System Drained And/or Heat-storing Patents (Class 123/41.14)
  • Patent number: 11878606
    Abstract: A battery thermal management system for a vehicle having a drivetrain. The thermal management system includes: a high-voltage propulsion battery, a waste-heat source of the vehicle drivetrain, and a battery heating circuit configured for circulating a battery coolant. The battery heating circuit includes a pipe being routed in the vicinity of, and spaced-apart from, the waste-heat source and configured for conveying the battery coolant for enabling the battery coolant within the pipe to heat-up by heat-radiation emitted from the waste-heat source and/or heat-convection through air from the waste-heat source to the battery coolant, and the battery heating circuit is configured for conveying the heated battery coolant to the battery for enabling heating of the battery by the battery coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEV. CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Sandeep David, Bengt Axelsson, Sri Vishnu Gorantla Narayana Murthy
  • Patent number: 11872803
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for aligning, stacking, and applying craft vinyl are disclosed. A fabric is secured by multiple clamps to a first surface and a second surface of a box when the box is in an open configuration. The first surface has a first measurement grid affixed thereupon. The second surface has a second measurement grid affixed thereupon. The fabric is aligned to the first measurement grid and the second measurement grid. Each vinyl layer of multiple vinyl layers defining a pattern is aligned to each other vinyl layer of the multiple vinyl layers by one or more pegs located on an edge of the first surface of the box. The multiple vinyl layers are positioned on the fabric by the one or more pegs. The multiple vinyl layers are pressed onto the fabric to print the pattern onto the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Margaret Beaty
  • Patent number: 11870045
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a vehicle includes a cooling apparatus for circulating a coolant in a coolant line to cool at least one electrical component provided in the coolant line, a battery cooling apparatus for circulating the coolant to the battery module, a chiller for heat exchanging the coolant with a refrigerant to control a temperature of the coolant, a heater that heats an interior of the vehicle using the coolant, and a branch line. A condenser included in the air conditioner is connected to the coolant line so as to pass the coolant circulating through the cooling apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jae Yeon Kim, Jeawan Kim, Yeonho Kim, Wan Je Cho, Su Whan Kim
  • Patent number: 11807066
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes a refrigerant circulation line including a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, and a second heat exchanger configured for cooling a vehicle interior by circulating a refrigerant; a heating line configured for heating the vehicle interior by circulating cooling water heat-exchanged with the refrigerant through the first heat exchanger and heat-exchanged with a battery; a cooling line configured for cooling an electrical component by circulating cooling water heat-exchanged with air or the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: In-Guk Hwang, Sung Je Lee
  • Patent number: 11788457
    Abstract: A method for exchanging coolant in a cooling system, which cooling system comprises at least one pump, an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit. The inlet conduit is connected to at least one external coolant source. The method comprises controlling said at least one pump to flow coolant in the cooling system from the at least one coolant source via the inlet conduit, through the cooling system, to the outlet conduit until the coolant in the cooling system has been at least partly exchanged. The disclosure also relates to a control unit configured to control exchange of coolant according to the method, a cooling system comprising the control unit and a vehicle or vessel comprising the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bill Östman, Johan Öjergren
  • Patent number: 11371417
    Abstract: Provided is an installation structure of a heat accumulator for a vehicle, provided on a back surface side of a bumper beam of the vehicle in the front portion of the vehicle and accumulates heat by storing a refrigerant. The bumper beam extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle and has a height dimension A in the vertical direction orthogonal to the length direction. The heat accumulator extends along the length direction of the bumper beam in a state of being close to a back surface of the bumper beam, and has a height dimension B in the vertical direction orthogonal to the length direction. The bumper beam and the heat accumulator are arranged with centers in the vertical direction coinciding with each other in the front-rear direction, and the height dimension B is set to A?B?1.6A with respect to the height dimension A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Nagakura, Hajime Uto, Masanobu Takazawa
  • Patent number: 11364771
    Abstract: The control apparatus includes a heater configured to generate heat to heat the internal combustion engine, a controller configured to control a heat exchange system in such a way as to transfer EV exhaust heat to the internal combustion engine, and an controller configured to let electrical power be supplied from a battery to the heater before the internal combustion engine is started if it is predicted that a specific warmed-up condition of the internal combustion engine will not be established before the start of the internal combustion engine and not to let electrical power be supplied from a battery to the heating if it is predicted that a specific warmed-up condition of the internal combustion engine will be established before the start of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Obuchi
  • Patent number: 10954847
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a vehicle includes a valve that introduces or blocks a coolant discharged from a coolant pump into latent heat storage, a first temperature sensor that measures a first coolant temperature discharged from the coolant pump, a second temperature sensor that measures a second coolant temperature in the latent heat storage, and a controller that controls opening and closing of the valve based on the first coolant temperature measured by the first temperature sensor and the second coolant temperature measured by the second temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chang Eun Choi, Young Ho Jung, Won Jun Sung, Hyuk Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 10934926
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is provided. The internal combustion engine includes a coolant, a liquid/gas heat exchanger, a coolant-temperature-dependent control element, an equalizing tank, fluidic connections between the components, and a coolant pump. At least one direct or at least one activation-dependent fluidic connection or at least one force-transmitting connection is set up between a medium in the equalizing tank and a medium of at least one other media path or media circuit of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Steiner, Jan Mehring, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Bernd Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 10902981
    Abstract: A method for determining an operating state of a PTC thermistor element may include pre-setting a released electric output available to the PTC thermistor element via a control signal and superimposing the control signal, at least for a pre-set period of time, with an additional signal which has a pre-set time profile. The method may also include, during the pre-set period of time, determining one of a time profile of a consumed electric output of the PTC thermistor element and a time profile of a consumed operating current of the PTC thermistor element. The method may also include comparing the pre-set time profile of the additional signal and the one of the time profile of the consumed electric output of the PTC thermistor element and the time profile of the consumed operating current of the PTC thermistor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Matthias Schall
  • Patent number: 10851901
    Abstract: A stream switching valve for alternatively feeding two fluids to an object of interest comprises a housing having first, second and third cavities, first, second and third ball members sealably placeable into said first, second and third cavities, first and second inlet passages being in fluid communication with said first and second cavities, an outlet passage being in fluid communication with said third cavity; said outlet passage connectable to an object of interest; first and second intermediate passages fluidly connecting said first and second cavities to said third cavity, first, second and third vent passages fluidly connecting said into first, second and third cavities to environment. The first and second ball members are configured to connect said first and second intermediate passages to first and second inlet passages and first and second vent passages, respectively, in turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HAM-LET (ISRAEL—CANADA) LTD.
    Inventors: Tuvia Liberman, Felix Shestatski, Alaa Rabah, Boris Margol, Sergey Seryogin
  • Patent number: 10704454
    Abstract: A control method for a cooling system is provided. The system includes a vehicle operation state detecting portion having an ambient temperature sensor, first and second coolant temperature sensors, a coolant control valve unit that adjusts opening rates of first, second, and third coolant passages and a controller. The method includes determining whether an output signal of the ambient temperature sensor satisfies a predetermined an ambient low temperature driving condition and whether an output signal of the first coolant temperature sensor satisfies a predetermined first low temperature driving condition when the output signal of the ambient temperature sensor satisfies the predetermined the ambient low temperature driving condition. The coolant control valve unit opens the first and coolant passages and closes the second coolant passage when the output signal of the first coolant temperature sensor satisfies the predetermined first low temperature driving condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yonggyu Lee
  • Patent number: 10603644
    Abstract: A combination unit for vacuuming, cleaning and conditioning fluids. The unit may comprise a vacuum pump circuit and tank, a mixing tank and a centrifuge system. The invention also includes a combination tank comprising a vacuum tank partially incorporated into a mixing tank. A mixing tank may comprise a system of mixing conduits and mixing apparatuses to shear drilling fluids and additives, the mixing tank including a rounded base and a drain to cycle the fluid back through to the mixing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Mud Maxx, LLC
    Inventor: Norman Bradley Beason
  • Patent number: 10589596
    Abstract: An energy-efficient thermal management system for an electric or hybrid vehicle is provided. The system has a first coolant circuit for controlling the temperature of electric components of an electric powertrain, an air-conditioning unit being provided for air-conditioning an interior. A second coolant circuit air-conditions the interior and is operable independently of the first coolant circuit. Each coolant circuit comprises a pump and a respective ambient heat exchanger. In order to control the temperature of the interior, a temperature control device which can be designed as a Peltier module is integrated into the second coolant circuit, said temperature control device operating in the manner of a heat pump for heating purposes. The two coolant circuits can be coupled to each other in order to exchange heat. An additional temperature control device can be integrated in order to air-condition an interior component in a decentralized manner, in particular a seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: Gentherm GmbH, Bayerische Motoren Werke, Technische Universitaet Muenchen
    Inventors: Stefan Riederer, Leonhard Hoerth, Heinrich Birndorfer, Marco Ranalli, Martin Adldinger, Manuel Lorenz
  • Patent number: 10544996
    Abstract: The waste heat recovery and dissipation apparatus incorporates a heat storage/dissipation material containing a new titanium oxide. When a pressure received by the heat storage/dissipation material from a coolant flowing through a flow channel is increased to a predetermined pressure PHR (about 60 MPa) or higher in a state where the crystal structure of the new titanium oxide is a ?-phase, the heat stored in the heat storage/dissipation material is released to the coolant. When a temperature of the heat storage/dissipation material is increased to a predetermined temperature THS (about 460 K) or higher by the heat of exhaust gas flowing a gas flow channel in a state where the crystal structure of the new titanium oxide is ?-phase, the heat of the exhaust gas is stored in the heat storage/dissipation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Akihiro Honda, Shin-ichi Ohkoshi
  • Patent number: 10384512
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for an electric vehicle, may include a heating line on which an electric heater and a heating pump are provided; a first heating line connected to the heating line through a main valve, provided with a heater core for indoor heating, and having cooling water flow therethrough to form a first heating channel along with the heating line; a second heating line having one end portion connected to one end portion of the heating line through the main valve and the other end portion connected to the other end portion of the heating line, and having the cooling water flow therethrough to form a second heating channel along with the heating line; and a controller configured for controlling an opening degree of the main valve to control the flow of cooling water of the first heating channel or the second heating channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Woo Park, Sang Shin Lee, So Yoon Park, Man Ju Oh, Jae Woong Kim, So La Chung
  • Patent number: 10309292
    Abstract: A coolant circulation system includes a coolant circuit including a water jacket, a motor-driven pump, an outlet liquid temperature sensor, and a controller. The controller executes variation determination control for driving the motor-driven pump to determine whether a variation in the temperature of the coolant in a diesel engine is equal to or less than a predetermined value based on an outlet temperature detected by the outlet liquid temperature sensor. The controller executes circulation stop control on condition that it is determined that the variation in the temperature of the coolant is equal to or less than the predetermined value. The controller changes the period during which the circulation stop control is executed in accordance with the outlet liquid temperature detected at the start of the circulation stop control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Nagai, Kohichiroh Yonemura
  • Patent number: 10267191
    Abstract: A turboprop engine assembly for an aircraft, including an internal combustion engine having a liquid coolant system, an air duct in fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft, a heat exchanger received within the air duct having coolant passages in fluid communication with the liquid coolant system and air passages air passages in fluid communication with the air duct, and an exhaust duct in fluid communication with an exhaust of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust duct has an outlet positioned within the air duct downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of an outlet of the air duct, the outlet of the exhaust duct spaced inwardly from a peripheral wall of the air duct. In use, a flow of cooling air surrounds a flow of exhaust gases. A method of discharging air and exhaust gases in an turboprop engine assembly having an internal combustion engine is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Andre Julien, Jean Thomassin, Serge Dussault
  • Patent number: 10233821
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring the state of opening of a control valve of a coolant circuit of a combustion engine. There is disclosed a method of a control valve of a coolant circuit of a combustion engine, with the control valve having a valve element that is actuatable by an actuator for enabling and/or blocking a coolant flow in the coolant circuit which has a heat exchanger, and having an assembly for detecting the position of the valve element for monitoring the opening state of the control valve. There also is provided an apparatus for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Spiess, Norbert Dembinski, Gerhard Sellmair
  • Patent number: 10202888
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selectively re-cooling intake air downstream of a charge air cooler. In one example, a system may include a cylinder head defining a plurality of cylinders, the cylinder head including a plurality of inlet ports each fluidically coupled to a respective cylinder, a refrigerant supply, and a refrigerant passage surrounding each inlet port and fluidically coupled to the refrigerant supply, the refrigerant passage shaped to correspond to an outer profile of each inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Donald Wicks
  • Patent number: 10166834
    Abstract: A heating system may include a cooling water line connected to a vehicle engine, a heat exchanger provided at the cooling line, the heat exchanger being arranged within an air conditioning duct, thermoelectric elements each attached, and a controller for controlling start or stop of the engine, to maintain a temperature of the cooling water between an upper limit temperature and a lower limit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Man Ju Oh, Jae Woo Park, Jae Woong Kim
  • Patent number: 10161295
    Abstract: An engine cooling system includes an engine, an intercooler, a radiator fan, a cooling circuit thermally coupled to at least one of the engine and the intercooler and circulating a coolant, and a controller in signal communication with the cooling circuit. The controller is configured to: upon receipt of a request, when the engine is in an off state, activate a quick cooldown mode where the radiator fan and the cooling circuit are operated to circulate and supply the coolant to at least one of the engine and the intercooler to cool vehicle under hood components while the engine is in the off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: James M Wilder, Jeremy J Anker, Paul Rodriguez, Mark V Musial, Farhan Ehsan
  • Patent number: 10082069
    Abstract: Provided is an engine cooling system including: a first coolant circulation channel passing through an engine; a second coolant circulation channel bypassing the engine; an electric water pump (EWP); a connection channel connecting the first coolant circulation channel and the second coolant circulation channel; an electromagnetic valve arranged in the connection channel to change a flow rate of a coolant passing through the engine and flowing from the first coolant circulation channel to the second coolant circulation channel; an EGR cooler, a heater core, and an exhaust heat collection device arranged in the second coolant circulation channel; and a control unit, wherein closing of the electromagnetic valve is prohibited if there is an actuation request of the EGR cooler, the heater core, and the exhaust heat collection device when there is a valve closing request of the electromagnetic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yohei Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 10036288
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine configured to recharge a battery through regenerative braking, an electric heater configured to heat a powertrain lubricating oil, and a controller. The controller, in response to a temperature of the powertrain lubricating oil being less than a threshold, directs regenerative braking power to the electric heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Patent number: 9926104
    Abstract: A container having a center portion and two side portions each situated at an angle to the center portion and extending in opposite directions such that the a left half of the container is substantially identical to a right half of the container but rotated 180 degrees to form a “Z” shaped profile of the container. This “Z” shaped profile allows containers to be stacked upon each other to provide space savings in storage and shipping of the container and the container when filled with liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Stackcan LLC
    Inventor: Alvaro Mauricio Olarte
  • Patent number: 9816429
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling device and a control method therefor. This cooling device includes: a first cooling liquid line routed by way of a cylinder head and a radiator; a second cooling liquid line routed by way of a cylinder block while bypassing the radiator; a third cooling liquid line routed by way of the cylinder head and a heater core while bypassing the radiator; a flow rate control valve for distributing cooling water to the cooling liquid lines; and mechanical and electric water pumps. A control unit controls the flow rate control valve according to the temperatures of the cylinder head and block, during engine operation, and causes the electric water pump to operate while controlling the flow rate control valve according to the temperature of the cylinder head, and whether or not heat exchange in the heater core is requested, during temporary engine stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Murai, Tomoyuki Murakami, Shigeyuki Sakaguchi, Yuichi Toyama, Masahiko Watanabe, Hideaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9806384
    Abstract: A regulating device for regulating a cooling circuit is described. The regulating device according to the disclosure includes a first regulating stage, wherein the first regulating stage is designed to determine, using one or more input variables, a cooling/heating power of the cooling circuit or a variable proportional thereto. The first regulating stage is also designed to determine a first control deviation. The first regulating stage is also designed to output a controlled variable of the first regulating stage comprising a desired temperature of a coolant or a variable proportional thereto, which is derived from the first control deviation. The regulating device according to the disclosure also includes a second regulating stage, wherein the second regulating stage is positioned in series with the first regulating stage and designed to receive the controlled variable of the first regulating stage as a control output. The second regulating stage is also designed to determine a second control deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Stefan Wickert, Christian Loew
  • Patent number: 9796241
    Abstract: A vehicle temperature control apparatus for controlling temperature of a temperature control object, which is at least one of inside air of a vehicle compartment and a vehicle component, includes a heat capacitive element capable of storing heat, a refrigeration cycle in which heat is absorbed from a low temperature side and is dissipated to a high temperature side, a heat exchanger that causes the heat capacitive element to exchange heat with refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, and a heat dissipation portion which dissipates heat in the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle to the temperature control object. Thus, a temperature control by using the heat capacitive element can be effectively performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Takeuchi, Hiroshi Kishita, Yasumitsu Omi, Nobuharu Kakehashi, Hideaki Okawa, Kouji Miura, Michio Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9796244
    Abstract: A thermal management system and method for a vehicle can include providing an engine, a transmission, a radiator, and a thermostat. A first heat exchanger can be in fluid communication with the transmission to heat or cool transmission fluid. A hot branch line can extend from the engine to the first heat exchanger to supply engine coolant to the first heat exchanger. The hot branch line can be in fluid communication with each of the engine and the first heat exchanger. A heat exchanger return line can be in fluid communication with each of the first heat exchanger and an inlet of the thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michael D Cook, Matthew R Scott, Joaquin A Pelaez, Timothy Bressau
  • Patent number: 9776473
    Abstract: Examples of an electrically powered transport refrigeration unit (TRU) are disclosed. In one example, the TRU may include a refrigeration circuit that includes an electrically powered compressor, an evaporator equipped with an electrically powered blower, and a gas cooler equipped with an electrically powered blower. The TRU may also include a control circuit and a power regulator unit. The power regulator unit may be configured to supply variable DC and/or AC outputs to power components of the refrigeration circuit, and the control circuit may be configured to regulate the variable DC and AC outputs of the power regulator unit so as to control the operation of the TRU. The electrically powered TRU may be configured to use R774 as refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michal Kolda, Michal Hegar, Vladimir Kmoch, Vaclav Rajtmajer
  • Patent number: 9586485
    Abstract: An exemplary electrified vehicle assembly includes a coolant circuit and a controller configured to selectively direct energy into at least one component of the coolant circuit to provide a negative wheel torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Justin Reuel Badger, Christopher Michael Kava, Mark Anthony Rockwell, Donald Mitchem
  • Patent number: 9347717
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a circuit having a heat accumulator, having a coolant circuit, having a heat accumulator in a line of the circuit and having at least one valve and one pump, wherein, when the valve is open, the heat accumulator can be charged with coolant from the coolant circuit by means of the pump, or coolant can be discharged from the heat accumulator into the coolant circuit, wherein the charging or discharging of the heat accumulator takes place in an open-loop-controlled or closed-loop-controlled manner as a function of a temperature difference of a temperature of the coolant in the circuit and a temperature of the coolant in the heat accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Baruschke, Thomas Strauss, Rolf Müller
  • Patent number: 9316135
    Abstract: A heat storage device includes a reactor, arranged in an exhaust system, having a formed body chemically reacting with ammonia and generating heat, and an ammonia reservoir, connected to the reactor, for storing ammonia. The ammonia reservoir incorporates therein an absorbent physically absorbing ammonia. The ammonia reservoir has a heat-exchanging structure and is temperature controlled by heat exchange with an external heating medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Satoshi Hariu, Takafumi Yamasaki, Hidehito Kubo
  • Patent number: 9309982
    Abstract: A temperature-adjustment system for a vehicle includes temperature-adjustment passages and obtained by circularly connecting a battery, an inverter, a DC/DC converter, a traveling motor, and a pump that circulates the heat medium that adjusts temperatures by cooling/heating the heat generation elements, are provided. The temperature-adjustment passages and are provided with proportional valves that interrupt the flow of the heat medium and adjust the flow volume of the heat medium, an air flow-in part that introduces air into the battery temperature-adjustment passage, and a heat medium discharge part that discharges the heat medium from the temperature-adjustment passage to outside of the vehicle. The proportional valve, air flow-in part, battery, pump, and heat medium discharge part are preferably arranged in that order, and the proportional valve is closed and an air take-in valve and a heat medium discharge valve are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Akiyama, Tadashi Osaka, Masatsugu Arai
  • Patent number: 9188050
    Abstract: Disclosed is an engine cooling system which comprises: a head-side circulation pathway through which coolant from a water pump is circulated via a water jacket of a cylinder head and an EGR cooler; a block-side circulation pathway through which the coolant from the water pump is circulated via a water jacket of a cylinder block; and a switching valve unit operable, during cold operation of the engine, to pass the coolant from the water pump, along the head-side circulation pathway, and, when a temperature of the engine is raised up to a predetermined value, to pass the coolant from the water pump, along not only the head-side circulation pathway but also the block-side circulation pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Naito, Daisuke Tabata, Daisuke Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9074826
    Abstract: A heat accumulator for a vehicle engine, comprising storing coolant in a flexible storage container with an inner body and an outer body, with an insulation device arranged between the bodies, and an inflow and an outflow for the coolant wherein the storage container can expand and deflate in response to the amount of coolant stored. The flexible storage container allows for the heat accumulator to conform to various under hood space constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Volker Haupts
  • Patent number: 8985066
    Abstract: A cooling circuit, in particular of a motor is provided that includes a drive unit with a cooling circuit, through which coolant heated in the drive unit flows, a first heat exchanger which emits heat from the coolant to the environment and a device for energy recovery with a second heat exchanger, which is switched into the cooling circuit. A line section of the cooling circuit is connectable in parallel to the second heat exchanger that includes a hydraulic element, which guides a defined coolant flow to the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Lutz, Richard Bruemmer
  • Patent number: 8978515
    Abstract: A heat storage and release system for a transmission includes a material capable of super cooling within an operating temperature range of the transmission. The material is in thermal communication with the transmission. An energy input device is associated with the material and operable to input energy to the material to initiate an exothermic phase change within the material in order to deliver heat to the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Paulo A Riedel, Renato Freitas Silva
  • Patent number: 8972154
    Abstract: A cooling system for an engine in the present invention includes a first coolant route for circulating coolant between a water jacket of an engine main body and a heater core, a second coolant route for circulating the coolant between a waste heat recovery unit and the heater core, a first water-temperature sensor provided on the first coolant route, and a second water-temperature sensor provided on the second coolant route. An engine control unit makes an engine stop determination based on the coolant temperatures detected by the first water-temperature sensor and the second water-temperature sensor and, in making the engine stop determination, selectively uses the coolant temperatures detected by the first water-temperature sensor and the second water-temperature sensor in dependence on whether a heater unit including the heater core is in an operation state or in an out-of-operation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: Aisin Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Yumisashi, Masazumi Yoshida, Shigeki Kinomura
  • Patent number: 8955473
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine having a cylinder head, comprising: following light-off of an exhaust catalyst from a cold-start condition, circulating liquid coolant through a cooling jacket of the cylinder head, and at a subsequent engine-off condition, draining at least some of the liquid coolant from the cooling jacket. In this way, at a cold start condition, the cooling jacket of the cylinder head may be filled with air, thus decreasing the amount of time needed for the exhaust catalyst to reach a light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 8893668
    Abstract: A method of cooling an engine of a vehicle includes measuring a temperature of a cylinder head of the engine, determining whether the measured temperature of the cylinder head may be equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, when the temperature of the cylinder head may be equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, moving coolant of the cylinder head and a cylinder block to a separate coolant tank, determining whether the measured temperature of the cylinder head may be equal to or higher than a specific temperature, and when the measured temperature of the cylinder head may be equal to or higher than the specific temperature, supplying coolant stored in the coolant tank to the cylinder head or the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Won Jin Jo, Jerok Chun, Kimin Park, Hyun Jun Hong, Young Jic Kim, Hyun Kyu Woo, Hwan Duk Kim
  • Publication number: 20140338616
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a drain grommet including a primary and secondary seal and a diversion shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. FOOS, Harry E. EUSTICE, Joseph A. MACDONALD
  • Publication number: 20140331946
    Abstract: A heat accumulator for use in a motor vehicle having a heat accumulator container which can be integrated into the motor oil circuit, through which motor oil flows when the motor is running, and which is disconnected from the circuit when the motor is switched off. The oil pan of the motor, in particular the lower part of the oil pan, is provided as the heat accumulator container, and the oil pan is provided with heat-insulating container walls. Also, an element for increasing the heat capacity of the heat accumulator is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas EILEMANN, Spasoje IGNJATOVIC, Ruediger KOELBLIN
  • Patent number: 8820272
    Abstract: A cooling system for an engine includes a pump driven by the engine and configured to circulate coolant through the engine. The cooling system also includes a heat exchanger configured to receive coolant from the engine and to reduce a temperature of the coolant. The cooling system further includes a thermostat fluidly connected to the engine and the heat exchanger. The thermostat is configured to selectively direct coolant from the engine to the heat exchanger when a temperature of the coolant is greater than a temperature threshold of the thermostat. The thermostat is also configured to substantially block coolant from passing to the heat exchanger when the temperature of the coolant is less than or equal to the temperature threshold. The cooling system also includes a valve fluidly connected to the engine and the heat exchanger, and connected in parallel with the thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Alan Terry, James Carl Durand, Joseph Lee Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20140224453
    Abstract: An object is to enable a compact and high output heat storage system to perform warm-up rapidly when a vehicle is started up, and after warm-up, to recover surplus heat that is present in a heat source in the vehicle to prepare for the next warm-up event. A heat recovery-type heating device includes: an ammonia buffer configured so as to be capable of fixing and desorbing ammonia that serves as a chemical reaction medium; and a chemical heat storage reactor provided with a chemical heat storage material that generates heat through a chemical reaction with ammonia supplied from the ammonia buffer, and that desorbs ammonia using surplus heat from a heat source and returns the ammonia to the ammonia buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Takafumi Yamauchi, Takashi Shimazu, Tsutomu Shinagawa, Shuzou Sanda
  • Patent number: 8800502
    Abstract: A heat storage device of a vehicle may include an insulation container, a coolant passage connected to an engine, a heat exchanger having a fin formed on the coolant passage inside the insulation container, a phase change material charged in the insulation container to exchange heat with flowing coolant, a phase change material temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, an engine coolant temperature sensor, and a control portion that circulates the coolant according to the driving condition of the engine and the coolant temperature such that the coolant exchanges heat with the phase change material. Accordingly, fuel for warming an engine or heating an interior room is reduced, a separate heating device or a warm up device such as a PTC heater can be replaced, quality of the exhaust gas is quickly improved, and there is a merit in overcoming environmental regulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University Erica Campus
    Inventors: Yong Hyun Choi, Yong Chul Kim, June Kyu Park, Jungha Park, Man Hee Park, Ki-hyung Lee, Jung-wook Son
  • Patent number: 8794195
    Abstract: A method for recovering exhaust heat for an engine is disclosed herein. The method includes during an engine operation, reducing a volume of a circulating heat transfer fluid and discharging a heat storage device to heat an engine component. The method further includes distributing the circulating heat transfer fluid to one or more heat exchangers each in thermal contact with one or more engine systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Levin, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Danrich Henry Demitroff, Donald Masch, James Patrick O'Neill
  • Patent number: 8613305
    Abstract: An automobile including an electric motor, a passenger compartment, an electronic power circuit, and a cooling circuit for the electronic power circuit, in which a coolant flows and which includes: a heat exchanger configured to discharge calories carried by the coolant to outside of the vehicle; a heating radiator provided upstream from the exchanger and configured to transfer the calories carried by the coolant to air in the passenger compartment; and an adiabatic tank configured to store at least a fraction of the coolant flowing in the cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Renault s.a.s.
    Inventor: Robert Yu
  • Patent number: 8590306
    Abstract: There are provided first and second water supply passages to supply cooling water from an engine to first and second center housings of first and second turbochargers, and first and second return passages to return the cooling water from the first and second turbochargers to the engine. A cooling-water connection portion of the first water supply is located above the level of a cooling-water connection portion of the second water supply passage. A vapor releasing passage is provided between the second turbocharger and an upper tank provided on the outside of an engine body at a position located above the connection portion of the second return passage of the second turbocharger. Accordingly, the function of vapor releasing from the first and second turbochargers can be improved, thereby increasing the layout flexibility around the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Niwa, Kazuaki Nishimura, Satoshi Nishizaka, Hiroaki Deguchi
  • Publication number: 20130255602
    Abstract: A heat accumulator for a vehicle engine, comprising storing coolant in a flexible storage container with an inner body and an outer body, with an insulation device arranged between the bodies, and an inflow and an outflow for the coolant wherein the storage container can expand and deflate in response to the amount of coolant stored. The flexible storage container allows for the heat accumulator to conform to various under hood space constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Volker Haupts