Fan control system and method
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorAlan D. Sheidler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for controlling a fan. The method includes determining an actual air flow over an engine of a vehicle at a current time, and determining a necessary air flow over the engine for maintaining an appropriate engine coolant temperature. The actual air flow is associated with the vehicle traveling in a first direction. The method further includes estimating a future air flow over the engine that is associated with the vehicle travelling in a second direction. The method also includes controlling a fan operating characteristic based on the actual, necessary, and future air flows.
Claims19
A method for controlling a fan, the method comprising:
- determining an actual air flow over an engine of a vehicle at a current time, the actual air flow being associated with the vehicle traveling in a first direction;
- determining a necessary air flow over the engine for maintaining an appropriate engine coolant temperature;
- estimating a future air flow over the engine, the future air flow being associated with the vehicle travelling in a second direction;
- and
- controlling a fan operating characteristic based on the actual air flow, the necessary air flow, and the future air flow, and wherein the controlling comprises maintaining a fan provided air flow if:
- the necessary air flow is greater than the actual air flow;
- the future air flow is greater than the necessary air flow;
- and
- a length of time to reach a vehicle direction change, from the first direction to the second direction, is less than a length of time to reach an engine coolant overheating temperature.
A method for controlling a fan, the method comprising:
- determining an actual air flow over an engine of a vehicle at a current time, the actual air flow being associated with the vehicle traveling in a first direction;
- determining a necessary air flow over the engine for maintaining an appropriate engine coolant temperature;
- estimating a future air flow over the engine, the future air flow being associated with the vehicle travelling in a second direction;
- and
- controlling a fan operating characteristic based on the actual air flow, the necessary air flow, and the future air flow, and wherein the controlling comprises maintaining a fan provided air flow if:
- the actual air flow is greater than the necessary air flow;
- the necessary air flow is greater than the future air flow;
- and
- a sum of a length of time to reach a vehicle direction change, from the first direction to the second direction, and a length of time that the vehicle is in the second direction is greater than a length of time to reach an engine coolant overheating temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.