Air conditioning system with interior and exterior assemblies

Abstract

Vehicles are provided with a first air conditioning system adapted to condition at least air in the driver compartment and a second air conditioning system distinct from the first air conditioning system and adapted to operate independently of the first air conditioning system. The second air conditioning system is adapted to condition at least air in the sleeper compartment and includes an exterior assembly mounted to a location outside the interior area and an interior assembly operably connected with the exterior assembly and mounted within the interior area. The exterior assembly includes an auxiliary condenser coil and an auxiliary condenser fan and the interior assembly includes an auxiliary evaporator coil, an auxiliary evaporator fan and an auxiliary compressor.

1 . A vehicle comprising: 
 an interior area including a driver compartment and a sleeper compartment;    a first air conditioning system adapted to condition at least air in the driver compartment; the first air conditioning system comprising a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator;    a ground-engaging wheel;    a power source adapted to power the first air conditioning system and the ground-engaging wheel; and    a second air conditioning system adapted to condition at least air in the sleeper compartment, the second air conditioning system further comprising an exterior assembly and an interior assembly, the exterior assembly mounted to a location outside the interior area, the interior assembly mounted within the interior area and to be operably connected with the exterior assembly,    wherein the assemblies include a precharge of refrigerant fluid, the precharged refrigerant fluid of the exterior assembly is isolated from the precharged refrigerant fluid of the interior assembly until subsequent operable connection of the exterior assembly with the interior assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the second air conditioning system is distinct from the first air conditioning system and adapted to operate independently of the first air conditioning system.  
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , the exterior assembly comprising an auxiliary condenser coil precharged with the refrigerant fluid and an auxiliary condenser fan, and the interior assembly comprising an auxiliary evaporator coil precharged with the refrigerant fluid, an auxiliary evaporator fan and an auxiliary compressor.  
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior assembly is mounted so as to not increase a profile of the vehicle when viewed from the front of the vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the exterior assembly is mounted to a rear side of the interior area.  
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the interior assembly is mounted in the sleeper compartment.  
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the interior assembly is mounted so as to not substantially decrease interior room that a passenger can occupy.  
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the interior assembly is mounted underneath a bed in the sleeper compartment.  
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the auxiliary condenser coil is mounted so as to be offset from a support surface adjacent to the interior area to permit circulation of air between the auxiliary condenser coil and the support surface.  
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior assembly is mounted underneath the interior area.  
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the second air conditioning system is not powered by the power source.  
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , the exterior assembly further including a quick connect inlet port and a quick connect outlet port, the interior assembly further including a quick connect inlet port and a quick connect outlet port; the vehicle further comprising first and second quick connect lines for operably connecting the exterior assembly and the interior assembly, the first quick connect line for connection between the quick connect inlet port of the exterior assembly and the quick connect outlet port of the interior assembly, and the second quick connect line for connection between the quick connect inlet port of the interior assembly and the quick connect outlet port of the exterior assembly.  
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the quick connect inlet port and the quick connect outlet port of the exterior assembly and the quick connect inlet port and the quick connect outlet port of the interior assembly are low loss quick connect ports, wherein the first and second quick connect lines are low loss quick connect lines, and wherein the low loss quick connect ports and the low loss quick connect lines removably connect so that connection and disconnection can take place multiple times with low loss of the refrigerant fluid.  
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the driver compartment is at least partially segregated from the sleeper compartment.  
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the driver compartment is segregated from the sleeper compartment.