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

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Iliescu, Dragos Catalin, Macwillson, Hamish, Gooden, James Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,205,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/339
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/14 otherwise than from cooling liquid of the plant , e.g. heat from the grease oil, the brakes, the transmission unit B60H1/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2037/02 starting
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/045 for transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/16 by thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0417 Heat exchangers adapted or integrated in the gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0475 Engine and gearing, i.e. joint lubrication or cooling or heating thereof electric machines and gearing F16H57/0476

Abstract

A system for heating and cooling the transmission fluid including a heat exchanger adapted to transfer heat between an engine coolant and a transmission fluid and a controller for controlling a valve to place the system into a select one of three modes including a heater core priority mode wherein no engine coolant flows to the heat exchanger, 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.

Claims

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.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a second valve fluidly connected between the engine, the heat exchanger, and the radiator and being adapted to selectively allow fluid flow of engine coolant from the radiator to a select one of the engine and the heat exchanger;

the controller also controls the second valve; and

the several heating modes further includes a heater core priority mode wherein no engine coolant flows to the heat exchanger.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a thermostat connected between the engine and the radiator and being adapted to selectively allow fluid flow of engine coolant from the engine to the radiator;

and the several heating modes further includes a heater core priority mode wherein when the thermostat is closed no engine coolant flows to the heat exchanger.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the system further includes a second valve fluidly connected between the engine, the heat exchanger, and the radiator and being adapted to selectively allow fluid flow of engine coolant from the radiator to a select one of the engine and the first valve;

the controller also controls the second valve; and

the several heating modes further includes a heater core priority mode wherein no engine coolant flows to the heat exchanger.

5. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the radiator includes a high temperature section and a low temperature section and the second valve is connected to the low temperature section.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a fluid channel between the radiator and the engine and a thermostat located in the channel.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a heater core fluid return channel extending between the heater core and the engine and a hot coolant return channel leading from the heat exchanger to the heater core fluid return channel.

8. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the system further comprises a cool coolant supply channel extending between the radiator and the heat exchanger with the second valve being located in the cool coolant supply channel.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a heater core fluid channel extending between the engine and the heater core and a hot coolant supply channel leading from the heater core fluid channel to the first valve.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the system further comprises a cool coolant supply channel extending between the radiator and the first valve with the second valve being located in the cool coolant supply channel, a shunt channel extending between the first valve and the heat exchanger.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a first temperature sensor for sensing sump temperature, a second temperature sensor for indirectly inferring the temperature of automatic transmission fluid leaving the transmission case, and a third temperature sensor for measuring engine coolant temperature.

12. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the system further comprises a first timer for determining when to switch the first and second valves triggered based on a rate of change of temperature of the engine coolant and having a time value based on a measured starting temperature and a second timer for determining when to switch the first and second valves triggered based on movement of a transmission control switch and having a time value based on a function of the starting temperature.

13. A system for heating and cooling a transmission fluid for use in a vehicle with a passenger compartment, an internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission using the transmission fluid and transmitting power from the engine to drive wheels to propel the vehicle, said system comprising:

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.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the system further includes a second valve fluidly connected between the engine, the heat exchanger, and the radiator and being adapted to selectively allow fluid flow of engine coolant from the radiator to a select one of the engine and the heat exchanger;

the controller also controls the second valve; and

the several heating modes further includes a heater core priority mode wherein no engine coolant flows to the heat exchanger.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the system further includes a thermostat connected between the engine and the radiator and being adapted to selectively allow fluid flow of engine coolant from the engine to the radiator;

and the several heating modes further includes a heater core priority mode wherein when the thermostat is closed no engine coolant flows to the heat exchanger.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the system further includes a second valve fluidly connected between the engine, the heat exchanger, and the radiator and being adapted to selectively allow fluid flow of engine coolant from the radiator to a select one of the engine and the first valve;

the controller also controls the second valve; and

the several heating modes further includes a heater core priority mode wherein no engine coolant flows to the heat exchanger.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the system further comprises a heater core fluid return channel extending between the heater core and the engine and a hot coolant return channel leading from the heat exchanger to the heater core fluid return channel.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the system further comprises a cool coolant supply channel extending between the radiator and the heat exchanger with the second valve being located in the cool coolant supply channel.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the system further comprises a heater core fluid channel extending between the engine and the heater core and a hot coolant supply channel leading from the heater core fluid channel to the first valve.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the system further comprises a cool coolant supply channel extending between the radiator and the first valve with the second valve being located in the cool coolant supply channel, a shunt channel extending between the first valve and the heat exchanger.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the system further comprises a first temperature sensor for sensing sump temperature, a second temperature sensor for indirectly inferring the temperature of automatic transmission fluid leaving the transmission case, and a third temperature sensor for measuring engine coolant temperature.

22. The system of claim 14 wherein the system further comprises a first timer for determining when to switch the first and second valves triggered based on a rate of change of temperature of the engine coolant and having a time value based on a measured starting temperature and a second timer for determining when to switch the first and second valves triggered based on movement of a transmission control switch and having a time value based on a function of the starting temperature.