Method for controlling fixed and removable vehicle HVAC devices

• US 8,078,324 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Oakes, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): JARRETT, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US11/974,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20090018702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/278, 700/299, 700/300
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/322 for improving the stop or idling operation of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2262 related to the period of on/off time of the heater
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An idle control system for a vehicle is provided.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a computer performs steps, the steps comprising:

determining an operation status of an engine of a vehicle;

determining a temperature set point for at least a portion of the vehicle;

controlling a vehicle-integrated HVAC device in response to the operation status of the engine of the vehicle and the temperature set point; and

controlling a non-vehicle-integrated HVAC device in response to the operation status of the engine of the vehicle, the temperature set point and the controlling the vehicle-integrated HVAC device.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein determining a temperature set point further includes defining a desired temperature as a first value;

activating a selected HVAC device if a current temperature achieves a first condition relative to the desired temperature;

deactivating the selected HVAC device if the current temperature achieves a second condition relative to the desired temperature; and

defining the desired temperature as a second value if the current temperature does not achieve the second condition within a first time period.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 2, determining a temperature set point further includes selecting the selected HVAC device in response to the operation status of the engine of the vehicle.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein controlling the non-vehicle-integrated HVAC device further includes activating the non-vehicle-integrated HVAC device when the operation status of the engine is a non-operating state.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein controlling the non-vehicle-integrated HVAC device further includes controlling a battery activated non-vehicle-integrated HVAC device.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein controlling the non-vehicle-integrated HVAC device further includes activating the non-vehicle-integrated HVAC device with a vehicle battery.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein controlling the non-vehicle-integrated HVAC device further includes controlling a fuel fired cab heater.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein controlling the non-vehicle-integrated HVAC device further includes controlling a fuel fired block heater.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, further including the steps of:

detecting an engine temperature; and

activating the fuel fired block heater in response to the engine temperature being below an engine temperature threshold.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein controlling the non-vehicle-integrated HVAC device further includes controlling an air conditioner.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein controlling the non-vehicle-integrated HVAC device further includes controlling a battery powered block heater.

12. A method of controlling an HVAC system including:

determining an operating status of an engine of a vehicle;

determining a temperature set point for at least a portion of the vehicle;

controlling a fixed-installation HVAC device of the vehicle in response to the operating status of the engine of the vehicle and the temperature set point; and

controlling the removable HVAC device in response to the operating status of the engine of the vehicle, the temperature set point and the controlling the fixed-installation HVAC device wherein controlling the fixed-installation HVAC device and controlling the removable HVAC device is accomplished by a common computer readable media.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining a temperature set point further includes

defining a desired temperature as a first value;

activating a selected HVAC device if a current temperature achieves a first condition relative to the desired temperature;

deactivating the selected HVAC device if the current temperature achieves a second condition relative to the desired temperature; and

defining the desired temperature as a second value if the current temperature does not achieve the second condition within a first time period.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining a temperature set point further includes selecting the selected HVAC device in response to the operating status of the engine of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein controlling the removable HVAC device includes activating the removable HVAC device and deactivating the fixed-installation HVAC device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein controlling the removable HVAC device further includes activating the removable HVAC device when the operation status of the engine is a non-operating state.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein controlling the removable HVAC device further includes controlling a battery activated removable HVAC device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein controlling the removable HVAC device further includes activating the removable HVAC device with a vehicle energy storage system.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein controlling the removable HVAC device further includes controlling a device selected from a group consisting of:

a fuel fired cab heater, a fuel fired block heater, an air conditioner, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 19, further including detecting an engine temperature;

and

activating the fuel fired block heater in response to the engine temperature being below an engine temperature threshold.