COOLING/HEATING MODULE AND AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE

• US 20150369524A1
• Filed: 09/06/2013
• Published: 12/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
• Original Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
• Inventors: IKEGAMI, Shuji, MAKINO, Yukihiro, YASUO, Kouichi, KIM, Hyunyoung, KOJIMA, Makoto, OKUMOTO, Mamoru, PIAO, Chuncheng, JIANG, Lan
• Granted Patent: US 10,107,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/14 by humidification; by dehumidification
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/1411 by absorbing or adsorbing water, e.g. using an hygroscopic desiccant
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 23/00 Machines, plants or systems, with a single mode of operation not covered by groups F25B1/00 - F25B21/00, e.g. using selective radiation effect

Abstract

A cooling/heating module configured to cool and heat air includes: first and second cooling/heating sections, each comprising a thermoelastic material; and an actuator applying tension to the thermoelastic material. The actuator is configured to alternately perform the operation of applying tension to the thermoelastic material of the first cooling/heating section and removing tension from the thermoelastic material of the second cooling/heating section and the operation of applying tension to the thermoelastic material of the second cooling/heating section and removing tension from the thermoelastic material of the first cooling/heating section.

Claims

1. A cooling/heating module configured to cool and heat air, the module comprising:

first and second cooling/heating sections, each comprising a thermoelastic material; and

an actuator applying tension to the thermoelastic material, wherein

the actuator is configured to alternately perform

the operation of applying tension to the thermoelastic material of the first cooling/heating section and removing tension from the thermoelastic material of the second cooling/heating section, and

the operation of applying tension to the thermoelastic material of the second cooling/heating section and removing tension from the thermoelastic material of the first cooling/heating section.

2. The cooling/heating module of claim 1, wherein

the actuator comprises:

a fixed portion to be fixed to one end of the thermoelastic material;

a movable portion to be fixed to the other end of the thermoelastic material; and

a displacement mechanism which reciprocates the movable portion so that there is a variable distance between the movable portion and the fixed portion.

3. The cooling/heating module of claim 2, wherein

the actuator has a shaft to be driven in rotation, and

the displacement mechanism is configured to transform the rotation of the shaft into the reciprocation of the movable portion.

4. The cooling/heating module of claim 1, wherein

the actuator comprises:

a fixed portion to be fixed to one end of the thermoelastic material in the first and second cooling/heating sections;

a movable portion to be fixed to the other end of the thermoelastic material in the first and second cooling/heating sections; and

a displacement mechanism reciprocating the respective movable portions of the first and second cooling/heating sections in mutually opposite directions so that there is a variable distance between each said movable portion and the fixed portion.

5. The cooling/heating module of claim 1, wherein

the actuator comprises:

a shaft to which one end of the thermoelastic material is fixed and which is driven in rotation; and

an anchor portion fixed to the other end of the thermoelastic material.

6. An air conditioner configured to supply a room with air heated or cooled by a cooling/heating module, wherein

the cooling/heating module is configured as the cooling/heating module of claim 1.

7. An air conditioner configured to supply a room with air heated or cooled by a cooling/heating module, wherein

the cooling/heating module is configured as the cooling/heating module of claim 2.

8. An air conditioner configured to supply a room with air heated or cooled by a cooling/heating module, wherein

the cooling/heating module is configured as the cooling/heating module of claim 3.

9. An air conditioner configured to supply a room with air heated or cooled by a cooling/heating module, wherein

the cooling/heating module is configured as the cooling/heating module of claim 4.

10. An air conditioner configured to supply a room with air heated or cooled by a cooling/heating module, wherein

the cooling/heating module is configured as the cooling/heating module of claim 5.