Air conditioning systems for motor trucks

Claim 2

An air conditioning system for a motor truck, the system comprising: air introduction means (la); temperature control means (5, 6) to control the temperature of the introduced air; and air distribution means (1) to distribute the temperature-controlled air into a driver's cab; said air distribution means (1) including: air duct means (C) to distribute at least a part of the temperature-controlled air to a space in said driver's cab in which is installed a berth; and switching damper means (8) to open or close the inlet of said air duct means (C); whereby the distribution of the conditioned air may be controlled depending upon whether said berth is occupied or not.

Claim 3

An air conditioning system according to claim 1 wherein said temperature control means (5, 6) is arranged automatically to control the temperature of the introduced air according to a program, and there are further provided means (16) for generating a command signal for carrying out the air conditioning mainly in the berth, means responsive to said command signal for changing said program to a program for carrying out the air conditioning mainly in the berth, and damper actuating means (18) responsive to said command signal for operating said switching damper means (8) to open said inlet of said air duct means (C).

Claim 4

An air conditioning system according to claim 2 wherein said command signal generating means (16) is arranged to generate said command signal when the berth is occupied.

Claim 5

An air conditioning system according to claim 2 wherein said command signal generating means (16) is arranged to generate said command signal in response to the operation of a sleep switch (21) which is manually operable and to the operation of a switch (9) which is arranged to respond to the occupancy of the berth.

Claim 6

An air conditioning system according to claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said temperature control means (5, 6) is arranged to heat the introduced air, and outside temperature detection means (13) is provided which is arranged to detect the outside temperature in response to said command signal, whereby when the outside temperature detected by said outside temperature detection means (13) is lower than a set temperature, said damper actuating means (18) is activated so as to cause said damper means (8) to open said inlet of said air duct means (C).

Claim 7

An air conditioning system according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein there are further provided humidity detection means (10) for detecting the humidity in said driver's cab and a humidifier (22) arranged to be activated when the detected humidity is lower than a set humidity.

Claim 8

An air conditioning system according to claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said temperature control means (5, 6) is arranged to cool the introduced air, and a temperature detection means (11) is provided which is arranged to respond to said command signal for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of said berth, whereby when the temperature detected by said temperature detection means (11) is higher than a set temperature, said damper actuating means (18) is activated so as to cause said switching damper means (8) to open the inlet of said air duct means (C).

Claim 9

An air conditioning system according to claim 1 wherein the outlet of said air duct means (C) is disposed at the upper portion of the berth space so as to distribute the cooled air therein.

Claim 10

An air conditioning system according to claim 8 wherein there are provided a second air duct (E) arranged to distribute the heated air to the vicinity of the berth in said driver's cab, and second switching damper means arranged to open or close the inlet of said second air duct (E).

Claim 11

An air conditioning system according to claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said temperature control means (5, 6) is arranged to control the temperature of the introduced air in a range between low and high temperatures, the outlet of said air duct means (C') is disposed at the upper portion of the berth space so as to distribute the cooled air therein, and there are provided second air duct means (E) arranged to distribute at least part of the heated air to the vicinity of said berth, second switching damper means arranged to open or close the inlet of said second air duct means (E), second damper actuating means to cause said second switching damper means to open the inlet of said second air duct means (E), and temperature detection means (11) responsive to said command signal for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the berth, whereby when the temperature detected by said temperature detection means is higher than a set temperature, said first damper actuating means (18) is activated so as to cause said first switching damper means (8) to open the inlet of said first air duct means (C'), but when the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, said second damper actuating means is activated so as to cause said second switching damper means to open the inlet of the second air duct means (E).