Abstract: An energy saving HVAC system for a passenger compartment of an over the road vehicle comprises a controllable air conditioner system for directing cooled air flow through the passenger compartment. A controllable heater system directs heated air flow through the passenger compartment. A user control panel includes user input devices for manually selecting operating parameters of the HVAC system, one of the user input devices comprising an economy mode selector. A controller is operatively connected to the air conditioner system, the heater system and the user control panel. The controller normally controls the air conditioner system or the heater system in accordance with manually selected operating parameters and, responsive to a user manually selecting the economy mode, overrides the manually selected operating parameters and controls the air conditioner system or the heater system at a preselect energy saving level responsive to the economy mode being selected.

Abstract: A low volume, high capacity latent heat storage device is achieved in a construction including a salt case (12) with an optional outer jacket (10) surrounding the salt case (12) in spaced relation thereto to define an insulating space (14) between the two. Inlet and outlet conduits (38), (42), (44), (46), extend from the exterior of the outer jacket (10) to the interior of the salt case (12) and at least one tube (20) is located within the salt case and has a plurality of straight, parallel runs (21) defining a matrix with an exterior and a phase change material is sealed within the tube (20). The tube runs (21) inwardly of the matrix exterior are in a regular or equilateral polygonal pattern with each run (21) abutting a plurality of adjacent runs (21) and each run (21) at the exterior of the matrix additionally engaging the salt jacket (12).

Abstract: A heat exchanger provides simplicity, compactness, and high efficiency through a construction that includes an elongated tube structure comprising three rows of flattened multiport tubing, with a first row of tubing 30 and a third row of tubing 50 sandwiching a second row of tubing 40. The second row of tubing 40 terminates in opposite ends 42,44 on which are received refrigerant fittings 46 and 48 respectively. The first and third rows of tubing 30, 50 each include a run abutting and in heat exchange relation with the tubing 40. Opposing ends 32, 34 of the tubing 30 extend about refrigerant fittings 46 and 48 and are received in refrigerant fittings 36, 38. The tubing 50 includes parts 52 and 54 extending about the refrigerant fittings 46 and 48 and terminating in opposite ends 56, 58. The ends 56, 58 are also in fluid communication with fittings 36, 38.

Abstract: Venting difficulties in a heat battery including a first container (10) for housing a heat storage salt that may be in the solid phase or in the liquid phase, a heat exchanger (22) within the container (10) and a second container (12) surrounding the first container (10) in generally spaced relation to provide an insulating space (14) about the first container (10) along with coolant inlet and outlet connections (40, 42) to the heat exchanger (22) are avoided in a vent system (52) including a vent inlet (66) generally centrally located in the top wall (56) of the first container (10) generally centrally of the ends thereof. A vent passage includes a check valve (106) located in close proximity to the vent opening (66) and the vent opening is surrounded by a cup shaped baffle (60) having an opening (62) facing the interior of the container (10). A filter (78) is located between the check valve (106) and the opening (62) to the baffle (60).

Abstract: A tube having a plurality of hydraulically parallel fluid passages for use in a heat exchanger can be made by forming an elongated, undulating insert and disposing the same within a flattened tube. A noncorrosive brazing flux is adhered to at least one of the interior of the tube and the crests on the undulating insert. Braze alloy is also located at the interface of the crests of the insert and the interior wall of the tube. Thereafter, the insert is located within the tube without disturbing the flux and the tube deformed along its length to bring the interior of the tube into contact with the crests on the insert. The assembled tube and insert construction is then heated to braze joints between the interior wall of the tube and the crests of the insert along the entire length of the latter.

Abstract: A tank-header connection including a groove extending about the periphery of a header plate and having a bottom wall surrounded by an upstanding wall with spaced apertures therein. A compressible gasket is located in the groove and a plastic tank having an opening surrounded by a rim is provided. The rim has a series of outwardly projecting lugs and is otherwise sized and configured to fit within the groove with the lugs extending through and being captured in aligned ones of the apertures.