Combined engine cooling system and waste-heat driven automotive air conditioning system
OwnerAlvin Lowi, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved engine cooling system is combined with an automotive air conditioning system for utilizing otherwise waste heat from an engine to vaporize refrigerant fluid which is condensed and pumped back to the engine in a closed cycle. In a cooling mode, vaporized refrigerant is conveyed via a jet ejector to the automobile radiator, a condensed portion of the refrigerant fluid being drawn by the ejector through a throttling valve and a conditioner air coil to provide evaporative cooling. In a heating mode, the vaporized refrigerant is conveyed directly to the conditioner air coil, which then serves as a condenser to provide condensation heating. The partially condensed refrigerant is further condensed at the radiator and then pumped back to the engine.
Claims14
An automotive engine cooling and air conditioning cooling and heating system for utilizing otherwise wasted heat from an engine to vaporize refrigerant fluid, comprising:
- a closed fluid circuit means;
- an automotive engine including a cooling jacket therefor;
- refrigerant engine cooling fluid in said circuit means;
- condenser means for condensing vaporized refrigerant fluid;
- means for delivering condensed refrigerant fluid from said condenser means to and through said engine cooling jacket whereby to cool said engine and vaporize said fluid;
- means including an aspirator for conveying vaporized refrigerant fluid from said engine to said condenser;
- conditioner means, comprising means for passing air in heat exchange relation with said refrigerant fluid to effect heating and cooling;
- and
- means for diverting at least a portion of said refrigerant fluid from said cooling jacket directly to said condenser means in response to a predetermined pressure level in said circuit means whereby to maintain the temperature of said cooling jacket below a predetermined temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.