Refrigerant flow management center for automobiles

• US 6,094,930 A
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Zeng, Xin, Schwarz, Stefan, Ziehr, Lawrence, Lake, Barry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US09/191,030
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 62/324.6, 62/324.1, 62/509, 62/160, 62/511, 236/92 B
• US Class Current: 62/324.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00907 where the flow direction of the refrigerant changes and an evaporator becomes condenser
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3205 Control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3208 Vehicle drive related control of the compressor drive means, e.g. for fuel saving purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3213 for increasing the efficiency in a vehicle heat pump
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00935 comprising four way valves for controlling the fluid direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3238 related to the operation of the compressor
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3248 related to pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3255 related to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3257 of the refrigerant at a compressing unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/326 of the refrigerant at a condensing unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3263 of the refrigerant at an evaporating unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3264 of the refrigerant at an expansion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3266 related to the operation of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3272 to control the revolving speed of a compressor
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3277 to control the air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3282 to control the air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3285 related to an expansion unit
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 13/00 Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle defrosting cycles F25B47/02
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2313/023 using multiple indoor units
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/20 Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves expansion valves F25B41/31
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/24 : Arrangement of shut-off valves for disconnecting a part of the refrigerant cycle, e.g. an outdoor part
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/34 : with the valve member being actuated by electric means, e.g. by piezoelectric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 43/003 : Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/02 : for compression type machines, plants or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 5/02 : arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 : Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A flow management device is provided for managing refrigerant flow in a reversible HVAC system. Refrigerant lines from the system heat exchangers connect to bi-directional ports on the flow management device which converts the high pressure refrigerant flowing in one bi-directional port into pressure reduced refrigerant that flows out of the other bi-directional port. The flow management device has multiple bi-directional ports and a flow path for refrigerant extending between the ports. Flow sensitive valves are positioned within the flow path to prevent high pressure refrigerant from flowing between the ports. A pressure reducing device is arranged so that high pressure refrigerant flowing into one of the ports flows through one of the flow sensitive valves and then into the pressure reducing device. Pressure reduced refrigerant emitted from the pressure reducing device flows through a multi-function valve and out the other port. The invention can further integrate the receiver/drier function into the flow management device providing a centralized device for filtering refrigerant flow and ensuring a continuous supply of liquid refrigerant to the pressure reducing device. Also, outlets can be added to the receiver portion of the flow management center to provide a source of high pressure liquid refrigerant for secondary heat exchangers.

Claims

1. A flow management device for regulating refrigerant flow in an automotive HVAC system, the flow management device comprising:

a housing defining a first port, a second port, and a flow path extending between said first port and said second port to communicate a flow of refrigerant therebetween;

a first flow sensitive valve sealingly disposed in said flow path for preventing the flow of high pressure refrigerant from the second port to the first port;

a second flow sensitive valve sealingly disposed in said flow path for preventing the flow of high pressure refrigerant from the first port to the second port;

a pressure reducing device disposed in said flow path for pressure reducing high pressure refrigerant that flows through either said first flow sensitive valve or said second flow sensitive valve; and

a pressure sensitive valve for preventing the flow of high pressure refrigerant between the first port and the second port, said pressure sensitive valve having a first position and a second position such that when the pressure sensitive valve is in the first position pressure reduced refrigerant is permitted to flow from the pressure reducing device to the second port and when the pressure sensitive valve is in the second position pressure reduced refrigerant is permitted to flow from the pressure reducing device to the first port;

wherein during one operating mode high pressure refrigerant flows into the first port, through the first flow sensitive valve, into the pressure reducing device whereby pressure reduced refrigerant is emitted, and the pressure reduced refrigerant flows through the multi-function valve and out of the second port; and

during a second operating mode high pressure refrigerant flows into the second port, through the second flow sensitive valve, into the pressure reducing device whereby pressure reduced refrigerant is emitted, and the pressure reduced refrigerant flows through the multi-function valve and out of the first port.

2. The flow management device of claim 1 further comprising a receiver for accumulating liquid refrigerant to ensure a continuous supply of refrigerant to the pressure reducing valve.

3. The flow management device of claim 2 further comprising an outlet in the receiver for providing liquid refrigerant to secondary heat exchanger circuits.

4. The flow management device of claim 1 further comprising a dessicant for filtering contaminants from the refrigerant.

5. The flow management device of claim 1 wherein the high pressure refrigerant flowing into the first bi-directional port causes the pressure sensitive valve to change to a position that permits pressure reduced refrigerant to flow out of the second bi-directional port.

6. A flow management device for regulating refrigerant flow in an automotive HVAC system, the flow management device comprising:

a housing defining a first port, a second port, and a flow path extending between said first port and said second port to communicate a flow of refrigerant therebetween;

a first flow sensitive valve sealingly disposed in said flow path for preventing the flow of high pressure refrigerant from the second port to the first port;

a second flow sensitive valve sealingly disposed in said flow path for preventing the flow of high pressure refrigerant from the first port to the second port;

a pressure reducing device disposed in said flow path for pressure reducing high pressure refrigerant that flows through either said first flow sensitive valve or said second flow sensitive valve;

a receiver for accumulating liquid refrigerant to ensure a continuous supply of refrigerant to the pressure reducing valve;

an outlet in the receiver for providing liquid refrigerant to secondary heat exchanger circuits; and

a multi-function valve for preventing the flow of high pressure refrigerant between the first port and the second port and for permitting the flow of pressure reduced refrigerant from the pressure reducing device to the first port and the second port;

wherein during one operating mode high pressure refrigerant flows into the first port, through the first flow sensitive valve, into the pressure reducing device whereby pressure reduced refrigerant is emitted, and the pressure reduced refrigerant flows through the multi-function valve and out of the second port; and

during a second operating mode high pressure refrigerant flows into the second port, through the second flow sensitive valve, into the pressure reducing device whereby pressure reduced refrigerant is emitted, and the pressure reduced refrigerant flows through the multi-function valve and out of the first port.

7. The flow management device of claim 6 further comprising a dessicant for filtering contaminants from the refrigerant.

8. The flow management device of claim 6 wherein the multi-function valve comprises a first pressure sensitive valve and a second pressure sensitive valve such that pressure reduced refrigerant does not flow through the first and the second pressure sensitive valves at substantially the same time.