Hybrid compressor for an air-conditioning circuit

Abstract

The invention relates to a hybrid compressor ( 10 ) for an air-conditioning circuit of a motor vehicle having a heat engine, said hybrid compressor being suitable for being driven, on the one hand, by said heat engine and, on the other hand, by an electric motor ( 20 ) during phases in which the drive from the heat engine is interrupted. According to the invention, said hybrid compressor ( 10 ) consists of a compression chamber ( 101 ) with variable displacement, said displacement being variable in a (variation range having an upper displacement interval in which the compression chamber ( 101 ) is driven by the heat engine, and a lower displacement interval in which the compression chamber ( 101 ) is driven by the electric motor ( 20). The invention can be used for motor vehicles having a heat engine and provided with an automatic stopping and restarting system.

1 . A hybrid compressor for an air-conditioning circuit of an engine motor vehicle, said hybrid compressor being able to be driven by said engine and by an electric motor during phases of interruption of driving by the engine, the hybrid compressor comprising:
 a compression chamber with variable capacity, said capacity being variable in a span of variation exhibiting a higher interval of capacities, in which the compression chamber is driven by the engine, and a lower interval of capacities, in which the compression chamber is driven by the electric motor.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said higher and lower intervals of capacities are distinct. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the driving of the compression chamber by the engine is disengaged from the engine for capacities within said lower interval of capacities. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said compression chamber with variable capacity is a compression chamber with rotary drive. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid compressor as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said compression chamber is a compression chamber with vanes with adjustable intake volume. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said phases of interruption of driving by the engine are engine stopping phases. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid compressor as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said engine stopping phases are the stopping phases of a system for automatic stopping and restarting of the engine (“Stop and Start”). 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said phases of interruption of driving by the engine are vehicle acceleration phases. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising means for setting the electric motor into operation before commencement of said interruption of driving by the engine. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid compressor as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said means for setting the electric motor into operation are means for detecting stopping of the engine of a system for automatic stopping and restarting of the engine (“Stop and Start”). 
     
     
         11 . An assembly comprising a hybrid compressor as claimed in  claim 1  and an electric motor for driving said hybrid compressor, wherein the electric motor is supplied by a low-voltage direct current. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said low-voltage direct current is provided by the 12 V network of the vehicle.