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US 2003/0192954 A1Published application
Compact vehicle heating apparatus and method
AssigneeVehicle Systems Incorporated
InventorsHarold R. Enander, Thomas A. Acree
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact vehicle heating system and method is provided which includes mechanisms to selectively shut down heating systems. For example, when domestic hot water is required, space heating and engine preheating systems can be shut down in order to provide priority heating to the domestic hot water. When the demand for domestic hot water is lower, the space heating and engine preheat systems can be reactivated.
Claims15
A heating system comprising:
- a) a tank containing a heating medium;
- b) an intermittent heat source for heating said heating medium in said tank;
- c) first heat transfer means for use in heating a fluid passing through said first heat transfer means;
- d) second heat transfer means for transferring heat from said heating medium to a receiving fluid;
- e) a first temperature sensor located external to, but close to, said tank for use in sensing the temperature near the inlet side of said first heat transfer means;
- f) a second temperature sensor for use in determining the temperature of the heating medium;
- and
- g) control means operatively connected to the output of said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor to control said second heat transfer means and the cycling of said heat source.
5 more elements
A method for providing domestic hot water and space heating comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a heating tank for containing a heating medium;
- b) providing first heat transfer means within said heating medium capable of heating domestic hot water;
- c) providing second heat transfer means for transferring heat from the heating medium to the space located within a confined area;
- d) providing a heat source for heating said heating medium within said tank;
- e) providing data to control means from a first sensor capable of sensing the temperature of the input cold line for the first heat transfer means;
- f) providing data to said control means from a sensor designed to sense the temperature of said heating medium;
- and
- g) cycling said heat source depending on the data received by said control means.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.