With Vehicle Feature Patents (Class 165/41)
  • Patent number: 10742205
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating switches of a power supply are disclosed. The method includes generating power with a power source and switchably coupling the power source to an output of the power supply. One or more switches are opened and closed to generate a voltage waveform at the output, and in addition, the one or more switches are opened and closed to reduce a temperature differential that occurs between a low temperature and a high temperature of each switch by increasing the low temperature of each switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Harley White
  • Patent number: 10737808
    Abstract: A spacecraft (10), comprising a body (12), a solar array (30) with a support panel (32) which is connected to the body, and a thermal radiator (50) that is connected to the body and which includes a radiator substrate (52) that is thermally coupled to the body via at least one heat link (64). The solar array and thermal radiator are configured to be transitioned from a stowed state wherein the support panel and the radiator substrate are held fixed in an overlapping arrangement along and near the body, to a deployed state wherein the solar array is unfolded with the support panel positioned at a distance from the body and the radiator substrate is folded away from the body and the solar array. Preferably, the solar array and thermal radiator are flexible, to allow them to be kept in an overlapping and temporarily bent shape in the stowed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Johan Hendrik Cruijssen, Petrus Cornelis Datema, Bruin Benthem
  • Patent number: 10724416
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery device comprises an exhaust pipe, a shell member, a heat exchange portion, a guide portion, and a valve. An exhaust gas downstream end that is a downstream end along the flow path for exhaust gases in the exhaust pipe is disposed in the downstream side of a downstream-side end portion of the heat exchanger along the flow path for exhaust gases in the exhaust pipe. The guide portion comprises a partition wall portion that is a portion from the exhaust gas downstream end in the exhaust pipe to the downstream-side end portion of the heat exchanger in the exhaust pipe, and a guide member disposed so as to at least partially cover a radially outside of the partition wall portion in a manner so as to have an interspace between the partition wall portion and the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirohisa Okami, Hiromi Ishikawa, Naohiro Takemoto
  • Patent number: 10723401
    Abstract: This vehicle body structure of a saddle type vehicle includes a rear vehicle body mono-frame (22) having a merging portion (22a) configured to merge a pair of right and left front vehicle body frames (21) provided with at least a part of a fuel tank (8) interposed therebetween behind the fuel tank (8) and below a seat (9), and also configured to extend continuously to the front vehicle body frames (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsushima, Toru Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10714772
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a cooling system, a rotating speed acquisition part acquiring a rotating speed of the refrigerant pump, a power consumption acquisition part acquiring a power consumption of the refrigerant pump, and a controller configured to receive a rotating speed acquired by the rotating speed acquisition part and control the refrigerant pump. The controller has stored therein a predetermined correspondence between rotating speeds of the refrigerant pump and power consumption threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Nishida, Tomotaka Ishikawa, Keitaro Yamamori
  • Patent number: 10703171
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. An HVAC unit of the system includes a heater core, an evaporator, a plurality of mode doors that control airflow from the HVAC unit, and one or more actuators, each one of the one or more actuators moves one or more of the plurality of mode doors. A plurality of airflow sensors are each associated with a different one of a plurality of air duct outlets through which airflow from the HVAC unit flows. The plurality of airflow sensors measure airflow through each one of the plurality of air duct outlets. A control module determines airflow amount through each one of the plurality of air duct outlets based on inputs received from the sensors, and moves one or more of the plurality of mode doors until airflow amount measured by the plurality of airflow sensors is at least substantially equal to a requested airflow distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Reilly Mullett
  • Patent number: 10677533
    Abstract: Disclosed is a heat exchange device for effecting a heat exchange between a heat transfer fluid of a first network of capillary heat pipes and a heat transfer fluid of a second network of capillary heat pipes. The heat exchange device includes a solid block provided with a first channel and a second channel which are independent of one another, the first channel having at least one opening intended to be connected to a capillary heat pipe of the first network, the second channel having at least one opening intended to be connected to a capillary heat pipe of the second network, the first channel having a portion which lies near a portion of the second channel such that the heat transfer fluid of the first network is able to exchange heat with the heat transfer fluid of the second network via the heat exchanging portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Christian Flemin, Typhaine Coquard, Andrew Walker
  • Patent number: 10563563
    Abstract: A cooling circuit for a vehicle includes: an electronic device disposed on a sub-water-cooling line; an intercooler disposed in parallel with the electronic device on the sub-water-cooling line; and a sub-radiator disposed on the sub-water-cooling line and configured to cool cooling water which passes through the electronic device and the intercooler before passing through the sub-radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ji Na Son
  • Patent number: 10530024
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the temperature of an electrical energy store on the motor vehicle side, comprising at least one temperature control system having at least one pettier element, which can be thermally coupled, or is thermally coupled, with the electrical energy store on the motor vehicle side, or to an electrical energy store on the motor vehicle side to be temperature-controlled, wherein in addition, the at least one temperature control system is thermally coupled with at least one temperature-control fluid reservoir containing at least one temperature-control fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Gentherm GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Adldinger, Marco Ranalli, Wei Zhou, Uwe Gerlinger
  • Patent number: 10518629
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling system (1) of a motor vehicle comprising heat exchange elements with at least one heat exchanger (14) designed to allow the exchange of heat between a fluid to be cooled and a flow of air, said cooling system comprising an inlet for said flow of air and an outlet for said flow of air and a housing comprising a sealed structure for encapsulating said heat exchange elements to avoid leaks of air between said inlet and said outlet for said flow of air. According to the invention, the cooling system (1) is designed to be fixed onto the support (10) of a front-end module of a motor vehicle, said support (10) forming, in the assembled position of the cooling system (1), a part of said sealed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Herlem
  • Patent number: 10486817
    Abstract: An airplane is provided. The airplane includes a pressurized volume and an air conditioning system. The pressurized volume provides a first medium. The air conditioning system includes a heat exchanger and a compressor. The heat exchanger transfers heat from a second medium to the first medium. The compressor receives the second medium. The compressor is upstream of the heat exchanger in a flow path of the second medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Harold W. Hipsky
  • Patent number: 10485890
    Abstract: A kit and a method for selectively inducing various emotional states of an occupant in a vehicle with multiple aromatherapy compositions that strategically infuses eclectic aromatherapy compositions into an interior passenger compartment of a vehicle. The aromatherapy compositions are formulated to achieve various emotional states. A vehicle occupant selects an appropriate aromatherapy composition based on the desired emotional state. The occupant may change compositions at regular durations when a new emotional state is desired. The composition is integrated into the ventilation system of the vehicle causing the composition to vaporize and be drawn into the vehicle passenger compartment for diffusion into the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: Chera Sabankaya
  • Patent number: 10480379
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovery device comprises an exhaust pipe, a shell member, a heat exchange portion, an inflow portion, a valve, a driving portion that generates a driving force for driving the valve, and a transmitting portion that transmits the driving force generated by the driving portion to the valve. The driving portion comprises an expansion portion that expands when an external electrical signal is inputted thereto, and a linearly moving portion that extends according to expansion of the expansion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji Asai, Arata Kobayashi, Hirohisa Okami
  • Patent number: 10470287
    Abstract: Provided herein are high energy ion beam generator systems and methods that provide low cost, high performance, robust, consistent, uniform, low gas consumption and high current/high-moderate voltage generation of neutrons and protons. Such systems and methods find use for the commercial-scale generation of neutrons and protons for a wide variety of research, medical, security, and industrial processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: PHOENIX LLC
    Inventors: Arne Kobernik, Carl Sherven, Casey Lamers, Chris Seyfert, Evan Sengbusch, Gabriel Becerra, Jin Lee, Logan Campbell, Mark Thomas, Michael Taylor, Preston Barrows, Ross Radel, Tye Gribb
  • Patent number: 10450939
    Abstract: A multiplane fan cooling system and method is disclosed for a cooling system with first, second and intake planes; a first fan and heat exchanger on the first plane, a second fan and heat exchanger on the second plane, and a shared air cavity bounded at least partially by these three planes. Each fan pulls air into the shared air cavity through the intake plane and across its associated heat exchanger. The first fan cools the first heat exchanger, and counteracts the second fan from drawing air into the shared air cavity through the first heat exchanger. The second fan cools the second heat exchanger. The second fan can be activated to counteract the first fan from drawing air into the shared air cavity through the second heat exchanger. All the air in the shared air cavity can be available to each of the fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Sean P. West, Steven R. Sass
  • Patent number: 10427796
    Abstract: An air distribution system and method for an air conditioning system in an air vehicle are provided. The air distribution system has lower lobe ducts below a cabin floor of a cabin of the air vehicle. Each lower lobe duct is in fluid communication with a mix manifold coupled to AC packs. The air distribution system further has sidewall riser ducts, outboard manifold ducts, a recirculation air duct, and either recirculation downer ducts, or branch recirculation ducts coupled to the recirculation air duct. The air distribution system has a conditioned air flow, distributed to either the lower lobe ducts, or the lower lobe ducts and then the sidewall riser ducts; has a recirculated air flow, distributed to either the recirculation downer ducts or branch recirculation ducts; and has a mixed air flow distributed to the outboard manifold ducts, and into the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Annika E. Carden, Royal E. Boggs, Brian D. Hlavka, Sidney D. Shell
  • Patent number: 10421333
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system of air-conditioning a seat for a vehicle and a method for controlling the same. The system of air-conditioning a seat for a vehicle includes: a blower disposed below the seat of the vehicle and configured to blow air onto a body contact surface; a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of a front end of a suction hole of the blower; a second temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the body contact surface; a third temperature sensor configured to detect a room temperature of the vehicle; and an HVAC control unit configured to control an air-conditioning system of the vehicle. The HVAC control unit determines a blow direction mode of the air-conditioning system of the vehicle based on the temperatures detected by the first, the second, and the third temperature sensors when the blower is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Dymos Incorporated, Inzicontrols Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Do Hyung Kim, Ho Sub Lim, Myung Jin Lee, Seung Jae Kim, Jong Dae Lim, Sang Hyun Park, Eun Sang Cho, Hyeok Lae Park
  • Patent number: 10411315
    Abstract: A battery pack structure includes a chamber, a cooling duct arranged outside the pack case, and a connector that communicates the chamber and the cooling duct with each other. The connector includes a first opening, which is connected with the chamber in a state of being sealed by a first sealing member, a second opening, which is connected with a cooling duct in a state of being sealed by a second sealing member, a first sealing surface, which is formed in a peripheral part of the first opening and is either a tube-shaped surface or a plane that faces a chamber inlet surface though the first sealing member, and a second sealing surface, which is formed in a peripheral part of the second opening and is a tube-shaped surface or a plane that faces a duct outlet surface through the second sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Kosaki, Kouichi Tanaka, Takenori Kobayashi, Shigeru Fukuda, Toshiaki Naruke, Akira Azumi
  • Patent number: 10407189
    Abstract: A spacecraft includes a structural interface adapter for mating to a launch vehicle, at least one radiator panel, at least one interior equipment panel and a 3-D truss structure. The 3-D truss structure is mechanically coupled with the structural interface adapter, the at least one radiator panel, and the at least one interior equipment panel, and at least a portion of the 3-D truss structure is disposed between the radiator panel and the interior panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Paul Freestone, Daniel Andrew Fluitt, Stephen Mark Schlocker
  • Patent number: 10401075
    Abstract: A chest cooler accessory for maintaining food items above a level of ice and water within the chest cooler that includes a rectangular elastic net that is maintained around three sides to the undersurface of the chest cooler lid to be open along the rectangular elastic net side that is adjacent to the lid latching side to allow food items to be passed into the rectangular elastic net that flexes to support which items above the water and ice level during transport, and which rectangular elastic net attachment to the lid undersurface is with fasteners that do not effect the lid internal integrity, and said rectangular elastic net is arranged to have a splash guard mounted thereto to block passage of water therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Inventor: Glen W. Bond
  • Patent number: 10371247
    Abstract: An encapsulation device suitable for encapsulating a transmission component of an engine system that comprises a housing member configured to encapsulate the transmission component and define an air gap in a volume between an outer surface of the transmission component and an inner surface of the encapsulation device in use. The housing member is configured to allow air flow through the air gap during operation of the engine system and to retain a heated air layer around the encapsulated transmission component following engine system shutdown in use. The air gap enables convective cooling of the transmission components during periods when the vehicle is driving and additionally allows heat dissipation to occur when the vehicle engine is switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Chandler, Gery Fossaert
  • Patent number: 10351037
    Abstract: An object holder attached to an air register of a vehicle is provided. The holder comprises an outer member detachably connected to a bezel of the air register and configured to be pivotable away from the bezel; an inner member slidably connected to the outer member. The inner member includes a sliding mechanism and a base, and the sliding mechanism is configured to slide along an inner surface of the outer member. The sliding mechanism is stowed inside the frame at a non-use position and the sliding member is at an extended state and outside the frame at a use position. At the use position, both the outer member and the inner member are translated and pivoted away from the air register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jeancarlo dos Santos Cancado, Ryan Cantle
  • Patent number: 10315493
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an HVAC system for a vehicle having a first heat source and having a primary loop through which a coolant circulates and a secondary loop through which refrigerant circulates. The primary loop having two parallel sub-loops, namely a first sub-loop and a second sub-loop in which the coolant may circulate. The first sub-loop of the primary loop includes the first heat source, a second heat source, and a first heat exchanger. The first sub-loop may partially extend into a case of the HVAC system to place the first heat exchanger adjacent an air heater. The second sub-loop of the primary loop includes the first heat source, the second heat source, and a second heat exchanger. The HVAC system having a plurality of operation modes for efficiently conditioning air in a cabin of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Antonio Vespa, Nicos Agathocleous, John Meyer
  • Patent number: 10315519
    Abstract: The cooling system includes a heat exchanger, the circulating pump, a first refrigerant channel in which an electric device and the circulating pump are provided, a second refrigerant channel connected to the first refrigerant channel so as to form a circulation channel of the refrigerant, in which the heat exchanger is provided, a bypass channel connected to the first refrigerant channel in parallel to the second refrigerant channel, in which a charger is provided, and a valve provided at a position where the first refrigerant channel and the bypass channel are connected to each other, for forming a circulation channel of the refrigerant, the circulation channel including the first refrigerant channel and the second refrigerant channel, to restrict a flow of the refrigerant through the bypass channel when the electric device is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuki Sakata
  • Patent number: 10305153
    Abstract: A vehicle-battery system including a battery cell and a micro heat exchanger. The micro heat exchanger includes at least one fluid tube positioned in direct contact with the battery cell. The fluid tube comprises a heat-transfer tube section positioned between a fluid tube entrance and exit and in direct contact with the battery cell. The fluid tube is configured to receive a heat-transfer fluid, such a nanofluid, and channel the heat-transfer fluid through the heat-transfer tube section, to the fluid tube exit. The heat-transfer fluid is configured to cool or heat the battery cell when, in operation of the vehicle-battery system, the heat-transfer fluid is channeled through the heat-transfer tube section. The technology in various embodiments also includes a fluid modification device and a computerized controller for controlling the fluid modification device or other operations of the system such as pumping of the heat-transfer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Teresa J. Rinker, Debejyo Chakraborty, Ryan C. Sekol, Jeffrey A. Abell
  • Patent number: 10293719
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle seat has: a centrifugal fan; a first case housing the fan and including a fan inlet and a fan outlet; and a second case providing an inlet-side air passage and an outlet-side air passage. The second case has; an inside-air inlet introducing air from a surface of the vehicle seat into the inlet-side air passage; a conditioned-air inlet introducing conditioned air from an air conditioning unit for a passenger compartment into the inlet-side air passage; a conditioned-air outlet through which air in the outlet-side air passage flows to the surface of the vehicle seat; and an exhaust-air outlet through which air in the outlet-side air passage flows out of the second case. The second case includes: an inlet-side switching door that selectively opens or closes the inside-air inlet and the conditioned-air inlet; and an outlet-side switching door that selectively opens or closes the conditioned-air outlet and the exhaust-air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Fujii, Yasuhiko Niimi
  • Patent number: 10293655
    Abstract: In a straddle type vehicle in which a radiator is covered with a cover member, and an air guide duct for guiding hot air from the radiator to an outside of the vehicle is formed integral with the cover member, the hot air is restrained from staying within the cover member even in the case where the air guide duct of the cover member covering the radiator must be opened face-to-face with only a portion of a core of the radiator. A ventilation control member for controlling cooling air passing through the core of the radiator so as to flow toward an inner opening of the air guide duct is provided in the vicinity of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hojo, Ryuichi Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 10267546
    Abstract: A vehicle having a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for heating and cooling a passenger compartment is provided. The vehicle may be described as including a CO2 loop positioned within an engine compartment, a coolant loop positioned at least partially within the passenger compartment, a first heat exchanger positioned within the engine compartment for transferring heat from a coolant within the coolant loop to a CO2 within the CO2 loop, a pump for moving the coolant within the coolant loop, a second heat exchanger within the coolant loop for heating or cooling an air temperature within the passenger compartment, and first and second valves for controlling movement of the coolant through the second heat exchanger and a heated coolant loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Timmy Van Evans, Manfred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 10232944
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aircraft seat having a seat base, a seat unit, and a floor attachment assembly, where a first side of the seat base is configured to be fastened to the seat unit, and a second side of the seat base is configured to be fastened to the floor attachment assembly, and the floor attachment assembly is configured to be mechanically connected to a floor structure of an aircraft in order to fasten the aircraft seat to the aircraft, where the seat base is formed by at least one flexurally rigid shell component, where the shell component has a cavity for receiving at least one functional element, with the cavity being closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: LUFTHANSA TECHNIK AG
    Inventors: Oliver Thomaschewski, Andrew Muirhead
  • Patent number: 10231364
    Abstract: A power electronics assembly that includes a first cooling chip fluidly coupled to a second cooling chip. The first cooling chip and the second cooling chip each include a cooling chip fluid inlet, a cooling chip fluid outlet, and one or more cooling chip fluid channels extending between and fluidly coupled to the cooling chip fluid inlet and the cooling chip fluid outlet. The power electronics assembly also includes a semiconductor device positioned between and thermally coupled to the first cooling chip and the second cooling chip and a thermo-electric generator positioned between and thermally coupled to the semiconductor device and one of the first cooling chip or the second cooling chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ercan Mehmet Dede, Shailesh N. Joshi, Chi-Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 10214087
    Abstract: A ground processing machine includes a rear carriage with an internal combustion engine, respectively at least one drive wheel to both sides of the internal combustion engine, a driver cabin arranged offset relative to the internal combustion engine in the longitudinal direction of the machine, a fuel tank for fuel to be supplied to the internal combustion engine, an additive substance tank, and a hydraulic fluid tank. The additive substance tank is arranged following a drive wheel in the longitudinal machine direction, and next to the drive wheel in a transversal machine direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hamm AG
    Inventors: Thomas Bletscher, Gerd Koestler, Martin Fischer, Michael Zimmerer, Thomas Bauer
  • Patent number: 10208753
    Abstract: The speed of a cooling fan of a scroll pump is controlled such that fan-generated noise can be kept low. The scroll pump includes a pump head, a pump motor, the fan, a controller and one or more sensors. The pump head includes a plate scroll set in which a tip seal is provided to create a seal between the blade and the opposing plates of the plate scrolls of the set. The speed of the fan is cycled by the controller, and the power draw on the pump motor as a result is checked. These results are used to infer the state of the pump, i.e., to discriminate several different states of the pump from one another, including a state in which a new tip seal is being worn in, and to control the speed of the fan accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Forni, Vannie (Yucong) Lu, Arti Desai
  • Patent number: 10207824
    Abstract: A photovoltaic generator deployable for a satellite stabilized on three axes. The photovoltaic generator includes an assembly of planar panels articulated with respect to each other, and an attachment arm to the structure of the body of the satellite. In a first or launch position of the photovoltaic generator, the planar panels are folded one over the other. In a second or deployed position of the photovoltaic generator, the planar panels are fully deployed with at least a part of the planar panels being photovoltaic panels. At least one planar panel consists of a thermal radiator, with the radiative face thereof being orientated to be opposite the face of the photovoltaic panels carrying the photovoltaic sensors when the photovoltaic generator is in the deployed position. This radiative face is termed the “shade” face, and the face opposite the panel shaped radiator is termed the “sun” face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignees: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS, THALES, CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES CNES
    Inventors: Jérôme Lemaire, Yann Miegeville
  • Patent number: 10186737
    Abstract: A vehicle traction battery assembly may include a traction battery and a battery tray. The traction battery is for powering a portion of an electrified vehicle. The battery tray is for supporting the traction battery and defines a coolant channel for distributing coolant in a first direction and a second direction. Battery cells of the traction battery are arranged with the battery tray such that the first direction and the second direction are oriented perpendicular relative to a longitudinal face of one of the battery cells. A plate may be secured to the battery tray without mechanical fasteners to retain coolant within the coolant channel. The plate may be made of aluminum and the battery tray may be die cast aluminum. An inlet channel may extend from an inlet to the coolant channel and may be disposed between a pair of openings defined by the battery tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Asif Iqbal, James Lawrence Swoish, Josef Dollison, Jason Sielaff, Daniel Miller, Evan Mascianica, Jeremy Samborsky
  • Patent number: 10180090
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, which can improve an annual energy consumption efficiency, is provided. A gas engine 1 includes: an oil cooler 11 having a passage via which heat is exchanged between engine cooling water and lubricating oil; and a control unit 12 configured to control a temperature of the engine cooling water to a constant temperature so as to cool the lubricating oil during high load operation and to heat the lubricating oil during low to medium load operation. The control unit 12 increases the temperature of the engine cooling water during low to medium load operation compared with the temperature of the engine cooling water during high load operation. An oil jet 18a, which is configured to inject the lubricating oil into a rear surface of a piston 17, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Nakazono, Khandoker Abu Raihan, Hiroyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 10173518
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermal dissipation system of an electric vehicle that includes: a heat exchanger arranged at the front part of the electric vehicle for providing heating or cooling to an air conditioning system of the electric vehicle; a first heat sink and a second heat sink, which are respectively arranged at the two sides of the front part of the heat exchanger; a number of rotatable and adjustable air deflectors for changing the flow direction of the air flowing through the heat dissipation system. Temperature sensors are included within the thermal dissipation system for sensing the working temperatures and the environmental temperatures of a battery pack and a motor of the electric vehicle. Opening and closing states of the air deflectors are adjusted in accordance with data provided by the temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yong-Syuan Chen, Ming-Hui Ho, Jen-Chieh Hsiao
  • Patent number: 10160356
    Abstract: A climate controlled seat assembly includes a thermoelectric device having a main side and a waste side for generating a conditioned fluid stream and a waste fluid stream respectively, a fluid distribution system for distributing the conditioned fluid stream towards an occupant seated on the climate controlled seat assembly and for gathering and pulling fluid from around the occupant and directed this gathered fluid away from the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
  • Patent number: 10158059
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow control device intended to be used in a thermoelectric generator (10), said generator (10) allowing a temperature gradient to be created between a cold source and a heat source in at least two zones (A, B), characterized in that it comprises a valve (30), said valve (30) comprising a valve body (32) and a gate (34), said gate (34) being hinged relative to the valve body (32) and being capable of occupying an open position and a closed position, said valve (30) being configured to be positioned inside said generator (10), between said two zones (A, B), so as to modulate the quantity of a first fluid circulating through said thermoelectric generator (10). The invention further relates to a thermoelectric generator (10) comprising such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
    Inventor: Michel Simonin
  • Patent number: 10155438
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air guide for a motor vehicle comprising at least one downstream main duct (7) intended to be positioned in front of a heat exchange device (5) of the motor vehicle (2) and at least one air inlet upstream duct (8, 9) intended to be connected to an air inlet (10, 11), the at least one air inlet upstream duct (8, 9) being connected to the downstream main duct (7) to guide the air from the air inlet (10, 11) toward the heat exchange device (5), characterized in that the air guide is made as a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Frédéric Vacca, Jean-Louis Lanard
  • Patent number: 10124663
    Abstract: An exhaust heat recovering device comprising an exhaust heat recovering tool (10) adapted to recover a heat of an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine for a vehicle and an inflow side pipeline (14) and an exhaust side pipeline (13) adapted to connect the internal combustion engine and the exhaust heat recovering tool, wherein the inflow side pipeline (14) and the exhaust side pipeline (13) are mounted only on a component included in a non-vehicle body vibration system supported on a vehicle body (2) through an elastic body (4, 5, 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Fukami, Masashi Koshijima
  • Patent number: 10124649
    Abstract: An auxiliary heating system for a vehicle interacts with an ignition controller having a Run state in which an engine of the vehicle is running and an Off state in which the engine is not running. An auxiliary heater has a Parking mode for heating a passenger cabin of the vehicle when the ignition controller is in the Off state. An auxiliary heater controller has a user-configurable setting for selectably entering the Parking mode when the ignition controller enters the Off state. A manual interface is responsive to a user to provide user commands to the auxiliary heater controller including setting commands during the Run state for determining the user-configurable setting and a cancel command during the Off state for terminating the Parking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Upendra J. Patel
  • Patent number: 10119487
    Abstract: A vehicle fluid heating system is provided for achieving an elevated pre-determined fluid temperature for at least one fluid of a first and second vehicle during an idle period having a duration defined by a start point and an end point. The heating system includes a first vehicle fluid heater that is configured for being coupled to the first vehicle in thermal communication with the first fluid of the first vehicle. A second vehicle fluid heater is provided that is configured for being coupled to the second vehicle in thermal communication with the first fluid of the second vehicle. At least one temperature sensor is provided for sensing a temperature of a temperature source that has a correlative relationship to the first fluid of the first and second vehicles. A settable timer is provided for enabling the user to establish a start point and an end point of the idle period of the first and second vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventors: Harvey Martin, Kurt Scheppers
  • Patent number: 10081439
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to cool a vehicle heat source are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first tank and a second tank. The first tank and the second tank are disposed on a vehicle. The second tank is in fluid communication with the first tank. An engine of the vehicle is to be supplied with fuel from at least one of the first tank or the second tank. The example apparatus also includes a cooling system disposed on the vehicle to cool the fuel flowing from the first tank to the second tank. The example apparatus further includes a heat exchanger operatively coupled to a heat source disposed on the vehicle. The fuel from the second tank is to flow to the first tank via the heat exchanger to cool the heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Timothy Edward Bowman, William Webster Behrens, Thomas W. Omohundro, Jeffrey M. Roach
  • Patent number: 10059205
    Abstract: A vehicle instrument panel module is provided herein. The module includes a display portion including a display. A transition portion is disposed along a bottom section of the display portion. A register portion is disposed below the transition portion and has one or more airflow registers therein. The display portion, the transition portion, and the register portion each have at least one component that is integrally formed with the remaining portions of the module. A first electrical connector housing is formed with the module and configured to mate with a second electrical connector disposed within the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Woodhouse, Soo Young Kang-Morales, Ryan G. Niemiec, Ryan Blodi
  • Patent number: 10059468
    Abstract: A modular space vehicle chassis may facilitate convenient access to internal components of the space vehicle. Each module may be removable from the others such that each module may be worked on individually. Multiple panels of at least one of the modules may swing open or otherwise be removable, exposing large portions of the internal components of the space vehicle. Such chassis architectures may reduce the time required for and difficulty of performing maintenance or modifications, may allow multiple space vehicles to take advantage of a common chassis design, and may further allow for highly customizable space vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Judd, Nicholas Dallmann, Daniel Seitz, John Martinez, Steven Storms, Gayle Kestell
  • Patent number: 10059192
    Abstract: An air flow control system for an off-road vehicle includes a first movable side panel configured to be positioned proximate to a first lateral side surface of a body of an engine hood of the off-road vehicle. The system also includes a controller configured to receive a first signal indicative of a temperature of an engine of the off-road vehicle, to access a desired engine temperature range from a storage device, and to output a third signal to one or more actuators indicative of instructions to move the first movable side panel laterally outward relative to the first lateral side surface of the body to enable a flow of air through a gap between the first movable side panel and the body when the first signal indicates that the temperature of the engine of the off-road vehicle is greater than the desired engine temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Dwayne St. George Jackson, Jonathan Eziquiel-Shriro
  • Patent number: 10035402
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermal dissipation system of an electric vehicle that includes: a heat exchanger arranged at the front part of the electric vehicle for providing heating or cooling to an air conditioning system of the electric vehicle; a first heat sink and a second heat sink, which are respectively arranged at the two sides of the front part of the heat exchanger; a number of rotatable and adjustable air deflectors for changing the flow direction of the air flowing through the heat dissipation system. Temperature sensors are included within the thermal dissipation system for sensing the working temperatures and the environmental temperatures of a battery pack and a motor of the electric vehicle. Opening and closing states of the air deflectors are adjusted in accordance with data provided by the temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yong-Syuan Chen, Ming-Hui Ho, Jen-Chieh Hsiao
  • Patent number: 10005354
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling module including: a first radiator for cooling an engine; a second radiator located in front of the first radiator in an air flow direction to cool electric parts; a first condenser located in front of the second radiator in the air flow direction to condense a refrigerant through heat exchange with external air; and a second condenser located inside the second radiator to condense the refrigerant through heat exchange with electric part cooling water, whereby the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant passes through the water-cooled second condenser and then passes through the air-cooled first condenser, thus enhancing the cooling efficiency of the refrigerant to improve the entire efficiency of the cooling system for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Jun-Young Choi, Hyun-Kun Shin, Yong-Nam Ahn
  • Patent number: 9950689
    Abstract: An airbag device for installing in a bonnet of a vehicle to manage energy transferred during an impact with a pedestrian. In one aspect, the airbag device comprises a housing containing an airbag and a deployable cover panel, wherein the cover panel includes an outer member coupled to a carrier member, wherein the carrier member is coupled to the airbag housing and configured to separate from the airbag housing upon inflation of the airbag. In another aspect, the airbag device comprises an airbag housing and a cover panel, the cover panel being separable from and tethered to the housing so as to limit displacement of the cover from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: Roy Farrington
  • Patent number: 9947945
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is housed within a fuel cell stack enclosure. Air is used to ventilate the fuel cell stack enclosure. The air may be pulled from an air stream used to cool a high voltage battery. The air may also be pulled from a vehicle compartment such as a vehicle trunk or vehicle cabin. Filters are used to remove particulate matter from the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Cusumano, Deborah Diane Pittman, Donald Paul Alessi, Jr.