THERMAL STORAGE DEVICE

• US 20100107635A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsubone, Kenji
• Application Number:
  US12/529,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20100107635A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/659
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00492 comprising regenerative heating or cooling means, e.g. heat accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00771 the input being a vehicle position or surrounding, e.g. GPS-based position or tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/00 Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/00 Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus control arrangements in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

To provide an indicator for indicating current amounts and predicted amounts of cold energy and heat energy stored in a thermal storing device.

The thermal storage device storing and outputting heat energy and cold energy, comprises: a thermal storage amount indicating means for detecting and indicating a storage amount of the heat energy or the cold energy; a thermal output amount indicating means for detecting and indicating an output amount of the heat energy or the cold energy and a thermal input amount indicating means for detecting and indicating an amount of the heat energy or the cold energy inputted from outside to be stored.

Claims

1. A thermal storage device capable of storing and outputting heat energy and cold energy, comprising:

a thermal storage amount indicating means for detecting and indicating a storage amount of the heat energy or the cold energy;

a thermal output amount indicating means for detecting and indicating an output amount of the heat energy or the cold energy;

a thermal input amount indicating means for detecting and indicating an amount of the heat energy or the cold energy inputted from outside to be stored;

a heat storage portion for storing the heat energy;

a cold storage portion for storing the cold energy; and

a thermal exchange amount indicating means for detecting and indicating an amount of the heat energy or the cold energy exchanged between the heat storage portion and the cold storage portion.

3. The thermal storage device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an output part for outputting contents to be indicated by the thermal storage amount notifying means, the thermal output amount notifying means and the thermal input amount notifying means, visually, aurally or electrically.

4. The thermal storage device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a thermal output means for outputting the stored heat energy or cold energy while converting into electric energy; and

wherein the thermal output amount indicating means includes a means for indicating an amount of the heat energy or cold energy converted into the electric energy by the thermal output means.

5. The thermal storage device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a thermal input means converting electric energy inputted thereto into cold energy or heat energy; and

wherein the thermal input amount indicating means includes a means for indicating an amount of converting the electric energy into the thermal energy by the thermal input means.

6. The thermal storage device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the thermal exchange takes place between the heat storage portion and the cold storage portion as a result of applying electric energy to the thermal input means;

the electric energy includes the electric energy stored in an electric storage device; and

the thermal storage device further comprises an electric storage amount indicating means for detecting and indicating an amount of the electric power stored in the electric storage device.

7. The thermal storage device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

at least any one of the thermal storage amount indicating means, the thermal output amount indicating means, the thermal input amount indicating means and the thermal exchange amount indicating means includes a means for predicting an amount of generation of heat energy and cold energy, a consumption of the heat energy and the cold energy, or a difference between the generation and the consumption under an anticipated driving condition of a vehicle, and for indicating a prediction result.

8. The thermal storage device as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

the electric storage amount notifying means includes a means for predicting an amount of electric energy stored into the electric storage device or a difference between a stored amount and consumption of the electric energy under an anticipated driving condition of a vehicle, and for indicating a prediction result.

9. The thermal storage device as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

the electric storage amount notifying means includes a means for predicting an amount of electric energy stored into the electric storage device or a difference between a stored amount and consumption of the electric energy under an anticipated driving condition of a vehicle, and for indicating a prediction result.

2. (canceled)