Claims:CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A coolant flow configuration 10 for a vehicle, the coolant flow configuration 10 comprising, an integrated lubrication and cooling module 100 having,
a thermostat 110 adapted to receive a coolant from a radiator R, a degassing tank D and a cabin heater H;
an oil cooler 106 adapted to discharge the coolant to the thermostat 110;
a coolant pump 108 adapted to receive the coolant from the thermostat 110 adapted to receive the coolant from the radiator R, the degassing tank D, the cabin heater H and the oil cooler 106 when the thermostat 110 is in an open position; and
a housing 102 adapted to receive the coolant from an engine, the oil cooler 106, the cabin heater H and the degassing tank D to allow the coolant from the housing 102 to flow to the coolant pump 108 through the housing 102 when the thermostat 110 is in a closed position.
2. A coolant flow method 20 in a vehicle, the coolant flow method 20 comprising:
providing a coolant flow configuration 10 comprising an integrated lubrication and cooling module 100 having a housing 102, an oil filter 104, an oil cooler 106, a coolant pump 108, a thermostat 110 and a thermostat cap 112;
providing a coolant from a radiator R, a degassing tank D, a cabin heater H and the oil cooler 106 to flow to the thermostat 110 of the integrated lubrication and cooling module 100;
allowing the coolant from the thermostat 110 to flow to the coolant pump 108 through the housing 102 when the thermostat 110 is in an open position;
providing the coolant from an engine, the degassing tank D, the cabin heater H and the oil cooler 106 to flow to the coolant pump 108 through the housing 102 when the thermostat 110 is in a closed position; and
allowing the coolant from the coolant pump 108 to flow to the oil cooler 106, an EGR cooler E and a cylinder block B of the engine through the housing 102.
3. The coolant flow method 20 as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a method step of allowing the coolant from the cylinder block B of the engine to flow to a cylinder head C of the engine.
4. The coolant flow method 20 as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a method step of allowing the coolant from the cylinder head C of the engine to flow to the cabin heater H and the degassing tank D.
5. A coolant flow method 20 in a vehicle, the coolant flow method 20 comprising:
providing a coolant flow configuration 10 comprising an integrated lubrication and cooling module 100 having a housing 102, an oil filter 104, an oil cooler 106, a coolant pump 108, a thermostat 110 and a thermostat cap 112;
providing a coolant from a radiator R, a degassing tank D, a cabin heater H and the oil cooler 106 to flow to the thermostat 110 of the integrated lubrication and cooling module 100;
allowing the coolant from the thermostat 110 to flow to the coolant pump 108 through the housing 102 when the thermostat 110 is in an open position;
providing the coolant from an engine, the degassing tank D, the cabin heater H and the oil cooler 106 to flow to the coolant pump 108 through the housing 102 when the thermostat 110 is in a closed position; and
allowing the coolant from the coolant pump 108 to flow to the oil cooler 106 and a cylinder block B of the engine through the housing 102.
6. The coolant flow method 20 as claimed in claim 5, wherein the method step of allowing the coolant from the coolant pump 108 to flow to the oil cooler 106 and the cylinder block B of the engine comprises a method step of allowing the coolant from the coolant pump 108 to flow to an EGR cooler E through the housing 102.
7. The coolant flow method 20 as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a method step of allowing the coolant from the cylinder block B of the engine to flow to a cylinder head C of the engine.
8. The coolant flow method 20 as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a method step of allowing the coolant from the cylinder head C of the engine to flow to the cabin heater H and the degassing tank D
, Description:CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[001] This application is a patent of addition of application number 5877/CHE/2015 titled “integrated lubrication and cooling module for an engine” filed on 30th October 2015.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The embodiments herein generally relate to cooling systems in vehicles and more particularly, but not exclusively to coolant flow configuration and method for coolant flow in vehicles

BACKGROUND
[003] Generally, a cooling system in a vehicle is used to remove heat generated in corresponding portions of the vehicle. Conventional cooling system and method for coolant flow in the vehicle incorporates a water pump that is mounted externally to a top portion of a cylinder block of an engine and is used to circulate a coolant to the engine, an oil cooler, a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system, a degassing tank, a EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) cooler and a radiator. The coolant flow in the aforementioned cooling system and method involves usage of longer length hoses/pipes for circulation of coolant from the water pump to corresponding devices thereby increasing the coolant flow passage to the corresponding devices which in turn leads to usage of higher capacity water pump so as to meet the coolant requirements of the engine, the oil cooler, the radiator, the EGR cooler and the HVAC system. The usage of higher capacity water pump in the vehicle increases an overall weight of the vehicle and also leads to increased power consumption by the water pump thereby resulting in increased fuel consumption of the vehicle. Further, the aforementioned cooling system and coolant flow method is complex in design and the coolant flow rate to the engine is higher.
[004] Therefore, there exists a need for a coolant flow configuration and a method for coolant flow in a vehicle, which eliminates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a coolant flow configuration in a vehicle, which facilitates usage of reduced capacity coolant pump thereby enabling reduced power consumption by the coolant pump and reduced fuel consumption of the vehicle.
[006] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a coolant flow method in a vehicle, which facilitates usage of reduced capacity coolant pump thereby enabling reduced power consumption by the coolant pump and reduced fuel consumption of the vehicle.
[007] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[008] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[009] FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of an integrated lubrication and cooling module of a coolant flow configuration in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0010] FIG. 2 depicts another exploded view of the integrated lubrication and cooling module of the coolant flow configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0011] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the integrated lubrication and cooling module of the coolant flow configuration, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0012] FIG. 4 depicts a schematic layout of coolant flow configuration in the vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0013] FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart showing the steps of a method for coolant flow in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0015] The embodiments herein achieve a coolant flow configuration in a vehicle, which facilitates usage of reduced capacity coolant pump thereby enabling reduced power consumption by the coolant pump and reduced fuel consumption of the vehicle. Further, embodiments herein achieve a coolant flow method in a vehicle, which facilitates usage of reduced capacity coolant pump thereby enabling reduced power consumption by the coolant pump and reduced fuel consumption of the vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of an integrated lubrication and cooling module 100 of a coolant flow configuration 10 in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the vehicle (not shown) includes a coolant flow configuration 10 (as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2, fig. 3 and fig. 4), an engine (not shown), a cabin heater H (as shown in fig. 4), an exhaust gas re-circulation (hereinafter EGR) cooler E (as shown in fig. 4), a de-gassing tank D (as shown in fig. 4) and a radiator R (as shown in fig. 4).
[0017] In an embodiment, the coolant flow configuration 10 includes an integrated lubrication and cooling module 100 (as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2, fig. 3 and fig. 4). The integrated lubrication and cooling module 100 is connected to a cylinder block B (as shown in fig. 4) of the engine (not shown). In an embodiment, the integrated lubrication and cooling module 100 includes a housing 102 (as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 3), an oil filter 104 (as shown in fig. 1, fig. 2 and fig. 3), an oil cooler 106 (as shown in fig. 1), a coolant pump 108 (as shown in fig. 2), a thermostat 110 (as shown in fig. 1), a thermostat cap 112 (as shown in fig. 1 and fig. 3), a pulley P (as shown in fig. 2) and a plurality of sealing elements (not shown).
[0018] In an embodiment, the housing 102 is configured for mounting the oil filter 104, the oil cooler 106, the coolant pump 108 and the thermostat cap 112. In an embodiment, the housing 102 includes an oil filter opening 102a (as shown in fig. 1), a coolant pump opening 102b (as shown in fig. 2), a thermostat opening 102c (as shown in fig. 1), at least one oil inlet 102d (as shown in fig. 3), at least one oil outlet 102e (as shown in fig. 3), at least one coolant inlet 102 f (as shown in fig. 3) and at least one coolant outlet 102g (as shown in fig. 3), at least one oil cooler oil inlet 102h (as shown in fig. 3), at least one oil cooler oil outlet 102i (as shown in fig. 3), at least one oil cooler coolant inlet 102j (as shown in fig. 3) and at least one oil cooler coolant outlet 102k (as shown in fig. 3). The oil filter opening 102a of the housing 102 is used to receive the oil filter 104. The coolant pump opening 102b of the housing 102 is used to receive the coolant pump 108. The thermostat opening 102c of the housing 102 is used to receive the thermostat 110. The oil inlet 102d of the housing 102 is used to facilitate entry of an oil (heated and contaminated oil) from a cylinder block B of the engine (not shown) to the housing 102 i.e., the oil inlet 102d of the housing 102 is used to receive the oil (heated and contaminated oil) from the cylinder block B of the engine (not shown) and the received oil in the housing 102 is thereafter provided to the oil cooler 106 for cooling the oil. The oil outlet 102e of the housing 102 is used to facilitate exit of the oil (cooled and filtered oil) from the housing 102 to the cylinder block B of the engine (not shown) i.e., the oil outlet 102e of the housing 102 is used to provide or allow flow of the oil (cooled and filtered oil) from the housing 102 to the cylinder block B of the engine (not shown). The coolant inlet 102f of the housing 102 is used to facilitate entry of a coolant from the cylinder block B of the engine (not shown) to the housing 102 when the thermostat 110 is in a closed position or during engine warm up condition or engine cold starting condition or when the engine (not shown) is operated in low temperature conditions i.e., the coolant inlet 102f of the housing 102 is used to receive the coolant from the cylinder block B of the engine (not shown) to the housing 102 when the thermostat 110 is in the closed position or during engine warm up condition or engine cold starting condition or when the engine (not shown) is operated in low temperature conditions. The coolant outlet 102g of the housing 102 is used to facilitate exit of the coolant (high pressure coolant) from the housing 102 to the cylinder block B of the engine (not shown) i.e., the coolant outlet 102g of the housing 102 is used to provide or allow flow of coolant (high pressure coolant) from the housing 102 to the cylinder block (not shown) of the engine (not shown). The oil cooler oil inlet 102h of the housing 102 is used to facilitate entry of the oil (heated and contaminated oil) from the housing 102 to the oil cooler 106 i.e., the oil cooler oil inlet 102h of the housing 102 is used to provide or allow the flow of the oil from the housing 102 to the oil cooler 106. The oil cooler oil outlet 102i of the housing 102 is used to facilitate exit of the oil (cooled and contaminated oil) from the oil cooler 106 to the housing 102 i.e., the oil cooler oil outlet 102i of the housing 102 is used to allow the flow the oil (cooled and contaminated oil) from the oil cooler 106 to the housing 102 and the oil (cooled and contaminated oil) received in the housing 102 is thereafter provided to the oil filter 102 for filtering the oil. The oil cooler coolant inlet 102j of the housing 102 is used to facilitate entry of the coolant (high pressure coolant) from the housing 102 to the oil cooler 106 i.e., the oil cooler coolant inlet 102j of the housing 102 is used to provide or allow the flow of coolant (high pressure coolant) from the housing 102 to the oil cooler 106 for cooling the oil (heated and contaminated oil) received in the oil cooler 106. The oil cooler coolant outlet 102k of the housing 102 is used to facilitate exit of the coolant from the oil cooler 106 to the housing 102 i.e., the oil cooler coolant outlet 102k of the housing 102 is used to allow the flow the coolant (warm coolant) from the oil cooler 106 to the housing 102. Further, the housing 102 may include a plurality of internal channels (not shown) to facilitate flow of the oil and the coolant.
[0019] The oil filter 104 is used to remove or filter contaminants in the oil (oil from engine). The oil filter 104 is connected to the housing 102 i.e., the oil filter 104 is received by the oil filter opening 102a of the housing 102. The oil filter 104 receives the oil (cooled and contaminated oil) from the housing 102 for filtering the oil and thereafter the oil (cooled and filtered oil) from the oil filter 104 is provided to the cylinder block (not shown) of the engine (not shown) through the oil outlet 102e of the housing 102.
[0020] The oil cooler 106 is used to extract or remove heat from the oil (oil from engine) for cooling the oil. The oil cooler 106 is connected to the housing 102. The oil cooler 106 receives the oil (heated and contaminated oil from engine) from the housing 102 through the oil cooler oil inlet 102h of the housing 102 for cooling the oil and thereafter the oil (cooled and contaminated oil) from the oil cooler 106 is provided to the oil filter 104 through the oil outlet 102e of the housing 102. Further, the oil cooler 106 receives coolant (high pressure coolant) from the housing 102 through the oil cooler coolant inlet 102j of the housing 102 for extracting the heat from the oil that is received in the oil cooler 106. Furthermore, the oil cooler 106 discharges the coolant (warm coolant) to the thermostat 110 through the oil cooler coolant outlet 102k of the housing 102.
[0021] The coolant pump 108 is used to circulate the coolant to the oil cooler 106, the engine (not shown), the cabin heater H, the degassing tank D, the EGR cooler E and the radiator R. The coolant pump 108 is connected to the housing 102 i.e., the coolant pump 108 is received by the coolant pump opening 102b of the housing 102. Further, the pulley P is connected to the coolant pump 108 and is driven by the engine (not shown) to drive the coolant pump 108.
[0022] The thermostat 110 is used to regulate flow of the coolant to the engine (not shown) to maintain minimum operating temperature for the engine (not shown). The thermostat 110 is connected to the housing 102 i.e., the thermostat 110 is received by the thermostat opening 102c of the housing 102. The thermostat 110 is provided in fluid communication with the radiator R, the degassing tank D and the cabin heater H. The thermostat 110 is configured to allow the coolant from the radiator R, the degassing tank D, the cabin heater H and the oil cooler 106 to flow to the coolant pump 108 through the housing 102 when the thermostat 110 is in an open position or when the engine (not shown) is operated in high temperature conditions. The open position of the thermostat 110 is defined as ‘when the engine (not shown) is operated in high temperature conditions’. The closed position of the thermostat 110 is defined as ‘when the engine (not shown) is in warm up condition or when the engine (not shown) is in cold starting condition or when the engine (not shown) is operated in low temperature conditions.
[0023] The thermostat cap 112 is used for housing/covering the thermostat 110. The thermostat cap 112 is mounted to the housing 102 by using a plurality of fasteners (not shown). However, it is also within the scope of the invention to mount the thermostat cap 112 to the housing 102 by using any other means without otherwise deterring the intended function of the thermostat cap 112 as can be deduced from the description.
[0024] The plurality of sealing elements (not shown) is used to prevent leakage of the oil and the coolant i.e., some sealing elements (not shown) are used to prevent leakage of the oil and the coolant between the housing 102 and the oil cooler 106 and other sealing elements (not shown) are used to prevent leakage of the oil and the coolant between the housing 102 and the cylinder block B of the engine (not shown). In an embodiment, each of sealing elements (not shown) is rubber seals. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any other sealing means to prevent leakage of the oil and the coolant without otherwise deterring the intended function of each of the sealing elements (not shown) as can be deduced from the description.
[0025] FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart showing the steps of a method 20 for coolant flow in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the method 20 for coolant flow in the vehicle is as follows, the coolant flow method 20 comprising, providing a coolant flow configuration 10 comprising an integrated lubrication and cooling module 100 having a housing 102, an oil filter 104, an oil cooler 106, a coolant pump 108, a thermostat 110 and a thermostat cap 112 step 22; providing a coolant from a radiator R, a degassing tank D, a cabin heater H and the oil cooler 106 to flow to the thermostat 110 of the integrated lubrication and cooling module 100 step 24; allowing the coolant from the thermostat 110 to flow to the coolant pump 108 through the housing 102 when the thermostat 110 is in an open position step 26; providing the coolant from an engine, the degassing tank D, the cabin heater H and the oil cooler 106 to flow to the coolant pump 108 through the housing 102 when the thermostat is in a closed position step 28; allowing the coolant from the coolant pump 108 to flow to the oil cooler 106, an EGR cooler E and a cylinder block B of the engine through the housing 102 step 30; allowing the coolant from the cylinder block B of the engine to flow to a cylinder head C of the engine step 32; and allowing the coolant from the cylinder head C of the engine to flow to the cabin heater H and the degassing tank D step 34.
[0026] The working of the coolant flow configuration 10 in conjunction with the method 20 for coolant flow in the vehicle is as follows. During operation of the engine (not shown) in high temperature condition or when the thermostat 110 is in open position, the coolant from the radiator R, the degassing tank D, the cabin heater H and the oil cooler 106 flows to the thermostat 110 and thereafter the coolant from the thermostat 110 flows to the coolant pump 108 through the housing 102 when the thermostat 110 is in open position. Thereafter, the coolant from the coolant pump 108 flows to the oil cooler 106, the engine (cylinder block B of the engine) and the EGR cooler E through the housing 102. The coolant received by the cylinder block B of the engine (not shown) from the coolant pump 108 flows to the cylinder head C of the engine (not shown) and thereafter the coolant from the cylinder head C of the engine (not shown) flows to the cabin heater H, the degassing tank D and the radiator R. During operation of the engine (not shown) in warm up condition or engine cold starting condition or when the engine (not shown) is operated in low temperature condition or when the thermostat 110 is in closed position, the coolant from the cylinder block B of the engine (not shown), the degassing tank D, the cabin heater H and the oil cooler 106 flows to the coolant pump 108 through the housing 102 when the thermostat 110 is in closed position. Thereafter, the coolant from coolant pump 108 flows to the oil cooler 106, the engine (cylinder block B of the engine) and the EGR cooler E through the housing 102. The coolant received by the cylinder block B of the engine (not shown) from the coolant pump 108 flows to the cylinder head C of the engine (not shown) and thereafter the coolant from the cylinder head C of the engine (not shown) flows to the cabin heater H, the degassing tank D and the radiator R. Therefore, a coolant flow configuration 10 and a coolant flow method 20 facilitating usage of reduced capacity coolant pump 108 is provided for a vehicle.
[0027] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.