Method for controlling a vehicle drive train comprising two cooling circuits

• US 8,215,427 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Rouaud, Cedric, Yu, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frick, Emma K
• Application Number:
  US12/066,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20080251303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,133 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.27, 180/65.265, 180/65.275, 180/65.25, 123/41.31, 475/5, 477 5- 10, 701/22
• US Class Current: 180/65.27
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/02 with liquid cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/006 the electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/22 Standstill, e.g. zero speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/105 Using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2031/30 Cooling after the engine is stopped
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/02 Intercooler
• 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 7/165 : characterised by systems with two or more loops
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for controlling a vehicle drive train, which communicates or maintains in communication via at least one valve two cooling circuits operating normally and respectively associated with a heat engine and with at least one electrical member.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a power train of a vehicle, comprising:

placing two cooling circuits that operate in a normal way, a first one of the cooling circuits associated with a combustion engine and a second one of the cooling circuits associated with at least one electric member, in fluidic communication by at least one valve in a first position;

detecting a temperature of fluid circulating in the first one of the cooling circuits;

adjusting, when the temperature in the first one of the cooling circuits rises above a first predetermined threshold, the at least one valve to a second position in which the fluid circulating in the second one of the cooling circuits does not circulate in the first one of the cooling circuits such that the fluid in the second one of the cooling circuits does not cool the combustion engine; and

adjusting, when the temperature of the fluid in the first one of the cooling circuits rises above a second predetermined threshold that is hotter than the first predetermined threshold, the at least one valve to a third position in which the fluid arriving in the second one of the cooling circuits from the first one of the cooling circuits is conveyed through an electronics radiator in the second one of the cooling circuits before returning to the first one of the cooling circuits.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric member or one of the electric members comprises an electric motor.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication is established or maintained when the vehicle is being propelled by the electric motor alone.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, the communication is established or maintained during a cold start.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the communication is established or maintained when cabin heating is required.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the communication is established or maintained when cooling of the combustion engine and/or of a turbocompressor is required.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication is established or maintained when the vehicle is being propelled by the combustion engine and the electric member simultaneously.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the communication is established or maintained during a cold start.

9. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication is established or maintained when the vehicle is being propelled by the combustion engine alone.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting the at least one valve to the second position causes an interruption in the communication and is established when the vehicle is being propelled by the combustion engine alone.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the interruption is established or maintained when the fluid in the first one of the cooling circuits is running hot.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting the at least one valve to the second position causes an interruption in the communication and is established when the vehicle is being propelled by the combustion engine and the electric member simultaneously.

13. A vehicle, comprising:

control means;

two cooling circuits, including a first one of the cooling circuits that is associated with a combustion engine and a second one of the cooling circuits that is associated with at least one electric member; and

at least one valve that places the two cooling circuits in communication with each other when the at least one valve is in a first position,

wherein the control means controls establishment or maintenance of communication between the two cooling circuits that operate in a normal way,

wherein, when a temperature in the first one of the cooling circuits rises above a predetermined threshold, the control means adjusts the at least one valve to a second position in which fluid circulating in the second one of the cooling circuits does not circulate in the first one of the cooling circuits such that the fluid in the second one of the cooling circuits does not cool the combustion engine, and

wherein, when the temperature of the fluid in the first one of the cooling circuits rises above a second predetermined threshold that is hotter than the first predetermined threshold, the control means adjusts the at least one valve to a third position in which the fluid arriving in the second one of the cooling circuits from the first one of the cooling circuits is conveyed through an electronics radiator in the second one of the cooling circuits before returning to the first one of the cooling circuits.

14. The vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the number of valves is less than or equal to two.

15. The vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one valve is a three-position valve.