Thermal conditioning systems and methods for vehicle regions
First Claim
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1. A thermal conditioning system for heating or cooling within a thermal zone of a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a fluid circuit configured to circulate a first working fluid in the fluid circuit;
a thermal energy source in thermal communication with the fluid circuit, the thermal energy source configured to heat or cool the first working fluid, wherein the thermal energy source is separate from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the vehicle;
a first conduit in fluid communication with the fluid circuit, the first conduit configured to convey at least some of the first working fluid in the first conduit;
a first heat transfer device in thermal communication with the first conduit;
a first component within the thermal zone of the vehicle, the first component in thermal communication with the first heat transfer device, wherein the first heat transfer device heats or cools the first component via thermal energy transferred from or to the at least some of the first working fluid in the first conduit;
a second conduit in fluid communication with the fluid circuit, the second conduit configured to convey at least some of the first working fluid in the second conduit;
a second heat transfer device in thermal communication with the second conduit;
a second component within the thermal zone of the vehicle, the second component in thermal communication with the second heat transfer device, wherein the second heat transfer device heats or cools the second component via thermal energy transferred from or to the at least some of the first working fluid in the second conduit; and
an other thermal energy source separate from the HVAC system of the vehicle and in selective thermal communication with the first component via the first conduit, the other thermal energy source comprising a heat source configured to heat the first component via heating the at least some of the first working fluid conveyed in the first conduit.
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Abstract
Features for a vapor compression system configured to cool and/or heat (i.e. thermally condition) two or more distinct climate controlled vehicle interior components via a common thermal bus are disclosed. Some embodiments employ a single compressor. Some embodiments employ multiple compressors and/or thermal buses, each servicing components located within respective interior thermal zones of a vehicle, for example a front row seat zone, second and/or third row seat zones, and/or an overhead zone and/or a trunk zone.
348 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A thermal conditioning system for heating or cooling within a thermal zone of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a fluid circuit configured to circulate a first working fluid in the fluid circuit; a thermal energy source in thermal communication with the fluid circuit, the thermal energy source configured to heat or cool the first working fluid, wherein the thermal energy source is separate from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the vehicle; a first conduit in fluid communication with the fluid circuit, the first conduit configured to convey at least some of the first working fluid in the first conduit; a first heat transfer device in thermal communication with the first conduit; a first component within the thermal zone of the vehicle, the first component in thermal communication with the first heat transfer device, wherein the first heat transfer device heats or cools the first component via thermal energy transferred from or to the at least some of the first working fluid in the first conduit; a second conduit in fluid communication with the fluid circuit, the second conduit configured to convey at least some of the first working fluid in the second conduit; a second heat transfer device in thermal communication with the second conduit; a second component within the thermal zone of the vehicle, the second component in thermal communication with the second heat transfer device, wherein the second heat transfer device heats or cools the second component via thermal energy transferred from or to the at least some of the first working fluid in the second conduit; and an other thermal energy source separate from the HVAC system of the vehicle and in selective thermal communication with the first component via the first conduit, the other thermal energy source comprising a heat source configured to heat the first component via heating the at least some of the first working fluid conveyed in the first conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24)
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22. A thermal conditioning system for heating or cooling within a thermal zone of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a fluid circuit configured to circulate a first working fluid in the fluid circuit; a thermal energy source in thermal communication with the fluid circuit, the thermal energy source configured to heat or cool the first working fluid, wherein the thermal energy source is separate from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the vehicle; a first conduit in fluid communication with the fluid circuit, the first conduit configured to convey at least some of the first working fluid in the first conduit; a first heat transfer device in thermal communication with the first conduit; a first component within the thermal zone of the vehicle, the first component in thermal communication with the first heat transfer device, wherein the first heat transfer device convectively heats or cools the first component via thermal energy transferred from or to the at least some of the first working fluid in the first conduit; a second conduit in fluid communication with the fluid circuit, the second conduit configured to convey at least some of the first working fluid in the second conduit; a second heat transfer device in thermal communication with the second conduit; and a second component within the thermal zone of the vehicle, the second component in thermal communication with the second heat transfer device, wherein the second heat transfer device convectively heats or cools the second component via thermal energy transferred from or to the at least some of the first working fluid in the second conduit, wherein the at least some of the first working fluid in the first conduit flows back to the thermal energy source without flowing to the second conduit, and wherein the first component comprises a first one of a seat, a cup holder, and a bin of the vehicle, and the second component comprises a second one of the seat, the cup holder, and the bin of the vehicle that is different from the first component.
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Specification