Abstract: The integrated automotive HVAC/PTC system of the present invention includes a bi-fluidic heat exchanger between an air conditioning subsystem and a heating subsystem which enables heat extracted during dehumidification of the ventilation air to be transferred into dehumidified ventilation air. The HVAC/PTC system includes reconfigurable coolant loops and reconfigurable refrigerant loops, some of which act in concert and some of which may be isolated. Power train components, including the power supply, may be grouped by heat transfer requirements and may be cooled or heated as needed. Power train cooling is accomplished with coolant in the heating subsystem chilled by the air conditioning system.

Abstract: The efficiency of a dual drive compressor for an air conditioner in a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor is enhanced by calculating compressor load for the air conditioner and then determining allowable engine-off time for the internal combustion engine. Once the engine is turned off, a time counter is started. The engine is thereafter turned on once the time counter indicates that an allowable engine-off time has elapsed. During the cycle, the engine is forced to remain on until minimum “engine-on” time has elapsed. The A/C compressor load is calculated using compressor capacity, engine speed, and/or air conditioner high pressure as input parameters.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for cooling a passenger compartment in a hybrid vehicle that operates an engine intermittently during vehicle operation, the hybrid vehicle having an HVAC system including an HVAC duct, a blower adapted to direct a flow of air through the HVAC duct, and an evaporator located within the HVAC duct. The method includes the steps of operating the blower; operating the compressor; allowing a predetermined amount of ice to form on the evaporator during operation of the compressor; turning off the vehicle engine; ceasing operation of the compressor; measuring an indicator corresponding to a remaining amount of the predetermined amount of ice formed on the evaporator; and re-starting the compressor when a predetermined air temp in air duct is reached.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for cooling a passenger compartment in a hybrid vehicle that operates an engine intermittently during vehicle operation. The hybrid vehicle includes an HVAC system having an HVAC duct, a blower for directing a flow of air through the HVAC duct, an evaporator located within the HVAC duct, and a heater core. The heater core has a coolant inlet outlet and is located downstream of the evaporator in the HVAC duct. The method includes the steps of cooling a refrigerant; inducing a flow of the cooled refrigerant through the evaporator; blocking a flow of coolant through the coolant inlet and outlet to trap coolant in the heater core; activating the blower to move air through the evaporator and heater core; turning off the vehicle engine; measuring a duct outlet temperature; and starting the engine when the measured duct outlet temperature is above a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for pre-cooling the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one electrically actuatable window and a HVAC system having at least a controller, a blower, a passenger compartment temperature sensor, and a HVAC ducting leading to the passenger compartment. The controller and the blower are connected to a vehicle battery. The method includes determining the passenger compartment temperature and comparing the temperature to a first predetermined value; cycling an blower inlet to an outside air intake position and operating the blower to provide pressurized air to the passenger compartment if the passenger compartment temperature is greater than the first predetermined value; opening the vehicle windows; comparing the passenger compartment temperature to a second predetermined value; and stopping operation of the blower when the passenger compartment temperature drops below the second predetermined value.

Abstract: A cooling system dedicated to cooling the vehicle components located in the rearward portion of a vehicle is provided. The rear-dedicated cooling system operates independently of any cooling systems located in a frontward portion of the vehicle. The rear-dedicated cooling system may be subdivided into high temperature and low temperature cooling circuits. A method of cooling a vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for cooling a passenger compartment in a hybrid vehicle that operates an engine intermittently during vehicle operation, the hybrid vehicle having an HVAC system including an HVAC duct, a blower adapted to direct a flow of air through the HVAC duct, and an evaporator located within the HVAC duct. The method includes the steps of operating the blower; operating the compressor; allowing a predetermined amount of ice to form on the evaporator during operation of the compressor; turning off the vehicle engine; ceasing operation of the compressor; measuring an indicator corresponding to a remaining amount of the predetermined amount of ice formed on the evaporator; and re-starting the compressor when a predetermined air temp in air duct is reached.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for cooling a passenger compartment in a hybrid vehicle that operates an engine intermittently during vehicle operation, the hybrid vehicle having an HVAC system including an HVAC duct, a blower adapted to direct a flow of air through the HVAC duct, and an evaporator located within the HVAC duct. The method includes the steps of operating the blower; operating the compressor; allowing a predetermined amount of ice to form on the evaporator during operation of the compressor; turning off the vehicle engine; ceasing operation of the compressor; measuring an indicator corresponding to a remaining amount of the predetermined amount of ice formed on the evaporator; and re-starting the compressor when a predetermined air temp in air duct is reached.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for cooling a passenger compartment in a hybrid vehicle that operates an engine intermittently during vehicle operation. The hybrid vehicle includes an HVAC system having an HVAC duct, a blower for directing a flow of air through the HVAC duct, an evaporator located within the HVAC duct, and a heater core. The heater core has a coolant inlet outlet and is located downstream of the evaporator in the HVAC duct. The method includes the steps of cooling a refrigerant; inducing a flow of the cooled refrigerant through the evaporator; blocking a flow of coolant through the coolant inlet and outlet to trap coolant in the heater core; activating the blower to move air through the evaporator and heater core; turning off the vehicle engine; measuring a duct outlet temperature; and starting the engine when the measured duct outlet temperature is above a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for cooling a passenger compartment in a hybrid vehicle that operates an engine intermittently during vehicle operation, the hybrid vehicle having an HVAC system including an HVAC duct, a blower adapted to direct a flow of air through the HVAC duct, and an evaporator located within the HVAC duct. The method includes the steps of operating the blower; operating the compressor; allowing a predetermined amount of ice to form on the evaporator during operation of the compressor; turning off the vehicle engine; ceasing operation of the compressor; measuring an indicator corresponding to a remaining amount of the predetermined amount of ice formed on the evaporator; and re-starting the compressor when a predetermined air temp in air duct is reached.

Abstract: A vehicular air conditioner includes a reversible heat pump having an air distribution fan positioned upstream of an indoor heat exchanger, a coolant heat exchanger positioned downstream of the indoor heat exchanger, and a damper arranged adjacent to a coolant heat exchanger. An engine cooling water system is connected to the coolant heat exchanger. A subassembly is used for positioning the damper in the fully opened condition such that the coolant heat exchanger is made an air intake flow path in addition to an air flow path of an air bypass space during a cooling operation. The engine cooling water system includes a coolant bypass valve connected between a primary side flow path and a secondary side flow path for engine cooling water to bypass the coolant heat exchanger. When the damper fully opens a full quantity of the engine cooling water flows to the secondary side flow path.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an automotive HVAC system for use in a vehicle having a vehicle body that includes an engine and a battery. The HVAC system has a predetermined design cooling capacity and includes a condenser and one of an orifice tube and an expansion valve in fluid communication with the condenser. A first compressor is adapted to be mechanically driven by the engine and is in fluid communication from the evaporator and in fluid communication to the condenser. A second compressor is electrically connected to and driven by the battery bank and is in fluid communication from the evaporator and in fluid communication to the condenser. Each of the compressors is selectively operable to compress refrigerant in the HVAC system during operation of the HVAC system.

Abstract: The integrated automotive HVAC/PTC system of the present invention includes a bi-fluidic heat exchanger between an air conditioning subsystem and a heating subsystem which enables heat extracted during dehumidification of the ventilation air to be transferred into dehumidified ventilation air. The HVAC/PTC system includes reconfigurable coolant loops and reconfigurable refrigerant loops, some of which act in concert and some of which may be isolated. Power train components, including the power supply, may be grouped by heat transfer requirements and may be cooled or heated as needed. Power train cooling is accomplished with coolant in the heating subsystem chilled by the air conditioning system.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to shorten heating start up time at the time of a heating operation and to improve capacity.

Abstract: The invention provides a temperature controller for a vehicular battery which uses the waste heat of the engine to control the temperature of a high temperature battery, to thereby enable miniaturization of the vehicle and energy savings, and which can accurately control the high temperature battery to an optimum efficiency temperature. The battery temperature controller comprises: a heat exchanger 11 for removing waste heat from a vehicle engine 3; a heating loop K being a coolant circulation path for conveying heat from the heat exchanger 11 to a vehicle high temperature battery 5; a radiator 9 for cooling the high temperature battery 5; a cooling loop R being a coolant circulation path for carrying heat from the high temperature battery 5 to the radiator 9, and connected in parallel with the heating loop K so as to have a common path C, and a first flow control valve 60 and a second flow control valve 61 respectively provided in the heating loop K and the cooling loop R.

Abstract: A circulation apparatus for coolant in a vehicle, wherein a feature of the invention is that with a circulation apparatus for coolant in a vehicle, it is separated into a coolant circulation system having a first radiator 8 for an engine cooling, and a coolant circulation system having a second radiator 9 for electric motor and engine equipment cooling. With the second radiator 9, various apparatus to be cooled, namely the drive motor and engine equipment are cooled, and there is provided circulation quantity control devices 53, 54, 57 for controlling the quantity of coolant circulated to the various apparatus to be cooled.

Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle having an engine that serves as a drive source for a compressor arranged in a rear part of the vehicle. The air conditioner includes the compressor, and further includes an air intake unit having an inside air intake, an outside air intake, an inside air/outside air changeover damper, and a blower disposed on a downstream side of the inside air/outside air changeover damper. The air conditioner includes an air conditioning unit into which air is introduced from the air intake unit, provided along an introduced air distribution path with a cooling apparatus heat exchanger fluidly connected to the compressor and configured to exchange heat between the introduced air and air outside the cabin interior, where the cooling apparatus heat exchanger is located in the rear part of the vehicle. The air conditioning unit also include an engine heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the introduced air and an engine of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention provides a cooling apparatus for a vehicular engine which can improve the life of at least one of, an exhaust gas recirculation unit and an intercooler. With the cooling apparatus for a vehicular engine of the invention, then with a vehicular engine (an automobile in this example) provided with at least one of an exhaust gas recirculation unit (EGR) 50a and an intercooler 50 for a turbocharger 100, there is provided a radiator 9, and an electric pump 53 for circulating coolant to carry heat generated by at least one of the exhaust gas recirculation unit (EGR) 50a and the intercooler 50 to the radiator 9. When the automobile engine 3 is stopped, the operation of the electric pump 53 continues for a fixed period so that the coolant cooled by the radiator 9 is circulated to at least one of the EGR 50a and the intercooler 50b to provide cooling to thus rapidly reduce the temperature. The electric pump 53 is then stopped when a low temperature is reached.

Abstract: The invention provides a temperature controller for a vehicular battery which uses the waste heat of the engine to control the temperature of a high temperature battery, to thereby enable miniaturization of the vehicle and energy savings, and which can accurately control the high temperature battery to an optimum efficiency temperature.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a vehicular air conditioner using a heat pump that can improve heating ability by effective utilization of engine waste heat during a heating operation. The apparatus of the invention is a vehicular air conditioner using a heat pump with a compressor unit 20 equipped with a compressor 31, a throttling resistance 34 and a four way valve 33, connected by a refrigerant path 30 to an indoor heat exchanger 25 for effecting heat exchange between a refrigerant and vehicle cabin air, and an outdoor heat exchanger 21 installed in an engine compartment for effecting heat exchange between a refrigerant and outside air, and equipped with fan 22 for drawing in outside air, and which executes a cooling operation and a heating operation by switching a direction of flow of the refrigerant.