Responsive To Vehicle Body Motion Or Traction Patents (Class 62/133)
  • Patent number: 11912167
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating power for a tractor-trailer combination, including: a drop-lift axle coupled to the bottom of the trailer, the drop-lift axle to deploy at least one wheel when a primary brake is applied and the trailer is operating at a predetermined state; at least one regenerative brake retarder coupled to the at least one wheel, the at least one regenerative brake retarder to generate energy when the at least one wheel is deployed, wherein the at least one regenerative brake retarder acts as an auxiliary brake; and an energy storage system configured to store the energy generated by the at least one regenerative brake retarder, the energy storage system to release the stored energy a main battery to power at least one component of the trailer when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Hyundai Translead
    Inventors: Jong Seog Lee, Humberto Benitez, Oscar E. Montiel Rosales, Alvaro J. Frausto
  • Patent number: 11840125
    Abstract: A method for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, may include: allowing, by a controller, only the indoor air to be directed into a housing when the HVAC system operates in a cooling mode and an engine is stopped by an Idle Stop and Go (ISG) system; allowing, by the controller, the indoor air directed into the housing to bypass a heater core; and maintaining, by the controller, a flow rate of the air directed into the housing at a minimum flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Gyu Sik Hong, Jun Ho Song, Seo Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 11833884
    Abstract: It provides an operation part calculating an energy recovered by the heat exchanger in the heat exchanger and energies consumed by the air blower for absorption and the air blower for discharge and determining which of the energy recovered by the heat exchange and the energies consumed by the air blower for absorption and the air blower for discharge is greater, and a control part controlling at least one of the air blower for absorption and the air blower for discharge so that the energy consumed by the air blower for absorption and the air blower for discharge becomes small when the operation part determines that the energy consumed by the air blower for absorption and the air blower for discharge is greater than the energy recovered by the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Tani
  • Patent number: 11787262
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus may include an evaporator; a temperature sensor configured for detecting a temperature of the evaporator; a compressor compressing a refrigerant transmitted to the evaporator; a clutch selectively allowing power transmission from a vehicle power source to a compressor; and a controller connected to the clutch and configured for controlling the clutch to selectively allow the power transmission according to a result of comparison between a target temperature of the evaporator and a temperature detected by the temperature sensor, in which the controller sets the target temperature based on a vehicle driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seong Bin Jeong
  • Patent number: 11787267
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a trailer refrigeration unit of a refrigerated trailer system comprising setting a cargo hold set point temperature through a user interface; urging an airflow along a flowpath from a return air inlet port, through an evaporator of the trailer refrigeration unit, and to a supply air outlet port of the trailer refrigeration unit; monitoring a return air temperature of the airflow flowing through the return air inlet port; monitoring a supply air temperature of the airflow flowing through the supply air outlet port; heating the airflow flowing through the supply air outlet port when the return air temperature is less than the cargo hold set point temperature; and stopping heating of the airflow flowing to the supply air outlet port when the return air temperature is less than the cargo hold set point temperature and the supply air temperature reaches a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Florian Beaufrere, Raymond L. Senf
  • Patent number: 11761450
    Abstract: A rotation locking system of a motor of a fan is provided. A closed-loop control circuit outputs an initial duty cycle signal according to a current rotational speed and a target rotational speed. A driver circuit outputs a driving signal to the motor to drive the motor to rotate according to the initial duty cycle signal. A lookup table arithmetic circuit looks up, from a lookup table, two reference duty cycles correspond to two reference rotational speeds that are respectively equal to the current rotational speed and the target rotational speed. The lookup table arithmetic circuit calculates a difference between the two reference duty cycles. A speed feedback control circuit compensates the initial duty cycle signal according to the difference to output a final duty cycle signal to the driver circuit. The driver circuit drives the motor to rotate according to the final duty cycle signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Che-Ming Hsu, Kun-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 11578643
    Abstract: A heat accumulating unit includes an upstream heat accumulator and a downstream heat accumulator each accommodating a supercooling heat accumulating material. Each of the upstream heat accumulator and the downstream heat accumulator has a channel in which fluid flows. In heat accumulation of the supercooling heat accumulating material, the channel of the upstream heat accumulator and the channel of the downstream heat accumulator are set in a serial connection state by a serial connection pipe. In a temperature rise mode, fluid that has passed through the channel of the upstream heat accumulator flows in a bypass pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN CLIMATE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hamamoto, Yoichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11472259
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling air conditioning and ISG systems for a vehicle are provided. The system includes a heater controller that detects a defrost mode selection signal or an A/C blower operation signal and transmits the signal to a cluster controller. The cluster controller then transmits the defrost mode selection signal or the A/C blower operation signal to an engine ECU. The engine ECU determines ISG entry prevention or ISG release after ISG entry in response to receiving the defrost mode selection signal or the A/C blower operation signal from the cluster controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Min Park, Sang Ku Hur
  • Patent number: 11400797
    Abstract: A method of preventing exhaust gas intrusion in a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. Whether a vehicle operating condition resulting in an increased carbon monoxide emission at an exhaust pipe is present is detected. Whether a vehicle component condition is present is detected. The vehicle component condition is an open window or an open sunroof. An HVAC setting is switched from a recirculating air mode to a fresh air mode when at least one of the vehicle operating condition and the vehicle component condition is detected as being present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Craig Pike, Ryan Vanwormer, Yosmany Lopez, Norm Bradley, Damon Carlisle, Gerald McClellan
  • Patent number: 11391332
    Abstract: A clutch current control circuit may include as a circuit for controlling a current of a clutch connected to a compressor, a strain gauge, wherein a resistance value of the strain gauge is varied according to the movement amount of an Electric Control Valve (ECV) shaft; a switching element of performing a switching operation by comparing a gate-source voltage determined according to a change in the resistance value of the strain gauge and the threshold voltage, and allowing a flow of a first clutch current to generate by a first switching operation state; and a resistor connected in parallel with the switching element, and allowing a flow of a second clutch current to generate by a second switching operation state of the switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seong-Bin Jeong
  • Patent number: 11364767
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted temperature controller, including: a first heat circuit having a heater core used for heating and a first heat exchanger and configured so that a first heat medium is circulated through the first heat exchanger; a refrigeration circuit having the first heat exchanger condensing the refrigerant and an evaporator evaporating the refrigerant, and configured to operate a refrigeration cycle; and a heat medium flow path of an internal combustion engine configured to communicate with the first heat circuit so that the first heat medium circulates through the heat medium flow path. The first heat circuit is configured so that an outlet of the heat medium flow path is communicated with a core downstream side part positioned downstream of the heater core and upstream of the first heat exchanger and a core upstream side part positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the heater core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Manabu Kitamura, Hidefumi Aikawa, Yuji Miyoshi, Masaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11345216
    Abstract: An automated manual transmission (AMT) shift shock reduction control method may include a compressor delay control that is configured to keep an operation of a compressor as a non-operation state until a delay time is reached during a shift control, when an air conditioner signal and a shift signal are detected by an Engine Management System (EMS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seong-Bin Jeong
  • Patent number: 11333210
    Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch (1) of an air conditioning compressor (2), in particular for a motor vehicle (11), transmits a torque to a drive shaft (3) of the compressor (2) depending on an electric current (I) being fed to clutch coils (4) of the electromagnetic clutch (1) to generate an electromagnetic clutch force. According to a control method (10), a slippage of the electromagnetic clutch (1) is determined by a difference between the rpms of the electromagnetic clutch (1) and of the drive shaft (3), and is monitored by a slippage sensor (5). The electric current (I) and the resulting clutch force are adjusted dependent on slippage by a pulse width modulation controller (6) of the compressor (2). The pulse width modulation controller (6) is electrically connected to the clutch coils (4) and modulates a pulse width of the electric current (I) fed to the clutch coils (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Ernesto Jose Gutierrez, William R. Bradley, Richard Bottom
  • Patent number: 11155171
    Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may be a vehicle power system, which includes an electric motor, a primary power source that energizes the electric motor, wherein the primary power source employs a turbine to generate electricity, a second power source that supplements the primary power source to energize the electric motor, and a control component that monitors power provided to the electric motor by the primary power source, that determines that additional power needs to be provided to the electric motor in order to meet a driving requirement, and that directs additional power from the second power source to the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Inventors: Yung Yeung, Bo Ruan, Junhua Chen, Robert McKeirnan, Junwen Hou, Artur Bagumyan
  • Patent number: 11138679
    Abstract: A management method includes a step A of estimating, for each of the plurality of entities, an error pattern related to a prediction error occurring when a power consumption amount in a future period is predicted; and a step B of determining a group of entities from among the plurality of entities based on the error pattern, wherein the group is a destination of a power reduction request for reducing the power consumption amount. The step A includes a step of estimating whether the prediction error is a positive error or a negative error. The step B includes a step of determining the group such that a total prediction error of the group is minimized, by combining an entity of which the prediction error is estimated to be a positive error and an entity of which the prediction error is estimated to be a negative error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nodoka Nakagaki, Taku Nakayama, Kenta Okino, Kei Iwata, Takashi Furukawa, Naohisa Yoshitani
  • Patent number: 11002453
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes techniques that enable a conditioned air system to automatically restore functionality and/or to operate at reduced functionality when a fault is detected, for example, to facilitate reducing likelihood that continuing operation with the fault present will decrease lifespan of the conditioned air system. To facilitate improving operation of the conditioned air system when a fault is present, the control system of the conditioned air system may utilize substitute sensor data and/or adjust its control algorithm. In this manner, the control system may facilitate improving operational reliability and/or availability of the conditioned air system, for example, by adaptively adjusting its operation to enable the conditioned air system to continue operating even when a fault is present, while reducing likelihood that the continued operation will reduce lifespan of the conditioned air system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Shawn A. Hern, Brian D. Rigg, Tom R. Tasker, Cody J. Kaiser, Andrew M. Boyd, Noel Grajeda-Trevizo
  • Patent number: 10960888
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning device is provided for controlling a vehicle air-conditioning of a vehicle in accordance with a control method. The air-conditioning compressor is stopped for a first time period after a brake pedal transitions from an operated state to a non-operated state when negative pressure inside a vacuum servo is insufficient relative to a predetermined pressure while an air-conditioning compressor is operating, and The air-conditioning compressor is stopped for a second time period after the acceleration pedal has come to be in a non-operated state when an acceleration pedal is operated before the first time period elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ohmura, Masahiro Oomori, Nobuto Morishima, Seiji Katsuma
  • Patent number: 10953723
    Abstract: A method for controlling a climate control system is disclosed. In one example, the climate control system includes adjusting an air mixing valve state and adjusting a displacement of a compressor in response to an energy conversion device load. The method may provide improved climate control in a vehicle cabin during high energy conversion device load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Patent number: 10944343
    Abstract: An actuator for a cooling fan module includes a controller, a first motor and a second motor. The controller includes a controlling unit configured to receive control commands, and a motor driving unit electrically connected to the controlling unit and powered by a DC power supply. The first motor is electrically connected to the motor driving unit. The second motor is connected in parallel to the first motor. The first motor and the second motor are synchronously driven and controlled by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: JOHNSON ELECTRIC INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Ruifeng Qin, Kwokkuen Tse, Tao Qu
  • Patent number: 10933715
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for estimating a limit value (TLV) for an interior temperature input of a passenger compartment (12) of a vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) comprises an energy storage source (30) and a temperature control arrangement (14) adapted to control the interior temperature of the passenger compartment (12) of the vehicle (10) on the basis of the interior temperature input. The temperature control arrangement (14) is adapted to be powered by the energy storage source (30) during at least one operating condition of the vehicle (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anders Pihl, Hans Westerlind
  • Patent number: 10894462
    Abstract: A system for controlling a compressor may include an engine controller that controls a fuel injection amount corresponding to an engine load and an opening amount of a throttle by reflecting a required torque required for an air conditioner (A/C), an operation information detector for detecting operation information according to driving state of the vehicle, a compressor that generates pressure during operation of the A/C, an air conditioner relay which is turned on when the air conditioner operates and is turned off when the A/C is stopped, and a controller which determines an engine negative pressure of an intake manifold, and when the cooling water temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature and the intake manifold pressure is lower than the first threshold value, a cold-start intake manifold negative pressure insufficient event is generated to reduce the A/C duty in accordance with the entry into a negative pressure recovery mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Tae Hun Jung, Jeong Sik Seo, Jaeyeon Moon
  • Patent number: 10844824
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the operating range of an electric vehicle having an engine wherein waste heat generated during motor operation is transferred to pre-heat the engine. Engine starting is predicted based on the electrical torque demand of the vehicle relative to the actual and predicted electrical energy consumption of the electric vehicle. Prior to starting the engine to charge a battery of the motor, various engine components are pre-heated in an order that improves vehicle range while also optimizing fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Miller, Thomas Leone, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10843530
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning device includes a compressor and a controller. The controller is configured to set an upper limit value of the rotation speed of the compressor based on a combination of whether the speed of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed and whether a rotation speed of a fan device for a condenser is lower than a predetermined rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shun Kurata, Yoshiharu Endo, Takahiro Suzuki, Takeshi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10836497
    Abstract: Air conditioning system for a cabin 6 of an aircraft, the air conditioning system 1 including a pressurized air source 2, a ram air duct 3, an air amplifier 4 and a heat exchanger 5. The air amplifier 4 includes an inlet 41 for work air, a slot 42 suitable for letting the work air exit the air amplifier, and a main fluid zone 43. The inlet 41 is in fluid communication with the pressurized air source 2 and the slot 42 is arranged in fluid communication with the ram air duct 3, in such a way that the work air exiting from the slot 42 produces a suction effect in the ambient air in such a way that this ambient air flows along the ram air duct 3. The air amplifier 4 is arranged so that the ambient air is forced by the suction effect to pass from the inlet 51 to the outlet 52 of the cold side of the heat exchanger 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.L.
    Inventor: Carlos Casado Montero
  • Patent number: 10807437
    Abstract: An air conditioning system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes a condenser configured to receive refrigerant output by an electric compressor and transfer heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser. A first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a first control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator. A first blower is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle. A second evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a second control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator. A second blower is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn W. Vehr, Joseph James Rozsnaki, Devon Dobie, Matthew Presar
  • Patent number: 10788225
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes: an air conditioning device, a ventilator, a sensor group, an operation terminal, and a control device installed in a building. The control device performs controlling and monitoring of operation of the air conditioning device and the ventilator. The control device controls the ventilator so as to operate during the maintenance operation of the air conditioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Emi Takeda, Masaki Toyoshima, Takuya Furuhashi, Sota Komae, Fumihiko Sone, Reiji Morioka
  • Patent number: 10780982
    Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle can include a coolant loop having a coolant therein and configured to be in thermal communication with a heat load to receive heat from the heat load, a refrigeration system comprising an evaporator in thermal communication with the coolant loop to receive heat from the coolant loop, and a condenser configured to be in thermal communication with ram air to remove heat from the refrigeration system, an inline ram air heat exchanger disposed in a ram air stream of the condenser, and a ram air cooling branch in fluid communication with the coolant loop and configured to direct coolant to the ram air heat exchanger to cool the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Long Whittum
  • Patent number: 10781784
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the operating range of an electric vehicle having an engine wherein waste heat generated during motor operation is transferred to pre-heat the engine. Engine starting is predicted based on the electrical torque demand of the vehicle relative to the actual and predicted electrical energy consumption of the electric vehicle. Prior to starting the engine to charge a battery of the motor, various engine components are pre-heated in an order that improves vehicle range while also optimizing fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Miller, Thomas Leone, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10780763
    Abstract: During control of an air-conditioning for a vehicle, when a torque to the engine is outputted that satisfies a total value of drive torques of the vehicle and an air-conditioning compressor, a minimum discharge capacity is set when fuel to the engine is cut. An assessment is made as to whether or not the discharge capacity needs to be changed from the minimum discharge capacity in accordance with the state inside the cabin. The discharge capacity is changed from the minimum discharge capacity to an upper limit capacity that is allowed during normal operation upon accessing that the discharge capacity needs to be changed from the minimum discharge capacity. After a predetermined time elapses following the changing of the discharge capacity, the discharge capacity is changed from the upper limit capacity to a discharge capacity that corresponds to the state inside the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Omori, Takamitsu Hase, Yasushi Ohmura
  • Patent number: 10717345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system that is added to a standard vehicle installed air-conditioning system that allows the standard vehicle installed air-conditioning system to cool and condition the air inside the vehicle without operating the engine of the vehicle. This allows the vehicle to be air-conditioned without polluting the air via continuous operation of the vehicle's (usually) diesel engine. Also, a thermal heating tank is included to warm the electrical components of the system and to ensure improved morning starting of the vehicle's engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: Frank Fierro
  • Patent number: 10668783
    Abstract: An air conditioning system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes a condenser configured to receive refrigerant output by an electric compressor and transfer heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser. A first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a first control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator. A first blower is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle. A second evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a second control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator. A second blower is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn W. Vehr, Joseph James Rozsnaki
  • Patent number: 10661629
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature in a vehicle cabin, while the vehicle engine is turned off, includes the following steps: importing a State-of Charge information of a vehicle traction battery, an outside temperature, and inside temperature of the cabin into an electronic controller; calculating a normal electric power required for operating an HVAC system in a Normal mode; calculating a maximum operation time of the HVAC system in the Normal mode based on the State-of-Charge information; displaying the maximum operation time on a display; reading an operator input selecting one mode of at least the Normal mode and a first Eco mode of the HVAC system, wherein in the first Eco mode the HVAC system operates at a reduced electric power compared to the Normal mode; and operating the HVAC system in accordance with the operator input. A suitable HVAC system includes an appropriate user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Timothy D. Craig, Derek F. Klima, Mingyu Wang, Lawrence Wei, Edward Wolfe, IV
  • Patent number: 10641530
    Abstract: An exemplary heat pump (10) includes: a compressor (16A, 16B) that discharges refrigerant; an oil separator (30) that separates oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; an oil return channel (80) that returns the oil separated by the oil separator to the compressor; a pressure sensor (86A, 86B) that detects a pressure in the oil return channel; a first pressure loss member (84A, 84B) and a second pressure loss member (88A, 88B) disposed in portions of the oil return channel at an oil separator side and a compressor side relative to the pressure sensor; and a control device that increases an output of the compressor in a case where a pressure detected by the pressure sensor exceeds a suction pressure of the compressor and less than a discharge pressure of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Kihara, Keisuke Ota, Terunori Aikawa, Hirohiko Nobuhara, Hirotaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10612506
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for relieving pressure from a compression locked engine. The engine may be compression locked during an engine start attempt due to operator application of a manual transmission clutch at or around the time of a first combustion event of the engine start. A direct injector of the compression locked cylinder is commanded open to relieve the pressure into the fuel rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas, Ethan Sanborn, Paul Hollar, Daniel Dusa
  • Patent number: 10527006
    Abstract: Provided is a mounting structure of a water injection device of an internal combustion engine. The mounting structure is for a water injector (11) of the internal combustion engine. The water injector (11) is mounted to the intake port (6) of the internal combustion engine (1) installed in a vehicle and injects water into the intake port (6) during operation of the internal combustion engine (1). The water injector (11) has a body part (12) mounted to the intake port (6) and an injection port (13a) disposed at the front end of the body part (12) in a state of facing the interior of the intake port (6) and injecting water (W). The intake port (6) has an inclined wall (21) for preventing water from flowing to the downstream side of the intake port (6) when water leaks from the injection port (13a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kondo, Yutaka Kohda, Shiro Takakura
  • Patent number: 10451489
    Abstract: A thermal event sensor includes a charge storage component formed on a substrate, configured to hold an initial charge, and configured to lose charge at a rate dependent upon temperature. A sensing interface is coupled to the charge storage component and a readout mechanism is coupled to the sensing interface. The readout mechanism senses a remaining charge on the charge storage component and provides a readout value indicative of the remaining charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventors: Rob A. Bousquet, Murali Chaparala, Brent M. Hollosi, Zachary R. Smigelski, Wes Uy, Geremy Freifeld
  • Patent number: 10451048
    Abstract: A control valve for an air conditioning compressor is disclosed. The control valve comprises a control piston, an electric motor, a sensor, and a control unit. The control piston connects a refrigerant flow between a high-pressure area and a crankcase pressure area of the air conditioning compressor in a first position. The control piston further connects the refrigerant flow between the crankcase pressure area and a low-pressure area of the air conditioning compressor in a second position. The electric motor moves the control piston between the first position and the second position. The sensor determines the position of the control piston. The control unit is connected to the sensor and the electric motor. The control unit controls the electric motor to move the control piston and control the refrigerant flow based on the position of the control piston determined by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Daniel Domke
  • Patent number: 10399410
    Abstract: A vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can be configured to reduce and/or prevent condensation build up on one or more elements of the system. Subsequent to a power state of the vehicle being switched from an active state to an inactive state, a fresh mode air source can be selected as an intake for a blower. It can be determined whether an ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature. It can then be determined whether the compressor was in operation prior to the vehicle having been switched from the active state to the inactive state. It can be determined whether a temperature of an evaporator of the HVAC system is rising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Cosgrove
  • Patent number: 10371419
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus includes: at least one processor programmed to control a flow rate of at least one of a heat medium and outside air flowing through a heat medium-to-outside air heat exchanger such that a temperature of blast air cooled in an air-cooling heat exchanger is adjusted toward a first target temperature, and to control a flow rate of a refrigerant discharged from a compressor such that a temperature of blast air, which has been adjusted in at least one of the air-cooling heat exchanger and an air-heating heat exchanger and which is blown out into a vehicle interior, is adjusted toward a second target temperature. Accordingly, a surface temperature of the air-cooling heat exchanger and the temperature of the blast air into the vehicle interior can be properly controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiko Enomoto, Nobuharu Kakehashi, Michio Nishikawa, Yoshiki Katoh, Kengo Sugimura, Takashi Yamanaka, Masamichi Makihara
  • Patent number: 10350966
    Abstract: A vehicle heating and cooling system includes a compressor(s) for compressing a fluid in a cycle including at least two compressions, and a control module for controlling the compressor dependent upon an ambient condition. The module controls a power of the compressor by adjusting a motor speed driving the compressor and/or a pressure drop of the fluid moving through expansion devices. The pressure drop is controlled by changing a size of an opening in the expansion devices. A related method includes compressing a fluid in a first and a second compression cycle, determining an ambient temperature, sensing a temperature of the fluid outlet from a first heat exchanger, sensing a temperature and a pressure of the fluid outlet from a second heat exchanger, calculating a desired power of the compressor based thereon, and adjusting a parameter of the compressor dependent upon the calculated desired power of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jing He, Debasish Dhar, William Stewart Johnston, Loren John Lohmeyer, III
  • Patent number: 10286802
    Abstract: An electric vehicle, a system, and a method for charging a battery of the electric vehicle are disclosed. The system and electric vehicle sufficiently charge a battery even under an unexpected situation, and when a reserved charging time of the electric vehicle is fixed. The system and the electric vehicle economically use electricity by changing a time needed for battery charging, and drive an air conditioner of the vehicle in preparation for a weather situation such as intense cold or intense heat, thereby increasing user convenience and safety of a vehicle driver who rides in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Young Kim
  • Patent number: 10202021
    Abstract: The disclosure herein relates to a vehicle compressor control apparatus and control method, and more particularly to a vehicle compressor control apparatus for controlling compressor operating rate to allow braking according to brake negative pressure, while maintaining a minimum level of operation of the compressor. By preventing compressor deactivation during braking, the control apparatus assists in preventing moisture build-up of moisture on a windshield that decreases visibility for a driver and increases safety concerns. The apparatus includes: a compressor that reduces a temperature by compressing an air conditioner coolant; a data sensor that detects status data; and a controller that determines whether a brake negative pressure margin rate meets a first reference value when the status data satisfy a predetermined condition, and sets a compressor operating accordingly when the brake negative pressure margin rate meets a first reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Yeong Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 10195961
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for controlling an engine of a hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jung Soo Park, Myung Seok Lee, Hong Kee Sim
  • Patent number: 10072625
    Abstract: A vehicle start-stop system includes an engine and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate the system in a first mode when a first input is selected, and in a second mode when a second input is selected. The controller is further programmed to inhibit engine stop in response to being in the first mode and an evaporator temperature having a first value, and stop the engine in response to being in the second mode and the evaporator temperature having the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Hesketh, Themi Philemon Petridis, Ian Halleron, Christopher Edward Pedlar
  • Patent number: 10059172
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle, an air conditioning system and a method for controlling the air conditioning system are provided. The air conditioning system includes: an electric compressor; a mechanical compressor, connected with the electric compressor in parallel; a power battery, connected with the electric compressor and configured to supply power to the electric compressor; an engine, connected with the mechanical compressor and configured to supply a power source to the mechanical compressor; an engine controller, connected with the engine and configured to start the engine when the mechanical compressor is to be started; a battery manager, connected with the power battery and configured to detect a state of charge of the power battery; and a controller, connected with the engine controller and the battery manager and configured to start the electric compressor and the mechanical compressor at different time according to the state of charge of the power battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Changjiu Liu, Guorui Liu, Zhichun Li, Jiewen Li, Yanzhang Wei
  • Patent number: 10029539
    Abstract: An air conditioning device for vehicle includes a refrigeration cycle including a compressor for sucking, compressing and discharging a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor, an expansion valve for decompressing the refrigerant condensed in the condenser and an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant through heat exchange between the refrigerant reduced in pressure by the expansion valve and surrounding air. This air conditioning device for vehicle increases an operation rate of the compressor more than that before a vehicle speed drops below a first permitted vehicle speed higher than a fuel cut recovery vehicle speed when an air conditioner is on, at which the compressor is actuated, when the vehicle speed drops below the first permitted vehicle speed during the deceleration of a vehicle associated with a fuel cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fuke, Tadashi Iwamoto, Takashi Watanabe, Yugo Motegi, Tetsuya Furumaya
  • Patent number: 9982646
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a rear visibility component having a heating element. The vehicle further includes an engine and at least one controller programmed to auto-start and auto-stop the engine. The at least one controller is programmed to inhibit the auto-stop of the engine in response to receiving an auto-stop request while the engine is on and the heating element has been operating less than a predetermined time. In some configurations, the at least one controller is programmed to auto-start the engine and operate the heating element at a full power level in response to expiration of a time period that began with an auto-stop of the engine that occurred after the engine auto-stop was inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Kirk Pebley, Gjergji Shaska
  • Patent number: 9981530
    Abstract: A device and a method for a controlling compressor of vehicles may include a cabin temperature sensor, an outdoor temperature sensor, an evaporator temperature sensor detecting a temperature of a cooling medium in an evaporator, an engine speed sensor detecting rotation speed of an engine, and a throttle position sensor detecting a throttle opening, an air conditioning system including a condenser condensing and liquefying the cooling medium, an evaporator, the compressor, a temperature control door controlling a temperature of an air flowed in a cabin, an intake door selectively flowing an inner air or an outer air in the cabin, a blower blowing the air to the intake door, and a controller determining acceleration mode and an allowable temperature at each acceleration mode when an acceleration condition occurs, and decreasing an operation of the compressor according to a difference between the evaporator temperature and the allowable temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Choon Gyu Kwon, Jae Woong Kim, Chang Won Lee
  • Patent number: 9975403
    Abstract: A refrigeration system having a refrigeration unit (22) for providing temperature conditioned air to a temperature controlled space, an engine (26) and an electric generation device (24) driven by the engine, is provided with a battery system (28) for supplying electric power. A method of operating the transport refrigeration includes, during a high cooling demand mode, operating the engine (26) to drive the electric generation device (24) for supplying electric power and simultaneously employing the battery system (28) for supplying electric power to jointly power the plurality of power demand loads (50, 42, 46, 48) of the refrigerant unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Giorgio Rusignuolo, Peter R. Bushnell, Nader S. Awwad, Bruce E. Sing, John R. Reason, Benjamin E. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9902303
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system comprising a vehicle air-conditioner which uses a target blowing-out temperature as the basis to control an air outlet temperature in a cabin and a seat air-conditioning unit which sucks recirculated air into a seat and controls at least the seat air-conditioning air flow per unit time so as to perform seat air-conditioning, wherein the air-conditioning system increases the seat air-conditioning air flow when detecting that the vehicle speed is a predetermined value or less, calculates a correction amount for the target blowing-out temperature considered neutral in warmness sense level for the increased seat air-conditioning air flow, and uses the correction amount as the basis to correct the target blowing-out temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Kawashima