Method and device for increasing the use of the braking moment of a retarder in an automobile
AssigneeVoith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsJürgen Friedrich, Klaus Vogelsang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a device for increasing the use of the braking moment of a retarder in an automobile. According to this method, the heat produced by the retarder during braking is dissipated using a coolant. The method is characterized in that at least one auxiliary consumer and/or at least one of the following devices of the cooling system—a connected fan, a connected thermostat, a coolant pump, a bypass-valve—is controlled in dependence on the mode of the operation of the retarder.
Claims23
A method for improving an available operational range for a retarder in a motor vehicle with a cooling system having a single coolant pump, the method comprising:
- operating the retarder to thereby generate heat;
- circulating coolant to the retarder to draw off heat generated by the retarder;
- operating a cooling system valve to divert coolant to a heat dispersion unit when the retarder is operated;
- dispersing the heat in the coolant drawn from the retarder;
- and
- selectively operating a cooling enhancement device coupled to the cooling system, the operation of the cooling enhancement device being related to selective operation of the retarder, thereby improving a capacity of the cooling system to disperse heat, whereby the available operational range of the retarder is increased.
A system for providing increased capacity for a retarder in a motor vehicle with a cooling system having a single cooling pump, the system comprising:
- a status signal output from the retarder related to an operational status of the retarder;
- a cooling system controller coupled to the retarder to receive the status signal output, the controller having a command output;
- a cooling device coupled to the cooling system and to the controller to receive the command output, the cooling device being actuated by the command output to influence efficiency of the cooling system based on the command output;
- a coolant fluid circulated in the cooling system;
- a heat dispersion unit in the cooling system for dispersing heat in the coolant fluid;
- wherein the cooling device is a valve coupled to the heat dispersion unit for shunting the coolant fluid through or by the heat dispersion unit;
- the controller is operable to provide the command output based on the status signal to thereby improve a capacity of the cooling system when the retarder is activated, the command output from the controller further comprises a valve actuation signal to shunt the coolant fluid to the heat dispersion unit when the retarder is operated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.