MONITORING ENGINE COOLANT

• US 20170335751A1
• Filed: 04/20/2017
• Published: 11/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Newman, Carl Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 10,208,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/16 concerning coolant temperature F01P11/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/08 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2031/20 Warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2031/22 using warning lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/22 by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water involving the use of floats G01F23/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/241 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/247 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/026 of moving liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2205/00 Application of thermometers in motors, e.g. of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/16 using resistive elements resistive elements per se H01C, H01L

Abstract

An engine coolant temperature sensor configured to earth through the engine coolant such that an alarm will trigger when coolant is absent.

Claims

1. An engine coolant temperature sensor comprising:

an earth wire configured to earth through engine coolant in a coolant conduit and trigger an alarm when coolant is absent in the coolant conduit.

2. The engine coolant temperature sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a metal housing in electrical contact with the earth wire.

3. The engine coolant temperature sensor according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of temperature sensing wires spaced away from the earth wire.

4. The engine coolant temperature sensor according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

5. The engine coolant temperature sensor according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is a visual alarm.

6. An engine system comprising:

an engine coolant temperature sensor including,

a plurality of temperature sensing wires enclosed in a housing, and

an earth wire enclosed in the housing and spaced away from the plurality of temperature sensing wires.

7. The engine system of claim 6, further comprising a metal tip at least partially surrounding the housing.

8. The engine system of claim 7, where the earth wire is in electrical contact with the metal tip.

9. The engine system of claim 6, where the engine coolant temperature sensor extends into a coolant conduit.

10. The engine system of claim 6, further comprising a controller receiving signals from the earth wire and signals from the plurality of temperature sensing wires.

11. The engine system of claim 10, where the controller determines if a coolant level in a coolant conduit in which the engine coolant temperature sensor is positioned is below a threshold level based on the signals from the earth wire.

12. The engine system of claim 11, where the controller triggers engine deactivation when it is determined that the coolant level in the coolant conduit is below the threshold level.

13. The engine system of claim 11, where the controller limits engine output independent of driver demand when it is determined that the coolant level in the coolant conduit is below the threshold level.

14. The engine system of claim 11, where the controller determines engine temperature based on the signals from the plurality of temperature sensing wires.

15. A method for operating an engine system comprising:

determining an engine temperature based on signals from a plurality of temperature sensing wires in an engine coolant temperature sensor; and

determining if the engine coolant temperature sensor is grounded based on signals from an earth wire in the engine coolant temperature sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, if it is determined that the engine coolant temperature sensor is grounded, discontinuing engine operation.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising, if it is determined that the engine coolant temperature sensor is grounded, limiting engine output independent of driver demand.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising, if it is determined that the engine coolant temperature sensor is ungrounded, adjusting engine output based on driver demand.

19. The method of claim 15, where the earth wire is spaced away from the plurality of temperature sensing wires.

20. The method of claim 15, where the earth wire is in electrical contact with a metal tip of the engine coolant temperature sensor.