Method for cooling torque generation assemblies of a hybrid electric vehicle
First Claim
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1. An assembly for selectively cooling a motor assembly of a hybrid electric vehicle of the type having an internal combustion engine, said assembly comprising a single radiator assembly which contains coolant and which is coupled to said internal combustion engine and to said motor assembly;
- a source of energy;
a single selectively energizable variable speed pump which is coupled to said radiator assembly; and
a controller which is coupled to said selectively energizable variable speed pump and to said source of energy and which selectively energizes said variable speed pump by communicating energy to said variable speed pump from said source of energy, effective to cause said variable speed pump to communicate coolant to said motor without the use of said internal combustion engine and without the use of said motor.
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus 12 for cooling one or more torque generation assemblies, such as an internal combustion engine 14 and/or an electric motor 16 by the use of variable speed pump assembly 28 which may be selectively operated without the use of any of the torque generation assemblies 12, 14.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An assembly for selectively cooling a motor assembly of a hybrid electric vehicle of the type having an internal combustion engine, said assembly comprising a single radiator assembly which contains coolant and which is coupled to said internal combustion engine and to said motor assembly;
- a source of energy;
a single selectively energizable variable speed pump which is coupled to said radiator assembly; and
a controller which is coupled to said selectively energizable variable speed pump and to said source of energy and which selectively energizes said variable speed pump by communicating energy to said variable speed pump from said source of energy, effective to cause said variable speed pump to communicate coolant to said motor without the use of said internal combustion engine and without the use of said motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a source of energy;
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11. A hybrid vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine;
- a battery;
a motor;
a single variable speed pump;
a single reservoir of coolant which is coupled to said internal combustion engine and to said motor; and
a controller which selectively activates said variable speed pump by coupling said battery to said variable speed pump, effective to cause said variable speed pump to communicate coolant from said reservoir to said motor without the use of said internal combustion engine without the use of said motor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
- a battery;
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15. A method for cooling an engine and a traction motor of a hybrid electric vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a single reservoir of coolant;
providing a single variable speed electrically driven pump assembly including a pump which may be operated at a speed which is independent of the speeds of said engine and said traction motor torque generation assembly;
coupling said reservoir of coolant to said engine and said motor;
coupling said variable speed pump to said reservoir of coolant, thereby communicating coolant to said engine and said motor;
sensing the temperature of said engine and said motor; and
actuating said variable speed pump in response to a sensed temperature of at least one of said engine and said motor.
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Specification