Abstract: A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a power source, at least one wheel, a gearbox. The gearbox includes a housing, gearing disposed in the housing, and an insulator disposed between the gearing and the housing. The gearing is configured to couple the power source to the at least one wheel. The insulator is configured to reduce thermal energy losses of a fluid that lubricates the gearing.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system is provided for a motor vehicle. That system includes a vacuum enclosure having a refrigerant, a first section and a second section. The system further includes a radiator, a core and a phase change material vessel downstream from the core. A conduit and valve system operate the air-conditioning system in two modes of operation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a phase change material (PCM) integrated radiator. In one example, a method may include adjusting a radiator control valve into a first position to flow coolant only through a first zone of a radiator containing phase change material (PCM) and not through a second zone of the radiator not containing phase change material. The method may further include adjusting the radiator control valve into a second position to flow coolant only through the second zone of the radiator and not the first zone.

Abstract: A vehicle includes axle housing, a differential and a ring gear, a scraper port, and a reservoir. The housing has a cover forming a heat exchanger having a coolant side and a lubricant side. The differential and ring gear are configured to pump a lubricating fluid. The scraper port is disposed at a bottom of the heat exchanger adjacent to the ring gear and is configured to direct the lubricating fluid through the lubricant side of the heat exchanger. The reservoir is disposed at a top of the heat exchanger and is configured to receive and store the lubricating fluid from the lubricant side of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A vehicle includes axle housing, a differential and a ring gear, a scraper port, and a reservoir. The housing has a cover forming a heat exchanger having a coolant side and a lubricant side. The differential and ring gear are configured to pump a lubricating fluid. The scraper port is disposed at a bottom of the heat exchanger adjacent to the ring gear and is configured to direct the lubricating fluid through the lubricant side of the heat exchanger. The reservoir is disposed at a top of the heat exchanger and is configured to receive and store the lubricating fluid from the lubricant side of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes an exhaust gas heat recovery system are described. The system may reduce engine warm-up time and increase an amount of time an engine of a hybrid vehicle is deactivated while the hybrid vehicle is powered by a motor. In one example, a phase change material selectively stores and releases exhaust gas energy from and engine to improve vehicle operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes an exhaust gas heat recovery system are described. The system may reduce engine warm-up time and increase an amount of time an engine of a hybrid vehicle is deactivated while the hybrid vehicle is powered by a motor. In one example, a phase change material selectively stores and releases exhaust gas energy from and engine to improve vehicle operation.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system which may be included in a motor vehicle may include a single pair of tube-and-plate heat exchangers arranged within a common vacuum enclosure, the heat exchangers selectively coupled with a heat source, a radiator, and an air-conditioning core. During an adsorbing/evaporating mode, coolant may circulate between a first heat exchanger and the radiator and vapor may evaporate from the surface of non-adsorbent-coated plates of the second heat exchanger and be adsorbed at adsorbent-coated plates of the first heat exchanger while coolant circulates between the second heat exchanger and the core. During a desorbing/condensing mode, coolant may circulate between a heat source and the first heat exchanger to effect desorption of vapor from the adsorbent in the first heat exchanger, while melting PCM in the core exchanges heat with air blown through the core to provide cooling.

Abstract: A vehicle climate control system includes a thermal-adsorption heat pump driven by engine exhaust heat, the heat pump including two adsorbers asynchronously switching between adsorbing and desorbing modes, each adsorber coupled with a corresponding antifreeze tank via a plurality of refrigerant-containing wick chambers. Cold heat transfer fluid (HTF) flows through the adsorber during the adsorbing mode which causes evaporation of refrigerant from the wick chambers, thereby cooling antifreeze, whereas hot HTF flows through the adsorber during the desorbing mode which causes condensation of refrigerant at the wick chambers, thereby heating antifreeze. In this way, the thermal-adsorption heat pump may condition cabin air independent of engine coolant and without exerting a load on the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle climate control system operable in a winter mode and a summer mode includes an engine-exhaust-driven hot heat transfer fluid (HTF) circuit coupled with a heater core during the winter mode to provide passenger cabin heating, and thermal energy stored in a standalone hot phase change material (PCM) battery in the hot HTF circuit may provide surge heating at or prior to engine start. The hot HTF circuit and a cold HTF circuit including an HTF cooler drive two adsorbers in the summer mode, thereby providing passenger cabin cooling in conjunction with a refrigerant circuit which includes a condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, and standalone cold PCM battery. Thermal energy stored in the standalone cold PCM battery may provide surge cooling at or prior to engine start.

Abstract: A vehicle climate control system includes a thermal-adsorption heat pump driven by engine exhaust heat, the heat pump including two adsorbers asynchronously switching between adsorbing and desorbing modes, each adsorber coupled with a corresponding antifreeze tank via a plurality of refrigerant-containing wick chambers. Cold heat transfer fluid (HTF) flows through the adsorber during the adsorbing mode which causes evaporation of refrigerant from the wick chambers, thereby cooling antifreeze, whereas hot HTF flows through the adsorber during the desorbing mode which causes condensation of refrigerant at the wick chambers, thereby heating antifreeze. In this way, the thermal-adsorption heat pump may condition cabin air independent of engine coolant and without exerting a load on the engine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes an exhaust gas heat recovery system are described. The system may reduce engine warm-up time and increase an amount of time an engine of a hybrid vehicle is deactivated while the hybrid vehicle is powered by a motor. In one example, a phase change material selectively stores and releases exhaust gas energy from and engine to improve vehicle operation.

Abstract: An engine lubrication system is provided. The engine lubrication system includes an oil pan housing a lubricant, an oil pump having a pick-up tube including an inlet submerged in the lubricant, and a heat pipe assembly including a fluidly sealed heat pipe coupled to the oil pan adjacent to the inlet of the pick-up tube.

Abstract: An exhaust system for an engine is disclosed herein. The exhaust system includes a catalytic converter, a heat collector downstream from the catalytic converter, and a heat transfer system receiving waste exhaust heat via a thermosyphon evaporator for storage and/or use in a cabin heating system. In this way, waste heat is utilized to provide better cabin heating, particularly at engine cold start.

Abstract: An exhaust system for an engine is disclosed herein. The exhaust system includes a catalytic converter, an exhaust manifold upstream from the catalytic converter, and a heat pipe in thermal contact with the exhaust manifold and atmosphere. The system further includes a phase changing material that passively absorbs heat after catalytic light-off.

Abstract: A method for recovering exhaust heat for an engine is disclosed herein. The method includes during an engine operation, reducing a volume of a circulating heat transfer fluid and discharging a heat storage device to heat an engine component. The method further includes distributing the circulating heat transfer fluid to one or more heat exchangers each in thermal contact with one or more engine systems.

Abstract: A heat transfer method for an engine is disclosed herein utilizing a heat battery configured to store waste exhaust heat in phase-chase materials for use during a subsequent engine start. By reusing waste exhaust heat in this manner, exhaust emissions may be reduced, and delays in heating the vehicle cabin and other vehicle systems after engine start may be reduced.

Abstract: A vehicle climate control system operable in a winter mode and a summer mode includes an engine-exhaust-driven hot heat transfer fluid (HTF) circuit coupled with a heater core during the winter mode to provide passenger cabin heating, and thermal energy stored in a standalone hot phase change material (PCM) battery in the hot HTF circuit may provide surge heating at or prior to engine start. The hot HTF circuit and a cold HTF circuit including an HTF cooler drive two adsorbers in the summer mode, thereby providing passenger cabin cooling in conjunction with a refrigerant circuit which includes a condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, and standalone cold PCM battery. Thermal energy stored in the standalone cold PCM battery may provide surge cooling at or prior to engine start.

Abstract: A vehicle climate control system includes a thermal-adsorption heat pump driven by engine exhaust heat, the heat pump including two adsorbers asynchronously switching between adsorbing and desorbing modes, each adsorber coupled with a corresponding antifreeze tank via a plurality of refrigerant-containing wick chambers. Cold heat transfer fluid (HTF) flows through the adsorber during the adsorbing mode which causes evaporation of refrigerant from the wick chambers, thereby cooling antifreeze, whereas hot HTF flows through the adsorber during the desorbing mode which causes condensation of refrigerant at the wick chambers, thereby heating antifreeze. In this way, the thermal-adsorption heat pump may condition cabin air independent of engine coolant and without exerting a load on the engine.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system is provided herein. The fuel delivery system may include a fuel tank storing a liquid fuel, a return fuel line including an outlet opening into the fuel tank, and a heat pipe assembly including a first end positioned in a surrounding atmosphere, and a second end positioned at and coupled to the return fuel line.