Vehicle cooling system control

Abstract

Methods, assemblies and systems for controlling the flow of coolant in a vehicle engine cooling system. An operating system, such as a dual mode mechanism, attached to a housing operates electronically to rotate the impeller at a desired speed and circulate the coolant. A friction clutch can be available to rotate the impeller at input speed if needed. A coolant control valve positioned in the housing and operated by an activation motor which controls the degree of rotation of the valve, regulates and controls the amount of coolant which is allowed to flow through the cooling system. Electronic control modules/units are used to control the impeller and control valve, together with control logic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature control system for a vehicle cooling system comprising:
 a housing, said housing having an inlet and an outlet for ingress and egress of coolant;   an impeller positioned in the housing for circulating the coolant in the vehicle cooling system;   a coolant control valve positioned in the housing for controlling the speed and volume of coolant flowing through said housing from said inlet and said outlet;   an activation device attached to said housing for rotating said coolant control valve;   a dual mode device attached to said housing for rotating said impeller;   said dual mode device comprising an electric motor and a friction clutch, both positioned to separately and selectively rotate said impeller.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 1  wherein said impeller has a first shaft member and said coolant control valve has a second shaft member, and wherein the first and second shafts are positioned from 0-90° relative to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 1  wherein said impeller has a first shaft member and said coolant control valve has a second shaft member, and wherein the first and second shafts are positioned side-by-side and parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 1  wherein said electric motor is a brushless DC motor. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 1  wherein said coolant control valve has a cup shape with a cylindrical sidewall, and said sidewall has at least one opening therein. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 5  wherein a plurality of openings are present in said sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 1  wherein said impeller comprises a hub member, a plurality of blade members attached to said hub member, and a shroud member. 
     
     
         8 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 7  wherein said shroud member has at least a portion positioned radially outward of said blade members. 
     
     
         9 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 1  further comprising a coolant pump ECU and control logic, wherein said coolant pump ECU in combination with said control logic actuate the speed of rotation of said impeller and the degree of rotation of said coolant control valve. 
     
     
         10 . A temperature control system for a vehicle cooling system comprising:
 a housing, said housing having an inlet and an outlet for ingress and egress of coolant;   an impeller positioned in the housing for circulating the coolant in the vehicle cooling system;   a coolant control valve positioned in the housing for controlling the direction of coolant flowing through said housing from said inlet and said outlet;   an activation device attached to said housing for rotating said coolant control valve;   an electric motor attached to said housing for rotating said impeller; and   an ECU and control logic for selectively rotating or not rotating said impeller and for selectively rotating or not rotating said coolant control valve.   
     
     
         11 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 10  wherein said electric motor is a brushless DC motor. 
     
     
         12 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 10  wherein said coolant control valve has a cup shape with a cylindrical sidewall, and said sidewall has at least one opening therein. 
     
     
         13 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 10  wherein a plurality of openings are present in said sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 10  wherein said impeller comprises a hub member, a plurality of blade members attached to said hub member, and a shroud member. 
     
     
         15 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 14  wherein said shroud member has at least a portion positioned radially outward of said blade members. 
     
     
         16 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 10  further comprising an ECU and control logic, wherein said ECU in combination with said control logic actuate the speed of rotation of said impeller and the degree of rotation of said coolant control valve. 
     
     
         17 . The temperature control system as described in  claim 10  further comprising a one-way clutch in operative association with said impeller. 
     
     
         18 . A method for regulating the temperature of cooling fluid in a vehicle engine, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing an impeller activating device comprising:   a housing, said housing having an inlet and an outlet for ingress and egress of coolant;   an impeller positioned in the housing for circulating the coolant in the vehicle cooling system;   a coolant control valve positioned in the housing for controlling the speed and volume of coolant flowing through said housing from said inlet and said outlet;   an activation device attached to said housing for rotating said coolant control valve;   a dual mode device attached to said housing for rotating said impeller;   said dual mode device comprising an electric motor and a friction clutch, both positioned to separately and selectively rotate said impeller;   selectively activating or not activating said dual mode device to rotate said impeller; and   selectively rotating or not rotating said coolant control valve to regulate the flow of coolant fluid through said housing;   whereby the temperature of the cooling fluid is substantially maintained within a desired range of temperature.   
     
     
         19 . The method as described in  claim 18  wherein said electric motor is a brushless DC electric motor. 
     
     
         20 . A method for regulating the temperature of cooling fluid in a vehicle engine, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing an impeller activating device comprising:   a housing, said housing having an inlet and an outlet for ingress and egress of coolant;   an impeller positioned in the housing for circulating the coolant in the vehicle cooling system;   a coolant control valve positioned in the housing for controlling the direction of coolant flowing through said housing from said inlet and said outlet;   an activation device attached to said housing for rotating said coolant control valve;   an electric motor attached to said housing for rotating said impeller;   an ECU and control logic for selectively rotating or not rotating said impeller and for selectively rotating or not rotating said coolant control valve;   selectively activating or not activating said electric motor to regulate the rotation speed of said impeller; and   selectively rotating or not rotating said coolant control valve to regulate the flow of coolant fluid through said housing;   whereby the temperature of the cooling fluid is substantially maintained within a desired range of temperature.   
     
     
         21 . The method as described in  claim 20  wherein said electric motor is a brushless DC electric motor. 
     
     
         22 . The method as described in  claim 20  wherein said housing includes a one-way clutch member, and wherein said method includes the step of preventing rotation of said impeller in one direction. 
     
     
         23 . The method as described in  claim 22  wherein said one-way clutch member is selected from the group comprising a sprag clutch, a cam clutch and a roller-ramp clutch.