Method and apparatus for active heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11034233-B2
Application number	US-201916351021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2019
Priority date	Mar 12, 2019
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for providing an active heat exchanger with dynamic positioning to improve vehicle aerodynamics. More specifically, aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems, methods and devices for a vehicle fascia having multiple airflow openings, at least one of having an active shutter system and wherein the active heat exchanger is positioned to respond to closing of one or more of the airflow openings when active aerodynamics are deployed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle cooling system comprising:
a fascia having a first airflow opening and a second airflow opening;
a motorized slider;
a heat exchanger mounted to the motorized slider;
an active aerodynamic shutter system mounted within the first airflow opening;
a detector for determining an open state of the active aerodynamic shutter system and a closed state of the active aerodynamic shutter system; and
a controller for controlling a position of the motorized slider such that the heat exchanger is positioned within the first airflow opening in response to the detector detecting the open state and not within the airflow of the second airflow opening in response to the detector detecting the open state and within the second airflow opening in response to the detector detecting the closed state.

2. The vehicle cooling system of claim 1 wherein the detector comprises a light sensor.

3. The vehicle cooling system of claim 1 wherein the detector is coupled to a vehicle data bus.

4. The vehicle cooling system of claim 1 wherein the active aerodynamic shutter system is set to the open state in response to a vehicle speed being below a threshold speed.

5. The vehicle cooling system of claim 1 wherein the active aerodynamic shutter system is set to the open state in response to an engine coolant temperature exceeding a threshold value.

6. The vehicle cooling system of claim 1 wherein the motorized slider is a linear slider positioned in a vertical orientation behind the fascia.

7. The vehicle cooling system of claim 1 wherein the first airflow opening is smaller than the second airflow opening.

8. The vehicle cooling system of claim 1 wherein the active aerodynamic shutter system is closed in response to the vehicle exceeding a predetermined speed.

9. A method comprising:
detecting an opening of a shutter assembly in a vehicle front fascia airflow opening;
initializing an actuator motor to position a heat exchanger within an airflow of the vehicle front fascia airflow opening and not within an airflow of an alternate vehicle front facial airflow opening;
detecting a closing of the shutter assembly in the vehicle front fascia airflow opening; and
initializing the actuator motor to position the heat exchanger within an airflow of the alternate vehicle front fascia airflow opening.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the shutter assembly is closed in response to a vehicle speed exceeding a threshold speed.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the shutter assembly is opened in response to a vehicle speed falling below a threshold speed.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the shutter assembly is opened in response to a vehicle coolant temperature exceeding a threshold temperature.

13. An apparatus comprising:
a fascia having a first airflow opening and a second airflow opening;
a shutter assembly mounted within the second airflow opening, wherein the shutter assembly has an open state and a closed state;
a heat exchanger; and
an actuator for moving the heat exchanger to a first position within the airflow of the first airflow opening in response to the shutter assembly being in the closed state and to a second position within the airflow of the second airflow opening and not within the airflow of the first airflow opening in response to the shutter assembly being in the open state.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a detector for detecting the open state and the closed state.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the shutter assembly is controlled in response to a vehicle speed.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the shutter assembly is controlled in response to an engine coolant temperature.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the shutter assembly is set to the open state in response to an engine coolant temperature exceeding a threshold value.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the actuator is a linear slider positioned in a vertical orientation behind the fascia.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first airflow opening is smaller than the second airflow opening.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the shutter assembly is closed in response to the vehicle exceeding a predetermined speed.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Oliveira Danilo A
• Wright Jacob

Classifications

• B60K11/085

  with adjustable shutters or blinds · CPC title

• F28D11/00

  Heat-exchange apparatus employing moving conduits {(F28D15/0208 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• Y02T10/88

  Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses · CPC title

• B60K11/04 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds · CPC title

• F28F5/00

  Elements specially adapted for movement · CPC title