Auxiliary air conditioning apparatus and method for air conditioned vehicles

• US 4,947,657 A
• Filed: 06/05/1989
• Issued: 08/14/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Starcool, Inc.
• Original Assignee: John F. Kalmbach
• Inventors: Kalmbach, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Lloyd L.
• Application Number:
  US07/362,036
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 62/236, 62/239, 62/244, 62/175
• US Class Current: 62/236
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3204 using compression B60H1/3233 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 1/00 Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle F25B3/00, F25B5/00, F25B6/00, F25B7/00, F25B9/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/075 with parallel compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 6/04 arranged in series

Abstract

An auxiliary air conditioning system is provided for vehicles having a primary air conditioning system. The vehicle'"'"'s primary air conditioning system includes a primary compressor powered by the vehicle engine through a suitable mechanical linkage, a primary condenser, a primary evaporator and blower, and a cooled air distribution system. A preferred auxiliary air conditioning system, according to the invention, is incorporated into the primary air conditioning system and adapted to provide refrigerated air conditioning when the primary compressor and vehicle engine are not operating. One preferred auxiliary air conditioning apparatus includes an auxiliary compressor powered by an auxiliary compressor electric motor, and an auxiliary condenser and electric powered condenser fan. The auxiliary compressor is connected for receiving evaporated refrigerant from the primary evaporator, compressing the refrigerant, and delivering the compressed refrigerant to the auxiliary condenser for condensing. A control system prevents the operation of the auxilary compressor when the vehicle engine is on. The auxiliary condenser is connected to deliver condensed refrigerant to the primary evaporator where the refrigerant is evaporated to provide cool air to be distributed similarly to the primary air conditioning system. In alternate forms of the invention, the auxiliary air conditioning system may be a complete separate system including an auxiliary evaporator and blower that is separated from the auxiliary compressor and condenser. The separated auxiliary air conditioning components are positioned on or inside the vehicle so as not to affect the vehicle aerodynamics and vehicle height.

Claims

1. An auxiliary refrigerated air conditioning apparatus for vehicles and the like having a vehicle electrical system and a primary refrigerated air conditioning system that includes a primary compressor powered by a self-contained vehicle engine for compressing a suitable refrigerant, a primary condenser connected to the primary compressor for condensing the compressed refrigerant, a primary evaporator connected to the primary condenser for evaporating the refrigerant, an evaporator blower for circulating for evaporating to supply cooled air to a refrigerated air distribution system in the vehicle, and a return line for returning the evaporated refrigerant to the primary compressor, the auxiliary air conditioning apparatus comprising:

A. auxiliary compressor means connected to the return line and to the primary condenser for receiving low pressure refrigerant from the primary evaporator, compressing the refrigerant, and supplying compressed refrigerant to the primary condenser when the primary compressor is not operating;

B. an auxiliary compressor electric motor connected to the auxiliary compressor means for powering the auxiliary compressor means, the electric motor being adapted to operate on a suitable alternating current;

C. primary compressor check valve means connected between the primary condenser and the primary compressor for preventing the flow of refrigerant from the auxiliary compressor to the primary compressor when the auxiliary compressor is operating;

D. auxiliary compressor check valve means connected between the primary condenser and the auxiliary compressor for preventing the flow of refrigerant from the primary compressor to the auxiliary compressor when the primary compressor is operating;

E. auxiliary condenser blower means for circulating air past the primary condenser when the auxiliary compressor is operating;

F. control means for controlling the operation of the auxiliary compressor electric motor and for controlling the operation of the auxiliary condenser blower means; and

G. ignition-on relay means included in the control means and connected for receiving a control signal from the vehicle electrical system, the ignition-on relay means for preventing the auxiliary compressor from operating when said control signal is received.

2. The auxiliary air conditioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control means includes compressor clutch relay means for preventing the auxiliary compressor from operating when the primary compressor is operating.

3. The auxiliary air conditioning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control means includes voltage-on relay means for preventing the operation of the auxiliary compressor when the alternating current for powering the auxiliary compressor motor is improper.

4. An auxiliary refrigerated air conditioning apparatus for vehicles and the like having a vehicle electrical system and primary refrigerated air conditioning system including a primary compressor powered by a self-contained vehicle engine for compressing a suitable refrigerant, a primary condenser connected to the primary compressor for condensing the compressed refrigerant, a primary evaporator connected to the primary condenser for evaporating the refrigerant, an evaporator blower for circulating air past the evaporator to supply cooled air to a refrigerated air distribution system in the vehicle, and a return line for returning the evaporated refrigerant to the primary compressor, the auxiliary air conditioning apparatus comprising:

A. auxiliary compressor means connected to the return line and also connected to the primary condenser for receiving refrigerant from the primary evaporator and for compressing the refrigerant;

B. an auxiliary compressor electric motor connected to the auxiliary compressor means for powering the auxiliary compressor means, the electric motor being adapted to operate on alternating current;

C. auxiliary condenser means connected between the auxiliary compressor means and the primary condenser for receiving compressed refrigerant from the auxiliary compressor means and for condensing compressed refrigerant;

D. primary compressor check valve means connected between the auxiliary condenser means and the primary compressor for preventing the flow of refrigerant from the auxiliary compressor to the primary compressor;

E. auxiliary compressor check valve means connected between the auxiliary condenser and the auxiliary compressor for preventing the flow of refrigerant from the primary compressor to the auxiliary compressor;

F. control means for controlling the operation of the auxiliary compressor electric motor; and

G. voltage-on relay means included in the control means for preventing the auxiliary compressor from operating when the alternating current for powering the auxiliary compressor motor is improper.

5. An auxiliary refrigerated air conditioning apparatus for vehicles and the like having a primary refrigerated air conditioning system including a primary compressor powered by a self-contained vehicle engine for compressing a suitable refrigerant, a primary condenser connected to the primary compressor for condensing the compressed refrigerant, a primary evaporator connected to the primary condenser for evaporating the refrigerant, an evaporator blower for circulating air past the evaporator to supply cooled air to a refrigerated air distribution system in the vehicle, and a return line for returning the evaporated refrigerant to the primary compressor, the auxiliary air conditioning apparatus comprising:

A. auxiliary compressor means connected to the return line and also connected to the primary condenser for receiving refrigerant from the primary evaporator and for compressing the refrigerant;

B. an auxiliary compressor electric motor connected to the auxiliary compressor means for powering the auxiliary compressor means, the electric motor being adapted to operate on alternating current;

C. auxiliary condenser means connected between the auxiliary compressor means and the primary condenser for receiving compressed refrigerant from the auxiliary compressor means and for condensing compressed refrigerant;

D. primary compressor check valve means connected between the auxiliary condenser means and the primary compressor for preventing the flow of refrigerant from the auxiliary compressor to the primary compressor;

E. auxiliary compressor check valve means connected between the auxiliary condenser and the auxiliary compressor for preventing the flow of refrigerant from the primary compressor to the auxiliary compressor;

F. control means for controlling the operation of the auxiliary compressor electric motor; and

G. ignition-on relay means included in the control means and connected for receiving a control signal from the vehicle electrical system, the ignition-on relay means for preventing the operation of the auxiliary compressor when said control signal is received.