Patent Abstract:
Disclosed is an integrated unit packaged on a vehicle for providing electricity, air-conditioning and heating to a space remote from the vehicle. The unit includes an electric generator system, a ventilation system, a refrigeration cycle system, each of which is powered by the electric generator system, a heater that is also powered by the electric generator system and electrical outlets that are also powered by the electric generator.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/153,420, filed Feb. 18, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This disclosure is related to an integrated portable unit for providing electricity, air-conditioning and heating. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Disclosed is an integrated unit arranged and/or packaged on a vehicle for providing electricity, air-conditioning and heating to a space or location which is remote from the vehicle. The unit includes an electric generator system, a ventilation system, a refrigeration cycle system powered by the electric generator system, a heater that is also powered by the electric generator system and electrical outlets that are also powered by the electric generator. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a system diagram of one embodiment of an integrated portable unit for providing electricity, air-conditioning and heating. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a left side elevational view of a trailer embodying one version of an integrated portable unit for providing electricity, air-conditioning and heating. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a right side elevational view of the trailer of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the trailer of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of the trailer of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view of the trailer of  FIG. 2 , with some components removed as compared to the trailer of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the trailer of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a partial, perspective view of the trailer of  FIG. 2 , providing HVAC to a tent. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a rear elevational view of a HVAC unit. 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a rear elevational view of the  FIG. 9  HVAC unit with access doors removed. 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is a right side elevational view of the  FIG. 10  HVAC unit. 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  is a front elevational view of the  FIG. 10  HVAC unit. 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  is a left side elevational view of the  FIG. 10  HVAC unit. 
           [0017]      FIG. 14  is a schematic illustration of one configuration of an automatic control touch screen. 
           [0018]      FIG. 15  is a schematic illustration of a manual control touch screen. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the disclosure, reference will now be made to certain embodiments thereof and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended, such alterations, further modifications and further applications of the principles described herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates. In several figures, where there are the same or similar elements, those elements are designated with similar reference numerals. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a diagram of an integrated portable unit for providing electricity, air-conditioning and heating is illustrated as system  150 . System  150  generally comprises engine  20 , generator  30 , compressors  40  and  50 , controller  60 , HVAC duct  100 , AC exhaust duct  120  and engine compartment  130  all positioned in vehicle  10 . 
         [0021]    HVAC duct  100  includes bypass  101 , inlets  102 , filter  104 , radiator  24 , evaporator coil  46 , blower  106 , heaters  110  and  112 , thermocouple  114 , and outlet  108 . Bypass  101  circulates air from the vicinity of outlet  108  back to the vicinity of inlets  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, approximately 20% of the airflow is redirected from the vicinity of outlet  108  back to the vicinity of inlets  102  by bypass  101 . In another embodiment, bypass  101  redirects approximately 10% of the airflow from the vicinity of outlet  108  back to the vicinity of inlets  102 . In yet another embodiment, bypass  101  redirects between approximately 0-20% of the airflow from the vicinity of outlet  108  back to the vicinity of inlets  102 . Thermocouple  114  provides temperature feedback of the operation of heaters  110  and  112  and may be used as an over-temperature sensor. 
         [0022]    Radiator  24  is coupled to engine  20  via heat transfer fluid line  22  that transfers a heat transfer fluid such as oil, water or glycol between engine  20  and radiator  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, the heat transfer fluid is oil that also serves to lubricate engine  20 . 
         [0023]    System  150  also includes wireless temperature and humidity sensor  116  remotely located in the space being heated and/or cooled and/or dehumidified which is also where outlet  108  and inlets  102  are placed during operation. In one embodiment, wireless temperature and humidity sensor  116  is a DX80N9X1S1H WIRELESS SERIAL FLEXPOWER SNSR mounting a M12FTH2Q SERIAL TEMP/RH SMART SENSOR. The system also includes a DX80G9M6S4P4M2M2 WIRELESS GATEWAY that operates as a receiver in vehicle  10  (not illustrated) and a DX85M6P6 MODBUS RTU SLAVE EXP I/O module connected between the wireless gateway and controller  60 . These components are offered by BANNER ENGINEERING at http://www.bannerengineering.com/en-US/. 
         [0024]    Engine  20  is coupled to fuel tank  28  and engine  20  includes radiator  26 , intake  27  and exhaust conduit  29 . In the illustrated embodiment, fuel tank  28  has a 90-gallon capacity and engine  20  includes an integrated fan (not illustrated) to force airflow across radiator  26 . Radiator  26  and intake  27  are located in engine compartment  130 . Exhaust conduit  29  is ported outside of vehicle  10 . Engine  20  has a mechanical output  21  coupled to mechanical input  31  of generator  30 . The coupling between mechanical output  21  and input  31  can be of any form known in the art. The illustrated embodiment uses a direct coupling. Generator  30  includes receptacles  32  and power output  34 . Power output  34  powers compressors  40  and  50 , blowers  106  and  122  and heaters  110  and  112 , among other components. 
         [0025]    Receptacles  32  can be located anywhere desired in, on or outside vehicle  10 . In one embodiment, receptacles  32  include two duplex boxes mounted on the exterior of vehicle  10  and two runs of  2 / 0  cable that each have six outlets that can be deployed remotely from vehicle  10 . The two runs of cable can be coupled to generator  30  via removable industrial connections. Circuit breakers (not illustrated) and voltage transformers (not illustrated) can be located between receptacles  32  and generator  30 . 
         [0026]    Compressors  40  and  50  are part of refrigeration cycle system  140  that includes condenser coils  42  and  52 , expansion valve  44 , evaporator coil  46 , hot gas bypass (HGBP)  48  and HGBP valve  49 . Condenser coils  42  and  52  are located in AC exhaust duct  120 . AC exhaust duct  120  includes inlet  124 , outlet  126  and blower  122 . HGBP  48  delivers hot refrigerant vapor between expansion valve  44  and evaporator coil  46  when HGBP valve  49  is opened. One use of HGBP  48  is to increase the humidity removal capacity of evaporator coil  46  without excessively cooling the airflow in HVAC duct  100 . In some embodiments, HGBP valve  49  can approximately infinitely vary the rate of hot gas flow. In other embodiments, HGBP valve  49  acts as an on/off valve. 
         [0027]    In the embodiment illustrated in the FIGs., engine  20  is an oil cooled,  208  Volt, 3-phase DEUTZ 2011 diesel engine that includes oil access ports. The DEUTZ 2011 engine includes an internal oil pump system (not illustrated) that supplies sufficient pressure to circulate oil through radiator  24  and heat transfer fluid line  22 . The DEUTZ 2011 engine also includes temperature springs and diaphragms that control the flow of oil out of the ports. In the illustrated embodiment, the springs and diaphragms are removed and replaced by control valve  23  operated by controller  60 . However, in other embodiments the temperature springs and diaphragms could also be used to regulate oil flow to radiator  24  in addition to the use of control valve  23 . 
         [0028]    Other embodiments (that are not illustrated) can us other types of engines including a YANMAR 4TNV98T diesel engine. In an embodiment utilizing an YANMAR diesel engine, glycol is used as a heat transfer fluid in line  22  and radiator  24 . 
         [0029]    Controller  60  operates to control the function of engine  20 , generator  30 , compressors  40  and  50 , control valve  23 , blowers  106  and  122 , heaters  110  and  112 , and HGBP valve  49 . Interface  62  provides a human interface to operate controller  60 . In the illustrated embodiment, interface  62  comprises a touch-screen, buttons and switches. Particulars of controller  60  are described below. 
         [0030]    In heating mode, system  150  operates to provide heating through a combination of radiator  24  and heaters  110  and  112 . Controller  60  operates control valve  23  to permit the flow of the heat transfer fluid through radiator  24  and regulates power to heaters  110  and  112  based on feedback received from wireless temperature and humidity sensor  116  that is remotely located in the space being heated. In cooling and/or humidity control mode, controller  60  operates compressors  40  and  50  and HGBP valve  49  to regulate the temperature and humidity of the air passing through HVAC duct  100  based upon temperature and humidity readings from wireless temperature and humidity sensor  116  remotely located in the space being conditioned. 
         [0031]    In the illustrated embodiment, engine  20  and generator  30  are configured as a 45 kW generator set. Refrigeration cycle system  140  is a 120,000 BTU system and heaters  110  and  112  are each 15 kW heaters. System  150  has a maximum heat output of approximately 40 kW utilizing radiator  24  and heaters  110  and  112 . At 40 kW of heat output, the illustrated system  150  consumes approximately 3.5 gallons of diesel fuel each hour. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  through  FIG. 8 , an embodiment of system  150  is illustrated and mounted on a trailer  10  (which serves as vehicle  10 ). Trailer  10  includes hitch  12 , wheels  14 , engine access panel  16  and  17  and rear door  18 . Trailer  10  also includes outlet  126  and exhaust  134 , muffler  136 , inlet  124  and  132 , light station  70 , warning light  64 , siren  66 , controller  60  and control panel interface  62 . Light station  70  is configured to be folded and stowed on the top of trailer  10  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Light station  70  can be elevated to the illustrated position of  FIG. 2  and rotated and pitched to provide illumination in a desired direction. Muffler  136  is connected to exhaust conduit  29 . Warning light  64  and siren  66  are operated by controller  60  to provide audio and visual warnings of important events such as low fuel. Trailer  10  holds many of the components of system  150 ; including engine  20 , generator  30 , and refrigeration cycle system  140 , contained on HVAC unit  90  (as illustrated in  FIG. 5  and described below with respect to  FIGS. 9-13 ). In terms of the direction and orientation of vehicle  10 , now trailer  10 , the towing end is the front and the opposite end is the rear. The left and right sides are determined based on facing the trailer  10  from the towing end. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , trailer  10  is illustrated in use to supply heated or cooled air to space  1 , which, as shown in  FIG. 8 , is a portable tent. Return hose  103  and supply hose  109  are flexible  18  inch ducts connecting inlets  102  and outlet  108  to space  1 . In other embodiments, space  1  could be a building, trailer or any other at least partially enclosed space in which HVAC is desired. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 9  through  FIG. 13 , HVAC unit  90  is illustrated. HVAC unit  90  is a self-contained palletized unit that includes refrigeration cycle system  140 , HVAC duct  100  and AC exhaust duct  120  (also see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0035]    HVAC unit  90  includes inlets  102 , outlet  108 , compressors  40  and  50 , condenser coils  42  and  52 , head pressure transducer  45 , evaporator coil  46 , drain  47 , blowers  106  and  122 , HGBP valve  49 , HGBP solenoid  49   a,  expansion valve  44 , filter rack  105 , holding filters  104 , and heaters  110  and  112 . Drain  47  is located under evaporator coil  46  to collect and drain any condensed water. 
         [0036]    HVAC unit  90  is configured with HVAC duct  100  on the bottom portion and AC exhaust duct  120  on the top portion, HVAC duct  100  and AC exhaust duct  120  are separated from each other by bulkhead  94 . HVAC unit  90  also comprises frame units  92  that define the periphery of the palletized unit. HVAC duct  100  and AC exhaust duct  120  are both defined by approximately “U” shaped air flow passages through HVAC unit  90 . For example, flow divider  95 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  13 , defines and separates inlets  102  from outlets  108  (as shown in  FIG. 9 ). As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 13 , bypass  101  can be defined by adjustable vents located in flow divider  95 . 
         [0037]    AC exhaust duct  120  is located above HVAC duct  100  so that compressors  40  and  50  and HGBP  48  are located above expansion valve  44 . HVAC unit  90  is configured such that it can be inserted and removed from trailer  10  as a single unit, however, it should be understood that in other embodiments, HVAC unit  90  could be directly incorporated into trailer  10  or any other type of vehicle  10 . 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , one embodiment of interface  62  is illustrated as touch screens  200  and  300 .  FIG. 14  illustrates automatic control touch screen  200  while  FIG. 15  illustrates a manual control touch screen  300 . In this embodiment, controller  60  and interface  62  are an integrated PLC with a HMI user interface screen that provides a “one-touch” user interface with the entire system. The touch screens allow the user to select the desired result without any training in the operation of the individual components that make up system  150 . Integrated controller  60  operates the system to provide the desired result selected by the user via interface  62 . For example, when system  150  is set up with return hose  103 , supply hose  109  and wireless temperature and humidity sensor  116  positioned in an enclosed space such as a tent, selection of the desired air conditioning or heating option on the touch screens described below operate system  150  to heat or cool the air in the tent to the desired conditions regardless of environmental conditions (within the operating capacity of system  150 ). 
         [0039]    Automatic control touch screen  200  includes the following ON/OFF touch screen control inputs: auto cool  210 , auto heat  220 , AC power only  230 , each of which provide ON/OFF toggling with visible feedback of the selected mode. Automatic control touch screen  200  also includes temperature readout  240 , humidity readout  250 , temperature set point  260 , amperage readout  270 , fuel gauge readout  280 , manual mode select  290  and alarm silence  292 . Temperature readout  240  and humidity readout  250  display measurements from wireless temperature and humidity sensor  116 . Amperage readout  270  indicates the current amperage load on generator  30 . Fuel gauge  280  indicates the fuel level in fuel tank  28  determined from a fuel level sensor (not illustrated). The actual numbers shown on readouts  240 ,  250 ,  260  and  270  are for example only. The same is true for the fuel level, the actual reading is for example only. Temperature set point  260  displays the current programmed set point. Selecting temperature set point  260  on touch screen  200  brings up a keypad on the touch screen that the user can use to input a desired temperature set point. Temperature set point  260  is utilized with both the auto cool and auto heat control schemes. Selecting auto cool  210  activates the auto cool control scheme and deactivates both the auto heat and AC power only control schemes. Selecting auto heat  220  activates the auto heat control schemes and deactivates both the auto cool and AC power only control schemes. Selecting AC power only  230  activates the AC power only control scheme and deactivates both the auto cool and auto heat control schemes. Selecting manual mode select  290  changes the active touch screen to manual control touch screen  300  as described below. 
         [0040]    When the auto cool control scheme is activated, controller  60  automatically deactivates the auto heat and AC power only control schemes. Controller  60  then compares the measured temperature with temperature set point. If the measured temperature is more than 3° F. hotter than the temperature set point then compressor  40  and possibly compressor  50  are activated by controller  60 . Controller  60  also compares the humidity measured by wireless temperature and humidity sensor  116  with a programmed set point of 40% humidity plus or minus 10%. When the humidity measured exceeds 50%, controller  60  activates solenoid  49   a  to open hot gas bypass valve  49  and when the measured humidity is less than 30% then solenoid  49   a  is deactivated to close hot gas bypass valve  49 . Selection of auto cool  210  also activates blowers  106  and  122 . The choice of using either condenser  40  or condensers  40  and  50  is made by a standard refrigeration control algorithm known to those skilled in the art. Under the auto control scheme, engine  20  is cooled by radiator  26 . 
         [0041]    In other embodiments where HGBP valve  49  is approximately infinitely variable, controller  60  can vary the setting of HGBP valve  49  to control the humidity within narrower control parameters as is known in the art. While the illustrated embodiment does not permit operator modification of the humidity set point, this option could be added to interface  62  by adding a control input set point for humidity, similar to temperature set point  260 . 
         [0042]    Engaging the auto heat control scheme initially engages blower  106  and powers heater  110 . After running for approximately four minutes, controller  60  then opens control valve  23  to permit the flow of engine heat transfer fluid through radiator  24 . Controller  60  then operates heaters  110  and  112  by comparing the temperature measured by sensor  116  with the programmed set point to be controlled within plus or minus 3° F. After the four-minute delay, control valve  23  remains open as long as the auto heat control scheme is selected. 
         [0043]    Engaging the AC power only control scheme starts engine  20  and controls power output from engine  20  to match the demand from generator  30 . In this mode, blowers  106  and  122  are disengaged. Control valve  23  and HGBP valve  49  are closed and compressors  40  and  50  are off as well as heaters  110  and  112 . In this mode, engine  20  is cooled by radiator  26 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 15  and manual control touch screen  300 , this screen includes the following ON/OFF touch screen control inputs: manual cool selection  310 , manual high fan  320 , manual hot gas  330 , AC power only  340 , manual heat  350 , manual low fan  360 , and manual hot oil  370 . Also included is auto control screen selection  380 . Selectors  310 ,  320 ,  330 ,  340 ,  350 ,  360  and  370  each have ON/OFF toggle displays providing feedback of the current operating mode. Selection of manual cool  310  disengages manual heat  350  and AC power only  340  and manual hot oil  370  and activates compressors  40  and  50 . Selection of manual cool  310  also requires a selection of either manual high fan  320  or manual low fan  360  which are mutually exclusive wherein selection of one automatically deselects the other. When manual cool  310  is selected, manual hot gas  330  may optionally be activated which opens HGBP valve  49 . 
         [0045]    Selection of AC power only  340  engages engine  20  and disengages compressors  40  and  50  and heaters  110  and  112 . Selection of manual heat  350  activates heaters  110  and  112  and also requires selection of either manual high fan  320  or manual low fan  360 . Selection of manual heat  350  also deactivates any previous activation of manual cool  310  or AC power only  340 . Selection of manual hot oil  370  opens control valve  23 . In some embodiments an approximate four minute delay is incorporated between the selection of manual hot oil  370  and the opening of control valve  23 . In other embodiments, there is no delay between the selection of manual hot oil  370  and the opening of control valve  23 . 
         [0046]    As used herein, “above” and “top” the refer to conventional use of such terms as illustrated in the drawings with the top of each page being “above” the bottom, with trailer  10  positioned with wheels  14  on a level ground surface and hitch  12  connected to a motorized vehicle at the approximate relative height illustrated in the drawings. Describing a first component as being positioned above a second component indicates that the first component is further from the ground surface than the second component but does not necessary require that the second component is between the first component and the ground surface. 
         [0047]    While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1