Hybrid heating system and method for vehicles

• US 6,598,671 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Zeng, Xin, Major, Gregory Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford, John K.
• Application Number:
  US09/534,062
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 165/240, 165/241, 165/242, 165/42, 165/43, 165/262, 165/256, 165/202, 621/964, 237/2.A, 237/2.B, 237/12.3 B
• US Class Current: 165/240
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00735 Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00878 the components being temperature regulating devices

Abstract

An apparatus for heating the interior compartment of a vehicle, the apparatus has a primary heating system, a secondary heating system and an operating system. The primary heating system receives and circulates an engine coolant through a heater core. The secondary heating system receives and circulates a gas, the secondary heating system heats the gas and circulates the heated gas through a heat exchanger. The operating system for operating the heating systems, the operating system receives a plurality of inputs and in response to the inputs the operating system determines which of the heating systems is to be activated in response to a heating request. The operating system also determines whether or not to deactivate one or both of the heating systems.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining a desired temperature within the passenger compartment of a vehicle, said method comprising:

providing heat to the passenger compartment through the use of a dual heating system having a first heating system and a second heating system;

said first heating system circulating an engine coolant through a heater core, and said second heating system utilizing a heat pump system comprising a compressor for pressurizing an automobile refrigerant; and

operating said first heating system, said second heating system, or both of said first and said second heating systems in response to an engine status of the vehicle, a desired temperature setting, an ambient temperature of the passenger compartment and an ambient temperature outside of the vehicle;

said first and second heating systems further being controlled by a control system utilizing a computer algorithm, said computer algorithm characterized by;

determining said engine status and comparing said engine status to a first predetermined parameter;

operating said second heating system without operating said first heating system if said engine status is outside a range defined by said first predetermined parameter;

operating said first heating system if said engine status is within said first predetermined parameter;

operating said second heating system in addition to said first heating system if said ambient temperature outside of the vehicle is below a second predetermined temperature or if said ambient temperature of the passenger compartment does not reach said desire temperature setting within a predetermined period of time; and

discontinuing operation of said first heating system, said second heating system, or said first and second heating systems if said ambient temperature of the passenger compartment reaches said desired temperature setting within said predetermined period of time.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle utilizing an electric drive as well as an internal combustion engine.

3. A method for maintaining a desired temperature within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

supplying heat to a passenger compartment through the use of a first heating system and a second heating system, said first heating system selectively circulating an engine coolant from an engine to a heater core, said second heating system utilizes a heat pump system comprising a compressor for pressurizing an automobile refrigerant;

monitoring the temperature of said engine coolant, the ambient temperature outside of the vehicle, and the temperature of the passenger compartment;

comparing the temperature of said coolant to a first predetermined value;

operating said second heating system without operating said first heating system if the temperature of said coolant is below said first predetermined value and the ambient temperature is below a predetermined ambient temperature value;

operating said first heating system and said second heating system if the temperature of said coolant is above said first predetermined value and if the ambient temperature outside said vehicle is below said predetermined ambient temperature value; and

operating said first heating system and said second heating system if the temperature of the passenger compartment does not reach a desired temperature within a predetermined period of time.

4. The method as in claim 3, further comprising:

discontinuing operation of said first heating system or said second heating system, or both said first and second heating systems if said passenger compartment temperature reaches said desired temperature within said predetermined period of time.

5. The method as in claim 3, further comprising:

monitoring the flow of said engine coolant; and

circulating said engine coolant by either a first pump, a second pump, or a combination of said first pump and said second pump, activation of said first pump and said second pump being dependant on the flow of said engine coolant, said first pump being driven by said engine, and said second pump being driven independent of said engine.

6. The method as in claim 5, wherein circulating said engine coolant further comprises:

opening an electronic control valve such that either said first pump or said second pump or both said first and second pumps circulate said engine coolant from said engine to said heater core.

7. The method as in claim 6, further comprising:

discontinuing operation of either said first heating system or said second heating system or said first and second heating systems if the temperature of the passenger compartment reaches said desired temperature within said predetermined period of time.

8. The method as in claim 3, further comprising:

monitoring the status of said engine;

activating a second pump to circulate said engine coolant if said engine is off or idling, wherein said engine drives a first pump to circulate said engine coolant and said second pump drives said engine coolant when said engine is off or idling.