Cooling system for a diesel engine
AssigneeVisteon Global Techologies, Inc.
InventorsNoel Henderson, Chris Bush, Steven Joyce, Iain Gouldson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engine cooling system and method applicable to a diesel engine in a vehicle. A control module, via a single multi-port valve, controls the coolant flow through a radiator, heater and oil cooler based upon engine operating conditions.
Claims20
A cooling system for a diesel engine, having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, in a vehicle, the cooling system comprising:
- a coolant circuit adapted to operatively engage the coolant inlet and coolant outlet;
- a pump operatively engaging the coolant circuit to pump a coolant therethrough;
- a radiator operatively engaging the coolant circuit;
- an oil cooler operatively engaging the coolant circuit;
- a heater operatively engaging the coolant circuit;
- a valve having a first valve port adapted for receiving coolant from the engine, a second valve port for selectively receiving coolant from the oil cooler, a third valve port for selectively routing coolant to the radiator, and a fourth valve port for selectively routing coolant to the heater, and with the valve being controllable to selectively control the routing of the coolant through the valve ports;
- and
- a control module electrically coupled to the valve for electronically controlling the valve to thereby control the routing of the coolant through the valve ports.
A method of controlling an engine temperature of a diesel engine in a vehicle, with the diesel engine having a coolant circuit including a water pump, a flow control valve, and a radiator, an oil cooler, and a heater each operatively connected to the flow control valve, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting a plurality of operating conditions;
- determining if the operating conditions are within a first mode, a second mode, a third mode, a fourth mode, a fifth mode, or a sixth mode of operation;
- adjusting the flow control valve to substantially prevent routing of coolant through the radiator and allow for routing of coolant through the heater and the oil cooler if the operating conditions are in the first mode;
- adjusting the flow control valve to substantially prevent routing of coolant through the radiator and the oil cooler and allow for routing of coolant through the heater if the operating conditions are in the second mode;
- adjusting the flow control valve to allow for routing of coolant through the radiator, the heater and the oil cooler if the operating conditions are in the third mode;
- adjusting the flow control valve to substantially prevent routing of coolant through the heater and allow for routing of coolant through the radiator and the oil cooler if the operating conditions are in the fourth mode;
- adjusting the flow control valve to substantially prevent routing of coolant through the radiator and the heater and allow for routing of coolant through the oil cooler if the operating conditions are in the fifth mode;
- and
- adjusting the flow control valve to substantially prevent routing of coolant through the radiator, the heater and the oil cooler if the operating conditions are in the sixth mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.