Temperature And Engine Operation Responsive Patents (Class 123/41.05)
  • Patent number: 11619160
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling heat of an engine compartment when stopped are provided. The apparatus and method of controlling heat of an engine compartment improve fuel efficiency by managing heat of the engine compartment when a vehicle is stopped after driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Su Ha, Tae Kwang Eom, Dong Jun Shin, Jeong Ho Byeon
  • Patent number: 11376945
    Abstract: An air inlet device is provided for an electric vehicle, which includes a cladding portion for guiding an air flow around the electric vehicle. The cladding portion has a visible first inlet opening for letting in a first fraction of the air flow and a concealed second inlet opening for letting in a second fraction of the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Sebastian Harter
  • Patent number: 11280264
    Abstract: An acoustic insulation system for an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle includes: an acoustic insulation cover configured to cover the internal combustion engine with a gap interposed between the acoustic insulation cover and the internal combustion engine. The acoustic insulation cover includes a cover front portion that faces forward of the vehicle. The cover front portion includes: a plurality of inlets for introducing the outside air into the interior of the acoustic insulation cover; and a plurality of inlet flaps configured to respectively open and close the plurality of inlets. The acoustic insulation system further includes a control device configured to control the opening and closing of the plurality of inlet flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Wataru Kanayama
  • Patent number: 11220951
    Abstract: A method of controlling a cooling system includes, by an integrated controller: controller area network (CAN) checking whether CAN communication is abnormal after a vehicle is turned on and control of a cooling fan and an active air flap is initiated; single-communication checking whether communication with a cooling fan controller and an active air flap (AAF) controller is abnormal; performing a first fail-safe operation of communicating with the cooling fan controller and the AAF controller; and controlling the cooling fan and the active air flap based on signals of a first temperature sensor of the cooling fan controller and a second temperature sensor of the AAF controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mun Soon Kwon, Kwang Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 11209457
    Abstract: An abnormality is detected in a sensor system mounted on a vehicle and including first and second external sensors for acquiring external information and an internal sensor for acquiring internal information. An error, occurring in an internal motion physical quantity based on the internal information, is estimated based on the external information, and the error is corrected. A first external motion physical quantity based on the external information acquired by the first external sensor, a second external motion physical quantity based on the external information acquired by the second external sensor, and the internal motion physical quantity in which the error is corrected by the correction block are compared to determine an abnormality in the sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuichi Minamiguchi, Kenji Miyake, Kenta Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11164404
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an active grille shutter (AGS) system. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of an AGS system of a vehicle based on an infrared image information obtained from a camera coupled to the vehicle and adjusting one or more engine operating parameters responsive to the indicating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11105254
    Abstract: A cooling system of an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of components in the form of heat sources, coolant pumps, actuator devices, and temperature sensors that are fluidically connected to one another via coolant lines, wherein a plurality of cooling circuits, each including at least one of the various components, is formed. In addition, a control device is provided that is in signal-conducting connection with at least one of the temperature sensors, with at least one of the coolant pumps, and with at least one of the actuator devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Holger Loof, Jana Hartmann, Bodo Hoffmann, Marco Kiel
  • Patent number: 11072378
    Abstract: An air deflector assembly for a vehicle includes a vertically translatable air deflector and linear actuators actuated in series by a driver to vertically translate the air deflector. The air deflector includes one or more rails configured for sliding translation within one or more cooperating vehicle-mounted tracks. A controller is operatively connected to the driver, and may be configured to vertically translate the air deflector to a predetermined position according to a vehicle rate of travel. The driver selectively causes the linear actuators to raise or lower the air deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Peter Klop, Kyle Ness
  • Patent number: 11046172
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a carrier for an automobile with integrated active ducting. The carrier includes at least one aperture, and at least one louver rotatably mounted in the aperture. Also attached to the carrier is an actuator, and the actuator is connected to the louver. The actuator is operable for moving the louver between an open position and a closed position such that when the louver is in the open position, air flow passes through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC
    Inventors: Michael W. Crane, Thomas Pilette, Norman Guschewski
  • Patent number: 10947991
    Abstract: A shroud for a cooling fan that is being positionable within the chassis of an off-highway machine. The shroud includes an inlet, an outlet, an elliptical lip section positioned adjacent to the outlet, and a plurality of apertures extending through the elliptical lip section. Each aperture of the plurality of apertures is positioned greater than 10 degrees away from an adjacent aperture of the plurality of apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Zakir Faruquee, Erik Holzhuter, Mike P. Faust, Luke Longhenry, Joel Khristy
  • Patent number: 10941694
    Abstract: An air guiding device is provided for regulating air flow through at least one air inlet opening in a front cowling of a vehicle. The at least one air inlet opening is arranged laterally in the front cowling and, in a closed state, is covered completely to the outside by the air guiding device. The air guiding device has a retaining frame and slats arranged movably in the retaining frame. The slats are mounted movably in the retaining frame and the angle of incidence of the slats can be changed by a servo motor that is connected to an adjusting mechanism, in such a manner that an air flow approaching the at least one air inlet opening is at least partially guided around the vehicle. A method also is provided for regulating an air flow in proximity to the front cowling of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas Ritz
  • Patent number: 10906387
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus of a vehicle driving system of the invention connects an engine water circulation passage to a hybrid system water circulation passage and flows cooling water in the engine water circulation passage and the hybrid system water circulation passage to cool a first hybrid system component by the cooling water cooled by an engine radiator and cool a second hybrid system component by the cooling water cooled by a hybrid system radiator when an engine cooling process is not requested, a first hybrid system cooling process is requested, a second hybrid system cooling process is requested, and a connection condition is satisfied. The connection condition is satisfied when the engine cooling process is not requested, and the cooling water flowing into the hybrid system water circulation passage from the engine water circulation passage, can cool the first hybrid system component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Hirai, Yuji Miyoshi, Tomohiro Shinagawa, Masatoshi Yano, Hiroyuki Sugihara, Ryo Michikawauchi, Kunihiko Hayashi, Yoichi Ogura, Hidefumi Aikawa, Yu Ofune
  • Patent number: 10865696
    Abstract: The cooling device according to the present invention includes an electric water pump for circulating cooling water through an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, and controls the discharge flow rate of the electric water pump as follows. Until the cooling water temperature. TW reaches a warm-up completion determination temperature, the cooling device increases the discharge flow rate along with an increase of the cooling water temperature TW. After the cooling water temperature TW reaches the warm-up completion determination temperature, the cooling device controls the discharge flow rate so as to bring the combustion chamber wall temperature TCYL toward a target temperature. Thereby, the cooling device can warm up the internal combustion engine more efficiently, and improve the combustion performance of the internal combustion engine after the completion of warm-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Murai, Shigeyuki Sakaguchi, Yuichi Toyama
  • Patent number: 10777831
    Abstract: A system for heating or cooling a fuel cell circuit of a vehicle includes a fuel cell stack, a temperature sensor to detect a fluid temperature of the fluid, a pump to pump the fluid through the fuel cell circuit, and an ECU. The ECU is designed to determine a temperature control signal based on the fluid temperature of the fluid. The ECU is also designed to calculate a desired mass flow rate of the fluid through the fuel cell stack based on the temperature control signal. The ECU is also designed to calculate a desired pump speed of the pump based on the desired mass flow rate of the fluid through the fuel cell stack. The ECU is also designed to control the pump to pump the fluid at the desired pump speed to increase or decrease the fluid temperature of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Folick, Jared Farnsworth, Shigeki Hasegawa, Kentaro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10746210
    Abstract: An assembly of a first element with a second element includes an elongate thin lip belonging to the second element being inserted in an elongate narrow slot formed by three sides of an elongate flat plate fixed in parallel to a flat wall of the first element. At least one element forming a guide is secured to a long side of the elongate flat plate forming an edge of the slot. The element forming a guide includes a sliding surface extending in the continuation of the elongate flat plate and diverging from the flat wall away from the first element. The at least one element forming a guide cooperates with the lip so that the insertion of the lip into the slot begins with the sliding of the lip on the sliding surface and then continues as the lip advances, with progressive insertion of the lip into the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Pascal David, Joseph Bui
  • Patent number: 10704561
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cooling system. The system comprises a circumferential edge forming an aperture and an axial fan arranged at least partly within the aperture. The axial fan comprises a hub being adapted for rotation about an axis and carrying a plurality of blades. Each blade extends in a radial direction between a root end and a tip end, where the root end is joined with the hub. The system further comprises brushes extending from the tip end towards the circumferential edge, where the brushes at a first end are attached to at least one of the blades at a point of attachment at a distance from the tip end. The brushes overlap the blade from the attachment point to the tip end along the length of the brushes at a pressure side or suction side of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: MULTI-WING INTERNATIONAL A/S
    Inventor: Antoni Hendrik Stannov
  • Patent number: 10677141
    Abstract: A heat radiation amount from the cooling water in the radiator is adjusted so that the temperature of the cooling water is less than a prescribed temperature that is a temperature higher than the threshold value if a load exerted on the internal combustion engine is not less than a predetermined load, while the heat radiation amount from the cooling water in the radiator is adjusted so that the heat radiation amount from the cooling water in the radiator is increased if the load exerted on the internal combustion engine is less than the predetermined load as compared with if the load exerted on the internal combustion engine is not less than the predetermined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryo Michikawauchi
  • Patent number: 10647175
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus are provided for optimizing control of the rotational speed of a fan in a vehicle so as to reduce the aerodynamic drag of a vehicle in a given operating parameter, and accordingly, to improve fuel efficiency of operation of the vehicle. Certain exemplary embodiments include determining an optimized speed of rotation of a cooling fan of the vehicle for reducing overall fuel demand in given operating conditions, and controlling rotation speed of the fan at the optimized speed in order to minimize fueling demand of a prime mover of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Rohit Saha, Long K. Hwang
  • Patent number: 10563564
    Abstract: A system for optimizing power consumption of a vehicle includes a cooling fan, an active grille shutter (AGS) system, and a plurality of heat exchangers. At least one controller is provided including a processor including computer-executable instructions for selecting a pairing of a cooling fan speed and AGS system position to provide a required airflow to a dominant one of the plurality of heat exchangers, or to an entire vehicle component system, at a minimum total combined cooling fan and AGS system power consumption. Methods for optimizing vehicle power consumption are described utilizing the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Samuel Schwartz, Quazi Ehtesham Hussain
  • Patent number: 10471807
    Abstract: A heat pump circuit has the following components when seen in the flow direction: a compressor; a condenser or gas cooler; a first coolant/air heat exchanger as a sub-cooler, via which the coolant dispenses heat; a first expansion element; a first coolant/air heat exchanger, via which the coolant absorbs heat from the ambient air; a second expansion element; and a third coolant/air heat exchanger, via which the coolant absorbs heat from the ambient air. The arrangement of the heat exchanger is in front of the drive engine relative to the travel direction. The danger of the ambient heat exchanger freezing is minimized. With this arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Herbolzheimer, Robert Mager
  • Patent number: 10450938
    Abstract: A cooling circuit for internal combustion engines includes an internal combustion engine, a pressure-feeding unit for feeding coolant, which cools the internal combustion engine under pressure, a valve unit having a plurality of heat exchangers connected in parallel thereto, an exhaust heat recovery system for recovering heat from exhaust air of the internal combustion engine by the coolant, a first circulation circuit including the pressure-feeding unit, the valve unit and the exhaust heat recovery system, and a second circulation circuit including the pressure-feeding unit and the exhaust heat recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nagai
  • Patent number: 10434868
    Abstract: A grille shutter control device includes a control section and a diagnostic section. The control section is connected to a communication line in a vehicle and controls opening and closing of a grille shutter that introduces air to a cooling target of the vehicle. In a case in which a communications fault is detected, the control section controls to open the grille shutter. The diagnostic section is connected to the communication line and detects a degree of opening of the grille shutter by communicating with the control section. A temperature detection section detects a temperature of the cooling target. In a case in which the communications fault is detected, the diagnostic section diagnoses a malfunction of the grille shutter if a temperature detected by the temperature detection section is higher than a pre-specified threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Nishioka, Yoichi Onishi, Shuichi Morie, Masafumi Nakamine
  • Patent number: 10344914
    Abstract: A mount assembly for a mountable device such as a laser unit, such as a hybrid point and line laser that projects a vertical plumb dot(s) up and down, combined with horizontal and plumb projected lines. The mount assembly comprising: a base, a X-axis linear actuator, an upright support, a Y-axis linear actuator, an extension arm, a Z-axis linear actuator, a support plate assembly, and a mount for mounting on the mountable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventor: William Cardozo
  • Patent number: 10222845
    Abstract: In some examples, a computing system can include an exterior enclosure for the computing system, an electrical component within the enclosure, an interior cooling line within the enclosure to circulate coolant past the electrical component to remove heat generated by the electrical component, and an inlet coolant line port through the exterior enclosure to receive an inlet coolant line. The inlet coolant line port can, for example, include a sensor to detect tampering with an interior of the inlet coolant line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
    Inventors: John Norton, David A. Moore, Steve Weingart
  • Patent number: 10221750
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cross fan engine room blower for a vehicle, the cross fan engine room blower including: a plurality of cross fans that are horizontally arranged in an air flow space, that have an impeller-shaped rotating blade formed along a full length of the cross fans, and that rotate to draw outside air into the engine room. Such a cross fan engine room blower may maximize an air flow rate in the engine room and reduce the possibility of foreign materials being introduced between the cross fans and a fan shroud, thereby reducing the possibility of a motor stalling or otherwise performing undesirably. Such a cross fan engine room blower may also improve an air flow quality by minimizing a dead zone of the air flow space to thereby reduce power consumption of a motor, thereby improving fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Tae-Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 10119454
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling engine coolant including generating one of a plurality of zone flow requests for engine coolant, generating a first search zone, determining a plurality of key points for the first search zone, determining a unique combination of commands for each key point of the plurality of key points in the first search zone, determining a flowrate associated with each command for each key point of the plurality of key points, calculating a total cost for each key point using an absolute normalized error for each flowrate of each command for each key point, determining a first winning key point associated with a lowest total cost, and controlling a plurality of actuators based on the commands associated with the first winning key point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Gabriele Giraudo
  • Patent number: 10112137
    Abstract: A strainer assembly for a marine engine has a housing with an internal cavity. The housing has a threaded inlet end, an outlet and a flush port. A removable cover assembly covers the threaded inlet end and may be removed to allow a strainer to be removed from inside the housing and cleaned. The flush port may be closed with a plug and opened to allow a threaded end of a garden hose to be attached to the flush port for cleaning the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Indmar Products Company Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Kimball, Rachel M. Mashburn, Jason C. Stimmel, Jason Vetzel
  • Patent number: 10086878
    Abstract: A hood guiding system for a work vehicle may include first and second walls positioned within an engine compartment of the work vehicle. The system may also include a hood configured to extend in a crosswise direction of the work vehicle between a first side and a second side so as to least partially cover the engine compartment. Additionally, the system may include a first guide component coupled to the hood at or adjacent to its first side and a second guide component coupled to the hood at or adjacent to its second side. When the hood is moved from an opened position to a closed position, the first and second guide components may be configured to contact outer surfaces of the first and second walls, respectively, to guide the hood towards the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Douglas L. Waco, William H. Adamson, Mark D. Klassen, William L. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 10047854
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle speed control system operable to cause a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, the system being operable automatically to perform a direction change operation wherein the system causes a transmission of the vehicle to adopt a configuration corresponding to travel in an opposite direction to the instant configuration when the vehicle speed does not exceed a prescribed transmission direction change speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: James Kelly, Navid Shamshiri, Edward Rycroft
  • Patent number: 9975420
    Abstract: An adjustment device for adjusting an air inlet of a motor compartment of a motor vehicle between at least a first position in which the air inlet is substantially open and a second position in which the air inlet is substantially closed, comprising a drive unit for adjusting the air inlet between at least the first position and the second position, wherein the drive unit comprises a compound drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MCi (Mirror Controls International) Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Stephen Alexander George Gustavo Boom, Erik Alfred Simeon de Vries, Stefan Frits Brouwer
  • Patent number: 9951675
    Abstract: A structure of an intercooler cover integrated into a fan shroud includes an intercooler rear-side portion mounted to a rear side of the intercooler. A cooling module rear-side portion is mounted to a rear side of a cooling module. A ventilator communicates with one side of the intercooler rear-side portion and one side of the cooling module rear-side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Dang-Hee Park, Yong-Beom Park, Bong-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9909486
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a generator, an electric power storage device, a switch, a shutter, and a electronic control unit. The switch is configured to be operated by a user. The shutter is arranged in a path of air of intake air to the engine compartment from an outside of the vehicle. The electronic control unit configured to charge the electric power storage device by using the electric power generated by the generator when the switch is operated, and close the shutter when the electric power storage device is charged based on the operation of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Murata
  • Patent number: 9902256
    Abstract: A vehicular shutter device includes: a frame portion; a fin main body that is pivotably supported inside the frame portion to be pivotable around a pivot shaft portion; and a driving mechanism that pivots the fin main body between a fully open state and a fully closed state. The pivot shaft portion is provided to one of the frame portion and the fin main body, a shaft receiving portion is provided to an other of the frame portion and the fin main body to pivotably support the pivot shaft portion, one of the pivot shaft portion and the shaft receiving portion is provided at a position offset from the fin main body having a plate shape, and the pivot shaft portion and the shaft receiving portion are located at both ends and an intermediate part, in the horizontal direction of the fin main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Yamamoto, Shinya Watanabe, Kazuya Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9862507
    Abstract: Thermal control louvers for CubeSats or small spacecraft may include a plurality of springs attached to a back panel of the thermal control louvers. The thermal control louvers may also include a front panel, which includes at least two end panels interlocked with one or more middle panels. The front panel may secure the springs, shafts, and flaps to the back panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Allison L. Evans
  • Patent number: 9828932
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a start-stop module, a pre-ignition risk module, and a cooling control module. The start-stop module stops and restarts an engine independent from an input received from an ignition system. The pre-ignition risk module monitors a risk of pre-ignition when the engine is restarted and generates a signal based on the risk of pre-ignition. The cooling control module controls a cooling system to circulate coolant through the engine when the engine is stopped in response to the risk of pre-ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, James R. Yurgil
  • Patent number: 9827847
    Abstract: A shutter system includes a housing, and a plurality of shutters coupled to the housing. Each of the shutters is rotatable about a respective rotation axis, between a first position and a second position. At least one actuator is attached to the housing, and is coupled to at least one of the shutters for moving that shutter between its respective first position and second position. Each of the shutters define a first angle relative to a reference axis when disposed in their respective first position, and a second angle relative to the reference axis when disposed in their respective second position. The first angle of each of the shutters is substantially equal to the first angle of all other of the shutters. The second angle of at least one of the shutters is different than the second angle of at least another of the shutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Z. Hanna, Chang Yul Lee, Bernd Stier
  • Patent number: 9827848
    Abstract: An assembly for improving aerodynamics of a motor vehicle including a movable member forming an active aerodynamic dam positioned at a front end of the motor vehicle and attached to one end of at least one lever, wherein the at least one lever is connected to a motor that powers movement of the movable member, wherein the motor is operatively connected to at least one sensor configured to provide an input to the motor, the motor with a gear selector disposed within the motor that is configured to move a motor gear from a first gear position to a second gear position, resulting in the movable member being disposed in one of a retracted position, a transition position, and a lowered position, based on the received input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tushardeep Singh Sangha, Clarence Jackson
  • Patent number: 9819063
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a refrigerant system having an intermediary heat exchanger, an exterior heat exchanger, and an expansion device disposed therebetween. The vehicle also includes a coolant circuit having a pump configured to circulate coolant through the intermediary heat exchanger and an engine. A controller is programmed to, in response to air conditioning being requested and the coolant temperature exceeding a threshold temperature, open the expansion device and de-energize the pump to condense refrigerant in the exterior heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Noah Blatchley, Mark G. Smith, Angel Fernando Porras
  • Patent number: 9809086
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system & method for controlling a radiator flap for a vehicle, which are capable of effectively operating of a cooling fan and a radiator flap simultaneously consequently by opening & closing the radiator flap by a combination of a cooling fan control signal related to control of the cooling fan and a vehicle CAN signal related to vehicle state information, such as a vehicle speed. The system includes: an engine controller that is configured to generate a cooling fan control signal. In addition, an integrated controller is configured to detect an engine coolant temperature based on the cooling fan control signal, and detect one or more of vehicle speed information, on/off information of an air conditioner switch, and air conditioner refrigerant pressure information based on a vehicle CAN signal to open and close the radiator flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Shin Hae Kim
  • Patent number: 9797295
    Abstract: An engine cooling system in a vehicle comprises a first coolant circuit and a second coolant circuit connecting an engine to a radiator. A thermostat is arranged in the first coolant circuit and is arranged to be closed during engine warm-up, to prevent flow through the first coolant circuit. The cooling system further comprises a bypass circuit connecting the thermostat to the second coolant circuit and at least one parallel circuit. Each parallel circuit is connected to the second coolant circuit upstream of the bypass circuit, wherein a partial coolant flow is directed from the bypass circuit and upstream through the second coolant circuit into the at least one parallel circuit during engine warm-up. The disclosure further relates to a method for controlling such an engine cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Goran Almkvist, Jonas Bjorkholtz, Stefan Sundemo
  • Patent number: 9784174
    Abstract: A rail vehicle has a diesel engine, an engine radiator and a cooling circuit that connects the diesel engine to the engine radiator. A cooling liquid is circulated in the cooling circuit, a cooling liquid temperature of the circulated cooling liquid and an outer air temperature of the atmospheric outer air are detected. The outer air temperature is compared with the outer air limit temperature, the cooling power of the engine radiator is set in such a way that the cooling liquid temperature corresponds to a normal operating temperature if the outer air temperature is less than the outer air limit temperature. The cooling power of the engine radiator is set such that the cooling liquid temperature corresponds to a lower operating temperature below the normal operating temperature if the outer air temperature is greater than the outer air limit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Stefan Hintermeir
  • Patent number: 9770974
    Abstract: A shutter mechanism is adapted to be provided to a grill opening in a vehicle body. Opening and closing operations of the shutter mechanism are controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU determines whether a vehicle is in a traveling end state. If the vehicle is in the traveling end state, the ECU determines whether or not the shutter mechanism is in an open state. If the ECU determines that the open state of the shutter mechanism cannot be confirmed, the ECU controls the shutter mechanism to open the shutter mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Asano, Eri Yamamoto, Hitoshi Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 9738329
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving aerodynamic characteristics of a vehicle is provided. In particular, the apparatus includes grill shutter and a bumper lip that are operated simultaneously using one actuator and power transfer mechanism based on a vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Young Yoon, Hyun Gyung Kim, Keon Soo Jin, Ki Hong Lee, Dong Eun Cha
  • Patent number: 9533565
    Abstract: An active grille shutter assembly includes a frame adapted to be connected to a portion of a vehicle and forming at least one opening therein and a plurality of shutters disposed in and extending across the at least one opening and being pivotally connected to the frame. The active grille shutter assembly also includes at least one linkage connected to the shutters and an actuator supported by the frame and being connected to one of the shutters to move the at least one linkage to open and close the shutters as a unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Montaplast of North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Elliott, Sascha Klausen, Andrew Kowalski
  • Patent number: 9523306
    Abstract: An engine cooling fan control strategy includes measuring an engine coolant temperature using a sensor connected to the engine, measuring an engine oil temperature using a sensor connected to the engine, selecting a first value from a maximum engine coolant temperature threshold calibration curve stored in the control system based on the engine oil temperature, selecting a second value from a minimum engine coolant temperature threshold calibration curve stored in the control system based on the engine oil temperature, and placing the engine cooling fan in driven relationship with the engine when the engine coolant temperature exceeds the first value, and placing the engine cooling fan in non-driven relationship with the engine when the engine coolant temperature drops below the second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC.
    Inventor: Steven Joseph Dickerson
  • Patent number: 9481226
    Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioning system includes: a vehicle interior air-conditioning apparatus which includes a device cooling circuit of a heat generating device mounted in a vehicle, and a refrigeration cycle circuit; and an intermediate heat exchanger for heat exchange between a device cooling medium of the device cooling circuit and an air-conditioning cooling medium of the refrigeration cycle circuit. A vehicle control apparatus is configured to determine a temperature of the cooling medium, and select a shorter control cycle timing of the vehicular air-conditioning system when the temperature of the cooling medium is greater than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Osaka, Hiroaki Matsushima, Sachio Sekiya, Riichi Uchida, Yuki Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9447719
    Abstract: A radiator shutter provided for the frontal arrangement at a motor vehicle shows two groups of lamellae, which are pivotally supported at opposite sides of a drive unit, each parallel in reference to a shutter frame. For a joint pivoting of the lamellae an entrainer tappet provided here at a distance from its bearing axis in the direction perpendicular in reference to the longitudinal direction of the lamellae, engages a common coupling element. For a simple production of the engagement of the bearing tappets of the lamellae in the shutter frame and its entrainer tappets in the coupling element they are latched in bearing recesses open perpendicular in reference to the bearing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: KUNSTSTOFF SCHWANDEN AG
    Inventors: Albert Kiener, Josef Kuesperth
  • Patent number: 9394858
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a charge air cooler fan or charge air cooler coolant pump and an engine cooling fan and/or vehicle grille shutters based on a target manifold charge air temperature. In one example, the grille shutter position and/or engine cooling fan speed may be adjusted based on a difference between a target manifold charge air temperature and a temperature of the charge air cooler cooling medium. Further, the charge air cooler fan speed or charge air cooler coolant pump speed may be adjusted based on a difference between a charge air cooler inlet charge air temperature and the target manifold charge air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam J. Richards, John Eric Rollinger
  • Patent number: 9376010
    Abstract: A system for controlling an air flow rate into a vehicle engine room may include a fan shroud in which a cooling fan including a fan motor and a fan blade may be mounted, a rotary shutter which may be provided in the fan shroud while corresponding to an operation area of the fan blade, and in which an area through which air passes may be varied in a circumferential direction, a plurality of flaps which may be provided in the fan shroud, and opens and closes a part of a portion where the rotary shutter may be not mounted, and a control unit which controls an open area of the rotary shutter, operations of opening and closing the plurality of flaps, and an operation of the cooling fan in accordance with an operating state of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jongwoo Nam, Hanshin Chung, Hyun Cho, Joonho Lee, Dongguk Lee
  • 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