COUPLING BETWEEN THE THERMAL ENGINE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR OF AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE

• US 20100145573A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Vasilescu, Claudiu
• Granted Patent: US 8,494,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3222 characterised by the compressor driving arrangements, e.g. clutches, transmissions or multiple drives B60H1/3208, B60H1/3226 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2025/005 driven by electric motors forming part of the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/08 Electric propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/087 Power change rate
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/10418 Accessory clutch, e.g. cooling fan, air conditioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A hybrid drive of a compressor (3) for an air conditioning unit in an automotive vehicle with a thermal engine, which is implemented by a coupling assembly including a rotating electric machine (2) adapted to be mechanically coupled to the thermal engine and to the compressor. First disengageable coupling assembly (6) are provided for connecting the rotating electric machine to the thermal engine, and second coupling assembly (8) are provided for coupling the rotating electric machine to the compressor.

Claims

1. A coupling assembly between a thermal engine (1) and a compressor (3) of an air conditioning unit of a motor vehicle, including:

a rotating electric machine (2) that can operate in motor mode;

first disengageable coupling means (6) adapted for coupling the compressor to the thermal engine; and

second disengageable coupling means (8) adapted for coupling the compressor to the rotating electric machine.

2. Coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor has a power that is no greater than 1.5 kW.

3. Coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first disengageable coupling means (6) and second disengageable coupling means (8) are adapted to be controlled independently.

4. Coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotating electric machine (2) is adapted for operating in motor mode and for providing a mechanical energy to the thermal engine (1), that is suitable for starting the thermal engine.

5. Coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotating electric machine is adapted for operating in generator mode in order to transform a mechanical power provided by the thermal engine (1) into an electrical power.

6. Coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotating electric machine (2) is adapted to be attached to the air conditioning unit of the vehicle.

7. Coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotating electric machine (2) is adapted to be coupled to the thermal engine (1) via a transmission unit (7).

8. Coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotating electric machine (2) is adapted to be connected to the compressor (3) via a transmission unit (7).

9. Coupling assembly according to claim 7, wherein the transmission unit (7) includes at least one of the following devices:

an epicyclic gear train, a fixed reduction ratio transmission, a continuously variable reduction ratio transmission, a gear box.

10. Coupling assembly according to claim 7, wherein the transmission unit (7) is an epicyclic gear train, including an annular gear (9), a sun gear (12) and planet gears (11) connected to an output shaft, the annular gear (9) forming a rotor of the rotating electric machine (2), the sun gear (9) being adapted to be mechanically connected to the compressor (3).

11. Vehicle having a thermal engine (1) and an air conditioning unit with a compressor (3), including a coupling unit according to claim 1 for the coupling between said thermal engine (1) and said compressor (3).

12. Method of controlling an engine assembly for a thermal engine vehicle, including:

a thermal engine (1) for driving the vehicle;

a rotating electric machine (2);

a compressor (3) of an air conditioning unit of said vehicle, wherein the method includes;

a first mode of operation, wherein the thermal engine (1) provides a mechanical power to the compressor (3); and

a second mode of operation wherein the rotating electric machine (2), operating in motor mode, provides a mechanical power to the compressor (3) in a manner that is mechanically independent of the thermal engine (1).

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the method includes the successive steps of:

a) providing a mechanical power from the rotating electric machine (2) to the thermal engine (1) in order to start the thermal engine (1) by means of the rotating electric machine (2);

b) providing a mechanical power from the thermal engine (1) to the compressor (3);

c) providing a mechanical power solely from the rotating electric machine (2) to the compressor (3).

14. Method according to claim 12, according wherein step (c) is repeated successively over ranges of a first duration, said ranges being spaced apart by a second duration that is substantially greater than the first duration.