Method and system for detecting thermostat failure in an engine cooling system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorJeffrey Joseph Speichinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for thermostat failure detection in an engine cooling system is provided. The engine cooling system includes a coolant pump and a thermostat for providing a coolant flow between an engine and a radiator. The method includes determining one or more engine parameters. Further, a pressure difference between a coolant pump inlet pressure and a coolant pump outlet pressure is determined corresponding to the one or more engine parameters. The thermostat failure is detected when the determined pressure difference is outside a predefined range of pressure change defined corresponding to the determined one or more engine parameters.
Claims18
A method for detecting thermostat failure in an engine cooling system, the engine cooling system having a coolant pump and a thermostat for providing a coolant flow between an engine and a radiator, the method comprising:
- determining one or more engine parameters;
- determining a pressure difference between a coolant pump outlet pressure and a coolant pump inlet pressure corresponding to the determined one or more engine parameters;
- and
- detecting the thermostat failure when the determined pressure difference is outside a predefined range of pressure change defined corresponding to the determined one or more engine parameters.
A control system for detecting thermostat failure in an engine cooling system, the engine cooling system having a coolant pump and a thermostat for providing coolant flow between an engine and a radiator, the control system comprising:
- a first pressure sensor associated with a coolant pump outlet and configured to monitor a coolant pump outlet pressure;
- a second pressure sensor associated with a coolant pump inlet and configured to monitor a coolant pump inlet pressure;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, the controller being configured to:
- determine one or more engine parameters;
- determine a pressure difference between the coolant pump outlet pressure and the coolant pump inlet pressure corresponding to the determined one or more engine parameters;
- and
- detect the thermostat failure when the determined pressure difference is outside a predefined range of pressure change defined for the determined one or more engine parameters.
An engine cooling system for an engine, the engine cooling system comprising:
- a radiator;
- a coolant pump configured to circulate coolant through the engine and the radiator;
- a thermostat configured to regulate coolant flow between the engine and the radiator based on one or more engine parameters;
- and
- a control system comprising:
- a first pressure sensor associated with a coolant pump outlet and configured to monitor a coolant pump outlet pressure;
- a second pressure sensor associated with a coolant pump inlet and configured to monitor a coolant pump inlet pressure;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, the controller being configured to:
- determine one or more engine parameters;
- determine a pressure difference between the coolant pump outlet pressure and the coolant pump inlet pressure corresponding to the determined one or more engine parameters;
- and
- detect the thermostat failure when the determined pressure difference is outside a predefined range of pressure change defined for the determined one or more engine parameters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.