Abstract: A working machine having a thermal management system with an energy distribution system to selectively transfer thermal energy between an operator structure and a hydraulic fluid, based on the relative values of an operator structure energy requirement and a hydraulic fluid energy requirement.

Abstract: A working machine comprising a hydraulic fluid circuit an operator structure and a thermal management system. The thermal management system connects an operator structure heater and a heat exchanger arranged to selectively remove heat energy from the hydraulic fluid circuit, so as to be capable transferring heat from the hydraulic fluid to the operator structure.

Abstract: A control unit for a climate control system for a vehicle, comprising; a monitoring module arranged to monitor at least one demand representative of an environmental parameter change within the vehicle and/or at least one active user input relating to an environmental parameter within the vehicle; a storage means storing a control policy for configuring at least one climate control element; a feedback module configured to receive the at least one demand from the monitoring module and to receive a simulated control policy from a simulation module; wherein the feedback module is configured to update the control policy, based on the simulated control policy, in response to receiving the at least one demand; and an implementation module for controlling said at least one climate control element in accordance with said control policy.

Abstract: A system (10) comprising: •means for determining the heat flux (12) from or to an occupant (14) of a seat (16); and •means for controlling heating means (18) and/or cooling means (20) in dependence upon determined heat flux (12) from or to the occupant of the seat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ventilation system 24 for a land vehicle 10. The ventilation system 24 comprises an inlet duct 26 for allowing exterior air to enter a cabin of the vehicle. The inlet duct 26 has a source port 38 located at an exterior of the vehicle 10 and the inlet duct 26 also has an exhaust port 40 located within a cabin of the vehicle 10. The ventilation system 24 has an outlet duct 28 for allowing interior air to exit the cabin of the vehicle 10. The outlet duct 28 has a source port 44 located within the cabin of the vehicle 10 and the outlet duct 28 also has an exhaust port 46 located at an exterior of the vehicle. The ventilation system 24 has an air propulsion element to cause selectively an airflow between the cabin interior and the vehicle exterior; wherein the source port 38 of the inlet duct 26 and the exhaust port 46 of the outlet duct 28 are collocated in a zone of substantially equivalent dynamic pressure, in-use.

Abstract: A control unit for a climate control system for a vehicle, comprising; a monitoring module arranged to monitor at least one demand representative of an environmental parameter change within the vehicle and/or at least one active user input relating to an environmental parameter within the vehicle; a storage means storing a control policy for configuring at least one climate control element; a feedback module configured to receive the at least one demand from the monitoring module and to receive a simulated control policy from a simulation module; wherein the feedback module is configured to update the control policy, based on the simulated control policy, in response to receiving the at least one demand; and an implementation module for controlling said at least one climate control element in accordance with said control policy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a windshield monitoring system, comprising; a windshield (104) for a vehicle (100); a plurality of light emitters (108) forming an array, each emitter (108) arranged to direct a beam of light into an edge of the windshield (104) at an angle of incidence arranged to subject the beam of light to total internal reflection at a windshield to air interface to propagate the beam of light across the windshield to an opposing edge thereof, and the angle of incidence being arranged to refract the light beam away from the windshield at a windshield to contaminant interface; the system comprising a light detector arranged to detect that light from the beam of light has been refracted away from the windshield; and wherein the emitters (108) are separated substantially across a length of the windshield (104).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a windshield monitoring system. The windshield monitoring system comprises; a windshield (114) and an emitter (122) arranged to emit a sound pulse to induce a surface acoustic wave (SAW) to a surface of the windshield (114). The windshield monitoring system also comprises a sensor (124) arranged to receive the surface acoustic wave from the windshield (114) and a detection module (130) arranged to detect the presence of surface contamination (120) by attenuation in intensity of the received wave compared to an expected wave.

Abstract: A vehicle arrangement (20) for thawing thermal energy from and/or rejecting thermal energy to a plurality of components in a vehicle, the arrangement comprising a heat-pump assembly (12) comprising a first heat-pump section (18) at a first temperature and a second heat-pump section (22) at a second temperature different from the first temperature, and a first thermal energy distribution path (26) for transporting a first carrier fluid and extending through at least a portion of the first heat-pump section (18), and a second thermal energy distribution path (28) for transporting a second carrier fluid and extending through at least a portion of the second heat-pump section (22).

Abstract: A beverage vessel holder (1) is described in which a thermo-electric device (2) including a Peltier effect element (4) provides heating and/or chilling effect to a beverage vessel (10) in use. Extending from the thermo-electric device (2) is a wall assembly (3) comprising an inner wall (6) and an outer wall (7) in a spaced relation such that there is a convection passage (8) therebetween. The thermo-electric device (2) being associated with the wall assembly (3) in order to stimulate convection air movement in the convection passage (8) and so disperse condensate wicked through the inner wall (6) from the beverage vessel (10). Thus, the inner wall (6) is generally made from a foam material in order to allow condensate transmission whilst the outer wall (7) provides a thermal insulation barrier for the holder (1).