External Fluid Flow Reversed Patents (Class 62/325)
  • Patent number: 11274836
    Abstract: The air conditioner apparatus according to the present invention includes: a case which forms a first common passage, and a second common passage; and a suction guide which is disposed in each of the first common passage and the second common passage, which guides air flown into the case to a first desiccant heat exchanger which is disposed in the first common passage or a second desiccant heat exchanger which is disposed in the second common passage, and which forms a compressor accommodation chamber where a compressor is accommodated, wherein at least two cooling holes for sending some of the air flown into the case to the compressor accommodation chamber and for sending air flowing inside the compressor accommodation chamber to the first common passage or the second common passage are formed in the suction guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Janghee Park, Hansaem Park, Yongki Jeong, Doyong Ha
  • Patent number: 10876773
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to devices, systems, and methods for cooling and/or heating a medium as well as cooling and/or heating an environment containing the medium. More specifically, at least one embodiment includes a heat pump that may heat and/or cool a medium and, in some instances, may transfer heat from one location to another location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Harumichi Arthur Kariya, Jeffrey P. Koplow, Wayne Lawrence Staats, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10449825
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air conditioning system and, more particularly, to an air conditioning system comprising, within a single air conditioning case: a cool air passage in which an evaporator is installed; a warm air passage in which a condenser is installed; an installation space portion in which air conditioner parts such as a compressor are installed; and an air discharge passage for discharging, to the outside, air unnecessary for cooling and heating, thereby enabling attachment and detachment inside a vehicle, and enabling use as a portable air conditioner as well as a vehicle air conditioner. In addition, as the system is capable of cooling and heating, a separate heater core or PTC heater for heating is not required, thereby the structure is simple, and the system is capable of controlling cooling and heating modes through a single operation door, thereby allowing the system to be miniaturized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Sang Gu Woo, Yong Nam Ahn, Sung Je Lee, Se Min Lee, Jong Bo Won
  • Patent number: 9989269
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dehumidifier, having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator through which refrigerant is circulated, including a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet formed therein, a first passage for drawing air through the air inlet, and discharging the air through the air outlet after passed through the evaporator, the condenser, a first fan, and a second fan in succession, and a second passage for drawing the air through the air inlet and discharging the air through the air outlet after passed through the second fan, thereby, not only increasing the flow rate of the air passing through the condenser enabling to reduce a condensing temperature, but also discharging the air passed through the condenser mixed with the air drawn into the second passage enabling to drop the temperature of the air being discharged to the air outlet, permitting to resolve user's inconvenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jeongtaek Park, Hyukju Kwon, Seungkwon Ahn
  • Patent number: 9707823
    Abstract: The disclosed air-conditioning system for a vehicle driven by a motor, has a refrigerant circuit with a plurality of heat exchangers through which a refrigerant can be conducted for an exchange of heat with the air which flows through them, and has a heat pump heat exchanger in which an exchange of heat with a coolant circuit, in which at least one coolant cooler is arranged, takes place. It is possible for the coolant cooler, in the heating mode, to be used as a heat exchanger for absorbing heat from the environment. It is possible for the coolant cooler to be connected in series downstream of the heat pump heat exchanger in the coolant circuit A method for regulating such an air-conditioning system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Günther Feuerecker, Karl Lochmahr, Frank Müller, Dirk Neumeister, Thomas Strauβ, Marcus Weinbrenner, Richard Obradovich, Gunnar Schlinke, Christophe Schmittheisler
  • Patent number: 9374991
    Abstract: A system for killing pests in an affected area of a structure comprises a heat pump unit placed within an affected area. The heat pump unit comprises an evaporator component, a condensor component, and a compressor component. The evaporator component is configured to receive a flow of water from a faucet, and transfer heat from the flow of water to a refrigerant. The condenser component is configured to receive the refrigerant from the evaporator component, and generate heated air by transferring heat from the refrigerant to air flowing through the condenser component. The heated air being emitted into the affected area is in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The compressor component is configured to return the refrigerant from the evaporator component of the heat pump unit to the condenser component of the heat pump unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Timothy S. O'Brien, Eric P. Camenga
  • Patent number: 9346337
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner (1A) includes: an external air introduction port (33) for introducing external air into a vehicle interior; and a duct (3) having an inlet port (31) for drawing internal air into the duct and an outlet port (32) for blowing air into the vehicle interior. In the duct (3), a first indoor heat exchanger (12A) and a second indoor heat exchanger (12B) of a heat pump circuit (2A) are disposed. The first indoor heat exchanger (12A) contributes mainly to heating, and the second indoor heat exchanger (12B) contributes mainly to cooling. The duct (3) is provided with at least one of a heating exhaust port (34) for discharging air cooled in the second indoor heat exchanger (12B) to the outside of the vehicle interior in heating operation and a cooling exhaust port (35) for discharging air heated in the first indoor heat exchanger (12A) to the outside of the vehicle interior in cooling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasufumi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9250028
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a main unit having an enclosure defining an air outlet. The enclosure contains a heat exchanger generating a cool air or a warm air forming airflow running out of the air outlet. A pair of fan units are disposed on the opposite sides of the air outlet. The fan units are configured to suck a room air and to blow the room air. The heat exchanger includes a rear section having a length larger than that of a front section in the longitudinal direction of the air outlet. The rear section extends into at least one of spaces respectively defined behind the fan units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Ritsushi Taira, Shinji Sugiyama, Kenji Haruyama, Syun Iwano, Fumiaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9175870
    Abstract: Provided is an air conditioner for performing heating operation through supply of a current to a heating portion including a plurality of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heaters to be connected to a power supply section, the air conditioner including: a heater output control section for controlling an output of the heating portion; and a plurality of pulse signal generating sections provided correspondingly to the plurality of PTC heaters, each for generating a predetermined pulse signal when a corresponding one of the plurality of PTC heaters is supplied with the current, in which the plurality of PTC heaters are subjected to detection as to whether each of the PTC heaters is in a connected state or in a non-connected state based on presence/absence of the predetermined pulse signal, and the heater output control section subjects the heating portion to output control which is adjusted according to the number of the PTC heaters in the connected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Kakiuchi
  • Patent number: 9052126
    Abstract: A heat exchange circulation system includes a first and a second heat exchangers, an expansion device, and a compressor. There is a first flow path in the first heat exchanger and a second flow path in the second heat exchanger. The expansion pipe of the expansion device is connected to the second gas outlet of the second flow path and the first gas inlet of the first flow path. The compression pipe of the compressor is connected the first gas outlet of the first flow path and the second gas inlet of the second flow path. The first flow path, the compression pipe, the second flow path and the expansion pipe together form a heat exchange circuit. The liquid exists in the first flow path and the second flow path and the gas mixture circulates in the heat exchange circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Hsiao-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 9016926
    Abstract: A machine for the homogenization and thermal treatment of liquid and semi-liquid food products, for example ice creams, whipped cream, creams, chocolate, yogurt and the like, comprises a containment tank for the mixture and a centrifugal pump put in fluid communication with the bottom of the containment tank for drawing mixture from the tank and putting it back into the tank, heating and cooling means acting at the pump for heating and cooling the mixture in transit in the pump. The heating and cooling means comprise a thermal machine with reversible thermodynamic cycle and using carbon dioxide as refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: ALI S.p.A.—Carpigiani Group
    Inventors: Andrea Cocchi, Roberto Lazzarini
  • Patent number: 8607822
    Abstract: A heating and cooling system for a building utilizes lower vents which open into lower portions of rooms of a building, and upper vents which open into upper portions of rooms of the building. When the system is operating in a heating mode, heated air is delivered into the upper portions of the rooms through the upper vents and air is removed from the rooms through the lower vents. When the system is operating in a cooling mode, cool air is delivered into the rooms through the lower vents, and air is removed from the rooms through the upper vents. Operating the heating and cooling modes in this fashion provides the most efficient operation of the heating and cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: X-Changer, LLC.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Newcomer
  • Patent number: 8590302
    Abstract: A method and arrangement are for heat exchanging in and work exchanging with a working fluid in a heat engine, or a heat pump if the method and its sub-processes are substantially reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Viking Heat Engines AS
    Inventor: Harald Risla Nes
  • Publication number: 20120144853
    Abstract: Heat pumps and refrigerating machines operate optimally if the temperature difference of the connected heat sources and heat sinks is as small. If this is not the case, there are two negative effects: At a high spread, increased dissipation occurs in the condensers and evaporators. In order to increase spread, the heat return flow is frequently mixed with the heat pump flow. For this purpose, hydraulic separators and overflow valves are employed. This results in highly dissipative mixing of heat carrier medium with differing temperatures. Using a pair of intermediate storage means, the dissipation that occurs can be drastically reduced. The low spread of the heat pump is adjusted to the high spread of the remaining system. The COP of the system is substantially improved. With heat pumps, the improvement ranges from about 5% to 20%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Loeffler
  • Patent number: 7918104
    Abstract: A water cooling type air conditioner is provided. The water cooling type air conditioner includes first and second heat exchangers, a refrigerant pipe, and a direction controlling unit. The first heat exchanger performs heat exchange between air and refrigerant. The second heat exchanger performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and cooling water. The refrigerant pipe is connected between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to guide a flow of the refrigerant. The direction controlling unit is disposed on one side of the second heat exchanger and controls the refrigerant and the cooling water flowing inside the second heat exchanger to flow in respectively opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Woong Park, Ja Hyung Koo, Seung Cheol Baek, Soo Yoon Shin, Dong Hyuk Lee, Chang Ryul Kim, Man Ho Chun, Hyoung Suk Woo, Yong Taeg Kim, Sung Rok Ryu
  • Publication number: 20070215317
    Abstract: A movable multi-functional air-conditioner equipped with wheels for high mobility is disclosed having a front chamber with an air inlet and an air outlet, an evaporator and a fan mounted in the front chamber, a rear chamber with an air inlet and an air outlet, a heater and a condenser mounted in the rear chamber, a front valve mounted in the air inlet of the front chamber, a rear valve mounted in the air inlet of the rear chamber, and an intermediate valve for controlling the air passage between the front chamber and the rear chamber so that the user to select hot mode, cold mode, dehumidifying mode, or simultaneous dehumidifying and drying mode by opening/closing the front valve, the rear valve, and the intermediate valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: King-Leung Wong, Tsung-Lieh Hsien, Shih-Shih Ku, Huann-Ming Chou
  • Patent number: 7159651
    Abstract: An upper opening portion (74, 75) and lower opening portion (76, 77) are arranged in a door body (13b, 14b) located below a side window (13a, 14a), and an air conditioning unit (15, 16) is arranged inside the door body (13b, 14b), and a rotary position of a scroll casing (62, 63) of a blower (56, 57) is selected so that air can flow from the lower opening portion (76, 77) to the upper opening portion (74, 75) at the time of air-cooling and air can flow from the upper opening portion (74, 75) to the lower opening portion (76, 77) at the time of heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ito, Yasushi Yamanaka, Kazushi Shikata, Takahiro Tokunaga, Tomohiro Kamiya, Masakazu Nagaya, Shinichiro Hirai
  • Patent number: 6755046
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner with a heat pump refrigerant cycle, an interior heat exchanger of the refrigerant cycle is disposed in an air conditioning case to heat air in a heating operation and to cool air in a cooling operation. Further, a cooling heat exchanger for cooling air by evaporating the refrigerant is disposed so that a part of refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant cycle flows into the cooling heat exchanger at least in the heating operation. In addition, a decompression unit for decompressing refrigerant flowing to the cooling heat exchanger is disposed, and the decompression unit is opened even in the cooling operation. Accordingly, dehumidifying capacity of the air conditioner can be improved while the refrigerant cycle has a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Nishida, Masaaki Kawakubo, Kouji Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 6539728
    Abstract: There is provided a hybrid heat pump system. The system includes (i) a membrane permeator having a permselective membrane capable of selectively removing vapor from a vapor-containing gas to yield a dry gas, (ii) a heat pump having (a) an internal side for exchanging thermal energy with a process fluid, (b) an external side for exchanging thermal energy with an external environment, and (c) a thermodynamic mechanism for pumping thermal energy between the internal side and the external side in either direction, (iii) means for conveying the vapor-containing gas into the membrane permeator, and (iv) means for routing the dry gas to either of the internal side or the external side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Amos Korin
  • Publication number: 20020078696
    Abstract: There is provided a hybrid heat pump system. The system includes (i) a membrane permeator having a permselective membrane capable of selectively removing vapor from a vapor-containing gas to yield a dry gas, (ii) a heat pump having (a) an internal side for exchanging thermal energy with a process fluid, (b) an external side for exchanging thermal energy with an external environment, and (c) a thermodynamic mechanism for pumping thermal energy between the internal side and the external side in either direction, (iii) means for conveying the vapor-containing gas into the membrane permeator, and (iv) means for routing the dry gas to either of the internal side or the external side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventor: Amos Korin
  • Patent number: 6385983
    Abstract: A multipurpose air conditioning apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises fan assemblies (3, 13), a compressor (4), a condenser, an evaporator, a liquid and gas circuit, throttling means, air inlets, air outlets and means for redirecting the air flows. The apparatus is adapted such that the functions as condenser and evaporator are interchangeable for heating of air or cooling of air, respectively, in that the liquid flow in the liquid and gas circuit through the condenser, evaporator and the throttling means is reversible on demand. The apparatus comprises at least two separated units, Main and Annex, each having an air heat exchanger (2, 12), which operates as a combined condenser/evaporator, a fan assembly (3, 13), a fresh air inlet (7a, 17a), a room air inlet (7c, 17c) and a mixing chamber (x, 1x) upstream of the air heating exchangers (2, 12), an air outlet (7b, 17b) downstream of the air heating exchangers (2, 12) and means (9, 10, 19, 20) for redirecting the air flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventors: Liv Sakki, Laurits Mortensen, Erling Onsager, Alfred Brekke
  • Patent number: 6237357
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a vehicular air conditioner using a heat pump that can improve heating ability by effective utilization of engine waste heat during a heating operation. The apparatus of the invention is a vehicular air conditioner using a heat pump with a compressor unit 20 equipped with a compressor 31, a throttling resistance 34 and a four way valve 33, connected by a refrigerant path 30 to an indoor heat exchanger 25 for effecting heat exchange between a refrigerant and vehicle cabin air, and an outdoor heat exchanger 21 installed in an engine compartment for effecting heat exchange between a refrigerant and outside air, and equipped with fan 22 for drawing in outside air, and which executes a cooling operation and a heating operation by switching a direction of flow of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Toyotaka Hirao, Makoto Fujitani, Gregory A. Major, Xin Zeng
  • Patent number: 6216484
    Abstract: An air flow switching type air conditioner device for both cooling and heating. The air conditioner device including a compressor (4), a condenser (3), an evaporator (2), and a refrigerant pipe (9) connecting the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator. The device includes an air blower (10), a case (1) with an indoor side discharge port (11) and an indoor side intake port (12). Both the indoor ports (11, 12) being openable towards the inside of a room. The device further includes an outdoor side discharge port (13) and an outdoor side intake port (14), with both outdoor ports openable to the outside of a room and separately partitioned by partition walls (25,26) The device includes a heat exchange chamber (20) positioned between the indoor side discharge port and the indoor side intake port and between the outdoor side discharge port and the outdoor side intake port. The device further includes a series of dampers that are moveable to control flow of air through the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Meyong Hyek Yun
  • Patent number: 6205811
    Abstract: A used fluid passes through an exchange path, located in a fluid flow transfer, before returning to use at a required temperature. In the transfer path the exchange path is set between the evaporator and the condenser of a refrigerating circuit. The refrigerating circuit is actuated only when the temperature of the transfer fluid, consisting for example of ambient air, is unsuitable for properly modifying the used fluid temperature by means of the exchange path. The used fluid can be heated by simply reversing the direction of the flow in the transfer path. The invention is useful for rearranging exchange paths into a single transfer path, for example in a single bundle of tubes arranged in several tube layers of suitably connected tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: TEFA
    Inventor: Marc d'Alencon
  • Patent number: 6161613
    Abstract: A two pass heat exchanger is provided. The first pass includes a plurality of tubes located in liquid refrigerant, when employed as an evaporator, whereby the liquid refrigerant draws heat from the water flowing through the tubes causing the water to be cooled and the liquid refrigerant to evaporate. The second pass is a single pipe which need not be located in the liquid refrigerant. The two pass heat exchanger can also be used as a condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Edward A. Huenniger
  • Patent number: 6038879
    Abstract: The combined air exchange and air conditioning unit is used for conditioning air from a conditioned space. The unit comprises an exhaust air chamber, a return air chamber, a supply air chamber, and a fresh air chamber. A supply blower is used for drawing air from inside the supply air chamber to the outside and an exhaust blower is used for drawing air from inside the exhaust air chamber. A central plate damper is provided for regulating air transfers between the chambers. The damper plate is movable within a position range defined between two extreme positions, the first position allowing a connection of the return air chamber with the supply air chamber and a connection of the fresh air chamber with the exhaust air chamber, the second extreme position allowing a connection of the return air chamber with the exhaust air chamber and a connection of the fresh air chamber with the supply air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Yvon Turcotte
    Inventors: Yvon Turcotte, Alain Coulombe
  • Patent number: 5975191
    Abstract: A dual type vehicle air conditioning system has a rear air conditioning system for rear seats and a front air conditioning system for front seats. The rear conditioning system has a rear conditioner unit defining a main air passage for directing inside air through an evaporator and a condenser in sequence. The rear conditioner unit further has a bypass air passage for introducing the inside air to the condenser, bypassing the evaporator, and an exhaust air passage for directing the inside air from the evaporator to the outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Calsonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Ohashi, Kaoru Kamiyama, Tadayoshi Tajima
  • Patent number: 5901572
    Abstract: An auxiliary heating and air conditioning system has an output for selectively delivering warm air and cool air to the passenger area of a motor vehicle. The auxiliary system includes a thermo-electric cooler, which is a solid state device having a hot side and a cold side. Heat exchangers are disposed in connection with the hot side and cold side of the thermo-electric cooler to facilitate the transfer of thermal energy away from each side of the thermo-electric cooler. Two fans are disposed in fluid communication with the first and second heat exchangers to transfer air across the exchangers and to the output for selectively heating and cooling the passenger area of the motor vehicle. Interposed between the first and second heat exchangers and the output, are first and second arrays of energy storage panels. Preferably, these panels contain phase change material which is charged during the operation of the motor vehicle to change phase and therefore store thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Rocky Research
    Inventors: Larry Peiffer, Terry Zeigler, William G. Guo
  • Patent number: 5816066
    Abstract: An air conditioner has air an duct defining an air path. Cooling and heating devices are provided in the air path, and the cooling and heating devices are disposed in parallel with respect to a longitudinal axis of the air duct. Switching means are provided at positions upstream and downstream of the parallel cooling and heating devices, respectively, for controlling air flow into, and air flow from, the cooling device or the heating device, or both. The size, e.g., the length of the air duct is reduced by the parallel disposition of the cooling and heating devices, thereby reducing the size of the entire air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Aoki, Susumu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 5725048
    Abstract: In vehicles having drive systems with a highly variable degree of heat generation but in which the total quantity of heat generated is small, the heat given off is inadequate to warm the vehicle properly. The cooling system must nevertheless be designed for the worst-possible operating point, i.e. the greatest amount of heat generated, even if it is generated only briefly. It is the purpose of the present development to make the best possibly exergetic use of the available energy sources while ensuring that the drive components are cooled. The air extracted from the passenger compartment (1) comprises a proportion of exhaust air and one of recirculated air, where the recirculated air is heated in the heat exchanger (9) for the cooling circuit (16) of the drive system and taken to the passenger compartment. The system is particularly suitable for electric vehicles, vehicles with hydrogen and hybrid drives and vehicles developing little heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Roland Burk, Thomas Heckenberger, Hans-Joachim Krauss, Michael Loehle
  • Patent number: 5547344
    Abstract: A fluid compressor comprising a closed casing, compression mechanism provided in the casing for compressing an uncompressed low-pressure fluid and discharging a compressed high-pressure fluid into an inside space of the casing, and a selector valve attached to the casing and including a valve disk which is rotatable in the casing so as to change the passage of the high-pressure fluid flowing out from the inside space of the casing to an outside space of the casing and to switch the passage of the low-pressure fluid flowing from the outside of the casing into the selector valve to communicate with the compression mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akihiko Sugiyama, Hideaki Tsuchiyama, Toshihiko Futami, Hisataka Kato, Takao Hoshi
  • Patent number: 5462110
    Abstract: A closed air cycle system for heating and cooling the interior of a structure is provided. The air cycle system includes a compressor to compress and to heat the air. A louver is provided which is movable between a first heating position wherein a heat exchange is effected between the compressed air and a radiator system, and a second cooling position wherein a heat exchange is effected between the compressed air and the air outside the structure. After the initial heat exchange, a second heat exchanger intakes the compressed air. The second heat exchanger is also coupled to the input end of the compressor to provide air to the compressor. The second heat exchanger effects a heat exchange between the compressed air and the air provided to the compressor. After exiting the second heat exchanger, the compressed air rotates a turbine so as to generate power to partially power the compressor. As a result of driving the turbine, the air is decompressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: Donald L. Sarver
  • Patent number: 5415011
    Abstract: A room air conditioner is provided with a ventilation system for exhausting room air to the outdoors through the air conditioner or alternatively for admitting fresh air from outdoors in through the air conditioner. The actuator is a rotary knob which has a pair of cables attached to it such that rotary motion of the knob in the first direction will cause one of the cables to pull on one of the doors to open it, while rotary motion of the knob in the other direction will cause the other of the cables to pull on the other door to open it. The doors are spring biased to return to the closed position and the knob has a detent device to hold it in a selected open or closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas A. Gilmore, Pamela K. Dorris, Roy E. Dorris
  • Patent number: 5390508
    Abstract: The device comprises two condenser/evaporator pairs, belonging to a single refrigerant circuit, which may be selectively brought into operation and disposed at appropriate points on an air circuit having a variable configuration, the first pair being brought into operation in summer so that the evaporator cools a flow of air to be returned into the passenger space, and the second pair being brought into operation in winter so that the condenser heats a flow of air to be conveyed into the passenger space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Habitacle
    Inventor: Olusegun O. Benedict
  • Patent number: 5386704
    Abstract: An electric vehicle has an air conditioning system including an evaporator and a condenser arranged in a refrigerant fluid circuit. The evaporator and condenser are used respectively, in summer for cooling and in winter for heating, the air which is delivered into the cabin of the vehicle. For this purpose, the evaporator and condenser are disposed respectively in a first branch and a second branch of the air circuit, with a valve being provided for bringing each of these branches selectively into communication with a cabin air inlet and an evacuation duct for evacuating air to outside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Habitacle
    Inventor: Olusegun Benedict
  • Patent number: 5348077
    Abstract: An integrated air exchanger (10) is disclosed for controlling the volume and temperature of air exchanged between an external environment (14) and a supplied environment (16). In that regard, a relatively simple crossed damper (72) controls air introduced to the air exchanger along an external air path (18) and return air path (20) to be returned to the supplied environment in an external environment through a supply air path (24) and exhaust air path (22) in a controlled relationship. A supply coil (56) is included to effect heat transfer to the air provided to the supplied environment. A system controller (70) controls a heat source (60), compressor (62), valves (64 and 66) and the damper to achieve the desired temperature and air direction. Exchangers (134 and 178) are also disclosed for use in satisfying the heating, ventilation, and cooling demands of a plurality of different environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Inventor: Chris F. Hillman
  • Patent number: 5315844
    Abstract: The heating or cooling apparatus includes a heat pump further including a compressor, a radiator portion, an expansion valve and a cooling portion, the heat pump being constructed in the form of a thin rotatable wheel wherein the cooling portion forms a radially inner portion of the wheel and the radiator portion forms a radially outer portion of the wheel, the wheel having a plurality of fins which, when the wheel rotates, drive stream of air over the cooling portion and the radiator portion, and a housing enclosing the wheel and having means for separating the streams of air and directing them in desired directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: Laurits Hansen
  • Patent number: 5289698
    Abstract: A heat pump for a vehicle includes a compressor helically wound with two pairs of concentric tubes forming the condenser and evaporator. One of the tubes of each pair is in fluid communication with glycol solution used as a heat transfer medium, and the other communicates the refrigerant. The first pair of concentric tubes operates as the condenser and produces condensed refrigerant to an expansion device. The evaporator comprises the second pair of concentric tubes and receives the expanded refrigerant for evaporating same. The glycol solution is communicated to air coupled heat exchangers to heat or cool the passenger compartment, depending on the vehicle mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Srinivas Garimella
  • Patent number: 5255532
    Abstract: An air conditioner comprises upper and lower sections. Each section includes a heat exchanger, a fan, and a wall which is slidably between opposite sides of the air conditioner. The heat exchangers are pivotable relative to their respective fans. By sliding the wall and pivoting the heat exchanger of either section, that section can be placed in communication with either the inside ambient air of the ambient outside air for performing a heating or cooling function. The air conditioner can thus be reversed between heating and cooling functions without reversing the direction of refrigerant cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong B. Chae, Jong E. Park
  • Patent number: 5226298
    Abstract: Corrugated fins are provided at opposing sides of a corrugated thermoelectric device constituting a thermoelectric circuit. This air conditioner is obtained by superposing a plurality of the thermoelectric devices. When a current is fed to the thermoelectric devices, heat is absorbed from one of two fluids running through the corrugated fins and discharged to the other fluid, so as to define a heat pump cycle is defined. The thermoelectric devices are superposed so that the confronting surfaces of the neighboring thermoelectric devices constitute a heat radiation surface respectively and a cooling surface. The corrugated fins intersect with each other, so that the two fluids are prevented from mingling and are allowed to flow in and out of different surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Hisaaki Gyoten, Fumitoshi Nishiwaki, Yasushi Nakagiri
  • Patent number: 5226285
    Abstract: A self-cleaning heat exchanger (10) has a reversible fan (12) located between two tube banks (14, 16) with a pressure switch (24) connected thereto. The fan (12) rotates in one direction blowing across the first tube bank (14) and drawing air over the second tube bank (16). The pressure switch and fan are interconnected by two relays (28, 30). When the refrigerant pressure in the tube banks exceeds the threshold pressure, the relay (28) is closed and grounded and electric current flows through the relay (30). The change in direction of current flow will reverse the polarity of the windings in motor (13) and thus the rotation of the motor (13) and the fan (12) thereby reversing air flow to remove debris from one tube bank while withdrawing heat from the other without loss of cooling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Danhard, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerhard Dankowski
  • Patent number: 4748829
    Abstract: A combined heating and air conditioning unit has a condenser for cooling compressed working fluid and an evaporator for expanding the working fluid and to cool it. A centrifugal blower pulls air through the condenser into one side of the blower and pulls cool air through the evaporator into the other side of the blower. A divider in the center of the blower prevents the cool air from the evaporator and warm air from the condenser from mixing. At the output of the blower, a valve is provided at the output and connected to the delivery duct so that warm air from one side of the blower or cold air from the other is delivered to the duct, and the air not delivered to the duct is exhausted to the atmosphere. The valve may also allow some mixing of the warm and cold air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Inventor: Gary D. Whiteman
  • Patent number: 4696340
    Abstract: An air conditioner comprises an outer casing containing an inner casing having a heat exchanger disposed therein and a blower so as to define jointly with the inner casing an internal air intake passage. The air conditioner further includes an air intake-discharge selector mechanism disposed in a desired position in communication with the air intake passage for taking air into and out of the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Diesel Kiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruyuki Nagao, Yuji Kawamura, Koichi Kashima
  • Patent number: 4678025
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating and cooling which features a unique energy recovery ventilation apparatus and method. During energy recovery ventilation, a cycling damper controls the flow of warm and cool air to maintain the inside air temperature when inside air is cycled to the outside. The outside air is then warmed or cooled when drawn to the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Inventors: George H. Oberlander, Keith E. Stormo
  • Patent number: 4665712
    Abstract: A condenser receives hot compressed refrigerant from the heat pump compressor and transfers heat to water in water heater, refrigerant flows from the condenser through a pressure reducer to an evaporator coil in which baffles define first and second air flow paths across the coil parallel to the coil gradient. In one path the temperature of air flowing across the coil is reduced while the air gives up heat to the refrigerant. The other air flow path heats air passing across the coil. A multiplicity of pressure reducers are provided in the coil to progressively drop the temperature of the refrigerant from one end of the coil to the other. A supplemental coil can be used in conjunction with the second air flow path to heat air further. The supplemental coil may receive hot refrigerant directly from the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: DEC International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Gehring, Ralph K. Rustebakke
  • Patent number: 4655278
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for simultaneously regulating the temperature of interior air, and ventilating the interior air with air from outside by means of passing said interior air through an interior heat exchanger, simultaneously passing outside air through an outside heat exchanger, extracting a portion of the inside air, and directing it to the outside air for venting outside, simultaneously extracting a portion of the outside air and venting it to the inside air, continuously passing a heat exchange medium into one of the heat exchangers, and transferring the heat exchange medium from one heat exchanger to the other heat exchanger, via an expansion device to procure transfer of heat from one heat exchanger to the other, and passing the heat exchange medium through flow controls, responsive to temperature of the inside air, to selectively direct flow of medium either to one of the heat exchangers or to the other. Also disclosed is a method of regulating temperature by means of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Cambridge Manufacturing Climate Control Products Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Seguin
  • Patent number: 4653287
    Abstract: Improvements in the system for heating and cooling liquids as disclosed in prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,513,663. This prior system utilizes components of refrigeration such as a compressor, a condenser coil, an evaporator coil, a refrigerant, and expansion valve, in their well-known interrelationship and includes a first and second liquid source, which are pumped in heat-exchange fashion through segregated condenser and evaporator coils simultaneously with, and in the opposite direction to, that of the refrigerant. One broad improvement embodies the elimination of the second liquid source, typically a ground water well, and to alter normal liquid flow to achieve either heating or cooling. Another broad aspect of this invention is to optionally alter the path of both first and second liquid source flows in segregated heat-exchange fashion through the condenser and evaporator coils, whereby heating or cooling of either liquid source may be easily selected and controlled. Refrigerant flow may also be altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Inventor: James B. Martin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4608836
    Abstract: A multi-mode off-peak storage heat pump system for a building which includes a unidirectional flow refrigerant circuit and a brine circuit in selective heat exchange relation with one another, each being connected to a dual coil in ducts wherein air can be circulated within and between the inside and outside of the building, and an ice bank in the brine circuit for coolness and low-level heat storage, the system providing heating and cooling with no refrigerant reversing valves or coil defrost means and with optimum off-peak power utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Calmac Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Calvin D. MacCracken, Mark M. MacCracken, Brian M. Silvetti
  • Patent number: 4569207
    Abstract: Systems for transferring energy between a conditioned zone, a heat source or sink liquid, and an ambient zone including combination liquid-source, air-source heat pumps with multi-fluid reversing means and an easily manufactured multi-fluid heat exchanger. Specifically three types of heat pumps: a split system of unitary type with conventional refrigerant reversing means, multi-fluid heat exchanger(s), and heat source or sink fluid reversing means; a self-contained or packaged type with conventional refrigerant reversing means, a multi-fluid heat exchanger, a conventional liquid-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, heat source or sink liquid reversing means, and innovative component arrangement which allows ambient air to be utilized as a heat source or sink fluid; a self-contained or packaged type with innovative component arrangement which allows air reversing means, multi-fluid heat exchangers, and heat source or sink liquid reversing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Inventor: Larry S. James
  • Patent number: RE43312
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to reduce the constraint that the density ratio is constant as small as possible, and to obtain high power recovering effect in a wide operation range. A refrigeration cycle apparatus uses carbon dioxide as refrigerant and has a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger evaporator, an expander and an indoor heat exchanger a radiator. An injection circuit for introducing high pressure refrigerant is provided in a halfway of an expansion process of said expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakatani, Yoshikazu Kawabe, Yuji Inoue, Noriho Okaza, Akira Hiwata