Solar panel driven air purging apparatus for motor vehicles

Claim 1

In a motor vehicle having an enclosable cabin, an internal combustion engine, a battery, an ignition switch having an on position for enabling said internal combustion engine and an off position, an electric motor coupled in driving relationship with an air circulating fan for circulating air through said cabin, the improvement wherein an air circulating drive apparatus is coupled with said electric motor, the air circulating drive apparatus, comprising: a solar panel mounted upon said vehicle having a panel output exhibiting variable voltage levels including a peak voltage level and substantially constant current; a power transfer regulator for transferring power from said panel to said motor when enabled, including: energy storage means connectable across said panel output and chargeable by said current to variable charge levels, solid-state switch means connected in energy transfer relationship with said energy storage means and actuable between conducting and non-conducting states when said power transfer regulator is enabled, inductor means connected with said solid-state switch means and connectable with said electric motor for conveying current thereto from said panel and said energy storage means when said solid-state switch means is in said conducting state, unidirectional conducting means connectable with said electric motor for conveying current thereto from said inductor means when said solid-state switch means is in said non-conducting state, and solid-state switch control network means having a first reference network responsive to said panel output voltage level for providing a first reference output, a second reference network having a second reference output substantially corresponding with said solar panel peak voltage level, and level responsive means responsive to said first and second reference outputs for actuating said solid-state switch means to provide effective power transfer to said electric motor; and control switching means for selectively enabling said power transfer regulator.

Claim 15

A system for removing hot air from the cabin of a parked vehicle of a variety having an internal combustion engine and an ignition switch coupled with a battery of a given voltage rating, said switch having an off position de-activating said engine and an on position activating said engine, comprising: a fan drivable to move said hot air from said vehicle cabin; an electric motor energizable to drive said fan; a solar panel mounted upon said vehicle, having a panel output exhibiting, as an output characteristic, variable voltage levels including a peak voltage level above said given battery voltage and substantially constant current value; a power transfer regulator having an input coupled with said panel output and an output coupled with said electric motor, said regulator being responsive to said panel voltage levels for maintaining said panel voltage substantially at said peak voltage to develop peak effective power therefrom and providing, when enabled, substantially equivalent power at said output at voltage values lower than said peak value and current values higher than said constant value of said solar panel; and control switching means for enabling said power transfer regulator when said ignition switch is in said off position.

Claim 16

A system for removing hot air from the cabin of a parked vehicle of a variety having an internal combustion engine and an ignition switch coupled with a battery of a given voltage rating, said switch having an off position de-activating said engine and an on position activating said engine, comprising: a fan drivable to move said hot air from said vehicle cabin; an electric motor energizable to drive said fan; a solar panel mounted upon said vehicle, having a panel output exhibiting, as an output characteristic, variable voltage levels including a peak voltage level above said given battery voltage and substantially constant current value; a power transfer regulator having an input coupled with said panel output and an output coupled with said electric motor, said regulator being responsive to said panel voltage levels for maintaining said panel voltage substantially at said peak voltage to develop peak effective power therefrom and providing, when enabled, substantially equivalent power at said output at voltage values lower than said peak value and current values higher than said constant value of said solar panel; and control switching means for enabling said power transfer regulator when said ignition switch is in said off position.