Solar powered heating and ventilation system for vehicle

• US 6,692,130 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher E. Snow
• Original Assignee: Christopher E. Snow
• Inventors: Snow, Christopher E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Jiping
• Application Number:
  US10/309,214
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 454/75, 454/137, 454/139, 454/141, 454/145, 454/159, 454/900
• US Class Current: 454/137
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00828 Ventilators, e.g. speed control B60H1/00864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 454/90 Ventilator using solar power

Abstract

A solar powered heating and ventilation system maintains an unoccupied vehicle at a more comfortable temperature relative to the outside temperature using both heating and cooling as appropriate. The system uses an air duct having a fan, heating element, vents, flaps, selector switch and power control circuits. The system also uses an electronic solar power panel and battery as power sources. The system provides power to the fan and heating elements via a selector switch and power control circuits. The power control circuits are connected to the vehicle battery and electronic solar power cells. The duct is located on the interior ceiling of the vehicle and has at least three vents.

Claims

1. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle comprising:

a duct system mounted on a ceiling of the vehicle;

a fan mounted inside of said duct system;

a heater mounted inside of said duct system;

a first vent mounted at a front end of said duct system away from said fan and said heater for accepting air input from an interior of the vehicle, said duct system extending away from a position of said fan and said heater to a rear of said vehicle;

a second and third vent and flap assembly mounted in a section of said extended duct system inside the vehicle for circulating air input from said first vent back into the vehicle interior at said second vent and preventing air from exhausting out the third vent during heating while said flap is in an open position;

said third vent being mounted in a rear end of said extended duct system for exhausting air input from said first vent out of said vehicle at said third vent while said flap is in a closed position covering said second vent during cooling;

a power controller;

a battery coupled to said power controller as a power source;

solar power cells coupled to said power controller as a power source;

a selector switch coupled to said power controller to receive electrical power and electrically coupled to said fan and said heater, said selector switch being configured to select a heating operation by providing power to said fan and said heater and said selector switch being configured to select a cooling operation by providing power to said fan;

said selector switch controlling the opening and closing of said flap and;

said power controller being configured to regulate power provided to said selector switch.

2. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third vent further includes a flap to passively provide protection for said duct system from rain and dust external to said vehicle.

3. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said power controller is configured to select power from one of said battery and said solar power cells and both based on current needed by said fan and said heater during heating or cooling as selected by said selector switch.

4. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said power controller is configured to prevent deep discharge of said battery.

5. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said battery is an auxiliary battery that does not provide power to other parts of said vehicle and said power controller is configured to select power from one of said auxiliary battery and said solar power cells and both based on current needed by said fan and said heater during heating or cooling as selected by said selector switch.

6. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein said power controller is configured to prevent deep discharge of said auxiliary battery.

7. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third vent further includes a flap controlled by said selector switch to open and exhaust interior air during cooling when said flap on said second vent is closed and said flap on said third vent is controlled by said selector switch to close during heating while said flap on said second vent is open.

8. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said power controller is configured to select power from one of said battery and said solar power cells and both based on current needed by said fan and said heater during heating or cooling as selected by said selector switch.

9. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein said power controller is configured to prevent deep discharge of said battery.

10. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein said battery is an auxiliary battery that does not provide power to other parts of said vehicle and said power controller is configured to select power from one of said auxiliary battery and said solar power cells and both based on current needed by said fan and said heater during heating or cooling as selected by said selector switch.

11. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein said power controller is configured to prevent deep discharge of said auxiliary battery.

12. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle comprising:

a duct system mounted on the ceiling of said vehicle;

a fan mounted inside of said duct system;

a heater mounted inside of said duct system;

a first vent mounted at a front most end of said duct system away from said fan and said heater for accepting air input from an interior of said vehicle;

said duct system splitting off into two sections extending away from a position of said fan and said heater and going back toward the rear of said vehicle;

a second vent and flap assembly in a first of said two sections within said extended duct inside said vehicle and a third vent and flap assembly in a second of said two sections within said extended duct inside said vehicle for circulating air input from said first vent back into said vehicle interior at said second and third vent and while said flaps in said second and third assemblies are in an open position and prevent air from exhausting out a fourth and fifth vent during heating;

said fourth vent mounted at a rear most end of said first of said two sections within said extended duct system and said fifth vent mounted at a rear most end of said second of said two sections within said extended duct system for exhausting air input from said first vent out at said fourth and fifth vent of said vehicle while said flaps in said second and third assemblies cover said second and third vent during cooling;

a battery coupled to a power controller as a power source;

solar power cells coupled to said power controller as a power source;

a selector switch coupled to said power controller to receive electrical power and coupled to said fan and said heater;

said selector switch configured to select a heating operation by providing power to said fan and said heater and said selector switch configured to select a cooling operation by providing power to said fan;

said selector switch controls the opening and closing of said flaps of said second and third assemblies and;

said power controller is configured to regulate power provided to said selector switch.

13. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein said fourth vent includes a flap and said fifth vent includes a flap both controlled by said selector switch to open and exhaust interior air during cooling when said flaps on said second vent and third vents are closed and said flaps on said fourth and fifth vent are controlled by said selector switch to close during heating while said flaps on said second and third vent are open.

14. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 13, wherein said power controller is configured to select power from one of said battery and said solar power cells and both based on current needed by said fan and said heater during heating or cooling as selected by said selector switch.

15. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein said power controller is configured to prevent deep discharge of said battery.

16. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein said fourth and fifth vents each includes a flap to passively provide protection for said duct system from rain and dust external to said vehicle.

17. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein said power controller is configured to select power from one of said battery and said solar power cells and both based on current needed by said fan and said heater during heating or cooling as selected by said selector switch.

18. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 17, wherein said power controller is configured to prevent deep discharge of said battery.

19. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle comprising:

a duct system mounted on the ceiling of said vehicle;

a fan mounted inside of said duct system;

a heater mounted inside of said duct system;

a first vent mounted at a front most end of said duct system away from said fan and said heater for accepting air input from an interior of said vehicle;

said duct system extending from a position of said fan and said heater to a rear of said vehicle;

a second vent and flap assembly mounted in a section of said extended duct system inside said vehicle for circulating air input from said first vent back into said vehicle interior at said second vent and said flap of said second assembly opens and prevents air from exhausting out a third vent during heating;

said third vent and flap assembly mounted at a rear most end of said duct system in said extended duct system for exhausting air input from said first vent out of said vehicle through said flap of said third vent while said flap of said second assembly closes and covers said second vent during cooling;

a battery coupled to a power controller as a power source;

solar power cells coupled to said power controller as a power source;

a selector switch coupled to said power controller to receive electrical power and coupled to said fan and said heater to select between a heating or a cooling operation

said selector switch controls an opening and closing of said second and third flaps;

said power controller is configured to regulate power provided to said selector switch.

20. A solar powered heating and cooling system for a vehicle as claimed in claim 19, wherein said power controller is configured to select power from one of said battery and said solar power cells and both based on current needed by said fan and said heater during heating or cooling as selected by said selector switch and wherein said power controller is configured to prevent deep discharge of said battery.