Controller for work vehicle cooling package

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . 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;   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 exchangers based upon said heat exchanger requiring the most airflow.   
     
     
         2 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein said air mover generates single pass airflow across each of said heat exchangers. 
     
     
         3 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein said air mover is a fan and an output of said controller controls fan speed. 
     
     
         4 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein each said heat exchanger operates within a temperature range and said air mover is activated prior to one or more of said temperature inputs from said heat exchangers exceeding said temperature ranges. 
     
     
         5 . The controller of  claim 4  wherein said airflow from said air mover is generated in response to said heat exchanger operating furthest outside its temperature range. 
     
     
         6 . The controller of  claim 4  wherein said airflow from said air mover is generated in response to one of said heat exchangers operating outside its temperature range. 
     
     
         7 . The controller of  claim 6  wherein said air mover is activated until said one of said heat exchangers operates within its corresponding temperature range. 
     
     
         8 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein said temperature inputs comprise one or more absolute temperatures. 
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein said temperature inputs comprise one or more temperature differences. 
     
     
         10 . The controller of  claim 1  wherein said temperature inputs comprise one or more absolute temperatures and one or more temperature differences. 
     
     
         11 . The controller of  claim 1  further operable for operating a fan without the use of a fan speed sensor. 
     
     
         12 . A method for managing a cooling system for a work vehicle with a fan, said method comprising:
 determining a required fan speed for each of a plurality of heat exchanger to maintain each of said heat exchangers within a respective temperature range;   determining a fan set point speed based on the highest said required fan speed; and   operating the fan at said fan set point speed to generate airflow across each of said heat exchangers.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of determining a suggested fan speed based on the temperature of ambient intake air. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of operating the fan without the use of a fan speed sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of controlling fan speed as a function of time.