Auxiliary air conditioning, heating and engine warming system for trucks
First Claim
1. An air conditioning, heating and engine warming system for trucks and like vehicles comprising:
- an engine including a block connected to a radiator;
an engine and truck air conditioning and heating system including a truck compressor, a condenser, refrigerant lines extending from the truck compressor to at least one air conditioning unit and extending from the air conditioning unit to the condenser and back to the truck compressor, and heater conduits extending from the engine block to at least one heating unit and extending back to the engine block;
an auxiliary power plant on the truck including an auxiliary engine, alternator, coolant system including a water pump and an air conditioning compressor each driven by the auxiliary engine, and a heat exchanger having a chamber located immediately adjacent the auxiliary engine for receiving hot exhaust gases therefrom and having a liquid heating coil within said chamber in heat transfer relationship with the exhaust gases,a first coolant conduit coupled from the engine block to one side of the heating coil of the heat exchanger and a second coolant conduit coupled directly back to the engine block, said second coolant conduit being additionally coupled to the other side of said heating coil,a circulating pump connected in the first conduit between the engine block and the heating coil;
the return of heated water to the engine block from said second conduit acting to warm the engine block and thus aid starting of the truck engine in cold weather when the auxiliary power plant is operated;
additional refrigerant lines coupling the compressor of the auxiliary power plant to refrigerant lines connecting said air conditioning unit and said condenser whereby refrigerant can be independently supplied to the truck air conditioning system from the compressor of the auxiliary power plant when said auxiliary power plant is operated; and
means in the refrigerant lines between the truck compressor and said one air conditioning unit and between the compressor of the auxiliary power plant and said one air conditioning unit for restricting back flow of refrigerant between the two said compressors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A small lightweight auxiliary power plant including an engine, electrical alternator, water pump, air conditioning compressor and a heat exchanger is mounted at a convenient location on the tractor of a truck or other large vehicle. The main engine of the truck operates the existing truck air conditioning and heating system in a normal manner when the main engine is running. When the main engine of the truck is not operating and the smaller engine of the auxiliary power plant is operating, the truck air conditioning and heating system is operated by the auxiliary power plant. The heat exchanger of the auxiliary power plant then utilizes the heat of exhaust gases generated by the auxiliary power plant engine to warm the truck engine during the time it is not operating so that easy starting of the truck engine is made possible even in very cold regions. The electrical alternator of the auxiliary power plant supplies electrical power for the truck electrical system when the truck engine is not running. The truck storage batteries serve the electrical systems of the truck and the auxiliary power plant. The auxiliary power plant serves as an emeergency back-up system if the truck alternator or compressor should fail. The arrangement reduces air pollution caused by operation of the truck engine for long periods of time while the truck is stopped. Provision can be made for warming the fuel tanks and fuel lines to prevent fuel gelling in cold climates.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An air conditioning, heating and engine warming system for trucks and like vehicles comprising:
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an engine including a block connected to a radiator; an engine and truck air conditioning and heating system including a truck compressor, a condenser, refrigerant lines extending from the truck compressor to at least one air conditioning unit and extending from the air conditioning unit to the condenser and back to the truck compressor, and heater conduits extending from the engine block to at least one heating unit and extending back to the engine block; an auxiliary power plant on the truck including an auxiliary engine, alternator, coolant system including a water pump and an air conditioning compressor each driven by the auxiliary engine, and a heat exchanger having a chamber located immediately adjacent the auxiliary engine for receiving hot exhaust gases therefrom and having a liquid heating coil within said chamber in heat transfer relationship with the exhaust gases, a first coolant conduit coupled from the engine block to one side of the heating coil of the heat exchanger and a second coolant conduit coupled directly back to the engine block, said second coolant conduit being additionally coupled to the other side of said heating coil, a circulating pump connected in the first conduit between the engine block and the heating coil; the return of heated water to the engine block from said second conduit acting to warm the engine block and thus aid starting of the truck engine in cold weather when the auxiliary power plant is operated; additional refrigerant lines coupling the compressor of the auxiliary power plant to refrigerant lines connecting said air conditioning unit and said condenser whereby refrigerant can be independently supplied to the truck air conditioning system from the compressor of the auxiliary power plant when said auxiliary power plant is operated; and means in the refrigerant lines between the truck compressor and said one air conditioning unit and between the compressor of the auxiliary power plant and said one air conditioning unit for restricting back flow of refrigerant between the two said compressors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In combination, a truck including a cab, a water cooled primary engine, an air conditioning system including a first compressor driven by said engine, air conditioning means and condenser means, and a heating system operatively connected to the coolant of the engine,
an auxiliary engine mounted on said truck and including a second air conditioner compressor driven thereby, condenser means operatively connected to said second compressor, an alternator mounted on and driven by said auxiliary engine, said alternator being operatively connected to the truck'"'"'s electrical system to supply electricity thereto when said primary engine is not running, means operatively connecting one side of said condenser means to said air conditioning means, means connecting the air conditioning means to said second air conditioner compressor, and control means for selectively supplying refrigerant from either said second compressor or said first compressor to said air conditioning means whereby the interior of said cab may be cooled without operating the engine of said truck. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
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20. Iadd.22. A truck including a cab, comprising:
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a water-cooled primary engine including a radiator for cooling fluid moving through the water jacket of the engine, a heating system for heating the interior of the cab including heater unit means operatively connected to the hot fluid moving through the water jacket, an auxiliary water-cooled engine mounted on said truck, an alternator mounted on and driven by said auxiliary engine, said alternator being operatively connected to the truck electrical system to supply electricity thereto when said primary engine is not running, means fluidly connecting the coolant water of said auxiliary engine to said heater unit means to selectively supply hot coolant water from said auxiliary engine to said heater unit means when said primary engine is not running, whereby said auxiliary engine will provide heat to the interior
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21. of said cab without operating said primary engine. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein means is provided for further heating the coolant water by said auxiliary engine. .Iaddend.
Specification