Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a vehicle includes a clogging detection device for detecting clogging of a filter. The clogging detection device detects clogging of the filter only when a face damper for opening and closing a face air duct provided with movable louvers is in the closed position.

Abstract: An airflow filter device is employed, for example, in an air-conditioning system for a vehicle and an air-conditioning system for a construction machine. The filter device has a filter for purifying an airflow, an ammeter for detecting clogging in the filter, a filter cleaning warning light that provides a warning to clean the filter when the number of times of clogging in the filter, which is detected by the ammeter, is equal to or less than a threshold value, and a filter replacement warning light that provides a warning to replace the filter when the number of times of clogging exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for vehicles includes a restriction control device that reduces the consumptive power of the air conditioning system by reducing the cooling ability of the air conditioning system when a cooling load of an interior of the vehicle has increased over a predetermined level, and when predetermined conditions are satisfied. In the system of the present invention, a water temperature sensor or a switch for detecting the opening of a roof window or a double sliding window is not necessary. In the present invention, under certain predetermined conditions, the power to an air conditioner may be appropriately restricted and the amount of heat radiation at the condenser may also be appropriately restricted. Consequently, the control may reduce waste power to prolong the life of equipment, and which may achieve an improved and comfortable air conditioning state, even when a roof window or a double sliding window is open.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for vehicles includes a sensor for detecting opening and closing of a vehicle portal, such as a door or a window, and a control device for selectively opening ports through which temperature controlled air flows into an interior of a vehicle, in response to a signal generated by the opening and closing detecting sensor and a target air temperature. In the system, even if a door or a window of a cabin is opened, ports are opened according to a most suitable port mode depending on the target air temperature at a present time. Therefore, an improved air conditioning state for an operator, and an improved driving condition with reduced waste power and reduced loads to the respective equipment, may be achieved.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for vehicles has a cooling circuit and a radiator supplying cooling water to an engine. The cooling circuit includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. The system includes a water temperature sensor for detecting a water temperature in the radiator, and a control device for selectively controlling the opening of ports to allow temperature controlled air to flow into an interior of a vehicle, in accordance with the water temperature, detected by the water temperature sensor, and a target conditioned air temperature. In the system, the power to an air conditioner may be appropriately restricted, and the amount of heat radiation at the condenser may also be appropriately restricted. Consequently, the water temperature in the radiator may be prevented from becoming too hot, thereby preventing instances of overheating and preventing a warning of a potential overheat.

Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle has a heat pump type refrigerant circuit capable of operating at least in a heating mode. The air conditioner comprises a motor fan for supplying air heated by a heat exchanger to the interior of the vehicle during operation of the heating mode, a sensor for detecting the temperature of the air at a position downstream of the heat exchanger and a control unit for controlling the volume of the air supplied by the motor fan to a predetermined minimum volume by controlling the drive of the motor fan when the detected air temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature. Even in a condition where a sufficiently large heat radiation from the heat exchanger cannot be expected, a large volume of cold air that has been insufficiently heated can be prevented from being discharged into the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: An air conditioner for vehicles includes a refrigerant circuit having a compressor capable of varying its output, a heat sink and a radiator disposed in an air duct for cooling operation, heating operation and dehumidifying operation modes; sensors for detecting air temperatures at the output-side positions of the heat sink and the radiator, respectively; and a control unit for controlling the output of the compressor in response to at least one of the detected air temperatures. The heat absorbing action due to the heat sink and the heat radiating action due to the radiator are appropriately controlled in the refrigerant circuit side in the respective operation modes without unnecessary heat absorbing and heat radiating actions. Further, the temperature of the air discharged from the air duct into the interior of the vehicle can be properly controlled by adjustment of the heat absorbing ability of the heat sink and the heat radiating ability of the radiator by the control of the compressor output.

Abstract: An air conditioner for vehicles that prevents icing and lack of visibility from developing on window glass of a vehicle during heating, and which permits a dehumidifying operation to be made without lowering of the air blowing temperature. The air conditioner is of a heat pump type comprising a compressor, an exterior heat exchanger, and a first interior heat exchanger, which are provided together with a second interior heat exchanger used as a heat radiator at least during heating. Further, piping lines are provided for introducing a refrigerant gas for passage through the second interior heat exchanger to the exterior heat exchanger through an expansion means, and for introducing the refrigerant gas for passage through the second interior heat exchanger to the first interior heat exchanger through a first expansion means.

Abstract: When an air-conditioner operation mode signal AM representative of a confirmation to permit the starting of a motor-driven compressor is supplied from an air-conditioner control unit to a battery management unit, the battery management unit detects power supply conditions including a voltage, a ground fault, a wire disconnection, etc. of a high-voltage battery, and supplies a start permission signal AUX2 indicative of a permission to start the motor-driven compressor to the air-conditioner control unit depending on the detected power supply conditions. After having received the start permission signal AUX2, the air-conditioner control unit turns on an air-conditioner inverter drive signal DAI to operate the motor-driven compressor.

Abstract: An air conditioner for vehicles includes a damper for switching among an outside-air inlet mode, an inside-air inlet mode and an outside/inside-air inlet mode, a manual switch for selecting any one of the respective inlet modes, an automatic switch for automatically selecting one of the respective inlet modes, a heating and cooling operation unit, an inside-air temperature sensor, an outside-air temperature sensor and a control unit for selectively controlling the respective inlet modes based on the condition of the heating and cooling operation unit, the condition of the respective switches and the difference between the temperatures detected by the respective temperature sensors. In the air conditioner, an optimum air conditioning in correspondence to the load required for air conditioning can be realized from the viewpoint of saving of energy and efficient operation.

Abstract: An external heat exchanger of a heat pump air-conditioner on an electric vehicle is determined as being frosted based on signals from temperature sensors. If the external heat exchanger is frosted, then a frosting flag is set and the air-conditioner is operated in a cooling mode to radiate heat from the external heat exchanger for thereby defrosting the external heat exchanger while the air-conditioner is in a pre-air-conditioning mode before the driver enters the electric vehicle or while the battery on the electric vehicle is being charged. While the battery is being charged, the external heat exchanger is defrosted by the electric energy supplied from an external power supply to charge the battery.

Abstract: An air conditioner for vehicles can operate at a dehumidifying-operation mode including at least a dry-cooling or a dry-heating mode. The air conditioner comprises a plurality of discharge ports including a defroster discharge port and discharge port switching dampers, a control system for opening at least the defroster discharge port for a predetermined time when the dehumidifying-operation mode is selected, and a control system for opening another discharge port determined in accordance with an operation mode and the like after the predetermined time has elapsed. When the dehumidifying operation is selected, at least the defroster discharge port is opened only for the predetermined time and temperature-conditioned air is discharged to the windshield from the defroster discharge port. After the predetermined time has elapsed, a discharge port in accordance with an operation mode is opened.

Abstract: A cooling system including a refrigerant compressor for use in a vehicle for cooling a refrigerated compartment includes a hermetic type compressor containing a DC brushless motor as a compressor driver. An electric generator is actuated by the engine of the vehicle to generate AC electric power which is, in turn, rectified by a rectifier to produce DC electric power for driving the DC brushless motor. A switch is provided to switch over from the electric generator to a commercial AC electric power source. The commercial AC electric power is rectified by the rectifier to supply DC electric power. Thus, the compressor can be driven by a commercial AC electric power source when the engine is stopped. In order to achieve accurate temperature control in the refrigerated compartment when the engine is running, the amount of AC electric power generated by the electric generator is controlled.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning control system comprises a first control circuit for automatically controlling an angle of an air mix damper in accordance with a plurality of variable conditions, for example, an outside air temperature and an inside air temperature. A switching mechanism predetermines either a maximum heating or cooling when closed. A second control circuit moves the air mix damper to a position for either maximum heating or cooling independently of the variable conditions responsive to operation of the switching mechanism. The second control circuit includes a signaling circuit which outputs a drive signal to control the movement of the air mix damper to the position for maximum heating or cooling for only a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system is provided which includes a damper position control device which controls the angular position of an air mix damper. The air mix damper controls the mixture of cool air and heated air to thereby control the temperature of air blown into a compartment by the air conditioning system. The damper position control device further includes a motor actuator which drive the air mix damper and a control circuit. The motor actuator includes a drive motor for the air mix damper and a rotation control device including a regulator which regulates the upper and lower rotational limits of the shaft of the drive motor and a position detector which detects the rotational angle of the shaft. The control circuit controls the motor actuator in accordance with a plurality of detected signals, such as an inside temperature signal, an outside temperature signal, etc.

Abstract: A damper position control device for an automotive air conditioning system having a lock release mechanism for the drive shaft of a motor which controls the angular position of an air mix damper. A damper position control device is disclosed which controls the angular position of an air mix damper. The damper position control device includes a motor actuator which drives the air mix damper and a control circuit. The motor actuator includes a drive motor for the air mix damper and a rotation control device including a regulator which regulates the upper and lower rotational limits of the shaft of the drive motor and a position detector which detects the rotational angle of the shaft. The control circuit controls the motor actuator in accordance with a plurality of detected signals. The control circuit generates a drive signal which drives the motor actuator and further includes a lock detector which detects if the shaft of the motor is locked against rotational motion in a first rotational direction.

Abstract: A device for controlling an opening angle of an air mixing damper used in an automotive air conditioning system is disclosed. The device has an actuator for operating the air mixing damper and a blower for blowing the air. The device comprises an ambient air temperature sensor which is disposed on a front grill of an automobile for detecting the ambient air temperature at the exterior of the automobile and for providing a control signal, and a measuring circuit which computes the ambient air temperature data necessary for controlling the actuator and blower based on the detected ambient air temperature. The device controls the opening angle of the air mixing damper in accordance with the measured results.