FRAME MOUNTED MODULAR HYBRID COOLING SYSTEM

• US 20080225483A1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Kahn, William C., Marshall, Glen A., Leigh, Travis W.
• Application Number:
  US11/686,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20080225483A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/687
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

A modular cooling system (10) for a vehicle is provided. The modular cooling system (10) includes a frame (12) adapted to be mounted to a portion of a vehicle. A heat-generating component (16) and a plurality of cooling components (18, 22, 24, 26) are received on the frame (12). At least one of the cooling components (18, 22, 24, 26) is placed into communication with the heat-generating component (16).

Claims

1. A modular cooling system for a vehicle, comprising:

(a) a frame adapted to be mounted to a portion of a vehicle;

(b) a heat-generating component received on the frame; and

(b) a plurality of cooling components received on the frame, wherein at least one of the cooling components is placed into fluid communication with the heat-generating component.

2. The modular cooling system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the cooling components and the heat-generating component are placed into fluid communication with coolant lines.

3. The modular cooling system of claim 1, further comprising coolant added to at least one of the cooling components.

4. The modular cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling components include a coolant pump, a cooling fan, and a heat exchanger.

5. The modular cooling system of claim 1, wherein the heat-generating component is an inverter.

6. The modular cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of heat-generating components secured to the frame.

7. The modular cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle component secured to the frame.

8. The modular cooling system of claim 1, wherein the frame is mountable to a side rail of the vehicle.

9. A method for providing a cooling system for cooling a heat-generating component of a vehicle, the method comprising:

(a) securing a heat-generating component on a frame;

(b) securing a plurality of cooling components on the frame;

(c) placing at least one of the cooling components into fluid communication with the heat-generating component; and

(d) mounting the frame to the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the cooling components and the heat-generating component are placed into fluid communication with coolant lines.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising adding coolant to at least one of the cooling components prior to mounting the frame to the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising placing at least one of the cooling components and the heat-generating component into electrical communication with a power source.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the cooling components include a coolant pump, a cooling fan, and a heat exchanger.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the heat-generating component is an inverter.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising securing a plurality of heat-generating components to the frame and thereafter placing the heat-generating components into fluid communication with at least one of the cooling components.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising mounting a vehicle component to the frame.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the mounting step comprises mounting the frame to a side rail of the vehicle.