Patent ID: 7412840
Filing Date: 2008-08-19
Classification: B64F,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An aircraft ground cart for supplying electrical power and temperature-controlled air to an aircraft on the ground, the ground cart comprising: an auxiliary power unit (APU) configured to (i) supply a flow of compressed air and (ii) generate electrical power; an air conditioner module coupled to receive the flow of compressed air from the APU and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a flow of temperature controlled air; a meteorological sensor configured to sense an ambient meteorological condition of an environment in which the ground cart is positioned and supply a meteorological signal representative thereof; an electrical sensor configured to sense the electrical power generated by the APU and supply an output power signal representative thereof; a control circuit coupled to receive the meteorological signal and the output power signal and operable, in response thereto, to supply a throttle valve control signal based at least in part on the meteorological signal and the output power signal; and a throttle valve disposed between the APU and the air conditioner module, the throttle valve coupled to receive the throttle valve control signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively move to control compressed air flow rate from the APU to the air conditioner module.