AU2012236119A1 - Controller for work vehicle cooling package - Google Patents

Controller for work vehicle cooling package Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2012236119A1
AU2012236119A1 AU2012236119A AU2012236119A AU2012236119A1 AU 2012236119 A1 AU2012236119 A1 AU 2012236119A1 AU 2012236119 A AU2012236119 A AU 2012236119A AU 2012236119 A AU2012236119 A AU 2012236119A AU 2012236119 A1 AU2012236119 A1 AU 2012236119A1
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AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
airflow
temperature
air mover
air
heat exchangers
Prior art date
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Granted
Application number
AU2012236119A
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AU2012236119B2 (en
Inventor
Gerald Johnson
Rex Schertz
Daniel Soldan
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AGCO Corp
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AGCO Corp
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Priority claimed from US13/437,123 external-priority patent/US8967239B2/en
Publication of AU2012236119A1 publication Critical patent/AU2012236119A1/en
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Publication of AU2012236119B2 publication Critical patent/AU2012236119B2/en
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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01PCOOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01P5/00Pumping cooling-air or liquid coolants
    • F01P5/02Pumping cooling-air; Arrangements of cooling-air pumps, e.g. fans or blowers
    • F01P5/04Pump-driving arrangements
    • F01P5/043Pump reversing arrangements
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01PCOOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01P7/00Controlling of coolant flow
    • F01P7/02Controlling of coolant flow the coolant being cooling-air
    • F01P7/04Controlling of coolant flow the coolant being cooling-air by varying pump speed, e.g. by changing pump-drive gear ratio
    • F01P7/044Controlling of coolant flow the coolant being cooling-air by varying pump speed, e.g. by changing pump-drive gear ratio using hydraulic drives
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01PCOOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01P11/00Component parts, details, or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01P1/00 - F01P9/00
    • F01P11/10Guiding or ducting cooling-air, to, or from, liquid-to-air heat exchangers
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01PCOOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01P3/00Liquid cooling
    • F01P3/18Arrangements or mounting of liquid-to-air heat-exchangers
    • F01P2003/185Arrangements or mounting of liquid-to-air heat-exchangers arranged in parallel
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01PCOOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01P2060/00Cooling circuits using auxiliaries
    • F01P2060/02Intercooler

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
  • Component Parts Of Construction Machinery (AREA)
  • Package Closures (AREA)

Abstract

A controller and method for operating an air mover for a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, engine coolant, hydraulic oil and charge air temperature data is measured. The temperature data is reconciled by using the largest required fan speed as the set point speed for cooling the heat exchangers with airflow. An air mover is operated at the set point speed to generate airflow across each of the heat exchangers.

Description

WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 CONTROLLER FOR WORK VEHICLE COOLING PACKAGE 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD [0011 This invention relates to drawing in ambient air into agricultural machines such as combine harvesters and windrowers for cooling and other purposes. BACKGROUND 10 10021 Current harvesting vehicles have issues with their cooling systems/packages. Most bring in high volumes of air into the cooling packages from the sides of the vehicles. Radiator screens are well known in the art. They are used to filter debris from an ambient air stream as it is drawn into the engine compartment. Due to cross-winds and the high volume of light, small trash from harvesting operations surrounding the 15 harvesting equipment, the intake screens of these vehicles become plugged. Many agricultural vehicles use various devices to remove debris from the plugged radiator screens. [003] US Pat. No. 5,944,603 discloses a sealing apparatus for a rotatable air inlet screen of an agricultural vehicle. The screen assembly 20 is positioned over the air inlet 20 housing 22 and includes a rotatable member 24, screens 26 and 28, and cleaning assembly 30. The radiator fan 18, driven by the engine 14, draws air through radiator 16. The rotatable member 24 is unpowered and therefore does not push air-into the air inlet housing or across the radiator 18. The radiator fan 18 induces airflow downward through screens 26, 28 and then the direction of airflow is changed in order for the airflow to pass 25 through the radiator 16. The radiator fan 18 also induces rotation of rotatable member 24 and screen assembly 20 which results in a negative pressure difference. [0041 Agricultural vehicles typically utilize stacked or multiple pass heat exchangers or cores such as A/C, engine radiators, charge air coolers, hydraulic coolers, condensers,
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WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 etc. This reduces the cooling capacity of the downstream oil coolers and radiators as well as significantly increases the possibility of plugging intake screens. [005] However, a design which uses an air mover to push air from the top of the vehicle, where the air is cleaner compared to the sides of the vehicle, allows for the 5 cleanest possible area for intake air. This also allows for a larger intake area and therefore a much lower intake airflow velocity. What is needed is a pusher air mover preferably located between the screen area and the heat exchangers that allows cool airflow to be pushed into the cooling package across the heat exchangers arranged in a configuration to permit single pass of fresh airflow across each heat exchanger to 10 increase efficiency and reduce plugging during normal operation. The air mover may also be reversible at optimal times to generate airflow in the reverse direction to remove debris such as accumulated soil and small plant materials surrounding the screen area during a cleaning operation. 15 OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTION 10061 The invention is directed to a controller and method for operating an air mover for a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, engine coolant, hydraulic oil and charge air temperature data is measured. The temperature data is reconciled by using the largest required fan speed as the set point speed for cooling the 20 heat exchangers with airflow. An air mover is operated at the set point speed to generate airflow across each of the heat exchangers. [0071 In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a controller for an air mover of a work vehicle. The controller receives temperature input from each of a plurality of heat exchangers. The controller determines airflow requirements for each of the plurality 25 of heat exchangers and then determines which of the heat exchangers requires the most airflow. The controller activates the air mover to provide airflow across each of the heat exchangers based upon the heat exchanger requiring the most airflow. 2 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 [0081 These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 10091 The above mentioned and other features of this invention will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 10 10101 FIG. I is a schematic side elevation view of a combine harvester having a cooling system incorporating the principles of the present invention, portions of the harvester being broken away to reveal internal details of construction; [0111 FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of an embodiment of the cooling system of the harvester of FIG. 1; 15 10121 FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a portion of the cooling system of FIG. 2; 10131 FIG. 4 is an end view of a portion of the cooling system of FIG. 2; [0141 FIG. 5 is an enlarged end view of a portion of the cooling system of FIG. 2; [0151 FIG. 6 is a graph of a typical reverse cycle of the cooling system with the PWM duty cycle on the Y-axis and time on the X-axis; and 20 10161 FIG. 7 is a graph of the actual speed versus the desired speed when tuning the control system of the cooling system of the harvester. [0171 Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings. 25 DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS [0181 The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. While the drawings illustrate and the specification describes certain preferred 3 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present invention to the particular disclosed embodiments. References hereinafter made to certain directions, such as, for example, "front", "rear", "left" and "right", are made as viewed from the rear of the 5 harvester looking forwardly. 10191 The present inventions may be used in any work vehicles such as, for example, harvester combines, windrowers or other types of agricultural, construction or forestry vehicles. An exemplary combine harvester 10 selected for illustration in FIG. I has a single rotary flow processing system 12 that extends generally parallel with the path 10 of travel of the machine. However, as will be seen, the principles of the present invention are not limited to harvesters 10 with processing systems 12 designed for rotary flow, nor to axial flow harvesters having only a single such processing system. However, for the sake of simplicity in explaining the principles of the present invention, this specification will proceed utilizing a single rotary flow processing system 12 as the primary example. 15 [0201 As well understood by those skilled in the art, in the illustrated embodiment combine harvester 10 includes a harvesting header (not shown) at the front of the machine that delivers collected crop materials to the front end of a feeder house 14. Such materials are moved upwardly and rearwardly within feeder house 14 by a conveyer 16 until reaching a beater 18 that rotates about a transverse axis. Beater 18 feeds the 20 material upwardly and rearwardly to a rotary processing device, in this instance to a rotor 22 having an infeed auger 20 on the front end thereof. Auger 20, in turn, advances the materials axially into the processing system 12 for threshing and separating. In other types of systems, conveyor 16 may deliver the crop directly to a threshing cylinder. [0211 Generally speaking, the crop materials entering processing system 12 move 25 axially and helically therethrough during threshing and separating. During such travel the crop materials are threshed and separated by rotor 22 operating in cooperation with threshing concaves 24 and separator grate assemblies 26, with the grain escaping laterally through concaves 24 and grate assemblies 26 into cleaning mechanism 28. Bulkier stalk and leaf materials are retained by concaves 24 and grate assemblies 26 and are impelled 30 out the rear of processing system 12 and ultimately out of the rear of the machine. A 4 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 blower 30 forms part of the cleaning mechanism 28 and provides a stream of air throughout the cleaning region below processing system 12 and directed out the rear of the machine so as to carry lighter chaff particles away from the grain as it migrates downwardly toward the bottom of the machine to a clean grain auger 32. Auger 32 5 delivers the clean grain to an elevator (not shown) that elevates the grain to a storage bin 34 on top of the machine, from which it is ultimately unloaded via an unloading spout 36. A returns auger 37 at the bottom of the cleaning region is operable in cooperation with other mechanism (not shown) to reintroduce partially threshed crop materials into the front of processing system 12 for an additional pass through the system. 10 [0221 The combine 10 includes a framework around the processing system 12 that preferably includes a front bulkhead and a center bulkhead where the concaves 24 are supported between the front and center bulkheads. The grates 26 are preferably supported between the center bulkhead and a rear bulkhead. As shown in FIG. 1, both the concaves 24 and grate assemblies 26 together concentrically receive the rotor 22 to 1 5 serve as part of processing system 12. [023] Turning now to FIG. 2, the combine 10 includes a cooling system 50 of the present invention. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the cooling system 50 includes one or more air movers 60 such as a shrouded rotary fan having one or more fan blades 62 surrounded by shroud 63. However, the present invention 20 contemplates other means of generating airflow or moving air from the exterior environment surrounding the combine 10 to the cooling system 50 and to the interior of the combine 10 such as the engine compartment. The air mover 60 is driven independently from the engine of the combine 10. Preferably, the air mover 60 is driven. by a hydraulic motor 64 (FIG. 5). In some embodiments, the air mover 60 is a fan having 25 a substantially vertical axis of rotation and a substantially horizontal intake face. In some embodiments, the axis of rotation may be off vertical by about 10 to 20 degrees. Also, the intake may be off horizontal by about 10 to 20 degrees. [0241 Control of the hydraulic motor 64 of the air mover 60 is provided by a proportional hydraulic control valve 66 to permit variable speed and an on/off hydraulic 30 control valve 68 for direction control. When the on/off hydraulic control valve 68 is in 5 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 the "off" position, the air mover 60 operates in the forward direction and when the on/off hydraulic control valve 68 is in the "on" position, the air mover 60 operates in the reverse direction. Both hydraulic control values 66, 68 are controlled using temperature data from heat exchangers/coolers 102, 104, 106, 108 of the cooling system as described in 5 greater detail below. [0251 A debris screen 70 may be used overtop of the air mover 60. In such case, a cleaning system may be used to remove debris collected on the screen. However, in the cooling system 50 of the present invention defined in greater detail below, it is preferable to have the air mover 60 remain free of any such cleaning system. 10 [0261 The cooling system 50 may also comprise a cooling box 80 at least partially defined by a plurality of heat exchangers. The cooling box 80 may sometimes.be referred to as an air box. One or more heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 are used to define the cooling box 80. Preferably, one or more air movers 60 provide single pass airflow though the cooling box 80 in the sense that the air passes through the cooling box 80 15 once. Upstream faces 92, 94, 96, 98 of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 cooperate with one another to at least partially define a substantially closed interior of the cooling box 80. The cooling box 80 may also include opposing end or side walls such as end walls 82, 84. Opposing heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 are arranged or angled in the airflow from the air mover 60 relative to one another to define a v-shape. However, in 20 some embodiments, stacked heat exchangers may be utilized. [027] In one or more embodiments, the air mover 60 is operative to push ambient air downward through the cooling box 80 from overhead of the combine 10 and to push airflow across the upstream faces 92, 94, 96, 98 of heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108. Because of the pushed airflow static pressure inside the cooling box is greater than the 25 static pressure outside the cooling box 80. One or more of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 are positioned in the airflow after an intake face of the air mover 60 and before the engine 120. Preferably, the air mover 60 is positioned adjacent to and above the cooling box 80 and the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 are angled in the airflow toward one another. The upstream faces 92, 94, 96, 98 of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 30 106, 108 converge in the airflow as the distance from the air mover 60 increases. 6 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 Preferably, opposing proximal ends of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 in the front of the airflow or closer to the air mover 60 are spaced further apart from one another compared to the spacing between opposing distal ends of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 further along in the airflow. If the air mover 60 is a rotating fan, then the 5 upstream faces 92, 94, 96, 98 of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 are preferably angled relative to an axis of rotation of the air mover 60. [0281 In one or more embodiments, heat exchanger 102 is a radiator coupled to an engine and a water pump (not shown) of the combine 12 by a circulation path for controlling the engine's operating temperature with coolant such as antifreeze. The 10 coolant picks up heat from the engine 120. A thermostat (not shown) responds to the temperature of the coolant and opens to allow hot coolant to travel to the heat exchanger 102. 1029] In one or more embodiments, heat exchanger 104 is a charge air cooler (CAG) used to cool engine air after it has passed though a turbocharger but before it is routed 15 into the intake manifold of the engine. As is known in the art, air comes in through an air cleaner into the turbocharger where it gains heat and then exits the turbocharger to the charge air cooler 104 and then goes to the intake manifold of the engine. It is desirable to mange the temperature rise through the turbocharger because when pressurized, the air is heating up. A temperature difference for the charge air cooler 104 of about 25C above 20 ambient temperature is preferable. Ambient temperature may be taken from the exterior of the combine 10 or from the temperature of the air in or at the exit of the air filter. Air into the air filter comes through cooling box 80. [0301 In one or more embodiments, heat exchanger 106 is a hydraulic fan heat exchanger used to transfer heat from hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic motor 64 driving 25 the air mover 60. Also, heat exchanger 108 may be an oil cooler for other hydraulically driven systems typically found on a work vehicle such as combine 10 or a windrower. [0311 In another embodiment, one of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 defining the cooling box 80 may be for a hydraulic system independent of the combine 10 itself that may be used for an implement towed by the work vehicle. Also, one of the 30 heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 may be for a hydraulic power take off. 7 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 [0321 As perhaps best seen in FIG. 4, the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 are preferably arranged in a v-shaped manner and relative to one another as shown herein which depicts the easiest and most cost effective way to transfer heat with the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 and takes into account the distribution of airflow from the 5 air mover 60. However, the shape of the system 50, the cooling box 80, or the location of each of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 relative to one another, may be different depending on the particular heat exchangers selected because factors such as the depth of the core or how fine the fins easily affects the balance of heat rejection with the airflow. Preferably, the airflow is balanced or parallel out each side of the v-shaped cooling box 10 80 and a single pass of fresh airflow is pushed across each the upstream faces 92, 94, 96, 98 of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 defining the inner confines of the cooling box 80. A portion of the fresh airflow brought into the cooling box 80 passes once through one of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 and each heat exchanger has its own portion of the airflow from the air mover 60. In other words, each heat exchanger 15 102, 104, 106, 108 defining at least a portion of the cooling box 80 receives fresh airflow from the air mover 60 and no portion of the airflow is recirculated through another heat exchanger. Also, a heat exchanger may be referred to as single pass because its fluid or coolant passes through only once. [0331 However, -in some cases an external heat exchanger 110 (FIG. 2), such as a 20 condenser for the AC of the cab of the work vehicle, may be placed outside of the cooling box 80 and in front of the air mover 60. In such case, because the heat exchanger 110 is outside the cooling box 80, the airflow from within the cooling box 80 and across each of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 defining a portion of the cooling box 80 may still be referred to as single pass airflow. Heating of the airflow from the heat exchanger 10 25 placed in front of the air mover 60 has a nominal affect on the temperature of the airflow provided to the cooling box 80 by the air mover 60 and therefore the airflow is still referred to as fresh air. [0341 As perhaps best seen in FIG. 4, the cooling system 50 may also include a debris passage 130 for passing debris that enters the cooling box 80 from the exterior 30 environment along with the airflow generated by the air mover 60. The debris passage 130 is preferably defined between at least a pair of opposing heat exchangers 102, 104, 8 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 106, 108. The debris passage 130 permits debris to pass from an upper portion of the cooling system 50, down between opposing heat exchangers, and to the exterior of the cooling system 50 though a debris outlet 134 defined between opposing ends of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108. In one embodiment, the narrowest spacing between the 5 lowermost or converging distal ends of opposing heat exchangers defines an elongated debris outlet 134 that substantially corresponds with the horizontal width of the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 and thus the cooling box 80 as best seen in FIG. 3. [0351 Preferably the debris passage 130 within the cooling box 80 is positioned underneath and substantially vertically aligned with the air mover 60 and also 10 substantially vertically aligned with the debris outlet 134 underneath, so that the most can be made out of gravity assisting in removing the debris from the cooling box 80. Because the air mover 60 is reversible, it provides airflow in one direction when pushing air into the cooling box 80 and provides airflow in a second direction when operated in the reverse direction to draw air out of the cooling box 80. When the air mover 60 is 15 operated in a first direction to push airflow into the cooling box 80, a portion of the airflow escapes through the debris outlet 134 at a greater velocity compared to airflow passing through the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108. This higher velocity airflow-can be used to facilitate removal or force debris from the cooling box 80. When the air mover 60 is operated in the reverse or second direction, the reversed airflow agitates the 20 unwanted debris that is being held or that may have become stuck within the cooling box 80. Then, when the air mover 60 is returned to operating in the first direction, the agitated debris then may pass through the debris outlet 134. [0361 In addition to the cooling system 50 itself described herein, the invention includes methods for operating one or more air movers 60 to minimize power 25 consumption by having the speed of the air mover 60 dependent on cooling requirements. For example, reversing cycles of the air mover 60 may be regulated by allowing a minimum and maximum time between reverse cycles. This prevents perpetual reversing conditions, but also forces reverse cycles at regular intervals. The air mover 60 may also be reversed when the engine speed is lowered below a minimum threshold, suggesting a 30 shutdown condition may occur and removing any debris where it may otherwise reside during idle periods thus allowing adhesion. 9 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 [0371 In one or more embodiments, a control method senses multiple signals and when combined, will control the cooling of the air mover 60 to minimize power consumption while allowing data from the heat exchangers 102, 104, 106, 108 to regulate the speed of the air mover 60 as required. During air mover 60 operations, each system 5 with a heat exchanger is evaluated for desired air mover speed to maintain temperatures within defined bounds. For example, temperature data for the engine, hydraulic oil, and engine intake manifold are measured. The temperature data results in an associated required fan speed for cooling each heat exchanger 102, 104, 106. The temperature data is reconciled by using the highest air mover speed (to address the most critical 10 temperature data) as the overall resulting/set point speed. In other words, the highest desired air mover speed as a result of the temperatures of each of the heat exchanger systems becomes the set point speed for the air mover 60. [0381 At about the same time, the air intake temperature is measured and a suggested speed for the air mover 60 is determined. Empirically, the air mover 60 should 15 be running at the suggested speed to meet equilibrium cooling conditions. The suggested speed is derived using a mathematical model using suggested speed determined as function of the air intake temperature. If the overall set point speed exceeds the suggested air mover speed, a reversing condition exits suggesting a restricted screen 70 or debris within the cooling box 80 preventing proper cooling. The determined set point 20 speed may be automatically compared to the suggested speed of the air mover 60 to initiate reversing of the air mover 60 as explained below. [0391 Because the air mover 60 is open loop controlled, the cooling system 50 must convert the requested speed to a corresponding Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) duty cycle for control of the proportional hydraulic valve 66. An air mover speed sensor may 25 be used in some embodiments, but is not required because there is a relationship between air mover speed and PWM. The requested air mover speed is converted to a value setting or percentage of maximum voltage. The hydraulics are organized such that a higher duty cycle results in a lower air mover speed. If there is no electrical power to the air mover 60, the air mover 60 will operate at maximum RPM in the forward direction because the 30 hydraulics will still operate to keep the system cooled as a failsafe to avoid overheating. 10 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 [0401 One of the features of the present inventions is the multiple conditions to control the reversing of air flow. One or more air movers 60 may be reversed upon the occurrence of many conditions such as when the set point speed exceeds suggested air mover speed from the ambient temperatures, time exceeds the maximum allowed 5 between reverse cycles, coolant temperatures exceeds critical temperature, hydraulic temperature exceeds critical temperature, charge air delta temperature rise exceeds critical temperature, user requests a reverse cycle, and reverse cycle with equipment shutdown. In some instances, as described below, the frequency at which the airflow reverses may be restricted. Once conditions return to normal, the reversing of the airflow 10 can be deactivated. [0411 1. Determined Set Point Speed Exceeds Suggested Air Mover Speed from the Ambient Temperatures [0421 Once the set point air mover speed is determined, the reversing conditions are evaluated. Automatic reversing air mover conditions exist when the overall resulting 15 speed of the air mover 60 exceeds the suggested speed. This allows for debris removal using air mover reversing at various ambient temperature conditions. Without the ambient considerations, reversing may only occur at extreme temperatures using critical reversing conditions described below (critical engine coolant, critical hydraulic oil temperature, and critical charge air temperature). By conducting an earlier reverse cycle, 20 the air mover consumes less power by running at slower required speeds and any lodged debris on the screen 70 or within the cooling box 80 may be more easily removed. As any temperature used to determine the set point increases, the air mover speed increases to compensate, creating further vacuum and lodging debris into the cooler screen 70 or in the cooling box 80. It is desirable to dislodge the debris before it gets deeply embedded 25 into the screen 70 or cooling box 80 by reversing the air mover 60. [0431 2. Maximum Allowed Time is Exceeded Between Reverse Cycles [0441 Conditions may exist that would normally prevent the air mover 60 from reversing. To prevent debris buildup in those conditions, a timed reverse may be implemented. The maximum allowed time between reverse conditions is defined by a .30 stored parameter in the controller such as about 900 seconds. In some embodiments, a
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WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 minimum time period could elapse before consecutive occurrences of reversing the air mover 60 to prevent the air mover being in a constant reverse pattern. This value is also defined by a stored parameter such as about 120 seconds. [0451 3. Coolant Temperature Exceeds Critical Temperature 5 10461 If the engine coolant temperature continues to climb and exceeds the critical temperature set at about 101C, a reverse request can be sent. Desirably, reverse does not occur until the minimum allowed reversed time has elapsed. [047] 4. Hydraulic Temperature Exceeds Critical Temperature 10481 In one embodiment, if the hydraulic oil cooler temperature exceeds about 10 85C, a reverse request is sent. Desirably, reverse of the air mover 60 does not occur until the minimum allowed reversed time has elapsed. [0491 5. Charge Air Temperature Rise Exceeds Critical Temperature [0501 If the charge air cooler temperature rise (Intake manifold temperature - Intake air temperature (preferably before the charge air cooler)) exceeds about 25C, a reverse 15 request may be sent. Desirably, reverse of the air mover 60 does not occur until the minimum allowed reversed time has elapsed. [0511 6. User Requested Reverse Cycle [0521 The operator interface of the combine 10 has a button that may be pressed to force an air mover reverse condition. 20 [0531 7. Reverse on Shutdown 10541 Because the screen 70 for the cooling box 80 is preferably substantially horizontal on the top of the combine 10, it is desirable to ensure that all debris is removed when the combine 10 is parked. A reverse request may be initiated when the engine RPM was above 1800 RPM and then drops below 1500 RPM suggesting the combine 10 25 is being parked. Desirably, reverse of the air mover 60 does not occur until the minimum allowed reversed time has elapsed. [0551 Reversing Cycle 12 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 [0561 When a reverse cycle occurs, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, the system may preferably execute the following sequence (any time or range of time may be a preset and stored configurable value): 10571 Slow the air mover 60 to minimum speed (approximately 70% duty cycle); 5 [0581 Wait approximately 0.1 to 3 seconds for slowing of the air mover 60; [0591 Activate the on/off hydraulic control valve 68; [0601 Speed the air mover 60 (in reverse ) up to about 1400 RPM, this is a configurable preset value stored in controller memory (fan actually runs 1800 RPM when using normal control algorithm, less power is required when operating in reverse); 10 [0611 Hold for approximately 0.1 to 3 seconds, this is a configurable preset value; 10621 Slow the air mover 60 to minimum speed; [0631 Wait about 0.1 to 3 seconds for slowing, this is a configurable preset value; [0641 De-activate the on/off hydraulic control valve 68; [0651 Resume normal control algorithm. 15 [0661 Speed of the air mover 60 desirably is changed at a constant rate. The graph in FIG. 6 shows a typical reverse cycle. The PWM duty cycle is on the Y-axis and time on the X-axis. Higher PWM values results in slower air mover speed. [0671 Tuning 20 [0681 The air mover control algorithm allows flexibility for tuning. There are several equations in the system to set requested speeds, suggested speeds and duty cycles. The relationship between air mover speed and temperature is not linear but within the bounds of where the systems of the combine 10 operate it may be preferable to approximate it as a linear system. 25 [0691 Duty Cycle [0701 Because the control system uses air-mover speed for the control algorithm and air mover speed may not be measured, a relationship between air mover speed and value 13 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 setting must exist. This is achieved by a tuning process. The control system has two fixed PWM values (70% and 0%) corresponding to minimum and maximum speed, respectively. The actual air mover speed is recorded for those values. Initial speed values for 0% and 70% were tried based upon manual air mover speed tests and the result 5 revealed the air mover did not track to actual speed. Values of 2700 and 657 worked closer, but the values of 2650 and 657 appeared to provide the best approximation. FIG. 7 reveals the non-linearity in the PWM versus Speed settings. The 2650/657 actually works well because when more cooling capacity is required, the air mover is running slightly faster than the theoretical speed. 10 10711 Intake Air Temperature [0721 Intake air temperature is a good approximation to ambient air temperature. The intake air temperature sensor may be installed in proximity of the air filter/cleaner or is typically installed approximately 1/3 of the distance between the air cleaner and the turbocharger inlet, in a metal tube. To the extent a sensor is referenced throughout this 15 document, it is any sensor that converts temperature into a measurable electrical signal. Test results (using an independent temperature sensor), reveal the true intake air temperature is approximately 5-6C greater than the ambient temperature once the system reaches operating conditions. This is understandable considering the intake air source comes from the interior of cooling package 50. 20 [0731 The combine intake air sensor may be about 6C higher than the intake air temperature once hot conditions occurred because the sensor does not only measure intake air temperature. It is biased with conductive temperatures belonging to its surroundings. A bias may be imposed on the air intake sensor to compensate for any thermal conductivity or solar gain the sensor may pickup. Because this appears to be a 25 fixed bias at all times, the air mover control algorithm preferably subtracts about 6C (i.e. an offset temperature) from the actual intake air temp sensor and establishes this as the intake air temperature. In cold or startup conditions, the combine intake air temperature will reveal this negative bias. However, it takes a very short period to mitigate this. [0741 Speeds and Times 14 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 10751 There are various air mover speeds and times that are adjustable with one or more software modules. For example, when the engine is at low idle (high idle is about 1500 RPM or more, but the vehicle is not moving), the air mover speed can be dropped to conserve power. Preferably, air mover speed is controlled as a function of time so that 5 speed changes are smoothed over time and not as a step change to control noise. The resulting values are used to reduce noise emissions for better operator and bystander noise comfort: [076] At approximately 975 RPM - Minimum air mover speed at low idle [077] 1300 - Minimum air mover speed at high idle (> 1500 RPM) 10 [078] 1400 - reverse air mover speed (air mover true speed is approximately 1800 owing to reduce power requirements in reverse) [079] 657 - Minimum air mover speed at 70% (for PWM tuning) [080] 2650 - Maximum air mover speed at 0% (for PWM tuning) [081] 3 seconds - reverse time 15 [082] 1 second - Slowdown time [083] 1 second - valve delay 10841 Examples [085] Engine Radiator Restricted/Blocked with Debris 20 [086] As power requirements increased, the charge air cooler (CAG) temperature initially controls the cooling air mover requirements beginning at approximately 165 seconds. CAC continues to control the air mover until about 300 seconds, when the coolant temperature takes control. As the cooling requirements increase due to the blocked radiator, the speed of the air mover 60 responds accordingly. 25 [0871 The first reverse cycle occurs at about 400 seconds. This cycle occurs because the requested air mover speed (from the engine cooler), exceeds the suggested air mover speed based on the intake air temperature. Further reverse cycles occur at the 15 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 maximum allowed frequency of 120 seconds. All would be initiated with the requested speed exceeding the suggested air mover speed given the ambient conditions. If the temperature of the engine 120 exceeds the critical reverse temperature of 101 C, the air mover may be reversed just prior to reaching this critical temperature, preventing further 5 reverses until the minimum allowed time has elapsed. The engine loading was reduced at 1156 seconds, reducing the cooling requirements. [0881 Charge Air Cooler (CAC) Restricted/Blocked with Debris [0891 Restricting or blocking the charge air cooler with debris results in rapid air mover speed increase, resulting is the charge air driving the air mover speed. The reverse 10 cycle is initiated by an increase in the coolant temperature above the desired ambient temperature speed. Reversing occurs at the maximum allowed time of 120 seconds to mitigate the increased charge air temperature delta. The maximum allowed CAC delta temp of>25C causes the reverse cycles. The intake air temperature continues to increase over time until it reaches a plateau of approximately 48C. With the increase in intake air 15 temperature, the intake manifold temperature also increases. By the 6h reverse cycle (approx 700 seconds), the charge air delta temperature is such that the air mover may begin to run slightly slower (approximately 100 rpm) due to a lower CAC delta temperature. The next reverse cycle is triggered by the >25C CAC delta temperature, and after that, the intake air temperature increases enough that a subsequent reverse cycle is 20 not initiated. [0901 Supplemental Cooling Synchronization 10911 One or more embodiments of the present invention include a control method to operate a supplemental cooling system 50A for independent hydraulic systems such as a towed implement or hydraulic PTO. An air mover 60A of the optional supplemental air 25 cooler system 50A may comprise one or more supplemental air movers 60A, such as a series of electric or hydraulic fans, and be synchronized with the primary cooling air mover 60 and their reversing ability combined. The second airflow may be used exclusively for systems independent of the combine 10 but may instead be used to cool hydraulics for a supplemental power source for the work vehicle such as an additional 30 hydraulic pump for a combine header requiring supplemental cooling. The second 16 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 airflow could also be used for the systems independent of the combine 10 in combination with the supplemental power sources of the work vehicle. Synchronizing the reversing of both air movers systems 60, 60A is preferable because if each system reversed independent of the other one air mover system when reversed would dislodge debris that 5 would be drawn in by the other air mover system. [0921 Staged air movers reduce power consumption to those times when only necessary. The method includes turning on one or more of the air movers 60A as the heat rejection load is required. The method may also include the step of comparing cooler output temperatures of the hydraulic oil cooler to oil reservoir temperatures and 10 implement an air mover reversing operation to clear a supplemental cooling box screen 70A or clear the inner confines of the supple mental cooling box 80A from debris accumulation. The supplemental air mover 60A may be positioned at the left rear engine deck of the combine 10. [0931 Temperatures are measured for the hydraulic oil reservoir of the combine 10 15 and at the output of the supplementary cooler 80A. Staging of the air movers 60A is controlled by absolute cooler outlet temperatures. For example if three air movers 60A are installed for cooling in a linear setup, a three stage implementation may be used where stage one would be the center air mover, stage two would be the two outside air movers, and stage three would be all air movers operational. The stages would increase 20 as the outlet temperature increase. [0941 Reversing of the air movers 60A is required to remove debris from the supplemental cooler. There may be several reversing criteria such as manual reverse, timed reverse, temperature reverse, synchronized reverse, and shutdown reverse. When reversing occurs, all presently operating air movers are stopped of forward motion and all 25 air movers are reversed after a small delay. If possible, the air movers are started sequentially to minimize the startup currents associated with electric motors. [0951 Manual reverse may be initiated by the operator. Timed reverse is based on a fixed period of time. Temperature reverse is when the supplementary cooler 80A does not cool the oil to within a fixed delta temperature when compared to the hydraulic oil 30 reservoir. Synchronized reverse is when reversing occurs at the same time as the primary 17 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 cooler 80. Shutdown reverse occurs after the optional system has ceased operating and the cooler has reduced the outlet temperature to within a fixed delta temperature of the reservoir. [0961 One or more embodiments of the present invention include a method for 5 determining when a cooling system 50 is restricted with debris by measuring the performance of heat exchangers individually. The method uses temperature sensors to measure the temperature at the inlet and at the outlet of the airflow on both sides a particular heat exchanger. An initial or baseline temperature difference is determined when the heat exchanger is substantially unrestricted.. Preferably, the air mover is first 10 reversed to allow the initial temperature difference to be determined immediately thereafter or at some later point in time. This initial temperature difference is representative of the heat exchangers performance when airflow through the heat exchanger is maximized for a given air mover speed or CFM of airflow. As airflow through the heat exchanger is restricted by debris, the difference in temperature between 15 the inlet airflow and the outlet airflow will diminish. As time passes, debris buildup causes the temperature difference to drop. Once the temperature difference reaches a predetermined value less than the initial temperature difference a reverse cycle is signaled. [0971 A method for removing debris based on the performance of an individual heat 20 exchanger includes the step of providing airflow to cool the heat exchanger. The method includes the steps of determining a temperature of the airflow at an inlet to the heat exchanger and determining a temperature of the airflow at an outlet of the heat exchanger. Then, the method may include determining a temperature difference between the inlet and outlet temperatures of the heat exchanger. Preferably this temperature 25 difference is determined after a period of time after an initializing reverse but while the heat exchanger is performing optimally. After determining that the temperature difference is decreasing over time; the method includes reversing direction of the airflow to remove debris from the heat exchanger. [0981 The method may also include the step of performing an initializing reverse of 30 the airflow prior to determining the temperature difference representative of when the 18 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 airflow through the heat exchanger is maximized. The method may also include the step of waiting to reverse the airflow until the temperature difference reaches a predetermined value less than the temperature difference that had been determined when the airflow through the heat exchanger had been maximized. Preferably the temperatures and the 5 temperatures are determined based on a specific CFM of airflow or when an air mover is operating at a specific speed. [099] The method for removing debris based on the performance of an individual heat exchanger may comprise the steps of providing airflow to cool the heat exchanger, determining a first temperature difference between an inlet and an outlet of the heat 10 exchanger when airflow though the heat exchanger is substantially unrestricted, determining a subsequent temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet of the heat exchanger, determining the subsequent temperature difference is less than the first temperature difference by a predetermined amount; and in response to determining the subsequent temperature difference is less tian the first temperature difference by the 15 predetermined amount, reversing direction of the airflow to remove debris from the heat exchanger. 101001 The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial 20 results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims. 19

Claims (16)

  1. 2. The method of Claim I wherein said airflow across said heat exchangers is single pass airflow. 15
  2. 3. The method of Claim I wherein receiving temperature input comprises: determining a temperature of said airflow at an inlet to each of said plurality of heat exchangers and determining a temperature of said airflow at an outlet of each of said plurality of heat exchangers; 20 determining a temperature difference between said inlet and outlet temperatures of said at least one heat exchanger; determining if said temperature difference is increasing over time; and
  3. 4. The method of Claim 3 further comprising reversing direction of said 25 airflow to remove debris from said plurality of heat exchangers. 20 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843
  4. 5. The method of Claim 3 further comprising the step of performing an initializing reverse of said airflow prior to determining said temperature difference representative of when said airflow through said at least one heat exchanger is maximized. 5
  5. 6. The method of Claim 5 comprising the step of waiting to reverse said airflow until said temperature difference reaches a predetermined value less than said temperature difference determined when said airflow through said at least one heat exchanger had been maximized. 10
  6. 7. The method of Claim 6 further comprising the step of delaying reversing of the fan for a period of time between consecutive occurrences of reversing the fan.
  7. 8. The method of Claim I further comprising the step of reversing the direction 15 of the fan in response to charge air temperature rise exceeding a predetermined amount of temperature rise.
  8. 9. The method of Claim I further comprising the steps of shutting down a work vehicle and in response to said shutting down step reversing the direction of the fan. 20
  9. 10. The method of Claim 9 wherein said shutting down step comprises determining that an engine of said work vehicle has reduced its RPMs below a predetermined RPM for a period of time. 25 11. A controller for an air mover of a work vehicle, said controller operable for: receiving temperature input from each of a plurality of heat exchangers; 21 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843 determining airflow requirements for each of said plurality of heat exchangers; determining which of said heat exchangers requires the most airflow; and activating the air mover to provide airflow across each of said heat 5 exchangers based upon said heat exchanger requiring the most airflow.
  10. 12. The controller of Claim I1 wherein said air mover generates single pass airflow across each of said heat exchangers. 10 13. The controller of Claim 11 wherein said air mover is a fan and an output of said controller controls fan speed.
  11. 14. The controller of Claim I I wherein each said heat exchanger operates within a temperature range and said air mover is activated prior to one or more of said 1 5 temperature inputs from said heat exchangers exceeding said temperature ranges.
  12. 15. The controller of Claiml 4 wherein said airflow from said air mover is generated in response to said heat exchanger operating furthest outside its temperature range. 20
  13. 16. The controller of Claim 14 wherein said airflow from said air mover is generated in response to one of said heat exchangers operating outside its temperature range. 25 17. The controller of Claim 16 wherein said air mover is activated until said one of said heat exchangers operates within its corresponding temperature range. 22 WO 2012/135825 PCT/US2012/031843
  14. 18. The controller of Claim 11 wherein said temperature inputs comprise one or more absolute temperatures.
  15. 19. The controller of Claim 11 wherein said temperature inputs comprise one or 5 more temperature differences.
  16. 20. The controller of Claim I I wherein said temperature inputs comprise one or more absolute temperatures and one or more temperature differences. 10 23
AU2012236119A 2011-04-01 2012-04-02 Controller for work vehicle cooling package Ceased AU2012236119B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (17)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201161471050P 2011-04-01 2011-04-01
US201161471040P 2011-04-01 2011-04-01
US201161471063P 2011-04-01 2011-04-01
US201161471075P 2011-04-01 2011-04-01
US61/471,050 2011-04-01
US61/471,075 2011-04-01
US61/471,063 2011-04-01
US61/471,040 2011-04-01
US13/437,123 US8967239B2 (en) 2011-04-01 2012-04-02 Controller for work vehicle cooling package
US13/437,149 2012-04-02
US13/437,097 US20120247728A1 (en) 2011-04-01 2012-04-02 Control method for primary and supplemental cooling systems for a work vehicle
US13/437,149 US9133756B2 (en) 2011-04-01 2012-04-02 Method for determining when cooling system is restricted
US13/437,253 US8997906B2 (en) 2011-04-01 2012-04-02 Air mover reversing for work vehicle cooling package
PCT/US2012/031843 WO2012135825A1 (en) 2011-04-01 2012-04-02 Controller for work vehicle cooling package
US13/437,097 2012-04-02
US13/437,123 2012-04-02
US13/437,253 2012-04-02

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GB201300450D0 (en) * 2013-01-10 2013-02-27 Agco Int Gmbh Control of cooling fan on current
US9586473B2 (en) * 2013-07-15 2017-03-07 Deere & Company Vehicle with selectively reversible cooling fan
IT201800001755A1 (en) * 2018-01-24 2019-07-24 Cnh Ind Italia Spa AIR CONDITIONING BOX FOR A WORK VEHICLE
US11555291B2 (en) 2020-04-06 2023-01-17 Deere & Company Self-propelled work vehicle and method implementing perception inputs for cooling fan control operations

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US6076488A (en) * 1997-03-17 2000-06-20 Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd. Cooling device for a construction machine
US5944603A (en) 1997-07-18 1999-08-31 Hay & Forage Industries Rotating radiator screen for crop harvester
US6463891B2 (en) * 1999-12-17 2002-10-15 Caterpillar Inc. Twin fan control system and method
JP4439287B2 (en) * 2004-02-19 2010-03-24 株式会社小松製作所 Construction machine cooling system
SE527674C2 (en) * 2004-10-27 2006-05-09 Atlas Copco Rock Drills Ab Drilling unit and method for controlling a fan in the same
DE102004059701B4 (en) * 2004-12-10 2010-05-06 Still Gmbh Truck with an air-cooled cooling device
FR2882536B1 (en) * 2005-02-25 2007-08-24 Koyo Hpi Soc Par Actions Simpl METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE INVERSION OF THE ROTATION DIRECTION OF A HYDRAULIC ENGINE AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD
DE102007058534B4 (en) * 2007-12-06 2016-01-21 Deere & Company Cooling arrangement with hydraulically driven fans
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WO2012135825A1 (en) 2012-10-04
BR112013025293A2 (en) 2017-11-14

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