Patents by Inventor Benjamin C. Groen

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

  • Patent number: 11433738
    Abstract: A thermal management method and system in a vehicle include a chiller to cause heat transfer between a coolant loop that defines a path in which a coolant circulates and a refrigerant loop that defines a path in which a refrigerant circulates. The system includes an electronic expansion valve (EXV) in the refrigerant loop to control a flow of the refrigerant into a first part of the chiller, and a coolant pump in the coolant loop to control a flow of the coolant into a second part of the chiller. A controller controls the EXV and the coolant pump based on a target amount for the heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Groen, Cameron P. Smith, Kyle Holihan, Michael H. Carlson, Nathan J. English, Lawrence P. Ziehr
  • Patent number: 11305610
    Abstract: A thermal control system includes first and second components. A plurality of coolant conduits fluidly couple the components to define a coolant circuit. A pump is operable to circulate coolant among the conduits. Within the coolant circuit, the first component is upstream of the second component and the pump is upstream of the first component. A controller is configured to selectively operate according to a circuit heating mode, wherein the controller controls the pump at a first speed and controls the first respective component as a thermal source, and a local heating mode, wherein the local heating mode the control controls the pump at a second speed and controls the first respective component as a thermal source. The second speed is less than the first speed. The controller operates in the local heating mode in response to a heating request associated with the second respective component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Holihan, Cameron P. Smith, Benjamin C. Groen
  • Publication number: 20210370742
    Abstract: A thermal control system includes first and second components. A plurality of coolant conduits fluidly couple the components to define a coolant circuit. A pump is operable to circulate coolant among the conduits. Within the coolant circuit, the first component is upstream of the second component and the pump is upstream of the first component. A controller is configured to selectively operate according to a circuit heating mode, wherein the controller controls the pump at a first speed and controls the first respective component as a thermal source, and a local heating mode, wherein the local heating mode the control controls the pump at a second speed and controls the first respective component as a thermal source. The second speed is less than the first speed. The controller operates in the local heating mode in response to a heating request associated with the second respective component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Kyle Holihan, Cameron P. Smith, Benjamin C. Groen
  • Publication number: 20210370748
    Abstract: A thermal management method and system in a vehicle include a chiller to cause heat transfer between a coolant loop that defines a path in which a coolant circulates and a refrigerant loop that defines a path in which a refrigerant circulates. The system includes an electronic expansion valve (EXV) in the refrigerant loop to control a flow of the refrigerant into a first part of the chiller, and a coolant pump in the coolant loop to control a flow of the coolant into a second part of the chiller. A controller controls the EXV and the coolant pump based on a target amount for the heat transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Groen, Cameron P. Smith, Kyle Holihan, Michael H. Carlson, Nathan J. English, Lawrence P. Ziehr