Heater Core Isolation Valve Position Detection
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorAngel Fernando Porras
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle is disclosed that has multiple coolant paths selected by control of a three-way valve in which the position of the valve is detectable. A method for detecting the valve position during fault conditions is disclosed. The vehicle has a heating system that includes a first coolant loop with a heating source, a water pump, and a heater core. The heating system also has a second coolant loop that includes an engine and a second water pump, in addition to the elements of the first coolant loop. Temperature sensors are located in each coolant loop. A three-way valve fault is detected by monitoring the behavior of the temperature sensors in response to the position of the three-way valve and the status of the heating sources.
Claims17
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- a heat exchanger configured to heat a cabin of the vehicle;
- an electric heater configured to heat coolant for the heat exchanger;
- and
- a valve system, including a valve, configured to selectively direct coolant from the engine to the heat exchanger and to detect a position of the valve based on a temperature of coolant entering the heat exchanger and a temperature of coolant exiting the engine.
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- a heat exchanger configured to heat a cabin of the vehicle;
- an electric heater configured to heat coolant for the heat exchanger;
- and
- a valve system including a valve configured to selectively direct coolant from the engine to the electric heater and to detect a position of the valve based on a change in temperature of coolant exiting the electric heater relative to a change in temperature of coolant exiting the engine.
A method of detecting a valve position comprising:
- activating a pump to circulate coolant;
- commanding the valve to direct coolant through a heating source and fluidly isolate the heating source from an engine;
- activating the heating source;
- and
- in response to the steps of activating and commanding, outputting a signal indicative of a position of the valve based on a change in coolant temperature associated with the heating source and a change in coolant temperature associated with the engine when the engine is off.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.