Fluid control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9228483-B2
Application number	US-201114115250-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2011
Priority date	May 20, 2011
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

A first fluid system includes a thermostat portion T, a valve portion V, and an ECU 30 A. The thermostat portion T includes a first thermostat 18 in a first divergent pathway PB 1 and a second thermostat 19 in a second divergent pathway PB 2 . The valve portion V includes a valve mechanism in at least a second portion SG 2 of portions SG 1 , SG 2 , SG 3 . In the ECU 30 A, achieved is a control unit that controls the valve portion V to switch a flow control state of at least one of the valve mechanism of the valve portion V when one of an open failure and a close failure occurs in one of the thermostats 18, 19.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid control system comprising:
a thermostat portion that includes a first thermostat in a first divergent pathway and a second thermostat of which an open valve temperature is set to be less than that of the first thermostat in a second divergent pathway, the first and second divergent pathways diverging and then converging;
a valve portion that includes a valve mechanism in at least a second portion out of a first portion that is a portion located more downstream than the first thermostat in the first divergent pathway, the second portion that is a portion located more downstream than the second thermostat in the second divergent pathway, and a third portion that is a portion lying posterior to a point at which the first and second divergent pathways converge in a fluid supply pathway that includes the first and second divergent pathways and supplies a fluid to a supplying object; and
a control unit that controls the valve portion to switch a distribution control state of at least one valve mechanism of the valve mechanism of the valve portion when one of an open failure that causes a thermostat to be kept open and a close failure that causes a thermostat to be kept closed occurs in one of the first and second thermostats, wherein
the control unit controls the valve portion to decrease a flow volume of the fluid distributed through the third portion by controlling the valve portion to switch the distribution control state of at least one valve mechanism of the valve mechanism of the valve portion when the open failure occurs in one of the first and second thermostats.

2. The fluid control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit controls, when the close failure occurs in one thermostat of the first and second thermostats, the valve portion to increase a flow volume of the fluid distributed through another thermostat by switching the distribution control state of at least one valve mechanism of the valve mechanism of the valve portion.

3. The fluid control system according to claim 2 , wherein
the control unit increases a flow volume of the fluid distributed through the second thermostat by controlling the valve portion to lift at least a restriction on distribution of the fluid through the second divergent pathway when the close failure occurs in the first thermostat while the valve portion restricts at least the distribution of the fluid through the second divergent pathway and does not restrict distribution of the fluid through a high-temperature side supply pathway that is capable of supplying the fluid to the supplying object through the first divergent pathway in the fluid supply pathway.

4. The fluid control system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a cooler that cools the fluid flowing at upstream sides of the first and second divergent pathways;
a bypass pathway that distributes the fluid around the cooler to a portion located more downstream than the second thermostat in the second divergent pathway; and
a bypass valve that operates in conjunction mechanically with the second thermostat, and opens the bypass pathway when the second thermostat is closed and blocks the bypass pathway when the second thermostat is open, wherein
the valve portion includes a valve mechanism in at least the second portion, the valve mechanism being located more downstream than the bypass valve in the second portion, and
the control unit increases a flow volume of the fluid distributed through the first thermostat by controlling the valve portion to restrict at least the distribution of the fluid through the second divergent pathway when the close failure occurs in the second thermostat while the valve portion lifts a restriction on distribution of the fluid through a low-temperature side supply path that is capable of supplying the fluid to the supplying object through the second divergent pathway in the fluid supply pathway by lifting at least a restriction on the distribution of the fluid through the second divergent pathway.

5. The fluid control system according to claim 2 , wherein
the valve portion includes valve mechanisms in two portions, including the second portion, out of the first, second, and third portions.

6. The fluid control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the valve portion includes valve mechanisms in two or more portions, including the second portion, out of the first, second, and third portions, and
the control unit decreases a flow volume of the fluid distributed through the third portion by controlling the valve portion to restrict at least distribution of the fluid through a high-temperature side supply pathway when the open failure occurs in the first thermostat while the valve portion lifts a restriction on the distribution of the fluid through the high-temperature side supply pathway that is capable of supplying the fluid to the supplying object through the first divergent pathway in the fluid supply pathway and restricts distribution of the fluid through the second divergent pathway.

7. The fluid control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the control unit decreases a flow volume of the fluid distributed through the third portion by controlling the valve portion to restrict distribution of the fluid through the second divergent pathway when the open failure occurs in the second thermostat while the valve portion lifts a restriction on distribution of the fluid through a low-temperature side supply path that is capable of supplying the fluid to the supplying object through the second divergent pathway in the fluid supply pathway by lifting at least the restriction on the distribution of the fluid through the second divergent pathway.

8. The fluid control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the valve portion includes a single-axis rotary valve body located in two portions, including the second portion, of the first, second, and third portions to include respective valve mechanisms in the two portions, including the second portions, of the first, second, and third portions.

Assignees

• Kuze Yasuhiro
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kuze Yasuhiro

Classifications

• F01P7/14 Primary

  the coolant being liquid · CPC title

• Y10T137/86493

  Multi-way valve unit · CPC title

• F01P7/165

  characterised by systems with two or more loops · CPC title

• F01P2003/028

  Cooling cylinders and cylinder heads in series · CPC title

• F01P2031/32

  Deblocking of damaged thermostat · CPC title