Patent ID: 6041849
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: B60H

Abstract:
A method comprising modifying the temperature of a stream of air to be delivered into the cabin of a vehicle, by heat exchange with an evaporator in which there flows a fluid which also passes through a compressor and through an expansion device,wherein said method includes (1) a cooling mode for cooling the stream of air, in which said fluid is caused to flow through, in succession, the evaporator, the compressor, a condenser in which it yields heat to another medium, and an expansion device, and (2) a heating mode for heating the stream of air, in which the fluid leaving the compressor is passed to the evaporator without passing through a condenser, andwherein in the heating mode, the pressure of the fluid at the inlet of the evaporator is so controlled as to regulate the calorific power produced, and, when the mass of fluid flowing in the evaporator is insufficient to provide the required pressure, fluid is transferred from the condenser into the evaporator.