Vehicle Installation Patents (Class 165/202)
  • Patent number: 11077739
    Abstract: In a vehicular air conditioning unit, an air conditioning case includes a space forming portion that forms a drainage space which is partitioned from an air passage. The space forming portion includes a drainage portion that discharges water from inside the air conditioning case to outside of the air conditioning case. Further, the space forming portion includes an upstream side communication portion that communicates the drainage space to an upstream side space on an air flow upstream side of the blower in the air passage. Further, the space forming portion includes a downstream side communication portion that communicates the drainage space to a downstream side space on the air flow downstream side of the blower in the air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Kobayashi, Yoshihiko Okumura, Yasuhiro Sekito, Shinya Kato
  • Patent number: 11065934
    Abstract: A heat pump system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a battery coolant line connected to a battery module. A cooling device selectively connected to the battery coolant line includes a radiator and a first water pump, to circulate a coolant therein. A first chiller is disposed in the battery coolant line and connected to a refrigerant line of an air conditioner to adjust a temperature of a coolant. A second chiller is selectively connected to the coolant line and selectively connected to the refrigerant line to increase a temperature of a coolant by selectively exchanging heat between the coolant and a refrigerant flowing into the second chiller. An integrated control valve is connected to the refrigerant line, the first connecting line, and the second connecting line to adjust a refrigerant flow direction and to selectively expand a refrigerant passing through the integrated control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kilwoo Lee, Dong Seok Oh
  • Patent number: 11065937
    Abstract: A heat system for an electric or hybrid vehicle may be operated in multiple operating modes. The heat system includes a cooling circuit having a cooling unit and a heating heat exchanger for heating the interior. The heating heat exchanger is parallel connected to the cooling unit, for forming a heating circuit. At least one heat source is arranged in the cooling circuit for heat output to the cooling circuit. The heat system may also include a refrigeration circuit for heat exchange with the cooling circuit by way of a capacitor, and an evaporator circuit, which can introduce heat to the refrigeration circuit by way of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Allgaeuer, Thomas Friedrich
  • Patent number: 11067342
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heat exchange. At a first point in time, in a thermal energy storing device, at least part of the previously accumulated thermal energy is discharged to a first fluid by heat exchange, and subsequently, at a second later point in time, when the first fluid has been heated to a temperature higher than the temperature of a second fluid, the second fluid receives heat energy by heat exchange with said first fluid which then circulates on the other side of a first wall that prevents the first and second fluids from mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Fabrice Chopard, Boris Chauvet
  • Patent number: 11059350
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an air conditioning unit, a first air duct, a second air duct, a recirculation duct, and a recirculation flap. The recirculation flap is closed in an air conditioning mode of the air conditioning unit, in which mode air which is heated or cooled by the air conditioning unit is to be discharged via the first and/or second vent into the occupant compartment of the vehicle, so that an air stream in the recirculation duct is blocked. The recirculation flap is open in a preconditioning mode, so that air which is heated or cooled by the air conditioning unit is circulated in a circuit which is formed at least by way of the air conditioning unit, the first air duct, the second air duct and the recirculation duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Juergen Glaesser
  • Patent number: 11052726
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for a vehicle in which an air-conditioning module having an air-conditioning case and a blower unit is disposed at a side of an engine room relative to a dash panel, and a distribution duct having a defrost vent, a face vent, and a floor vent is disposed in the interior of a vehicle relative to the dash panel so as to distribute cold air and hot air discharged from the air-conditioning case into the interior of the vehicle, wherein the floor vent is placed on one side of an area, in which a relatively large amount of hot air flows, in a mixing chamber of the distribution duct where cold air and hot air are mixed, i.e. a side adjacent to the dash panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Jae Chun Ryu, Chui Hee Kim, Tae Yong Park, Yong Nam Ahn, Young Hum Han, Joong Man Han, Yun Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 11041742
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a temperature-controlled enclosure for a sensing device comprising insulating air gaps, a fan, and a heatsink. The enclosure maintains the sensing device within a desired operating temperature range while operating in automotive environments with high ambient temperatures and solar radiation. The enclosure is configured to be securely affixed to an automobile interior and has a configuration of temperature-control systems which allows for unimpeded functioning of the sensing device's communications hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Douglas Baker, Srinivasa Rao Damaraju, Alfred Charles Jones, II, Marco Antonio Marroquin, Kevin Page
  • Patent number: 11040592
    Abstract: Climate control device for motor vehicle conveys and conditions inflowing air for a passenger compartment includes a housing with a diffuser, a mixing zone and at least two flow paths through which two flows can be conducted in parallel. A heating heat exchanger is disposed in a first flow path to heat an air mass subflow. A heat exchanger is provided for cooling and/or dehumidifying inflowing air. A bypass flow path is provided through which air can flow in parallel to a flow channel with the heat exchanger. At least one flow guide mechanism opens and closes the bypass flow path. flow channel and bypass flow path open out with outlet ports into mixing zone. Outlet port of a bypass flow path is developed for specific discharge of an air mass subflow into first flow path in proximity of an opening site of first flow path into a mixing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Christoph Capellmann, Evzi Duka, Thomas Ehlers
  • Patent number: 11027590
    Abstract: A method of controlling a temperature altering element within a seating assembly of a vehicle comprising: presenting a vehicle including a seating assembly including a temperature altering element, a controller in communication with the temperature altering element, the controller including a Pre-established Predictive Activation Model setting forth rules governing the activation of the temperature altering element as a function of data relating to Certain Identifiable Conditions, and a user interface configured to allow the temperature altering element to be manually activated or deactivated; occupying the seating assembly with a first occupant; collecting data relating to the Certain Identifiable Conditions while the first occupant is occupying the seating assembly; determining, by comparing the collected data to the rules of the Pre-established Predictive Activation Model, whether the collected data satisfies the rules of the Pre-established Predictive Activation Model so as to activate the temperature alt
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Ostrowski, Elizabeth Anne Manwell, William G. Herbert, Mohan John
  • Patent number: 11027588
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes an air conditioning case and a case interior member in the air conditioning case. The case interior member includes a tunnel member and a tunnel exterior guide wall. The tunnel member defines a tunnel channel therein and is arranged in a downstream space defined in an air conditioning case. The tunnel exterior guide wall is configured to guide an air to flow from a warm air passage to an outside of the tunnel channel. A first direction along which the tunnel exterior guide wall extends is closer to a direction, which is opposite to the one direction along which the air flowing from a cool air passage into the downstream space, as compared to a second direction along which the tunnel guide wall extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yohei Shimoyama
  • Patent number: 10981473
    Abstract: A motor vehicle, in particular a self-driving motor vehicle, has at least one vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat is constructed to be arranged at a selected position from a plurality of positions in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Saliger, Klaus Schuermanns, Jill Catherine Huptas, Jens Oberschelp, David Lostrek, Clemens Fock
  • Patent number: 10985391
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices of a cooling system for controlling air or liquid flow. The fluid system includes one or more actuators that control the air or liquid flow. The fluid system includes multiple interconnecting pipes that transport the air or liquid flow. Each pipe may have a mass flow for the air or liquid flow. The fluid system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to determine an initial mass flow of the air or liquid flow. The electronic control unit is configured to determine the mass flow for each pipe based on the initial mass flow. The electronic control unit is configured to predict a cooling capability of the air or liquid flow within each pipe and control the one or more actuators to regulate or control cooling of one or more components of the vehicle based on the predicted cooling capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jared Farnsworth, Daniel Folick
  • Patent number: 10960734
    Abstract: A vehicular cooling device includes: a main cooling system including a compressor, a condenser, a liquid receiver, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a first refrigerant flow line connecting the compressor and the condenser, a second refrigerant flow line connecting the condenser and the liquid receiver, a third refrigerant flow line connecting the liquid receiver and the expansion valve, a fourth refrigerant flow line connecting the expansion valve and the evaporator, and a fifth refrigerant flow line connecting the evaporator and the compressor; and a sub-cooling system for enabling the refrigerant to flow to including the liquid receiver, the third refrigerant flow line, the expansion valve, the fourth refrigerant flow line, the evaporator, and a pre-cooling means disposed between the evaporator and the compressor, an absorbent tank storing an absorbent and a sixth refrigerant flow line connecting the absorbent tank to the fifth refrigerant flow line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: JEJU NATIONAL UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Youn Cheol Park, Won Gee Chun, Kim Choon Ng
  • Patent number: 10954846
    Abstract: An engine cooling system includes: an engine system including an engine having a plurality of combustion chambers that generate a driving force by combustion of fuel; a power electronics (PE) device that assists engine torque of the engine system in accordance with a driving state of the vehicle; a main radiator connected to the engine system by an engine coolant line and discharging heat generated in the engine system by engine coolant flowing in the engine coolant line, a sub-radiator connected to the PE device through a PE coolant line and discharging heat generated in the PE device by PE coolant flowing in the PE coolant line; a 2-way valve connecting the engine coolant line and the PE coolant line to each other; and a controller for controlling opening and closing of the 2-way valve according to a temperature of the engine coolant and a vehicle driving condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jongwan Han, Danghee Park, Il Suk Yang, Yong Beom Park, Soo Hyung Woo, Yong Woong Cha, Soo Young Kwak
  • Patent number: 10953728
    Abstract: A three fluid phase change material (PCM) heat exchanger for a vehicle comprises (i) an intake air channel having a first set of fins disposed therein and configured to receive and output intake air prior to combustion by an engine of the vehicle, (ii) a PCM layer surrounding the intake air channel and configured to cool the intake air, the PCM layer comprising a second set of fins, a PCM fluid that expands when freezing, and a set of elastomeric devices are configured to compress to compensate for the PCM fluid expansion during freezing, and (iii) a refrigerant channel surrounding the PCM layer and configured to circulate a refrigerant to cool the PCM layer to a solid, frozen state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Eric M Lott
  • Patent number: 10946713
    Abstract: A heat circulation system for a vehicle includes: an energy supply circuit that supplies heat energy supplied from a heat source to at least a vehicle cabin heater or a battery heater and cooler; and an energy absorption circuit that supplies cold energy supplied from a heat pump mechanism to at least a vehicle cabin cooler or the battery heater and cooler. The heat circulation system for a vehicle further includes a water circulation circuit, and the water circulation circuit includes at least one of a first heat exchanger that generates hot water by exchanging heat with the energy supply circuit and a second heat exchanger that generates cold water by exchanging heat with the energy absorption circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidemi Seki, Christopher Lang
  • Patent number: 10946714
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle includes an electric motor, a power storage device, an air conditioner, a heat exchanger of a refrigerating cycle, a heater and a controller, the air conditioner includes an internal air suction port and the foot blowout port installed at a position close to the internal air suction port, and, when a remaining capacity of the power storage device exceeds a predetermined value, the controller operates the refrigerating cycle and the heater, and further, is switched to an internal air circulation in which conditioning air blown out of the foot blowout port is suctioned from the internal air suction port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hironori Shuto
  • Patent number: 10926604
    Abstract: An air conditioner for performing air-conditioning of an interior of a vehicle cabin includes a casing, an evaporator, a blower, a controller, and a cooling passage. The casing defines a ventilation passage through which air flows from an air introduction port toward an air outlet. The evaporator cools the air flowing through the ventilation passage. The blower is disposed on a downstream side with respect to the evaporator in the ventilation passage and generates an airflow in the ventilation passage. The controller controls an output from the blower. The cooling passage causes a position located on a downstream side with respect to the blower in the ventilation passage to communicate with a position located on an upstream side with respect to the evaporator in the ventilation passage. A controller is installed in the cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Kobayashi, Yoshihiko Okumura, Yasuhiro Sekito, Shinya Kato, Tetsuya Kono, Yuki Tsumagari, Kira Oiwa
  • Patent number: 10919364
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicle air-conditioning device in which cooperative work with a power source is appropriate, which is easy to follow when the power source is restarted, and which reduces a driving force of a compressor at the time of restarting the power source. The vehicle air-conditioning device is provided with a refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration cycle has a compressor that is driven by a power source which may stop temporarily. The refrigeration cycle provides a low temperature and/or a high temperature. A high-temperature system and/or a low-temperature system is provided as a thermal buffer. The refrigeration cycle is provided with electric expansion valves which can be fully closed. The vehicle air-conditioning device is also provided with a control device, which fully closes the electric expansion valves when the compressor is temporarily stopped and which controls the electric expansion valves to the previous opening position when the compressor is restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ariel Marasigan, Koji Miura, Yoshiki Kato
  • Patent number: 10919363
    Abstract: A remote air conditioning start system includes a terminal of a user, a center server that is configured to communicate with the terminal, and a vehicle that includes an air conditioner and is configured to communicate with the center server. The remote air conditioning start system includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a temperature condition is satisfied, and a controller configured to, after the air conditioner is started according to a start request that is transmitted from the terminal to the vehicle through the center server and that includes a set time for operating the air conditioner, when the determination unit determines that the temperature condition is satisfied, stop the air conditioner when the set time has elapsed from starting point that is set after the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Tamane, Masato Endo, Kenichi Murata
  • Patent number: 10906376
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a vehicle includes an engine cooling circuit that causes a heat medium to circulate through an engine, and an engine radiator that exchanges heat between the heat medium in the engine cooling circuit and outside air. The thermal management system for a vehicle further includes a switching device that switches between an independent mode in which the heat medium circulates respectively independently through a cooler cooling circuit and the engine cooling circuit, and a communication mode in which the cooler cooling circuit and the engine cooling circuit communicate with each other to cause the heat medium to flow between a chiller and the engine radiator; and a controller that controls an operation of the switching device to switch to the communication mode when a temperature of the heat medium in the engine cooling circuit is lower than a first heat-medium temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiko Enomoto, Nobuharu Kakehashi, Yasumitsu Omi
  • Patent number: 10899194
    Abstract: An air-conditioning control apparatus for a vehicle capable of unmanned driving includes a determining section that is configured to determine whether an occupant is in the vehicle and an output section that is configured to execute an air-conditioning control based on a determination result by the determining section. The output section is configured to execute the air-conditioning control based on ride schedule information indicating a length of time until an occupant rides in the vehicle when the vehicle is determined to be in an unmanned state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Sakai, Shinsuke Konishi, Hiromitsu Maehata
  • Patent number: 10889254
    Abstract: Provided is a steering wheel unit with which misdetections due to contact between a steering wheel and the thigh part of the legs of an overweight person can be avoided, and gripping (contact) by a hand can be accurately detected. In a contact sensor, the contact sensitivity [pF/mm2] of a prescribed area (an area including a blank portion on the side of a rim part of the steering wheel that is near a seat surface of a driver's seat when the vehicle is in a straight traveling state is set to be lower than the contact sensitivity of another area (an area comprising only a conductive part) of the rim part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shotaro Odate
  • Patent number: 10882376
    Abstract: An HVAC system including a front blower having a first front blower outlet and a second front blower outlet. The first front blower outlet and the second front blower outlet are arranged vertically relative to one another. A joint duct includes a first body portion and a second body portion. The first body portion includes a first duct inlet, which is connected to the first front blower outlet, and a first duct outlet. The second body portion includes a second duct inlet, which is connected to the second front blower outlet, and a second duct outlet. The first duct outlet and the second duct outlet are arranged horizontally relative to one another. An HVAC case defines a first inlet and a second inlet arranged horizontally relative to one another. The first duct outlet is connected to the first inlet, and the second duct outlet is connected to the second inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Reilly Mullett, Patrick Gannon, Hayato Asano, Jonathon Goodfellow
  • Patent number: 10875382
    Abstract: A waste heat utilization system for an electric vehicle having an electric motor and a battery may include a first cooling circuit in which a first coolant circulates and having arranged therein the electric motor, a first direct heat exchanger for discharging heat from the first coolant into surroundings of the system, and a first delivery device for driving the first coolant. The system may also include a second cooling circuit in which a second coolant circulates and having arranged therein the battery and a second delivery device for driving the second coolant. The system may also include an air conditioning circuit in which a working medium circulates, and having arranged therein a compressor, condenser, and evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Fahmi Ben Ahmed, Matthias Jung, Sascha Lindauer, Hans-Ulrich Steurer
  • Patent number: 10875381
    Abstract: Thermal management systems and methods for operation thereof are provided for allocating coolant flow in a vehicle. The thermal management system includes a cabin heat exchanger in fluidic communication with a heater and an energy storage device heat exchanger in fluidic communication with the heater. The thermal management system is designed to, in a first mode, flow heated coolant from the heater to the cabin heat exchanger in a first coolant loop and flow cooled coolant to the energy storage device heat exchanger from an energy storage device cooler in a second coolant loop temporarily separated from the first coolant loop and, in a second mode, flow heated coolant from the heater to the cabin heat exchanger and then to the energy storage device heat exchanger in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Schoeneman, Peter Rowling, Sixin Fan
  • Patent number: 10876778
    Abstract: A device to protect a compressor against liquid flooding, oil heater malfunction, low refrigerant charge, high superheat. The system includes a device that measures two temperatures separated by a heat source (the electric compressor or the suction heat exchanger or both). The temperature difference can detect a liquid return to the compressor, a high superheat, a low refrigerant charge or a crankcase heater malfunction and the temperature difference can control the electronic expansion valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: EMILIE ELIE KFOURT ASWAD
    Inventor: Emilie Elie Kfoury Aswad
  • Patent number: 10870326
    Abstract: An air conditioning system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes a condenser configured to receive refrigerant output by an electric compressor and transfer heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser. A first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a first control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator. A first blower is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle. A second evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a second control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator. A second blower is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn W. Vehr, Joseph James Rozsnaki
  • Patent number: 10828958
    Abstract: Sun load on a cabin of a vehicle is determined without a sun load sensor by affixing a relative humidity/temperature sensor to an inside of a windshield of the vehicle. The relative humidity/temperature sensor includes a relative humidity sensor that senses relative humidity of air at the relative humidity sensor, a temperature sensor that senses temperature of the air at the relative humidity sensor and a glass temperature sensor that senses temperature of glass of the windshield. A controller determines the sun load based on readings from the relative humidity/temperature sensor of relative humidity of the air at the relative humidity sensor, temperature of the air at the relative humidity sensor and temperature of the glass of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Allan A Flanagan
  • Patent number: 10821808
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system including an HVAC assembly, a set of pins, mode doors, a mode plate, an actuator, and an HVAC control module. The mode doors control airflow from the HVAC assembly. A position of each mode door is controlled by a corresponding pin of the set of pins. The mode plate includes (i) a set of grooves, (ii) a first adjustment path and (iii) a second adjustment path. The first adjustment path causes a first pin of the set of pins to move toward a center. The second adjustment path causes the first pin to move away from the center of the mode plate. An HVAC module selectively actuates the actuator to causes the mode plate to rotate in at least one of a passive direction and the active direction in response to receiving a mode request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Preston Moore
  • Patent number: 10814698
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning device which is capable of inhibiting liquid return to a compressor and generation of noise due to bumping in an accumulator. There are executed a heating mode to close a solenoid valve 17, open a solenoid valve 21, let a refrigerant from a compressor 2 radiate heat in a radiator 4, decompress the refrigerant through an outdoor expansion valve 6, let the refrigerant absorb heat in an outdoor heat exchanger 7, and send the refrigerant to an accumulator 12, and a dehumidifying and cooling mode to open the solenoid valve 17, close the solenoid valve 21, decompress the refrigerant through an indoor expansion valve 8, let the refrigerant absorb heat in a heat absorber, and send the refrigerant to the accumulator. When shifting from the heating mode to the dehumidifying and cooling mode, the solenoid valve 21 is opened for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SANDEN AUTOMOTIVE CLIMATE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ishizeki, Kazuki Sekiguchi, Kohei Yamashita, Ryo Miyakoshi
  • Patent number: 10814695
    Abstract: A method for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system of an autonomous vehicle includes determining a vehicle operating status and operating the HVAC system according to the determined vehicle operating status. A control module comprising a sensor array and at least one controller operatively coupled to the sensor array and to the HVAC system controls operation of the HVAC system according to the determined vehicle operating status. The vehicle operating status is selected from one of vehicle occupied-in use, vehicle unoccupied-use requested, and vehicle unoccupied-standby. The HVAC system is operated at an operating setting providing a reduced energy consumption in a vehicle whose operating status is vehicle unoccupied-standby. The reduced energy consumption operating setting is determined according to a constant offset value or according to a variable offset value determined by inputs provided by the sensor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Jackson
  • Patent number: 10787183
    Abstract: A railway vehicle air conditioning management system according to the present invention includes a railway vehicle air-conditioning device installed in a railway vehicle, having a refrigerant circuit configured by including at least a compressor, a heat source side heat exchanger, a decompression device and a load side heat exchanger, and air-conditions an inside of the railway vehicle by circulating refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, and a management device having a recording device in which vehicle air conditioning data including data showing operating states of the railway vehicle air-conditioning devices in a plurality of the railway vehicles are recorded, the railway vehicle air-conditioning device performs a special operation of operating in a pattern set in advance, in a state without humans in the railway vehicle, and the management device causes the recording device to record the vehicle air conditioning data including data showing the operating state in the special operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasutaka Ochiai
  • Patent number: 10759253
    Abstract: An air handling system (1) for a land transport vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle (M) is disclosed. The system includes: one or more air handling units (2) distributed within the vehicle (M); a cooling machine (4) that supplies frigories to the air handling units; and a frigories storage unit (8) that is capable of being loaded by the cooling machine and of supplying frigories to the air handling units when the vehicle is travelling in an enclosed or partially enclosed space. When the vehicle (M) is travelling in the open air, the cooling machine (4) supplies frigories to the air handling units (2) and loads the frigories storage unit (8) if a surplus of frigories is produced, by discharging into the exterior of the vehicle (M) the heat extracted from an interior volume of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies
    Inventors: Rami Abou-Eid, Philippe Chevalier, Alexandre Heuze
  • Patent number: 10744852
    Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioning device includes a blowing port mode door as an air volume regulator that regulates volumes of air-conditioning air blown to a driver seat area, a front passenger seat area, and a rear seat area inside a vehicle compartment, and an air-conditioning controller activated by an activation signal outputted from a body controller in response to opening and closing of a rear seat door during a stoppage of a vehicle system. The air-conditioning controller is capable of operating an actuator for driving the blowing port mode door to blow the air-conditioning air to the rear seat area when an activation switch of the vehicle system is turned on in a state where the air-conditioning control unit has been activated by the activation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Wakisaka, Kazuya Nishiuma, Toshinao Aoki, Yoshinori Ichishi, Takayuki Shimauchi, Makoto Inoue, Daisuke Setoguchi, Yoshinori Okuno, Tatsuru Tanaka, Kazuaki Shingo
  • Patent number: 10737548
    Abstract: The interior member includes a base material part and a skin part disposed on one surface side of the base material part. The skin part is provided with an air passage part through which air that is temperature-adjusted to a predetermined temperature passes. The air passage part has a passing resistance member (a knitted fabric part that gives passing resistance to the air passing through the air passage part. Also, the air that is temperature-adjusted may be distributed from air sent out from an air conditioner installed in a vehicle, a building, or the like. Further, examples of the passing resistance member include three-dimensional knitted fabrics (such as a double raschel knitted fabric or a circular knitted fabric) and nonwoven fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryo Yamane, Yoshiaki Toumasu
  • Patent number: 10730365
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing cooling to vehicle systems on an autonomous vehicle from a plurality of cooling sources are provided. A cooling system can include a thermal interface configured to provide cooling to one or more vehicle systems of the autonomous vehicle, a plurality of cooling sources coupled to the thermal interface, and a controller configured to control each cooling source to provide a respective cooling to the thermal interface to meet a total cooling parameter for the one or more vehicle systems. Each cooling source can be configured to provide a respective cooling capacity to the thermal interface. The thermal interface can be configured to receive the respective cooling provided by each of the cooling sources. The thermal interface can be further configured to provide the respective cooling received by each of the cooling sources to the one or more vehicle systems to meet the total cooling parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: David Patrick Rice
  • Patent number: 10717337
    Abstract: A heat pump system for a vehicle may include a battery cooling line that is connected with a battery module and in which coolant moves; a chiller that is connected with the battery cooling line through a first connection line to adjust a temperature of coolant by selectively exchanging a heat of a refrigerant and coolant injected therein and that is connected with a refrigerant line of an air-conditioner device through a second connection line; an electric unit device cooler including a radiator and a first water pump that are connected through a cooling line to circulate coolant for cooling a motor and an electronic unit and that is selectively connectable with the battery cooling line and the first connection line through a first valve; and a bypass line selectively connecting the second connection line and the refrigerant line through a second valve provided in the refrigerant line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Yeon Kim, Yeon Ho Kim, Myunghwan Kim, Wan Je Cho
  • Patent number: 10704466
    Abstract: Vehicles, such as aircraft, may include turbine-based combined cycle power plants (TBCC) for power to achieve high-mach speeds. Cooling systems for such TBCC may include a turbine-generator arranged to be driven for rotation by ambient air to reduce the temperature of the ambient air while providing electric power for use under cocooning of a primary gas turbine engine in favor of a scramjet engine during high-mach travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 10696140
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle including an engine, which serves as a power source and is configured to allow a cooling water to flow therethrough, includes a cooling water circuit, a heater, temperature sensors, and an output controller. The cooling water circuit allows the cooling water to circulate therein in a heating operation. The heater serves as a heat source, other than the engine, configured to heat the cooling water circulating in the cooling water circuit. The temperature sensors are connectable to the cooling water circuit and are configured to detect a temperature of the cooling water. The temperature sensors are positioned upstream and downstream of at least one of the engine and the heater. The output controller is configured to adjust at least an output of the heater based on the temperatures of the cooling water detected by the temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Okamoto, Takayuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10696127
    Abstract: Provided is a high-voltage equipment cooling system for electric-powered vehicles, which is capable of cooling high-voltage equipment (an IPU herein) at an optimum air flow rate without impairing the air-conditioning state of a vehicle interior. This high-voltage equipment cooling system is equipped with an IPU cooling ECU with a control unit, which controls the air flow rate of an IPU fan on the basis of information related to the air blowing method for the IPU, information related to the air flow rate of a blower fan, information related to the selection of inside air circulation mode or outside air introduction mode by an HVAC, information related to the selection of one of air blowing modes by the HVAC, and information related to the air flow rate to be supplied to the IPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shusei Terayama
  • Patent number: 10688966
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus for vehicle includes a control device which is configured to execute either a first processing or a second processing when a specific condition is satisfied until when a predetermined period of time elapses from start time of the predetermined period of time. The specific condition is satisfied when magnitude of a heat generation amount determination factor deviates from magnitude of the heat generation amount determination factor at the start time of the predetermined period of time by a predetermined value or more. The first processing is a processing to stop applying voltage to heating means until when the predetermined period of time elapses. The second processing is a processing to change a voltage application time based on magnitude of the heat generation amount determination factor at the time when the specific condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Oikawa
  • Patent number: 10677691
    Abstract: A system and method for sampling air in a controlled environment that includes two or more air sampling devices at different locations within the controlled environment. A controller is provided at a location outside of the controlled environment and in separate air flow communication with each of the two or more air sampling devices via separate first vacuum tubes, the controller having a manifold configured to separately control a rate of air flow from the two or more air sampling devices to the controller via each of the separate first vacuum tubes and to selectively direct the air flow from each of the separate first vacuum tubes to one or more second vacuum tubes. A vacuum source is provided at a location outside the controlled environment and in air flow communication with the controller via the one or more second vacuum tubes, the vacuum source providing suction and being controlled by the controller to generate the air flow through each of the first vacuum tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Veltek Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Rosario Sam Calio, Jeffrey Churchvara
  • Patent number: 10634402
    Abstract: A heat pump system for vehicle including a cooling apparatus, the cooling apparatus comprising a radiator and a first water pump connected to a coolant line, a battery module provided in a battery coolant line selectively connectable to the coolant line through a first valve, an air conditioner connected to the battery coolant line through a third valve, a second water pump and a cooler provided at the first connection line, a heating device connected to the battery coolant line through a fourth valve, a third water pump and a heater provided at the second connection line, and a centralized energy (CE) module connected to the coolant line and the first and second connection lines to supply coolant of low temperature to the air conditioner, to supply coolant of high temperature to the heating device, and to selectively heat-exchanging thermal energy generated upon condensing and evaporation of a refrigerant circulating inside the CE module with the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Yeon Kim
  • Patent number: 10626877
    Abstract: A method of controlling a cooling fan in a cooling system in a vehicle includes detecting presence/absence of abnormality in a communication state, measuring an output voltage level of an air-conditioner pressure transducer (APT) sensor when the abnormality in the communication state is detected, determining a cooling fan control condition based on the measured output voltage level, and controlling a cooling fan motor according to the determined cooling fan control condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Mun Soon Kwon, Jung Tae Cho
  • Patent number: 10584895
    Abstract: A heat utilizing apparatus includes a heat pump including a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, a first heat storage unit storing heat exchanged in the first heat exchanger, a second heat storage unit storing heat exchanged in the second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger exchanging heat with the first heat storage unit, a fourth heat exchanger exchanging heat with the second heat storage unit 8, a measurement unit measuring a heat storage amount of the first heat storage unit, a heat rejection unit reducing the heat storage amount of the first heat storage unit, a determination unit determining, in accordance with a measurement result of the measurement unit, whether to reduce the heat storage amount of the first heat storage unit and a heat storage amount of the second heat storage unit, and a control unit adjusting the amount of heat to be reduced through the heat rejection unit in accordance with a determination result of the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Ipposhi, Yoshikazu Yaji, Shunkei Suzuki, Toshio Shinoki
  • Patent number: 10578332
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes an evaporator coil and a metering device fluidly coupled to the evaporator coil. The HVAC system also includes a variable-speed circulation fan and a condenser coil fluidly coupled to the metering device. The HVAC system also includes a variable-speed compressor fluidly coupled to the condenser coil and the evaporator coil and a controller operatively coupled to the variable-speed compressor and the variable-speed circulation fan. The controller is configured to measure a speed of the variable-speed compressor, calculate a normal cooling Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM), measure a speed of the variable-speed circulation fan, and determine if the speed of the variable-speed circulation fan exceeds the normal cooling CFM. If the speed of the variable-speed circulation fan exceeds the normal cooling CFM, the HVAC controller adjusts a speed of at least one of the variable-speed compressor and the variable-speed circulation fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Rakesh Goel
  • Patent number: 10569616
    Abstract: A seat air-conditioning device is provided with an air blowout portion which is open so as to blow out air toward a seated occupant seated on a vehicle seat, the air being blown from a ventilator. A control device of the seat air-conditioning device causes a blowing direction changing device to change a blowing direction of the air blown our from the air blowout portion based on passenger information including a build and a sitting position of a passenger which is the seated occupant. Accordingly, air can be blown in a direction according to the build or the sitting position of the seated occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusuke Tanaka, Yasuhiko Niimi, Takahisa Fujii
  • Patent number: 10525794
    Abstract: There is disclosed an air conditioning device of a so-called heat pump system which efficiently and comfortably heats a vehicle interior. In a vehicle air conditioning device 1, a controller executes a heating mode in which a refrigerant discharged from a compressor 2 radiates heat in a radiator 4 and the refrigerant by which heat has been radiated is decompressed and then absorbs heat in an outdoor heat exchanger 7. The vehicle air conditioning device includes a heating medium circulating circuit 23 to heat air to be supplied from an air flow passage 3 into the vehicle interior, and the controller executes the heating by a heating medium-air heat exchanger 40 of the heating medium circulating circuit 23, when a heating capability by the radiator 4 runs short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Ryo Miyakoshi
  • Patent number: 10525789
    Abstract: Provided is an air-conditioning apparatus for a vehicle based on heat storage and cold storage. The apparatus includes a coolant supply unit supplying a first coolant circulating within a vehicle, a cooling unit repeatedly performing a cooling cycle using a refrigerant circulating though a first flow pipe unit, a hot/cold accumulation unit storing a second coolant of a preset capacity and communicating with the coolant supply unit through second flow pipe units, wherein the temperature of the second coolant is converted into a temperature capable of heating and accumulated in the hot/cold accumulation unit, the evaporator of the cooling unit is disposed within the hot/cold accumulation unit, and the temperature of the second coolant is converted into a temperature capable of cooling and accumulated in the hot/cold accumulation unit during the cooling cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Seong Hoon Kim