Vehicle air conditioning and heating method providing engine on and engine off operation
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of operating an air conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine to provide air conditioning to a sleeping area of the vehicle having an electric power generation and storage system, comprising the steps of:
- drawing electric power from the electric power generation and storage system when the engine is operating to drive an electrically driven, variable-speed compressor to cool the vehicle;
drawing electric power from the electric power generation and storage system when the engine is not operating to drive the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor to cool the vehicle;
disabling operation of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor when an output of the electric power generation and storage system drops below a threshold; and
determining a starting power requirement threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s engine, and wherein the step of disabling operation of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor when the output of the electric power generation and storage system drops below the threshold comprises the step of disabling operation of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor before the output voltage of the electric power storage system drops below the starting power requirement threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s engine.
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Abstract
An air conditioning system for use in an over-the-road or off road vehicle provides operation during both engine on and engine off conditions. The system includes a variable speed compressor, a motor, and a controller. The controller receives electric power from the vehicle'"'"'s electric power generation system when the engine is on to enable operation of the compressor during an engine on condition. When the engine is off, the controller receives electric power from a battery to enable operation of the compressor during the engine off condition.
122 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of operating an air conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine to provide air conditioning to a sleeping area of the vehicle having an electric power generation and storage system, comprising the steps of:
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drawing electric power from the electric power generation and storage system when the engine is operating to drive an electrically driven, variable-speed compressor to cool the vehicle; drawing electric power from the electric power generation and storage system when the engine is not operating to drive the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor to cool the vehicle; disabling operation of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor when an output of the electric power generation and storage system drops below a threshold; and determining a starting power requirement threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s engine, and wherein the step of disabling operation of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor when the output of the electric power generation and storage system drops below the threshold comprises the step of disabling operation of the electrically driven, variable-speed compressor before the output voltage of the electric power storage system drops below the starting power requirement threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating an air conditioning system for a vehicle to provide air conditioning to a sleeping area of the vehicle having an electric power storage system, comprising the steps of:
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drawing electric power from the electric power storage system when an engine of the vehicle is not operating to drive an electrically driven compressor to cool the vehicle; and disabling operation of the electrically driven compressor when an output of the electric power storage system drops below a threshold; wherein the electric power storage system is also used to start the vehicle'"'"'s engine, and wherein the step of disabling operation of the electrically driven compressor when the output of the electric power storage system drops below a threshold comprises the steps of determining a starting power requirement threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s engine and disabling operation of the electrically driven compressor when the output of the electric power storage system reaches the starting power requirement threshold of the vehicle'"'"'s engine. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification