System and method for controlling vehicle idling based on engine emmissions

• US 20090018702A1
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Oakes, Jeffrey L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,078,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/322 for improving the stop or idling operation of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2262 related to the period of on/off time of the heater
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An idle control system for a vehicle is provided.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a computer perform steps, the steps comprising:

controlling a vehicle-integrated HVAC device; and

controlling an accessory HVAC device.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the accessory HVAC device is battery activated.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the accessory HVAC device is activated by a vehicle battery.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the accessory HVAC device is a fuel fired cab heater.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the accessory HVAC device is a fuel fired block heater.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5, further including the steps of:

detecting engine temperature; and

activating the fuel fired block heater when the detecting step detects that the engine temperature drops below a threshold.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the accessory HVAC device is an air conditioner.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling an accessory device includes the step of activating the accessory device while an engine of the vehicle remains off.

9. A method of controlling an HVAC system operation including the steps of:

controlling a fixed-installation HVAC device; and

controlling a removable HVAC device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the controlling steps are performed by a common controller.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the controller is a computing device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the fixed-installation HVAC device is an HVAC system of a vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the removable HVAC device is battery activated.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the removable HVAC device is activated by a vehicle battery.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the removable HVAC device is a fuel fired cab heater.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the accessory HVAC device is a fuel fired block heater.

17. The method of claim 16, further including the steps of:

detecting an engine temperature; and

activating the fuel fired block heater when the detecting step detects that the engine temperature drops below a threshold.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the accessory HVAC device is an air conditioner.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of controlling a removable HVAC device includes the step of activating the removable device while causing the fixed-installation HVAC device to be in an inactive state.