US 6,073,456 A · Air-conditioning device for hybrid vehicle

Abstract

An air-conditioning device includes a control system for saving fuel consumed to drive the device and for enhancing comfortability of passengers at the same time. The air-conditioning device is operated under a cooling mode emphasizing comfortability or under an economy mode emphasizing fuel economy. Under the cooling mode, the device is controlled in a lower temperature range. Under the economy mode, the device is controlled in an intermediate temperature range to secure comfortability when cooling-down is required, and in a higher temperature range to save fuel after the cooling-down has been completed. Information on vehicle speed may be used in the control under the economy mode. The device may be turned off or controlled in a higher temperature range to save fuel, especially when the vehicle comes to a halt. Frost on a windshield which develops when the vehicle is at a halt for a certain period without operating air-conditioning device is avoided by operating the device at a lower temperature, only when such condition exists. Such condition may be detected by a humidity sensor installed in the passenger compartment.

Claims34

Dependent claims

An air-conditioning device for cooling a passenger compartment of a hybrid vehicle driven by a driving source having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor powered by an on-board battery, the air-conditioning device comprising:

a compressor driven by the driving source for compressing refrigerant in a refrigerating cycle;
an evaporator for cooling the passenger compartment by evaporating the refrigerant compressed by the compressor;
means for judging whether the passenger compartment is cooled down to a vicinity of a desired temperature;
and
control means for controlling operation of the compressor to reduce an operating ratio thereof after the compartment is cooled down to the vicinity of the desired temperature;
wherein
the compressor control means outputs a signal to operate the engine whenever it outputs a signal to operate the compressor, the compressor control means outputs a signal to stop the engine whenever it outputs a signal to turn off the compressor, irrespective of whether the compartment is cooled down to the desired temperature or not, and the signal to operate or stop the engine is fed to an engine controller which controls the engine according to the signal.

4 more elements

a compressor driven by the internal combustion engine for compressor refrigerant in a refrigerating cycle;
an evaporator for cooling the passenger compartment by evaporating the refrigerant compressed by the compressor;
and
control means for controlling operation of the compressor to drive the compressor in synchronism with operation of the internal combustion engine and to reduce an operating ratio of the compressor after cooling down of the compartment is completed;
wherein
the compressor control means outputs a signal to operate the engine whenever it outputs a signal to operate the compressor, the compressor control means outputs a signal to stop the engine whenever it outputs a signal to turn off the compressor, irrespective of whether the compartment is cooled down to the desired temperature or not, and the signal to operate or stop the engine is fed to an engine controller which controls the engine according to the signal.

3 more elements

a compressor driven by the driving source for compressing refrigerant in a refrigerating cycle;
an evaporator for cooling the passenger compartment by evaporating the refrigerant compressed by the compressor;
means for judging whether the passenger compartment is cooled down to a vicinity of a desired temperature;
and
control means for controlling operation of the compressor to reduce an operating ratio thereof after the compartment is cooled down to the vicinity of the desired temperature;
wherein
the compressor control means outputs a signal to turn on or off the compressor when the engine is being operated during the period in which the passenger compartment is being cooled down;
the compressor control means outputs a signal to operate the engine when it outputs a signal to turn on the compressor while it outputs a signal to stop the engine when it outputs a signal to turn off the compressor, after the compartment has been cooled down to the desired temperature;
and
the engine operation is controlled by an engine controller according to the signal fed from the compressor control means.

7 more elements

An air-conditioning device for cooling a passenger compartment of a hybrid vehicle driven by a driving source having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor power by an on-board battery, the air-conditioning device comprising:

a compressor driven by the internal combustion engine for compressing refrigerant in a refrigerating cycle;
an evaporator for cooling the passenger compartment by evaporating the refrigerant compressed by the compressor;
and
control means for controlling operation of the compressor to drive the compressor in synchronism with operation of the internal combustion engine and to reduce an operating ratio of the compressor after cooling down of the compartment is completed;
wherein
the compressor control means outputs a signal to turn on or off the compressor when the engine is being operated during the period in which the passenger compartment is being cooled down;
the compressor control means outputs a signal to operate the engine when it outputs a signal to operate the engine when it outputs a signal to turn on the compressor while it outputs a signal to stop the engine when it outputs a signal to turn off the compressor, after the compartment has been cooled down to the desired temperature;
and
the engine operation is controlled by an engine controller according to the signal fed from the compressor control means.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Air-conditioning device for hybrid vehicle

Life of this patent

Air-conditioning device for hybrid vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34