Patent classifications
B60H1/00428
Charging station with climate control
A charging station assembly capable of generating and delivering a conditioned airflow while charging a battery of a vehicle. The temperature and flow rate of this conditioned airflow may be controlled based on the ambient conditions and battery status. The conditioned airflow may be directed toward an outside heat exchanger of a refrigerant system of the vehicle to enhance capacity. The conditioned airflow may also be routed to a battery pack for direct cooling or heating through additional ventilation system. In hot ambient conditions, the charging station provides cool air to facilitate battery cooling. In cold ambient conditions, the charging station provides hot air to facilitate battery heating. This charging station assembly shifts the load from the vehicle refrigerant system to the charging system, thereby improving battery thermal management capability, while eliminating the need for an oversized refrigerant system.
Apparatus and system for controlling power to an air conditioning compressor for a vehicle
A climate control system for vehicles includes an internal combustion engine that may be coupled to selectively power a first motor generator, and an air conditioning compressor that may be selectively powered by one or both of the first motor generator and a second motor generator, or by the internal combustion engine. The system may include a rechargeable battery, and a vehicle controller having a vehicle state circuit structured to determine a vehicle operating condition value and a state-of-charge value of the rechargeable battery, and a coupling determination circuit structured to provide an internal combustion engine-first motor generator coupling command in response to the vehicle operating condition value and the state-of-charge value. In response to the internal combustion engine-first motor generator coupling command being provided as coupled, the internal combustion engine may power the first motor generator.
Methods and systems for preserving autonomous operation of a transport climate control system
A method for preserving autonomous operation of a transport climate control system is provided. The method includes the controller determining whether a regulatory compliance at a current location is restricting and/or preventing the use of a prime mover for powering the transport climate control system while a transport unit is in transit. When the controller determines that use of the prime mover is not being restricted or prevented because of a regulatory compliance, the method includes operating the transport climate control system and the transport power system in an energy harvesting operation mode for storing excess power generated by the prime mover into the auxiliary energy storage. When the controller determines that use of the prime mover is being restricted or prevented because of a regulatory compliance, the method includes the controller instructing the auxiliary energy storage to provide power to the transport climate control system.
Closed loop feedback control and diagnostics of a transport climate control system
A closed loop feedback control and diagnostics system for a transport climate control system is provided. The closed loop feedback control and diagnostics system includes a plurality of source current sensors configured to monitor current received from a high voltage three-phase AC power source. The closed loop feedback control and diagnostics system also includes a plurality of compressor current sensors configured to monitor current drawn by an electrically powered compressor of the transport climate control system. The closed loop feedback control and diagnostics system also includes a controller configured to receive source current signals from each of the plurality of source current sensors, configured to receive compressor current signals from each of the plurality of compressor current sensors, and configured to control operation of the transport climate control system based on the received source current signals and the received compressor current signals.
Trailer transport refrigeration unit assisted by a tractor auxiliary power unit
A tractor trailer system includes a tractor and a trailer. The tractor includes a hotel device and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) configured to provide electrical power to the hotel device. The trailer is connected to the tractor, and includes a Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) having a TRU controller, an electrical TRU component, and a TRU Power Unit. The TRU controller is configured to utilize the APU to provide electrical power to the electrical TRU component during low TRU load conditions, and utilize the TRU Power Unit during high TRU load conditions.
ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY MANAGEMENT FOR CLIMATE-CONTROLLED SYSTEM ASSOCIATED WITH AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATION
Technologies described herein pertain to delivering power to primary and accessory electrical components associated with a vehicle that is at least partially electrically powered, as well as to a power source of the vehicle itself. To operate one or more of accessory electrical components and deliver power to a vehicle battery, via a power distribution unit, the embodiments facilitate understanding of dynamic power available to the accessory electrical components as well as the vehicle battery, and distributing of the power in a prioritized manner to optimize the system for a most efficient power delivery process, with regards to power needs and power availability. Managing power supplied to a climate control unit that is used in a transport climate control system providing climate control to at least one of an internal space of a vehicle, may be performed by a controller that is electrically connected to at least the climate control unit.
Transport refrigeration system
A transport refrigeration system (26) includes a transport refrigeration unit (44), an energy storage device (46), a supply refrigerant tube (108), a return refrigerant tube (110) and at least one electrical pathway (98). The transport refrigeration unit is adapted to cool a container. The energy storage device is adapted to provide electrical energy for operating the transport refrigeration unit. The supply refrigerant tube flows a refrigerant from the transport refrigeration unit to the energy storage device, and the return refrigerant tube flows the refrigerant from the energy storage device back to the transport refrigeration unit to cool the battery in the energy storage device (46). The electrical pathway extends between the transport refrigeration unit and the energy storage device, and supplies at least electrical energy to the transport refrigeration unit.
Interlock device for high voltage apparatus
Provided is an interlock device for a high voltage apparatus which enables not only the diagnosis of the connected or non-connected state of a connector during normal operation of the interlock device, but also the detection of a failure of the interlock device itself, including a failure of the interlock loop. The device includes an interlock loop 16 annexed to an HV connector 7 for connecting an electric compressor to an HV battery 8, a detecting signal output unit, a first switching element, a controlling voltage switching circuit operable, in a closed state of the interlock loop, to switch a voltage applied to a control electrode of the first switching element according to an output of the detecting signal output unit, a second switching element operable, in an open state of the interlock loop, to apply to the control electrode of the first switching element an output of the controlling voltage switching circuit so as to cause an ON/OFF state of the first switching element to be inverted from when the interlock loop is in the closed state, and a failure diagnosis unit.
Parking Cooler
A parking cooler which is capable of battery powered operation during engine off operation. The parking cooler or air conditioning system may vary in cooling capacities to maximize cooling or maximize battery life. The parking cooler includes one or more condensers and a housing to accommodate such variation of cooling capacity.
Methods and systems for generation and utilization of supplemental stored energy for use in transport climate control
Methods and systems for operating a transport climate control system of a vehicle are provided. The method includes obtaining a state of charge of an energy storage device capable of providing power to the transport climate control system; determining an energy level including the state of charge, receiving a planned route for the vehicle, and receiving route status data associated with the planned route for the vehicle. The route status data includes traffic data, weather data, and/or geographic data identifying areas where the transport climate control system is to be solely powered by the energy storage device. The method further includes determining whether the energy level is sufficient to complete the planned route for the vehicle based on the planned route and the route data, and when the energy level is not sufficient to complete the planned route for the vehicle, providing a notification to a user via a display.