Engine thermal management device assembly having an engine accessory mounting bracket

{
  "publication_number": "US11078823B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Engine thermal management device assembly having an engine accessory mounting bracket",
  "abstract": "An engine assembly having a thermal management device assembly is disclosed. The engine assembly includes an engine having an internal coolant passageway having at least one coolant port. The thermal management device assembly includes a rotary valve unit mounted on an engine accessory mounting bracket. The engine accessory mounting bracket includes an upper mounting platform having a mounting surface extending between an exterior face and an interior face of the mounting bracket, and at least one fluid channel extending through the mounting bracket from the mounting surface to the interior surface. The rotary valve unit is mounted onto the upper mounting platform. The at least one fluid channel of the engine accessory mount provides fluid communication between the coolant port of the internal coolant passageway of the engine and a valve port of the rotary valve unit.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An engine assembly comprising: an engine including an internal coolant passageway having a first coolant port, wherein the engine defines an exterior face; an engine accessory mounting bracket attached to the exterior face of the engine, wherein the engine accessory mounting bracket comprises a first fluid channel; and a rotary valve unit mounted on the engine accessory bracket, wherein the rotary valve unit comprises a first valve port; and wherein: the first fluid channel of the engine accessory mounting bracket provides fluid communication between the first coolant port of the internal coolant passageway of the engine and the first valve port of the rotary valve unit, the engine accessory mounting bracket includes an upper base portion defining an upper mounting surface, the rotary valve unit is mounted onto the upper mounting surface, the first fluid channel of the engine accessory mounting bracket extends to the upper mounting surface and in direct fluid communication with the first valve port of the rotary valve unit, the engine accessory mounting bracket includes an engine mounting surface mounted on the exterior face of the engine, the first fluid channel of the engine accessory mount bracket extends from the upper mounting surface to the engine mounting surface and in fluid communication with the first coolant port of the internal coolant passageway of the engine; and the engine assembly further comprising: a first gasket sandwiched between the upper mounting surface of the engine accessory mounting bracket and the rotary valve unit; and a second gasket sandwiched between the engine mounting surface of the engine accessory mounting bracket and the exterior face of the engine.",
    "2. The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein: the internal coolant passageway of the engine further comprises a second coolant port; the engine accessory mounting bracket further comprises a second fluid channel; and the rotary valve unit further comprises a second valve port; and wherein the second fluid channel of the engine accessory mounting bracket provides fluid communication between the second coolant port of the internal coolant passageway of the engine and the second valve port of the rotary valve unit.",
    "3. The engine assembly of claim 2, wherein: the internal coolant passageway of the engine further comprises a third coolant port; wherein the engine accessory mounting bracket further comprises a third fluid channel; and the rotary valve unit further comprises a third valve port; wherein the third fluid channel of the engine accessory mounting bracket provides fluid communication between the third coolant port of the internal coolant passageway of the engine and the third valve port of the rotary valve unit.",
    "4. The engine assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pulley rotatably attached to the engine accessory mounting bracket.",
    "5. The engine assembly of claim 4, wherein the pulley is an electronically actuated clutch pulley configured to selectively rotate a cooling fan.",
    "6. The engine assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one of an idler pulley and a belt tensioner mounted on the engine accessory mounting bracket.",
    "7. An engine accessory mounting bracket for thermal management of an engine, comprising: an exterior surface defining an exterior face configured to support a belt driven engine accessory; an interior surface defining an interior face opposite of the exterior face, wherein the interior face is configured to mount onto an exterior face of the engine; a mounting platform having a mounting surface extending between the exterior face and the interior face; and a least one fluid channel extending through the engine accessory mounting bracket from the mounting surface to the interior surface.",
    "8. The engine accessory mounting bracket of claim 7, wherein the mounting platform is located on an upper portion of the engine accessory mounting bracket.",
    "9. The engine accessory mounting bracket of claim 8, further comprising a cylindrical internal surface defining a bore hole through the engine accessory mounting bracket between the exterior surface and interior surface.",
    "10. The engine accessory mounting bracket of claim 9, wherein the exterior surface defines an annular collar surrounding the bore hole.",
    "11. The engine accessory mounting bracket of claim 10, wherein the exterior surface defines a plurality of radial ribs extending from the annular collar and at least one annular rib concentric with the annular collar intersecting integrally with the radial ribs.",
    "12. The engine accessory mounting bracket of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of support arms having a plurality of through-holes extending there-through from the exterior surface to the interior surface, wherein the plurality of through-holes are sized to receive mounting bolts.",
    "13. The engine accessory mounting bracket of claim 12, wherein the interior surface defines a boss surrounding at least one of the through-holes extending from the support arms, wherein the boss is configured to off-set the interior face of the accessory mount bracket from an exterior face of an engine.",
    "14. A thermal management device assembly for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an engine accessory mounting bracket including: an exterior surface defining an exterior face configured to support a belt driven engine accessory, an interior surface defining an interior face opposite of the exterior face, wherein the interior face is configured to mount onto an exterior face of an engine, a mounting platform having a valve unit mounting surface extending between the exterior face and the interior face, and a first fluid channel extending through the engine accessory mounting bracket from the valve unit mounting surface to the interior surface; and a rotary valve unit mounted onto the valve unit mounting surface of the mounting platform of the engine accessory mounting bracket, wherein the rotary valve unit comprises a first valve port in fluid communication with the first fluid channel.",
    "15. The thermal management device assembly of claim 14, wherein: the engine accessory mounting bracket further comprises a second fluid channel and a third fluid channel extending through the engine accessory mounting bracket from the valve mounting surface to an engine mounting surface on the interior surface; and the rotary valve unit includes a second coolant port in fluid communication with the second fluid channel and a third coolant port in fluid communication with the third fluid channel.",
    "16. The thermal management device assembly of claim 15, wherein the engine accessory mounting bracket further comprises a fan clutch assembly mounted onto the exterior face."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to an engine thermal management device assembly having a mounting bracket for an engine accessory, more particularly to an engine accessory mounting bracket having integral features for engine thermal management.\n\nThe trend in modern internal combustion engine designs is toward smaller displacement engines that provides power output capabilities similar to those of larger displacement engines while offering fuel efficiency in a lightweight and compact package. Engine technologies such as force induction, cylinder set strategy (CSS) architecture, Active Fuel Management (AFM), Spark Ignited Direct Injection (SIDI), Dual Overhead Camshafts (DOHC), and Variable Valve Timing (WT) are used to extract as much power as possible from smaller displacement engines on an as needed basis for a motor vehicle. However, the use of such technologies generate excess heat that needs to be managed in order to maintain the operating temperatures of the smaller displacement engines within an optimal range.\n\nActive Thermal Management Cooling (ATMC) systems are used to control the coolant temperature circulating through coolant passageways defined within the engine by removing heat from areas to avoid thermal stress and sending heat where it is needed to reduce friction. As a result, cold start friction is reduced while combustion efficiency and exhaust cooling is enhanced during warm engine operation. ATMC systems are also used to heat the passenger compartment while also cooling the transmission of the vehicle.",
  "cpc": [
    "F01P 3/02",
    "B60K 11/02",
    "B60K 5/12",
    "F01P 11/00",
    "F01P 2003/027",
    "F01P 2007/146",
    "F01P 2060/045",
    "F01P 2060/08",
    "F01P 3/20",
    "F01P 5/04",
    "F01P 5/12",
    "F01P 7/16"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F01P 3/02",
    "F01P 5/12"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "GM Global Technology Operations LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Patrizio Sciacca"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-02-05",
  "publication_date": "2021-08-03",
  "grant_date": "2021-08-03",
  "priority_date": "2020-02-05",
  "application_number": "US-202016782756-A",
  "family_id": "76853625",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
  "citations": [
    "US2056684A",
    "US2140503A",
    "US2261567A",
    "US2354305A",
    "US2730089A",
    "US2989955A",
    "US4662320A",
    "US6308677B1",
    "US20120107145A1",
    "US20150354436A1"
  ]
}