System and method of changing engine performance curves to manage heat generation
First Claim
1. A method of managing heat produced by an internal combustion system including an internal combustion engine coupled to a transmission, the method comprising:
- monitoring an engaged drive ratio of a transmission during operation of an internal combustion system, the transmission including at least a low drive ratio and a high drive ratio;
storing in a controller a plurality of different performance curves including a first performance curve and a second performance curve, each performance curve selectable by the controller to operate the internal combustion engine;
selecting a performance curve from the plurality of different performance curves based in part on the engaged drive ratio monitored from the transmission;
operating the internal combustion engine in accordance with the performance curve selected;
cooling the internal combustion engine with a cooling system rated for engine operation under the second performance curve;
wherein the first performance curve is selected when the transmission is engaged in the low drive ratio and the first performance curve increases torque output of the internal combustion engine; and
the second performance curve is selected when the transmission is engaged in the high drive ratio and the second performance curve reduces torque output of the internal combustion engine.
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Abstract
A system and method for managing the heat produced by operation of an internal combustion system utilizes an electronic controller to control operation the engine that is coupled to a transmission. The transmission can include a high drive ratio and a low drive ratio. Stored in the controller are a plurality of different performance curves. When the transmission is in the low drive ratio, the controller selects a performance curve that comparatively increases the amount of torque and/or power the engine produces. When the transmission is in the high drive ratio, the controller selects a performance curve that comparatively reduces torque and/or power produced by the engine. Because the engine generates less heat when it produces less torque, the engine can accommodate additional emissions control devices and/or techniques that may otherwise adversely affect heat rejection.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of managing heat produced by an internal combustion system including an internal combustion engine coupled to a transmission, the method comprising:
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monitoring an engaged drive ratio of a transmission during operation of an internal combustion system, the transmission including at least a low drive ratio and a high drive ratio; storing in a controller a plurality of different performance curves including a first performance curve and a second performance curve, each performance curve selectable by the controller to operate the internal combustion engine; selecting a performance curve from the plurality of different performance curves based in part on the engaged drive ratio monitored from the transmission; operating the internal combustion engine in accordance with the performance curve selected; cooling the internal combustion engine with a cooling system rated for engine operation under the second performance curve; wherein the first performance curve is selected when the transmission is engaged in the low drive ratio and the first performance curve increases torque output of the internal combustion engine; and the second performance curve is selected when the transmission is engaged in the high drive ratio and the second performance curve reduces torque output of the internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for managing heat produced by an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
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an internal combustion engine; a transmission coupled to the internal combustion engine, the transmission including a plurality of different engageable drive ratios including at least a high drive ratio and a low drive ratio; a controller in communication with the transmission to monitor an engaged drive ratio, the controller storing a plurality of different performance curves including a first performance curve corresponding to comparatively increased torque output of the internal combustion engine in the low drive ratio and a second performance curve corresponding to comparatively reduced torque output of the internal combustion engine in the high drive ratio; and a cooling system rated for cooling the internal combustion engine during operation under the second performance curve; wherein during engine operation a performance curve selected by the controller is based in part upon the engaged drive ratio monitored in the transmission. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of enabling a vehicle to accommodate emissions controls comprising:
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providing a vehicle including an internal combustion engine coupled to a transmission, the transmission including at least a high drive ratio and a low drive ratio; installing on the vehicle at least one emissions control that adversely affects heat rejection from the internal combustion engine; storing in a controller on the vehicle a plurality of different performance curves, each performance curve selectable by the controller to operate the internal combustion engine;
operating the internal combustion engine to propel the vehicle, wherein the plurality of different performance curves includes at least a first performance curve corresponding to the low drive ratio and a second performance curve corresponding to the high drive ratio;monitoring an engaged drive ratio of the transmission by the controller; and
selecting a performance curve for the controller to operate the vehicle from the plurality of different performance curves based in part on the engaged drive ratio monitored by the controller;cooling the internal combustion engine with a cooling system rated for engine operation under the second performance curve; wherein the performance curve selected for the low drive ratio comparatively increases torque and the performance curve selected for the high drive ratio comparatively reduces torque. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification