With Vehicle Feature Patents (Class 165/41)
  • Publication number: 20080314075
    Abstract: A collection container for a heat exchanger, in particular for a refrigerant condenser of a motor vehicle, the collection container having at least one inlet opening for a fluid, in particular refrigerant, and the collection container having at least one outlet opening for the fluid, in which in addition the outer jacket of the collection container limits a cross-sectional surface of the internal chamber in each of a number of cross-sections regarded perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the collection container, and in which the surface content of these cross-sectional surfaces of the internal chamber limited by the outer jacket has different sizes in at least two cross-sections situated at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the collection container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Gerrit Wolk, Markus Pflieger, Siegfried Tews
  • Publication number: 20080314551
    Abstract: A steering wheel having a central hub connected by at least one spoke to a rim. The steering wheel comprises at least one heat pipe within the rim. The heat pipe is thermally isolated from any external cooling arrangement and is configured to transfer heat from a first region of the rim to another region of the rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Frederic Tarte, Pascal Lemasson
  • Patent number: 7464700
    Abstract: A system for cooling charge air from a turbo- or supercharger and exhaust gas recirculated from an exhaust gas recirculation valve in an internal combustion engine. The system includes a radiator and parallel charge air and exhaust gas heat exchanger units, the charge air heat exchanger unit having aluminum tubes and fins for air cooling the charge air, and the exhaust gas heat exchanger unit having stainless steel tubes and fins. The charge air heat exchanger and the exhaust gas heat exchanger units are each disposed adjacent the radiator, on the same or opposite sides. Alternatively, there is provided a pair of combined charge air cooler and exhaust gas cooler heat exchanger units, with a first heat exchanger unit having stainless steel tubes and fins, and a second heat exchanger unit having aluminum tubes and fins. The heat exchanger units are disposed on opposites sides of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Proliance International Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Kolb
  • Patent number: 7464748
    Abstract: An intercooler system includes an air duct configured to be supplied with outside air, an evaporator, and a heater core of an air-conditioning system being disposed within the air duct. An intercooler is supplied with the outside air from the air duct and configured to cool intake air passing therethrough using the outside air. A valve unit regulates flow of the outside air such that the outside air passes at least one of the evaporator and the heater core and is then supplied to the intercooler. Also, a control unit controls operation of the air-conditioning system and the valve unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Joon Suk Lee
  • Patent number: 7458414
    Abstract: Improvement, in hydraulic systems, such as for vehicle transmissions and the like, in the form of a hydraulic reservoir with integrated heat exchanger having fluid supply/return and fluid return ports, including a central section, having inner and outer shell portions with a first gap therebetween, the outer shell being provided with a plurality of radially-spaced, external cooling fins, longitudinally-directed for the length of the central section; the ends of the latter being closed off via respective bottom and top cap portions, thereby defining a central fluid cavity, the top cap portion having spaced outer and inner cap portions, with a second gap therebetween, with a fluid inlet port, in the outer cap portion, directing incoming fluid from the second gap into and through the entire length of the first gap before entering the central fluid cavity, thereby maximizing heat transfer from the fluid via the plurality of cooling fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew H. Simon
  • Publication number: 20080289794
    Abstract: An air permeable protective camouflage screen is mounted in front of the air-intake side of a vehicle heat exchanger. The screen includes substantially horizontal and vertical intersecting walls, forming a plurality of apertures. The screen has at least two zones with apertures of different shapes for controlling air flow through the screen into the heat exchanger. The zones are oriented to allow relatively more air to pass into the first section of the heat exchanger having higher temperatures than the second section. The screen may include flaps mounted to the horizontal walls by living hinges, the flaps being disposed in the apertures when in a neutral closed position, being pivotable to allow air flow through the screen. The screen is substantially opaque when the flaps are in the neutral closed position, further camouflaging the heat exchanger, and the screen is made of non-corrosive material such as an organic polymeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Frank Joseph Leitch, Brian J. Coyle, Robert Charles Gmerek
  • Patent number: 7455100
    Abstract: A cooling system for a work machine is disclosed. The cooling system has a heat exchanger pivotally connected along a pivot axis. The cooling system also has a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit is connected to a first end of the heat exchanger at the pivot axis. The second fluid conduit is connected to the heat exchanger at a second end opposite the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David D. Tallon
  • Patent number: 7455136
    Abstract: A cooling system dedicated to cooling the vehicle components located in the rearward portion of a vehicle is provided. The rear-dedicated cooling system operates independently of any cooling systems located in a frontward portion of the vehicle. The rear-dedicated cooling system may be subdivided into high temperature and low temperature cooling circuits. A method of cooling a vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Pleune, David A. Young, Gregory A. Major
  • Publication number: 20080283214
    Abstract: A cooler block for an agricultural tractor comprising a cooler assembly mounted on a radiator and coupled to the radiator by upper and lower linkages. The cooler assembly can be moved between a first position in which the cooler assembly lies parallel to the radiator and a second position in which the cooler assembly is inclined relative to the radiator. The cooler assembly is pivotable about a pivot in the upper linkage that is itself movable relative to the radiator. The lower linkage allows the entire cooler assembly to rise and the pivot of the upper linkage to move away from the radiator as the cooler assembly is pivoted from the first to the second position. A detent is incorporated into one of the two linkages to retain the cooler assembly in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA, LLC
    Inventors: William P. Starkey, Timothy Oldland, Todd Richard
  • Publication number: 20080264600
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for conveying a cooling air flow for at least one heat exchanger, especially for motor vehicles. Said apparatus comprises a fan frame (1) with a frame opening (2), a fan wheel (4) that revolves in the frame opening, and a fan drive unit with a fan control device (6) which is disposed in the peripheral zone of the frame opening (2) and can be cooled by means of a cooling member (7). At least one part of the cooling member (7) is arranged radially outside the frame opening (2) and can be impinged upon by a secondary flow (N) of the cooling air flow (L).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: BEHR GmbH & co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Bielesch, Benjamin Schweizer, Michael Spieth, Ulrich Vollert
  • Publication number: 20080257525
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal control apparatus which comprises a base plate associated with a target object in a heat-exchangeable manner therebetween, at least one heat-exchange paddle attached to the base plate in such a manner as to be selectively deployed and retracted, paddle drive means provided at an end of the base plate and adapted to drive a deployment movement and a retraction movement of the heat-exchange paddle so as to change an angle of the heat-exchange paddle, and a heat transport element provided to connect the base plate and the heat-exchange paddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
    Inventors: Akira Ohnishi, Hosei Nagano
  • Publication number: 20080251235
    Abstract: An efficient thermal management system (100) that utilizes a single heat exchanger (133) is provided. A refrigeration subsystem (103) cools the heat exchanger (133). A first coolant loop (139) in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (133) is used to cool the energy storage system (137). A second coolant loop (151) corresponding to the HVAC subsystem (107) is also in thermal communication with the heat exchanger (133). Preferably a third coolant loop (109) corresponding to the drive motor cooling subsystem (101) is coupleable to the HVAC coolant loop (151), thus providing an efficient means of providing heat to the HVAC subsystem (107).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Telsa Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Peng Zhou
  • Patent number: 7434608
    Abstract: An air-blowing unit includes a blower unit including an irreversible fan, a first blower-side duct connected to an inlet port of the blower unit, a second blower-side duct connected to an air discharge port of the blower unit, a first air opening-side duct including a first air opening, a second air opening-side duct including a second air opening, and an air passage switching device disposed between the blower-side ducts and the air opening-side ducts. The air passage switching device switches air passage connection between the blower-side ducts and the air opening-side ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohide Shindo, Takahiro Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 7434746
    Abstract: A heating device, particularly for a vehicle, includes a burner for producing combustion heat, and also a heat exchanger for transferring combustion heat produced in the burner to a medium to be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: J. Eberspächer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Patric Schlecht, Andreas Collmer, Günter Gerlach
  • Patent number: 7431639
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning unit includes a plurality of doors for opening and closing an air passage within a unit case, and a link mechanism. The link mechanism has levers fixed to rotary shafts of the doors, respectively, to rotate with the rotary shafts of the doors, a base fixed to the unit case, and a main link rotatably or slidably supported on the base, being engaged with the levers for rotating the levers when driven by a driving means. The levers and the main link are disposed between the base and the unit case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Sho Enomoto, Yoshinobu Tsuihiji
  • Publication number: 20080236783
    Abstract: To enable the close arrangement of right and left cooling fans that are common to each other and rotate in the same direction. A radiator is disposed forward of an engine, is horizontally lengthwise and is formed such that the center thereof bends to protrude rearward. A pair of right and left cooling fans is provided on the rear surface of the radiator. The left and right cooling fans have the same specifications, rotating in the same direction. A support plate is provided to surround the cooling fans, that is, to close left and right sides of, the upper side of and the rear of the cooling fans and open the lower side thereof. A partition portion is formed to project from the center of a rear wall to partition between the left and right cooling fans. Thus, the adjacent cooling fans can be prevented from interfering with each other and can be arranged close to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Kenji MORITA, Shota Suzuki, Atsushi Kusuda
  • Publication number: 20080236782
    Abstract: A system for dissipating heat from a semiconductor board includes a first substrate including an opening formed therein, a second substrate attached to a surface of the first substrate, and a microchip positioned in the opening and bumped to the second substrate. The system further includes a heat sink directly adhered to the microchip. A method of manufacturing a heat dissipating semiconductor board includes forming an opening in a first substrate and positioning a microchip in the opening. The method further includes directly adhering the microchip to a heat sink, bonding the microchip to a second substrate and boding a surface of the first substrate to the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: TEMIC AUTOMOTIVE OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Iyad Alhayed, Gerry Bianco
  • Publication number: 20080236781
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger, particularly a charge-air cooler for motor vehicles, comprised of a heat exchanger block (1), which is formed by flat tubes (2) and corrugated fins (3), and of collecting receptacles that communicate with the flat tubes (2). The flat tubes (2) can be flowed through by a medium to be cooled, and the corrugated fins (3) can be flowed around by ambient air. The invention provides that the flat tubes (2) are arranged in a row and have a depth T, which is measured in the direction of air flow L and which ranges from 70?T?120 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Daniel Hendrix, Joachim Kopp, Jurgen Wegner
  • Patent number: 7426909
    Abstract: A cooling system for a machine is provided. The machine has an operator compartment, a front end, and an engine cooled by a first heat exchanger and mounted within an engine compartment. The engine compartment is positioned behind the operator compartment in relation to the front end. A fan is mounted within the engine compartment and has an inlet and a first and a second outlet. A second heat exchanger is fluidically coupled to the fan and the engine and mounted within the engine compartment. A first fluid flow path extends from ambient to the inlet. A second fluid flow path extends from the first outlet to ambient and extends through the second heat exchanger. A third fluid flow path extends from the second outlet to ambient and extends through the first heat exchanger, and is thermally isolated from the second fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: William J. Keane, Andy J. Stough, Robert Miller, John E. Preble, Allen J. Meek, Darryl W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20080223319
    Abstract: Problem: To improve a soundproof performance on an air intake side of a cooling structure of a construction machine without enlarging an air intake chamber. Solution: An air intake chamber (16) is provided on the air intake side of a heat exchanger (15) in an engine room (12), and a first air intake port (17) is formed in a top face of the air intake chamber (16). In the air intake chamber (16), a duct (18) independently formed as a shield member is disposed so as to partition the air intake chamber (16) into two chambers (16a), (16b), and also in a manner such that the core surface (15a) of the heat exchanger (15) is enclosed airtightly from the surrounding atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2005
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Nakashima, Tomoya Taniuchi, Yasumasa Kimura, Shinichi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7418994
    Abstract: A one piece fan shroud for a tractor has first and second faces, a frame with top, left and right sides, a bottom, and an upper wall extending from the top of the frame. The upper wall, left and right sides of the fan shroud are dimensioned to match the internal geometry and seal with an internal surface of a tractor hood. A rubber seal may extend around the upper wall and the left and right sides of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Mark David Evans, Marlin Lavon Goodnight, Timothy Leopold Lessard
  • Publication number: 20080202722
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air-conditioning system for a motor-driven vehicle, having a refrigerant circuit (20) with a plurality of heat exchangers (4, 24) through which a refrigerant can be conducted for an exchange of heat with the air which flows through them, with it being possible for the heat exchangers (4, 24) to be operated as heaters or as evaporators as a function of the operating state of the air-conditioning system, and at least one third heat exchanger (16) is provided in the refrigerant circuit (20), which third heat exchanger (16) serves for an exchange of heat with a coolant circuit (13) which is formed separately from the refrigerant circuit (20). The vehicle can be both a motor vehicle and also a fuel-cell-driven vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Gunther Feuerecker, Karl Lochmahr, Frank Muller, Dirk Neumeister, Thomas Strauss, Marcus Weinbrenner, Richard Obradovich, Gunnar Schlinke, Christophe Schmittheisler
  • Patent number: 7416138
    Abstract: The present invention relates to distribution of conditioned air from automotive HVAC units, in particularly, distribution systems having both front and rear components. In particular, the present invention improves the temperature characteristics of the rear floor area of distribution in the cockpit, cab or passenger compartment, in a variety of temperature modes. By providing for a valving or closing off means on a rear distribution door, regulation and adjustment of the stratification and temperature of air reaching the rear, and especially, the rear floor area of the cockpit, cab or passenger compartment, is achieved by blocking or closing off a channel between the heater core area of the HVAC and the distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth H Ellison, Eugene M. Kozak, Steven B. Marshall, Paul H. Carlson
  • Patent number: 7398745
    Abstract: A cooling system for a marine propulsion device provides a bypass loop around a cooling pump that allows the flow of cooling water through certain components to be reduced or increased as a function of the temperature of those components while causing a full flow of cooling water to flow through other selected heat emitting devices. Using this configuration of components and bypass conduits, the operating condition of the cooling water pump can be continually monitored, including the condition of its flexible vanes. By observing the effective cooling capacity of the system under conditions with the bypass valve open and closed, the effectiveness of the cooling water pump can be assessed and a suggestion of maintenance can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. White, Ronald L. Hall, Tom N. Townsend
  • Patent number: 7395787
    Abstract: An air separator for low flow rate coolant systems which removes air from the liquid coolant thereof. The air separator is a closed canister having a bottom wall, a top wall at a gravitationally high location with respect to the bottom wall, and a sidewall sealingly therebetween. A coolant inlet is at the sidewall, a pump outlet is at the bottom wall and a coolant reservoir outlet is at the top wall. The coolant reservoir outlet is connected to a coolant reservoir gravitationally elevated with respect to the canister. A much larger cross-sectional area per unit length of the canister relative to the piping results in a coolant dwell time in the canister that encourages coolant air bubbles to migrate toward the coolant reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: George M. Claypole, Mark D. Nemesh, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Paul S. Lombardo
  • Patent number: 7389584
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, particularly a motorcycle in which a bent cooling element is disposed between a first and second collector tank. The bent cooling element is provided with a longer and a shorter side as well as lateral connecting planes for joining the cooling element to the collector tanks. The collector tanks are made of a material that has substantially lower strength than the material of the cooling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Ringholz
  • Patent number: 7380728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device for motor vehicles with an internal combustion engine and a coolant circuit. The heating device (1) comprises a heat-generation compartment (2) with a cooling jacket (6) around which a coolant flows, and a rotor (13) mounted on a drive shaft (9). The cooling jacket (6) is part of a cooling chamber (3) that comprises a coolant inlet (4) and a coolant outlet (5). A pump wheel (17) is disposed in the cooling compartment (3), is driven by the drive shaft (9) and circulates the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Claus Augenstein, Ralf Maus
  • Publication number: 20080121195
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle engine system. The engine system includes an internal combustion engine, a cooler of a cooling circuit, an electric generator driven by the engine from a side of the engine which is other than that which faces the cooler, and a fan for moving air through the cooler, all disposed in an engine compartment. An electric motor is powered by the generator and mechanically drives the fan through an output shaft which is mechanically connected to the fan. The output shaft of the motor is disposed in the engine compartment near a mechanical power take-off of the engine. The mechanical power take-off includes a belt pulley connected to a free end of an engine crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Joachim Sobotzik
  • Patent number: 7377554
    Abstract: A seal structure is provided for an air conditioning unit mounted inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle and connected with pipes, which extends to the passenger compartment from an engine cabin through a pipe penetration opening of an isolation member. The seal structure includes an annular-shape pipe coupling wall formed at a case of the air conditioning unit and arranged at an outer side of a connection unit of the pipes, a first packing unit sandwiched between the pipe coupling wall and the connection unit, and a second packing unit between the isolation member and a front end of the pipe coupling wall. The second packing unit is bonded to both the first packing unit and the pipe coupling wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirohisa Motomura, Kazuyuki Niimi, Kouji Matsunaga, Masahiro Tominaga
  • Publication number: 20080115746
    Abstract: A cooling system for a work vehicle is disclosed that includes first and second heat exchangers disposed one above the other to create two discrete flow paths. The upper heat exchanger is an engine water cooler and the lower heat exchanger may be an intercooler, an oil cooler or a refrigerant condenser. The lower heat exchanger is disposed forward of the upper heat exchanger. Additional heat exchangers may be positioned in front of the first and second heat exchangers to provide additional cooling. The first and second heat exchanger may be cross-flow heat exchangers conducting the fluid to be cooled laterally through the core of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: William H. Adamson, Stephen M. Balcom, Daniel A. Morey, Daniel M. Ruedinger
  • Patent number: 7370690
    Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a heat exchanger such as a condenser of an air conditioning system on a vehicle, for pivotal movement between an operational position and a position angularly related to the operational position, for such purposes as inspection, cleaning, service and maintenance, the apparatus being configured for holding the heat exchanger in the operational position, and for guiding and controlling movement thereof to the tilted position, and holding the heat exchanger in the tilted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: John T. Rasset, Jay M. Larson
  • Patent number: 7370695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined cooling/climate control system for motor vehicles for cooling the motor vehicle's electrical and/or electronic components and air conditioning of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, comprising: a main ventilation duct (13); a fan (15) for drawing in air disposed in the main ventilation duct; a heating unit (16) downstream of the fan (15) for selective warming of air, which is to be supplied to the passenger compartment; and for cooling the electrical and/or electronic components with air drawn in by the fan (15), an air supply pipe (20) downstream of the fan (15) and upstream of the heating unit (16) connected to the main ventilation duct (13) and an air discharge pipe (22) upstream of the fan (15) connected to the main ventilation duct (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Lisa Dräxlmaier GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Häglsperger, Andreas Kraft, Florian Prankl
  • Publication number: 20080105402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combined thermal protection and surface temperature control apparatus. In one embodiment, a combined thermal protection and surface temperature control apparatus comprises a porous member having an entrance side, and a separate exit side. One or more coolant entrance channels extend through the entrance side, extend part-way through the porous member, and end within the porous member before reaching the exit side. Conversely, one or more coolant exit channels begin within the porous member, extend through a portion of the porous member, and extend through the exit side. The coolant entrance and exit channels may be parallel and may alternate. The channels may only extend across a portion of the thickness of the porous member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: THE BOEING CORPORATION
    Inventors: William W. Behrens, Andrew R. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20080099262
    Abstract: A cooling enclosure is mounted to the frame of a grass mowing machine adjacent the engine cooling fan of an internal combustion engine. The engine cooling fan draws ambient air across the controllers and batteries in the cooling enclosure. The cooling enclosure includes a one piece molded plastic structure that holds and supports batteries and electronic controllers at positions spaced from its bottom surfaces. One or more removable or hinged panels cover the top of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventor: David Lawrence Phillips
  • Patent number: 7363961
    Abstract: A heat exchanger support structure has a heat exchanger, a heat exchanger support supporting the heat exchanger, and motor fan units. The heat exchanger support is integrally formed with motor fan shroud portions for directing the air flow caused by motor fans. Electric motors driving the fans are respectively surrounded by a cylindrical shroud member, which has stays received in holding portions formed on the shroud portion with an elastic member interposed between the stay and the holding portion. The arrangement of the shroud member, the motor fan unit, and the elastic member functions as a dynamic damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Mori, Satoshi Haneda
  • Patent number: 7363960
    Abstract: Heat transfer systems and methods 30 for use on a spacecraft that use a loop heat pipe to transfer heat from a remotely located heat source to a thermal radiator or other heat dissipating apparatus. The loop heat pipe is a two phase heat transfer device that has an evaporator coupled to the heat source and a condenser coupled to the thermal radiator or other heat dissipating apparatus. The loop heat pipe comprises thin walled tubing to connect the evaporator and condenser. The thin walled tubing allows the loop heat pipe to be flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral
    Inventors: Lenny Low, Randy Pon
  • Publication number: 20080060785
    Abstract: A unit comprising of inlet heating hose 1, shutoff valve 2, pressure sensitive switch 3, vessel heating apparatus 4, shutoff valve 5, vacuum switch 6, solenoid 7, outlet heating hose 8, with or without a cigarette adapter 9, on/off heating and cooling converter switch 10, inlet cooling hose 11, E valve 12, outlet cooling hose 13 and a vessel cooling apparatus 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Mark D. Friend
  • Patent number: 7341050
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for cooling charge air, comprising the steps of cooling at least one cooling agent conduit with a cooling agent (Step 401), flowing thermally charged air through a plurality of charge air conduits positioned in proximity to the at least one cooling agent conduit (Step 402), circulating ambient air to contact the cooled at least one cooling agent conduit whereby the ambient air is cooled (Step 403), and circulating the cooled ambient air to contact the plurality of charge air conduits whereby the plurality of charge air cooler conduits are cooled further cooling the thermally charged air present within (Step 404).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Joon Tae Yi
  • Patent number: 7337769
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for cooling charge air, comprising the steps of introducing a cooling agent into at least one cooling agent conduit whereby the at least one cooling agent conduit is cooled (Step 401), flowing thermally charged air through a plurality of charge air conduits positioned in proximity to the at least one cooling agent conduit (Step 402), directing ambient air to contact the cooled at least one cooling agent conduit whereby the ambient air is cooled (Step 403), and directing the cooled ambient air to contact the plurality of charge air conduits whereby the plurality of charge air cooler conduits are cooled further cooling the thermally charged air present within (Step 404).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventor: Joon Tae Yi
  • Publication number: 20080041556
    Abstract: The present invention provides a charge air cooler for transferring heat between a coolant and charge air including a charge air inlet tank, a charge air outlet tank spaced from the inlet tank, and a heat exchange core positioned between the inlet and outlet tanks and including a stack of plate pairs. Each of the plate pairs can define a multi-pass path for the coolant. Elongated spacers can be positioned between adjacent plate pairs and extend between the inlet tank and the outlet tank on opposite sides of the heat exchange core to define flow paths for the charge air through the heat exchange core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: MODINE MANUFACUTRING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jason J. Braun, David E. Janke, Robert M. Melby
  • Publication number: 20080035304
    Abstract: A device for heating a fluid for use in carpet cleaning is provided. Specifically, the device routes a source of exhaust toward and/or around a heat exchange chamber to heat a fluid in a controlled manner. The fluid may be heated to a maximum amount when the full amount of exhaust is flowed through the heat exchange chamber. The fluid may not be substantially heated when the exhaust is flowed around the heat exchange chamber through an exhaust bypass. The fluid can also be heated to an intermediate amount by flowing some, but not all of the exhaust through the heat exchange chamber and the rest of the exhaust through the bypass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: CASTLE ROCK INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: MICHAEL JAMES RODEN, RONALD WAYNE WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 7328852
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for estimating a heater-core air discharge temperature of an HVAC system. According to the invention, the method uses a model of the heat exchanger. This heat exchanger efficiency model maps a heat exchanger efficiency to a set of actual operating parameters by generating a heat exchanger efficiency coefficient based on said second set of actual operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Giorgio Paolillo, Julien Quilliard
  • Patent number: 7328739
    Abstract: The heat exchanger includes a condenser and a refrigerant passage connected to the condenser. The refrigerant passage allows a refrigerant to flow into and flow out of the condenser in opposite directions. As a result, the refrigerant passage can be provided on one side of the condenser with an inlet and an outlet facing the same direction. The connection between the refrigerant passage and the air conditioning system is carried out on one side of the condenser only, improving the operative efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Watanabe, Naohisa Kamiyama, Nobuyasu Suematsu
  • Patent number: 7328740
    Abstract: A multiple-pass heat exchanger having opposing headers with beveled end walls, one header having nozzles on opposite sides of a separator wall for delivering heat exchange fluid at one temperature from one or more nozzles on one side of the separator wall, the heat exchanger having one set of fluid flow tubes for conveying the fluid in one direction to the other header and another set of fluid flow tubes for carrying the fluid in the opposite direction from the latter header for delivering to the header with a nozzle or nozzles for discharging the fluid from the latter header at a changed temperature. There is also disclosed a multiple systems combined heat exchanger having an opposing headers with beveled end walls, wherein at least two heat exchangers independent of each other share the respective headers which are divided from each other by separator walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Duramax Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Leeson, Eric K. Peoples, Michael W. Brakey
  • Patent number: 7325772
    Abstract: An aircraft component including a first section adapted to be attached at an exterior surface of an aircraft to close an access opening through the exterior surface; and a second section extending outward from the first section and forming heat transfer surfaces to transfer heat from the first section to air passing by the exterior surface and second section during flight of the aircraft. The first and second sections are integrally formed as a one-piece member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: William H Hanewinkel, III, Mark G Williams
  • Publication number: 20080023173
    Abstract: A heat exchange system and method for use with a combo-cooler heat exchanger as shown. In one embodiment, a combination of a heat exchanger module with a combo-cooler heat exchanger and a fan shroud is disclosed wherein the fan shroud covers approximately one-hundred percent of the condenser of the combo-cooler heat exchanger and leaves portions of the fluid coolers of the combo-cooler open to ram airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: VALEO, INC.
    Inventor: John R. Savage
  • Patent number: 7320357
    Abstract: The inventive method includes the utilization of different phase change materials with different melting temperature ranges in each of the headliner (3), the seats (7), and the instrument panel (12) of an automobile in order to save energy while improving thermal comfort for the passengers. When used in the seats (7), the phase change material can be included in the seat heater system. Preferable phase change materials are alkyl hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof, salt-hydrates, metals, alloys, poly-alcohols, and eutectics with phase changes within the desired temperature ranges and with appropriate heat storage capacities. Preferably, the phase change materials are directly incorporated in a polymeric compound structure, in an elastomeric compound structure, or in a foam structure in order to enhance the overall thermal capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Barbara Hildegard Pause
  • Patent number: 7318553
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a liquid includes a housing having an internal chamber and a rotor disposed in the chamber. The rotor is preferably cylindrical and operates inside a bore provided by the housing without touching, the shape of the bore preferably being parallel with the exterior surface of the rotor, and a series of openings disposed over the rotor surface. At least one internal passageway in the rotor and elements for: pre-heating some or all the incoming fluid in the chamber; priming the chamber initially; cooling certain temperature sensitive components; injecting fluid into a partially evacuated volume; developing a vacuum state during operation expeditiously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Christian Helmut Thoma
  • Patent number: 7318469
    Abstract: Front side members as a platform member of a vehicle are provided in a vehicle body on a lower side of an engine compartment to extend in a vehicle front-rear direction. A piping arrangement portion such as a piping recess is provided in an inner wall of the front side member in the vehicle front-rear direction. A liquid tube and a suction tube of a refrigerant piping are provided in the piping arrangement portion along the front side member. The liquid tube is for introducing refrigerant to an evaporator in an air conditioning unit provided in a passenger compartment, and the suction tube is for introducing refrigerant from the evaporator to a compressor provided in the engine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20080006388
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) is provided with a PTO section (12) passing through its core (14), with all of the components of the heat exchanger (10) being brazed together at the same time during assembly of the heat exchanger (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Martin J. Riniker, James R. Prochniak, Craig D. Endres, John Lutz, Richard Bretl, Gregg D. Olson, David Mihalovich, Jarin Simpson