Valve system configurations for warming and cooling transmission fluid
First Claim
1. A system for heating and cooling transmission fluid in an automobile vehicle, the automobile vehicle having a passenger compartment, an engine and a transmission, the system comprising:
- a first heat exchanger fluidly connected to the engine and in communication with the passenger compartment, the first heat exchanger adapted to receive coolant exiting the engine, the first heat exchanger providing heat to said passenger compartment;
a second heat exchanger fluidly connected to the transmission for receiving transmission fluid exiting the transmission and directing transmission fluid back to the transmission via a return line, the second heat exchanger adapted for receiving a second heat exchange fluid for heat transfer between the transmission fluid and the second heat exchange fluid;
a first valve fluidly connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the first valve adapted for receiving a first coolant source; and
a second valve fluidly connected between the first valve and the second heat exchanger, the second valve adapted for selectively receiving the first coolant source from said first valve or a second coolant source;
wherein said first coolant source is directed to said second heat exchanger in a warm-up mode of operation and said second coolant source is directed to said second heat exchanger in a cooling mode of operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to valve system configurations for an active warm-up (AWU) system for an automobile to improve warm-up conditions without delaying cabin warm-up or defrost times. More specifically, the invention relates to a system for heating/cooling transmission fluid of an automobile by controlling the source of the heat exchange fluid for transferring heat to/from the transmission fluid during different start-up conditions using a series of various valves arranged in series intermediate a first heat exchanger associated with cabin warm-up/defrost of the passenger compartment and a second heat exchanger for transferring heat to/from the transmission fluid.
27 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for heating and cooling transmission fluid in an automobile vehicle, the automobile vehicle having a passenger compartment, an engine and a transmission, the system comprising:
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a first heat exchanger fluidly connected to the engine and in communication with the passenger compartment, the first heat exchanger adapted to receive coolant exiting the engine, the first heat exchanger providing heat to said passenger compartment; a second heat exchanger fluidly connected to the transmission for receiving transmission fluid exiting the transmission and directing transmission fluid back to the transmission via a return line, the second heat exchanger adapted for receiving a second heat exchange fluid for heat transfer between the transmission fluid and the second heat exchange fluid; a first valve fluidly connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the first valve adapted for receiving a first coolant source; and a second valve fluidly connected between the first valve and the second heat exchanger, the second valve adapted for selectively receiving the first coolant source from said first valve or a second coolant source; wherein said first coolant source is directed to said second heat exchanger in a warm-up mode of operation and said second coolant source is directed to said second heat exchanger in a cooling mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for heating and cooling transmission fluid in an automobile vehicle, the automobile vehicle having a passenger compartment, an engine and a transmission, the system comprising:
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a first heat exchanger fluidly connected to the engine and in communication with the passenger compartment, the first heat exchanger adapted to receive coolant exiting the engine, the first heat exchanger providing heat to said passenger compartment; a second heat exchanger fluidly connected to the transmission for receiving transmission fluid exiting the transmission and directing transmission fluid to the transmission via a return line, the second heat exchanger adapted for receiving a second heat exchange fluid for heat transfer between the transmission fluid and the second heat exchange fluid; a first valve fluidly connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the first valve adapted for receiving a first coolant source, the first coolant source being one of a fluid stream of coolant exiting the engine or a fluid stream of engine coolant exiting the first heat exchanger; a second valve fluidly connected between the first valve and the second heat exchanger, the second valve also being in fluid communication with the transmission fluid exiting the transmission, the second valve adapted for selectively receiving the first coolant source or a second coolant source; wherein the first valve is operable for selecting said first coolant source and delivering said first coolant source to said second valve; and wherein the second valve is operable to selectively allow either the first coolant source of the second coolant source from being delivered to said second heat exchanger;
the system having;a first mode of operation wherein the first valve is in a first position selectively receiving the fluid stream of engine coolant exiting the first heat exchanger and delivering said first coolant source to said second heat exchanger by way of said second valve, a temperature of the transmission fluid being in a first temperature range and a temperature of the first coolant source being in a predetermined temperature range; a second mode of operation wherein the first valve is in a second position selectively receiving the fluid stream of engine coolant exiting the engine and entering the first heat exchanger and delivering said first coolant source to said second heat exchanger by way of said second valve, the temperature of the transmission fluid being in said first temperature range and the temperature of the first coolant source exceeding said predetermined temperature range; and a third mode of operation wherein fluid communication between the first valve and the second valve is closed, the second coolant source being directed through the second valve to the second heat exchanger when the temperature of the transmission fluid is in a second temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for heating and cooling transmission fluid in an automobile vehicle, the automobile vehicle having a passenger compartment, an engine and a transmission, the method comprising:
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providing a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the engine and in communication with the passenger compartment, the first heat exchanger adapted to receive coolant exiting the engine, the first heat exchanger providing heat to said passenger compartment; providing a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the transmission for receiving transmission fluid exiting the transmission and directing transmission fluid to the transmission via a return line, the second heat exchanger adapted for receiving a second heat exchange fluid for heat transfer between the transmission fluid and the second heat exchange fluid; providing a first valve fluidly connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, the first valve adapted for receiving a first coolant source; providing a second valve fluidly connected between the first valve and the second heat exchanger, the second valve adapted for receiving the transmission fluid exiting the transmission and for selectively receiving the first coolant source or a second coolant source; supplying said first valve and said second heat exchanger with the first coolant source in a first mode of operation providing heat to said passenger compartment and to said transmission fluid, the first coolant source being engine coolant exiting the first heat exchanger; supplying said first valve and said second heat exchanger with the first coolant source in a second mode of operation providing heat to said passenger compartment and to said transmission fluid, the first coolant source being engine coolant exiting the engine and entering the first heat exchanger; and supplying said second heat exchanger with said second coolant source in a third mode of operation, the third mode of operation providing heat to said passenger compartment and providing cooling to said transmission fluid.
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20. A method for heating and cooling transmission fluid in an automobile vehicle, the automobile vehicle having a passenger compartment, an engine and a transmission, the method comprising:
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providing a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the engine and in communication with the passenger compartment, the first heat exchanger adapted to receive coolant exiting the engine, the first heat exchanger providing heat to said passenger compartment; providing a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the transmission for receiving transmission fluid exiting the transmission and directing transmission fluid to the transmission via a return line, the second heat exchanger adapted for receiving a second heat exchange fluid for heat transfer between the transmission fluid and the second heat exchange fluid; providing a first valve fluidly connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; providing a second valve fluidly connected between the first valve and the second heat exchanger; wherein the first valve is adapted for selectively receiving a first coolant source and directing the first coolant source to said second valve, and wherein the second valve is adapted for selectively receiving the first coolant source or a second coolant source and delivering either said first coolant source or said second coolant source to said second heat exchanger; supplying said first heat exchanger with said engine coolant exiting the engine and supplying said second heat exchanger with said first coolant source for warming said transmission fluid in a warm-up mode of operation; and supplying said second heat exchanger with said second coolant source for cooling said transmission fluid in a cooling mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification