Patent ID: 6164367
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: B60H

Abstract:
An automotive air conditioning apparatus comprising:(a) a duct for supplying air into a vehicle interior, said duct having a first end connected to a vehicle interior and a second end in communication with atmospheric air;(b) a heat pump system including:a circulating pipe for circulating a refrigerant,a first heat exchanger communicating with said circulating pipe for causing the refrigerant to absorb heat from outside air, anda second heat exchanger communicating with said circulating pipe and disposed within said duct for heating air in said duct by radiating the heat absorbed by the refrigerant in said first heat exchanger;(c) a forced water supply system including:a circulating pipe for circulating water, anda third heat exchanger disposed in said duct at a location downstream of said second heat exchanger in relation to the direction of air flow through said duct, said third heat exchanger being operative to further heat the air in said duct;(d) setting means for presetting a temperature of the air supplied into the vehicle interior through said duct; and(e) a controller for controlling the temperature of said second heat exchanger to a desired temperature calculated on the basis of the temperature preset by said setting means, and for controlling the temperature of the water flowing in said third heat exchanger to a temperature at which the quantity of heat exchange between the air from said second heat exchanger and said third heat exchanger is minimized.