US5099654A — Method for controlling a motor vehicle air condit…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 180 words

A method for controlling a motor vehicle air conditioning system containing a refrigeration circuit that includes at least one capacity-controlled refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant condenser, an evaporator, a throttle device for the refrigerant arranged upstream of the evaporator, a ventilating fan for cooling air charging being associated with the condenser, and a blower provided for generating an airstream through the evaporator, said method comprising the steps of: sensing the compressor capacity, the condenser capacity and the evaporator capacity; supplying the sensed compressor capacity, condenser capacity and evaporator capacity in the form of electrical variables to input terminals of a common electronic control circuit; performing logical operations within the common electronic control circuit on at least two of the electrical variables supplied to the common electronic control circuit and on parameters indicative of a refrigerant capacity requirement; and generating control output signals within the common electronic control circuit based upon the logical operations performed therein and supplying the control output signals to compressor, condenser, and evaporator device devices that control the compressor capacity, the condenser capacity and the evaporator capacity, respectively.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 180 words

A method for controlling a motor vehicle air conditioning system containing a refrigeration circuit that includes at least one capacity-controlled refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant condenser, an evaporator, a throttle device for the refrigerant arranged upstream of the evaporator, a ventilating fan for cooling air charging being associated with the condenser, and a blower provided for generating an airstream through the evaporator, said method comprising the steps of: sensing the compressor capacity, the condenser capacity and the evaporator capacity; supplying the sensed compressor capacity, condenser capacity and evaporator capacity in the form of electrical variables to input terminals of a common electronic control circuit; performing logical operations within the common electronic control circuit on at least two of the electrical variables supplied to the common electronic control circuit and on parameters indicative of a refrigerant capacity requirement; and generating control output signals within the common electronic control circuit based upon the logical operations performed therein and supplying the control output signals to compressor, condenser, and evaporator device devices that control the compressor capacity, the condenser capacity and the evaporator capacity, respectively.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

he method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in order to control the compressor capacity, the compressor control device changes a geometric delivery volume of the compressor by stroke.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotational speed of the compressor is controlled by the compressor control device in order to control the compressor capacity.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rate of charging of the compressor is controlled by the compressor control device by means of a variable intake throttling device in order to control the compressor capacity.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein air throughput through the condenser is controlled by the condenser control device in order to control the condenser capacity by controlling a rotational speed of the ventilating fan.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein air throughput through the evaporator is controlled by the evaporator control device by controlling the rotational speed of the blower in order to control the evaporator capacity.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaporator control device comprises at least one of a throttle device and an injection valve that controls refrigerant flow in order to influence the evaporator capacity.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the compressor control device controls at least one of a belt drive of a speed-controlled electric motor and a planetary gear of a controllable hydrostatic drive in order to control compressor speed.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ventilating fan speed is controlled by means of at least one of an electrically controllable viscous clutch, an electromagnetic clutch, a speed-controlled electric motor and a hydrostatic drive.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control characteristic for controlling the ventilating fan speed is at least one of a discontinuous, multi-stage and continuous control.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control characteristic for controlling at least one of the ventilating fan drive and the blower is quasi-continuous, a pulsing frequency of the signal being <1000 Hz, preferably <100 Hz.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ventilating fan is hydrostatically driven and, for the purpose of controlling the ventilating fan speed, the electronic control circuit supplies appropriate output signals via a power amplifier to an electromechanical actuator which acts on a control valve of the hydrostatic drive system.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of the throttle device and the injection valve can be electrically controlled, the control being one of continuous and quasi-continuous, and the throttle device being driven by means of pulse-width modulated pulses in the case of the quasi-continuous control.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameter indicative of refrigerating capacity requirement is determined in dependence on the signals of at least one internal space temperature sensor, outside temperature sensor, set point adjuster, moisture sensor and a solar irradiation sensor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of measuring suction pressure by means of a pressure sensor to determine evaporator icing and converting the suction pressure into an electrical variable by means of a signal converter.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of measuring at least one of the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant and the surface temperature in a evaporator network and the air outlet temperature downstream of the evaporator as a measure of evaporator icing and supplying a corresponding electrical signal to the electronic control circuit.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the, steps of measuring the pressure existing on a high-pressure side which is indicative of the final compression pressure, by means of a pressure sensor and supplying a corresponding electrical signal from the pressure sensor to the electronic control circuit.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the temperature of the refrigerant on a high-pressure side of the compressor which is indicative of the final compression temperature.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method as claimed in one of claim 1, further comprising the steps of measuring the pressure and the temperature on a suction side of the compressor which are indicative of the risk of a hydraulic shock and of supplying electrical signals corresponding to these values to the control circuit.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 80 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of determining a rotational speed of a driving engine of the vehicle by means of a sensor device and of supplying a signal indicative of rotational speed to the electronic control circuit, wherein the electronic control circuit determines when a predetermined rotational speed is exceeded and, in addition, calculates the quantity of acceleration from two values for the engine speed which in each case follow each other in time.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of detecting at least one of a position and a movement of an accelerator pedal with a sensor and supplying a corresponding signal to the electronic control circuit.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the electronic control circuit generates the output signals for driving the drive devices based on the values of at least one of the coolant temperature of the engine coolant, the compressor speed, the rotational speed of the ventilating fan associated with the condenser and of the blower speed associated with the evaporator.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the electronic control device generates the output signals for driving the device devices based on the values of at least one of the oil temperature of the engine oil, of the transmission oil, of the charging air temperature and of the dynamic pressure, the latter being derived from the driving speed.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the electronic control circuit determines from the signal of the sensor which detects at least one of the position the movement of an accelerator pedal and from the signal of an engine speed sensor, the operating phase of an overrun mode and controls the air conditioning system to full capacity in these operating phases.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 115 words

A motor vehicle air conditioning system comprising: a refrigeration circuit that includes at least one capacity controlled refrigerant compressor; a condenser; an evaporator and a throttle device for refrigerant arranged upstream of the evaporator; a ventilating fan for providing air flow to the condenser; a blower for generating an airstream through the evaporator; sensor means for sensing the compressor capacity, the condensor capacity and the evaporator capacity; an electronic control circuit, responsive to the operation of the sensor means, for generating control signals; and control devices, responsive to the control signals generated by the electronic control circuit, for controlling the compressor capacity, the condenser capacity and the evaporator capacity in mutual dependence on one another.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 115 words

A motor vehicle air conditioning system comprising: a refrigeration circuit that includes at least one capacity controlled refrigerant compressor; a condenser; an evaporator and a throttle device for refrigerant arranged upstream of the evaporator; a ventilating fan for providing air flow to the condenser; a blower for generating an airstream through the evaporator; sensor means for sensing the compressor capacity, the condensor capacity and the evaporator capacity; an electronic control circuit, responsive to the operation of the sensor means, for generating control signals; and control devices, responsive to the control signals generated by the electronic control circuit, for controlling the compressor capacity, the condenser capacity and the evaporator capacity in mutual dependence on one another.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 80 words

A motor vehicle air conditioning system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said sensor means comprises a first speed sensor for sensing a rotational speed of the compressor, a hot gas temperature sensor, a first temperature sensor which detects the injection temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator, a second temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the refrigerant on a suction side of the evaporator, and a second speed sensor for detecting the speed of the condenser ventilating fan.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 50 words

Motor vehicle air conditioning system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the evaporator comprises two functionally parallel-connected evaporators having one injection valve each, and an electrically actuatable blocking valve which is connected to the electronic control circuit, arranged in the refrigerant line in front of one of the injection valves.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 43 words

Motor vehicle air conditioning system as claimed in claim 27, wherein a refrigerant branch leading to each parallel-connected evaporator is blocked by the injection valve corresponding to the particular parallel connection evaporator when the injection valve is driven by the electronic control circuit.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 33 words

Motor vehicle air conditioning system as claimed in claim 27, further comprising a second condenser provided in parallel with the condenser and a blocking valve located in series with the second parallel condenser.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 36 words

Motor vehicle air conditioning system as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a second condenser connected in series with the condenser and a bypass line bypassing the second condenser, into which a blocking valve is connected.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 30 words

Motor vehicle air conditioning system as claimed in claim 29, further comprising an evaporator blower associated with each parallel-connected evaporator and an additional ventilating fan associated with the second condenser.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 39 words

Motor vehicle air conditioning system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said sensor means further comprises: at least one internal space temperature sensor, an outside temperature sensor, a set point adjustor, a solar irradiation sensor, and a moisture sensor.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 47 words

Motor vehicle air conditioning system as claimed in claim 32, wherein said sensor means further comprises: an engine speed sensor, a temperature sensor for the cooling water of the engine, a third temperature sensor for the engine oil, and a fourth temperature sensor for the transmission oil.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 47 words

Motor vehicle air conditioning system as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a sensor coupled to an accelerator pedal, the sensor being designed in such a manner that it detects the travel of the accelerator pedal as an input variable and its output supplies an electrical signal.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 43 words

Motor vehicle air conditioning system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said capacity controlled refrigerant compressor comprises a compressor, a suction pressure valve, a high-pressure valve, a control piston for influencing a geometric delivery volume of the compressor and a controllable compressor clutch.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in order to control the compressor capacity, the compressor control device changes a geometric delivery volume of the compressor by controlling a closing time of a compression space.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein air throughput through the condenser is controlled by the condenser control device in order to control the condenser capacity by means of a louvered shutter operated by an actuating motor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-03-31	1995-09-30	1996-03-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-03-31	1999-09-30	2000-03-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-03-31	2003-09-30	2004-03-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method for controlling a motor vehicle air conditioning system

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