IP Library Granted Patent US 10,354,785
Granted Patent B2
US 10,354,785 · App. 15/591,854 · Granted Jul 16, 2019

Passive thermal switch devices having thermal switch material that passively switches between a thermal insulating state and a thermal conducting state and vehicles having the same

Inventors: Takeo Yamaguchi (Shizuoka, JP); Gaohua Zhu (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
H01F1/14708B60L58/26G01K7/38H01H37/58
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,354,785
App. No.
15/591,854
Granted
Jul 16, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A passive thermal switch device, for regulating a temperature of a thermal component configured to generate heat, includes a first plate and a second plate. The first plate is provided on the thermal component. The first plate includes a thermal switch material that switches from an antiferromagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state upon exceeding a state transition temperature. The second plate includes a permanent magnet. The second plate is moveable between a thermal insulator position and a thermal conductor position based on a temperature of the thermal switch material. In the thermal insulator position, the second plate is spaced apart from the first plate. In the thermal conductor position, the second plate is in contact with the first plate.

Claims (27)

1. A passive thermal switch device for regulating a temperature of a thermal component configured to generate heat, the passive thermal switch comprising:

a first plate provided on the thermal component, the first plate having a thermal switch material that switches from an antiferromagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state upon exceeding a state transition temperature; and

a second plate having a permanent magnet, the second plate moveable between a thermal insulator position and a thermal conductor position based on a temperature of the thermal switch material, in the thermal insulator position the second plate is spaced apart from the first plate, and in the thermal conductor position the second plate is in contact with the first plate,

wherein when the temperature of the thermal switch material is less than the state transition temperature, the thermal switch material is in the antiferromagnetic state and the second plate is spaced apart from the first plate as the permanent magnet of the second plate is not magnetically attracted to the thermal switch material, and

wherein when the temperature of the thermal switch material is greater than the state transition temperature, the thermal switch material is in the ferromagnetic state and the second plate is in contact with the first plate as the permanent magnet of the second plate is magnetically attracted to the thermal switch material.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the thermal switch material is selected from the group consisting of manganites, Mn 1-x Fe x NiGe alloys, Mn 1-x Cr x CoGe alloys, Ni 50 Mn 34 In 16 alloys, CeFe 2 alloys, Hf 0.8 Ta 0.2 Fe 2 alloys, FeRh alloys, Mn 2 Sb alloys and MnSb alloys.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the thermal component is an engine.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the thermal component is an exhaust purification device.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the thermal component is an electronic power storage device.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink provided on the second plate.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member connected to the first plate and the second plate, the biasing member biases the second plate to be spaced apart from the first plate in the thermal insulator position when the temperature of the thermal switch material is less than the state transition temperature.

8. The passive thermal switch device of claim 7 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.

9. The passive thermal switch device of claim 7 , wherein the biasing member is formed of a resilient elastic material.

10. A vehicle comprising

a thermal component configured to generate heat; and

a first plate provided on the thermal component, the first plate includes a thermal switch material that switches from an antiferromagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state upon exceeding a state transition temperature; and

a second plate having a permanent magnet, the second plate moveable between a thermal insulator position and a thermal conductor position based on a temperature of the thermal switch material, in the thermal insulator position the second plate is spaced apart from the first plate, and in the thermal conductor position the second plate is in contact with the first plate,

wherein when the temperature of the thermal switch material is less than the state transition temperature, the thermal switch material is in the antiferromagnetic state and the second plate is spaced apart from the first plate as the permanent magnet of the second plate is not magnetically attracted to the thermal switch material, and

wherein when the temperature of the thermal switch material is greater than the state transition temperature, the thermal switch material is in the ferromagnetic state and the second plate is in contact with the first plate as the permanent magnet of the second plate is magnetically attracted to the thermal switch material.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the thermal switch material is selected from the group consisting of manganites, Mn 1-x Fe x NiGe alloys, Mn 1-x Cr x CoGe, Ni 50 Mn 34 In 16 alloys, CeFe 2 alloys, Hf 0.8 Ta 0.2 Fe 2 alloys, FeRh alloys, Mn 2 Sb alloys and MnSb alloys.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the thermal component is an engine.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the thermal component is an exhaust purification device.

14. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the thermal component is an electronic power storage device.

15. The vehicle of claim 10 further comprising a heat sink provided on the second plate.

16. The vehicle of claim 10 further comprising a biasing member connected to the first plate and the second plate, the biasing member biases the second plate to be spaced apart from the first plate in the thermal insulator position when the temperature of the thermal switch material is less than the state transition temperature.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the biasing member is formed of a resilient elastic material.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2019
From: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 050014/0014 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2017
From: ZHU, GAOHUA
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 042336/0399 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2017
From: YAMAGUCHI, TAKEO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 042336/0462 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180330903A1 · Nov 15, 2018
Cited By (15)
US 12,203,958 US 12,203,979 US 12,210,056 US 12,216,154 US 12,235,314 US 12,320,841 US 12,320,852 US 12,345,756 US 12,374,420 US 12,411,167 US 12,535,522 US 12,540,967 US 12,540,968 US 12,613,273 US 12,618,896