Integrated heating and cooling system for a vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus and method for selectively heating and/or cooling a preselected compartment of a vehicle by providing a substantially overlapping heating circuit and cooling circuit able to be activated to control temperatures for extended periods without running the vehicle engine.

That which is claimed:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for cooling and/or heating a selected vehicle compartment comprising; 
 a heater for heating a heat exchange fluid, the heater powered independently from a vehicle engine;    a heat exchanger for supplying heated air to the compartment, said exchanger in fluid communication with the heater and located downstream therefrom;    a fluid controller for selectively establishing fluid circulation between the heater and the heat exchanger;    a thermal storage reservoir for cooling heat exchange fluid, said reservoir in fluid communication with the heat exchanger for supplying cooled air to the selected compartment;    a fluid control means for selectively establishing fluid circulation between the thermal storage reservoir and the heat exchanger;    whereby the system is capable of selectively heating or cooling the selected vehicle compartment without running the vehicle engine.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a heating circuit and a cooling circuit.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the heating and cooling circuits substantially overlap.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising valves arranged within the system in communication with the fluid controller to control fluid flow.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein valves controlling fluid flow to the thermal storage reservoir are closed to fluid flow during the heating circuit.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein valves controlling fluid flow to the heater are closed to fluid flow during the cooling circuit.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the compartment is a sleeper compartment.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchange fluid is both a cooling fluid and a heating fluid.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an heater is a fuel fired heater.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is in communication with the engine.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal storage reservoir is charged by directing cooling fluid to an evaporator conductively associated with the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an evaporator is separated from the heat exchanger by an airspace.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the heating circuit is controlled to direct fluid flow to and from the engine to preheat the engine.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is mounted to the thermal storage transfer reservoir.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal storage reservoir further comprises an overflow valve.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the valves are pneumatically operated.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the valves are poppet valves.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the valves are controlled by the controller such that the cooling circuit valves and heater circuit valves cannot be operated simultaneously.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid controller turns off the system if a battery voltage drops below a preselected voltage.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the cooling circuit is for charging the thermal storage reservoir and cannot be engaged if the fluid temperature is above a preselected temperature.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the cooling circuit is for discharging cold air and cannot be engaged if the fluid temperature is above a preselected temperature.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an air flow controller for controlling air flow to the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a blower to direct air over the heat exchanger and into the compartment.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pump to circulate fluid through the apparatus.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve positioned within a duct in communication with the heat exchanger to control the flow of heated or cooled air to preselected compartments.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for cooling and/or heating a selected vehicle compartment comprising; 
 a heater for heating a heat exchange fluid, the heater being powered independently from a vehicle engine;    a heat exchanger for supplying heated air to the compartment, said exchanger being connectable for fluid communication with the heater and located downstream therefrom;    a fluid controller for selectively establishing fluid circulation between the heater and the heat exchanger;    a thermal storage reservoir for cooling heat exchange fluid, said reservoir being connectable for fluid communication with the heat exchanger for supplying cooled air to the selected compartment;    a fluid control means for selectively establishing fluid circulation between the thermal storage reservoir and the heat exchanger.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the engine is running.  
     
     
         28 . A thermal storage apparatus adapted to transfer heat to or from a fluid stream, the apparatus comprising: 
 a sealed housing;    a plurality of individual sealed and stacked containers mounted within the housing such that fluid flowing through the housing contacts each of the containers in a heat exchange relationship;    an energy storage medium disposed in each of the containers, the medium comprising water and a gas for forming a gas hydrate with the water at a transition temperature above 0° C.; and    a moveable agitator positioned within each of the containers for providing mechanical movement within the medium.    
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , further comprising an orifice plate inserted between container stacks to provide predictable flow characteristics of the fluid through interstices within the housing.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the orifice plate comprises orifices sized to achieve a pressure drop of from about 0.5 to about 15 inches water.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the orifice plate comprises openings that align with the interstices.  
     
     
         32 . A method for regulating air temperature within a motorized vehicle comprising the steps of: 
 providing a cooling circuit having a cooling mode for decreasing the temperature within the vehicle;    providing a heating circuit having a heating mode substantially along the cooling circuit for increasing the temperature within the vehicle; and    selectively operating the cooling and heating modes without running a vehicle engine.    
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the cooling and heating circuits substantially overlap.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising the step of controlling the heater to turn on and off at preset intervals.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising the step of controlling the flow of heat exchange fluid from the first heat exchanger to stop such fluid flow when the air produced has an air temperature greater than about 20° C.  
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising the step of selectively directing the cool air or heated air to either a sleeper or passenger compartment of a vehicle.  
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 32 , further comprising the step of directing heated exchange fluid to and from a vehicle engine to pre-heat the engine.  
     
     
         38 . A heat exchanger for heating and cooling air delivered to a vehicle compartment wherein the exchanger comprises an evaporator and a heater core separated by an air gap, and wherein said exchanger is positioned in fluid connection with a duct extending from the exchanger to the compartment, said duct comprising a recirculation loop comprising an internal valve controlled by a controller to provide controlled air flow in the duct to the compartment, to the exchanger or to a thermal storage reservoir.  
     
     
         39 . A heat exchanger for heating and cooling a vehicle compartment comprising: 
 a first line in a circuit filled with heat exchange fluid, said line connecting a heat exchanger with a thermal storage unit for conveying heat exchange fluid from the heat exchanger to an inlet on the thermal storage unit;    a second line in the circuit for conveying heated heat exchange fluid from the heat exchanger to an engine;    a third line in the circuit from a thermal storage unit outlet to the heat exchanger for cooling the compartment, the third line in communication with the second line;    a line in the circuit from a fuel fired heater to the heat exchanger, said line substantially overlapping the third line;    a fluid controller for establishing fluid connection between the lines    whereby said heat exchanger is capable of delivering heated and/or chilled air to the compartment whether or not the engine is running.