Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ranganathan Madhavan

Manfred Koberstein

Kirk Pebley

Curtis Mark Jones

James C Rollinson

Halim Wijaya

Eric Gerd Schaefer

Tina Marie Maurer

Jim C Rollinson

Stephen R Dennon

Patrick Daniel Maguire

Mark G Smith

Eric Michael Rademacher

Loren John Lohmeyer, Iii

Jing He

Jacob Mathews

Wayne Frank Buescher

Upendra J Patel

Maria J Heirtzler

Arthur Henke

Rachid E El Aile

James Castellano

Lim Wijaya

Kenneth Gerald Brown

Craig Martin Spinneweber

Mike Mandernach

A multi-compressor refrigerant system for a vehicle including a main compressor, an auxiliary compressor fluidly coupled with the main compressor, and a chiller fluidly coupled to the main compressor and the auxiliary compressor for exchanging heat with an electronic device. At least one of the main compressor and the auxiliary compressor is operated based on a thermal load of the chiller.

Multi-compressor refrigerant system

A system and method of selecting air intake between 100% fresh air mode and 100% recirculated air mode for optimum heating/cooling performance, fuel economy and/or high voltage (HV) battery power consumption is disclosed. The system and method includes a partial recirculation control strategy in which the air inlet door is moved progressively to any position by taking into account cooling/heating loads and cabin fogging probability. As cooling/heating loads increase the air inlet door moves toward 100% recirculation mode. As fogging probability increases the air inlet door moves toward 100% fresh air mode. By selectively choosing a position between 100% recirculation and 100% fresh air, fuel economy and/or HV battery power consumption is optimized without compromising passenger comfort or causing fogging on interior glass surfaces. In cooling applications the compressor load is minimized and air conditioning performance is improved due to the reduced evaporator cooling load. The direct result of this improvement is increased fuel economy in the case of the internal combustion vehicle, reduced engine on time in the case of the hybrid electric vehicle (due to reduced HV battery power consumption), and reduced HV battery power consumption in the case of the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and the electric vehicle (EV). In heating applications, as the heating load is reduced the fuel economy of the internal combustion (IC) engine will be improved, the engine on time is reduced in the case of the HEV, and HV battery power consumption is reduced in the case of the EV.

Partial air inlet control strategy for air conditioning system

A method and system for the cancellation of transmission shift delay as a function of an optimum target temperature is disclosed. Once the pre-selected optimum target is achieved the shift delay is cancelled and the transmission is upshifted. Thus the disclosed inventive concept is based the cancellation of the shift delay on achieving climate control air conditioning comfort targets. Such comfort targets could include one or more of the measured HVAC evaporator temperature, the HVAC discharge temperature, or the in-vehicle cabin temperatures. When a temperature sensor measuring the selected temperature reaches the pre-selected target temperature the shift delay may be cancelled and the transmission may be upshifted, thus maximizing passenger comfort while minimizing fuel consumption. Having the shift delay based upon the achievement of specific measurable comfort targets in the form of target temperatures rather than a set time period allows optimization between cabin comfort and fuel efficiency.

Smart transmission shift delay method and system for climate control for a vehicle

A heat transfer system is provided for a road vehicle having a passenger cabin. A primary branch includes a primary pump and a primary power plant. An auxiliary branch includes an auxiliary coolant pump, an auxiliary heat source, and a cabin heat exchanger. A thermostatic multi-way valve directs coolant from a valve inlet to substantially only a first valve outlet when receiving coolant below a first temperature. The valve directs coolant from the valve inlet to substantially only a second valve outlet when receiving coolant above a second temperature. The valve inlet is coupled to receive coolant from either the primary branch or the auxiliary branch. The first valve outlet is configured to return coolant to the same branch as is connected to the valve inlet. The second valve outlet is configured to direct coolant to the other branch to which the valve inlet is not connected.

Thermostatically-controlled multi-mode coolant loops

A method and apparatus for controlling blower speed of an air conditioning system in a vehicle having a start/stop engine. When an auto stop event of the start/stop engine is entered, an ambient temperature and a second temperature (e.g., evaporator) of the air conditioning system are measured by sensors. A first cutback limit is determined in response to the ambient temperature. The blower speed is ramped to the first cutback limit by a controller. The engine is restarted and the blower speed is restored in response to the second temperature reaching a restart threshold.

Blower control for vehicle with start-stop engine

A method and apparatus controls a recirculation position of a return vent in an HVAC system for a vehicle with a compressor driven by a start/stop engine. A partial recirculation position is set according to a basic recirculation strategy while the engine is operating. An auto stop event is entered at a time with the compressor operating. A full recirculation position is set during the stop event by an HVAC controller if a plurality of low fogging probability indicators are true. The low fogging probability indicators include a sensed ambient temperature being above a predetermined temperature, a sensed state of a windshield wiper being an off state, and a sensed sunload being above a predetermined sunload. The return vent is set at other than the full recirculation position by the HVAC controller according to the basic recirculation strategy if the low fogging probability indicators are not true.

Vehicular HVAC system with modified air recirculation for start-stop engine

A method and system for the cancellation of transmission shift delay as a function of an optimum target temperature is disclosed. Once the pre-selected optimum target is achieved, the shift delay is cancelled and the transmission is upshifted. Thus the disclosed inventive concept is based on the cancellation of the shift delay on achieving climate control air conditioning comfort targets. Such comfort targets could include one or more of the measured HVAC evaporator temperature, the HVAC discharge temperature, or the in-vehicle cabin temperatures. When a temperature sensor measuring the selected temperature reaches the pre-selected target temperature the shift delay may be cancelled and the transmission may be upshifted, thus maximizing passenger comfort while minimizing fuel consumption. Having the shift delay based upon the achievement of specific measurable comfort targets in the form of target temperatures rather than on a set time period allows optimization between cabin comfort and fuel efficiency.

A vehicle air handling system includes an air conditioner having an inlet selectively opening to a source of fresh air or recirculated air from within the passenger compartment. A controller switches the source of inlet air to recirculated air under certain conditions in order to optimize system efficiency and component life.

Vehicle air handling system

A vehicle includes an air intake that facilitates air transfer from an ambient environment outside the vehicle to a vehicle space. The air intake inhibits liquid transfer from the ambient environment to the vehicle space. The air intake includes an inlet for receiving air from the ambient environment, and an outlet in communication with the inlet. The outlet is disposed in an upper portion of the housing. A blocking member is disposed within the housing adjacent the inlet for preventing upward fluid flow from the inlet directly to the outlet. The air intake receives ambient air through an aperture in a window in the vehicle, thereby reducing the size of the air intake.

Vehicle having fresh air intake

A cooling system for a battery in a vehicle does not use air from the vehicle passenger compartment, but rather, takes in ambient air from outside the vehicle. When the temperature of the ambient air outside the vehicle is low enough, the air is moved through a duct system by a pair of fans and blown across a battery assembly. When the temperature of the ambient air outside the vehicle is too warm to cool the battery directly, it is first passed through an evaporator coil where it exchanges heat with a refrigerant, prior to being blown across the battery assembly. The cooling air may be recirculated across the battery assembly, or exhausted from the vehicle through an air extractor.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Ranganathan Madhavan