Coolant flow measurement devices and methods of measuring coolant flow
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01M-015/00
G01M-019/00
G01F-001/00
출원번호
UP-0248227
(2008-10-09)
등록번호
US-7748262
(2010-07-26)
발명자
/ 주소
Reginaldo, Alberto Nerida
Ward, Linda Celina
Lowhorn, Richard Gene
Noppenberger, Matthew
출원인 / 주소
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
8
초록▼
A coolant flow measurement device includes a coolant flow circuit, a cooling system, a purge system, a variable speed fluid pump, a differential pressure gage and a primary flow meter. The coolant flow circuit may be attached to a an HVAC system of the vehicle such that coolant may be circulated thr
A coolant flow measurement device includes a coolant flow circuit, a cooling system, a purge system, a variable speed fluid pump, a differential pressure gage and a primary flow meter. The coolant flow circuit may be attached to a an HVAC system of the vehicle such that coolant may be circulated through the HVAC system of the vehicle. The cooling system may cool the coolant in the coolant flow circuit. The purge system may be used to purge air from the coolant flow circuit. The variable speed fluid pump may be operable to balance the fluid pressure between the device inlet and the device outlet. The primary flow meter may be operable to measure the coolant flow in the coolant flow circuit. The differential pressure gage measures a pressure differential between the device inlet and the device outlet.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A coolant flow measurement device comprising a coolant flow circuit, a cooling system, a purge system, a variable speed fluid pump, a differential pressure gage and a primary flow meter wherein: the coolant flow circuit comprises a device outlet operable for attachment to an
What is claimed is: 1. A coolant flow measurement device comprising a coolant flow circuit, a cooling system, a purge system, a variable speed fluid pump, a differential pressure gage and a primary flow meter wherein: the coolant flow circuit comprises a device outlet operable for attachment to an engine coolant flow inlet of a vehicle and a device inlet operable for attachment to a front heater core outlet of the vehicle such that coolant may be circulated from the coolant flow circuit into the engine coolant flow inlet, through an HVAC system of the vehicle and back into the coolant flow circuit; the cooling system is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit proximate the device inlet such that coolant flowing into the device inlet passes through the cooling system, wherein the cooling system is operable to regulate the temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit; the purge system is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit such that coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit may be diverted into the purge system and back into the coolant flow circuit, wherein the purge system is operable to purge air from the coolant flow circuit; the variable speed fluid pump is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit such that coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit passes through the variable speed fluid pump, wherein the variable speed fluid pump is operable to balance a pressure of the coolant between the device inlet and the device outlet; the primary flow meter is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit such that coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit passes through the primary flow meter, wherein the primary flow meter is operable to measure a flow rate of coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit; and the differential pressure gage is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit proximate the device inlet and the device outlet, wherein the differential pressure gage is operable to measure a pressure differential between the device inlet and the device outlet. 2. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 1 wherein the cooling system comprises a radiator, a cooling fan, a temperature controller and a temperature sensor, wherein: the radiator is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit such that coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit flows through the radiator; the temperature sensor is positioned in the coolant flow circuit between the device inlet and the radiator and is operable to detect a temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit; the cooling fan is positioned proximate the radiator and is operable to provide air flow through the radiator; the temperature controller is electrically coupled to the cooling fan and the temperature sensor and is operable to switch the cooling fan on and off based on the detected temperature of the coolant. 3. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 2 wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple positioned in a thermocouple well disposed along the coolant flow circuit. 4. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 1 wherein the purge system comprises a coolant reservoir comprising a purge inlet, a purge outlet, a sight glass, a filler neck and an air vent wherein: the filler neck is positioned atop the coolant reservoir and facilitates filling the coolant reservoir with coolant; the air vent is positioned atop the coolant reservoir and facilitates venting air from the coolant reservoir; the purge inlet and the purge outlet are positioned on a bottom of the coolant reservoir and fluidly connect the coolant reservoir with the coolant flow circuit wherein: the purge inlet is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit with a three-way switching valve such that coolant flowing in the coolant flow circuit may be diverted from the coolant flow circuit and into the coolant reservoir with the 3-way switching valve; and the purge outlet is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit with a one-way valve such that coolant may flow out of the coolant reservoir and into the coolant flow circuit. 5. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 4 wherein the coolant reservoir further comprises a sight glass disposed on a side of the coolant reservoir. 6. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 1 wherein the differential pressure gage comprises an inlet pressure transducer and an outlet pressure transducer wherein: the differential pressure gage is fluidly connected to the device outlet with an outlet pressure tap extending between the device outlet and the outlet pressure transducer; and the differential pressure gage is fluidly connected to the device inlet with an inlet pressure tap extending between the device inlet and the inlet pressure transducer. 7. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 6 wherein the inlet pressure transducer and the outlet pressure transducer are fluidly connected to the purge system by a pressure relief line wherein a bleed valve is disposed between the outlet pressure transducer and the pressure relief line and a bleed valve is disposed between the inlet pressure transducer and the pressure relief line. 8. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 1 wherein the pressure differential gage is electrically coupled to a display panel operable to display the measured pressure differential between the device inlet and the device outlet. 9. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 1 wherein the primary flow meter is electrically coupled to a display operable to display the flow rate of coolant through the coolant flow circuit. 10. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 1 further comprising a sight glass fluidly coupled to the coolant flow circuit. 11. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 1 further comprising a filter fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit. 12. A coolant flow measurement device comprising a coolant flow circuit, a purge system, a radiator, a cooling fan a temperature controller, a thermocouple, a variable speed fluid pump, a electromagnetic flow meter and a differential pressure transducer, wherein: the coolant flow circuit comprises a device outlet, a device inlet and a rear heater core inlet, wherein: the device outlet is operable for attachment to the engine coolant flow inlet of the vehicle; the device inlet is operable for attachment to the front heater core outlet of the vehicle; and the rear heater core inlet is operable for attachment to the rear heater core outlet of the vehicle such that coolant may flow from the coolant flow circuit into the engine coolant flow inlet, through the HVAC system of the vehicle and back into the coolant flow circuit; the radiator is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit such that coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit flows through the radiator; the thermocouple is positioned in a thermocouple well disposed in the coolant flow circuit between the device inlet and the radiator and is operable to detect a temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit; the cooling fan is positioned proximate the radiator and is operable to provide air flow through the radiator; the temperature controller is electrically coupled to the cooling fan and the thermocouple and is operable to switch the cooling fan on and off based on the detected temperature of the coolant; the purge system is fluidly coupled to the coolant flow circuit with a three-way switching valve and a one-way check valve such that fluid flowing through the coolant flow circuit may be diverted into the purge system with the three-way switching valve and coolant may flow out of the purge system and back into the coolant flow circuit through the one-way check valve; the variable speed fluid pump is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit such that coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit passes through the variable speed fluid pump, wherein the variable speed fluid pump is operable to balance a pressure of the coolant between the device inlet and the device outlet; the electromagnetic flow meter is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit such that coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit passes through the electromagnetic flow meter, wherein the electromagnetic flow meter is operable to measure a flow rate of coolant flowing through the coolant flow circuit; the differential pressure transducer is fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit proximate the device inlet and the device outlet, wherein the differential pressure transducer is operable to measure a pressure differential between the device inlet and the device outlet. 13. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 12 wherein the purge system comprises a coolant reservoir comprising a filler neck, an air vent, a sight glass and a drain wherein: the filler neck is positioned atop the coolant reservoir and facilitates filling the coolant reservoir with coolant; the air vent is positioned atop the coolant reservoir and facilitates venting air from the coolant reservoir; the sight glass is disposed on a side of the coolant reservoir; and the drain is positioned on a bottom of the coolant reservoir and comprises a drain valve for opening and closing the drain. 14. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 12 wherein: the differential pressure transducer is electrically coupled to a display operable to display the measured pressure differential between the device inlet and the device outlet; and the differential pressure transducer comprises an inlet pressure transducer and an outlet pressure transducer wherein: the differential pressure gage is fluidly connected to the device outlet with an outlet pressure tap extending between the device outlet and the outlet pressure transducer; and the differential pressure gage is fluidly connected to the device inlet with an inlet pressure tap extending between the device inlet and the inlet pressure transducer. 15. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 14 wherein the inlet pressure transducer and the outlet pressure transducer are fluidly connected to the purge system by a pressure relief line wherein a bleed valve is disposed between the outlet pressure transducer and the pressure relief line and a bleed valve is disposed between the inlet pressure transducer and the pressure relief line. 16. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 12 wherein the primary flow meter is electrically coupled to a display operable to display the flow rate of coolant through the coolant flow circuit. 17. The coolant flow measurement device of claim 12 wherein the rear heater core inlet further comprises a secondary flow meter fluidly connected to the rear heater core inlet, wherein the turbine flow meter is operable to measure the flow of coolant through the rear heater core inlet. 18. A method for measuring coolant flow through an HVAC system of a vehicle with a coolant flow measurement device comprising a coolant flow circuit, a cooling system, a purge system, a variable speed fluid pump, a differential pressure gage and a primary flow meter, wherein the cooling system, the purge system, the variable speed fluid pump, the differential pressure gage and the primary flow meter are fluidly connected to the coolant flow circuit of the coolant flow measurement device, the method comprising: connecting a device outlet of the coolant flow circuit with an engine coolant flow inlet of the HVAC system of the vehicle and connecting a device inlet of the coolant flow circuit with a front heater core inlet of the HVAC system of the vehicle; flowing coolant from the coolant flow circuit and through the HVAC system of the vehicle and back into the coolant flow circuit with the variable speed fluid pump; purging air from the coolant flow circuit with the purge system of the coolant flow measurement device until the pressure differential between the device outlet and the device inlet is zero as determined by the pressure differential gage of the coolant flow measurement device; adjusting the temperature of coolant flowing through the coolant flow system with the cooling system of the coolant flow measurement device to reach a desired coolant temperature; revving an engine of the vehicle to a desired engine speed; adjusting a speed of the variable speed fluid pump at the desired engine speed until the pressure differential between the device outlet and the device inlet is zero as determined by the pressure differential gage of the coolant flow measurement device; measuring the flow rate of coolant through the coolant flow circuit with the primary flow meter at the desired engine speed and the desired coolant temperature, wherein the measured flow rate of coolant through the primary flow circuit is the flow rate of coolant through the HVAC system of the vehicle. 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising connecting a rear heater core inlet of the coolant flow circuit of the coolant flow measurement device to a rear heater core outlet of the HVAC system of the vehicle. 20. The method of claim 19 wherein: the rear heater core inlet is fluidly coupled to a secondary flow meter; and the method further comprises measuring the flow rate of coolant through the rear heater core inlet with the secondary flow meter, wherein the measured flow rate of coolant through the rear heater core inlet is the flow rate of coolant through a rear heater core of the vehicle.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Briggs Stephen W. (4141 E. Vernon Phoenix AZ 85008), Air bleeding system for an automotive engine cooling system instrument module.
Ohmi Tadahiro (1-17-301 ; Komegabukuro 2-chome Aoba-ku ; Sendai-shi ; Miyagi-ken 980 JPX), Method and apparatus for measuring the resistance of conductive materials due to electromigration.
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