System and method for controlling an engine cooling fan
AssigneeModine Manufacturing Company
InventorsMichael J. Kis, Derek R. Boom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method of operating a cooling system for a vehicle engine, wherein one or more motors are operable to rotate one or more fans. Each of the one or more motors is controlled by a motor controller associated with the motor, in response to a control signal received from a system controller and an enable signal received from the vehicle. The motor controller operates the motor at a speed based upon the control signal if the control signal is received, and operates the motor at a predetermined speed if the control signal is not received but the enable signal is received.
Claims20
A method of operating a cooling system for a vehicle engine, the cooling system including a motor operable to rotate a fan, the method comprising:
- determining if a control signal has been received;
- operating the motor to rotate the fan at a first speed if the control signal has been received, the first speed based on the control signal;
- and
- operating the motor to rotate the fan at a second speed if the control signal has not been received.
A method of operating a cooling system for a vehicle engine, the cooling system including a motor operable to rotate a fan, the method comprising:
- determining if a control signal has been received;
- operating the motor to rotate the fan at a first speed if the control signal has been received, the first speed based on the control signal;
- determining if an enable signal from a source separate from the source of the control signal has been received;
- and
- operating the motor to rotate the fan at a second speed if the enable signal has been received and the control signal has not been received.
A cooling system for a vehicle engine, the cooling system powered by a power source, the cooling system comprising:
- a heat exchanger;
- a system controller;
- a motor;
- a fan driven by the motor;
- and
- a motor controller electrically connected to the system controller, the power source, and the motor, the motor controller configured to
- receive power from the power source,
- receive an enable signal from the vehicle, and
- receive a control signal from the system controller,
- wherein upon receiving the control signal, the motor controller operates the motor at a first speed based on the control signal;
- and
- wherein upon not receiving the control signal but receiving the enable signal, the motor controller operates the motor at a second speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.