Tire preconditioning for electrified vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906367-B2
Application number	US-201514744471-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2015
Priority date	Jun 19, 2015
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

An electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a tire and an electrically powered heating device configured to selectively warm the tire. The heating device may be powered during on-plug conditions to precondition the tire.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrified vehicle, comprising:
a tire;
an electrically powered heating device configured to selectively warm said tire; and
a control module configured to command actuation of said electrically powered heating device if the electrified vehicle is on-plug and an upcoming drive cycle is expected within a predetermined threshold amount of time.

2. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein said tire is a low rolling resistance tire.

3. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein said electrically powered heating device includes an air vent.

4. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein said electrically powered heating device includes an infrared heating device.

5. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein said electrically powered heating device includes a resistive heating device.

6. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 5 , wherein said resistive heating device is an air-PTC heater.

7. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1 , comprising a fan disposed adjacent to said electrically powered heating device.

8. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1 , comprising a high voltage battery assembly configured to selectively power said electrically powered heating device.

9. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein said electrically powered heating device is mounted within a wheel well of the electrified vehicle.

10. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein said electrically powered heating device is embedded within a chassis of the electrified vehicle.

11. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein said electrically powered heating device is mounted inside said tire.

12. A method, comprising:
powering a heating device during an on-plug condition of an electrified vehicle when an upcoming drive cycle is expected within a predetermined threshold amount of time; and
warming at least one tire of the electrified vehicle with the heating device.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 , comprising determining whether the electrified vehicle is on-plug prior to the powering step.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 , comprising determining whether a Key-On event is expected within the predefined threshold amount of time.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the powering step includes powering the heating device using grid power.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the warming step includes directing warm air onto the tire.

17. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the warming step includes electrically generating heat near the tire.

18. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the warming step is continued until the electrified vehicle is taken off-plug.

19. The method as recited in claim 12 , comprising warming the at least one tire during an off-plug condition by powering the heating device with a high voltage battery assembly.

20. A method, comprising:
automatically warming a tire of an electrified vehicle with a heating device when an upcoming drive cycle is expected within a predetermined threshold amount of time, wherein the heating device is powered by grid power when the electrified vehicle is on-plug or is powered by a high voltage battery assembly when the electrified vehicle is off-plug.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Christen Erik J

Classifications

• Y10S903/91

  Orbital, e.g. planetary gears · CPC title

• H05B1/0236

  for vehicles · CPC title

• B60C99/003 Primary

  Tyre heating arrangements · CPC title

• B60C23/00 Primary

  Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements · CPC title