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US 11,794,568 B2Granted
Independent radiator and condenser control
AssigneeRivian IP Holdings, LLC
InventorGraham Lloyd Feltham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims23
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 more elements
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.
7 more elements
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 the drive system compartment of the vehicle, wherein the second heat exchanger has a first face and is 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;
- receiving an intake airflow;
- and
- selectively redirecting the intake airflow as an output airflow through the first face of the first heat exchanger and the first face of the second heat exchanger by rotating an airflow controller disposed between an airflow source and the first faces to a first angular position and around the first face of the first heat exchanger and through the first face of the second heat exchanger by rotating the airflow controller to a second angular position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.