Adjusting a flow control valve during a mode change of a main rotary valve in a vehicle cooling system

Abstract

Examples of techniques for adjusting a flow control valve during a mode change of a main rotary valve in a vehicle cooling system for an internal combustion engine are disclosed. In one example implementation, a method includes detecting, by a processing system, a start of the mode change for the main rotary valve in the vehicle cooling system. The method further includes closing, by the processing system, the flow control valve based at least in part on detecting the start of the mode change. The method further includes opening, by the processing system, the flow control valve based at least in part on the mode change being completed.

1 . A computer-implemented method for adjusting a flow control valve during a mode change of a main rotary valve in a vehicle cooling system for an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
 detecting, by a processing device, a start of the mode change for the main rotary valve in the vehicle cooling system;   causing, by the processing device, the flow control valve to be closed based at least in part on detecting the start of the mode change of the main rotary valve; and   causing, by the processing device, the flow control valve to be opened based at least in part on the mode change of the main rotary valve being completed,   wherein the main rotary valve comprises a first valve and a second valve, the first valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, and the second valve having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, and   wherein the flow control valve is in fluid communication between the inlet of the second valve of the main rotary valve and outlets of an engine head and an engine block.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the mode change is a change from a cooling mode to a warming mode. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the mode change is a change from a warming mode to a cooling mode. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein closing the flow control valve prevents a coolant fluid from flowing into an inlet of the main rotary valve. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein opening the flow control valve enables a coolant fluid to flow into an inlet of the main rotary valve. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein an inlet of the flow control valve is in fluid communication with the outlets of the engine block and the engine head. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein an outlet of the flow control valve is in fluid communication with the inlet of the second valve of the main rotary valve. 
     
     
         8 . A system for adjusting a flow control valve during a mode change of a main rotary valve in a vehicle cooling system for an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
 a memory comprising computer readable instructions; and   a processing device for executing the computer readable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:
 detecting, by the processing device, a start of the mode change for the main rotary valve in the vehicle cooling system; 
 causing, by the processing device, the flow control valve to be closed based at least in part on detecting the start of the mode change; and 
 causing, by the processing device, the flow control valve to be opened based at least in part on the mode change being completed, 
   wherein the main rotary valve comprises a first valve and a second valve, the first valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, and the second valve having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, and   wherein the flow control valve is in fluid communication between the inlet of the second valve of the main rotary valve and outlets of an engine head and an engine block.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the mode change is a change from a cooling mode to a warming mode. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the mode change is a change from a warming mode to a cooling mode. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein closing the flow control valve prevents a coolant fluid from flowing into an inlet of the main rotary valve. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein opening the flow control valve enables a coolant fluid to flow into an inlet of the main rotary valve. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein an inlet of the flow control valve is in fluid communication with the outlets of the engine block and the engine head. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein an outlet of the flow control valve is in fluid communication with the inlet of the second valve of the main rotary valve. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product for adjusting a flow control valve during a mode change of a main rotary valve in a vehicle cooling system for an internal combustion engine, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a processing device to cause the processing device to perform a method comprising:
 detecting, by the processing device, a start of the mode change for the main rotary valve in the vehicle cooling system; 
 causing, by the processing device, the flow control valve to be closed based at least in part on detecting the start of the mode change; and 
 causing, by the processing device, the flow control valve to be opened based at least in part on the mode change being completed, 
   wherein the main rotary valve comprises a first valve and a second valve, the first valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, and the second valve having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, and   wherein the flow control valve is in fluid communication between the inlet of the second valve of the main rotary valve and outlets of an engine head and an engine block.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the mode change is a change from a cooling mode to a warming mode. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the mode change is a change from a warming mode to a cooling mode. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein closing the flow control valve prevents a coolant fluid from flowing into an inlet of the main rotary valve. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein opening the flow control valve enables a coolant fluid to flow into an inlet of the main rotary valve. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the flow control valve to be closed comprises causing the flow control valve to be partially closed to achieve a desired flow to maintain a consistent temperature through the engine head and the engine block.