Modular low pressure delivery vehicle air conditioning system

• US 6,276,161 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bergstrom Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bergstrom Incorporated
• Inventors: Peiffer, Larry, Guo, William G., Zeigler, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang, Chen-Wen
• Application Number:
  US09/467,330
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 624/06, 624/34, 622/44, 622/98, 622/39, 622/43, 624/35
• US Class Current: 62/406
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00007 Combined heating, ventilating, or cooling devices control systems or mechanisms B60H1/00642
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3204 using compression B60H1/3233 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/32284 comprising two or more secondary circuits, e.g. at evaporator and condenser side
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/323 characterised by comprising auxiliary or multiple systems, e.g. plurality of evaporators, or by involving auxiliary cooling devices

Abstract

A modular air conditioning system comprises a self-contained refrigeration power cell, a heat exchanger remotely located from the refrigeration power cell, and a low pressure refrigerant communication circuit operably coupling the refrigeration power cell to the heat exchanger. The refrigeration power cell comprises a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator which are serially coupled to form a high pressure closed refrigeration circuit. A drive mechanism, such as an electric or hydraulic motor, or conventional belt, is coupled to the compressor. The low pressure refrigerant communication circuit thermally interfaces with the condenser to remove heat from the high pressure closed refrigeration circuit. Alternatively, this circuit thermally interfaces with the evaporator to remove heat from the low pressure refrigerant. This heat exchanger is adapted to mount in the cabin of an over-the-road or off-road vehicle. Preferably, a second heat exchanger and a second low pressure refrigerant communication circuit is included. This second circuit thermally interfaces with the condenser to remove heat from the refrigeration circuit.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system for an over-the-road or off-road vehicle having an engine located in an engine compartment and an occupant cabin, the occupant cabin having a dashboard including air flow vents and a vent fan included therein, the system comprising:

a refrigeration power cell including a high pressure condenser-based refrigeration circuit having a compressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator serially coupled by fixed tubing having permanent connections;

a first heat exchanger adapted to be mounted in the dashboard of the occupant cabin; and

low pressure refrigerant communication tubing for operably coupling said first heat exchanger to said refrigeration power cell.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigeration power cell further comprises:

a low pressure circulation pump for supplying low pressure refrigerant to said low pressure refrigerant communication tubing; and

wherein said evaporator and said circulation pump are in thermal communications whereby heat is removed from the first low pressure refrigerant.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said evaporator and said circulation pump are coupled by fixed low pressure tubing having permanent connections.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigeration power cell is located completely in the engine compartment.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the engine compartment and the occupant cabin are separated by a firewall, the system further comprising low pressure couplings penetrating the firewall and interposed in said low pressure refrigerant communication tubing to facilitate penetration of the firewall thereby.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said refrigeration power cell is fully charged with high pressure refrigerant prior to location thereof in said engine compartment.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said refrigeration power cell is located in operable proximity to an engine fan to remove heat from said refrigeration power cell.

8. A modular air conditioning system, comprising:

a self-contained refrigeration power cell including a high pressure compressor and an evaporator coupled in series by fixed tubing having permanent connections;

a first heat exchanger remotely located from said refrigeration power cell; and

a low pressure refrigerant communication circuit operably coupled to said refrigeration power cell and to said first heat exchanger, said low pressure refrigerant communication circuit adapted to convey low pressure refrigerant therebetween.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said refrigeration power cell further comprises:

a condenser; and

an expansion device; and

wherein said compressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator are serially coupled by said fixed tubing having permanent connections to form a high pressure closed refrigeration circuit.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said compressor is adapted to be driven by a hydraulic motor or an electric motor.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said low pressure refrigerant communication circuit thermally interfaces with said evaporator via a removable connection to remove heat from the first low pressure refrigerant, and wherein said first heat exchanger is adapted to mount under a dashboard of a vehicle.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said refrigeration power cell is located completely in an engine compartment of a vehicle and said.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the engine compartment and an occupant cabin of the vehicle are separated by a firewall, the system further comprising low pressure couplings penetrating the firewall and interposed in said low pressure refrigerant communication tubing to facilitate penetration of the firewall thereby.

14. An air conditioning system for an over-the-road or off-road vehicle, comprising:

a high pressure refrigeration power cell utilizing fixed high pressure tubing; and

at least one low pressure refrigeration circuit in removable thermal communication with said high pressure refrigeration power cell, said low pressure refrigeration circuit including a heat exchanger for transmitting thermal energy communicated from said high pressure refrigeration power cell.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said high pressure refrigeration power cell comprises:

a compressor;

an evaporator

a condenser; and

an expansion device; and

wherein said compressor, evaporator, condenser, and expansion device are coupled in series by said fixed high pressure tubing utilizing permanent connections.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said high pressure refrigeration power cell is located within an engine compartment of the over-the-road or off-road vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said high pressure refrigeration power cell is fully charged with high pressure refrigerant prior to being located in the engine compartment.