Vehicle air conditioner that operates during engine stops
US6606877B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 20, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 19, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D16/00
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle air conditioner allows storing cold thermal energy in a cold thermal energy storage unit during operation of a vehicle engine to be used later during an eco-run mode of a hybrid vehicle. Vehicle cabin air is cooled by the cold thermal energy quantity of a cold thermal energy storage unit when the vehicle engine is stopped and cold air continues to be requested by passengers. During engine operation, the cold thermal energy storage time, which is the time it takes for the temperature of the cold thermal energy storage unit to reach the solidifying point of the cold thermal energy storage material or lower, is measured. The stored cold thermal energy quantity of the cold thermal energy storage material during the operation of the vehicle engine is calculated based on information including the cold thermal energy storage time and cold air volumes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.