Patent ID: 6449974
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: B60H,F25B

Abstract:
An air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle, comprising:a refrigerant source including a compressor for providing compressed refrigerant, and a first condenser; a housing for routing air that is to be conditioned; a first heat exchanger through which the air to be conditioned is capable of being selectively directed, positioned in said housing; a first evaporator positioned in said housing upstream of the first heat exchanger, said first evaporator being connected to said refrigerant source; a second heat exchanger positioned upstream of the first heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger being capable of being selectively connected to the refrigerant source; and a control circuit for the air-conditioning system, said control circuit being switchable to select between any one of the following modes: (1) a first cooling mode in which said first evaporator is selectively provided with condensed refrigerant from the refrigerant source, (2) a second cooling mode in which said first evaporator and said second heat exchanger are provided with condensed refrigerant from the refrigerant source, whereby said second heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and (3) a heating mode in which said second heat exchanger is selectively provided with compressed refrigerant from the refrigerant source and functions as a condenser.