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US 12,312,993 B2Granted
Two zone radiator cooling system
AssigneeVolvo Car Corporation
InventorHans Erik Olsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is to utilize one radiator instead of two to cool two separate vehicle cooling systems. The main embodiment is a single radiator cooling system that partitions the physical radiator into two separate surface areas that are dedicated for each of the two respective circuits. A processor can control an actuator that drives a screw and plunger mechanism to push and pull a plunger. The plunger separates the two surface areas so as the plunger is moved, a corresponding surface area is increased or decreased for a cooling circuit. An increase in the surface area can provide more cooling for that circuit as the fluid has more core area to travel through. Temperature sensors can provide data to a processor that can adjust the actuator to provide cooling relief to the circuit where its most required.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a radiator comprising an actuator, an input tank, an output tank that is parallel to the input tank, and a core between the input tank and the output tank,
- wherein the input tank comprises a first input spigot and a second input spigot, wherein the first input spigot and second input spigot are respectively located closer to opposite ends of the input tank,
- wherein the output tank comprises a first output spigot and a second output spigot, wherein the first output spigot and second output spigot are respectively located closer to opposite ends of the output tank,
- wherein the core comprises tubes respectively connecting the input tank and the output tank at different positions along respective lengths of the input tank and output tank,
- wherein the input tank comprises first plunger inside the input tank, wherein the first plunger is connected to a first screw connecting mechanism configured to move the first plunger up and down at least a portion of the length of the input tank,
- wherein the output tank comprises second plunger inside the output tank, wherein the second plunger is connected to a second screw connecting mechanism configured to move the second plunger up and down at least a portion of the length of the output tank,
- wherein the first screw connecting mechanism and the second screw connecting mechanism are connected to a gear and shaft mechanism configured to synchronously drive the first screw connecting mechanism and the second screw connecting mechanism;
- a first cooling circuit with comprising a first 3-way valve and a first temperature sensor, wherein the first cooling circuit is connected to the radiator via the first input spigot and the first output spigot;
- a second cooling circuit connected to the radiator via the second input spigot and the second output spigot;
- an actuator configured to drive the gear and shaft mechanism;
- and
- a controller configured to control the actuator to position the first plunger and second plunger in corresponding positions within the input tank and the output tank to adjust respective amounts of fluid flowing through the core directed to the first output spigot and the second output spigot based on a temperature reading of the first temperature sensor.
9 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a cooling system, comprising:
- a radiator comprising an actuator, an input tank, an output tank that is parallel to the input tank, and a core between the input tank and the output tank,
- wherein the input tank comprises a first input spigot and a second input spigot, wherein the first input spigot and second input spigot are respectively located closer to opposite ends of the input tank,
- wherein the output tank comprises a first output spigot and a second output spigot, wherein the first output spigot and second output spigot are respectively located closer to opposite ends of the output tank,
- wherein the core comprises tubes respectively connecting the input tank and the output tank at different positions along respective lengths of the input tank and output tank,
- wherein the input tank comprises first plunger inside the input tank, wherein the first plunger is connected to a first screw connecting mechanism configured to move the first plunger up and down at least a portion of the length of the input tank,
- wherein the output tank comprises second plunger inside the output tank, wherein the second plunger is connected to a second screw connecting mechanism configured to move the second plunger up and down at least a portion of the length of the output tank,
- wherein the first screw connecting mechanism and the second screw connecting mechanism are connected to a gear and shaft mechanism configured to synchronously drive the first screw connecting mechanism and the second screw connecting mechanism;
- a first cooling circuit comprising a first 3-way valve and a first temperature sensor, wherein the first cooling circuit is connected to the radiator via the first input spigot and the first output spigot;
- a second cooling circuit connected to the radiator via the second input spigot and the second output spigot;
- an actuator configured to drive the gear and shaft mechanism;
- and
- a controller configured to control the actuator to position the first plunger and second plunger in corresponding positions within the input tank and the output tank to adjust respective amounts of fluid flowing through the core directed to the first output spigot and the second output spigot based on a temperature reading of the first temperature sensor.
10 more elements
A method, comprising:
- obtaining, by a processor of a system, a temperature reading from a temperature sensor of a cooling system, wherein the cooling system comprises:
- a radiator comprising an actuator, an input tank, an output tank that is parallel to the input tank, and a core between the input tank and the output tank,
- wherein the input tank comprises a first input spigot and a second input spigot, wherein the first input spigot and second input spigot are respectively located closer to opposite ends of the input tank,
- wherein the output tank comprises a first output spigot and a second output spigot, wherein the first output spigot and second output spigot are respectively located closer to opposite ends of the output tank,
- wherein the core comprises tubes respectively connecting the input tank and the output tank at different positions along respective lengths of the input tank and output tank,
- wherein the input tank comprises first plunger inside the input tank, wherein the first plunger is connected to a first screw connecting mechanism configured to move the first plunger up and down at least a portion of the length of the input tank,
- wherein the output tank comprises second plunger inside the output tank, wherein the second plunger is connected to a second screw connecting mechanism configured to move the second plunger up and down at least a portion of the length of the output tank,
- wherein the first screw connecting mechanism and the second screw connecting mechanism are connected to a gear and shaft mechanism configured to synchronously drive the first screw connecting mechanism and the second screw connecting mechanism;
- a first cooling circuit comprising a first 3-way valve and the temperature sensor, wherein the first cooling circuit is connected to the radiator via the first input spigot and the first output spigot;
- a second cooling circuit connected to the radiator via the second input spigot and the second output spigot;
- and
- an actuator configured to drive the gear and shaft mechanism;
- and
- controlling, by the processor, the actuator to position the first plunger and second plunger in corresponding positions within the input tank and the output tank to adjust respective amounts of fluid flowing through the core directed to the first output spigot and the second output spigot based on the temperature reading of the temperature sensor.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.