COOLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A COMPONENT IN A VEHICLE

• US 20120193068A1
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: NEMESH, Mark D., IBRI, Wissam
• Granted Patent: US 8,950,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A cooling arrangement is disclosed for a vehicle having a first component, a first duct, and a cooling fan configured to deliver air through the first duct to the first component when the cooling fan is operated. The cooling arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a second component, a port coupled to the second component, the port being accessible from a position external to the vehicle, and a second duct having a first end positioned proximate the port and a second end in fluid communication with the first duct. The second duct is configured to deliver air from outside of the vehicle to the second component when the cooling fan is operated while the vehicle is off.

Claims

1. A cooling arrangement for a vehicle having a first component, a first duct, and a cooling fan configured to deliver air through the first duct to the first component when the cooling fan is operated, the cooling arrangement comprising:

a second component;

a port coupled to the second component, the port being accessible from a position external to the vehicle; and

a second duct having a first end positioned proximate the port and a second end in fluid communication with the first duct, and the second duct configured to deliver air from outside of the vehicle to the second component when the cooling fan is operated while the vehicle is off.

2. The cooling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the cooling fan is configured to operate while the vehicle is off when the port is accessed.

3. The cooling arrangement of claim 2, wherein the port comprises a charging port and the second component comprises an onboard charging module, and wherein the cooling fan is configured to operate when a charger is plugged into the charging port and is delivering power to the onboard charging module.

4. The cooling arrangement of claim 3, wherein the first component comprises an auxiliary power module and the cooling fan comprises an auxiliary power module blower.

5. The cooling arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a cover member disposed proximate the port and configured to move between an open position wherein the port is exposed and a closed position wherein the port is covered, and wherein the first end of the second duct is exposed when the cover member is in the open position and covered when the cover member is in the closed position.

6. The cooling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first end of the second duct is positioned above the port.

7. The cooling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first end of the second duct is tilted such that a lower portion of the first end is positioned inboard of an upper portion of the first end.

8. The cooling arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a filter covering the first end of the second duct.

9. The cooling arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a gate positioned in the first duct and configured to move between a first position and a second position, the gate obstructing airflow through the first duct when the gate is in the first position and permitting airflow through the first duct when the gate is in the second position, the gate further configured to move to the first position when the second duct delivers air from outside of the vehicle to the second component.

10. The cooling arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a gate positioned in the second duct and configured to move between a first position and a second position, the gate obstructing airflow through the second duct when the gate is in the first position and permitting airflow through the first duct when the gate is in the second position, the gate further configured to move to the first position when the first duct delivers air to the first component.

11. The cooling arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a gate positioned at an intersection of the first duct and the second duct and configured to move between a first position and a second position, the gate obstructing airflow through the first duct when the gate is in the first position, and the gate obstructing airflow through the second duct when the gate is in the second position, the gate being further configured to move to the first position when the second duct delivers air from outside of the vehicle to the second component and to move to the second position with the first duct delivers air to the first component.

12. The cooling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second duct is configured to include a trap.

13. A cooling arrangement for a vehicle having a first component, a first duct, and a cooling fan configured to deliver air through the first duct to the first component when the cooling fan is operated, the cooling arrangement comprising:

a second component;

a port coupled to the second component, the port being accessible from a position external to the vehicle; and

a second duct having a first end positioned proximate the port and a second end in fluid communication with the first duct and the second duct configured to deliver air from outside of the vehicle to the second component when the cooling fan is operated while the vehicle is off,

wherein the first component and the second component are fluidly coupled to one another in a series arrangement.

14. The cooling arrangement of claim 13, wherein the cooling fan is configured to operate while the vehicle is off when the port is accessed, wherein the port comprises a charging port, and wherein the second component comprises an onboard charging module and wherein the cooling fan is configured to operate when a charger is plugged into the charging port and is delivering power to the onboard charging module.

15. The cooling arrangement of claim 14, wherein the first component comprises an auxiliary power module and the cooling fan comprises an auxiliary power module blower.

16. The cooling arrangement of claim 13, further comprising a gate positioned at an intersection of the first duct and the second duct and configured to move between a first position and a second position, the gate obstructing airflow through the first duct when the gate is in the first position, and the gate obstructing airflow through the second duct when the gate is in the second position, the gate being further configured to move to the first position when the second duct delivers air from outside of the vehicle to the second component and to move to the second position with the first duct delivers air to the first component.

17. A cooling arrangement for a vehicle having a first component, a first duct, and a cooling fan configured to deliver air through the first duct to the first component when the cooling fan is operated, the cooling arrangement comprising:

a second component;

a port coupled to the second component, the port being accessible from a position external to the vehicle; and

a second duct having a first end positioned proximate the port and a second end in fluid communication with the first duct, and the second duct configured to deliver air from outside of the vehicle to the second component when the cooling fan is operated while the vehicle is off,

wherein the first component and the second component are fluidly coupled to one another in a parallel arrangement.

18. The cooling arrangement of claim 17, wherein the cooling fan is configured to operate while the vehicle is off when the port is accessed, wherein the port comprises a charging port, and wherein the second component comprises an onboard charging module and wherein the cooling fan is configured to operate when a charger is plugged into the charging port and is delivering power to the onboard charging module.

19. The cooling arrangement of claim 18, wherein the first component comprises an auxiliary power module and the cooling fan comprises an auxiliary power module blower.

20. The cooling arrangement of claim 17, further comprising a gate positioned at an intersection of the first duct and the second duct and configured to move between a first position and a second position, the gate obstructing airflow through the first duct when the gate is in the first position, and the gate obstructing airflow through the second duct when the gate is in the second position, the gate being further configured to move to the first position when the second duct delivers air from outside of the vehicle to the second component and to move to the second position when the first duct delivers air to the first component.