Patents by Inventor Sunil Katragadda

Sunil Katragadda 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: 11951799
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an electrified vehicle and a method for managing such a system, includes a coolant subsystem to cool a battery pack and a refrigerant subsystem. The coolant subsystem includes a battery chiller in fluid communication with a cooling system inlet to the battery pack. The refrigerant subsystem includes a chiller cooling subsystem to cool the battery chiller and a cabin cooling subsystem to cool a passenger cabin, wherein the chiller cooling subsystem and the cabin cooling subsystem are completely separate from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Sunil Katragadda, Ronald Richard Semel
  • Patent number: 11731482
    Abstract: This disclosure details integrated thermal management systems for thermally managing electrified vehicle components. Exemplary integrated thermal management systems may include a thermal module assembly that may be integrated into a front end structure of a flexible modular platform of the electrified vehicle. The integrated thermal management systems may be controlled in a plurality of distinct thermal control modes for thermal managing various subcomponents and for addressing various vehicle auxiliary loads (e.g., passenger cabin heating loads, passenger cabin cooling loads, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel C. Huang, Sunil Katragadda, Ravi Gopal, Clay Wesley Maranville, Christopher Mark Greiner
  • Publication number: 20230158854
    Abstract: This disclosure details integrated thermal management systems for thermally managing electrified vehicle components. Exemplary integrated thermal management systems may include a thermal module assembly that may be integrated into a front end structure of a flexible modular platform of the electrified vehicle. The integrated thermal management systems may be controlled in a plurality of distinct thermal control modes for thermal managing various subcomponents and for addressing various vehicle auxiliary loads (e.g., passenger cabin heating loads, passenger cabin cooling loads, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel HUANG, Sunil KATRAGADDA, Ravi GOPAL, Clay Wesley MARANVILLE, Christopher Mark GREINER
  • Patent number: 11578795
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regulating the temperature of rear axle lubrication oil. In one example, a rear axle coolant system may include a coolant loop with a plurality of valves and sensors, regulating the coolant flow in heat exchange relationship with an exhaust gas heat recovery and storage system to deliver warm coolant to a rear axle heat exchanger to warm the rear axle lubrication oil. The method may regulate the components of the rear axle coolant system through a controller, receiving sensor input from the components of the coolant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cary Cole, Sunil Katragadda, Phillip Bonkoski, David Karl Bidner, Michael Levin, Colby Jason Buckman, Danrich Henry Demitroff, Amey Y. Karnik, Furqan Shaikh
  • Patent number: 11541715
    Abstract: This disclosure details integrated thermal management systems for thermally managing electrified vehicle components. Exemplary integrated thermal management systems may include a thermal module assembly that may be integrated into a front end structure of a flexible modular platform of the electrified vehicle. The integrated thermal management systems may be controlled in a plurality of distinct thermal control modes for thermal managing various subcomponents and for addressing various vehicle auxiliary loads (e.g., passenger cabin heating loads, passenger cabin cooling loads, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel C. Huang, Sunil Katragadda, Ravi Gopal, Clay Wesley Maranville, Christopher Mark Greiner
  • Patent number: 11518212
    Abstract: Methods and system for operating a thermal storage device of a vehicle system are provided. In one example, a method comprises estimating a temperature of a thermal battery after the battery and coolant included therein have reached thermal equilibrium, and determining a state of charge of the battery based on the estimated temperature and one or more chemical properties of two phase change materials included within the battery. Specifically, the thermal battery may include two phase change materials with different melting points for providing thermal energy to warm coolant in a vehicle coolant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, W. Cary Cole, Phillip Bonkoski, Sunil Katragadda, Michael Levin
  • Publication number: 20220305877
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an electrified vehicle and a method for managing such a system, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first cooling circuit, a second cooling circuit, and a third cooling circuit. The first cooling circuit cools a battery pack and includes a battery chiller in fluid communication with a cooling system inlet to the battery pack. The second cooling circuit cools the battery chiller and includes at least a first compressor and a first condenser in fluid communication with the battery chiller. The third cooling circuit cools a passenger cabin and includes at least a second compressor and a second condenser, and wherein the third cooling circuit is independent of the second cooling circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Sunil Katragadda, Ronald Richard Semel
  • Patent number: 11456497
    Abstract: This disclosure details thermal management systems for thermally managing battery packs and other electric drive components of electrified vehicles. An exemplary thermal management system may include a battery cooling circuit and an e-drive cooling circuit. The e-drive cooling circuit may be fluidly connected to the battery cooling circuit by a combination of valves and coolant lines during or in anticipation of certain vehicle conditions, such as high load operating conditions, to augment cooling of electric drive components during the high load operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Sunil Katragadda, Ronald Richard Semel
  • Patent number: 11390137
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an electrified vehicle and a method for managing such a system, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first cooling circuit, a second cooling circuit, and a third cooling circuit. The first cooling circuit cools a battery pack and includes a battery chiller in fluid communication with a cooling system inlet to the battery pack. The second cooling circuit cools the battery chiller and includes at least a first compressor and a first condenser in fluid communication with the battery chiller. The third cooling circuit cools a passenger cabin and includes at least a second compressor and a second condenser, and wherein the third cooling circuit is independent of the second cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Sunil Katragadda, Ronald Richard Semel
  • Publication number: 20220097475
    Abstract: This disclosure details integrated thermal management systems for thermally managing electrified vehicle components. Exemplary integrated thermal management systems may include a thermal module assembly that may be integrated into a front end structure of a flexible modular platform of the electrified vehicle. The integrated thermal management systems may be controlled in a plurality of distinct thermal control modes for thermal managing various subcomponents and for addressing various vehicle auxiliary loads (e.g., passenger cabin heating loads, passenger cabin cooling loads, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel C. HUANG, Sunil KATRAGADDA, Ravi GOPAL, Clay Wesley MARANVILLE, Christopher Mark GREINER
  • Publication number: 20210213798
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an electrified vehicle and a method for managing such a system, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first cooling circuit, a second cooling circuit, and a third cooling circuit. The first cooling circuit cools a battery pack and includes a battery chiller in fluid communication with a cooling system inlet to the battery pack. The second cooling circuit cools the battery chiller and includes at least a first compressor and a first condenser in fluid communication with the battery chiller. The third cooling circuit cools a passenger cabin and includes at least a second compressor and a second condenser, and wherein the third cooling circuit is independent of the second cooling circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Sunil Katragadda, Ronald Richard Semel
  • Publication number: 20210184294
    Abstract: This disclosure details thermal management systems for thermally managing battery packs and other electric drive components of electrified vehicles. An exemplary thermal management system may include a battery cooling circuit and an e-drive cooling circuit. The e-drive cooling circuit may be fluidly connected to the battery cooling circuit by a combination of valves and coolant lines during or in anticipation of certain vehicle conditions, such as high load operating conditions, to augment cooling of electric drive components during the high load operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin MACKENZIE, Sunil KATRAGADDA, Ronald Richard SEMEL
  • Patent number: 10987994
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system and method of climate control for a fuel cell vehicle are provided herein. The system and method include a vacuum enclosure having an adsorber and an evaporator/condenser assembly. A conduit and valve system operates the air-conditioning system in two modes of operation to provide uninterrupted cooling to a passenger cabin, among other things. In one mode of operation, the adsorber is regenerated using waste heat from a fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Sunil Katragadda, Michael Levin, William Frederick Sanderson, Craig Winfield Peterson
  • Patent number: 10471803
    Abstract: Methods and system for operating a thermal storage device of a vehicle system are provided. In one example, a method comprises estimating a temperature of a thermal battery after the battery and coolant included therein have reached thermal equilibrium, and determining a state of charge of the battery based on the estimated temperature and one or more chemical properties of two phase change materials included within the battery. Specifically, the thermal battery may include two phase change materials with different melting points for providing thermal energy to warm coolant in a vehicle coolant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, W. Cary Cole, Phillip Bonkoski, Sunil Katragadda, Michael Levin
  • Publication number: 20190331209
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regulating the temperature of rear axle lubrication oil. In one example, a rear axle coolant system may include a coolant loop with a plurality of valves and sensors, regulating the coolant flow in heat exchange relationship with an exhaust gas heat recovery and storage system to deliver warm coolant to a rear axle heat exchanger to warm the rear axle lubrication oil. The method may regulate the components of the rear axle coolant system through a controller, receiving sensor input from the components of the coolant system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Cary Cole, Sunil Katragadda, Phillip Bonkoski, David Karl Bidner, Michael Levin, Colby Jason Buckman, Danrich Henry Demitroff, Amey Y. Karnik, Furqan Shaikh
  • Patent number: 10408333
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regulating the temperature of rear axle lubrication oil. In one example, a rear axle coolant system may include a coolant loop with a plurality of valves and sensors, regulating the coolant flow in heat exchange relationship with an exhaust gas heat recovery and storage system to deliver warm coolant to a rear axle heat exchanger to warm the rear axle lubrication oil. The method may regulate the components of the rear axle coolant system through a controller, receiving sensor input from the components of the coolant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cary Cole, Sunil Katragadda, Phillip Bonkoski, David Karl Bidner, Michael Levin, Colby Jason Buckman, Danrich Henry Demitroff, Amey Y. Karnik, Furqan Shaikh
  • Publication number: 20190263220
    Abstract: Methods and system for operating a thermal storage device of a vehicle system are provided. In one example, a method comprises estimating a temperature of a thermal battery after the battery and coolant included therein have reached thermal equilibrium, and determining a state of charge of the battery based on the estimated temperature and one or more chemical properties of two phase change materials included within the battery. Specifically, the thermal battery may include two phase change materials with different melting points for providing thermal energy to warm coolant in a vehicle coolant system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, W. Cary Cole, Phillip Bonkoski, Sunil Katragadda, Michael Levin
  • Patent number: 10388971
    Abstract: Fuel-cell thermal management systems and control schemes therefore are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may include a fuel-cell stack, a heat-exchanger, a thermal battery including a material having a melting temperature of 50-120° C., a first coolant loop including the fuel-cell stack and the thermal battery and excluding the heat-exchanger, and a second coolant loop including the fuel-cell stack, the thermal battery, and the heat-exchanger. The first and second coolant loops may be configured to heat and cool the fuel-cell stack, respectively. The system may include a controller or processor configured to direct coolant to transfer heat from the thermal battery to the fuel-cell stack based on a negative heat rejection status of the fuel-cell stack and to transfer heat from the fuel-cell stack to the thermal battery based on a positive heat rejection status of the fuel-cell stack when the thermal battery is below a target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Sunil Katragadda, W. Cary Cole, Colby Jason Buckman, Phillip Bonkoski
  • Publication number: 20190111758
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system and method of climate control for a fuel cell vehicle are provided herein. The system and method include a vacuum enclosure having an adsorber and an evaporator/condenser assembly. A conduit and valve system operates the air-conditioning system in two modes of operation to provide uninterrupted cooling to a passenger cabin, among other things. In one mode of operation, the adsorber is regenerated using waste heat from a fuel cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Sunil Katragadda, Michael Levin, William Frederick Sanderson, Craig Winfield Peterson
  • Patent number: 10161290
    Abstract: An engine cooling system is provided with an internal combustion engine defining a head cooling jacket and a block cooling jacket in a split flow configuration. A first thermostat is positioned at an outlet of the block cooling jacket and configured to control coolant flow therethrough. A second thermostat is positioned to receive coolant flow from the first thermostat and the head cooling jacket. The first and second thermostats are in a thermostat assembly within a housing. In response to coolant temperature being below a first threshold, a first and a second thermostat downstream of the engine in a thermostat assembly are closed such that coolant flows through a head jacket and the thermostat assembly to a pump, and such that coolant in the head jacket entrains a trickle flow of coolant from a block jacket through an interbore cooling passage, thereby cooling an interbore region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford E. Maki, Sunil Katragadda, Ravi Gopal, Peter Kanefsky, Jeffrey A. Mullins, Lloyd E. Stanley, Jr.