초록 ▼

A preheating process and apparatus for determination and utilization of a quantity of preheating energy so as to automatically achieve a desired temperature at a given location prior to a predetermined period of usage, especially for preheating an automotive vehicle. In accordance with the process,

A preheating process and apparatus for determination and utilization of a quantity of preheating energy so as to automatically achieve a desired temperature at a given location prior to a predetermined period of usage, especially for preheating an automotive vehicle. In accordance with the process, the respective preheating times required to achieve a desired temperature for various possible actual conditions at the location of usage are determined and stored, at a predetermined point of time prior to the usage commencement time, the correct preheating time is determined from the stored preheating times based upon actual temperature conditions and application of heat to the location is automatically commenced at a time prior to the usage commencement time that corresponds to the difference between the usage commencement time and the correct preheating time determined previously. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, a presettable timer actuated switching control means is provided for actuating a heating device. An actual temperature value sensor means is utilized to sense the actual temperature at the location to be preheated and is used to address a memory unit containing, as stored data, preheating times to be read out that correspond to the respectively required heating time to achieve a desired temperature for each of various possible actual temperatures at the location. The stored preheating time read out by the memory unit based upon actual temperature value sensed by the sensor means at a point of time prior to the preset usage commencement time is utilized by the switching control means to actuate the heating device at a time prior to a preset time for commencement of usage that corresponds to the difference between the preset usage commencement time and the time read out by the memory unit.

대표청구항 ▼

Preheating process for automatically applying a quantity of heat energy sufficient to achieve a desired temperature at a location within a motor vehicle prior to a period of usage, comprising the steps of: (a) determining the respective preheating times required to achieve said desired temperature f

Preheating process for automatically applying a quantity of heat energy sufficient to achieve a desired temperature at a location within a motor vehicle prior to a period of usage, comprising the steps of: (a) determining the respective preheating times required to achieve said desired temperature for various possible actual temperatures at said location on the basis of the time required by a heating device to overcome a temperature difference between the various possible temperatures at said location and said desired temperature in dependence on various possible ambient temperatures outside of said motor vehicle; (b) storing the preheating times determined in step (a); (c) predetermining a time for commencement of said period of usage; (d) at a predetermined point of time prior to said usage commencement time, automatically determining a correct preheating time from said stored preheating times for use based upon actual temperature conditions at said location and the actual ambient temperature outside of said motor vehicle; and (e) automatically commencing application of heat to said location at a time prior to said usage commencement time that corresponds to the difference between said usage commencement time and the correct preheating time determined in step (d). Preheating apparatus for automatically applying a quantity of heat energy sufficient to achieve a desired temperature at a location within a motor vehicle prior to a period of usage, comprising: (a) a heating device; (b) a presettable timer actuted switching control means for actuating said heating device; (c) an actual temperature value sensor means for sensing the actual temperature at said location; (d) an external temperature sensor means for detecting actual ambient temperatures outside of the motor vehicle; and (e) a memory unit that is addressable in dependence on the actual temperature values sensed by said sensor means and containing, as stored data, preheating time spans required for said heating device to overcome a difference between various possible actual temperatures at said location and an adjustable desired temperature in dependence upon various possible ambient temperatures outside of said motor vehicle; wherein said switching control means is operable to actuate said heating device at a time prior to a preset time for commencement of usage that corresponds to the difference between said preset usage commencement time and a stored preheating time read out by said memory unit based upon actual temperature values sensed by said sensor means at a point of time prior to the preset usage commencement time.