# US 2018/0022186 A1 · System and method to detect, in a vehicle, blockage of an airflow passage to a power storage unit

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- Number: US 2018/0022186 A1
- Document ID: US20180022186A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/639,747
- Filed: 2017-06-30
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2007-05-30
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Scott Howard Gaboury; Lixin Situ; William Paul Perkins; Steven A. Daleiden
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022186A1

## CPC

- B60H 1/00978: {Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods}
- B60H 1/00278: {for the battery}
- B60L 1/003: {to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors}
- B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
- B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries}
- B60L 58/21: having the same nominal voltage
- B60L 58/25: by controlling the electric load
- B60L 58/26: by cooling
- H01M 10/486: {for measuring temperature}
- H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold
- H01M 10/625: Vehicles
- H01M 10/633: characterised by algorithms, flow charts, software details or the like
- H01M 10/635: based on ambient temperature
- H01M 10/6563: with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
- H01M 10/66: Heat-exchange relationships between the cells and other systems, e.g. central heating systems or fuel cells
- H01M 10/663: the system being an air-conditioner or an engine
- B60H 2001/003: {Component temperature regulation using an air flow}
- B60L 2240/34: Cabin temperature
- B60L 2240/545: Temperature
- B60L 2250/10: by alarm
- B60L 2250/16: by display
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A driver of a vehicle is alerted if an air passage from an air source to a battery becomes blocked. The determination as to whether the air passage is blocked may be based on the temperature of the battery, the airflow through the air passage, and the power to a fan used to move air through the air passage.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-20. (canceled)

### Claim 21

A vehicle comprising:
a cabin;
a battery;
an air passageway configured to direct air from the cabin toward the battery; and
at least one controller configured to generate an alert indicating a blockage in the air passageway responsive to a temperature difference between the cabin and battery exceeding a threshold.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The vehicle of claim 21, further comprising a fan arranged to further direct air from the cabin toward the battery.

### Claim 23

A method for a vehicle comprising:
responsive to a temperature difference between a cabin of the vehicle and a battery of the vehicle exceeding a threshold, generating an alert indicating a blockage in a passageway configured to direct air from the cabin toward the battery.

### Claim 24

A vehicle comprising:
a battery;
a cabin; and
at least one controller configured to generate an alert for a driver of the vehicle in response to a temperature difference between the cabin and battery exceeding a threshold.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The vehicle of claim 24 further comprising an air passageway configured to direct air from the cabin toward the battery.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The vehicle of claim 25 further comprising a fan configured to further direct air from the cabin toward the battery.