Work vehicle HVAC control based on operator seat direction

• US 9,434,236 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Guillory, Chris, Breiner, Scott J., Huber, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gorman, Eric
• Application Number:
  US13/801,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20140273785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00378 for tractor or load vehicle cabins
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00871 Air directing means, e.g. blades in an air outlet construction of nozzles or air diffusers B60H1/34

Abstract

An HVAC control system for directing the flow of air in a work vehicle'"'"'s HVAC system responds to the orientation of a rotating seat within the work vehicle'"'"'s cabin. The seat may rotate between at least two operational positions, such that the operator of the work vehicle may control a forward or a rearward implement. The HVAC control system includes one or more detectors for detecting the position of the seat. A control module receives output from the detectors and allows or prevents the flow of air through particular ducts in the HVAC system based on the seat'"'"'s position. The control module may actuate one or more doors to open and close ducts as needed. The control module may operate a first door to open or close forward ducts and a second door to open or close rearward ducts depending on whether the seat is facing forward or rearward.

Claims

1. A control system for a work vehicle having a seat that rotates between a first operational position and a second operational position, and further having an HVAC system having at least a first duct for directing air at a first area and a second duct for directing air at a second area distinct from the first area, the control system comprising:

a first door that prevents air from flowing through the first duct in a closed position and allows air to flow through the first duct in an open position;

a first actuator for moving the first door between at least the closed and open positions;

a detector for detecting whether the seat is in at least one of the first and second operational positions and generating a position output signal based on the detected operational position; and

a control module for driving the first actuator according to the position output signal of the detector.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the first door prevents air from flowing through the second duct in a second closed position and allows air to flow through the second duct in the open position, and wherein the first actuator further moves the first door between the open position and the second closed position.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the first door allows air to flow through the first duct when preventing air from flowing through the second duct, and allows air to flow through the second duct when preventing air from flowing through the first duct.

4. The control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second door that prevents air from flowing through the second duct in a closed position and allows air to flow through the second duct in an open position; and

a second actuator for moving the second door between at least the closed and open positions of the second door;

wherein the control module drives the second actuator according to the position output signal of the detector.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the control module drives the first actuator to open the first door when driving the second actuator to close the second door.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module drives the first actuator to move the first door to the open position when the detector detects that the seat is in the first operational position;

and

wherein the control module drives the first actuator to move the first door to the closed position when the detector detects that the seat is not in the first operational position.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module drives the first actuator to move the first door to the open position when the detector detects that the seat is in the first operational position;

and

wherein the control module drives the first actuator to move the first door to the closed position when the detector detects that the seat is in the second operational position.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the first area is a front area of the work vehicle and the seat faces substantially forward in the first operational position.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the second area is a rear area of the work vehicle and the seat faces substantially rearward in the second operational position.

10. The control system of claim 1 further comprising a marker that rotates with the seat, wherein the detector detects whether the seat is in one of the operational positions by detecting the position of the marker.