# US 11,029,098 B2 · Device temperature regulator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,098 B2 - Document ID: US11029098B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/282,477 - Filed: 2019-02-22 - Published: 2019-06-20 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-09 - Assignees: Denso Corporation - Applicants: Denso Corporation - Inventors: Masayuki Takeuchi; Yasumitsu Omi; Takashi Yamanaka; Yoshiki Kato; Takeshi Yoshinori; Koji Miura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029098B2 ## CPC - F28D 15/0266: {with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers (F28D15/043 takes precedence)} - F28D 15/06: Control arrangements therefor - F28D 15/02: in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes {(heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257)} - H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold - H01M 10/625: Vehicles - H01M 10/63: Control systems (charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 {, H01M10/443}; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 {, H01M10/486}) - H01M 10/633: characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like - H01M 10/647: Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells - H01M 10/652: characterised by gradients (for achieving a desired temperature gradient H01M10/617) - H01M 10/6556: Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange (closed pipes H01M10/6552) - H01M 10/6568: characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings - H01M 10/6569: Fluids undergoing a liquid-gas phase change or transition, e.g. evaporation or condensation (heat pipes H01M10/6552) - H01M 10/663: the system being an air-conditioner or an engine - H05K 7/20: Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating - B60H 2001/00307: {Component temperature regulation using a liquid flow} - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A device temperature regulator includes a forward passage in which a forward flow passage is formed to cause a working fluid to flow to a heat absorber from a heat radiator, and a backward passage in which a backward flow passage is formed to cause the working fluid to flow to the heat radiator from the heat absorber. In addition, the device temperature regulator includes a bubble generator, which generates a bubble in the working fluid collecting in the heat absorber and having a liquid phase, and a controller that causes the bubble generator to generate the bubble in a precondition is satisfied. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device temperature regulator in which a working fluid circulates and which regulates a temperature of a target device by a phase change between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the working fluid, the device temperature regulator comprising: a heat absorber that causes the working fluid to absorb heat from the target device, so as to evaporate the working fluid; a heat radiator that is arranged above the heat absorber and that causes the working fluid to radiate heat, so as to condense the working fluid; a forward passage in which a forward flow passage is provided, the forward flow passage causing the working fluid to flow to the heat absorber from the heat radiator; a backward passage in which a backward flow passage is provided, the backward flow passage causing the working fluid to flow to the heat radiator from the heat absorber; a bubble generator configured to generate a bubble in the working fluid collecting in the heat absorber and having the liquid phase; and a controller configured to cause the bubble generator to generate the bubble (i) when the working fluid circulates in a fluid circulation circuit made of the heat radiator, the forward passage, the heat absorber and the backward passage, to cool the target device, and (ii) when a circulation flow rate of the working fluid circulating in the fluid circulation circuit is a specified flow rate or less. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the controller causes the bubble generator to generate the bubble, in a case where a precondition is satisfied and where the circulation flow rate of the working fluid is the specified flow rate or less. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device temperature regulator according to claim 2, wherein the controller causes the bubble generator to temporarily generate the bubble, in a case where the precondition is satisfied and where the circulation flow rate of the working fluid is the specified flow rate or less. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device temperature regulator according to claim 3, wherein when the circulation flow rate of the working fluid becomes more than the specified flow rate in a case where the controller causes the bubble generator to start generating the bubble, the controller causes the bubble generator to stop generating the bubble. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The device temperature regulator according to claim 3, wherein when a predetermined time passes after the bubble generator starts generating the bubble, the controller causes the bubble generator to stop generating the bubble. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The device temperature regulator according to claim 2, wherein the case where the precondition is satisfied is a case where the heat absorber is inclined by a specified angle or more with respect to a predetermined reference posture. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The device temperature regulator according to claim 2, wherein the case where the precondition is satisfied is a case where the temperature of the target device becomes a specified temperature threshold value or more. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the heat absorber is provided with an inflow port causing the forward flow passage to communicate with an interior of the heat absorber, and an outflow port causing the backward flow passage to communicate with the interior of the heat absorber, and the bubble generator is arranged at a position closer to the inflow port than the outflow port of the heat absorber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device temperature regulator according to claim 8, wherein the bubble generator is provided in the heat absorber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the forward passage includes a bubble-generator arrangement part in which the bubble generator is provided, and a lower arrangement part arranged below the bubble-generator arrangement part, and the lower arrangement part is arranged closer to a side of the heat radiator than the bubble-generator arrangement part in a working fluid flow in the forward flow passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the forward passage includes a bubble-generator arrangement part in which the bubble generator is provided, and a check valve that allows the working fluid to flow to the heat absorber from the heat radiator while inhibiting the working fluid from flowing backward, and the check valve is arranged closer to a side of the heat radiator than the bubble-generator arrangement part in a working fluid flow in the forward flow passage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the bubble generator heats the working fluid of the liquid phase to generate the bubble. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the bubble generator applies an ultrasonic vibration to the working fluid of the liquid phase to generate the bubble. ### Claim 14 A device temperature regulator in which a working fluid circulates and which regulates a temperature of a target device by a phase change between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the working fluid, the device temperature regulator comprising: a heat absorber that causes the working fluid to absorb heat from the target device, so as to evaporate the working fluid; a heat radiator that is arranged above the heat absorber and that causes the working fluid to radiate heat, so as to condense the working fluid; a forward passage in which a forward flow passage is provided, the forward flow passage causing the working fluid to flow to the heat absorber from the heat radiator; a backward passage in which a backward flow passage is provided, the backward flow passage causing the working fluid to flow to the heat radiator from the heat absorber; a bubble generator configured to generate a bubble in the working fluid collecting in the heat absorber and having the liquid phase; and a controller configured to cause the bubble generator to generate the bubble, (i) when the working fluid circulates in a fluid circulation circuit made of the heat radiator, the forward passage, the heat absorber and the backward passage, to cool the target device, and (ii) when an upstream side area of the working fluid within the heat absorber is the liquid phase and a downstream side area of the working fluid within the heat absorber is the gas phase. ### Claim 15 A device temperature regulator for regulating a temperature of a target device by a phase change between a liquid phase and a gas phase of the working fluid, the device temperature regulator comprising: a heat absorber disposed in a fluid circulation circuit in which the working fluid circulates, to evaporate the working fluid by absorbing heat from the target device; a heat radiator disposed in the fluid circulation circuit above the heat absorber and configured to condense the working fluid by radiating heat; a forward passage through which the working fluid flows to the heat absorber from the heat radiator in the fluid circulation circuit; a backward passage through which the working fluid flows to the heat radiator from the heat absorber in the fluid circulation circuit; a heater disposed at the heat absorber to heat the working fluid, the heater being configured to generate a bubble in the working fluid of the liquid phase in the heat absorber by heating the working fluid; and a controller configured to cause the heater to generate the bubble, when at least one of a condition where a circulation flow rate of the working fluid circulating in the fluid circulation circuit is a specified flow rate or less, a condition where the heat absorber is inclined by a specified angle or more with respect to a reference posture, or a condition where an upstream side area of the working fluid within the heat absorber is the liquid phase and a downstream side area of the working fluid within the heat absorber is the gas phase, is satisfied, in a case where the working fluid circulates in a fluid circulation circuit made of the heat radiator, the forward passage, the heat absorber and the backward passage, to cool the target device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device temperature regulator according to claim 15, wherein the controller causes the heater to stop generating the bubble, when the circulation flow rate of the working fluid becomes more than the specified flow rate in a case where the controller causes the heater to start generating the bubble. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The device temperature regulator according to claim 15, wherein when a predetermined time passes after the heater starts generating the bubble, the controller causes the heater to stop generating the bubble. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the heat absorber is provided with an inflow port causing the forward flow passage to communicate with an interior of the heat absorber, and an outflow port causing the backward flow passage to communicate with the interior of the heat absorber, and the bubble generator is provided outside of the heat absorber at a lower portion of the heat absorber and arranged at a position closer to the inflow port than the outflow port of the heat absorber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The device temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the heat absorber is provided with an inflow port causing the forward flow passage to communicate with an interior of the heat absorber, and an outflow port causing the backward flow passage to communicate with the interior of the heat absorber, the forward passage includes a bubble-generator arrangement part arranged at a position closer to the inflow port than the outflow port of the heat absorber and a lower arrangement part arranged closer to the heat radiator than the bubble-generator arrangement part in a working fluid flow in the fluid circulation circuit, and the bubble generator is disposed between the inflow port and the lower arrangement part surrounding an outside of the bubble-generator arrangement part. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The device temperature regulator according to claim 1, wherein the heat absorber is provided with an inflow port causing the forward flow passage to communicate with an interior of the heat absorber, and an outflow port causing the backward flow passage to communicate with the interior of the heat absorber, the forward passage includes a bubble-generator arrangement part and a check valve arranged closer to the heat radiator than the bubble-generator arrangement part in a working fluid flow in the fluid circulation circuit, and the bubble generator is disposed between the inflow port and the check valve surrounding an outside of the bubble-generator arrangement part.