Method and arrangement for machine cooling
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsBarry James, Peter O'Brien, Darshan C. Patel
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Abstract
A method of controlling the temperature of a brake arrangement for a machine is disclosed. The method includes providing a flow of pressurized fluid to the brake arrangement and sensing a first temperature of the fluid downstream of the brake arrangement. The method also includes determining a first temperature range for the brake arrangement and determining if the first sensed temperature falls in the first temperature range. The method also includes requesting an adjustment of at least one fluid parameter of the flow of pressurized fluid in response to determining that the first sensed temperature does not fall within the first temperature range such that the sensed temperature moves to the first temperature range.
Claims21
A method of controlling the temperature of a brake arrangement for a machine, the method comprising:
- providing a flow of pressurized fluid to the brake arrangement;
- sensing a first temperature of the fluid downstream of the brake arrangement;
- determining a first temperature range for the brake arrangement;
- determining if the first sensed temperature falls in the first temperature range;
- sensing a second temperature corresponding to a temperature of engine coolant in an engine or engine intake air;
- determining a second temperature range for the engine coolant or the engine intake air;
- determining if the second sensed temperature falls in the second temperature range;
- receiving conflicting requests for an adjustment of at least one fluid parameter of the flow of pressurized fluid, the engine coolant, or the engine intake air in response to determining if the first and second sensed temperatures fall in the respective first and second temperature ranges;
- and
- determining an adjustment of the at least one fluid parameter based on which one of the conflicting requests has higher priority.
A brake temperature control arrangement for a machine comprising:
- a brake arrangement;
- a source of pressurized fluid;
- a system valve for distributing pressurized fluid from the fluid source to the brake arrangement;
- a first temperature sensor configured to sense a first temperature indicative of a temperature of the brake arrangement;
- a second temperature sensor configured to sense a second temperature indicative of a temperature of engine coolant in an engine or engine intake air;
- and
- an electronic control unit configured to:
- receive first temperature data from the first temperature sensor,
- compare the first temperature data with at least one stored value indicative of a first temperature range,
- receive second temperature data from the second temperature sensor,
- compare the second temperature data with at least one stored value indicative of a second temperature range,
- receive conflicting requests for an adjustment of at least one parameter of the pressurized fluid, the engine coolant, or the engine intake in response to the respective comparisons associated with the first temperature data and the second temperature data, and
- adjust the at least one parameter based on which one of the conflicting requests has higher priority.
A machine comprising a brake temperature control arrangement, the brake temperature control arrangement including:
- a brake arrangement;
- a source of pressurized fluid;
- a system valve for distributing pressurized fluid from the fluid source to the brake arrangement;
- a first temperature sensor configured to sense a first temperature indicative of a temperature of the brake arrangement;
- a second temperature sensor configured to sense a second temperature indicative of a temperature of engine coolant in an engine or engine intake air;
- and
- an electronic control unit configured to:
- receive first temperature data from the first temperature sensor,
- compare the first temperature data with at least one stored value indicative of a first temperature range,
- receive second temperature data from the second temperature sensor,
- compare the second temperature data with at least one stored value indicative of a second temperature range,
- receive conflicting requests for an adjustment of at least one parameter of the pressurized fluid, the engine coolant, or the engine intake air in response to the respective comparisons associated with the first temperature data and the second temperature data, and
- adjust the at least one parameter based on which one of the conflicting requests has higher priority.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.