Escape vs Prius
#11
Originally Posted by sdctcher
I understand the mechanics of how this works from my manual but not why the scheme was chosen by Ford. It seems the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) commands the A/C clutch to connect also for use of the Auxillary Climate Control for the batteries. My only answer is that both climate systems were built under-powered for some reason and therefore you cannot run either Defrost or A/C without degrading protection to the batteries and that is why control of both is tethered together through the PCM.
Anyone with an engineering brain have a better answer?
Anyone with an engineering brain have a better answer?
They are not seperate systems. They are one and the same, there is simply a valve mechanism under the hood which determines whether the refrigerant goes to the passenger compartment, the battery cooler, or both.
As to why this system was chosen, only the engineers can answer. Someone at some point decided to use outside air for the battery, and that drove a whole set of requirements that resulted in this HVAC system. Toyota sidestepped this problem by using cabin air for the battery, assuming the passengers would want to keep themselves cool and would thus cool the battery at the same time. Also helps to keep the battery warm in winter. As to why Ford didn't use an electric compressor like Prius II, I'd bet Toyota has patent protection on the eletrically-driven compressor in the current model Prius and Ford didn't want to license that patent (or the HVAC work was already completed by the time they learned of it). Consider the battery cooling system (and the entire cooling package, btw) was outsourced to Visteon (there's a press release about it on their website) so it may well have been that Ford already had 20,000 battery cooling units in warehouse long before the cars started rolling off the line.
#12
Wow! I was very wrong about FEH climate control. Frankly I don't understand how Ford is getting the system to not hit the engine compartment constantly for A/C use if the climate control system is manual?
#13
Originally Posted by stevewa
As to why Ford didn't use an electric compressor like Prius II, I'd bet Toyota has patent protection on the eletrically-driven compressor in the current model Prius and Ford didn't want to license that patent (or the HVAC work was already completed by the time they learned of it.
Patent law is about patenting a product or specific process, not a concept. The concept of electric a/c compressors has been around for a very long time. Home and building a/c is electrically based, so the concept is general knoweldge and implemented in many different fashions by many different manufacturers. Patent infringement could have happened if Ford had directly copied the mechanics behind the Toyota electric a/c system. But if Ford had chosen to take an existing compressor they had around and electrified it, or designed their own and then placed it in the climate system for the vehicle, that wouldn't be patent infringement because they did their own homework and created their own device to acomplish the same goal.
#14
Originally Posted by JeromeP
Wow! I was very wrong about FEH climate control. Frankly I don't understand how Ford is getting the system to not hit the engine compartment constantly for A/C use if the climate control system is manual?
Summer will tell us if it actually works this way.
#15
Originally Posted by JeromeP
I'm not an expert on patent law, but if patent law is being followed correctly, which is debateable consider the history of software related and Microsoft related lawsuits, then Ford could have used and electric a/c compressor.
Patent law is about patenting a product or specific process, not a concept. The concept of electric a/c compressors has been around for a very long time. Home and building a/c is electrically based, so the concept is general knoweldge and implemented in many different fashions by many different manufacturers. Patent infringement could have happened if Ford had directly copied the mechanics behind the Toyota electric a/c system. But if Ford had chosen to take an existing compressor they had around and electrified it, or designed their own and then placed it in the climate system for the vehicle, that wouldn't be patent infringement because they did their own homework and created their own device to acomplish the same goal.
Patent law is about patenting a product or specific process, not a concept. The concept of electric a/c compressors has been around for a very long time. Home and building a/c is electrically based, so the concept is general knoweldge and implemented in many different fashions by many different manufacturers. Patent infringement could have happened if Ford had directly copied the mechanics behind the Toyota electric a/c system. But if Ford had chosen to take an existing compressor they had around and electrified it, or designed their own and then placed it in the climate system for the vehicle, that wouldn't be patent infringement because they did their own homework and created their own device to acomplish the same goal.
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