Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for transferring heat from a gaseous fluid to a first fluid in a fluid flow system including at least a first fluid in a first flow path, and a second fluid in a second flow path, at least said second fluid being a gaseous fluid, comprising the steps of providing a heat transfer means fior transferring heat from the gaseous fluid to the first fluid, providing a pressure build-up means, increasing the pressure of the gaseous fluid using said pressure build-up means in order to increase the heat flow density thereof, thereby increasing the amount of heat transferred to the first fluid as said pressure is increased, and selectively placing said pressure build-up means into or out of operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for transferring heat from a gaseous fluid to a first fluid in a fluid flow system including at least a first fluid in a first flow path, and a second fluid in a second flow path, at least said second fluid being a gaseous fluid, comprising the steps of providing a heat transfer means fior transferring heat from the gaseous fluid to the first fluid, providing a pressure build-up means, increasing the pressure of the gaseous fluid using said pressure build-up means in order to increase the heat flow density thereof, thereby increasing the amount of heat transferred to the first fluid as said pressure is increased, and selectively placing said pressure build-up means into or out of operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein said heat transfer means includes at least first and second heat exchanger means connected in parallel in said second flow path, said second heat exchanger means including said pressure build-up means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of providing a damper means and operating said damper means for selectively directing the flow of the gaseous fluid through substantially only said second heat exchanger means or through both of said first and second heat exchanger means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
The invention according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of providing a bypass means and providing a four-way valve means in the second flow path, said four-way valve means including a a gaseous fluid inlet and three outlets, a first of said outlets being connected to said bypass means for bypassing said heat transfer means, a second of said outlets being connected to said heat transfer means such that the gaseous fluid is directed through both of said first and second heat exchanger means, and a third of said outlets being connected to said heat transfer means such that the gaseous fluid is directed substantially only through said second heat exchanger means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein said heat transfer means includes at least first and second heat exchanger means connected in series in said second flow path, said second heat exchanger means including said pressure build-up means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 5, further comprising the step of providing a selectively operable damper means for selectively directing the gaseous fluid either serially through both of said heat exchanger means or through substantially only said first heat exchanger means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein said heat transfer means includes a gaseous fluid inlet, a gaseous fluid outlet, and at least one heat transfer surface separating said first fluid from the gaseous fluid, said pressure build-up means including nozzle means disposed generally on the gaseous fluid inlet side of said heat transfer means for increasing the flow velocity of the gaseous fluid and for directing the gaseous fluid flow toward at least a portion of said heat transfer surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention according to claim 7, wherein said step for selectively placing said pressure build-up means into or out of operation is accomplished by selectively moving said nozzle means into or out of the flow path of said gaseous fluid through said heat transfer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention according to claim 7, further comprising the step of providing a selectively operable damper means for selectively directing the gaseous fluid flow through or around said nozzle means before the gaseous fluid contacts said heat transfer surface, thereby providing said step of selectively placing said pressure build-up means into or out of operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
The invention according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of providing a bypass means and providing a four-way valve means in the second flow path, said four-way valve means including a gaseous fluid inlet and three outlets, a first of said outlets being connected to said bypass menas for bypassing said heat transfer means, a second of said outlets being connected to said nozzle means, and a third of said outlets being connected to said heat transfer means such that the gaseous fluid flows over said heat transfer surface in contact therewith without first flowing through said nozzle means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention according to claim 1, further comprising providing selectively operable bypass means for substantially preventing the gaseous fluid from flowing through said pressure build-up means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein said heat transfer means includes said pressure build-up means, and further comprising the step of providing selectively operable bypass means for substantially preventing the gaseous fluid flow from flowing through said heat transfer means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein said pressure build-up means is disposed in said second flow path downstream of said heat transfer means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system for conveying exhaust gas from the engine, a fluid coolant system for cooling the engine, a vehicle interior heating system including means for transferring heat from the fluid coolant to the vehicle interior, the improvement comprising heat transfer means for transferring heat from the exhaust gas to the fluid coolant, pressure build-up means for increasing the pressure of the exhaust gas in order to increase the heat flow density thereof, thereby increasing the amount of heat transferred to the fluid coolant, and selective operation means for selectively placing said pressure build-up means into or out of operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an exhaust system for conveying exhaust gas from the engine, a fluid coolant system for cooling the engine, a vehicle interior heating system including means for transferring heat from the fluid coolant to the vehicle interior, the improvement comprising heat transfer means for transferring heat from the exhaust gas to the fluid coolant, pressure build-up means for increasing the pressure of the exhaust gas in order to increase the heat flow density thereof, thereby increasing the amount of heat transferred to the fluid coolant, and selective operation means for selectively placing said pressure build-up means into or out of operation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention according to claim 14, wherein said heat transfer means comprises at least first and second heat exchanger means connected in parallel in the exhaust system, said second heat exchanger means including said pressure build-up means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention according to claim 15, wherein said selective operation means includes damper means for selectively directing the flow of the exhaust gas through substantially only said second heat exchanger means or through both of said first and second heat exchanger means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 16, further comprising selectively operable bypass means for substantially preventing the exhaust gas from flowing through said heat transfer means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
The invention according to claim 15, wherein said selective operation means includes four-way valve means in the exhaust system, said four-way valve means including an exhaust gas inlet and three outlets, a first of said outlets being connected to bypass means for bypassing said heat transfer means, a second of said outlets being connected to said heat transfer means such that the exhaust gas is directed through both of said first and second heat exchanger means, and a third of said outlets being connected to said heat transfer means such that the exhaust gas is directed substantially only through said second heat exchanger means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a fluid flow system including at least a first fluid in a first flow path, and a second fluid in a second flow path, at least said second fluid being a gaseous fluid, the improvement comprising heat transfer means for transferring heat from the gaseous fluid to the first fluid, said heat tranfer means comprises at least first and second heat exchanger means connected in parallel in said second flow path, pressure build-up means within said second heat exchanger means for increasing the pressure of the gaseous fluid in order to inrease the heat flow density thereof, thereby increasing the amount of heat transferred to the first fluid, and selective operation means for selectively placing said pressure build-up means into or out of operation, said selective operation means includes damper means for selectively directing the flow of the gaseous fluid through substantially only said second heat exchanger means or through both of said first and second heat exchanger means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a fluid flow system including at least a first fluid in a first flow path, and a second fluid in a second flow path, at least said second fluid being a gaseous fluid, the improvement comprising heat transfer means for transferring heat from the gaseous fluid to the first fluid, said heat tranfer means comprises at least first and second heat exchanger means connected in parallel in said second flow path, pressure build-up means within said second heat exchanger means for increasing the pressure of the gaseous fluid in order to inrease the heat flow density thereof, thereby increasing the amount of heat transferred to the first fluid, and selective operation means for selectively placing said pressure build-up means into or out of operation, said selective operation means includes damper means for selectively directing the flow of the gaseous fluid through substantially only said second heat exchanger means or through both of said first and second heat exchanger means.