Agricultural vehicle cab temperature control system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An agricultural vehicle comprising:
- a frame supported by a plurality of wheels;
an agricultural implement supported by the frame;
an operator cab supported by the frame, the operator cab including a roof, a floor and a front window supported between the roof and the floor;
a heated liquid source;
a first heat exchanger supported generally at the floor of the cab and configured to output varying amounts of heat energy;
an electrically operated valve assembly including at least one electrical input and disposed to couple the liquid source to the heat exchanger, the valve controlling the flow of heated liquid from the source to the heat exchanger in response to electrical control signals applied to the electrical input;
an operator control supported generally at the roof of the cab, the operator control including a first operator interface configured to produce heat signals representative of the desired heat energy output; and
an interface circuit electromagnetically coupled to the valve assembly and the operator control, the interface circuit applying the electrical control signals to the valve based upon the heat signals;
wherein the valve assembly further includes a position feedback signal generator coupled to the interface circuit and the interface circuit applies electrical control signals to the valve assembly based upon a comparison of the feedback signals to the heat signals.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A combine including an improved HVAC control system is disclosed herein. The frame of the combine supports an operator cab, a harvesting head and the other operational systems of the combine. The control system includes an operator control located at the roof of the cab and a heat exchanger located at the floor of the cab. An interface circuit is electrically coupled to the control circuit and the heat exchanger valve to control the amount of heat output by the heat exchanger. A cooling coil may also be located at the floor of the cab, wherein the control and interface circuit cooperate to control the associated coolant compressor.
17 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An agricultural vehicle comprising:
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a frame supported by a plurality of wheels; an agricultural implement supported by the frame; an operator cab supported by the frame, the operator cab including a roof, a floor and a front window supported between the roof and the floor; a heated liquid source; a first heat exchanger supported generally at the floor of the cab and configured to output varying amounts of heat energy; an electrically operated valve assembly including at least one electrical input and disposed to couple the liquid source to the heat exchanger, the valve controlling the flow of heated liquid from the source to the heat exchanger in response to electrical control signals applied to the electrical input; an operator control supported generally at the roof of the cab, the operator control including a first operator interface configured to produce heat signals representative of the desired heat energy output; and an interface circuit electromagnetically coupled to the valve assembly and the operator control, the interface circuit applying the electrical control signals to the valve based upon the heat signals; wherein the valve assembly further includes a position feedback signal generator coupled to the interface circuit and the interface circuit applies electrical control signals to the valve assembly based upon a comparison of the feedback signals to the heat signals. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An agricultural vehicle comprising:
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a frame supported by a plurality of wheels; harvesting means for harvesting vegetation, the harvesting means being supported by the frame; an operator cab supported by the frame including a roof, a floor and a front window supported between the roof and the floor; supply means for providing a source of heated liquid; heating means supported generally at the floor of the cab for producing varying amounts of heat energy; valve means for coupling the heating means to the supply means and controlling the flow of heated liquid to the heating means in response to electrical control signals; control means supported generally at the roof of the cab for producing heat signals representative of a desired heat energy output; and interface means coupled to the valve assembly and the operator control for applying the electrical control signals to the valve means based upon the heat signals; wherein the valve means further includes a position feedback signal generator coupled to the interface means and the interface means applies electrical control signals to the valve means based upon a comparison of the feedback signals to the heat signals. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An off-road vehicle comprising:
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a frame supported by a plurality of wheels; an operator cab supported by the frame, the operator cab including a roof, a floor and a front window supported between the roof and the floor; a heated liquid source; a first heat exchanger supported generally at the floor of the cab and configured to output varying amounts of heat energy; an electrically operated valve assembly including at least one electrical input and disposed to couple the liquid source to the heat exchanger, the valve controlling the flow of heated liquid from the source to the heat exchanger in response to electrical control signals applied to the electrical input; an operator control supported generally at the roof of the cab, the operator control including a first operator interface configured to produce heat signals representative of the desired heat energy output; and an interface circuit electromagnetically coupled to the valve assembly and the operator control, the interface circuit applying the electrical control signals to the valve based upon the heat signals; wherein the valve assembly further includes a position feedback signal generator coupled to the interface circuit and the interface circuit applies electrical control signals to the valve assembly based upon a comparison of the feedback signals to the heat signals. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An agricultural vehicle comprising:
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a frame supported by a plurality of wheels; an agricultural implement supported by the frame; an operator cab supported by the frame, the operator cab including a roof, a floor and a front window supported between the roof and the floor; a heated liquid source; a first heat exchanger supported generally at the floor of the cab and configured to output varying amounts of heat energy; an electrically operated valve assembly including at least one electrical input and disposed to couple the liquid source to the heat exchanger, the valve controlling the flow of heated liquid from the source to the heat exchanger in response to electrical control signals applied to the electrical input; an operator control supported generally at the roof of the cab, the operator control including a first operator interface configured to produce heat signals representative of the desired heat energy output; an interface circuit electromagnetically coupled to the valve assembly and the operator control, the interface circuit applying the electrical control signals to the valve based upon the heat signals; the valve assembly further including a position feedback signal generator coupled to the interface circuit and the interface circuit applying electrical control signals to the valve assembly based Upon a comparison Of the feedback signals to the heat signals; an engine supported by the frame; an air conditioning compressor operatively coupled to the entwine and electromagnetically coupled to the interface circuit; a second heat exchanger located in the cab and coupled to the compressor to provide a conduit for receiving a flow of cooling fluid from the compressor; and a second operator interface coupled to the interface circuit and configured to produce a cooling request signal, the interface circuit applying a cooling control signal to the compressor based upon the cooling request signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An agricultural vehicle comprising:
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a frame supported by a plurality of wheels; harvesting means for harvesting vegetation, the harvesting means being supported by the frame; an operator cab supported by the frame including a roof, a floor and a front window supported between the roof and the floor; supply means for providing a source of heated liquid; heating means supported generally at the floor of the cab for producing varying amounts of heat energy; valve means for coupling the heating means to the supply means and controlling the flow of heated liquid to the heating means in response to electrical control signals; control means supported generally at the roof of the cab for producing heat signals representative of a desired heat energy output; interface means coupled to the valve assembly and the operator Control for applying the electrical control signals to the valve means based upon the heat signals; the valve means further including a position feedback signal generator coupled to the interface means and the interface means applies electrical control signals to the valve means based upon a comparison of the feedback signals to the heat signals; an engine supported by the frame; an air conditioning compressor operatively coupled to the engine and electromagnetically coupled to the interface means; cooling means for cooling the cab, the cooling means being located in the cab and coupled to the compressor to receive a flow of cooling fluid from the compressor; and switch means coupled to the interface means for producing a cooling request signal, the interface means applying a cooling control signal to the compressor based upon the cooling request signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An off-road vehicle comprising:
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a frame supported by a plurality of wheels; an operator cab supported by the frame, the operator cab including a roof, a floor and a front Window supported between the roof and the floor; a heated liquid source; a first heat exchanger supported generally at the floor of the cab and configured to output varying amounts of heat energy; an electrically operated valve assembly including at least one electrical input and disposed to couple the liquid source to the heat exchanger, the valve controlling the flow of heated liquid from the source to the heat exchanger in response to electrical control signals applied to the electrical input; an operator control supported generally at the roof of the cab, the operator control including a first operator interface configured to produce heat signals representative of the desired heat energy output; an interface circuit electromagnetically coupled to the valve assembly and the operator control, the interface circuit applying the electrical control signals to the valve based upon the heat signals; the valve assembly further including a position feedback signal generator coupled to the interface circuit and the interface circuit applying electrical control signals to the valve assembly based upon a comparison of the feedback signals to the heat signals; an engine supported by the frame; an air conditioning compressor operatively coupled to the engine and electromagnetically coupled to the interface circuit; a second heat exchanger located in the cab and coupled to the compressor to provide a conduit for receiving a flow of cooling fluid from the compressor; and a second operator interface coupled to the interface circuit and configured to produce a cooling request signal, the interface circuit applying a cooling control signal to the compressor based upon the cooling request signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification