Method and apparatus for cooling and heating in a vehicle

A combination module for mounting in or on a vehicle, and for coupling to an evaporator coil such that refrigerant flows between the combination module and the evaporator coil, the combination module comprising:

• a condenser coil;
• and a compressor assembly, the compressor assembly comprising an electric motor, the combination module mounted inside the vehicle to cover a hole in a floor or outer wall of the vehicle, the condenser coil, when mounted, being positioned over the hole such that air entering through the hole ventilates the condenser coil, the compressor assembly further comprising a flow controller to control flow of the refrigerant, the flow controller of the compressor assembly coupled to the electric motor and comprising one of a variable speed control and a variable flow control, the compressor assembly further comprising a heat exchanger positioned between the flow controller and the electric motor, the heat exchanger receiving the refrigerant returning from the evaporator coil to cool the flow controller and the electric motor;
• a fan mounted proximate to the hole to move air into the combination module;
• a sensor for taking at least one of temperature measurements and pressure measurements of the refrigerant near the condenser coil;
• and
• a fan controller to selectively activate the fan when it is determined that air flow in the combination module is insufficient as a function of at least one of:
• the temperature measurements, the pressure measurements, and a speed of the vehicle.

A method comprising:

• mounting a combination module in or on a vehicle, the combination module comprising:
• a condenser coil and a compressor assembly, the compressor assembly comprising an electric motor, the combination module mounted inside the vehicle to cover a hole in a floor or outer wall of the vehicle, the condenser coil, when mounted, being positioned over the hole such that air entering through the hole ventilates the condenser coil, the compressor assembly further comprising a flow controller to control flow of refrigerant, the flow controller of the compressor assembly coupled to the electric motor and comprising one of a variable speed control and a variable flow control, the compressor assembly further comprising a heat exchanger positioned between the flow controller and the electric motor, the heat exchanger receiving the refrigerant returning from at least one air handler to cool the flow controller and the electric motor,
• a fan mounted proximate to the hole to move air into the combination module,
• a sensor for taking one of temperature measurements and pressure measurements of the refrigerant near the condenser coil, and a fan controller to selectively activate the fan when it is determined that air flow in the combination module is insufficient as a function of at least one of:
• the temperature measurements, the pressure measurements and a speed of the vehicle;
• mounting the at least one air handler in the vehicle remote from the combination module, each air handler comprising a respective evaporator coil;
• and
• coupling each air handler to the combination module to allow the refrigerant to flow between the respective air handler and the combination module.