US4642770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle accessory control system
Assignee: Deere and Co
•
Filing: 1985-04-18
•
Granted: 1987-02-10
•
Expires: 2005-04-18
Abstract
Abstract A control system for engine-driven vehicle accessories generates sets of values representing a recent history of the engine loading and of the operational status of the accessories. History factors are derived from the sets of values. The accessories are controlled as a function of sensed parameters and of comparisons between the history factors. The sets of values are periodically updated.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph E. Shirley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:45
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/32; B60H1/3204; B60H1/3205; B60H1/3208; G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for controlling the operation of an accessory driven by a vehicle engine, comprising: (a) periodically sensing loading of the engine and generating a plurality of engine load values representing the periodically sensed engine load; (b) storing a set of said load values in a corresponding first set of memory locations; (c) deriving an engine loading factor from the set of stored load values; (d) storing a set of activity values in a corresponding second set of memory locations, each activity value representing an activity status of the engine driven accessory; (e) deriving an accessory activity factor from the set of stored activity values; (f) comparing the engine loading factor with the accessory activity factor; and (g) activating or deactivating the accessory, depending upon the result of the comparison.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for controlling the operation of an accessory driven by a vehicle engine, comprising: (a) periodically sensing loading of the engine and generating a plurality of engine load values representing the periodically sensed engine load; (b) storing a set of said load values in a corresponding first set of memory locations; (c) deriving an engine loading factor from the set of stored load values; (d) storing a set of activity values in a corresponding second set of memory locations, each activity value representing an activity status of the engine driven accessory; (e) deriving an accessory activity factor from the set of stored activity values; (f) comparing the engine loading factor with the accessory activity factor; and (g) activating or deactivating the accessory, depending upon the result of the comparison.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: the engine loading factor represents the number of the stored load values which are exceeded by a certain engine load value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: the accessory activity factor represents the number of the stored activity values which are equal to a certain value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: after activating or deactivating the accessory, replacing an oldest one of the stored activity values with a new activity value representing the activity status of the accessory resulting from operation of step "(g)",
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising: periodically replacing an oldest one of the stored engine load values with a most recent one of the load values generated by operation of step "(a)".
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: periodically sensing a temperature of the engine; comparing the sensed temperature to a limit temperature; and activating or deactiviating the accessory, depending upon the relationship between the sensed and limit temperatures.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: the accessory is an alternator which charges a vehicle battery, the alternator having a rotating field coil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising: periodically sensing a voltage of the battery; and energizing or de-energizing the field coil, depending upon a relationship between the sensed voltage and a limit voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising: storing a set of energization values in a corresponding third set of memory locations, each energization value representing an energization status of the field coil; deriving an energization factor from the set of stored energization values; and energizing or de-energizing the field coil, depending upon a relationship between the engine loading factor and the energization factor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising: after energizing or de-energizing the field coil, replacing an oldest one of the stored energization values with a new energization value representing the current energization status of the field coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: the accessory is an air compressor which pressurizes an accumulator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: periodically sensing a pressure in the accumulator; and activating or de-activating the air compressor, depending upon a relationship between the sensed pressure and a limit pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: storing a set of operating values in a corresponding set of memory locations, each operating value representing an operational status of the air compressor; deriving an air compressor operating factor from the set of stored operating values; operating or disabling the air compressor, depending upon a relationship between the air compressor operating factor and the engine loading factor; and after operating or disabling the air compressor, replacing an oldest one of the stored operating values with a new operating value representing the current operational status of the air compressor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: the accessory is an engine-driven air conditioner compressor for compressing refrigerant in a vehicle air conditioning system which conditions an operator's compartment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising: periodically sensing a temperature of the operator's compartment; and activating or de-activating the air conditioner compressor, depending upon a relationship between the sensed temperature and a limit temperature.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for controlling the operation of a vehicle air conditioning compressor driven by an engine via engageable and disengageable clutch, the method comprising: (a) periodically sensing loading of the engine and generating a plurality of engine load values, each representing the engine loading at a particular instant; (b) storing a set of said load values in a corresponding first set of memory locations; (c) deriving an engine loading factor from the set of stored load values; (d) storing a set of engagement values in a corresponding set of memory locations, each engagement value representing an engagement status of the clutch at a certain instant; (e) deriving an engagement history factor from the set of stored engagement values; (f) comparing the engine loading factor with the engagement history factor; and (g) controlling engagement of the clutch, depending upon the relationship between the compared factors.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for controlling the operation of a vehicle air conditioning compressor driven by an engine via engageable and disengageable clutch, the method comprising: (a) periodically sensing loading of the engine and generating a plurality of engine load values, each representing the engine loading at a particular instant; (b) storing a set of said load values in a corresponding first set of memory locations; (c) deriving an engine loading factor from the set of stored load values; (d) storing a set of engagement values in a corresponding set of memory locations, each engagement value representing an engagement status of the clutch at a certain instant; (e) deriving an engagement history factor from the set of stored engagement values; (f) comparing the engine loading factor with the engagement history factor; and (g) controlling engagement of the clutch, depending upon the relationship between the compared factors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 16, wherein: the engine loading factor represents the number of the stored load values which are exceeded by the engine load value most recently generated by step "(a)"; and the engagement history factor represents the number of stored engagement values which are equal to a certain value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4325330A
Cited
US4226090A
Cited
US4358936A
Cited
JPS5671612A
Cited
US4365663A
Cited
US4486837A
Cited
US4448035A
Cited
JPS5833514A
Cited
US4582124A
Cited
US4451741A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-09 | 1990-08-11 | 1991-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-09 | 1994-08-11 | 1995-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-09 | 1998-08-11 | 1999-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |