Method and apparatus for controlling a multi-mode powertrain system including an engine having stop/start capability

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016362110-A1
Application number	US-201514739313-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 15, 2015
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multi-mode powertrain system is described, and includes an internal combustion engine having stop/start capability. A method for controlling the multi-mode powertrain system includes circulating coolant to a heater core via an engine fluidic circuit that includes a water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is less than an engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold and the engine is in an ON state. Coolant is circulated to the heater core via a bypass fluidic circuit that excludes the water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is greater than a bypass fluidic circuit lower temperature threshold when the engine is in an OFF state.

First claim

1 . A method for controlling a multi-mode powertrain system including an internal combustion engine having stop/start capability, the method comprising:
circulating coolant to a heater core via an engine fluidic circuit that includes a water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is less than an engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold and the internal combustion engine is in an ON state; and circulating coolant to the heater core via a bypass fluidic circuit that excludes the water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is greater than a bypass fluidic circuit lower temperature threshold when the internal combustion engine is in an OFF state.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bypass fluidic circuit includes a supplemental coolant heater, and further comprising employing the supplemental coolant heater to heat the cooling fluid while circulating coolant to the heater core via the bypass fluidic circuit.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising executing an engine autostart routine to operate the internal combustion engine in the ON state only when the temperature of the coolant is less than an engine fluidic circuit lower temperature threshold when the internal combustion engine is in the OFF state.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the engine fluidic circuit lower temperature threshold is less than the bypass fluidic circuit lower temperature threshold.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising circulating coolant to the heater core via the engine fluidic circuit including the cooling jacket of the internal combustion engine only when a temperature of the coolant is greater than a bypass fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold subsequent to executing the engine autostart routine to operate the engine in the ON state.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold is greater than the bypass fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein circulating coolant to the heater core via the engine fluidic circuit when temperature of the coolant is less than an engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold and the internal combustion engine is in an ON state further comprises circulating coolant to the heater core via the engine fluidic circuit when temperature of the coolant is less than the engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold and the internal combustion engine is in an ON state during a first cycle of the engine ON state after vehicle key-on.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising commanding the internal combustion engine to the OFF state when the coolant temperature exceeds the engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heater core extracts heat from the coolant for transferring to a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

10 . A method for controlling a multi-mode powertrain system including an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
circulating coolant to a heater core via an engine fluidic circuit that includes a water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is less than an engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold when the engine is in an ON state; circulating coolant to the heater core via a second fluidic circuit that excludes the water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is greater than a second circuit lower temperature threshold when the engine is in an OFF state; executing an engine autostart routine to operate the engine in the ON state only when the temperature of the coolant is less than an engine fluidic circuit lower temperature threshold; and circulating coolant to the heater core via the engine fluidic circuit including the cooling jacket only when temperature of the coolant is greater than a second circuit upper temperature threshold subsequent to executing the engine autostart routine to operate the internal combustion engine in the ON state.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second fluidic circuit includes a supplemental coolant heater, and further comprising employing the supplemental coolant heater to heat the cooling fluid while circulating coolant to the heater core via the second fluidic circuit.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising circulating coolant to the heater core via the engine fluidic circuit including the cooling jacket of the internal combustion engine only when a temperature of the coolant is greater than a second fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold subsequent to executing the engine autostart routine to operate the engine in the ON state.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold is greater than the second fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein circulating coolant to the heater core via the engine fluidic circuit when temperature of the coolant is less than an engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold and the engine is in an ON state further comprises circulating coolant to the heater core via the engine fluidic circuit when temperature of the coolant is less than the engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold and the engine is in an ON state during a first cycle of the engine ON state after vehicle key-on.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising commanding the engine OFF state when the coolant temperature exceeds the engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the heater core extracts heat from the coolant for transferring to a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

17 . A multi-mode powertrain system coupled to a driveline of a vehicle, comprising:
an internal combustion engine and first and second electric machines arranged to transfer torque through a gear train to the driveline; the internal combustion engine configured to execute an autostop operation to achieve an engine OFF state and execute an autostart operation to achieve an engine ON state during operation of the multi-mode powertrain system; the internal combustion engine including a water jacket fluidly connected to a heater core via a fluidic circuit, wherein the fluidic circuit includes an engine fluidic circuit and a bypass fluidic circuit; the engine fluidic circuit including the water jacket, the heater core, a fluidic pump, a three-way valve, a one-way check valve and a supplemental coolant heater; the bypass fluidic circuit including the heater core, the fluidic pump, the three-way valve, a bypass pipe and the supplemental coolant heater and excluding the water jacket; wherein coolant circulates through the engine fluidic circuit by urging of the fluidic pump when the three-way valve is controlled to a first position; wherein coolant circulates through the bypass fluidic circuit by urging of the fluidic pump when the three-way valve is controlled to a second position; a controller, operatively connected to the internal combustion engine and the first and second electric machines, the controller including executable control routines operative to:
control the fluidic pump and the three-way valve to circulate coolant to the heater core via the bypass fluidic circuit when temperature of the coolant is greater than a second circuit lower temperature threshold when the engine is in an OFF state;
execute the autostart operation to operate the engine in the ON state only when the temperature of the coolant is less than an engine fluidic cir

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Martini Ryan D
• Muller Brett T
• Piper Eric
• Kenney James

Classifications

• B60H1/03

  and from a source other than the propulsion plant · CPC title

• B60W10/30

  including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps · CPC title

• B60H1/00885

  Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps (B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485) · CPC title

• B60W30/194 Primary

  related to low temperature conditions, e.g. high viscosity of hydraulic fluid · CPC title

• Y10S903/902

  Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors · CPC title