Vehicle cooling system

• US 5,531,285 A
• Filed: 01/28/1994
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wavedriver Limited (PowerGen Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Wavedriver Limited (PowerGen Corp.)
• Inventors: Green, Ross M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US08/182,100
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/69.6, 180/165, 60/300, 123/142.5 R, 123/142.5 E, 165/41
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/004 for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/03 and from a source other than the propulsion plant
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/143 the heat being derived from cooling an electric component, e.g. electric motors, electric circuits, fuel cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 1/06 Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2007/146 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/08 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/13 Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/60 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/30 Circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/20 Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine F01P3/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/10 by heating of engine coolants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

An electric-hybrid type vehicle, has a main electric drive and motor and an auxiliary internal combustion engine drive. The vehicle includes an integrated liquid cooling/heating system for the electric drive power supply and the motor and the auxiliary internal combustion engine, whereby heat removed from the electric drive power supply can be supplied to the auxiliary internal combustion engine to pre-heat it. A space heater may also be provided and supplied with heat from the drive power supply and from the traction motor.

Claims

1. An electric-hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a main electric drive, including an electric motor for driving the vehicle and a power supply therefor;

an auxiliary internal combustion engine drive for driving the vehicle; and

an integrated liquid cooling/heating system connecting the electric drive power supply and the auxiliary internal combustion engine, for removing heat from the electric drive power supply, and for supplying the heat removed by said integrated liquid cooling/heating system, to the auxiliary internal combustion engine in order to pre-heat the engine.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, having an interior, and further including an internal space heater disposed within said interior, connected to said integrated liquid cooling/heating system for removing heat therefrom, and for selectively heating the interior of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a engine radiator connected to said integrated liquid cooling/heating system for receiving excess heat therefrom and for disposing of said excess heat from said integrated liquid cooling/heating system.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary internal combustion engine drive has a liquid coolant, further comprising a separate radiator;

and means within said integrated liquid cooling/heating system for diverting said liquid coolant from the auxiliary internal combustion engine system under conditions of high coolant temperature to said separate radiator for partial cooling of said coolant.

5. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said electric motor includes a liquid coolant for removing heat therefrom and the heat removed from the electric motor of said main electric drive being carried by said coolant to the vehicle interior and to the auxiliary internal combustion engine.

6. An electric-hybrid vehicle, having a main electric traction motor and an auxiliary internal combustion engine drive, for driving the vehicle, and including an integrated liquid cooling/heating system connecting the electric traction motor and the auxiliary internal combustion engine for removing heat from the electric traction motor and for selectively supplying said heat removed from the electric traction motor by said integrated liquid cooling/heating system to the auxiliary internal combustion engine in order to pre-heat the engine.