Coolant Control Valve Position Monitoring Before Engine Start
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring the opening state of control valves in internal combustion engine coolant circuits are inefficient, requiring engine startup and limited by energy input, which prolongs warm-up times and increases pollutant emissions if the valve is stuck open.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that detect the position of the control valve's valve member before engine startup by comparing an actual value with a reference value, using an actuator like a wax cartridge to actively release or block the valve, allowing for emission-free monitoring and verification of the valve's blocking position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control valve is monitored using traditional methods during engine operation, then the valve function can be checked, but the warm-up time is prolonged and pollutant emissions increase if the valve is stuck open
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the valve member position before engine startup using a sensor and comparing it with the expected closed position. This allows the control unit to identify a stuck-open valve condition before the engine begins operation, preventing the prolonged warm-up time and excessive emissions that would otherwise occur during engine operation if the valve malfunctioned.
2Reliability
If the control valve monitoring is performed after engine startup, then the diagnostic can be conducted, but pollutant emissions occur during the diagnostic process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the diagnostic action preliminarily by detecting the valve member position before engine startup. The sensor detects the actual position of the valve member, and the control unit compares this with the reference position (closed state) before any combustion occurs. This eliminates pollutant emissions during the diagnostic process while maintaining reliable detection of valve malfunctions.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the valve member position is detected before engine startup, then emission-free monitoring is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sensor as an intermediary component that detects the position of the valve member and converts it into an electrical signal for processing by the control unit. This intermediary sensing mechanism enables emission-free monitoring before engine startup while managing system complexity through a dedicated detection component that interfaces between the mechanical valve system and the electronic control system.
4Device complexity
If the control valve monitoring is delayed until engine operation, then the system remains simple, but the warm-up process takes longer and emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary detection of the valve member position before engine startup, allowing the system to identify malfunctioning valves before combustion begins. This preliminary action improves warm-up efficiency by enabling early detection of stuck-open valve conditions, preventing the time loss and excessive emissions that would occur if monitoring were delayed until engine operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables early detection of valve malfunctions, preventing prolonged warm-up times and excessive emissions by determining the valve's position before engine operation, ensuring accurate diagnosis and maintenance instructions without causing pollutant emissions during the diagnostic process.
Implementation Method 1
a control valve, usually referred to as a thermostat or thermostat valve, which has a valve member in the form of a valve plate or the like
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A method is proposed for monitoring the state of opening of a control valve (11) of a coolant circuit (1) of an internal combustion engine (2), wherein the control valve (11) has a valve element (12), which can be actuated by an actuator (22), for enabling and/or blocking a coolant flow in the coolant circuit (1) which has a heat exchanger (3), and has a device for detecting the position of the valve element (12), and the device detects a first actual value, which represents the position of the valve element (12), before the starting of the internal combustion engine (2), and compares the actual value with a reference value which corresponds to a blocking position of the valve element (12).