AUTOMOBILE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM EMPLOYING AUXILIARY PRIME MOTOR

• US 3,844,130 A
• Filed: 07/09/1973
• Issued: 10/29/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wahnish M. Ervin
• Original Assignee: Wahnish M. Ervin
• Inventors: Wahnish, M. Ervin
• Primary Examiner(s): Wye, William J.
• Application Number:
  US05/377,560
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 62/323,239,157,244,243,236,133,134
• US Class Current: 62/133
• 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 25/02 directly from an engine shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2031/30 Cooling after the engine is stopped
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/08 by cutting in or out of pumps

Abstract

An auxiliary air conditioner drive system for use with an automobile having an air conditioning system normally driven by the drive means of the automobile includes means completely carried by the automobile and independent of the automobile drive means for driving the air conditioning system, and means for disengaging the air conditioning system from the automobile drive means and thereafter engaging the independent drive means thereto.

Claims

1. An auxiliary air conditioner drive system adapted for use with an automobile of the type having an air conditioning system associated therewith which is adapted to be driven by the drive means of said automobile, said auxiliary system comprising:

means completely carried by said automobile and independent of said automobile drive means for driving said air conditioner system; and

means carried by said automobile and independent of said engine for energizing said independent drive means;

means for disengaging said air conditioning system from said automobile drive means and engaging said independent drive means thereto; and

means electrically coupled to said air conditioner system and said independent drive means for electrically controlling said engaging and disengaging means.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said air conditioning system includes coolant compressing means and wherein said independent drive means comprises an electric motor positioned near said compressor.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein said fossil fuel burning means comprises:

a gasoline-driven engine; and

electrical generating means coupled with said gasoline driven engine.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said automobile drive means comprises a shaft having a fan on one end thereof, and wherein said disengaging means includes means for disengaging said fan from rotation with said shaft.

5. A system as recited in claim 4 wherein said air conditioning system includes coolant compressing means having a shaft generally parallel with and spaced from said shaft of said automobile drive means, and wherein said engaging and disengaging means comprises clutching means on each of said air conditioning and automobile shafts.

6. A system as recited in claim 5 wherein said independent drive means includes a shaft substantially parallel with said compressor shaft and said automobile shaft, and wherein said engaging and disengaging means further comprises clutching means on said shaft of said independent drive means.

7. A system as recited in claim 6 further comprising:

a first pulley on, and clutchable with, said Automobile shaft by said clutch means associated therewith;

a second pulley on, and clutchable with, said compressor shaft by said clutch means associated therewith;

a third pulley on, and clutchable with, said shaft of said independent drive means by said clutch means associated therewith;

a first endless drive belt tensioned about said first and second pulleys;

a second endless drive belt tensioned about said second and third pulleys; and

means for operating said clutching means so as to disengage said first pulley from rotation with said automobile fan shaft and for engaging said third pulley for rotation with said shaft of said independent drive means.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said clutch with said third pulley comprises:

an electromagnet fixed on said independent drive means shaft;

said third pulley comprising a ferromagnetic material and being rotatable mounted on said independent drive means shaft; and

wherein said clutch operating means includes means for energizing said electromagnet to attract said third pulley to thereafter hold in rotation with said independent drive means shaft.

9. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein said clutch associated with said first pulley comprises:

an electromagnet fixed on said automobile fan shaft;

said first pulley comprising a ferromagnetic material and being rotatably mounted on said automobile shaft; and

wherein said clutch operating means includes means for energizing said electromagnets to attract said pulleys thereto and thereafter hold in rotation with the respective shafts.

10. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein said clutch associated with said first pulley comprises a centrifugal clutch.

11. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical controlling means is further coupled with said automobile drive means.

12. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said automobile includes an enclosed passenger compartment, and wherein said auxiliary system further comprises means adapted to be positioned in said passenger compartment for initiating said controlling means under predetermined conditions.

13. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said initiating means comprises a thermostat positioned in said passenger compartment and coupled with said controlling means.

14. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said initiating means comprises a timer positioned within said passenger compartment and coupled with said controlling means.

15. In combination:

an automobile driven by an engine, said engine including a fan shaft extending therefrom and rotated by said engine;

a fan rotatably mounted on said fan shaft;

means for engaging said fan with said shaft;

an air conditioning compressor unit positioned adjacent to said engine and including a compressor shaft extending substantially parallel with said fan shaft;

means for rotating said compressor shaft with said fan shaft only when said fan is engaged thereto; and

means independent of said engine and said compressor for rotating said compressor shaft and said fan when said fan is disengaged from said fan shaft.

16. The combination of claim 15, further comprising means completely carried by said automobile for powering said independent rotating means.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said independent rotating means comprises:

an electric motor having a shaft;

a pulley rotatably mounted on said electric motor shaft;

clutch means mounted on said shaft and adapted to fix said pulley with said shaft; and

means for energizing said clutch means during predetermined periods when said automobile engine is not operating.