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).
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Patent number: 10828960Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert Steven Sawyer, Michael Steven Wallis, Charles Robert Stanton
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Patent number: 10710425Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 7, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ali Jalilevand, Manfred Koberstein, Michael Steven Wallis
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Patent number: 10644367Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 4, 2016Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ali Jalilevand, Manfred Koberstein, Kenneth J. Jackson, Michael Steven Wallis, William Stewart Johnston
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Patent number: 10639957Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Manfred Koberstein, Michael Steven Wallis, Alan Langley Moore, Simon Arnold
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Patent number: 10562407Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Trent Greear Sutherland, Michael Steven Wallis
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Publication number: 20190176643Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2017Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Trent Greear SUTHERLAND, Michael Steven WALLIS
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Publication number: 20190009636Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: Ali JALILEVAND, Manfred KOBERSTEIN, Michael Steven WALLIS
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Publication number: 20180281556Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Manfred KOBERSTEIN, Michael Steven WALLIS, Alan Langley MOORE, Simon ARNOLD
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Patent number: 10076944Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 23, 2016Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ali Jalilevand, Manfred Koberstein, Michael Steven Wallis
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Publication number: 20180142693Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Robert Steven Sawyer, Michael Steven Wallis
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Publication number: 20180097266Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2016Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Ali Jalilevand, Manfred Koberstein, Kenneth J. Jackson, Michael Steven Wallis, William Stewart Johnston
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Publication number: 20170217279Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2016Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Ali JALILEVAND, Manfred KOBERSTEIN, Michael Steven WALLIS
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Patent number: 9702605Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Mark Greiner, Michael Steven Wallis
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Publication number: 20160332502Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: James ROLLINSON, Paul Bryan HOKE, Michael Steven WALLIS
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Publication number: 20160243921Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2015Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: Robert Steven Sawyer, Michael Steven Wallis, Charles Robert Stanton
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Publication number: 20150158369Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Mark Greiner, Michael Steven Wallis
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Publication number: 20140338882Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: James Rollinson, Paul Bryan Hoke, Michael Steven Wallis
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Publication number: 20120080173Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Manfred Koberstein, Noori Pandit, Mitali Chakrabarti, James Matthew Chisholm, Michael Steven Wallis, Kevin Williamson