Deere + Company

Brian D Spangler

Steven Ryan Whiteman

Steven Richard Sass

Zakir Faruquee

Colton K Leal

Celesta K Milanowski

Systems and methods for warming a battery and operator cab of an electric vehicle. A second thermal fluid is circulated in a second fluid circuit of a primary system, and is heated by an electric heater before being circulated to a first heat exchanger to heat a first thermal fluid in a fluid thermal tank. The heated first thermal fluid is circulated via a first fluid circuit of the primary system and to the battery, or selectively bypasses the battery and returns to the fluid thermal tank. Occasionally, an external system is coupled to a portion of a third fluid circuit residing in the primary system such that heated third thermal fluid from the external system flows to the first heat exchanger. Partially heated second or third thermal fluid can flow to a second heat exchanger such that the remaining heat entrained therein can heat the operator cab.

Systems and methods for managing the heating of thermal fluids

A work machine including a prime mover, an electric motor, an electric motor fluid circuit, a transmission fluid circuit, a hydraulic circuit, a cooling circuit, a pump, and a controller. The electric motor may supply a portion of power of the prime mover. The electric motor fluid circuit may be adapted to remove waste heat from the electric motor. The transmission fluid circuit may be adapted to lubricate a moving part of a transmission powered by the prime mover. The hydraulic circuit may be adapted to transmit power from the prime mover to a moving component of the work machine. The cooling circuit may be absorbing waste heat from one or more of the electric motor fluid circuit, the transmission fluid circuit, and the hydraulic circuit. The control may be adapted to control diversion of a portion of waste heat from the cooling circuit to a portion of the cab.

Waste heat scavenging method and system for a work machine

A two-phase cooling system of an electric work vehicle includes a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve, a heat exchanger, and an evaporator. The compressor compresses a refrigerant to increase the refrigerant pressure. The condenser is downstream of the compressor and discharges heat from the refrigerant flowing from the compressor to condense at least a portion of the refrigerant. The thermal expansion valve is downstream of the condenser and decreases the pressure of the refrigerant to vaporize the refrigerant to decrease the temperature of the refrigerant. The heat exchanger is coupled to an electrical component and is used to transfer heat from the electrical component to the refrigerant from the electrical component. The refrigerant then flows through the evaporator, where it absorbs more heat. The refrigerant passes back through the thermal expansion valve on its return to the compressor.

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Dubuque, IA, United States of America

Brian D Spangler