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US 9,790,842 B2Granted
Cooling system diagnostic method
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsAed M. Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for operating an engine cooling system is provided. The method includes monitoring a coolant temperature profile after engine shut-down and indicating a low coolant level based on the coolant temperature profile determined after engine shut-down.
Claims18
A method for operating an engine cooling system comprising:
- after an engine shut-down, sending power to a controller;
- at the controller, receiving a temperature signal from an engine temperature sensor and determining a coolant temperature profile based on the temperature signal;
- and
- adjusting engine power output during a subsequent engine start-up based on the coolant temperature profile determined after engine shut-down.
1 more element
An engine cooling system comprising:
- a cooling circuit circulating coolant through passages traversing an engine;
- a heat exchanger coupled to the cooling circuit;
- a temperature sensor coupled to at least one of the cooling circuit and the engine;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- after engine shut-down, receive power;
- determine a coolant temperature profile based on a signal sent from the temperature sensor;
- and
- adjust engine power output during a subsequent start-up based on the coolant temperature profile determined after engine shut-down.
6 more elements
A method for operating an engine cooling system comprising:
- after engine shut-down and vehicle off condition, maintaining power to a controller that determines a coolant temperature profile over time;
- comparing the coolant temperature profile to a predicted coolant temperature profile;
- and
- if a deviation between the determined coolant temperature profile and the predicted coolant temperature profile exceeds a threshold value, triggering a low coolant level indicator in a vehicle cabin based on the coolant temperature profile determined after engine shut-down.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.