External control of a vehicle coolant pump with remote heating option

• US 20070298296A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Greifenstein, Ellen, Wexel, Dirk, Thyroff, Jurgen, Haege, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/236
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04029 Heat exchange using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04037 Electrical heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04052 Storage of heat in the fuel cell system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04253 Means for solving freezing problems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0432 Temperature; Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04358 of the coolant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04768 of the coolant
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A system and method for operating a cooling fluid pump and cooling fluid heater in a vehicle when the vehicle is not being used so that the temperature of the cooling fluid does not drop to low in a cold environment. The system includes an AC connector for plugging the system into an AC power outlet. The system also includes AC/DC converter that converts the AC power to a DC signal suitable to operate the pump. The system also includes a temperature switch that closes if the ambient temperature falls below a predetermined temperature, which electrically connects the AC connector to the AC/DC converter. When the AC/DC converter is powered, a switch is closed to connect the pump to a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator to operate the pump. Further, when the temperature switch is closed, power is provided to the heater.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a coolant loop;

a pump for pumping a cooling fluid through the coolant loop;

a heater for heating the cooling fluid being pumped through the coolant loop; and

a controller for controlling the heater and the pump, said controller including a connector for accepting a plug for an AC power source, a temperature switch that closes in response to a predetermined temperature, a first control switch for providing AC power to the controller and the heater when the temperature switch is closed, an AC/DC converter responsive to the AC power and converting it to a DC signal when the first control switch is closed, and a second control switch responsive to the DC signal and switching a power signal to the pump from a vehicle power line to the DC signal.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the controller further includes a PWM generator, said PWM generator being powered by the DC signal when the second switch is closed, said generator providing a control signal to the pump.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a drive-away protection switch, said drive-away protection switch preventing the vehicle from operating if the connector is plugged into the AC power source.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the drive-away protection switch is positioned in the connector.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the drive-away protection switch is a Reed switch including a magnet.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first and second control switches are solenoid switches.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the heater is an electrical heater.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system is on a fuel cell vehicle or an electrical hybrid vehicle.

9. A control system for a fuel cell vehicle or an electrical hybrid vehicle, said system comprising:

a coolant loop;

a pump for pumping a cooling fluid through the coolant loop;

a heater for heating the cooling fluid being pumped through the coolant loop; and

a controller for controlling the heater and the pump, said controller including a connector for accepting a plug for an AC power source and a temperature switch that closes in response to a predetermined temperature, said controller further including a first control switch for providing AC power to the controller and the heater when the temperature switch is closed and an AC/DC converter responsive to the AC power and converting it to a DC signal when the first control switch is closed, said controller further including a second control switch responsive to the DC signal and switching a power signal to the pump from a vehicle power line to the DC signal, said controller further including a PWM generator being powered by the DC signal when the second switch is closed, said generator providing a control signal to the pump, said controller further including a drive-away protection switch for preventing the vehicle from operating if the connector is plugged into the AC power source.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the drive-away protection switch is positioned in the connector.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the drive-away protection switch is a Reed switch including a magnet.

12. The system according to claim 9 wherein the first and second control switches are solenoid switches.

13. The system according to claim 9 wherein the heater is an electrical heater.

14. A control system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

a coolant loop;

a pump for pumping a cooling fluid through the coolant loop; and

a controller for controlling the pump, said controller including a connector for accepting a plug for an AC power source, an AC/DC converter responsive to the AC power and converting it to a DC signal when the connector is connected to the power source, and a control switch responsive to the DC signal and switching a power signal to the pump from a vehicle power line to the DC signal.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the controller further includes a PWM generator, said PWM generator being powered by the DC signal when the control switch is closed, said generator providing a control signal to the pump.

16. The system according to claim 14 further comprising a drive-away protection switch, said drive-away protection switch preventing the vehicle from operating if the connector is plugged into the AC power source.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein the drive-away protection switch is positioned in the connector.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein the drive-away protection switch is a Reed switch including a magnet.

19. The system according to claim 14 wherein the control switch is solenoid switch.

20. The system according to claim 14 wherein the system is on a fuel cell vehicle or an electrical hybrid vehicle.