Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Michael Joseph Giunta

Christian Brent Schoeneman

John Eric Rollinger

Robert Andrew Wade

Karen Willard

Samer Ibrahim

Matt Gerow

Casey Dietrich

James Thomas Gooden

Todd Louis Wenzel

Joshua Putman Styron

Robert Alex Mitchell

Erik Thomas Andersen

Adam Krach

Brian Michael O'Neil

Jason Eugene Devries

David Curtis Ives

Erin Gibb

Peter Rowling

Benjamin Carl Mukkala, Ii

Scott Russo

Nathanael David Shaw

Luis Juarez

Jeanette Madej

Paul Johnson

Meghraj Bhagat

Charles Wyman

Arindam Basu

Vaibhav Khanna

Peter Turpel

An exemplary thermal management system includes, among other things, a heater loop, a battery loop, a radiator loop, and a power electronics loop operating within a glycol system. A first valve is in fluid communication with one or more of the heater loop, the battery loop, the radiator loop, and the power electronics loop. A second valve is in fluid communication with one or more of the heater loop, the battery loop, the radiator loop, and the power electronics loop. The second valve is fluidly connected to the first valve to provide at least one operational condition where waste heat from power electronics in the power electronics loop is used to heat a battery in the battery loop.

Thermal management system for electrified vehicle using power electronics heat for heating a battery

An exemplary thermal management system includes, among other things, a heater loop, a battery loop, a radiator loop, and a power electronics loop operating within a glycol system. A first valve is in fluid communication with one or more of the heater loop, the battery loop, the radiator loop, and the power electronics loop. A second valve is in fluid communication with one or more of the heater loop, the battery loop, the radiator loop, and the power electronics loop. A refrigerant system cooperates with the glycol system under at least one operational condition to actively chill power electronics in the power electronics loop and a battery in the battery loop while actively heating a cabin area.

Thermal management system for managing heating and cooling of an electrified vehicle battery and cabin

A non-pressurized fluid reservoir for a vehicle coolant system includes a bottle configured to store fluid. The bottle has a neck defining an inner circumferential surface that is devoid of threads. The reservoir further includes a cap having a lid and a shank extending from the lid. The shank has an outer circumferential surface and with a spiral ramp supported on the outer circumferential surface to encircle a portion of the shank. The shank is receivable within the neck with the spiral ramp adjacent to the inner circumferential surface to mitigate fluid leaks through the neck.

Non-pressurized coolant reservoir and cap

Systems and methods for diagnosing operation of a transmission warm-up valve are presented. In one example, the transmission warm-up valve is commanded to an open position and an estimated transmission fluid temperature is compared to an actual transmission fluid temperature to determine whether or not the transmission warm-up valve is operating as commanded.

Methods and systems for diagnosing transmission warm-up valve

An exemplary thermal management system includes, among other things, a valve, a radiator loop configured to be connected to the valve, a power electronics loop configured to be connected to the valve, a heater loop configured to be connected to the valve, and a battery loop configured to be connected to the valve. The valve is configured to connect one or more of the radiator, power electronics, heater, and battery loops together and the valve is configured to isolate at least one of the radiator, power electronics, heater, and battery loops from any remaining loops of the radiator, power electronics, heater, and battery loops.

Thermal management system for electrified vehicle

This disclosure details thermal management systems with two or more cooling loops for thermally managing multiple components of an electrified vehicle. An exemplary thermal management system may include a deaeration device that is fluidly connected to two or more cooling loops (e.g., a traction battery pack loop, a power electronics loop, etc.). The deaeration device is configured to allow for deaeration of the two or more cooling loops while reducing coolant transfer and heat transfer between the two or more cooling loops.

Deaeration devices for electrified vehicle thermal management systems

Methods and systems are providing for improving engine coolant level estimation to reduce engine overheating. The level of fluid in a coolant overflow reservoir is inferred based on the fluid level in a hollow vertical standpipe fluidically coupled to the reservoir at top and bottom locations, while the fluid level in the standpipe is estimated based on echo times of an ultrasonic signal transmitted by a sensor positioned in a recess at the bottom of the vertical standpipe. Engine power is limited differently based on distinct coolant level states determined based on a change in level of coolant in the reservoir over a duration.

Method and system for engine cooling system control

Various systems for controlling coolant flow through a plurality of coolant lines via a wax thermostat are provided. In one embodiment, a thermostat comprises at least one wax motor that mediates coolant flow between two inlet passages and three outlet passages as a function of longitudinal position, the longitudinal position varying in response to changes in coolant temperature.

Wax thermostat

A vehicle cooling system includes an internal combustion engine, a transmission having a cooler, a coolant pump, a first coolant loop, a second coolant loop, and a flow regulator. The first coolant loop fluidly connects the coolant pump to the engine and returns to the coolant pump. The second coolant loop fluidly connects the coolant pump to the transmission cooler and returns to the coolant pump, bypassing the engine. The flow regulator is configured to selectively restrict coolant flow through the second coolant loop.

Automatic transmission fluid thermal conditioning system

Sensors are provided in reservoirs on internal combustion engines, and other applications, in which the reservoir is subjected to variations in pressure and temperature that cause the reservoir to exert variable forces on the sensor, thereby affecting sensor accuracy. To overcome problems in the prior art, a reservoir and sensor cartridge system are disclosing having: a reservoir with first and second openings, a cap coupled to the first opening, and a sensor cartridge disposed in the second opening. The sensor cartridge includes a sensor disposed in a body, a circumferential indentation formed in an outer surface of the body, a seal disposed in the indentation, and a retention feature provided on the body's outer surface. The circumferential indentation with the seal is axially displaced along the body from the sensor.

Sensor cartridge for mounting in a reservoir

An exemplary assembly includes, among other things, a manifold having an interior area with a baffle, and a reservoir. The baffle divides a portion of the interior area into a first region that is part of a first fluid loop of a vehicle, and a second region that is part of a separate, second fluid loop of the vehicle. The reservoir is configured to hold a supply of liquid that is in fluid communication with both the first and second regions. An exemplary method includes, among other things, communicating a fluid from a supply within a reservoir to both a first and a second region within an interior area of a manifold. The first region is part of a first fluid loop of a vehicle. The second region is part of a separate second fluid loop of the vehicle.

Fluid loop filling assembly and filling method

A transmission oil cooler transfers heat between Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) and engine coolant. During initial vehicle warm-up, heat is transferred from the engine coolant to the ATF, assisting the transmission warm-up. A priority valve may limit the flow of coolant to the transmission oil cooler until the coolant temperature is sufficient to ensure adequate cabin heating performance. After both the engine and transmission have reached normal operating temperatures, heat is transferred from the ATF to the engine coolant. An auxiliary radiator pre-cools the engine coolant before it enters transmission oil cooler. This increases the cooling of the ATF and avoids coolant temperature increase during aggressive maneuvers. When the ATF temperature is below a threshold, a coolant control valve diverts coolant around the auxiliary radiator.

Growing community of inventors

Livonia, MI, United States of America

Michael Joseph Giunta