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US 5,063,513 AGranted
Vehicle preheater control
AssigneeNartron Corporation
InventorsDavid W. Shank, Nadi S. Findikli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control unit for operating an auxiliary vehicle heater at cold temperature. The unit can be preprogrammed or manually actuated and includes a plurality of sensors and control outputs for operating the auxiliary heater. The time of operation is based upon sensed ambient temperature. A compartment fan is operated automatically by the control unit to warm the passenger compartment.
Claims14
Apparatus comprising:
- a. an auxiliary heating system for transferring heat to a motor vehicle prior to start-up of a motor vehicle engine including:
- i. an auxiliary energy source separate from said motor vehicle engine for transferring heat to a motor vehicle engine cooling system;
- and
- ii. an auxiliary pump for moving a coolant through said motor vehicle engine cooling system as heat is transferred to said cooling system from said auxiliary energy source;
- b. input means mounted to said vehicle in a location accessible to a motorist and including one or more input switches for actuating the auxiliary heating system;
- c. control means coupled to said input means to initiate operation of said auxiliary energy source prior to a projected vehicle start time;
- said control means including:
- i. a memory for storing said projected vehicle start time as entered by the motorist through the one or more input switches;
- and
- ii. activator for means coupled to the auxiliary energy source for activating the auxiliary energy source;
- and
- d. sensor means for sensing a temperature of said coolant prior to operation of said auxiliary energy source and coupling a signal corresponding to said temperature to the control means for enabling said control means to determine a time interval said auxiliary energy source is to operate based upon said sensed temperature and the projected vehicle start time.
9 more elements
A method of heating a motor vehicle with an auxiliary heater prior to starting a motor vehicle engine comprising the steps of:
- a. setting a motor vehicle start time corresponding to a projected start of said motor vehicle engine;
- b. at a predetermined time prior to said start time sensing an ambient temperature;
- and
- c. based on said sensed ambient temperature activating said auxiliary heater at a time prior to said start time to heat said motor vehicle.
1 more element
Control apparatus for controlling operation of an auxiliary vehicle heater comprising:
- a. input means mounted to a vehicle in a location accessible to a vehicle operator and including one or more operator actuatable switches for actuating one or more auxiliary heating control functions;
- b. control means coupled to said input means for initiating operation of said auxiliary vehicle heater prior to a projected vehicle start time entered by actuation of the one or more operator-actuable switches;
- c. sensor means for sensing a temperature of a coolant and transmitting a signal corresponding to the temperature to said control means to enable the control means to determine a time interval the auxiliary energy source is to operate based upon said sensed temperature;
- and
- d. support means for mounting said input means and control means to position said input means in a convenient location for operator input and for enclosing said control means within a housing.
2 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a. an auxiliary heating system for transferring heat energy to a motor vehicle engine cooling system comprising:
- i. a combustion heater having an igniter which, when energized causes a fuel to burn and give off energy for heating a coolant within said cooling system;
- and
- ii. a pump for circulating heated coolant through said cooling system to transfer heat away from said coolant;
- b. an igniter circuit for energizing said igniter;
- c. control circuitry including an output for activating said igniter circuit at a time before an anticipated vehicle start time based upon sensed temperature;
- d. a sensor for monitoring an ambient temperature and coupling a signal corresponding to the ambient temperature to said control circuit;
- e. an input unit mounted a vehicle passenger compartment for transmitting a projected vehicle start time to said control circuit;
- and
- f. said control circuit determining an igniter activation time based upon sensed temperature and projected vehicle start time.
7 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a. means for transferring heat to a motor vehicle prior to start-up of a motor vehicle engine including:
- an auxiliary energy source separate from said motor vehicle engine for transferring heat to a motor vehicle engine cooling system;
- and
- ii. a pump for routing a coolant through said motor vehicle engine cooling system as heat is transferred to said cooling system;
- b. input means mounted to said vehicle in a location accessible to a motorist for actuating one or more auxiliary heating control functions;
- c. control means coupled to said input means to initiate operation of said auxiliary energy source prior to a projected vehicle start time, said control means comprising:
- i. a timer for storing said projected vehicle start time;
- ii. means for sensing said temperature of coolant in said vehicle cooling system a predetermined time prior to said start time;
- and
- iii. means for actuating said auxiliary energy source in a controlled manner based upon said sensed temperature of said coolant;
- and
- d. sensor means for sensing a temperature of said coolant for enabling said control means to determine a time interval said auxiliary energy source is to operate based upon said sensed temperature.
9 more elements
A method of heating a motor vehicle with an auxiliary heater prior to starting a motor vehicle engine comprising the steps of:
- a. setting a motor vehicle start time corresponding to a projected start of said motor vehicle engine;
- b. at a predetermined time prior t said start time sensing a temperature of a motor vehicle coolant;
- and
- c. based on said sensed coolant temperature activating said auxiliary at a time prior to said start time to heat said motor vehicle.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.