Thermal encapsulation apparatus
AssigneeJaguar Land Rover Limited
InventorsPaul Chandler, Benedict Wicksteed, Dean Petley, Gery Fossaert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermal encapsulation apparatus for reducing heat loss from a vehicle component includes an insulating layer which, together with a surface of the component, forms a cavity between them. The apparatus also includes at least one baffle located within the cavity so as to define at least one cell therein. Within the cell, a convective-driven airflow caused by a temperature gradient between the surface of the component and the insulating layer is recirculated. The apparatus allows the component to store heat when it is not operational so that upon restarting the component, e.g. the vehicle engine, there is reduced friction in the moving parts, particularly in relatively cool ambient temperatures.
Claims22
A thermal encapsulation apparatus for reducing heat loss from a vehicle component, the apparatus comprising:
- an insulating layer which, together with a surface of the component, forms a cavity between the insulating layer and the surface of the component;
- and,
- at least one baffle located within the cavity so as to divide the cavity into at least two cells, wherein, within each cell, a convective-driven airflow caused by a temperature gradient between the surface of the component and the insulating layer is recirculated,
- wherein an opening is formed at a lower part of the cavity.
A vehicle component comprising
- a component surface;
- a thermal encapsulation apparatus including an insulating layer situated to form a cavity between the insulating layer and the component surface;
- and
- at least one baffle located within the cavity so as to divide the cavity into at least two cells, wherein, within each cell, convective-driven airflow caused by a temperature gradient between the component surface and the insulating layer is recirculated,
- wherein an opening is formed at a lower part of the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.