Device for air temperature control in a vehicle

Abstract

In a device for air temperature control in a vehicle either by use of a valve unit to control a portion of coolant and thereby the temperature of air flowing from the temperature control element, by a temperature of coolant controlled by said thermostat, or by speed of said fan, individually and independently from one another.

1 . A device for air temperature control in a vehicle, comprising means forming a first circuit for circulation of a coolant; means forming a second circuit for circulation of a refrigerant; means for connecting said first circuit with an engine for heating the coolant; means for providing a heat exchange between said second circuit and said first circuit for cooling said coolant; an air temperature regulating element; and means for alternatively connecting said first means to said air temperature regulating element so that when said coolant is heated from the engine and supplied through said first means said air temperature regulating element heats air in the vehicle, or connecting said second means with said air temperature regulating element so that when said coolant in said first circuit is cooled by heat exchange with the refrigerant of the second circuit and the cooled coolant is supplied to said air temperature regulating element to cool air in the vehicle; and a heat exchanger which provides a heat exchange between the coolant of said first circuit and the refrigerant of said second circuit; refrigerant supply means for supplying refrigerant into said heat exchanger; and refrigerant withdrawal means connected with said heat exchanger so as to withdraw the refrigerant from said heat exchanger, said refrigerant supply means including a compressor which is drivable from a main engine through a clutch and a belt to transmit power from a vehicle engine to said compressor, said clutch being operated and automatically controlled by a thermostat which responds to changes in air temperature within a vehicle compartment, such that operation of said clutch serves for starting and stopping of said compressor in response to changes of temperature in a cooling mode; fan means; and valve means provided between a heater core and said heat exchanger, so that temperature can be controlled either by use of said valve means to control a portion of coolant and thereby the temperature of air flowing from the temperature control element, by a temperature of coolant controlled by said thermostat, or by speed of said fan, individually and independently from one another.  
     
     
         2 . A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger includes a container through which said coolant is passed, and a plurality of tubes extending through said container and through which the refrigerant is passed, said tubes being arranged so as to form a plurality of group of tubes with said groups spaced from one another in a vertical direction and not connected with one another, while the tubes within each group are connected in series with one another, said refrigerant supply means supplying said refrigerant simultaneously into all said groups.