IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,734,877
Granted Patent B2
US 12,734,877 · App. 18/466,169 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Electric vehicle radiator assembly

Inventors: Wouter Alberda (Berlin, DE); Jörg Herrmann (Berlin, DE); Swen Hagenmüller (Berlin, DE); Richard Todd Sondles (Maricopa, AZ)
Assignee: HYROAD NETWORKS LLC
B60K11/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,734,877
App. No.
18/466,169
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides a radiator assembly that includes a stationary assembly that includes a fan assembly coupled to a fan frame assembly, a rotating assembly that includes a radiator frame assembly and a support frame assembly coupled to the radiator frame assembly, and an actuation assembly coupled to the rotating assembly. The rotating assembly may be rotatably coupled to the stationary assembly and configured to rotate relative to the stationary assembly in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The actuation assembly may be configured to enable and limit rotation of the rotating assembly relative to the stationary assembly in the first direction and the second direction.

Claims (37)

1 . A radiator assembly, comprising:

a stationary assembly comprising a fan assembly coupled to a fan frame assembly;

a rotating assembly comprising a radiator frame assembly and a support frame assembly coupled to the radiator frame assembly; and

an actuation assembly coupled to the rotating assembly,

wherein the fan frame assembly comprises a frame plate, a frame bracket, a first attachment bracket, and a second attachment bracket,

wherein the stationary assembly further comprises a latch mount coupled to the frame bracket,

wherein the rotating assembly is rotatably coupled to the stationary assembly and configured to rotate relative to the stationary assembly in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, and

wherein the actuation assembly is configured to enable and limit rotation of the rotating assembly relative to the stationary assembly in the first direction and the second direction.

2 . The radiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotating assembly further comprises a striker coupled to a striker mount coupled to the support frame assembly.

3 . The radiator assembly of claim 2 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises a latch coupled to the latch mount and configured to interface with the striker.

4 . The radiator assembly of claim 3 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises a pull cable coupled to and configured to open the latch.

5 . The radiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises a torsion bar or a helical torsion spring coupled to a pair of fixed actuation brackets.

6 . The radiator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises an electric motor coupled to a gear assembly.

7 . A radiator assembly, comprising:

a stationary assembly comprising a fan assembly coupled to a fan frame assembly;

a rotating assembly comprising a radiator frame assembly and a support frame assembly coupled to the radiator frame assembly; and

an actuation assembly coupled to the rotating assembly, wherein the actuation assembly comprises a strap assembly and an actuation handle,

wherein the rotating assembly is rotatably coupled to the stationary assembly and configured to rotate relative to the stationary assembly in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, and

wherein the actuation assembly is configured to enable and limit rotation of the rotating assembly relative to the stationary assembly in the first direction and the second direction.

8 . The radiator assembly of claim 7 , wherein the strap assembly comprises a first strap anchor assembly coupled to the rotating assembly and a second strap anchor assembly configured to be coupled to a vehicle cab.

9 . The radiator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the strap assembly further comprises a strap rotatably coupled to the first strap anchor assembly and rotatably coupled to the second strap anchor assembly.

10 . The radiator assembly of claim 7 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises a hand crank.

11 . A radiator assembly for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a stationary assembly;

a rotating assembly rotatably coupled to the stationary assembly and configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction relative to the stationary assembly; and

an actuation assembly coupled to the rotating assembly and configured to enable and limit rotation of the rotating assembly relative to the stationary assembly,

wherein the actuation assembly enables a first amount of angular displacement of the rotating assembly, and

wherein a cab of the electric vehicle enables a second amount of angular displacement of the rotating assembly.

12 . The radiator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the stationary assembly comprises a fan assembly and a fan frame assembly coupled to the fan assembly.

13 . The radiator assembly of claim 12 , wherein the rotating assembly comprises a radiator frame assembly and a support frame assembly coupled to the radiator frame assembly.

14 . The radiator assembly of claim 13 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises a strap assembly coupled to the radiator frame assembly and the cab.

15 . The radiator assembly of claim 14 , wherein the strap assembly comprises a first strap anchor assembly coupled to the radiator frame assembly and a second strap anchor assembly coupled to the cab.

16 . The radiator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the cab of the electric vehicle enables the second amount of angular displacement of the rotating assembly through rotation of the cab.

17 . The radiator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the radiator assembly is configured to dissipate heat from at least one fuel cell module.

18 . The radiator assembly of claim 17 , wherein the radiator assembly is further configured to dissipate heat from at least one of a braking system of the electric vehicle, a high voltage battery system of the electric vehicle, or a drive axle of the electric vehicle.

19 . The radiator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first amount of angular displacement and the second amount of angular displacement sum to between 70 degrees and 110 degrees, or between 80 degrees and 100 degrees, or 90 degrees.

20 . The radiator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the radiator assembly is configured to assume a plurality of service configurations, and wherein each service configuration is associated with a specific amount of angular displacement of the rotating assembly.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2025
From: NIKOLA CORPORATION
To: HYROAD NETWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 073706/0118 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2023
From: ALBERDA, WOUTER; HERRMANN, JORG; HAGENMULLER, SWEN
To: EDAG ENGINEERING GMBH
Reel/Frame 064891/0560 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2023
From: EDAG ENGINEERING GMBH
To: NIKOLA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064891/0742 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2023
From: SONDLES, RICHARD TODD
To: NIKOLA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064891/0870 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63507136 · Jun 9, 2023
Provisional Application 63376032 · Sep 16, 2022
Related Publication 20240092161A1 · Mar 21, 2024
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