Patent ID: 8528832
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: B60H,F01P

Abstract:
1. A system for cooling the powertrain of a vehicle and controlling the temperature of a vehicle cabin, the vehicle having a radiator, and a heater core housed within a plenum, the heater core in a closed loop circuit with the radiator so as to deliver coolant from the heater core to the radiator, a blower operable to blow air onto both an evaporator and the heater core, a powertrain sensor configured to detect the state of the powertrain so as to determine if supplemental cooling of the powertrain is needed, an electronic control unit in communication with the powertrain sensor, the powertrain sensor operable to transmit the state of the powertrain to the electronic control unit, the system operable to supplement the cooling effects of a radiator while maintaining a desired vehicle cabin temperature, the system comprising: an intake and an outtake fluidly coupled to the plenum, the intake further includes a fresh air intake and a re-circulated air intake; a first baffle disposed downstream the fresh air intake; a second baffle disposed downstream the re-circulated air intake, wherein the first and second baffles are independently movable between a closed position wherein the fresh air intake and re-circulated air intake are obstructed, and an open position wherein airflow from the fresh air intake and re-circulated air intake into the plenum is unrestricted; a first proportioning valve disposed upstream the heater core and downstream the blower, the first proportioning valve operable to move between a closed position wherein the first proportioning valve blocks airflow from the blower onto the heater core, and an open position wherein the first proportioning valve positioned so as to provide unrestricted airflow from the blower to the heater core; a first conduit and a second conduit, wherein the first conduit provides a passage for air flowing from the heater core to a designated location within the vehicle cabin, and wherein the second conduit provides a passage for air flowing from the heater core to the environment; a second proportioning valve disposed upstream the first conduit and the second conduit, and downstream the blower, the evaporator, and the intake, wherein the second proportioning valve is movable between first position wherein the second proportioning valve blocks airflow from the heater core to the second conduit, and a second position wherein the second proportioning valve blocks airflow from the heater core to the first conduit; and wherein the electronic control unit is further operable to independently move the first and second proportioning valves so as to control supplemental cooling of the powertrain and the temperature of the vehicle cabin, wherein the second proportioning valve may be positioned so as to direct air from the heater core, through the second conduit to the environment or to the outtake.