Cooling control system for a mobile machine

Abstract

A cooling control system is provided for a mobile machine having an engine. The cooling control system may have a circuit fluidly connected to the engine, and a heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from coolant in the circuit. The cooling control system may also have a fan disposed proximate the heat exchanger, a thermostat configured to selectively allow coolant through the heat exchanger, and a locating device configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of the mobile machine. The cooling control system may further have a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a barometric pressure in proximity to the mobile machine, and a controller in communication with the fan, the thermostat, the locating device, and the pressure sensor. The controller may be configured to selectively activate the fan and cause the thermostat to move to an increased cooling position when the location signal indicates the mobile machine is within a threshold area of a geological feature known to increase a temperature of the engine, and to selectively activate the fan and cause the thermostat to move based on the pressure signal when the location signal from the locating device is unavailable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling control system for a mobile machine having an engine, the cooling control system comprising:
 a circuit fluidly connected to the engine;   a heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from coolant in the circuit;   a fan disposed proximate the heat exchanger;   a thermostat configured to selectively allow coolant through the heat exchanger;   a locating device configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of the mobile machine;   a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a barometric pressure in proximity to the mobile machine; and   a controller in communication with the fan, the thermostat, the locating device, and the pressure sensor, the controller being configured to:
 selectively activate the fan and cause the thermostat to move to an increased cooling position when the location signal indicates the mobile machine is within a threshold area of a geological feature known to increase a temperature of the engine; and 
 selectively activate the fan and cause the thermostat to move based on the pressure signal when the location signal from the locating device is unavailable. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooling control system of  claim 1 , wherein the locating device is further configured to receive a transponder signal, and the controller is further configured selectively activate the fan and cause the thermostat to move based on the transponder signal when the location signal from the locating device is unavailable. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 selectively activate a blower to cool an electrical compartment, activate a heat exchanger sprayer, and move a coolant pump to a maximum speed when the location signal indicates the mobile machine is within the threshold area of the geological feature known to increase the temperature of the engine or when on the pressure signal indicates the mobile machine is within the threshold area of the geological feature and the location signal is unavailable.   
     
     
         4 . The cooling control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive a throttle position signal indicative of a throttle position of the mobile machine;   receive a track speed signal indicative of a track speed of the mobile machine; and   selectively activate the fan and cause the thermostat to move to the increased cooling position only when the pressure signal, the throttle position signal, and the track speed signal indicate the mobile machine is within the threshold area of the geological feature know to increase the temperature of the engine.   
     
     
         5 . The cooling control system of  claim 1 , wherein a distance from a start of the geological feature to an outer limit of the threshold area along a route of the mobile machine corresponds with an amount of time needed to reduce coolant and engine temperatures to a minimum system temperature setpoint. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling control system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively deactivate the fan and cause the thermostat to move from the increased cooling position when the location signal or the transponder signal indicates the mobile machine is no longer within the threshold area of a geological feature. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling control system of  claim 1 , wherein the geological feature is a tunnel or a mountain peak. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling control system of  claim 1 , wherein the increased cooling position corresponds with a coolant temperature of about 80° C. or less. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive an air temperature signal indicative of an ambient air temperature in proximity to the mobile machine, and to incorporate the ambient air temperature into a determination of when to selectively activate the fan and cause the thermostat to move to the increased cooling position. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling control system of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is a variable speed fan and the controller is further configured to activate the fan by ramping up a speed of the fan. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling control system of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold area overlays the geological feature and at least a portion of a surrounding area. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling control system of  claim 10 , wherein the threshold area is determined based on at least one of characteristics of the geological feature and characteristics of the mobile machine. 
     
     
         13 . A method of cooling a mobile machine having an engine, comprising:
 receiving a location signal indicative of a location of the mobile machine;   determining a barometric pressure in proximity to the mobile machine;   selectively increasing cooling of the engine when the location signal indicates that the mobile machine is within a threshold area of a geological feature known to increase a temperature of the engine; and   selectively increasing cooling of the engine based on the barometric pressure when the location signal is unavailable.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein selectively increasing cooling of the engine includes at least one of activating a fan, activating a blower, causing a thermostat to move to a maximum cooling position, causing a pump to move to a maximum speed, and activating a heat exchanger sprayer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further including receiving a throttle position signal indicative of a throttle position of the mobile machine, wherein selectively increasing cooling includes selectively increasing cooling based on the barometric pressure and the throttle position signal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining the threshold area based on at least one of characteristics of the geological feature and characteristics of the mobile machine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further including receiving a transponder signal indicative of a location of the mobile machine and selectively increasing cooling of the engine based on the transponder signal when the location signal is unavailable. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the geological feature is a tunnel or a mountain peak. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the threshold area overlays the geological feature and at least a portion of the surrounding area. 
     
     
         20 . A mobile machine, comprising:
 a frame;   an engine mounted to the frame;   wheels configured to support the frame;   a circuit fluidly connected to the engine;   a heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from coolant in the circuit;   a fan disposed proximate the heat exchanger;   a thermostat configured to selectively allow coolant through the heat exchanger;   a locating device configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of the mobile machine;   a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a barometric pressure in proximity to the mobile machine; and   a controller in communication with the fan, the thermostat, the locating device, and the pressure sensor, the controller being configured to:
 selectively activate the fan and cause the thermostat to move to maximum cooling position when the location signal indicates the mobile machine is within a threshold area of a tunnel; and 
 selectively activate the fan and cause the thermostat to move based on the pressure signal when the signal from the locating device is unavailable.