Abstract: An apparatus for the air-conditioning of the interior of automobiles, with a refrigerant circuit, including a low-pressure part and a high-pressure part and in which vaporous refrigerant is drawn off from the evaporator by a compressor and, while experiencing an increase in pressure, the refrigerant is fed to a condenser for cooling and condensation. The condensed refrigerant is collected in a collecting vessel from which it can be diverted via an expansion valve into the evaporator while experiencing a pressure drop and cooling. A pressure-relief valve witha blow-out outlet is proided between the compressor and the condenser in the high-pressure part of the refrigerant circuit. The blow-out outlet of the pressure-relief valve is connected to an intermediate reservoir for the escaping refrigerant.