초록 ▼

An air conditioning system for cooling an environment in an over-the-road vehicle is provided. The air conditioning system includes an electrically driven, variable speed compressor, which enables operation of the system when the engine of the over-the-road vehicle is not running. The system is modu

An air conditioning system for cooling an environment in an over-the-road vehicle is provided. The air conditioning system includes an electrically driven, variable speed compressor, which enables operation of the system when the engine of the over-the-road vehicle is not running. The system is modular and is adapted to be installed in the side luggage compartment of the vehicle to enable existing vehicles to be retrofitted to provide no-idle air conditioning. The housing of the system defines two flow paths therethrough; one cold air path and one hot air path. The hot air path is configured to intersect the condenser at least two times, and draws and expels the air through the same wall of the housing. An air direction device is used to reduce the amount of air recirculation through the hot air path to increase the efficiency of the system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A modular air conditioning system, comprising: a housing having a barrier wall positioned therein to divide an interior of the housing into a first section and a second section, the housing including a front panel defining a first opening and a second opening therethrough to provide fluid communi

1. A modular air conditioning system, comprising: a housing having a barrier wall positioned therein to divide an interior of the housing into a first section and a second section, the housing including a front panel defining a first opening and a second opening therethrough to provide fluid communication between an exterior of the housing and the second section of the housing;a compressor-driven refrigeration system including a first heat exchanger positioned in the first section of the housing and a second heat exchanger positioned in the second section of the housing in proximity to the front panel;a first air movement device positioned to provide air movement through a first fluid path defined in the housing through the first section of the housing and intersecting the first heat exchanger;a second air movement device positioned in proximity to the second opening in the front panel to provide air movement through a second fluid path defined in the housing through the first opening of the front panel, through the second heat exchanger a first time, through the second section of the housing, through the second heat exchanger a second time, and through the second opening; andwherein the compressor-driven refrigeration system includes a variable speed, electrical driven compressor operable when an engine of an over-the-road vehicle is not running. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the front panel includes a wall separating the first opening from the second opening. 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plenum attached to the front panel in proximity to the second opening therethrough. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second air movement device is positioned in proximity between the plenum and the second heat exchanger. wherein the compressor-driven refrigeration system includes a variable speed, electrically driven compressor operable when an engine of an over-the-road vehicle is not running 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor is positioned in the second section of the housing. 6. A modular air conditioning system, comprising: a housing having a barrier wall positioned therein to divide an interior of the housing into a first section and a second section, the housing including a front panel defining a first opening and a second opening therethrough to provide fluid communication between an exterior of the housing and the second section of the housing;a compressor-driven refrigeration system including a first heat exchanger positioned in the first section of the housing and a second heat exchanger positioned in the second section of the housing in proximity to the front panel;a first air movement device positioned to provide air movement through a first fluid path defined in the housing through the first section of the housing and intersecting the first heat exchanger;a second air movement device positioned in proximity to the second opening in the front panel to provide air movement through a second fluid path defined in the housing through the first opening of the front panel, through the second heat exchanger a first time, through the second section of the housing, through the second heat exchanger a second time, and through the second opening; andwherein the compressor-driven refrigeration system includes a DC motor driven, variable speed compressor operable when an engine of an over-the-road vehicle is not running. 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a vent positioned in proximity to the front panel, the vent including an air intake portion in proximity to the first opening in the front panel and an air outlet portion in proximity to the second opening. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the air intake portion includes a first plurality of louvers positioned to direct air flow in a first direction and wherein the air outlet portion includes a second plurality of louvers positioned to direct air flow in a second direction. 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the air intake portion includes a first plurality of louvers, wherein the air outlet portion includes a second plurality of louvers, and wherein the first and the second plurality of louvers are positioned to reduce air recirculation therebetween. 10. A modular air conditioning system, comprising: a housing having a barrier wall positioned therein to divide an interior of the housing into a first section and a second section, the housing including a front panel defining a first opening and a second opening therethrough to provide fluid communication between an exterior of the housing and the second section of the housing;a compressor-driven refrigeration system including a first heat exchanger positioned in the first section of the housing and a second heat exchanger positioned in the second section of the housing in proximity to the front panel;a first air movement device positioned to provide air movement through a first fluid path defined in the housing through the first section of the housing and intersecting the first heat exchanger;a second air movement device positioned in proximity to the second opening in the front panel to provide air movement through a second fluid path defined in the housing through the first opening of the front panel, through the second heat exchanger a first time, through the second section of the housing, through the second heat exchanger a second time, and through the second opening; andwherein the first air movement device is a centrifugal fan. 11. A modular air conditioning system, comprising: a housing having a barrier wall positioned therein to divide an interior of the housing into a first section and a second section, the housing including a front panel defining a first opening and a second opening therethrough to provide fluid communication between an exterior of the housing and the second section of the housing;a compressor-driven refrigeration system including a first heat exchanger positioned in the first section of the housing and a second heat exchanger positioned in the second section of the housing in proximity to the front panel;a first air movement device positioned to provide air movement through a first fluid path defined in the housing through the first section of the housing and intersecting the first heat exchanger;a second air movement device positioned in proximity to the second opening in the front panel to provide air movement through a second fluid path defined in the housing through the first opening of the front panel, through the second heat exchanger a first time, through the second section of the housing, through the second heat exchanger a second time, and through the second opening; andwherein the second air movement device is an axial-flow fan. 12. A modular air conditioning system, comprising: a housing having a barrier wall positioned therein to divide an interior of the housing into a first section and a second section, the housing including a front panel defining a first opening and a second opening therethrough to provide fluid communication between an exterior of the housing and the second section of the housing;a compressor-driven refrigeration system including a first heat exchanger positioned in the first section of the housing and a second heat exchanger positioned in the second section of the housing in proximity to the front panel;a first air movement device positioned to provide air movement through a first fluid path defined in the housing through the first section of the housing and intersecting the first heat exchanger;a second air movement device positioned in proximity to the second opening in the front panel to provide air movement through a second fluid path defined in the housing through the first opening of the front panel, through the second heat exchanger a first time, through the second section of the housing, through the second heat exchanger a second time, and through the second opening; andwherein the housing is adapted to mount in a luggage compartment of an over-the-road vehicle. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the front panel is adapted to replace a luggage compartment door of the over-the-road vehicle. 14. An electrified engine off air conditioning system, comprising: a housing adapted for installation in a side luggage compartment of an over-the-road vehicle defining a first fluid path and a second fluid path therethrough, the housing including a first opening and a second opening defining a start and an end to the second fluid path;a refrigeration system including an electric motor driven compressor, a first heat exchanger positioned in the housing such that the first fluid path intersects the first heat exchanger at least once and a second heat exchanger positioned in the housing such that the second fluid path intersects the second heat exchanger at least twice. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first opening and the second opening are positioned through a front panel of the housing. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second heat exchanger is positioned in close proximity to the front panel such that the second fluid path intersects the second heat exchanger at the first opening and at the second opening. 17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a vent positioned in close proximity to the front panel, the vent configured to reduce recirculation of air from the second opening to the first opening. 18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a first fan positioned in fluid communication with the first fluid path and a second fan positioned in fluid communication with the second fluid path. 19. The system of claim 14, wherein the second heat exchanger is a condenser.