Air-conditioning systems

Claim 2

An air-conditioning system comprising: a liquid/air heat exchanger; a two-way valve having two inlets and an outlet; means connecting said valve outlet to said liquid/air heat exchanger; means for supplying a heated liquid to one inlet of said valve; means for feeding liquid from said liquid/air heat exchanger to a refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger; a refrigerating circuit for feeding a refrigerant to said refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger; means for feeding cooled liquid from said refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger to the other inlet of said valve; means for selectively operating said two-way valve so as to feed either said heated liquid, or cooled liquid from said refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger, to said liquid/air heat exchanger; and means for entraining a flow of air through said liquid/air heat exchanger.

Claim 3

A system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a fan for entraining air through said liquid/air heat exchanger and a control system for controlling the operation of said air-conditioning system including a thermostat producing a first signal proportional to a required temperature setting and a second signal proportional to the actual temperature in the space to be air-conditioned, a comparator fed with said first and second signals and producing an output controlling the rotation of a first cam and a second cam, a first cam follower engaging said first cam and actuating means for controlling the speed of said fan and a second cam follower engaging said second cam and actuating means for operating said two-way valve.

Claim 4

A vehicle air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine cooled by a liquid coolant, said system comprising: a liquid/air heat exchanger; a two-way valve having two inlets and an outlet; means connecting said valve outlet to said liquid/air heat exchanger; means for supplying heated liquid engine coolant to one inlet of said valve; means for feeding said liquid engine coolant from said liquid/air heat exchanger to a refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger; a refrigerating circuit for feeding a refrigerant to said refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger; means for feeding cooled liquid engine coolant from said refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger to the other inlet of said valve; means for selectively operating said two-way valve so as to feed either said heated liquid, or cooled liquid from said refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger, to said liquid/air heat exchanger; and means for entraining a flow of air through said liquid/air heat exchanger to the interior of said vehicle.

Claim 5

A vehicle air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an engine cooled by a liquid coolant, said system comprising: a liquid/air heat exchanger; a two-way valve having two inlets and an outlet; means connecting said valve outlet to said liquid/air heat exchanger; means for supplying heated liquid engine coolant to one inlet of said valve; means for feeding said liquid engine coolant from said liquid/air heat exchanger to a refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger; a refrigerating circuit for feeding a refrigerant to said refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger; means for feeding cooled liquid engine coolant from said refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger to the other inlet of said valve; means for selectively operating said two-way valve so as to feed either said heated liquid, or cooled liquid from said refrigerant/liquid heat exchanger, to said liquid/air heat exchanger; and means for entraining a flow of air through said liquid/air heat exchanger to the interior of said vehicle.

Claim 6

A system as claimed in claim 3, comprising a fan for entraining air through said liquid/air heat exchanger and a control system for controlling the operation of said air-conditioning system including a thermostat producing a first signal proportional to a required temperature setting and a second signal proportional to the actual temperature in the vehicle interior to be air-conditioned a comparator fed with said first and second signals and producing an output controlling means for rotating a first cam and a second cam, a first cam follower engaging said first cam and controlling the speed of a motor driving said fan, and a second cam follower engaging said second cam and actuating means for operating said two-way valve.

Claim 7

A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first cam comprises two similar and oppositely inclined cam faces and said second cam comprises a step aligned with the junction between said two oppositely inclined cam faces on said first cam whereby said second cam follower engages said step to cause operation of said two-way valve when said first cam follower is located at the junction between said two oppositely inclined cam faces.