Heat pump system

Abstract

A heat pump system, or heat pump, is described. The heat pump system may include an interior unit, an exterior unit, and a heat transfer rod coupled to the interior unit and the exterior unit. The heat transfer rod may include a fluid channel (e.g., positioned at an angle) that extends between the interior unit and the exterior unit, and a fluid contained within the fluid channel. Via various configurations, the heat pump system utilizes the fluid as a thermal (heat) transfer medium or mechanism that facilitates the cooling (or heating) of an inside space, such as the room of a house.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pump system, comprising:
 an interior unit;   an exterior unit; and   a heat transfer rod coupled to the interior unit and the exterior unit,
 wherein the heat transfer rod includes:
 a fluid channel that extends between the interior unit and the exterior unit; and 
 a fluid contained within the fluid channel. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer rod is coupled to the interior unit and the exterior unit at an angle with respect to a horizontal axis of the heat pump system. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer rod includes:
 an interior baffle that separates an internal area of the heat transfer rod into two channels; and   an impeller that circulates the fluid through the two channels within the internal area.   
     
     
         4 . The heat pump system of  claim 3 , wherein the interior baffle is formed of a thermally insulating material. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer rod includes:
 an inner tube;   an outer tube; and   a helical passageway that couples the inner tube to the outer tube; and   a helical heat transfer component, disposed within the helical passageway, which causes the fluid to flow between the inner tube and the outer tube.   
     
     
         6 . The heat pump system of  claim 5 , wherein the inner tube is formed of a thermally insulating material. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insulating sleeve that surrounds the heat transfer rod,
 wherein the insulating sleeve includes a condensate channel configured to cause flow of condensate to the exterior unit. 
   
     
     
         8 . The heat pump system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a housing that at least partially encloses the insulating sleeve and the heat transfer rod.   
     
     
         9 . The heat pump system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an electrical conduit, disposed under the insulating sleeve, which extends from the interior unit to the exterior unit; and   a data communication component, disposed under the insulating sleeve, which extends from the interior unit to the exterior unit.   
     
     
         10 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a clamp ring that couples the heat transfer rod to the interior unit.   
     
     
         11 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior unit includes:
 a control component configured to control operation of the heat pump system; and   a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the fluid and an inside environment of a dwelling within which the interior unit is installed.   
     
     
         12 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior unit includes:
 a heat pump compressor configured to compress the fluid;   a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the fluid and an outside environment of a dwelling; and   a blower configured to circulate air over the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         13 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a refrigerant. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior unit includes a blower that is configured to circulate the fluid within the fluid channel. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an interior unit;   an exterior unit; and   a heat transfer rod coupled to the interior unit and the exterior unit, including:
 an interior baffle that separates an internal area of the heat transfer rod into two fluid channels; and 
 an impeller that circulates the fluid through the two fluid channels within the internal area. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an insulating sleeve that surrounds the heat transfer rod,
 wherein the insulating sleeve includes a condensate channel configured to cause flow of condensate to the exterior unit. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the heat transfer rod is coupled to the interior unit and the exterior unit at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an interior unit;   an exterior unit; and   a heat transfer rod coupled to the interior unit and configured to circulate a heat transfer fluid between the interior unit and the exterior unit;   an insulating sleeve that surrounds the heat transfer rod,
 wherein the insulating sleeve includes a condensate channel configured to cause flow of condensate to the exterior unit; 
   an electrical conduit, disposed under the insulating sleeve, which extends from the interior unit to the exterior unit; and   a data communication component, disposed under the insulating sleeve, which extends from the interior unit to the exterior unit.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the heat transfer rod includes:
 an interior baffle that separates an internal area of the heat transfer rod into two fluid channels; and   an impeller that circulates the heat transfer fluid through the two fluid channels within the internal area.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the heat transfer rod includes:
 an inner tube;   an outer tube;   a helical passageway that couples the inner tube to the outer tube; and   a helical heat transfer component, disposed within the helical passageway, which causes the heat transfer fluid to flow between the inner tube and the outer tube.