Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – Thermostatic – With indicator or alarm
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-04-03
Tanner, Harry B. (Department: 3744)
Automatic temperature and humidity regulation
Thermostatic
With indicator or alarm
C236S07800D, C700S276000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209794
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer-aided design of vehicles and, more specifically, to a method for designing a thermal management system of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vehicle design, and in particular automotive vehicle design, has advanced to a state in which computer-aided design techniques are frequently utilized to develop a new vehicle in a virtual environment. Computer-aided design is especially beneficial in optimizing the various systems incorporated within a vehicle, to maximize design and functional capabilities of the vehicle systems. One example of a vehicle system is a thermal management system, providing powertrain cooling and climate control. The powertrain cooling system maintains the temperature within an engine compartment of the vehicle. The climate control system maintains the temperature of an occupant compartment of the vehicle at a comfortable level by providing heating, cooling and ventilation.
One aspect of the design task for a vehicle system, such as the thermal management system, is to ensure that the system is spatially compatible with a particular environment. Another aspect of the design task is to ensure that the design complies with predetermined functional criteria, including performance and durability requirements. In the past, various methods have been utilized to determine whether a proposed design meets such predetermined parameters. For example, a proposed design may be analyzed in two dimensions, which requires many iterations of a drawing. A three-dimensional model may also be constructed to obtain a better perspective of the design. The three-dimensional model may further be subjected to testing to determine whether it complies with performance and durability criteria. This method is time consuming and expensive.
It is also known that design methods that are knowledge-based are being utilized to design a vehicle system. The knowledge-based design method provides advice to the user of the method based on the environment of the design application used. Advantageously, knowledge-based design techniques maximize the amount of knowledge utilized, while developing a new vehicle system in a minimal period of time. An example of a knowledge-based design technique is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,293 to Kaepp, entitled “Method For Optimizing The Design Of A Product Using Knowledge Based Engineering Techniques”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
It is also known to use a computer-aided design technique to design a vehicle system. An example of a computer aided design technique is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/984,806, entitled “Method and System For Vehicle Design Using Occupant Reach Zones”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Another example is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/356,576, entitled “Method For Designing A HVAC Air Handling Assembly For A Climate Control System,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
While the above design techniques work well, they do not take into account the particular functional and comfort criteria associated with designing a thermal management system for a vehicle. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a method for designing a thermal management system for a vehicle using a computer aided design and engineering technique that optimizes thermal performance and maximizes passenger thermal comfort criteria.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is a method for designing a thermal management system for a vehicle. The method includes the steps of determining a parametric solid model of a vehicle and determining an exterior thermal output of the vehicle from the parametric solid model of the vehicle. The method also includes the steps of determining a parametric solid model of an interior thermal management system of the vehicle and determining an interior thermal output within the vehicle, from the parametric solid model of the interior thermal management system and the external thermal output of the vehicle.
One advantage of the present invention is that an improved method of designing a thermal management system for a vehicle is provided that considerably reduces design time and related expenses. Another advantage of the present invention is that a method of designing a thermal management system for a vehicle is provided that considers both external vehicle and interior vehicle thermal management criteria. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that a method of designing a thermal management system for a vehicle is provided that allows analysis of an occupant's thermal comfort early in the design process. Still another advantage of the present invention is that a method of designing a thermal management system for a vehicle is provided which supports computer-aided engineering analysis (CAE) and rapid prototyping. A further advantage of the present invention is that a method of designing a thermal management system for a vehicle is provided which enhances informed decision making regarding the design in furtherance of vehicle timing considerations. Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that a method of designing thermal management system for a vehicle is provided that enhances flexibility in system design, while still meeting vehicle timing considerations. Still a further advantage of the present invention is that a method of designing a thermal management system for a vehicle is provided that utilizes parametric automated design in light of predetermined criteria.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4912657 (1990-03-01), Saxon et al.
patent: 5070534 (1991-12-01), Lascelles et al.
patent: 5111413 (1992-05-01), Lazansky et al.
patent: 5170935 (1992-12-01), Federspiel et al.
patent: 5197120 (1993-03-01), Saxton et al.
patent: 5197666 (1993-03-01), Wedekind
patent: 5291748 (1994-03-01), Ueda
patent: 5293479 (1994-03-01), Quintero et al.
patent: 5799293 (1998-08-01), Kaepp
patent: 5988517 (1999-11-01), Bauer et al.
SAE Recommended Practice, “Passenger Car Windshield Wiper Systems-SAE J903c”, Nov. 1973.
SAE Recommended Practice, “Motor Vehicle Driver And Passenger Head Position-SAE J1052”, May 1987.
SAE Recommended Practice, “Driver Hand Control Reach-SAE J287”, Jun. 1988.
SAE Recommended Practice, “Passenger Car Glazing Shade Bands-SAE J100”, Mar. 1988.
SAE Recommended Practice, “Accommodation Tool Reference Point-SAE J1516”, Mar. 1990.
SAE Recommended Practice, “Driver Selected Seat Position-SAE J1517”, Mar. 1990.
SAE Recommended Practice,“Truck Driver Shin-Knee Position For Clutch And Accelerator-SAE J1521”, Mar. 90.
SAE Recommended Practice, “Truck Driver Stomach Position-SAE J1522”, Mar. 1990.
SAE Standard,“Devices For Use In Defining And Measuring Vehicle Seating Accomodation-SAE J826”, Jun. 1992.
SAE Recommended Practice, “Motor Vehicle Drivers' Eye Locations-SAE J941”, Jun. 1992.
SAE Recommended Practice, “Passenger Car Windshield Defrosting Systems-SAE J902”, Apr. 1993.
SAE Recommended Practice, “Windshield Wiper Systems-Trucks, Buses, And Multipurpose Vehicles-SAE J198”, Jun. 1993.
SAE Recommended Practice, “Motor Vehicle Dimensions-SAE J1100”, Jun. 1993.
SAE Recommended Practice, “ Describing And Measuring The Driver's Field Of View-SAE J1050”, Aug. 1994.
Glelda Thomas Paul
Webster Bruce Eugene
Shelton Larry I.
Tanner Harry B.
Visteon Global Technologies Inc.
LandOfFree
Method for designing a vehicle thermal management system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for designing a vehicle thermal management system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for designing a vehicle thermal management system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2473208