초록 ▼

A cooling system for a battery in a vehicle does not use air from the vehicle passenger compartment, but rather, takes in ambient air from outside the vehicle. When the temperature of the ambient air outside the vehicle is low enough, the air is moved through a duct system by a pair of fans and blow

A cooling system for a battery in a vehicle does not use air from the vehicle passenger compartment, but rather, takes in ambient air from outside the vehicle. When the temperature of the ambient air outside the vehicle is low enough, the air is moved through a duct system by a pair of fans and blown across a battery assembly. When the temperature of the ambient air outside the vehicle is too warm to cool the battery directly, it is first passed through an evaporator coil where it exchanges heat with a refrigerant, prior to being blown across the battery assembly. The cooling air may be recirculated across the battery assembly, or exhausted from the vehicle through an air extractor.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed: 1. A cooling system for a battery in a vehicle having a passenger compartment, the cooling system comprising: an air intake for receiving air from an ambient environment outside the vehicle; a duct system capable of providing communication between the air intake and the battery, th

What is claimed: 1. A cooling system for a battery in a vehicle having a passenger compartment, the cooling system comprising: an air intake for receiving air from an ambient environment outside the vehicle; a duct system capable of providing communication between the air intake and the battery, the duct system being configured to inhibit air flow between the duct system and the vehicle passenger compartment, the duct system including a first structure movable between a first position for facilitating communication between the air intake and the battery, while inhibiting recirculation of air across the battery, and a second position for inhibiting communication between the air intake and the battery, while facilitating recirculation of air across the battery; a fan cooperating with the duct system for moving air through at least a portion of the duct system and across the battery; and a heat exchanger cooperating with the duct system and selectively operable to cool air flowing in the duct system before the flowing air reaches the battery. 2. The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising an air outlet configured to facilitate air flow from the duct system to the ambient environment outside the vehicle. 3. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the air outlet includes first and second portions, the first portion being in communication with the duct system, and the second portion being in communication with the vehicle passenger compartment, the second portion including a flow inhibitor for inhibiting air flow from the duct system to the vehicle passenger compartment. 4. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the first structure is movable to an intermediate position which facilitates communication between the air intake and the battery, and recirculation of air across the battery. 5. The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising an air outlet configured to facilitate air flow from the duct system to the ambient environment outside the vehicle, and wherein the duct system further includes a second structure movable between a first position for facilitating air flow from the duct system through the air outlet, and a second position for inhibiting air flow from the duct system through the air outlet. 6. The cooling system of claim 5, wherein movement of the first and second structures is synchronous. 7. The cooling system of claim 5, further comprising: a first sensor configured to measure a temperature indicative of the ambient environment outside the vehicle, and to output a signal related to the ambient temperature; a second sensor disposed in relation to the battery for measuring a temperature indicative of battery temperature, the second sensor being configured to output a signal related to the battery temperature; and a controller configured to receive the signals output from the first and second sensors, and to control the operation of the fan, the heat exchanger, and the first and second structures, at least partly based on the signals received. 8. A cooling system for a battery in a vehicle having a passenger compartment, the cooling system comprising: an air intake for receiving ambient air from outside the vehicle; a duct system configured to inhibit air flow between the duct system and the vehicle passenger compartment, and including first and second duct subsystems, the first duct subsystem being disposed between the air intake and the battery for providing an air flow path from the air intake to the battery, the second duct subsystem being disposed between the battery and the first duct subsystem for providing an air flow path from the battery to the first duct subsystem, thereby facilitating recirculation of air across the battery, the duct system being configured to selectively inhibit air flow through at least a portion of the first and second duct subsystems; a fan cooperating with the duct system for moving air through at least a portion of the duct system and across the battery; and a heat exchanger cooperating with the duct system and selectively operable to cool air flowing in the duct system before the flowing air reaches the battery. 9. The cooling system of claim 8, wherein the duct system further includes a first baffle movable between first and second positions, the first position facilitating air flow from the air intake to the battery through the first duct subsystem, the second position facilitating air flow from the battery to the first duct subsystem through the second duct subsystem. 10. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the first baffle is movable to an intermediate position for facilitating air flow through the first and second duct subsystems. 11. The cooling system of claim 9, further comprising an air outlet communicating with the ambient environment outside the vehicle, and wherein the duct system further includes a third duct subsystem cooperating with the air outlet to provide an air flow path to the ambient environment outside the vehicle. 12. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein the air outlet includes first and second portions, the first portion being in communication with the duct system, and the second portion being in communication with the vehicle passenger compartment, the second portion including a flow inhibitor for inhibiting air flow from the duct system to the vehicle passenger compartment. 13. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein the duct system includes a second baffle movable between a first position for facilitating air flow through the third duct subsystem, and a second position for inhibiting air flow through the third duct subsystem. 14. The cooling system of claim 13, wherein movement of the first and second baffles is synchronous. 15. The cooling system of claim 13, further comprising: a first sensor configured to measure a temperature indicative of the ambient environment outside the vehicle, and to output a signal related to the ambient temperature; a second sensor disposed in relation to the battery for measuring a temperature indicative of battery temperature, the second sensor being configured to output a signal related to the battery temperature; and a controller configured to receive the signals output from the first and second sensors, and to control the operation of the fan, the heat exchanger, and the first and second baffles, at least partly based on the signals received. 16. A vehicle having a passenger compartment, a window assembly and a battery, the vehicle comprising: a battery cooling system including: an air intake disposed in a portion of the window assembly for receiving air from an ambient environment outside the vehicle, a duct system configured to selectively provide communication between the air intake and the battery, and further configured to inhibit communication between the passenger compartment and the battery, a fan cooperating with the duct system for moving air through at least a portion of the duct system and across the battery, and a heat exchanger cooperating with the duct system and selectively operable to cool air flowing in the duct system before the flowing air reaches the battery. 17. The vehicle of claim 16 having a rear vehicle opening and a load floor having the battery disposed therebeneath, wherein the battery cooling system further includes first and second portions, the first portion being adjacent the rear vehicle opening and configured to provide substantially uninhibited access to the passenger compartment through the opening, the second portion being disposed beneath the load floor, adjacent the battery. 18. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the duct system includes a baffle movable between a first position for facilitating communication between the air intake and the battery, while inhibiting recirculation of air across the battery, and a second position for inhibiting communication between the air intake and the battery, while facilitating recirculation of air across the battery. 19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the battery cooling system further includes first and second sensors in communication with a controller, the first sensor being configured to measure a temperature indicative of the ambient environment outside the vehicle and to output a signal related to the ambient temperature, the second sensor being disposed in relation to the battery for measuring a temperature indicative of battery temperature, the second sensor being configured to output a signal related to the battery temperature, the controller being configured to receive the signals output from the first and second sensors, and to control the operation of the fan, the heat exchanger, and the baffle, at least partly based on the signals received.