Coolant controller and method for its manufacture
View Patent ↗A coolant controller for a coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine has a housing and a thermostat valve arranged therein. The thermostat valve has at least one valve closing member loadable by a working element as a function of a temperature value, a temperature sensor as well as a heating element for the working element. The housing is provided with at least one plug from which connecting lines extend to the temperature sensor. A current supply for the heating element is present. The plug, the temperature sensor, the connecting lines and the current supply for the heating element are provided as a pre-manufactured assembly and this assembly is integrated into the housing.
1. A coolant controller for a coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine, the coolant controller comprising:
a housing;
a thermostat valve arranged in the housing, wherein the thermostat valve comprises at least one valve closing member loadable by a working element as a function of a temperature value; a temperature sensor; and a heating element for the working element;
at least one plug provided on the housing;
connecting lines extending from the at least one plug to the temperature sensor;
a current supply for the heating element;
wherein the at least one plug, the temperature sensor, the connecting lines, and the current supply for the heating element are configured as a pre-manufactured assembly, wherein the assembly is integrated into the housing.
2. The coolant controller according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a sensor pill and a metal pipe wherein the sensor pill is arranged in the metal pipe in a heat-conducting way.
3. The coolant controller according to claim 2 , wherein the sensor pill is arranged at an end of the metal pipe.
4. The coolant controller according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is secured in a housing wall of the housing and projects from the housing wall into a coolant passage provided in the housing.
5. The coolant controller according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises also the heating element connected to the current supply.
6. The coolant controller according to claim 1 , wherein at one end of the current supply an additional plug is arranged and the additional plug is also a component of the assembly.
7. The coolant controller according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting lines and the current supply are comprised of flexible wires.
8. The coolant controller according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting lines and the current supply are comprised of rigid wires, bus bars, or flexible strips.
9. The coolant controller according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly is a shape-stable component of plastic material and the at least one plug is an integral part of the shape-stable component.
10. The coolant controller according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting lines and the current supply are connected to separate contacts of the at least one plug.
11. The coolant controller according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting lines and the current supply are connected to common contacts of the at least one plug.
12. A coolant controller for a coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine, the coolant controller comprising:
a housing;
a thermostat valve arranged in the housing, wherein the thermostat valve comprises at least one valve closing member; a temperature sensor; and a heating element;
a working element acted on by the heating element and loading the at least one valve closing member as a function of a temperature value;
at least one plug provided on the housing;
connecting lines extending from the at least one plug to the temperature sensor;
a current supply for the heating element;
wherein the at least one plug, the temperature sensor, the working element, the connecting lines, and the current supply for the heating element are configured as a pre-manufactured assembly that is complete with electrical connectors, wherein the assembly is integrated into the housing.
13. The coolant controller according to claim 12 , wherein the assembly comprises also the heating element connected to the current supply.
14. The coolant controller according to claim 12 , wherein at one end of the current supply an additional plug is arranged and the additional plug is also a component of the assembly.