US 5,950,710 A · Overheat regulating system for vehicle passenger compartment

Abstract

An overheat regulating system (10) for a passenger compartment (200) of a vehicle comprising at least one thermal conductor (2) containing a phase-change working substance (18) for cooling the overheated passenger compartment (200) automatically without consuming any man-made power when the vehicle is parked outdoor under direct sunshine. The thermal conductor (2) has three sections: an evaporator section (20), which is preferably attached to the inner surface of the roof panel (60) of the passenger compartment (200), a condenser section (22), which is preferably mounted on the top of the roof panel, and an adiabatic section (24), which connects the evaporator section (20) and the condenser section (22) continuously. A shielding slab (70) with open periphery is constructed on the roof panel to shield the condenser section from direct sunshine. The evaporator section (20) absorbs excess heat from the overheated vehicle passenger compartment and the absorbed heat vaporizes the working substance (18). The resulting difference in the vapor pressure between the evaporator section (20) and the condenser section (22) drives the vapor-phase working substance (18) from the evaporator section to the condenser section where the vapor-phase working substance (18) condenses, releasing the latent heat of condensation to the ambient air. A wick (16) lining on the inner surface of the thermal conductor (2) is optional to help the condensed working substance (18) return to the evaporator section (20).

Claims21

Dependent claims

An overheat regulating system comprising:

a) a passenger compartment enclosed by a body of a vehicle with a roof panel;
b) at least one thermal conductor with a containing envelope containing a phase-change working substance and further comprising:
i) an evaporator section located under said roof panel, where said phase-change working substance evaporates to a vapor-phase working substance,
ii) a condenser section located above said roof panel outside said passenger compartment, where said phase-change working substance condenses to a liquid-phase working substance,
iii) an adiabatic section connecting said evaporator section and said condenser section continuously,
c) a thermal shielding means installed on the top of said roof panel to shield said condenser section from direct sunshine and to allow the ambient air to flow freely through said condenser section,
wherein said thermal conductor is used to cool said passenger compartment by utilizing evaporation and condensation of said working substance driven by a passive-solar-energy-potential-difference existing between the air inside said passenger compartment and the ambient air under said thermal shielding means.

4 more elements

An overheat regulating system comprising:

(a) a passenger compartment enclosed by a body of a vehicle with a roof panel and a bottom cover panel;
(b) at least one thermal conductor with a self-enclosed tube containing a phase-change working substance and further comprising:
(i) an evaporator section, installed inside said passenger compartment, where said phase-change working substance evaporates to a vapor-phase working substance;
(ii) a condenser section, installed on the bottom of said bottom cover panel, outside said passenger compartment and away from direct sunshine, where said phase-change working substance condenses to a liquid-phase working substance;
(iii) an adiabatic section connecting said evaporator section and said condenser section continuously, and crossing said vehicle from the top of said vehicle down to the bottom of said bottom cover panel within the enclosure of said body of said vehicle;
wherein said thermal conductor is used to cool said passenger compartment by utilizing evaporation and condensation of said working substance driven by a passive-solar-energy-potential-difference existing between the air inside said passenger compartment and the ambient air in absence of direct sunshine.

3 more elements

An overheat regulating system comprising:

(a) a passenger compartment enclosed by a body of a vehicle with a roof panel and a floor panel of said passenger compartment;
(b) at least one thermal conductor with a self-enclosed tube containing a phase-change working substance and further comprising:
(i) an evaporator section, installed inside said passenger compartment, where said phase-change working substance evaporates to a vapor-phase working substance,
(ii) a condenser section, installed on the bottom of said floor panel outside said passenger compartment away from direct sunshine, where said phase-change working substance condenses to a liquid-phase working substance,
(iii) an adiabatic section connecting said evaporator section and said condenser section continuously, and crossing said vehicle from the top of said vehicle down to the bottom of said floor panel within the enclosure of said body of said vehicle,
wherein said thermal conductor is used to cool said passenger compartment by utilizing evaporation and condensation of said working substance driven by a passive-solar-energy-potential-difference existing between the air inside said passenger compartment and the ambient air in absence of direct sunshine.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Overheat regulating system for vehicle passenger compartment

Life of this patent

Overheat regulating system for vehicle passenger compartment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21