Jaguar Land Rover Limited

Rover Group Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Other

Jaguar Cars Limited

Land Rover

William Hutchins

Martin Roy Haggett

Stuart Briscoe

Michael Krauss

An energy recovery unit () for use in a vehicle exhaust system () comprises an inlet () for receiving exhaust gas from the exhaust system (); an outlet () for returning exhaust gas to the exhaust system (); a thermoelectric generator () disposed between the inlet () and the outlet (); and a valve arrangement operable to direct exhaust gas entering the inlet () across the thermoelectric generator () to enable the thermoelectric generator () to generate electrical energy from thermal energy contained in the exhaust gas, wherein the valve arrangement is operable to vary the direction of exhaust gas flow across the thermoelectric generator ().

Energy recovery unit for vehicle use

A fluid flow network for a vehicle includes first and second flow ducts having a common inlet and a common outlet; a flow directing member movable about a first axis and configured to direct flow from the common inlet to at least one of the first and second flow ducts; a flow reactive member configured to detect an imbalance between the flow exiting the first flow duct and the flow exiting the second flow duct; and means for adjusting the position of the flow directing member if an imbalance is detected by the flow reactive member.

Fluid flow network for a vehicle including flow members that respond to a flow imbalance

An energy recovery unit () for use in a vehicle exhaust system (), the energy recovery unit () comprising an inlet () for receiving exhaust gas from the exhaust system () and an outlet () for returning exhaust gas to the exhaust system (). The energy recovery unit () further comprises a plurality of thermoelectric generators () disposed between the inlet () and the outlet (), and a plurality of flow directing members (). Each flow directing member () is configured to direct exhaust gas flow across at least one thermoelectric generator ().

A controller for a motor vehicle cooling system thermostatic valve assembly, the assembly having a radiator bypass coolant flow inlet, a radiator coolant flow inlet and a coolant outlet, the assembly being configured to allow flow of coolant from the bypass coolant flow inlet to the coolant outlet and from the radiator coolant flow inlet to the coolant outlet, the assembly comprising means for controlling a flow rate of fluid from the radiator coolant flow inlet to the coolant outlet, the controller being configured to receive an ambient temperature signal indicative of an ambient air temperature, the controller being configured to control flow of coolant from the radiator coolant flow inlet to the coolant outlet in dependence at least in part on the ambient temperature signal.

Controller for a motor vehicle cooling system and method

A vehicle comprising an engine having a cylinder block, a cylinder head and a gasket disposed between the cylinder block and the cylinder head. The cylinder block and the cylinder head each comprising at least one bore opening leading to a casting bore within the cylinder block and cylinder head respectively. The gasket comprising a gasket opening having a control gap, said gasket opening being sized and arranged to provide a fluid pathway between the bore opening in the cylinder block and the bore opening in the cylinder head. The control gap being configured and arranged to selectively restrict that fluid pathway such that gas may freely pass through the cylinder block bore opening and into the bore opening in the cylinder head whereas coolant can only restrictively pass through the cylinder block bore opening and into the bore opening in the cylinder head.

Gasket and system for control of the temperature of an engine

A mount for supporting a motor vehicle radiator in a substantially upright, transverse orientation. The mount includes a resiliently flexible pair of opposed grip members that grip a support portion of the radiator. The mount is configured such that, when the support portion of the radiator is placed between the grip members and the support portion is urged against the mount, the grip members exert a gripping force on the support portion to retain the support portion therebetween.

Radiator support structure and method

A fluid flow control device controls flow of coolant in a motor vehicle motor cooling system. The flow control device includes first and second coolant inlets and first and second coolant outlets. The flow control device is operable selectively to direct coolant flowing into the device to flow out from the flow device through one or both of the first and second outlets in dependence on a temperature of fluid flowing through the device.

Fluid flow control device and method

A motor vehicle engine cooling system includes a fluid flow control device having first and second fluid inlets and first and second fluid outlets. The first fluid inlet is arranged to be connected to a cylinder head coolant outlet of the engine and the second fluid inlet is arranged to be coupled to a cylinder block coolant outlet of the engine. The first fluid outlet is coupled to a radiator bypass conduit of the cooling system and the second fluid outlet is coupled to a radiator conduit of the cooling system and arranged to direct to flow through a radiator of the system. The device comprises a radiator outlet valve operable to control a flow of fluid out from the device through the second outlet, the valve having a closure member operable between an open position and a closed position responsive to a temperature of coolant flowing through the device, wherein when the closure member transitions from the closed position to the open position the closure member is arranged to be displaced in a direction downstream of a direction of flow of coolant through the second outlet.

Motor vehicle engine cooling system and method

A method of controlling the temperature of an engine of a vehicle, such as an internal combustion engine and/or the temperature of one or more auxiliary components of the vehicle, such as a cabin heater for the vehicle includes monitoring one or more parameters of the engine including the temperature of the engine. Optionally data relating to the temperature of the engine is feedback to a control unit. The method includes monitoring one or more requirements of the one or more auxiliary components of the vehicle and/or monitoring one or more parameters of the one or more auxiliary components of the vehicle. In dependence upon said monitoring, the method includes selecting a cooling mode for a cooling system disposed about said engine and said one or more auxiliary components.

Method of controlling temperature

An expansion tank is disclosed in which a non-return valve is fitted in an outlet port of the expansion tank to limit backflow of coolant into the expansion tank in the event that the pressure in the expansion tank falls below the pressure in a return conduit thereby preventing the expansion tank from filling with coolant. The non-return valve and the expansion tank are formed as a single component and the non-return valve is located in an outlet port of the expansion tank.

Cooling system expansion tank

An expansion tank for an engine cooling system comprises a housing forming a main chamber and a swirl chamber, the swirl chamber being defined by a cylindrical wall. An inlet connection discharges through an inlet orifice towards a collector duct having an entrance. From the inlet orifice the coolant is directed as a stream or jet along the adjacent surface of the cylindrical wall towards the entrance of the collector duct, guided by circumferential ribs. The kinetic energy of the stream is converted into pressure energy so that the pressure delivered from the outlet connection is slightly above the pressure at the top of the swirl chamber, above the level of liquid. This swirl chamber pressure is set by the relief pressure allowed by a filler cap, the gain in pressure helping to avoid cavitation in a coolant circulation pump.

A temperature responsive control valve is disclosed. The valve may have a housing having a hot inlet, a cold inlet and an outlet. A first valve member, and a second valve member, may be configured to move within the housing to selectively prevent and permit flow from the hot inlet and the cold inlet to the outlet when a sensed temperature is within predetermined ranges. A temperature responsive actuator may be disposed to move the first and second valve members within the housing in accordance with the sensed temperature. A first bias may be configured to bias the first valve member toward preventing flow from the hot inlet to the outlet, and a second bias may be configured to bias the second valve member toward preventing flow from the cold inlet to the outlet.

Temperature responsive flow control valve for an engine cooling system

An engine cooling system has a primary cooling circuit having with a coolant pump to pump coolant to the engine, an engine return line, a radiator and a bypass in parallel with the radiator. The primary circuit also has a flow control valve to control flow between the radiator and the bypass to allow fluid to flow from the radiator only when coolant temperature is above normal operating temperature. The system also has a secondary cooling circuit with a heat exchanger and a temperature responsive control valve and a heater circuit connected to a passenger compartment heater. The temperature responsive conrol valve shuts off flow through both or one of the inlets depending on coolant temperature.

Engine cooling systems

An engine cooling system has a primary cooling circuit with a pump to circulate liquid coolant through an engine, the coolant being returned to the pump via a radiator and a bypass arranged in parallel. A temperature-responsive control valve controls flow as between said radiator and the bypass. The valve housing defines: a hot inlet connected to the bypass, a cold inlet connected to the radiator, and a valve chamber. The valve further includes a first valve member in the valve chamber movable between two limits to control the flow of coolant from the hot inlet to the outlet, a second valve member in the valve chamber movable between two limits to control coolant flow from the cold inlet to the outlet; and a temperature-responsive actuator to move the first and second valve members.

Temperature responsive flow control valves for engine cooling systems

A heater diverter valve () is provided in an engine cooling system having a radiator and a circulating pump, The valve has a first inlet () connected to a heater so that coolant flowing through the engine and then through the heater is returned to the pump return line through the valve via the first inlet and an outlet (). A second inlet () is connected to engine and transmission oil coolers so that coolant which flows from the engine supply line through the coolers is returned to the pump return line via the second inlet and the outlet. The valve includes a shuttle () which at lower coolant temperatures closes off the second inlet () to prevent coolant flow. The second inlet () is opened at higher temperatures when a wax type thermal actuator pushes the shuttle towards the first inlet ().

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Coventry, United Kingdom

William Hutchins