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 System, method, and apparatus for providing auxiliary power, heating, and air conditioning for a vehicleThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080006045. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Technical Field [0002]The present invention relates in general to auxiliary power systems for vehicles and, in particular, to an improved system, method, and apparatus for providing auxiliary power, heating, and air conditioning for a vehicle. [0003]2. Description of the Related Art [0004]Many vehicles are equipped with air conditioning and heating systems. The vehicle's engine drives a compressor that compresses refrigerant and delivers it to a condenser. The condenser converts the hot gaseous refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant flows to an evaporator where it undergoes a pressure drop, converting the liquid refrigerant to a cold gas. An interior blower moves air through the evaporator and into the interior of the vehicle. The condenser is cooled by the main engine fan, which also flows air through the engine radiator. For heating, a heater coil or element is mounted in the vehicle, typically in communication with the radiator via hoses. A portion of the hot engine coolant flows through the heater element, and the interior blower moves air through the heater coil to heat the interior of the vehicle. [0005]Many large vehicles, such as tractor trailer trucks, recreational vehicles, house trailers, etc., have sleeping compartments attached to or part of the interior for allowing the driver or passengers to rest. Some vehicles have separate or rear units for heating and cooling the sleeping compartment. The rear unit typically comprises an evaporator in parallel with a main evaporator, and a heater element in parallel with the main heater element. The rear unit uses the same compressor and condenser as the main unit. In order for the rear unit to operate, the operator must run the main engine of the vehicle. These vehicles are often parked while running the rear unit. Unfortunately, the main engine generates far more power at idle than is needed for operating the rear unit, resulting in a wasted fuel. [0006]One approach for heating and cooling a sleeping compartment while a vehicle is parked is to utilize a 110 volt air conditioning unit on the vehicle. Some rest stops have service receptacles that enable the operator to connect a power cord to the 110 volt air conditioning unit. Many rest stops, however, do not have such provisions for connecting a vehicle to AC (alternating current) electrical power. [0007]Also, in the prior art, portable generators have been mounted to some vehicles for generating 110-115 volt AC power. An auxiliary engine, normally diesel, is located in a compartment along with an AC generator. The generator powers a 110 volt air conditioning unit mounted to the sleeping compartment. The air conditioning unit has an AC electrical motor that drives the compressor and the fan. For heat, an electrical resistance element is employed. These systems are normally referred to as "gen-sets." [0008]Another prior art approach, sometimes referred to as an "auxiliary power unit," utilizes an auxiliary engine in an external compartment on a vehicle to directly drive a motor vehicle-type compressor. Typically, a condenser and radiator are located in the external compartment. An evaporator, heater element, and DC (direct current) blower are mounted within the sleeping compartment. The compressor delivers refrigerant to the condenser, which in turn delivers condensed refrigerant to the evaporator for cooling the interior of the vehicle. For heating, a portion of the coolant from the auxiliary engine may be diverted from the radiator to the heater element. In one such system, when the heater is turned on, a valve assembly proportionately reduces the coolant flowing to the auxiliary radiator while increasing the coolant flowing to the heater element. [0009]Prior art auxiliary power units do not have generators. Rather, they have alternators that supplies DC (direct current) voltage. The DC voltage powers the blower for the evaporator and heater element and drives the fan for the condenser and radiator. The alternator of the auxiliary unit also charges the main batteries of the vehicle. This type of unit may also have an inverter that converts part of the DC voltage from the auxiliary engine alternator into AC voltage for running AC appliances in the sleeping compartment. Although each of these prior art designs are workable, an improved solution would be desirable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010]One embodiment of a system, method, and apparatus for providing auxiliary power to a vehicle while a main engine of the vehicle is not operating is disclosed. The invention comprises an auxiliary engine having a drive shaft. An auxiliary alternator is mounted to and driven directly by the drive shaft of the auxiliary engine. The auxiliary alternator has permanent magnets and at least two sets of windings, including a first set of windings for generating AC voltage via an inverter to provide auxiliary power to the vehicle, and a second set of windings for generating DC voltage to recharge a battery of the vehicle. A regulator regulates the output of DC voltage from the second set of windings to, for example, directly recharge the battery while the main engine of the vehicle is not operating. The DC voltage also may be used to power other electrical components. [0011]In one embodiment, the first set of windings comprises two sets of windings and the inverter comprises two inverters. Depending on the application, each of the inverters may produce about 2.5 to 3 kW at approximately 115 to 120 volts AC. The regulator may produce approximately 12 to 14 volts DC at about 60 amps. In addition, an air conditioner compressor may be mounted to and driven by the auxiliary engine for compressing refrigerant, with a condenser in fluid communication with the compressor for condensing the refrigerant, an evaporator in fluid communication with the refrigerant condensed by the condenser, and an electrically driven blower mounted adjacent the evaporator for moving air through the evaporator and into an interior of the vehicle. [0012]The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed description of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013]So that the manner in which the features and advantages of the present invention, which will become apparent, are attained and can be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only some embodiments of the invention and therefore are not to be considered limiting of its scope as the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. [0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a vehicle having an auxiliary power system constructed in accordance with the present invention; [0015]FIG. 2 is a simplified electrical diagram of the auxiliary power system of FIG. 1 and is constructed in accordance with the present invention; and [0016]FIG. 3 is a high level flow diagram of one embodiment of a method constructed in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0017]Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle 11, such as a recreational vehicle, truck, etc., has an engine compartment 13, a cab 15 and, optionally, a sleeping compartment 17. For simplicity, a truck 11 is illustrated. The interior of sleeping compartment 17 may be in common with the interior of cab 15. An auxiliary power source 19 is shown mounted to a frame 21 of truck 11. Auxiliary power source 19 may be located in various positions on truck 11, and is typically rearward of sleeping compartment 17. Auxiliary power source 19 may be located within a housing or exterior compartment 23. An auxiliary evaporator and heater unit 25 is preferably located separate from compartment 23. In one embodiment, evaporator and heater unit 25 is located within sleeper compartment 17, preferably on the floor under a bed or bunk. [0018]Truck 11 has a primary or main engine 27, normally diesel, that propels truck 11. Hoses connect a main radiator 29 to main engine 27 for receiving engine coolant. An engine fan 30 is directly driven by main engine 27 for causing air flow through main radiator 29. Truck 11 also has a main interior heater element or coil 31 and a main interior blower 33. Heater element 31 is connected by hoses to radiator 29 for receiving a portion of the flow of engine coolant. Blower 33 moves air through heater element 31 for heating the interior of cab 15. Valves (not shown) controlled by the driver will selectively provide or stop the flow of engine coolant through heater 31. [0019]For cooling, main engine 27 drives a main compressor 35 by a belt (not shown). Compressor 35 delivers hot gaseous refrigerant to a main condenser 37 that is mounted parallel to radiator 29. Condenser 37 condenses the refrigerant to a liquid, which flows to a main evaporator 39. Typically, the same interior blower 33 moves air through evaporator 39 into the interior of cab 15. [0020]In some cases, sleeper compartment 17 is provided with a rear evaporator, heater element, and blower (not shown) for heating and cooling sleeper compartment 17. If so, main compressor 35 and main condenser 37 supply refrigerant to the rear evaporator. Main engine 27 and radiator 29 may supply coolant to the rear heater element for heating. Main engine 27 also has a main alternator 41 driven by a belt. Alternator 41 supplies DC electrical power for blower 33 and other uses. Alternator 41 also charges a main battery 43 or set of batteries. Continue reading... Full patent description for System, method, and apparatus for providing auxiliary power, heating, and air conditioning for a vehicle Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System, method, and apparatus for providing auxiliary power, heating, and air conditioning for a vehicle patent application. Patent Applications in related categories: 20080271472 - Power management system for integrated transport refrigeration unit - A power management system (36) supplies power to a refrigeration unit (20) of a vehicle (22). When a vehicle engine (40) is running, the refrigeration unit receives power from a DC power source (38). When the vehicle engine is not operating, power is supplied through an AC source (46). A ... ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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