System and method for controlling a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017321593-A1
Application number	US-201615147977-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 6, 2016
Priority date	May 6, 2016
Publication date	Nov 9, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A thermal management system for an engine includes a radiator in fluid communication with the engine, a fan operable to provide air flow through the radiator, and a shutter assembly positioned on an opposite side of the radiator from the fan and being adjustable to control the air flow through the radiator. The radiator includes a first radiator section and a second radiator section, the first and second radiator sections each having a fore end and an aft end, respectively, wherein the first radiator section and the second radiator section converge at the respective fore ends and define an angle therebetween.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A thermal management system for an engine, comprising:
a radiator in fluid communication with the engine, the radiator including a first radiator section and a second radiator section, the first and second radiator sections each having a fore end and an aft end, respectively, wherein the first radiator section and the second radiator section converge at the respective fore ends and define an angle therebetween; a fan operable to provide air flow through the radiator; and a shutter assembly positioned on an opposite side of the radiator from the fan and being adjustable to control the air flow through the radiator.

2 . The thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein:
the angle is approximately 60 degrees.

3 . The thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein:
the shutter assembly includes a first shutter section associated with the first radiator section and a second shutter section associated with the second radiator section; wherein the first shutter section and the second shutter section are arranged generally parallel to the first and second radiator sections, respectively.

4 . The thermal management system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a controller configured to control the shutter assembly in dependence upon one or more parameters including fan clutch position, fan speed, engine speed, ambient air temperature, barometric pressure, engine water temperature, coolant temperature and vehicle speed.

5 . The thermal management system of claim 4 , wherein:
the first shutter section and the second shutter section are individually controllable.

6 . The thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein:
the thermal management system is on-board an off-highway vehicle.

7 . The thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein:
the fan is an axial fan.

8 . A vehicle, comprising:
an engine; a radiator in fluid communication with the engine, the radiator including a first radiator section and a second radiator section, the first and second radiator sections each having a front end and a rear end, respectively; a grille opening; and a fan operable to draw a flow of air through the grill opening and through the radiator; wherein the first and second radiator sections converge at their respective front ends and define an angle therebetween, the respective front ends of the radiator sections being positioned adjacent to the grille opening and the respective rear ends being positioned distal from the grille opening.

9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising:
a mechanism configured to selectively restrict and unrestrict the grill opening for regulating an amount of air flowing into the vehicle.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein:
the mechanism includes a shutter assembly arranged relative to the grill opening, the shutter assembly being adjustable to regulate an amount of the air flowing into the vehicle through the grill opening.

11 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein:
the shutter assembly includes a first shutter section associated with the first radiator section and a second shutter section associated with the second radiator section; wherein the first shutter section and the second shutter section are arranged generally parallel to the first and second radiator sections, respectively.

12 . The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising:
a controller configured to control the shutter assembly in dependence upon one or more parameters including fan clutch position, fan speed, engine speed, ambient air temperature, barometric pressure, engine water temperature, coolant temperature and vehicle speed.

13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein:
the first shutter section and the second shutter section are individually controllable.

14 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein:
the vehicle is one of an off-highway vehicle and a locomotive.

15 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein:
the fan is an axial fan.

16 . The vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising:
an inlet; an auxiliary fan configured to draw air through the inlet to provide cooling for a vehicle component; and a second shutter assembly associated with the inlet, the second shutter assembly being adjustable to regulate an amount of air flowing into the vehicle through the inlet in dependence upon the one or more parameters.

17 . A method, comprising the steps of:
drawing a flow of air through a radiator to provide cooling for an engine, the radiator being in fluid communication with the engine; monitoring one or more operating parameters to determine a level of cooling required for the engine; and controlling a flow of the air through an inlet and the radiator in dependence upon the one or more monitored operating parameters.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
providing the radiator with a first radiator section and a second radiator section, the first and second radiator sections each having a fore end and an aft end, respectively, wherein the first radiator section and the second radiator section converge at the respective fore ends and define an angle therebetween.

19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein:
the step of controlling the flow of air through the inlet includes controlling a position of a shutter assembly arranged in the inlet.

20 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein:
the step of controlling the flow of air includes controlling the flow of air in dependence upon at least one of fan clutch position, fan speed, engine speed, ambient air temperature, barometric pressure, engine water temperature, coolant temperature and vehicle speed.

21 . The method according to claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
restricting a flow of air through a second inlet associated with an auxiliary cooling fan in dependence upon the one or more operating parameters; wherein the step of restricting the flow of air through the second inlet includes controlling a position of a second shutter assembly arranged in the second inlet.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Wolff Jeffrey John
• Petrak Edward Thomas

Classifications

• F01P5/06

  Guiding or ducting air to, or from, ducted fans · CPC title

• F01P1/06

  Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts · CPC title

• F01P7/12 Primary

  by thermostatic control · CPC title

• B60K11/02

  with liquid cooling · CPC title

• F01P3/20

  Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine (F01P3/22 takes precedence) · CPC title