Independent radiator and condenser control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11794568-B2
Application number	US-202117353055-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2021
Priority date	Jun 21, 2021
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, vehicles, machines, equipment, and methods for selectively allocating airflow between different heat exchangers. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a first heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from at least one first system. A second heat exchanger is configured to dissipate heat from at least one second system. An airflow controller is configured to receive an intake airflow and to direct an output airflow to selectively direct at least a portion of the output airflow to either or both of the first and second heat exchangers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a first face of a first heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from at least one first system, wherein the first heat exchanger is a first planar body;
a first face of a second heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from at least one second system, wherein the second heat exchanger is a second planar body, wherein the first planar body is disposed at a splay angle relative to the second planar body; and
an airflow controller disposed between an airflow source and the first faces, wherein the airflow controller is configured to receive an intake airflow and direct an output airflow through the first face of the first heat exchanger and the first face of the second heat exchanger based on at least the airflow controller being rotated to a first angular position,
wherein the airflow controller is further configured to direct the output airflow around the first face of the first heat exchanger and through the first face of the second heat exchanger based on at least the airflow controller being rotated to a second angular position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one fan configured to receive the intake airflow and to direct the intake airflow toward the airflow controller, wherein the at least one fan is configured to direct the intake airflow when a flow rate of the intake airflow is less than a threshold rate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a seal disposed between the first planar body and the second planar body at a vertex of the splay angle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the airflow controller includes at least one rotatable control shutter configured to rotate selectively redirect the intake airflow as the output airflow between the first faces of the first and second heat exchangers.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one rotatable control shutter is rotatable within a range of one-hundred and eighty degrees.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a rotatable shutter mount configured to adjust rotation of the at least one rotatable control shutter and a rotation controller coupled with the rotatable shutter mount to automatically adjust the rotation of the at least one rotatable control shutter in response to at least one detected condition of the first and second heat exchangers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second heat exchangers are disposed within a compartment and at least one edge of one of the first and second heat exchangers is sealed relative to at least one side of the compartment to compel a portion of the output airflow directed to the first face of the first heat exchanger to flow through both the first face of the first heat exchanger and the first face of the second heat exchanger.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchanger is disposed in a linear offset relative to the first heat exchanger to provide for an unobstructed portion of the output airflow reaching the first face of the second heat exchanger without first passing through the first face of the first heat exchanger.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchanger includes at least one dimension chosen from a height and a width that is larger than a corresponding dimension of the first heat exchanger to provide for an unobstructed portion of the output airflow reaching the first face of the second heat exchanger without first passing through the first face of the first heat exchanger.

10. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body;
a cabin incorporated in the vehicle body;
a drive system supported by the vehicle body and configured to control one or more wheels of the vehicle;
a drive system compartment incorporated in the vehicle body; and
a heat exchange system disposed in the drive system compartment including:
a first face of a first heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from at least one first system, wherein the first heat exchanger is a first planar body;
a first face of a second heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from at least one second system, wherein the second heat exchanger is a second planar body, wherein the first planar body is disposed at a splay angle relative to the second planar body;
an airflow controller disposed between an airflow source and the first faces, wherein the airflow controller is configured to receive an intake airflow and direct an output airflow through the first face of the first heat exchanger and the first face of the second heat exchanger based on at least the airflow controller being rotated to a first angular position,
wherein the airflow controller is further configured to direct the output airflow around the first face of the first heat exchanger and through the first face of the second heat exchanger based on at least the airflow controller being rotated to a second angular position.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising at least one fan configured to receive the intake airflow and to motivate the intake airflow toward the airflow controller, wherein the at least one fan is configured to motivate the intake airflow when a flow rate of the intake airflow is less than a threshold rate.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the heat exchange system further comprises a seal disposed between the first planar body and the second planar body at a vertex of the splay angle.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the airflow controller includes at least one rotatable control shutter configured to rotate selectively redirect the intake airflow as the output airflow between the first faces of the first and second heat exchangers.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a rotatable shutter mount configured to adjust rotation of the at least one rotatable control shutter and a rotation controller coupled with the rotatable shutter mount to automatically adjust the rotation of the at least one rotatable control shutter in response to at least one detected condition of the first and second heat exchangers.

15. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the airflow controller is configured to direct the output airflow into at least one flow pattern chosen from a first airflow directed to at least partially bypass the first face of the second heat exchanger and a second airflow directed to at least partially bypass the first face of the first heat exchanger.

16. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second heat exchangers includes one of a radiator and a condenser.

17. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein at least one configuration of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger includes:
the second heat exchanger being disposed in a linear offset relative to the first heat exchanger to provide for a portion of the output airflow reaching the first face of the second heat exchanger without first passing through the first face of the first heat exchanger; and
the second heat exchanger includes at least one dimension chosen from a height and a width that is larger than a corresponding dimension of the first heat exchanger to provide for the portion of the output airflow reaching the first face of the second heat exchanger without first passing through the first face of the first heat exchanger.

18. A method comprising:
disposing a first heat exchanger in a drive system compartment of a vehicle, wherein the first heat exchanger has a first face and is configured to dissipate heat from at least one first system, wherein the first heat exchanger is a first planar body;
disposing a second heat exchanger in th

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Feltham Graham Lloyd

Classifications

• B60K11/085 Primary

  with adjustable shutters or blinds · CPC title

• B60K11/04

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

• B60H1/00321

  Heat exchangers for air-conditioning devices (B60H1/3227 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/00735

  Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models · CPC title

• B60H1/00878

  the components being temperature regulating devices · CPC title