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:
Jul. 11, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 30, 1999
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
In a refrigeration cycle using a flammable refrigerant as a refrigerant and comprising an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor and an expansion device which are annularly connected to one another through pipes, the refrigeration cycle is provided with a gas sensor and a refrigerant discharge portion, the gas sensor monitors leakage of the refrigerant from the refrigeration cycle to outside, and after the leakage is detected by the gas sensor, the discharge portion is opened to discharge the refrigerant to outside. At that time, the gas sensor is disposed inside a room, and the discharge portion is disposed outside the room. Further, the discharge portion is provided with a fan to facilitate the dispersion of the refrigerant. Further, the discharge portion is provided with a burner portion to discharge out the refrigerant while burning the refrigerant. With the above structure, the leakage of a flammable refrigerant is monitored, and after the leakage is detected, the refrigerant is positively discharged to the safe atmosphere, e.g., to the side of an outdoor unit, and even if the refrigerant is leaked at the side of an indoor unit, it is possible to suppress the leakage to a certain level.