Waste Heat Accumulator/Distributor System
First Claim
1. A waste heat accumulator/distributor system for use in a vehicle comprising:
- an engine coolant loop configured to direct engine coolant through a power plant;
a powertrain electronics coolant loop configured to direct electronics coolant through a powertrain electronics system;
a transmission fluid loop configured to direct transmission fluid through a transmission;
a multi-fluid heat exchanger including an engine coolant inlet configured to selectively receive the engine coolant from the engine coolant loop, an electronics coolant inlet configured to selectively receive the electronics coolant from the powertrain electronic coolant loop, and a transmission fluid inlet configured to selectively receive the transmission fluid from the transmission fluid loop, whereby heat transfer between the engine coolant, the electronics coolant and the transmission fluid can occur in the multi-fluid heat exchanger;
a first valve controllable to selectively cause the engine coolant to flow into the engine coolant inlet or to bypass the engine coolant inlet of the multi-fluid heat exchanger; and
a second valve controllable to selectively cause the electronics coolant to flow into the electronics coolant inlet or to bypass the electronics coolant inlet of the multi-fluid heat exchanger.
4 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A waste heat accumulator/distributor system for use in a vehicle. The system includes an engine coolant loop directing engine coolant through a power plant, a powertrain electronics coolant loop directing electronics coolant through a powertrain electronics system; and a transmission fluid loop directing transmission fluid through a transmission. The system includes a multi-fluid heat exchanger including an engine coolant inlet receiving the engine coolant from the engine coolant loop, an electronics coolant inlet receiving the electronics coolant from the powertrain electronic coolant loop, and a transmission fluid inlet receiving the transmission fluid from the transmission fluid loop; a first valve controllable to cause engine coolant to flow into the engine coolant inlet or to bypass the engine coolant inlet; and a second valve controllable to cause electronics coolant to flow into the electronics coolant inlet or to bypass the electronics coolant inlet.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A waste heat accumulator/distributor system for use in a vehicle comprising:
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an engine coolant loop configured to direct engine coolant through a power plant; a powertrain electronics coolant loop configured to direct electronics coolant through a powertrain electronics system; a transmission fluid loop configured to direct transmission fluid through a transmission; a multi-fluid heat exchanger including an engine coolant inlet configured to selectively receive the engine coolant from the engine coolant loop, an electronics coolant inlet configured to selectively receive the electronics coolant from the powertrain electronic coolant loop, and a transmission fluid inlet configured to selectively receive the transmission fluid from the transmission fluid loop, whereby heat transfer between the engine coolant, the electronics coolant and the transmission fluid can occur in the multi-fluid heat exchanger; a first valve controllable to selectively cause the engine coolant to flow into the engine coolant inlet or to bypass the engine coolant inlet of the multi-fluid heat exchanger; and a second valve controllable to selectively cause the electronics coolant to flow into the electronics coolant inlet or to bypass the electronics coolant inlet of the multi-fluid heat exchanger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a waste heat accumulator/distributor system in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) directing engine coolant through an engine in an engine coolant loop; (b) directing electronics coolant through a powertrain electronics system in a powertrain electronics coolant loop; (c) directing transmission fluid through a transmission in a transmission fluid loop; (d) selectively directing the engine coolant through or bypassing a multi-fluid heat exchanger as the engine coolant flows through the engine coolant loop; (e) selectively directing the electronics coolant through or bypassing the multi-fluid heat exchanger as the electronics coolant flows through the powertrain electronics coolant loop; and (f) directing the transmission fluid through the multi-fluid heat exchanger as the transmission fluid flows through the transmission fluid loop. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification