Vehicle device temperature adjustment system

• US 9,309,982 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2011
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Akiyama, Yuki, Osaka, Tadashi, Arai, Masatsugu
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman, Marc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Russell, Devon
• Application Number:
  US14/236,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20140174708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 180/271, 429/120, 165/202, 165/41, 165/71
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00978 Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/02 with liquid cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/006 the electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/00 Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for devices for protecting vehicle occupants in case of accidents B60R21/00; safety belts B60R22/00; central door locking E05B49/00, E05B77/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/01 Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/05 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/36 actuated in consequence of extraneous circumstances, e.g. shock, change of position
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 : Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6568 : characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A temperature-adjustment system for a vehicle includes temperature-adjustment passages and obtained by circularly connecting a battery, an inverter, a DC/DC converter, a traveling motor, and a pump that circulates the heat medium that adjusts temperatures by cooling/heating the heat generation elements, are provided. The temperature-adjustment passages and are provided with proportional valves that interrupt the flow of the heat medium and adjust the flow volume of the heat medium, an air flow-in part that introduces air into the battery temperature-adjustment passage, and a heat medium discharge part that discharges the heat medium from the temperature-adjustment passage to outside of the vehicle. The proportional valve, air flow-in part, battery, pump, and heat medium discharge part are preferably arranged in that order, and the proportional valve is closed and an air take-in valve and a heat medium discharge valve are opened.

Claims

1. A vehicle device temperature adjustment system, comprising a temperature adjustment passage connecting in a circular manner a heat generation element, and a pump that circulates a heat medium that cools or heats the heat generation element,

the temperature adjustment passage including

a passage open or close means that interrupts a flow of the heat medium and to adjust a flow volume of the heat medium,

an air take-in means that introduces an air into the temperature adjustment passage, and

a heat medium discharge means that discharges the heat medium from the temperature adjustment passage to an outside of a vehicle, wherein

when a collision of a vehicle is detected or predicted, the passage open or close means is closed, the air take-in means and the heat medium discharge means are opened, and the pump is stopped after being driven for a predetermined time,

the predetermined time is a time required for discharging the heat medium in a section from the air take-in means to the heat medium discharge means, and

the pump, during its predetermined pumping time, drains a portion of the heat medium from the air take-in means to the heat medium discharge means along the portion in which the heat generation element is located.

2. A vehicle device temperature adjustment system, comprising a temperature adjustment passage connecting in a circular manner a heat generation element, and a pump adapted to circulate a heat medium that cools or heats the heat generation element,

the temperature adjustment passage including

a passage open or close means adapted to interrupt a flow of the heat medium and to adjust a flow volume of the heat medium,

an air take-in means adapted to introduce an air into the temperature adjustment passage, and

a heat medium discharge means adapted to discharge the heat medium from the temperature adjustment passage to an outside of a vehicle,

wherein the heat medium discharge means is structured with a pipe to be destroyed by a shock at a collision of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle device temperature adjustment system, comprising a temperature adjustment passage connecting in a circular manner a heat generation element, and a pump adapted to circulate a heat medium that cools or heats the heat generation element,

the temperature adjustment passage including

a passage open or close means adapted to interrupt a flow of the heat medium and to adjust a flow volume of the heat medium,

an air take-in means adapted to introduce an air into the temperature adjustment passage, and

a heat medium discharge means adapted to discharge the heat medium from the temperature adjustment passage to an outside of a vehicle,

wherein the air take-in means is structured with a pipe to be destroyed by a shock at a collision of the vehicle.