AUTOMATIC FAN CURVE SELECTION

• US 20090164061A1
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Industries Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cummins Industries Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: VAWTER, Michael D., Hwang, Long-Kung
• Granted Patent: US 8,825,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/00 Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/02 Surge control surge detection F04D27/001

Abstract

A method and system and method for use in a vehicle. The method includes providing a plurality of fan curves in a vehicle, requesting vehicle information, and selecting a fan curve from the plurality of fan curves based on the vehicle information.

Claims

1. A method for use in a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of fan curves in a vehicle;

requesting vehicle information; and

selecting a fan curve from the plurality of fan curves based on the vehicle information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending a request message for vehicle information; and

identifying the vehicle information from the response message

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

setting a fan curve parameter with an index number that corresponds to the selected fan curve; and

saving the fan curve parameter.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

setting a fan curve parameter with an index number that corresponds to the selected fan curve; and

saving the fan curve parameter, wherein the saving of the fan curve parameter is performed at each engine key-off of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if a response message is not received, attempting to retrieve the vehicle information from a data plate;

if the vehicle information is successfully retrieved from the data plate, selecting an appropriate fan curve based on the vehicle information; and

if the vehicle information is not available from the data plate, applying a generic fan curve.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a fan torque from the selected fan curve;

determining a friction torque; and

summing the fan torque and friction torque.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle information comprises a vehicle make and model.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the sending of the request message is performed at each engine key-on of the vehicle.

9. A transmission system comprising:

a vehicle cab controller operative to provide vehicle information; and

an electronic control module (ECM) operatively coupled to the vehicle cab controller, the ECM operable to;

provide a plurality of fan curves in a vehicle;

request vehicle information; and

select a fan curve from the plurality of fan curves based on the vehicle information.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the ECM is further operable to:

set a fan curve parameter with an index number that corresponds to the selected fan curve; and

save the fan curve parameter.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the ECM is further operable to:

set a fan curve parameter with an index number that corresponds to the selected fan curve; and

save the fan curve parameter, wherein the saving of the fan curve parameter is performed at each engine key-off of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the ECM is further operable to:

if a response message is not received, attempt to retrieve the vehicle information from a data plate;

if the vehicle information is successfully retrieved from the data plate, select an appropriate fan curve based on the vehicle information; and

if the vehicle information is not available from the data plate, apply a generic fan curve.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the ECM is further operable to:

determine a fan torque from the selected fan curve;

determine a friction torque; and

sum the fan torque and friction torque.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the vehicle information comprises a vehicle make and model.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the ECM is operable to send the request message at each engine key-on of the vehicle.

16. A vehicle comprising:

an engine; and

a transmission system coupled to the engine, the transmission system comprising;

a vehicle cab controller operative to provide vehicle information; and

an electronic control module (ECM) operatively coupled to the vehicle cab controller, the ECM operable to;

provide a plurality of fan curves in a vehicle;

request vehicle information; and

select a fan curve from the plurality of fan curves based on the vehicle information.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the ECM is further operable to:

set a fan curve parameter with an index number that corresponds to the selected fan curve; and

save the fan curve parameter.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the ECM is further operable to:

if a response message is not received, attempt to retrieve the vehicle information from a data plate;

if the vehicle information is successfully retrieved from the data plate, select an appropriate fan curve based on the vehicle information; and

if the vehicle information is not available from the data plate, apply a generic fan curve.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the ECM is further operable to:

determine a fan torque from the selected fan curve;

determine a friction torque; and

sum the fan torque and friction torque.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the vehicle information comprises a vehicle make and model.