Patent ID: 6026654
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: F24F,F25B

Abstract:
A multi-unit air conditioner, comprising:a compressor for compressing a refrigerant;an outdoor heat-exchanger having an inlet connected to an outlet of the compressor;a plurality of indoor heat-exchangers each having an inlet and an outlet, the outlets of the heat-exchangers connected to an inlet of the compressor;refrigerant pipes connecting respective ones of the heat-exchanger inlets in parallel to an outlet of the outdoor heat-exchanger;a plurality of pressure reducing devices disposed in respective ones of the pipes;a plurality of opening/closing valves mounted to respective ones of the pipes for selectively opening and closing communication between the respective heat-exchanger inlets and the outlet of the outdoor heat-exchanger; andan openable/closable by-pass pipe for returning a portion of the refrigerant back to the inlet of the compressor before that portion of the refrigerant reaches the indoor heat-exchangers, the by-pass pipe being opened when one of the opening/closing valves is closed.