A DOCKING UNIT FOR HEATING/COOLING A PARKED VEHICLE, AS WELL AS A VEHICLE ARRANGED TO BE CONNECTED TO SUCH A DOCKING UNIT

Technical field of the Invention

The present invention according to a first aspect refer to a docking unit for transmitting energy between a separate fluid system and a vehicle, comprising a heat exchanger, which is connected to a first fluid circuit that is connectable to said separate fluid system, and a second fluid circuit that is arranged to be connected to a climate system present in said vehicle. According to a second aspect the present invention also refer to a vehicle, which is arranged to be connected to such a docking unit.

Background of the Invention Upon parking of vehicles, shorter or longer times, there is often a need for heat or cold in the same in order to obtain a satisfactory climate in the vehicle. The term vehicle means both driven vehicles such as motor caravan, cars, trucks, buses, etc. and undriven vehicles such as caravans, etc. In particular the invention is intended to be used at a parking lot for caravans/motor caravans, trucks, buses, etc., both in the summer and in the winter. Upon winter parking there is a great need for energy in order to be able to maintain a climate having a suitable temperature in the vehicle. Thereto, upon summer parking there is also a great need for energy to cool the vehicle instead. Thereto, the progress moves towards that especially caravans/motor caravans are equipped with more and more energy intensive climate systems and other equipments, which increases the need for energy from a docking unit at the parking lot. At existing parking lots there is access to docking units arranged to receive a electric cable from the vehicle. A great disadvantage is that, in that an ever increasing draw of electricity, each docking unit must be protected with bigger and bigger fuses, not infrequently 16 or 20 ampere,

which results in a large fixed cost for the owner of the parking lot. The invention may be used at parking lots at supermarkets, parking garages, etc., where the owners of the cars, when they returns to the cars, wants a warm car in the winter and a cool car in the summer.

In a known system for only winter parking of buses, there is a docking unit available comprising a separate liquid circuit, in which the circulated liquid is heated at one place and thereafter lead to a number of parking places. At each parking place the separate liquid circuit is connected to each bus. That is, the same liquid is circulated up to and in the climate systems of each bus. In the buses the liquid circuit is connected to a heat exchanger comprised in the climate system, which heat exchanger heats the liquid in a liquid circuit that thereafter transmits energy to the buss compartment. A great disadvantage associated with this design is that one and the same circuit passes through the climate systems of all vehicles, that is the liquid in the separate liquid circuit becomes a mixture of the liquids of all the busses, and if anyone of them has a special mixture or incorrect mixture, the liquid in the entire separate liquid circuit is effected. Moreover, if a bus driver forgets to disconnect the bus before departure, the risk that the entire system will be damaged and emptied on liquid is considerable, and thus all buses may be affected. Yet another disadvantage is that each bus is equipped with an individual heat exchanger.

Objects and features of the Invention The present invention aims at obviating aforementioned disadvantages of previously known docking units for transmitting energy from a separate fluid system to a vehicle, and at providing an improved docking unit. A primary object of the invention is to provide a docking unit that is arranged to only serve one vehicle. Another object

of the present invention is to provide a docking unit that does not circulate the liquid of the separate fluid system to the individual vehicle. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a docking unit where the vehicles do not need individual heat exchangers. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle that is arranged to be connected to an inventive docking unit.

According to a first aspect of the invention at least the primary object is achieved by the initially defined docking unit, which is characterized in the features that are stated in the characterizing clause of claim 1. According to a second aspect the invention provides a vehicle defined in claim 11.

Preferred embodiments of the inventive docking unit will be apparent from the dependent claims, as well as from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.

Brief description of the appended drawings

A more complete understanding of the abovementioned and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a docking unit and a vehicle,

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a preferred embodiment of a docking unit according to the invention, and Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment of the docking unit according to the invention .

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In fig 1 is shown an inventive docking unit, generally designated 1, to which a vehicle 2 is connected. The docking unit 1 comprises in the shown embodiment a post or a stand 3, which supports a connection house 4. In an alternative preferred embodiment the post 3 also constitutes the very connection house. Alternatively, a number of connection houses 4 may be connected to a common transverse stand (not shown) , or directly to a house wall (not shown) . The connec- tion house 4 is equipped with two connectors or quick couplings 5, preferably hydraulic couplings, at the same time as the vehicle 2 is equipped with two corresponding quick couplings 6. Said couplings must be of that type that are self closing and free from leakage when they are disconnect- ed. When a vehicle 2 is connected to the docking unit 1 two hoses/pipes 7 extends between said pair of quick couplings 5, 6. These pipes 7 must as well be provided with connectors or quick couplings, which are self closing and free from leakage when they are disconnected, and arranged to retain the fluid that is present in the same when they are disconnected from the quick couplings 5, 6 on the connection house 4 and the vehicle 2, respectively. Alternatively, the hoses 7 may be fixedly connected to the connection house 4 or the vehicle 2, the corresponding quick couplings 5, 6 being removed. It shall be pointed out that the vehicle 2 may be constituted by both driven vehicles such as motor caravans, cars, trucks, buses, etc. and undriven vehicles such as caravans, etc.

Reference is now made to fig 2, in which a basic design of the present invention is shown schematically. The docking unit 1 comprises a heat exchanger 8, schematically shown by means of dashed lines, in which is arranged a suitable heat exchanger element 9, for instance a plate heat exchanger. The heat exchanger 8 is connected to a first fluid circuit 10, which accommodates a suitable energy

carrying fluid, preferably a mixture of water and glycol. Said first fluid circuit 10 is connectable to a separate fluid system 11. The term "separate fluid system" means a fluid system to which one or several docking units 1 may be connected, that is, a fluid system that not only serves one docking unit 1. The separate fluid system 11 runs preferably in a loop in the ground, or in a culvert.

It shall be pointed out that the docking unit 1 may be used both to provide heat and cold in the vehicle 2, that is, transmit energy to or from the vehicle 2. If heat is requested in the vehicle 2 the separate fluid system 11 is connected to an energy source (not shown) , such as a burner, heat pump, solar cells, or the like, and/or may the separate fluid system 11 constitute a part of a district heating sys- tern, which for instance is heated by a biofuel burner. If cold is requested in the vehicle 2 the separate fluid system 11 is connected to, or constitutes in itself, an energy sink (not shown) , for instance the separate fluid system 11 may partly be arranged in a cold water, or serve as a collector that is connected to a heat pump dedicated to heat another space .

The heat exchanger 8 is also connected to a second fluid circuit 12, which accommodates a suitable energy carrying fluid, preferably a mixture of water and glycol. Said second fluid circuit 12 is arranged to be connected to a climate system (not shown) of the vehicle 2, by means of interconnection of the quick couplings 5 of the docking unit 1 and the quick couplings 6 of the vehicle 2 via the hoses 7. More precisely, the second fluid circuit 12 constitutes, upon connection, a part of a energy transmitting fluid circuit (not shown) arranged in said climate system. The term "energy transmitting fluid circuit" means a fluid circuit that without intermediate heat exchanger in the vehicle 2 transmits energy to, or from, the part in question of the vehicle 2, for instance the compartment area and/or the engine. Said energy transmitting fluid circuit is for

instance a waterborne central heating system, which heats the vehicle 2 if the separate fluid system 11 is connected to an energy source and cools the vehicle 2 if the separate fluid system 11 is connected to a energy sink. The energy transmitting fluid circuit may instead, or as well, be arranged in a engine of a car in order to either heat or cool the same, by thereto operate the fan of the car the compartment may also be heated or cooled without the use of an individual cab fan. Reference is now made to fig 3, in which an alternative embodiment of the inventive docking unit 1 is shown. If the connected vehicle 2 lacks an circulation pump connected to the energy transmitting fluid circuit, the docking unit 1 may be equipped with a circulation pump 13 arranged in the second fluid circuit 12. The docking unit 1 may also in a conventional way be equipped with socket 14 for 220 Volt, or the like, and/or a socket for 12/24 Volt, or the like, in order to cover for the other energy needs of the vehicle 2, such as abovementioned fan arranged by the engine of the vehicle 2. Upon commercial use the docking unit 1 may also need to comprise an energy flow meter 15 arranged in the first fluid circuit 10 in order to measure the energy consumption. Such a energy meter 15 measures for instance the flow in the first fluid circuit 10 and tapped off amount of energy by measuring the change in temperature of the fluid, that is, the temperature of the fluid before and after the docking unit 1.

It shall be pointed out that the second fluid circuit 12 preferably may med equipped with indications of fracture (not shown), preferably adjacent to the quick couplings 5, in order to if the vehicle 2 that is connected to the docking unit 1 is not disconnected upon departure, the separate fluid system 11 shall not be affected/damaged. The first fluid circuit 10 is thereto preferably constituted by flex- ible hoses, in order to upon a possible collision with the docking unit 1 such that the post 3 bends, the first fluid

circuit 10 shall not brake or be damaged. By that it is also ensured that the separate fluid system 11 is intact even if the docking unit 1 is somewhat damaged.

It shall also be pointed out that parts of or all the equipment, that is, the heat exchanger 8, the second fluid circuit 12, the circulation pump 13, the first fluid circuit 10, etc., may be arranged in the post 3, but for sake of simplicity some equipment is arranged in the connection house 4. The heat exchanger 8, the first fluid circuit 10, the second fluid circuit 12, the quick couplings 5, may for instance be arranged in the post 3 and the socket 14 may in conventional way be arranged in the connection house 4.

Feasible modifications of the Invention The invention is not limited only to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings. Thus, the docking unit may be modified in all kinds of ways within the scope of the appended claims.

It shall be pointed out that according to the inven- tion the vehicle and the docking unit are arranged to cooperate/be coherent with each other, that is, they have a close interrelationship. Thus, the docking unit and the vehicle, respectively, cannot be defined independently from each other, that is, not without reference to each other.