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US 9,809,088 B2Granted
Controlling HVAC speed of condenser fans using pressure sensors
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDouglas J. Hovel, Erick A. Njos, Daniel A. Spurgeon
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AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDouglas J. Hovel, Erick A. Njos, Daniel A. Spurgeon
Estimating the term…
A controller for a heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit may comprise a compressor control signal output; a condenser fan control signal output; a pressure sensor input that receives information regarding an output pressure of the compressor; a temperature input that receives information regarding ambient temperature; a processor coupled to the compressor control signal output, the condenser fan control signal output, the first pressure sensor input, and the temperature input; and a computer-readable memory that stores instructions. The processor may cause the controller to: turn on the compressor via the compressor control signal output based on a request for air conditioning, select a condenser fan speed, from condenser fan control data stored in the computer readable memory, based on the ambient temperature and an output pressure of the compressor, and set a speed of the condenser fan to the selected condenser fan speed via the condenser fan control signal.
A heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit operated in an earthmoving machine, the HVAC unit comprising:
A heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit operated in an earthmoving machine, the HVAC unit comprising:
A controller for a heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit operated in an earthmoving machine, the controller comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Using compression: control means therefor
The components being ventilating, air admitting or air distributing devices: ventilators, e.g. speed control
Related to a condensing unit: to control the air flow
Arrangements of heating, cooling, ventilating or other air-treating devices specially adapted for
About 9 years 10 months of term left · ends 8 Sep 2036 (estimated)
The present application is a continuation-in-part under 35 USC §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/907,407 filed May 31, 2013 and claims further priority to U.S. Provisional Patent application 61/704,220 filed on Sep. 21, 2012, under 35 USC §119(e) both of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
The present disclosure relates to operation of heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. More particularly, the disclosure pertains to power saving during HVAC operation and identification of fault conditions as applied to earthmoving equipment.
A piece of heavy equipment, such as earthmoving equipment, is often operated in very adverse conditions, including dust or mud, extreme temperatures, high winds, etc. A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit must both operate in these conditions and protect itself from the hazards posed by these conditions.
FIG. 1 is a view of a representative earthmoving machine including an HVAC unit;
FIG. 2 a block diagram of an exemplary HVAC unit;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary HVAC controller;
FIG. 1 illustrates a representative earthmoving machine 10. The earthmoving machine 10 may include a hydraulically operated arm 12 and a bucket 14 for scooping and discharging payload. The earthmoving machine 10 main include tracks 16 for propelling the unit and an engine 18 that provides both electrical and mechanical power, a cab 20 for an operator, and an HVAC unit 22.
The earthmoving machine 10 may be any of a number of fixed or mobile machines, including, but not limited to, hydraulic shovels, dozers, mining, agriculture, off-road trucks, on-road trucks, etc. The HVAC unit 22, while presented in a mobile machine environment, may be used in virtually any HVAC environment including industrial, commercial, and residential units.
In operation, the HVAC unit 22 may provide cooling for operator comfort but may also provide low humidity air for use in removing or preventing fogging on the windows of the cab 20. In such cases, an air conditioning function of the HVAC unit may be operated even when ambient air temperatures are lower than those typically associated with air conditioning usage.