Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Danrich Henry Demitroff

Michael Benjamin Levin

Furqan Zafar Shaikh

Donald Masch

Sunil Katragadda

Lawrence Marshall

James Patrick O'Neill

Mathew John Fast

W Cary Cole

Cary Cole

David Karl Bidner

Amey Y Karnik

William Samuel Schwartz

Mark John Jennings

Phillip Bonkoski

David Richens Brigham

Quazi Ehtesham Hussain

Colby Jason Buckman

Yongfang Zhong

Jeffrey Scott Hepburn

John Edward Brevick

Robert Scott Lippert

Andreas Evangelos Perakes

Michael Bruno Magnan

Shiguang Zhou

David Wayne Adamisin

Zhaoyang Zeng

Furqan Shaikh Zafar

Don Masch

Jim Patrick O'Neill

John Clarence Lee

James Roy Bivins

Methods and systems are provided for regulating the temperature of rear axle lubrication oil. In one example, a rear axle coolant system may include a coolant loop with a plurality of valves and sensors, regulating the coolant flow in heat exchange relationship with an exhaust gas heat recovery and storage system to deliver warm coolant to a rear axle heat exchanger to warm the rear axle lubrication oil. The method may regulate the components of the rear axle coolant system through a controller, receiving sensor input from the components of the coolant system.

Rear axle lubrication oil temperature control using exhaust heat recovery and a thermal battery

An air-conditioning system is provided for a motor vehicle. That system includes a vacuum enclosure having a refrigerant, a first section and a second section. The system further includes a radiator, a core and a phase change material vessel downstream from the core. A conduit and valve system operate the air-conditioning system in two modes of operation.

Method for a vehicle climate control system

Air-conditioning system with vacuum enclosure

Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes an exhaust gas heat recovery system are described. The system may reduce engine warm-up time and increase an amount of time an engine of a hybrid vehicle is deactivated while the hybrid vehicle is powered by a motor. In one example, a phase change material selectively stores and releases exhaust gas energy from and engine to improve vehicle operation.

Methods and systems for utilizing waste heat for a hybrid vehicle

A system for regulating lubricant temperature within a vehicle axle is provided. A differential housing has a primary chamber that contains the differential, and a secondary chamber separated from the primary chamber. A sump is in the primary chamber for collecting lubricant. An inlet to the secondary chamber allows the lubricant to flow from the primary chamber into the secondary chamber. An outlet to the secondary chamber allows the lubricant stored therein to be purged into the sump. When the lubricant is below a certain threshold temperature, a temperature-responsive valve is configured to close to inhibit the fluid to travel through the outlet. When the temperature of the lubricant rises to exceed the threshold, the valve is configured to open and permit the fluid to travel through the outlet.

Differential with lubricant control

Methods and systems are provided for regulating fluid flow through a three-way valve assembly, including a three-way split conduit coupled to a movable rotary ring with plurality of openings. In one example, a three-way split conduit may include one fluid inlet conduit splitting into two outlet conduits with an included angle of less than 90 degrees between the two splitting outlet conduits. A movable rotary ring coupled to the three-way split conduit may be rotated by an actuator to open or block the three way split conduits, regulating the fluid flow passages along the three-way valve assembly.

Low restriction variable flow valve with directional control

Methods and systems are provided for a phase change material (PCM) integrated radiator. In one example, a method may include adjusting a radiator control valve into a first position to flow coolant only through a first zone of a radiator containing phase change material (PCM) and not through a second zone of the radiator not containing phase change material. The method may further include adjusting the radiator control valve into a second position to flow coolant only through the second zone of the radiator and not the first zone.

System and methods for a high temperature radiator heat absorber

An air-conditioning system which may be included in a motor vehicle may include a single pair of tube-and-plate heat exchangers arranged within a common vacuum enclosure, the heat exchangers selectively coupled with a heat source, a radiator, and an air-conditioning core. During an adsorbing/evaporating mode, coolant may circulate between a first heat exchanger and the radiator and vapor may evaporate from the surface of non-adsorbent-coated plates of the second heat exchanger and be adsorbed at adsorbent-coated plates of the first heat exchanger while coolant circulates between the second heat exchanger and the core. During a desorbing/condensing mode, coolant may circulate between a heat source and the first heat exchanger to effect desorption of vapor from the adsorbent in the first heat exchanger, while melting PCM in the core exchanges heat with air blown through the core to provide cooling.

Adsorption air-conditioning system

A differential is provided. The differential includes a housing that has a sump, an input shaft, a ring gear, a carrier that is affixed to the ring gear, and a diverter. The sump is configured to collect lubricating fluid. The ring gear is configured to transfer lubricating fluid out of the sump. The diverter is configured to direct the lubricating fluid to the input shaft and carrier.

Differential and differential lubricating fluid management system

A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a power source, at least one wheel, a gearbox. The gearbox includes a housing, gearing disposed in the housing, and an insulator disposed between the gearing and the housing. The gearing is configured to couple the power source to the at least one wheel. The insulator is configured to reduce thermal energy losses of a fluid that lubricates the gearing.

Vehicle and insulating device for gearbox

A vehicle climate control system includes a thermal-adsorption heat pump driven by engine exhaust heat, the heat pump including two adsorbers asynchronously switching between adsorbing and desorbing modes, each adsorber coupled with a corresponding antifreeze tank via a plurality of refrigerant-containing wick chambers. Cold heat transfer fluid (HTF) flows through the adsorber during the adsorbing mode which causes evaporation of refrigerant from the wick chambers, thereby cooling antifreeze, whereas hot HTF flows through the adsorber during the desorbing mode which causes condensation of refrigerant at the wick chambers, thereby heating antifreeze. In this way, the thermal-adsorption heat pump may condition cabin air independent of engine coolant and without exerting a load on the engine.

Motor vehicle climate control system

An axle includes a differential, a cover, and a heat absorber. The differential has a ring gear disposed within a housing. The ring gear is configured to pump a lubricating fluid. The cover is attached to the housing. The heat absorber is attached to the cover within a pump path of the ring gear. The heat absorber has a phase-change material disposed within the heat absorber configured to absorb heat from the lubricating fluid. A method to control fluid temperature in a vehicle axle is also included.

Axle heat absorber

A vehicle includes axle housing, a differential and a ring gear, a scraper port, and a reservoir. The housing has a cover forming a heat exchanger having a coolant side and a lubricant side. The differential and ring gear are configured to pump a lubricating fluid. The scraper port is disposed at a bottom of the heat exchanger adjacent to the ring gear and is configured to direct the lubricating fluid through the lubricant side of the heat exchanger. The reservoir is disposed at a top of the heat exchanger and is configured to receive and store the lubricating fluid from the lubricant side of the heat exchanger.

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Okemos, MI, United States of America

Danrich Henry Demitroff