# US 12,179,552 B2 · Auxiliary vehicle HVAC power systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,552 B2 - Document ID: US12179552B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/918,777 - Filed: 2020-07-01 - Published: 2021-02-04 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-30 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Matthew John Sherrick; Michael John Trinkner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179552B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/00428: {electric} - B60H 1/00735: {Control systems or circuits characterised by their input, i.e. by the detection, measurement or calculation of particular conditions, e.g. signal treatment, dynamic models} - B60H 1/00899: {Controlling the flow of liquid in a heat pump system (controlling the properties of the refrigerant liquid, e.g. pressure or temperature, B60H1/3204)} - B60K 25/02: directly from an engine shaft - B60R 16/0307: {using generators driven by a machine different from the vehicle motor} - B60R 16/033: characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) - H02J 7/14: for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle - 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 - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the converter circuit to convert AC power from the generator to charge the battery. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the converter circuit to charge the battery if the first power demand is less than a threshold power demand. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the battery to supply power to the auxiliary air conditioner if the first power demand satisfies a threshold power demand. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: determine an amount of power available from the generator; and control the battery to supply power to the auxiliary air conditioner if the amount of power available from the generator is less than the first power demand. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the generator is configured to charge a battery of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the AC power is one of 120 Volts or 240 Volts. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the generator is configured to charge a battery of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the generator outputs the electrical power at one of 120 Volts or 240 Volts. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is configured to send a signal to the generator to turn on the generator when the first power demand is detected. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: determine a first power demand from the auxiliary air conditioning system; determine a total power load on a power source which provides the electrical power; and control an amount of power supplied to the auxiliary air conditioner based on the first power demand and the total power load. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising a converter circuit configured to convert the electrical power to power for the auxiliary air conditioner. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: determine a first power demand based on a temperature setting for the vehicle; and control an amount of power supplied by the converter circuit to the compressor based on the first power demand. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising a battery, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the converter circuit to charge the battery. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the converter circuit to charge the battery if the first power demand is less than a threshold power demand. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the battery to supply power to the compressor if the first power demand exceeds a threshold power demand. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising a battery, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the converter circuit to convert AC power to DC power from the generator to charge the battery.