Patents by Inventor Michael Steven Wallis

Michael Steven Wallis 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: 10828960
    Abstract: A vehicle ventilation system includes an inlet duct incorporating a poppet valve. The system also includes an evaporator core, a heater core, an air discharge duct and a blower. The blower moves air from the inlet duct through at least one of the evaporator core and the heater core to be discharged through the air discharge duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Steven Sawyer, Michael Steven Wallis, Charles Robert Stanton
  • Patent number: 10710425
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cooling arrangement that includes an air conditioning loop and a battery cooling loop connected together by a common chiller and arranged to cool each of cabin air and a battery. A coolant three-way proportional control valve is connected to the chiller and the battery. The control valve is configured to operatively control a capacity of the chiller for the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Jalilevand, Manfred Koberstein, Michael Steven Wallis
  • Patent number: 10639957
    Abstract: A vehicle cooling system for cooling a vehicle battery may include a cabin cooling system having an electrical compressor arranged on a first refrigerant path and driven by a vehicle electrical system to cool a vehicle cabin, a battery cooling system having a mechanical compressor arranged on a second refrigerant path and driven by a vehicle engine, and a battery chiller in communication with both refrigerant paths and configured to cool coolant provided to a vehicle battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Manfred Koberstein, Michael Steven Wallis, Alan Langley Moore, Simon Arnold
  • Patent number: 10644367
    Abstract: A battery thermal management system includes a passenger cabin air-conditioning refrigerant loop including at least one evaporator in fluid communication with a chiller and a battery pack coolant loop in fluid communication with the chiller. A controller is configured to determine whether a temperature of the at least one evaporator falls within a predetermined temperature range, and if so to cause a valve to bypass a refrigerant from the air-conditioning refrigerant loop to the chiller. Evaporator temperature is determined by providing at least one evaporator temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Jalilevand, Manfred Koberstein, Kenneth J. Jackson, Michael Steven Wallis, William Stewart Johnston
  • Patent number: 10562407
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a refrigerant loop with a specific arrangement of valves and evaporators or heat exchangers to reduce the number of valves necessary. The vehicle system includes a refrigerant loop that includes a first thermal expansion valve downstream of a condenser and upstream of a first evaporator. A second thermal expansion valve is downstream of the condenser and upstream of a second evaporator. A third thermal expansion valve is upstream of a battery chiller. This arrangement allows for the valves to be simplified such that none of the thermal expansion valve include a binary shut-off valve. A multi-flow position valve may be positioned at a location that combines the outlet of the first and second evaporators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Trent Greear Sutherland, Michael Steven Wallis
  • Publication number: 20190176643
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a refrigerant loop with a specific arrangement of valves and evaporators or heat exchangers to reduce the number of valves necessary. The vehicle system includes a refrigerant loop that includes a first thermal expansion valve downstream of a condenser and upstream of a first evaporator. A second thermal expansion valve is downstream of the condenser and upstream of a second evaporator. A third thermal expansion valve is upstream of a battery chiller. This arrangement allows for the valves to be simplified such that none of the thermal expansion valve include a binary shut-off valve. A multi-flow position valve may be positioned at a location that combines the outlet of the first and second evaporators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Trent Greear SUTHERLAND, Michael Steven WALLIS
  • Publication number: 20190009636
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cooling arrangement that includes an air conditioning loop and a battery cooling loop connected together by a common chiller and arranged to cool each of cabin air and a battery. A coolant three-way proportional control valve is connected to the chiller and the battery. The control valve is configured to operatively control a capacity of the chiller for the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Ali JALILEVAND, Manfred KOBERSTEIN, Michael Steven WALLIS
  • Publication number: 20180281556
    Abstract: A vehicle cooling system for cooling a vehicle battery may include a cabin cooling system having an electrical compressor arranged on a first refrigerant path and driven by a vehicle electrical system to cool a vehicle cabin, a battery cooling system having a mechanical compressor arranged on a second refrigerant path and driven by a vehicle engine, and a battery chiller in communication with both refrigerant paths and configured to cool coolant provided to a vehicle battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Manfred KOBERSTEIN, Michael Steven WALLIS, Alan Langley MOORE, Simon ARNOLD
  • Patent number: 10076944
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cooling arrangement that includes an air conditioning loop and a battery cooling loop connected together by a common chiller and arranged to cool each of cabin air and a battery. A coolant three-way proportional control valve is connected to the chiller and the battery. The control valve is configured to operatively control a capacity of the chiller for the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Jalilevand, Manfred Koberstein, Michael Steven Wallis
  • Publication number: 20180142693
    Abstract: A blower assembly includes a housing having an air inlet side and a scrolled wall, a motor having an output shaft extending within the housing, and an airflow outlet. A wheel is mounted to the output shaft for rotation within the housing and has a plurality of blades for creating an airflow along the scrolled wall. An inlet ring is supported by the air inlet side of the housing and includes a labyrinth seal portion to limit recirculation of air from the airflow. The labyrinth seal portion has an exterior surface along which ambient air entering the housing flows from a proximal end to a distal end, and a guide extends from the exterior surface downstream of the proximal end. The labyrinth seal portion may be hook shaped or otherwise dimensioned to the blade tip. The guide may extend from the distal end or from the exterior surface along a portion of the inlet ring. In another embodiment, the exterior surface of the labyrinth seal portion and an exterior surface of the guide may form a smooth curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Steven Sawyer, Michael Steven Wallis
  • Publication number: 20180097266
    Abstract: A battery thermal management system includes a passenger cabin air-conditioning refrigerant loop including at least one evaporator in fluid communication with a chiller and a battery pack coolant loop in fluid communication with the chiller. A controller is configured to determine whether a temperature of the at least one evaporator falls within a predetermined temperature range, and if so to cause a valve to bypass a refrigerant from the air-conditioning refrigerant loop to the chiller. Evaporator temperature is determined by providing at least one evaporator temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Ali Jalilevand, Manfred Koberstein, Kenneth J. Jackson, Michael Steven Wallis, William Stewart Johnston
  • Publication number: 20170217279
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cooling arrangement that includes an air conditioning loop and a battery cooling loop connected together by a common chiller and arranged to cool each of cabin air and a battery. A coolant three-way proportional control valve is connected to the chiller and the battery. The control valve is configured to operatively control a capacity of the chiller for the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Ali JALILEVAND, Manfred KOBERSTEIN, Michael Steven WALLIS
  • Patent number: 9702605
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a heater for a passenger cabin of a vehicle. In one example, fan speed of an evaporator cooling fan is adjusted to improve heating efficiency. In particular, fan speed is incrementally increased and maintained at the higher speed if output power of a compressor is reduced by more than an amount of power used to incrementally increase the fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Greiner, Michael Steven Wallis
  • Publication number: 20160332502
    Abstract: A vehicle HVAC system is described that comprises a front control interface, a rear control interface, and a climate controller. The front control interface may be manipulated by the driver in the front seat. Manipulating the front control interface controls the climate setting for both the front and rear areas of the vehicle. The rear control interface, located in the rear area of the vehicle, is accessible to be manipulated by a passenger seated in the rear area. The controller may be commanded to disable the front control interface and enable the rear control interface to control the climate setting for the rear area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: James ROLLINSON, Paul Bryan HOKE, Michael Steven WALLIS
  • Publication number: 20160243921
    Abstract: A vehicle ventilation system includes an inlet duct incorporating a poppet valve. The system also includes an evaporator core, a heater core, an air discharge duct and a blower. The blower moves air from the inlet duct through at least one of the evaporator core and the heater core to be discharged through the air discharge duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Steven Sawyer, Michael Steven Wallis, Charles Robert Stanton
  • Publication number: 20150158369
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a heater for a passenger cabin of a vehicle. In one example, fan speed of an evaporator cooling fan is adjusted to improve heating efficiency. In particular, fan speed is incrementally increased and maintained at the higher speed if output power of a compressor is reduced by more than an amount of power used to incrementally increase the fan speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Greiner, Michael Steven Wallis
  • Publication number: 20140338882
    Abstract: A vehicle climate control system is provided. The vehicle climate control system allows an occupant in the rear area of a vehicle to control the climate settings in the vehicle. It comprises a front climate interface, a rear climate interface, and a controller. When actuated, the controller disables the front climate interface and allows the rear climate interface to determine the climate settings. The controller is also operative to selectively restart a vehicle engine in order to reduce fuel consumption. The vehicle climate control system may be disabled when the engine is off and selectively enabled when the engine is operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Rollinson, Paul Bryan Hoke, Michael Steven Wallis
  • Publication number: 20120080173
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly having first and second heat exchangers having a tube-fin construction. The first heat exchanger is configured to cool a first fluid. The second heat exchanger has a first portion for cooling the first fluid and a second portion for cooling a second fluid. Cooling air passes through the first heat exchanger before passing through the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Manfred Koberstein, Noori Pandit, Mitali Chakrabarti, James Matthew Chisholm, Michael Steven Wallis, Kevin Williamson