Method and device for a proactive cooling system for a motor vehicle

• US 20070209610A1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Wooldridge, Scott, Bradley, James, Klinger, Rodney
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/41.290
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/125 Driving auxiliary pumps electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2023/08 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/165 characterised by systems with two or more loops
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/167 by adjusting the pre-set temperature according to engine parameters, e.g. engine load, engine speed

Abstract

A proactive cooling system and method improve the cooling of a motor vehicle apparatus, such as an engine or transmission, in a motor vehicle. The proactive cooling system boosts the primary cooling system connected to the motor vehicle apparatus by using an electronic controller, an information collecting module for collecting information related to the operation of the motor vehicle and an auxiliary cooling system. The auxiliary cooling system uses a power supply and a secondary cooling system in fluid communication with the primary cooling system. The power supply turns on the secondary cooling system by activating an activator and a secondary pump. The activator opens a bypass circuit to divert coolant from the primary cooling system into the secondary cooling system where the diverted coolant is cooled in a secondary heat exchanger. A secondary pump circulates the coolant through the bypass circuit and back to the primary cooling system.

Claims

1. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a primary cooling system having a primary heat exchanger, and input and output tubing connecting the primary heat exchanger to the motor vehicle apparatus;

a secondary cooling system comprising;

a bypass circuit in fluid communication with the input and output tubing of the primary cooling system, a secondary heat exchanger to remove heat from the bypass circuit, and a secondary pump;

an actuator connecting the secondary cooling system with the primary cooling system;

a power supply for activating the secondary pump and the actuator;

an electronic controller being programmed to activate the power supply after reaching a threshold point; and

an information collecting module for collecting information relating to the motor vehicle during operation and for communicating with the electronic controller data relating to the threshold point.

2. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the secondary cooling system further comprises:

a secondary fan being associated with the secondary heat exchanger and being activated by the power supply.

3. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 2, further comprising:

a bypass circuit temperature sensor for measuring coolant temperature in the bypass circuit.

4. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 3, further comprising:

a power supply module containing the power supply and for communicating with the electronic controller and the secondary sensor.

5. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 4, wherein the information collecting module is a transmission module, and the primary and secondary cooling systems are transmission cooling systems.

6. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 4, wherein the information collecting module is an engine module, and the primary and secondary cooling systems are engine cooling systems.

7. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a primary cooling system having a primary heat exchanger, input and output tubing connecting the primary heat exchanger to the motor vehicle apparatus, and a primary pump;

a secondary cooling system comprising a bypass circuit in fluid communication with the input and output tubing of the primary cooling system, a secondary heat exchanger to remove heat from the bypass circuit, and a secondary pump;

an actuator connecting the secondary cooling system with the primary cooling system;

a power supply for activating the secondary pump and the actuator;

an electronic controller being programmed to activate the power supply after reaching a threshold point; and

a GPS module for collecting geographic information relating to the location of the motor vehicle during operation and for communicating with the electronic controller data relating to the threshold point.

8. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 7, wherein the secondary cooling system further comprises:

a secondary fan being associated with the secondary heat exchanger and being activated by the power supply.

9. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a bypass circuit temperature sensor for measuring coolant temperature in the bypass circuit.

10. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 9, further comprising:

a power supply module containing the power supply and for communicating with the electronic controller and the secondary sensor.

11. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

an information collecting module for collecting information relating to the motor vehicle during operation and for communicating with the electronic controller data relating to the threshold point.

12. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein the information collecting module is a transmission module, and the primary and secondary cooling systems are transmission cooling systems.

13. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 12, wherein the information collecting module is an engine module, and the primary and secondary cooling systems are engine cooling systems.

14. A proactive cooling system for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus in a motor vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

information collecting modules for collecting information relating to the motor vehicle during operation and for communicating with the electronic controller data relating to the threshold point.

15. A proactive cooling system for cooling an engine and a transmission in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a primary heat exchanger;

an engine primary cooling system having engine input and output tubing connecting the primary heat exchanger to the engine;

a transmission primary cooling system having transmission input and output tubing connecting the primary heat exchanger to the transmission;

a secondary cooling system comprising an engine bypass circuit in fluid communication with the engine input and output tubing of the engine primary cooling system, a transmission bypass circuit in fluid communication with the transmission input and output tubing of the transmission primary cooling system, a secondary heat exchanger to remove heat from the engine and transmission bypass circuits, a secondary engine pump, and a secondary transmission pump;

an engine actuator connecting the engine bypass circuit with the engine primary cooling system;

a transmission actuator connecting the transmission bypass circuit with the transmission primary cooling system;

a power supply for activating the secondary engine and transmission pumps and the actuator; and

means for activating the power supply.

16. A proactive cooling system for cooling an engine and a transmission in a motor vehicle of claim 15, wherein the secondary cooling system further comprises:

a secondary fan being associated with the secondary heat exchanger and being activated by the power supply.

17. A proactive cooling system for cooling an engine and a transmission in a motor vehicle of claim 16, further comprising:

an engine bypass circuit temperature sensor for measuring engine coolant temperature in the engine bypass circuit; and

a transmission bypass circuit temperature sensor for measuring coolant temperature in the transmission bypass circuit.

18. A proactive cooling system for cooling an engine and a transmission in a motor vehicle of claim 17, wherein the means for activating the power supply comprises:

an electronic controller being programmed with at least one threshold point and to activate the power supply after reaching the threshold point;

an engine module for collecting information relating to the motor vehicle during operation and for communicating with the electronic controller data relating to the threshold point; and

a transmission module for collecting information relating to the motor vehicle during operation and for communicating with the electronic controller data relating to the threshold point.

19. A proactive cooling system for cooling an engine and a transmission in a motor vehicle of claim 18, further comprising:

a power supply module containing the power supply and for communicating with the electronic controller and the secondary sensor

20. A proactive cooling system for cooling an engine and a transmission in a motor vehicle of claim 19, further comprising:

a GPS module for collecting geographic information relating to the location of the motor vehicle during operation and for communicating with the electronic controller data relating to the threshold point.

21. A proactive cooling system for cooling an engine and a transmission in a motor vehicle of claim 17, wherein the means for activating the power supply comprises:

an electronic controller being programmed to activate the power supply after reaching a threshold point; and

a GPS module for collecting geographic information relating to the location of the motor vehicle during operation and for communicating with the electronic controller data relating to the threshold point.

22. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus located within a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) circulating coolant in a primary cooling system having a primary heat exchanger, and input and output tubing connecting the primary heat exchanger to the motor vehicle apparatus;

(b) collecting information related to the motor vehicle with an information collecting module;

(c) transmitting data between the information collecting module and an electronic controller;

(d) comparing data relating to the collected information with a threshold point;

(e) activating a power supply after reaching the threshold point;

(f) supplying power from the activated power supply to a secondary cooling system;

(g) opening a bypass circuit in the secondary cooling system after reaching the threshold point;

(h) diverting coolant from the primary cooling system into the opened bypass circuit;

(i) circulating diverted coolant in the bypass circuit;

(j) measuring coolant temperature in the bypass circuit with a bypass circuit temperature sensor;

(k) communicating bypass circuit temperature data to the electronic controller;

(l) cooling the diverted coolant in a secondary heat exchanger in the secondary cooling system;

(m) pumping the diverted coolant with a secondary pump in the secondary cooling system; and

(n) returning the cooled coolant from the bypass circuit to the primary cooling system.

23. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 22, the method further comprising the steps of:

(o) returning below the threshold point;

(p) closing the bypass circuit to prevent coolant from diverting from the primary cooling system to the secondary cooling system after returning below the threshold point; and

(q) deactivating the power supply.

24. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 22, wherein the electronic controller is programmed with the threshold point and activates the power supply.

25. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 24, the method further comprising the steps of:

(o) collecting additional information with a second information collecting module;

(p) transmitting data between the second information collecting module and the electronic controller;

(q) comparing the collected additional information with an additional threshold point; and

wherein the power supply is activated and the bypass circuit in the secondary cooling system is opened after reaching one of the threshold points.

26. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 25 wherein the primary cooling system is a transmission primary cooling system, and the bypass circuit is a transmission bypass circuit.

27. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 25, wherein the primary cooling system is an engine primary cooling system connecting to an engine, and the bypass circuit is an engine bypass circuit.

28. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 22, the method further comprising the steps of:

(o) circulating transmission coolant in a transmission primary cooling system having transmission input and output tubing connecting the primary heat exchanger to a transmission;

(p) opening a transmission bypass circuit in the secondary cooling system after reaching the threshold point;

(q) diverting transmission coolant from the transmission primary cooling system into the opened transmission bypass circuit;

(r) circulating diverted transmission coolant in the transmission bypass circuit;

(s) measuring transmission coolant temperature in the transmission bypass circuit with a transmission bypass circuit temperature sensor;

(t) communicating transmission bypass circuit temperature data to the electronic controller;

(u) pumping the diverted transmission coolant with a secondary transmission pump in the secondary cooling system; and

(v) returning the cooled transmission coolant from the transmission bypass circuit to the transmission primary cooling system; and

wherein the primary cooling system is an engine primary cooling system connecting to an engine, and the bypass circuit is an engine bypass circuit.

29. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 28, the method further comprising the steps of:

(w) collecting additional information with a second information collecting module;

(x) transmitting data between the second information collecting module and the electronic controller;

(y) comparing the collected additional information with an additional threshold point; and

(z) wherein the power supply is activated and the bypass circuits in the secondary cooling system are opened after reaching one of the threshold points.

30. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 29, wherein the information collecting module is a GPS module, and the threshold point is related to the data collected by the GPS module.

31. A method for cooling an engine and a transmission located within a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) circulating engine coolant in an engine primary cooling system having engine input and output tubing connecting a primary heat exchanger to the engine;

(b) circulating transmission coolant in a transmission primary cooling system having transmission input and output tubing connecting the primary heat exchanger to a transmission;

(c) activating a power supply;

(d) supplying power from the activated power supply to a secondary cooling system having an engine bypass circuit connecting with the engine primary cooling system, and a transmission bypass circuit connecting with the transmission primary cooling system;

(e) opening the engine bypass circuit in the secondary cooling system;

(f) diverting engine coolant from the engine primary cooling systems into the opened bypass circuit and into a secondary heat exchanger for cooling;

(g) opening a transmission bypass circuit in the secondary cooling system;

(h) diverting transmission coolant from the transmission primary cooling system into the opened transmission bypass circuit and into the secondary heat exchanger for cooling;

(i) measuring engine coolant temperature in the engine bypass circuit with an engine bypass circuit temperature sensor;

(j) measuring transmission coolant temperatures in the transmission bypass circuit with a bypass circuit temperature sensor;

(k) pumping the diverted engine coolant with a secondary engine pump in the secondary cooling system and returning the cooled engine coolant from the engine bypass circuit to the engine primary cooling system; and

(l) pumping the diverted transmission coolant with a secondary transmission pump in the secondary cooling system and returning the cooled transmission coolant from the transmission bypass circuit to the transmission primary cooling system.

32. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 31, the method further comprising the steps of:

(m) returning below the threshold point;

(n) closing the bypass circuits to prevent fluid from diverting from the primary cooling systems to the secondary cooling system after returning below the threshold point; and

(o) deactivating the power supply.

33. A method for cooling an engine and a transmission located within a motor vehicle, of claim 31, the method further comprising the steps of:

(m) collecting information related to the motor vehicle with an information collecting module;

(n) transmitting data between the information collecting module and an electronic controller;

(o) comparing data relating to the collected information with a threshold point programmed in the electronic controller;

(p) communicating bypass circuit temperature data to the electronic controller; and

wherein the electronic controller activates the power supply after reaching the threshold point.

34. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 33, wherein the information collecting module is a GPS module, and the threshold point is related to the data transmitted by the GPS module.

35. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 31, the method further comprising the steps of:

(m) collecting geographic information related to the motor vehicle with a GPS module;

(n) transmitting data between the GPS module and an electronic controller;

(o) comparing data relating to the collected geographic information with a first threshold point programmed in the electronic controller;

(p) communicating bypass circuit temperature data to the electronic controller;

(q) collecting additional information with a second information collecting module;

(r) transmitting data between the second information collecting module and the electronic controller;

(s) comparing the collected additional information with a second threshold point programmed in the electronic controller; and

wherein the power supply is activated after reaching one of the threshold points.

36. A method for cooling a motor vehicle apparatus within a motor vehicle of claim 35, the method further comprising the steps of:

(t) collecting additional information with a third information collecting module;

(u) transmitting data between the third information collecting module and the electronic controller; and

(v) comparing the collected additional information collected with the third information collecting module with a third threshold point.