# US 10,870,327 B2 · Drive cooling systems and methods for engine off > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,327 B2 - Document ID: US10870327B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/123,588 - Filed: 2018-09-06 - Published: 2019-03-28 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-26 - Assignees: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Shawn W. Vehr; Joseph James Rozsnaki; Kenneth A. Pistone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870327B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/004: {for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles} - B60H 1/00021: {Air flow details of HVAC devices} - B60H 1/00064: {for sending air streams of different temperatures into the passenger compartment} - B60H 1/00378: {for tractor or load vehicle cabins} - B60H 1/00428: {electric} - B60H 1/3207: {for minimizing the humidity of the air} - B60H 1/3208: {Vehicle drive related control of the compressor drive means, e.g. for fuel saving purposes} - B60H 1/321: {for preventing the freezing of a heat exchanger} - B60H 1/3222: {characterised by the compressor driving arrangements, e.g. clutches, transmissions or multiple drives (B60H1/3208, B60H1/3226 take precedence)} - F25B 5/02: arranged in parallel - F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems - B60H 1/00807: {the input being a specific way of measuring or calculating an air or coolant temperature} - B60H 2001/3238: {related to the operation of the compressor} - B60H 2001/325: {of the refrigerant at a compressing unit} - B60H 2001/3261: {of the air at an evaporating unit} - B60H 2001/3272: {to control the revolving speed of a compressor} - B60H 2001/3283: {to control the refrigerant flow} - B60H 2001/3292: {Compressor drive is electric only} - F25B 27/00: Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy (F25B30/06 takes precedence) - F25B 49/027: {Condenser control arrangements} - F25B 2600/021: Inverters therefor - F25B 2600/0251: with on-off operation - F25B 2600/0271: the discharge pressure - F25B 2600/11: Fan speed control - F25B 2600/2519: On-off valves - F25B 2700/02: Humidity - F25B 2700/1931: Discharge pressures - F25B 2700/1933: Suction pressures - F25B 2700/195: of the condenser - F25B 2700/2104: of an indoor room or compartment - F25B 2700/21151: at the suction side of the compressor - F25B 2700/21152: at the discharge side of the compressor - F25B 2700/21163: of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser - F25B 2700/2117: of an evaporator - Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An air conditioning system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes a condenser configured to receive refrigerant output by an electric compressor and transfer heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser. A first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a first control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator. A first blower is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle. A second evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a second control valve is open and transfer heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator. A second blower is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air conditioning system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprising: an electric compressor; a condenser that is configured to receive refrigerant output by the electric compressor and that transfers heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser; a fan that is configured to blow air across the condenser; a first control valve; a first evaporator that is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when the first control valve is open and that transfers heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator; a first blower that is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle via a first system of ducts; a second control valve; a second evaporator that is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when the second control valve is open and that transfers heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator; a second blower that is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle via a second system of ducts; a control module that is configured to determine a compressor speed command for the electric compressor; an inverter drive configured to apply power to the electric compressor based on the compressor speed command; and an actuator configured to: open and allow airflow between the inverter drive and a duct of the second system of ducts; and close and block airflow between the inverter drive and the duct of the second system of ducts. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the control module is further configured to selectively open and close the actuator based on a temperature of the inverter drive. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The air conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the control module is configured to open the actuator when a temperature of the inverter drive is greater than a predetermined temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The air conditioning system of claim 2 wherein the control module is configured to close the actuator when the temperature of the inverter drive is less than a predetermined temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the control module is configured to close the actuator when the electric compressor is off. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the control module is configured to close the actuator when a heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) mode set in response to receipt of user input regarding the HVAC mode is a heating mode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein the control module is configured to: selectively open the second control valve; and selectively open the actuator when the second control valve is open. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The air conditioning system of claim 1 wherein: a driver's seat of the vehicle is within the first section of the cabin of the vehicle; and the driver's seat is not within the second section of the cabin of the vehicle. ### Claim 9 An air conditioning system of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprising: an electric compressor; a condenser that is configured to receive refrigerant output by the electric compressor and that transfers heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser; a fan that is configured to blow air across the condenser; a first control valve; a first evaporator that is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when the first control valve is open and that transfers heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator; a first blower that is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle via a first system of ducts; a second control valve; a second evaporator that is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when the second control valve is open and that transfers heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator; a second blower that is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle via a second system of ducts; a control module that is configured to determine a compressor speed command for the electric compressor; an inverter drive that is implemented within a housing and that is configured to apply power to the electric compressor based on the compressor speed command; and a drive fan that blows air past the inverter drive, wherein the control module is further configured to control operation of the drive fan based on a temperature of the inverter drive, wherein the drive fan draws the air from the cabin of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The air conditioning system of claim 9 further comprising an actuator configured to: open and allow airflow between the inverter drive and a duct of the second system of ducts; and close and block airflow between the inverter drive and the duct of the second system of ducts. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The air conditioning system of claim 9 wherein the control module is configured to: turn the drive fan on when the temperature of the inverter drive is greater than a first predetermined temperature; and after turning the drive fan on, maintain the drive fan on until the temperature of the inverter drive is less than a second predetermined temperature, wherein the second predetermined temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The air conditioning system of claim 11 wherein the control module is configured to: turn the drive fan off when the temperature of the inverter drive is less than the second predetermined temperature; and after turning the drive fan off, maintain the drive fan off until the temperature of the inverter drive is greater than the first predetermined temperature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The air conditioning system of claim 11 wherein the control module is configured to: decrease a speed of the drive fan when the temperature of the inverter drive is less than the second predetermined temperature; and after decreasing the speed of the drive fan, operate the drive fan at a predetermined speed until the temperature of the inverter drive is greater than the first predetermined temperature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The air conditioning system of claim 11 wherein the control module is configured to, when the temperature of the inverter drive is greater than the first predetermined temperature: determine a drive speed command based on a rate of increase of the temperature; and operate the drive fan based on the drive speed command. ### Claim 15 An air conditioning control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprising: determining a temperature of an inverter drive; by the inverter drive, applying power to an electric compressor based on a compressor speed command, wherein a condenser is configured to receive refrigerant output by the electric compressor and to transfer heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser, wherein a first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a first control valve is open and to transfer heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator, wherein a first blower is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle via a first system of ducts, wherein a second evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a second control valve is open and to transfer heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator, and wherein a second blower is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle via a second system of ducts; setting the compressor speed command; and selectively actuating an actuator that is configured to: open and allow airflow between the inverter drive and a duct of the second system of ducts; and close and block airflow between the inverter drive and the duct of the second system of ducts. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The air conditioning control method of claim 15 wherein selectively actuating the actuator includes selectively opening and closing the actuator based on a temperature of the inverter drive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The air conditioning control method of claim 16 wherein selectively actuating the actuator includes opening the actuator when a temperature of the inverter drive is greater than a predetermined temperature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The air conditioning control method of claim 16 wherein selectively actuating the actuator includes closing the actuator when the temperature of the inverter drive is less than a predetermined temperature. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The air conditioning control method of claim 15 wherein selectively actuating the actuator includes closing the actuator when the electric compressor is off. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The air conditioning control method of claim 15 wherein selectively actuating the actuator includes closing the actuator when a heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) mode set in response to receipt of user input regarding the HVAC mode is a heating mode. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The air conditioning control method of claim 15 further comprising selectively opening the second control valve, wherein selectively actuating the actuator includes selectively opening the actuator when the second control valve is open. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The air conditioning control method of claim 15 wherein: a driver's seat of the vehicle is within the first section of the cabin of the vehicle; and the driver's seat is not within the second section of the cabin of the vehicle. ### Claim 23 An air conditioning control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprising: determining a temperature of an inverter drive, by the inverter drive, applying power to an electric compressor based on a compressor speed command, wherein a condenser is configured to receive refrigerant output by the electric compressor and to transfer heat from the refrigerant within the condenser to air passing the condenser, wherein a first evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a first control valve is open and to transfer heat from air passing the first evaporator to the refrigerant within the first evaporator, wherein a first blower is configured to blow air across the first evaporator to a first section of a cabin of the vehicle via a first system of ducts, wherein a second evaporator is configured to receive refrigerant from the condenser when a second control valve is open and to transfer heat from air passing the second evaporator to the refrigerant within the second evaporator, and wherein a second blower is configured to blow air across the second evaporator to a second section of the cabin of the vehicle via a second system of ducts; setting the compressor speed command; and based on the temperature of the inverter drive, controlling operation of a drive fan that is configured to blow air past the inverter drive, wherein the drive fan is configured to draw the air from the cabin of the vehicle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The air conditioning control method of claim 23 further comprising, based on the temperature of the inverter drive, selectively actuating an actuator that is configured to: open and allow airflow between the inverter drive and a duct of the second system of ducts; and close and block airflow between the inverter drive and the duct of the second system of ducts. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The air conditioning control method of claim 23 wherein controlling operation of the drive fan includes: turning the drive fan on when the temperature of the inverter drive is greater than a first predetermined temperature; and after turning the drive fan on, maintaining the drive fan on until the temperature of the inverter drive is less than a second predetermined temperature, wherein the second predetermined temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The air conditioning control method of claim 25 wherein controlling operation of the drive fan includes: turning the drive fan off when the temperature of the inverter drive is less than the second predetermined temperature; and after turning the drive fan off, maintaining the drive fan off until the temperature of the inverter drive is greater than the first predetermined temperature. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The air conditioning control method of claim 25 wherein controlling operation of the drive fan includes: decreasing a speed of the drive fan when the temperature of the inverter drive is less than the second predetermined temperature; and after decreasing the speed of the drive fan, operating the drive fan at a predetermined speed until the temperature of the inverter drive is greater than the first predetermined temperature. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The air conditioning control method of claim 25 wherein controlling operation of the drive fan includes, when the temperature of the inverter drive is greater than the first predetermined temperature: determining a drive speed command based on a rate of increase of the temperature; and operating the drive fan based on the drive speed command.