# US 10,479,168 B2 · System and method for controlling coolant flow through a heater core of a vehicle to increase an engine auto-stop period > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,168 B2 - Document ID: US10479168B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/489,970 - Filed: 2017-04-18 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-18 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Aaron P. Running; Steven R. Baldwin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479168B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/00764: {the input being a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed (B60H1/00828, B60H1/00864 take precedence)} - B60H 1/00485: {Valves for air-conditioning devices, e.g. thermostatic valves} - B60H 1/00778: {the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping} - B60H 1/00885: {Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps (B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485)} - B60H 1/00892: {Devices specially adapted for avoiding uncomfortable feeling, e.g. sudden temperature changes (B60H1/00885 takes precedence)} - B60H 1/02: the heat being derived from the propulsion plant - B60H 1/039: {from air leaving the interior of the vehicle, i.e. heat recovery} - F01P 3/20: Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine (F01P3/22 takes precedence) - F02N 11/0803: {characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop (F02N11/0814 takes precedence)} - F02N 11/0814: {comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop} - B60H 1/00835: {Damper doors, e.g. position control (construction or arrangement of damper doors B60H1/00664; B60H1/00864 takes precedence)} - F01P 2007/146: {using valves} - F01P 2031/30: Cooling after the engine is stopped - F01P 2060/08: Cabin heater - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - F01P: COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with cooling of propulsion units in vehicles B60K11/00; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00; {cooling of gas-turbine engines F02C7/12}; heat exchange in general, radiators F28) - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A system according to the present disclosure includes a start-stop module, a bypass valve control module, and a flapper valve control module. The start-stop module is configured to stop an engine of a vehicle independent of an ignition system of the vehicle. The bypass valve control module is configured to adjust a bypass valve to a bypass position to prevent engine coolant from flowing from the engine to a heater core of the vehicle when the engine is stopped independent of the ignition system. The flapper valve control module is configured to control a flapper valve to adjust an amount of airflow from an evaporator of the vehicle to a cabin of the vehicle through the heater core. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a start-stop module configured to automatically stop an engine of a vehicle; a bypass valve control module configured to adjust a bypass valve to a bypass position in response to the engine being automatically stopped, wherein adjusting the bypass valve to the bypass position causes engine coolant to bypass a heater core of the vehicle while allowing engine coolant to circulate through the engine; and a flapper valve control module configured to control a flapper valve to adjust an amount of airflow from an evaporator of the vehicle to a cabin of the vehicle through the heater core. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the bypass valve control module is configured to adjust the bypass valve to the bypass position based on at least one of an operating state of the engine, an outside air temperature, an engine coolant temperature, and a climate control mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the bypass valve control module is configured to adjust the bypass valve to the bypass position when the outside air temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the bypass valve control module is configured to adjust the bypass valve to the bypass position when the engine coolant temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the engine coolant temperature is measured in at least one of the heater core and a coolant line extending between the bypass valve and the heater core. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the bypass valve control module is configured to adjust the bypass valve to the bypass position when the engine is running if at least one of the outside air temperature, the engine coolant temperature, and the climate control mode satisfy a predetermined criteria. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising the bypass valve, wherein the bypass valve includes: a first inlet port that receives coolant from the engine; a first outlet port that discharges coolant to the heater core; a first flow path extending from the first inlet port to the first outlet port; a second inlet port that receives coolant from the heater core; a second outlet port that discharges coolant to the engine; a second flow path extending from the second inlet port to the second outlet port; and a first door that is adjustable between a first position and a second position, the first door preventing fluid communication between the first and second flow paths when the first door is in the first position, the first door interrupting the first flow path by preventing fluid communication between the first inlet port and the first outlet port when the first door is in the second position, wherein the bypass valve control module is configured to adjust the bypass valve to the bypass position by adjusting the first door to the second position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7 wherein the bypass valve includes a second door that is adjustable between a first position and a second position, the second door preventing fluid communication between the first and second flow paths when the second door is in the first position, the second door interrupting the second flow path by preventing fluid communication between the second inlet port and the second outlet port when the first door is in the second position, wherein the bypass valve control module is configured to adjust the bypass valve to the bypass position by adjusting the first and second door to their respective second positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein the bypass valve includes: a first connection between the first and second flow paths, the first connection being located closer to the first inlet port than the first outlet port and closer to the second outlet port than to the second inlet port; and a second connection between the first and second flow paths, the second connection being located closer to the first outlet port than the first inlet port and closer to the second inlet port than to the second outlet port, wherein the first and second doors are disposed between the first and second connections when the first and second doors are in their respective second positions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the flapper valve control module is configured to control the flapper valve to direct all of the airflow from the evaporator to the cabin through the heater core when the engine is automatically stopped. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: automatically stopping an engine of a vehicle; adjusting a bypass valve to a bypass position in response to the engine being automatically stopped, wherein adjusting the bypass valve to the bypass position causes engine coolant to bypass a heater core of the vehicle while allowing engine coolant to circulate through the engine; and controlling a flapper valve to adjust an amount of airflow from an evaporator of the vehicle to a cabin of the vehicle through the heater core. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising adjusting the bypass valve to the bypass position based on at least one of an operating state of the engine, an outside air temperature, an engine coolant temperature, and a climate control mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising adjusting the bypass valve to the bypass position when the outside air temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising adjusting the bypass valve to the bypass position when the engine coolant temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the engine coolant temperature is measured in at least one of the heater core and a coolant line extending between the bypass valve and the heater core. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising adjusting the bypass valve to the bypass position when the engine is running if at least one of the outside air temperature, the engine coolant temperature, and the climate control mode satisfy a predetermined criteria. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the bypass valve includes: a first inlet port that receives coolant from the engine; a first outlet port that discharges coolant to the heater core; a first flow path extending from the first inlet port to the first outlet port; a second inlet port that receives coolant from the heater core; a second outlet port that discharges coolant to the engine; a second flow path extending from the second inlet port to the second outlet port; and a first door that is adjustable between a first position and a second position, the first door preventing fluid communication between the first and second flow paths when the first door is in the first position, the first door interrupting the first flow path by preventing fluid communication between the first inlet port and the first outlet port when the first door is in the second position, wherein the bypass valve is adjusted to the bypass position by adjusting the first door to the second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the bypass valve includes a second door that is adjustable between a first position and a second position, the second door preventing fluid communication between the first and second flow paths when the second door is in the first position, the second door interrupting the second flow path by preventing fluid communication between the second inlet port and the second outlet port when the first door is in the second position, wherein the bypass valve is adjusted to the bypass position by adjusting the first and second door to their respective second positions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the bypass valve includes: a first connection between the first and second flow paths, the first connection being located closer to the first inlet port than the first outlet port and closer to the second outlet port than to the second inlet port; and a second connection between the first and second flow paths, the second connection being located closer to the first outlet port than the first inlet port and closer to the second inlet port than to the second outlet port, wherein the first and second doors are disposed between the first and second connections when the first and second doors are in their respective second positions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising controlling the flapper valve to direct all of the airflow from the evaporator to the cabin through the heater core when the engine is automatically stopped independent.