Patent · US Expired

Method for detecting errors in a motor vehicle engine cooling system

US6640168B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
4References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 4, 2002
Grant dateOct 28, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 8, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF01P2031/22
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for detecting errors in a motor vehicle engine cooling system is proposed according to the invention, in which an algorithm is used to not only detect an error in the cooling system, but to also determine whether the thermostat valve or the temperature sensor are defective. Differentiated error detection is achieved in that a second temperature model band is calculated for the case in which the thermostat remains in the opened state. A first temperature model band is calculated for the case in which the cooling system is in order. By comparing the course of the curve for the measured actual temperature with the two temperature model bands, a selective diagnosis can be carried out and determine whether the temperature sensor or the thermostat valve is defective. No additional hardware expenditures are required.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.