The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 16, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1997
Gregory S Bennett, Carrollton, TX (US);
Thomas J Carr, Plano, TX (US);
Merlin K Chapin, The Colony, TX (US);
Nabil G Hamad, Richardson, TX (US);
Lennox Manufacturing Inc., Marshalltown, IA (US);
Abstract
Heat pump apparatus for heating liquid, such as water, includes a refrigerant circuit and a water circuit, a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger and an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger operably disposed in heat exchange relationship with a air fluid stream of a systemically separate primary source of space conditioning. A compressor is provided for circulating the refrigerant between the two heat exchangers and a water pump is provided for circulating the water to be heated through the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger. A tank is also provided for storing the heated water. The tank has an electrically resistive heating element operably associated therewith. A control circuit is provided for normally enabling operation of the heat pump and disabling the heating element in response to a demand for liquid heating. However, in response to selected conditions, such as a low outdoor air temperature condition, the control circuit disables the heat pump and enables the heating element in response to a demand for water heating.