Abstract: A system and method for operating a cooling fluid pump and cooling fluid heater in a vehicle when the vehicle is not being used so that the temperature of the cooling fluid does not drop to low in a cold environment. The system includes an AC connector for plugging the system into an AC power outlet. The system also includes AC/DC converter that converts the AC power to a DC signal suitable to operate the pump. The system also includes a temperature switch that closes if the ambient temperature falls below a predetermined temperature, which electrically connects the AC connector to the AC/DC converter. When the AC/DC converter is powered, a switch is closed to connect the pump to a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator to operate the pump. Further, when the temperature switch is closed, power is provided to the heater.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 27, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 18, 2010
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
Inventors:
Ellen Greifenstein, Wolfgang Haege, Dirk Wexel, Jurgen Thyroff