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US 10,377,205 B2Granted
Systems and methods for compressor clutch control
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorRoss Dykstra Pursifull
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for controlling an air conditioning compressor clutch. In one example, a method includes monitoring a clutch of an air conditioning system in a vehicle when the air conditioning system is activated, and responsive to determining that the clutch is not engaged, increasing a current flow to the clutch. In this way, engagement of the compressor clutch may be dynamically maintained with a reduced usage of electrical power.
Claims16
A method comprising:
- with an electronic controller of a vehicle, executing instructions stored in non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the electronic controller to:
- activate an air conditioning system in the vehicle by applying a first voltage to a clutch of a compressor of the air conditioning system to initially engage the clutch, and then applying a second voltage to the clutch to maintain the engagement of the clutch, the second voltage lower than the first voltage;
- while applying the second voltage to the clutch, determine via the electronic controller whether the clutch is still engaged;
- responsive to determining that the clutch is still engaged, continue to apply the second voltage to the clutch;
- and
- responsive to determining that the clutch has disengaged, apply the first voltage to the clutch to re-engage the clutch, and then decrease voltage applied to the clutch from the first voltage to a voltage greater than the second voltage to maintain engagement of the clutch.
3 more elements
A method for a vehicle, comprising:
- with an electronic controller, executing instructions stored in non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the controller to:
- activate an engine-driven air conditioning system in the vehicle, including applying a first voltage to a clutch of a compressor of the engine-driven air conditioning system to initially engage the clutch;
- determine a second voltage to apply to the clutch to maintain engagement of the clutch based on at least one operating condition, wherein the second voltage is lower than the first voltage;
- apply the second voltage to the clutch;
- while applying the second voltage to the clutch, operate the vehicle with an engine at idle, measure engine torque via one or more sensors, and determine whether the clutch is still engaged based on the measured engine torque;
- responsive to determining that the clutch is still engaged, continue to apply the second voltage to the clutch;
- and
- responsive to determining that the clutch has disengaged, apply the first voltage to the clutch to re-engage the clutch, and then decrease voltage applied to the clutch from the first voltage to the second voltage to maintain engagement of the clutch.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.