Abstract:
An internal combustion engine having a crankcase and a cylinder head is provided. The internal combustion engine includes at least one cylinder block, at least one cooler, at least one smooth flange surface for accommodating the at least one cooler, at least one coolant inlet to the cooler, at least one coolant outlet from the cooler, at least one exhaust gas inlet to the cooler, at least one integrated exhaust gas feed-through from the cooler and at least one internal cooling section.

Description:
[0001]    This claims the benefit of German Patent Application DE102015003908.3, filed Mar. 27, 2015 and hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine, which includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and/or a water-cooled charge air cooler. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    An internal combustion engine of this type is known from DE 691 30 976 T2. This internal combustion engine includes an exhaust gas recirculation system with a distribution line which runs in parallel to a fresh gas line. The fresh gas line has branching fresh gas channels, which each lead to two inlet valves of a cylinder unit. The distribution line, including individual feed lines, opens into the fresh gas channels. 
         [0004]    The object of the present invention is to improve the mounting of the exhaust gas recirculation device, in particular the distribution line, onto the internal combustion engine. 
         [0005]    It is advantageous that the internal combustion engine has an extremely compact construction, and that the heat transfer may take place extremely effectively without unnecessary tubing. 
         [0006]    In one refinement of the present invention, it is provided that the cooling section includes turbulence generators, which ensure an even better heat transfer. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment of the present invention, diaphragms and/or throttle devices are inserted into the channels. An individual adaptation of the exhaust gas quantity supplied to the individual cylinder units may take place with the aid of these components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Other advantageous embodiments of the present invention are apparent from the description of the drawings, which describes in greater detail the exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the figures. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a crankcase, including a cooling housing of an exhaust gas cooler of an exhaust gas recirculation device integrated into the crankcase; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic representation of the crankcase according to  FIG. 1  and its media flows; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a view of the crankcase from  FIG. 2 , including an EGR cooling housing, whose base body is part of the crankcase, the base body being covered by a cover; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a view of the crankcase from  FIG. 2 , including an EGR and water-cooled charge air cooling housing, whose base body is part of the crankcase, the base body being covered by a cover; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a view of the crankcase from  FIG. 2 , including a heat protection cover; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a view of the channel to the mixing and control unit; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic representation of the control of the exhaust gas and coolant flows. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows a view of the cooler. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  shows cylinder block  1  of the crankcase of the internal combustion engine, which has a smooth flange surface  2  on its longitudinal side. A coolant inlet opening  3 , which allows coolant to pass through to EGR/WCAC cooler  13 , is provided in the sealing plane of smooth flange surface  2 , in the area of a front side of the internal combustion engine. Coolant outlet opening  4  of cooler  13  is also situated in the sealing plane of flange surface  2 , in the direct vicinity of coolant inlet opening  3 . An exhaust gas inlet to the cooler, which allows exhaust gases to pass through to cooler  13 , is provided in the sealing plane of smooth flange surface  2 , in the area of the other front side of the internal combustion engine. The integrated exhaust gas feed-through from the cooler is also situated in the sealing plane of flange surface  2 , in the direct vicinity of the exhaust gas inlet to cooler  13 . Internal cooling section  7  has tab-like elevations, which, when interacting with flow guiding elements situated on cooler housing  12 ,  13 , ensure a turbulent flow of the coolant flowing around or between the tab-like elevations and the flow guiding elements. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows cylinder block  1  of the crankcase of the internal combustion engine. Crankcase  1  has a smooth flange surface  2  on its longitudinal side. A coolant inlet opening  3 , which allows coolant to pass through to cooler  13 , is provided in the sealing plane of smooth flange surface  2 , in the area of a front side of the internal combustion engine. Coolant outlet opening  4  of cooler  13  is also situated in the sealing plane of flange surface  2 , in the direct vicinity of coolant inlet opening  3 . The coolant enters the area of line guide  10  of the coolant in cooler  13  via coolant inlet opening  3 , absorbs the heat of the exhaust gas and leaves the cooler via coolant outlet opening  4 . An exhaust gas inlet  5  to cooler  13 , which allows the exhaust gases to pass through to cooler  13 , is provided in the sealing plane of smooth flange surface  2 , in the area of the other front side of the internal combustion engine. The integrated exhaust gas feed-through from cooler  13 , through which the exhaust gas leaves cooler  13  again, is also situated in the sealing plane of flange surface  2 , in the direct vicinity of the exhaust gas inlet to cooler  13 . Internal cooling section  7  has tab-like elevations, which, when interacting with flow guiding elements situated on cooler housing  12 ,  13 , ensure a turbulent flow and thus a better heat transfer of the coolant flowing around or between the tab-like elevations and the flow guiding elements, with the aid of cooler  12 ,  13 . The gas is removed from the cylinder head via channel guide  8  in the cylinder head and is passed on to exhaust gas inlet  5  via exhaust gas inlet opening  28  with the aid of a channel connection in crankcase  1 . The exhaust gas which reaches exhaust gas inlet  5  is introduced into line guide EGR in cooler  9  and transfers its waste heat to the coolant in cooler  13 . The cooled exhaust gas subsequently leaves cooler  13  via integrated exhaust gas feed-through  6  through crankcase  1  in the direction of the exhaust system. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows cylinder block  1  of the crankcase of the internal combustion engine. Crankcase  1  has an EGR/water cooled air conditioner (WCAC) interface in the form of a smooth flange surface  2  on its longitudinal side. A coolant inlet opening  3 , which is covered by EGR cooler  12  and allows coolant to pass through to EGR cooler  12 , is provided in the sealing plane of smooth flange surface  2 , in the area of a front side of the internal combustion engine. Coolant outlet opening  4  of EGR cooler  12 , which is also covered, is also situated in the sealing plane of flange surface  2 , in the direct vicinity of coolant inlet opening  3 . The coolant enters the area of line guide  10  of the coolant in cooler  12  via coolant inlet opening  3 , absorbs the heat of the exhaust gas and leaves the cooler via coolant outlet opening  4 . An exhaust gas inlet  5  to EGR cooler  12 , which is also covered and allows the exhaust gases to pass through to cooler  12 , is provided in the sealing plane of smooth flange surface  2 , in the area of the other front side of the internal combustion engine. The integrated exhaust gas feed-through from cooler  12 , through which the exhaust gas leaves cooler  12  again, is also situated in the sealing plane of flange surface  2 , in the direct vicinity of the exhaust gas inlet to cooler  12 . Covered internal cooling section  7  has tab-like elevations, which, when interacting with flow guiding elements situated internally at cooler housing  12 , ensure a turbulent flow and thus a better heat transfer of the coolant flowing around or between the tab-like elevations and the flow guiding elements, with the aid of cooler  12 . The gas is removed from the cylinder head via channel guide  8  in the cylinder head and is passed on to exhaust gas inlet  5  via exhaust gas inlet opening  28  with the aid of a channel connection in crankcase  1 . The exhaust gas which reaches exhaust gas inlet  5  is introduced into line guide EGR in cooler  9  and transfers its waste heat to the coolant in cooler  12 . The cooled exhaust gas subsequently leaves cooler  12  via integrated exhaust gas feed-through  6  through crankcase  1  in the direction of the exhaust system, with the aid of integrated line guide  11  to the inlet side. A seal  15  is situated between EGR cooler  12  and flange surface  2 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a view of the crankcase from  FIG. 2 , including an EGR and a water-cooled charge air cooling housing  13 , whose base body is part of the crankcase, the base body being covered by a cover. 
         [0021]    Cylinder block  1  of the crankcase of the internal combustion engine is screwed to exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and a water-cooled charge air cooler housing  13  on its longitudinal sides. Crankcase  1  has a smooth flange surface  2  on its longitudinal side. A coolant inlet opening  3 , which allows coolant to pass through to cooler  13 , is provided in the sealing plane of smooth flange surface  2 , in the area of a front side of the internal combustion engine. Coolant outlet opening  4  of cooler  13  is also situated in the sealing plane of flange surface  2 , in the direct vicinity of coolant inlet opening  3 . The coolant enters the area of line guide  10  of the coolant in cooler  13  via coolant inlet opening  3 , absorbs the heat of the exhaust gas and leaves the cooler via coolant outlet opening  4 . An exhaust gas inlet  5  to cooler  13 , which allows the exhaust gases to pass through to cooler  13 , is provided in the sealing plane of smooth flange surface  2 , in the area of the other front side of the internal combustion engine. The integrated exhaust gas feed-through from cooler  13 , through which the exhaust gas leaves cooler  13  again, is also situated in the sealing plane of flange surface  2 , in the direct vicinity of the exhaust gas inlet to cooler  13 . Internal cooling section  7  has tab-like elevations, which, when interacting with flow guiding elements situated on cooler housing  12 ,  13 , ensure a turbulent flow and thus a better heat transfer of the coolant flowing around or between the tab-like elevations and the flow guiding elements, with the aid of cooler  12 ,  13 . The gas is removed from the cylinder head via channel guide  8  in the cylinder head and is passed on to exhaust gas inlet  5  via exhaust gas inlet opening  28  with the aid of a channel connection in crankcase  1 . The exhaust gas which reaches exhaust gas inlet  5  is introduced into line guide EGR in cooler  9  and transfers its waste heat to the coolant in cooler  13 . The cooled exhaust gas subsequently leaves cooler  13  via integrated exhaust gas feed-through  6  through crankcase  1  in the direction of the exhaust system, with the aid of integrated line guide  11 , exhaust gas channels which are cast into crankcase  1 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  shows a view of the crankcase from  FIG. 2 , including a heat protection cover  14 , which is screwed on in the area of flange surface  2  and radiates heat supplied with the aid of the cooling water. 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a view of the channel to mixing and control unit  16 , which is situated on the longitudinal side of crankcase  1  opposite flange surface  2 , and which supports the control or regulation of the media flows illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic representation of the regulation of the exhaust gas and coolant flows of the internal combustion engine. 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  shows cooler  12 ,  13 . A flow guiding element, which has already been described above, is situated on the inside of cooler  12 ,  13 .
     1  cylinder block     2  EGR/WCAC interface (smooth flange surface)     3  coolant inlet to the cooler (controllable)     4  coolant outlet from the cooler     5  exhaust gas inlet to the cooler (controllable)     6  integrated exhaust gas feed-through from the cooler     7  internal cooling section     8  gas removal from the cylinder head     9  EGR line guide in the cooler     10  coolant line guide in the cooler     11  integrated line guide to the inlet side     12  with EGR cooler     13  with EGR/WCAC cooler     14  cover/heat protection     15  seal     16  channel to mixing and control unit