Vehicle Contained Common Power Supply Patents (Class 62/243)
  • Patent number: 11945607
    Abstract: The cabin conditioning system can include a cabin air loop, a refrigerant loop, and a set of thermal rejection components. The system can optionally include a phase-change fluid loop. However, the cabin conditioning system can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The cabin conditioning system functions to condition a cabin interior (and/or an air volume therein) of a vehicle, such as an atmospheric and/or space-flight capsule. Additionally or alternatively, the system can function to reject heat from the vehicle interior and/or vehicle power systems (e.g., avionics components thereof). Additionally or alternatively, the system can function to maintain the humidity of air within the cabin interior. However, the cabin conditioning system can include any other suitable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Space Perspective Inc.
    Inventors: John Straus, Taber MacCallum, Hector Santiago, Tasneem Rashid, John Zaniel Maccagnano
  • Patent number: 11898786
    Abstract: An engineless transport refrigeration unit includes a direct current compressor motor, condenser fan motor, evaporator fan motor, an energy storage device, and a generator. The energy storage device is configured to provide direct current electric power to the compressor motor the condenser fan motor, and the evaporator fan motor. The energy storage device is configured to provide power within a range of two hundred volts to six hundred volts. The compressor motor is configured to operate at a direct current voltage range of two hundred to six hundred volts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A Chopko, Yu H. Chen, Greg Deldicque
  • Patent number: 11874035
    Abstract: A Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system that is configured to receive a refrigerant from a condenser at a fixed expansion device and a variable expansion device. The system is further configured to output a first portion of the refrigerant to a first downstream HVAC component at a fixed flow rate using the fixed expansion device. The system is further configured to sense a temperature of an evaporator using a sensing bulb and to apply a first force to a pin of the variable expansion device based on the sensed temperature. The system is further configured to apply a second force to a valve of the variable expansion device via the force applied to the pin and to output a second portion of the refrigerant to a second downstream HVAC component at a variable flow rate based on the second force using the valve of the variable expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: THERMA-STOR LLC
    Inventors: Scott Eric Sloan, Daniel James Dettmers, Alan David Stahl, Walt Bernhard Waetjen, Clifford William Calvert
  • Patent number: 11654744
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a vehicle adjusts a temperature of a battery module by using one chiller that performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and a coolant. The thermal management system includes: a cooling apparatus for circulating a coolant in a coolant line to cool an electrical component and an oil cooler provided in the coolant line; a battery cooling apparatus for circulating the coolant to the battery module; a chiller to cause heat exchange between the coolant and a refrigerant to control a temperature of the coolant; a heater that heats an interior of the vehicle using the coolant; and a first branch line connected to the coolant line between the oil cooler and a radiator through a first valve. In particular, a condenser included in the air conditioner is connected to the coolant line so as to pass the coolant circulating through the cooling apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jae Yeon Kim, Man Hee Park, Jeawan Kim, Dong Seok Oh, Yeonho Kim
  • Patent number: 11608776
    Abstract: In a tractor, a radiator is arranged on one front-rear side relative to an engine. A cooling fan is provided between the radiator and an engine. A fan drive belt is wound around a fan support shaft and around an output shaft of the engine extending below the fan support shaft. A compressor is located above the output shaft and is supported to the engine at a position offset to one lateral side of the engine relative to the fan support shaft. A compressor drive belt is wound around the output shaft and a compressor drive shaft. The compressor drive belt is located on a side where the compressor is located relative to the fan support shaft, when viewed in a front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Nagai, Sachiko Tsujimori, Tomohisa Yamamoto, Taisuke Hashimoto, Kunihiro Yoneguchi
  • Patent number: 11602972
    Abstract: A multi-functional control, a control system, and a method of controlling a system in a vehicle. The multi-functional control includes a base plate, a post extending through a slot in the base plate, and at least two stacked knobs, rotatably and tilt-ably attached to the post. The stacked knobs include a display knob and a base knob. The multi-functional control further includes a plurality of sensors. The sensors include a first touch sensor integrated in the display knob, a second touch sensor integrated in the base knob, a first rotary sensor integrated in the display knob, a second rotary sensor integrated in the base knob, a rocker switch connected to the stacked knobs, and a push-button switch connected to the stacked knobs. The multi-functional control also includes a sliding sensor. The post and stacked knobs are mounted to the sliding sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ki Hyun Ahn, Joseph F. Szczerba, Akilesh Rajavenkatanarayanan
  • Patent number: 11584258
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a shared path; a first path connected to the shared path and having a first pump and a first heat exchanger exchanging heat with an inverter; a second path connected to the shared path in parallel with the first path and having a second pump and a second heat exchanger exchanging heat with a battery. The first and second paths are configured to be able to switch a flow state between a first state where the heat media flow through the shared path, and a second state where one of the heat media does not flow through the shared path. The control device controls the outputs of the pumps so that when switching the flow state between the first and second states, flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the first path becomes temporarily larger than the target flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidefumi Aikawa
  • Patent number: 11572003
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerating or warming apparatus. The refrigerating or warming apparatus include a cavity of which at least a portion of a wall is provided as a vacuum adiabatic body, a machine room disposed at a side outside the cavity, a compressor accommodated in the machine room to compress a refrigerator, a first heat exchange module accommodated in the machine room to allow the refrigerant to be heat-exchanged, a second heat exchange module accommodated in the cavity to allow the refrigerant to be heat-exchanged, and a machine room cover which covers the machine room to separate a passage and in which an internal air flow and an external air flow have directions opposite to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Wonyeong Jung, Daewoong Kim
  • Patent number: 11473791
    Abstract: Disclosed is a humidity control apparatus which ensures a sufficient dehumidification amount without increasing an area of a gas-liquid contact portion in a dehumidification unit, regardless of the type of liquid absorbent used. The humidity control apparatus includes an absorbent circuit connecting a liquid-based dehumidification module, a recovery module, and a liquid-cooling heat exchanger which cools, with a refrigerant, a liquid absorbent before being used in the liquid-based dehumidification module. A refrigerant-cooling-based dehumidification module is positioned upstream of the liquid-based dehumidification module in a flow direction of target air, and cools and dehumidifies, with the refrigerant, the target air before being dehumidified in the module. The liquid-cooling heat exchanger and the refrigerant-cooling-based dehumidification module are connected to a single refrigerant circuit together with a liquid-heating heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD
    Inventors: Naotoshi Fujita, Eisaku Okubo, Nobuki Matsui, Yoshinori Narikawa
  • Patent number: 11260724
    Abstract: A vehicular air conditioning system includes: a heat pump side refrigerant circulation line including a compressor, a water-cooled heat exchanger, a heat pump mode expansion valve, an air-cooled heat exchanger, an air conditioner mode expansion valve and an evaporator, the heat pump side refrigerant circulation line configured to generate cold energy in the evaporator in an air conditioner mode and to generate heat in the water-cooled heat exchanger in a heat pump mode, the air-cooled heat exchanger configured to allow a refrigerant to exchange heat with an ambient air in the air conditioner mode and the heat pump mode; and a heat exchange air switching part configured to switch the type of the air heat-exchanged in the air-cooled heat exchanger depending on the air conditioner mode or the heat pump mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Seong Hun Kim, Hae Jun Lee, Sung Je Lee
  • Patent number: 11221240
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing, an air inlet tube through the housing and including a drain, and a sensor in the path of air flowing through the air inlet tube. The sensor assembly may further include a heater thermally connected to the drain. A controller may be communicatively coupled to the heater and programmed to activate the heater upon detecting an ambient temperature below a temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Pizzimenti, Rashaun Phinisee, Venkatesh Krishnan, Manan Sevak
  • Patent number: 11198345
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, there is provided an air conditioning system for a vehicle. The vehicle may be a locomotive. The air conditioning system includes a combination module for mounting in or on a vehicle. The combination module includes a condenser coil and a compressor assembly. The compressor assembly includes an electric motor. The combination module may be mounted to cover a hole in an outer wall or floor of the vehicle, such that air enters the hole ventilates the condenser coil. The system also includes at least one air handler for mounting in a cab of the vehicle, remote from combination module. Each air handler comprises a respective evaporator coil. A combination module including a compressor assembly is also provided. A method for installing the combination module is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: INPS ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Christer Gotmalm
  • Patent number: 11192487
    Abstract: A vehicle refrigerator is disclosed. The vehicle refrigerator may include a body, a refrigerating system and a driving system. The refrigerating system and the driving system are both arranged in the body. The body is removable in a trunk of a vehicle. The driving system is used for driving the refrigerating system to operate normally, and may include an igniter and an air source. The igniter is connected with the air source. The refrigerating system is used for cooling an inner cavity of the body and is provided with a working medium capable of changing gas and liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: WUYI University
    Inventors: Min Wu, Caimao Luo
  • Patent number: 11001123
    Abstract: A thermal management unit for providing cooling or heating to regions of a vehicle. The thermal management unit comprises a housing (11) containing a compressor (13) and a first evaporator (12) of a refrigerant system; a pump (36), a heater (39) as first radiator of a heating system; and a blower (17). The blower is configured to force air over the first evaporator and first radiator to cool or heat the air. The housing comprises an airflow outlet (46) through which the cooled or heated air can exit the housing, and an airflow inlet (47) though which air can enter the housing to be recirculated by the blower. The housing comprises a first refrigerant outlet port (16) through which refrigerant compressed by the compressor can pass out of the housing, and a second refrigerant inlet port (31) through which refrigerant can return into the housing for the supply to the first evaporator (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: ARRIVAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Mazuir Shah, Ben Jardine
  • Patent number: 11002228
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling fuel in an engine. In one example, a fuel temperature is reduced by transferring heat from the fuel to a cooling fluid. The heat exchange may occur in an unpressurized region of a fuel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Pohlkamp, Eric Matthew Kurtz
  • Patent number: 10850853
    Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a first inlet providing a medium from a source, a compressing device in communication with the first inlet, and at least one heat exchanger. The compressing device includes a compressor that receives the medium, a first turbine downstream of the compressor, and a second turbine that receives the medium. An outlet of the at least one heat exchanger is in fluid communication with an inlet of the compressor and an inlet of the first turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Louis J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 10800272
    Abstract: A ground pad module for charging a power-driven vehicle is designed to be arranged on an underground accessible to the vehicle. The ground pad module includes a fan unit arranged within the ground pad module and configured to cool at least one electrical and/or electronic assembly arranged within the ground pad module by an air flow that can be supplied to the ground pad module from an exterior area. An inlet channel of the air flow is designed such that if the ground pad module is arranged as intended, water penetrating through an inlet opening of the inlet channel must overcome at least one step in a component of a flow direction of the water before it reaches the fan unit and/or the assembly with the component facing a direction opposite to the force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Timo Baumer, Bjoern Bergfelder
  • Patent number: 10746117
    Abstract: A vehicle control device for a vehicle including an engine that is a power source of the vehicle, and a heating unit that heats a coolant of the engine includes a water temperature determination part that determines whether or not a temperature of the coolant is lower than a predetermined value, and a heating control part that performs an operation limitation to stop an output of the heating unit or to limit the output of the heating unit to a predetermined upper limit value or lower, when the water temperature determination part determines that the temperature of the coolant is lower than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Okamoto, Takayuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10675942
    Abstract: A condenser unit for a roof-mounted air conditioning system may include a condenser having a plurality of condensation tubes. The longitudinal ends of the plurality of condensation tubes may be connected to a first and second collection tube of the condenser. A carrier may secure the condenser unit to a vehicle roof having a first support region assigned to the first collection tube to support the first collection tube and a second support region assigned to the second collection tube to support the second collection tube. A fan frame may define a flow duct leading from the condenser to a condenser blower. The fan frame may be secured to the carrier having a first retaining region assigned to the first collection tube and a second retaining region assigned to the second collection tube. The condenser may be held on the carrier via the fan frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Hipp-Kalthoff, Hans-Henning Knorr, Klaus Voigt
  • Patent number: 10611212
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes: a compressor that compresses a refrigerant; a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and a heat transporting coolant; a condenser that condenses the refrigerant having a high-temperature and a high-pressure by dissipating heat thereof; an evaporator that performs heat exchange between air sent to a vehicle interior and the refrigerant having a low-temperature and a low-pressure; a refrigerant passage that flows the refrigerant therein; and an on-off valve capable of shutting off the refrigerant passage. A part of the refrigerant passage from the condenser to the compressor in the air-cooling refrigerant circuit is branched into a first passage passing through the evaporator and a second passage passing through the heat exchanger being in parallel to the evaporator. The on-off valve is disposed upstream of the heat exchanger in the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kentaro Kuroda, Yoshitoshi Noda
  • Patent number: 10589597
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a refrigeration cycle unit, a heater core, a cool air bypass passage, an air volume ratio regulator, and an auxiliary heat exchanger. The heater core is disposed in a heating passage located downstream of an evaporator with respect to an airflow. The auxiliary heat exchanger is provided in the refrigeration cycle unit. The evaporator includes a cold energy storage. The cold energy storage stores cold energy when the compressor is in operation, and dissipate cold energy while the compressor stops. The auxiliary heat exchanger is located downstream of the evaporator and upstream of the heater core with respect to the airflow. The auxiliary heat exchanger changes enthalpy of refrigerant by heat exchange between the refrigerant and air having been cooled by the evaporator and to be heated by the heater core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamada, Shin Nishida, Kota Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10300831
    Abstract: Hybrid power systems include an internal combustion engine and a motor/generator connectable with the engine. A reefer unit is configured to receive power from the motor/generator via a reefer power system that includes an export power inverter and an energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Dziuba, Nazar Al-Khayat, Mahesh Madurai Kumar, Gary L. Parker, Subbarao Varigonda, Jaroslaw Leonarski, Vivek A. Sujan, Bradford K. Palmer, William Brent Fields, John P. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 10086676
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a construction machine which can ensure the required durability of a supply line and a discharge line, and which can reduce manufacturing costs. The air conditioner has an exterior unit outside the cab and an interior unit on the floor of the cab, the interior unit including an expansion valve disposed at a position above an upper surface of a floor plate of a cab. The expansion valve is connected to an outer device of the air conditioner by a supply line and a discharge line extending along the bottom surface of the floor plate, and bent upward at a passage which is formed in the floor plate. The supply line and the discharge line are fixed by a latching means such as a p-clip disposed in proximity to the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar SARL
    Inventor: Ken Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 9994087
    Abstract: A vehicular heat management system has a compressor, a heat-medium heating heat exchanger, and a flow adjustment part. The compressor draws and discharges a refrigerant. The heat-medium heating heat exchanger causes a heat exchange between the refrigerant discharged from the compressor and a heat medium other than air and heats the heat medium. The flow adjustment part causes a flow of a cooling fluid cooling the refrigerant when the compressor is stopped. The vehicular heat management system further has a refrigeration cycle unit and a refrigerant-flow-path forming member. The refrigeration cycle unit includes devices configuring a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant-flow-path forming member (i) is disposed in a low-temperature area having an air temperature that is lower than an air temperature in an area in which the refrigeration cycle unit is disposed, and (ii) passes a refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiko Enomoto, Nobuharu Kakehashi, Yoshiki Katoh, Hiroshi Kishita, Masamichi Makihara
  • Patent number: 9802523
    Abstract: A golf cart beverage holder system having at least one right-side-beverage-holder and at least one left-side-beverage-holder for holding beverage containers and keeping drinks cold during a round of golf. The golf cart beverage holder system is adapted to fit inside existing cup holders on a golf cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Galbraith
  • Patent number: 9758014
    Abstract: A vehicle including a roof that separates an exterior and an interior of the vehicle, and an air conditioning system. The roof has an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an aperture extending through the roof between the exterior surface and the interior surface. The air conditioning system includes an exterior housing that is mounted to the exterior surface of the roof and includes a divider defining a first cavity, and a second cavity. The air conditioning system also includes a condenser, an evaporator, and an evaporator blower. The air conditioning system further includes an interior housing that is removably mounted to the interior surface of the roof and defines a mounted position and a removed position in which the evaporator and evaporator blower are accessible for servicing from the interior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Melbostad, Christopher J. Kroeker, Lawrence P. Hong, Martin Duffy
  • Patent number: 9598175
    Abstract: An Environmental Control System (ECS) is disclosed for providing conditioned air to a conditioned air space. The ECS includes one or more first modules, each with a turbofan engine or Auxiliary Power Un it (APU), a first heat exchanger, a first turbine, a first water collector, and a first auxiliary fan powered by the first turbine. The ECS also includes one or more second modules. Each second module includes a mixing manifold, a second heat exchanger, an optional second water collector, and a second auxiliary fan powered by a second turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Timothy D. DeValve
  • Patent number: 9482390
    Abstract: A supply system for liquid including a liquid tank and a liquid supply line forming a passage for the liquid from the tank to an outlet of the supply system. The supply line includes at least one part configured to form at least one gas pocket communicating with the passage to take up a change of volume of the liquid in event of freezing. Such a system can be used in a selective catalytic reduction system (SCR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: INERGY AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS RESEARCH
    Inventor: Pierric Besnard
  • Patent number: 9238396
    Abstract: Provided is an air-conditioning apparatus for vehicle including a main frame capable of being assembled without increasing the number of parts and the number of processes. An air-conditioning apparatus for vehicle includes a casing divided into an indoor chamber and an outdoor chamber by a partition plate, the casing including a cover placed on a top thereof, and a refrigeration cycle device placed across the indoor chamber and the outdoor chamber in the casing. Each of side plates, serving as side surfaces of the indoor chamber and the outdoor chamber, of the casing is extruded in one piece of aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taichi Uto, Nobuhiko Nakagawa, Hidetaka Adachi, Hisanobu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20150135742
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid cooling circuit for a storage battery with which a motor vehicle of the electric or hybrid type is equipped, comprising a main loop for the circulation of a heat transfer fluid, said main loop being connected to elements for cooling the storage battery, and a first bypass connecting the main loop to an air cooling radiator, and a second bypass connecting the main loop to a heat exchanger intended to be connected to an air conditioning system with which the motor vehicle is equipped, so as to cool the heat transfer fluid by means of the radiator and/or the heat exchanger of the air conditioning system. The main loop is connected to the first bypass by way of a first progressive three-way valve, and the main loop is connected to the second bypass by way of a second progressive three-way valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Christophe Rousseau, Bastien Jovet, Frederic Ladrech
  • Publication number: 20150129161
    Abstract: A heat medium discharge side of a first pump and a heat medium discharge side of a second pump are connected to a first switching valve in parallel. Heat medium inlet sides of the respective target devices for heat exchange included in a first target device group for heat exchange are connected to a first switching valve in parallel. The heat medium inlet side of the first pump and the heat medium inlet side of the second pump are connected to a second switching valve in parallel. The heat medium outlet sides of the respective target devices for heat exchange included in the first target device group for heat exchange are connected to the second switching valve in parallel. Furthermore, switching is performed between a state of circulation of the heat medium between the first pump and the target device, and a state of circulation of the heat medium between the second pump and the target device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michio Nishikawa, Nobuharu Kakehashi, Norihiko Enomoto
  • Patent number: 8997503
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system includes an HVAC unit that blows air whose temperature is adjusted by a refrigerant evaporator and a second refrigerant condenser. The system includes a heat pump cycle in which a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant circuit changeover section, a first refrigerant condenser, a first expansion valve, and the refrigerant evaporator are sequentially connected. The system includes a second expansion valve and a refrigerant heat exchanger connected in parallel with the first expansion valve and the refrigerant evaporator. The second refrigerant condenser is connected in parallel with the first refrigerant condenser. The system includes a coolant cycle in which a coolant circulating pump, a ventilation-exhaust-heat recovery unit, a motor/battery, an electric heater, and the refrigerant heat exchanger are sequentially connected, and the ventilation-exhaust-heat recovery unit, motor/battery, and electric heater can be selectively used as a heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatosi Morisita, Hideki Suetake, Toshihisa Kondo, Akira Katayama
  • Patent number: 8973386
    Abstract: An electric traction vehicle having: at least one pair of driving wheels; at least one reversible electric machine which can be mechanically connected to the driving wheels; an electronic power converter which pilots the electric machine; a storage system, which is aimed at storing electric energy, is connected to the electronic power converter and comprises at least one storage device; a passenger compartment; an air conditioning system of the passenger compartment which fulfills the function of regulating the temperature inside the passenger compartment; and a cooling system, which is completely independent and separate from the air conditioning system of the passenger compartment and uses a compression refrigeration cycle to cool at least one of the electric components, i.e. the electric machine, the electronic power converter and the storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Favaretto
  • Patent number: 8943846
    Abstract: Provided are apparatus, including electronic thermostats, for detecting temperatures and elapsed times and, in response to those temperatures and elapsed times, controlling the opening or closing of an electric circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Red Dot Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Vance Hartley, Peder Hamberg, Karl David Leingang
  • Patent number: 8935936
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchange device including at least two tubes (12) for circulating a heat transfer fluid arranged in at least two rows (R1, R2) offset two-by-two from one row to the other. A heat exchange fin (20) and a heat storage tank (22) made from a heat storage material extend transversely to the rows of the tubes (R1, R2) forming a group of tanks and tubes (24) in each instance, wherein a single heat storage tank (22) is in contact with one tube (12) of each row of tubes (R1, R2). The contact with the tubes (12) takes place alternately on two opposing walls (26, 28) of the heat storage tank (22), and the walls (26, 28) are also in contact with fins (20). The invention can be used for the air-conditioning evaporators of automobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Stefan Karl, Abdelmajid Taklanti, Laurent Labaste Mauhe
  • Publication number: 20140352341
    Abstract: A heat pump device includes an air conditioning control device configured to switch the heat pump device among a plurality of operation modes including an air-heating operation mode in which an indoor heat exchanger serves as a radiator and an outdoor heat exchanger serves as a heat absorber, and an air-cooling operation mode in which the indoor heat exchanger serves as a heat absorber and the outdoor heat exchanger serves as a radiator. The air conditioning control device switch a refrigerant pipe such that refrigerant is, in the air-cooling operation mode, supplied to part of the outdoor heat exchanger serving as a refrigerant inlet in the air-heating operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicants: Panasonic Corporation, JAPAN CLIMATE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi HAMAMOTO, Kohei FUKAWATASE, Yoshihiko OTAKE, Kou KOMORI, Subaru MATSUMOTO, Katsuyoshi WAKANO
  • Publication number: 20140331706
    Abstract: A transport refrigeration system includes a diesel engine equipped with a combustion air pressurization device, such as a turbo-charger or a supercharger. The diesel engine powers at least one component associated with the transport refrigeration system, such as a refrigeration compressor or an air-moving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Russell G. Lewis, Nader S. Awwad, Benjamin E. Ferguson, John T. Steele
  • Publication number: 20140326430
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an electric vehicle includes a controller that carries out a method of cooling a battery of the electric vehicle. The method includes: a) when charging the battery using an external electrical source but prior to the temperature of the battery reaching a selected temperature, cooling a motor of the electric vehicle by a selected amount by circulating fluid between the motor and a radiator of the electric vehicle, and b) after step a) cooling the battery of the electric vehicle by circulating fluid between the battery, the motor and the radiator while charging the battery using the external electrical source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Neil Carpenter, Guangning Gao, Ibrahim Al-Keilani
  • Patent number: 8875531
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel cell vehicle, particularly a fuel cell vehicle equipped with a moisture remover that removes moisture from an air conditioner evaporator. The fuel cell vehicle includes: a fuel cell stack as a power supplier; an electric heater operated by power from the fuel cell stack; a blower fan for providing air to the electric heater; an air channel configured to supply the air passing through the electric heater to an air conditioner evaporator; and a controller for controlling the operations of the electric heater and the blower fan, whereby moisture is removed from the air conditioner evaporator by supplying air heated by the electric heater to the air conditioner evaporator. The fuel cell vehicle effectively removes moisture from an air conditioner evaporator, solves the problem of a bad smell in the related art, and further removes the oxygen and the stack voltage which remain in the cathode, such that it is possible to avoid cathode oxygen depletion of the related art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jeong Kyu Park, Hyun Jun Kim, Jong Hun Park, Chang Hwan Ye
  • Patent number: 8875532
    Abstract: A device for regulating a temperature of a plurality of components of a vehicle is provided. The device has a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, which are connected to one another in order to form a closed refrigerant circuit. The device furthermore has a first multiway valve, a second multiway valve, a third multiway valve and a fourth multiway valve for connecting the first and the second heat exchanger to a first component and a second component of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Neumeister, Matthias Stripf, Manuel Wehowski
  • Patent number: 8863540
    Abstract: An HVAC system to be installed in a vehicle comprises a battery management controller. The battery management controller comprises at least one connection for electrically coupling a first power source with a first voltage; at least one connection for electrically coupling a second power source with a second voltage; and a first memory storage device configured to record data collected by the battery management controller. The battery management controller is configured to run a temperature control system and to supply power to the temperature control system from a combination of the first and second power sources with a combined voltage, and wherein the second power source is disconnected when the combined voltage drops below a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Crosspoint Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Allen Alston, Ethan Petersen
  • Publication number: 20140283533
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrical transport refrigeration, including generating a direct current (DC) voltage; storing the DC voltage in a high voltage DC storage; sensing a current requirement from an electrical load (e.g., a refrigeration unit), wherein the current requirement is proportional to a power requirement of the electrical load; transporting the DC voltage from the high voltage DC storage to an inverter, wherein the DC voltage is in an amount consistent with the power requirement; converting the DC voltage to an inverted AC voltage: determining a voltage in a voltage path; and triggering a switch to connect the electrical load to the voltage path it the voltage is the inverted AC voltage. And, the apparatus and method may include connecting a battery to an operating control unit of the refrigeration unit to enable a soft start of a compressor. In one example, the apparatus is a tractor-trailer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Zvi Kurtzman, Si Ryong Yu, Gary Tatum
  • Patent number: 8839639
    Abstract: Methods and devices that use an engine load condition of a vehicle, for example, the vehicle's engine intake manifold or plenum vacuum, to promote the efficiency of the engine. The methods and devices are operable to control the compressor of the vehicle's air-conditioning system, enabling the compressor to be shut off when the vehicle is under relatively high loads. The methods and devices operate by sensing a parameter indicative of an engine load condition of the vehicle, determining a difference between a reading of the parameter and an average based on multiple readings of the parameter, and then engaging and disengaging the compressor clutch depending on whether the reading of the parameter is above or below the average of the parameter. The compressor clutch is engaged if the engine operates under a high load for a duration that is dependent on the average of the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Paul Paulson
  • Publication number: 20140223950
    Abstract: A temperature control system for vehicles includes an evaporator constituting an air-conditioning system, a heater core, which is installed to be proximate to the evaporator, and heat-exchanges with the peripheral air while a coolant flows inside, a first coolant circulation line, which is connected to the heater core and allows the coolant heated by the engine to circulate between the heater core and the engine, a coolant storage, in which the coolant through the heater core is stored, and a second coolant circulation line, by which the heater core and the coolant storage are connected, and which allows the coolant to circulate between the heater core and the coolant storage, wherein the coolant cooled in the heater core by the heat-exchange between the evaporator and the heater core circulates along the second coolant circulation line to be stored in the coolant storage during the operation of the air-conditioning system, and the coolant stored in the coolant storage circulates along the second coolant circ
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventors: Bo Janeling, Michael Willix, Pekka Ollila
  • Publication number: 20140223933
    Abstract: A transport refrigeration system includes a transport refrigeration unit having a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant is circulated in heat exchange relationship with air drawn from a cargo box, a fuel-fired engine for powering the refrigeration unit and having an exhaust system through which exhaust gases generated by the engine are discharged and an engine coolant circuit, an engine exhaust gases to engine coolant heat exchanger, and an engine coolant circuit to refrigeration unit heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Steele, Benjamin E. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8745997
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for a start-stop vehicle employs a compressor with a variable displacement. A controller determines a normal Climate Thermal Load (CTL) value for controlling a variable stroke of the variable displacement compressor. A stop event is detected in response to a speed of the vehicle and the occurrence of a predetermined deceleration. During the stop event, the variable stroke is increased by an amount determined in response to the normal CTL value, the speed of the vehicle, and a measure of the deceleration of the vehicle so that an evaporator temperature within the air conditioning system is allowed to decrease while the vehicle is stopping so that climate comfort can be maintained even while the engine is shut off during the subsequent time that the vehicle is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mukesh Kumar, Debasish Dhar, Mitali Chakrabarti, Ken J. Jackson, Manfred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 8672022
    Abstract: A method and a correspondingly designed motor vehicle are provided for pre-climatizing the motor vehicle when shut-off by way of a heating and/or cooling unit, which draws its energy for heating and/or cooling from an electric storage unit. When the heating and/or cooling unit is activated by a vehicle external operator control element, the heating and/or cooling unit is initially activated in a first output stage. Then, the heating and/or cooling unit is switched from the first output stage to a second output stage as a function of predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralph Ostermeier, Peter Satzger, Georg Gerstenbrandt
  • Publication number: 20140026599
    Abstract: A refrigeration system having a refrigeration unit (22) for providing temperature conditioned air to a temperature controlled space, an engine (26) and an electric generation device (24) driven by the engine, is provided with a battery system (28) for supplying electric power. A method of operating the transport refrigeration includes, during a high cooling demand mode, operating the engine (26) to drive the electric generation device (24) for supplying electric power and simultaneously employing the battery system (28) for supplying electric power to jointly power the plurality of power demand loads (50, 42, 46, 48) of the refrigerant unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Giorgio Rusignuolo, Peter R. Bushnell, Nader S. Awwad, Bruce E. Sing, John R. Reason, Benjamin E. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8590330
    Abstract: A method of operating a transport refrigeration unit that is operable to regulate a temperature of a cargo space. The method includes providing a controller, driving a refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an internal combustion engine to compress a refrigerant defining an engine operating state of the transport refrigeration unit, and driving the refrigerant compressor of the transport refrigeration unit with an electric motor to compress the refrigerant defining a motor operating state of the transport refrigeration unit. The method further includes sensing the temperature of the cargo space, receiving into the controller a signal indicative of the temperature of the cargo space, determining the temperature of the cargo space using the controller, and switching between the engine operating state and the motor operating state in response to a signal generated by the controller based on the temperature of the cargo space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Walker, Luis Camacho
  • Patent number: 8578723
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system control apparatus for controlling an air-conditioning system of a vehicle equipped with a motive power engine, having: a device for determining whether there is a history of a load that has been applied to a compressor, operated by the output of the motive power engine, equal to or greater than a threshold, during operation of the air-conditioning system; a device for carrying out initial operation process of the air-conditioning system if the load history determination device determines that there is a history of a load equal to or greater than the threshold has been applied to the compressor; and a device for carrying out liquid accumulation resolution process when liquefaction of a refrigerant occurs in the compressor only if the load history determination device determines that there is no history of a load equal to or greater than the threshold has been applied to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuma Miyazaki