Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Jing Zheng

Prasad Shripad Kadle

Edward Douglas Pettitt

John Paul Telesz

Lawrence P Scherer

Larry Donald Cummings

A dual evaporator air conditioning system and method for use therewith to cool air in front and rear portions of a cabin of a vehicle. The dual evaporator air conditioning system includes primary and auxiliary HVAC units to cool the air in the front and rear portions of the cabin, respectively. The dual evaporator air conditioning system also includes a control system having cooling and non-cooling modes for each of the HVAC units. The control system automatically activates a heating element near the auxiliary evaporator in response to the auxiliary HVAC unit being in the non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in the cooling mode. The heating element heats the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to prevent accumulation of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the auxiliary evaporator when the auxiliary HVAC unit is in the non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in the cooling mode.

Dual evaporator air conditioning system and method of use

A dual evaporator air conditioning system and method for use therewith is provided to cool air in front and rear portions of a cabin of a vehicle. The dual evaporator air conditioning system includes primary and auxiliary HVAC units having primary and auxiliary evaporators, respectively, to cool the air in the front and rear portions of the cabin. A heat exchanger near the auxiliary evaporator warms the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to maintain a minimum temperature. The heat exchanger warms the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to prevent accumulation of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the auxiliary evaporator when the auxiliary HVAC unit is in a non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in a cooling mode.

An air conditioning system with alternate refrigerant includes isolates an evaporator ( ) from the rest of the system not with a conventional, high pressure resisting shut off valve, but by establishing a pair of independent refrigerant loops from the standard single loop when the system shuts down. A valve housing ( ) has three ports on one side, an upper port ( ) connected to the condenser outlet ( ), a central port ( ) connected to the compressor inlet ( ), and a lower port ( ) connected to the evaporator outlet ( ). On the other side, a single port ( ) is connected to the evaporator inlet ( ). Inside the valve housing, a movable valve member ( ) shifts position between a normal, operating position that interconnects the heat exchangers ( ), through the ports in a single loop, and a system off position which, through a different arrangement of the ports, creates a separate, isolation loop for just the evaporator ( ).

Alternate refrigerant air conditioning system

A dual evaporator air conditioning system and method for use therewith to cool air in front and rear portions of a cabin. The dual evaporator air conditioning system includes primary and auxiliary HVAC units to cool the air in the front and rear portions of the cabin, respectively. The dual evaporator air conditioning system also includes a control system having cooling and non-cooling modes for each of the HVAC units. The control system automatically diverts cooled air produced by the auxiliary HVAC unit into an air dumping chamber in response to the auxiliary HVAC unit being in the non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in the cooling mode. The air dumping chamber is partitioned from the cabin to prevent the cooled air generated by the auxiliary HVAC unit from entering the cabin. Maintaining airflow through an auxiliary evaporator prevents refrigerant and lubricant buildup in the auxiliary evaporator.

A concentric tubing apparatus prevents heat gain in an air conditioning system. The heat gain results from heat generated in an engine compartment of a vehicle. To accomplish this, the tubing apparatus includes a first and second refrigerant tubes. The first refrigerant tube is in fluid communication with a receiver and an evaporator of the air conditioning system to accommodate the flow of the refrigerant from the receiver to the evaporator, and the second refrigerant tube is in fluid communication with the receiver and the evaporator to accommodate the flow of the refrigerant from the evaporator to the receiver. The second refrigerant tube is disposed concentrically about the first refrigerant tube such that the second refrigerant tube insulates the refrigerant flowing in the first refrigerant tube from the heat generated in the engine compartment. Thus, heat gain in the refrigerant flowing in the first refrigerant tube to the evaporator is prevented.

Air conditioning system and tubing apparatus to prevent heat gain due to engine compartment heat

A multi-function receiver attenuates pressure fluctuations of refrigerant flowing from an evaporator to a compressor in an air conditioning system. The receiver includes a body housing having an inlet for receiving the refrigerant from a condenser and an outlet for sending the refrigerant to the compressor. A cap housing covers the body housing. The receiver also includes first and second ports defined within the cap housing. The first port communicates with the evaporator for sending the refrigerant to the evaporator, and the second port communicates with the evaporator for receiving the refrigerant from the evaporator. An internal wall defines an outer and an inner cavity. The outer cavity communicates with the inlet for receiving the refrigerant from the condenser and with the first port for sending the refrigerant to the evaporator. The inner cavity communicates with the second port to receive the refrigerant from the evaporator and to attenuate the pressure fluctuations. The inner cavity also communicates with the outlet for sending the refrigerant to the compressor after the pressure fluctuations have been attenuated.

Multi-function receiver

A thermostatic expansion valve controls a flow of refrigerant. The valve includes a body defining a fluid chamber. A refrigerant inlet is defined within the body. The inlet communicates with the chamber such that the refrigerant can flow through the inlet and into the chamber. First and second outlets are defined within the body. The first outlet communicates with the chamber such that the refrigerant can flow from the chamber to an evaporator during normal and low refrigerant charge. The second outlet communicates with the chamber such that the refrigerant can flow from the chamber to a compressor during low charge. A moveable needle controls the flow of the refrigerant into and out of the body. A notch is defined within the needle such that, during low charge, the refrigerant that flows into the chamber can flow to the second outlet and to the compressor without flowing through the evaporator.

Thermostatic expansion valve and air conditioning system for low refrigerant charge

A refrigerant filter (,) designed for installation into a block fitting (,) of the type that detachably connects refrigerant lines (,) to an evaporator. The filter (,) includes a cylindrical mesh screen (,) and a supporting frame (,) that fits into the open end (,) of the liquid refrigerant supply (,) line before the supply line (,) is connected by the fitting (,) to the evaporator lines (,). The filter supporting frame (,) has an end plug (,) that fits closely into the line (,), assuring and all refrigerant flow is forced through the screen (,), without by passing the filter (,). The plug (,) also has a stop member (,) that both assures that the filter (,) is not over inserted at installation, and that the plug (,) is not ejected from the line (,) during operation.

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Williamsville, NY, United States of America

Jing Zheng