US 6,606,879 B1Granted

Accumulator assembly having a reversing valve and a heat pump system thereof

AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.

InventorJohn Paul Telesz

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Abstract

An accumulator for use in a heat pump system accommodates the flow of refrigerant in first and second directions as the system heats and cools, respectively. The accumulator includes a body and a cap. The body includes an inlet for receiving refrigerant from a compressor and an outlet for sending refrigerant to the compressor. A first port communicates with a front end heat exchanger for receiving refrigerant from this heat exchanger when heating and for sending refrigerant to this heat exchanger when cooling. A second port communicates with a passenger compartment heat exchanger for sending refrigerant to this heat exchanger when heating and for receiving refrigerant from this heat exchanger when cooling. A reversing valve, disposed in the cap, moves between a first position when heating and a second position when cooling such that the accumulator can accommodate the flow of refrigerant in the either direction.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An accumulator assembly for use in a heat pump system which includes a refrigerant compressor, a front end heat exchanger, and a passenger compartment heat exchanger, the heat pump system being selectively operable in a heating mode, where refrigerant flows through the system in a first direction, and in a cooling mode, where the refrigerant flows through the system in a second direction, said accumulator assembly accommodating the flow of the refrigerant through the system in either direction and comprising:

a body housing comprising an accumulator inlet for receiving the refrigerant from the compressor and an accumulator outlet for sending the refrigerant to the compressor;
a cap housing covering said body housing;
a first refrigerant port defined within one of said body and cap housings, said first refrigerant port adapted to be in fluid communication with the front end heat exchanger for receiving the refrigerant from the front end heat exchanger in the heating mode and for sending the refrigerant to the front end heat exchanger in the cooling mode;
a second refrigerant port defined with one of said body and cap housings, said second refrigerant port adapted to be in fluid communication with the passenger compartment heat exchanger for sending the refrigerant to the passenger compartment heat exchanger in the heating mode and for receiving the refrigerant from the passenger compartment heat exchanger in the cooling mode;
and
a reversing valve disposed in said cap housing and being moveable therein between a first position associated with the heating mode where said first refrigerant port is isolated from said accumulator inlet such that the refrigerant from the compressor flows in the first direction to the passenger compartment heat exchanger first and then through the front end heat exchanger, and a second position associated with the cooling mode where said first refrigerant port is in fluid communication with said accumulator inlet such that the refrigerant from the compressor flows in the second direction to the front end heat exchanger first and then through the passenger compartment heat exchanger.

3 more elements

A heat pump system operable in a heating mode, where refrigerant flows through the system in a first direction, and in a cooling mode, where the refrigerant flows through the system in a second direction, said system comprising:

a refrigerant compressor;
a front end heat exchanger in fluid communication with said compressor, said front end heat exchanger transferring heat to the refrigerant to cool air in the heating mode, and removing heat from the refrigerant to condense the refrigerant in the cooling mode;
a passenger compartment heat exchanger in fluid communication with said compressor, said passenger compartment heat exchanger transferring heat to the refrigerant to cool the air in the cooling mode, and removing heat from the refrigerant to condense the refrigerant in the heating mode;
a body housing disposed between said compressor and said front end heat exchanger and between said compressor and said passenger compartment heat exchanger for accommodating the flow of the refrigerant through said system in either direction, said body housing comprising an accumulator inlet for receiving the refrigerant from said compressor and an accumulator outlet for sending the refrigerant to said compressor;
a cap housing covering said body housing;
a first refrigerant port defined within one of said body and cap housings and in fluid communication with said front end heat exchanger for receiving the refrigerant from said front end heat exchanger in the heating mode and for sending the refrigerant to said front end heat exchanger in the cooling mode;
a second refrigerant port defined within one of said body and cap housings and in fluid communication with said passenger compartment heat exchanger for sending the refrigerant to said passenger compartment heat exchanger in the heating mode and for receiving the refrigerant from said passenger compartment heat exchanger in the cooling mode;
and
a reversing valve disposed in said cap housing and being moveable therein between a first position associated with the heating mode where said first refrigerant port is isolated from said accumulator inlet such that the refrigerant from said compressor flows in the first direction to said passenger compartment heat exchanger first and then through said front end heat exchanger, and a second position associated with the cooling mode where said first refrigerant port is in fluid communication with said accumulator inlet such that the refrigerant from said compressor flows in the second direction to said front end heat exchanger first and then through said passenger compartment heat exchanger.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.