Cableless air conditioner control system and method

An automobile air conditioning system constructed and arranged for use on a vehicle not originally equipped with an air conditioner or for use on a vehicle whose air conditioner was controlled by the movement of cables attached to a control panel, said automobile air conditioning system comprising:

• an air conditioning compressor, an air conditioning condensor, an air conditioning evaporator and a blower to controllably reduce the temperature of the ambient air within the passenger compartment of the automobile;
• a system of ducts and vents to direct said reduced temperature air into the passenger compartment of the automobile at a predetermined velocity and temperature;
• a control system for regulating the operation of said combination of an air conditioning compressor, an air conditioning condenser, an air conditioning evaporator, and said blower to enable the occupants of the automobile to regulate the velocity and temperature of air entering the passenger compartment of the automobile, said control system including:
• a control panel assembly including mechanical controls movable by said occupants of said automobile wherein movement of said mechanical controls results in movement of actuator arms located on the back of said control panel assembly;
• a housing constructed and arranged to be mountable to said control panel assembly;
• a stationary electrical conductor contained with said housing;
• a movable spring biased electrical conductor constructed and arranged to be movable within said housing and in positionable contact with said stationary electrical conductor;
• said movable spring biased electrical conductor constructed and arranged to be connected to and movable by an actuator arm;
• whereby movement of said movable spring biased electrical conductor with respect to said stationary electrical conductor will provide an electrical signal used to control the operation of the automobile air conditioner.

An automobile air conditioning kit for installing an air conditioning system on an automobile that did not come equipped with an air conditioning system, said automobile air conditioning kit comprising:

• an air conditioning compressor;
• an air conditioning condenser;
• an air conditioning evaporator;
• a plurality of devices governing the operation of mechanically variable controls on said air conditioning compressor, said air conditioning condenser, or said air conditioning evaporator;
• a cableless control system for governing the operation of said plurality of devices, said cableless control system including:
• a control panel assembly having at least one mechanical control visible on one end by an occupant of the automobile and connected on the opposite end to the air conditioning system;
• a slide pot potentiometer assembly connected to and moved by said opposite end of said at least one mechanical control;
• said slide pot potentiometer assembly being constructed and arranged to provide an electrical signal which causes one or more of said plurality of devices to move.

A system for converting a cable operated automobile air conditioner to a cableless automobile air conditioner wherein said cable operated automobile air conditioner includes manual controls movable on one end by an occupant of the automobile, a face plate providing instructions for an occupant of the automobile regarding the results to be obtained from the movement of the manual controls, a housing behind the face plate for mounting and controlling the movement of the manual controls, and a connector for mounting and positioning cable assemblies attached to the opposite end of the manual controls for providing mechanical inputs for the operating components of the automobile air conditioner, said system comprising:

• a slide pot potentiometer assembly including:
• a housing constructed and arranged to be mounted to the housing behind the face plate using the connector for mounting and positioning a cable assembly;
• a stationary electrical conductor positioned within said housing;
• a movable electrical conductor constructed and arranged for slidable movement within said housing to be in positionable contact with respect to said stationary electrical conductor, said movable electrical conductor being positionable by connection to the end of the manual controls;
• said slide pot potentiometer assembly being electrically connected to a system for mechanically actuating the operating components of the automobile air conditioner.

A method for converting a cable operated automobile air conditioner to a cableless air conditioner wherein said cable operated air conditioner includes manual controls movable on one end by an occupant of the automobile, a face plate providing instructions for an occupant of the vehicle regarding the results to be obtained from the movement of the manual controls, a housing behind the face plate for mounting and controlling the movement of the manual controls, and a connector for mounting and positioning cable assemblies attached to the opposite end of the manual controls for providing mechanical inputs for the operating components of the automobile air conditioner, said method comprising the steps of:

• attaching a slide pot potentiometer assembly to the opposite end of the manual controls;
• said slide pot potentiometer assembly including:
• a housing constructed and arranged for be mounted to the housing behind the face plate using the connector for mounting and positioning a cable assembly;
• a stationary electrical conductor positioned within said housing;
• a movable electrical conductor constructed and arranged for slidable movement within said housing to be in positionable contact with respect to said stationary electrical conductor, said movable electrical conductor being positionable by connection to the opposite end of the manual controls;
• connecting said slide pot potentiometer assembly to a system for mechanically actuating the operating components of the automobile air conditioner.

A slide pot potentiometer assembly comprising:

• an openable housing;
• a stationary electrical conductor positioned within said openable housing;
• a movable electrical conductor constructed and arranged for spring biased slidable movement within said openable housing to be in positionable contact with respect to said stationary electrical conductor;
• electrical connections for obtaining an electrical signal representative of the position of said movable electrical conductor with respect to said stationary electrical conductor.