Engine oil warm up using inductive heating
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- prior to an engine start,inductively heating engine oil by coupling a magnetic field between a primary coil external to a vehicle and a ferrous oil pan or a ferrous member coupled to an oil pan, wherein the inductive heating occurs within a threshold duration prior to the engine start; and
circulating heated engine oil from the oil pan through one or more engine components during the heating,wherein the threshold duration is based on a viscosity of the engine oil.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for preemptively heating engine oil prior to an engine start using an inductive heating mat. In one example, a method may include coupling a magnetic field between a primary coil housed in the inductive heating mat and a ferrous oil pan to inductively heat engine oil contained in the oil pan. While maintaining engine oil temperature above a threshold temperature, heated engine oil may then be circulated through engine components to warm up the engine prior to engine start.
30 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
prior to an engine start, inductively heating engine oil by coupling a magnetic field between a primary coil external to a vehicle and a ferrous oil pan or a ferrous member coupled to an oil pan, wherein the inductive heating occurs within a threshold duration prior to the engine start; and circulating heated engine oil from the oil pan through one or more engine components during the heating, wherein the threshold duration is based on a viscosity of the engine oil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An engine method, comprising:
-
estimating an engine oil temperature prior to an engine start, in response to each of a lower than threshold engine oil temperature and a request for heating an engine prior to the engine start, positioning an engine oil pan directly above a charging mat coupled to a power supply, inductively heating engine oil contained in the oil pan, and circulating heated engine oil through the engine while maintaining a temperature of the engine oil above a threshold temperature. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An autonomous vehicle system, comprising:
-
a controller with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory to; during a first vehicle condition when the vehicle is not being propelled by engine torque or motor torque, and prior to an engine start, inductively heat engine oil via an external charging mat, and circulate heated engine oil through engine components, wherein the engine oil is inductively heated within a threshold duration prior to the engine start, and during a second vehicle condition when the vehicle is not being propelled by engine torque or motor torque, inductively charge an on-board battery via the external charging mat, wherein the threshold duration is based on a viscosity of the engine oil. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification