Granted Patent B2

US 12,643,367 · App. 17/761,997 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Inventors: William Ice Cochran (Fullerton, CA); William Rutherford Smith (Torrance, CA); Marco Elkenkamp (Marina del Rey, CA)

Assignee: WHS ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC

B60H1/00278B60H1/143B60H1/32281B60H1/323B60L58/26B60H2001/00307B60H1/005B60H2001/006B60L2240/485B60L2240/525B60L2240/545

Abstract

Claims (22)

1 . An integrated thermal management system comprising:

a drivetrain cooling loop comprising a drivetrain fluid conduit fluidly interconnecting at least a first cooling element and one or more heat producing drivetrain components such that drivetrain coolant fluid flows therebetween;

an energy storage system heating and cooling loop comprising an energy storage fluid conduit fluidly interconnecting one or more energy storage elements such that energy storage coolant fluid flows therebetween;

a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) heating and cooling loop comprising an HVAC fluid conduit fluidly interconnecting at least a compressor, a condenser, a first expansion valve interconnected with an evaporator, and a second expansion valve interconnected with a chiller such that a HVAC refrigerant may flow therebetween, wherein the chiller is disposed in thermal communication with the energy storage fluid conduit;

a heater core disposed in thermal communication with the evaporator;

a mode valve fluidly interconnecting the drivetrain fluid conduit and energy storage fluid conduit such that drivetrain coolant fluid and/or energy storage coolant fluid may be directed between the drivetrain cooling loop and energy storage system heating and cooling loop; and

a blend valve fluidly interconnecting the drivetrain fluid conduit, the heater core, the first cooling element, and a bypass conduit configured to bypass the first cooling element and the heater core,

wherein the second expansion valve is configured such that thermal cooling from the HVAC heating and cooling loop is transferred into the energy storage coolant fluid through the chiller, and

wherein the blend valve is configured to perform at least one of:

transfer heat waste from the drivetrain cooling loop into the energy storage coolant fluid through the bypass conduit, and/or

transfer heat waste from the drivetrain cooling loop or the energy storage system heating and cooling loop into the heater core.

2 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the first cooling element is a radiator.

3 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , further comprising at least a drivetrain pump in fluid communication with the drivetrain fluid conduit, and an energy storage pump in fluid communication with the energy storage fluid conduit.

4 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the blend valve is configured to transfer all expelled waste heat from the drivetrain cooling loop into the energy storage coolant fluid through the bypass conduit.

5 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the blend valve is configured to transfer all expelled waste heat from the drivetrain cooling loop into the HVAC heating and cooling loop through the heater core.

6 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the blend valve is configured to transfer all expelled waste heat from the drivetrain cooling loop into the first cooling element.

7 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the blend valve outputs the drivetrain coolant fluid to two or more of the heater core; the first cooling element; and the bypass conduit.

8 . The integrated thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the blend valve is configured to transfer heat waste from the drivetrain cooling loop and the energy storage system heating and cooling loop into the heater core.

9 . An electric vehicle comprising:

a vehicle cabin; and

the integrated thermal management system of claim 1 ,

wherein the heater core and the evaporator are in thermal connection with the vehicle cabin.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (400)