Passenger vehicle heating system

Abstract

A vehicle occupant compartment heating system includes a housing having an air inlet side and an air discharge side. A heat exchanger heated by engine cooling water, is mounted in the housing at the air inlet side. Electric heating coils powered by the vehicle current generator are mounted in the housing adjacent the heat exchanger and disposed between the heat exchanger and air discharge side. A blower with a fan is mounted in the housing for drawing air through the housing from the air inlet side to the air discharge side. A controller controls the operation of the electric heating coils to operate the heating coils to provide heat at least until the heat exchanger is heated by the engine coolant.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vehicle occupant compartment heating system comprising: 
 a housing having an air inlet side and an air discharge side;    a heat exchanger heated by engine cooling water mounted in said housing at said air inlet side;    electric heating coils powered by the vehicle current generator mounted adjacent said heat exchanger between said heat exchanger and air discharge side;    a blower with a fan mounted in said housing for drawing air through said housing from said air inlet side to said air discharge side; and    a controller for controlling the operation of said electric heating coils to operate said heating coils to provide heat until said heat exchanger is heated by the engine cooling water.    
     
     
         2 . The heating system of  claim 1  wherein said housing is insulated and has a reflective heat shield therein.  
     
     
         3 . The heating system of  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger is a radiator.  
     
     
         4 . The heating system of  claim 1  wherein said housing discharge side includes discharge conduits for distributing heated air to the vehicle occupant compartment and along a windshield of the vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . The heating system of  claim 1  wherein said controller is manually operable.  
     
     
         6 . The heating system of  claim 1  wherein said controller is automatic.  
     
     
         7 . A method for quickly providing heat into a vehicle occupant compartment heated by a heat exchanger mounted in a housing having an air inlet side and an air discharge side and a blower with a fan mounted in said housing for drawing air through said housing from said air inlet side to said air discharge side, the method comprising the step of: 
 mounting electric heating coils powered by the vehicle current generator in said housing adjacent said heat exchanger and disposed between said heat exchange and air discharge side; and    controlling the operation of said electric heating coils to provide heat at least until said heat exchanger is heated by the engine cooling water.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of controlling includes: 
 initializing the operation of the heating coils;  
 sensing heat exchanger temperature; and  
 terminating operation of the heating coils in response to a sensed preset heat exchange temperature.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of initializing is manual.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of initializing is automatic in response to vehicle engine starting.