Cooling module for a vehicle

Abstract

A cooling module for a vehicle includes a combo cooler associated with a vehicle. A heat rejecter includes tubes arranged in a planar configuration. A low temperature radiator is associated with the heat rejecter and includes low temperature radiator tubes arranged in a planar configuration. Manifolds are independently configured to supply a refrigerant to the heat rejecter and a coolant to the low temperature radiator. A high temperature radiator is disposed adjacent and parallel to the combo cooler, and downstream of the combo cooler relative to an air stream flowing through the combo cooler and the high temperature radiator. The high temperature radiator is associated with a high temperature cooling loop of the vehicle, and cools an other coolant flowing therethrough. An operating temperature of refrigerant in the heat rejecter and an operating temperature of coolant in the low temperature radiator are lower than an operating temperature of the other coolant in the high temperature radiator.

1 . A cooling module for a vehicle, comprising:
 a combo cooler operatively associated with a vehicle, including:
 a heat rejecter having a plurality of heat rejecter tubes operatively connected thereto, the plurality of heat rejecter tubes arranged in a substantially planar configuration; 
 a low temperature radiator operatively associated with the heat rejecter and in fluid communication with a low temperature cooling loop of the vehicle, the low temperature radiator having a plurality of low temperature radiator tubes operatively connected thereto and arranged in a substantially planar configuration; 
 a manifold opposed to and substantially parallel to an other manifold, the manifold and the other manifold each operatively connected to the plurality of heat rejecter tubes and the plurality of low temperature radiator tubes, the manifold and the other manifold also independently configured to supply a refrigerant to the heat rejecter and a coolant to the low temperature radiator; and 
 at least one fin disposed between each one of the plurality of the heat rejecter tubes and the plurality of the low temperature radiator tubes; and 
   a high temperature radiator disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to the combo cooler, and downstream of the combo cooler relative to an air stream flowing through the combo cooler and the high temperature radiator, the high temperature radiator operatively associated with a high temperature cooling loop of the vehicle and configured to cool an other coolant flowing therethrough;   wherein an operating temperature of the refrigerant in the heat rejecter and an operating temperature of the coolant in the low temperature radiator of the combo cooler are lower than an operating temperature of the other coolant in the high temperature radiator.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 1  wherein the vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle, the low temperature cooling loop is an electric motor cooling loop, and the high temperature cooling loop is an internal combustion engine cooling loop. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 1  wherein the high temperature cooling loop is an internal combustion engine cooling loop, and the low temperature cooling loop is a charge air cooler cooling loop. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 1  wherein the heat rejecter is a condenser operatively associated with a vapor cycle refrigeration system. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 4  wherein the refrigerant is R134a or R12. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 1  wherein the heat rejecter is a gas heat exchanger operatively associated with a gas cycle refrigeration system. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 6  wherein the refrigerant is carbon dioxide gas. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of heat rejecter tubes is extruded and silicon particle coated. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of heat rejecter tubes is extruded and clad with a metal alloy. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of the low temperature radiator tubes is individually folded and subsequently brazed with the combo cooler as a whole. 
     
     
         11 . A cooling module for a vehicle, comprising:
 a combo cooler, including:
 a heat rejecter having a plurality of heat rejecter tubes operatively connected thereto, the plurality of heat rejecter tubes arranged in a substantially planar configuration; 
 a low temperature radiator operatively associated with the heat rejecter and in fluid communication with a low temperature cooling loop of the vehicle, the low temperature radiator having a plurality of low temperature radiator tubes operatively connected thereto and arranged in a substantially planar configuration; 
 an oil cooler operatively associated with the heat rejecter and the low temperature radiator, the oil cooler having at least one oil cooler tube operatively connected thereto and also arranged in a substantially planar configuration; 
 a manifold opposed to and substantially parallel to an other manifold, the manifold and the other manifold each operatively connected to the plurality of heat rejecter tubes, the plurality of low temperature radiator tubes, and the at least one oil cooler tube, the manifold and the other manifold also independently configured to supply a refrigerant to the heat rejecter, a coolant to the low temperature radiator, and an oil to the oil cooler; and 
 at least one fin disposed between i) the at least one oil cooler tube, and ii) each of the plurality of the heat rejecter tubes and the plurality of the low temperature radiator tubes; and 
   a high temperature radiator disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to the combo cooler, and downstream of the combo cooler relative to an air stream flowing through the combo cooler and the high temperature radiator, the high temperature radiator configured to cool an other coolant flowing therethrough;   wherein an operating temperature of the refrigerant in the heat rejecter, an operating temperature of the oil in the oil cooler, and an operating temperature of the coolant in the low temperature radiator of the combo cooler are lower than an operating temperature of the other coolant in the high temperature radiator.   
     
     
         12 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 11  wherein the vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle, the low temperature cooling loop is an electric motor cooling loop, and the high temperature cooling loop is an internal combustion engine cooling loop. 
     
     
         13 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 11  wherein the high temperature cooling loop is an internal combustion engine cooling loop, and the low temperature cooling loop is a charge air cooler cooling loop. 
     
     
         14 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 11  wherein the heat rejecter is a condenser operatively associated with a vapor cycle refrigeration system. 
     
     
         15 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 14  wherein the refrigerant is R134a or R12. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 11  wherein the heat rejecter is a gas heat exchanger operatively associated with a gas cycle refrigeration system. 
     
     
         17 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 16  wherein the refrigerant is carbon dioxide gas. 
     
     
         18 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 11  wherein each of the plurality of heat rejecter tubes is extruded and silicon particle coated. 
     
     
         19 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 11  wherein each of the plurality of heat rejecter tubes is extruded and clad with a metal alloy. 
     
     
         20 . The cooling module as defined in  claim 11  wherein each of the plurality of low temperature radiator tubes is folded and subsequently brazed with the combo cooler as a whole.