Vehicle air conditioning and heating method providing engine on and engine off operation

• US 20060151163A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bergstrom Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bergstrom Incorporated
• Inventors: Elias, Eric, Zeigler, Terry
• Granted Patent: US 7,448,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/240
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00378 for tractor or load vehicle cabins
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/322 for improving the stop or idling operation of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3226 Self-contained devices, i.e. including own drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3272 to control the revolving speed of a compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0253 with variable speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/00 Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy F25B30/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

An air conditioning system for use in an over-the-road or off road vehicle is provided that provides operation during both engine on and engine off conditions. The system includes a variable speed compressor, a motor, and a controller. The controller receives electric power from the vehicle'"'"'s electric power generation system when the engine is on to enable operation of the compressor during an engine on condition. When the engine is off, the controller receives electric power from a battery to enable operation of the compressor during the engine off condition. This allows no-idle operation of the air conditioning system.

Claims

1. A vehicle air conditioning system operable to provide engine on and engine off, no-idle operation to provide air conditioning to the sleeping area of the vehicle, the vehicle including an electric power generation and storage system including an alternator and at least one battery, comprising:

a variable-speed compressor;

a DC motor operably coupled to the variable-speed compressor;

a controller operably coupled to the motor, the controller receiving electric power from the at least one battery when the engine is off to enable operation of the compressor during an engine off condition; and

wherein the controller disables operation of the compressor when the voltage of the battery drops below a predetermined set point.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller modulates the speed of the compressor as needs demand.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller increases the speed of the compressor based on an increased demand for cooling.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller decreases the speed of the compressor based on a decreased demand for cooling.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller monitors at least one of an exterior ambient temperature and an interior ambient temperature of the vehicle to determine a compressor capacity to achieve and maintain an interior set point temperature.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller increases the speed of the compressor when a difference between the exterior and interior temperatures rises.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller decreases the speed of the compressor when either of the exterior ambient temperature drops or the interior ambient temperature set point rises.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one battery includes an air conditioning system dedicated battery, and wherein the at least one battery from which the controller receives electric power when the engine is off is the air conditioning system dedicated battery.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the air conditioning system dedicated battery is charged by the electric power generation and storage system of the vehicle when the engine is on.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller receives electric power from the electric power generation system of the vehicle when the engine is on.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller varies the speed of the compressor when the engine is not operating by varying the energization of the motor based on at least one of a refrigerant temperature or pressure.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller modulates the speed of the compressor when the engine is not operating by varying the energization of the motor based on electrical power demands of the air conditioning system.

13. A method of operating an air conditioning system for a vehicle to provide air conditioning to the sleeping area of the vehicle having an electric power generation and storage system, comprising the steps of:

drawing electric power from the electric power generation and storage system when the engine is operating to drive an electrically driven, variable-speed compressor to cool the vehicle;

drawing electric power from the electric power generation and storage system when the engine is not operating to drive the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor to cool the vehicle; and

disabling operation of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor when an output of the electric power generation and storage system drops below a threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of varying a speed of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of varying the speed of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor comprises the step of increasing the speed of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor based on an increased demand for cooling.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of varying the speed of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor comprises the step of decreasing the speed of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor based on a decreased demand for cooling.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of monitoring at least one of an exterior ambient temperature and an interior ambient temperature of the vehicle, and varying a speed of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor to achieve an interior set point temperature.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of disabling operation of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor when an output of the electric power generation and storage system drops below a threshold comprises the step of monitoring a voltage of the electric power generation and storage system.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of disabling operation of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor when an output of the electric power generation and storage system drops below a threshold comprises the step of monitoring a power consumption from the electric power generation and storage system.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of modulating a speed of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor based on whether the vehicle engine is on or off.