Vehicle oil cooling circuits
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsMaitreya V. Lagadapati, Edward William Mate, Thomas K. Aldridge, William N. O'Neill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cooling system can include a hydraulic oil tank. The cooling system can further include a return valve connected to the hydraulic oil tank to supply flow to a cooling circuit. The cooling circuit can include a hydraulic oil cooling (HOC) element and an axle oil cooling (AOC) element connected in series. The cooling system can include a flow control device to route oil away from the HOC and toward the AOC based on an oil condition or a system condition.
Claims20
A cooling system comprising:
- a hydraulic oil tank;
- a return valve connected to the hydraulic oil tank and configured to provide oil to a cooling circuit, the cooling circuit including a hydraulic oil cooling (HOC) element and an axle oil cooling (AOC) element connected in series;
- and
- a flow control device configured to route oil away from the HOC and toward the AOC based on an oil condition or a system condition.
A method for providing system cooling in a vehicle, the method comprising:
- connecting a hydraulic oil cooling (HOC) element and an axle oil cooling (AOC) element in series;
- providing a return valve to route oil to a cooling circuit;
- and
- providing a flow control device to route oil away from the HOC and toward the AOC based on an oil condition or a system condition.
A work machine comprising:
- a plurality of axles;
- a hydraulic oil tank communicatively coupled to the plurality of axles through a return valve to provide oil to a cooling circuit, the cooling circuit including a hydraulic oil cooling (HOC) element and an axle oil cooling (AOC) element connected in series;
- and
- a flow control device configured to route oil away from the HOC and toward the AOC based on an oil condition or a system condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.