a cooling system that cools an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, wherein the cooling system contains:
 a coolant pump configured to circulate the coolant in the cooling system;   an expansion tank enabling the coolant in the cooling system to expand when in operation;   a pressure relief valve configured to release air from the cooling system when a specific pressure is reached and then exceeded in the cooling system;   the arrangement comprises a compressed air-entraining device configured to allow compressed air to be supplied to the cooling system;   the compressed air-entraining device is set to provide a continuous air flow to the cooling system during the entire time the internal combustion engine is operational and to supply a constant air flow at a rate of flow size equal to a maximum estimated air leakage from the cooling system.   
     
     
         2 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the compressed air-entraining device further containing a compressed air source and a compressed air line attached to and configured to continuously convey compressed air from the compressed air source to the cooling system while the internal combustion engine is in operation. 
     
     
         3 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising the compressed air source contains an accumulator tank configured to store compressed air for an existing in-vehicle compressed air system. 
     
     
         4 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising the compressed air line contains a throttle device that defines the air flow to the cooling system. 
     
     
         5 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 4 , further comprising a valve in the compressed air line , the valve being configured and operable to being set in an open flow position when the internal combustion engine is started to operation and in a closed no flow position when the internal combustion engine is switched off. 
     
     
         6 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 4 , further comprising the valve contains the throttle device. 
     
     
         7 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 5 , further comprising the compressed air-entraining the device containing a control unit which is settable to receive information indicating when the internal combustion engine is started and when the engine is switched off, and is settable to controlling the air valve with the aid of this information. 
     
     
         8 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the compressed air line is configured to convey compressed air from the compressed air source to the expansion tank in the cooling system. 
     
     
         9 . An arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a non-return valve for the expansion tank, and the non-return valve is configured for ensuring that the pressure in the expansion tank does not drop below the ambient pressure. 
     
     
         10 . A process to pressurize a cooling system for cooling an internal combustion engine in a vehicle, wherein
 the cooling system comprises a coolant pump connected with the coolant pump and configured to circulate the coolant in the cooling system;   an expansion tank configured for enabling the coolant in the cooling system to expand when the cooling system is operational; and   a pressure relief valve release air from the cooling system when a specific pressure is reached in the cooling system;   the method comprising supplying a continuous and constant air flow to the cooling system during the time the internal combustion engine is operational, and supplying the constant air flow of a size equal to at least a maximum estimated leakage from the cooling system.   
     
     
         11 . An arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein the throttle device comprises a fixed throttle.