US 4,462,541 AGranted

Constant temperature control for a vehicle compartment heater or heater-air-conditioner

AssigneeRed Dot Corporation

InventorGary P. Hansen

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Abstract

A desired temperature within the passenger compartment (10) of a motor vehicle is selected by occupant movement of a control lever (80) for a variable resistor (VR2). The temperature of conditioning air being supplied to the compartment is measured by a thermister (72). The two temperatures are electronically compared. If the measured temperature is higher than the selected temperature, a solenoid (62) is energized which moves a control valve (48) in a position allowing passage of pressurized air into an air cylinder (26). The air cylinder (26) functions to close a valve (22) in a water line (18, 20) which extends from the engine cooling system to a heat exchanger (24) located within the conditioning air duct (12). When the temperature of the conditioning air falls below the selected temperature level, the solenoid (62) is de-energized and a spring (54) moves the control valve (58) into a position in which it blocks flow of compressed air to the air cylinder (26) and vents the air cylinder to the atmosphere. A spring (34) in the vented air cylinder (26) moves the valve (22) in the water line to an open position. Hot water from the engine cooling system is then able to flow into the heat exchanger (24) and heat the conditioning air.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A temperature control system, comprising:

duct means for delivering conditioning air to a region to be temperature conditioned by said air;
conduit means for delivering a hot liquid in a heat exchanging relation with the conditioning air in said duct means;
and
means for maintaining the temperature of the conditioning air at a selected value, comprising:
a normally open off-on valve in said conduit means, said off-on valve including a valve orifice, a valve plug moveable into the valve orifice for closing the valve, and out from the valve orifice for opening the valve, with spring means normally biasing the valve plug into an open position, and air cylinder means operable in opposition to the spring, for moving the valve plug into a closed position;
a temperature level selector means for the region to be temperature conditioned;
temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the conditioning air;
and
control means responsive to a difference between the selected temperature level and the sensed temperature for moving the off-on valve into a fully closed position when the temperature of the conditioning air is higher than the selected temperature level, and moving the off-on valve into a fully open position when the selected temperature level is higher than the temperature of the conditioning air, said control means comprising a source of air under pressure, conduit means leading from such source to the air cylinder means, and a three-way valve in said conduit means, having a first position in which the air cylinder is vented to the atmosphere and flow from the source of compressed air to the air cylinder is blocked, and a second position in which passage to the atmosphere is blocked and flow is from the source of compressed air into the air cylinder, and means normally biasing the three-way valve into said first position.

6 more elements

A temperature control system for a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle of a type having a water cooled engine, comprising:

duct means for delivering conditioning air into the passenger compartment of the vehicle;
conduit means for delivering hot water from the water cooled engine into a heat exchanging relation with the conditioning air in said duct means;
and
means for maintaining the temperature of the conditioning air at a selected value, comprising:
a normally open off-on valve in said conduit means said off-on valve including a valve orifice, a valve plug moveable into the valve orifice for closing the valve, and out from the valve orifice for opening the valve, with spring means normally biasing the valve plug into an open position, and air cylinder means operable in opposition to the spring, for moving the valve plug into a closed position;
a temperature level selector means located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle;
temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the conditioning air;
and
control means responsive to a difference between the selected temperature level and the sensed temperature for moving the off-on valve to a fully closed position when the temperature of the conditioning air is higher than the selected temperature level, and moving the off-on valve to a fully open position when the selected temperature level is higher than the temperature of the conditioning air, said control means comprising a source of air under pressure, conduit means leading from such source to the air cylinder means, and a three-way valve in said conduit means, having a first position in which the air cylinder is vented to the atmosphere and flow from the source of compressed air to the air cylinder is blocked, and a second position in which passage to the atmosphere is blocked and flow is from the source of compressed air into the air cylinder, and means normally biasing the three-way valve into said first position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/422,710Filed 24 Sep 1982
Granted: 31 Jul 1984
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B60H 1/00899
The components being temperature regulating devices: controlling the flow of liquid in a heat pump system
B60H 1/00885
The components being temperature regulating devices: controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps
G05D 23/1925
Characterised by the use of electric means: using a combination of auxiliary electric and non-electric power
G05D 23/24
With sensing elements having variation of electric or magnetic properties with change of temperature: the sensing element having a resistance…