The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 12, 2021
Filed:
Nov. 16, 2018
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Erik Billimoria, Canton, MI (US);
Stephen Pien, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Andrew Charles Samyn, Dearborn, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An exemplary vehicle assembly includes, among other things, an inlet duct that opens to a duct opening within a side of a cargo bed. The inlet duct is configured to communicate a flow of air to a heat exchange module that manages thermal energy levels of a traction battery. A flow control structure is moved relative to the duct opening to selectively restrict or permit the flow of air entering the inlet duct through the duct opening. A flow control method includes, among other things, selectively blocking at least a portion of a duct opening to adjust a flow of air moved through the duct opening into an inlet duct. To manage thermal energy within a traction battery, the method further includes exchanging thermal energy between the air and another fluid at a heat exchange module that is disposed within a chamber of a cargo bed.