System and method for adjusting coolant flow through a cooling system of a vehicle to increase a warming rate of a transmission

• US 10,161,501 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2016
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Gonze, Eugene V., Paratore, Jr., Michael J., Quelhas, Sergio
• Primary Examiner(s): Dallo, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Yi-Kai
• Application Number:
  US15/137,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20180045297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 123 4108
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/04 from cooling liquid of the plant B60H1/025, B60H1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/14 otherwise than from cooling liquid of the plant , e.g. heat from the grease oil, the brakes, the transmission unit B60H1/03 takes precedence
• 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: F01P 7/14 the coolant being liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0415 Air cooling or ventilation; Heat exchangers; Thermal insulations
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0475 Engine and gearing, i.e. joint lubrication or cooling or heating thereof electric machines and gearing F16H57/0476
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/025 actuated by thermo-electric means

Abstract

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a transmission fluid temperature sensor and a coolant valve control module. The transmission fluid temperature sensor measures a temperature of transmission fluid that is circulated through a transmission. The coolant valve control module controls at least one coolant valve to adjust coolant flow from an engine to a transmission fluid heat exchanger and at least one of a radiator, an engine oil heat exchanger, and a heater core. When the transmission fluid temperature is less than a first temperature, the coolant valve control module controls the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and prevent coolant flow from the engine to the at least one of the radiator, the engine oil heat exchanger, and the heater core.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a transmission fluid temperature sensor that measures a temperature of transmission fluid that is circulated through a transmission; and

a coolant valve control module that;

controls at least one coolant valve to adjust coolant flow from an engine to a transmission fluid heat exchanger and at least one of a radiator, an engine oil heat exchanger, and a heater core;

when the transmission fluid temperature is less than a first temperature, controls the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and prevent coolant flow from the engine to the heater core;

controls the at least one coolant valve to prevent coolant flow from the engine to the engine oil heat exchanger when an engine oil temperature is less than a second temperature; and

controls the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the engine oil heat exchanger when the engine oil temperature is greater than or equal to the second temperature.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein, when the transmission fluid temperature is less than the first temperature, the coolant valve control module controls the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and prevent coolant flow from the engine to the radiator, the engine oil heat exchanger, and the heater core.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein, when the transmission fluid temperature is less than the first temperature, the coolant valve control module controls the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to only the transmission fluid heat exchanger.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the coolant valve control module controls the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and the engine oil heat exchanger when the transmission fluid temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the coolant valve control module:

controls the at least one coolant valve to prevent coolant flow from the engine to a bypass flow path when a coolant flow rate is less than a first rate, wherein the bypass flow path extends from the at least one coolant valve to a location downstream of the radiator and thereby bypasses the radiator; and

controls the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the bypass flow path when the coolant flow rate is greater than or equal to the first rate.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the coolant valve control module:

controls the at least one coolant valve to prevent coolant flow from the engine to the heater core when a cabin heater is off; and

controls the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the heater core when the cabin heater is on.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one coolant valve includes:

a first coolant valve that regulates coolant flow from the engine to the radiator; and

a second coolant valve that regulates coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and the engine oil heat exchanger.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein, when the engine oil temperature is less than the second temperature, the coolant valve control module:

adjusts the first coolant valve to prevent coolant flow from the engine to the radiator; and

controls the second coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and prevent coolant flow from the engine to the engine oil heat exchanger.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein, when the engine oil temperature is greater than or equal to the second temperature, the coolant valve control module:

adjusts the first coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the radiator; and

controls the second coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and the engine oil heat exchanger.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein, as long as the transmission fluid temperature is less than the first temperature and the engine oil temperature is less than the second temperature, the coolant valve control module controls the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and prevent coolant flow from the engine to the engine oil heat exchanger.

10. A method comprising:

measuring a temperature of transmission fluid that is circulated through a transmission;

controlling at least one coolant valve to adjust coolant flow from an engine to a transmission fluid heat exchanger and at least one of a radiator, an engine oil heat exchanger, and a heater core;

when the transmission fluid temperature is less than a first temperature, controlling the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and prevent coolant flow from the engine to the heater core;

controlling the at least one coolant valve to prevent coolant flow from the engine to the engine oil heat exchanger when an engine oil temperature is less than a second temperature; and

controlling the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the engine oil heat exchanger when the engine oil temperature is greater than or equal to the second temperature.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising, when the transmission fluid temperature is less than the first temperature, controlling the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and prevent coolant flow from the engine to the radiator, the engine oil heat exchanger, and the heater core.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising, when the transmission fluid temperature is less than the first temperature, controlling the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to only the transmission fluid heat exchanger.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising controlling the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and the engine oil heat exchanger when the transmission fluid temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

controlling the at least one coolant valve to prevent coolant flow from the engine to a bypass flow path when a coolant flow rate is less than a first rate, wherein the bypass flow path extends from the at least one coolant valve to a location downstream of the radiator and thereby bypasses the radiator; and

controlling the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the bypass flow path when the coolant flow rate is greater than or equal to the first rate.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

controlling the at least one coolant valve to prevent coolant flow from the engine to the heater core when a cabin heater is off; and

controlling the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the heater core when the cabin heater is on.

20. The method of claim 10 further comprising, as long as the transmission fluid temperature is less than the first temperature and the engine oil temperature is less than the second temperature, controlling the at least one coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and prevent coolant flow from the engine to the engine oil heat exchanger.

16. The method of 10 wherein the at least one coolant valve includes:

a first coolant valve that regulates coolant flow from the engine to the radiator; and

a second coolant valve that regulates coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and the engine oil heat exchanger.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising, when the engine oil temperature is less than the second temperature, executing the following steps:

adjusting the first coolant valve to prevent coolant flow from the engine to the radiator; and

controlling the second coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and prevent coolant flow from the engine to the engine oil heat exchanger.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising, when the engine oil temperature is greater than or equal to the second temperature, executing the following steps:

adjusting the first coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the radiator; and

controlling the second coolant valve to allow coolant flow from the engine to the transmission fluid heat exchanger and the engine oil heat exchanger.