SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF ENGINE DURING IDLE SHUTDOWN
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a vehicle engine for an automated shutdown process, comprising the steps of:
- determining that vehicle engine shutdown conditions exist, said conditions including at least that the engine is running at a predefined idle speed;
determining an engine-associated temperature;
comparing the engine associated temperature to a first threshold temperature;
responsive to said engine-associated temperature being above the first threshold temperature, operating a cooling fan associated with the engine and operating the engine at the predefined idle speed to allow the engine-associated temperature to fall below the first threshold temperature;
responsive to said engine-associated temperature being below the first threshold temperature, reducing cooling fan operation; and
completing an engine shutdown process responsive to the predetermined shutdown conditions being determined to exist, said conditions including at least that the engine-associated temperature is not greater than the first threshold temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle during an automatic shutdown process, in particular to cool the engine to a predetermined safe shutdown temperature, includes the steps of determining that vehicle-idle conditions exist and whether an engine-associated temperature exceeds a predetermined first threshold temperature value, for which a cooling fan is operated to cool the engine, or higher second threshold temperature, for which at least one of the cooling fan and a coolant pump is operated above idle levels and the engine speed may be increased above idle to cool the engine. Cooling fan and/or coolant pump operation is reduced when the engine temperature is determined to have decreased to below the first threshold temperature value. Finally, engine shutdown is completed when predetermined shutdown conditions are fulfilled.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a vehicle engine for an automated shutdown process, comprising the steps of:
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determining that vehicle engine shutdown conditions exist, said conditions including at least that the engine is running at a predefined idle speed; determining an engine-associated temperature; comparing the engine associated temperature to a first threshold temperature; responsive to said engine-associated temperature being above the first threshold temperature, operating a cooling fan associated with the engine and operating the engine at the predefined idle speed to allow the engine-associated temperature to fall below the first threshold temperature; responsive to said engine-associated temperature being below the first threshold temperature, reducing cooling fan operation; and completing an engine shutdown process responsive to the predetermined shutdown conditions being determined to exist, said conditions including at least that the engine-associated temperature is not greater than the first threshold temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling a vehicle engine during idle in preparation for shutdown, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining that vehicle engine idle conditions exist, said conditions including at least that the engine is running at a predefined idle speed; determining an engine-associated temperature; comparing the engine associated temperature to a first threshold temperature and a second threshold temperature higher than the first threshold temperature; responsive to said engine-associated temperature being above the second threshold temperature, operating a cooling device associated with the engine above an idle level and operating the engine at a speed above the predefined idle speed to allow the engine-associated temperature to fall below the second threshold temperature; responsive to said engine-associated temperature being above the first threshold temperature and below the second threshold temperature, operating a cooling fan associated with the engine and operating the engine at the predefined idle speed to allow the engine-associated temperature to fall below the first threshold temperature; responsive to said engine-associated temperature being below the first threshold temperature, reducing cooling fan operation; and completing an engine shutdown process responsive to the predetermined shutdown conditions being determined to exist, said conditions including at least that the engine-associated temperature is not greater than the first threshold temperature.
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17. A system for controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle in an automatic shutdown process, comprising:
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a control module for receiving vehicle and engine operating information and determining that engine shutdown conditions exist, said information including an engine-associated temperature and an engine speed, said conditions including at least that the engine of the vehicle is running at a predefined idle speed; the control module storing data including a first threshold temperature and a second threshold temperature higher than the first threshold temperature, and comparing an engine-associated temperature to said first threshold, temperature and said second threshold temperature; the control module having operating instructions for operating a cooling device associated with the engine, said instructions including running said cooling device when said engine-associated temperature is above said first threshold temperature to cool the engine, and reducing cooling device operation when the engine-associated temperature is below the first threshold temperature; the control module further including instructions for controlling the engine speed to run above the predefined idle speed when the engine-associated temperature is above the second threshold temperature to cool the engine; and the control module including instructions for completing engine shutdown when predetermined shutdown conditions exist, including at least that the engine-associated temperature is below the first threshold temperature.
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Specification