System and method for controlling a vehicle

• US 9,926,833 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wolff, Jeffrey John, Petrak, Edward Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US15/147,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20170321593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/085 with adjustable shutters or blinds
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/142 Heavy duty trucks
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/182 with multiple heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/185 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/18 Arrangements or mounting of liquid-to-air heat-exchangers such arrangements on cylinders or cylinder heads F01P3/04; relative to vehicles B60K11/04
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/12 by thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

A thermal management system for an engine includes a radiator in fluid communication with the engine, a fan operable to provide air flow through the radiator, and a shutter assembly positioned on an opposite side of the radiator from the fan and being adjustable to control the air flow through the radiator. The radiator includes a first radiator section and a second radiator section, the first and second radiator sections each having a fore end and an aft end, respectively, wherein the first radiator section and the second radiator section converge at the respective fore ends and define an angle therebetween.

Claims

1. A thermal management system for an engine, comprising:

a radiator in fluid communication with the engine, the radiator including a first radiator section and a second radiator section, the first and second radiator sections each having a fore end and an aft end, respectively, wherein the first radiator section and the second radiator section converge at the respective fore ends and define an angle therebetween;

a fan operable to provide air flow through the radiator; and

a shutter assembly positioned on an opposite side of the radiator from the fan and being adjustable to control the air flow through the radiator.

2. The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein:

the angle is approximately 60 degrees.

3. The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein:

the shutter assembly includes a first shutter section associated with the first radiator section and a second shutter section associated with the second radiator section;

wherein the first shutter section and the second shutter section are arranged generally parallel to the first and second radiator sections, respectively.

4. The thermal management system of claim 3, further comprising:

a controller configured to control the shutter assembly in dependence upon one or more parameters including fan clutch position, fan speed, engine speed, ambient air temperature, barometric pressure, engine water temperature, coolant temperature and vehicle speed.

5. The thermal management system of claim 4, wherein:

the first shutter section and the second shutter section are individually controllable.

6. The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein:

the thermal management system is on-board an off-highway vehicle.

7. The thermal management system of claim 1, wherein:

the fan is an axial fan.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

an engine;

a radiator in fluid communication with the engine, the radiator including a first radiator section and a second radiator section, the first and second radiator sections each having a front end and a rear end, respectively;

a grille opening; and

a fan operable to draw a flow of air through the grille opening and through the radiator,

wherein the first and second radiator sections converge at their respective front ends and define an angle therebetween, the respective front ends of the radiator sections being positioned adjacent to the grille opening and the respective rear ends being positioned distal from the grille opening.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising:

a shutter assembly configured to selectively restrict and unrestrict the grille opening for regulating an amount of air flowing into the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein:

the shutter assembly is arranged relative to the grille opening and is adjustable to regulate the amount of the air flowing into the vehicle through the grille opening.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein:

the shutter assembly includes a first shutter section associated with the first radiator section and a second shutter section associated with the second radiator section;

wherein the first shutter section and the second shutter section are arranged generally parallel to the first and second radiator sections, respectively.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

a controller configured to control the shutter assembly in dependence upon one or more parameters including fan clutch position, fan speed, engine speed, ambient air temperature, barometric pressure, engine water temperature, coolant temperature and vehicle speed.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:

the first shutter section and the second shutter section are individually controllable.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein:

the vehicle is one of an off-highway vehicle and a locomotive.

15. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein:

the fan is an axial fan.

16. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising:

an inlet;

an auxiliary fan configured to draw air through the inlet to provide cooling for a vehicle component; and

a second shutter assembly associated with the inlet, the second shutter assembly being adjustable to regulate an amount of air flowing into the vehicle through the inlet in dependence upon the one or more parameters.

17. A method, comprising the steps of:

drawing a flow of air through a radiator to provide cooling for an engine, the radiator being in fluid communication with the engine, the radiator including a first radiator section and a second radiator section, the first and second radiator sections each having a fore end and an aft end, respectively, wherein the first radiator section and the second radiator section converge at the respective fore ends and define an angle therebetween;

monitoring one or more operating parameters to determine a level of cooling required for the engine; and

controlling a flow of the air through an inlet and the radiator in dependence upon the one or more monitored operating parameters.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein:

the step of controlling the flow of air through the inlet includes controlling a position of a shutter assembly arranged in the inlet.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein:

the step of controlling the flow of air includes controlling the flow of air in dependence upon at least one of fan clutch position, fan speed, engine speed, ambient air temperature, barometric pressure, engine water temperature, coolant temperature and vehicle speed.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of:

restricting a flow of air through a second inlet associated with an auxiliary cooling fan in dependence upon the one or more operating parameters;

wherein the step of restricting the flow of air through the second inlet includes controlling a position of a second shutter assembly arranged in the second inlet.