Patents by Inventor David J. Liller

David J. Liller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9247678
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a power electronics device and a coolant circuit thermally coupled to the power electronics device. The coolant circuit includes a fluidic pump and a fluid/air heat exchanger, an air pump configured to transfer air across the fluid/air heat exchanger, and a shutter device configured to control airflow across the fluid/air heat exchanger. A controller controls the fluidic pump to control coolant flow through the fluid/air heat exchanger to reject heat from the power electronics device to the coolant and correspondingly controls the air pump and the shutter device to control airflow across the fluid/air heat exchanger to reject heat from the coolant to achieve a preferred heat rejection from the power electronics device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher D S Ballnik, David J. Liller, Xiaowen Luo
  • Publication number: 20150022973
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a power electronics device and a coolant circuit thermally coupled to the power electronics device. The coolant circuit includes a fluidic pump and a fluid/air heat exchanger, an air pump configured to transfer air across the fluid/air heat exchanger, and a shutter device configured to control airflow across the fluid/air heat exchanger. A controller controls the fluidic pump to control coolant flow through the fluid/air heat exchanger to reject heat from the power electronics device to the coolant and correspondingly controls the air pump and the shutter device to control airflow across the fluid/air heat exchanger to reject heat from the coolant to achieve a preferred heat rejection from the power electronics device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER D S BALLNIK, DAVID J. LILLER, XIAOWEN LUO
  • Publication number: 20120097465
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling operation of an adjustable shutter configured to be operated between and inclusive of fully-closed and fully-opened positions for cooling a powertrain in a vehicle having a grille opening. The method includes monitoring operation of a fan capable of being driven at a selectable speed for cooling the powertrain. The method also includes maintaining the fully-closed position of the shutter when the speed of the fan is below a predetermined speed. The method additionally includes selecting a non fully-closed position of the shutter before the predetermined speed of the fan is selected. Furthermore, the method includes selecting the predetermined speed of the fan after the non fully-closed position of the shutter has been selected. A system for controlling operation of such a fan and a vehicle are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael G. Leffert, Darren L. Bohne, David J. Liller