Patent US3881546A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3881546A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air conditioner for automotive vehicles
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1973-08-21
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1993-08-21
Abstract
Abstract All of the component parts except a compressor of an air conditioner for automotive vehicles are mounted within a unit casing consisting of a condenser casing and a duct casing, the unit casing being mounted within a compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshinori Otsuka
- 👤 Masakatsu Hayashi
- 👤 Jun Ichi Mantoku
- 👤 Susumu Yamazaki
- 👤 Akira Tomita
- 👤 Masanori Musou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:42
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B39/00; F25B39/04; B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/32; B60H1/3204; B60H1/3227; B60H1/3229; F25B43/00; F25B43/003; B60H1/00007; B60H1/00207; B60H2001/00228; F25B2339/00; F25B2339/04; F25B2339/044; F25B2339/0441; F25B2339/0443; F25B2400/00; F25B2400/16; F25B2400/162
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
An air conditioner for installation within an automotive vehicle comprising: compressor means, condenser means in fluid flow communication with said compressor means for receiving refrigerant to be condensed from said compressor means, said condenser means being disposed within a condenser casing having a bottom portion, said condenser casing also having an inlet directed toward a front portion of the vehicle and an outlet opened at a side portion of the vehicle, condenser cooling fan means disposed between said condenser means and said outlet, a duct casing provided with two air inlets adapted to receive air from a vehicle compartment and from the atmosphere surrounding the vehicle, respectively, said duct casing also being provided with an outlet opened into a vehicle compartment, refrigerant evaporator means arranged within said duct casing in fluid flow communication with said condenser means, and heater means and duct fan means arranged within said duct casing with the heater means downstream of said evaporator means, said evaporator means having a lower portion, and said duct casing being assembled with said condenser casing as a unitary structure with said evaporator means arranged opposite said condenser means within said unitary structure and with said heater means and said duct fan means arranged between said condenser means and said evaporator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
An air conditioner for installation within an automotive vehicle comprising: compressor means, condenser means in fluid flow communication with said compressor means for receiving refrigerant to be condensed from said compressor means, said condenser means being disposed within a condenser casing having a bottom portion, said condenser casing also having an inlet directed toward a front portion of the vehicle and an outlet opened at a side portion of the vehicle, condenser cooling fan means disposed between said condenser means and said outlet, a duct casing provided with two air inlets adapted to receive air from a vehicle compartment and from the atmosphere surrounding the vehicle, respectively, said duct casing also being provided with an outlet opened into a vehicle compartment, refrigerant evaporator means arranged within said duct casing in fluid flow communication with said condenser means, and heater means and duct fan means arranged within said duct casing with the heater means downstream of said evaporator means, said evaporator means having a lower portion, and said duct casing being assembled with said condenser casing as a unitary structure with said evaporator means arranged opposite said condenser means within said unitary structure and with said heater means and said duct fan means arranged between said condenser means and said evaporator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
An air conditioner as defined in claim 1 wherein the condenser casing, between said condenser means and said outlet thereof, is divided into two air flow passages, and wherein said condenser cooling fan means is disposed in one of said two air flow passages with a nonreturn valve disposed in the other air flow passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
An air conditioner as defined in claim 1, wherein a drain water tank or reservoir is formed integral with said condenser casing at the bottom portion thereof, and a water flow passage intercommunicating between a portion below or adjacent to the lower portion of said evaporator means and said tank or reservoir is extended through a unit casing which interconnects said duct casing and said condenser casing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
An air conditioner for an automotive vehicle comprising: compressor means, condenser means in fluid flow communication with said compressor means to receive refrigerant to be condensed from said compressor means, said condenser means being disposed with a condenser casing having a bottom portion, means including a refrigerant evaporator in fluid flow communication with said condenser means, said means being arranged within a duct casing for cooling ambient air and supplying the cooled air to a compartment of said vehicle, and air heating means arranged within said duct casing, wherein said duct casing and said condenser casing are adapted to be installed in the vehicle as a unitary structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
An air conditioner for an automotive vehicle comprising: compressor means, condenser means in fluid flow communication with said compressor means to receive refrigerant to be condensed from said compressor means, said condenser means being disposed with a condenser casing having a bottom portion, means including a refrigerant evaporator in fluid flow communication with said condenser means, said means being arranged within a duct casing for cooling ambient air and supplying the cooled air to a compartment of said vehicle, and air heating means arranged within said duct casing, wherein said duct casing and said condenser casing are adapted to be installed in the vehicle as a unitary structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The air condition of claim 4, wherein the vehicle has a dashboard under which the duct casing and condenser casing are installed as a unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
An air conditioner for an automotive vehicle comprising: compressor means, condenser means in fluid flow communication with said compressor means to receive refrigerant to be condensed from said compressor means, said condenser means being disposed within a condenser casing having a bottom portion, means including a refrigerant evaporator in fluid flow communication with said condenser means, said means being arranged within a duct casing for cooling ambient air and supplying the cooled air to a compartment of said vehicle, said duct casing and said condenser casing being adapted to be installed in the vehicle as a unitary structure, wherein the means within the duct casing further comprises air heating means, and duct fan means, and wherein the duct casing and the condenser casing are arranged as a unitary structure with the air heating means and duct fan means being arranged between the refrigerant evaporator means and condenser means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
An air conditioner for an automotive vehicle comprising: compressor means, condenser means in fluid flow communication with said compressor means to receive refrigerant to be condensed from said compressor means, said condenser means being disposed within a condenser casing having a bottom portion, means including a refrigerant evaporator in fluid flow communication with said condenser means, said means being arranged within a duct casing for cooling ambient air and supplying the cooled air to a compartment of said vehicle, said duct casing and said condenser casing being adapted to be installed in the vehicle as a unitary structure, wherein the means within the duct casing further comprises air heating means, and duct fan means, and wherein the duct casing and the condenser casing are arranged as a unitary structure with the air heating means and duct fan means being arranged between the refrigerant evaporator means and condenser means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The air conditioner of claim 6, wherein the vehicle has a dashboard under which the unitary structure is installed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The air conditioner of claim 6, wherein the condenser casing has an air inlet directed toward a front portion of the vehicle and an air outlet directed toward a side portion of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the duct casing has an air inlet directed toward a side portion of the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The air conditioner of claim 6, wherein the duct casing and condenser casing constitute parts of a unit casing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |