US 4,856,578 AGranted

Multi-function self-contained heat pump system

AssigneeNepco, Inc.

InventorDavid I. McCahill

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Abstract

A heat pump unit capable of producing hot potable water irregardless of the heating or cooling operation of the heat pump. The heat pump for heating or cooling a conditioned space with potable water heating capability. The heat pump unit having a compressor with a service port, an entrance port and a discharge. A three-way valve is provided connected to the discharge and to the service port of the compressor, and reversing valve is connected to the three-way valve and to the compressor entrance port. A refrigerant-air heat exchanger is connected to the reversing valve outlet and an external source-refrigerant heat exchanger is connected to the reversing valve with a refrigerant-potable water heat exchanger connected to the three-way valve. The heat pump unit also includes a refrigerant-control device interposed between the external source-refrigerant heat exchanger and the refrigerant-air heat exchanger, a first bi-flow valve interposed between the refrigerant-control device and the refrigerant-potable water heat exchanger, and a second bi-flow valve interposed between the refrigerant-control device and the refrigerant-potable water heat exchanger produces hot water irregardless of the heating or cooling operation of the heat pump.

Claims34

Dependent claims

An improved heat pump unit for heating and cooling a conditioned space utilizing a recirculating refrigerant with potable water heating capability, said heat pump unit of the type having a compressor, a refrigerant-air heat exchanger, an external source-refrigerant heat exchanger interconnected to recirculate refrigerant and transfer heat from a low temperature reservoir to a higher temperature reservoir, wherein the improvement comprises:

a refrigerant-potable water heat exchanger adapted to be connected to a reservoir of potable water through inlet and outlet pipes for passage of potable water therethrough;
a valve means, when positioned for a potable water heating cycle, for evacuating refrigerant from said refrigerant-air heat exchanger and for circulating refrigerant from the compressor to said refrigerant-potable water heat exchanger to heat potable water passing therethrough, and for then circulating said refrigerant to the external source-refrigerant heat exchanger for return to said compressor, and when positioned for a cooling cycle, for evacuating refrigerant from said refrigerant-potable water heat exchanger and for circulating refrigerant from said compressor to the external source-refrigerant heat exchanger and then to the refrigerant-air heat exchanger for return to the compressor;
and when positioned for a heating cycle, for evacuating refrigerant from said refrigerant-potable water heat exchanger and for circulating refrigerant from said compressor to the external source-refrigerant heat exchanger and then to the refrigerant-air heat exchanger for return to the compressor;
and
a thermostat control device responsive to a temperature of the potable water reservoir and conditioned space for activation of said valve means from said hot potable water heating cycle position to said heating and cooling cycle position.

2 more elements

A heat pump unit for heating and cooling a conditioned space utilizing a recirculating refrigerant, with potable water heating capability comprising:

a compressor, including a service port, an entrance port and a discharge;
a refrigerant-air heat exchanger;
an external source-refrigerant heat exchanger;
a refrigerant-potable water heat exchanger;
a refrigerant-control device interposed between said external source-refrigerant heat exchanger and said refrigerant-air heat exchanger;
a valve means, when positioned for a potable water heating cycle, for evacuating refrigerant from said refrigerant-air heat exchanger and for circulating refrigerant from the compressor to said refrigerant-potable water heat exchanger to heat potable water passing therethrough, and for circulating said refrigerant to the external source-refrigerant heat exchanger for return to said compressor, and when positioned for a cooling cycle, for evacuating refrigerant from said refrigerant-potable water heat exchanger and for circulating refrigerant from said compressor to the external source-refrigerant heat exchanger and then to the refrigerant-air heat exchanger for return to the compressor;
and when positioned for a heating cycle, for evacuating refrigerant from said refrigerant-potable water heat exchanger and for circulating refrigerant from said compressor to the refrigerant-air heat exchanger and then to the external source-refrigerant heat exchanger for return to the compressor;
and
a thermostat control device responsive to a temperature of the potable water reservoir and conditioned space for activation of said valve means from said hot potable water heating cycle position to said heating and cooling cycle position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.