Engine and transmission temperature control system

• US 10,132,403 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2017
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gooden, James Thomas, Giunta, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Long T
• Application Number:
  US15/598,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20180335130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/08 Arrangements of lubricant coolers in lubrication apparatus F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/045 for transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/20 Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine F01P3/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0475 Engine and gearing, i.e. joint lubrication or cooling or heating thereof electric machines and gearing F16H57/0476

Abstract

A transmission oil cooler transfers heat between Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) and engine coolant. During initial vehicle warm-up, heat is transferred from the engine coolant to the ATF, assisting the transmission warm-up. A priority valve may limit the flow of coolant to the transmission oil cooler until the coolant temperature is sufficient to ensure adequate cabin heating performance. After both the engine and transmission have reached normal operating temperatures, heat is transferred from the ATF to the engine coolant. An auxiliary radiator pre-cools the engine coolant before it enters transmission oil cooler. This increases the cooling of the ATF and avoids coolant temperature increase during aggressive maneuvers. When the ATF temperature is below a threshold, a coolant control valve diverts coolant around the auxiliary radiator.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a transmission;

a transmission oil cooler configured to transfer heat between Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) and engine coolant;

a transmission fluid circuit configured to convey ATF from the transmission, through the transmission oil cooler, back to the transmission;

an engine;

a pump having an outlet and an inlet;

a primary radiator;

an auxiliary radiator;

a first engine coolant circuit from the pump outlet, through the engine and the primary radiator, to the pump inlet; and

a second engine coolant circuit from the pump outlet, through the auxiliary radiator and the transmission oil cooler, to the pump inlet.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the second engine coolant circuit further includes a control valve configured to selectively divert engine coolant around the auxiliary radiator based on an ATF temperature.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein ATF is routed through the control valve such that the control valve directly senses the ATF temperature.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the control valve diverts flow around the auxiliary radiator based on an electrical signal from a controller, which is in turn based on a signal from an ATF temperature sensor.

5. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the first engine coolant circuit further includes a thermostat configured to selectively divert engine coolant around the primary radiator based on an engine coolant temperature.

6. The vehicle of claim 2 further comprising a third engine coolant circuit from the pump outlet, through the engine and a cabin heat heater core, to the pump inlet.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 further comprising a priority valve configured to restrict flow of engine coolant in the second coolant circuit based on an engine coolant temperature.

8. A cooling system comprising:

a pump having an outlet and an inlet;

a first engine coolant circuit from the pump outlet, through an engine and a primary radiator, to the pump inlet; and

a second engine coolant circuit from the pump outlet, through a transmission oil cooler, to the pump inlet, the second engine coolant circuit including a control valve to selectively divert coolant through an auxiliary radiator based on a fluid temperature.

9. The cooling system of claim 8 wherein the control valve selectively directs coolant through the auxiliary radiator in response to a transmission fluid temperature being greater than a threshold temperature.

10. The cooling system of claim 8 wherein the first engine coolant circuit further includes a thermostat configured to selectively divert engine coolant around the primary radiator based on an engine coolant temperature.

11. The cooling system of claim 8 further comprising a third engine coolant circuit from the pump outlet, through the engine and a cabin heat heater core, to the pump inlet.

12. The cooling system of claim 11 further comprising a priority valve configured to restrict flow of engine coolant in the second coolant circuit based on an engine coolant temperature.

13. A method of regulating coolant and transmission temperatures comprising:

routing Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) through a transmission oil cooler;

pumping engine coolant at a flow rate;

routing a first fraction of the flow rate through an engine and a primary radiator; and

routing a second fraction of the flow rate through an auxiliary radiator and the transmission oil cooler.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

routing a third fraction of the flow rate through the transmission oil cooler, bypassing the auxiliary radiator; and

increasing the second fraction and decreasing the third fraction in response to an increase in a temperature of the ATF.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising increasing a sum of the second and third fractions in response to an increase in a temperature of the engine coolant.