Automotive heater and air conditioner and process therefor

An automotive heater and air conditioner comprising:

• a heat pump including:
• a reversible closed circuit refrigeration/heating means having a compressor, an inboard heat exchanger in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, at least one external heat exchanger in close heat exchanger relation to a waste heat source, and said inboard and external exchangers in said closed circuit with an expansion valve between said inboard and external exchangers;
• at least one additional heat exchanger in ambient air in parallel flow relation to said external exchangers in proximity to said waste heat source and said additional heat exchanger flow functioning only in one direction of flow of said refrigerant;
• a flow director means providing selective control to route refrigerant to selectively cool and warm said inboard exchanger;
• and
• ducting through which fresh and recirculated air is selectively entrained over said inboard exchanger and thence to selected disposition and circulation of the air as selectively warmed or cooled.

An automotive heater and air conditioner in an automobile having an internal combustion engine and a passenger compartment comprising:

• a heat pump including:
• a reversible closed circuit refrigeration/heating means having a compressor selectively driven by said automobile engine, an inboard heat exchanger in the passenger compartment of said automobile, a heat exchanger external of said passenger compartment in close heat exchange relation to a waste heat source of said automobile, and said exchangers in said closed circuit with an expansion valve between said exchangers;
• a second heat exchanger external of said passenger compartment of said automobile and in parallel flow relation with said first mentioned external exchanger and located in free air;
• flow director means providing selective control to route refrigerant to selectively cool and warm said inboard exchanger;
• unidirectional flow valves in said circuit to said external exchangers and directing flow through selected of said external exchangers for cooling and for heating;
• and
• ducting through which air is entrained over said inboard exchanger and thence to selected disposition and circulation of the air as warmed or cooled in said passenger compartment.