Reversible, I.e., Heat Pump Patents (Class 62/324.1)
  • Patent number: 6675602
    Abstract: A portable conditioned storage unit includes a platform transportable on a trailer or vehicle having a storage box thereon. The interior of the storage box is insulated and suitable for storing wild game or other goods within a cage situated within the storage box in spaced relation to permit the circulation of conditioned air about the cage. A removable modular unit having standard air conditioning components operates in attachment to the storage box to heat and cool the insulated interior and goods within the cage. The storage unit is powered by an external electrical source or built-in electrical generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventors: Teresa B. Goodman, Donnell Harden
  • Publication number: 20040000161
    Abstract: A cooling-heating circuit for a powered vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle with a fuel cell, has at least two devices increasing the temperature of the cooling-heating circuit and at least two devices reducing the temperature of the cooling-heating circuit. The temperature-increasing and/or the temperature-reducing devices are associated with the cooling-heating circuit at least to some extent according to their operating states, in particular their temperatures. For improved utilization of the waste heat, a heat pump circuit is associated with the cooling-heating circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Noureddine Khelifa, Horst Riehl
  • Publication number: 20030221436
    Abstract: Recoverable Ground Source Heat Pump system with energy storage function which uses and stores off-peak-hours electricity to maintain the ground medium temperature to ensure the efficient operation of the system during on-peak electricity hours. The release and receiving of energy is accomplished through the ground heat exchanger by flowing the fluid through different routings of the circulation loop using reversing vales. Space heating and cooling is assured while the underground medium temperature is recovered. The heat pump system of the invention has less initial investment compared to conventional ground source heat pump and ice energy storage cooling systems; requires less ground space; provide operating energy cost savings; assures performance of operation; and avoids using antifreeze solution in the ground circulation fluid that may cause environmental, safety and erosion problems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventor: Yunsheng Xu
  • Publication number: 20030209026
    Abstract: A heat pump air conditioning system having an outside heat exchanger which is disposed in an engine compartment of a vehicle is provided. The outside heat exchanger consists of a first outside heat exchanger disposed forward of an engine and a second outside heat exchanger disposed near the engine except the front, especially rearward of the engine. When heating the passenger compartment, the second outside heat exchanger acts as a heat absorber, utilizing the heat of the engine, and effectively heating the interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Choji Sakuma
  • Patent number: 6644059
    Abstract: A dehumidifying apparatus capable of continuously supplying dry air having an absolute humidity of 4 g/kgDA or lower is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Maeda, Shunro Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 6634183
    Abstract: In a chemical heat pump a substance is used which within the temperature range for which the heat pump is intended has a transition between a solid phase and a solution phase. The substance can for a solar driven chemical heat pump comprise magnesium chloride hexahdrate. In an accumulator part of the heat pump a heat exchanger (21) is provided enclosed by a net (23). The solid phase is primary located inside the net in contact with the heat exchanger while the solution phase flow out of the net and is collected in space (24′) below the heat exchanger. From this space the solution phase is pumped and sprayed over the heat exchanger from a spray bar (25). Thereby, all the time equilibrium is maintained. The advantage including the constant temperature step and the relatively large energy content of solid substance is thereby combined with the high power of liquid substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Solsam Sunergy AB
    Inventors: Staffan Jonsson, Ray Olsson, Mona Karebring-Olsson
  • Patent number: 6632294
    Abstract: Corrosion of steel surfaces in a heat pump is inhibited by adding a rare earth metal salt to the heat pump's ammonia/water working fluid. In preferred embodiments, the rare earth metal salt includes cerium, and the steel surfaces are cerated to enhance the corrosion-inhibiting effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Florian B. Mansfeld, Zhaoli Sun
  • Publication number: 20030182961
    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: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Shin Nishida, Masaaki Kawakubo, Kouji Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20030182946
    Abstract: A vapor compression apparatus and a method for operating a vapor compression system are provided. A working fluid is conveyed through a vapor compression system having a fluid line. A magnetic field generator is connected to the fluid line to direct a magnetic field through the working fluid. The magnetic field is operable to disrupt intermolecular forces and weaken intermolecular attraction to enhance expansion of the working fluid to the vapor phase, increasing the capacity, performance and efficiency of the system components, and reducing system cycling, mechanical wear and energy consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Samuel M. Sami, Peter A. Kulish, Ronald J. Kita, Garrett J. Shivo
  • Publication number: 20030177778
    Abstract: Vehicle air-conditioning system, in particular CO2 air conditioner, the refrigerant cycle of which comprises the following components: a compressor, a refrigerant cooler, an internal heat exchanger between the refrigerant-cooler side and the evaporator side, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. To switch the air-conditioning system from cooling-mode operation to heating-mode operation, between the compressor and the refrigerant cooler there is integrated an auxiliary heat exchanger corresponding to a cooling circulation on the engine side, such that downstream of the auxiliary heat exchanger there is disposed an expansion valve by means of which during heating-mode operation the refrigerant can be throttled to a lower pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Ullrich Hesse
  • Publication number: 20030154730
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for cooling and heating, having a first heat exchanger (10) for outputting heat to and extracting it from a heat reservoir (12); a second heat exchanger (14) for extracting heat from and outputting it into a space (16) to be cooled or heated; a compressor (18); an expansion device (20); and means (22, 24) for switchover between a cooling mode and a heating mode; wherein the switchover means (22, 24) are integrated with a module (26). The invention also relates to a method for switching over between a cooling mode and a heating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Stephan Leuthner, Peter Satzger, Petra Kanters
  • Publication number: 20030154737
    Abstract: The invention concerns the installation of a double-flow ventilation system with a ventilation unit blowing air drawn from outside the building into the living quarters: drawing-rooms, bedrooms of various housing units, and a ventilation unit (5), having the same characteristics as the blowing unit, extracting air from the functional quarters: kitchens, bathrooms blown air from the functional quarters, air supply and air extraction at each housing unit being carried out through ducts common to the entire building. Said installation further comprises at the connection to each housing unit to a pair of ducts (6, 7) respectively for blowing and for extracting air an individual thermodynamic unit (8) specific to the housing unit concerned and whereon passes the stream on ventilating air, the evaporator and the condenser of said unit being arranged respectively on one of the two air blowing and air extracting fluxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Xavier Pelleter, Damien Labaume
  • Patent number: 6606874
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ventilation arrangement for buildings with heat removal from an exhaust-air flow (LAb) discharged from the building and/or from a fresh-air flow (Lzu) supplied to the building, the arrangement having a heat pump which has a coolant/water heat exchanger (WW) with a mass flow controlled by the water system and having a coolant/air heat exchanger (LWzu, LWAb) serving the fresh-air flow (Lzu) and the exhaust-air flow (LAb), the coolant/air heat exchanger (LWzu, LWAb) being connectable in series to the coolant/water heat exchanger (WW).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forshung e.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Bühring, Pedro Da Silva
  • Patent number: 6604376
    Abstract: A heat pump system (10) includes a fluid refrigerant compressor (12) and heat exchanger units (14, 16). Heat transfer tubings (36, 50, 58, 60, 66, 82) interconnect the fluid refrigerant compressor (12) and the heat exchanger units (14, 16) in a series relationship for carrying refrigerant fluid. Flow control valves (22, 24) are provided and are interconnected between a treated waste effluent source (20) such as a municipal or private treated waste effluent supply or reservoir and the heat exchanger unit (16) for controlling the amount of water flowing from the treated waste effluent source (20) to the heat exchanger unit (16). The flow control valves (22, 24) are responsive to the pressure at the outlet (12b) of the fluid refrigerant compressor (12) sensed at port (26) in the heat transfer tubing (58) to automatically optimize the operating condition of the heat pump system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventors: Victor M. Demarco, Louis M. Demarco
  • Patent number: 6604373
    Abstract: A natural and environmentally friendly cooling system is disclosed. The cooling system comprises an insulating enclosure, a block of ice within the insulating enclosure, a primary coil of tubing contacting the block of ice and beneath the block of ice for transferring fluid, a return coil of tubing beneath the block of ice for transferring fluid, and a grid positioned between the primary coil and the return coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventor: Richard A. Burger
  • Publication number: 20030131623
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward compositions of phase change materials derived from fats and oils, and the utilization of such phase change materials in heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. More particularly, the utilization of such phase change materials in a heat pump or air conditioner to significantly increase the efficiency of heat exchange with the surrounding environment. Various embodiments are disclosed including energy storage devices having phase change materials encapsulated between sheets of material to reduce stresses associated with freezing and thawing of the phase change material. A preferred heat pump apparatus utilizes the phase change material in the evaporator, and a smart fan mode of operation to circulate outside air through the evaporator based on approach temperature rather than compressor operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Galen J. Suppes
  • Patent number: 6584796
    Abstract: Heat exchange is performed between a discharge side refrigerant and a suction side refrigerant also at the time of a heating operation. By this, a liquid phase refrigerant containing lubricating oil in the suction side refrigerant is heated by the discharge side refrigerant, and the liquid phase refrigerant is vaporized also at the time of the heating operation, so that the amount of the liquid phase refrigerant sucked into a compressor is decreased. Accordingly, the increase of compression work of the compressor is prevented, and an opening area of an oil return hole can be expanded to such a degree that an optimum amount of lubricating oil is attained at the time of the heating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Itoh, Yoshitaka Tomatsu, Motohiro Yamaguchi, Yasushi Yamanaka, Toshio Hirata
  • Publication number: 20030046945
    Abstract: A heat exchanger module includes a glycol coolant circuit adapted to function as a heat pump for the heating of the interior passenger compartment of the motor vehicle with a glycol/water mixture as the heat carrier, a refrigerant circuit, and a glycol/refrigerant heat exchanger positioned between and interconnecting the cooling circuit and the refrigerant circuit, wherein the glycol/refrigerant heat exchanger has integrated connection lines for heat transfer from the coolant circuit to the refrigerant circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Heyl, Jorn Frohling
  • Publication number: 20030037562
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner for heating a passenger compartment by a heater core and a heat pump cycle, when operation of a heat pump cycle is switched from a defrosting operation to a heating assist operation, a heating degree of the heater core is increased higher than a predetermined heating degree. Further, when the operation of the heat pump cycle is switched from the defrosting operation to the heating assist operation, an air outlet mode except for a defrosting mode for defrosting a windshield is set. Further, in the defrosting operation of the heat pump cycle, the temperature of an interior heat exchanger of the heat pump cycle is set higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Keita Honda, Kunio Iritani
  • Patent number: 6519966
    Abstract: An air treatment system having an outer heat exchange coil, an inner heat exchange coil spaced-apart from and encompassed by the outer heat exchange coil, seal structure positioned with respect to both coils so that air pulled through the air treatment system by air movement apparatus may flow through the inner heat exchange coil without flowing through the outer heat exchange coil; and in one aspect, an air treatment system having an outer heat exchange coil; an inner heat exchange coil within the outer heat exchange coil; the inner coil spaced-apart from the outer heat exchange coil; the inner heat exchange coil and the outer heat exchange coil defining an inner chamber therebetween; the inner chamber positioned so that air exhaust apparatus above the inner heat exchange coil moves air into the inner chamber for exhausting therefrom by the air exhaust apparatus; air flowing from outside the outer heat exchange coil, through the outer heat exchange coil, and into the inner chamber; and air flowing from outsi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Inventor: Lendell Martin, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20030019232
    Abstract: In an air conditioner for an automobile, restriction on arrangement of electric apparatus is removed, small-sized and light-weighted formation is achieved by promoting cooling capacity of the electric apparatus by a cooling fluid by an inexpensive constitution and firm defrosting is enabled by closing an air flow path of an exterior heat exchanger. For that purpose, there are provided a refrigeration cycle having an electrically driven compressor and an exterior heat exchanger and a radiator used in an electric automobile having a driving motor for driving the automobile and a motor driving power source for driving the driving motor and connected to cool a heat generating electric apparatus such as the driving motor or the motor driving power source via the cooling fluid, the radiator is arranged in the air flow path of exterior fan and an opening and closing apparatus for opening and closing the air flow path of the exterior heat exchanger is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Kazuya Matsuo, Kiyoshi Nagasawa, Toshihiko Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20020194860
    Abstract: A portable conditioned storage unit includes a platform transportable on a trailer or vehicle having a storage box thereon. The interior of the storage box is insulated and suitable for storing wild game or other goods within a cage situated within the storage box in spaced relation to permit the circulation of conditioned air about the cage. A removable modular unit having standard air conditioning components operates in attachment to the storage box to heat and cool the insulated interior and goods within the cage. The storage unit is powered by an external electrical source or built-in electrical generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Teresa B. Goodman, Donnell Harden
  • Patent number: 6494052
    Abstract: A self-contained electrical heat pump heating, ventilating and air conditioning unit (HVAC) adapted for mounting at the rear of a bus or other similarly large transport vehicle. The HVAC unit is unitary in construction, compactly arranged and provided with an integrated heat pump. The HVAC unit is specially constructed for use with electric buses or electric/hybrid buses, but can also be adapted for use on buses powered by internal combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Trans/Air Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Mike S. S. Lee
  • Patent number: 6490882
    Abstract: A method of preventing refrigerant condensation in a discharge volume or discharge line of a compressor is disclosed. The method involves the application of one or more heaters to a cooling circuit to prevent condensed refrigerant from migrating into the discharge line and/or discharge volume of the compressor. In one embodiment, a heater is in thermal communication with the dome of the compressor. The heater may be a band heater. In another embodiment, a flexible strip heater is used on the discharge line of the cooling circuit. In another embodiment, both a heater on the discharge volume of the compressor and a heater on the discharge line may be used to prevent migration and condensation of refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventor: Russ Tipton
  • Publication number: 20020174672
    Abstract: A solar reflector for an evaporator in a heat pump system. The evaporator has heat transfer plates and is located in an outdoor environment. The solar reflector has a curved surface configured to reflect solar radiation to the heat transfer plates of the evaporator. The curved surface can be in the shape of a truncated parabola. The curved surface can also be curved in a dish-like shape defining an upper perimeter and a lower perimeter, and the lower perimeter defines a bottom opening configured to receive the evaporator. The solar reflector can also be made of a plurality of partially overlapping curved surfaces configured to reflect solar radiation to the heat transfer plates of the evaporator. In this case the solar reflector includes a hinge ring, and each of the curved surfaces are hingedly attached to the hinge ring. Preferably the hinge ring defines an opening to receive the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Ken Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20020174673
    Abstract: A heat pump includes a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor thermal expansion valve. The heat pump further includes an auxiliary heat exchanger. An auxiliary fluid line and an auxiliary fluid pump circulate an auxiliary heat transfer fluid through the auxiliary fluid line. The compressor outlet, the indoor heat exchanger, the outdoor thermal expansion valve, the auxiliary heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the compressor inlet can be placed in respective serial fluid communication to thereby circulate a refrigerant fluid through the heat pump. The auxiliary heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant fluid and the auxiliary heat transfer fluid. The auxiliary fluid line is in thermal energy communication with a primary source of auxiliary heat. Preferably, the primary source of auxiliary heat is a fluid contained within a septic tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Ken Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 6481234
    Abstract: A heat pump system for air conditioning adaptable to cold regions, comprising a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator and forms a closed circuit. The structure features that said compressor is a scroll compressor, and a supplementary inlet is provided on the working chamber of the compressor. A subcooler is provided between the condenser and the expansion valve, thus forming a closed circuit with an electromagnetic valve and an electronic expansion valve for supplementary refrigerant vapor to the supplementary inlet of the compressor. Compared to the prior art, the present invention is simple in structure, easy to manufacture and assemble, highly effective in energy utilization and low cost, and the system can operate in low temperature environment with stability and reliability. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for popularization and application in cold regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Guoyuan Ma, Qisen Yan, Yi Jiang
  • Patent number: 6467284
    Abstract: A heat pump system having an operable relationship for transferring heat between an exterior atmosphere and an interior atmosphere via a fluid refrigerant and further having a compressor, an interior heat exchanger, an exterior heat exchanger, a heat pump reversing valve, an accumulator, a thermal expansion valve having a remote sensing bulb disposed in heat transferable contact with the refrigerant piping section between said accumulator and said reversing valve, an outdoor temperature sensor, and a first means for heating said remote sensing bulb in response to said outdoor temperature sensor thereby opening said thermal expansion valve to raise suction pressure in order to mitigate defrosting of said exterior heat exchanger wherein said heat pump continues to operate in a heating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Fang C. Chen, Viung C. Mei
  • Publication number: 20020148244
    Abstract: A combined cooling and heating system having a simple design of a combined cooling and heat pump plant, especially for the heating and cooling of the passenger cells of motor vehicles. The concept of the invention is that the combined cooling and heat pump plant has a decompression device that fulfills the functions of a decompression device and a mode switch. The advantage of the invention is that dependent on the direction of flow, and thus the operational mode of the device, the decompression function and the blocking function, or the pressure relief function are realized by one component, the decompression device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventor: Peter Heyl
  • Publication number: 20020129615
    Abstract: A heat pump system for air conditioning adaptable to cold regions, comprising a compressor, a condenser, a thermal expansion valve and an evaporator and forms a closed circuit. The structure features that said compressor is a scroll compressor, and a supplementary inlet is provided on the inlet side of the compressor. A subcooler is provided between the condenser and the expansion valve, thus forming a closed circuit with an electromagnetic valve and an electronic expansion valve for supplementary refrigerant vapor to the supplementary inlet of the compressor. Compared to the prior art, the present invention is simple in structure, easy to manufacture and assemble, highly effective in energy utilization and low cost, and the system can operate in low temperature environment with stability and reliability. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for popularization and application in cold regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Guoyuan Ma, Qisen Yan, Yi Jiang
  • Patent number: 6449974
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle has a circuit (14) which is capable of being changed over from cooling to heating. The system has a heater (22), through which the air to be conditioned flows, a cooling heat exchanger (18) acting as an evaporator in the cooling mode, and an additional heat exchanger (20) capable of being selectively used for providing auxiliary heat in the heating mode. The additional heat exchanger can be advantageously utilized by operating it as an auxiliary cooling heat exchanger, acting as an evaporator, in the cooling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hans Kampf
  • Patent number: 6446456
    Abstract: Heat pump and a method for controlling a cooling/heating capability thereof, in which a capacity varying device is improved for adjusting a cooling/heating capability, the heat pump including a compressor having an inlet for drawing, and compressing low temperature and low pressure refrigerant, and an outlet for discharging the compressed refrigerant, a four way valve for connecting the outlet and the inlet to an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger selectively depending on cooling/heating, the indoor heat exchanger for evaporating/condensing the refrigerant by heat exchange with room air in cooling/heating respectively, the outdoor heat exchanger for evaporating/condensing the refrigerant by heat exchange with external air, a capillary tube having a reduced diameter for expansion of the refrigerant, a change over valve having a plunger movable by a pressure difference provided therein, and a connection tube connected the indoor heat exchanger and a four way valve, and a bypass tube connected b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Yun Ho Ryu
  • Publication number: 20020095943
    Abstract: A sub-condenser 4 is disposed in a within-vehicle-compartment air passage P1, so that the sub-condenser is permitted to receive heat from a heater core 21.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Hatakeyama, Satoshi Ogihara
  • Patent number: 6422308
    Abstract: A heat pump type air conditioner for a vehicle has a refrigeration cycle constituted by a compressor, an external heat exchanger, a refrigerant valve unit and an internal heat exchanger unit. The refrigerant valve unit includes first and second flow control valves, and the internal heat exchanger unit includes an auxiliary internal heat exchanger and a main internal heat exchanger. In the refrigeration cycle, the first flow control valve, the auxiliary internal heat exchanger, the second flow control valve and the main internal heat exchanger are serially connected in the order of mention. The main and auxiliary internal heat exchangers change their function between an evaporator and a condenser according to the controlled state of the first and second flow control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhito Okawara, Toshio Ohashi, Yuichi Meguriya, Tadayoshi Tajima
  • Patent number: 6405549
    Abstract: A portable heating and cooling unit intended to be used within a room or area of a building includes a cabinet supported on a plurality of wheels and a refrigeration circuit at least partially carried within said cabinet. The refrigeration circuit includes a first coil, a compressor, a second coil and a refrigerant reversing valve. In a cooling mode of operation, the first coil acts as an evaporator coil and room air is circulated by a first fan across the evaporator coil and delivered into the room. A second fan circulates room air through the second coil acting as a condenser coil and discharges the thus warmed air away from the room area to be cooled. In a heating mode of operation, the refrigerant reversing valve is activated to change the flow direction of the refrigerant through the circuit such that the first coil now acts as a condenser and The second coil now acts as the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: DO Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Baffes
  • Patent number: 6397621
    Abstract: The refrigeration cycle uses an evaporation zone prior to compression and a condensation zone after the latter, in which the thermodynamic fluid used in the cycle as well as the fluid used in the cold-exchange and heat-exchange cycles is water. The installation is operated on the basis of dynamic compression in two separate compression stages linked to one another by at least one zone with de-superheating and enclosed in a hermetically sealed and heat-insulated enclosure confining the vapor at very low pressure; the wheels of these two stages are mounted directly on the opposite ends of the shaft of a common, sealed, variable speed electric motor disposed inside the enclosure between these stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Electricite de France Service National
    Inventors: Jean-François Reynaud, Guy Chambaron, Henri Rodie-Talbere
  • 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: 6378323
    Abstract: A reversible heat pump system includes heat exchangers having significantly different refrigerant handling capacities and a refrigerant holding device for holding excess refrigerant during the heating mode of operation. The refrigerant holding device includes a heat exchanger located therein for subcooling the refrigerant in the refrigerant holding device during the heating mode. The heat exchanger in the refrigerant holding device circulates suction pressure refrigerant through the refrigerant holding device before the suction pressure refrigerant enters the suction inlet of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Hippolyte Chavagnat
  • Publication number: 20020046570
    Abstract: Heat exchange is performed between a discharge side refrigerant and a suction side refrigerant also at the time of a heating operation. By this, a liquid phase refrigerant containing lubricating oil in the suction side refrigerant is heated by the discharge side refrigerant, and the liquid phase refrigerant is vaporized also at the time of the heating operation, so that the amount of the liquid phase refrigerant sucked into a compressor is decreased. Accordingly, the increase of compression work of the compressor is prevented, and an opening area of an oil return hole can be expanded to such a degree that an optimum amount of lubricating oil is attained at the time of the heating operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Satoshi Itoh, Yoshitaka Tomatsu, Motohiro Yamaguchi, Yasushi Yamanaka, Toshio Hirata
  • Patent number: 6374623
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stable comprising a floor, upright walls bounding said floor, in which walls one or more fans are present, and a roof covering a space bounded by said floor and said walls, in which roof means for exhausting spent air are present, which spent air is used for controlling the temperature of the air to be supplied, wherein said fans supply conditioned air essentially at floor level, wherein the amount of air to be supplied and the temperature thereof can be controlled for each fan individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Bokalan B.V./Richard Kusters
    Inventor: Henricus Anthonius Gubbels
  • Patent number: 6367279
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heat pump system. The heat pump system includes a base heat pump system constructed in such a way that a compressor, a four-way valve, a first heat exchanger, two expansion valves, a second heat exchanger and the four-way valve are sequentially connected to each other by first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth conduits. An additional heat exchanger is disposed on an eighth conduit, the eighth conduit connecting a seventh conduit, connected to the fourth conduit at its both ends, to the portion of the fourth conduit situated between two junction points of the fourth and seventh conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventor: Keum Su Jin
  • Patent number: 6363737
    Abstract: Apparatus for and method of use for a heat exchanger in an HVAC system having a system refrigerant for heat transfer between a radiator and a heat exchanger, in heat transfer communication through the heat exchanger. Single or multiple heat exchange loops and flow controllers maintain system balance during operation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Robby D. Raney
  • Publication number: 20020035845
    Abstract: Vapor compression heat exchange systems are disclosed that are designed to allow for optimal mass flow of refrigerant there through. The systems of the present invention do not employ conventional refrigerant metering devices, such as capillary tubes and expansion valves, which restrict mass flow, but rather incorporate an openly fixed orifice in-line with the conduits connecting the condenser to the evaporator, thereby maintaining the pressure differential between the high pressure condenser side and low pressure evaporator side of the system during operation. Provision of the fixed orifice allows for optimal refrigerant mass flow as measured by cooler compressor temperatures, cooler compressor discharge temperatures, increased heat of rejection, increased heat of absorption, and improved heating and cooling efficiency. The present invention may employ any conventional refrigerant, including the newer HFC refrigerants, such as R-410A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventor: David Smolinsky
  • Publication number: 20020035846
    Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a heating apparatus with low compression load. This heating apparatus consists of an expansion unit for adiabatically expanding refrigerant, an indoor unit having a heat exchanger, a compressor for adiabatically compressing the refrigerant, and an outdoor unit having a heat exchanger, and sequentially circulates refrigerant through the compressor, indoor unit, expansion unit, and outdoor unit to heat a target area using the phase change of the refrigerant. In an embodiment, the apparatus (100) is designed such that the refrigerant from the indoor unit (140) passes through a heat exchanging and evaporating unit (110) prior to flowing into the expansion unit (120), with the refrigerant from the evaporating unit (110) partially flowing into a sub-expansion unit (130) to become low temperature, low pressure bypassed refrigerant. The bypassed refrigerant from the sub-expansion unit (130) passes through the evaporating unit (110) prior to flowing into the compressor (150).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Applicant: BOILCON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Ho Kim, Shin Hee Ryu
  • Patent number: 6357246
    Abstract: A heat pump type air conditioning apparatus is disclosed. The air conditioning apparatus comprises a heat pump and a heat piping. The heat pump includes a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducer for a room cooling operation, another pressure reducer for a room heating operation and an outdoor heat exchanger. The compressor, the four-way valve, the indoor heat exchanger, the pressure reducer for a room cooling operation, the pressure reducer for a room heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger and the four-way valve are connected one after another in series by means of a first conduit. The four-way valve is additionally connected to the compressor by means of a suction conduit. Two points on a portion of the first conduit directly connecting the outdoor heat exchanger to the four-way valve are additionally connected to each other by means of a second conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventor: Keum Su Jin
  • Publication number: 20020029581
    Abstract: In order to magnify capacity control of a refrigeration cycle for an increased efficiency and achievement of compactness, the refrigeration cycle includes a compressor, a four-way valve, a heat exchanger on a side of a heat source, a liquid receiver, a heat exchanger on a side of use, and an electronic expansion valve, all of which are connected other by pipes, and comprises a refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle and being a non-azeotropic refrigerant, a second liquid receiver for taking out a refrigerant vapor from an upper portion of the liquid receiver to condense and store the refrigerant, and a pipe connecting the second liquid receiver to the liquid receiver via a shut-off valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Kenji Matsumura, Susumu Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6347527
    Abstract: An integrated compression based heating/cooling, humidification and mid or high efficiency heat recovery ventilation system is provided. The integrated system is a centralized apparatus that offers a very efficient method for heating/cooling with more winter and summer humidity control plus offering heat recovery ventilation in a structure having a regulated indoor temperature and specific ventilation/energy recovery rate. The heating and cooling section of the apparatus would most commonly be configured as a forced air geothermal or air-to-air heat pump. The heat recovery ventilation section of the apparatus will incorporate a heat recovery chamber complete with a primary passive cross flow heat recovery core. Plus, a secondary refrigeration based high efficiency reversible energy recovery evaporator/condenser coil. The integrated system will also incorporate a humidification system designed to operate during the winter heating season.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Inventors: Louis J. Bailey, Ralph Haan
  • Patent number: 6347528
    Abstract: A gas-injection type refrigeration-cycle device has heat exchanger where refrigerant extracts waste heat from heating devices. In the refrigeration-cycle device, the mode is changed between where lower-pressure refrigerant extracts heat and where intermediate-pressure refrigerant extracts the heat of the hot water. The lower-pressure refrigerant is drawn into compressor, after heat exchanger is set at the lower-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle. The intermediate-pressure refrigerant is introduced into compressor-gas-injection port, after heat exchanger is set at the intermediate-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle. In another aspect, a defrosting mode of outdoor heat exchanger includes a heating mode, and gas refrigerant discharged from compressor flows through condenser without heat exchange. Thereafter, the flow of the gas refrigerant is divided to two portions, and the gas refrigerant of one portion flows into outdoor heat exchanger, thereby defrosting outdoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kunio Iritani, Satoshi Itoh, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Takayuki Hirose
  • Patent number: 6314750
    Abstract: A heat pump air conditioner has a heat exchanger, a separator for separating refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and a compressor. Gas refrigerant in the separator is sucked into the compressor through a gas suction pipe. Oil-dissolved liquid refrigerant in the separator is also sucked through an oil return hole formed at a bottom of the gas suction pipe into the compressor. At the time of starting the air conditioner, when it is judged that a surface of liquid refrigerant in the separator is rapidly lowered to the oil return hole, a rotational speed of the compressor is controlled so that an amount of refrigerant discharged from the compressor is decreased. As a result, the surface of liquid refrigerant is kept higher than the oil return hole, and oil shortage of the compressor is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Katsuya Kusano, Kunio Iritani, Masaya Tanaka, Keita Honda
  • Patent number: 6295825
    Abstract: A combined drying and refrigerating storehouse is disclosed. The storehouse comprises a housing, circulation passages, a heat pump unit, a second evaporator, flow passage control means and a control unit. The housing has a heat pump unit chamber and two combined drying and refrigerating chambers. The heat pump unit chamber is divided from the combined drying and refrigerating chambers by two partition walls. The circulating chambers are extended outwardly from the partition walls and extended vertically. The heat pump unit has a compressor, a four-way valve, first and second heat exchangers and a second condenser. The compressor, the fourway valve, the first heat exchanger, the second condenser, the second heat exchanger and the compressor are connected one after another by means of a first conduit. The outlet of the four-way valve is connected to the inlet of the compressor by means of a suction conduit. The second evaporator is disposed on a portion of a second conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventor: Keum Su Jin