External noise reduction of HVAC system for a vehicle

• US 7,900,462 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Thermo King Corporation (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Kolda, Michal, Ryska, Antonin, Hurych, Arnost, Hegar, Michal
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, GEORGE BINH MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/942,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20090126901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 621/33, 622/15, 622/26, 622/28, 622/39, 622/02, 622/41, 701/36, 701/207, 701/213, 701/300, 236/51
• US Class Current: 62/133
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00007 Combined heating, ventilating, or cooling devices control systems or mechanisms B60H1/00642
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00321 Heat exchangers for air-conditioning devices B60H1/3227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00371 for vehicles carrying large numbers of passengers, e.g. buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00507 Details, e.g. mounting arrangements, desaeration devices B60H1/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00764 the input being a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed B60H1/00828, B60H1/00864 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00771 the input being a vehicle position or surrounding, e.g. GPS-based position or tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00828 Ventilators, e.g. speed control B60H1/00864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00864 Ventilators and damper doors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3208 Vehicle drive related control of the compressor drive means, e.g. for fuel saving purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/006 Noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3266 related to the operation of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3272 to control the revolving speed of a compressor

Abstract

A HVAC system for a vehicle that includes a propulsion system, a frame, a passenger compartment, and a door coupled to the frame. The HVAC system includes a refrigeration circuit that selectively controls the temperature of the passenger compartment based on a sensed temperature within the passenger compartment. The refrigeration circuit includes an exterior heat exchanger, a first air moving device coupled to the exterior heat exchanger, an interior heat exchanger, a second air moving device coupled to the interior heat exchanger, and a compressor. The HVAC system also includes a controller that is operable to detect a condition of the vehicle that includes at least one of a position of the door, a location of the vehicle, and a load of the propulsion system. The controller is programmed to adjust the refrigeration circuit in response to the sensed passenger compartment temperature and the detected vehicle condition.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“

HVAC”

) system for a vehicle including a propulsion system, a frame, a passenger compartment, and a door coupled to the frame, the HVAC system comprising;

a refrigeration circuit operable to selectively control the temperature of the passenger compartment based on a sensed temperature within the passenger compartment, the refrigeration circuit including

an exterior heat exchanger supported by the frame,

a first air moving device coupled to the exterior heat exchanger for directing air across the exterior heat exchanger,

an interior heat exchanger supported by the frame and in fluid communication with the exterior heat exchanger,

a second air moving device coupled to the interior heat exchanger for directing air across the interior heat exchanger, and

a compressor supported by the frame and in fluid communication with the exterior heat exchanger and the interior heat exchanger; and

a controller operable to detect a condition of the vehicle, the vehicle condition including at least one of a position of the door, a location of the vehicle, and a load of the propulsion system, the controller in communication with the refrigeration circuit and programmed to adjust the refrigeration circuit in response to the sensed temperature of the passenger compartment and the detected condition of the vehicle,

wherein the controller is programmed to decrease a speed of at least one of the first air moving device, the second air moving device, and the compressor in response to detection of a first condition of the vehicle, and wherein the controller is programmed to increase the speed of at least one of the first air moving device, the second air moving device, and the compressor that was previously operated at a decreased speed in response to detection of a second condition of the vehicle, and

wherein the first vehicle condition includes the location of the vehicle detected in close proximity with a freestanding structure, and wherein the second vehicle condition includes the location of the vehicle detected at least a predetermined distance from the freestanding structure.

2. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle condition includes the door detected in an open position, and wherein the second vehicle condition includes the door detected in a closed position.

3. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle condition includes the propulsion system load detected above a first predetermined value, and wherein the second vehicle condition includes the propulsion system load detected below a second predetermined value.

4. The HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to initiate a predetermined delay in response to the second vehicle condition and prior to increasing the speed of at least one of the first air moving device, the second air moving device, and the compressor that was previously operated at a decreased speed.

5. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a propulsion system coupled to the frame;

a passenger compartment;

a door coupled to the frame and movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively allow access to the passenger compartment;

a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“

HVAC”

) system operable in a first mode and a second mode that is quieter than the first mode, the HVAC system including a refrigeration circuit operable to selectively control the temperature within the passenger compartment based on a sensed temperature within the passenger compartment, the refrigeration circuit including an exterior heat exchanger supported by the frame and a first air moving device coupled to the exterior heat exchanger for directing air across the exterior heat exchanger;

a sensor configured to sense a condition of the vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of the vehicle condition, the vehicle condition including at least one of a position of the door, a location of the vehicle, and a load of the propulsion system; and

a controller disposed in the vehicle and in communication with the HVAC system to regulate operation of the refrigeration circuit in response to the sensed temperature of the passenger compartment, the controller further in communication with the sensor to receive the signal indicative of the vehicle condition and to selectively vary the HVAC system between the first mode and the second mode in response to the signal,

wherein the location of the vehicle includes the proximity of the vehicle relative to a freestanding structure, and wherein the controller is programmed to operate the HVAC system in the second mode in response to the signal indicative of the location of the vehicle in close proximity with the freestanding structure.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the sensor is in communication with the door to sense a position of the door and to generate a signal indicative of the door position, and wherein the controller is programmed to operate the HVAC system in the first mode in response to the signal indicative of the door in the closed position, and wherein the controller is programmed to operate the HVAC system in the second mode in response to the signal indicative of the door in the open position.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle position sensor includes a global positioning system sensor.

8. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the controller is programmed to operate the HVAC system in the first mode in response to the signal indicative of the location of the vehicle at least a predetermined distance from the freestanding structure.

9. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the controller is programmed to initiate a predetermined delay in response to the vehicle condition and prior to varying operation of the HVAC system from the second mode to the first mode.

10. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the controller is programmed to operate the HVAC system in the first mode regardless of the vehicle condition in response to a refrigerant pressure of the refrigerant circuit above a predetermined pressure.

11. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the sensor is in communication with the propulsion system to sense a load of the propulsion system, and wherein the controller is programmed to operate the HVAC system in the second mode in response to the signal indicative of the propulsion system load above a first predetermined value.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to operate the HVAC system in the first mode in response to the signal indicative of the propulsion system load below a second predetermined value.

13. A method of operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a passenger compartment and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“

HVAC”

) system in the vehicle, the HVAC system including a refrigeration circuit operable to control the temperature within the passenger compartment based on a sensed temperature within the passenger compartment, the refrigeration circuit having an exterior heat exchanger, a first air moving device directing air across the exterior heat exchanger, an interior heat exchanger, a second air moving device for directing air across the interior heat exchanger, and a compressor;

initiating the HVAC system and selectively conditioning the passenger compartment using the refrigeration circuit based on the sensed temperature within the passenger compartment;

sensing a condition of the vehicle including sensing at least one of a position of a door of the vehicle, a location of the vehicle, and a load of a propulsion system of the vehicle;

sensing the location of the vehicle relative to a freestanding structure;

decreasing a speed of the refrigeration circuit in response to the location of the vehicle in close proximity with the freestanding structure; and

increasing the speed of the refrigeration circuit in response to the location of the vehicle at least a predetermined distance from the freestanding structure.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising reducing a noise output of the HVAC system by decreasing a speed of the refrigeration circuit in response to the vehicle condition.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising

sensing the door of the vehicle in an open position;

decreasing a speed of the refrigeration circuit in response to the door in the open position;

sensing the door in a closed position; and

increasing the speed of the refrigeration circuit in response to the door in the closed position.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising decreasing at least one of a speed of the first air moving device, the second air moving device, and the compressor in response to the vehicle condition.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising

sensing a refrigerant pressure of the refrigeration circuit;

and

operating the refrigeration circuit at a full capacity speed regardless of the vehicle condition in response to the refrigerant pressure above a predetermined pressure.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising

decreasing the speed of the refrigeration circuit in response to the vehicle condition;

and

increasing a speed of the refrigeration circuit in response to an additional condition of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising initiating a predetermined delay in response to the additional vehicle condition and prior to increasing the speed of the refrigeration circuit.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising

sensing a load of the propulsion system;

decreasing a speed of the refrigeration circuit in response to the propulsion system load being sensed above a first predetermined value; and

increasing the speed of the refrigeration circuit in response to the propulsion system load being sensed below a second predetermined value.