Vehicle air conditioning and heating method providing engine on and engine off operation

• US 7,591,303 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bergstrom Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bergstrom Incorporated
• Inventors: Elias, Eric, Zeigler, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Ciric; Ljiljana (Lil) V
• Application Number:
  US11/322,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20060102333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 165/240, 165/44, 165/51, 165 41- 43, 165/202, 165/271, 621/33, 621/03, 621/15, 622/36, 622/44, 623/231, 623/233, 623/234, 123/142.5 R, 123/41.19
• US Class Current: 165/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00378 for tractor or load vehicle cabins
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/322 for improving the stop or idling operation of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3226 Self-contained devices, i.e. including own drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3272 to control the revolving speed of a compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0253 with variable speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/00 Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy F25B30/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

An air conditioning system for use in an over-the-road or off road vehicle is provided that provides a method of operation during both engine on and engine off conditions. The method operates the air conditioning system at one capacity when the engine is running, and at a second capacity when the engine is not running. The selection of these capacities is based on the power capacity of the source of electric power from which the air conditioning system is operated. When a storage battery is used to power the air conditioning system during engine off conditions, the second capacity is lower than the capacity at which the system is operated when the engine is running.

Claims

1. A method of operating a vehicle air conditioning system, the vehicle having an engine, to provide engine on and engine off operation, comprising the steps of:

operating the air conditioning system at a first capacity when the engine is running; and

operating the air conditioning system at a second capacity when the engine is not running.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at a second capacity when the engine is not running comprises the step of operating the air conditioning system at a lower capacity than the first capacity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the first capacity when the engine is running comprises the step of utilizing electric power generated as a result of the engine running to operate the air conditioning system, and wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the second capacity when the engine is not running comprises the step of utilizing stored electric power to operate the air conditioning system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of switching from the electric power generated as a result of the engine running to the stored electric power to operate the air conditioning system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the first capacity comprises the step of operating at least one of an interior compartment fan and a compressor of the air conditioning system at a maximum speed when the engine is running.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the second capacity comprises the step of operating at least one of an interior compartment fan and a compressor of the air conditioning system at a speed lower than a maximum speed when the engine is not running.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the speed lower than a maximum speed when the engine is not running comprises the step of operating at least one of an interior compartment fan and a compressor of the air conditioning system at a minimum speed when the engine is not running.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the first capacity when the engine is running comprises the step of operating at least one of an interior compartment fan and a compressor of the air conditioning system at a first voltage, and wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the second capacity when the engine is not running comprises the step of operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at a second voltage lower than the first voltage.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the first capacity when the engine is running comprises the step of utilizing electric power generated as a result of the engine running to operate the air conditioning system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the second capacity when the engine is not running comprises the step of utilizing stored electric power to operate the air conditioning system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the first capacity comprises the step of operating at least one of an interior compartment fan and a compressor of the air conditioning system at a first speed when the engine is running, and wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the second capacity comprises the step of operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at a second speed lower than the first speed when the engine is not running.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the second capacity when the engine is not running comprises the step of modulating a speed of at least one of an interior compartment fan and a compressor of the air conditioning system based on a power capacity of a source of electric power used to operate the air conditioning system when the engine is not operating.

13. A method of operating a vehicle air conditioning system having an interior compartment fan and a compressor, the vehicle having an engine, to provide engine on and engine off operation, comprising the steps of:

operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at a first speed when the engine is running; and

operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at a second speed when the engine is not running.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at the second speed when the engine is not running comprises the step of operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at a lower speed than the first speed when the engine is not running.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at the second speed when the engine is not running comprises the step of utilizing stored electric power to operate at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at the first speed when the engine is running comprises the step of utilizing electric power generated as a result of the engine running to operate at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system.

17. A method of operating a vehicle air conditioning system, the vehicle having an engine, to provide engine on and engine off operation, comprising the steps of:

operating the air conditioning system with at least electric power generated as a result of the engine running when the engine is running; and

operating the air conditioning system with stored electric power when the engine is not running.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system with at least electric power generated as a result of the engine running when the engine is running comprises the step of operating the air conditioning system at a first capacity, and wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system with stored electric power when the engine is not running comprises the step of operating the air conditioning system at a second capacity.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the second capacity comprises the step of operating the air conditioning system at the second capacity lower than the first capacity.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system at the second capacity when the engine is not running comprises the step of modulating a speed of at least one of an interior compartment fan and a compressor of the air conditioning system based on a power capacity of a source of electric power used to operate the air conditioning system when the engine is not operating.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system with at least electric power generated as a result of the engine running when the engine is running comprises the step of operating at least one of an interior compartment fan and a compressor of the air conditioning system at a first speed, and wherein the step of operating the air conditioning system with stored electric power when the engine is not running comprises the step of operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at a second speed.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at the second speed comprises the step of operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at the second speed lower than the first speed.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of operating at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system at a second speed comprises the step of selecting the second speed based on a power capacity of a source of electric power used to operate at least one of the interior compartment fan and the compressor of the air conditioning system when the engine is not operating.