Air conditioning system suitable for use in an electric vehicle

• US 5,572,881 A
• Filed: 02/08/1995
• Issued: 11/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hotta, Yoshihiko, Tajiri, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Harry B.
• Application Number:
  US08/385,525
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 62/244, 62/82, 62/282, 62/428, 62/278, 62/277, 62/81, 62/160, 62/186, 62/452, 62/454, 62/455
• US Class Current: 62/278
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00392 for electric vehicles having only electric drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00642 Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices B60H1/3201 - B60H1/3208, B60H1/3225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00814 Control systems or circuits characterised by their output, for controlling particular components of the heating, cooling or ventilating installation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An air conditioning system suitable for use in an electric vehicle. In the air conditioning system, a refrigerant gas circulatory system of the heat pump type for selectively effecting cooling and heating is disposed inside the electric vehicle and comprises lines which interconnect three heat exchangers, a directional control valve, a compressor and an expansion valve to one another. A control device is provided so as to activate and inactivate the heat exchanger, the directional control valve and the compressor. Before the expected running of the vehicle, at least a portion of the refrigerant gas circulatory system can be operated by the control device using a drive source different from the drive source used for running the vehicle. Accordingly, a comfortable room environment can be established for the expected time on riding by activating the air conditioning system in an unmanned state.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a heat pump system for heating and cooling a vehicle room for passengers, which heat pump system comprises a compressor, an external air heat exchanger disposed outside the vehicle room, a fan for circulating air through said external air heat exchanger, an expansion valve, an internal air heat exchanger disposed in communication with the inside of the vehicle room, a fan for circulating air through said internal air heat exchanger and a four-way directional change-over valve;

a first means for selectively introducing exhaust air from the vehicle room to the external air heat exchanger;

a second means for selectively introducing external air directly to the external air heat exchanger; and

a control means for controlling said first and second means to close at least said second means during a defrosting operation of said external air heat exchanger in a heating mode.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said control means also closes said first means during said defrosting operation of said external air heat exchanger in a heating mode.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a third means for selectively exhausting air circulated through said external air heat exchanger to the exterior of the vehicle, and said control means also controlling opening and closing of said third means.

4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second means each include a damper movable between open and closed positions.

5. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein said first, second and third means each include a damper movable between open and closed positions.

6. A system as defined in claim 2, further comprising:

a third means for selectively exhausting air circulated through said external air heat exchanger to the exterior of the vehicle, and said control means also controlling opening and closing of said third means.

7. A system as defined in claim 2, wherein said first and second means each include a damper movable between open and closed positions.

8. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein said control means also closes said third means during said defrosting operation of said external air heat exchanger in a heating mode.

9. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein said control means also closes said third means during said defrosting operation of said external air heat exchanger in a heating mode.