# US 2017/0254256 A1 · Method and system for operating a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0254256 A1 - Document ID: US20170254256A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/446,572 - Filed: 2017-03-01 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-02 - Assignees: Audi AG - Applicants: Audi AG - Inventors: ANDREAS APELSMEIER; GUENTER VETTER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170254256A1 ## CPC - F01P 7/167: {by adjusting the pre-set temperature according to engine parameters, e.g. engine load, engine speed} - B60K 11/02: with liquid cooling - B60W 20/00: Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)} - F01P 3/20: Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine (F01P3/22 takes precedence) - F01P 5/10: Pumping liquid coolant; Arrangements of coolant pumps - B60W 2710/0688: Engine temperature - B60W 2710/088: Temperature - B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles - B60Y 2306/05: Cooling - F01P 2050/24: Hybrid vehicles - Y10S 903/903: having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor - 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) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A motor vehicle can be powered by a combustion engine or an electric machine or both. Coolant is conveyed in the coolant circuit first to the electric machine before being conveyed from the electric machine to the combustion engine for cooling both the combustion engine and the electric machine. A cooling device adjusts a temperature of the coolant in the coolant circuit in such a way that the cooling device adjusts the coolant to a first temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered by the combustion engine, and to a second temperature which is less than the first temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered by the electric machine and the combustion engine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: operating a motor vehicle by at least one of a combustion engine and an electric machine; conveying coolant in a common coolant circuit first to the electric machine before being conveyed from the electric machine to the combustion engine for cooling both the combustion engine and the electric machine; and adjusting a temperature of the coolant by a cooling device in the coolant circuit in such a way that the cooling device adjusts the coolant to a first temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered solely by the combustion engine, and to a second temperature which is less than the first temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered by the electric machine and the combustion engine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising operating a power electronics by the electric machine operably connected to the power electronics. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising connecting the electric machine downstream of the power electronics, and conveying coolant first to the power electronics and then from the power electronics to the electric machine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the coolant to a third temperature which is less than the second temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered solely by the electric machine. ### Claim 5 A system for operating a motor vehicle, said system comprising: an electric machine; a combustion engine arranged downstream of the electric machine; a common coolant circuit for cooling both the combustion engine and the electric machine, said common coolant circuit being configured to first convey coolant to the electric machine before being conveyed from the electric machine to the combustion engine; and a cooling device disposed in the coolant circuit to adjust a temperature of the coolant in the coolant circuit in such a way that the cooling device adjusts the coolant to a first temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered solely by the combustion engine, and to a second temperature which is less than the first temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered by the electric machine and the combustion engine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the combustion engine and the electric machine are connected successively in the coolant circuit via a duct extending between the combustion engine and the electric machine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, further comprising a power electronics operated by the electric machine which is operably connected to the power electronics. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the cooling device adjusts the coolant to a third temperature which is less than the second temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered solely by the electric machine. ### Claim 9 A cooling system for a motor vehicle, said cooling system comprising: a coolant circuit for cooling an electric machine and a combustion engine arranged downstream of the electric machine, said coolant circuit being configured to first convey coolant to the electric machine before being conveyed from the electric machine to the combustion engine; and a cooling device disposed in the coolant circuit to adjust a temperature of the coolant in the coolant circuit in such a way that the cooling device adjusts the coolant to a first temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered solely by the combustion engine, and to a second temperature which is less than the first temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered by the electric machine and the combustion engine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the cooling device adjusts the coolant to a third temperature which is less than the second temperature, when the motor vehicle is powered solely by the electric machine.