US-20260124883-A1 - ELECTRIC DRIVE AIR CONDITIONER

Abstract

An electric fan air conditioning system kit to enable efficient and reliable air conditioning independent of engine operation, thereby improving energy efficiency and overall driver comfort. The aftermarket electric motor kit is designed to be installed in a vehicle to enable the intrinsic air conditioner without starting or utilizing the vehicular engine, eliminating the parasitic engine load of the prior art that handcuffs current vehicular air conditioning systems.

Inventors

• Rodolfo Favela

Assignees

• Rodolfo Favela

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251104

Claims (5)

1. 1 . A method of improving an air-conditioning system intrinsic to a vehicle having a mechanical engagement linkage between the intrinsic air-conditioning system and an intrinsic internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the method comprising: permanently removing said mechanical engagement linkage; and operatively associating an electric motor to the air-conditioning system so that an intrinsic belt mechanism of the intrinsic air-conditioning system is driven by the electric motor.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the air-conditioning system comprises an intrinsic vehicular compressor unit housing the intrinsic belt mechanism and operatively associated one or more compressors.
3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical engagement linkage is an external pulley or belt attachment operatively associated with said intrinsic internal combustion engine, and wherein the electric motor has a pulley element to driving the intrinsic belt mechanism of the intrinsic air-conditioning system.
4. 4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising fixing a housing to the electric motor and the intrinsic vehicular compressor unit with fasteners.
5. 5 . A kit for improving an air-conditioning system intrinsic to a vehicle having a mechanical engagement linkage between the intrinsic air-conditioning system and the engine of the vehicle, the kit comprising: an electric motor dimensioned and shaped to operatively associate with the intrinsic air-conditioning system; and a housing dimensioned and shaped to be connected to both the electric motor and an intrinsic vehicular compressor unit of the air-conditioning system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/833,207, filed Nov. 5, 2024, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE SUBJECT DISCLOSURE The present subject disclosure relates to vehicular air conditioning systems and, more particularly, to an electric fan air conditioning system kit. An air conditioning (“A/C”) compressor is a crucial component of the vehicles air conditioning systems. The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant gas, raising its temperature and pressure before sending it to the condenser, which in turn keeps the ambient air inside the vehicle cooler than the outside ambient air. The automotive compressor is usually belt-driven by the engine's crankshaft. Commonly, automotive compressors are of the swash plate type, rotary type, or reciprocating piston type. Inside the compressor, pistons or vanes compress the refrigerant gas. It also typically includes a clutch mechanism that engages/disengages the compressor as needed. Automotive compressors may be mounted on the engine block, connected via a drive belt. Mechanical A/C compressors, though, have key disadvantages, including but not limited to imposing a significant engine load and, as a result, lowering fuel efficiency. Specifically, vehicular A/C compressors are belt-driven off the engine, thereby adding a parasitic load, and thereby reducing fuel efficiency, especially noticeable when the A/C is running continuously. Another related disadvantage is that vehicular A/C compressor's cooling performance is dependent on engine speed, as the engine in turn drives the compressor belts. At low engine RPMs (idling or slow speeds), the compressor output drops, causing less effective cooling. Another drawback of current vehicular A/C compressors is the wear and maintenance. Specifically, mechanical parts like belts, pulleys, and clutches of the vehicular A/C compressors wear out and require periodic maintenance or replacement. Yet another downside is that when the engine is off or running intermittently, the mechanical compressor cannot operate effectively, limiting A/C functionality. In other words, in many automotive settings, mechanical compressors waste engine power and perform poorly at low RPMs. Many drivers, for the foregoing reasons, find it inconvenient, wasteful and/or inefficient to use their vehicle's air conditioning system. As can be seen, there is a need for an electric fan air conditioning system kit to enable efficient and reliable air conditioning that doesn't depend on engine operation, thereby improving energy efficiency and overall driver comfort. SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT DISCLOSURE In one aspect of the subject disclosure, a method of improving an air-conditioning system of a vehicle having a mechanical engagement linkage between the air-conditioning system and the engine of the vehicle, wherein the method includes the following: removing said mechanical engagement linkage; and operatively associating an electric motor to the air-conditioning system so that an intrinsic belt mechanism of the air-conditioning system, wherein the air-conditioning system comprises an intrinsic vehicular compressor unit housing the intrinsic belt mechanism and operatively associated one or more compressors, wherein the mechanical engagement linkage is a mechanical clutch, and wherein the electric motor has a pulley element to driving the intrinsic belt mechanism of the intrinsic air-conditioning system; and further fixing a housing to the electric motor and the intrinsic vehicular compressor unit. In another aspect of the subject disclosure, a kit for improving an air-conditioning system of a vehicle having a mechanical engagement linkage between the air-conditioning system and the engine of the vehicle, wherein the kit provides the following: an electric motor; and a housing dimensioned and shaped to be connected to both the electric motor and an intrinsic vehicular compressor unit of the air-conditioning system. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present subject disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the subject disclosure, illustrating an electric fan air conditioning system kit 100 with an electric motor 10 having a control unit 55 operatively associated with the intrinsic vehicular compressor unit 20 by way of an intrinsic pulley system 40 and intrinsic pulley belt system 22. The control unit 55 may embody an electrically controlled valve to operate the internal belts of compressors 30 housed in the intrinsic compressor unit 20 of the vehicular A/C system. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the subject disclosure, illustrating cover 60 of an external housing 12 for the electric motor 10 and other portions of the subject disclosure,