Search Patents
  • Patent number: 9731578
    Abstract: A multi-mode vehicle thermal management system is provided that allows efficient thermal communication between a refrigerant-based thermal control loop and two non-refrigerant-based thermal control loops, where one of the non-refrigerant-based loops is thermally coupled to the vehicle's battery system and the other of the non-refrigerant-based control circuits is thermally coupled to the vehicle's drive train. The refrigerant-based control loop may be operated either in a heating mode or a cooling mode and is coupled to the vehicle's HVAC system using a refrigerant-air heat exchanger, and to the battery thermal control loop using refrigerant-fluid heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent George Johnston
  • Patent number: 9758011
    Abstract: A multi-mode vehicle thermal management system is provided that allows efficient thermal communication between a refrigerant-based thermal control loop and three non-refrigerant-based thermal control loops, where one of the non-refrigerant-based loops provides temperature control over the vehicle's passenger cabin, a second of the non-refrigerant-based control loops is thermally coupled to the vehicle's battery system and the third of the non-refrigerant-based control circuits is thermally coupled to the vehicle's drive train. The refrigerant-based control loop may be operated either in a heating mode or a cooling mode and is coupled to the vehicle's HVAC system using a refrigerant-air heat exchanger, and to the battery thermal control loop using refrigerant-fluid heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventor: Vincent George Johnston
  • Patent number: 8920955
    Abstract: A battery module with high thermal conductivity and its assembling method are disclosed. The battery module includes multiple battery cells, a primary retaining frame, a secondary retaining frame, common electrodes and a heatsink device. The primary and second retaining frames are combined together to constitute accommodation chambers for housing the battery cells and formed with interference flanged to secure the battery cells in position. Upon being inserted into the accommodation chambers, the battery cells are electrically connected to the common electrodes. The heatsink device is then coupled to the primary retaining frame and/or the secondary retaining frame, such that the heatsink device abuts against the top common electrode and/or the bottom common electrode of the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Chia-ming Chuang, Benson Tsai
  • Patent number: 9731577
    Abstract: A multi-mode vehicle thermal management system is provided that allows efficient thermal communication between a refrigerant-based thermal control loop and three non-refrigerant-based thermal control loops, where one of the non-refrigerant-based loops provides temperature control over the vehicle's passenger cabin, a second of the non-refrigerant-based control loops is thermally coupled to the vehicle's battery system and the third of the non-refrigerant-based control circuits is thermally coupled to the vehicle's drive train. The refrigerant-based control loop may be operated either in a heating mode or a cooling mode and is coupled to the vehicle's HVAC system using a refrigerant-air heat exchanger, and to one or more of the non-refrigerant-based control loops using refrigerant-fluid heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent George Johnston
  • Patent number: 9758010
    Abstract: A multi-mode vehicle thermal management system is provided that allows efficient thermal communication between a refrigerant-based thermal control loop and three non-refrigerant-based thermal control loops, where one of the non-refrigerant-based loops provides temperature control over the vehicle's passenger cabin, a second of the non-refrigerant-based control loops is thermally coupled to the vehicle's battery system and the third of the non-refrigerant-based control circuits is thermally coupled to the vehicle's drive train. The refrigerant-based control loop may be operated either in a heating mode or a cooling mode and is coupled to the vehicle's HVAC system using a refrigerant-air heat exchanger, and to the battery thermal control loop using refrigerant-fluid heat exchangers. A valve assembly is used to couple and/or decouple the battery and drive train thermal control loops, thereby allowing these two thermal control loops to operate either in parallel or in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventor: Vincent George Johnston
  • Patent number: 9533544
    Abstract: A multi-mode vehicle thermal management system is provided that allows efficient thermal communication between a refrigerant-based thermal control loop and three non-refrigerant-based thermal control loops, where one of the non-refrigerant-based loops provides temperature control over the vehicle's passenger cabin, a second of the non-refrigerant-based control loops is thermally coupled to the vehicle's battery system and the third of the non-refrigerant-based control circuits is thermally coupled to the vehicle's drive train. The refrigerant-based control loop may be operated either in a heating mode or a cooling mode and is coupled to the vehicle's HVAC system using a refrigerant-air heat exchanger, and to one or more of the non-refrigerant-based control loops using refrigerant-fluid heat exchangers. Valve assemblies are used to couple and/or decouple the three non-refrigerant-based thermal control loops, thereby allowing the thermal control loops to operate either in parallel or in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventor: Vincent George Johnston
  • Patent number: 9731576
    Abstract: A multi-mode vehicle thermal management system is provided that allows efficient thermal communication between a refrigerant-based thermal control loop and three non-refrigerant-based thermal control loops, where one of the non-refrigerant-based loops provides temperature control over the vehicle's passenger cabin, a second of the non-refrigerant-based control loops is thermally coupled to the vehicle's battery system and the third of the non-refrigerant-based control circuits is thermally coupled to the vehicle's drive train. The refrigerant-based control loop may be operated either in a heating mode or a cooling mode and is coupled to the vehicle's HVAC system using a refrigerant-air heat exchanger, and to one or more of the non-refrigerant-based control loops using refrigerant-fluid heat exchangers. A valve assembly is used to couple and/or decouple the passenger cabin and battery thermal control loops, thereby allowing these two thermal control loops to operate either in parallel or in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent George Johnston
  • Patent number: 9511645
    Abstract: A multi-mode vehicle thermal management system is provided that allows efficient thermal communication between a refrigerant-based thermal control loop and three non-refrigerant-based thermal control loops, where one of the non-refrigerant-based loops provides temperature control over the vehicle's passenger cabin, a second of the non-refrigerant-based control loops is thermally coupled to the vehicle's battery system and the third of the non-refrigerant-based control circuits is thermally coupled to the vehicle's drive train. The refrigerant-based control loop may be operated either in a heating mode or a cooling mode and is coupled to the vehicle's HVAC system using a refrigerant-air heat exchanger, and to one or more of the non-refrigerant-based control loops using refrigerant-fluid heat exchangers. A valve assembly is used to couple and/or decouple the battery and drive train thermal control loops, thereby allowing these two thermal control loops to operate either in parallel or in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventor: Vincent George Johnston