초록 ▼

A small lightweight auxiliary power plant including an engine, electrical alternator, water pump, air conditioning compressor and a heat exchanger is mounted at a convenient location on the tractor of a truck or other large vehicle. The main engine of the truck operates the existing truck air condit

A small lightweight auxiliary power plant including an engine, electrical alternator, water pump, air conditioning compressor and a heat exchanger is mounted at a convenient location on the tractor of a truck or other large vehicle. The main engine of the truck operates the existing truck air conditioning and heating system in a normal manner when the main engine is running. When the main engine of the truck is not operating and the smaller engine of the auxiliary power plant is operating, the truck air conditioning and heating system is operated by the auxiliary power plant. The heat exchanger of the auxiliary power plant then utilizes the heat of exhaust gases generated by the auxiliary power plant engine to warm the truck engine during the time it is not operating so that easy starting of the truck engine is made possible even in very cold regions. The electrical alternator of the auxiliary power plant supplies electrical power for the truck electrical system when the truck engine is not running. The truck storage batteries serve the electrical systems of the truck and the auxiliary power plant. The auxiliary power plant serves as an emergency back-up system if the truck alternator or compressor should fail. The arrangement reduces air pollution caused by operation of the truck engine for long periods of time while the truck is stopped. Provision can be made for warming the fuel tanks and fuel lines to prevent fuel gelling in cold climates.

대표청구항 ▼

An air conditioning, heating and engine warming system for trucks and like vehicles comprising: an engine including a block connected to a radiator; an engine and truck air conditioning and heating system including a truck compressor, a condenser, refrigerant lines extending from the truck compresso

An air conditioning, heating and engine warming system for trucks and like vehicles comprising: an engine including a block connected to a radiator; an engine and truck air conditioning and heating system including a truck compressor, a condenser, refrigerant lines extending from the truck compressor to at least one air conditioning unit and extending from the air conditioning unit to the condenser and back to the truck compressor, and heater conduits extending from the engine block to at least one heating unit and extending back to the engine block; an auxiliary power plant on the truck including an auxiliary engine, alternator, coolant system including a water pump and an air conditioning compressor each driven by the auxiliary engine, and a heat exchanger having a chamber located immediately adjacent the auxiliary engine for receiving hot exhaust gases therefrom and having a liquid heating coil within said chamber in heat transfer relationship with the exhaust gases, a first coolant conduit coupled from the engine block to one side of the heating coil of the heat exchanger and a second coolant conduit coupled directly back to the engine block, said second coolant conduit being additionally coupled to the other side of said heating coil, a circulating pump connected in the first conduit between the engine block and the heating coil; the return of heated water to the engine block from said second conduit acting to warm the engine block and thus aid starting of the truck engine in cold weather when the auxiliary power plant is operated; additional refrigerant lines coupling the compressor of the auxiliary power plant to refrigerant lines connecting said air conditioning unit and said condenser whereby refrigerant can be independently supplied to the truck air conditioning system from the compressor of the auxiliary power plant when said auxiliary power plant is operated; and means in the refrigerant lines between the truck compressor and said one air conditioning unit and between the compressor of the auxiliary power plant and said one air conditioning unit for restricting back flow of refrigerant between the two said compressors.