Dual evaporator air conditioning system and method of use
First Claim
1. A dual evaporator air conditioning system for use with a refrigerant for cooling air, said system comprising:
- a compressor for compressing and circulating the refrigerant;
a primary air conditioning unit operable between cooling and non-cooling modes having a primary evaporator in fluid communication with said compressor for transferring heat from the air to the refrigerant to cool the air when in said cooling mode;
an auxiliary air conditioning unit operable between cooling and non-cooling modes having an auxiliary evaporator m fluid communication with said compressor for transferring heat from the air to the refrigerant to cool the air when in said cooling mode; and
a heater proximate said auxiliary evaporator and further including means for automatically heating the refrigerant in said auxiliary when said auxiliary air conditioning unit is in said non-cooling mode while said primary air conditioning unit is in said cooling mode to prevent accumulation of the refrigerant in said auxiliary evaporator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual evaporator air conditioning system and method for use therewith to cool air in front and rear portions of a cabin of a vehicle. The dual evaporator air conditioning system includes primary and auxiliary HVAC units to cool the air in the front and rear portions of the cabin, respectively. The dual evaporator air conditioning system also includes a control system having cooling and non-cooling modes for each of the HVAC units. The control system automatically activates a heating element near the auxiliary evaporator in response to the auxiliary HVAC unit being in the non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in the cooling mode. The heating element heats the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to prevent accumulation of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the auxiliary evaporator when the auxiliary HVAC unit is in the non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in the cooling mode.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A dual evaporator air conditioning system for use with a refrigerant for cooling air, said system comprising:
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a compressor for compressing and circulating the refrigerant; a primary air conditioning unit operable between cooling and non-cooling modes having a primary evaporator in fluid communication with said compressor for transferring heat from the air to the refrigerant to cool the air when in said cooling mode; an auxiliary air conditioning unit operable between cooling and non-cooling modes having an auxiliary evaporator m fluid communication with said compressor for transferring heat from the air to the refrigerant to cool the air when in said cooling mode; and a heater proximate said auxiliary evaporator and further including means for automatically heating the refrigerant in said auxiliary when said auxiliary air conditioning unit is in said non-cooling mode while said primary air conditioning unit is in said cooling mode to prevent accumulation of the refrigerant in said auxiliary evaporator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of cooling air comprising the steps of:
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conditioning front and rear portions of a cabin of a vehicle using a dual evaporator air conditioning system having a heater and primary and auxiliary air conditioning units operable between cooling and non-cooling modes, sensing when the auxiliary air conditioning unit is in the non-cooling mode while the primary unit is in the cooling mode; and automatically activating a heater located proximate to an auxiliary evaporator of said auxiliary air conditioning unit to heat the refrigerant in said auxiliary evaporator in response to sensing the auxiliary air conditioning unit is in the cooling mode to prevent the accumulation of refrigerant in said auxiliary evaporator.
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23. A method of cooling air in front and rear portions of a cabin of a vehicle using a dual evaporator air conditioning system having primary and auxiliary air conditioning units, a control system for controlling the air conditioning units between cooling and non-cooling modes, and a compressor for circulating refrigerant through the air conditioning units, said method comprising the steps of:
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switching each of the primary and auxiliary air conditioning units from the non-cooling mode to the cooling mode; activating the compressor in response to the primary air conditioning unit being switched from the non-cooling mode to the cooling mode; circulating refrigerant through the primary air conditioning unit and the auxiliary air conditioning unit in response to activating the compressor; activating a primary blower for transferring heat from the air to the refrigerant to cool the air in the front portion of the cabin in response to the primary air conditioning unit being in the cooling mode; discharging cooled air into the front portion of the cabin in response to activating the primary blower; activating an auxiliary blower for transferring heat from the air to the refrigerant to cool the air in the rear portion of the cabin in response to the auxiliary air conditioning unit being in the cooling mode; discharging cooled air into the rear portion of the cabin in response to activating the auxiliary blower; switching the auxiliary air conditioning unit from the cooling mode to the non-cooling mode while the primary air conditioning unit remains in the cooling mode; and automatically activating a heater near the auxiliary air conditioning unit to heating refrigerant in an auxiliary evaporator in response to the auxiliary air conditioning unit being switched from the cooling mode to the non-cooling mode while the primary air conditioning unit remains in the cooling mode. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification