VEHICLE COOLING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A cooling system for a vehicle having first and second spaces to be cooled, the cooling system including first and second heat exchangers for respectively cooling air flowing into the first and second vehicle spaces, and a conduit system in communication with the first and second heat exchangers and configured to provide a fluid flow path to and from the heat exchangers, the cooling system further including a pump and first and second valves, the pump having an inlet and an outlet and being selectively operable for moving fluid through the conduit system, each of the valves being in communication with the conduit system, the cooling system comprising:
- a first pressure sensitive device disposed between one of the heat exchangers and the pump inlet, the first pressure sensitive device being configured to determine a fluid pressure in the conduit system, and to effect shutdown of the pump when the determined fluid pressure is below a predetermined pressure;
first and second sensors, the first sensor being configured to measure a first temperature indicative of the temperature of air exiting the first heat exchanger, and further configured to output a signal related to the first temperature, the second sensor being configured to measure a second temperature indicative of the temperature of air exiting the second heat exchanger, and further configured to output a signal related to the second temperature; and
a controller in communication with the first and second sensors and configured to effect a stoppage of fluid flow to the first heat exchanger when the first temperature is below a predetermined temperature, and to effect a stoppage of fluid flow to the second heat exchanger when the second temperature is below the predetermined temperature, thereby inhibiting ice formation in the first and second heat exchangers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated cooling system includes two separate evaporator coils. Each evaporator coil has its own shutoff, thereby allowing for individual control over the cooling of each of two vehicle spaces. The evaporator coils may be disposed within the vehicle to cool the passenger compartment and a battery compartment, respectively. The separate control afforded by the cooling system provides the flexibility of shutting off cooling to the vehicle passenger compartment for the comfort of the vehicle occupants, while still providing cooling to the battery, as needed. The cooling system includes a number of control features which provide for automatically shutting off cooling to one or more of the evaporator coils based on parameters such as air temperature and refrigerant pressure.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A cooling system for a vehicle having first and second spaces to be cooled, the cooling system including first and second heat exchangers for respectively cooling air flowing into the first and second vehicle spaces, and a conduit system in communication with the first and second heat exchangers and configured to provide a fluid flow path to and from the heat exchangers, the cooling system further including a pump and first and second valves, the pump having an inlet and an outlet and being selectively operable for moving fluid through the conduit system, each of the valves being in communication with the conduit system, the cooling system comprising:
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a first pressure sensitive device disposed between one of the heat exchangers and the pump inlet, the first pressure sensitive device being configured to determine a fluid pressure in the conduit system, and to effect shutdown of the pump when the determined fluid pressure is below a predetermined pressure;
first and second sensors, the first sensor being configured to measure a first temperature indicative of the temperature of air exiting the first heat exchanger, and further configured to output a signal related to the first temperature, the second sensor being configured to measure a second temperature indicative of the temperature of air exiting the second heat exchanger, and further configured to output a signal related to the second temperature; and
a controller in communication with the first and second sensors and configured to effect a stoppage of fluid flow to the first heat exchanger when the first temperature is below a predetermined temperature, and to effect a stoppage of fluid flow to the second heat exchanger when the second temperature is below the predetermined temperature, thereby inhibiting ice formation in the first and second heat exchangers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A cooling system for a vehicle having first and second spaces to be cooled, the cooling system including first and second heat exchangers for respectively cooling air flowing into the first and second vehicle spaces, and a conduit system in communication with the first and second heat exchangers and configured to provide a fluid flow path to and from the heat exchangers, the cooling system further including a pump having an inlet and an outlet and being selectively operable for moving fluid through the conduit system, the cooling system comprising:
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a first throttling device in communication with the conduit system and disposed downstream of the pump outlet and upstream of the first heat exchanger;
a second throttling device in communication with the conduit system and disposed downstream of the pump outlet and upstream of the second heat exchanger, each of the throttling devices being configured to effect a reduction in pressure of fluid flowing through the conduit system;
a high pressure side defined as a portion of the conduit system disposed downstream of the pump outlet and upstream of the first and second throttling devices;
a low pressure side defined as a portion of the conduit system disposed downstream of the first throttling device and upstream of the pump inlet, and another portion of the conduit system disposed downstream of the second throttling device and upstream of the pump inlet; and
a first pressure sensitive device in communication with the low pressure side, and configured to determine a pressure of the fluid in the conduit system and to effect a shutdown of the pump when the determined fluid pressure is below a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification