Abstract: A steering assembly and HVAC system, and method of operation, for a vehicle is disclosed. The system may comprise a steering column assembly including a steering column located within a cowl; a steering wheel assembly including a hub operatively engaging the steering column; and a steering assembly HVAC system including a steering column HVAC duct extending along the cowl and having an air outlet adjacent to the hub, whereby air will flow through the steering column HVAC duct and through the air outlet past the hub.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a vehicle air conditioning system having an engine driven, fixed capacity refrigerant compressor and a compressor clutch is disclosed. The method may comprises setting a preliminary evaporator air temperature target; charging a cold storage apparatus in the vehicle air conditioning system; determining if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold; if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold, determining a new evaporator air temperature target by: determining a maximum allowable dewpoint evaporator air temperature for maintaining a passenger compartment humidity below a predetermined value; determining a maximum allowable mode evaporator air temperature based on a mode to which the vehicle air conditioning system is set; and setting the evaporator air temperature target to the lower of the dewpoint evaporator air temperature and the mode evaporator air temperature.

Abstract: A HVAC system and method for a vehicle is disclosed. The air conditioning portion of the HVAC system may be able to store and release refrigerant in charge bottle while operating in an air conditioning mode. The air conditioning portion of the HVAC system may be able to employ the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator to provide supplemental heat.

Abstract: An air conditioning system and a method of heating air flowing through a heater core of a HVAC module is disclosed. The method includes flowing essentially all of the air flowing through an evaporator through a heater core for all HVAC operating conditions. A flow control valve is opened long enough to allow a flow of hot coolant from an engine into the heater core. The valve is then closed to stop the flow of the hot coolant. When the temperature of the hot coolant is determined to have cooled to a predetermined temperature threshold, the flow control valve is then opened again to allow hot coolant to flow into the heater core.

Abstract: A belt alternator starter (BAS) system for a hybrid vehicle may include a first pulley, a first belt, a motor generator unit (MGU), a second pulley, a second belt, and a first clutch. The first belt encircles the first pulley and a crankshaft pulley of an internal combustion engine. The MGU includes the second pulley and functions as an electric motor when the engine is started and as a generator for charging a battery when the engine is running. The second belt encircles the second pulley and at least one drive pulley of an accessory unit. The first clutch couples/decouples the crankshaft pulley to/from the second pulley depending on operation of the engine.

Abstract: A seat temperature control system having a temperature controlled seat for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The temperature controlled seat may comprise a seat bottom, a seat back and an air conditioning system. The seat bottom includes a bottom heat exchanger fluid coil configured to direct a cooling fluid therethrough from a bottom inlet end to a bottom outlet end. The seat back includes a back heat exchanger fluid coil configured to direct the cooling fluid therethrough from a back inlet end to a back outlet end. The air conditioning system includes a coils inlet line in fluid communication with the bottom inlet end and the back inlet end, and a coils outlet line in fluid communication with the bottom outlet end and the back outlet end. The air conditioning system provides cooling fluid to the coils and receives cooling fluid from the coils.

Abstract: A method for controlling a fan in a vehicle includes comparing the current temperature of at least a first device and a second device to multiple temperature ranges for each of said devices and determining on the basis of said comparisons whether fan speed should be changed, increasing fan speed to a maximum fan speed if at least one of the comparisons indicates that the maximum fan speed is desired, increasing fan speed to a reference fan speed if at least one of the comparisons indicates that an increase in fan speed less than the maximum fan speed is desired, and decreasing fan speed to a reference fan speed if the comparisons indicate that a decrease in fan speed is desired.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle and a method of operation is disclosed. The air conditioning system includes a primary refrigerant loop and a secondary liquid loop. The primary refrigerant loop includes a compressor configured to be selectively driven by the engine, a condenser, an expansion device and a refrigerant-to-liquid heat exchanger. The secondary liquid loop includes the refrigerant-to-liquid heat exchanger, a thermal storage reservoir within which the refrigerant-to-liquid heat exchanger is mounted, a pump configured to pump a liquid through the refrigerant-to-liquid heat exchanger, a liquid-to-air heat exchanger configured to mount in a HVAC module and receive the liquid from the refrigerant-to-liquid heat exchanger, and a liquid flow valve configured to selectively direct the liquid directly to the pump or through the thermal storage reservoir to the pump.

Abstract: A secondary loop air conditioning system for a vehicle that includes a condenser and an integrated assembly is disclosed. The condenser has a first condenser header spaced from a second condenser header, a condenser core extending between the first and second condenser headers, and a refrigerant inlet operatively engaging the first condenser header. The integrated assembly includes a chiller mounted to the first condenser header and having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet configured to be in fluid communication with a secondary loop of the air conditioning system, and an expansion device in fluid communication with the condenser and mounted adjacent to the chiller for directing refrigerant into the chiller, and a refrigerant outlet. Also, a receiver/dryer area may be located in one of the condenser and the integrated assembly.

Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger assembly for use along a main exhaust flow path of an exhaust system for an engine, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The exhaust heat recovery heat exchanger includes a sealed vacuum chamber, including a hydride pellet mounted in the chamber, and electrical leads extending from the hydride pellet. An exhaust chamber along the main exhaust flow path is located along an inner wall of the vacuum chamber. A housing surrounds the vacuum chamber and defines a heat receiving medium chamber. A heat receiving medium flows through the heat receiving medium chamber and absorbs heat from the exhaust flowing through the exhaust chamber when an electric current is applied to the hydride pellet.

Abstract: A system and method for providing cool air to a passenger compartment of a hybrid vehicle in an engine off mode is disclosed. This may include operating a HVAC system to provide cold refrigerant flowing through an evaporator while an engine is operating, and forcing air through the evaporator to cool the air. A first portion of the cooled air from the evaporator is directed through a heater core and a second portion around the heater core, and an electric water pump is activated to pump coolant from a thermal storage tank, through the heater core and back to the thermal storage tank to cool the coolant. When the engine operation is ceased, the air flow is directed through the heater core, and the coolant is pumped from the thermal storage tank, through the heater core and back to the thermal storage tank to cool the air.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle having an air conditioning system, an engine and a belt-alternator-starter motor-generator, and a method of operation, is disclosed. A torque transfer assembly, such as a pulley and belt assembly, engages the engine and motor-generator, and includes a clutched member for selectively disconnecting the torque transfer between the engine and motor-generator. A refrigerant compressor includes a compressor shaft rotationally coupled to and driven by the motor-generator shaft. The compressor may be driven by the motor-generator when the engine is not operating.

Abstract: A battery pack cooling and body pressure relief system for a vehicle having a passenger cabin is disclosed. The system may include an intake air flow duct connected between the passenger cabin and the battery pack, and an air flow duct connected between the exhaust air outlet and the body pressure relief valve. The system may include a one-way cabin pressure relief vent connected to the air flow duct and configured to selectively allow for air flow into the air flow duct, and may include a duct pressure relief vent connected to the air flow duct and configured to selectively allow for air flow out of the air flow duct into the vehicle.

Abstract: A HVAC and battery thermal management system for a vehicle having a HVAC portion and a battery portion, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The HVAC portion may include a main chamber, an evaporator located in the main chamber, a heater extending across a portion of the main chamber downstream of the evaporator, a battery duct extending from the main chamber adjacent to the heater and in fluid communication with the main chamber both upstream and downstream of the heater. The battery portion may include a battery pack in fluid communication with the battery duct, a battery cooling valve located in the battery duct and configured to selectively allow fluid flow from the main chamber between the evaporator and the heater, and a battery heating valve located in the battery duct and configured to selectively allow fluid flow from the main chamber downstream of the heater.

Abstract: A cooling system dedicated to cooling the vehicle components located in the rearward portion of a vehicle is provided. The rear-dedicated cooling system operates independently of any cooling systems located in a frontward portion of the vehicle. The rear-dedicated cooling system may be subdivided into high temperature and low temperature cooling circuits. A method of cooling a vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for pre-cooling the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one electrically actuatable window and a HVAC system having at least a controller, a blower, a passenger compartment temperature sensor, and a HVAC ducting leading to the passenger compartment. The controller and the blower are connected to a vehicle battery. The method includes determining the passenger compartment temperature and comparing the temperature to a first predetermined value; cycling an blower inlet to an outside air intake position and operating the blower to provide pressurized air to the passenger compartment if the passenger compartment temperature is greater than the first predetermined value; opening the vehicle windows; comparing the passenger compartment temperature to a second predetermined value; and stopping operation of the blower when the passenger compartment temperature drops below the second predetermined value.

Abstract: A HVAC system and method for a vehicle is disclosed. The air conditioning portion of the HVAC system may be able to store and release refrigerant in charge bottle while operating in an air conditioning mode. The air conditioning portion of the HVAC system may be able to employ the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator to provide supplemental heat.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling air flow through a passenger cabin and battery pack of a vehicle having a battery module is disclosed. A HVAC controller communicates with a battery pack controller to assure that air flow from the passenger cabin through the battery pack, and either out to atmosphere or returned to the passenger cabin, is coordinated to obtain desirable passenger cabin heating/cooling and battery cooling.

Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle and method of operating it is disclosed. The cooling system may include a refrigerant to liquid heat exchanger, which may be located outside of a passenger cabin, and a chiller, which may be located inside the passenger cabin. A refrigerant circuit and a water circuit may both engage the refrigerant to liquid heat exchanger. The refrigerant to liquid heat exchanger may be an integrated heat exchanger and expansion device.

Abstract: Air conditioning system controls are optimized for an air conditioning system having a compressor in IC engine vehicles and in hybrid or fuel cell vehicles having electric drive motors by first determining the operating temperature of at least one of the following vehicle components: engine coolant and transmission oil for all types of vehicles, and for hybrid or fuel cell vehicles also determining the operating temperature of inverter coolant and the electric drive motors. At least one operating temperature is then compared to lower and upper temperature limits. If the operating temperature is outside of the temperature limits air conditioner heat load is reduced by at least one of the following steps: increasing cabin air recirculation, reducing cabin blower speed and reducing air conditioner compressor capacity.