Patent Abstract:
An engine having a coolant control valve may include a sealing ring including a sealing ring inlet and sealing ring outlets, a valve housing to rotatably house the sealing ring therein, wherein discharge outlets are formed corresponding to the sealing ring outlets, a drive portion coupled to the sealing ring to selectively rotate the sealing ring, and a blocking wall that is disposed to the one end portion of the sealing ring to block a part of the one end portion of the sealing ring to form the sealing ring inlet, wherein the blocking wall is selectively rotated about a central axis thereof in accordance with a rotation of the sealing ring, wherein the blocking wall selectively blocks a first coolant line of a cylinder head or a second coolant line of a cylinder block depending on a rotation position of the sealing ring.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0068534 filed on Jun. 5, 2014, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is related to an engine having a coolant control valve that respectively controls coolant passing a cylinder head and a cylinder block such that engine warming up time is reduced and fuel consumption is saved. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    The engine generates a torque by burning fuel, and exhausts the remainder in thermal energy. Particularly, cooling water absorbs heat while circulating the engine, a heater and a radiator and dissipates the heat to an outside of the engine. 
         [0006]    If a cooling water temperature of the engine is low to elevate oil viscosity, it is a trend that friction force and fuel consumption increases and a temperature of exhaust gas rises slowly resulting to prolong a time period of catalyst activation to make a quality of the exhaust gas poor. Along with this, there is a trend that a time period for bringing a heater function to a normal level takes a long time to make occupants and a driver to feel cold. 
         [0007]    If the cooling water temperature of the engine is excessive, knocking takes place, and, if ignition timing is adjusted for suppressing the knocking, performance is liable to become poor. And, if a lubrication oil temperature is excessive, a lubrication action is liable to become poor. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, a temperature of a specific section of an engine is maintained to be high and that of other section of the engine is maintained to be low, wherein one integrated flow rate valve is used to control several cooling elements. 
         [0009]    Particularly, because the cylinder head and the cylinder block are separately cooled, the passage of the coolant becomes complicated, and coolant control valve has been being researched for respectively controlling the coolant. 
         [0010]    The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0011]    Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing an engine having a coolant control valve having advantages of respectively controlling coolant passing a cylinder head and a cylinder block through a structure improvement such that warming up time is reduced and fuel consumption is saved. 
         [0012]    An engine having a coolant control valve, may include a sealing ring that may have a pipe shape, wherein a sealing ring inlet is formed at an end portion of the sealing ring and sealing ring outlets are formed at a predetermined position from an inner surface to an outer surface of the sealing ring, a valve housing that a mounting space is formed therein to rotatably house the sealing ring therein, wherein the valve housing may have an interior circumference corresponding to an exterior circumference of the sealing ring, and discharge outlets are formed corresponding to the sealing ring outlets, a drive portion that is coupled to the sealing ring to selectively rotate the sealing ring such that the sealing ring outlets match the discharge outlets and a coolant that flows in the sealing ring is supplied to the discharge outlets, and a blocking wall that is disposed to the one end portion of the sealing ring to block a part of the one end portion of the sealing ring to form the sealing ring inlet, wherein the blocking wall is selectively rotated about a central axis thereof in accordance with a rotation of the sealing ring, wherein the blocking wall selectively blocks a first coolant line of a cylinder head or a second coolant line of a cylinder block depending on a rotation position of the sealing ring. 
         [0013]    The blocking wall is integrally formed with the sealing ring. 
         [0014]    The engine having the coolant control valve may include a plate that is engaged with the valve housing, wherein an inner side surface of the plate corresponds to the sealing ring inlet or the blocking wall of the sealing ring, wherein a first passage for the first coolant line and a second passage for the second coolant line are formed to the plate to correspond to the sealing ring inlet, and wherein the blocking wall of the sealing ring blocks the first passage or the second passage depending on the rotation position thereof. 
         [0015]    An outer side surface of the blocking wall slidably contacts an inner side surface of the plate. 
         [0016]    The blocking wall is configured to close all of the first passage and the second passage, the blocking wall is configured to close one of the first passage and the second passage, or the blocking wall is configured to open all of the first passage and the second passage accordion to the rotation position of the sealing ring. 
         [0017]    The blocking wall may have a semi-circular shape about the central axis, and the first passage and the second passage may have a fan shape that divides the blocking wall into two sides. 
         [0018]    A first outlet that discharges coolant for cooling the cylinder head and a connection passage that receives coolant for cooling the cylinder block that is disposed under the cylinder head are formed in the cylinder head, wherein a second outlet for discharging coolant that flows through the connection passage is formed in the cylinder head, wherein the first outlet is formed near the second outlet. 
         [0019]    One of the discharge outlets is connected to an EGR cooler for cooling recirculated exhaust gas, and another of the discharge outlets is connected to a radiator that radiates heat through outside air. 
         [0020]    The valve housing is directly engaged with the cylinder head through the plate. 
         [0021]    The drive portion may include an electric motor. 
         [0022]    In accordance with the present invention for realizing above objects, coolant that cools a cylinder head and a cylinder block is separately controlled such that the overall cooling efficiency is improved. 
         [0023]    Further, the coolant that flow the cylinder head or the cylinder block is blocked depending on driving conditions such that the overall warming up time is reduced, heater performance is improved, and harmful material of exhaust gas is decreased, and fuel consumption is decreased. 
         [0024]    Also, a coolant control valve is mounted on a cylinder head to simplify cooling passages, and a valve for blocking coolant of cylinder block is eliminated to save cost. 
         [0025]    The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an engine having a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a partial schematic diagram of an engine having a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a cylinder head in an engine having a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a partial exploded perspective view of a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  shows a flow passage change depending on a rotation position of a sealing ring of a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0032]    It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. 
         [0033]    In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0035]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an engine having a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an engine having a coolant control valve includes a cylinder block  105 , a cylinder head  100 , a coolant control valve  110 , a radiator  120 , an EGR cooler  135 , an oil cooler  115 , a heater  130 , and a coolant pump  125 . 
         [0038]    The coolant that is pumped by the coolant pump  125  is respectively supplied to the cylinder head  100  and the cylinder block  105 , and the coolant passing the cylinder block  105  and the cylinder head  100  joins the coolant control valve  110 . 
         [0039]    The coolant control valve  110  selectively supplies the EGR cooler  135  or the radiator  120  with coolant depending on driving conditions. The coolant that is supplied to the EGR cooler  135  passes the heater  130  to be circulated to the coolant pump, and the coolant that is supplied to the radiator  120  is circulated to the coolant pump  125 . And, a part of the coolant passing the cylinder block  105  passes the oil cooler  115  to be circulated to the coolant pump  125 . 
         [0040]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the coolant control valve  110  supplies the EGR cooler  135  or the radiator  120  with coolant, but the coolant control valve  110  can selectively supply the heater  130 , the EGR cooler  135 , or the radiator  120  with coolant. 
         [0041]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the coolant control valve  110  respectively controls the coolant passing the cylinder head  100  and the cylinder block  105 , wherein the coolant that is supplied to the cylinder block  105  can be blocked and the coolant is supplied to the cylinder head  100  in a condition that the coolant temperature is lower than a predetermined value. 
         [0042]    Further, the coolant is selectively circulated to the radiator  120  depending on the driving conditions, and thus the coolant temperature can be maintained within a predetermined range. 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  is a partial schematic diagram of an engine having a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The detailed description of parts those are similar to  FIG. 1  will be omitted, and the parts those are different from that will be further explained. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a control portion  200  controls the coolant control valve  110  depending on driving conditions such that the coolant passing the cylinder head  100 , the cylinder block  105 , the EGR cooler  135 , and the radiator  120  is respectively controlled. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the driving condition can include coolant temperature, vehicle driving load, rotation speed, and so on. 
         [0045]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a cylinder head in an engine having a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a connection passage  320  is formed at a lower side of the cylinder head  100  to receive the coolant passing the cylinder block  105 , and a first outlet  300  and a second outlet  310  are formed on a side surface of the cylinder head  100  adjacent to each other in an upper and lower direction. 
         [0047]    The coolant passing the cylinder block  105  passes through the connection passage  320  to be exhausted through the second outlet  310  and the coolant passing the cylinder head  100  is exhausted through the first outlet  300 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a coolant control valve  110  includes a plate  400  and a valve housing  420 . At least two outlets  415  are formed at a side surface of the valve housing  420 , one of them is connected to the EGR cooler  135 , and another is connected to the radiator  120 . 
         [0050]    A plate  400  is mounted on a surface corresponding to the cylinder head  100 , that is a front surface of the valve housing  420 , and a first passage  405  and a second passage  410  are formed in the plate  400 . 
         [0051]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first passage  405  can correspond to the first outlet  300  of the cylinder head  100 , and the second passage  410  can correspond to the second outlet  310  of the cylinder head  100 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is a partial exploded perspective view of a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the coolant control valve  110  includes a plate  400 , a sealing ring  500 , and a motor  520 . 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the sealing ring  500  has a pipe shape that a cylindrical space is formed therein along a central axis of a length direction, and a sealing ring inlet  510  that is opened to an outside is formed on a front end portion thereof. 
         [0054]    The sealing ring inlet  510  has a circular shape along an interior circumference of the sealing ring  500 , and a semi circular blocking wall  515  is formed in the sealing ring inlet  510 . The blocking wall  515  is integrally formed with the sealing ring  500 , and the blocking wall is disposed to be rotated together with the sealing ring  500  with respect to the central axis  525 . 
         [0055]    And, a sealing ring outlet  505  is formed in the sealing ring  500 . The coolant that flows into the sealing ring inlet  510  of the sealing ring  500  flows through the sealing ring outlet  505  and the discharge outlet  415  of the valve housing  420 , and supplies to the EGR cooler  135  and the radiator  120 . 
         [0056]    Here, the sealing ring outlet  505  corresponds to the discharge outlet  415  in accordance with the rotation position of the sealing ring  500 , the coolant flows through the sealing ring outlet  505  and the discharge outlet  415 , and if the sealing ring outlet  505  does not correspond to the discharge outlet  415 , the coolant passage is closed. 
         [0057]    The first passage  405  and the second passage  410  are formed in the plate corresponding to the rotation area of the blocking wall  515  of the sealing ring  500 , and an inner side surface of the plate  400  slidably contacts the blocking wall  515 . 
         [0058]    As shown in the drawings, the blocking wall  515  has a semi circular shape, and the first passage  405  and the second passage  410  has a fan shape that divides the semi circular shape into two. Accordingly, the blocking wall  515  closes the first passage  405 , closes the second passage  410 , or closes the first passage  405  and the second passage  410  in accordance with the rotation of the sealing ring  500 . 
         [0059]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the blocking wall  515  of the sealing ring  500  selectively closes the first passage  405  and the second passage  410  such that the coolant flowing the first outlet  300  and the second outlet  310  of the cylinder head  100  is selectively closed. That is, the coolant that respectively flows the cylinder head  100  and the cylinder block  105  can be separately controlled. 
         [0060]      FIG. 6  shows a flow passage change depending on a rotation position of a sealing ring of a coolant control valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a control portion  200  controls the motor  520  so as to control the rotation position of the sealing ring  500 . 
         [0062]    And, in (a), the blocking wall  515  and the sealing ring inlet  510  closes all the first passage  405  and the second passage  410  of the plate  400 . 
         [0063]    In (b), the blocking wall  515  and the sealing ring inlet  510  opens the first passage  405  of the plate  400  and closes the second passage  410  thereof. 
         [0064]    In (c), the blocking wall  515  and the sealing ring inlet  510  closes the first passage  405  of the plate  400  and opens the second passage  410 . 
         [0065]    Further, the blocking wall  515  and the sealing ring inlet  510  can open the first passage  405  and the second passage  410 . 
         [0066]    For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner” and “outer” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
         [0067]    The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5