Heat exchange – With retainer for removable article – Electrical component
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-10-16
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
With retainer for removable article
Electrical component
C165S169000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302190
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the cooling of an electronic control unit (ECU) of an engine, in particular a diesel engine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Engine mounted ECUs operate in a hot and hostile environment making it necessary to take special steps to cool the engine electronic control unit, because the function of electronic components may be impaired if they are overheated. Additionally, the heat generated by the ECU will shorten the life of the ECU if not transferred away.
It has previously been proposed to provide a heat exchanger(commonly called a chill plate) for supporting and cooling an ECU. The chill plate comprises a coolant chamber which, in use, is connected in a supply line through which passes the fuel flowing from a fuel tank to the engine. The chill plate serves to cool the ECU module by transferring heat to the fuel supplied to the engine. The known chill plates, however, have the disadvantage that they can only be used with ECUs having a flat heat sink of conductive material to which the heat generating electronic components are attached.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a chill plate that can be used with different types of ECU, including ECUs having components that protrude beyond the surface of a flat heat sink to be cooled. Additionally, this design can be incorporated directly into the ECU housing if appropriate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a chill plate for cooling an electronic control unit (ECU) of an engine, comprising a housing having a flat front face onto which the ECU may be mounted, formed with a central recess for accommodating any components protruding from the rear face of the ECU and flow passages within the housing through which fuel may flow around at least part of the periphery of the central pocket to transfer heat to the fuel from the regions of the front face surrounding the pocket.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3996914 (1976-12-01), Crall et al.
patent: 4072188 (1978-02-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 4543914 (1985-10-01), Harris
patent: 4559995 (1985-12-01), Van Der Stuyf
patent: 4763611 (1988-08-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 5159529 (1992-10-01), Lovgren et al.
patent: 5207186 (1993-05-01), Okita
patent: 5269372 (1993-12-01), Chu et al.
Clamp Andrew
Purcell John J.
Cummins Engine Company Ltd.
Duong Tho
Gron Gary M.
Lazarus Ira S.
LandOfFree
Cooling an engine control unit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cooling an engine control unit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cooling an engine control unit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2606889