Vehicle engine cooling system with variable speed water pump
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKeith E. Liederman, Matti K. Vint, Joseph V. Bejster, Davide F. Piccirilli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engine cooling system and method that will allow an engine water pump to be driven independently of the engine speed. The engine water pump is driven by the engine crankshaft, but includes an electronically controllable pump clutch between the water pump and the crankshaft. A control module electronically controls the engagement of the pump clutch based upon engine and vehicle operating conditions.
Claims18
A cooling system for controlling the temperature of an engine, with the engine having a rotating member, the cooling system comprising:
- a radiator;
- an accessory drive adapted to be driven by the rotating member;
- a pump clutch having an input member operatively engaging the accessory drive and an output member selectively engagable with the input member, and with the pump clutch electronically controllable to select the amount of engagement between the input member and the output member;
- a water pump adapted to pump water through the engine and the radiator, with the water pump operatively engaging the output member to be driven thereby;
- and
- a controller operatively engaging the pump clutch to thereby adjust the amount of engagement between the input member and the output member according to predetermined operating conditions.
A cooling system for a liquid cooled engine having a rotating member, the cooling system comprising:
- a flow control valve having a valve inlet adapted to receive coolant from the engine, and a first valve outlet, a second valve outlet and a third valve outlet, with the valve controllable to control the degree of fluid communication between the valve inlet and each of the first, second and third valve outlets;
- a water pump having a pump inlet for receiving coolant and a pump outlet for pumping coolant through the cooling system;
- radiator having a radiator inlet for receiving coolant flowing out of the first valve outlet, and a radiator outlet for returning the coolant to the pump inlet;
- a coolant bypass connected between the second valve outlet and the pump inlet;
- a heater core having a heater inlet for receiving coolant from the third valve outlet, and a heater outlet for returning coolant to the pump;
- an accessory drive adapted to be driven by the rotating member;
- a pump clutch having an input member operatively engaging the accessory drive and an output member selectively engagable with the input member, and with the pump clutch electronically controllable to select the amount of engagement between the input member and the output member;
- a water pump adapted to pump water through the engine and the radiator, with the water pump operatively engaging the output member to be driven thereby;
- and
- a controller operatively engaging the pump clutch to thereby adjust the amount of engagement between the input member and the output member according to predetermined operating conditions.
A method of cooling an engine, having a rotating member and a radiator, in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- driving an accessory drive with the rotating member;
- driving a water pump clutch input shaft with the accessory drive;
- monitoring predetermined engine and vehicle operating conditions;
- selectively changing the degree of engagement of a water pump clutch output shaft with the water pump input shaft based on the engine and vehicle operating conditions;
- and
- driving a water pumping mechanism with the water pump clutch output shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.