Coupling between thermal engine and air conditioning compressor of automotive vehicle

• US 8,494,712 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Vasilescu, Claudiu
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US12/516,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,049 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3222 characterised by the compressor driving arrangements, e.g. clutches, transmissions or multiple drives B60H1/3208, B60H1/3226 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2025/005 driven by electric motors forming part of the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/08 Electric propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/087 Power change rate
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/10418 Accessory clutch, e.g. cooling fan, air conditioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A hybrid drive of a compressor (3) for an air conditioning unit in an automotive vehicle with a thermal engine, which is implemented by a coupling assembly including a rotating electric machine (2) adapted to be mechanically coupled to the thermal engine and to the compressor. First disengageable coupling assembly (6) are provided for connecting the rotating electric machine to the thermal engine, and second coupling assembly (8) are provided for coupling the rotating electric machine to the compressor.

Claims

1. A coupling assembly between a thermal engine (1) and a compressor (3) of an air conditioning unit of a motor vehicle, including:

a rotating electric machine (2) adapted to operate in a motor mode;

a transmission unit;

a first disengageable coupling device (8) for coupling the compressor to the transmission unit; and

a second disengageable coupling device (6) for coupling the thermal engine to the rotating electric machine 2 and for coupling the thermal engine (1) to the compressor via the transmission unit and the first disengageable coupling device (8);

the compressor (3) being provided to be coupled to the thermal engine (1) and the rotating electric machine (2) via the transmission unit.

2. The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electric machine (2) in the mode has a power that is no greater than 1.5 kW.

3. The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first disengageable coupling device (8) and second disengageable coupling device (6) are controlled independently.

4. The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotating electric machine (2) is adapted for operating in the motor mode and for providing a mechanical energy to the thermal engine (1), that is suitable for starting the thermal engine.

5. The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotating electric machine is adapted for operating in generator mode in order to transform a mechanical power provided by the thermal engine (1) into an electrical power.

6. The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotating electric machine (2) is adapted to be attached to the air conditioning unit of the vehicle.

7. The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit includes at least one of an epicyclic gear train, a fixed reduction ratio transmission, a continuously variable reduction ratio transmission and a gear box.

8. The coupling assembly according to claim 7, wherein the transmission unit is a fixed reduction ratio transmission comprising a first driving wheel (13) and second driving wheel (14);

wherein the first driving wheel (13) is directly coupled to the rotating electric machine (2) and the second disengageable coupling device (6); and

wherein the second driving wheel (14) is directly coupled to the compressor.

9. The coupling assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first driving wheel (13) and the second driving wheel (14) are pinions.

10. The coupling assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first driving wheel (13) and the second driving wheel (14) are belt pulleys.

11. The coupling assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit is an epicyclic gear train, including an annular gear (9), a sun gear (12) and planet gears (11) connected to an output shaft, the annular gear (9) forming a rotor of the rotating electric machine (2), the sun gear (9) being adapted to be mechanically connected to the compressor (3).