| CPC F25B 49/022 (2013.01) | 20 Claims |
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1. A thermal management system comprising:
a first fluid pump and a second fluid pump, the first fluid pump positioned for at least partial submersion in a first thermal fluid in a thermal fluid tank of a first thermal circuit, the second fluid pump positioned for at least partial submersion in a second thermal fluid in a first pressurized reservoir of a second fluid circuit;
a first drive shaft coupled to a driver and the first fluid pump, the first fluid pump being operated by a rotational displacement of the first drive shaft by the driver, the first fluid pump being configured to provide a first force to circulate the first thermal fluid through the first fluid circuit, a second portion of the first drive shaft positioned in an interior area of the first thermal fluid tank, a first portion of the first drive shaft being positioned outside of the thermal fluid tank and not directly physically attached to the second portion of the first drive shaft;
a second drive shaft coupled to the second fluid pump and coupled to the first portion of the first drive shaft by a clutch, the second fluid pump being operated by a rotational displacement of the second drive shaft to provide a second force to circulate a second thermal fluid at least through a heat exchanger of the second fluid circuit positioned in the thermal fluid tank; and
a magnetic coupling having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the magnetic coupling attached to the first portion of the first drive shaft and positioned outside of the thermal fluid tank, the second portion of the magnetic coupling coupled to the second portion of the first drive shaft and positioned in the interior area of the thermal fluid tank;
wherein the magnetic coupling transfers a force between the first and second portions of the magnetic coupling to rotatably displace the first portion of the magnetic coupling, and thereby rotate the second portion of the second drive shaft, with the rotational displacement of the first portion of the magnetic coupling as the first portion of the first drive shaft is rotably displaced by operation of the driver, and
wherein the clutch is selectively displaceable from an engaged position at which the rotational displacement of the first portion of the first drive shaft is transmitted by the clutch to facilitate the rotational displacement of the second drive shaft, and a disengaged position at which the rotational displacement of the first portion of the first drive shaft is not transmitted by the clutch to facilitate the rotational displacement of the second drive shaft.
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11. A method for operating a thermal management system, the method comprising:
determining if a temperature is below a predetermined temperature;
activating, in response to determining the temperature is below the predetermined temperature, a magnetic clutch to magnetically couple a first portion of the magnetic clutch to a second portion of the magnetic clutch, the first portion of the magnetic clutch being coupled to a first portion of a first drive shaft that is positioned outside of a thermal fluid tank, the second portion of the magnetic clutch being coupled to a second portion of a first drive shaft that is positioned in an interior area of the thermal fluid tank, the second portion of the first drive shaft being coupled to a first fluid pump;
activating a driver to provide a drive force to rotatably displace the first portion of the first drive shaft, the rotational displacement of the first portion of the first drive shaft being transmitted via the activated magnetic clutch to facilitate rotational displacement of the second portion of first drive shaft, an operation of the first fluid pump being driven by rotational displacement of the second portion of first drive shaft;
engaging a clutch that is coupled to the first portion of the first drive shaft and a second drive shaft, the clutch configured to transmit a portion of the drive force to rotatably displaced the second drive shaft, an operation of a second fluid pump of a first pressurized reservoir being driven by rotational displacement of the second drive shaft;
circulating, via the operation of the first fluid pump, at least a portion of a first thermal fluid out of the thermal fluid tank and along at least a portion of a first fluid circuit;
drawing, via the operation of the second fluid pump, a second thermal fluid into a heat exchanger in the thermal fluid tank;
determining if the temperature has increased to at least satisfy the predetermined temperature; and
deactivating, in response to the temperature satisfied the predetermined temperature, the operation of the second fluid pump by disengaging the clutch.
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