초록 ▼

The invention provides an engine cooling device capable of suitably promoting the warm-up of an engine. This engine cooling device comprises a cooling circuit and a heat-accumulating passage. The cooling circuit is composed of a radiator passage, a bypass passage, and a flow rate control value for c

The invention provides an engine cooling device capable of suitably promoting the warm-up of an engine. This engine cooling device comprises a cooling circuit and a heat-accumulating passage. The cooling circuit is composed of a radiator passage, a bypass passage, and a flow rate control value for controlling the flow rate of coolant flowing though the bypass passage. The heat-accumulating passage is provided with a heat-accumulating container, and constitutes a heat-accumulating circuit for causing coolant in the heat-accumulating container to circulate via the engine. The cooling device completes the heat-accumulating circuit by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit to supply the cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to the body of the engine, opens the flow rate control valve to increase a flow rate of cooling medium flowing though the bypass passage, then disconnects the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit, and closes the flow rate control valve.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An engine cooling device comprising:a cooling circuit that is so constructed as to include a radiator passage for causing cooling medium flowing from a body of an engine to flow into the body of the engine via a radiator, a bypass passage for causing cooling medium flowing out from the body of th

1. An engine cooling device comprising:a cooling circuit that is so constructed as to include a radiator passage for causing cooling medium flowing from a body of an engine to flow into the body of the engine via a radiator, a bypass passage for causing cooling medium flowing out from the body of the engine to flow into the body of the engine without flowing via the radiator, and a control valve for controlling a flow rate of cooling medium flowing through the bypass passage; a heat-accumulating passage that is provided with a heat-accumulating container for storing the cooling medium in a thermally insulated state and that constitutes a heat-accumulating circuit for causing the cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to circulate via the body of the engine by being selectively connected to the cooling circuit; and a controller that i) completes the heat-accumulating circuit by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit to supply the cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to the body of the engine and opens the control valve to increase a flow rate of cooling medium flowing through the bypass passage, and then ii) disconnects the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit and that closes the control valve. 2. The cooling device according to claim 1, whereinthe cooling circuit is so constructed as to further include a throttle passage for causing cooling medium flowing out from the body of the engine to flow into the body of the engine via a throttle body, and a throttle open-close valve for opening and closing the throttle passage, and the controller opens the throttle open-close valve in supplying cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to the body of the engine through the heat-accumulating circuit by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit, and closes the throttle open-close valve in disconnecting the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit. 3. The cooling device according to claim 1, whereinthe cooling circuit is so constructed as to further include a heater passage for causing cooling medium flowing out from the body of the engine to flow into the body of the engine via a heater core, and a heater open-close valve for opening and closing the heater passage, and the controller opens the heater open-close valve in supplying cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to the body of the engine through the heat-accumulating circuit by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit, and closes the heater open-close valve in disconnecting the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit. 4. The cooling device according to claim 3, whereinthe cooling circuit is so constructed as to further include a throttle passage for causing cooling medium flowing out from the body of the engine to flow into the body of the engine via a throttle body, and a throttle open-close valve for opening and closing the throttle passage, and the controller opens the throttle open-close valve in supplying the cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to the body of the engine by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit, and closes the throttle open-close valve in disconnecting the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit. 5. The cooling device according to claim 1, whereinthe controller prohibits the heat-accumulating passage from being connected to the cooling circuit if cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container is at a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature. 6. The cooling device according to claim 5, whereinthe predetermined temperature is a temperature of coolant for cooling the body of the engine. 7. The cooling device according to claim 1, whereinthe controller connects the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit if cooling medium for cooling the body of the engine is at a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature. 8. The cooling device according to claim 7, whereinthe predetermined temperature is a cold-state criterion temperature. 9. The cooling device according to claim 7, whereinthe predetermined temperature is an outside air temperature. 10. The cooling device according to claim 1, whereinthe controller closes the radiator passage both in opening the control valve and in closing the control valve. 11. The cooling device according to claim 1, whereinthe controller i) completes the heat-accumulating circuit by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit and opens the control valve prior to an operation of starting the engine, and ii) disconnects the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit and closes the control valve immediately after the engine has been started. 12. The cooling device according to claim 11, whereinthe cooling circuit is so constructed as to further include a throttle passage for causing cooling medium flowing out from the body of the engine to flow into the body of the engine via a throttle body, and a throttle open-close valve for opening and closing the throttle passage, and the controller opens the throttle open-close valve in supplying cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to the body of the engine by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit, and closes the throttle open-close valve in disconnecting the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit. 13. The cooling device according to claim 11, whereinthe cooling circuit is so constructed as to further include a heater passage for causing cooling medium flowing out from the body of the engine to flow into the body of the engine via a heater core, and a heater open-close valve for opening and closing the heater passage, and the controller opens the heater open-close valve in supplying cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to the body of the engine through the heat-accumulating circuit by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit, and closes the heater open-close valve in disconnecting the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit. 14. The cooling device according to claim 13, whereinthe cooling circuit is so constructed as to further include a throttle passage for causing cooling medium flowing out from the body of the engine to flow into the body of the engine via a throttle body, and a throttle open-close valve for opening and closing the throttle passage, and the controller opens the throttle open-close valve in supplying cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to the body of the engine through the heat-accumulating circuit by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit, and closes the throttle open-close valve in disconnecting the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit. 15. The cooling device according to claim 11, whereinthe controller determines that the engine has just been started, if cooling medium for cooling the body of the engine is at a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature. 16. The cooling device according to claim 11, whereinthe controller determines that the engine has just been started, unless a predetermined time has elapsed since completion of the starting of the engine. 17. An engine cooling method comprising the steps of:causing cooling medium to flow through a cooling circuit that is so constructed as to include a radiator passage for causing cooling medium flowing from a body of an engine to flow into the body of the engine via a radiator, a bypass passage for causing cooling medium flowing out from the body of the engine to flow into the body of the engine without flowing via the radiator, and a control valve for controlling a flow rate of cooling medium flowing through the bypass passage; causing the cooling medium to flow through a heat-accumulating passage that is provided with a heat-accumulating container for storing the cooling medium in a thermally insulated state and that constitutes a heat-accumulating circuit for causing the cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to circulate via the body of the engine by being selectively connected to the cooling circuit; completing the heat-accumulating circuit by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit to supply the cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to the body of the engine and opening the control valve to increase a flow rate of cooling medium flowing through the bypass passage; and disconnecting the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit and closing the control valve after opening the control valve. 18. The cooling method according to claim 17, whereinthe control valve is opened before an operation of starting the engine, and the control valve is closed immediately after the engine has been started. 19. The cooling method according to claim 17, whereinthe cooling circuit is so constructed as to further include a throttle passage for causing cooling medium flowing out from the body of the engine to flow into the body of the engine via a throttle body, and a throttle open-close valve for opening and closing the throttle passage, and the throttle open-close valve is opened in supplying cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to the body of the engine through the heat-accumulating circuit by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit, and is closed in disconnecting the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit. 20. The cooling method according to claim 17, whereinthe cooling circuit is so constructed as to further include a heater passage for causing cooling medium flowing out from the body of the engine to flow into the body of the engine via a heater core, and a heater open-close valve for opening and closing the heater passage, and the heater open-close value is opened in supplying cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container to the body of the body through the heat-accumulating circuit by connecting the heat-accumulating passage to the cooling circuit, and is closed in disconnecting the heat-accumulating passage from the cooling circuit. 21. The cooling method according to claim 17, whereinthe heat-accumulating passage is prohibited from being connected to the cooling circuit if cooling medium in the heat-accumulating container is at a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature.