Method and apparatus for air conditioning motor vehicles

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 wherein, during the heating mode, the dilute solution leaving the engine block is directed to a heater, and is then repressurized and recycled back to the engine block.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 wherein, during the heating mode, the dilute solution leaving the engine block is directed to an evaporator in which the refrigerant reevaporation takes place during the cooling mode of operation, and then to an absorber, in which the remixing of the refrigerant and dilute solution takes place during the cooling mode.

Claim 5

Apparatus for air conditioning a motor vehicle, comprising: conduit means for introducing into the vehicle engine block a concentrated solution of a solvent and a volatile refrigerant, which refrigerant is evaporated from the concentrated solution by the heat generated in the engine block, thereby leaving a dilute solution; a condenser condensing the evaporated refrigerant and rejecting the heat so produced external to the automobile; an expansion device reducing the pressure of the condensed refrigerant; an evaporator evaporating the condensed refrigerant and cooling thereby the motor vehicle interior; a liquid regulating device reducing the pressure of the dilute solution; an absorber remixing said dilute solution from the engine block and the refrigerant from the evaporator to reconstitute the concentrated solution; return conduit means including a pump for recycling the remixed solution back to the engine block under pressure; and control means for selectively controlling the apparatus to operate according to a "cooling" mode to cool the interior of the motor vehicle, or a "heating" mode to heat the interior of the motor vehicle; said control means including valve and by-pass means effective during the cooling mode to utilize the evaporated refrigerant to cool the interior of the vehicle by directing same to said condenser, expansion device and evaporator; said valve and by-pass means being effective during the heating mode to utilize the dilute solution from the engine block to heat the interior of the motor vehicle while accumulating in said condenser the refrigerant leaving the engine block.

Claim 6

Apparatus for air conditioning a motor vehicle, comprising: conduit means for introducing into the vehicle engine block a concentrated solution of a solvent and a volatile refrigerant, which refrigerant is evaporated from the concentrated solution by the heat generated in the engine block, thereby leaving a dilute solution; a condenser condensing the evaporated refrigerant and rejecting the heat so produced external to the automobile; an expansion device reducing the pressure of the condensed refrigerant; an evaporator evaporating the condensed refrigerant and cooling thereby the motor vehicle interior; a liquid regulating device reducing the pressure of the dilute solution; an absorber remixing said dilute solution from the engine block and the refrigerant from the evaporator to reconstitute the concentrated solution; return conduit means including a pump for recycling the remixed solution back to the engine block under pressure; and control means for selectively controlling the apparatus to operate according to a "cooling" mode to cool the interior of the motor vehicle, or a "heating" mode to heat the interior of the motor vehicle; said control means including valve and by-pass means effective during the cooling mode to utilize the evaporated refrigerant to cool the interior of the vehicle by directing same to said condenser, expansion device and evaporator; said valve and by-pass means being effective during the heating mode to utilize the dilute solution from the engine block to heat the interior of the motor vehicle while accumulating in said condenser the refrigerant leaving the engine block.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said absorber replaces the motor vehicle radiator or is a modification thereof.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 4 further including an analyser between the engine block and the condenser for separating dilute solution from the evaporated refrigerant and directing said dilute solution to the absorber during the cooling mode.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 4, further including a receiver at the outlet of the condenser for accumulating the condensed refrigerant.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 4, further including a heat-exchanger between the absorber and the engine block, which heat-exchanger utilizes, during the cooling mode, the hot dilute solution leaving the engine block for preheating the concentrated solution from the absorber before the same is recycled back to the engine block.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 4, further including a heat-exchanger between the condenser and said expansion device, which latter heat-exchanger uses, during the cooling mode, the cold evaporated refrigerant from the evaporator for cooling the hot liquid refrigerant from the condenser.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control means also selectively controls the apparatus to operate according to an "off" mode, wherein said valve-and-by-pass means directs the dilute solution through the absorber and back to the engine block while accumulating in said condenser the refrigerant from the engine block.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10, further including a heater, said valve and by-pass means for directing the dilute solution from the engine block through the heater during the heating made of operation, said by-pass means comprising a by-pass line from the dilute solution exit of the engine block, to the heater, and back to the concentrated solution inlet to the engine block, a first control valve in said by-pass line effective to enable same during the heating mode, and a second control valve between the condenser and the evaporator and effective to disconnect the evaporator during the heating and off modes, thereby to cause the refrigerant to accumulate in the condenser.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 11, further including a third control valve between the evaporator and the absorber and effective to disconnect the absorber from the evaporator during the heating and off modes.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 12, further including a thermostat and a fourth control valve effective, during the heating mode, to direct all the dilute solution from the engine block to the heater while the engine is relatively cold, and to direct a part of the dilute solution from the engine block to the absorber after the engine has become warm.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 4, further including a strainer between the condenser and the evaporator.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said valve and by-pass means include a line between the dilute solution outlet of the engine block and the inlet end of the evaporator, a first control valve in said latter line which valve is closed during the cooling and off modes, and open during the heating mode, and a second control valve between the condenser and the evaporator which valve is open during the cooling mode and closed during the heating mode.