Vehicle Cooling System Pilot Line Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle cooling systems experience slow feedback and temperature cycling due to the distance between the cooler and the thermostat, leading to frequent exposure to large temperature changes and reduced system reactivity, especially when dealing with rapid temperature changes associated with components like hydraulic retarders.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system design that utilizes a pilot line to sense the temperature of the cooling fluid at positions immediately downstream of components that can rapidly change its temperature, allowing for rapid regulation by the thermostat, and incorporates a three-way valve and control unit to manage cooling fluid flow based on the activation status and cooling power requirements of components like hydraulic retarders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the thermostat is positioned at a relatively large distance from the cooler in the cooling system, then the cooling system structure is simpler, but the feedback time is delayed and temperature cycling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pilot line that branches off from the main cooling system, creating a separate sensing pathway. This segmentation allows the temperature sensor to be positioned close to the cooler for rapid feedback while the main thermostat can remain at a conventional distance, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and fast response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot line acts as an intermediary element that transfers cooling fluid from near the cooler to the temperature sensor. This intermediary pathway enables rapid temperature sensing without requiring the main thermostat to be repositioned, thus maintaining system simplicity while achieving fast feedback.
2Ease of operation
If the temperature sensor is positioned far from components that rapidly change temperature, then the cooling system installation is easier, but the system cannot detect rapid temperature changes promptly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the cooling system into a main flow path and a separate pilot line, the patent enables the temperature sensor to be positioned optimally near rapidly heating components without complicating the overall system installation. The pilot line carries a portion of the cooling fluid to the sensor location.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot line creates a copy of the cooling fluid flow that can be routed to the temperature sensor independently. This copying mechanism allows the sensor to monitor temperature changes at the optimal location without disrupting the main cooling system's straightforward installation.
3Reliability
If the thermostat switches frequently between open and closed conditions due to slow feedback, then the cooling system covers temperature variations, but the cooler is exposed to large temperature changes reducing its lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements rapid feedback by positioning the temperature sensor in the pilot line near the cooler, allowing the thermostat to detect temperature changes immediately. This rapid feedback enables smoother thermostat switching and reduces the frequency and magnitude of temperature cycles, thereby extending the cooler's operational life while maintaining reliable temperature regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot line provides preliminary temperature information to the thermostat before significant temperature changes occur in the main cooling system. This preliminary action allows the thermostat to anticipate and respond to temperature variations more gradually, reducing thermal shock to the cooler.
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
This design enables rapid and effective cooling of the cooling fluid, reducing temperature cycling and extending the lifespan of cooling system components by providing immediate feedback and optimal cooling during component activation, particularly in heavy vehicles with hydraulic retarders.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling system comprises a thermostat with a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the cooling fluid
Implementation Method 2
The cooler is a component of the cooling system that can change the temperature of the cooling fluid rapidly
Implementation Method 3
The combustion engine is a third component in the cooling system that influences the temperature of the cooling fluid
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention concerns a cooling system in a vehicle for the cooling of a combustion engine (1) and a component (6) that can be activated intermittently. The cooling system comprises a thermostat (9) with a sensor (15) that is adapted to sense the temperature of the cooling fluid in a pilot line (16). The pilot line (6) comprises a first inlet section (16a) that receives cooling fluid from an inlet line to the combustion engine (1) and a second inlet section (16b) that receives cooling fluid from an outlet line (8) of the said component (6). The pilot line (16) comprises a valve arrangement (16c, 16d, 17, 20) that in a first condition leads cooling fluid from the first inlet section (16a) to the pilot line (16) and in a second condition leads cooling fluid from the second inlet section (16b) to the pilot line (16), and control means (16i, 16e, 16g, 18) that is adapted to set the valve arrangement into the first condition when the said component requires a lower cooling power than a threshold value or into the second condition when the said component (6) requires a higher cooling power than the threshold value.