Heat-augmented heat exchanger

Claim 1

In a heat pump which comprises an inside heat-rejecting means for providing a source to heat an interior space to a selected personal comfort temperature, means for circulating a heat-absorbing fluid in heat-absorbing flow relation to said heat-rejecting means to cool a refrigerant therein, heat-absorbing means, a compressor having an inlet connected to said heat-absorbing means and an outlet connected to said inside heat-rejecting means, conduit means for returning refrigerant from said inside heat-rejecting means to said heat-absorbing means, means for driving said compressor, heat-generating means constituting the sole source of heat for said heat-absorbing means for generating a quantity of heat immediately adjacent said heat-absorbing means which is essentially totally absorbed by the refrigerant in said heat-absorbing means, the quantity of heat generated by said heat-generating means being in amount sufficient to enable the heat-rejecting means to heat the interior space to said selected personal comfort temperature without requiring forced ambient air circulation through said heat-absorbing means, said heat-generating means being disposed generally contiguous and below said heat-absorbing means, said heat-absorbing means being an outdoor coil defining a substantially enclosed chamber, said heat-generating means developing an open flame for directly heating the refrigerant during the passage thereof from an inlet of said outdoor coil to an outlet of said outdoor coil, and said open flame being directed upwardly and substantially entirely into said chamber.