초록 ▼

A heating and air-conditioning system has an auxiliary engine for heating and cooling of a vehicle while the primary engine of the vehicle is not operating. The vehicle has a sleeper compartment with a sleeper compartment air conditioning unit powered by the main engine. An auxiliary air conditionin

A heating and air-conditioning system has an auxiliary engine for heating and cooling of a vehicle while the primary engine of the vehicle is not operating. The vehicle has a sleeper compartment with a sleeper compartment air conditioning unit powered by the main engine. An auxiliary air conditioning system located exterior of the sleeper compartment is powered by the auxiliary engine. An auxiliary supply duct extends into the sleeper compartment and joins the duct of the sleeper compartment air conditioning unit. A valve operated by air pressure blocks air flow from the sleeper compartment air conditioning unit into the auxiliary duct while in the main position. In the auxiliary position, the valve blocks air flow from the auxiliary duct into the sleeper compartment air conditioning unit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a truck having a cab, a sleeper compartment, a sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating assembly that is powered by a main engine of the truck, the improvement comprising:an auxiliary power unit housing mounted to a frame of the truck;an auxiliary engine mounted in the auxiliary housin

1. In a truck having a cab, a sleeper compartment, a sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating assembly that is powered by a main engine of the truck, the improvement comprising:an auxiliary power unit housing mounted to a frame of the truck;an auxiliary engine mounted in the auxiliary housing;a compressor mounted to and driven by the auxiliary engine;a condenser mounted in the housing in fluid communication with refrigerant compressed by the compressor;an evaporator and heater housing carried by the truck;an auxiliary evaporator in the evaporator and heater housing in fluid communication with refrigerant condensed by the condenser;an auxiliary heater element in the evaporator and heater housing;an auxiliary duct leading from the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing to a junction with the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating assembly;an auxiliary blower mounted adjacent the auxiliary evaporator and auxiliary heater element for moving air through the auxiliary evaporator and auxiliary heater element and through the auxiliary duct into the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating assembly; anda valve having a first position that blocks air flow from the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating assembly into the auxiliary duct while the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating system is operating and a second position that blocks air flow from the auxiliary duct into the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating system while the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating system is not operating.2. The truck according to claim 1, wherein the valve moves between the first and second positions in response to air pressure.3. The truck according to claim 1, wherein the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating system comprises:a sleeper compartment evaporator and heater element;a sleeper compartment duct in the sleeper compartment and having at least one outlet in the sleeper compartment;a sleeper compartment blower for moving air through the sleeper compartment evaporator and heater element into the sleeper compartment duct, and wherein the truck further comprises:a plenum in the sleeper compartment having a main supply port connected to the sleeper compartment evaporator and heater element, an auxiliary port connected to the auxiliary duct, and an outlet port connected to the sleeper compartment duct; andwherein the valve is located within the plenum.4. The truck according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary duct has an external portion extending from the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing to an aperture provided in the sleeper compartment.5. The truck according to claim 1, further comprising a return air duct extending from the sleeper compartment to the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing.6. The truck according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing is mounted exterior of the sleeper compartment.7. The truck according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing is mounted to the auxiliary power unit housing.8. In a truck having a cab, a sleeper compartment, a sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating unit having a sleeper compartment duct with an outlet in the sleeper compartment, the improvement comprising:an auxiliary power unit housing mounted to a frame of the truck;an auxiliary engine mounted in the auxiliary housing;an auxiliary compressor mounted to and driven by the auxiliary engine;an auxiliary condenser mounted in the auxiliary compartment in fluid communication with refrigerant compressed by the compressor;an auxiliary radiator in fluid communication with coolant circulated through the auxiliary engine;an auxiliary evaporator and heater housing carried on a portion of the truck exterior of the sleeper compartment and having a discharge chamber and a return chamber;an auxiliary evaporator in the discharge chamber of the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing in fluid communication with refrigerant condensed by the condenser;an auxiliary heater element in the discharge chamber of the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing in fluid communication with coolant circulated through the auxiliary engine and the auxiliary radiator;an auxiliary supply duct leading from discharge chamber of the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing to a junction with the sleeper compartment duct;a return port in the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing that communicates the return chamber with the interior of the sleeper compartment; andan auxiliary blower mounted in the return chamber of the auxiliary evaporator and heater element for receiving air from the return port and discharging air through the auxiliary evaporator, auxiliary heater and auxiliary supply duct into the sleeper compartment duct.9. The truck according to claim 8, further comprising:a valve having a main position that blocks air flow from the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating unit into the auxiliary supply duct while the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating unit is operating, and an auxiliary position that blocks air flow from the auxiliary supply duct into the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating unit while the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating system is not operating.10. The truck according to claim 9, wherein the valve moves between the main and auxiliary positions in response to air pressure.11. The truck according to claim 8, further comprising:a plenum in the sleeper compartment having a main supply port connected to the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heater unit, an outlet port connected to the sleeper compartment duct, and an auxiliary supply port connected to the auxiliary supply duct; anda valve mounted in the plenum and having a main position that blocks the auxiliary supply port to direct air flowing from the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating unit into the sleeper compartment duct, and an auxiliary position that blocks the main supply port to direct air flowing from the auxiliary supply duct into the sleeper compartment duct.12. The truck according to claim 8, wherein the auxiliary supply duct has a flexible external portion extending from the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing to an aperture provided in the sleeper compartment.13. The truck according to claim 8, further comprising a flexible return air duct extending from the return port in the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing to an aperture provided in the sleeper compartment.14. The truck according to claim 8, wherein the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing is mounted to the auxiliary power unit housing.15. In a truck having a cab, a sleeper compartment, a sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating unit and a sleeper compartment duct with an outlet in the sleeper compartment, the improvement comprising:an auxiliary power unit housing mounted to the truck;an auxiliary engine mounted in the auxiliary housing;an auxiliary compressor mounted to and driven by the auxiliary engine;an auxiliary condenser mounted in the auxiliary compartment in fluid communication with refrigerant compressed by the compressor;an auxiliary evaporator and heater housing having a discharge chamber and a return chamber that is in communication with an interior of the sleeper compartment;an auxiliary evaporator in the discharge chamber of the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing in fluid communication with refrigerant condensed by the condenser;an auxiliary heater element in the discharge chamber of the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing;a plenum in the sleeper compartment having a main supply port connected to the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating unit, an auxiliary supply port, and an outlet port connected to the sleeper compartment duct;an auxiliary supply duct leading from discharge chamber of the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing to the auxiliary supply port;a return port in the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing that communicates the return chamber with the interior of the sleeper compartment;an auxiliary blower mounted in the return chamber of the auxiliary evaporator and heater element for receiving air from the return port and discharging air through the auxiliary evaporator and auxiliary heater into the auxiliary supply duct; anda valve mounted in the plenum and having a main position that blocks the auxiliary supply port to direct air flowing from the sleeper compartment air conditioning and heating unit into the sleeper compartment duct, and an auxiliary position that blocks the main supply port to direct air flowing from the auxiliary supply duct into the sleeper compartment duct.16. The truck according to claim 15, wherein the valve moves from the main position to the auxiliary position in response to greater air pressure in the auxiliary supply duct than in the main supply duct.17. The truck according to claim 15, wherein the auxiliary supply duct has an external portion extending from the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing to an aperture provided in the sleeper compartment.18. The truck according to claim 15, further comprising a return air duct extending from the return chamber in the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing to an aperture provided in the sleeper compartment.19. In a truck having a cab and a sleeper compartment, the improvement comprising:an auxiliary power unit housing mounted to a frame of the truck;an auxiliary engine mounted in the auxiliary power unit housing;an auxiliary compressor mounted to and driven by the auxiliary engine;an auxiliary condenser mounted in the auxiliary power unit housing in fluid communication with refrigerant compressed by the compressor;an auxiliary evaporator and heater housing located exterior of the sleeper compartment and the auxiliary power unit housing, and having a discharge chamber and a return chamber;a flexible supply duct extending exterior of the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing from the discharge chamber to a supply port provided in the sleeper compartment;a flexible return duct extending exterior of the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing from the return chamber to a return port provided in the sleeper compartment;an auxiliary evaporator in the discharge chamber of the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing in fluid communication with refrigerant condensed by the auxiliary condenser;an auxiliary heater element in the discharge chamber of the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing; andan auxiliary blower mounted in the return chamber of the auxiliary evaporator and heater housing for receiving air from the sleeper compartment via the flexible return duct and discharging air through the auxiliary evaporator, auxiliary heater, and flexible supply duct into the sleeper compartment.