# US 11,440,376 B2 · Technologies for manifolds > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,376 B2 - Document ID: US11440376B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/668,963 - Filed: 2017-08-04 - Published: 2019-02-07 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-04 - Assignees: Tesla, Inc. - Applicants: Tesla, Inc. - Inventors: John David Calderone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440376B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/3229: {characterised by constructional features, e.g. housings, mountings, conversion systems (B60H1/3227, B60H1/3233 take precedence)} - B60H 1/3223: {characterised by the arrangement or type of the compressor (B60H1/3222 takes precedence)} - B60K 7/0007: {the motor being electric} - F25B 41/40: Fluid line arrangements - B60H 1/00571: {of liquid ducts, e.g. for coolant liquids or refrigerants} - B60K 2001/001: {one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle} - B60K 2007/0092: {the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle} - F25B 2500/18: Optimization, e.g. high integration of refrigeration components - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS ## Abstract A vehicle comprising a compressor and a manifold physically and fluidly coupled to the compressor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: a discrete plate-shaped manifold that has first and second spaced-apart, parallel, and oppositely-facing major planar outer surfaces and one or more fluid channels in between the first and second major planar outer surfaces which major planar outer surfaces enclose the one or more fluid channels; at least one compressor in fluid communication with the manifold and attached to and hosted on the first major planar outer surface; and a fluid source in fluid communication with the manifold and attached to and hosted on the second major planar outer surface, wherein, the manifold extends between the at least one compressor and the fluid source, and the fluid source includes at least one of a condenser, a chiller, a receiver-drier, or a coolant container, and wherein the manifold comprises two or more plates stacked and secured together, a first plate having the first major planar outer surface and a first interior surface, a second plate having a second interior surface, the first and second plates positioned with the first and second interior surfaces facing each other, the first interior surface, the second interior surface, or both having the one or more of the fluid channels formed therein as concavities therein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the second major planar outer surface also hosts at least one of a motor or a sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the manifold is T-shaped in cross section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The manifold of claim 1, wherein the plates are fused together. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressor includes a plurality of compressors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, further comprising: a heat exchanger coupled to the manifold such that the heat exchanger faces the first major planar outer surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, further comprising: a valve coupled to the manifold such that the valve faces the the second major planar outer surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, further comprising: a VDA connector coupled to the manifold such that the manifold extends between the VDA connector and the plurality of compressors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the coolant container is in direct connection with the condenser and/or the chiller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver-drier is integrated with the condenser or the chiller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the condenser is a liquid-cooled condenser and coolant in the coolant container is a liquid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid channels are non-arcuate shaped. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more fluid channels are located in a plane between the first and second major planar outer surfaces, which major planar outer surfaces enclose the one or more fluid channels. ### Claim 14 An HVAC assembly comprising: a discrete plate-shaped manifold that has first and second spaced-apart, parallel, and oppositely-facing major planar outer surfaces and one or more fluid channels in between the first and second major planar outer surfaces which major planar outer surfaces enclose the one or more fluid channels; a fluid source which is fluidly coupled to the manifold and which is attached to and hosted on the manifold; and at least one compressor which is in fluid communication with the manifold and which is attached to and hosted on the manifold, the at least one compressor being located on the first major planar outer surface and the fluid source being located on the second major planar outer surface, wherein the manifold comprises two or more plates stacked and secured together, a first plate having the first major planar outer surface and a first interior surface, a second plate having a second interior surface, the first and second plates positioned with the first and second interior surfaces facing each other, the first interior surface, the second interior surface, or both having the one or more of the fluid channels formed therein as concavities therein. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The HVAC assembly of claim 14, wherein the fluid source includes at least one of a liquid-cooled condenser, a chiller, a receiver-drier, or a coolant container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The HVAC assembly of claim 14, wherein the second major planar outer surface hosts at least one of a motor or a sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The HVAC assembly of claim 14, wherein the manifold is T-shaped in cross section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The HVAC assembly of claim 14, wherein the at least one compressor includes a plurality of compressors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The HVAC assembly of claim 18, wherein the fluid source includes a heat exchanger coupled to the manifold such that the heat exchanger faces the first major planar outer surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The HVAC assembly of claim 18, further comprising: a valve coupled to the manifold such that the valve faces the second major planar outer surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The HVAC assembly of claim 18, further comprising: a VDA connector coupled to the manifold such that the manifold extends between the VDA connector and the plurality of compressors. ### Claim 22 A motorized vehicle comprising: an HVAC assembly including a fluid source; a discrete plate-shaped manifold that has first and second spaced-apart, parallel, and oppositely-facing major planar outer surfaces and one or more fluid channels in between the first and second major planar outer surfaces which major planar outer surfaces enclose the one or more fluid channels to which the fluid source is coupled and on which the fluid source is hosted; and at least one compressor which is fluidly coupled to the manifold and which is attached to and hosted on the first major planar outer surface, the fluid source being attached to and hosted on the second major planar outer surface, wherein the manifold comprises two or more plates stacked and secured together, a first plate having the first major planar outer surface and a first interior surface, a second plate having a second interior surface, the first and second plates positioned with the first and second interior surfaces facing each other, the first interior surface, the second interior surface, or both having the one or more of the fluid channels formed therein as concavities therein. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the fluid source includes at least one of a liquid-cooled condenser, a chiller, a receiver-drier, or a coolant container. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the first major planar outer surface or the second major planar outer surface hosts at least one of a motor or a sensor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the manifold is T-shaped in cross section. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the at least one compressor includes a plurality of compressors. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The vehicle of claim 26, wherein the fluid source includes a heat exchanger coupled to the manifold such that the heat exchanger faces the first major planar outer surface. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The vehicle of claim 26, further comprising: a valve coupled to the manifold such that the valve faces the second major planar outer surface. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The vehicle of claim 26, further comprising: a VDA connector coupled to the manifold such that the manifold extends between the VDA connector and the plurality of compressors. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The motorized vehicle of claim 22, further comprising: an electric motor powering a vehicle wheel.