System and method for controlling an engine cooling fan

• US 10,316,730 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Kis, Michael, Boom, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): Russell, Devon
• Application Number:
  US15/400,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20170114701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 165121, 318454, 363 41, 363 78
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/105 Using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/026 Thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/048 using electrical drives
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0456 Air cooled heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0475 the intake air cooler being combined with another device, e.g. heater, valve, compressor, filter or EGR cooler, or being assembled on a special engine location
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0493 Controlling the air charge temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/1038 for temperature or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A system and method of operating a cooling system for a vehicle engine, wherein one or more motors are operable to rotate one or more fans. Each of the one or more motors is controlled by a motor controller associated with the motor, in response to a control signal received from a system controller and an enable signal received from the vehicle. The motor controller operates the motor at a speed based upon the control signal if the control signal is received, and operates the motor at a predetermined speed if the control signal is not received but the enable signal is received.

Claims

1. A cooling system for a vehicle, the cooling system powered by a power source, the cooling system comprising:

a heat exchanger;

a system controller;

a motor;

a fan driven by the motor; and

a motor controller electrically connected to the system controller, the power source, and the motor, the motor controller configured to

receive power from the power source,

receive an enable signal from the vehicle, and

receive a control signal from the system controller,

wherein upon receiving the control signal, the motor controller operates the motor at a first speed based on the control signal; and

wherein upon not receiving the control signal but receiving the enable signal, the motor controller operates the motor at a second speed.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the enable signal is received from an ignition system of the vehicle.

3. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the motor, the fan, and the motor controller are one of a plurality of motors, fans, and motor controllers, each of the plurality of motor controller individually receiving a control signal from the system controller and an enable signal from the vehicle.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the motor waits a predetermined period of time before operating at the second speed.

5. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the system controller receives a sensed characteristic of at least one of the cooling system and the vehicle engine, the control signal based at least in part on the sensed characteristic.

6. The cooling system of claim 5, wherein the sensed characteristic is a temperature.

7. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the control signal is a pulse-width modulated signal.

8. A cooling system for a vehicle, the cooling system powered by a power source, the cooling system comprising:

a heat exchanger;

a system controller;

a motor;

a fan driven by the motor; and

a motor controller electrically connected to the motor to drive the motor, the motor controller comprising;

a control signal connection electrically connected to the system controller to receive a control signal therefrom;

a direct electrical connection to the power source; and

an enable signal connection separate from the direct electrical connection to the power source and electrically connected to an ignition system of the vehicle to receive an enable signal therefrom.

9. The cooling system of claim 8, wherein the power source comprises one or more batteries.

10. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the direct electrical connection comprises a battery positive connection and a battery negative connection.

11. The cooling system of claim 8, wherein the enable signal connection is an indirect connection to the power source by way of the ignition system in at least some operating conditions.

12. The cooling system of claim 8, wherein the motor controller is operable to provide electrical power to the motor in order to drive the fan at a non-zero speed under a first operating condition, the first operating condition comprising:

receiving the enable signal through the enable signal connection; and

not receiving a control signal through the control signal connection for at least a

predetermined period of time.

13. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined period of time is between three and eight seconds.

14. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the motor controller is operable to provide electrical power to the motor in order to drive the fan at a non-zero speed under a second operating condition, the second operating condition comprising:

receiving the enable signal through the enable signal connection; and

receiving a control signal through the control signal connection with a duty cycle less

than a threshold duty cycle for at least a predetermined period of time.

15. The cooling system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined period of time is between three and eight seconds.

16. The cooling system of claim 14, wherein the threshold duty cycle is a 3% duty cycle.

17. A cooling system for a vehicle, the cooling system powered by a power source, the cooling system comprising:

a heat exchanger;

a system controller;

a motor;

a fan driven by the motor; and

a motor controller having a first electrical connection to the system controller to receive a control signal therefrom under at least some operating conditions, a second electrical connection to an ignition system of the vehicle to receive an enable signal therefrom under at least some operating conditions, a third electrical connection to the power source, and a fourth electrical connection to the motor, wherein the motor controller is operable to drive the motor at a non-zero speed by supplying electrical power from the power source to the motor in response to receiving the enable signal while simultaneously not receiving the control signal for at least a predetermined period of time.

18. The cooling system of claim 17, wherein the enable signal connection is an indirect connection to the power source by way of the ignition system.

19. The cooling system of claim 17, wherein third electrical connection comprises a direct connection to one or more batteries of the vehicle.

20. The cooling system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined period of time is at least three seconds in duration.