Engine system with coolant collector

Abstract

An internal combustion engine system including a cylinder block, a cylinder head attached to the cylinder block, an EGR cooler, and a coolant collector bracket is provided. The cylinder head includes a plurality of coolant passages. The coolant collector bracket is coupled to and between the cylinder head and the EGR cooler. The coolant collector bracket includes a plurality of coolant inlets directly coupled to a plurality of outlets of the plurality of coolant passages of the cylinder head. The coolant collector bracket also includes an EGR coolant outlet directly coupled to an inlet of the EGR cooler. The coolant collector bracket also includes an EGR cooler inlet directly coupled to an outlet of the EGR cooler.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of directing coolant flow through an internal combustion engine system, the internal combustion engine system including a cylinder block, a cylinder head attached to the cylinder block, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler, and a coolant collector bracket coupled to and between the cylinder head and the EGR cooler, the method comprising:
 directly supplying coolant through a plurality of outlets of a plurality of coolant passages of the cylinder head and into a plurality of coolant inlets of the coolant collector bracket;   moving the coolant through the plurality of coolant inlets and into a first internal coolant channel of the coolant collector bracket;   directing the coolant to flow upstream through an EGR coolant outlet of the coolant collector bracket and into an inlet of the EGR cooler; and   enabling the coolant to flow downstream from an outlet of the EGR cooler and into a second internal coolant channel of the coolant collector bracket to supply the coolant to the cylinder block.