Air conditioner auxiliary unit

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner auxiliary unit that enables an on-vehicle air conditioner to be used with an engine stopped or a main battery cut off.SOLUTION: The specification discloses an air conditioner auxiliary unit that is retrofitted to an automobile equipped with an air conditioner including an engine-driven on-board compressor. The air conditioner auxiliary unit includes an electric compressor, piping that connects the electric compressor to the on-board compressor in parallel, a power converter, and a unit controller. The power converter converts power from an external power source into power that drives the electric compressor. The unit controller controls the power converter and the electric compressor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to an air conditioner auxiliary unit that is retrofitted to an automobile equipped with an air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] An automobile is equipped with an air conditioner. The air conditioner has a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator as devices for cooling the interior of the vehicle. Of these devices, the condenser and evaporator are passive devices (devices that do not require power), while the compressor is an active device (devices that require power). Compressors are either electrically driven or engine-driven. Patent Document 1 discloses an automobile with an engine that is equipped with an electrically driven compressor for the air conditioner. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-84515 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There are times when a person wants to use a car not as a means of transportation but as a rest space (or work space). In such cases, in cars equipped with an engine-driven compressor, the air conditioner is used with the engine idling. In electric cars, an electric compressor is often installed for the air conditioner. Electric cars also have a main battery that supplies power to the driving motor and the electric compressor. When the passenger compartment of an electric car is used as a rest space, the air conditioner is used with the main battery and motor in electrical conduction. In either case, efficiency is low. This specification provides an air conditioner auxiliary unit that allows the onboard air conditioner to be used with the engine stopped or the main battery disconnected. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This specification discloses an air conditioner auxiliary unit that can be retrofitted to a vehicle equipped with an air conditioner that includes an engine-driven onboard compressor, and an air conditioner auxiliary unit that can be retrofitted to a vehicle equipped with an air conditioner that includes an electric compressor. The former air conditioner auxiliary unit includes an electric compressor, piping that connects the electric compressor in parallel to the onboard compressor, a power converter, and a unit controller. The power converter converts power from an external power source into power that drives the electric compressor. The unit controller controls the power converter and the electric compressor.

[0006] The latter air conditioner auxiliary unit includes a power converter and a unit controller. The power converter converts power from an external power source into power to drive the onboard electric compressor. The unit controller controls the power converter and the electric compressor.

[0007] By employing the air conditioner auxiliary unit disclosed in this specification, it is possible to use the vehicle air conditioner with the engine stopped or with the vehicle's main battery disconnected.

[0008] In some cases, the unit controller is connected to an on-board controller that controls the air conditioner, and controls the power converter and the electric compressor based on information obtained from the on-board controller.

[0009] The external power source may be a battery outside the vehicle, a commercial AC power source, a generator, or a solar power generation device.

[0010] Details and further improvements of the technology disclosed in this specification are described in the following "Description of Embodiments of the Invention." [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the air conditioner auxiliary unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an air conditioner auxiliary unit according to a modified example. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an air conditioner auxiliary unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an air conditioner auxiliary unit according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 is used by being connected to an automobile 2 as an after-market component. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the automobile 2 and a block diagram of the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 connected to the automobile 2. In FIG. 1 (and in subsequent figures), solid lines connecting devices indicate power cables that transmit power, and dashed lines connecting devices indicate signal lines.

[0013] The automobile 2 is a conventional engine vehicle that runs on an engine 3 and is equipped with an air conditioner 20. The air conditioner 20 is a device that adjusts the temperature in the passenger compartment of the automobile 2. The air conditioner 20 is equipped with an on-board compressor 21 that is driven by the power of the engine 3. The air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 assists the air conditioner 20, allowing the air conditioner 20 to be used without using the on-board compressor 21 (i.e., without driving the engine 3). The air conditioner 20 helps to maintain a comfortable temperature in the passenger compartment without using the engine 3 when the passenger wants to use the passenger compartment as a rest space (or work space) rather than as a means of transportation.

[0014] The automobile 2 is equipped with an on-board controller 4 that controls an air conditioner 20, a sunshine sensor 6 that is used to adjust the temperature in the passenger compartment, an outside air temperature sensor 7, and a passenger compartment temperature sensor 8. The measured values ​​of the sunshine sensor 6, the outside air temperature sensor 7, and the passenger compartment temperature sensor 8 are sent to the on-board controller 4 via signal lines.

[0015] A console 9 is connected to the vehicle controller 4. The console 9 is provided with switches that are operated by the user. The vehicle controller 4 controls the air conditioner 20 in response to the switch operations.

[0016] The air conditioner 20 can heat or cool the air inside the vehicle cabin. This embodiment deals with the case of cooling the air inside the vehicle cabin. The air conditioner 20 includes an engine-driven compressor (on-board compressor 21), a condenser 24, and an evaporator 26. The on-board compressor 21, condenser 24, and evaporator 26 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 22. The on-board compressor 21 compresses gaseous refrigerant and sends it to the condenser 24. In the condenser 24, the gaseous refrigerant is compressed and liquefied. As the refrigerant liquefies, its temperature rises. The condenser 24 is equipped with an electric fan 25. The electric fan 25 uses the liquid in the condenser 24 to cool the high-temperature refrigerant to near the outside air temperature. The liquid refrigerant is sent to the evaporator 26. As the liquid refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator 26, its temperature drops. At this time, the temperature of the evaporated refrigerant drops significantly below room temperature. A blower 27 is provided near the evaporator 26, and the surrounding air cooled by the vaporized refrigerant is sent to the passenger compartment.

[0017] The electric fan 25 and the blower 27 are controlled by the vehicle controller 4. The electric fan 25 and the blower 27 are connected to the vehicle controller 4 via a CAN (Control Area Network) 5.

[0018] The refrigerant pipe 22 is provided with fluid joints 28a, 28b and a check valve 23. The check valve 23 is provided at the refrigerant outlet of the on-board compressor 21. The check valve 23 prevents the refrigerant from flowing back from the fluid joint 28a side to the on-board compressor 21. The fluid joints 28a, 28b are provided in the refrigerant pipe 22 on the upstream and downstream sides of the set of the on-board compressor 21 and the check valve 23.

[0019] The air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 will now be described. The air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 includes an electric compressor 11, piping 12, a unit controller 14, an auxiliary battery 15, and a power converter 16. The fluid outlet of the electric compressor 11 is connected to a fluid joint 28a by piping 12 (12a). The fluid inlet of the electric compressor 11 is connected to a fluid joint 28b by piping 12 (12b). In other words, the electric compressor 11 is connected in parallel to the on-board compressor 21 by piping 12. A check valve 13 is provided in the piping 12 (12a).

[0020] The power converter 16 is connected to an external power source 40, and is also connected to the electric compressor 11 and the auxiliary battery 15. The power converter 16 converts the power of the external power source 40 into power suitable for driving the electric compressor 11. The external power source 40 may be a commercial AC power source, a large-capacity battery, or a generator. When the external power source 40 is an AC power source, the power converter 16 includes an AC / DC converter. When the external power source 40 is a generator or a large-capacity battery, the power converter 16 includes a voltage converter and a voltage regulator.

[0021] The output power of the power converter 16 is sent to the electric compressor 11. The surplus power is stored in the auxiliary battery 15. If the power consumption of the electric compressor 11 suddenly increases, the shortfall in power is made up by the auxiliary battery 15.

[0022] When the electric compressor 11 operates, the compressed refrigerant is sent to the on-board compressor 21. As mentioned above, the gaseous refrigerant is liquefied in the on-board compressor 21. The liquefied refrigerant is cooled by the electric fan 25 and then sent to the evaporator 26. The liquid refrigerant vaporizes in the evaporator 26 and simultaneously absorbs heat from the surroundings. The refrigerant vaporized in the evaporator 26 is compressed by the electric compressor 11 and sent to the condenser 24 again.

[0023] The electric compressor 11 and the power converter 16 are controlled by a unit controller 14. A communication line 17 connects the unit controller 14 to the CAN 5 of the vehicle 2. The unit controller 14 can communicate with the on-board controller 4 via the CAN 5 and the communication line 17. The unit controller 14 controls the power converter 16 and the electric compressor 11 based on information acquired from the on-board controller 4. The information acquired from the on-board controller 4 includes the state of the switches on the console 9, and measurements from the sunshine sensor 6, the outside air temperature sensor 7, and the cabin temperature sensor 8. When a user operates a switch on the console 9 to operate the air conditioner 20, the state of the switch is transmitted to the unit controller 14 via the on-board controller 4, the CAN 5, and the communication line 17. The unit controller 14 controls the air conditioner 20, including the electric compressor 11, based on the state of the switches and sensor data from the sunshine sensor 6, etc.

[0024] The unit controller 14 also controls the electric fan 25 and the blower 27 via the CAN 5 and the communication line 17. In this way, the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 can operate the air conditioner 20 mounted on the automobile 2 without driving the engine 3. By connecting the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 to the automobile 2 as an after-market unit, the air conditioner 20 can be operated without driving the engine 3, and the temperature in the passenger compartment of the automobile 2 can be adjusted.

[0025] When the automobile 2 is traveling, the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 is removed. At this time, the openings of the fluid joints 28a and 28b (openings to which the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 was connected) are closed by stop valves (not shown).

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a modified example (air conditioner auxiliary unit 10a) of the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10. In addition to the configuration of the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10, the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10a is equipped with a solar power generation device 19 (solar panel) and a power converter 18. The power (voltage) generated by the solar power generation device 19 is converted by the power converter 18 into power (voltage) suitable for charging the auxiliary battery 15. The power generated by the solar power generation device 19 is stored in the auxiliary battery 15. By providing the solar power generation device 19, the power obtained from the external power source 40 can be reduced.

[0027] Second Embodiment Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of an air conditioner auxiliary unit 110 of a second embodiment. The air conditioner auxiliary unit 110 is retrofitted to an electric vehicle 102. The electric vehicle 102 runs on a motor 103. The electric vehicle 102 is equipped with a main battery 104 that supplies power to the motor 103.

[0028] The electric vehicle 102 is also equipped with an air conditioner 120. The air conditioner 120 has an on-board electric compressor 121. The air conditioner 120 is the same as the air conditioner 20 equipped in the vehicle 2 of FIG. 1, except that the electric compressor 121 is electrically driven rather than engine-driven. The electric compressor 121 is normally powered by the main battery 104. The main battery 104 and the electric compressor 121 are connected via a relay 105. When the main switch (not shown) of the electric vehicle 102 is off, the relay 105 is open and the electric compressor 121 cannot be used. In other words, the air conditioner 120 cannot be used.

[0029] The electric compressor 121 is connected to the in-vehicle controller 4 via the CAN 5. When the relay 105 is closed, the electric compressor 121 operates in response to a command from the in-vehicle controller 4.

[0030] When the air conditioner auxiliary unit 110 is connected to the electric vehicle 102, it becomes possible to use the air conditioner 120 while the main switch of the electric vehicle 102 is turned off. The air conditioner auxiliary unit 110 includes a unit controller 14, a power converter 16, and an auxiliary battery 15. A communication line 17 of the air conditioner auxiliary unit 110 is connected to the CAN 5 of the electric vehicle 102. The unit controller 14 can communicate with the on-board controller 4, the electric compressor 121, the electric fan 25, and the blower 27 via the communication line 17 and the CAN 5.

[0031] The power converter 16 is connected to an electric compressor 121 mounted on the electric vehicle 102. The power converter 16 converts the power of the external power supply 40 into power suitable for driving the electric compressor 121. The power is supplied from the power converter 16 to the electric compressor 121. Of the power output by the power converter 16, surplus power that is not consumed by the electric compressor 121 is stored in the auxiliary battery 15.

[0032] The unit controller 14 controls the power converter 16 and the electric compressor 121. The unit controller 14 communicates with the on-board controller 4 via the CAN 5 and the communication line 17. As with the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 of the first embodiment, the unit controller 14 acquires information from the switches on the console 9 and sensor information from the sunshine sensor 6 and the like via the on-board controller 4 and the CAN 5. The unit controller 14 controls the air conditioner 120 based on the acquired information. The air conditioner auxiliary unit 110 also supplies power from the external power supply 40 to the electric compressor 121. Therefore, even if the relay 105 is open and the electric compressor 121 is disconnected from the main battery 104, the air conditioner 120 can be used by connecting the air conditioner auxiliary unit 110 to the electric vehicle 102.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a modified example (air conditioner auxiliary unit 110a) of the air conditioner auxiliary unit 110. In addition to the configuration of the air conditioner auxiliary unit 110, the air conditioner auxiliary unit 110a is equipped with a solar power generation device 19 (solar panel) and a power converter 18. The power (voltage) generated by the solar power generation device 19 is converted by the power converter 18 into power (voltage) suitable for charging the auxiliary battery 15. The power generated by the solar power generation device 19 is stored in the auxiliary battery 15. By providing the solar power generation device 19, the power obtained from the external power source 40 can be reduced.

[0034] The following points should be noted regarding the technology described in the embodiment: The air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 (10a, 110, 110a) of the embodiment can operate the air conditioner mounted on the vehicle when the main switch (ignition switch) of the vehicle is off.

[0035] When the main switch of the automobile is turned off, the power for driving the electric fan 25 and the blower 27 may also be supplied from the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 (10a, 110, 110a).

[0036] Even in a vehicle to which the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 (10a, 110, 110a) of the embodiment is connected, if the vehicle's main switch (ignition switch) is on, the air conditioner may be operated using only the on-board device without using the air conditioner auxiliary unit.

[0037] If the capacity of the auxiliary battery 15 provided in the air conditioner auxiliary unit 10 (10a, 110, 110a) is sufficiently large, there is no need to connect an external power source to the air conditioner auxiliary unit.

[0038] Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples exemplified above. The technical elements described in this specification or drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technology exemplified in this specification or drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of these objectives alone is technically useful. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 2: Automobile 3: Engine 4, 14: Controller 6: Sunlight sensor 7: Outside air temperature sensor 8: Vehicle interior temperature sensor 9: Console 10, 10a, 110, 110a: Air conditioner auxiliary unit 11, 121: Electric compressor 12: Piping 13, 23: Check valve 15: Auxiliary battery 16, 18: Power converter 17: Communication line 19: Solar power generation device 20, 120: Air conditioner 21: Compressor 22: Refrigerant pipe 24: Condenser 25: Electric fan 26: Evaporator 27: Blower 28a, 28b: Fluid joint 40: External power supply 102: Electric vehicle 103: Motor 104: Main battery 105: Relay

Claims

1. An air conditioner auxiliary unit that is retrofitted to a vehicle equipped with an air conditioner including an engine-driven on-board compressor, An electric compressor, a pipe connecting the electric compressor to the on-board compressor in parallel; a power converter that converts power from an external power source into power for driving the electric compressor; a unit controller that controls the power converter and the electric compressor; An air conditioner auxiliary unit comprising:

2. An air conditioning auxiliary unit that is retrofitted to a vehicle equipped with an air conditioning unit including an on-board electric compressor, a power converter that converts power from an external power source into power for driving the electric compressor; a unit controller that controls the power converter and the electric compressor; An air conditioner auxiliary unit comprising:

3. 3. The air conditioner auxiliary unit according to claim 1, wherein the unit controller is connected to an on-board controller of the air conditioner and controls the power converter and the electric compressor based on information acquired from the on-board controller.

4. The air conditioner auxiliary unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the external power source includes a solar power generation device.

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