Automotive accessory drive train

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10946739-B2
Application number	US-201816156771-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2018
Priority date	Oct 10, 2018
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle adapted to be operated based on fuel combustion or electric power. In one example, an accessory train of the vehicle, including an air conditioning pump and a power steering pump, may be operated according to a first mode or according to a second mode based on a power system of the vehicle. When in the second mode, the vehicle may be instructed to coordinate operation of the air conditioning pump and the power steering pump.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a frame;
an accessory train installed within the frame, the accessory train including a belt driving a power steering pump and an air conditioning (AC) compressor; and
a controller storing a first set of instructions and a second set of instructions in a memory of the controller, the first set of instructions executable to operate the accessory train when the controller detects an engine is installed in the frame, the second set of instructions executable to operate the accessory train when the controller detects a traction motor and not an engine is installed in the frame.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first set of instructions is executable to operate the AC compressor independent of a power steering demand, and wherein the second set of instructions is executable to operate the AC compressor based on the power steering demand.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the second set of instructions is executable to operate the accessory train by activating an electric motor coupled to the belt.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the second set of instructions is executable to:
determine the power steering demand; and
responsive to a request to activate the AC compressor, engage the AC compressor to the belt only if the power steering demand is below a threshold, wherein
the accessory train includes one or more clutches to engage and disengage the AC compressor from the belt.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes the engine installed in the frame and a crankshaft of the engine is coupled to and configured to drive the belt.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes the traction motor installed in the frame and an electric motor is coupled to and configured to drive the belt.

7. A line of vehicles comprising:
a first vehicle including:
an internal combustion engine;
a first accessory train driven by the internal combustion engine, the first accessory train including a first belt driving a first power steering pump and a first AC compressor; and
a first controller adapted to refer to a first set of instructions, the first set of instructions providing instructions for the first vehicle; and

a second vehicle including:
a traction motor;
a second accessory train, the second accessory train driven by an electric motor and including a second belt driving a second power steering pump and a second AC compressor; and
a second controller adapted to refer to a second set of instructions, the second set of instructions providing instructions for the second vehicle;

wherein, in the first vehicle, the first power steering pump and the first AC compressor are operated simultaneously and, in the second vehicle, the second power steering pump and the second AC compressor are operated in a coordinated manner.

8. The line of vehicles of claim 7 , wherein a location of the first accessory train in the first vehicle relative to a geometry of the first vehicle is the same as a location of the second accessory train in the second vehicle relative to a geometry of the second vehicle.

9. The line of vehicles of claim 8 , wherein the first power steering pump and the first AC compressor are of equal dimensions and geometry as the second power steering pump and the second AC compressor.

10. The line of vehicles of claim 9 , wherein the first power steering pump provides an amount of steering assistance to the first vehicle that is equivalent to an amount of steering assistance provided to the second vehicle by the second steering pump.

11. The line of vehicles of claim 10 , wherein a coupling of the first AC compressor to a cabin of the first vehicle to provide cooling is equivalent to a coupling of the second AC compressor to a cabin of the second vehicle to provide cooling.

12. The line of vehicles of claim 7 , wherein a frame of the first vehicle housing the first accessory train has a same positional configuration as a frame of the second vehicle housing the second accessory train.

13. The line of vehicles of claim 7 , wherein a compartment in the first vehicle housing the first accessory train is equal in volume and position to a compartment in the second vehicle housing the second accessory train.

14. A system for operating components of an accessory train of a vehicle, the components including a belt, a belt-driven power steering pump, and a belt-driven air conditioning (AC) compressor, comprising:
a controller including memory with instructions stored therein executable to:
in a first mode, in response to detection of a presence of an internal combustion engine, operate components of the accessory train as demanded by an operator, including operating the AC compressor independently of the power steering pump; and
in a second mode, in response to detection of an absence of the internal combustion engine, operate the AC compressor in coordination with the power steering pump.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller commands operation of the AC compressor based on receiving a request for cabin cooling from an operator and commands increasing a torque supply to the power steering pump when increased torque demand is indicated based on rotation of a steering wheel by an operator.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein in the first mode, the components of the accessory train are operated simultaneously when commanded by the controller upon receiving requests for increased torque for both power steering and cooling.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the AC compressor is adapted with clutches to engage the AC compressor with the belt to operate the AC compressor and to disengage the AC compressor from the belt to deactivate the AC compressor.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are executable to, in the second mode, activate an electric motor coupled to the belt to drive the accessory train and disengage the AC compressor from the belt when an increased torque demand for power steering is indicated.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are executable to, in the second mode, engage the AC compressor with the belt only when no increased torque demand for power steering is indicated and a request for cooling is detected.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Pursifull Ross Dykstra
• Ruona William Charles

Classifications

• B62D5/063

  Pump driven by vehicle engine (B62D5/065 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/3222

  characterised by the compressor driving arrangements, e.g. clutches, transmissions or multiple drives (B60H1/3208, B60H1/3226 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62D5/18 Primary

  characterised by power transmitting means · CPC title

• B60H1/3208 Primary

  Vehicle drive related control of the compressor drive means, e.g. for fuel saving purposes · CPC title

• B62D5/064

  Pump driven independently from vehicle engine, e.g. electric driven pump (B62D5/065 takes precedence) · CPC title