Vaporization reduction control system and method for a vehicle

• US 8,099,971 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Zamora, Mario Miguel, Turley, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyler, Cheryl J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Paolo
• Application Number:
  US12/029,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20090151660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 621/86, 236/49.3, 454/75, 454/239, 454/256, 123/198.D
• US Class Current: 62/186
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2001/005 Cooling engine rooms
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/12 Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/08 by cutting in or out of pumps

Abstract

A system for controlling a fan in a vehicle comprises an ambient temperature module that generates an ambient temperature enable signal when ambient temperature is within a vaporization window. An engine component monitoring module that generates a vaporization temperature enable signal when an engine component in an engine compartment has an estimated outer surface temperature that greater than a water vaporization temperature. A vehicle speed module generates a speed enable signal when the vehicle speed is less than a first vehicle speed. A fan turn-on module that selectively turns on a fan based on the temperature enable signal, the vaporization temperature enable signal and the speed enable signal.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a radiator fan in a vehicle comprising:

an ambient temperature module that generates an ambient temperature enable signal when ambient temperature is within a vaporization temperature range;

an engine component monitoring module that generates a vaporization temperature enable signal when;

a coolant temperature is greater than a first temperature and less than a second temperature, and

an air-conditioning pressure is greater than a first pressure and less than a second pressure; and

a fan turn-on module that turns on the radiator fan;

when at least one of (i) the coolant temperature is greater than the second temperature and (ii) the air-conditioning pressure is greater than the second pressure; and

when (i) the ambient temperature enable signal and (ii) the vaporization temperature enable signal are generated.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a vehicle speed module that generates a speed enable signal to enable the fan turn-on module to turn on the radiator fan (i) when the ambient temperature enable signal and the vaporization temperature enable signal are generated and (ii) when a speed of the vehicle is less than a first vehicle speed.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein a lower temperature of the vaporization temperature range is approximately 0°

Celsius and an upper temperature of the vaporization temperature range is approximately 10°

Celsius.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first pressure is approximately 800 kPa and the second pressure is approximately 1300 kPa.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first temperature is approximately 93°

Celsius and the second temperature is approximately 102°

Celsius.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the first vehicle speed is approximately 8 kph.

7. A method for controlling a radiator fan in a vehicle comprising:

generating an ambient temperature enable signal when ambient temperature is within a vaporization temperature range;

generating a vaporization temperature enable signal when;

a coolant temperature is greater than a first temperature and less than a second temperature, and

an air-conditioning pressure is greater than a first pressure and less than a second pressure; and

turning on the radiator fan;

when at least one of (i) the coolant temperature is greater than the second temperature and (ii) the air-conditioning pressure is greater than the second pressure; and

when (i) the ambient temperature enable signal and (ii) the vaporization temperature enable signal are generated.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising generating a speed enable signal to turn on the radiator fan (i) when the ambient temperature enable signal and the vaporization temperature enable signal are generated and (ii) when a speed of the vehicle is less than a first vehicle speed.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein a lower temperature of the vaporization temperature range is approximately 0°

Celsius and an upper temperature of the vaporization temperature range is approximately 10°

Celsius.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the first pressure is approximately 800 kPa and the second pressure is approximately 1300 kPa.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the first temperature is approximately 93°

Celsius and the second temperature is approximately 102°

Celsius.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the first vehicle speed is approximately 8 kph.

13. A system for controlling a radiator fan in a vehicle comprising:

an ambient temperature module that determines whether ambient temperature is within a vaporization temperature range;

an engine component monitoring module that determines whether;

a coolant temperature is greater than a first temperature and less than a second temperature, and

an air-conditioning pressure is greater than a first pressure and less than a second pressure; and

a fan turn-on module that turns on the radiator fan;

when at least one of (i) the coolant temperature is greater than the second temperature and (ii) the air-conditioning pressure is greater than the second pressure; and

when (i) the ambient temperature is within the vaporization temperature range, (ii) the coolant temperature is greater than the first temperature and less than the second temperature, and (iii) the air-conditioning pressure is greater than the first pressure and less than the second pressure.