Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110246023 | Powertrain Thermal Control with Grille Airflow Shutters - A method of powertrain thermal control in a vehicle having grille airflow shutters. The method comprises the steps of: detecting vehicle operating conditions including at least a temperature condition for an engine cooling loop and engine load; pumping engine coolant through the engine cooling loop including pumping the engine coolant through a radiator under all temperature conditions of the engine cooling loop; and adjusting the grille airflow shutters relative to a grille to selectively block a portion, none or all airflow through the grille to thereby control airflow through the radiator based upon the detected vehicle operating conditions. | 10-06-2011 |
20110269387 | Air-Based Hybrid Battery Thermal Conditioning System - A thermal conditioning system for the energy storage system of a hybrid vehicle. At least one auxiliary air source, other than a permanently open air source, has a selectively operable actuator door which either connects or disconnects the auxiliary air source to the energy storage system blower, the air flow being selected to optimally temperature condition the energy storage system. The auxiliary air source preferably includes the HVAC ducting. | 11-03-2011 |
20110281515 | Grille Airflow Shutter System with Discrete Shutter Control - A method of controlling airflow through a grille on a front end of a vehicle comprising the steps of: detecting vehicle operating conditions; determining a desired percentage of airflow through the grille based on the desired operating conditions; actuating grille airflow shutters to an open position for the determined desired percentage of a predetermined time interval; and actuating the grille airflow shutter to a closed position for a remaining percentage of the predetermined time interval. | 11-17-2011 |
20120073694 | AUTOMOTIVE AIR DUCT CONSTRUCTION - A cooling duct connects a passenger compartment of a vehicle and an energy storage system in fluid communication, and directs a flow of air from the passenger compartment to the energy storage system to cool the energy storage system. The cooling duct includes a first portion that is formed from a non-porous material, and a second portion that is formed from a porous material. The first portion and the second portion are attached to define an enclosed flow path. The second portion includes an airflow resistivity that allows air infiltration into the second portion, through the porous material, at a rate of between zero percent (0%) and twenty percent (20%) of a minimum flow rate when an inlet of the cooling duct is unobstructed, and at a rate of at least thirty percent (30%) when the inlet is completely obstructed. | 03-29-2012 |
20120090906 | VENTILATION ASSEMBLY FOR A FRONT EXTERIOR OF A VEHICLE - A ventilation assembly is configured for operative attachment to a front exterior of a vehicle. The ventilation assembly includes a first and a second section. The first and second sections are configured to move between respective open and closed positions. The first and second sections define respective first and second openings when the first and second sections are in the respective open positions to provide continuous fluid movement from the front exterior of the vehicle therethrough. Likewise, the first and/or second sections are a fluid barrier, configured to prevent the ingress of fluid from the exterior of the vehicle through the respective opening, when the section is in the respective closed position. Additionally, one of the first and second sections is disposed above the other of the first and second sections on the front exterior of the vehicle. | 04-19-2012 |
20120097465 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A SHUTTER IN A VEHICLE VIA A COOLING FAN DUTY-CYCLE - A method is provided for controlling operation of an adjustable shutter configured to be operated between and inclusive of fully-closed and fully-opened positions for cooling a powertrain in a vehicle having a grille opening. The method includes monitoring operation of a fan capable of being driven at a selectable speed for cooling the powertrain. The method also includes maintaining the fully-closed position of the shutter when the speed of the fan is below a predetermined speed. The method additionally includes selecting a non fully-closed position of the shutter before the predetermined speed of the fan is selected. Furthermore, the method includes selecting the predetermined speed of the fan after the non fully-closed position of the shutter has been selected. A system for controlling operation of such a fan and a vehicle are also provided. | 04-26-2012 |
20130081888 | RECONFIGURABLE BASELINE OPENING FOR UNDER-HOOD AIRFLOW - A method of establishing a baseline airflow opening into an under-hood compartment of a vehicle configured to house a powertrain includes providing a fascia for the under-hood compartment. The fascia includes a first grille opening and a second grille opening configured to admit first and second portions of ambient airflow, respectively, into the under-hood compartment. A selectable position shutter assembly is disposed in the second grille opening and configured to control a size of the second grille opening. The baseline airflow opening into the under-hood compartment is the sum of the size of the first grille opening and the minimum size of the second grille opening. The method also includes ascertaining a configuration of the powertrain and setting the minimum size of the second grille opening in response to the ascertained configuration of the powertrain to establish the baseline airflow opening. A system employing the method is also disclosed. | 04-04-2013 |
20140196866 | RETURN AIR DUCTS FOR VEHICLES - A vehicle includes an air inlet passage, a cargo compartment, a passenger compartment, a battery, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit. The battery is disposed in the cargo compartment. The HVAC unit is disposed between the engine and passenger compartments. The HVAC unit includes a first inlet, a second inlet, a third inlet, and an outlet all in fluid communication with one another. A recirculation door moves between a pass-through position and a recirculation position. A return air duct extends between the cargo compartment and the second inlet. The return air duct directs the flow of the heated air from the cargo compartment directly to the second inlet of the HVAC unit when the recirculation door is in the recirculation position. | 07-17-2014 |