Heating And Cooling Patents (Class 165/42)
  • Patent number: 12358337
    Abstract: An electric vehicle thermal management system, comprising a water tank (1), a liquid-gas separator (2), a four-way valve (3), a first water pump (4), a second water pump (5), a battery water jacket (6), an electric appliance water jacket (7) which is simultaneously used for a voltage converter (71) and a vehicle-mounted charger (72), a radiator (8), a heat exchanger main body (91) of a battery cooler (9), an electric motor controller water jacket (10) and/or an electric motor water jacket (11). The four-way valve (3) comprises a first valve port, a second valve port, a third valve port and a fourth valve port. An outlet of the radiator (8) and the water tank (1) are both in communication with the first valve port. The second valve port, the heat exchanger main body (91), the liquid-gas separator (2), the first water pump (4), the battery water jacket (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG GEELY HOLDING GROUP CO., LTD, NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Haijiang Dai, Junbo Xu, Chao Sun, Lian Wu
  • Patent number: 12350999
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric heater of a vehicular heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes turning on the electric heater; determining whether an ambient air temperature of a vehicle is higher than or equal to a threshold ambient air temperature, and a battery temperature is lower than or equal to a threshold battery temperature; determining whether battery efficiency is lower than or equal to threshold efficiency when the ambient air temperature of the vehicle is higher than or equal to the threshold ambient air temperature, and the battery temperature is lower than or equal to the threshold battery temperature; and turning off the electric heater when the battery efficiency is lower than or equal to the threshold efficiency, wherein the electric heater is configured to receive electric energy from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dae Hyun Song, Chang Gi Ryu, Woo Jin Lee, Dong Ju Ko, Hyun Hun Choi, Chun Kyu Kwon, In Uk Ko
  • Patent number: 12296647
    Abstract: A reheating method for operating a refrigeration system for a motor vehicle is described, the refrigeration system includes a refrigerant compressor, which is connectable or connected to a primary line and a secondary line; an outer heat exchanger, which is arranged in the primary line; an evaporator, which is arranged in the primary line; a heating register, which is arranged in the secondary line; at least one movable temperature flap which is arranged upstream or downstream of the heating register in relation to a supply air flow direction; and at least one shut-off element, which is arranged downstream of the heating register in the secondary line. The reheating method includes adjusting the at least one shut-off element into a position in which refrigerant flows downstream of the heating register into the evaporator, while bypassing the external heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Christian Rebinger, Helmut Rottenkolber
  • Patent number: 12285991
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a thermal system of a vehicle which provides cooling to within the vehicle, e.g., within a driver and passenger carrying cabin or compartment, is effectively leveraged to provide cooling capabilities to autonomous vehicle systems. Some coolant flowing through a coolant loop included in the thermal system of a vehicle may be diverted to an offshoot loop which provides cooling to coolant included in a coolant loop configured to cool autonomous vehicle systems, e.g., a compute system that is part of an autonomous vehicle. The coolant from the thermal system of the vehicle may flow past coolant from the coolant loop configured to cool autonomous vehicle systems, and the cooled coolant from the coolant loop configured to cool the autonomous vehicle systems may flow near the autonomous vehicle systems to cool the autonomous vehicle systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: NURO, INC.
    Inventors: Luke Herbert Lonberger, André Barkhodaee, Nathan Bozzo, Brent B. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 12280631
    Abstract: A seat air-conditioning device includes: a blower; a first ventilation path through which air is drawn in by the blower from a first inlet in a seat base of a seat on which a person sits; a second ventilation path through which the drawn air is discharged from a first outlet in the seat; a third ventilation path that is different from the second ventilation path and through which the drawn air is discharged from a second outlet in the seat; and an outlet ventilation path selection switch that is between the blower and the first and second outlets and selects at least one of the second and third ventilation path to which the drawn air is to be led. The first inlet is vertically below the first outlet and the second outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Makita, Kou Komori, Takeshi Enya
  • Patent number: 12269316
    Abstract: A system includes an electric battery. A thermal regulation circuit has liquid pass through the circuit and includes an operative tract in thermal exchange relation with the battery to control battery temperature. A refrigeration circuit has fluid pass through that is subjected to a non-reversible refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration circuit includes a condenser in thermal exchange relation with the thermal regulation circuit heating tract. An evaporator is in thermal exchange relation with the cooling tract of the thermal regulation circuit. A thermal regulation circuit valve assembly is selectively configured in a heating configuration and in a cooling configuration. The valve assembly defines, in the thermal regulation circuit between the operative tract and the cooling tract, a closed heating path for the liquid in the heating configuration, and a closed cooling path for the liquid in the cooling configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: DENSO THERMAL SYSTEMS S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Cagliero, Pasquale Napoli
  • Patent number: 12208660
    Abstract: An air-conditioning arrangement for an interior of a vehicle, with an air-conditioning unit, for providing air-conditioned interior air, and a cooling assembly, which is arranged in the interior. The cooling assembly has a refrigeration circuit, which, for removing heat from a refrigerant of the refrigeration circuit, has a heat exchanger, which is exposed to the interior air. The heat exchanger is spatially divided into a hot-gas section and a low-temperature section. The interior air that is taken in for the heat removal by the heat exchanger is divided into an outgoing-air component and a recirculating-air component. The low-temperature section of the exchanger is exposed to the recirculating-air component of the interior air and the hot-gas section of the heat exchanger is exposed to the outgoing-air component of the interior air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Schmitz, Irfan Kasap
  • Patent number: 12157346
    Abstract: An environmental control system for thermally conditioning air within an enclosed space comprising: a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger. The system further comprises an intake flowpath for directing an intake flow of fresh air to the enclosed space, wherein a heat-transfer section of the indoor heat exchanger is located within the intake flowpath to thermally condition the intake flow of fresh air before entering the enclosed space. The system further comprises an exhaust flowpath for directing an exhaust flow of thermally conditioned air to an external environment. A recovery heat exchanger is configured to transfer thermal energy between the exhaust flow and the intake flow at a location within the intake flowpath that is upstream of the heat-transfer section of the indoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Diego Cearra, Pavel Houdek, Petra Stavova, Martin Galansky, Petr Trutnovsky, Michal Kolda, Frank Ruemenap
  • Patent number: 12030363
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle air conditioner capable of increasing the aft flow effective region of an inner flow path by reducing the space occupied by support parts of doors for opening/closing a plurality of regions. The vehicle air conditioner comprises: an air-conditioning case in which an air flow path is formed; and a cooling heat exchanger and a heating heat exchanger provided in the air flow path of the air-conditioning case, wherein the air flow path is partitioned and divided into a plurality of regions, and has a plurality of doors for opening/closing each region and a shaft for driving the doors, and the distance between one door and the shaft is different from the distance between another door and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Chan Joo Maeng, Young Keun Kim, Ki Man Jeon, Hyun Kwon Jung, Gyu Ik Han
  • Patent number: 12024010
    Abstract: A self-propelled earth working machine includes a traveling gear, a machine frame supported by the traveling gear, a power source accommodated on the machine frame for providing power for a travel operation and/or for an earth working operation, a working apparatus accommodated on the machine frame for earth working, and a cooling device for cooling a functional device of the earth working machine. The cooling device includes at least one heat exchanger system for transferring heat from a cooling medium to air, and a ventilator system, which is on the one hand designed and situated to produce a cooling air flow passing the heat exchanger system and which is on the other hand designed and situated to produce in the area of the power source a ventilation air flow flowing away from the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Stinner, Viktor Stremel, Axel Mahlberg, Rolf David Pancho Yanza
  • Patent number: 11971224
    Abstract: A plate-fin heat exchanger, including first plates and second plates, several protrusions being provided on the side of a first plate surface of each first plate, a fin being provided between a second plate surface of each first plate and a first plate surface of the adjacent second plate, and no fin being provided between the side of the first plate where the protrusions are provided and the second plate surface of the adjacent second plate. The heat exchanger increases flow turbulence in first fluid channels by using the fins, and increases flow turbulence in second fluid channels by using a structure of the several protrusions, so that low-pressure fluid can flow through the first fluid channels, and high-pressure fluid can flow through the second fluid channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fangfang Yin, Jiguang Zou, Jiang Zou, Weixin Jiang
  • Patent number: 11964538
    Abstract: A ventilation device may include first and second supply ducts, a mixing section having a mixing duct into which the first and second supply ducts may lead, the first and second supply ducts arranged in the mixing section adjacent one another in a transverse direction, and first and second guides in the mixing section each running in the transverse direction and being located opposite one another in a longitudinal direction running transversely to the transverse direction, each guide having two guide walls running in the transverse direction and located opposite one another in a height direction running transversely to the transverse direction and longitudinal direction, at least one of the guide walls sloping away from the other guide wall at a slope angle with respect to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Fraas, Holger Laux, Thorsten Moellert, Walter Wolf
  • Patent number: 11964541
    Abstract: A ventilation system for a vehicle having a cabin includes a segmented plenum comprising a plurality of sub-plenums that are disposed above the cabin, a perforated panel defining the ceiling of the cabin and having plurality of perforations for air communication of the plenum with the cabin, and ductwork including one or more upper main ducts, lower main ducts, vertical ducts, and seat return ducts. The ducts communicate with each other to convey air, descending from the segmented plenum through the perforated panel as a high volume, low turbulence blanket of air through the cabin, back to the segmented plenum. The ventilation system also includes an air processing unit (APU) in communication with the ductwork and operable to sterilize the air conveyed therein, and one or more fans for circulating the air in the ventilation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: James Edwin Dally
  • Patent number: 11949078
    Abstract: A heat management system including a refrigerant circulation line including a compressor, a water-cooling condenser, an air-cooling condenser, a first expansion valve, an evaporator, a refrigerant heat exchanger, and a gas/liquid separator that discharges only a liquid refrigerant, and cooling an indoor place by circulating a refrigerant; a heating line for heating the indoor place by circulating, through the water-cooling condenser, cooling water that exchanges heat with the refrigerant; and a cooling line for cooling a battery and an electrical component by circulating air or cooling water that exchanges heat with the refrigerant. Therefore, the present invention can not only cool and heat a vehicle but also efficiently manage heat for an electrical component and a battery in a vehicle, and can reduce the number of constituent components for heating and cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Hae-Jun Lee, Moo Joong Kim, In-Guk Hwang
  • Patent number: 11932082
    Abstract: A present disclosure relates to a vehicle air conditioner including a blower. At least the blower is disposed within an engine compartment. The blower includes a motor that is configured to rotate a fan. A rotating shaft of the motor is diagonally arranged with an inclination angle that is greater than 0 degree and less than 90 degrees with respect to a vertical direction. An attachable/detachable direction of the motor with respect to the blower-is an upper side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Marelli Cabin Comfort Japan Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuuji Tsukuda, Tsugutaka Ishikawa, Kazuyuki Maruyama, Ichiro Miyata
  • Patent number: 11884134
    Abstract: A cooling system of a vehicle, including a coolant circuit, which can be operated as a cooling circuit for an AC operation and as a heat pump circuit for a heating operation, an evaporator, a coolant compressor, a heat exchanger in the form of a coolant condenser or gas cooler for the coolant circuit or in the form of a heat pump evaporator for the heat pump circuit, a first expansion element which is paired with the evaporator, a second expansion element, the heat pump evaporator function of which is paired with the heat exchanger, and an inner heat exchanger with a high-pressure section and a low-pressure section. The low-pressure section is fluidically connected to the downstream coolant compressor. The high-pressure section of the inner heat exchanger is arranged in a coolant circuit section which connects the second expansion element to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dirk Schroeder, Christian Rebinger, Thomas Anzenberger
  • Patent number: 11833927
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermal management system for a fuel cell vehicle, the thermal management system including a cooling line configured to pass through power electronic parts of a vehicle and allow a coolant to circulate therethrough, a cooling unit provided in the cooling line and configured to cool the coolant, driving components provided in the cooling line and configured to drive the vehicle, and a bypass line having a first end connected to the cooling line at a first point positioned between the driving components and an outlet of the cooling unit, and a second end connected to the cooling line at a second point positioned between the driving components and an inlet of the cooling unit, such that it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of improving cooling efficiency and cooling performance and improving safety and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Kyung Choi, Jong Bo Won
  • Patent number: 11807069
    Abstract: An electrically driven motor vehicle may include a first cooling circuit, a first component, a first heat exchanger, at least one pump configured to convey a coolant, a second cooling circuit, and a second component. The first component may be arranged in the first cooling circuit and may have a temperature which is to be controlled. The second component may be arranged in the second cooling circuit and may have a temperature which is to be controlled. The first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit may be fluidically separated from one another and may be coupled to one another to transfer heat via a second heat exchanger. One of (i) the first component and (ii) the second component may be configured as at least one of an electrical energy storage and a fuel cell module, and the other may be configured as a secondary braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Rainer Lutz
  • Patent number: 11745560
    Abstract: A blower unit includes a casing defining a first passage and a second passage, a first internal-external air switching member, a second internal-external air switching member, and a partition defining an opening. During a two-layer internal/external air mode, the first internal-external air switching member opens an external air inlet and closes an internal air inlet and the second internal-external air switching member closes the external air inlet and opens the internal inlet, so that the external air is directly introduced into the first passage through the external air inlet and the external air in the second passage is introduced into the first passage through the opening of the partition and the internal air is directly introduced into the second passage through the internal air inlet and the internal air in the first passage is introduced into the second passage through the opening of the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aro Toyama, Fumiaki Kitamura, Tomohiro Kamiya
  • Patent number: 11724789
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a BOG reliquefaction method for LNG ships. The BOG reliquefaction method for LNG ships includes: 1) compressing BOG; 2) cooling the BOG compressed in Step 1) through heat exchange between the compressed BOG and a refrigerant using a heat exchanger; 3) expanding the BOG cooled in Step 2); and 4) stably maintaining reliquefaction performance regardless of change in flow rate of the BOG compressed in Step 1) and supplied to the heat exchanger to be used as a reliquefaction target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING & MARINE ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hae Won Jung, Dong Eok Kang, Joon Chae Lee, Dong Kyu Choi
  • Patent number: 11685292
    Abstract: A vehicle temperature management apparatus includes: a channel selection section that selects at least one of a chiller heat exchange channel, a radiator heat exchange channel, and a heater heat exchange channel as a channel of a refrigerant in a refrigerant circulation circuit; a switching control section that controls the channel switching section such that the channel switching section selects at least one of the chiller heat exchange channel, the radiator heat exchange channel, and the heater heat exchange channel; and an operation control section that controls an operation of a chiller. When the radiator heat exchange channel or the heater heat exchange channel is selected as the channel of the refrigerant, the switching control section controls the channel selection section such that the channel selection section further selects the chiller heat exchange channel, and the operation control section does not operate the chiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Suwin Indula Amarasinghe
  • Patent number: 11628704
    Abstract: A method of operating a cooling system for a vehicle including providing a cooling system including a coolant loop having a coolant valve, a first refrigerant loop having a first compressor and a first chiller configured to exchange heat with the coolant loop, a second refrigerant loop having a second compressor and a second chiller configured to exchange heat with the coolant loop, and a cooling system controller operably coupled to the first compressor, the second compressor, and the coolant valve. The coolant valve is configured to selectively direct or prevent the flow of coolant between the battery and each of the first chiller and the second chiller. The method further includes operating the cooling system in one of a second chiller only mode, a first chiller only mode, an air conditioning (AC) only mode, a first refrigerant loop only mode, and a dual refrigerant loop mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Allen Bray, Steven L. Lambert, Luke McDermott, William Stewart Johnston
  • Patent number: 11548427
    Abstract: A vehicle floor area may include a body and a floor. The floor may be attached to and positioned at least partially above the body. The floor may comprise floor perforations. A collection receptacle may be supported by the body and positioned at least partially below the floor so that solid waste or liquid waste can fall through the floor perforations onto the collection receptacle. The waste that has fallen onto the collection receptacle may be removed from the collection receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Goutham Shanmuga Sundaram
  • Patent number: 11541716
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air conditioner for a vehicle, which can prevent reduction of an air volume by reducing a back-and-forth width of the vehicle and sufficiently securing the degree of opening of a warm air bypass door, and control an efficient linkage between the warm air bypass door and a defrost door. The air conditioner includes: an air-conditioning case having an air passageway formed therein; a heat exchanger for cooling and a heat exchanger for heating which are disposed in the air passageway of the air-conditioning case to exchange heat with air passing the air passageway; a warm air bypass passageway for directly discharging the air passing the heat exchanger for heating to a front seat floor vent; and a warm air bypass door for adjusting the degree of opening of the warm air bypass passageway, wherein the warm air bypass door includes a rotary shaft and a plate, and the plate has a bent portion to have at least two sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Tae Wan Kim, Yong Eun Seo, Jeong Hun Seo, Jong Gon Lee, Myoung Jun Kim, Tae Gun Lee
  • Patent number: 11505029
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle, and more particularly, to an air conditioner for a vehicle in which heating performance may be improved using an auxiliary heating heat exchanger and stability of a passenger may be improved by providing the auxiliary heating heat exchanger in an engine room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Jae-Chun You, Yun Jin Kim, Yo Chan Min, Tae Yong Park, Sung Je Lee
  • Patent number: 11448429
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, air conditioning or refrigeration system includes a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, a first condenser, and a second condenser arranged in parallel or in series with the first condenser. A first expansion valve is in fluid communication with the first condenser to selectably direct a refrigerant flow through the first condenser, and a second expansion valve is in fluid communication with the second condenser to selectably direct the refrigerant flow through the second compressor. An evaporator is configured to remove thermal energy from a fluid flow through the evaporator via the refrigerant flow through the evaporator. A fluid flow circuit includes a liquid cooler in selectable fluid communication with the second condenser and/or the evaporator and the evaporator, through which the fluid flow is directed for thermal energy exchange with the refrigerant flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Marwan Chamoun
  • Patent number: 11427108
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a fuel cell system (10) using a first operating mode, in which, when all of the fuel cell stacks (22, 26) are inactive, one fuel cell stack (22) is pre-heated using a coolant that is pre-heated by means of an electric heater (42) while bypassing all cooler circuits (58) of the active coolant circuits (14) via bypass lines (64) and the one pre-heated fuel cell stack (22) is activated in order to pre-heat an additional fuel cell stack (26) of the fuel cell system. Other operating modes for operating a fuel cell system are disclosed in additional embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: Nikola Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kevin Lynk, Jesse Schneider, Arpad Imre, Werner Belschner, Peter Eckert, Jorg Heyse
  • Patent number: 11331980
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle air conditioner, wherein an integrated air conditioning module using a heat pump system enables, in order to secure interior space, the optimizing of the arrangement thereof and the arrangements among the elements thereof, and the increasing of a coupling force between an air conditioning module and a distribution duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Se Min Lee, Tae Yong Park, Dae Bok Keon, Yun Jin Kim, Jae Chun You, Yo Chan Min, Sung Je Lee
  • Patent number: 11305610
    Abstract: A thermal control system includes first and second components. A plurality of coolant conduits fluidly couple the components to define a coolant circuit. A pump is operable to circulate coolant among the conduits. Within the coolant circuit, the first component is upstream of the second component and the pump is upstream of the first component. A controller is configured to selectively operate according to a circuit heating mode, wherein the controller controls the pump at a first speed and controls the first respective component as a thermal source, and a local heating mode, wherein the local heating mode the control controls the pump at a second speed and controls the first respective component as a thermal source. The second speed is less than the first speed. The controller operates in the local heating mode in response to a heating request associated with the second respective component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Holihan, Cameron P. Smith, Benjamin C. Groen
  • Patent number: 11292318
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning apparatus includes: a duct disposed in a seat of a vehicle, air flowing through the duct from an air conditioning unit; a rear seat outlet formed on a back face of a backrest portion of the seat to blow out the air from the duct toward a rear seat of the vehicle; and an air flow deflection member that partitions the rear seat outlet into a first region and a second region to define a first passage through which the air flows from the duct through the first region in a first direction in a vehicle cabin and a second passage through which the air flows from the duct through the second region in a second direction more downward than the first direction in the vehicle cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Niimi, Yuuka Tashima
  • Patent number: 11285847
    Abstract: A vehicle ventilation system includes a seating assembly including a seat blower. The seat blower pulls air away from a seating surface. A cabin blower is configured to circulate air in a cabin. A controller is configured to monitor a flow rate of the cabin blower. The controller is also configured to control a seat blower flow rate as a function of a cabin blower flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gabriella Almasi, William J. Wamsley, Michael Steven Medoro, Lawrence C. Karas
  • Patent number: 11260721
    Abstract: A motor vehicle is provided in which cold air is prevented from flowing forwards from the rear region to the front seats when travelling with an open top. At least one air outlet opening or air outlet nozzle is formed at a rear end of the center console, through which air outlet opening or air outlet nozzle warm air can flow out upwards and/or forwards between the two backrests of the two front seats. Further air outlet openings are provided in the two opposite B body pillars, through which air outlet openings warm air can flow out forwards in the direction of the backrests of the front seats and/or in the transverse direction of the vehicle into the rear region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Bast
  • Patent number: 11247530
    Abstract: A vehicular air conditioning system and a control method thereof are provided. The vehicular air conditioning system includes: a plurality of mode doors configured to switch an air discharge mode in a passenger compartment, the mode doors including a defogging door, a vent door and a floor door; and a mode door air pressure reduction part configured to temporarily reduce an air pressure acting on at least one of the mode doors when the air discharge mode is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Chan Young Lee, Seok Kim, Sung Jin Kim, Boo Yong Um, Young In Kim, Young Ju Kim
  • Patent number: 11236661
    Abstract: A fluid circuit for a trucking vehicle having a transport refrigeration unit is provided. The fluid circuit includes a first regulator assembly defining a first fuel inlet that is arranged to receive fuel from a first fuel tank and a first fuel outlet that is arranged to provide fuel to a first engine. The first regulator assembly having a first heat exchanger assembly defining a first coolant inlet that is arranged to receive coolant from a cooling system associated with the first engine and a first coolant outlet that is arranged to provide coolant to the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Loic Renault
  • Patent number: 11220160
    Abstract: An idle mitigation system for a bucket truck which includes an alternate source of power for the vehicle air conditioner which is coupled to the hydraulic system of the bucket truck which is hydraulic system is alternately powered by an electric motor which when run in reverse can charge batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Terex USA, LLC
    Inventor: Tyler Craig Henderson
  • Patent number: 11203249
    Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments pertain to controlling temperature in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. For example, a temperature control system (TCS) can include an air channel configured to deliver airflow to the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The TCS can include a one thermal energy source and a heat transfer device connected to the air channel. A first fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the thermal energy source and a thermoelectric device (TED). A second fluid circuit can circulate coolant to the TED and the heat transfer device. A bypass circuit can connect the thermal energy source to the heat transfer device. An actuator can cause coolant to circulate selectively in either the bypass circuit or the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. A control device can operate the actuator when it is determined that the thermal energy source is ready to provide heat to the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lakhi Nandlal Goenka
  • Patent number: 11155139
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal management system for a vehicle including: a refrigerant circulation line including a refrigerant loop having a compressor, a water-cooling condenser, a first expander, an air-cooling condenser, a second expander and an evaporator, and a third expander and a chiller which are connected with the second expander and the evaporator in parallel in order to circulate refrigerant; a cooling line in which a radiator exchanging heat with the air to cool coolant, an electronic part, the chiller and a battery are connected in parallel and in which the coolant flows; and a heating line which circulates the coolant heated by exchanging heat with the refrigerant in the water-cooling condenser to heat the interior, and which is connected with the cooling line or blocked from the cooling line according to heating and cooling modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: In Guk Hwang, Sung Je Lee, Hae Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 11097591
    Abstract: A system for controlling movements of doors of an HVAC module includes an actuation gear and an intermediate cam. A main door includes a first portion and a second portion having a first guide. The first portion engages with actuation gear to enable linear movement of the main door. A slave door includes a second engagement element and moves between a blocking and unblocking position based on movement of main door. The intermediate cam moves angularly and includes a first engagement element and a second guide. The first engagement element interacts with the first guide, and the second guide interacts with second engagement element to facilitate angular movement of slave door in response to movement of the main door. The first guide includes a bend positioned to enable angular movement of the slave door after the main door moves a pre-determined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Sikorski, Darshan Parikh
  • Patent number: 11077734
    Abstract: The air-conditioning control device is configured to control an air conditioner for a vehicle having a radiant heater and to output a cancel signal that allows an engine, which has been stopped in response to an idling stop control, to restart. The radiant heater is configured to generate radiant heat to heat an occupant in a compartment of the vehicle. The air conditioner is configured to heat an interior of the compartment using engine cooling water. The air-conditioning control device stops the engine in response to the idling stop control. The air-conditioning control device outputs a cancel signal allowing the engine to restart following the engine having been stopped such that an idling stop time is longer when the radiant heater is operated than when the radiant heater is not operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimitake Ishikawa, Hideaki Kako, Hiroyasu Oide, Hideki Seki, Yusuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11073311
    Abstract: A climate-control system includes a first working-fluid circuit, a second working-fluid circuit and a first heat exchanger. The first working-fluid circuit includes a first compressor, a second heat exchanger and a first pump. The second heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the first compressor. The first pump receives a first working fluid from the second heat exchanger and circulates the first working fluid through the first working-fluid circuit. The second working-fluid circuit is fluidly isolated from the first working-fluid circuit and includes a second pump and a fourth heat exchanger. The second pump is in fluid communication with the fourth heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is thermally coupled with the first working-fluid circuit and the second working-fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne R. Warner, Reza Khatami
  • Patent number: 11015563
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing auto start of a vehicle during an auto-stop condition may include: determining an operational status of a vehicle climate control system; receiving a target air outlet temperature from the vehicle climate control system; receiving data indicating a state of a cooled seat of the vehicle; and inhibiting a start-engine command to restart an internal combustion engine of the vehicle because of a cabin cooling requirement when the data indicates that the cooled seat of the vehicle is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Cosgrove, Abhishek Srivastava, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 10987991
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit for a vehicle includes: an air conditioning case, a blower that draws air from an opening and blows the air radially outward from its rotation axis, a cooler disposed upstream of the blower, and a heater is disposed downstream of the blower. The air conditioning case includes an upper bypass passage through which the air bypasses the heater on an upper side of the heater, a lower bypass passage through which the air bypasses the heater on a lower side of the heater, a first opening provided downstream of the upper bypass passage, and a second opening provided downstream of the lower bypass passage. The opening of the blower faces an air outflow face of the cooler. A passage area of the upper bypass passage is larger than a passage area of the lower bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Tsumagari, Ryo Kobayashi, Tetsuya Kono, Shinji Ide
  • Patent number: 10987995
    Abstract: A driving force transmission mechanism configuring a vehicular air conditioning device includes: a driving lever coupled to a driving source; a following lever engaged with this driving lever and following this driving lever; and a rack rod engaged with the following lever and moving linearly. A first shaft and a link gear of the following lever are engaged with this rack rod. Moreover, by the driving lever and the following lever revolving under driving action of the driving source, a second shaft engaged with the link gear rotates, and the first shaft rotates via the rack rod. As a result, a first and a second air-mix door engaged with the first and the second shaft slide to undergo an opening/closing operation, and their opening extent characteristics are configured nonlinear under engaging action of a link pin and a link groove of the following lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Akiyama
  • Patent number: 10941955
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for enabling one or more climate control devices to communicate with a central control device of a recreational vehicle. Specifically, a gateway device is set forth for processing network signals from the control device and converting the network signals into command signals that can be transmitted to various climate control devices associated with the gateway device. For example, the control device can communicate with existing climate control devices according to a particular communication protocol that is not recognized by certain climate control devices. In order to allow the control device to communicate with those certain climate control devices, the gateway device can operate to translate the network signal into command signals that are recognizable, or otherwise able to be processed by, the certain climate control devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
    Inventor: Tanner Heral
  • Patent number: 10926618
    Abstract: The present invention relates to all terrain vehicles having at least a pair of laterally spaced apart seating surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to trail compliant side-by-side all terrain vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Polaris industries Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron D. Deckard, Andrew C. Schleif, Jason C. Plugge, Alan A. Meyer
  • Patent number: 10906377
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an inverter, a climate control system, and a coolant system. The climate control system includes a housing, and a heater core and an electric heater disposed within the housing. The coolant system includes conduit arranged to circulate coolant through the inverter and the heater core. The inverter is disposed upstream of the heater core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Benjamin Kok, Kenneth J. Jackson, Serdar Hakki Yonak
  • Patent number: 10857853
    Abstract: A method of regulating thermal comfort of an occupant of a vehicle cabin uses a radiant heating tile powered via an energy storage device to generate thermal energy. The method also includes detecting the occupant's position via a position sensor and detecting the occupant's surface temperature and detecting a temperature of the tile via at least one temperature sensor. The method additionally includes determining, via an electronic controller, a rate of change of occupant's surface temperature and a difference between the tile temperature and the occupant's surface temperature relative to a predetermined temperature set-point. The method further includes regulating, via the electronic controller, a power input from the energy storage device to the tile in response to the determined rate of change of the surface temperature and the determined difference between the tile temperature and the occupant's surface temperature to thereby regulate the occupant's surface temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Taeyoung Han, Shailendra Kaushik, Kuo-huey Chen, Chih-hung Yen, Bahram Khalighi
  • Patent number: 10857852
    Abstract: An adaptive radiant heating system regulates a climate inside a motor vehicle cabin having a seat for a vehicle occupant. The system includes radiant heating tiles arranged proximate the seat and powered by an energy storage device. The system also includes a first sensor for detecting a position of the occupant and generating a first signal indicative thereof. The system additionally includes a second sensor for detecting a temperature within the cabin and generating a second signal indicative thereof. The system furthermore includes an electronic controller in operative communication with the tiles and the first and second sensors, and configured to regulate the climate proximate the seat via selective control of the tiles. The controller is configured to receive the first and second signals and activate at least one of the tiles in response to the first and second signals, to thereby regulate the climate proximate the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chih-hung Yen, Kuo-huey Chen, Taeyoung Han, Bahram Khalighi, Shailendra Kaushik
  • Patent number: 10814716
    Abstract: A vehicle temperature control system, especially for a hybrid vehicle, includes a first heat transfer medium circuit (12) including an internal combustion engine (16), a heater (18) and one or preferably a plurality of heat transfer areas (32, 34, 36) for transferring heat between a first heat transfer medium, circulating in the first heat transfer medium circuit (12), and a first group of system areas to be thermally treated. A second heat transfer medium circuit (14) includes a heat one or preferably a plurality of heat transfer areas for the transfer of heat between a second heat transfer medium, circulating in the second heat transfer medium circuit (14), and a second group of system areas (46, 48, 50) to be thermally treated. A heat transfer medium circuit heat exchanger unit (58) transfers heat between the first heat transfer medium and the second heat transfer medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Günter Eberspach, Michael Humburg, Hans Jensen
  • Patent number: 10766333
    Abstract: A vehicle air-handling system includes a heat exchanger, a blower in communication with the heat exchanger, and an operable duct having driver and passenger portions that are each in communication with the heat exchanger and the blower. When the blower is activated, the driver portion continuously delivers blower air and the passenger portion selectively delivers blower air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Fusco, Jennifer A. Herr-Rathke, Manfred Koberstein, Jose A. Nava, Steven M. Kahrs