With Vehicle Feature Patents (Class 62/239)
  • Patent number: 10899192
    Abstract: A reefer truck power unit employs a plurality of power sources including: a propulsion vehicle source driven mechanically by a diesel engine of the vehicle, and having an enhanced alternator configured for generation in excess of needs of a charging/starting system of the vehicle, in which the enhanced alternator has a pulley ratio increasing idle speed generation, and a passive vehicle source including a bank of solar panels disposed on the vehicle. The refrigeration system is configured for refrigerating a payload area of the vehicle utilizing power from the power sources, and employs a voltage converter for augmenting the power from the propulsion vehicle source for use with a native vehicle charging/starting system, and a transport load transformer for converting power from the power sources to 3 phase power for powering the refrigeration system. A bank of batteries stores power from the sources for subsequent dispersal to the refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: eNow, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Larson, Jeffrey C. Flath, Robert W. Doane, Philip R. Pierce, Stephen Lasher
  • Patent number: 10850856
    Abstract: An aircraft galley compartment cooling system includes a source of chilled air, and a closed compartment with a door. A sensor detects the opening of the door, and sends a signal to the cooling system to deactivate while the door is opened to prevent ambient air from entering the cooling system. Once the door is closed, the cooling system is reactivated. The sensor can be a light sensor, a mechanical sensor, a magnetic sensor, or the like for determining movement or the presence/non-presence of the door to the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Harkamal Singh Hothi
  • Patent number: 10843522
    Abstract: When a device temperature (Tb) of an electrical storage device (10) is higher than or equal to a reference temperature, a fan (22) is driven at an air quantity larger than or equal to a reference air quantity. On the other hand, when the device temperature is lower than the reference temperature, air that has received heat from the electrical storage device is guided to a discharge chamber by driving the fan at an air quantity smaller than the reference air quantity on the basis of the fact that an air-conditioning system is operating and an outside air temperature is lower than or equal to a predetermined temperature. When the air-conditioning system is operating and the outside air temperature is lower than or equal to the predetermined temperature, it is assumed that there is a temperature difference between a passenger compartment and the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiichi Minamiura, Yoshiaki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10843523
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes an air-conditioning case having a drain hole through which an air passage communicates with an outside of a vehicle compartment, a heat exchanger disposed inside the air passage, and a seal member. The seal member is held between a dash panel and a seal wall of the air-conditioning case. The seal member has a through hole, and closes a through hole of the dash panel. The vehicle air conditioner includes a refrigerant pipe and a pressure reducing valve. The first case part and the second case part are fitted with each other in a fitting part below which, in the vertical direction, the air-conditioning case has a communication hole through which an outside of the air-conditioning case communicates with the air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keisuke Tokorozawa
  • Patent number: 10837679
    Abstract: A condenser system that includes a first compressor and a second compressor. An upper coil and a de-superheater coil are fluidly coupled to the first compressor. The upper coil, the de-superheater coil, and the first compressor define a first compressor circuit. A lower coil is fluidly coupled to the second compressor. The lower coil and the second compressor define a second compressor circuit. The upper coil and the de-superheater coil together utilize an entire heat-transfer surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Davis, II, Colin Clara, Eric Perez, Eric Chanthalangsy
  • Patent number: 10828961
    Abstract: A system and method for thermal event detection in a transport refrigeration unit that includes a safety controller (302) communicatively coupled to a linear heat detector (304) affixed to a hood (202) of the transport refrigeration unit. The safety controller is configured to detect a change in resistance of the linear heat detector and initiate an action like shutting off the fuel supply to an internal combustion engine inside the compartment. The linear heat detector is operative to create, subsequent to being exposed to a temperature greater than or equal to a threshold temperature in the interior compartment (208), a change in resistance along at least a portion of the linear heat detector. The safety controller is further configured to initiate an action upon having detected the change in resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Loic Renault
  • Patent number: 10766380
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for controlling a temperature of a battery of a vehicle. The battery management system includes a battery for storing and distributing an electrical charge. The battery management system includes a temperature for measuring or detecting a temperature of the battery. The battery management system includes one or more temperature control devices for controlling the temperature of the battery. The battery management system includes an electronic control unit configured to obtain the temperature of the battery and determine whether the temperature of the battery exceeds an optimal temperature range. The electronic control unit is configured to operate the one or more temperature control devices when the temperature of the battery exceeds the optimal temperature range to adjust the temperature to be within the optimal temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Gaither, Tapan V. Patel, Justin J. Chow, Joshua D. Payne
  • Patent number: 10752365
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a device for thermally controlling a plurality of cabins of a vehicle from a mixing chamber supplied with air from at least one air supply device of which at least the temperature is controlled, each cabin being supplied with air by a supply conduit specific to this cabin. At least one cabin is supplied with air at a temperature adjusted by at least one individual exchanger associated with the supply conduit specific to this cabin, in which a second circuit is supplied with a heat transfer fluid from at least one heat transfer fluid thermal regulation loop of the vehicle. Also disclosed is a vehicle provided with at least one thermal control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-AEROSPACE TOULOUSE SAS
    Inventor: Guillaume Galzin
  • Patent number: 10745134
    Abstract: A cooling system for a galley installed in a transportation device, in particular an aircraft, has a cooling device with a coolant circuit configured to have a coolant flow therethrough. A fluid line is configured to have a fluid to be cooled flow therethrough and is thermally coupled with the coolant circuit to transfer heat from the fluid to be cooled to the coolant circulating in the coolant circuit, and an air line configured to be flowed through with air and thermally coupled to the coolant circuit of the cooling device to transfer heat from the coolant to the air line. The air line, downstream of the thermal coupling of the air line with the coolant circuit, is connectable to a cabin region of the transportation device accommodating the galley to supply the cabin region with air warmed by heat transfer from the coolant circulating in the coolant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Torsten Truemper
  • Patent number: 10703491
    Abstract: An environmental control system that includes a first environmental control system pack, a first recirculation fan assembly, and a cabin air sensor unit. The first environmental control system pack is arranged to provide conditioned air to an aircraft cabin. The first recirculation fan assembly is arranged to recirculate a first cabin air fluid flow back to the aircraft cabin. The cabin air sensor unit is arranged to provide a first air quality signal indicative of an air quality of the first cabin air fluid flow to a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lance R. Bartosz, Catherine Thibaud, Joseph V. Mantese, Brian St. Rock
  • Patent number: 10676010
    Abstract: An outer guard assembly or system is described, which may be used in transport units, such as for example in transport refrigeration including the units and/or systems thereof. The outer guard assembly or system includes transitions components to facilitate mounting to a trailer or container of a transport unit, so as to shift or transfer load of the mounting from the transport refrigeration unit to the trailer or container, on which the transport refrigeration unit is mounted. The outer guard in some examples includes an openable mechanism to provide clearance, such as for example to open and/or access doors, panels, equipment, and components of a transport refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Henry Feldhake, Michael R. Weiss, Michael T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10670313
    Abstract: An internal temperature adjusting device includes a heat pump, an internal heat exchanger, and an external heat exchanger. The internal heat exchanger is configured to function as one of an evaporator or a condenser of the heat pump, and exchange heat between a heat medium and air inside the container. The external heat exchanger is configured to function as the other one of the evaporator or the condenser, and exchange heat between the heat medium and air outside the container. The external heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchanging members separated from each other. According to the internal temperature adjusting device, drainage of the external heat exchanger as a whole can be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasushi Nishida
  • Patent number: 10661696
    Abstract: A vehicle insert with refrigerated and non refrigerated sections for facilitating product distribution is described which uses a pair of frames defining a vertical member and one or more horizontal members. Several shelves with rollers are attached to the frames. The shelves define a sloped area wherein the lowest point on the shelves is located at a product retrieval point and wherein said insert is wheeled into a vehicle already loaded with product to be delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: HDS MERCURY, INC.
    Inventors: Louis H. Borders, Aravind Durai, Richard Oas
  • Patent number: 10638834
    Abstract: A galley cooling system suitable for use in an aircraft comprising a cooling unit adapted to provide a cooling fluid. The trolley compartment of the galley cooling system comprises a front side access opening, a back wall arranged opposite to the front side access opening and two sidewalls. A cooling fluid inlet is provided in the region of a first sidewall of the trolley compartment, the cooling fluid inlet being connected to the cooling unit so as to supply cooling fluid provided by the cooling unit to the trolley compartment. A cooling fluid outlet is provided in the region of the first sidewall of the trolley compartment, the cooling fluid outlet being adapted to discharge cooling fluid heated upon circulating through the trolley compartment from the trolley compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Boris Holtorf, Rodrigo Espinoza
  • Patent number: 10603978
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for heating and cooling a passenger compartment. The HVAC system includes a refrigerant loop and a coolant loop, and an auxiliary heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The auxiliary HVAC includes an expansion device coupled to the refrigerant loop for controlling a flow of refrigerant to a first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger coupled to an auxiliary coolant loop used to regulate a temperature of the component. The auxiliary HVAC further includes a blower for creating an air flow through the first heat exchanger, a first blend door for directing the air flow through the second heat exchanger and/or an outlet, a second blend door for directing the air flow through the outlet and/or a recirculation duct, and a third blend door for controlling the air flow through the recirculation duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Steven Sawyer, Manfred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 10602748
    Abstract: An active/passive freezer system includes the capability to both actively cool a payload bay and passively maintain close to that temperature for extended periods of time; a freezer unit with a payload bay that can rapidly reduce its internal temperature; a thermal battery; a heat exchanger where liquid Nitrogen flows through; insulation that significantly reduces heat gain from external sources; and the capability to have separate units for cooling the payload bay and maintaining the temperature within the payload bay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Reflect Scientific Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Scott Ellis, William Grant Moon, Steven Victor Boyce, Denton Journeay Markwalter
  • Patent number: 10549601
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with: an evaporator (6) in which a compressed refrigerant is vaporized; an expansion valve expanding the refrigerant before the refrigerant flows into the evaporator (6); refrigerant pipes (26, 27) that connect the evaporator (6) and the expansion valve to each other; and a unit case (3) housing the evaporator (6), the expansion valve, and the refrigerant pipes (26, 27), and including an air flow channel (4) for passing air through the evaporator (6). A refrigerant pipe housing chamber (31) is disposed in the unit case (3), and housing the refrigerant pipes (26, 27). The refrigerant pipe housing chamber (31) is partitioned while being isolated from the housing section for the evaporator (6) and the air flow channel (4). The outer circumferential surfaces of the refrigerant pipes (26, 27) are separated from the inner wall surface of the refrigerant pipe housing chamber (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Nakado, Nobuya Nakagawa, Tomohiko Shibata, Hirotsugu Kohigashi
  • Patent number: 10513166
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for heating and cooling a passenger compartment. The HVAC system includes a refrigerant loop and a coolant loop, and an auxiliary coolant loop for heating and cooling at least a portion of the passenger compartment. The auxiliary coolant loop includes a pump for moving a coolant, within the auxiliary coolant loop, through a first heat exchanger coupled to the refrigerant loop via an expansion device, a second heat exchanger positioned within the passenger compartment, and a third heat exchanger coupled to the coolant loop. A flow control valve controls a flow of coolant to the third heat exchanger. The temperature of the coolant within the auxiliary coolant loop is controlled utilizing the flow valve and the pump. The first and third heat exchangers may be in parallel for controlling the movement of coolant there between to control temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Steven Sawyer, Manfred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 10486489
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system capable of reducing energy consumed during traveling while preventing a significant uncomfortable feeling of a user. An inside-vehicle environment predicting unit calculates, by using inside-vehicle sensor information and outside-vehicle sensor information being output from an environmental sensor device and a predicted travel time acquired by a predicted travel information acquisition unit, at least one predicted environmental characteristic which is an environmental characteristic inside a vehicle after a predicted travel time on an assumption that an air-conditioning device is operated in each of at least one candidate mode which has lower intensity than intensity of a selection mode among a plurality of operation modes. A mode controller resets the selection mode to one of the at least one candidate mode, in which the predicted environmental characteristic being within the allowable range is calculated by the inside-vehicle environment predicting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Igarashi, Masahiko Ikawa, Yuko Ota, Kazushi Shirasawa, Takashi Irie
  • Patent number: 10471864
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a thermal comfort module installed in a recess of a foam cushion beneath a trim cover. The thermal comfort module includes an air duct, a thermoelectric device, a heat sink extending inside the air duct from the thermoelectric device, and an air mover that causes air to flow from the passenger cabin, through the seating surface, along the air duct and heat sink, and back out of the seat. In a seat cooling mode, the air flowing along air duct absorbs heat from one side of the thermoelectric device via the heat sink while the opposite side of the thermoelectric device absorbs heat from the trim cover via thermal conduction. The thickness of a foam cushion can be made greatest where most needed, such as at the rear portion of the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLC
    Inventor: Shaun Dorian Tait
  • Patent number: 10457112
    Abstract: A configurable evaporator unit for a secondary heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that provides conditioned air within a cabin portion of a vehicle is provided. The configurable evaporator unit includes an evaporator unit and a blower assembly disposed within a housing. The blower assembly houses an evaporator blower for directing conditioned air out of the configurable evaporator unit. The blower assembly includes a plurality of blower openings for directing conditioned air out of the blower assembly. The housing includes a plurality of housing openings. One or more of the plurality of housing openings is prevented from directing conditioned air out of the configurable evaporator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Srinivasa Rao Koppineedi, Michael R. Weiss, Peter J. Loomis, Terrence Bray
  • Patent number: 10457115
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioning system for a vehicle which includes a cold air passageway having a heat exchanger for cooling and a warm air passageway having a heat exchanger for heating inside an air-conditioning case to carry out cooling and heating and which controls to inhale indoor air inside the vehicle, pass the air through the heat exchanger for cooling and discharge the air outside the vehicle in a specific mode, thereby preventing frosting of the heat exchanger for cooling because supplying air of high temperature dehumidified inside the interior of the vehicle to the heat exchanger for cooling, and enhancing heating performance by rising refrigerant pressure and temperature in the refrigerant cycle without needing additional components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Sung Je Lee, Yun Jin Kim, Jae Chun Ryu, Tae Yong Park, Se Min Lee, Yong Nam Ahn, Dae Bok Keon
  • Patent number: 10450069
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes an air chiller, a liquid coolant line that couples the air chiller with a central liquid coolant cooling system of a vehicle, a storage compartment stowage area having an interior for stowing a plurality of removable storage compartments, and a duct system that circulates chilled air from the air chiller through the storage compartment stowage area. The air chiller includes a compressor, a liquid-cooled condenser, an evaporator, and a tubing to circulate refrigerant. The liquid-cooled condenser transfers heat from the refrigerant to the liquid coolant which is then cooled by the central liquid coolant cooling system of the vehicle. The air chiller is situated parallel to the storage compartment stowage area along a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the removable storage compartments are removed and replaced. The duct system circulates chilled air from the evaporator through the interior of the storage compartment stowage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Qiao Lu, William J. Godecker
  • Patent number: 10449877
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a thermal comfort system including an air duct in a foam cushion, a thermoelectric device, a heat sink extending inside the air duct from the thermoelectric device, and an air mover that causes air to flow from the passenger cabin, through the seating surface, along the air duct and heat sink, and back out of the seat. In a cooling mode, air flowing along air duct absorbs heat from one side of the thermoelectric device via the heat sink while the opposite side of the thermoelectric device absorbs heat from the trim cover via thermal conduction. The air duct can be shaped to position the thermoelectric device near the seating surface for enhanced conductive energy exchange without the need for uncomfortable rigid ductwork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING, LLC
    Inventor: Shaun Dorian Tait
  • Patent number: 10415863
    Abstract: A compressor control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a compressor configured to compress coolant of an air conditioner; a coolant temperature measurement unit configured to measure a coolant temperature; a data detector configured to detect state data for controlling the compressor; and a controller configured to determine an operation rate of the compressor based on the coolant temperature and the state data, and operate the compressor based on the operation rate of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yeong Jun Kim, Yangbo Kang, Jeongbin Park
  • Patent number: 10407048
    Abstract: A vehicle utilizes an internal combustion powertrain to propel front wheels and an Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) to propel rear wheels. In some circumstances, a controller may need to limit motor torque in the ERAD to avoid overheating the motor, which reduces fuel efficiency. To reduce the likelihood of needing to limit motor torque, refrigerant from the vehicle air conditioning system is circulated through the motor housing. In response to commands from a controller, a valve routes the refrigerant either through the air conditioning system evaporator or through the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Frank Sheldon, Kyi Shiah
  • Patent number: 10408508
    Abstract: A refrigerant system includes a compressor having a flow of compressor lubricant therein, the compressor compressing a flow of vapor refrigerant therethrough. An evaporator is operably connected to the compressor and includes an environment to be cooled via a thermal energy exchange with a liquid refrigerant in the evaporator. A vaporizer is receptive of a first flow of compressor lubricant and refrigerant mixture from the evaporator having a first concentration of lubricant. The vaporizer uses a flow of compressed refrigerant to separate refrigerant from the first flow. A lubricant sump is receptive of a second flow of compressor lubricant and refrigerant mixture from the vaporizer having a second concentration of lubricant greater than the first concentration. A heat exchanger is receptive of a third flow from the sump and uses evaporator suction gas to cool the third flow, thereby increasing its viscosity before urging the third flow to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron M. Ronk, Nadine Thompson, David M. Rockwell
  • Patent number: 10396668
    Abstract: A power converter disclosed herein may include power conversion circuits connected in parallel and a cutoff switch provided in each of the power conversion circuits. The cutoff switch may be configured to cut off connection of corresponding one of the power conversion circuits from other power conversion circuit. In the power converter disclosed herein, the cutoff switches of the power conversion circuits may be housed in a first module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Jojima, Shuichi Iwata, Hiromi Yamasaki, Tomoo Yamabuki, Hitoshi Imura
  • Patent number: 10368468
    Abstract: A ram air system for cooling information handling systems (IHSs) in a mobile data center includes a volumetric container having a first aft-facing wall, the container designed for placement on a trailer capable of being moved in at least an aft-facing direction. At least one heat generating information technology (IT) equipment is positioned within the enclosure. The container is configured with an air intake opening placed in the aft-facing wall providing an intake path for exterior air to ingress into the container at a high velocity to provide a flow of cooling air that cools the at least one heat generating IT equipment while the trailer is moving in the forward/aft direction. An air intake damper is positioned within the air intake opening and is capable of being selectively positioned in one of a plurality of air intake positions, ranging from a fully open position to a fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Austin M. Shelnutt, Edmond I. Bailey
  • Patent number: 10343781
    Abstract: An aircraft cooling system including a cooler which is adapted to supply cooling energy to an aircraft device to be cooled, and a heat transfer arrangement which is adapted to transfer waste heat generated by the cooler to a cabin air extraction system. The heat transfer arrangement comprises a heat transfer circuit, in which a liquid heat transfer medium heated by the waste heat of the cooler circulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMB
    Inventors: Torsten Truemper, Matthias Reiss
  • Patent number: 10315663
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for an adaptive climate control system. An example vehicle includes a plurality of sensors to determine the speed of the vehicle, an internal temperature of the vehicle, and a fuel economy of the vehicle. The vehicle includes control units each coupled to a corresponding window and an HVAC controller. The vehicle also includes a processor and memory with a climate control adapter. The climate control adapter performs adaptive cooling based on the speed, fuel economy, and the internal temperature of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10320010
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal control system for a tramcar. The system includes a roof profile (11) arranged above a compartment roof of the tramcar (10); a fuel cell system (12) and an air-conditioning system (14) arranged above the roof profile (11); and a heat dissipating system (13) arranged above the roof profile (11), where the fuel cell system (12) communicates with the heat dissipating system (13) via a piping (16), and the piping (16) is arranged with a circulating pump (15) for pumping a coolant to the heat dissipating system. The thermal control system solves the problem of low heat dissipating efficiency of a fuel cell in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: CRRC Tangshan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bangcheng Sun, Minggao Li, Ming Li, Lu Han, Bin Liu, Xiaoyan Zang, Qi Li, Qiumin Zhang
  • Patent number: 10239381
    Abstract: A vehicle roof fan for providing air conditioning to a user of a vehicle. The vehicle roof fan may include a plurality of individually controlled fans. The apparatus includes power management features to limit the power consumption, such as a user presence detector and/or battery threshold monitoring. The plurality of fans may be associated with one or more optical sensors that each control the operation of one or more of the fans based upon the presence of a user. The air conditioning apparatus may also include heating and/or cooling components to modify the air temperature from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: TSI Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen William O'Brien
  • Patent number: 10076060
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a cooling device, in particular for cooling components that are housed in a switchgear cabinet, comprising a first cooling fan for blowing air from the switchgear cabinet through a first heat exchanger, and a second cooling fan for blowing ambient air through a second heat exchanger, characterized in that the cooling device further comprises a voltage supply having a step-up and/or step-down converter, which is connected via a rectifier to a wide-range input for single-phase or multiphase AC voltage, and which charges a capacitor to a DC link voltage which is higher or lower than a mains voltage across the wide-range input, a power supply unit of at least one of the two cooling fans being connected in parallel to the capacitor. The disclosure further relates to the use of such a cooling device and to a corresponding method for operating the cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: RITTAL GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Cacho Alonso, Thorsten Heimberg, Jörg Knetsch, Daniel Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 10059173
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air conditioner system for a vehicle includes an air-cooled condenser mounted between a water-cooled condenser and an expansion valve to exchange heat of refrigerant discharged from the water-cooled condenser with air in order to further cool the refrigerant even though temperature of the refrigerant rises due to temperature rise of coolant supplied to the water-cooled condenser, thereby enhancing cooling performance because the refrigerant flows into an internal heat exchanger due to a drop in temperature of the refrigerant, preventing a temperature rise of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor because temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the compressor drops, and enhancing durability and stability of the air conditioner system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Hae Jun Lee, Yong Nam Ahn, Jun Young Choi
  • Patent number: 9938913
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for purging condensate from a charge air cooler towards an intake air filter. In one example, a method may include operating a motor to rotate an engine in reverse and flowing air from the intake manifold to the atmosphere via the charge air cooler to purge condensate towards an intake air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 9919577
    Abstract: An air-conditioning device for a vehicle includes a first evaporator and a second evaporator provided on a vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A refrigerant distributor is provided at a portion at which a refrigerant is supplied to the first evaporator and the second evaporator. The refrigerant distributor is operated to introduce the refrigerant selectively into the first evaporator and the second evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Keun Bok Lee
  • Patent number: 9903609
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus (1) of the window type that transmits a reduced noise level to a closed environment and, additionally, minimizes/reduces the exchange of heat between its cold and hot parts. The air-conditioning apparatus (1) is endowed with at least a first portion (2) including at least an evaporator. Additionally, the air-conditioning apparatus (1) is endowed with at least a second portion (3) including at least a condenser and a compressor operatively associated to the evaporator. Additionally, the air-conditioning apparatus (1) is endowed with at least a vacuum chamber (4) positioned between the first portion (2) and the second portion (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux do Brasil S. A.
    Inventors: Hugo Flavio Benassi Zanqueta, Danilo Toshio Fusano, Luiz Carlos Pazinato
  • Patent number: 9821914
    Abstract: An aircraft air conditioning system comprises a process air source and an air conditioning unit being connected to the process air source via a process air line and being adapted to cool and expand process air supplied to the air conditioning unit from the process air source so as to provide conditioned air. A mixing chamber of the aircraft air conditioning system is connected to the air conditioning unit via a conditioned air line and is adapted to mix conditioned air supplied to the mixing chamber from the air conditioning unit with recirculation air recirculated from an aircraft region to be air conditioned to the mixing chamber via a recirculation air line so as to provide mixed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Klimpel, Thomas Scherer, Markus Piesker
  • Patent number: 9812746
    Abstract: A battery unit includes a battery and a battery case which accommodates the battery and which is disposed underneath a floor panel FP, and cooling air is introduced from an air intake port to cool the battery. In the battery case, a cooling space C which communicates with the air intake port is formed separately from a battery accommodation space M which accommodates the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Goichi Katayama, Koichi Yamamoto, Yasuaki Hotozuka
  • Patent number: 9756762
    Abstract: A circulative cooling system and a method for controlling the circulative cooling system are disclosed. The circulative cooling system is divided into three parts: an internal cooling circulation device, a plate heat exchanger and an external cooling circulation device. The internal cooling circulation device is adapted to perform circulation cooling on a heat-generating device; the plate heat exchanger is adapted to perform heat exchange between external cooling water in the external cooling circulation device and the internal cooling water in the internal cooling circulation device. The external cooling circulation device is adapted to cool the external cooling water. The external cooling primary circulation pump, the cold accumulation water pool, the water-air plate-wing heat exchanger, the cold accumulation air cooler, and the first valve and the second valve may be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: State Grid Corporation of China, Xuchang Xuji Jing Rui Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yigong Ding, Weizheng Yao, Jian Zhang, Weihua Ruan, Dawei Wang
  • Patent number: 9735404
    Abstract: A battery case for mounting under a floor of a vehicle comprises a case body containing a battery module and a cover for closing over an opening of the case body. A reinforcement member for reinforcing the case body is attached to an outer surface of the case body. The case body is provided with a gas circulation hole for letting a gas flow from within the case body into the reinforcement member. The reinforcement member is provided with a gas exhaust port for letting out the gas having flown into the reinforcement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Ikkei Ohgitani, Yoshio Ojima, Takahiro Fukagawa
  • Patent number: 9681585
    Abstract: A method for distribution of cooling air for cooling an electrical equipment item installed in an avionic bay. Cooling air is drawn from an air vein, then passes into a first pressure zone in fluidic communication with the air vein and then into a second pressure zone in fluidic communication with both the first pressure zone and the electrical equipment. The second pressure zone extends beneath a largest dimension (e.g., length) of electronic boards of the electrical equipment to be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
    Inventors: Vincent Rebeyrotte, Jean-Christophe Caron
  • Patent number: 9617007
    Abstract: A system for controlling a cooling system comprises an operating state detection unit adapted to detect operating signals characteristic of the operating state of the cooling system and/or the operating state of a plurality of cooling energy consumers to be supplied with cooling energy by the cooling system and a database in which priority data dependent on the operating state and characteristic of the priority to be given to the cooling energy consumers in terms of the cooling energy to be supplied in various operating states of the cooling system and/or of the cooling energy consumers, is stored for a plurality of cooling energy consumers to be supplied with cooling energy by the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Hoelling, Werner Rothammer, Jan Dittmar, Carsten Colberg, Wilson Willy Casas Noriega, Ozan Uluc, Sebastian Roering, Holger Wolf
  • Patent number: 9587875
    Abstract: A method for reducing air leakage from a refrigerated container includes positioning at least one inflatable device about a rear end of the refrigerated container; coupling the at least one inflatable device to one end of an elongated duct located within an interior space of the refrigerated container; coupling a second end of the elongated duct to an outlet port of the evaporator fan; circulating, via the evaporator fan, air through the interior space; and extracting the circulated air through the elongated duct and into the at least one inflatable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth Cresswell, Yu H. Chen, Wolfgang Graaff
  • Patent number: 9579949
    Abstract: A fuel economy system for a vehicle. The vehicle has a power supply, an HVAC system that is operable to heat and/or cool an interior compartment of the vehicle, and a destination system that is operable to estimate a length of time or distance required for the vehicle to arrive at a destination on a predefined route. The system also includes an HVAC control system in communication with the HVAC system. The HVAC control system is operable to regulate a temperature of the vehicle interior compartment by increasing or decreasing power to the HVAC system such that the interior compartment is heated or cooled. The HVAC control system is also operable to automatically reduce power to the HVAC system per a predefined reduced power plan prior to the vehicle reaching the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Tapan V. Patel
  • Patent number: 9464839
    Abstract: A power supply system for a transport refrigeration system includes an engine coupled to a compressor of a refrigeration unit for direct drive powering the compressor and a generator arranged to also be direct driven by the engine for generating electric power. The generator and the compressor are mounted to a common drive shaft driven by the engine, and the generator may be integrated with the compressor. The power supply system may further include an alternator arranged to be belt driven by the engine for generating DC electric power. A battery pack may be provided for storing and supplying additional DC power. During peak load demand on the refrigeration unit, the engine may be operated with the generator switched off to directly drive the compressor and direct current may be drawn from the battery pack to drive the condenser/gas cooler and evaporator fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Giorgio Rusignuolo, Nader S. Awwad, Bruce E. Sing, Robert A. Chopko, John R. Reason
  • Patent number: 9395116
    Abstract: An insulated dual-temperature container for use in transporting multiple payloads that require different temperature environments is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: David Alan Arnold, Gary Hase
  • Patent number: 9382909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a centrifugal fan-duct assembly including a body having a storage room therein; and the centrifugal fan-duct assembly in the storage room, configured to separate a flow of cool air and a flow of defrosted water from each other, in order to prevent freezing in the cool air passage. Since the flow and/or directions of cool air and the defrosted water are different and/or separate from each other, the cool air passage is prevented from freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Key Hwan Hwang
  • Patent number: RE47478
    Abstract: System and method for natural gas liquid sample pressure regulating vaporizer system including a vented cabinet having a gas sample input, a pressure regulator, a single path vaporizer, a liquid block, a heated regulator and a gas sample outlet, and a communications assembly including a temperature controller, a communication outlet, and a power input electrically connected via appropriate secure feedthroughs to the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Mustang Sampling LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth O. Thompson