Automatic Coolant Flow Control Patents (Class 123/41.02)
  • Patent number: 11624311
    Abstract: An engine cooling system is provided, which includes a water jacket through which coolant flows, a heat exchanger that cools the coolant, a bypass passage that bypasses the heat exchanger and recirculates the coolant to the water jacket, a first radiator passage that recirculates the coolant to the water jacket via the heat exchanger, a flow control device installed at a location where a coolant passage branches into the bypass passage and the first radiator passage, a second radiator passage that bypasses the flow control device and is connected to the first radiator passage, and a thermally-actuated valve installed in the second radiator passage. The flow control device performs a water flow control to adjust a coolant amount flowing into the water jacket by adjusting a coolant amount flowing through the bypass passage. The coolant flows into the first radiator passage through the second radiator passage, when the valve opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Haruki Misumi, Tomonori Urushihara
  • Patent number: 11549765
    Abstract: A coolant circuit for a drive device. It includes a first coolant sub-circuit and a second coolant sub-circuit, in each of which a device to be temperature-controlled is arranged and which are fluidically connected to one another via at least one connecting valve, wherein at least one coolant pump is provided in each of the two coolant sub-circuits, which is designed in at least one of the coolant sub-circuits as a fluid pump having variable delivery direction. The disclosure furthermore relates to a method for operating a coolant circuit for a drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Thomas Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11454159
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a coolant circuit. In one example, the coolant circuit comprises high and low-temperature radiators, where only one pump is configured to conduct coolant through the entire coolant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Guenter Quix, David van Bebber, Jan Mehring, Antonio Farina, Herbert Ernst
  • Patent number: 11293335
    Abstract: A cooling system for a marine inboard internal combustion engine includes at least one engine cooling passage disposed in thermal communication with heat emitting portions of the engine. A pump is in fluid communication with the at least one engine cooling passage. The pump draws cooling water out of the at least one engine cooling passage. At least one outlet drain is downstream of the pump for discharging the cooling water that was pumped out of the at least one cooling passage. A switch activates the pump in response to the following: an operator command to stop the engine and/or a speed of the engine being below a threshold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Radavich, Chetan A. Dharmadhikari
  • Patent number: 11279231
    Abstract: A cooling device for vehicle includes: an electric motor; an engine cooling pump; a power-control unit cooling pump; and a differential mechanism. The engine cooling pump is configured to allow an engine cooling water to flow by rotary power of the electric motor. The power-control unit cooling pump is configured to allow a cooling liquid for power control unit to flow by the rotary power of the electric motor. The differential mechanism makes a flowrate of the engine cooling pump different from a flowrate of the power-control unit cooling pump by controlling transmission of the rotary power from the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Susumu Hashimoto, Shunsuke Fushiki
  • Patent number: 11199124
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a pump, a radiator, a flow rate adjustment valve, a bypass passage, and a controller. The flow rate adjustment valve includes a valve member that rotates to change an open degree of the flow rate adjustment valve and a valve member biasing component that biases the valve member in a valve-closing direction in which the open degree decreases. The valve member rotates in a valve-opening direction in which the open degree increases when a pressure difference increases between positions upstream and downstream of the valve member in a flow direction of coolant in the circulation circuit and rotate in the valve-closing direction when the pressure difference decreases. The controller increases the pump discharge amount as a target radiator flow rate that is a target of an amount of coolant passing through the radiator increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru Takagi, Hirokazu Kato, Rihito Kaneko, Naoto Hisaminato, Hirokazu Ando, Masaaki Yamaguchi, Hirotaka Watanabe, Masahiro Yoshida, Koji Nunami, Naoto Yumisashi, Masafumi Yoshida, Takahiko Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 11187139
    Abstract: An engine cooling system may include a water pump for circulating coolant flowing in through a radiator flow path and a bypass flow path to an engine side through an engine cooling flow path, and a thermostat arranged at a fore end of the water pump. The engine cooling flow path is formed to be dualized and divided into a main flow path and a sub-flow path, and the thermostat controls flow rate of the coolant flowing out to the main flow path and the sub-flow path in response to temperature of the coolant flowing into the thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyo-Jo Lee
  • Patent number: 11181036
    Abstract: The cooling water control apparatus of the disclosure includes: a cooling water circuit; a heat accumulator which is arranged in the cooling water circuit and stores high-temperature cooling water flowing out from an internal combustion engine; an on-off valve for opening/closing the cooling water circuit; a heater passage which is connected in parallel to the cooling water circuit; and a flow rate control valve which controls a flow rate of the cooling water inside the heater passage. The cooling water inside the heat accumulator is supplied to the internal combustion engine by closing the flow rate control valve and opening the on-off valve in order to promote warm-up at the start of the internal combustion engine, and thereafter, the on-off valve is closed, and an opening degree of the flow rate control valve is controlled to make the temperature of the internal combustion engine reach a specified target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Takazawa, Hajime Uto, Masayuki Toyokawa, Naoaki Takeda
  • Patent number: 11179988
    Abstract: This cooling device for an amphibious vehicle includes: a heat exchanger mounted in the amphibious vehicle; a coolant introduction passage through which cooling air or cooling water can be introduced from the outside to the heat exchanger as a coolant; a cooling air discharge passage through which the cooling air having passed through the heat exchanger can be discharged to a cooling air discharge portion communicating with the outside; and a cooling water discharge passage through which the cooling water having passed through the heat exchanger can be discharged to a cooling water discharge portion communicating with the outside. The cooling air discharge passage and the cooling water discharge passage are formed such that at least the cooling air discharge portion and the cooling water discharge portion are independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Ikeda, Tetsuya Miyamoto, Katsuhiko Nakajo, Takashi Matsunaga, Taichi Omura, Yuta Shimizu, Takenori Kawana, Takashi Mizumoto, Shinichi Sato
  • Patent number: 11143327
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a circulation circuit, a pump, a flow rate adjustment valve, and a controller. The flow rate adjustment valve includes a valve member that rotates to change an open degree of the flow rate adjustment valve and a stopper that moves between a restriction position and a retraction position. The controller is configured to execute, when maintaining the open degree of the flow rate adjustment, a preparatory process of moving the stopper to the restriction position after arranging the stopper at the retraction position and arranging the valve member further in the valve-closing direction than the stopper through control of the pump discharge amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru Takagi, Hirokazu Kato, Rihito Kaneko, Naoto Hisaminato, Hirokazu Ando, Masaaki Yamaguchi, Hirotaka Watanabe, Takahiko Aoyagi, Masahiro Yoshida, Koji Nunami, Naoto Yumisashi, Masafumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10961883
    Abstract: Internal combustion engine having: a cylinder defining a combustion chamber; an exhaust duct that is flown through by the exhaust gases; and a system to supply a water-based operator liquid to the combustion chamber having: a tank designed to contain a certain amount of water-based operator liquid and a heating device designed to heat the water-based operator liquid contained in the tank. The heating device has: a first gas-liquid heat exchanger, which is designed to be flown through by at least part of the exhaust gases flowing along the exhaust duct; a second liquid-liquid heat exchanger, which is designed to heat the water-based operator liquid contained in the tank; and a hydraulic circuit, which is designed to send round an exchange fluid through the first heat exchanger to transfer the heat from the exhaust gases to the exchange fluid and through the second heat exchanger to transfer the heat from the exchange fluid to the water-based operator liquid contained in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: MARELLI EUROPE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Federico Monti, Giovanni Bonandrini, Antonio Barbuto
  • Patent number: 10873112
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery system with a battery module (2) comprising a plurality of battery cells (3), wherein the battery cells (3) take the form, in particular, of lithium-ion battery cells or lithium-polymer battery cells, wherein the battery system (1) exhibits a first temperature-control-fluid guide (4) which is designed to be capable of being flowed through by a first temperature-control fluid (5) and, moreover, exhibits a first conveying unit (6) designed for a conveyance of the first temperature-control fluid (5) through the first temperature-control-fluid guide (4), and wherein the first temperature-control-fluid guide (4) is connected to the battery module (2) in heat-conducting manner, wherein the battery system (1) exhibits a second temperature-control-fluid guide (7) which is designed to be capable of being flowed through by a second temperature-control fluid (8) and, moreover, exhibits a second conveying unit (9) designed for an uptake of kinetic energy from the second temperature-cont
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Torsten Koller
  • Patent number: 10767546
    Abstract: A method for cooling the engine for the vehicle applying the turbocharger may include comparing an average fuel consumption amount that determines, by a control unit, for controlling the operation of the engine and the circulation of the coolant, whether an average fuel consumption amount consumed in the engine immediately before the start-off of the engine is greater than a predetermined after-start-up cooling entrance average fuel consumption amount when the vehicle is started-off after a high load operation, and maximally cooling that controls, by the control unit, so that the coolant cooled in a radiator is circulated into the engine and the turbocharger by maximally opening a thermostat for controlling, and operating a water pump, when the average fuel consumption amount consumed in the engine immediately before a start-off of the engine is greater than the predetermined after-start-up cooling entrance average fuel consumption amount in the comparing the average fuel consumption amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Su-Ho Lee, Eui-Chul Choi, Jun-Sik Park
  • Patent number: 10724422
    Abstract: A controller for a motor vehicle cooling system thermostatic valve assembly, the assembly having a radiator bypass coolant flow inlet, a radiator coolant flow inlet and a coolant outlet, the assembly being configured to allow flow of coolant from the bypass coolant flow inlet to the coolant outlet and from the radiator coolant flow inlet to the coolant outlet, the assembly comprising means for controlling a flow rate of fluid from the radiator coolant flow inlet to the coolant outlet, the controller being configured to receive an ambient temperature signal indicative of an ambient air temperature, the controller being configured to control flow of coolant from the radiator coolant flow inlet to the coolant outlet in dependence at least in part on the ambient temperature signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventor: William Hutchins
  • Patent number: 10619536
    Abstract: A PCED can include an outer can, an upper lid having an upper lid intake and an upper lid exhaust, a lower lid having a lower lid exhaust, and an internal frame disposed within the can. With the internal frame disposed within the can, first, second, third, and fourth chambers can be formed, with the first chamber containing a coalescing material. Gases from a combustion engine crankcase can enter the PCED via the upper lid intake, move through the chambers, and exit the PCED via the upper lid exhaust and return to the crankcase. While moving through the chambers, impurities within the gas convert to liquid form via condensation, collect in the second chamber, and can be subsequently drained from the PCED via the lower lid exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Tracy George Lewis
  • Patent number: 10590829
    Abstract: The invention of the present application relates to a control device and a control method for a cooling device. A cooling device includes a first cooling water passage of a cylinder head, a second cooling water passage of a cylinder block, a control valve that changes a ratio between a flow rate of the first cooling water passage and a flow rate of the second cooling water passage, and a water pump. Then, the control device controls the control valve so that a ratio of the flow rate of the first cooling water passage increases when a cooling water circulation flow rate is insufficient due to failure of the water pump. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress damage of an engine body while suppressing deterioration in traveling performance of a vehicle when failure occurs in the water pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Toyama
  • Patent number: 10578113
    Abstract: A coolant pump for a vehicle may include an impeller mounted at one side of a shaft and pumping a coolant; a pulley mounted at the other side of the shaft and receiving a torque; a coolant pump housing including an inlet to which the coolant inflows and a discharge port formed in a vertical to the shaft; a slider disposed to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the shaft to selectively block or open the discharge port; and a driver moving the slider, wherein a fine passage that the coolant is expelled to the discharge port is formed at the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyo Jo Lee
  • Patent number: 10557405
    Abstract: It is intended to reduce generation of water mist in cooling of compressed air. A multi-stage supercharging system (1) includes a first supercharger (2) of a low-pressure side, an intercooler (3) that cools air discharged from the first supercharger (2), a second supercharger (4) of a high-pressure side that compresses the discharged air after cooling, and a control device (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuro Hotta
  • Patent number: 10508587
    Abstract: Examples of techniques for controlling coolant flow in a vehicle cooling system for an internal combustion engine using a secondary coolant pump are provided. In one example implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, by a processing device, engine operation data about the internal combustion engine. The method further includes detecting, by the processing device, a shutdown of the internal combustion engine. The method further includes calculating, by the processing device, an engine flow based at least in part on the block flow request and the head flow request. The method further includes, subsequent to detecting the shutdown of the internal combustion engine determining, by the processing device, an after-run condition based at least in part on the engine operation data. The method further includes activating, by the processing device, a secondary coolant pump based at least in part on determining the after-run condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Vincenzo Gesa, Luca Scavone, Andrea Lorena Miss Torres Cuadros, Giuseppe D'Aurizio
  • Patent number: 10480392
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an engine cooling system having a coolant temperature sensor, including a radiator disposed to release heat of coolant circulated in an engine; a coolant control valve unit controlling the coolant circulated in the radiator through opening rate of a valve having a coolant passage corresponding to the radiator; a second coolant temperature sensor sensing a coolant temperature at a coolant outlet side of the engine; a third coolant temperature sensor sensing the coolant temperature at the coolant outlet side of the radiator; and a control unit sensing second and third coolant temperatures through the second and third coolant temperature sensors, calculating a first coolant temperature at a coolant inlet side of the engine by calculating the second and third coolant temperatures, and calculating valve opening rate of the coolant control vale by using the first, second, and the third coolant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Kwang Sik Yang, Jongmin Kim, Minseok Jang, Duk Jin Park
  • Patent number: 10385758
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a flow channel switching valve for switching between a plurality of cooling water channels at least including a heater line for air heating, a block line for cooling an engine block, and a transmission line for an oil warmer of a transmission so as to sequentially open at least one of the plurality of cooling water channels in accordance with a warm-up state of the internal combustion engine; and a control device for controlling opening and closing of the flow channel switching valve so as to restrict a cooling water distribution rate of the heater line. The cooling system allows acceleration of cooling water temperature recovery from a temporary drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Toyama, Atsushi Murai, Shigeyuki Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 10279639
    Abstract: An amphibious vehicle according to the present invention includes a vehicle body, a traveling portion which causes the vehicle body to travel on land, a propulsion portion which causes the vehicle body to travel on water, a power portion which provides power to the traveling portion and the propulsion portion, and a cooling portion which cools the power portion. The cooling portion includes a first cooling source introducing portion which takes in air from the outside and a second cooling source introducing portion which takes in water from the outside. The second cooling source introducing portion includes an opening which takes in water. The opening is opened on a rear side of a center of gravity of the entire vehicle body and in a draft portion in an outer surface of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Sato, Mitsuo Onoue, Takashi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10267211
    Abstract: A cooling system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The cooling system comprises: a cooling passage provided within an engine housing of the engine, the cooling passage configured to carry a bulk flow of coolant to cool the engine housing, wherein the bulk flow of coolant within the cooling passage is driven by convection or a pump; and one or more additional cooling passages provided within the engine housing, each configured to introduce a flow of coolant into the cooling passage; one or more additional cooling passage pumps configured to pump coolant within the additional cooling passages; wherein the engine housing comprises one or more high temperature regions, which are at a higher temperature than one or more low temperature regions of the engine housing; and wherein the additional cooling passages are configured to direct the introduced coolant towards the one or more high temperature regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Nigel Turner, Anthony Hughes, Andrew Hitchings
  • Patent number: 10221751
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an engine cooling system having a coolant temperature sensor to sense the temperature of coolant discharged from an engine; a radiator radiating heat while part of the coolant discharged from the engine is passed through the radiator; a coolant control valve unit to control coolant passing through the radiator and coolant supplied from the engine; and a control unit configured to control the temperature of coolant by controlling the coolant control valve unit according to the coolant temperature sensed by the coolant temperature sensor, wherein the control unit calculates a coolant temperature at an entrance of the engine using the sensed coolant temperature and a heat rejection rate of the engine based on the operation condition, calculates a temperature of coolant discharged from the radiator, and controls the opening degree of the coolant control valve unit using the coolant temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Kwang Sik Yang, Taewon Park, Hyun Kyu Lim
  • Patent number: 10184416
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for continuously estimating a direct injector tip temperature based on heat transfer to the injector from the cylinder due to combustion conditions, and heat transfer to the injector due to flow of cool fuel from the fuel rail. Variations in the injector tip temperature from a steady-state temperature are monitored when the direct injector is deactivated. Upon reactivation, a fuel pulse width commanded to the direct injector is updated to account for a temperature-induced change in fuel density, thereby reducing the occurrence of air-fuel ratio errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Morris, Mark Richard Skilling
  • Patent number: 10160307
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and a method of controlling motor temperature for a green car including: a drive motor as a power source; a battery configured to provide a driving voltage to the drive motor; a water pump configured to supply coolant to the drive motor to cool the drive motor; a data detector configured to detect data regarding a driving state of the green car; and a vehicle controller configured to determine a driving mode based on the data regarding the driving state, to determine pump control rotation speed based on the driving mode, SOC of the battery, or motor temperature of the drive motor, and to operate the water pump based on the pump control rotation speed to change flow rate of the coolant supplied to the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeongbin Yim, Jinho Kim, Kil Young Youn, Jae Sang Lim
  • Patent number: 10072556
    Abstract: A refrigerant control valve apparatus includes a valve body provided with a main control valve controlling the refrigerant sent to a discharge port and a temperature sensing control valve controlling supply and discharge of the refrigerant to a temperature sensing chamber. A fail-safe mechanism is provided which supplies the refrigerant to the discharge port in a case where the temperature of the refrigerant exceeds a set value. The temperature sensing control valve is set in an open posture in a case where the main control valve is in a closed posture that closes the discharge port and the temperature sensing control valve is set in a closed posture in a case where the main control valve is in an open posture that opens the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Maruyama, Naoto Yumisashi
  • Patent number: 10047662
    Abstract: A cooling system for an engine is provided. The cooling system includes coolant flow paths including a first flow path and a second flow path and where coolant circulates, a coolant pump for circulating coolant within the coolant flow paths, a flow rate control valve for adjusting a flow rate of the coolant through the second flow path, a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the coolant within the first flow path, and a valve controller for adjusting an opening of the flow rate control valve based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector. The first flow path passes through a cylinder head of the engine, and the second flow path branches from the first flow path and passes through auxiliary machinery of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kotaro Takahashi, Nobuo Yunoki, Masahiro Naito
  • Patent number: 10012227
    Abstract: An engine cooling device includes a first supply pump driven by an engine, a second supply pump driven by an electric motor, a first fluid path switching valve, a temperature detector, a revolution speed detector that detects the revolution speed of the engine, and a controller that controls the actuation of the electric motor and the fluid path switching valve. When the temperature of the engine detected by the temperature detector (engine cooling water temperature) is less than a first predetermined temperature, the controller performs control to restrict the supply of the cooling fluid from the first supply pump to the engine by switching the fluid path switching valve to a restricted state, and to supply the cooling fluid from the second supply pump to the engine by performing control to drive the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TBK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotada Yoshitani, Takeshi Hoji
  • Patent number: 9970347
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Douglas Hoff, Ryan Robert Stoffel, Mark Edward Rettig
  • Patent number: 9884277
    Abstract: A filter assembly includes a filter media for filtering a fluid, and a valve having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for controlling a flow of the fluid through the filter assembly. The valve includes a thermally active element that changes shape between a first configuration and a second configuration in response to a temperature variation. When the thermally active element is in the first configuration the valve is open with the fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid outlet, and the thermally active element changes shape to the second configuration to close the valve. The thermally active element may move a valve poppet against a valve seat to close the valve. A pressure bypass is configured to open the valve in response to a pressure increase in the filter assembly above a threshold pressure when the thermally active element is in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: John Trott, Homayoun Sanatgar
  • Patent number: 9840962
    Abstract: A system including a target module determining a target temperature of coolant at an input of an engine for a maximum amount of fuel efficiency. A mode module disables closed loop control based on temperatures of coolant entering the engine and at an output of a radiator. An open loop module determines first and second temperatures of coolant at inputs of a coolant control valve that receive coolant from the radiator and a channel that bypasses the radiator. A ratio module determines a ratio based on the first and second temperatures and the temperatures of the coolant entering the engine and at the radiator output. A closed loop module generates a correction value based on the target temperature and the temperature of the coolant entering the engine. A position module adjusts the coolant control valve based on the ratio, the correction value and whether closed loop control is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan, Sanjeev M. Naik
  • Patent number: 9709188
    Abstract: A pressure regulator comprising a housing having an inlet in communication with a gas source, an outlet operable to supply a gas at a given pressure and flow rate, a conduit extending between the inlet and the outlet, a restriction device located in the conduit and positionable to control the flow of gas therethrough, a biasing arrangement to apply a predetermined bias to the restriction device and a selection device operable to select one of a predetermined plurality of discrete, offset configurations of the biasing arrangement and restriction device to provide a discrete selection of gas pressures at said outlet. The outlet comprises a fixed-size orifice selected from a specific group of fixed-sized orifices such that the combination of orifice and selectable position of said selection device provide a group of discrete flow rate/pressure combinations to applications downstream of said outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Sherman Williams, Gareth Ross Pemberton, Csaba Alfoldi
  • Patent number: 9611811
    Abstract: The influenced of condensed water on an EGR device is alleviated. A device (100) that controls a cooling system including adjusting means for being able to adjust a circulation amount of coolant in a first flow passage, including an engine cooling flow passage, an EGR cooling flow passage and a radiator flow passage, and a second flow passage, including the engine cooling flow passage, the EGR cooling flow passage and a bypass flow passage and not including the radiator flow passage, includes: measuring means for measuring a temperature of the coolant; limiting means for limiting circulation of the coolant at starting an internal combustion engine; and control means for circulating the coolant preferentially through the second flow passage via control over the adjusting means based on the measured temperature in a period in which circulation of the coolant is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobumoto Ohashi, Taro Aoyama, Naoya Okamoto, Yoshio Yamashita, Yuki Haba, Hajime Takagawa, Koki Uno, Naoki Takeuchi, Masashi Shinoda, Teruhiko Miyake, Koji Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9567892
    Abstract: A cooling system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The cooling system includes a radiator for exchanging heat between a coolant and ambient air, and a coolant pump for circulating the coolant. The coolant system further includes a first set of fluid connection branches between the coolant pump and the engine block, the cylinder head and the exhaust manifold and a second set of fluid connection branches between the engine block, cylinder head and exhaust manifold and the radiator and/or the coolant pump. A first controlled valve intercepts the coolant towards the radiator so that the coolant is recirculated towards the coolant pump. A second controlled valve intercepts the coolant from the cylinder block. A third controlled valve intercepts the coolant from the integrated exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Michele Bilancia
  • Patent number: 9517677
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system includes a duct, a refrigerant evaporator, an air conditioning cooling flow passage, a heater core, a heater hot fluid flow passage, a heat exchanger, an electric heater, an electrical component cooling flow passage, a communication flow passage, a fluid temperature sensor and a flow passage selector valve. The duct provides air to a vehicle cabin interior. The cooling flow passage provides cooled refrigerant to the evaporator. The hot fluid flow passage provides hot fluid to the heater core. The heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the hot fluid. The heater warms the hot fluid having undergone heat exchange. The cooling flow passage cools an electrical component. The communication flow passage parallelly connects the hot fluid and electrical component flow passages. The valve allows hot fluid to flow into the cooling flow passage when the hot fluid has a high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Tokuda, Shinichirou Mizoguchi, Satoshi Ogihara
  • Patent number: 9410473
    Abstract: A cooling device for a motor vehicle, including a cooling circuit configured to cool an engine assembly using a liquid coolant circulated by at least one variable delivery pump, the delivery output by each pump being controlled by a control system. The control system is configured to regulate the delivery of each pump so that the temperature of the liquid coolant does not exceed a fixed datum temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Samuel Cregut, Marco Marsilia
  • Patent number: 9347371
    Abstract: The instant invention is to a new fuel system, which will allow operation of large scale electrical power generating facilities at a fraction of the cost of coal or natural gas fueled facilities and will not produce significant heat, exhaust emission gases, or particulate pollution. Because of the nature of the chemical reaction exploited in the system, it is denominated an instant entropy system (“IES”). The fuel used by the inventive IES produces gas expansion, but not from an oxidation/combustion reaction, and it does not produce oxidative exothermic heat. The IES utilizes a material first developed in the early part of the twentieth century—triacetone triperoxide (TAP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: iEntropia SPA
    Inventor: Christopher S. Stone
  • Patent number: 9316141
    Abstract: An apparatus, comprising an engine, and an energy-management system configured to recirculate, at least in part, carbon dioxide relative to the engine in such a way that the carbon dioxide exchanges, at least in part, energy relative to the engine once the carbon dioxide is made to recirculate, at least in part, along the energy-management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Inventor: Enis Pilavdzic
  • Patent number: 9188054
    Abstract: An electronic control unit (12) calculates the heat receiving quantity of a thermo wax to estimate the temperature of the thermo wax on the basis of the calculated heat receiving quantity and the heat capacity of the thermo wax, and controls a heater so that the temperature of the thermo wax reaches a predetermined target value. Further, the electronic control unit (12) changes the value of the heat capacity used to estimate the temperature of the thermo wax depending on the variation of the estimated temperature of the thermo wax across the phase transition point of the thermo wax so as to preferably control a switching valve which is operated by heating the thermo wax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki Kinomura, Osamu Shintani, Taro Furukoshi, Atsushi Komada
  • Patent number: 9038607
    Abstract: An air cooler line is provided. The air cooler lines includes a first air cooler having a plurality of air flow conduits, each of the air flow conduits including an inlet, and a first air flow deflector extending across peripheral portions of the inlets and fixedly coupled to the air flow conduits and a second air cooler having a plurality of air flow conduits, each of the air flow conduits including an inlet, and a second air flow deflector extending across peripheral portions of the inlets and fixedly coupled to the air flow conduits, the second air flow deflector differing in at least one of size and geometry than the first air flow deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kristofor Robert Norman, Shuya Shark Yamada, Jim Raymond Palm, John R. Ladd, Michael Thomas Kramer, Jim Tyler
  • Patent number: 9020740
    Abstract: A system includes a sump, a pump having a steady-state speed, a fluid component that receives the fluid from the fluid pump, and a controller. The controller detects a soak condition of the system in which the pump load is low as fluid is moved into vacated fluid passages. The steady-state speed of the pump is temporarily increased by adding a calibrated overspeed value to the steady-state speed, for a calibrated duration. The controller reduces the pump speed to the steady-state speed after the calibrated duration has elapsed. A method includes detecting the soak condition and temporarily increasing the steady-state speed via the controller by adding the calibrated overspeed value to the steady-state speed, for a calibrated duration, when the soak condition is detected. A control system includes a processor and storage medium having instructions embodying the method, with detection of the soak condition provided via measurement of fluid temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: John J. Koenig, Terry S Johnecheck, Robert E. Rhein
  • Patent number: 8991338
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine capable of being intermittently stopped after it is started; a water pump for circulating cooling water, and an ECU. When the cooling water has low temperature the ECU controls the water pump to limit the flow rate of the cooling water to be smaller than when the cooling water has high temperature. When the cooling water has a limited flow rate the ECU sets lower a threshold value of the cooling water's temperature for permitting intermittently stopping the engine than when the cooling water does not have a limited flow rate. When the cooling water has a limited flow rate the engine can nonetheless be intermittently stopped at an appropriate time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuta Teraya
  • Patent number: 8991339
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a multiple zone vehicle radiator, including: a housing; a first zone included in the housing; a second zone included in the housing; a baffle between the first and second zone, located in an outlet manifold of the housing; and a zone modifier configured to regulate coolant distribution between the first zone and second zone according to predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Thomas Gooden, Scott Russo, Michael Joseph Giunta
  • Patent number: 8985066
    Abstract: A cooling circuit, in particular of a motor is provided that includes a drive unit with a cooling circuit, through which coolant heated in the drive unit flows, a first heat exchanger which emits heat from the coolant to the environment and a device for energy recovery with a second heat exchanger, which is switched into the cooling circuit. A line section of the cooling circuit is connectable in parallel to the second heat exchanger that includes a hydraulic element, which guides a defined coolant flow to the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Lutz, Richard Bruemmer
  • Patent number: 8978599
    Abstract: A control device includes target temperature setting means, feedback control means, and shortcut control means. The target temperature setting means sets a target temperature (?) of a coolant according to a temperature state of an internal combustion engine. The feedback control means controls a control valve in such a manner that a coolant temperature is the target temperature (?). The shortcut control means controls the control valve in such a manner that, when the internal combustion engine is in a cold state, the target temperature setting means sets as the target temperature (?) a warming-up temperature (?) higher than a feedback control temperature (A or B) which is set during feedback control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichiro Shioura
  • Patent number: 8978628
    Abstract: An engine cooling system may include a housing forming an enclosed duct having an air intake opening, at least one heat exchanger positioned within the duct such that ambient air entering the air intake opening contacts the at least one heat exchanger, at least one radiator circulating coolant for the engine, at least one radiator positioned in the duct such that ambient air entering the air intake opening contacts at least one radiator, and the duct configured to include an exhaust opening positioned downstream of the at least one heat exchanger and the at least one radiator, such that ambient air flows in the air intake opening, through the duct to contact the heat exchanger and the radiator, and exits the duct through the exhaust opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Travis Allen Reynolds, David S. Krug, Michelle Louise Courtney
  • Publication number: 20150059665
    Abstract: A temperature control arrangement for transmission oil in a motor vehicle comprises a coolant circuit which fluidly connects an internal combustion engine and a cooler. The coolant circuit includes a thermostat configured to direct at least a fraction of a coolant leaving the internal combustion engine back to the internal combustion engine, either directly or through the cooler. The temperature control arrangement is configured to direct some of the coolant, flowing back through the cooler or directly, first through the heat exchanger and then to the internal combustion engine. The thermostat is fluidly connected to an interior heater, to the cooler, and to a bypass configured to direct a fraction of the coolant directly back to the internal combustion engine, bypassing the cooler. A suitable method for controlling the temperature of transmission oil in a motor vehicle using a temperature control arrangement of this kind is furthermore indicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Hans Guenter QUIX, David VAN BEBBER
  • Publication number: 20150047581
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for controlling a piston cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine wherein said circuit comprises at least a circulation pump and means for emitting cooling oil connected to the delivery of the pump. According to the method, said pistons are cooled by a jet generated by said emitting means only during the upward stroke of said pistons from the bottom dead center to the top dead center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Clino D'Epiro
  • Publication number: 20150034026
    Abstract: A heat storage device keeps engine coolant hot during operating pauses of the engine allowing quick heating during a cold start of the engine. The capacity of the heat storage device for coolant is twice as large as the capacity for coolant of the coolant circulation system and the engine. An inflow line, an outflow line and a ventilation line pass through the bottom of the heat storage device and are heat insulated on the inside of the heat storage device. Hot coolant from the heat storage device is transferred in two portions into the cold engine. The second portion is transferred when the rising temperature of the metal motor mass has come close to the falling temperature of the first portion of coolant that was circulating in the engine. The heat storage device includes outer and inner containers with a high vacuum in the insulating space between the containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Oskar Schatz