Patent ID: 6328000
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: F01P

Abstract:
A method of controlling an internal combustion engine, the engine including a variable speed fan driven by a torque multiplying fan driver, the variable speed fan being driven in response to an applied fan request signal having a value between a predetermined maximum fan request value and a predetermined minimum fan request value, the engine being operable over an engine speed range between an idle speed and a full speed, the method comprising:determining at least one preliminary initial fan request signal, each request signal having a value based on at least one engine condition and between the minimum fan request value and the maximum fan request value;determining the applied fan request signal as the preliminary fan request signal having the greatest value;determining a reference fan speed based on the applied fan request signal;monitoring the actual fan speed;determining an error signal by comparing the reference fan speed to the actual fan speed;driving the fan with the torque multiplying fan driver based on the error signal to control the fan.