Refrigeration – Reversible – i.e. – heat pump
Reexamination Certificate
2003-04-23
2004-04-13
Tapolcai, William E. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Reversible, i.e., heat pump
C062S244000, C062S196400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06718791
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a heat pump air conditioning system for a vehicle which has improved heating performance and effectively heats a passenger compartment even when an outside air temperature is low and a vehicle speed is high.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As a heat pump air conditioning system for vehicles, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO-60-76414 “AIR CONDITIONER FOR VEHICLE”, for example, is known. This air conditioner is shown in
FIG. 8
hereof.
The conventional air conditioner shown in
FIG. 8
consists of a compressor
102
driven by a subengine
101
, an inside heat exchanger
104
for heat radiation and condensation of a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas flowing thereinto from the compressor
102
via a four-way valve
103
during heating, a heating expansion valve
106
connected to the inside heat exchanger
104
via a receiver
105
, and an outside heat exchanger
107
for evaporation and heat absorption of the refrigerant gas throttled and expanded by the heating expansion valve
106
. The refrigerant gas is returned from the outside heat exchanger
107
through the four-way valve
103
into the compressor
102
.
A radiator fan
112
is mounted on the drive shaft of the subengine
101
via a gear unit
111
. Changing the engagement of gears in the gear unit
111
causes the rotation direction of the radiator fan
112
to switch between the forward direction and the reverse direction. Specifically, when the outside air temperature is low and the heating performance is insufficient, the gear unit
111
usually switches the rotation direction of the radiator fan
112
to cause air flowing in the direction of arrow A to flow in the direction of arrow B, guiding the air heated around the engine to the outside heat exchanger
107
so that the outside heat exchanger
107
can effectively absorb the heat.
In the above air conditioner, when the vehicle travels at a high speed, the running wind cancels the flow of air in the direction of arrow B caused by the radiator fan
112
, preventing the supply of heated air around the engine to the outside heat exchanger
107
and preventing effective heat absorption, and lowering heating performance.
It is thus desired to improve heat pump air conditioning systems for vehicles, increasing heating performances even with low outside air temperatures and high vehicle speeds, and thereby effectively heating the passenger compartments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat pump air conditioning system for heating and cooling the passenger compartment of a vehicle, which system comprises: an inside heat exchanger disposed in the passenger compartment; an outside heat exchanger disposed in an engine compartment; refrigerant passages connecting the inside heat exchanger and the outside heat exchanger and charged with a refrigerant; and a compressor for compressing a refrigerant gas in the refrigerant passages; the outside heat exchanger comprising: a first outside heat exchanger disposed forward of an engine in the engine compartment to act as a heat radiator in cooling; and a second outside heat exchanger disposed in the vicinity of the engine in the engine compartment to act as a heat absorber in heating, utilizing the heat of the engine.
That is, since the second outside heat exchanger is operated as a heat absorber in heating, using the heat of the engine, the second outside heat exchanger can be prevented from being frosted even when the outside air temperature is low and the vehicle travels at a high speed. The engine waste heat can thus be efficiently absorbed, increasing the heating performance and allowing effective heating of the interior. Cooling can also be performed at the first outside heat exchanger as in the conventional manner.
Preferably, the second outside heat exchanger is provided with a fan for guiding air within the engine compartment thereto. That is, the fan can forcibly guide heated air inside the engine compartment to the second outside heat exchanger, increasing the degree of freedom in the installation location of the second outside heat exchanger in the engine compartment, and also increasing the heating effects.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4539817 (1985-09-01), Staggs et al.
patent: 4688394 (1987-08-01), Waldorf
patent: 5299431 (1994-04-01), Iritani et al.
patent: 5878589 (1999-03-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 6237681 (2001-05-01), Takano et al.
patent: 60076414 (1985-04-01), None
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Tapolcai William E.
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