Vehicle Air Conditioner

A vehicle cooling system comprising:

• a coolant system comprising a thermostatically controlled proportional dividing valve connected to an engine cooling system, a refrigerant-to-cooling heat exchanger connected to the thermostatically controlled proportional dividing valve, a water chest connected to the refrigerant-to-cooling heat exchanger and mounted on a fire wall of the vehicle, a cooling-to-refrigerant heat exchanger connected to the water chest, and a check valve connected to cooling-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and the engine cooling system;
• a closed refrigeration loop comprising a compressor, the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger, the coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a refrigerant dryer in series fluid connection with one another;
• and
• a heat pipe partially disposed within the water chest and extending through the fire wall into a crew compartment to transfer heat from the crew compartment to the fluid circulating through the water chest.

A modular air conditioner for a vehicle comprising

• a housing;
• a closed refrigeration loop disposed within the housing comprising a compressor, a refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger, a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a refrigerant dryer in series fluid connection with one another;
• an engine coolant outlet connector attached to the exterior of the housing and connected to the coolant-to-refrigerant exchanger;
• a compartment inlet connector attached to the exterior of the housing and connected to the coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger;
• a compartment outlet connector attached to the exterior of the housing and connected to the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger;
• an engine coolant inlet connector attached to the exterior of the housing and connected to the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger;
• a hydraulic or electrical motor disposed within the housing and connected to the compressor;
• and
• a hydraulic or electrical connector attached to the exterior of the housing and connected to the motor.

A method for cooling a crew compartment of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

• passing an engine coolant through a coolant system comprising a thermostatically controlled proportional dividing valve connected to an engine cooling system, a refrigerant-to-cooling heat exchanger connected to the thermostatically controlled proportional dividing valve, a water chest connected to the refrigerant-to-cooling heat exchanger and mounted on a fire wall of the vehicle, a cooling-to-refrigerant heat exchanger connected to the water chest, and a check valve connected to cooling-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and the engine cooling system;
• passing a refrigerant through a closed refrigeration loop comprising a compressor, the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger, the coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a refrigerant dryer in series fluid connection with one another;
• and
• transferring heat from the crew compartment to a heat pipe using a fan, wherein the heat pipe is partially disposed within the water chest and extends through the fire wall into the crew compartment and transfers the heat to the engine coolant circulating through the water chest.

A method for cooling a crew compartment of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

• passing an engine coolant through a coolant system comprising a thermostatically controlled proportional dividing valve connected to an engine cooling system, a refrigerant-to-cooling heat exchanger connected to the thermostatically controlled proportional dividing valve, a heater core connected to the refrigerant-to-cooling heat exchanger and mounted within the crew compartment of the vehicle, a cooling-to-refrigerant heat exchanger connected to the heater core, and a check valve connected to cooling-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and the engine cooling system;
• passing a refrigerant through a closed refrigeration loop comprising a compressor, the refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger, the coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a refrigerant dryer in series fluid connection with one another;
• and
• transferring heat from the crew compartment to the engine coolant circulating through the heater core using a fan.