US4238933A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy conserving vapor compression air conditioning system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-03-03
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Granted: 1980-12-16
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Expires: 1998-03-03
Abstract
Abstract An air conditioning system which reduces energy consumption by disposing of the waste heat to a low temperature heat sink, at the same time recovering useful energy. An auxiliary liquid cooled condenser is connected in parallel with the air condenser of a conventional vapor compression air conditioning system through a valve located between the compressor of the existing system and the condensers. When the valve is actuated the refrigerant of the air conditioning system is routed from the air condenser and instead flows through the liquid cooled condenser assembly in heat exchange relationship with a body of fluid which is at a lower temperature than the ambient air, such as water from a swimming pool or from a municipal water supply. The valve also serves to exhaust refrigerant from the unused condenser. Maximum energy conservation is achieved by use of the total heat content of the refrigerant rather than only the high-temperature heat as in those prior art systems designed as a principal heat source.
Inventors
- 👤 Murray Coombs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:45
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B6/00; F25B6/02; F24; F24D; F24D11/00; F24D11/02; F24D11/0214; F24D11/0235; F24D17/00; F24D17/02; F25B41/00; F25B41/20; F25B49/00; F25B49/02; F25B49/027; F25B2339/00; F25B2339/04; F25B2339/047; F25B2400/00; F25B2400/04; F25B2400/0403; F25B2400/19; F25B2500/00; F25B2500/01; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/70; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An energy conserving vapor compression air conditioning system, comprising a compressor, an evaporator, an air cooled condenser, conduit means for connecting said compressor, said evaporator, and said air cooled condenser into a continuous loop, a liquid cooled condenser connected to said conduit means in parallel with said air cooled condenser, means for selectively providing a refrigerant flowing through said conduit means to either said air cooled condenser or said liquid cooled condenser, and means for exhausting excess refrigerant from the non-selected condenser and returning the excess refrigerant to the selected condenser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
An energy conserving vapor compression air conditioning system, comprising a compressor, an evaporator, an air cooled condenser, conduit means for connecting said compressor, said evaporator, and said air cooled condenser into a continuous loop, a liquid cooled condenser connected to said conduit means in parallel with said air cooled condenser, means for selectively providing a refrigerant flowing through said conduit means to either said air cooled condenser or said liquid cooled condenser, and means for exhausting excess refrigerant from the non-selected condenser and returning the excess refrigerant to the selected condenser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said means for selectively providing a refrigerant to either said air cooled condenser or said liquid cooled condenser comprises a four way valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said liquid cooled condenser is cooled by water provided by the water circulation system of a swimming pool.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein said water for cooling said liquid cooled condenser is provided by conduit means plumbed in parallel with said swimming pool water circulation system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said swimming pool water circulation system includes valve means for selectively providing said water to said liquid cooled condenser or diverting said water therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said liquid cooled condenser is disposed in a tank of water to be heated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein said tank is supplied by a cold water supply and includes a hot water outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said tank further includes a warm water outlet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for reducing the energy consumption of a vapor compression air conditioning system having a compressor and a first condenser, said apparatus comprising valve means, means for connecting said valve means between said compressor and said first condenser, a second condenser adapted to be liquid cooled connected to said valve means, means for connecting said second condenser to said system in parallel with said first condenser, means for selectively providing refrigerant from said compressor to either said first condenser or said second condenser, and means for exhausting excess refrigerant from the non-selected condenser and returning the excess refrigerant to the selected condenser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for reducing the energy consumption of a vapor compression air conditioning system having a compressor and a first condenser, said apparatus comprising valve means, means for connecting said valve means between said compressor and said first condenser, a second condenser adapted to be liquid cooled connected to said valve means, means for connecting said second condenser to said system in parallel with said first condenser, means for selectively providing refrigerant from said compressor to either said first condenser or said second condenser, and means for exhausting excess refrigerant from the non-selected condenser and returning the excess refrigerant to the selected condenser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said means for selectively providing refrigerant to either said first or said second condenser comprises a four way valve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said second condenser includes means for diverting water from a swimming pool to provide a heat sink medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a vapor compression air conditioning system having an air cooled condenser, the improvement comprising a four way valve connected between the compressor and the air cooled condenser of said system, and a liquid cooled condenser connected at one end thereof to an output of said four way valve and at the other end thereof to the air conditioning system in parallel with the air cooled condenser of said system, said four way valve including means for selectively providing refrigerant to an active one of said condensers while exhausting excess refrigerant from the other inactive condenser and returning the excess refrigerant to the active condenser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a vapor compression air conditioning system having an air cooled condenser, the improvement comprising a four way valve connected between the compressor and the air cooled condenser of said system, and a liquid cooled condenser connected at one end thereof to an output of said four way valve and at the other end thereof to the air conditioning system in parallel with the air cooled condenser of said system, said four way valve including means for selectively providing refrigerant to an active one of said condensers while exhausting excess refrigerant from the other inactive condenser and returning the excess refrigerant to the active condenser.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-16 | 1984-06-16 | 1984-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-16 | 1988-06-16 | 1988-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-16 | 1992-06-16 | 1992-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |