Abstract: A system for shielding sparks generated by a compressor in a marine air conditioning system is disclosed. The components of the compressor clutch are modified and a cap encapsulates the components that can generate sparks. In particular, the outer edges of the hub and of the pulley are designed to closely receive the cap. The diameter of the hub is smaller than that of the pulley so that the cap rotates with the pulley without contacting the hub. The cap is joined to the pulley by interference fit and always rotates with the pulley. Any sparks generated by contact between the hub and the pulley are completely contained within the cap to prevent ignition of any gas fumes present in the vicinity of the compressor.

Abstract: A controller for a vehicle air conditioner which includes a control unit, a fuel cutoff control unit capable of stopping supply of fuel to an engine, an engine rpm detecting unit capable of detecting engine revolutions per minute, and a brake signal detecting unit capable of detecting a brake signal is provided. The control unit is adapted to alter the evaporator temperature setting during fuel cutoff, when a detected change of engine rpm is less than a predetermined value, and brake signal detector does not detect a brake signal.

Abstract: A selectively driven compressor for stopping the power generating operation of a motor when an internal combustion engine is operating to make it unnecessary to provide the motor that can withstand high voltage. The system reduces the load on the internal combustion engine. The system includes a pulley driven by a main drive source, an electric motor, which includes an armature and a field system, driven by a power source. The compressor is driven selectively by the pulley or the electric motor. The armature and the field system of the electric motor are independently supported. The pulley is mechanically connected to either of the armature and the field system, and the compressor is mechanically connected to the other.

Abstract: A control method for a motor vehicle HVAC system categorizes potentially conflicting override commands for at least one control parameter in order to assign a priority of control. Override commands are categorized as being related to occupant safety, vehicle safety or occupant comfort. Highest priority is assigned to override commands categorized as being related to occupant safety, second-highest priority is assigned to override commands categorized as being related to vehicle safety, and third-highest priority is assigned to override commands categorized as being related to occupant comfort. An HVAC controller carrying out the control method then regulates the control parameter in accordance with the override command that has been assigned the highest priority.

Abstract: An electrically actuated clutch assembly for a compressor in an automotive air conditioner is described wherein clutch engagement to and disengagement with the compressor are momentary events with no electrical current being required to maintain the on and off states of the clutch.

Abstract: A composite auxiliary machine for a vehicle and an accompanying control unit to control a compressor. The composite auxiliary machine for a vehicle includes a compressor for compressing refrigerant, a rotary machine that acts as an electric motor and a generator, and a torque and power distributing mechanism for distributing engine torque and power from a drive shaft to a compressor shaft and a rotary machine shaft, and from the rotary machine shaft to the drive shaft and compressor shaft. An intermittent mechanism is provided to the torque and power distributing mechanism so as to connect and disconnect any two of the drive shaft, the compressor shaft, and the rotary machine shaft. A locking mechanism is provided for restricting rotation of the compressor shaft. The compressor includes variable displacement mechanism for varying the amount of discharge per turn of the compressor shaft.

Abstract: A composite auxiliary machine for a vehicle has proper startup performance in starting an engine. The composite auxiliary machine has a compressor for compressing a refrigerant inside a refrigeration cycle device, a rotary machine connected to the compressor and rotated together therewith, a drive pulley for operating the rotary machine in response to a driving force from the vehicle engine, and a clutch device for transmitting and terminating the driving force of the drive pulley. The rotary machine functions as a generator and an electric motor. A variable displacement mechanism is provided in the compressor to vary an amount of discharge per revolution. A control unit controls to engage the clutch device in starting the vehicle engine, and actuates the rotary machine as an electric motor to actuate the vehicle engine. Then, an amount of discharge of a refrigerant is controlled to become smaller than that necessary in the refrigeration cycle device.

Abstract: A method for controlling cycling of an air conditioning compressor coupled to an internal combustion engine interrupts normal cycling based on operation conditions. In addition, normal engaged and disengaged cycling durations are adaptively estimated in real-time. The method of the present invention achieves improved fuel economy and improved drive feel. As an example, improved fuel economy is achieved by engaging the compressor during braking or when the engine is being driven by the vehicle. As another example, improved drive feel is achieved by engaging the compressor during transient conditions when drive feel is unaffected.

Abstract: An electrically actuated clutch assembly for a compressor in an automotive air conditioner is described wherein clutch engagement to and disengagement with the compressor are momentary events with no electrical current being required to maintain the on and off states of the clutch.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method for controlling a compressor of an airconditioning arrangement for a motor vehicle, whereby the compressor is optionally driven through activation of a clutch arrangement. The compressor has an input shaft which, via a first wobble plate, acts through bearing elements on a second wobble plate. The second wobble plate is arranged to transmit a wobbling motion designed to drive pistons of a number of compressor units of the piston and cylinder type. A control circuit is designed for brief activation of the clutch arrangement at selected times to cause periodic movement of the bearing elements. The control circuit may be activated by the vehicle starter motor, the reverse gear or a timing circuit.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle that is driven by a vehicular power source. The system has a compressor selectively operable by the vehicular power source and an electric motor. The electric motor is used as a drive force of the compressor when the vehicular power source is in a non-operative state. The compressor compresses refrigerant gas introduced into a suction chamber from an external refrigerant circuit. A displacement of the compressor is variable, based on a differential pressure. The compressor has a control valve that is disposed on a refrigerant passage communicating with the crank chamber. The control valve has a valve plunger for changing an opening size of the control valve to adjust pressure in the crank chamber. The air conditioning system comprises pressure sensing member, actuator, and controller. The pressure sensing member is disposed in the control valve and applies biasing force to the plunger based on pressure in the external circuit.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes an engine driven compressor, and an independent electric motor driven compressor in a common housing. A controller adjusts the independent operation of the engine driven compressor and electric motor driven compressor in response to cooling demand input, and operational parameters of the engine and the battery, as well as optionally the electric motor driven compressor output and engine driven compressor output. A method of independently operating an engine driven compressor and electric motor driven compressor is also provided. The air-conditioning system, controller, and method are particularly useful in hybrid vehicles that use smaller displacement internal combustion engines and electric motor drive means.

Abstract: A motor drive-control device drive-controls a plurality of auxiliary devices with a single motor while securing a necessary capacity of the auxiliary devices side in correspondence with usage conditions. As such, in an air-conditioning system, necessary speeds of auxiliary devices such as a compressor and a warm water pump are calculated based on a necessary cooling capacity and a necessary heating capacity. The higher of these two necessary speeds is set as the motor speed for driving the auxiliary devices. The motor is thus controlled to this speed. Therefore, even if the air-conditioning heat load varies greatly due to changes in the usage environment, cooling and heating capacities necessary for air-conditioning temperature control can be obtained at all times.

Abstract: A scroll compressor providing a ring-shaped groove in an end plate of a movable scroll to form a backpressure chamber with a surface of a middle housing supporting the end plate and introducing a high-pressure fluid through the same so as to cancel out a thrust load generated by the compression reaction force. Inner and outer seal rings are provided to prevent leakage of the high-pressure fluid from the backpressure chamber. In this case, the seal rings are designed to be able to incline in the ring-shaped groove or O-rings are made joint use of to form a ring-shaped region of a higher contact pressure at a portion contacting the opposing surface, so a high sealing effect is obtained while suppressing mechanical loss.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a variable displacement compressor forming a part of a coolant circuit, detectors for detecting external information necessary for air conditioning, and a controller. The compressor has pistons and mechanism for actuating the pistons to draw, compress and discharge refrigerant. The piston actuating mechanism is located in a crank chamber. The pressure in the crank chamber is changed to vary the compressor displacement. The controller controls the compressor based on the information from the detectors. When disengaging an electromagnetic clutch, which is located between a vehicle engine and the compressor, the controller quickly decreases the compressor displacement and prevents the pressure difference between the crank chamber and compression chambers excessively increased. Therefore, immediately after being stopped, the compressor is started at the minimum displacement, which minimizes the shock due to load torque change on the engine.

Abstract: A method for controlling cycling of an air conditioning compressor coupled to an internal combustion engine interrupts normal cycling based on operation conditions. In addition, normal engaged and disengaged cycling durations are adaptively estimated in real-time. The method of the present invention achieves improved fuel economy and improved drive feel. As an example, improved fuel economy is achieved by engaging the compressor during braking or when the engine is being driven by the vehicle. As another example, improved drive feel is achieved by engaging the compressor during transient conditions when drive feel is unaffected.

Abstract: An electric air conditioner sustain system is disclosed. The electric air conditioner sustain system includes a compressor, an engine and an electric motor. The engine and the electric motor selectively rotate the compressor. When the engine is rotating the compressor and the engine stops, the electric motor is synchronously activated to maintain continuous rotation of the compressor.

Abstract: A device for controlling an engine for a vehicle and an air-conditioning device for a vehicle capable of suitably controlling the blow-out rate of an air-conditioning compressor at the time when the fuel supply has been cut by estimating a load torque of the air-conditioning compressor under a condition of resuming the fuel supply. The air-conditioning device for vehicles according to an embodiment of the invention comprises blow-out rate varying means for varying the blow-out rate of the compressor driven by a vehicle engine, and load torque estimating means for estimating a physical quantity related to the load torque of the compressor under a condition of resuming the fuel supply after the fuel supply has been cut. The blow-out rate of the compressor is changed by controlling the blow-out rate varying means depending upon the estimated value of physical quantity.

Abstract: A dustproof implement applied to a clutch to be attached to a compressor in an air-conditioning system loaded on a working vehicle, comprises a plate to be disposed opposite to an annular recess of a rotor of the clutch and fixed at the compressor, and an annular pad attached to the annular plate and abutting the rotor on the outer peripheral side of the annular recess of the rotor.

Abstract: A clutch of the compressor is selectively engaged and disengaged by a coaction of an engine ECU and an air-conditioning ECU. If an air-conditioning system operating switch is detected as being turned on after a startup of an engine is detected, the clutch is changed from an off-state to an on-state to actuate the compressor to discharge a liquid refrigerant therefrom on the condition that an engine coolant temperature is higher than a reference engine coolant temperature. When the engine coolant temperature is higher than the reference engine coolant temperature, e.g., 40° C., the liquid refrigerant stored in the compressor is discharged of its own accord, and hence the amount of the liquid refrigerant stored in the compressor becomes small.

Abstract: A compressor control system and method are provided for a vehicle air conditioner. The control device controls engagement of a compressor clutch member at engine start-up to discharge liquid refrigerant from the compressor. The control system provides for disengagement of the clutch member if the detected operating conditions are indicative of compressor lock-up without the use of a dedicated compressor lock-up sensor.

Abstract: A method for controlling cycling of an air conditioning compressor coupled to an internal combustion engine interrupts normal cycling based on operation conditions. In addition, normal engaged and disengaged cycling durations are adaptively estimated in real-time. The method of the present invention achieves improved fuel economy and improved drive feel. As an example, improved fuel economy is achieved by engaging the compressor during braking or when the engine is being driven by the vehicle. As another example, improved drive feel is achieved by engaging the compressor during transient conditions when drive feel is unaffected.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: a metal V-belt type infinitely variable gear-change mechanism 20 whereby the rotation of an engine E is subjected to change in gear ratio, a forwards clutch 14 and a reverse brake 15 that perform engagement/disengagement control of the engine and the infinitely variable gear-change mechanism, and a second motor generator 50 capable of driving the drive wheels arranged parallel with the engine. The control device is provided with a first hydraulic pump 3 for engine drive, a second hydraulic pump 56 that is driven by an electric motor 55 for pump drive, and a forwards/reverse clutch control valve 73 that performs changeover control of supply of working hydraulic pressure to the forwards clutch 14 etc.

Abstract: An engine control apparatus of a vehicle having an air conditioner that has a variable displacement compressor is disclosed. The pressure difference between two points in a refrigeration circuit is monitored. The pressure difference represents the compressor displacement. The compressor is controlled by a control valve. The control valve operates based on the pressure difference. A controller compares the temperature of the passenger compartment with a temperature setting. If they differ, the controller determines a target pressure difference for the control valve. The controller computes the compressor torque based on the target pressure difference signal. The controller determines a target engine torque based on the compressor torque and controls the engine based on the target engine torque.

Abstract: A vehicular air conditioner which is not influenced by fluctuations in engine RPM and which provides air conditioning with low energy consumption includes a variable demand capacity compressor where the suction pressure is self-controlled and can be set using an external signal. The vehicular air conditioner includes a demand capacity change compressor which self-controls at a target suction pressure set using an external signal and based on a discharge temperature set according to an air conditioning load. The external signal sets the target suction pressure to thereby affect a refrigerating cycle operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to the control of an automatic clutch in the drive train of a motor vehicle having a gearbox which can be changed arbitrarily by the driver between drive positions and idle (isolation of gearbox input and gearbox output). During idling, the clutch is essentially kept disengaged in order to reduce noise (gearbox rattling), but is temporarily closed at intervals for very short periods of time, in order to reset a temperature drift of an actuator unit which operates the clutch and which assumes a self-adjusting position when the clutch is engaged. The air conditioning system is switched off temporarily when, during idling, the clutch is engaged temporarily in order to eliminate the risk of rattling noise of the gearbox due to the air conditioning system being on.

Abstract: A heat pump type air conditioning system (A) for an automotive vehicle. The heat type air conditioning system (A) comprises a first unit (10) including a heater core (11) through which an engine coolant of an engine flows, and a first heat exchanger (12) which forms part of a refrigeration cycle including a compressor (1) and a first condenser (3), in which a refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle. A second unit (20) is provided including a second condenser (21) and a second heat exchanger (22) which are fluidly connected in parallel with the first heat exchanger (12). A valve (V2) is fluidly connected in series with the second condenser (21) and disposed such that a part of the refrigerant is introduced through the valve into the second condenser (21) and the second heat exchanger (22).