# US 10,309,363 B2 · Integrated automated idle reduction system and method

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- Number: US 10,309,363 B2
- Document ID: US10309363B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/562,258
- Filed: 2014-12-05
- Published: 2015-07-02
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-05
- Assignees: Ecomplete, LLC
- Applicants: ECOmplete, LLC
- Inventors: Debra Johnson; Russ Webster
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309363B2

## CPC

- F02N 19/10: by heating of engine coolants
- F02D 17/04: rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions (dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14)
- F02N 11/0803: {characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop (F02N11/0814 takes precedence)}
- B60H 1/00378: {for tractor or load vehicle cabins}
- E02F 9/2066: {of the type combustion engines}
- F02N 11/0814: {comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop}
- F25B 1/00: Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle (F25B3/00, F25B5/00, F25B6/00, F25B7/00, F25B9/00 take precedence)
- F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W)
- B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

## Abstract

An integrated automated idle reduction system is disclosed. The system may include an APU and various controllers providing automation. The system may enable automating features, such as automatically controlling various power sources, engine start, engine stop, the APU, and accessory systems. The APU may be an engine, battery and/or other power source that is selectably connectable to vehicle systems to provide electrical power while the OEM engine of the vehicle is not running. The APU may also provide electrical power while the OEM engine is not running. Additionally, the APU may drive an air conditioning compressor while the OEM engine is not running, such as to keep the cab of a vehicle cool. Prior cold starting the OEM engine, the APU may warm engine coolant, and the integrated automated idle reduction system may circulate the warmed coolant through the OEM engine in preparation for starting.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An integrated and automated idle reduction system for automatically controlling equipment powered by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
an electrical circuit system that, in response to a predefined set of operating criteria being met, relays instructions to a shutdown controller, an OEM/AUX air conditioner (A/C) selection unit, and an auxiliary power unit (APU) auto start controller, the electrical circuit system comprising an idle timer in electrical communication with the shutdown controller and the APU auto start controller;
a manual override switch in electrical communication with the shutdown controller;
an engine kill switch connected to the OEM internal combustion engine and controllable in response to the shutdown controller of the electrical circuit system;
an APU connected to and controllable in response to the APU auto start controller of the electrical circuit system, and the APU comprising at least one of a diesel engine and a gasoline engine;
an OEM A/C compressor and an APU A/C compressor, wherein both the OEM A/C compressor and the APU A/C compressor are coupled to an auxiliary A/C interconnect system, and wherein the OEM/AUX A/C selection unit selectively couples one of the OEM A/C compressor and the APU A/C compressor, via the auxiliary A/C interconnect system, to an OEM A/C evaporator; and
an auxiliary coolant interconnect system in fluid communication with the APU and the OEM internal combustion engine, wherein the auxiliary coolant interconnect system, via a thermostat, directs coolant to an OEM heater core and the OEM internal combustion engine.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, further comprising:
at least one indicator for notifying the operator of the automated series of activities, the at least one indicator comprising at least one of an indicator light and a signal;
wherein the at least one indicator is controlled by the electrical circuit system in response to at least one of the shutdown controller, the OEM/AUX selection unit, and the APU auto start controller.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a fuel interconnect system coupling the APU and the OEM engine such that the APU receives fuel from the OEM engine and returns unused fuel to the OEM engine.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the A/C interconnect system comprises a shuttle valve assembly in fluidic connection with the OEM A/C evaporator, the APU A/C compressor, and the OEM engine A/C compressor.

### Claim 5

A method of automatically shutting down an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) engine and starting an auxiliary power unit (APU), the method comprising:
determining, by an idle alternative system (IAS) control circuit, that at least one user/situational criterion is present in the OEM engine;
starting, by the shutdown controller of the IAS control circuit, a shutdown timer in response to the user/situational criterion being present;
delivering, by the shutdown controller of the IAS control circuit, a warning in response to the shutdown timer indicating the passage of a first short time period;
shutting down, by the shutdown controller of the IAS control circuit, the OEM engine in response to the shutdown timer indicating the passage of a first long time period; and
engaging, by at least one of the shutdown controller and an APU auto start controller of the IAS control circuit, a Supplemental Power Mode, wherein the Supplemental Power Mode comprises turning on the APU and selectively coupling either of an OEM air conditioner (A/C) compressor or an auxiliary A/C compressor, via an auxiliary A/C interconnect system, to an OEM A/C evaporator,
wherein the APU comprises at least one of a diesel engine and a gasoline engine.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein the first short time period comprises 4½ minutes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein the first long time period comprises 5 minutes.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the warning comprises an audible alert.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the warning comprises a visual alert.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the user/situational criteria comprises at least one of:
determining that a power take off is not in use;
determining that a parking brake is engaged; and
determining that a gearbox is in neutral;
wherein each determining step is performed by at least one of a user/situation condition identification switch and a condition sensor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the A/C interconnect system comprises a shuttle valve assembly in fluidic connection with the OEM A/C evaporator, the APU A/C compressor, and the OEM engine A/C compressor.

### Claim 12

An integrated automated idle reduction system comprising:
an idle alternative system (IAS) control circuit comprising:
an idle shutdown timer;
an auxiliary power unit (APU) control circuit whereby an APU is started by an APU auto start controller in response to an Idle Shutdown Mode, wherein the APU comprises one of a diesel engine and a gasoline engine;
an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) battery and an OEM engine in electrical communication with the IAS control circuit, wherein the OEM engine is controllable in response to the shutdown controller and the OEM engine is stopped in response to the Idle Shutdown Mode and
an OEM air conditioner (A/C) compressor and an APU A/C compressor, wherein both the OEM A/C compressor and the APU A/C compressor are coupled to an auxiliary A/C interconnect system, and wherein, in response to the Idle Shutdown Mode, an OEM/AUX air conditioner selection unit selectively couples either of the OEM A/C compressor or the APU A/C compressor, via the auxiliary A/C interconnect system, to an OEM A/C evaporator.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the A/C interconnect system comprises a shuttle valve assembly in fluidic connection with the OEM A/C evaporator, the APU A/C compressor, and the OEM engine A/C compressor.