With Vehicle Feature Patents (Class 165/41)
  • Publication number: 20140182810
    Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus and system for transferring heat for use onboard a vehicle includes a conductor arranged to conduct fluid transferring heat from a vehicle engine to a heat exchanger to heat a second fluid to heat and/or dry utility compartments of the vehicle. The heat transfer system includes a tube arranged to conduct fluid so that heat is transferred from the exhaust gas to the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventor: Richard J. Manasek
  • Publication number: 20140174691
    Abstract: A heating system is connected to a source of supply fluid to be heated, and has an internal combustion engine provided with engine coolant and gases that flow to and from the engine, and are heated thereby. A heat generator is provided in fluid communication with a supply of heat transfer fluid for circulating the heat transfer fluid in the heat generator causing fluid friction to create heat directly in the heat transfer fluid, and provide heated transfer fluid that is not in fluid communication with the engine. A fluid heat exchanger arrangement is provided in fluid communication with the supply fluid, the engine coolant, the gases of the engine and the heated transfer fluid for transferring heat from the heated engine coolant, the heated engine gases, and the heated transfer fluid to heat the supply fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Multitek North America, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Kamps, Timothy C. Stolar, Thomas J. Umlauf
  • Patent number: 8757245
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner is disclosed having means to cool and heat air with three air paths, of which, two outer air paths have a common first temperature and an inner air path has a second temperature, wherein a means for controlling the air volume flow through the outer air paths and the inner air path is provided by two control elements which are configured jointly to be able to move in opposing directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Halla Visteon Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald Richter, Jürgen Hoppen, Mario Opiela
  • Patent number: 8757313
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle includes a throttle body arranged while restraining the effect of the exhaust air of a radiator while restraining the vehicle width even though the radiator is large. A radiator includes a mixed flow fan which flows exhaust air from the radiator rearwardly and outwardly in the vehicle width direction and a motor configured to rotate the mixed flow fan on the back surface thereof. A throttle body is arranged rearwardly of the mixed flow fan so as to be overlapped with the mixed flow fan in a front view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Iwata, Manabu Fujii
  • Patent number: 8757249
    Abstract: A cooling device for an electrical apparatus mounted on a rear side of a vehicle having a cooling airflow intake port in the vehicle interior at a lower section of a rear windshield, a supply unit which supplies a cooling airflow through the cooling airflow intake port to the electrical apparatus, a blocking unit for blocking solar radiation from coming onto the cooling airflow intake port through the rear windshield, and a control unit to control the blocking unit based on at least one of intensity of the solar radiation coming onto the cooling airflow intake port and a temperature of the cooling airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Bandai, Tomonari Taguchi, Tatsuya Tsuduki
  • Patent number: 8752522
    Abstract: A compact multi-unit vehicle cooling system for reducing heat toward the engine of a vehicle. The compact multi-unit vehicle cooling system generally includes a radiator, an air charge cooler, a transmission oil cooler, an engine oil cooler and a power steering oil cooler. Each of the components of the present invention is secured in a compact package for installation in a vehicle such as a HUMMER or the like. By utilizing a modulated, compact design, the present invention may more easily be installed and serviced while significantly reducing heat towards the vehicle's engine and thus increasing horsepower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventor: Asaf Cohen
  • Publication number: 20140151016
    Abstract: A system and method for heating a hot cargo on a watergoing vessel using a heat source on another watergoing vessel. The heat may be transferred to the hot cargo via heat umbilicals configured to carry heat in a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid may be circulated in a hot cargo heat exchanger configured to move heat into the hot cargo. The heat source on the another watergoing vessel may be a propulsion motor, exhaust heat, or non-propulsion heat source. The method may include heating the hot cargo. The method may also include switching between heat sources when both vessels are configured to heat the hot cargo.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Martin Operating Partnership L.P.
    Inventor: Edward Henry Grimm, III
  • Patent number: 8739859
    Abstract: Reversible thermal rectifiers for selectively controlling the direction of heat flow include a plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects disposed in a fluid medium, wherein each of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects include a refractive side and a reflective side such that heat flows past the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the refractive side, and heat is reflected from the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects when approaching from the reflective side, and a bidirectional field actuator system that selectively orients the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects between a first orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a first direction, and a second orientation, wherein the reflective sides of the plurality of asymmetrically shaped objects face a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Paul Rowe
  • Patent number: 8739892
    Abstract: A firefighting vehicle is disclosed that includes a chassis and a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis. The front wheel assembly has at least one front wheel defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the chassis when in a straight position. The firefighting vehicle also includes an operator cab supported at a front portion of the chassis. The firefighting vehicle further includes an engine supported by the chassis. The engine is disposed under the operator cab and at least partially rearward of the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Pierce Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Moore, Chad Trinkner, John Schultz, Andrew Fochs
  • Patent number: 8733430
    Abstract: An HV_ECU executes a program including: switching, if an operation is in an A/C intake mode and absolute value of temperature difference Thi?Tlo is larger than a predetermined value A and temperature Thi is smaller than a predetermined value B, the operation mode to a compartment intake mode; switching, if the operation is in the compartment intake mode, the compartment intake mode is requested to prevent increase in temperature difference, the absolute value of temperature difference Thi?Tlo is larger than a predetermined value A and temperature Thi is equal to or larger than the predetermined value B, the operation mode to an A/C intake mode; and executing a normal intake mode switching control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Yusuke Suzuki, Tetsuya Ishihara
  • Patent number: 8733428
    Abstract: An air conditioning system of a vehicle including a controller and sensors in communication with the controller. The sensors include an interior temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the vehicle interior and an inner surface temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the inner surface of the vehicle's windshield. The controller determines a dew-point for the vehicle interior based on the sensed interior temperature. The controller adjusts the dew-point or the inner surface temperature based on a correction value, and performs a defogging operation when the temperature of the inner surface of the windshield is less than the dew-point, wherein the dew-point or the inner surface temperature is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20140138077
    Abstract: In a vehicle cooling device, a heat exchanger is cooled efficiently. A condenser is disposed at a vehicle width direction side of an engine and further toward a vehicle upper side and a vehicle front side than a transmission. A radiator is disposed at a floor tunnel at a rear of the engine. The condenser and the radiator both introduce air from a vehicle front, and air that has passed through the condenser and been warmed is discharged-out toward a rear of the radiator via a communication hole that is above the radiator. Because the air that has passed through the condenser and been warmed is not introduced into the radiator, heat exchange efficiency of the radiator improves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Ajisaka
  • Patent number: 8727054
    Abstract: A movable grille shutter for a vehicle includes a fin adapted to be provided at a grille opening portion and being operated so as to freely open or close the grille opening portion through which ambient air is taken in, a drive source for driving the fin, a driving force transmitting mechanism for transmitting a driving force from the drive source to the fin and a flexible member being linked to the driving force transmitting mechanism and being deformed for operating the fin to open the grille opening portion in a case where a load that is equal to or more than a predetermined value is acted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Hori, Hiroshi Watanabe, Yoshimasa Asano, Masumi Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20140134559
    Abstract: A heat exchanger arrangement, especially for a vehicle heater, includes a pot-like heat exchanger housing (12) with an inner wall (22, 24) and with an outer wall (18, 20). A heat carrier medium flow space is formed between the inner wall (22, 24) and the outer wall (18, 20). A first flow opening (54) is provided on the outer wall (18, 20) and, adjoining this, a pump housing (58) made integrally with the outer wall (18, 20) for a heat carrier medium pump is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael HUMBURG
  • Publication number: 20140124278
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle includes a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a first power drive device, a second power drive device, a first heat sink, a second heat sink, a baffle member, a first air guide passage, and a second air guide passage. The baffle member closes a space defined between the first power drive device and the second power drive device at a first end and a second end of the space. The first air guide passage houses the first heat sink. The first air guide passage is provided between a first partition wall and the first power drive device. The second air guide passage houses the second heat sink. The second air guide passage is provided between the first partition wall and the second power drive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki TAKAMURA, Koji AOKI
  • Publication number: 20140124159
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes a cooling means including a radiator, a cooling fan sending wind to the radiator, a reservoir tank connected with the radiator to store a cooling fluid, and a water pump circulating the cooling fluid. A water cooling type condenser is connected with the cooling line to condense a two-phase refrigerant, in which a superheated steam refrigerant, gas, and liquid are mixed through heat exchange with the cooling fluid. An air cooling type condenser is connected with the water cooling type condenser through a refrigerant line in series to condense the refrigerant through heat exchange with external air flowing in while driving and to discharge the condensed refrigerant to a receiver drier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Jae Yeon KIM
  • Patent number: 8714310
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a frame and an axle assembly coupled to the frame, including a first axle shaft and coil substantially disposed in an axle housing. A first wheel couples to the first axle shaft of the axle assembly. An axle lubricating fluid is disposed within the axle housing. A cooling circuit fluidly coupled to the axle assembly circulates cooling fluid therethrough. The coil conducts cooling fluid through the first axle housing separately from the lubricating fluid. A cooling fluid circuit is selectively fluidly coupled to the first coil to circulate the cooling fluid therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sylvester Bares, Jarrod Lemire, Jeffrey Alan Roeber
  • Patent number: 8714290
    Abstract: A grille shutter device selectively opening and closing a grille opening in the front grille of a vehicle. The grille shutter device includes a fin, a motor, a transmission mechanism, a first switch, and a second switch. The fin has a support shaft, which is rotatably supported by the front grille. When supplied with electricity, the motor rotates its output shaft in one direction. The transmission mechanism converts the rotation of the output shaft to a swinging motion of the fin, thereby swinging the fin between a closed position, where the fin closes the grille opening, and an open position, where the fin opens the grille opening. When the fin is swung to the closed position, the first switch stops the motor. When the fin is swung to the open position, the second switch stops the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kitashiba, Chiharu Totani, Minoru Shibata, Kazuo Takeda
  • Patent number: 8714477
    Abstract: An aircraft support pylon designed to attach a turbomachine housed in a nacelle to an aircraft fuselage is disclosed. The pylon includes a cooler, located substantially in the vicinity of a leading edge of the pylon, and able to be heated by a hot fluid, the hot fluid intended to be cooled by heat exchange with cold air outside the cooler. The pylon also includes at least one air evacuation duct, at the exit from the cooler and extending longitudinally in an internal volume of the pylon to a trailing edge of the pylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Christelle Rinjonneau, Pierre Guillaume
  • Publication number: 20140116654
    Abstract: A cooling system using one or more heat pipes rotating about a central axis to transfer heat energy from one medium to another. The heat pipes are oriented within a rotating member such that the axis of the heat pipe is non-coaxial with that of a central axis of the rotating member. Centrifugal forces are used to assist the movement of the working fluid within the heat pipe. The cooling system also includes heat pipes associated with a planetary carrier assembly and supplemental heat exchangers for use in aircraft and other machinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Monte A. McGlaun, K. Myron Jackson
  • Patent number: 8701426
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing loss of a cooling fluid from a boiler in an aircraft by incorporating an absorber material is provided. In some aspects, an apparatus may include a base section, a top section, a cooling fluid, and an absorber material disposed in the base section. The absorber material may be configured to retain the cooling fluid therein. The apparatus may further include a barrier disposed between the base and top sections. The barrier may be configured to retain the absorber material in the base section while allowing the cooling fluid to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Frank E. Mills
  • Publication number: 20140103128
    Abstract: A heat transfer system is provided for a road vehicle having a passenger cabin. A primary branch includes a primary pump and a primary power plant. An auxiliary branch includes an auxiliary coolant pump, an auxiliary heat source, and a cabin heat exchanger. A thermostatic multi-way valve directs coolant from a valve inlet to substantially only a first valve outlet when receiving coolant below a first temperature. The valve directs coolant from the valve inlet to substantially only a second valve outlet when receiving coolant above a second temperature. The valve inlet is coupled to receive coolant from either the primary branch or the auxiliary branch. The first valve outlet is configured to return coolant to the same branch as is connected to the valve inlet. The second valve outlet is configured to direct coolant to the other branch to which the valve inlet is not connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Upendra J. Patel, Ranganathan Madhavan
  • Patent number: 8695741
    Abstract: Overhead pushed airflow for a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, a cooling includes an interior defined by upstream faces of heat exchangers. An air mover pushes ambient air downward through said cooling box from overhead of the work and across the heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Rex Schertz, Stanley R. Clark, Mark D. Walton
  • Publication number: 20140097261
    Abstract: A heat transporting arrangement (10) for a motor vehicle, having at least one heat circuit (14, 16, 50) in which a heat transporting medium is accommodated and which is thermally coupled to one of the components of a drivetrain in order to exchange heat between the component and the heat transporting medium, a temperature control device (25) which is configured to heat a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, and a heat store arrangement (30) which is coupled to the heat circuit (14, 16, 50) and to the temperature control device (25) and which is configured to store heat discharged from the heat transporting medium and to release said heat for of heating one of the components of the drivetrain and the passenger compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas Blumenstock, Joerg Heyse, Thomas Demmer
  • Patent number: 8690098
    Abstract: An ejector nozzle tube, having along its length an essentially constant, essentially oval hollow cross-section, with a leading edge nozzle, having a rounded exterior cross-section, being arranged at a flow leading-edge area of the ejector nozzle tube. The leading edge nozzle includes a plurality of grooves issuing to the top and bottom sides of the ejector nozzle tube and connecting to an interior of the ejector nozzle tube formed by the hollow profile. An aircraft engine has an optimized oil heat exchanger with at least one oil cooler disposed in a trailing-edge area of an aerofoil-type structure, with at least one flow entrance area being provided to supply ambient air to the oil cooler disposed in a flow duct. The ejector nozzle tube can be arranged downstream of the oil cooler in the flow duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Predrag Todorovic
  • Publication number: 20140090800
    Abstract: A cooling system for a motor vehicle or for an internal combustion engine includes: at least one heat exchanger, having an inlet and an outlet for a medium to be cooled and an inlet and an outlet for coolant air; at least one fan connected upstream of the heat exchanger; and a connection channel, which is arranged between the fan and heat exchanger, for conveying coolant air to the heat exchanger. A branch line is connected to the connection line or between the individual heat exchangers and removes a partial flow of the coolant air therefrom. The combustion air supplied to the engine is filtered. A Venturi nozzle is connected in the branch line and a suction line is connected to a constriction of the Venturi nozzle and suctions out the filtered particles of the air filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Dossner, Roland Schmid
  • Publication number: 20140087645
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body, an inner cover disposed in the body and a textile channel conducting conditioned air, extending between the body and the inner cover and being made of a textile fabric. In order to provide such a vehicle having a textile channel that is easy to install, the textile channel is provided on the body and held against the inner cover by a hook and loop fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Werner Hoefler, Dirk Rohwerder
  • Publication number: 20140083647
    Abstract: An aircraft is provided including an environmental control system (ECS) having a first ECS pack and a second ECS pack. A duct couples the first ECS pack to the second ECS pack. The duct includes a first bypass conduit configured to form a bypass around a first primary heat exchanger of the first ECS pack. A second bypass conduit configured to form a bypass around a second primary heat exchanger of the second ECS pack. The duct includes a crossover conduit extending between the first bypass conduit and the second bypass conduit. The duct includes a plurality of valves for selectively controlling a flow between the first bypass conduit and the second bypass conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Donald E. Army, JR., Thomas M. Zywiak, David Anderson, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140083786
    Abstract: An engine hot air deflector for a work machine having an articulated frame pivotally coupled to a main body by a hitch assembly having a hitch link includes a resilient hot air deflector panel mounted proximate to and overlaying an open end of the main body. The deflector panel includes upper and lower panel portions separated by a panel slot. The panel slot receives the hitch link so that the panel portions conform to the shape of the hitch link as it moves within the deflector opening during rotation of the articulated frame to substantially prevent hot air from the internal combustion engine from passing through the deflector opening. The deflector may also include a support bracket mounting the deflector panel to the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: John L. Marsolek, Jeffrey A. Renard
  • Patent number: 8678078
    Abstract: Transmission fluid is heated through a heat exchanger effective to transfer heat between transmission fluid of a transmission assembly and an exhaust gas feed stream of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Farzad Samie, Richard W. Carlson, Thomas A. Robertson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8672067
    Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure is provided which can lengthen a wheel base without increasing the size of a vehicle body. A vehicle front portion structure is provided with a bumper reinforcement of a front bumper, a power unit that drives a front wheel arranged to a vehicle rear of the bumper reinforcement, and a cooling unit which is arranged at a vehicle front of a dash panel, and is arranged at a vehicle rear of the power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Ajisaka
  • Publication number: 20140069603
    Abstract: An intake enhancement system for a vehicle includes a chiller bath, a delivering line operatively extended from the chiller bath for tapping at a heat exchanging line of a HVAC system to guide a heat exchanging agent flowing between the chiller bath and the HVAC system, and a cooling line operatively extended from the chiller bath for guiding a cooling agent to flow from the chiller bath toward the combustion engine. The chiller bath provides a heat-exchanging place for cooling the cooling agent by the heat exchanging agent. Therefore, the cooling agent is guide to cool the combustion element before the combustion element enters into the combustion engine for enhancing an efficiency of the combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: Frederico Burke
  • Publication number: 20140060796
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes a blower; a heat exchanger that heats the blown air by heat exchanger between blown air and a heat medium, a control device, and an air outlet mode switching device that switches between air outlet modes by switching proportions of air flow blown out from outlets which includes a face air outlet and a foot air outlet, wherein the control device limits the availability factor of the blower based on a temperature of the heat medium; and relaxes limitation on the availability factor of the blower when the air outlet mode is a bi-level mode in which the blown air is blown out from both of the face air outlet and the foot air outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ichishi, Yoshinori Yanagimachi, Yasushi Kondo, Ryuji Hayashi, Yoshihisa Shimada, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 8662158
    Abstract: In a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, a first partitioning member and a second partitioning member are installed at a boundary position between a first cooling section and a second cooling section of an evaporator. The evaporator is separated into the first cooling section and the second cooling section by the first and second partitioning members. In the case that air is not blown in either one of the passages that are disposed in the first cooling section and the second cooling section, air that flows through the other of the passages is prevented from flowing into the one passage through the interior of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Keihin Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Seto, Yoji Katsuki, Tsunetoshi Kitamura, Junichi Kanemaru, Shinji Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 8662405
    Abstract: A transportation trailer having a moving floor including a plurality of reciprocating slats for loading/unloading materials into the trailer. The trailer includes a system for warming the moving floor when the materials transported in the trailer freeze on the slats in cold weather. Using the pre-existing hollow structure of the slats, a stream of hot fluid or a hot fluid pipe is run inside the slats for thawing the frozen materials for unloading the trailer. The hot fluid may be provided from a hot fluid source on board of the trailer, for thawing the frozen materials while the trailer is on its way to the unloading site, or may be provided separately at the unloading site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Titan Trailers, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Kloepfer
  • Patent number: 8662157
    Abstract: In a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, a first blower unit is connected by a connection duct to a side portion of a casing having respective air passages defined therein. In addition, air that is supplied to the interior of the casing from the first blower unit, and which is heated by the heater core, is blown from the fifth front passage alongside the heater core directly into the sixth front passage via sub-defroster dampers, and is blown out toward the front seat of the vehicle from a defroster blow-out port, which is disposed in the sixth front passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Keihin Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsunetoshi Kitamura, Junichi Kanemaru, Shinji Kakizaki
  • Publication number: 20140041828
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle air-conditioning control apparatus comprising: an air-conditioning system which automatically controls a vehicle interior temperature to conform to a target vehicle interior temperature, in accordance with a first group of given parameters; an engine control section which automatically stops an engine of a vehicle, when a given automatic stop condition including a condition concerning a deviation between the target vehicle interior temperature and an actual vehicle interior temperature is satisfied during a stop of the vehicle; and an automatic stop condition changing section which changes the deviation condition in a direction for allowing the engine to become more likely to be automatically stopped, when a passenger makes a manual operation during the automatic control of the air-conditioning system to change a second parameter other than the first group of given parameters, in a direction for easing the air-conditioning control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 8636051
    Abstract: The present invention relates to heat exchangers, and more particularly to a heat exchange apparatus configured to operate in a free air stream. In an embodiment, a heat exchange apparatus configured to operate in a free air stream includes a heat exchange structure having a shape configured to conform to a body of a vehicle when in a stowed condition; and a deployment mechanism for moving the heat exchange structure to a deployed condition external to the vehicle. The heat exchange structure has a curved surface that is concave into the air stream when the heat exchange structure is in the deployed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Richard M. Weber, Gary Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8637284
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, microbial, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as food products and amino acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Publication number: 20140020420
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for temporarily refrigerating perishable items contained in a refrigerated truck or trailer whose refrigeration unit is not functioning properly or at all. The apparatus comprises a portable, auxiliary refrigeration unit adapted to be transported to the refrigerated truck or trailer and includes a sealing element configured and adapted for placement in or adjacent a door opening of the refrigerated truck or trailer to provide at least a partial seal thereat. A chilled air duct is provided for delivering chilled air through/across the sealing element to the perishable items inside the refrigerated truck or trailer and the portable, auxiliary refrigeration unit is operable to deliver chilled air through the chilled air duct and into the interior of the refrigerated truck or trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: DAVID A. GILL
  • Patent number: 8632923
    Abstract: A battery pack includes at least one battery cell, an evaporator disposed adjacent the at least one battery cell in thermal communication therewith, the evaporator including porous media and a collector in communication with the porous media, and a coolant storage unit in incoming and outgoing fluid communication with the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Kwon Sohn
  • Publication number: 20140008450
    Abstract: Provided is a heater for vehicles, and more particularly, to a heater for vehicles, in which a first heater heated by a flowing of engine cooling water and a second heater heated by a power supply are integrally assembled, thereby increasing spatial efficiency and more increasing heat exchange performance to improve heating performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Jung Sam GU, Hong-Young LIM, Jun Young SONG, Kwang Hun OH, Young-Ha JEON, Yong Sung KWON
  • Patent number: 8623538
    Abstract: A microencapsulated phase change material used in conjunction with a cooling fluid as part of a thermal management system for an automotive battery pack assembly. The microencapsulated phase change material is made to have enhanced latent heat transfer properties at lower (colder) temperatures and higher (elevated) temperatures such that a vehicle employing such an automotive battery pack assembly is more resistant to environments where freezing and overheating might otherwise be prevalent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Xiaohui Jasmine Wang
  • Patent number: 8626427
    Abstract: A user interface method for a terminal for a vehicle is provided. The terminal obtains position information to detect a point of a road. A road image of a driving direction is obtained, a lanes of the road represented on the obtained road image is recognized, and a point of a road and lane in which the vehicle having the terminal arranged therein is detected. A virtual road image regarding the recognized lanes is generated, and the generated virtual lanes are added to the road image of the driving direction of the vehicle, and displayed. Traffic information for each lane and surrounding information (i.e. lane closure, construction, accident, etc.) at the detected point of the relevant road are obtained, and the obtained information is displayed for each virtual lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-Kil Park, Chang-Soo Kim, Jun-Yong Choi
  • Patent number: 8622162
    Abstract: An engine compartment cooling system includes an axial fan assembly and a remote mount fluid cooler assembly. The axial fan assembly and the remote mount fluid cooler assemblies are mounted in clear holes in at least one of the quarter panels. The axial fan assembly exhausts engine heat outwardly from the engine compartment through the quarter panel. The fluid cooler assembly receives ambient air through the quarter panel into the engine compartment. The axial fan and fluid cooler assembles are controlled using, sensors, signal data, and a controller. The controller is programmed with the operation data so that the cooling system optimizes engine cooling while varying operation of the engine's cooling system, and the axial fan and the remote mount fluid cooler assemblies according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas Karl
  • Patent number: 8616265
    Abstract: The invention concerns a cooler assembly for a vehicle cooling system, with a cooling unit pivotally attached to a retaining element. The retaining element is slidable in a lengthwise direction along a guide element which is attached to the cooling system, so that the cooling unit can be moved from an operating position by sliding and subsequent pivoting into a maintenance and cleaning position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Thomas Fell, Andreas Keim, Duong M Le
  • Patent number: 8616271
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal control device intended to dissipate the heat generated by a payload on a spacecraft, comprising a number of surfaces and including means for circulating a refrigerant. An evaporation zone (Z1) comprises means for circulating the refrigerant, a compression zone (Z2), a condensation zone (Z3) comprising at least one radiating panel, linked to a part of the means for circulating the refrigerant, including several branches and comprising means to allow or inhibit the circulation of the refrigerant within these branches so as to vary the area of the heat exchange surface in the condensation zone, a pressure reduction zone (Z4) comprising means for circulating the refrigerant. Such a device is particularly well adapted to thermal problems encountered in telecommunications satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Julien Hugon, Thierry Dargent, Isabelle Nann, Paul De Larminat
  • Patent number: 8616316
    Abstract: A forward structure of a motor vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a drive unit and a radiator arrangement for releasing the heat of the drive unit into the environment. The radiator arrangement encompasses at least two cooling unit, which are spatially separated from one another and which are arranged so as to overlap at least area by area in cross direction of the motor vehicle. An imaginary connecting line between the cooling units crosses at least one component of the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dino Demma, Frank Leopold
  • Publication number: 20130344789
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved heating and/or cooling systems for aircraft galleys and other passenger transport vehicles, where meals are prepared. The embodiments are particularly designed to save space and in some instances, may lower the weight of the overall vehicle, by moving heat and cooled air generating components to a position remote from the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas M. Lee, Abdelaziz Boubeddi
  • Publication number: 20130344792
    Abstract: A ventilation system for a power machine is disclosed. The ventilation system includes a first ductwork section and a second ductwork section. An intermediate unsealed cavity is positioned between the first ductwork section and the second ductwork section. A source of air having a primary fan is provided. The source moves air through the first ductwork section into an intermediate cavity. A secondary fan draws air from the intermediate cavity, re-pressurizes the air, and forces the air out of the second ductwork section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
    Inventor: Aaron G. Hill