With Internal-combustion Engine Patents (Class 62/323.1)
  • Patent number: 11359714
    Abstract: A thermal management for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The system includes an engine coolant to cabin air heat exchanger in a first heat exchange loop and being operably coupled to an engine coolant circuit and cabin air in the vehicle, respectively, a transmission fluid to engine coolant heat exchanger in a second heat exchange loop and being operably coupled to a transmission fluid circuit and the engine coolant circuit, respectively, a control valve operable to control a flow of engine coolant through at least the second heat exchange loop, and a control module configured to selectively operate the control valve to initiate or restrict the flow through the second heat exchange loop to provide heat to the transmission fluid circuit based on ambient temperature, transmission fluid temperature and engine coolant temperature. The control module is further configured to enable control functions associated with transmission operation and hybrid functions based on the transmission fluid temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas David Moore, Rian Edman
  • Patent number: 11091007
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a thermal control system having a first high temperature cooling circuit, a second low temperature cooling circuit and a third cooling circuit for cooling/heating a battery pack. A system of valves is configured to connect the third circuit with the second circuit so as to create a loop consisting of a main portion of the third circuit and a main portion of the second circuit including the cooling portion of one or more electric motor assemblies of the hybrid vehicle, one or more additional components of the motor-vehicle, such as a turbocharger assembly and an intercooler assembly. In this operating condition, circulation of the liquid in the loop thus-formed can be activated by the pump of the third circuit and causes heating of the battery pack by the heat generated by the electric motor assemblies and, preferably, by the aforesaid additional components of the motor-vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societè Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Walter Ferraris, Federica Bettoja, Attilio Crivellari
  • Patent number: 11028892
    Abstract: A vehicle brake cooling system is provided. The vehicle brake cooling system is configured to actively cool brake elements affecting one or more wheels of the vehicle during the periods of vigorous or prolonged application of a vehicle's brakes to prevent overheating. The system is filled with a suitable coolant fluid which is pressurized to flow through a nozzle or a system of nozzles onto a brake element during active braking, cooling the brake element. Manual or automatic operation is disclosed, including use of temperature or pressure sensors. A method of use of a vehicle brake cooling system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: William Jeffery
  • Patent number: 10571175
    Abstract: A heat pump system that can be selectively utilized to discharge excessive heating and cooling capacity toward secondary devices of the system to maintain operation of the heat pump system to better manage the respective temperatures associated with the fluid flows in a manner that reduces the need for cycling the heat pump system ON and OFF to attain desired fluid output temperature manipulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Desert Aire Corp.
    Inventors: Craig Michael Burg, Jeremy Hogan, Harold Mark Sindelar
  • Patent number: 10433894
    Abstract: A system and kit for using a source of low-pressure refrigerant for a cryotherapy procedure and for subcooling a cryotherapy refrigerant. The system may generally include a fluid reservoir and a fluid flow path in thermal exchange with the fluid reservoir, the fluid flow path including a first thermal exchange device in thermal exchange with the fluid reservoir, a compressor in fluid communication with the first thermal exchange device, a condenser, a reversing valve located between the compressor and the condenser, a second thermal exchange device located between the reversing valve and the compressor, and an expansion valve located between the condenser and the thermal exchange device. The third thermal exchange device may be configured to be in fluid communication with the cryotherapy console and configured to place a secondary refrigerant within the first fluid flow path in thermal communication with a secondary refrigerant of the cryotherapy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP
    Inventors: Rachid Mahrouche, Eric Monger, Vladimir Tzonev
  • Patent number: 10272736
    Abstract: An electric vehicle thermal management system and an electric vehicle using the thermal management system, wherein a passenger cabin is heated by the heat dissipated from a battery and/or a motor, and the battery and the electric motor are connected in different cooling paths. Heat is supplied to the passenger cabin by using the heat absorbed by cooling liquid from the battery and/or the motor, so that the electric power of the electric vehicle can be effectively utilized to increase the endurance mileage of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
    Inventor: Ming-Chieh Cheng
  • Patent number: 10197307
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioner including at least one indoor unit; an EHP outdoor unit connected with the at least one indoor unit, and configured to control an applied current and drive an EHP compressor; a GHP outdoor unit connected with the at least one indoor unit and including a GHP compressor configured to operate using power from an engine driven through a combustion gas and an oil separator provided at an outlet side of the GHP compressor; an oil level sensor provided at the EHP outdoor unit or the GHP outdoor unit and configured to detect an amount of oil; and a control part configured to control an RPM of the EHP compressor or the GHP compressor based on information detected by the oil level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hojong Jeong, Kwangho Shin, Minho Chung, Song Choi
  • Patent number: 10107545
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle includes a refrigerant heater 41 that is provided between an internal evaporator 8 and a suction side of an electric compressor 20 to be in parallel with an external evaporator 32, and heats a refrigerant which is suctioned into the electric compressor 20; and an air conditioning control apparatus 50 that determines whether the external evaporator 32 is frosted. While the air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle operates in a heating mode, when the air conditioning control apparatus 50 determines that the external evaporator 32 is frosted, a supply of the refrigerant subject to the heat exchange in an internal condenser 9 to the external evaporator 32 is stopped, and the refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerant heater 41, is heated and then, is suctioned into the electric compressor 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AUTOMOTIVE THERMAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Morishita, Toshihisa Kondo, Akira Katayama
  • Patent number: 9994084
    Abstract: A bulkhead for a transport refrigeration unit (TRU) is provided. The bulkhead is configured to create optimal air flow on both a front side (e.g. the side where the condenser unit is located) and a rear side (e.g. the side where the evaporator unit is located) of the bulkhead, provide structural support for various components of the TRU, and provide a thermal barrier between the front side and the rear side. Also, the bulkhead is configured to include an access door and a service opening that allows a user to access TRU components located on the rear side of the bulkhead via the front side of the bulkhead. Further, the rear side of the bulkhead is configured to provide a removal support shelf that can be used as a resting surface or a sliding surface for removing components located on the rear side of the bulkhead out of the TRU from the front side of the TRU via the service opening by removing the access door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Selvam Packiarajan, John David Sweazey, Tye Scott Sonney
  • Patent number: 9944151
    Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle air conditioner capable of preventing or inhibiting deterioration of a vehicle interior heating capability which is caused by frost formation to an outdoor heat exchanger. The vehicle air conditioner includes a compressor 2, an air flow passage 3, a radiator 4, a heat absorber 9, and an outdoor heat exchanger 7, and executes a heating mode in which a refrigerant discharged from the compressor radiates heat in the radiator, is decompressed and then absorbs heat in the outdoor heat exchanger. The vehicle air conditioner includes an accumulator 12 disposed on a suction side of the compressor, and a bypass circuit 24B disposed from a refrigerant outlet side of the radiator to an inlet side of the accumulator. A controller has a mode in which the refrigerant flowing out from the radiator is passed through the bypass circuit, does not flow through the outdoor heat exchanger, but flows into the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9944256
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner which improves the frost formation judging precision of an outdoor heat exchanger, acquires the heating performance, and avoids unnecessary defrosting. A controller executes a heating mode. The controller (32) judges frost formation onto the outdoor heat exchanger (7) on the basis of a refrigerant evaporation pressure PXO of the outdoor heat exchanger (7) and a refrigerant evaporation pressure PXObase of the outdoor heat exchanger (7) during non-frost formation or on the basis of a refrigerant evaporation temperature TXO of the outdoor heat exchanger (7) and a refrigerant evaporation temperature TXObase of the outdoor heat exchanger (7) during the non-frost formation, and allows a high-temperature refrigerant gas to flow through the outdoor heat exchanger (7), thereby performing defrosting of the outdoor heat exchanger (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki, Hidenori Takei, Kouhei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9908382
    Abstract: An electric vehicle thermal management system and an electric vehicle using the thermal management system, wherein a passenger cabin is heated by the heat dissipated from a battery and/or a motor, and the battery and the electric motor are connected in different cooling paths. Heat is supplied to the passenger cabin by using the heat absorbed by cooling liquid from the battery and/or the motor, so that the electric power of the electric vehicle can be effectively utilized to increase the endurance mileage of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Ming-Chieh Cheng
  • Patent number: 9809082
    Abstract: Electric vehicle thermal management systems and electric vehicles using the thermal management system, are disclosed. A passenger cabin is heated by the heat dissipated from a battery and/or a motor. A cooling circuit in the management system fluidly connects the battery, the motor and a first radiator in series. The first radiator provides a heat source to the passenger cabin by means of the heat dissipated from the battery and/or the electric motor. Under certain conditions, the electric motor is selectively separated from the cooling circuit, so that when the passenger cabin needs to be heated, the thermal management system can provide heat to the passenger cabin without affecting the heat dissipation of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Ming-Chieh Cheng
  • Patent number: 9707822
    Abstract: An electric vehicle thermal management system and an electric vehicle using the thermal management system, wherein a passenger cabin is heated by the heat dissipated from a battery and/or a motor, and the battery and the electric motor are connected in different cooling paths. Heat is supplied to the passenger cabin by using the heat absorbed by cooling liquid from the battery and/or the motor, so that the electric power of the electric vehicle can be effectively utilized to increase the endurance mileage of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Ming-Chieh Cheng
  • Patent number: 9604627
    Abstract: A controller of a thermal management system for a vehicle controls a first switching valve and a second switching valve to set a battery warming-up state in which a heat medium circulates between a battery-temperature adjustment heat exchanger and a heat-medium heating heat exchanger, and the heat medium does not circulate between a coolant-coolant heat exchanger and a heat-medium heating heat exchanger when both a battery and an engine need to be warmed up. In contrast, the controller controls the first switching valve and the second switching valve to set an engine warming-up state in which the heat medium circulates through between the coolant-coolant heat exchanger and the heat-medium heating heat exchanger while the heat medium does not circulate between a battery-temperature adjustment heat exchanger and the heat-medium heating heat exchanger when a temperature of the battery exceeds a target battery warming-up temperature in the battery warming-up state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Yamanaka, Yasumitsu Omi, Koji Miura, Norihiko Enomoto
  • Patent number: 9592717
    Abstract: A heat exchange system includes a first heat exchanger that radiates heat of at least a cooling cycle, a cooler circuit in which a coolant for a heat-emitting device flows, a plurality of heat exchangers that are connected to the cooler circuit and radiate heat of the coolant, and a blower that sends air to the first heat exchanger and the plurality of heat exchangers to cool. The plurality of heat exchangers are arranged in a blowing direction of the blower, and separately radiate heat of the cooler circuit. The heat exchanger, which is disposed on the windward side, of the plurality of heat exchangers is thermally connected to the first heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger disposed on the windward side radiates heat by itself and also radiates heat through the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiki Katoh
  • Patent number: 9533547
    Abstract: An electric vehicle thermal management system and an electric vehicle using the thermal management system, wherein a passenger cabin is heated by the heat dissipated from a battery and/or a motor, and the battery and the electric motor are connected in different cooling paths. Heat is supplied to the passenger cabin by using the heat absorbed by cooling liquid from the battery and/or the motor, so that the electric power of the electric vehicle can be effectively utilized to increase the endurance mileage of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LTD.
    Inventor: Ming-Chieh Cheng
  • Patent number: 9533546
    Abstract: An electric vehicle thermal management system and an electric vehicle using the thermal management system, wherein a passenger cabin is heated by the heat dissipated from a battery and/or a motor, and the battery and the electric motor are connected in different cooling paths. Heat is supplied to the passenger cabin by using the heat absorbed by cooling liquid from the battery and/or the motor, so that the electric power of the electric vehicle can be effectively utilized to increase the endurance mileage of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LTD.
    Inventor: Ming-Chieh Cheng
  • Patent number: 9523440
    Abstract: An outlet shutoff valve where pressing surfaces, which press against each other, of a valve member and a valve seat are tilted relative to the vertical direction and where a drive shaft can be driven in a direction tilted relative to the vertical direction. In the outlet shutoff valve, the pressing surfaces are set high on the upstream side of gas flowing in a flow-path-forming pressure chamber, where the gas flows, and low on the downstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Takeshita
  • Patent number: 9279074
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a refrigerant in organic Rankine cycle systems comprising at least one hydrofluoroolefin, having at least four carbon atoms represented by the formula (I) R1CH?CHR2 in which R1 and R2 independently represent alkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, substituted with at least one fluorine atom, optionally with at least one chlorine atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: ARKEMA FRANCE
    Inventor: Wissam Rached
  • Patent number: 8881523
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle (6) of a waste heat utilization device includes a circulation path (7) for circulating a working fluid therethrough, an evaporator (12) for causing heat to transfer from cooling water delivered from an internal combustion engine (2) to the working fluid to evaporate the working fluid, a superheater (10) for causing heat to transfer from the cooling water delivered from an exhaust gas heat exchanger (8) to the working fluid delivered from the evaporator to superheat the working fluid, an expander (22) for expanding the working fluid delivered from the superheater to produce driving force, a condenser (24) for condensing the working fluid delivered from the expander, and a pump (28) for feeding the working fluid delivered from the condenser to the evaporator. The evaporator, the superheater, the expander, the condenser and the pump are successively inserted in the working fluid circulation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Junichiro Kasuya, Tetsuya Nakano, Tomohiko Saito, Masaaki Tokuda, Satoshi Ogiwara
  • Patent number: 8881544
    Abstract: A power unit for air conditioning systems installed on boats, including at least one compressor, of the mass produced type used in the automobile industry, connected to the circuit of the conditioning system, at least one mechanical pump for circulation of a heat exchange fluid along a circuit and one or more rotating electrical machines. Operation of the power unit is ensured during navigation by an internal combustion engine for marine propulsion, for example a four stroke engine of the type normally used for outboard marine propulsion, mass produced at low costs, while when the boat is in port it is ensured by an electric motor. The fan coils are also of the mass produced type used in the automobile industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: FB Design S.R.L.
    Inventor: Fabio Buzzi
  • Publication number: 20140260403
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system is provided. The vehicle air conditioning system includes a first vapor compression refrigeration loop. The first vapor compression refrigeration loop includes a first refrigerant compressor and a first evaporator. The vehicle air conditioning system further includes a tank for holding a compressed fluid, an outlet configured to carry expanded fluid from the tank, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the first vapor compression refrigeration loop and to the outlet. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from refrigerant carried by the first vapor compression refrigeration loop to fluid carried by the outlet, where the temperature of the fluid carried by the outlet has been reduced as a result of expansion of the fluid upon exiting the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Bergstrom, Inc.
    Inventor: Brett Sean Connell
  • Publication number: 20140250941
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes an inner tube extending along a central axis, an array of a plurality of heat transfer members mounted to the inner tube, and a plurality of outer tubes disposed radially outward of and in parallel relationship to the inner tube, the inner and outer tubes extending longitudinally to pass through the array of heat transfer members. The heat exchanger is particularly suited for use as an engine exhaust cooler in connection with a transport refrigeration unit, wherein the inner tube defines an internal flow passage through which engine exhaust gas passes, each outer tube defines an internal flow passage through which refrigerant passes, and the plurality of flow passages between adjacent heat transfer members defines an air flow passage. In an embodiment, the heat transfer members may be annular disks having an internal chamber filled with air or other heat transfer working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Steele
  • Patent number: 8826681
    Abstract: An air conditioner for vehicles in which the probability of executing pre-air conditioning is increased so that it may be prevented that the inside of the vehicle cannot be often in a comfortable state before the driver gets into the vehicle. The air conditioner performs air conditioning of a vehicle having a traveling motor and an engine as drive sources and comprises a pre-air conditioning main switch. The crew permits operation of pre-air conditioning by turning the switch on. When the pre-air conditioning main switch is set on, an engine control section performs charge preference control where battery charge takes precedence of engine fuel consumption and performs normal control where engine fuel consumption takes precedence when the pre-air conditioning main switch is set off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiko Kojima
  • Patent number: 8806882
    Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein are directed to managing the heat content of two vehicle subsystems through a single coolant loop having parallel branches for each subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Alliance for Substainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Bennion, Matthew Thornton
  • Publication number: 20140137590
    Abstract: An integrated transport refrigeration unit comprises an engine providing power to drive a shaft. The shaft drives a refrigerant compressor and a generator, both of which being encased within a housing, and the generator is immersed in refrigerant. In an exemplary embodiment, an integrated transport refrigeration unit also includes an auxiliary generator driven by the shaft and disposed externally from said housing. In this embodiment, the auxiliary produces current for charging a battery and for operating a fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Chopko, Richard T. Pandzik
  • Patent number: 8707718
    Abstract: An engine configured to drive a compressor of a vehicle air conditioning system is controlled based on a threshold condition. In at least one embodiment, a comfort-level selection is received, a threshold condition is determined based on the comfort-level, and a vehicle interior condition is detected. The engine is requested to run if the interior condition exceeds the threshold condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Elaine Y. Chen, William Treharne, Wayne Buescher, Thomas Fox
  • Patent number: 8656889
    Abstract: The control apparatus for a vehicle having a prime mover is applied to a vehicle having an air conditioning mechanism which performs the air conditioning in the vehicle interior by using the cooling water of the internal combustion engine. The engine stop permitting unit permits stopping the internal combustion engine based on the requested load of the internal combustion engine, when the cooling water temperature becomes equal to or higher than the engine stop permitting water temperature. The engine activating unit activates the internal combustion engine when the cooling water temperature becomes lower than the engine activation requesting water temperature, which is set to be lower than the engine stop permitting water temperature. The correcting unit corrects the engine stop permitting water temperature to be higher in the case that the vehicle speed is high, than in the case that the vehicle speed is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 8635882
    Abstract: One examples provides an automotive air-conditioning system provided with: a thermal unit having a condenser and an evaporator configured to be traversed by a refrigerant fluid and a hydraulic circuit, which is configured to be traversed by a carrier fluid and has a first portion provided with a first heat exchanger, a second portion provided with a second heat exchanger, a hot portion extending through the condenser, and a cold portion extending through the evaporator, a valve device being configured to connect selectively either the hot portion or the cold portion to the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societá Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Carloandrea Malvicino, Matteo Rostagno
  • Patent number: 8534082
    Abstract: An engine starter system that predicts when starter failure is imminent. The engine starter system monitors engine starter crank speed, battery voltage and ambient air temperature. The crank speed, battery voltage and ambient air temperature are communicated to a controller which compares the crank speed for the measured battery voltage and air temperature to a predicted crank speed for the measured battery voltage and air temperature. If the crank speed is lower than the predicted crank speed, a signal is sent to an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Price, Greg R. Truckenbrod, Ross T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8453722
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for use in an over-the-road or off road vehicle is provided that provides a method of operation during both engine on and engine off conditions. The method operates the air conditioning system at one capacity when the engine is running, and at a second capacity when the engine is not running. The selection of these capacities is based on the power capacity of the source of electric power from which the air conditioning system is operated. When a storage battery is used to power the air conditioning system during engine off conditions, the second capacity is lower than the capacity at which the system is operated when the engine is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Bergstrom, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Zeigler, Eric Elias
  • Publication number: 20130091872
    Abstract: A buck/boost rectifier. The rectifier is connectable to an alternating current power source and includes an upper bus, a lower bus, an upper rectifier, a lower rectifier, a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) controller, a phase-angle (PA) controller, and a capacitor. The upper rectifier is coupled to the upper bus, and the lower rectifier is coupled in a series-type relationship with the upper rectifier and to the lower bus. The PWM controller is coupled to the lower rectifier and is configured to boost a direct current (DC) voltage output by the rectifier. The PA controller is coupled to the lower rectifier and is configured to buck the DC voltage output by the rectifier. The capacitor is coupled between the upper bus and the lower bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arnost Hurych, Vladimir Kmoch
  • Patent number: 8393171
    Abstract: An HVAC system that uses a mechanical compressor powered by vaporized refrigerant and/or electric power, to increase efficiency in a jet ejector cooling cycle. The device is further able to convert thermal energy to electric power which may be used to meet internal or external requirements, for example, to activate control a system or charge a battery. Compatible input power includes only thermal energy, only electric energy or a combination of the two. Motive thermal energy may be input at a wide range of temperature and include both waste and non-waste heat sources such as that from an internal combustion engine and fuel-fired heater. Solar thermal and solar photovoltaic may also be used when collected from either concentrated or non-concentrated sources. Embodiments of the device are equally well suited to both mobile and stationary applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventor: Gerald Allen Alston
  • Publication number: 20130056992
    Abstract: Either one of an inner rotor (16) and an outer rotor (18) of a motor-generator (12) is coupled to an expander (48) of a Rankine circuit (40), and the other rotor is coupled to a rotary shaft (7) of an internal combustion engine (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Wada, Junichiro Kasuya, Shinji Nakamura, Kou Tsukamoto, Hiroyuki Nagai
  • Patent number: 8256239
    Abstract: A power unit for air conditioning systems installed on boats, including at least one compressor, of the mass produced type used in the automobile industry, connected to the circuit of the refrigeration device, at least one mechanical pump for circulation of a heat exchange fluid along a circuit and one or more rotating electrical machines. Operation of the power unit is ensured during navigation by an internal combustion engine for marine propulsion, in particular a four stroke gasoline engine, with vertical motor axis, normally used for outboard marine propulsion, mass produced at low costs, while when the boat is in port it is ensured by an electric motor. The fan coils are also of the mass produced type used in the automobile industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: FB Design S.R.L.
    Inventor: Fabio Buzzi
  • Publication number: 20120160958
    Abstract: A vehicle is described having an engine to provide motive transportation and a work producing device used to provide power and thermal conditioning to a payload aboard the vehicle. In one form the work producing device provides power to the payload separate from a network powered by the engine that provides motive transportation. The payload can be a directed energy device in one embodiment. The vehicle can take the form of an aircraft which can be configured to receive the work producing device in a cargo bay/payload bay and/or a pod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventor: Gregory D. Stewart
  • Patent number: 8156754
    Abstract: A climate control system may include a condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, a coolant circuit, and a heat exchanger. The evaporator may be in fluid communication with the condenser. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the condenser and the evaporator and may circulate a first fluid therebetween. The coolant circuit may include an engine, a radiator, and a second fluid circulating between the engine and the radiator. The heat exchanger may include a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit may fluidly couple the compressor and the condenser. The second fluid conduit may fluidly couple the radiator and the engine. The heat exchanger may be configured to allow the second fluid to absorb heat from the first fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kwangtaek Hong, Bryan Styles
  • Publication number: 20120017618
    Abstract: An engine starter system that predicts when starter failure is imminent. The engine starter system monitors engine starter crank speed, battery voltage and ambient air temperature. The crank speed, battery voltage and ambient air temperature are communicated to a controller which compares the crank speed for the measured battery voltage and air temperature to a predicted crank speed for the measured battery voltage and air temperature. If the crank speed is lower than the predicted crank speed, a signal is sent to an alarm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel L. Price, Greg R. Truckenbrod, Ross T. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20110247351
    Abstract: An HVAC system that uses a mechanical compressor powered by vaporized refrigerant and/or electric power, to increase efficiency in a jet ejector cooling cycle. The device is further able to convert thermal energy to electric power which may be used to meet internal or external requirements, for example, to activate control a system or charge a battery. Compatible input power includes only thermal energy, only electric energy or a combination of the two. Motive thermal energy may be input at a wide range of temperature and include both waste and non-waste heat sources such as that from an internal combustion engine and fuel-fired heater. Solar thermal and solar photovoltaic may also be used when collected from either concentrated or non-concentrated sources. Embodiments of the device are equally well suited to both mobile and stationary applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Gerald Allen Alston
  • Publication number: 20110232890
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a vehicle includes a heat exchanger having a thermal energy storage material provided therein, a first coolant loop thermally coupled to an electrochemical storage device located within the first coolant loop and to the heat exchanger, and a second coolant loop thermally coupled to the heat exchanger. The first and second coolant loops are configured to carry distinct thermal energy transfer media. The thermal management system also includes an interface configured to facilitate transfer of heat generated by an internal combustion engine to the heat exchanger via the second coolant loop in order to selectively deliver the heat to the electrochemical storage device. Thermal management methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin L. Gering, Daryl R. Haefner
  • Publication number: 20110187123
    Abstract: An integrated portable power unit including a power pack and a generator mounted within a first compartment and including a second isolated air handling compartment. The air handling compartment may include a fan for moving air through ductwork, a radiator for receiving heated cooling water from the power pack and a heat exchanger connected to a compressor for generating cooled water, the compressor and the fan connected to the power pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Keith Hamm, Chad Konop, James L. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7975501
    Abstract: An auxiliary air conditioning system (7) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising a first heat exchanger (17) adapted to be installed inside a passenger compartment (4) of the motor vehicle and an external unit (43) comprising an auxiliary engine (8), an auxiliary compressor (12) driven by the auxiliary engine (8) and a second exchanger (17). The system comprises a switching valve (20) for selectively setting a first refrigerating cycle operating mode in which the first heat exchanger (17) serves as an evaporator and the second heat exchanger (14) serves as a condenser, and a second heat pump operating mode, in which the first heat exchanger (17) serves as a condenser and the fluid of the second heat exchanger (14) is cut off and the operative fluid is allowed to flow through a heating device (30) to receive thermal power independently from the outside environment temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Lombardini S.R.L. a Socio Unico
    Inventor: Gianni Borghi
  • Patent number: 7921662
    Abstract: A hydrogen fuel automobile has a heat medium passage through which a heat medium which can exchange heat with a drive portion and can be supplied to a heat medium pipe for a hydrogen tank flows. An air cooling apparatus has a compressor for compressing a refrigerant gas, a condenser, an evaporator and a refrigerant circuit. The hydrogen fuel automobile is provided with a bypass passage which branches from the refrigerant circuit so that expanded refrigerant liquid detours the evaporator so as to be drawn into the compressor. A switch portion can switch between a state where the refrigerant liquid passes through the evaporator so as to be drawn into the compressor and a state where the refrigerant liquid detours the evaporator so as to flow through the bypass passage. The hydrogen storage material cooling portion cools the hydrogen storage material in the hydrogen tank using the refrigerant liquid that flows through the bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehito Kubo, Daigoro Mori
  • Patent number: 7913505
    Abstract: A work vehicle comprises a plurality of wheels; a vehicle body supported by the plurality of wheels and having a cabin, a front half region and a rear half region; an engine located in the rear half region of the vehicle body; and an air conditioning unit located in a lower forward region of the cabin and having an evaporator and a fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventor: Norimi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7878013
    Abstract: A trailer refrigeration system comprising: an electricity generator (22); an electricity-generator engine (21) for driving the electricity generator (22); a converter (23) for converting ac electric power generated by the electricity generator (22) into dc electric power; an inverter (24, 25, 26) including inverters (24), (25), (26) each for converting dc electric power from the converter (23) into ac electric power; a refrigerant circuit (30) having an electric compressor (31) and a fan (35, 36) including fans (35), (36), the electric compressor (31), the fan (35), and the fan (36) being driven respectively by ac electric power from inverters (24), (25), (26); and a control means (40) for individually controlling the speed of rotation of the electric compressor (31), the fan (35), and the fan (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Dalkin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumikazu Matsuno, Tetsuo Nakata, Yuzo Sawada, Fumiaki Yakushiji, Yukio Nishihama, Keisuke Kudou, Yasutoshi Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20100319375
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes: an engine; an outdoor unit including a compressor driven by the engine to inhale a refrigerant, and compress and discharge the inhaled refrigerant and an outdoor heat exchanger; an indoor unit including an indoor heat exchanger; a controlling unit which controls a rotational speed of the compressor to be lower than a predetermined upper limit rotational speed; an outdoor temperature detecting unit which detects an outdoor temperature; an in-box temperature detecting unit which detects an in-box temperature within an enclosure box which accommodates therein the engine and the compressor; a correcting unit which corrects an upper limit rotational speed of the compressor when the outdoor temperature exceeds a predetermined outdoor temperature; a canceling unit which cancels the correction of the upper limit rotational speed when the in-box temperature is lower than a predetermined in-box temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Matsubara, Masanori Yasunaga
  • Publication number: 20100313587
    Abstract: An air conditioning system including an evaporator having a manifold and a plurality of tubes extending downward in a vertical direction from the manifold. The evaporator defines at least one PCM tank engaging the manifold for storing a phase change material. When operating in a first operating mode, heat is transferred from the phase change material to the refrigerant to freeze and cool the phase change material. When operating in a second operating mode, heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the frozen phase change material to condense the refrigerant. The condensed refrigerant falls downwardly through the tubes and receives heat from a flow of air to cool the air and evaporate the refrigerant. The evaporated refrigerant rises upwardly back to the low pressure of the cold manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Wolfe, IV, Ilya Reyzin, Prasad S. Kadle, James A. Bright
  • Patent number: 7841197
    Abstract: A variable capacitance compressor is provided in a refrigeration cycle of a vehicular air conditioning system. The variable capacitance compressor controls discharge capacity of refrigerant by an external control pulse signal, and can substantially estimate compressor suction side pressure by the external control pulse signal and compressor discharge side pressure. A compressor torque calculator is provided to calculate torque based on evaporator upstream and downstream temperature difference data ?t, which is a temperature difference between inlet side air temperature of an evaporator and outlet side air temperature of the evaporator, compressor discharge side pressure data Pd, duty ratio data of a control pulse signal, and compressor's number of revolution data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitoshi Noda
  • Publication number: 20100229577
    Abstract: A climate control system may include a condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, a coolant circuit, and a heat exchanger. The evaporator may be in fluid communication with the condenser. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the condenser and the evaporator and may circulate a first fluid therebetween. The coolant circuit may include an engine, a radiator, and a second fluid circulating between the engine and the radiator. The heat exchanger may include a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit may fluidly couple the compressor and the condenser. The second fluid conduit may fluidly couple the radiator and the engine. The heat exchanger may be configured to allow the second fluid to absorb heat from the first fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicants: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Kwangtaek Hong, Bryan Styles