Hybrid utility vehicle
AssigneePolaris Industries Inc.
InventorsEric J. Borud, Jeremy M. Markstrom, Michael A. Thomas, Greg B. Miner, Christopher P. Matko, Bradley A. Bracht
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cooling assembly for a hybrid vehicle includes a first cooling system configured to cool an engine and a second cooling system separate from the first cooling system and configured to cool a plurality of electrical components. The second cooling system is configured with a first method of cooling at least a first electrical component and is configured with a second method of cooling at least a second electrical component. The first method of cooling is different from the second method of cooling.
Claims22
A vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of ground engaging members;
- a frame assembly supported by the plurality of ground engaging members;
- a powertrain assembly including an electrical assembly supported by the frame assembly;
- and
- a cooling system configured for cooling the electrical assembly comprising:
- a housing including a first portion and a second portion having a first cooling path defined therebetween wherein cooling air flows from the first portion to the second portion;
- an air intake through the housing and in fluid communication with the first portion of the housing;
- an air outlet through the housing and in fluid communication with the second portion of the housing;
- and
- a cooling assembly housed within the housing, the cooling assembly including a second cooling path independent from the first cooling path, the second cooling path including a heat exchanger positioned proximate the second portion of the housing,
- wherein air enters the air intake, flows through the housing along the first cooling path contacting portions of the powertrain assembly, subsequently passes through the heat exchanger to cool a fluid of the second cooling path, and exits the air outlet.
A method of cooling a vehicle comprising a powertrain assembly, the powertrain assembly including an electrical assembly having low voltage components and high voltage components wherein at least a portion of the powertrain assembly is arranged within a housing, the method comprising:
- directing air into a first portion of the housing wherein the air contacts portions of the powertrain assembly and is heated as it subsequently flows toward a second portion of the housing, wherein a first cooling path is defined between the first and second portions of the housing;
- cooling a first portion of the powertrain assembly via the air flow along the first cooling path and a second portion of the powertrain assembly via a closed loop second cooling path that is independent of the first cooling path;
- and
- directing air out from the housing through a heat exchanger of the second cooling path positioned proximate the second portion of the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.