Abstract: A sub-unit for a vehicle air conditioning system is shipped with a condenser, chiller and fluid lines. Snap together couplings are placed on free ends of the fluid lines whereby the sub-unit can be pre-charged, shipped, installed into the front end of a vehicle engine compartment and connected to an air conditioning compressor.

Abstract: A method of operating a directed relief valve (28) for an air conditioning system (10) preferably for a vehicle. The air conditioning system (10) includes a compressor (12), a condenser (16), an expansion device (20), and an evaporator connected to one another by refrigerant lines. The system (10) also includes the directed relief valve (28), which is disposed inline with at least one of the refrigerant lines to ventilate the refrigerant. The directed relief valve (28) includes a detonable squib (36) that explodes in response to a ventilation signal. A controller (40) generates the ventilation signal in response to a refrigerant leak being detected by a sensor (38). The sensor (38) is preferably located within an air space (27) and adjacent to the evaporator (22). If there is a malfunction of one of a plurality of sensors (38), a partial malfunction message is sent to the operator.

Abstract: A first solenoid-operated, discharge-line control valve (26) is moved between open and closed positions to control fluid flow in the discharge fluid line (18) between the compressor (12) and the condenser (14). A second solenoid-operated, liquid-line control valve (28) is moved between open and closed positions to control fluid flow in the liquid fluid line (20) between the condenser (14) and the evaporator (16). A controller (36) closes one of the flow control valves (26, 28) a period of time before closing the other flow control valve (26, 28) and shuts down the compressor (12) sequentially with the flow control valves (26, 28).

Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle including an integral valve block (32) having a liquid line bore (42) extending therethrough and a suction line bore (44) extending therethrough with a transverse by-pass passage (34). The by-pass check valve (38) of the first system of FIGS. 1 and 2 allows only one-way fluid flow through the by-pass passage (34) from the suction fluid line (22) to the liquid fluid line (20), whereas the by-pass check valve (40) of the second system of FIGS. 3 and 4 allows only one-way fluid flow through the by-pass passage (34) from the liquid fluid line (20) to the suction fluid line (22). Also integrated into the valve block (16) is a suction check valve (46) in the suction fluid line (22) for allowing one-way fluid flow from the evaporator (16) to the compressor (12).

Abstract: A first solenoid-operated, discharge-line control valve (26) is moved between open and closed positions to control fluid flow in the discharge fluid line (18) between the compressor (12) and the condenser (14). A second solenoid-operated, liquid-line control valve (28) is moved between open and closed positions to control fluid flow in the liquid fluid line (20) between the condenser (14) and the evaporator (16). A controller (36) closes one of the flow control valves (26, 28) a period of time before closing the other flow control valve (26, 28) and shuts down the compressor (12) sequentially with the flow control valves (26, 28).

Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle including an integral valve block (32) having a liquid line bore (42) extending therethrough and a suction line bore (44) extending therethrough with a transverse by-pass passage (34). The by-pass check valve (38) of the first system of FIGS. 1 and 2 allows only one-way fluid flow through the by-pass passage (34) from the suction fluid line (22) to the liquid fluid line (20), whereas the by-pass check valve (40) of the second system of FIGS. 3 and 4 allows only one-way fluid flow through the by-pass passage (34) from the liquid fluid line (20) to the suction fluid line (22). Also integrated into the valve block (16) is a suction check valve (46) in the suction fluid line (22) for allowing one-way fluid flow from the evaporator (16) to the compressor (12).

Abstract: An accumulator-dehydrator assembly for use in an air conditioning system including an evaporator and a compressor. The accumulator-dehydrator assembly also includes a canister with an upper portion, an inlet, an outlet and a delivery tube with a first tube end positioned in the upper portion of the canister and a second tube end connected to the outlet. A baffle is disposed within the canister that includes a first end connected to the canister and a second end positioned to define a partition between the first tube end of the delivery tube and the inlet. The purpose of the baffle is to reduce pulsations that result from pressure fluctuations in the air-conditioning system.

Abstract: An automotive dual radiator and condenser assembly with optimized structural and thermal capabilities. The two halves or layers of the dual assembly are interconnected by a pair of widely spaced, narrow webs, which webs interconnect two halves of a slotted tandem header plate unit. The webs, though small, are sufficient to maintain all components of the whole assembly properly and rigidly spaced at all times, during assembly, during brazing, and during and after installation. The two webs also represent the only significant direct heat conduction path between the radiator and condenser, so that thermal efficiency is comparable to a pair of non connected units.

Abstract: A dehumidifier works in conjunction with a vehicle air conditioner to reduce both condensation and cooling load on the evaporator. A unique desiccant wheel design incorporates end plates separated by desiccant tubes that allow a cooling cross flow to be sent through and between the wheel end plates, over the outside of, but sealed from the inside of, the tubes. As outside air passes through the inside half of the tubes and is dried, the released latent heat of vaporization is picked up by the cooling cross flow, which is pre heated. It continues on across the wheel, where it is turned around, heated farther by engine waste heat, and then sent through the inside of the other half of the tubes to regenerate the desiccant.

Abstract: A multi-pass evaporator (10) of a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle air-conditioning system includes a plurality of heat exchanger tubes (12a-t) coupled to first and second header tubes (30,32) disposed side by side. The first header tube contains an inlet tube (48) extending from an inlet end (38) of the first header tube (30) to a position intermediate the length of the first header tube (30). The ratio of the axial cross-sectional area of the interior of the inlet tube (48) to the axial cross-sectional area of the space between the first header tube (30) and the inlet tube (48) is in the range of 1:4.0 to 1:7.0. The axial cross-sectional area of the interior of the inlet tube (48) is equal to or greater than 35 mm.sup.2. This ratio of areas and size of inlet tube has been found to reduce considerably noise produced during use of the evaporator.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is formed by a pair of tank units with a core therebetween. The core comprises a plurality of tube passes extending between and in fluid communication with the tank units, and air centers connected between the tube passes in conductive heat transfer with air and the flow passes. The tank units are formed by separate tanks and headers. The tanks and headers include a flat, coplanar perimeter flange extending thereabout. The flanges include locking members therethrough to secure the header to the tank. The locking members may comprise longitudinal projections formed through the tank flange projecting through the header flanges, or alternatively aligned apertures in the flanges with plug inserted therethrough.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly (10) includes a radiator section (25) with an helical coil tube (62) mounted within an outlet tank chamber (21) of a radiator tank (26). Oil flows through the helical coil tube to be cooled by coolant within the chamber (21). The oil then flows to an air-to-oil cooler (76) that is integrally mounted to either the radiator or a condenser (30) whereby the oil is further cooled.

Abstract: A radiator (10) has tubes (14) and fins (15). The fins (15) have louvered sections (30) laterally aligned with a layer (20), and louvered sections (40), (42), and (46) misaligned from the layers. The louvered sections (40) and (42) are spaced from the louvered sections (30) to form a plain non-louvered section (44) therebetween.

Abstract: A three row condenser for cooling alternative refrigerants for use in automotive air conditioning systems has a continuously formed U-bend tube forming the air inlet to the condenser at a point upstream of second and third rows of like tubes each interconnected by parallel heat conducting cooling fins; the high pressure vapor inlet flow to the condenser is substantially equally distributed into the first, second and third rows and refrigerant flow in the first and second rows of tubes is combined upstream of the outlet of the condenser to provide a series connected tube pattern for increasing the flow velocity through outlet portions of the first and second rows of tubes so as to improve the efficiency of energy transfer between the refrigerant flow through the condenser and the air flow across the air fins therein.

Abstract: A heater core includes an inlet tank, a return tank, and an outlet tank. A plurality of parallel inlet flow tubes extend from the inlet tank to the return tank. A plurality of outlet flow tubes extend parallel to the inlet flow tubes between the return tank and the outlet tank. Corrugated cooling fins are disposed between adjacent inlet and outlet flow tubes. A perforated inlet baffle plate is disposed angularly within the inlet tank. The inlet baffle plate has a calculated angular orientation, length, and spacing within the inlet tank. An unperforated return baffle plate is disposed in the return tank. The return baffle plate has a calculated length and spacing within the return tank. The inlet baffle plate and return baffle plate provide uniform coolant flow through the plurality of inlet and outlet flow tubes.

Abstract: An automobile heating system includes a turbocharger driven by the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine and a shaft of the turbocharger is coupled to a compressor for compressing and heating ambient air to provide a heated air source for supply into the passenger compartment of the vehicle and a source of air for turbocharging the intake manifold of the automobile.

Abstract: A condenser for a motor vehicle air conditioning system includes an inlet header and an outlet header with a plurality of baffles forming passages for connection to a plurality of parallel tubes to form a plurality of refrigerant flow passes through the condenser and a liquid refrigerant separator device, provided either as a refrigerant dehydrator receiver or as a subcooler tube, is connected across one of the baffles in the outlet header to direct high pressure liquid refrigerant in parallel flow relationship to the plurality of parallel tubes and wherein the separator device includes desiccant to dehydrate the refrigerant flowing through the condenser.

Abstract: An evaporator for an automotive air conditioner having a plurality of U-flow tubes therein arranged side by side so that spaces are provided for air centers secured between the sidewalls of the tubes. Each tube is formed from a pair of identical plates that have a centralized divider rib that separates the tubes into separate side flow passages joined by a lower interconnecting crossover passage. The tubes have a plurality of flow ribs indented and joined in a predetermined pattern therein to form discrete fluid flow sections within each tube. The ribs are interconnected in such a manner that the sections effectively direct and tailor the flow of the heat exchanger fluid to a lower and intermediate section of the tube at the turning of the flow from one section to another to reduce, or substantially eliminate, dry out areas in each tube, thereby increasing heat exchanger tube and evaporator efficiency.

Abstract: A refrigerant evaporator for an air conditioning and ventilating system for a motor vehicle has an evaporator with an air inlet face which receives a non-uniform air flow pattern from a radial air blower of the ventilating system and which evaporator further includes refrigerant passes with flow areas and volumes selected to contract the refrigerant flow at the outlet of the evaporator thereby to produce more refrigerant cooling in the portion of the evaporator core which receives higher air flow so as to produce a more uniform outlet air temperature from the evaporator.

Abstract: An evaporator for an automotive air conditioner having a plurality of tubes therein arranged side by side so that spaces are provided for air centers mounted between the sidewalls of the tubes. Each tube is formed from a pair of interfacing plates having ribs indented in a predetermined pattern therein to form discrete fluid flow sections within each tube. The ribs are interconnected in such a manner that the sections effectively vary and tailor the flow of the heat exchanger fluid to reduce or substantially eliminate dry out areas in each tube thereby increasing heat exchanger tube and evaporator efficiency.