Cooling system having pulsed fan control
First Claim
1. A method of cooling an engine, the method comprising:
- directing combustion intake air through an air cooler to cool the combustion intake air;
directing the combustion intake air from the air cooler into the engine;
generating a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the combustion intake air;
driving a fan in proximity to the air cooler at a speed that is a function of the temperature signal when the temperature of the combustion intake air is above a threshold temperature; and
selectively pulsing the fan on and off when the temperature of the combustion intake air is below the threshold temperature, wherein the fan is driven using a motor and the engine powers a pump to drive the motor, and wherein at least one of an on-period and an off-period of the motor and the pump vary in length based on the temperature of a fluid circulated between the motor and the pump.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cooling system is provided for an engine. The cooling system may have an air cooler configured to cool intake air being supplied to the engine. The cooling system may also have a sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the intake air and a fan in proximity to the air cooler. The cooling system may further have a controller in communication with the sensor and the fan. The controller may be configured to cause the fan to operate at a speed that is a function of the temperature signal when the temperature of the intake air is above a threshold temperature. The controller may further be configured to selectively cause the fan to pulse when the temperature of the intake air drops below the threshold temperature.
51 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of cooling an engine, the method comprising:
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directing combustion intake air through an air cooler to cool the combustion intake air; directing the combustion intake air from the air cooler into the engine; generating a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the combustion intake air; driving a fan in proximity to the air cooler at a speed that is a function of the temperature signal when the temperature of the combustion intake air is above a threshold temperature; and selectively pulsing the fan on and off when the temperature of the combustion intake air is below the threshold temperature, wherein the fan is driven using a motor and the engine powers a pump to drive the motor, and wherein at least one of an on-period and an off-period of the motor and the pump vary in length based on the temperature of a fluid circulated between the motor and the pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of cooling an engine, the method comprising:
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directing combustion intake air through an air cooler to cool the combustion intake air; directing the combustion intake air from the air cooler into the engine; generating a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the combustion intake air; driving a fan associated with the air cooler at a speed that is a function of the temperature signal when the temperature of the combustion intake air is above a threshold temperature, wherein the fan is driven using a motor and the engine powers a pump to drive the motor, and wherein at least one of an on-period and an off-period of the motor and the pump vary in length based on the temperature of a fluid circulated between the motor and the pump. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification