# US 2017/0254255 A1 · Control Device and Method for Cooling System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0254255 A1 - Document ID: US20170254255A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/508,199 - Filed: 2015-09-16 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-18 - Assignees: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. - Applicants: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. - Inventors: Atsushi MURAI; Shigeyuki SAKAGUCHI; Yuichi TOYAMA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170254255A1 ## CPC - F01P 7/16: by thermostatic control - F01P 3/20: Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine (F01P3/22 takes precedence) - F01P 5/12: Pump-driving arrangements - F01P 7/165: {characterised by systems with two or more loops} - F01P 11/16: concerning coolant temperature (F01P11/20 takes precedence) - F01P 2007/146: {using valves} - F01P 2023/08: Microprocessor; Microcomputer - 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) ## Abstract A cooling system of an internal combustion engine includes a flow channel switching valve for sequentially switching between a plurality of cooling water passages so as to distribute cooling water to at least one cooling water passage. When a control device for the cooling system switches between the cooling water passages by controlling the flow channel switching valve in accordance with the progress of warm-up of the internal combustion engine, the control device suppresses the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 A control device for a cooling system of an internal combustion engine, the control device comprising a processor which controls a flow channel switching valve for switching between a plurality of cooling water passages so as to sequentially change at least one cooling water passage to which cooling water is distributed in accordance with progress of warm-up of the internal combustion engine, wherein the processor is configured to, when switching between the cooling water passages, gradually increase, over a predetermined time to a target value, a distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started, and temporarily stop increasing the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage during process of gradually increasing the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The control device for the cooling system according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to, when switching between the cooling water passages, control a discharge flow rate of an electric water pump for supplying the cooling water to the at least one cooling water passage in accordance with the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The control device for the cooling system according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to temporarily stop increasing the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started, when a temperature of the cooling water in the at least one cooling water passage decreases to a first predetermined temperature which is lower than a temperature at which the cooling water passages are switched therebetween. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The control device for the cooling system according to claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to cancel temporarily stopping increasing the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started, when the temperature of the cooling water in the at least one cooling water passage increases to the temperature at which the cooling water passages are switched therebetween as a result of the stop. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The control device for the cooling system according to claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to return, to an initial value, the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started, when a temperature of the cooling water in the at least one cooling water passage decreases to a first predetermined temperature which is lower than a temperature at which the cooling water passages are switched therebetween, during process of gradually increasing the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The control device for the cooling system according to claim 20, wherein the processor is configured to restart to increase the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started, when the temperature of the cooling water in the at least one cooling water passage increases to a second predetermined temperature which is higher than the temperature at which the cooling water passages are switched therebetween, as a result of returning, to the initial value, the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The control device for the cooling system according to claim 16, wherein a heater core of an air heating device is disposed on the cooling water passage to which the cooling water is distributed at the gradually increased distribution rate. ### Claim 23 A control method for a cooling system of an internal combustion engine wherein a control device controls a flow channel switching valve for switching between a plurality of cooling water passages so as to sequentially change at least one cooling water passage to which cooling water is distributed in accordance with progress of warm-up of the internal combustion engine, and, when switching between the cooling water passages, the control device gradually increases, over a predetermined time to a target value, a distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started, and temporarily stops increasing the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage during process of gradually increasing the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The control method for the cooling system according to claim 23, wherein, when switching between the cooling water passages, the control device controls a discharge flow rate of an electric water pump for supplying the cooling water to the at least one cooling water passage in accordance with the distribution rate of the cooling water to the cooling water passage to which the distribution of the cooling water is just started.