Vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly
AssigneeElectricfil Corporation
InventorsDavid A. Clark, Mengying Luo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly for use in an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or an electric vehicle. The coolant flow sensor includes a dual coil magnetic flow meter or the like for measuring coolant flow rate and the coolant quality sensor includes a sealed hot wire anemometer or the like and an integrated temperature sensor or the like for measuring coolant quality (e.g., ability to absorb heat) and coolant temperature, respectively. The various sensors are disposed in an integrated housing through which coolant is transported.
Claims20
A vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly, comprising:
- a housing defining a coolant flow channel communicating coolant from a first port to a second port;
- a coolant flow sensor disposed partially within the coolant flow channel and contacting the coolant, wherein the coolant flow sensor is operable for measuring flow of the coolant;
- and
- a coolant quality sensor disposed partially within the coolant flow channel and contacting the coolant, wherein the coolant quality sensor is operable for measuring ability to absorb heat of the coolant;
- wherein the coolant flow sensor and the coolant quality sensor are each partially disposed conformally within a widened portion of the housing adjacent to the coolant flow channel.
A method for providing a vehicle coolant flow and coolant quality sensor assembly, comprising:
- providing a housing defining a coolant flow channel communicating coolant from a first port to a second port;
- providing a coolant flow sensor disposed partially within the coolant flow channel and contacting the coolant, wherein the coolant flow sensor is operable for measuring flow of the coolant;
- providing a coolant quality sensor disposed partially within the coolant flow channel and contacting the coolant, wherein the coolant quality sensor is operable for measuring ability to absorb heat of the coolant;
- and
- disposing the housing in a cooling and thermal management system of a vehicle;
- wherein the coolant flow sensor and the coolant quality sensor are each partially disposed conformally within a widened portion of the housing adjacent to the coolant flow channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.