Internal-combustion engines – Cooling – Automatic coolant flow control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-05-08
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Cooling
Automatic coolant flow control
C123S041150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227153
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of engine cooling, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for cooling an engine prior to performing maintenance services on the engine.
Vehicle engines are known to generate a significant amount of heat during operation. Excess heat is dissipated to the environment during operation by means of a cooling system. During normal operations, the temperature of an engine may be maintained at a predetermined elevated temperature in order to promote the proper operation of the engine. For example, a diesel locomotive engine may be maintained at a normal operating temperature that is close to the boiling temperature of water. The portions of such an engine that are in contact with combustion gasses may actually operate at temperatures significantly above the boiling temperature of water. It may be appreciated that the total amount of heat energy stored in such a large engine is extremely large. When preparing such an engine for routine maintenance services, it is necessary to reduce the temperature of the engine to near ambient levels in order to protect the maintenance personnel from injury. A period of 8-12 hours may be necessary for a large diesel locomotive engine to cool to ambient conditions due to its large mass and the relatively high operating temperatures that exist when the engine is shut down. Because turnaround time is an important criteria for a repair facility for locomotives or other vehicles employing such large engines, such an extended delay is undesirable and costly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,973 issued on Apr. 14, 1987, to Mark C. Endres, teaches a method and apparatus for cooling an engine that has been operated at a temperature on the high side of the allowable operating temperature range. The Endres patent recognizes that the engine bearings may become overheated when the engine is shut down at a higher than normal operating temperature. Endres teaches a method and apparatus for ensuring that the engine is kept running until the engine cooling system has reduced the temperature to a predetermined acceptable range. However, Endres does not address the problem of the extended cooling period necessary for an engine to cool to ambient conditions after being shut down from normal or overheated operating temperatures.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, there is a particular need for an engine cooling apparatus and method that will reduce the amount of time necessary to cool an engine from its normal operating temperature to a temperature wherein maintenance operations may be safely accomplished. Accordingly, an engine cooling apparatus is provided comprising: a radiator in fluid communication with the engine; a pump operable to pump fluid between the engine and the radiator to transfer heat from the engine to the radiator; a fan operable to move air past the radiator to transfer heat from the radiator to the air, the fan having an increased cooling mode; a coolant sensor operable to measure the temperature of the fluid and to produce a corresponding temperature signal; a controller operatively connected to the fan, the coolant sensor and the engine and having an input for receiving a maintenance cool down signal; logic within the controller operable to produce a signal for placing the fan in its increased cooling mode upon receipt of the maintenance cool down signal; and logic within the controller operable to deactivate the engine when the temperature of the fluid reaches a predetermined value after receipt of the maintenance cool down signal. Furthermore, a method of preparing an engine for maintenance is provided comprising the steps of: placing the engine cooling system in an increased cooling mode; maintaining the engine cooling system in an increased cooling mode until the temperature of the engine drops below a predetermined value; deactivating the engine and engine cooling system once the temperature of the engine drops below the predetermined value.
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General Electric Company
Holland & Knight LLP
Kamen Noah P.
Maire, Esq. David G.
Rowold, Esq. Carl A.
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