Patent Description:
Thermal management systems using fluid coolant loops are important to the operation of an electric vehicle. Thermal management systems transfer heat to, from, and/or between the batteries, motors, inverters, and other temperature-sensitive vehicle components and the vehicle's heat exchangers, so as to maintain the temperature of each component (and of the fluid coolant) within operational limits. Pumps are known and commonly used to move fluids, such as coolant in a vehicle. One example is cooling systems with mechanically or electrically driven pumps, which are used for the cooling of different electrical or mechanical components of a vehicle. Valves are used to ensure the distribution of the coolant throughout the thermal management system. The valves each require an actuator with electrical control and a holder on a component of the vehicle, which results in high component costs. Additionally thermal management systems may also employ temperature sensors to measure the temperature of the coolant flowing in the coolant loops in order too properly maintain a temperature set-point for a particular cooling loop, further increasing complexity and component costs.

In some vehicles, more than one cooling loop may be employed to cool/ heat generating components and to modulate the temperature of the driver cabin. Each loop requires a pump and a valve to direct flow through the appropriate loop and a temperature sensor for measuring that the temperature set-point for the coolant loop is maintained.

It is an object of the present disclosure to employ a pump with an integrated valve and temperature sensor that can direct the flow of coolant from the pump through a plurality of outlets and also measure the temperature of the coolant entering the pump using a minimal set of components. <CIT>describes a thermal management system, which comprises a coolant system and a separate refrigerant system that are both selectively interconnectable to a chiller. Together the coolant system and the refrigerant system provide multiple thermal control modes for components of an electric vehicle. <CIT> provides a coolant circulation pump having thermal control of sub-circuits. The pump provides temperature-based flowrate-modulation of the main- flow of coolant through the engine and radiator, coupled with temperature-based open/close control of sub-flows of coolant through plural sub-circuits. <CIT>relates to a pump with a variable flow diverter that forms volute. The diverter is movable between a first position in which it provides a first restriction to flow out from the pump housing and a second position in which it provides a second restriction to flow out from the pump housing that is greater than the first restriction. <CIT> describes a circulation pump unit for a heating and/or cooling system, wherein the pump housing has a mixing point inside the pump housing, and a regulating valve is arranged in the pump housing, which is designed to regulate a mixing ratio of two flows mixing at the mixing point, as well as a hydraulic distributor with such a circulation pump unit. <CIT>provides a control module having a coolant control valve, a coolant temperature sensor and a coolant pump is provided. The coolant control valve, the coolant temperature sensor and the coolant pump are integrally assembled to form the control module.

This disclosure relates to an apparatus for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle. The apparatus includes, a first loop having a component heat exchanger and a chiller module and a second loop having a heater module and a cabin heat exchanger. A first pump having an inlet is attached to the heat exchanger and configured to receive coolant from the heat exchanger. A valve located in the first pump is switched between a chiller mode and a recirculation mode that pumps the coolant from the inlet to the first loop in the chiller mode or between the inlet and the second loop in the recirculation mode. A first temperature sensor installed on the first pump inlet measures the temperature of the coolant entering the first pump. The apparatus further includes a second pump including a valve located in the second pump configured to switch between an isolated mode and a linked mode. The second loop is in downstream communication with the second pump while in the isolated mode, and the first loop in downstream communication with the second pump while in the linked mode. The second pump further includes an inlet in direct downstream communication with the cabin heat exchanger that includes a second temperature sensor installed on the second pump inlet that measures the temperature of the coolant entering the second pump.

This disclosure also relates to a coolant pump for a thermal management system. The coolant pump comprising a pump housing having an inlet for receiving coolant from the thermal management system and at least first and second outlets extending from the pump housing for directing coolant to at least a first and a second coolant loop of the thermal management system. An impeller coupled to an electrical pump motor drives the coolant from the fluid inlet to the first or the second outlet. A valve is mounted between the impeller and the first and second outlets selectively directs the coolant through the first or the second outlets. A temperature sensor installed on the pump housing inlet measures the temperature of the coolant entering the coolant pump from the thermal management system.

The figures, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the invention may be implemented in any type of suitably arranged apparatus according to claim <NUM> or coolant pump according to claim <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts an example thermal management system <NUM> for regulating the temperature of a heat generating component <NUM> of a vehicle. The heat generating component <NUM> may be a battery for powering a hybrid or an electrical vehicle. The thermal management system <NUM> can also be employed to modulate temperature in a driver cabin <NUM>. The thermal management system <NUM> may include a first loop <NUM> and a second loop <NUM>. The thermal management system <NUM> includes a first pump <NUM> and a second pump <NUM>. The pumps <NUM>, <NUM> pump coolant through the loops <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively.

A first loop <NUM> comprises a component heat exchanger <NUM> and a chiller module <NUM>. The first loop <NUM> comprises fluid lines <NUM>, <NUM><NUM> and either lines <NUM> and <NUM> or line <NUM>. In <FIG>, the first loop <NUM> includes lines <NUM> and <NUM> instead of line <NUM>. A first fluid line <NUM> transports coolant to the component heat exchanger <NUM> to exchange heat with the component thereby heating or cooling the coolant and cooling or heating the heat generating component <NUM>, respectively.

A second fluid line <NUM> transports coolant to an inlet <NUM> of a first pump <NUM> through a first temperature sensor <NUM> in communication with second line <NUM>. The inlet <NUM> to the first pump <NUM> receives coolant from the component heat exchanger <NUM> because the first pump is in direct downstream communication with the component heat exchanger <NUM>.

The first pump <NUM> has two outlets and is switchable between two modes, a chiller mode, and a recirculation mode. The first loop <NUM> is in downstream communication with the first pump <NUM> while in the chiller mode. When the first pump is in the chiller mode a valve in the first pump <NUM> opens the first outlet <NUM> to discharge coolant from the first outlet while the second outlet may be closed <NUM>. The first outlet <NUM> directs coolant to the first loop <NUM> through a third line <NUM> to the chiller module <NUM>. The chiller module <NUM> may be on or off. When on, the chiller <NUM> cools the coolant received from the first pump <NUM> in the third line <NUM>. When off, the chiller module <NUM> allows the coolant to pass through without cooling. The chiller module <NUM> may cool the coolant by means of a Peltier electric device. A Peltier electric device applies a current through a junction connecting two metals to absorb heat at the junction to balance the difference in the chemical potential of the two metals to produce a cooling effect.

A second loop <NUM> comprises a heater module <NUM> and a cabin heat exchanger <NUM>. The second loop <NUM> comprises lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and sometimes line <NUM>. In <FIG>, the second loop <NUM> includes line <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> instead of line <NUM>. A sixth fluid line <NUM> transports coolant to the heater module <NUM>. When the heater module <NUM> is on, it heats coolant passing through the heater module. If the heater module is off, the coolant passes through without heating. The heater module <NUM> may heat coolant by use of a Seebeck electrical device which operates on the reverse principle as the Peltier electrical device previously described for the chiller module <NUM>. Coolant exits the heater module <NUM> in a seventh line <NUM> and passes to the cabin heat exchanger <NUM>.

In the cabin heat exchanger <NUM> air from the cabin <NUM> is indirectly heat exchanged with coolant from the seventh line <NUM>. If the heater module <NUM> is on, the coolant will heat the cabin air. If heater module <NUM> is off, the first pump <NUM> is in the chiller mode and the chiller module <NUM> is on, the coolant will cool the cabin air. Coolant will exit the cabin heat exchanger <NUM> in eighth fluid line <NUM> and flow to a second temperature sensor <NUM> located at the inlet <NUM> of the pump <NUM>. The inlet <NUM> to the second pump <NUM> receives coolant from the cabin heat exchanger <NUM> because the second pump is in direct downstream communication with the cabin heat exchanger <NUM>.

The second pump <NUM> has two outlets. The second pump <NUM> is switchable between an isolated mode and a linked mode. The second loop <NUM> is in downstream communication with the second pump while in the isolated mode. When the second pump <NUM> is in the isolated mode a valve in the second pump <NUM> opens a first outlet <NUM> to discharge coolant from the first outlet <NUM> while a second outlet <NUM> may be closed. The first outlet <NUM> directs coolant through a ninth line <NUM> to a third junction <NUM> from which it flows with any coolant from a first tie line <NUM> in the second loop <NUM> through the sixth fluid line <NUM> back to the heater module <NUM>. In the isolated mode, the second pump <NUM> only pumps coolant through the second loop <NUM> via the first outlet <NUM>. Furthermore, in the isolated mode, coolant from the heater module only heats the cabin air through the cabin heat exchanger <NUM>.

When the first pump <NUM> is in chiller mode and the second pump is in isolated mode, the cooled or uncooled coolant from the chiller module <NUM> may be transported in a fourth fluid line <NUM> through a first junction <NUM> with a first bypass line <NUM> in the first loop <NUM> to a fifth line <NUM> and through a second junction <NUM> with a second bypass line <NUM> in the second loop and back through the first line <NUM> to the component heat exchanger <NUM> to perhaps cool the heat generating component <NUM>.

When the second pump <NUM> is in the isolated mode, the first loop <NUM> and the second loop <NUM> circulate independently. However, the first loop <NUM> and the second loop <NUM> communicate minorly by fluid expansion and contraction through the first tie line <NUM> which keeps the loops in equilibrium.

The first temperature sensor <NUM> measures the temperature of the coolant entering inlet <NUM> of the first pump <NUM>. The measurement readings from temperature sensor <NUM> determines the positioning of the valve outlets <NUM>, <NUM> settings and a coolant flow rate from the valve outlet that is switched on to reach a desired temperature. The first temperature sensor <NUM> may send signals to a controller <NUM> via communication line <NUM> for signaling the first pump <NUM>. The controller intern determines the pumped mode and a flow rate and actuates via communication line <NUM> the outlets <NUM>, <NUM> to a desired mode.

For example, based on the measurement readings from the first temperature sensor <NUM> the valve of the first pump <NUM> may be put into a recirculation mode and the second pump <NUM> into the linked mode. In the recirculation mode the pump <NUM> valve opens a second outlet <NUM> to direct coolant to the second loop <NUM> and may close the first outlet <NUM>. The first pump <NUM> pumps coolant through the second outlet <NUM> in the first bypass line <NUM> through the first junction <NUM> and by the way of least resistance through the first tie line <NUM> through the second junction <NUM> along with coolant pumped from the second pump <NUM> in line <NUM> and is fed in line <NUM> to the heater module <NUM>, through line <NUM> and then to the cabin heat exchanger <NUM>. The coolant exits the cabin heat exchanger <NUM> in line <NUM> and is fed to the inlet <NUM> of the second pump <NUM>. Coolant in the first bypass line <NUM> only minorly travels through the fifth line <NUM> in the first loop <NUM>. In recirculation mode, the first pump just recirculates coolant in the first loop <NUM> bypassing the chiller module <NUM>.

In the linked mode, the valve on the second pump <NUM> opens to the second outlet <NUM> and closes first outlet <NUM>. Second outlet <NUM> directs coolant through a second bypass line <NUM>. The second bypass line <NUM> feeds a second junction <NUM> and along with coolant from the fifth line <NUM> flows in first line <NUM> to the component heat exchanger <NUM> in the first loop <NUM>. In the linked mode, coolant from the first loop <NUM> only minorly joins coolant from the second loop <NUM> at the second junction <NUM> from line <NUM> and flow together to the component heat exchanger <NUM> in line <NUM>. The coolant in the first loop <NUM> and the second loop <NUM> circulate dependently. The coolant from the first bypass line <NUM> is pumped through the first junction <NUM> and through the first tie line <NUM> and the second junction <NUM> into the second loop <NUM>. In the second loop <NUM>, the coolant is pumped through the line <NUM> into the heater module <NUM> to be heated if the heater module is on then through the line <NUM> and into the cabin heat exchanger <NUM> to modulate heat in the cabin <NUM>.

The second temperature sensor <NUM> measures the temperature of the coolant exiting the cabin heat exchanger <NUM>. The measurement readings from the second temperature sensor <NUM> determines the positioning of valve outlets <NUM>, <NUM> settings and a coolant flow rate from the valve outlet that is switched on for the pump <NUM> required to reach a desired temperature. The second temperature sensor <NUM> sends signals to the controller <NUM> via communication line <NUM> for signaling the second pump <NUM>. In tum the controller <NUM> determines the pump mode and flow rate and actuates via.

For example, based on the measurement readings from temperature sensor <NUM> the first pump <NUM> may be retained in the chiller mode and the second pump <NUM> positioned in the linked mode. In the linked mode, the first loop <NUM> is in downstream communication with the second pump <NUM>. In linked mode, the coolant in the first loop <NUM> and the second loop <NUM> circulate dependently. In the chiller mode the valve in pump <NUM> opens outlet <NUM> and closes outlet <NUM> to flow coolant flows through the first loop <NUM>.

In the linked mode, the valve on the second pump <NUM> opens to the second outlet <NUM> which directs coolant to the second loop <NUM> through a second bypass line <NUM>. The valve closing the first outlet <NUM>. The second pump in linked mode pumps coolant from the second outlet <NUM> through the second bypass line <NUM> to a second junction <NUM> and along with minor coolant from the fifth line <NUM> flows in the first line <NUM> to the component heat exchanger <NUM> in the first loop <NUM>. In linked mode, the second pump <NUM> pumps coolant from the second pump from the second loop <NUM> into the first loop <NUM>. In linked mode, minor coolant from the first loop <NUM> and coolant from the second loop <NUM> meet at the second junction <NUM> and flow together to the component heat exchanger <NUM> in line <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a first pump <NUM> and a second pump <NUM> for pumping the coolant in a vehicle. As can be appreciated, the pump <NUM>, <NUM> may also be used in non-vehicle applications. The pump <NUM>, <NUM> is an integration of a pump, a valve for selectively controlling flow from the pump and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the coolant entering the pump <NUM>, <NUM>. The pump <NUM>, <NUM> includes a pump motor section <NUM>, and a pump section <NUM>. The pump motor section <NUM> is encased in a motor housing <NUM>.

With additional reference to <FIG> the pump motor section <NUM> contains a pump motor (not shown) and a motor shaft installed through an opening of a pump motor mounting plate <NUM>. The pump motor drives an impeller <NUM> to move the coolant. The impeller <NUM> includes a plurality of impeller vanes <NUM> for moving the coolant through the pump. The impeller <NUM> is configured to be rotatable within the pump section <NUM> driven by the motor shaft <NUM>. The pump motor includes electrical connection <NUM> adapted to receive electrical power and control signals from the controller <NUM> to energize and operate the pump motor. The flow rate of coolant pumped from the pump <NUM>, <NUM> can be controlled by increasing or decreasing the motor RPM using the electrical power and/or control signals from the controller <NUM>.

The pump motor mounting plate <NUM> isolates the motor assembly from the coolant pumped by the pump section <NUM>. The mounting plate <NUM> includes a first surface extending from a flange portion <NUM> having an elastomeric sealing element, such as for example an O-ring <NUM> installed in a groove on the first surface. The mounting plate <NUM> further includes a second surface perpendicular to the first surface which includes a groove <NUM> extending along the outer periphery of second surface <NUM>. An elastomeric sealing element, such as for example an O-ring <NUM> is arranged to be installed in groove <NUM>.

The pump section <NUM> also includes a flange <NUM> having a plurality of fastener tabs and unthreaded holes <NUM> located through each tab in alignment with the tabs and threaded holes <NUM>' of the mounting plate <NUM>. The pump section <NUM> is assembled to motor section <NUM> by aligning mounting plate <NUM> and flange <NUM> and drawing the pump section <NUM> to motor section <NUM> and. The first and second surfaces of the mounting plate <NUM> circumferentially engages an inner complimentary surface of the pump housing <NUM>, with the O-rings <NUM> and <NUM> sealing the motor section <NUM> to the pump section and housing <NUM>. The motor section <NUM> is secured to the pump section <NUM> using suitable threaded fasteners <NUM>. The threaded fasteners <NUM> pass through holes <NUM> to be screwed into threaded holes <NUM>' of the of the mounting plate <NUM>. As can be appreciated, other types of fastening devices or techniques may be used to secure the pump section <NUM> to the motor section <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the pump section <NUM> includes a cylindrical pump housing having a peripheral exterior wall <NUM>. The pump inlet <NUM>, <NUM> for example a suction inlet for receiving a coolant is positioned centrally to the rotary axis of the pump housing. The pump housing also includes the first outlet <NUM>, <NUM> and the second outlet <NUM>, <NUM> for discharging coolant from the pump section <NUM>. The first outlet <NUM>. <NUM> and the second outlet <NUM>. <NUM> extend from the pump housing wall <NUM> and are axially offset from each other such that the centers of the outlets in the example, are oriented <NUM> degrees from the other. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that outlets <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, <NUM> may be offset from each other at any other convenient angle. Both the first <NUM>, <NUM> and the second outlet <NUM>, <NUM> are in open communication with a pump cavity <NUM>.

With renewed reference to <FIG> and <FIG> an example adjustable valve <NUM> of the present disclosure is illustrated. <FIG> depicts a cross-sectional perspective view of the pump section <NUM> taken at segment <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>. The first outlet <NUM>, <NUM> and second outlet <NUM>, <NUM> are in downstream communication with a pump cavity <NUM>. The adjustable valve member <NUM> is radially located outside the impeller <NUM> and inside the pump cavity <NUM>. The valve <NUM> is arranged to adjustably direct the coolant through the respective first outlet <NUM>, <NUM> or second outlet <NUM>, <NUM>. The adjustable valve <NUM> has an annular wall <NUM> with an exterior wall surface <NUM> and an interior wall surface <NUM> and an opening <NUM> extending through wall <NUM>. In this example, wall <NUM> of the valve <NUM> is spirally voluted from a generally thicker wall section at a first end <NUM> of opening <NUM> to a generally thinner wall section at a second end <NUM> of the opening <NUM>. The impeller <NUM> is arranged to rotate inside the annular wall <NUM> and particularly the voluted interior wall surface <NUM>. In operation, rotation of the adjustable valve <NUM> by actuator <NUM> selectively positions opening <NUM> to divert the flow of coolant from the pump cavity <NUM> to the first outlet <NUM>, <NUM> or the second outlet <NUM>, <NUM> thereby controlling the discharge of coolant from the pump section <NUM>.

In <FIG> the adjustable valve <NUM> is shown to include a cylindrical inlet member <NUM> located at an upper section of valve <NUM>. The upper section includes an annular outer surface <NUM> and an internal passage <NUM> having an annular interior surface. The outer surface <NUM> is adapted to accept an exterior sealing assembly <NUM> on outer surface <NUM> circumferentially about the perimeter of outer surface <NUM>. The internal passage <NUM> interior surface is adapted to accept an interior sealing assembly <NUM> circumferentially therein. The interior sealing assembly <NUM> is located parallel with and directly opposite from the exterior sealing assembly <NUM>. The exterior and interior sealing assemblies are used to provide a fluid tight seal between the valve <NUM> and the valve housing.

The upper section <NUM> of the adjustable valve <NUM> further includes an actuation ring <NUM> having a spline tooth gear band <NUM> adapted to be attached about the periphery of the outer surface <NUM> of upper section <NUM>. The teeth of the gear band <NUM> are arranged to be mechanically engaged to a worm gear member <NUM> attached to a shaft <NUM> of an actuator motor <NUM>. The adjustable valve <NUM> is rotatable about a central axis A to switch the flow of coolant from the pump cavity <NUM> to the first or the second outlets. The actuator motor <NUM> is housed within the actuator motor housing <NUM> of the pump section <NUM>. The actuator motor <NUM> is electrically connected to controller <NUM> through an electrical circuit section <NUM> on a rear face of the actuator motor <NUM> using an electrical connector (not shown). The controller <NUM> providing control signal that selectively drive actuator motor <NUM> to rotate worm gear <NUM> and causing rotation of the valve <NUM>. Actuator motor <NUM> is secured to actuator motor housing <NUM> using fasteners <NUM> that engage threaded holes <NUM> located on a front face of actuator motor <NUM> and a rear cover plate <NUM> is installed over electrical section <NUM>. As was explained above, rotation of the adjustable valve <NUM> selectively positions opening <NUM> to switch the flow of coolant from the pump cavity <NUM> to either the first outlet <NUM>, <NUM> or the second outlet <NUM>, <NUM> thereby controlling the discharge of coolant from the pump section <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, pump section <NUM> inlet <NUM>, <NUM> includes a sensor receptacle <NUM> integrally formed to inlet <NUM>, <NUM>. The sensor receptacle <NUM> is adapted to receive a temperature sensor <NUM>, <NUM> within an annular cavity <NUM> formed in the interior of the sensor receptacle <NUM>. A sensing tip <NUM> is arranged to extend through a hole <NUM> made in a wall <NUM> of inlet <NUM>, <NUM> exposing the sensing tip <NUM> to the coolant flowing in inlet <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate an example temperature sensor <NUM>, <NUM> of the present embodiment. The temperature sensor <NUM>, <NUM> includes a liquid resistant, non-metallic housing <NUM>, a sensor portion <NUM> that includes the sensor tip <NUM> located at the end of the housing <NUM> opposite a connector portion <NUM>. The entire housing <NUM> is formed using an appropriate thermoplastic material applicable to withstand the chemical compositions and temperatures that the thermal probe <NUM> will be exposed to, such as for example, a polyethersulfone material infused with glass fibers. In the case of a coolant sensor for an internal combustion engine, the main design criteria is that the housing <NUM> provide adequate chemical resistance to ethylene-glycol mixtures which are used in engine coolants. Other materials having the characteristics of polyethersulfone, such as polyphthalimde, may also be used to form the housing <NUM>. Synthetic polymers or polyamides such as nylon <NUM> or nylon <NUM>,<NUM> may be used to form the housing <NUM> in water based, or low-temperature coolants typically used in battery cooling applications for electric vehicles.

The sensor portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> includes a mounting assembly, seen generally at <NUM>, used to secure the temperature sensor <NUM>, <NUM> in the sensor receptacle <NUM>. The mounting assembly is comprised of an upper flange member <NUM> and a lower flange member <NUM> defining an annular channel <NUM> therebetween. The channel <NUM> cooperates with a suitable locking clip <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> to retain the temperature sensor <NUM>, <NUM> in the sensor receptacle <NUM>. An outer surface <NUM> of the sensor portion <NUM> includes a first sealing element <NUM> located circumferentially about the outer surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. A spacer-cap <NUM> is locked on the outer surface <NUM> of the housing below the first sealing element <NUM> and functions as a bore pilot to properly position the sealing element <NUM> within receptacle <NUM>.

The exemplary housing <NUM> is formed in one-piece using an injection molding process that forms both the sensor portion <NUM> and connector portion <NUM> as a unitary structure. The housing <NUM> includes an interior chamber <NUM> adapted to have a temperature sensing assembly inserted into and secured within the interior chamber <NUM>. The interior chamber <NUM> extends inward into the housing <NUM> from an opening <NUM> through a connector cavity <NUM> of the connector portion <NUM> to a sensor cavity <NUM> at the sensor portion <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a cross-sectional view of the pump section <NUM> taken at segment <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the temperature sensing assembly is comprised of a temperature sensing device <NUM>, electrical leads <NUM>, a terminal base <NUM> and a connector assembly comprised of electrical terminals <NUM>. The temperature sensing device <NUM> is arranged to have a parameter which varies with temperature. Preferably, the temperature sensing device <NUM> is in the form of a thermistor having an electrical resistance which varies with temperature. However, it should be understood that other suitable devices such as a negative temperature coefficient (NTC] device, a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device, a thermocouple or a semiconductor device could be used to perform the function of the temperature sensing device <NUM> without departing from the scope of the invention. A pair of electrical leads <NUM> (only one shown in the section illustrated) extend from sensing device <NUM>. The pair of electrical leads <NUM> are in tum attached to a pair of electrical terminals <NUM> (only one shown) of the connector assembly respectively, using any suitable means that makes a good mechanical and electrical connection between the leads <NUM> and the terminals <NUM>.

Terminals <NUM> extend through the terminal base <NUM> from an end facing the temperature sensing device <NUM> to an end facing connector opening <NUM>. The terminals <NUM> extend into connector cavity <NUM> of the connector portion <NUM> of housing <NUM>. The connector cavity <NUM> is arranged to accept a suitable terminal connector (not shown) through connector opening <NUM> to electrically connect the temperature sensitive assembly to an external controller, such as controller <NUM> in <FIG>. Electrical terminals <NUM> form a circuit for transmitting changes in electrical current representing the temperature sensed by temperature sensing device <NUM>. The circuit formed by terminals <NUM> transmit the current changes as an output signal via communication line <NUM> to the controller <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> the sensor receptacle <NUM> of the present disclosure will be described. The sensor receptacle <NUM> is formed on a wall <NUM> forming inlet <NUM>, <NUM>. A cylindrical passage <NUM> formed by wall <NUM> extends through inlet <NUM>, <NUM> leading to pump cavity <NUM>. The sensor receptacle <NUM> includes a generally cylindrical top hat portion <NUM> extending from a generally cylindrical bottom portion <NUM> that is integrally attached to wall <NUM>. The interior cavity <NUM> extends through receptacle <NUM> from the top hat <NUM> through the bottom portion <NUM> and to the hole <NUM>. Hole <NUM> extends through the wall <NUM> of inlet <NUM>, <NUM> and into passage <NUM>. The sealing element <NUM> has a diameter slightly larger than an interior surface <NUM> of interior cavity <NUM> arranged to elastically deform against interior surface <NUM>. A ring-shaped bearing surface <NUM> is arranged to receive the spacer-cap <NUM> to pilot the sensor tip <NUM> to hole <NUM> and properly position the sealing element <NUM> to the perimeter of interior wall <NUM>. With spacer-cap <NUM> installed on the bearing surface <NUM> the sealing element <NUM> is centrally positioned within interior cavity <NUM> equidistant to the perimeter of interior surface <NUM>. This aids in properly positioning the sealing element <NUM> to make a uniform fluid tight seal circumferentially about the sealing element <NUM> and the interior surface <NUM>. The hole <NUM> is sized to receive the thermal sensor tip <NUM> therethrough and allow the sensor tip <NUM> of housing <NUM> to extend into passage <NUM>.

An interior surface of top hat portion <NUM> is annularly shaped and sized to accept therein the mounting assembly <NUM> of the temperature sensor <NUM>, <NUM>. An annular shoulder <NUM> is formed within the interior surface of top hat portion <NUM> arranged to have a bottom surface of the lower flange <NUM> rest on shoulder <NUM>. First and second slots <NUM>, <NUM> extend through an exterior wall <NUM> of top hat portion <NUM>. Slot <NUM> is adapted to receive therethrough a leg <NUM> of locking clip <NUM> and slot <NUM> a leg <NUM> of the locking clip. Each leg <NUM>, <NUM> extending through its respective slot <NUM>, <NUM> to be accepted within channel <NUM> of the mounting assembly <NUM>. The locking clip <NUM> locks the thermal probe within sensor receptacle <NUM> preventing the temperature sensor <NUM>, <NUM> from being removed from the sensor receptacle <NUM>.

With the temperature sensor <NUM>, <NUM> installed in the interior cavity <NUM>, the sensor tip <NUM> extends into the coolant flowing in passage <NUM> to allow the temperature sensing device <NUM> to provide a reading of the coolant's temperature as was explained above. The connector portion <NUM> extends outward from the top hat portion <NUM>, allowing the connector portion <NUM> to accept a suitable terminal connector (not shown) onto connector opening <NUM> to electrically connect the electrical terminals <NUM>, to communication line <NUM> and controller <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An apparatus for cooling a heat generating component (<NUM>) of a vehicle, comprising:
a first loop (<NUM>) comprising a component heat exchanger (<NUM>) and a chiller module (<NUM>);
a second loop (<NUM>) comprising a heater module (<NUM>) and a cabin heat exchanger (<NUM>);
a first pump (<NUM>) having an inlet (<NUM>) attached to the heat exchanger (<NUM>) configured to receive coolant from the heat exchanger (<NUM>)
characterised in that a valve located in the first pump (<NUM>) is configured to switch between a chiller mode and a recirculation mode, the first pump (<NUM>) pumping the coolant from the inlet (<NUM>) to the first loop (<NUM>) in the chiller mode or between the inlet (<NUM>) and the second loop (<NUM>) in the recirculation mode; and
a first temperature sensor (<NUM>) installed on the first pump inlet (<NUM>) that measures the temperature of the coolant entering the first pump (<NUM>).