SYSTEM, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- operating a vehicle including an engine with an engine cooling system for circulating a coolant, the engine cooling system including a radiator, a radiator fan, and one or more louvers associated with the radiator;
determining a thermal condition associated with an external environment of the vehicle, an operating temperature associated with operation of the engine, and an ambient temperature associated with the external environment;
in response to the thermal condition, determining a first temperature threshold associated with the operating temperature and a second temperature threshold associated with the ambient temperature;
determining a cooling condition for the coolant in response to the operating temperature being greater than the first temperature threshold and the ambient temperature being greater than the second temperature threshold; and
opening one or more louvers associated with the engine cooling system in response to the cooling condition.
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Abstract
System, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for opening one or more louvers of an engine cooling system to provide an airflow to the radiator to reduce a radiator fan on time.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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operating a vehicle including an engine with an engine cooling system for circulating a coolant, the engine cooling system including a radiator, a radiator fan, and one or more louvers associated with the radiator; determining a thermal condition associated with an external environment of the vehicle, an operating temperature associated with operation of the engine, and an ambient temperature associated with the external environment; in response to the thermal condition, determining a first temperature threshold associated with the operating temperature and a second temperature threshold associated with the ambient temperature; determining a cooling condition for the coolant in response to the operating temperature being greater than the first temperature threshold and the ambient temperature being greater than the second temperature threshold; and opening one or more louvers associated with the engine cooling system in response to the cooling condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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determining a thermal condition including at least one of a direct sun condition, a vehicle platooning condition, and a precipitation condition associated with an external environment condition of a vehicle including an engine, an engine cooling system, and at least one louver associated with the engine cooling system; determining a first temperature threshold of the engine cooling system and a second temperature threshold associated with an ambient temperature in response to the thermal condition; determining a cooling condition in response to a temperature of the engine cooling system being greater than the first temperature threshold and an ambient temperature being greater than the second threshold; and opening the at least one louver associated with the cooling system in response to the cooling condition. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system, comprising:
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a vehicle including an engine; a cooling system in fluid communication with the engine, the cooling system including one or more radiator louvers to direct a heat transfer from a coolant in the cooling system to an external environment of the vehicle; a plurality of sensors operable to provide a plurality of inputs associated with operating conditions of the vehicle, the plurality of inputs including at least a temperature of the cooling system, an ambient temperature, and a thermal condition associated with the vehicle; an electronic controller in operative communication with the engine, the cooling system, and the plurality of sensors, wherein the electronic controller includes; a thermal conditions module structured to determine the thermal condition associated with the vehicle in response to at least a portion of the plurality of inputs; a threshold determination module structured to determine a cooling system temperature threshold and an ambient temperature threshold in response to the thermal condition; a cooling condition determination module structured to determine a cooling condition for the cooling system in response to the temperature of the cooling system exceeding the cooling system temperature threshold and the ambient temperature exceeding the ambient temperature threshold; and a cooling system control module structured to provide a radiator louver open command to at least one of the one or more radiator louvers in response to the cooling condition. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification