Abstract: What is disclosed is a wound tube heat exchanger in which a plurality of tubes having flattened areas are held contiguous adjacent flattened areas of tubes by a plurality of windings to give a double walled heat exchanger. The plurality of windings serve as a plurality of effective force vectors holding the conduits contiguous heat conducting walls of another conduit and result in highly efficient heat transfer. The resulting heat exchange bundle is economical and can be coiled into the desired shape. Also disclosed are specific embodiments such as the one in which the tubes are expanded against their windings after being coiled to insure highly efficient heat transfer.

Abstract: A heat pump apparatus for conditioning a fluid characterized by a fluid handler and path for circulating a fluid in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant fluid, at least three refrigerant heat exchangers, one for effecting heat exchange with the fluid, a second for effecting heat exchange with a heat exchange fluid, and a third for effecting heat exchange with ambient air; a compressor for compressing the refrigerant; at least one throttling valve connected at the inlet side of a heat exchanger in which liquid refrigerant is vaporized; a refrigerant circuit; refrigerant; a source of heat exchange fluid; heat exchange fluid circuit and pump for circulating the heat exchange fluid in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant; and valves or switches for selecting the heat exchangers and directional flow of refrigerant therethrough for selecting a particular mode of operation. Also disclosed are a variety of embodiments, modes of operation, and schematics therefor.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a heat pump apparatus for conditioning a fluid characterized by a fluid handler and path for circulating the fluid in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant fluid; at least two refrigerant heat exchangers, one for effecting heat exchange with the fluid and a second for effecting heat exchange between refrigerant and a heat exchange fluid and the ambient air; a compressor for efficiently compressing the refrigerant; at least one throttling valve for throttling liquid refrigerant; a refrigerant circuit; refrigerant; a source of heat exchange fluid; heat exchange fluid circulating device and heat exchange fluid circuit for circulating the heat exchange fluid in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant; and valves or switches for selecting the heat exchangers and direction of flow of the refrigerant therethrough for selecting a particular mode of operation.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a heat pump apparatus for conditioning a fluid characterized by a fluid handler for circulating the fluid in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant fluid; two refrigerant heat exchangers; one for effecting the heat exchange with the fluid and a second refrigerant-heat exchange fluid heat exchanger for effecting a low pressure ratio of compression of the refrigerant; a rotary compressor for compressing the refrigerant with low power consumption at the low pressure ratio; at least one throttling valve connecting at the inlet side of heat exchanger in which liquid refrigerant is vaporized; a refrigerant circuit serially connecting the above elements; refrigerant in the circuit; a source of heat exchange fluid; heat exchange fluid circulating device and heat exchange fluid circuit for circulating the heat exchange fluid in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant.

Abstract: A heat exchanger adapted for efficient operation alternatively as evaporator or condenser and characterized by flexible outer tube having a plurality of inner conduits and check valves sealingly disposed within the outer tube and connected with respective inlet and outlet master flow conduits and configured so as to define a parallel flow path for a first fluid such as a refrigerant when flowed in one direction and to define a serpentine and series flow path for the first fluid when flowed in the opposite direction. The flexible outer tube has a heat exchange fluid, such as water, flowed therethrough by way of suitable inlet and outlet connections. The inner conduits and check valves form a package that is twistable so as to define a spiral annular flow path within the flexible outer tube for the heat exchange fluid. The inner conduits have thin walls of highly efficient heat transfer material for transferring heat between the first and second fluids. Also disclosed are specific materials and configurations.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a heat pump apparatus for conditioning a fluid characterized by a fluid handler and path for circulating the fluid in heat exchange relationship with a refrigerant fluid; at least two refrigerant heat exchangers, one for effecting heat exchange with the fluid and a second for effecting heat exchange between refrigerant and a heat exchange fluid and the ambient air; a compressor for efficiently compressing the refrigerant; at least one throttling valve for throttling liquid refrigerant; a refrigerant circuit; refrigerant; a source of heat exchange fluid; heat exchange fluid circulating device and heat exchange fluid circuit for circulating the heat exchange fluid in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant; and valves or switches for selecting the heat exchangers and direction of flow of the refrigerant therethrough for selecting a particular mode of operation.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a heat exchanger-accumulator for vaporizing a refrigerant or the like, characterized by an upright pressure vessel having a top, bottom and side walls; an inlet conduit eccentrically and sealingly penetrating through the top; a tubular overflow chamber disposed within the vessel and sealingly connected with the bottom so as to define an annular outer volumetric chamber for receiving refrigerant; a heat transfer coil disposed in the outer volumetric chamber for vaporizing the liquid refrigerant that accumulates there; the heat transfer coil defining a passageway for circulating an externally supplied heat exchange fluid; transferring heat efficiently from the fluid; and freely allowing vaporized refrigerant to escape upwardly from the liquid refrigerant; and a refrigerant discharge conduit penetrating sealingly through the top and traversing substantially the length of the pressurized vessel downwardly and upwardly such that its inlet is near the top of the pressurized vessel so as to prov

Abstract: An air conditioning system for an enclosed space including a jointly driven compressor and expander of the positive displacement type each having an inlet port and an outlet port with a primary heat exchanger connected between the compressor outlet port and expander inlet port and a secondary heat exchanger connected between the expander outlet port and the compressor inlet port to complete a closed loop having a charge of air and with one of the heat exchangers being thermally coupled to the enclosed space. Ambient air is injected into the closed loop to raise the pressure in the secondary heat exchanger to substantially above the atmospheric level to increase the heat rate of the system. Alternatively air is bled from the loop to reduce the pressure in the secondary heat exchanger thereby to decrease the heat rate of the system. In an alternate embodiment a source of pressurized air is provided, preferably in the form of an accumulator, with valving to feed air from the accumulator into the loop.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for an enclosed space which includes a compressor and expander having inlet and outlet ports with a primary heat exchanger connected between the compressor outlet port and the expander inlet port and a secondary heat exchanger connected between the expander outlet port and the compressor inlet port to complete a closed loop having a charge of air, one of the heat exchangers being thermally coupled to the enclosed space. A pump is provided for injecting air into the loop to increase the pressure therein thereby to increase the heat rate of the system. Preferably the pump is used for both injecting air into the loop and bleeding air from the loop under the control of a thermostat for maintenance of a set temperature; however, a simplified form of the invention employs constant bleed. In a more elaborate form of the invention pressure follow-up is incorporated in the control to avoid any tendency toward overshoot.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for an enclosed space employing a unitary compressor and expander of the positive displacement type, each having an inlet port and an outlet port, with a primary heat exchanger connected between the compressor outlet port and the expander inlet port and a secondary heat exchanger connected between the expander outlet port and the compressor inlet port to complete a closed loop having a charge of gas, the gas being non-condensing at the temperatures and pressures encountered in the unit. An accumulator holds an auxiliary charge of the pressurized gas at a pressure which is lower than the pressure existing in the primary heat exchanger and higher than the pressure existing in the secondary heat exchanger. A first intermittently operated valve couples the accumulator to the secondary heat exchanger for injection of auxiliary gas into the closed loop to raise the pressure in the secondary heat exchanger substantially above the atmospheric level to increase the heat rate of the system.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for an enclosed space including a jointly driven compressor and expander of the positive displacement type each having an inlet port and an outlet port with a primary heat exchanger connected between the compressor outlet port and expander inlet port and a secondary heat exchanger connected between the expander outlet port and the compressor inlet port to complete a closed loop having a charge of air and with one of the heat exchangers being thermally coupled to the enclosed space. Ambient air is injected into the closed loop to raise the pressure in the secondary heat exchanger to substantially above the atmospheric level to increase the heat rate of the system. Alternatively air is bled from the loop to reduce the pressure in the secondary heat exchanger thereby to decrease the heat rate of the system.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for an enclosed space, capable of operating as a heat pump in the winter and as a refrigerator in the summer, of the type employing a unitary compressor and expander having a common rotor with vanes defining enclosed compartments for positive compression and expansion of air. An indoor heat exchanger and outdoor heat exchanger are provided with one being connected between the outlet port of the compressor and the inlet port of the expander and the other being connected from the outlet port of the expander to the inlet port of the compressor thereby to complete a loop which is charged with air. Valves are interposed for effectively interchanging the connections of the heat exchangers so that the indoor heat exchanger is used for warming in winter and cooling in summer. The outdoor heat exchanger is in the form of a solar-directed panel having a heat absorption surface and air passages for convection cooling.