Transmission external cooling system, vehicle with transmission external cooling system and control method

Abstract

The invention provides a transmission outer cooling system, a vehicle with the transmission outer cooling system and a control method, and relates to the technical field of vehicle heat management. The transmission outer cooling system comprises a transmission assembly, the transmission assembly comprises a shell and a filter, the shell is provided with a containing cavity, lubricating oil is stored in the containing cavity, the lubricating oil is at least used for lubricating and cooling transmission gears, and the filter is used for filtering the lubricating oil; the electronic oil pump is connected with the shell, and the input end of the electronic oil pump is communicated with the filter; one end of the heat exchange assembly communicates with the output end of the electronic oil pump through a pipeline assembly, and the other end of the heat exchange assembly communicates with the containing cavity through a pipeline assembly; the electronic oil pump is arranged outside the containing cavity and used for pumping lubricating oil filtered by the filter into the heat exchange assembly, and the heat exchange assembly and the lubricating oil conduct heat exchange cooling operation. The problem that in the prior art, an oil pump cannot adjust the temperature according to the actual working condition of a vehicle is solved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of vehicle thermal management, in particular to a transmission external cooling system, a vehicle having the same and a control method. BACKGROUND

[0002] During the operation of the vehicle, a large amount of heat is generated in the transmission gear oil due to the friction of the transmission components. If it cannot be cooled in time and effectively, the high temperature will affect the performance of the gear oil, aggravate the wear of the transmission, and reduce the service life of the transmission and the operation reliability of the vehicle. The traditional cooling method has problems such as lagging cooling response and inaccurate control, and cannot dynamically adjust the cooling intensity according to the complex and variable working conditions of the vehicle, so it is difficult to meet the demand of modern vehicles for efficient cooling and intelligent control of the transmission. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a cooling system that can intelligently adapt to the working conditions and accurately control the temperature of the gear oil. The traditional transmission external cooling system needs to increase a gear oil pump as a pumping device for the transmission. The continuous operation of the oil pump has high energy consumption, and the constant opening of the cooling pump causes a parasitic power loss of 3-5%, which affects the transmission efficiency and the energy utilization rate. Under the heavy load and uphill working conditions of the vehicle, the output power of the external cooling system cannot be adjusted according to the actual oil temperature due to the influence of the engine speed.

[0003] At present, there is no effective solution to the above technical problems. SUMMARY

[0004] The main purpose of the present application is to provide a transmission external cooling system, a vehicle having the same and a control method, to solve the problem that the oil pump cannot adjust the temperature according to the actual working conditions of the vehicle in the prior art.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, according to one aspect of the present application, a transmission external cooling system is provided, comprising: a transmission assembly, the transmission assembly comprising a housing and a filter, the housing having a storage cavity, the storage cavity storing lubricating oil, the lubricating oil being used at least for lubricating and cooling the transmission gears, and the filter being used for filtering the lubricating oil; an electronic oil pump, the electronic oil pump being connected with the housing, and the input end of the electronic oil pump being communicated with the filter; a heat exchange assembly, one end of the heat exchange assembly being communicated with the output end of the electronic oil pump through a pipeline assembly, and the other end of the heat exchange assembly being communicated with the storage cavity through a pipeline assembly; wherein the electronic oil pump is arranged outside the storage cavity, the electronic oil pump is used for pumping the lubricating oil filtered by the filter into the heat exchange assembly, and the heat exchange assembly performs heat exchange cooling operation with the lubricating oil.

[0006] Further, the transmission external cooling system further comprises a controller assembly, the controller assembly being electrically connected with the electronic oil pump, the controller assembly being used for controlling the flow of the electronic oil pump, and / or the controller assembly being used for controlling the rotating speed of the electronic oil pump.

[0007] Furthermore, the external cooling system of the transmission also includes a sensor assembly, which is disposed on at least one of the engine drive shaft, the housing cavity, the output shaft of the transmission assembly, and the heat exchange assembly. The sensor assembly is electrically connected to the controller assembly and is used to collect at least one of the vehicle speed signal, driving gradient signal, lubricating oil temperature signal, and engine output torque signal, and send them to the controller assembly in the form of electrical signals.

[0008] Furthermore, the external cooling system of the transmission also includes an engine cooling assembly, which is connected to a heat exchange assembly. The engine cooling assembly includes a cooling mechanism in which a cooling medium flows.

[0009] Furthermore, the heat exchange assembly includes a heat exchanger, which includes a cooling pipe and a return oil pipe. The cooling pipe and the return oil pipe are arranged adjacent to each other. Both ends of the return oil pipe are connected to the pipe assembly. Lubricating oil flows through the return oil pipe. The cooling pipe is connected to the cooling mechanism.

[0010] Furthermore, the heat exchange assembly includes a radiator, which includes a heat dissipation core. Both ends of the heat dissipation core are connected to an electronic oil pump through a pipeline assembly. Lubricating oil flows inside the heat dissipation core, and the outer wall of the heat dissipation core is adjacent to the cooling mechanism.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided having an external transmission cooling system, wherein the external transmission cooling system is the aforementioned external transmission cooling system.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling an external cooling system of a transmission is provided. The method employs the aforementioned external cooling system and includes: acquiring vehicle operating condition information through a sensor assembly, the operating condition information including at least vehicle driving gradient information, engine torque information, transmission oil temperature information, vehicle speed information, and heat exchange assembly status information; determining the operating state of an electronic oil pump based on the operating condition information, the operating state including at least a closed state, a low speed state, and a high speed and high flow state; and determining the intensity of heat exchange and cooling operations performed by the heat exchange assembly on the transmission lubricating oil based on the operating state of the electronic oil pump.

[0013] Optionally, the operating state of the electronic oil pump is determined based on the operating condition information. The method includes: when the slope angle θ of the slope information is greater than the preset slope angle, the engine torque in the engine torque information is greater than the preset value, and the oil temperature in the transmission oil temperature information is greater than the preset temperature and continues to rise, a graded temperature control strategy is generated. The graded temperature control strategy is used to calculate the cooling intensity required by the transmission assembly. The operating state of the electronic oil pump is determined based on the graded temperature control strategy.

[0014] Optionally, when the slope angle θ of the determined slope information is greater than the preset slope angle, the engine torque in the engine torque information is greater than the preset value, and the oil temperature in the transmission oil temperature information is greater than the preset temperature and continues to rise, the method includes: when the heat exchange assembly status information is determined to be in working state, generating a deep cooling control strategy, the deep cooling control strategy being used to control the engine cooling assembly to assist the heat exchange assembly in heat dissipation.

[0015] According to the technical solution of this invention, the transmission assembly has a housing, which forms a receiving cavity. Transmission gears and transmission components such as the input shaft, intermediate shaft, and output shaft are all housed within this cavity. The cavity stores lubricating oil, which lubricates the transmission gears and cools them to dissipate heat generated during operation. As the transmission assembly's operating temperature rises, the lubricating oil in the cavity becomes high-temperature lubricating oil. After passing through a filter, it is connected to an external heat exchange assembly via a pipeline assembly powered by an electronic oil pump. The heat exchange assembly cools the lubricating oil, which then flows back into the receiving cavity through the pipeline assembly, achieving external cooling circulation for the lubricating oil. Furthermore, by placing the electronic oil pump outside the transmission housing, accurate and timely cooling of the transmission components inside the receiving cavity can be achieved, improving cooling efficiency. This avoids the high energy consumption and parasitic power loss associated with traditional gear oil pumps operating continuously inside the receiving cavity. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the external cooling system for a transmission according to the present invention is shown;

[0018] Figure 2 A schematic flowchart of an embodiment of the transmission external cooling system control method according to the present invention is shown.

[0019] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0020] 10. Transmission assembly; 20. Electronic oil pump; 30. Heat exchange assembly; 31. Heat exchanger; 32. Radiator; 40. Controller assembly; 50. Engine cooling assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0021] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0022] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0023] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms can be used interchangeably where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented, for example, in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0024] Exemplary embodiments according to this application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It should be understood that these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure of this application is thorough and complete, and that the concept of these exemplary embodiments is fully conveyed to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, for clarity, the thickness of layers and regions may be exaggerated, and the same reference numerals are used to denote the same devices, and therefore their description will be omitted.

[0025] Combination Figure 1 As shown, according to a specific embodiment of this application, an external cooling system for a transmission is provided.

[0026] Specifically, such as Figure 1As shown, the external cooling system for the transmission includes a transmission assembly 10, an electronic oil pump 20, and a heat exchange assembly 30. The transmission assembly 10 includes a housing and a filter. The housing has a receiving cavity containing lubricating oil, which is used to lubricate and cool the transmission gears. The filter is used to filter the lubricating oil. The electronic oil pump 20 is connected to the housing, and its input end is connected to the filter. One end of the heat exchange assembly 30 is connected to the output end of the electronic oil pump 20 through a piping assembly, and the other end of the heat exchange assembly 30 is connected to the receiving cavity through a piping assembly. The electronic oil pump 20 is located outside the receiving cavity and is used to pump the lubricating oil filtered by the filter into the heat exchange assembly 30, where the heat exchange assembly 30 performs heat exchange and cooling operations with the lubricating oil.

[0027] Applying the technical solution of this embodiment, the transmission assembly 10 has a housing, which forms a receiving cavity. Transmission gears and transmission components such as the input shaft, intermediate shaft, and output shaft are all housed within this cavity. The cavity stores lubricating oil, which lubricates the transmission gears and cools them during operation. As the operating temperature of the transmission assembly 10 increases, the lubricating oil in the receiving cavity becomes high-temperature lubricating oil. After passing through a filter, it is connected to an external heat exchange assembly 30 via a pipeline assembly powered by an electronic oil pump 20. The heat exchange assembly 30 cools the lubricating oil, which then flows back into the receiving cavity through the pipeline assembly, achieving external cooling circulation for the lubricating oil. Furthermore, by placing the electronic oil pump 20 outside the housing of the transmission assembly 10, accurate and timely cooling of the transmission components inside the receiving cavity can be achieved, improving cooling efficiency. This avoids the high energy consumption and parasitic power loss associated with traditional gear oil pumps operating continuously inside the receiving cavity.

[0028] Specifically, the external cooling system for the transmission also includes a controller assembly 40, which is electrically connected to the electronic oil pump 20. The controller assembly 40 controls the flow rate of the electronic oil pump 20 and / or controls the rotational speed of the electronic oil pump 20. The controller assembly 40 can intelligently adjust the flow rate of the electronic oil pump 20 based on the current vehicle operating conditions and the temperature of the transmission gear oil to ensure that the oil circulation speed within the cooling system matches the cooling requirements. Alternatively, the controller assembly 40 can also change the power output of the electronic oil pump 20 by adjusting its rotational speed; the rotational speed directly affects the oil circulation rate and cooling efficiency.

[0029] It should be noted that the controller assembly 40 can simultaneously control the flow rate and speed of the electronic oil pump 20 to achieve more efficient cooling of the lubricating oil, ensuring the deep cooling requirements of the transmission gears under extreme operating conditions, guaranteeing effective cooling of the transmission gears, and avoiding energy waste caused by over-cooling, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the system and the energy utilization efficiency of the vehicle.

[0030] Furthermore, the external cooling system for the transmission also includes a sensor assembly. This sensor assembly is located on at least one of the engine driveshaft, the housing cavity, the output shaft of the transmission assembly 10, and the heat exchange assembly 30. The sensor assembly is electrically connected to the controller assembly 40. The sensor assembly is used to collect at least one of the following signals: vehicle speed, driving gradient, lubricating oil temperature, and engine output torque, and transmits these signals to the controller assembly as electrical signals. By placing the sensor assembly at different locations on the vehicle and using sensors with different functions to acquire various parameters under different operating conditions, the controller assembly 40 can use these parameters to control the electronic oil pump 20. For example, the vehicle speed sensor acquires the vehicle speed signal to determine if the vehicle is traveling at high speed. At high speeds, the thermal load on the transmission may increase, potentially requiring more efficient cooling. The gradient sensor acquires the driving gradient signal; when climbing a hill, the engine and transmission need to output higher torque, leading to increased heat generation. The oil temperature sensor detects the real-time temperature of the transmission gear oil, allowing direct determination of whether cooling is needed. A torque sensor located on the engine driveshaft can acquire the current operating conditions and load of the engine; high torque may require efficient cooling. Through the coordinated operation of the sensor components and the controller assembly 40, the entire cooling system can achieve dynamic and precise control, effectively solving the problems of sluggish response and inaccurate control in traditional cooling systems, and further improving the cooling efficiency of the system and the overall performance of the vehicle.

[0031] Furthermore, the external cooling system of the transmission also includes an engine cooling assembly 50, which is connected to the heat exchange assembly 30. The engine cooling assembly 50 includes a cooling mechanism in which a cooling medium flows. The engine cooling assembly 50 can assist the heat exchange assembly 30 in cooling or dissipating heat from the lubricating oil by utilizing the engine's cooling system, thereby improving cooling efficiency. The cooling mechanism absorbs or dissipates heat transferred in the heat exchange assembly 30 through the flow of the cooling medium. The cooling medium can be configured differently depending on the cooling mechanism. For example, the cooling mechanism can use one of a water pump, a fan, or a radiator, or a combination of several, while the cooling medium can be either coolant or coolant water depending on the water pump, or cooling air depending on the fan. When the electric oil pump 20 delivers high-temperature lubricating oil to the heat exchange assembly 30, this high-temperature oil will exchange heat with the cooling medium, transferring heat from the oil to the cooling medium, thereby reducing the oil temperature. The cooled gear oil then flows back to the transmission assembly 10, ensuring that the internal components are continuously cooled and lubricated. Meanwhile, the cooling medium that has absorbed heat enters the cooling mechanism of the engine cooling assembly 50 through pipes, and dissipates the heat to the outside air using devices such as radiators and cooling fans. After the cooling medium is cooled, it recirculates to the heat exchange assembly 30, maintaining a closed-loop cooling cycle.

[0032] In one embodiment of this application, the heat exchange assembly 30 includes a heat exchanger 31, which includes a cooling pipe and a return oil pipe. The cooling pipe and the return oil pipe are arranged adjacent to each other, and both ends of the return oil pipe are connected to a pipe assembly. Lubricating oil flows through the return oil pipe, and the cooling pipe is connected to a cooling mechanism. The cooling pipe is connected to the cooling mechanism, and a cooling medium flows inside it. The cooling medium enters the cooling pipe through the cooling mechanism and exchanges heat with the high-temperature lubricating oil inside the heat exchanger 31, absorbing heat from the lubricating oil. The return oil pipe carries high-temperature lubricating oil pumped from the transmission. This portion of oil exchanges heat with the cooling medium in the cooling pipe in the heat exchanger 31, releasing heat and thereby reducing the temperature of the lubricating oil. When the electric oil pump 20 pumps high-temperature gear oil into the return oil line, the oil flows inside the heat exchanger 31. Because the cooling line and the return oil line are adjacent, they can exchange heat efficiently. The high-temperature lubricating oil transfers heat to the cooling medium in the cooling line. The cooling medium absorbs heat, its temperature rises, and it flows to the cooling mechanism, where it exchanges heat with the outside environment, releases heat, and cools down before circulating back into the cooling line of the heat exchanger 31. The cooled lubricating oil then returns to the transmission through the return oil line, providing cooling and lubrication for the internal components.

[0033] In another embodiment of this application, the heat exchange assembly 30 includes a radiator 32, which includes a heat dissipation core. Both ends of the heat dissipation core are connected to an electronic oil pump 20 via piping assemblies. Lubricating oil flows within the heat dissipation core, and the outer wall of the heat dissipation core is adjacent to a cooling mechanism. The heat dissipation core consists of a series of densely arranged elongated channels. Lubricating oil enters one end of the heat dissipation core from the electronic oil pump 20 through the piping assembly and then flows within the elongated channels inside the heat dissipation core. Due to the elongated channel design of the heat dissipation core, the lubricating oil has a large contact area with the outer wall of the heat dissipation core, which is conducive to rapid heat transfer. The outer wall of the heat dissipation core is adjacent to the cooling mechanism, which is designed with a large number of heat sinks and sufficient airflow space. When the vehicle is in motion, external air flows over the heat sinks and contacts the outer wall of the heat dissipation core, carrying away the heat absorbed from the lubricating oil and cooling it. It should be noted that the cooling mechanism may also be equipped with an active cooling fan to increase airflow and improve cooling efficiency.

[0034] According to another specific embodiment of this application, a vehicle is also provided, which has an external transmission cooling system, the same external transmission cooling system described in the above embodiments. Integrating the aforementioned intelligent cooling system into the vehicle enables intelligent management of transmission cooling. During vehicle operation, the external transmission cooling system automatically adjusts the cooling intensity according to real-time operating conditions to ensure stable transmission oil temperature, thereby improving the overall thermal management performance of the vehicle, extending the transmission's service life, and enhancing the reliability and economy of vehicle operation.

[0035] This application also provides a preferred embodiment of an external cooling system for a transmission. The system includes an electronic oil pump 20 disposed outside the transmission and oil transmission and regulation components inside the transmission, including a transmission filter, a heat exchange assembly 30, an engine cooling assembly 50, etc. At the same time, it relies on the vehicle control unit (VCU) to realize intelligent control, and cooperates with slope sensors, engine torque sensors, transmission oil temperature sensors, vehicle speed sensors and heat exchange working status sensors to build an intelligent perception-control-execution system.

[0036] Specifically, an electronic oil pump 20 is installed at a suitable location outside the vehicle's transmission, ensuring a secure and well-sealed connection between it and the transmission fluid outlet and inlet pipes. The transmission filter is integrated inside the transmission to ensure the fluid is filtered before entering the cooling process. The heat exchange assembly 30 can be either a heat exchanger 31 or a radiator 32, depending on the vehicle layout. The piping assembly connected to the oil outlet of the electronic oil pump 20, along with the outlet pipes of the heat exchanger 31 or radiator 32, ensures that the cooled fluid can smoothly flow back to the transmission. The engine cooling assembly 50 is designed with a conventional cooling circuit and is connected via pipes to the retarder heat exchanger 31 or a separately installed radiator 32. The cooling medium is coolant.

[0037] The slope sensor, engine torque sensor, transmission oil temperature sensor, vehicle speed sensor, and retarder operating status sensor are installed in the corresponding monitoring locations according to the vehicle's operating condition monitoring requirements (e.g., the slope sensor is installed on the vehicle suspension or frame adapter to sense the slope; the engine torque sensor is integrated into the engine power output related components, etc.). They are reliably connected to the VCU through signal lines to ensure stable signal transmission. The VCU completes the control circuit connection with each sensor, electronic oil pump assembly, etc., to build a complete electronic control network.

[0038] The cooling process for the oil is as follows:

[0039] During transmission operation, heat is generated internally due to friction between transmission components, causing the gear oil temperature to rise and form high-temperature oil. This high-temperature oil first flows within the transmission, passing through a filter installed in the transmission to intercept impurities and prevent them from affecting subsequent cooling and transmission components. After filtration, the oil, powered by the electric oil pump 20, is transported through piping components to the retarder's heat exchanger 31 or a separately installed radiator 32. When the oil flows through the retarder's heat exchanger 31 (or radiator 32), it exchanges heat with the cooling medium (such as air, coolant, etc., depending on the specific heat exchange components). The heat exchange assembly 30 relies on the engine cooling assembly 50 for heat dissipation, which includes a radiator, water pump, coolant, and cooling fan.

[0040] like Figure 2 As shown, according to another specific embodiment of this application, a method for controlling a transmission external cooling system is also provided. The method employs the transmission external cooling system described in the above embodiment and includes:

[0041] Step S10: Collect vehicle operating condition information through sensor components. The operating condition information includes at least the vehicle's driving slope information, engine torque information, transmission oil temperature information, vehicle speed information, and heat exchange assembly status information.

[0042] Specifically, the slope information is obtained through a slope sensor, and the slope information mainly includes the slope angle; the engine torque information includes the torque output by the engine, and the engine operating condition can be determined by the engine torque; the transmission oil temperature information mainly includes the temperature at the transmission gears; the vehicle speed information includes the vehicle speed; and the heat exchange assembly status information mainly includes the working status of the heat exchange assembly, including whether it is in working or idle state.

[0043] In step S10, after acquiring the above information, the sensor assembly transmits it to the controller assembly, which processes and analyzes the information data to determine the cooling requirements of the transmission.

[0044] Step S20: Based on the operating condition information, determine the operating status of the electronic oil pump. The operating status includes at least the off state, the low speed state, and the high speed and high flow state.

[0045] Specifically, after analyzing the information data acquired by the sensor components, the controller assembly can control the operating state of the electronic oil pump based on different data values. If the electronic oil pump is determined to be in the off state, it means that the vehicle is under low load, driving smoothly, or the transmission oil temperature is below a preset threshold. In this case, the controller assembly controls the electronic oil pump to be in the off state, and there is no need to perform heat exchange and cooling of the lubricating oil. If the electronic oil pump is determined to be in the low speed or low flow state, it means that the vehicle is under light load or the transmission oil temperature is slightly increased. If the electronic oil pump is determined to be in the high speed or high flow state, it means that the vehicle is under heavy load climbing, high power output, or other high heat load conditions, and heat exchange is required through the heat exchange assembly.

[0046] In step S20, the controller assembly analyzes gradient information, engine torque information, transmission oil temperature information, vehicle speed information, and heat exchange assembly status information, comprehensively considers the overall operating conditions and cooling requirements of the vehicle, and intelligently adjusts the working state of the electronic oil pump. This can accurately match the cooling requirements of the vehicle under different operating conditions, ensure effective heat dissipation of the transmission, avoid energy waste caused by excessive cooling, and achieve the best balance between cooling efficiency and energy saving.

[0047] Step S30: Based on the operating status of the electronic oil pump, determine the intensity of the heat exchange assembly's heat exchange and cooling operation on the transmission lubricating oil.

[0048] Specifically, the controller assembly can calculate the actual cooling power required for heat exchange based on the operating status of the electronic oil pump (i.e., the flow rate and volume of the oil). Combining the vehicle operating condition information and the actual cooling capacity of the heat exchange assembly, the controller dynamically adjusts the cooling intensity of the radiator or retarder heat exchanger, such as adjusting the speed of the cooling fan or the flow rate of the coolant, to adapt to the cooling requirements of the lubricating oil output by the electronic oil pump.

[0049] Through the above steps, vehicle operating condition information is collected via sensor components. This information includes at least the vehicle's driving gradient, engine torque, transmission oil temperature, vehicle speed, and the status of the heat exchange assembly. Based on this information, the operating status of the electronic oil pump is determined, including at least three states: off, low speed, and high speed / high flow. Based on the electronic oil pump's operating status, the intensity of the heat exchange assembly's cooling operation on the transmission lubricating oil is determined. Through intelligent control methods, dynamic adjustment of the transmission cooling system is achieved. Based on real-time collected operating condition information, the control method calculates the optimal operating state of the electronic oil pump using algorithms, thereby adjusting the cooling intensity of the heat exchange assembly. This ensures efficient operation of the cooling system under various conditions, preventing transmission failures caused by abnormal oil temperature.

[0050] Optionally, in step S20, the operating status of the electronic oil pump is determined based on the operating condition information, and the method includes:

[0051] Step S22: When the slope angle θ of the slope information is greater than the preset slope angle, the engine torque in the engine torque information is greater than the preset value, and the oil temperature in the transmission oil temperature information is greater than the preset temperature and continues to rise, a graded temperature control strategy is generated. The graded temperature control strategy is used to calculate the cooling intensity required by the transmission assembly.

[0052] Specifically, the preset slope angle, preset value, and preset temperature are all predetermined thresholds. When all operating conditions of the vehicle reach or meet the above thresholds simultaneously, it proves that the vehicle is in a state that requires cooling. Furthermore, based on the specific data values ​​of slope angle, torque, temperature, etc., the required cooling intensity for the current operating condition can be calculated through a graded temperature control strategy.

[0053] It should be noted that a higher cooling intensity value indicates a higher heat load and more stringent requirements for the cooling system. The graded temperature control strategy can be set based on slope angle, torque, and real-time temperature conditions. In one embodiment of this application, the parameters of the electronic oil pump are determined (the parameters of the electronic oil pump are the factory calibration values), and the calibrated values ​​for the influence of slope, torque, and temperature on cooling requirements are determined, so as to determine the required cooling intensity based on the specific data obtained by the sensor components.

[0054] Step S24: Determine the operating status of the electronic oil pump based on the graded temperature control strategy.

[0055] Specifically, the controller assembly will adjust the speed and flow rate of the electronic oil pump based on the calculated cooling intensity value, thereby determining how to increase the circulation rate of the lubricating oil.

[0056] Through step S24, by employing a graded temperature control strategy, the system can dynamically and intelligently adjust the parameters of the cooling system when the vehicle faces complex operating conditions, in order to adapt to the cooling requirements of the transmission. This avoids the problems of inaccurate control and lag response common in traditional cooling methods, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of the cooling system.

[0057] Optionally, in step S22, when the slope angle θ of the determined slope information is greater than a preset slope angle, the engine torque in the engine torque information is greater than a preset value, and the transmission oil temperature in the transmission oil temperature information is greater than a preset temperature and continues to rise, the method includes:

[0058] Step S23: When the heat exchange assembly status information is determined to be in working state, a deep cooling control strategy is generated. The deep cooling control strategy is used to control the engine cooling assembly to assist the heat exchange assembly in heat dissipation.

[0059] Specifically, when the slope angle, engine torque, temperature, and heat exchange assembly status all meet the threshold or requirements, the controller assembly can control the engine cooling assembly to assist the heat exchange assembly in dissipating heat from or exchanging heat with the high-temperature lubricating oil, thereby improving cooling efficiency and enhancing the cooling effect.

[0060] This application also provides a preferred embodiment of a control method for an external cooling system of a transmission, the specific workflow of which is as follows:

[0061] Step 1, Operating Condition Perception and Signal Acquisition: When the vehicle is running, various sensors continuously acquire signals. The slope sensor captures changes in the vehicle's driving slope, the engine torque sensor monitors the engine torque output, the transmission oil temperature sensor provides real-time feedback on the oil temperature, the vehicle speed sensor records the driving speed, and the heat exchange assembly working status sensor identifies whether the retarder is working and its working intensity. These signals are transmitted to the VCU in real time to construct multi-dimensional perception data of the vehicle's operating conditions and the transmission's thermal status.

[0062] Step 2, VCU Intelligent Decision-Making and Control: The VCU analyzes and processes the collected signals, and decides on the opening and speed adjustment commands of the electronic oil pump 20 based on preset control logic (such as oil temperature thresholds under different operating conditions, cooling intensity matching strategies, etc.). For example, when it detects that the vehicle is climbing a steep slope, the engine is producing high torque, and the oil temperature exceeds the warning value, the VCU issues a command to increase the speed of the electronic oil pump 20 to accelerate oil circulation. If the retarder heat exchanger 31 is working, the flow rate of oil to the retarder heat exchanger 31 is simultaneously optimized to coordinate with the engine cooling assembly 50 for heat dissipation. After being deeply cooled by the engine cooling assembly 50, the cooled oil flows back to the transmission to ensure stable oil temperature. Under stable operating conditions, such as low vehicle speed, low load, and normal oil temperature, the VCU controls the electronic oil pump to reduce speed or shut down to reduce energy consumption and maintain basic cooling circulation.

[0063] In this embodiment, the vehicle control unit (VCU) dynamically adjusts the on / off state and speed of the electronic oil pump 20 to achieve precise control of the transmission gear oil flow rate. The VCU collects vehicle operating parameters in real time, including real-time grade gradient (obtained via a grade sensor or inertial navigation system), engine output torque (analyzed based on CAN bus), transmission lubricating oil temperature (monitored by a PT1000 sensor), vehicle speed, and retarder operating status. When heavy-load climbing conditions are identified (grade gradient > 8%, engine torque > 85% of rated value, oil temperature > 100℃ and continuously rising), the VCU activates a graded temperature control strategy.

[0064] Q = K1*θ + K2*T + K3*ΔT;

[0065] Where θ is the slope angle (°), T is the engine torque (Nm), ΔT is the oil temperature exceeding the standard value (°C), K1-K3 are calibration coefficients (calibrated according to the specific parameter specifications of the electronic oil pump 20), and the oil pump speed n (rpm) is linearly adjusted according to n=α*Q (α is the flow conversion coefficient, calibrated according to the specific parameter specifications of the electronic oil pump 20) to achieve dynamic stepless control of the flow rate to adapt to the vehicle's operating conditions.

[0066] As can be seen from the above description, the external cooling system and control method for the transmission in the above embodiments have the following beneficial effects:

[0067] 1) Intelligent and precise control: With the help of VCU to integrate multi-condition signal acquisition and control, it can sense the vehicle's operating status and transmission oil temperature in real time and accurately, and dynamically adjust the cooling system. Compared with traditional cooling methods, the cooling response is more timely and the control is more precise, effectively avoiding the impact of excessively high or low oil temperature, ensuring stable gear oil performance, and reducing the risk of transmission failure.

[0068] 2) Balance between efficient cooling and energy saving: By adjusting the speed and operating status of the electronic oil pump 20 as needed, the cooling requirements of the transmission are met while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption. For example, under low load conditions, the oil pump speed can be reasonably reduced or shut down to achieve an optimized balance between cooling efficiency and energy consumption, thereby improving the vehicle's energy utilization efficiency.

[0069] 3) Adaptable to complex working conditions: Relying on multi-sensor collaboration and mode adaptation, it can cope with complex and variable working conditions such as vehicle climbing and different vehicle speeds, ensuring that the transmission can operate stably in various scenarios, expanding the application scope and reliability of the system, and improving the overall performance and service life of the vehicle.

[0070] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0071] In addition to the above, it should be noted that the terms "one embodiment," "another embodiment," and "embodiment" used in this specification refer to specific features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment, which are included in at least one embodiment described in the general description of this application. The appearance of the same expression in multiple places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, the intention is to suggest that implementing such a feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments also falls within the scope of this invention.

[0072] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0073] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An external cooling system for a transmission, characterized in that, include: A transmission assembly (10) includes a housing and a filter. The housing has a receiving cavity containing lubricating oil, which is used at least to lubricate and cool the transmission gears. The filter is used to filter the lubricating oil. An electronic oil pump (20) is connected to the housing, and the input end of the electronic oil pump (20) is connected to the filter; A heat exchange assembly (30), one end of which is connected to the output end of the electronic oil pump (20) via a piping assembly, and the other end of which is connected to the receiving cavity via the piping assembly; The electronic oil pump (20) is located outside the receiving cavity. The electronic oil pump (20) is used to pump the lubricating oil filtered by the filter into the heat exchange assembly (30). The heat exchange assembly (30) performs heat exchange and cooling operations with the lubricating oil.

2. The external cooling system for the transmission according to claim 1, characterized in that, The external cooling system of the transmission also includes a controller assembly (40) electrically connected to the electronic oil pump (20), the controller assembly (40) being used to control the flow rate of the electronic oil pump (20), and / or, the controller assembly (40) being used to control the rotational speed of the electronic oil pump (20).

3. The external cooling system for the transmission according to claim 2, characterized in that, The external cooling system of the transmission also includes a sensor assembly, which is disposed on at least one of the engine drive shaft, the housing cavity, the output shaft of the transmission assembly (10), and the heat exchange assembly (30). The sensor assembly is electrically connected to the controller assembly (40). The sensor assembly is used to collect at least one of the vehicle speed signal, driving slope signal, lubricating oil temperature signal, and engine output torque signal, and send them to the controller assembly in the form of electrical signals.

4. The external cooling system for the transmission according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The external cooling system of the transmission also includes an engine cooling assembly (50), which is connected to the heat exchange assembly (30). The engine cooling assembly (50) includes a cooling mechanism in which a cooling medium flows.

5. The external cooling system for the transmission according to claim 4, characterized in that, The heat exchange assembly (30) includes a heat exchanger (31), which includes a cooling pipe and an oil return pipe. The cooling pipe and the oil return pipe are arranged adjacent to each other. Both ends of the oil return pipe are connected to the pipe assembly. The lubricating oil flows through the oil return pipe. The cooling pipe is connected to the cooling mechanism.

6. The external cooling system for the transmission according to claim 4, characterized in that, The heat exchange assembly (30) includes a radiator (32), the radiator (32) includes a heat dissipation core, both ends of the heat dissipation core are connected to the electronic oil pump (20) through the pipeline assembly, the lubricating oil flows in the heat dissipation core, and the outer wall of the heat dissipation core is arranged adjacent to the cooling mechanism.

7. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle has an external transmission cooling system, which is the external transmission cooling system according to any one of claims 1-6.

8. A control method for an external cooling system of a transmission, characterized in that, The method is performed using the external cooling system of the transmission as described in any one of claims 1-6, and the method includes: The vehicle's operating condition information is collected through sensor components, including at least the vehicle's driving slope information, engine torque information, transmission oil temperature information, vehicle speed information, and heat exchange assembly status information. Based on the operating condition information, the operating state of the electronic oil pump is determined, and the operating state includes at least the off state, the low speed state, and the high speed and high flow state. Based on the operating status of the electronic oil pump, the intensity of the heat exchange assembly's heat exchange and cooling operation on the transmission lubricating oil is determined.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, Based on the aforementioned operating condition information, the operating status of the electronic oil pump is determined, and the method includes: When it is determined that the slope angle θ of the slope information is greater than the preset slope angle, the engine torque in the engine torque information is greater than the preset value, and the oil temperature in the transmission oil temperature information is greater than the preset temperature and continues to rise, a graded temperature control strategy is generated. The graded temperature control strategy is used to calculate the cooling intensity required by the transmission assembly. Based on the aforementioned graded temperature control strategy, the operating status of the electronic oil pump is determined.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, When it is determined that the slope angle θ of the slope information is greater than a preset slope angle, the engine torque in the engine torque information is greater than a preset value, and the oil temperature in the transmission oil temperature information is greater than a preset temperature and continues to rise, the method includes: When the heat exchange assembly status information is determined to be in working state, a deep cooling control strategy is generated. The deep cooling control strategy is used to control the engine cooling assembly to assist the heat exchange assembly in heat dissipation.

Images