Auxiliary heater for a motor vehicle with detection of a safety-critical state

• US 6,702,189 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Webasto Thermosysteme International GmbH
• Original Assignee: Webasto Thermosysteme International GmbH
• Inventors: Dedio, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): Boles, Derek
• Application Number:
  US10/147,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20020190133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 237/12.3 C, 237/12.3 A, 237/12.3 B, 165/41, 165/42
• US Class Current: 237/12.30C
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00978 Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2206 controlling the operation of burners control of burners in general F23N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2231 for proper or safe operation of the heater
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2253 related to an operational state of the vehicle or a vehicle component

Abstract

An auxiliary heater for a motor vehicle equipped with a control device for controlling the operation of the auxiliary heater. In order to increase passenger protection in the motor vehicle, the control device is set up to detect a signal from at least one vehicle safety sensor, using the signal to detect the safety-critical state of the vehicle, and depending upon this detected status, ceases operation of the auxiliary heater.

Claims

1. An auxiliary heater for a motor vehicle having a plurality of safety sensors for sensing a respective operating condition of the motor vehicle, said auxiliary heater comprising:

a control device for controlling operation of the auxiliary heater, said control device being in electronic communication with the plurality of safety sensors to receive a signal therefrom to detect safety-critical states of the motor vehicle, and to cease operation of the auxiliary heater upon detection of a safety-critical state,

wherein said auxiliary heater further comprises a combustion air feed for providing combustion air to said auxiliary heater, said combustion air feed being controlled by said control device so as to interrupt a flow of combustion air from said combustion air feed to said auxiliary heater immediately upon detection of a safety-critical state.

2. The auxiliary heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary heater further comprises a fuel feed for providing fuel to said auxiliary heater, said fuel feed having a shut-off means for preventing entry of fuel to said auxiliary heater, said shut-off means being controlled by said control device so as to become actuated immediately upon detection of a safety-critical state.

3. The auxiliary heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of safety sensors comprises at least one of a position sensor, an acceleration sensor, an rpm sensor and a tank cap sensor.

4. The auxiliary heater as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control device is in electronic communication with a safety system control device for the motor vehicle so as to receive a signal from at least one of the position sensor, the acceleration sensor, the rpm sensor and the tank cap sensor via the safety system control device.

5. The auxiliary heater as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control device is in electronic communication with a data bus of the motor vehicle so as to receive a signal from at least one of the position sensor, the acceleration sensor, the rpm sensor and the tank cap sensor via the data bus.

6. A motor vehicle comprising:

a plurality of safety sensors for sensing an operating condition of said motor vehicle; and

an auxiliary heater for providing heat to a compartment area of said motor vehicle, said auxiliary heater including a control device for controlling operation of the auxiliary heater, said control device being in electronic communication with the plurality of safety sensors to receive a signal therefrom to detect safety-critical states of the motor vehicle, and to cease operation of the auxiliary heater upon detection of a safety-critical state,

wherein said auxiliary heater further comprises a combustion air feed for providing combustion air to said auxiliary heater, said combustion air feed being controlled by said control device so as to interrupt a flow of combustion air from said combustion air feed to said auxiliary heater immediately upon detection of a safety-critical state.

7. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein said plurality of safety sensors comprises at least one of a position sensor, an acceleration sensor, an rpm sensor and a tank cap sensor.

8. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a safety system control device in electronic communication with said control device, said safety system control device being adapted to receive signals from at least one of said position sensor, said acceleration sensor, said rpm sensor and said tank cap sensor and to send said signals to said control device.

9. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a data bus in electronic communication with said control device, said data bus being adapted to receive signal from at least one of said position sensor, said acceleration sensor, said rpm sensor and tank cap sensor and to send said signals to said control device.