Abstract: A cooling and heating cycle apparatus includes a high pressure coolant gas discharged from an outlet port of a compressor and supplied selectively to one end or the other of a heat exchanger through a high/low pressure switch valve. A low pressure coolant gas expelled from the other end of the heat exchanger is supplied to an inlet port of the compressor through the high/low pressure switch valves. A low pressure coolant gas flow rate regulating valve for controlling a flow rate of the low pressure coolant gas supplied to the inlet portion of the compressor is disposed between the compressor and the high/low pressure switch valve.

Abstract: A device for changing the flow of an operating medium in an air conditioning system, comprises a casing including a first port connected to an outlet or inlet port of a compressor, a second port connected to an indoor heat exchanger, a third port connected to an outdoor heat exchanger, and a fourth port connected to the outlet or inlet port of the compressor, a drive mechanism arranged in the casing, and a valve body rotatably supported by the drive mechanism and including a first flow passageway extending between a first selectively positionable opening and a second selectively positionable opening and a second flow passageway extending between the first selectively positionable opening and a third selectively positionable opening. The valve body is reversibly rotated to a predetermined angle to allow the operating medium to selectively flow through the first flow passageway or through the second flow passageway.

Abstract: A rotation switching mechanism in a rotary type switching valve comprises a rotor serving as a movable switching valve, a pressure receiving portion disposed at an eccentric position of the rotor and rotatable in unison with the rotor, a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet placed opposite the first electromagnet with the pressure receiving portion situated therebetween. The first and second electromagnets are formed of one-way bias type electromagnets having no return springs. By supplying electric current to a selected one of the first and second, electromagnets, a slider of the selected electromagnet is caused to advance to press the receiving portion so that the rotor is rotated in one direction, whereas a slider of the non-selected electromagnet is caused to retreat due to being pressed by the pressure receiving portion.

Abstract: A high-low pressure passage switching device in a heating-cooling apparatus comprises an air-tight housing, a flowing passage switching rotor rotatable normally and reversely at a predetermined angle of rotation about a shaft within the air-tight housing, the rotor being provided with a first switching passage and a second switching passage which are open to a first end face and arranged side by side on a circular orbit about the shaft, and also with a third switching passage which is open to a second end face axially opposing the first end face. The third switching passage is communicated with the first switching passage and the second switching passage within the rotor, the first through third switching passages being formed in parallel with the shaft. A first connecting port to be connected with a high pressure gas outlet port of a compressor is formed in a first end wall of the housing, the first end wall being disposed opposite the first end face of the rotor.

Abstract: A high-low pressure passage switching device in a heating-cooling apparatus comprises a hollow tube; a high pressure gas inlet port formed in a wall of the hollow tube and connected to a high pressure gas outlet port of a compressor; a first high pressure gas outlet port/low pressure gas inlet port formed in the wall of the hollow tube and connected to one end of a heat exchanger; a second high pressure gas output port/low pressure gas inlet port formed in the wall of the hollow tube and connected to the other end of the heat exchanger; and a flow passage switch disposed within the hollow tube and capable of rotating about a fixed axis. The flow passage switch is adapted to supply a high pressure gas introduced from the high pressure gas inlet port selectively to one of the first high pressure gas outlet port/low pressure gas inlet port and the second high pressure gas outlet port/low pressure gas inlet port to thereby switch the high pressure gas flow passage.