US 5,215,044 AGranted

Cooling system for a vehicle having an internal-combustion engine

AssigneeBehr GmbH & Co.

InventorsMatthias Banzhaf, Wilhelm Baruschke, Juergen Barwig, Dieter Bauer, Jochen Eitel, Kurt Hauser, Werner Helms, Karl Lochmahr

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Abstract

A cooling system for a vehicle having an internal-combustion engine has a plurality of cooling circuits with heat exchangers for each circuit. The temperatures of different cooling media are measured and processed in a switching device to form an output signal which serves to control a fan. In this way, the air flow through the heat exchangers can be varied depending on measured temperature conditions. Individual capacity control of each cooling circuit is possible, thereby preventing unfavorable operating conditions in the individual circuits. The cooling capacity demand of the individual cooling circuits is determined by a central control unit which receives signals from temperature sensors in each circuit. The central control unit includes a microprocessor. Each cooling circuit has an actuating means for individually controlling the capacity of the relevant heat exchanger.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A cooling system for vehicles having an internal-combustion engine, comprising:

a first cooling circuit for cooling engine coolant, the first cooling circuit including a first heat exchanger;
a second cooling circuit for cooling engine oil, the second cooling circuit including a second heat exchanger;
a third cooling circuit for cooling charge air, the third cooling circuit including a third heat exchanger;
temperature sensors arranged in the respective cooling circuits for measuring temperatures in the circuits;
actuating means arranged in the respective cooling circuits for controlling cooling capacities of respective heat exchangers;
an electric switching device including an input side that is connected to the temperature sensors and an output side that is connected to the actuating means;
and
a central control unit, including at least one microprocessor, for determining cooling capacity requirements of the respective heat exchangers from the temperatures measured by the temperature sensors and for controlling the actuating means according to the determined cooling capacity requirements.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.