Auxiliary vehicle HVAC power systems and methods
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsMatthew John Sherrick, Michael John Trinkner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a work vehicle with an auxiliary air conditioner and/or an auxiliary heater. The systems include power conversion circuitry configured to convert AC power from an AC power source to power conditioned to drive the auxiliary air conditioner and/or auxiliary heater. The AC power source may be configured to drive various loads, and accordingly may include control circuitry to manage the power provided to the various loads, including the auxiliary air conditioner and/or auxiliary heater.
Claims19
A system configured to power an auxiliary air conditioner of a vehicle, the system comprising:
- an engine mounted on the vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a primary air conditioner driven by a vehicle engine to control a temperature of a cab of the vehicle;
- a generator mounted on the vehicle and configured to convert mechanical power produced by the engine to alternating current (AC) power;
- a converter circuit configured to convert the AC power to direct current (DC) power to power the auxiliary air conditioner to control the temperature of the environment within the cab;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- receive a signal indicating that the vehicle engine is off;
- receive a signal indicating a desired temperature for the cab;
- determine a first power demand from the auxiliary air conditioner based on a desired temperature for the cab;
- and
- control an amount of power supplied by the converter circuit to the auxiliary air conditioner based in part on the first power demand and the desired temperature to control the temperature of the environment within the cab.
A system configured to power an auxiliary air conditioner of a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a service engine mounted on the vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a primary air conditioner driven by a vehicle engine to control a temperature of a cab of the vehicle;
- a generator mounted on the vehicle and configured to convert mechanical power produced by the service engine to electrical power;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- receive a signal indicating that the vehicle engine is off;
- receive a signal indicating a desired temperature for the cab;
- determine a power demand from the auxiliary air conditioner;
- and
- control an amount of the power supplied by the generator to the auxiliary air conditioner based in part on the power demand and the desired temperature to control the temperature of the environment within the cab.
A system configured to power an auxiliary air conditioner of a vehicle, the system comprising:
- an engine mounted on the vehicle;
- a generator mounted on the vehicle and configured to convert mechanical power produced by the engine to electrical power;
- a converter circuit configured to convert the electrical power to power for the auxiliary air conditioner;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- receive a signal from the generator to the converter circuit indicating a power load on the generator;
- determine a power demand from the auxiliary air conditioner;
- and
- control an amount of power supplied by the converter circuit based in part on the signal and the power demand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.