45 results about "Block heater" patented technology

A portable surface cleaning apparatus comprises a fluid dispensing system including at least one fluid supply tank, a dispensing nozzle for applying a cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned, and a block heater for heating the fluid to be applied to the surface to be cleaned to a temperature less than boiling; a fluid recovery tank for holding recovered fluid; a suction nozzle; a working air conduit extending between the recovery tank and the suction nozzle; and a vacuum source in fluid communication with the recovery tank for generating a flow of working air from the suction nozzle through the working air conduit and into the recovery tank to thereby recover fluid from the surface to be cleaned.

A heater system for an electrical storage device, such as a high voltage traction battery, is connectable to an external AC power source maintain a proper temperature of the battery as long as the system remains connected to the external power source. The battery temperature can be maintained at a level that ensures that the vehicle will start even in extremely cold climates. The heater system includes a heater disposed within the battery itself. Other system components, such as an AC / DC converter and a control module, may be connected to the battery heater system outside of the battery, allowing the battery heater system to act as a modular component that can be easily included in or excluded from a vehicle as an option, either alone or in a package with an engine block heater. The battery heater system is designed so that it can be connected along with the engine block heater to the AC power source using a single common connector.

A plug of a power cord of a block heater which is mounted to a cylinder block of an engine, is connected to a household power receptacle to energize the block heater during an engine stoppage in cold climate. Thus, an engine coolant is kept warm to prevent freeze. Existence / nonexistence of the energization to the block heater during the engine stoppage is determined based on a behavior of coolant temperature or a behavior of engine rotation speed immediately after an engine start. If it is determined that the energization to the block heater exists, abnormality diagnosis of a cooling system is prohibited or a condition for the abnormality diagnosis is corrected and estimation coolant temperature is corrected.

A diesel engine (100) has a control system (102) that processes certain data to develop data values for one or more temperature-dependent variables, such as injection control pressure (ICP), that affect engine starting and ensuing warm-up. The control system also processes data for detecting a temperature differential in the engine indicative of a block heater (126) having been used to heat the engine prior to cranking. Upon detection of such temperature differential, the control system selects a temperature data source from multiple available temperature data sources, namely engine coolant temperature ECT, engine oil temperature EOT, and charge air temperature AIT, and processes temperature data from the selected source with additional data to develop data values for one or more of the temperature-dependent variables.

A first method is suitable for vehicles having an ambient temperature sensor and employs an estimation model configured to estimate a minimum start-up engine coolant temperature (SUECT) if the engine block heater was operated during the previous soak period. A measured SUECT is then compared to estimated minimum SUECT from the model, and if it is higher, then the diagnostic logic concludes that the engine block heater was operated during the soak period, and disables the reporting its test results. A second method is suitable for vehicles without an ambient (soak) temperature sensor employs an alternative approach. Predetermined data based on actual vehicle testing over a wide range of conditions is stored in a data structure. The data describe respective minimum and maximum start-up IAT thresholds versus SUECT. The thresholds are spaced apart to define a start-up IAT window in between. In other words, the window is bounded by minimum and maximum start-up IAT thresholds. For any measured SUECT, a particular window will be set. If the measured start-up IAT falls within the window, then the engine block heater was operated during the soak period.

Methods, systems and devices for identifying irrational results from an engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor in a vehicle are described. The vehicle suitably includes a processor in communication with the ECT sensor and an intake air temperature (IAT) sensor. The method includes the steps of receiving an ECT reading from the ECT sensor and a IAT reading at the processor, evaluating a temperature difference between the ECT reading and the IAT reading to determine if irrationality is present, and providing a fault indication in response to the evaluating step. The evaluating step includes monitoring the IAT reading during operation of the vehicle to identify the presence of an engine block heater if the temperature difference exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

Methods, systems and devices for identifying irrational results from an engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor in a vehicle are described. The vehicle suitably includes a processor in communication with the ECT sensor and an intake air temperature (IAT) sensor. The method includes the steps of receiving an ECT reading from the ECT sensor and a IAT reading at the processor, evaluating a temperature difference between the ECT reading and the IAT reading to determine if irrationality is present, and providing a fault indication in response to the evaluating step. The evaluating step includes monitoring the IAT reading during operation of the vehicle to identify the presence of an engine block heater if the temperature difference exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

A heating element for a fuel tank takes the form of an immersion heater commonly used in process applications to heat the contents of a fuel tank. The heater would be encased within a well for ease of servicing and replacement as well as safety. The tank heater would be wired in parallel with an engine block heater and connected to a suitable power cord, which would be plugged into a receptacle powered by alternating current. This feature allows the energizing of two heaters from only power cord and is identical to the procedure followed for only the block heater. The thermostat would be provided with an operating thermostat to keep the diesel fuel at the proper temperature, as well as an over-limit termination device for safety purposes.

The present invention relates to a method and system for detecting a presence of a block heater in an automobile. In one embodiment, an automobile includes an engine, a radiator, an engine coolant temperature (“ECT”) sensor, and / or an engine control unit (“ECU”). The radiator delivers coolant to the engine to cool the engine. The ECT sensor is located in a path of the coolant and determines ECT data. The ECU determines a temperature difference between a current maximum temperature of the engine coolant temperature data at a first time period and a current minimum temperature of the engine coolant temperature data at a second time period after the first time period. When the temperature difference is greater than a predetermined temperature threshold, the ECU determines that the block heater is present. When the block heater is present, the ECU masks any engine malfunction detections.

A method for detecting an engine block heater includes block heater detection logic and a data table containing calibration thresholds. The method determines a time-series of delta (Δ) engine coolant temperatures (ECT), which represent the respective differences between a start-up ECT and a plurality of operating ECT values measured thereafter. The method integrates the time-series to obtain a Δ ECT integral. The method also maintains an integrated engine speed parameter accumulated over the course of the detection period. Throughout the detection period, the method retrieves a threshold value from the table based on the integrated engine speed (Y-axis) versus an elapsed time (X-axis) since the detection period began. When the calculated Δ ECT integral value exceeds the retrieved threshold, the method determines that the block heater was operated, which can thereafter be used to suppress sensor rationality testing or reporting of results thereof.

A license plate electrical cord winding apparatus with a housing, an inner cavity, a generally cylindrical spindle affixed to said housing within said inner cavity, a reel assembly mounted to the housing within the inner cavity circumferentially about the spindle. There is also an urging member connected to the reel assembly, and an extension cord, wound around the reel assembly. A guiding roller mounted within the inner cavity guides the cord as it winds or unwinds about the reel assembly.

A sensor abnormality detection apparatus which is installed in a vehicle with an electric water pump for circulating engine cooling water and is configured to perform an abnormality detecting process related to a first temperature sensor or a second temperature sensor based on a relationship between a detection result of the first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the engine cooling water and a detection result of the second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of another medium which is correlated with the temperature of the engine cooling water or an estimation result of the temperature of the engine cooling water, comprising: a water pump forced-operating part configured to force the electric water pump to operate if the detection result of the first temperature sensor and the detection result of the second temperature sensor or the estimation result of the temperature of the engine cooling water do not meet a predetermined relationship, under a condition where the electric water pump is not operated after an engine starts. If a decrease in the temperature of the engine cooling water is observed based on the detection result of the first temperature sensor after the forced-operation of the electric water pump by the water pump forced-operating part, the abnormality detecting process is prevented, an abnormality detection result is invalidated, or an abnormality detecting way of the abnormality detecting process is changed.

A method for detecting an engine block heater includes block heater detection logic and a data table containing calibration thresholds. The method determines a time-series of delta (Δ) engine coolant temperatures (ECT), which represent the respective differences between a start-up ECT and a plurality of operating ECT values measured thereafter. The method integrates the time-series to obtain a Δ ECT integral. The method also maintains an integrated engine speed parameter accumulated over the course of the detection period. Throughout the detection period, the method retrieves a threshold value from the table based on the integrated engine speed (Y-axis) versus an elapsed time (X-axis) since the detection period began. When the calculated Δ ECT integral value exceeds the retrieved threshold, the method determines that the block heater was operated, which can thereafter be used to suppress sensor rationality testing or reporting of results thereof.

A thermal phase separation simulator and method for testing chemicals is disclosed. The simulator comprises a circular block heater carousel mounted for rotation on a stage. The carousel includes a circular array of test wells for receiving a plurality of test bottles, a plurality of heating elements and thermocouples disposed between the wells. Each well has an illumination port and a vertical slit to the outside to allow visual observation or imaging of a vertical swatch of the bottle. An illumination source aligns with the illumination port of each well in response to rotation of the carousel. The method includes adding a mixed phase fluid to a plurality of bottles, adding a chemical agent to each bottle, and simulating a thermal phase separation. Images of the fluid in each bottle are captured and analyzed to determine the performance of the one or more chemical agents.

A heater system for an electrical storage device, such as a high voltage traction battery, is connectable to an external AC power source maintain a proper temperature of the battery as long as the system remains connected to the external power source. The battery temperature can be maintained at a level that ensures that the vehicle will start even in extremely cold climates. The heater system includes a heater disposed within the battery itself. Other system components, such as an AC / DC converter and a control module, may be connected to the battery heater system outside of the battery, allowing the battery heater system to act as a modular component that can be easily included in or excluded from a vehicle as an option, either alone or in a package with an engine block heater. The battery heater system is designed so that it can be connected along with the engine block heater to the AC power source using a single common connector.

A method and apparatus for parking lot metering. The present invention allows multi-space meters to separately manage and control premium parking spaces, such as those for charging electric vehicles or those which supply electric power for engine block heaters in both pay-by-space and pay-an-display systems. Such premium spaces can be managed together over large areas (e.g., a city or region), or may be managed over smaller areas (e.g., the domain of an individual kiosk), or individually per parking space. Management includes pricing, time limits, hours, seasons of operation, and restrictions by vehicle type, and alternative pricing and restrictions for non-premium hours.

In conventional reflow furnaces having suction ports in the vicinity of many hot-air blowing ports, there have been some cases where the hot-air blowing nozzles are cooled when hot air at a reduced temperature after printed board heating is brought into contact with the hot-air blowing nozzle, since the hot-air blowing nozzle is thin. Furthermore, in conventional reflow furnaces having thick hot-air blowing nozzles, it has been difficult to change the shape of the nozzles to the shape suitable for a printed board, since the shape of the nozzle is fixed. In a reflow furnace, a hot-air blowing nozzle having a prescribed shape is formed by combining block heaters of various shapes. Furthermore, the block heater has vertical hot-air jetting ports in a thick board.

A license plate electrical cord winding apparatus with a housing, an inner cavity, a generally cylindrical spindle affixed to said housing within said inner cavity, a reel assembly mounted to the housing within the inner cavity circumferentially about the spindle. There is also an urging member connected to the reel assembly, and an extension cord, wound around the reel assembly. A guiding roller mounted within the inner cavity guides the cord as it winds or unwinds about the reel assembly.

A heating system that heats the reducing agent supplier for supplying an urea aqueous solution to an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine in a vehicle includes: a block heater that is provided in a housing formed with a coolant circuit of the internal combustion engine and can be supplied with power of an external power supply; a coolant circulation passage that is branched from the coolant circuit, is disposed in at least a part of the reducing agent supplier, and merges with the coolant circuit again; an on-off control valve that is provided in the middle of the coolant circulation passage; a bypass passage that connects an upstream side and a downstream side of the on-off control valve; and an on-off valve that is provided in the bypass passage.

An aerosol-generating device according to an aspect includes: a heater; a first switch electrically connected to the heater in series; a second switch electrically connected to the heater and the first switch in series; a first processor configured to output a first control signal that controls an open / closed state of the first switch; and a second processor configured to perform communication with the first processor and output a second control signal that controls an open / closed state of the second switch such that the open / closed state of the second switch is changed based on a communication status with the first processor.

A block heater cord extender features a frame for mounting to a vehicle, a female electrical socket carried on the frame for receiving a male plug of the vehicle's block heater cord, and an extendable / retractable arm having a proximal end movably mounted to the frame. The arm is extendable and retractable in length, and carries an electrical plug at its distal end for mating with a mains power electrical outlet. Circuitry of the extender includes a wireless transmitter arranged activated by the mains power supply when the extender is plugged in. The transmitter sends a signal to a separate warning unit placed inside the vehicle, which reminds a vehicle operator to unplug the extender before driving away.

The present invention relates to a mold device for hot stamping, and includes: a hot stamping mold that molds an ultra-high strength steel plate and has a softening part; and a block heater part that is inserted into a lower portion of the softening part of the hot stamping mold to soften the ultra-high strength steel plate, in order to maintain a uniform temperature distribution of the softening part of the hot stamping mold and improve the temperature management and the maintenance performance of the softening part by providing a segmented structure for inserting the block heater part into the softening part of the hot stamping mold.

An electronic control for engine block heater elements for heating an engine to an engine ready temperature includes a power input, a power output, and a controller. The controller includes a clock for keeping a time and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature. The controller is configured for controlling the power from the power input to the power output in at least two modes of operation for heating the engine to the engine ready temperature. The second mode of timed ready is where the power from the power input to the power output is connected at a pre-calculated time interval for the purpose of making ready the subject vehicle for starting at the desired start time as set by the user. The third mode of maintain ready is where the power from the electrical outlet to the engine block heater element is regulated to maintain the engine ready temperature.

The invention relates to a method for determining the high-temperature evaporation loss of lubricating oil. According to the method, an aluminum block heater in accordance with an SH / T 0661 method is adopted, and a ring-shaped heater of an air preheater is closed to determine the evaporation loss of the lubricating oil by adopting a pressure regulation type heating temperature control mode, wherein a sample cup and a cover of an evaporator assembly accord with provisions of a GB / T 7325 method, and an exhaust pipe and a cover of the evaporator assembly accord with provisions of the SH / T 0661 method. The method is characterized by comprising the following determination steps of: thoroughly cleaning all components of the evaporator assembly; setting a test temperature and an air flow rate; keeping the temperature of the aluminum block heater and the air flow rate for at least 0.5 hour; weighing 10+ / -0.05g of a sample; testing for 6.5+ / -0.1 hours; and calculating the evaporation loss X of the lubricating oil. According to the method, the evaporation loss of the lubricating oil at 150 to 250 DEG C can be accurately determined, and design requirements for a novel aircraft engine can be met.

A thermal phase separation simulator and method for testing chemicals is disclosed. The simulator comprises a circular block heater carousel mounted for rotation on a stage. The carousel includes a circular array of test wells for receiving a plurality of test bottles, a plurality of heating elements and thermocouples disposed between the wells. Each well has an illumination port and a vertical slit to the outside to allow visual observation or imaging of a vertical swatch of the bottle. An illumination source aligns with the illumination port of each well in response to rotation of the carousel. The method includes adding a mixed phase fluid to a plurality of bottles, adding a chemical agent to each bottle, and simulating a thermal phase separation. Images of the fluid in each bottle are captured and analyzed to determine the performance of the one or more chemical agents.

The present invention relates to a mold device for hot stamping, and includes: a hot stamping mold that molds an ultra-high strength steel plate and has a softening part; and a block heater part that is inserted into a lower portion of the softening part of the hot stamping mold to soften the ultra-high strength steel plate, in order to maintain a uniform temperature distribution of the softening part of the hot stamping mold and improve the temperature management and the maintenance performance of the softening part by providing a segmented structure for inserting the block heater part into the softening part of the hot stamping mold.