×

Transmission Fluid Warming and Cooling System

  • US 20110284309A1
  • Filed: 05/21/2010
  • Published: 11/24/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A vehicle comprising:

  • a passenger compartment;

    an internal combustion engine; and

    an automatic transmission using transmission fluid and transmitting power from the engine to drive wheels to propel the vehicle, and a system for heating and cooling the transmission fluid, said system including;

    a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the engine and transmission, said heat exchanger being adapted to receive engine coolant from the engine, direct transmission fluid to the transmission and transfer heat between the engine coolant and the transmission fluid;

    a passenger compartment heater core in fluid connection with both the engine and passenger compartment, said heater core being adapted to receive engine coolant from the engine, and to transfer heat between the engine coolant and air for the passenger compartment;

    a radiator fluidly connected to the engine and the heat exchanger, said radiator being adapted to cool the engine coolant;

    a first valve fluidly connected between the engine and the heat exchanger and being adapted to selectively allow or prevent the flow of engine coolant from the engine to the heat exchanger; and

    a controller for controlling the first valve to place the system into a select one of several modes including, a heating mode wherein hot engine coolant flows directly to the heat exchanger from the engine and a cooling mode wherein cool engine coolant flows directly to the heat exchanger from the radiator, whereby the transmission fluid is heated in an efficient manner with minimal impact on passenger compartment heating.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×