Patent US3252620A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3563304A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reverse cycle refrigeration system utilizing latent heat storage
Assignee: Carrier Corp
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Filing: 1969-01-28
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Granted: 1971-02-16
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Expires: 1989-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A reverse cycle refrigeration system having an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a refrigerant compressor, and reversing valve means for selectively operating the system to provide heating or cooling from the indoor heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a portion disposed in heat exchange relation with a pool of water and another portion disposed in heat exchange relation with ambient air during heating mode operation. The latent heat of fusion of the water is extracted to provide indoor heating while freezing the water in the system. An electrical resistance heater is provided so that the ice formed in the water may be melted during periods of time when electric rates are low.
Inventors
- 👤 William L Mcgrath
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:23
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B13/00; F24; F24D; F24D11/00; F24D11/02; F24D11/0257; F24F; F24F3/00; F24F3/001; F25B5/00; F25B5/04; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/70; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
346 words
A reverse cycle refrigeration system comprising a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, a first outdoor heat exchanger, a second outdoor heat exchanger, refrigerant expansion means and reversing means connected in a refrigeration circuit for selectively providing heating by condensing refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger and evaporating refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchangers; a tank containing a freezable liquid; said first outdoor heat exchanger being disposed in heat exchange relation with the freezable liquid in said tank; said second outdoor heat exchanger being disposed in heat exchange relation with ambient air; passage means disposed to pass condensed refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger serially through said second outdoor heat exchanger and then through said first outdoor heat exchanger for absorption of heat first from the ambient outdoor air and thereafter from the freezable liquid in said tank when said system is arranged for providing heating from said indoor heat exchanger; fan means for passing ambient air over said second outdoor heat exchanger in heat exchange relation with refrigerant therein for evaporating said refrigerant when the system is providing heating from the indoor heat exchanger; wherein the improvement comprises control means for controlling the operation of said fan, said control means having a first temperature sensor disposed for sensing a first temperature comprising the temperature of refrigerant leaving the second heat exchanger and passing to the first heat exchanger, said control means being arranged to energize said fan when the temperature sensed by said first temperature sensor exceeds a second temperature so that the refrigerant is evaporated in the second outdoor heat exchanger to absorb substantial heat from the ambient air, said control further being arranged to deenergize said fan when the temperature sensed by said first temperature sensor drops below said second temperature so that the refrigerant is evaporated in the first outdoor heat exchanger to remove substantial latent heat of fusion from and freeze the liquid in said tank, and heating means for raising the temperature of liquid in said tank slightly above the freezing temperature of the liquid therein at desired periods of time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
346 words
A reverse cycle refrigeration system comprising a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, a first outdoor heat exchanger, a second outdoor heat exchanger, refrigerant expansion means and reversing means connected in a refrigeration circuit for selectively providing heating by condensing refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger and evaporating refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchangers; a tank containing a freezable liquid; said first outdoor heat exchanger being disposed in heat exchange relation with the freezable liquid in said tank; said second outdoor heat exchanger being disposed in heat exchange relation with ambient air; passage means disposed to pass condensed refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger serially through said second outdoor heat exchanger and then through said first outdoor heat exchanger for absorption of heat first from the ambient outdoor air and thereafter from the freezable liquid in said tank when said system is arranged for providing heating from said indoor heat exchanger; fan means for passing ambient air over said second outdoor heat exchanger in heat exchange relation with refrigerant therein for evaporating said refrigerant when the system is providing heating from the indoor heat exchanger; wherein the improvement comprises control means for controlling the operation of said fan, said control means having a first temperature sensor disposed for sensing a first temperature comprising the temperature of refrigerant leaving the second heat exchanger and passing to the first heat exchanger, said control means being arranged to energize said fan when the temperature sensed by said first temperature sensor exceeds a second temperature so that the refrigerant is evaporated in the second outdoor heat exchanger to absorb substantial heat from the ambient air, said control further being arranged to deenergize said fan when the temperature sensed by said first temperature sensor drops below said second temperature so that the refrigerant is evaporated in the first outdoor heat exchanger to remove substantial latent heat of fusion from and freeze the liquid in said tank, and heating means for raising the temperature of liquid in said tank slightly above the freezing temperature of the liquid therein at desired periods of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
A reverse cycle refrigeration system as defined in claim 1 wherein said system includes a second temperature sensor for sensing said second temperature, said second temperature sensor being disposed to sense the temperature of ambient air; said control means including a differential thermostat responsive to the difference between said first and second temperatures for energizing said fan when said differences in temperatures is relatively large and for deenergizing said fan when said difference in temperatures is relatively small to thereby selectively absorb heat from either ambient air or liquid in said tank depending on said difference in temperatures.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of operating a reverse cycle refrigeration system having a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, a liquid-filled tank, heating means disposed in heat exchange relation with the liquid in the tank, a first outdoor heat exchanger disposed in heat exchange relation with the liquid in the tank, a second outdoor heat exchanger disposed in heat exchange relation with ambient air and refrigerant expansion means; said method comprising: a. passing refrigerant vapor to the compressor and compressing the vapor therein; b. passing compressed vapor from the compressor to the indoor heat exchanger and condensing the compressed refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger to provide heating to a desired location; c. freezing liquid in the tank and absorbing substantial latent of fusion of the liquid therefrom by evaporating a substantial portion of the condensed refrigerant in said first outdoor heat exchanger when the ambient air temperature is relatively low, and absorbing substantial heat from the ambient air by evaporating a substantial portion of the condensed refrigerant in said second outdoor heat exchanger when the ambient temperature is relatively high; and d. melting frozen liquid in the tank by heating the frozen liquid to restore the latent heat of fusion to the liquid in the tank when desired.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of operating a reverse cycle refrigeration system having a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, a liquid-filled tank, heating means disposed in heat exchange relation with the liquid in the tank, a first outdoor heat exchanger disposed in heat exchange relation with the liquid in the tank, a second outdoor heat exchanger disposed in heat exchange relation with ambient air and refrigerant expansion means; said method comprising: a. passing refrigerant vapor to the compressor and compressing the vapor therein; b. passing compressed vapor from the compressor to the indoor heat exchanger and condensing the compressed refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger to provide heating to a desired location; c. freezing liquid in the tank and absorbing substantial latent of fusion of the liquid therefrom by evaporating a substantial portion of the condensed refrigerant in said first outdoor heat exchanger when the ambient air temperature is relatively low, and absorbing substantial heat from the ambient air by evaporating a substantial portion of the condensed refrigerant in said second outdoor heat exchanger when the ambient temperature is relatively high; and d. melting frozen liquid in the tank by heating the frozen liquid to restore the latent heat of fusion to the liquid in the tank when desired.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method of operating a reverse cycle refrigeration system as defined in claim 3 including the step of varying the proportion of condensed refrigerant passed to said first heat exchanger by controlling passage of ambient air over said second heat exchanger in response to the temperature of refrigerant passing from said first outdoor heat exchanger to said second outdoor heat exchanger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method of operating a reverse cycle refrigeration system as defined in claim 4 including a step of controlling the passage of ambient air over said second heat exchanger in response to the difference in temperature between said ambient air temperature and the temperature of refrigerant passing from said first outdoor heat exchanger to said second outdoor heat exchanger.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-15 | 1974-08-17 | 1975-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-15 | 1978-08-17 | 1979-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-15 | 1982-08-17 | 1983-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |