Self-contained roof-mounted vehicle air-conditioning system

Claim 1

A roof-mounted, self-contained air-conditioning system for cooling air drawn from the interior of a vehicle and directing said cooled air back into said vehicle, said vehicle having a prime mover for said vehicle, a primary electrical system, driven by said prime mover, for generating and storing electrical energy, and a plurality of electrical accessories, powered by the electrical energy generated and stored by said primary electrical system, said self-contained air-conditioning system including: (a) an air refrigeration system comprising compressor, evaporator and condenser means and fan and duct means operatively associated therewith, for removing air from the interior of said vehicle, cooling said removed air and returning the cooled air to the interior of said vehicle, said duct means having intake and return vents mounted in the ceiling of said vehicle; (b) an electrical generator; (c) a gasoline engine, provided with a self-starter, for driving (i) said compressor means, and (ii) said electrical generator; (d) pulley means for transmitting motive power from said engine to said compressor means and said electrical generator; (e) circuit means for (i) providing electrical power from said electrical generator to said fan means; and (ii) providing supplemental electrical power from said electrical generator to the primary electrical system of said vehicle; (f) means for controlling and monitoring said self-contained air conditioning system, adapted for mounting within the operator's compartment of said vehicle, said means including switch means for starting said auxiliary gasoline engine and for energizing said fan means and means for indicating the running condition of said engine; and (g) means for warning the operator of said vehicle when preventive maintenance of said self-contained air conditioning system is required, said warning means including clock means for maintaining a cumulative record of the time said air conditioning system has been operated.