초록 ▼

In order to diagnose a malfunction an evaporative cooling system upon the engine being initially started or in response to a demand for engine operation (e.g. cranking of the engine) the outputs of a sensor or sensors are monitored and diagnostic check of the system performed to determine if the sen

In order to diagnose a malfunction an evaporative cooling system upon the engine being initially started or in response to a demand for engine operation (e.g. cranking of the engine) the outputs of a sensor or sensors are monitored and diagnostic check of the system performed to determine if the sensors and or valves of the system are operating properly. In the event that a malfunction is indicated a warning is issued and/or the operation of the engine prevented.

대표청구항 ▼

In an internal combustion engine having a structure subject to high heat flux: a cooling system comprising: (a) a cooling circuit which includes: (i) a coolant jacket disposed about said structure, said coolant jacket being arranged to receive coolant in liquid form and discharge same in gaseous for

In an internal combustion engine having a structure subject to high heat flux: a cooling system comprising: (a) a cooling circuit which includes: (i) a coolant jacket disposed about said structure, said coolant jacket being arranged to receive coolant in liquid form and discharge same in gaseous form; (ii) a radiator in fluid communication with said coolant jacket for receiving the coolant vapor produced in said coolant jacket and condensing same to a condensate; and (iii) means for returning the condensate formed in said radiator to said coolant jacket in a manner which maintains said structure immersed in predetermined depth of liquid coolant; (b) a sensor responsive to a parameter which varies with the amount of coolant in said cooling circuit; and (c) a control circuit including means for monitoring the output of said sensor and for within a predetermined period of one of (a) a demand for engine operation and (b) the initiation of engine operation, diagnosing a malfuntion in the cooling system and issuing a signal indicative thereof. A method of operating a cooling system of an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: introducing liquid coolant into a coolant jacket disposed about a structure of the engine which is subject to high heat flux; permitting the liquid coolant to boil and produced vapor; condensing the vapor into a condensate in a radiator; returning the condensate formed in said radiator to said coolant jacket in a manner which maintains the structure immersed in a predetermined depth of coolant; sensing a parameter which varies with the amount of coolant contained in a cooling circuit which includes said coolant jacket and said radiator and producing a signal indicative thereof; monitoring the signal and determining within a predetermined period from one of (a) the start of the engine and (b) the demand for engine operation; diagnosing the existence of a system malfuction based on the data derived in the step of monitoring and one of producing a signal indicative thereof and stopping the operation of said engine.