A rotational drive unit having an input rotatable about a first axis of rotation and configured to be driven by a power source in a single rotational direction. The rotational drive unit including a first shaft in operable communication with the input and configured to rotate in a first direction, a second shaft in operable communication with the input and configured to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction, an output rotatable about a second axis of rotation, and a clutch assembly in operable communication with the first shaft, the second shaft, and the output. Where the clutch assembly is operable in a first configuration in which force is transmitted between the first shaft and the output, and a second configuration in which force is transmitted between the second shaft and the output.

When an engine rotation speed is lower than a reference rotation speed, first failure determination in which failure of a flow rate control valve is determined based on a pressure change of cooling water detected by a pressure sensor is executed, when a valve closing instruction to switch the flow rate control valve from an opened state to a closed state is output from a valve control device; and when an engine rotation speed is equal to or higher than the reference rotation speed, second failure determination in which failure of the flow rate control valve is determined based on a pressure change of cooling water detected by a pressure sensor is executed, when a valve opening instruction to switch the flow rate control valve from a closed state to an opened state is output from the valve control device.

A method of diagnosing a mechanical coolant pump in an automobile equipped with cooling system having a mechanical coolant pump and an electric coolant pump comprises detecting when an engine of the automobile has been started, dis-engaging the electric coolant pump, engaging the mechanical coolant pump, and verifying the mechanical coolant pump is operating properly.

The invention relates to a control device (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, for controlling at least one flap configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position by an actuator, said device (1) comprising at least one member (8) made of shape memory material configured to be supplied with electric power so as to deform between a first state and a second state in order to disconnect said at least one flap from the actuator if the actuator fails.

According to the invention, said device (1) has a track holder (10) that is mounted in said device (1) in a rotationally retained manner and has at least two conductive tracks (101) for supplying said at least one member (8) made of shape memory material with electric power, and said at least one member (8) made of shape memory material has at least two contactor elements (87) configured to each be arranged in electrical contact with an associated conductive track (101) at least when said at least one member (8) made of shape memory material is in the first state.

The invention also relates to a corresponding frame.

Methods are provided for optimizing usage of water harvested or generated on-board a vehicle. An amount of water selected for injection or spraying purposes, as well as an order of water injection responsive to various vehicle operating conditions, is varied based on the amount of water to be delivered, as well as a current water level relative to a predicted future water level. The method allows water usage benefits to be maximized particularly when water availability is limited.

A cooling device includes an inner passage, an outer passage, an engine-driven pump, an electromagnetic control valve, and a driving circuit that regulates current flowing through the electromagnetic control valve by activating and deactivating a switching element. A cooling controller for the cooling device includes a processing circuit configured to execute an operation process for operating, when the engine-driven pump is driven, the switching element by setting a duty cycle of an activation time to a switching cycle, which is a reciprocal of a switching frequency of the switching element, to be a larger value when a temperature of the internal combustion engine is low than when the temperature is high and a cycle varying process for setting a longer switching cycle when the temperature of the internal combustion engine is less than a preset temperature than when the temperature is greater than or equal to the preset temperature.

A method of diagnosing a mechanical coolant pump in an automobile equipped with cooling system having a mechanical coolant pump and an electric coolant pump comprises detecting when an engine of the automobile has been started, dis-engaging the electric coolant pump, engaging the mechanical coolant pump, and verifying the mechanical coolant pump is operating properly.

Pump for recirculating a cooling fluid for a vehicle with combustion engine, comprising: a pump body (11) designed to be fixed to a base (11a) of the vehicle engine; an impeller (1) inserted inside a chamber containing the cooling fluid and mounted on a driven shaft (2), at least one first electric motor (50) for driving the shaft (2) of the impeller (1), whereinsaid electric motor (50) comprises a fixed stator (51) mounted on the body (11) of the pump on the outside thereof and a rotor (52) radially outer lying with respect to the stator and connected to the shaft (2) of the impeller (1) of the pump on the outside of the cooling fluid chamber and via transmission means (54, 54a; 354, 354a; 54a, 66), and wherein the electric motor is designed to operate the impeller independently of the combustion engine.

Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle coolant circuit. In one example, the coolant circuit includes a heater core isolation valve (HCIV) where a status of the HCIV may be diagnosed by intrusively activating a positive temperature coefficient heater in a cooling loop in which the HCIV is arranged. A response of coolant temperature to heater activation may be used to determine a position of the HCIV.

A heat exchange module has a restriction protrusion that is provided to protrude between a blade of a cooling fan and a core portion of a heat exchanger and that restricts the blade from approaching the core portion more than a predetermined position. In a state where one side of an outline of a rectangular shaped fan shroud is disposed so as to face an installation surface, the restriction protrusion is provided in a position where the amount of water reaching the cooling fan through the heat exchanger becomes greater than the amount of water at position just below a rotation axis of the cooling fan in a case where at least a portion of the fan shroud is submerged in water.