DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS FOR COOLING SYSTEMS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES

• US 20090293600A1
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Coppola, John, Deleon, Jose L., Dixon, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/114.68
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/16 concerning coolant temperature F01P11/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/13 Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/33 Cylinder head temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/12 Turbo charger

Abstract

A control system for an engine system includes a temperature sensor and a diagnostic module. The temperature sensor measures an outlet temperature at an outlet of a cooling system. The diagnostic module estimates the cooling fluid temperature, determines the cooling performance based on the outlet temperature and the cooling fluid temperature, and selectively diagnoses a fault in the cooling system based on the cooling performance and a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A control system for an engine system comprising:

a temperature sensor that measures an outlet temperature at an outlet of a cooling system; and

a diagnostic module that estimates a cooling fluid temperature, that determines a cooling performance based on the outlet temperature and the cooling fluid temperature, and that selectively diagnoses a fault in the cooling system based on the cooling performance and a predetermined threshold.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic module estimates the cooling fluid temperature based on an intake air temperature.

3. The control system of claim 2 wherein the cooling system is a charge air cooler (CAC).

4. The control system of claim 2 wherein the predetermined threshold is determined based on a vehicle speed and a mass air flow rate.

5. The control system of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic module estimates the cooling fluid temperature based on an engine coolant temperature of an engine cooling apparatus.

6. The control system of claim 5 wherein the cooling system is an exhaust gas recirculation cooler (EGC).

7. The control system of claim 5 wherein the predetermined threshold is based on an engine speed and a mass air flow rate.

8. The control system of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic module determines a fault in the cooling system when the cooling performance is below the predetermined threshold.

9. The control system of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic module does not communicate with a temperature sensor at an inlet of the cooling system.