Cooling system, device and method for a vehicle

1. A cooling system, comprising:

a cooling loop containing a cooling fluid configured for circulation through an engine of a vehicle;

an auxiliary alternator configured to be driven by the engine for powering auxiliary loads of the vehicle;

a canned pump positioned within the cooling loop and being configured to circulate the cooling fluid through the cooling loop, wherein the canned pump comprises an integrated induction motor for driving the pump; and

an electronic control system electrically connected to the auxiliary alternator and configured to electrically power the induction motor of the canned pump independently of a mechanical output of the engine;

wherein the electronic control system is configured to electrically power the induction motor of the canned pump only with electricity from the auxiliary alternator in a first mode of operation, and to electrically power the induction motor of the canned pump at least partially with electricity from a battery in a second mode of operation.

2. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein:

the electronic control system is configured to electrically power the canned pump at a variable voltage and a variable frequency to provide the cooling fluid at a rated flow, temperature, and pressure to the engine.

3. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein:

the electronic control system is configured to deactivate the canned pump when cooling is not required, and the electronic control system is configured to deactivate the canned pump when a dry operating condition is sensed.

4. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein:

the electronic control system, in the first and second modes of operation, is configured to control operation of the canned pump in dependence upon a detected pressure of the cooling fluid within the cooling loop; and

the electronic control system is configured to control the canned pump to an on state if the detected pressure is above a predetermined threshold pressure and to deactivate the canned pump if the detected pressure is below the threshold pressure.

5. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein:

the electronic control system, in the first and second modes of operation, is configured to control operation of the canned pump in dependence upon a level of the cooling fluid within the cooling loop; and

the electronic control system is configured to control the canned pump to an on state if the cooling fluid level is above a predetermined threshold level and to deactivate the canned pump if the cooling fluid level is below the threshold level.

6. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein:

the electronic control system, in the first mode of operation, is configured to control operation of the canned pump to provide a flow rate of the cooling fluid corresponding to a throttle position of the vehicle; and

the electronic control system, in the second mode of operation, is configured to control operation of the canned pump to provide a flow rate of the cooling fluid corresponding to a full throttle position of the vehicle when the vehicle is operating with the throttle position at less than the full throttle position.

7. The cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a temperature sensor positioned along the cooling loop, the temperature sensor being configured to detect a temperature of the cooling fluid within the cooling loop; and

a pressure sensor positioned along the cooling loop, the pressure sensor being configured to detect a pressure of the cooling fluid within the cooling loop;

wherein the electronic control system, in the second mode of operation, is configured to control operation of the canned pump based at least in part on the temperature and the pressure that are detected.

8. A cooling system, comprising:

a cooling loop containing a cooling fluid configured for circulation through an engine of a vehicle;

an auxiliary alternator configured to be driven by the engine for powering auxiliary loads of the vehicle;

a canned pump positioned within the cooling loop and being configured to circulate the cooling fluid through the cooling loop, wherein the canned pump comprises an integrated induction motor for driving the pump;

an electronic control system electrically connected to the auxiliary alternator and configured to electrically power the induction motor of the canned pump independently of a mechanical output of the engine, wherein the electronic control system is configured to electrically power the induction motor of the canned pump only with electricity from the auxiliary alternator in a first mode of operation, and to electrically power the induction motor of the canned pump at least partially with electricity from a battery in a second mode of operation;

a temperature sensor positioned along the cooling loop, the temperature sensor being configured to detect a temperature of the cooling fluid within the cooling loop; and

a pressure sensor positioned along the cooling loop, the pressure sensor being configured to detect a pressure of the cooling fluid within the cooling loop;

wherein the electronic control system, in the second mode of operation, is configured to control operation of the canned pump based at least in part on the temperature and the pressure that are detected;

and wherein the electronic control system is configured to control the canned pump to provide a fixed, higher flow rate relative to a throttle position of the vehicle for a predetermined interval of time if the temperature of the cooling fluid is above a predetermined maximum temperature, the pressure of the cooling fluid is above a predetermined lower threshold pressure, and the vehicle is operating with the throttle position between idle and full power.

9. The cooling system of claim 8 , wherein:

the electronic control system is configured to electrically power the canned pump at a variable voltage and a variable frequency to provide the cooling fluid at a rated flow, temperature, and pressure to the engine.

10. The cooling system of claim 8 , wherein:

the electronic control system is configured to deactivate the canned pump when cooling is not required, and the electronic control system is configured to deactivate the canned pump when a dry operating condition is sensed.

11. The cooling system of claim 8 , wherein:

the electronic control system, in the first and second modes of operation, is configured to control operation of the canned pump in dependence upon a detected pressure of the cooling fluid within the cooling loop; and

the electronic control system is configured to control the canned pump to an on state if the detected pressure is above a predetermined threshold pressure and to deactivate the canned pump if the detected pressure is below the threshold pressure.

12. The cooling system of claim 8 , wherein:

the electronic control system, in the first and second modes of operation, is configured to control operation of the canned pump in dependence upon a level of the cooling fluid within the cooling loop; and

the electronic control system is configured to control the canned pump to an on state if the cooling fluid level is above a predetermined threshold level and to deactivate the canned pump if the cooling fluid level is below the threshold level.

13. The cooling system of claim 8 , wherein:

the electronic control system, in the first mode of operation, is configured to control operation of the canned pump to provide a flow rate of the cooling fluid corresponding to a throttle position of the vehicle; and

the electronic control system, in the second mode of operation, is configured to control operation of the canned pump to provide a flow rate of the cooling fluid corresponding to a full throttle position of the vehicle when the vehicle is operating with the throttle position at less than the full throttle position.

14. The cooling system of claim 8 , wherein:

the predetermined interval of time is approximately 15 minutes.