Cold start feature for vehicle electronic pump
AssigneeMagna Electronics Inc.
InventorsOscar Flores-Bamaca, Kenneth J. Baize
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for starting a vehicle in cold temperatures includes a temperature sensor and a motor operable to drive at least one electrically operated pump to pump fluid. The motor provides a motor signal indicative of an operating condition of the motor. Responsive to (i) a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor being below a threshold level and (ii) the motor signal being indicative of a stall condition of the motor, the system enters a fluid heating mode. When operating in the fluid heating mode, the system generates heat in the windings of the motor and transfers heat from the motor to the fluid being pumped by the pump.
Claims20
A system for starting a vehicle in cold temperatures, said system comprising:
- a temperature sensor disposed at the vehicle;
- a motor operable to drive at least one electrically operated pump to pump fluid, wherein said motor provides a motor signal indicative of an operating condition of the motor;
- wherein, responsive to (i) a temperature sensed by said temperature sensor being below a threshold level and (ii) the motor signal being indicative of a stall condition of the motor, said system enters a fluid heating mode;
- and
- wherein, when operating in the fluid heating mode, said system generates heat in the windings of the motor to conductively transfer heat from the motor to the fluid being pumped by the pump.
A system for starting a vehicle in cold temperatures, said system comprising:
- a control unit;
- a temperature sensor disposed at the vehicle, wherein said temperature sensor senses a temperature at the vehicle and provides a temperature signal indicative of the sensed temperature;
- a motor operable to drive at least one electrically operated pump to pump fluid, wherein said motor provides a motor signal indicative of an operating condition of the motor;
- wherein said control unit, responsive to (i) the temperature signal being indicative of a sensed temperature being below a threshold level and (ii) the motor signal being indicative of a stall condition of the motor, said control enters a fluid heating mode;
- wherein, when operating in the fluid heating mode, said control unit applies current through the motor windings to generate heat, and wherein the generated heat is conductively transferred from the motor to the fluid being pumped by the pump;
- and
- wherein, after heat is conductively transferred to the fluid, said control unit operates in a startup mode to start the motor to pump the fluid.
A system for starting a vehicle in cold temperatures, said system comprising:
- a control unit;
- a temperature sensor disposed at the vehicle, wherein said temperature sensor senses a temperature at the vehicle and provides a temperature signal indicative of the sensed temperature;
- a motor operable to drive at least one electrically operated pump to pump transmission fluid for a transmission of the vehicle, wherein said motor provides a motor signal indicative of an operating condition of the motor;
- wherein said temperature sensor is operable to sense a temperature indicative of a fluid temperature of the fluid;
- wherein said control unit, responsive to (i) the temperature signal being indicative of a sensed temperature being below a threshold level and (ii) the motor signal being indicative of a stall condition of the motor, said control enters a fluid heating mode;
- wherein, when operating in the fluid heating mode, said control unit applies current through the motor windings to generate heat, and wherein the generated heat is conductively transferred from the motor to the transmission fluid being pumped by the pump;
- and
- wherein, after heat is conductively transferred to the fluid, said control unit operates in a startup mode to start the motor to pump the transmission fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.