AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OPERATING ON VEHICLE WASTE ENERGY

Abstract

A waste energy-based vehicle air conditioning system includes efficient compression driving means coupled to refrigeration means. In one implementation, the compression driving means includes a controller (e.g., magnetic clutch) that couples mechanical waste energy from an engine fan axle, a vehicle drive shaft, or a transmission shaft to an axle of a refrigerant compressor. Alternatively, the controller can also include a battery that is charged from the mechanical waste energy. Upon detecting certain pressure values, the controller powers the refrigerant compressor with a rotating axle (e.g., during deceleration) or with battery power, as appropriate. In one implementation, the controller is configured to engage compression immediately upon detecting that the vehicle is decelerating. One or more kits can be used to retrofit existing vehicles to operate the respective air conditioning systems principally on waste energy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates an overview schematic diagram in accordance with an implementation of the present invention of a single source air conditioning system configured to compress refrigerant with waste energy;

FIG. 1B illustrates an overview schematic diagram in accordance with an implementation of the present invention of a dual-source air conditioning system configured to compress refrigerant, and to further charge battery power;

FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic diagram in accordance with an implementation of the present invention of an electrical circuit configured to engage refrigerant compression in response to detected low refrigerant pressure values and/or to detected waste energy;

FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic diagram in accordance with an implementation of the present invention representing potential after-market modifications to an existing air conditioning system circuitry to thereby enable compression in response to detected waste energy;

FIG. 3A illustrates a set of pressure values and response actions in accordance with an implementation of the present invention for operating an air conditioning system with single and dual-source functionality;

FIG. 3B illustrates a graph of refrigerant pressure versus time during one instance of operation in accordance with an implementation of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic overview of one or more components that can be used to retrofit a conventional vehicle's air conditioning system to operate principally on waste energy sources in accordance with an implementation of the present invention; and

FIG. 5A illustrates schematic diagram of an after-market refrigerant pressure switch in accordance with an implementation of the present invention that is configured to be easily added to a vehicle's existing air conditioning system; and

FIG. 5B illustrates a schematic diagram of one or more after-market components in accordance with an implementation of the present invention configured to add an additional refrigerant reservoir, such as illustrated in FIG. 4, to a vehicle's existing air conditioning system.

Claims

1. A vehicle air conditioning system configured to compress refrigerant with mechanical waste energy from vehicle deceleration, comprising: refrigeration means including at least a compressor configured to pressurize refrigerant;compression driving means configured to drive the refrigeration means at least in part upon detecting mechanical waste energy, such that compressor operation coincides with, and is operated by, the detected mechanical waste energy; andone or more pressure detectors configured to identify a maximum refrigerant pressure for the system pressure and a minimum refrigerant pressure for the system;wherein the compression driving means are configured to engage operation of the compressor any time:(i) the mechanical waste energy is detected; and(ii) the refrigerant pressure is below the maximum refrigerant pressure for the system.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The vehicle air conditioning system as recited in claim 1, wherein any of the one or more pressure detectors are further configured to identify an intermediate pressure value.

5. The vehicle air conditioning system as recited in claim 4, wherein the compression driving means are further configured to disengage operation of the compressor at the intermediate pressure value upon detecting that mechanical waste energy or sufficient battery power is unavailable.

6. The vehicle air conditioning system as recited in claim 1, wherein the compression driving means are coupled only indirectly to an engine block via direct coupling to one of a vehicle drive shaft or a transmission shaft.

7. A dual-source vehicle air conditioning system configured to operate on a vehicle's mechanical waste energy for an extended period of time before engaging active engine power to compress refrigerant, comprising: one or more electronic switches configured to respond to engine acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle;a refrigerant compressor;a self-charging motor; andone or more engagement components configured to couple the compressor and the self-charging motor with mechanical waste energy in response to a change in the one or more switches.

8. The dual-source vehicle air conditioning system as recited in claim 7, wherein the one or more engagement components are selectively coupled to one or more vehicle axles that rotate with vehicle motion.

9. The dual-source vehicle air conditioning system as recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more engagement components comprise a magnetic clutch controller and a magnetic clutch.

10. The dual-source vehicle air conditioning system as recited in claim 10, wherein the magnetic clutch controller is configured to engage the magnetic clutch to one of the one or more vehicle axles in concert with engine deceleration.

11. The dual-source vehicle air conditioning system as recited in claim 7, wherein coupling the compressor to the mechanical waste energy charges a battery.

12. The dual-source vehicle air conditioning system as recited in claim 11, further comprising one or more electronic components configured to detect a minimum pressure value, an intermediate pressure value, and a maximum pressure value of the refrigerant.

13. The dual-source vehicle air conditioning system as recited in claim 12, wherein the one or more engagement components are configured to power the refrigerant compressor with the battery upon identifying: (i) a pressure below at or below the minimum pressure value; and(ii) no available mechanical waste energy.

14. The dual-source vehicle air conditioning system as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more engagement components are configured to stop powering the refrigerant compressor upon identifying that the refrigerant is at the maximum design pressure value.

15. In a vehicle air conditioning system, a method of compressing refrigerant with minimal engine load by compressing the refrigerant primarily with vehicle waste energy, comprising the acts of: identifying that the vehicle's engine is decelerating;powering a refrigerant compressor and a self-charging motor with a rotating axle, such that refrigerant is compressed and a battery is charged with mechanical waste energy during deceleration; andcompressing the refrigerant in a refrigerant compressor with the rotating axle, or with battery power, upon identifying that the refrigerant has reached a minimum pressure value.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising an act of disengaging the rotating axle from the refrigerant compressor upon identifying that: (i) the engine is providing constant or acceleration speed-based power; and(ii) the refrigerant has reached an intermediate pressure value

17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising an act of disengaging battery power upon identifying a new deceleration event for the vehicle.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising an act of disengaging the refrigerant compressor from the rotating axle or from the battery power, at least momentarily, upon identifying that the refrigerant has reached a maximum pressure value for the system.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising an act of re-engaging the battery power to power the refrigerant compressor upon identifying that the refrigerant has dropped below the maximum pressure value for the system.

20. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more components of a vehicle air conditioning system to perform the acts of the method recited in claim 15.

21. A vehicle air conditioning system configured to compress refrigerant with mechanical waste energy from vehicle deceleration, comprising: refrigeration means including at least a compressor configured to pressurize refrigerant;compression driving means configured to drive the refrigeration means at least in part upon detecting mechanical waste energy, such that compressor operation coincides with, and is operated by, the detected mechanical waste energy; andone or more pressure detectors configured to identify a maximum refrigerant pressure for the system pressure and a minimum refrigerant pressure for the system;wherein: (i) the one or more pressure detectors are further configured to identify an intermediate pressure value; and(ii) the compression driving means are further configured to disengage operation of the compressor at the intermediate pressure value upon detecting that mechanical waste energy or sufficient battery power is unavailable.