Patents by Inventor James C. Rollinson

James C. Rollinson 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: 11920834
    Abstract: A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a compressor, a first region of a first heat exchanger, a first branching point, a first shutoff valve, a second shutoff valve, and a second heat exchanger. The compressor includes a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet. The first heat exchanger is positioned immediately downstream of the outlet of the compressor. The first branching point is positioned immediately downstream of the first region of the first heat exchanger. The refrigerant loop splits into a first path and a second path at the first branching point. The first shutoff valve is positioned along the first path and immediately downstream of the first branching point. The second shutoff valve is positioned along the second path and immediately downstream of the first branching point. The second heat exchanger is downstream of the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rachael E. Shey, Jeffrey Paul Brown, Leyuan Yu, James C. Rollinson
  • Publication number: 20230366595
    Abstract: A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a compressor, a first region of a first heat exchanger, a first branching point, a first shutoff valve, a second shutoff valve, and a second heat exchanger. The compressor includes a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet. The first heat exchanger is positioned immediately downstream of the outlet of the compressor. The first branching point is positioned immediately downstream of the first region of the first heat exchanger. The refrigerant loop splits into a first path and a second path at the first branching point. The first shutoff valve is positioned along the first path and immediately downstream of the first branching point. The second shutoff valve is positioned along the second path and immediately downstream of the first branching point. The second heat exchanger is downstream of the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rachael E. Shey, Jeffrey Paul Brown, Leyuan Yu, James C. Rollinson
  • Publication number: 20230366591
    Abstract: A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop can include a compressor, a first region of a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a bypass branch. The compressor includes a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet. The first heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the outlet of the compressor. The second heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger. The bypass branch includes an entrance and an exit. The entrance to the bypass branch is positioned downstream of the outlet of the compressor and upstream of the first region of the first heat exchanger. The exit of the bypass branch is positioned upstream of the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rachael E. Shey, Jeffrey Paul Brown, Leyuan Yu, James C. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 11027592
    Abstract: A vehicle climate control system includes a heat exchanger to heat ambient air using engine waste heat, and a plurality of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating elements to heat air passed through the heat exchanger. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to, while the vehicle is driven without engine propulsion, issue a command to sequentially de-energize the PTC heating elements before an upcoming engine activation. The sequential de-energization of the PTC heating elements is performed according to a schedule that is based upon a power surge dissipation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Kirk Pebley, Eric Michael Rademacher, Michael J. Irby, James C. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 10865698
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine cooling system. The engine cooling system includes an engine. A radiator is fluidly coupled to the engine. A sensor is configured to provide a temperature reading of a coolant at the engine. The vehicle further includes a heat pump system. The heat pump system includes a condenser disposed proximate the radiator and fluidly coupled to the compressor. An evaporator is fluidly coupled to the condenser. A climate fan is fluidly coupled to an exterior surface of the evaporator. A climate control module is configured to control a speed of the climate fan. The climate control module establishes a maximum speed of the climate fan in response to a temperature reading from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Manfred Koberstein, Curtis Mark Jones, James C. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 10807436
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling coolant flow through parallel branches of a coolant circuit including an AC condenser and a charge air cooler. Flow is apportioned responsive to an AC head pressure and a CAC temperature to reduce parasitic losses and improve fuel economy. The flow is apportioned via adjustments to a coolant pump output and a proportioning valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Hugh Hamilton, James C. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 10570809
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling coolant flow through parallel branches of a coolant circuit including an AC condenser and a charge air cooler. Flow is apportioned responsive to an AC head pressure and a CAC temperature to reduce parasitic losses and improve fuel economy. The flow is apportioned via adjustments to a coolant pump output and a proportioning valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Phillip Bonkoski, James C. Rollinson, Hugh Hamilton, Sitaram Rejeti
  • Patent number: 10493823
    Abstract: A vehicle cooling system may include a variable displacement compressor, and a controller configured to, in response to a determination that the compressor is operating within a gurgling zone that is defined by a predefined range of compressor speeds and currents, generate a current signal defining a displacement for the compressor based on a speed of the compressor and an ambient temperature to control the displacement to reduce refrigerant flow noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James C. Rollinson, Suhas Venkatappa, Mark C. Evans, Zhengyu Liu, Thomas A. White
  • Publication number: 20190329626
    Abstract: A vehicle climate control system includes a heat exchanger to heat ambient air using engine waste heat, and a plurality of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating elements to heat air passed through the heat exchanger. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to, while the vehicle is driven without engine propulsion, issue a command to sequentially de-energize the PTC heating elements before an upcoming engine activation. The sequential de-energization of the PTC heating elements is performed according to a schedule that is based upon a power surge dissipation time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Kirk Pebley, Eric Michael Rademacher, Michael J. Irby, James C. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 10449945
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that includes an internal combustion engine and a climate control system (CCS) coupled to controllers configured to auto start-stop the engine when the HEV decelerates to an engine-stop threshold speed. The controllers are also configured to adjust a climate-fan-speed by a predetermined initial-factor, and at subsequent timed-intervals with a speed-factor that is adjusted from the initial-factor at each timed-interval, such that engine restart is inhibited by perceptually small speed adjustments and perceptually slow timed-interval cabin cooling adjustments. Such gradual adjustments are tuned to increase passenger perceptions of continuing cabin comfort, which reduce the likelihood that a passenger may adjust the CCS to require engine restart, and to increase auto stop-start fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, James C Rollinson, Hussam Makkiya, Siraj Siddiqui
  • Publication number: 20190077214
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling coolant flow through parallel branches of a coolant circuit including an AC condenser and a charge air cooler. Flow is apportioned responsive to an AC head pressure and a CAC temperature to reduce parasitic losses and improve fuel economy. The flow is apportioned via adjustments to a coolant pump output and a proportioning valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Hugh Hamilton, James C. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 10124647
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling coolant flow through parallel branches of a coolant circuit including an AC condenser and a charge air cooler. Flow is apportioned responsive to an AC head pressure and a CAC temperature to reduce parasitic losses and improve fuel economy. The flow is apportioned via adjustments to a coolant pump output and a proportioning valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Hugh Hamilton, James C. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 10093147
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling coolant flow through parallel branches of a coolant circuit including an AC condenser and a charge air cooler. Flow is apportioned responsive to an AC head pressure and a CAC temperature to reduce parasitic losses and improve fuel economy. The flow is apportioned via adjustments to a coolant pump output and a proportioning valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, James C. Rollinson, Hugh Hamilton, Alan Richardson, Ravi Gopal
  • Publication number: 20180281777
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that includes an internal combustion engine and a climate control system (CCS) coupled to controllers configured to auto start-stop the engine when the HEV decelerates to an engine-stop threshold speed. The controllers are also configured to adjust a climate-fan-speed by a predetermined initial-factor, and at subsequent timed-intervals with a speed-factor that is adjusted from the initial-factor at each timed-interval, such that engine restart is inhibited by perceptually small speed adjustments and perceptually slow timed-interval cabin cooling adjustments. Such gradual adjustments are tuned to increase passenger perceptions of continuing cabin comfort, which reduce the likelihood that a passenger may adjust the CCS to require engine restart, and to increase auto stop-start fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, James C Rollinson, Hussam Makkiya, Siraj Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 10086704
    Abstract: A method of controlling power to a vehicle accessory gradually shuts down power to the vehicle accessory and gradually restores power to the vehicle accessory. After a request for an auto-shutdown of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is detected, power to the vehicle accessory is reduced on a predetermined schedule responsive to such detection. The occurrence of a restart of the internal combustion engine of a vehicle is determined, and power supplied to the vehicle accessory is increased on a predetermined schedule responsive to the restart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Farouq Mozip, Jonathan Wentworth, Eric Gerd Schaefer, James C. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 9975399
    Abstract: A vehicle climate control system includes a heat exchanger to heat ambient air using engine waste heat, and a plurality of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating elements to heat air passed through the heat exchanger. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to, while the vehicle is driven without engine propulsion, issue a command to sequentially de-energize the PTC heating elements before an upcoming engine activation. The sequential de-energization of the PTC heating elements is performed according to a schedule that is based upon a power surge dissipation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Kirk Pebley, Eric Michael Rademacher, Michael J. Irby, James C. Rollinson
  • Publication number: 20180086175
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling coolant flow through parallel branches of a coolant circuit including an AC condenser and a charge air cooler. Flow is apportioned responsive to an AC head pressure and a CAC temperature to reduce parasitic losses and improve fuel economy. The flow is apportioned via adjustments to a coolant pump output and a proportioning valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, James C. Rollinson, Hugh Hamilton, Alan Richardson, Ravi Gopal
  • Publication number: 20180086174
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling coolant flow through parallel branches of a coolant circuit including an AC condenser and a charge air cooler. Flow is apportioned responsive to an AC head pressure and a CAC temperature to reduce parasitic losses and improve fuel economy. The flow is apportioned via adjustments to a coolant pump output and a proportioning valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Hugh Hamilton, James C. Rollinson
  • Publication number: 20180087451
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling coolant flow through parallel branches of a coolant circuit including an AC condenser and a charge air cooler. Flow is apportioned responsive to an AC head pressure and a CAC temperature to reduce parasitic losses and improve fuel economy. The flow is apportioned via adjustments to a coolant pump output and a proportioning valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Phillip Bonkoski, James C. Rollinson, Hugh Hamilton, Sitaram Rejeti
  • Publication number: 20170349031
    Abstract: A vehicle cooling system may include a variable displacement compressor, and a controller configured to, in response to a determination that the compressor is operating within a gurgling zone that is defined by a predefined range of compressor speeds and currents, generate a current signal defining a displacement for the compressor based on a speed of the compressor and an ambient temperature to control the displacement to reduce refrigerant flow noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: James C. ROLLINSON, Suhas VENKATAPPA, Mark C. EVANS, Zhengyu LIU, Thomas A. WHITE