Circulation for pressure loss event

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9302565-B2
Application number	US-201414299251-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2014
Priority date	Jun 9, 2014
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

An exemplary vehicle is disclosed having a compressible fluid system including at least one sensor configured to determine a fluid pressure present within the compressible fluid system, and a circulator configured to circulate air in the engine compartment. The vehicle is configured to activate the circulator in response to a decrease in the fluid pressure, and in some approaches may also open a grill shutter or other fluid passage into the engine compartment. Exemplary methods may include providing a circulator configured to selectively circulate airflow, e.g., into an engine compartment of a vehicle, and detecting a fluid pressure decrease within a compressible fluid system in the engine compartment. The circulator may be activated to circulate air in the engine compartment in response to at least the detected fluid pressure decrease.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
an air conditioning system including at least one sensor configured to determine a fluid pressure present within the air conditioning system;
a circulator configured to circulate air in a vehicle compartment; and
at least one sensor configured to detect a vehicle crash event;
wherein the vehicle is configured to activate the circulator in response to a decrease in the fluid pressure and a detection of a vehicle crash event.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one movable shutter configured to selectively permit airflow into the vehicle compartment; wherein the vehicle is configured to activate the at least one moveable shutter in response to the decrease in the fluid pressure.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising a grille positioned at a front end of the vehicle, the at least one movable shutter included in the grille.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the circulator comprises a radiator fan.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to detect the decrease in fluid pressure.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to distinguish the decrease in fluid pressure from pressure fluctuations during normal operation of the air conditioning system.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to compare a fluid pressure to a lower limit associated with normal operation of the air conditioning system, and activate the circulator based at least in part upon a detection of the fluid pressure below the lower limit.

8. A vehicle system, comprising:
at least one circulator configured to circulate airflow through a vehicle compartment;
a grille having at least one movable shutter disposed adjacent to the circulator; and
a processor configured to determine a fluid pressure present within a compressible fluid system associated with the vehicle and, in response to a decrease in the fluid pressure, open the at least one shutter and activate the circulator.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to compare a fluid pressure to a lower limit associated with normal operation of the compressible fluid system, and activate the circulator based at least in part upon a detection of the fluid pressure below the lower limit.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to distinguish the decrease in fluid pressure from pressure fluctuations during normal operation of the compressible fluid system.

11. A method comprising:
providing at least one circulator configured to circulate airflow within a vehicle compartment;
positioning a grille having at least one movable shutter at a front end of the vehicle;
detecting a fluid pressure decrease within a compressible fluid system in the vehicle compartment; and
activating the circulator and opening the at least one shutter in response to the detected fluid pressure decrease.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising establishing the circulator as a radiator fan.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising distinguishing the decrease in fluid pressure from pressure fluctuations occurring during normal operation of the compressible fluid system.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pressure fluctuations occurring during normal operation of the compressible fluid system include fluctuations resulting from activation of the compressible fluid system.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the pressure fluctuations occurring during normal operation of the compressible fluid system include fluctuations resulting from a change in ambient temperature.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising comparing a fluid pressure to a lower limit associated with normal operation of the compressible fluid system; and activating the circulator based at least in part upon a detection of the fluid pressure below the lower limit.

17. A method comprising:
providing at least one circulator configured to circulate airflow within a compartment of a vehicle;
detecting a fluid pressure decrease within an air conditioning system in the vehicle compartment;
monitoring the vehicle for a crash event with at least one sensor; and
activating the circulator in response to a crash event detected by the sensor and the detected fluid pressure decrease.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Johnston William S
• Koberstein Manfred
• Lambert Steven L

Classifications

• B60K11/06

  with air cooling · CPC title

• B60K11/085

  with adjustable shutters or blinds · CPC title

• B60K11/02

  with liquid cooling · CPC title

• B60H1/3225 Primary

  characterised by safety arrangements, e.g. compressor anti-seizure means or by signalling devices · CPC title

• B60H1/00978

  Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods · CPC title