IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,995,847
Granted Patent B2
US 10,995,847 · App. 15/895,644 · Granted May 4, 2021

Cooling device for vehicle components

Inventor: Bernhard Gralka (Bergisch Gladbach, DE)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
F16H57/0423F01M5/002F01M11/0004F01M2011/0025F01M2011/0058
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,995,847
App. No.
15/895,644
Granted
May 4, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a cooling device connected to components of a motor vehicle. The cooling device influencing a fluid flow moving past the vehicle components. In one example, a system may include a cooling device positioned below an oil sump. The cooling device may feature an apparatus such that a fluid flows between the apparatus and oil sump. The cooling device may also be positioned below a transmission housing.

Claims (35)

1. A drive unit for a motor vehicle having:

a motor with a motor oil sump;

a transmission with a transmission housing; and

a cooling device including a flow-guiding apparatus and a fastening apparatus, wherein the cooling device extends from a first end of the motor oil sump and to a second of the transmission housing opposite the first end of the motor oil sump, and the cooling device is fastened by the fastening apparatus;

the flow-guiding apparatus is arranged spaced apart from the motor oil sump and the transmission housing such that a cooling fluid may flow between the flow-guiding apparatus and the motor oil sump in a first section and the flow-guiding apparatus and the transmission housing in a second section, and a gap in the flow-guiding apparatus allows air flow to enter the flow-guiding apparatus between the first section and the second section.

2. The drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the flow-guiding apparatus has a planar shape and the planar shape bends at least once to vary a distance between the planar shape and the motor oil sump or the transmission housing.

3. The drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the flow-guiding apparatus is composed of metal.

4. The drive unit of claim 3 , wherein a distance between the first section of the flow-guiding apparatus and the motor oil sump varies, a distance between the second section and the transmission housing varies, and the variations in distance change with bends in a planar shape.

5. The drive unit of claim 4 , wherein the planar shape transitions at a bend from an orientation parallel with the motor oil sump or transmission housing to an orientation where a distance between the flow-guiding apparatus and the motor oil sump or the transmission housing decreases as the planar shape extends in a direction of the cooling fluid flow.

6. The drive unit of claim 4 , wherein a bend in the planar shape forms a spoiler edge which increases the distance between the planar shape and the motor oil sump or the transmission housing.

7. The drive unit of claim 6 , wherein the spoiler edge creates vacuum pressure.

8. The drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the motor oil sump and the transmission housing have ribs which fit within grooves of the flow-guiding apparatus.

9. A cooling device for a motor vehicle:

the cooling device positioned below a motor oil sump, and the cooling device including a flow-guiding apparatus and a fastening apparatus;

the flow-guiding apparatus extending along and arranged spaced apart from the motor oil sump, the flow-guiding apparatus formed as a plate comprising one or more bends and each bend changing the orientation of the plate relative to the motor oil sump;

a first portion of the plate arranged parallel to or extending toward the motor oil sump, and a second portion of the plate extending further toward the motor oil sump relative to the first portion;

the fastening apparatus connecting the cooling device and the motor oil sump such that a cooling fluid may flow between the flow-guiding apparatus the motor oil sump; and

ribs extending downward from the motor oil sump and the ribs fit within grooves within the flow-guiding apparatus.

10. The cooling device of claim 9 , wherein the flow-guiding apparatus includes two sections, a first section below the motor oil sump, and a second section below a transmission housing, and a gap between the first section and the second section allows cooling fluid to enter between the sections.

11. The cooling device of claim 10 , wherein the flow-guiding apparatus is a metal sheet, and

in a third portion, the plate is oriented such that a distance between the flow-guiding apparatus and the motor oil sump or transmission housing increases as the plate extends in a direction opposite the cooling fluid flow.

12. The cooling device of claim 11 , wherein in a fourth portion, a distance between the flow-guiding apparatus and the transmission housing increases as the plate extends in a direction of the cooling fluid flow.

13. The cooling device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more bends in the plate are formed to reduce downforce.

14. The cooling device of claim 9 , wherein each side of the groove and each side of the rib form face sharing contact.

15. A cooling device for a motor vehicle:

the cooling device connected to a transmission housing;

the cooling device including a flow-guiding apparatus and a fastening apparatus;

the flow-guiding apparatus formed as a plate extending along the transmission housing such that a cooling fluid may flow between the flow-guiding apparatus the transmission housing, and the plate comprising two or more bends which change an orientation of the plate relative to the transmission housing;

grooves within the plate of the flow-guiding apparatus which receive ribs of the transmission housing; and

the fastening apparatus connecting the cooling device and to planar shaped ribs extending from the transmission housing.

16. The cooling device of claim 15 , wherein a second section of the flow-guiding apparatus is further connected to a motor oil sump, and

the flow-guiding apparatus includes cooling fluid inlets positioned between the second section of the flow-guiding apparatus and a first section of the flow-guiding apparatus connected to the transmission housing.

17. The cooling device of claim 16 , wherein the flow-guiding apparatus is composed of plastic and includes rounded contours.

18. The cooling device of claim 15 , wherein the flow-guiding apparatus extends from a front of an engine to a rear of the transmission housing.

19. The cooling device of claim 18 , wherein the flow-guiding apparatus is a single component.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2018
From: GRALKA, BERNHARD
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 045316/0917 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 102017202789.4 · Feb 21, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180238436A1 · Aug 23, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,325,295