METHOD AND VEHICLE FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

• US 20150191073A1
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Westerlind, Hans, Bjrkerud, Ulf
• Application Number:
  US14/418,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20150191073A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00007 Combined heating, ventilating, or cooling devices control systems or mechanisms B60H1/00642
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00828 Ventilators, e.g. speed control B60H1/00864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00849 for selectively commanding the induction of outside or inside air B60H1/00842 takes precedence

Abstract

In a method and a vehicle for operating a vehicle heating, ventilating and cooling air conditioning system, the vehicle has an engine, to provide engine on and engine off operation, and a control unit for timer controlled activation and temperature control of the air conditioning system when the engine is off. The control unit allows an operator to set a target time and a target temperature related to the target time. The method includes the step of ventilating an interior compartment of the vehicle to ambient air for a period of time before the set target time, if the target temperature is lower than the interior temperature and the ambient air temperature is lower than the interior temperature.

Claims

1. A method of operating a vehicle heating, ventilating and cooling air conditioning system, the vehicle having an engine, to provide engine on and engine off operation, and a control unit (18) for timer controlled activation and temperature control of the air conditioning system when the engine is off, wherein the control unit (18) allows an operator to set a target time and a target temperature related to said target time, characterized in the step of:

ventilating an interior compartment of the vehicle to ambient air for a period of time before the set target time, if the target temperature is lower than the interior temperature and the ambient air temperature is lower than the interior temperature.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in the step of ending said ambient air ventilating period when the interior temperature is close to the ambient air temperature.

3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in the step of activating the air conditioning system cooling function for a period of time only if the ventilating period has ended before the target time and the interior temperature is above the target temperature.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in the step of deactivating the air conditioning system cooling function when the interior temperature is close to the target temperature.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in the step of allowing the control unit (18) to automatically select a mode of operation for the HVAC system to minimize energy consumption.

6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in the step of only operating the air conditioning system cooling function until stored vehicle electric power capacity is consumed down to a certain level.

7. A vehicle comprising a heating, ventilating and cooling air conditioning HVAC system, the vehicle having an engine, to provide engine on and engine off operation, and a control unit (18) for timer controlled activation and temperature control of the air conditioning system when the engine is off, wherein the control unit (18) communicates with a sensor for interior compartment temperature and a sensor for ambient air temperature, and wherein the control unit (18) is adapted to control said air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1-5.

8. A vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the control unit (18) communicates with a capacity sensor for stored vehicle electric power and wherein the control unit is adapted to control said air conditioning system according to claim 6.

9. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the control unit (18) is provided with software for automatic control of battery state of charge and for regulating interior ventilation, cooling output and fan speed to reach a requested temperature with a minimum of electric energy waste.

10. A vehicle according to any one of claims 7-9, wherein the control unit (18) timer is integrated into the HVAC system.

11. A vehicle according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein an electrically driven condenser (12) cooling fan (17) of the HVAC system is adapted to supply cooling air to support an engine cooling fan when the vehicle engine is running.

12. A vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the control unit (18) is adapted to open an ambient air inlet regularly in order to avoid carbon dioxide build-up in the vehicle interior.