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Method of flowing coolant through exhaust heat recovery system after engine shutoff

  • US 10,677,545 B2
  • Filed: 10/12/2016
  • Issued: 06/09/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:

  • cooling a rear axle heat exchanger (RAHX) at a rear axle of a vehicle by flowing a coolant, comprising water and maintained separate from an engine coolant, through a coolant system while an engine is not operating, while adjusting a flow rate of the coolant through the RAHX in response to a rear axle oil temperature of rear axle oil exchanged between only the RAHX and the rear axle via first and second oil lines, the coolant and the rear axle oil maintained separate from each other within the RAHX without mixing, by, responsive to a first condition, concurrently adjusting a first three-way valve and a second three-way valve to control a flow of coolant from the first three-way valve to a thermal storage vessel (TSV) and to control a flow of coolant from the second three-way valve to the RAHX, where the first three-way valve is adjustable to bypass the flow of coolant around the TSV to the second three-way valve, and where the second three-way valve is adjustable to bypass the flow of coolant around the RAHX to a coolant line coupled to an outlet of the RAHX, and, responsive to a second condition, adjusting only one of the first three-way valve or the second three-way valve.

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