System and method for controlling a cooling system of an engine equipped with a start-stop system

• US 9,828,932 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Santoso, Halim G., Gonze, Eugene V., Yurgil, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gimie, Mahmoud
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, JOSHUA A
• Application Number:
  US13/789,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 701112, 7311428
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 3/06 by multi-turn helical surfaces and automatic reversal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/025 by determining temperatures inside the cylinder, e.g. combustion temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/026 using an estimation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/065 at hot start or restart F02D41/067 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 45/00 Electrical control not provided for in groups F02D41/00 - F02D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop

Abstract

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a start-stop module, a pre-ignition risk module, and a cooling control module. The start-stop module stops and restarts an engine independent from an input received from an ignition system. The pre-ignition risk module monitors a risk of pre-ignition when the engine is restarted and generates a signal based on the risk of pre-ignition. The cooling control module controls a cooling system to circulate coolant through the engine when the engine is stopped in response to the risk of pre-ignition.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a start-stop module that stops and restarts an engine independent from an input received from an ignition system;

a piston temperature module that estimates a piston temperature when the engine is stopped based on a period from a first time when the engine is started to a second time when the engine is stopped; and

a cooling control module that controls a cooling system to circulate coolant through the engine when the engine is stopped in response to the piston temperature being greater than a first temperature.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a pre-ignition risk module that, when the engine is stopped, determines a risk of pre-ignition when the engine is restarted based on the piston temperature determined when the engine is stopped.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the pre-ignition risk module determines the risk of pre-ignition further based on a piston position when the engine is stopped.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the cooling control module circulates coolant through the engine when the risk of pre-ignition is greater than a threshold.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the cooling control module determines that the risk of pre-ignition is greater than the threshold when an intake air temperature is greater than a second temperature.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the cooling control module determines that the risk of pre-ignition is greater than the threshold when the piston temperature is greater than the first temperature.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the cooling control module determines that the risk of pre-ignition is greater than the threshold when the piston position corresponds to an amount of crankshaft rotation before top dead center that is greater than a first amount.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the cooling control module determines that the risk of pre-ignition is greater than the threshold when an engine coolant temperature is greater than a second temperature.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the cooling control module determines the second temperature based on a predetermined relationship between the engine coolant temperature, at least one other engine operating condition, and the risk of pre-ignition.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the cooling system includes a water pump that pumps coolant through the engine and a radiator, a control valve that regulates coolant flow through the engine, and shutters that regulate airflow through the radiator.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the cooling control module switches the water pump on, opens the control valve, and opens the shutters when the risk of pre-ignition is greater than the threshold.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the piston temperature module estimates the piston temperature based on an engine coolant temperature, an engine speed, an engine load, and the period.

13. A method comprising:

stopping and restarting an engine independent from an input received from an ignition system;

estimating a piston temperature when the engine is stopped based on a period from a first time when the engine is started to a second time when the engine is stopped; and

controlling a cooling system to circulate coolant through the engine when the engine is stopped in response to the piston temperature being greater than a first temperature.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising, when the engine is stopped, determining a risk of pre-ignition when the engine is restarted based on the piston temperature determined when the engine is stopped.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining the risk of pre-ignition further based on a piston position when the engine is stopped.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising circulating coolant through the engine when the risk of pre-ignition is greater than a threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining that the risk of pre-ignition is greater than the threshold when an intake air temperature is greater than a second temperature.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining that the risk of pre-ignition is greater than the threshold when the piston temperature is greater than the first temperature.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining that the risk of pre-ignition is greater than the threshold when the piston position corresponds to an amount of crankshaft rotation before top dead center that is greater than a first amount.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining that the risk of pre-ignition is greater than the threshold when an engine coolant temperature is greater than a second temperature.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising determining the second temperature based on a predetermined relationship between the engine coolant temperature, at least one other engine operating condition, and the risk of pre-ignition.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the cooling system includes a water pump that pumps coolant through the engine and a radiator, a control valve that regulates coolant flow through the engine, and shutters that regulate airflow through the radiator.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising switching the water pump on, opening the control valve, and opening the shutters when the risk of pre-ignition is greater than the threshold.

24. The method of claim 13 further comprising estimating the piston temperature based on an engine coolant temperature, an engine speed, an engine load, and the period.