Abstract: A vehicle having a heating and cooling system includes a refrigerant loop for conveying refrigerant, a coolant loop for conveying coolant, a chiller configured to convey the refrigerant and the coolant, and a vessel coupled to the chiller and having a phase change material disposed in the vessel. The phase change material is configured to freeze via heat transfer from the phase change material to the refrigerant and melt via heat transfer from the coolant to the phase change material.

Abstract: A vehicle having a heating and cooling system includes a refrigerant loop for conveying refrigerant, a coolant loop for conveying coolant, a chiller configured to convey the refrigerant and the coolant, and a vessel coupled to the chiller and having a phase change material disposed therein. The phase change material is configured to freeze via heat transfer from the phase change material to the refrigerant and melt via heat transfer from the coolant to the phase change material.

Abstract: A structural support member for a vehicle includes a structural member, a battery chiller additively manufactured and disposed at least partially within the support member. The battery chiller includes a pair of spaced apart coolant chambers and a plurality of hollow pins extending between the pair of spaced apart coolant chambers such that the pair of spaced apart coolant chambers are in fluid communication with each other via the plurality of hollow pins. A refrigerant chamber can be included and be between the pair of spaced apart coolant chambers such that coolant fluid flows from one of the pair of spaced apart coolant chambers to another of the pair of spaced apart coolant chambers through the refrigerant chamber via the plurality of hollow pins.

Abstract: A method of forming a superhydrophobic layer on a motor vehicle heat exchanger housing includes the steps of flowing a precursor gas of a mixture of heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl, trimethoxysilane (HTMS) and a carrier gas into a reaction chamber and depositing the superhydrophobic layer on the motor vehicle heat exchanger housing by chemical vapor deposition. A heat exchanger having a heat exchanger housing with a superhydrophobic layer made by the chemical vapor deposition method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a superhydrophobic layer on a motor vehicle heat exchanger housing includes the steps of flowing a precursor gas of a mixture of heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl, trimethoxysilane (HTMS) and a carrier gas into a reaction chamber and depositing the superhydrophobic layer on the motor vehicle heat exchanger housing by chemical vapor deposition. A heat exchanger having a heat exchanger housing with a superhydrophobic layer made by the chemical vapor deposition method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A climate-control system for a vehicle includes a refrigerant subsystem having a chiller and an electronic expansion valve (EXV) arranged to selectively route refrigerant to the chiller. The vehicle further includes a coolant subsystem having conduit arranged to circulate coolant through a traction battery and the chiller. The coolant subsystem further includes a first temperature sensor configured to measure coolant circulating into an inlet side of the chiller and a second temperature sensor configured to measure coolant circulating out of an outlet side of the chiller. A vehicle controller is configured to, in response to the battery exceeding a threshold temperature and cabin air conditioning being requested, command opening of the EXV to a predetermined position and adjust the position based on a measured coolant temperature difference between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle having a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for heating and cooling a passenger compartment is provided. The vehicle may be described as including a CO2 loop positioned within an engine compartment, a coolant loop positioned at least partially within the passenger compartment, a first heat exchanger positioned within the engine compartment for transferring heat from a coolant within the coolant loop to a CO2 within the CO2 loop, a pump for moving the coolant within the coolant loop, a second heat exchanger within the coolant loop for heating or cooling an air temperature within the passenger compartment, and first and second valves for controlling movement of the coolant through the second heat exchanger and a heated coolant loop.

Abstract: A climate-control system for a vehicle includes a refrigerant subsystem having a chiller and an electronic expansion valve (EXV) arranged to selectively route refrigerant to the chiller. The vehicle further includes a coolant subsystem having conduit arranged to circulate coolant through a traction battery and the chiller. The coolant subsystem further includes a first temperature sensor configured to measure coolant circulating into an inlet side of the chiller and a second temperature sensor configured to measure coolant circulating out of an outlet side of the chiller. A vehicle controller is configured to, in response to the battery exceeding a threshold temperature and cabin air conditioning being requested, command opening of the EXV to a predetermined position and adjust the position based on a measured coolant temperature difference between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle having a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for heating and cooling a passenger compartment is provided. The vehicle may be described as including a CO2 loop positioned within an engine compartment, a coolant loop positioned at least partially within the passenger compartment, a first heat exchanger positioned within the engine compartment for transferring heat from a coolant within the coolant loop to a CO2 within the CO2 loop, a pump for moving the coolant within the coolant loop, a second heat exchanger within the coolant loop for heating or cooling an air temperature within the passenger compartment, and first and second valves for controlling movement of the coolant through the second heat exchanger and a heated coolant loop.

Abstract: A brazing furnace includes a housing defining an interior environment having an inlet and an outlet, a plurality of heating elements mounted within the housing and adapted to heat the interior environment to an elevated temperature, and a conveyor belt extending through the housing and supported on a plurality of driven rollers whereby an object placed upon the conveyor belt at the inlet is transported through the inlet into the interior environment and out through the outlet. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of interconnected metal links and a thermal barrier coating applied to the metal links, thereby insulating the metal links and restricting the amount of thermal energy that is absorbed by the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt moves through the interior environment.

Abstract: A brazing furnace includes a housing defining an interior environment having an inlet and an outlet, a plurality of heating elements mounted within the housing and adapted to heat the interior environment to an elevated temperature, and a conveyor belt extending through the housing and supported on a plurality of driven rollers whereby an object placed upon the conveyor belt at the inlet is transported through the inlet into the interior environment and out through the outlet. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of interconnected metal links and a thermal barrier coating applied to the metal links, thereby insulating the metal links and restricting the amount of thermal energy that is absorbed by the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt moves through the interior environment.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly that includes a tube having an internal surface and an external surface. An aluminum-based component is disposed adjacent to the tube, the aluminum-based component has an aluminum-based material that has a magnesium content that is above 0.3%, wherein the aluminum-based component is joined to the tube using a brazing flux applied during a controlled atmosphere brazing process.

Abstract: A gettering system for a CAB furnace includes a nitrogen gas source to supply a nitrogen gas to a controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) furnace and an active metal getter source disposed within the CAB furnace and being a sheet to remove oxygen and water vapor in the nitrogen gas, whereby heat exchangers are brazed during a controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) process in the CAB furnace.

Abstract: The invention is a method of forming a conversion coating on an aluminum surface. According to the method, the aluminum surface is conversion coated by first treating the surface with thermal degreasing or aqueous alkaline degreasing and then contacting the treated surface with an aqueous bath solution of KF. The concentration of KF in the solution is 2.0-25.0 wt. % and the temperature is 90-212° F. for at least 5 seconds.

Abstract: A detachable shoe wallet comprises a generally flat elongated body which is adapted to be folded over upon itself. The wallet is made of a double layer of nylon material and includes an inner pocket with a separate closure for securing small articles. The wallet also includes a plurality of longitudinally and laterally spaced eyelets for maintaining the wallet on the instep of a shoe.

Abstract: The invention involves a heat exchanger assembly comprising at least one aluminum based tube including magnesium, an aluminum based cladding, and at least one aluminum based component disposed adjacent the cladding. A brazing flux is applied to a joint between the cladding and the component to facilitate brazing in an ambient atmosphere. An aluminum based lithium enriched layer is disposed between the tube and the cladding to scavenge sufficient oxygen from the ambient atmosphere to form an effective barrier against the defusion of magnesium from the tube.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of making a braze sheet for a brazed assembly. The method includes the steps of providing a sheet of a core material and a composition cladding and mechanically embedding a flux into the sheet.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes at least one tube having an internal surface and an external surface, a composition cladding having at least lithium and magnesium applied to either one of the internal surface and external surface of the tube, and at least one component disposed adjacent the composition cladding, whereby the tube and component are joined together during a controlled atmosphere brazing process.

Abstract: An open-air brazing method for manufacturing an assembly including at least one aluminum based tube having an internal surface and an external surface, applying an Aluminum Association 4XXX aluminum based filler material to at least a portion of the external surface of the tube, disposing at least one aluminum based component adjacent the filler material, and applying a modified aluminum brazing flux to a joint between the at least one tube and the at least one component to form a precursor assembly, said brazing flux comprising cesium fluoride, lithium fluoride, or their mixture added into a potassium fluoaluminate flux in an amount of at least about 1% by weight of the modified flux. The method further comprises joining the at least one tube and at least one component together in an open-air brazing furnace whereby the temperature is raised from about 450.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C. in about 15 to 20 seconds.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly including at least one aluminum based tube having an internal surface and an external surface, an aluminum based lithium-magnesium composition cladding applied to either one of the internal surface and external surface of the tube, and at least one aluminum based component disposed adjacent the cladding, a modified aluminum brazing flux applied to a joint between the surface and one component. The modified aluminum brazing flux comprises cesium fluoride, lithium fluoride, or both. Preferably, the cladding further comprises cesium. To manufacture the heat exchanger assembly, the tube and component are joined together with flux applied in the area of the joint using a controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) process.