System and method for heating vehicle fluids

• US 6,427,640 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Tech
• Inventors: Roethler, Robert Clayton, Hickey, John Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Benton, Jason
• Application Number:
  US09/686,991
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.33, 123/196.AB, 123/41.1
• US Class Current: 123/41.31
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/007 Thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2007/146 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/04 Lubricant cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/045 for transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/16 Outlet manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/20 Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine F01P3/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0412 Cooling or heating; Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor

Abstract

A system 10 which utilizes engine coolant to selectively heat and cool fluid or oil used by another vehicle system, such as a transmission 14. System 10 includes a first cooling path or circuit 28 having a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger 18 which is fluidly coupled to engine 12. The system 10 further includes a second fluid flow circuit 36, which contains and communicates transmission oil or fluid to and from transmission 14. Circuit 36 includes a conventional solenoid controlled shunt valve 22 which is fluidly coupled to transmission 14 and to fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger 18. Valve 22 is effective to selectively channel transmission oil through heat exchanger 18 based on one or more parameters (e.g., ambient temperature and transmission oil temperature), thereby relatively rapidly heating the transmission oil under certain operating conditions.

Claims

1. A system for heating and cooling fluids within a vehicle of the type including an engine and a transmission, said system comprising:

an oil-to-water heat exchanger which is fluidly coupled to said engine and which receives heated water from said engine;

a controller which is operable under stored program control;

a solenoid valve which is communicatively coupled to said controller, effective to electronically control said solenoid valve, said solenoid valve further being fluidly coupled to said oil-to-water heat exchanger and to said transmission, said electronically controlled solenoid valve being effective to selectively channel transmission oil through said oil-to-water heat exchanger based on at least one parameter, thereby selectively heating and cooling said transmission oil; and

at least one sensor which is communicatively coupled to said controller and which is effective to measure said at least one parameter and to generate signals to said controller representing said measured at least one parameter, wherein said at least one parameter comprises a temperature of said transmission oil.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one parameter further comprises an ambient temperature outside of said vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one parameter further comprises a passenger compartment temperature of said vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an oil-to-air heat exchanger; and

a second valve which is communicatively coupled to said oil-to-water heat exchanger, to said oil-to-air heat exchanger and to said transmission, said second valve being effective to selectively channel transmission oil from said oil-to-water heat exchanger to said oil-to-air heat exchanger based on at least one second parameter, thereby selectively cooling said transmission oil.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said at least one second parameter comprises transmission oil temperature.

6. A system for heating and cooling fluids within a vehicle of the type including an engine having a coolant, said system comprising:

at least one fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger which is fluidly coupled to at least one vehicle system and which receives fluid from said at least one vehicle system;

a controller which is operable under stored program control;

a solenoid valve which is communicatively coupled to said controller, effective to electronically control said solenoid valve, said solenoid valve further being fluidly coupled to said at least one fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger and to said engine, said solenoid valve being effective to selectively channel heated coolant from said engine through said at least one fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger based on at least one parameter, thereby selectively heating said fluid received from said at least one vehicle system, wherein said at least one vehicle system comprises at least one of a transmission system, a steering system, an axle assembly, a transfer case and an engine;

at least one sensor which is communicatively coupled to said controller and which is effective to measure said at least one parameter and to generate signals to said controller representing said measured at least one parameter, wherein said at least one parameter comprises a temperature of said transmission oil.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein said at least one parameter further comprises an ambient temperature outside of said vehicle.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein said at least one parameter further comprises a passenger compartment temperature of said vehicle.

12. The system of claim 6 further comprising:

a fluid-to-air heat exchanger; and

a second valve which is communicatively coupled to said fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, to said fluid-to-air heat exchanger and to said transmission, said second valve being effective to selectively channel transmission oil from said fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger to said fluid-to-air heat exchanger based on at least one second parameter, thereby selectively cooling said transmission oil.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said at least one second parameter comprises transmission oil temperature.

7. A method for heating fluids within a vehicle of the type including an engine and a coolant which cools said engine, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger;

passing coolant which has been heated by said engine through said fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger;

selectively passing fluid from a vehicle system through said fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, effective to cause fluid to be heated by said heated coolant, thereby improving vehicle fuel economy;

providing a valve;

fluidly coupling said valve to said fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger and to said vehicle system;

selectively actuating said valve, effective to selectively pass fluid from said vehicle system to said fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, thereby heating said fluid;

measuring at least one vehicle parameter; and

selectively actuating said valve based upon said at least one vehicle parameter, wherein said at least one vehicle parameter comprises a temperature of said fluid.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said at least one vehicle parameter comprises an ambient temperature outside of said vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

selectively heating said coolant by use of exhaust gas.