Electric heating – Heating devices – With power supply and voltage or current regulation or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-03
2001-07-17
Paschall, Mark (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
With power supply and voltage or current regulation or...
C219S202000, C219S501000, C219S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262400
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a vehicle heating system including a resistance heater element, and more particularly to a control method for the resistance heater element.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cabin heating in a vehicle equipped with a water-cooled engine is ordinarily achieved by directing a portion of the engine coolant through a heat exchanger disposed in a cabin ventilation duct. The amount of coolant directed through the heat exchanger is determined based on a driver manipulated temperature control, and a motor-driven fan forces outside and/or cabin air past the heat exchanger, and into the vehicle cabin. Since this arrangement cannot deliver any significant heat to the cabin during engine warm-up, it has been suggested that the initial cabin heating could be provided through the use of electrically activated heating elements. It is typically envisioned that such elements would be installed in the vehicle heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and activated for a timed period after engine start up. However, the use of electrical heating elements has not gained wide acceptance, primarily due to the relatively high electrical current required and the inability of an engine driven generator to supply high current under engine idle conditions. Under many operating conditions, alternator overloading and/or battery discharging can occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved control method for an electrically activated resistive heating element in a vehicle heating system wherein the heating element is activated to maximize its heating performance without overloading the alternator or discharging the vehicle storage battery. A desired activation level for the heating element is determined based at least in part on the ability of the engine driven generator to develop electrical current, and when enabled, the heating element is activated based on the desired activation level. If a load condition for which the generator is unable to charge the storage battery is detected, the activation level is quickly reduced, and when the load condition is no longer detected, the activation level is quickly returned to the desired level.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3868559 (1975-02-01), Hill et al.
patent: 5013994 (1991-05-01), Takatsuka
patent: 5107094 (1992-04-01), Kuhn et al.
patent: 5482013 (1996-01-01), Andrews et al.
Kelly Sean Michael
Patel Kiran R.
Urbank Thomas Martin
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Griffin Patrick M.
Paschall Mark
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