Fan Control System and Method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016258338-A1
Application number	US-201514640539-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 6, 2015
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for controlling a fan. The method includes determining an actual air flow over an engine of a vehicle at a current time, and determining a necessary air flow over the engine for maintaining an appropriate engine coolant temperature. The actual air flow is associated with the vehicle traveling in a first direction. The method further includes estimating a future air flow over the engine that is associated with the vehicle travelling in a second direction. The method also includes controlling a fan operating characteristic based on the actual, necessary, and future air flows.

First claim

1 . A method for controlling a fan, the method comprising:
determining an actual air flow over an engine of a vehicle at a current time, the actual air flow being associated with the vehicle traveling in a first direction; determining a necessary air flow over the engine for maintaining an appropriate engine coolant temperature; estimating a future air flow over the engine, the future air flow being associated with the vehicle travelling in a second direction; and controlling a fan operating characteristic based on the actual air flow, the necessary air flow, and the future air flow.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the estimating the future air flow comprises assuming that a future fan provided air flow associated with the second direction is the same as a current fan provided air flow associated with the first direction.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions relative to one another and parallel relative to one another.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite direction relative to one another and overlapping one another.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises increasing a fan provided air flow if:
the necessary air flow is greater than the actual air flow; and the necessary air flow is greater than the future air flow.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises maintaining a fan provided air flow if:
the necessary air flow equals the actual air flow; and the necessary air flow equals the future air flow.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises decreasing a fan provided air flow if:
the actual air flow is greater than the necessary air flow; and the future air flow is greater than the necessary air flow.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a wind signal; and estimating the future air flow on the wind signal and the second direction.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the wind signal comprises a wind speed signal and a wind direction signal.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises maintaining a fan provided air flow if:
the necessary air flow is greater than the actual air flow; the future air flow is greater than the necessary air flow; and a length of time to reach a vehicle direction change, from the first direction to the second direction, is less than a length of time to reach an engine coolant overheating temperature.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
determining a rate at which an engine coolant temperature will rise; and basing the length of time to reach the engine coolant overheating temperature on the rate at which the engine coolant temperature will rise.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising basing the length of time to reach the engine coolant overheating temperature on the length of time to reach the vehicle direction change from the first direction to the second direction.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises increasing a fan provided air flow if:
the necessary air flow is greater than the actual air flow; the future air flow is greater than the necessary air flow; and a length of time to reach a vehicle direction change, from the first direction to the second direction, is greater than a length of time to reach an engine coolant overheating temperature.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
determining a rate at which an engine coolant temperature will rise; and basing the length of time to reach the engine coolant overheating temperature on the rate at which the engine coolant temperature will rise.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises decreasing a fan provided air flow if:
the actual air flow is greater than the necessary air flow; the necessary air flow is greater than the future air flow; and a sum of a length of time to reach a vehicle direction change, from the first direction to the second direction, and a length of time that the vehicle will be in the second direction is less than a length of time to reach an engine coolant overheating temperature.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining a rate at which an engine coolant temperature will fall before the vehicle direction change from the first direction to the second direction; and basing the length of time to reach the engine coolant overheating temperature on the rate at which the engine coolant temperature will fall.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising basing the length of time to reach the engine coolant overheating temperature on the length of time the vehicle is in the second direction.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises maintaining a fan provided air flow if:
the actual air flow is greater than the necessary air flow; the necessary air flow is greater than the future air flow; and a sum of a length of time to reach a vehicle direction change, from the first direction to the second direction, and a length of time that the vehicle is in the second direction is greater than a length of time to reach an engine coolant overheating temperature.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
determining a rate at which an engine coolant temperature will fall before the vehicle direction change from the first direction to the second direction; determining a rate at which the engine coolant temperature will rise in the second direction; and basing the length of time to reach the engine coolant overheating temperature on the rate at which the engine coolant temperature will fall and the rate at which the engine coolant temperature will rise.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Sheidler Alan D

Classifications

• F01P2023/08

  Microprocessor; Microcomputer · CPC title

• F01P7/04 Primary

  by varying pump speed, e.g. by changing pump-drive gear ratio · CPC title

• F01P11/14

  Indicating devices; Other safety devices · CPC title