Closed-Loop Engine Thermal Protection Torque Control

The patent implements a closed-loop feedback control system that continuously monitors coolant temperature and its rate of change, then adjusts engine torque in real-time. The control law uses feedback from temperature sensors to dynamically calculate the appropriate torque reduction, preventing both excessive protection (which would harm performance) and insufficient protection (which would harm reliability). This resolves the contradiction by making the protection level adaptive rather than fixed.

The patent transitions from static, pre-defined torque reduction maps to a dynamic control system that continuously adapts torque limits based on real-time thermal conditions. The maximum limiting torque is no longer a fixed value from calibration maps but a dynamic variable adjusted moment-by-moment based on coolant temperature and its derivative, allowing the system to optimize the balance between protection and performance for each instantaneous operating condition.

The patent creates a universal thermal protection control law that can be applied across different vehicle models without requiring model-specific calibration. The control algorithm is designed to be generic and adaptable, using only standard sensor inputs (coolant temperature and its rate of change) to produce model-appropriate torque limits. This eliminates the need for expensive wind tunnel testing for each new model while maintaining precise temperature control through the universality of the control approach.

The closed-loop feedback mechanism automatically adapts the generic control law to specific vehicle conditions through real-time temperature monitoring. The feedback ensures that even though the same control algorithm is used across different models, each system automatically adjusts to its specific thermal characteristics, maintaining precision without requiring model-specific calibration.

The patent replaces the mechanical/wind tunnel testing approach with a computational control law. Instead of physically testing vehicles in wind tunnels to determine torque reduction values, the system uses a mathematical control algorithm that calculates optimal torque limits based on real-time temperature measurements. This substitution eliminates time-consuming physical testing while maintaining or improving temperature control accuracy through precise computational control.

The feedback-based control law replaces open-loop calibration from wind tunnel tests with closed-loop real-time adjustment. The system continuously measures temperature and adjusts torque accordingly, achieving accurate temperature control without the need for extensive preliminary wind tunnel testing. The feedback mechanism ensures accuracy is maintained adaptively throughout vehicle operation and lifetime.

The patent transforms static torque reduction maps into a dynamic control system that automatically adapts to different operating conditions. The maximum limiting torque becomes a dynamic variable calculated in real-time based on coolant temperature and its rate of change, allowing the system to automatically differentiate between various life situations (e.g., transient high-load conditions versus sustained overheating) and apply appropriate protection levels without requiring complex if-then logic for each scenario.

The patent changes the control approach from using fixed torque values in maps to using a continuous control law that adjusts torque limits based on temperature parameters. By using the derivative of temperature (rate of change) as an additional parameter, the system can distinguish between different thermal scenarios and adapt its response accordingly, achieving versatility while maintaining control simplicity through a unified mathematical approach.