Cooling device for vehicle

• US 7,918,194 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kojima, Toshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Hai H
• Application Number:
  US12/656,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20100107997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.11, 123/41.12, 123/41.49, 123/41.63, 123/41.65, 123/41.48, 123/41.56
• US Class Current: 123/41.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/322 for improving the stop or idling operation of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3248 related to pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3266 related to the operation of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3277 to control the air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/08 Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor radiator or grille guards B60R19/52
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/0295 Condensers for radiators
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/185 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/025 using two or more air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/046 with electrical pump drive
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/04 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/04 Pump-driving arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/08 by cutting in or out of pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/084 actuated electromagnetically
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0806 Air condition state
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

A cooling device for a vehicle is provided at a vehicle comprising an engine control unit which stops an engine due to establishment of engine stoppage conditions and restarts the engine due to establishment of engine restart conditions. The cooling device for a vehicle is able to cool a coolant within a heat exchanger for cooling by cooling wind, which is guided from an exterior of the vehicle, passing through the heat exchanger for cooling. Cooling by driving force of either one of an electric motor or the engine can be selected in accordance with preset conditions.

Claims

1. A cooling device for a vehicle provided at a vehicle at which engine control is carried out which stops an engine due to establishment of preset engine stoppage conditions and restarts the engine due to establishment of engine start conditions, the cooling device comprising:

a heat exchanger for cooling at which heat exchange with a coolant is carried out due to cooling wind being guided;

a single cooling fan which, by being rotated and driven operates and guides the cooling wind to the heat exchanger for cooling;

a first driving unit able to operate the cooling fan by driving force of the engine;

a second driving unit able to operate the cooling fan by driving force of an electric motor;

a detecting unit detecting a cooling load on the heat exchanger for cooling;

a speed detecting unit detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle;

a judging unit judging a cooling capacity of the heat exchanger for cooling with respect to the cooling load on the basis of results of detection of the detecting unit; and

a cooling control unit which, on the basis of results of judgment of the judging unit, selects either one of the first driving unit or the second driving unit and operates the cooling fan, and which further selects the first driving unit to operate the cooling fan if it is judged that the cooling capacity is low with respect to the cooling load, and, if the second driving unit is selected or the traveling speed detected by the speed detecting unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined speed.

2. The cooling device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein a number of rotations of the cooling fan by the electric motor is lower than a number of rotations of the cooling fan by the driving force of the engine.

3. The cooling device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the detecting unit comprises a water temperature detecting unit, which detects a cooling water temperature of the engine, and a pressure detecting unit, which detects a pressure of the coolant.

4. The cooling device for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first driving unit comprises a fan coupling as a transfer unit which transfers the driving force of the engine to the cooling fan, and

when an atmospheric temperature of the fan coupling is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature and the engine stoppage conditions are established,

the cooling control unit selects the second driving unit and operates the cooling fan, regardless of the results of judgment of the judging unit.