Climate control systems and methods for a hybrid vehicle

Abstract

Climate control systems are provided that are suitable for providing climate control functionality to a hybrid vehicle. The system is capable of operating in dual modes, depending on the present operational state of the vehicle. For example, the dual modes may be as follows: (1) when the vehicle is currently in transit, including intermittent stops, the climate control system is capable of operating at its maximum output, as requested, for cooling the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and (2) when the vehicle is not in transit (e.g., when parked) the climate control system operates at a reduced capacity in order for the climate control system to be powered by the energy storage device for a set period of time. The climate control system may reduce the capacity based on energy reserve levels in the energy storage device.

1 . A climate control system for a hybrid heavy duty vehicle having an engine-on condition while driving and an engine-off condition while parked, comprising:
 an electrically powered compressor;   an energy storage device connected in electrical communication with the electrically powered compressor for supplying power thereto;   at least one sensor capable of outputting signals indicative of an engine-on condition or an engine-off condition; and   a controlling component operable to receive the signals of the at least one sensor, and based on said signals and energy storage level data from the energy storage device, operate to selectively control the power supplied to the electrically powered compressor so as to provide a first compressor output level during a vehicle engine-on condition and a second, lower, compressor output level during a vehicle engine-off condition, wherein the second compressor output level is selected so as to allow the compressor to operate at a lower output as compared to the first compressor output level for a predetermined period of time.   
   
   
       2 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling component is a software component located on a hardware device. 
   
   
       3 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling component is hardware circuitry 
   
   
       4 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the signals indicative of an engine-on condition are selected from the group of signals consisting of a transmission gear signal, an engine speed signal, a transmission input speed signal, transmission output speed signal, and a wheel speed signal. 
   
   
       5 . The climate control system of  claim 1 , wherein the signals indicative of an engine-off condition are selected from the group of signals consisting of a parking brake signal, a transmission gear signal, an ignition switch signal, and a mode switch signal. 
   
   
       6 . A hybrid vehicle having an engine-on condition while driving and an engine-off condition while parked, comprising:
 a fuel powered engine having an engine-on condition and an engine-off condition;   a motor;   a first controlling component for controlling the operation of the fuel powered engine and the motor; wherein the first controlling component controls the transition of the fuel powered engine between the engine-on condition and the engine-off condition;   an electrically powered compressor;   an energy storage device connected in electrical communication with the electrically powered compressor for supplying power thereto;   at least one sensor capable of outputting signals indicative of an engine-on or an engine-off condition; and   a second controlling component operable to receive the signals of the at least one sensor, and based on said signals and a state of charge of the energy storage device, operate to selectively regulate the power supplied to the electrically powered compressor so as to provide a first compressor output level during a vehicle engine-on condition and a second, lower, compressor output level during a vehicle engine-off condition, wherein the second compressor output level is selected so as to allow the compressor to operate at a lower output as compared to the first compressor output level for a predetermined period of time.   
   
   
       7 . The vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the second controlling component includes:
 a memory for storing data; and   a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to:
 cause an accumulation in the memory of one or more energy storage device data that is indicative of SOC; 
 cause an accumulation in the memory of one or more vehicle operating data that is indicative of an engine-off condition; and 
 based on said energy storage data and said vehicle operating data, output control signals to effect the amount of power to be transmitted to the electrically powered compressor. 
   
   
   
       8 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the data indicative of an engine-off condition is selected from the group of data consisting of a parking brake data, a transmission gear data, an ignition switch data, and a mode switch data. 
   
   
       9 . A climate control method for a vehicle having an electrical compressor powered by an energy storage device, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a signal from an A/C power switch;   obtaining data regarding the current state of operation of the vehicle;   obtaining energy reserve level data of the energy storage device;   determining the energy level to be supplied to the electrical compressor; and   controlling the energy supplied to the electrical compressor.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the data regarding the current state of operation of the vehicle includes data selected from the group consisting of transmission gear data, an engine speed data, transmission input speed data, transmission output speed data, wheel speed data, parking brake data, ignition switch data, and mode switch data.