Refrigerant circulating apparatus of vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12539739-B2
Application number	US-202318381872-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2023
Priority date	Jun 16, 2023
Publication date	Feb 3, 2026
Grant date	Feb 3, 2026

Abstract

A refrigerant circulating apparatus of a vehicle includes a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, at least one heat-exchanger configured to heat-exchange the refrigerant, at least one valve configured to selectively flow the refrigerant to the at least one heat-exchanger, and a refrigerant fluid line unit mounted with the compressor, the at least one heat-exchanger, and the at least one valve, and interiorly formed with a plurality of fluid lines to flow the refrigerant to the compressor and the at least one heat-exchanger by a selective operation of the at least one valve, where the refrigerant fluid line unit includes a first fluid line mounting plate and a second fluid line mounting plate coupled to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerant circulating apparatus of a vehicle, comprising:
a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; at least one heat-exchanger configured to exchange heat with the refrigerant; at least one valve configured to selectively provide the refrigerant to the at least one heat-exchanger; and a refrigerant fluid line unit disposed adjacent to the compressor, the at least one heat-exchanger, and the at least one valve, the refrigerant fluid line unit comprising:
a plurality of fluid lines that are defined inside the refrigerant fluid line unit and configured to provide the refrigerant to the compressor and the at least one heat-exchanger based on a selective operation of the at least one valve,
a first fluid line mounting plate, and
a second fluid line mounting plate coupled to the first fluid line mounting plate,
wherein an inner surface of the first fluid line mounting plate and an inner surface of the second fluid line mounting plate face and contact each other to thereby define the plurality of fluid lines therebetween.

2 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid line mounting plate comprises:
a first bracket that supports the compressor; and a first fluid line plate portion that is curved from the first bracket and is coupled to the second fluid line mounting plate.

3 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first fluid line mounting plate has an L-shape, and
wherein the first fluid line plate portion is disposed perpendicular to the first bracket.

4 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first fluid line plate portion defines:
a plurality of first penetration holes configured to supply the refrigerant to the compressor and to receive the refrigerant from the compressor; and a plurality of first grooves defined at an inner surface of the first fluid line plate portion and connected to one or more of the plurality of first penetration holes, the inner surface of the first fluid line plate portion facing the second fluid line mounting plate.

5 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second fluid line mounting plate comprises:
a second bracket; and a second fluid line plate portion that is curved from the second bracket and is coupled to the first fluid line plate portion, and wherein the at least one heat-exchanger and the at least one valve are disposed at an outer surface of the second fluid line plate portion.

6 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second fluid line mounting plate has an L-shape, and
wherein the second fluid line plate portion is disposed perpendicular to the second bracket.

7 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second fluid line plate portion defines:
a plurality of second penetration holes configured to communicate with the at least one heat-exchanger and the at least one valve; and a plurality of second grooves defined at an inner surface of the second fluid line plate portion and connected to one or more of the plurality of second penetration holes, the inner surface of the second fluid line plate portion facing the first fluid line plate portion.

8 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 7 , wherein shapes of the plurality of first grooves are identical to shapes of the plurality of second grooves, respectively.

9 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of first grooves are coupled to the plurality of second grooves, respectively, to thereby define the plurality of fluid lines in a state in which the first fluid line plate portion and the second fluid line plate portion are coupled to each other.

10 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:
at least one bush unit disposed at least one of the first bracket or the second bracket and configured to reduce transmission of vibration generated from the compressor, the at least one heat-exchanger, or the at least one valve.

11 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one bush unit comprises:
an insulator coupled to the first bracket or the second bracket; and a stud bolt coupled to in a center of the insulator.

12 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first bracket defines at least one first open hole, and
wherein the second bracket defines at least one second open hole.

13 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat-exchanger is configured to configured to exchange heat between a coolant and the refrigerant in the plurality of fluid lines to thereby condensate or evaporate the refrigerant.

14 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat-exchanger comprises:
a first heat-exchanger configured to condensate or evaporate the refrigerant supplied through the plurality of fluid lines; a second heat-exchanger configured to condensate or evaporate the refrigerant supplied through the plurality of fluid lines from the compressor or the first heat-exchanger; and a third heat-exchanger configured to condensate or evaporate the refrigerant supplied through the plurality of fluid lines from the compressor or the first heat-exchanger.

15 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one valve comprises a first valve and a second valve that are connected to the compressor and to the first to third heat-exchangers via the plurality of fluid lines, and
wherein the first valve and the second valve are configured to selectively supply the refrigerant from the compressor to at least one of the first heat-exchanger, the second heat-exchanger, or the third heat-exchanger.

16 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are configured to control movement of the refrigerant or to expand the refrigerant introduced into the plurality of fluid lines.

17 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a gas-liquid separator configured to separate a gaseous refrigerant or a liquid refrigerant from the refrigerant that is condensed or evaporated while passing through the at least one heat-exchanger.

18 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the gas-liquid separator is connected to the compressor and the at least one heat-exchanger through the plurality of fluid lines.

19 . The refrigerant circulation apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one heat-exchanger, the at least one valve, and the gas-liquid separator are disposed at an outer surface of the second fluid line mounting plate.

20 . A refrigerant circulating apparatus of a vehicle, comprising:
a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; at least one heat-exchanger configured to exchange heat with the refrigerant; at least one valve configured to selectively provide the refrigerant to the at least one heat-exchanger; and a refrigerant fluid line unit disposed adjacent to the compressor, the at least one heat-exchanger, and the at least one valve, the refrigerant fluid line unit comprising:
a plurality of fluid lines that are defined inside the refrigerant fluid line unit and configured to provide the refrigerant to the compressor and the at least one heat-exchanger based on a selective operation of the at least one valve,
a first fluid line mounting plate, and
a second fluid line mounting pl

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Hanon Systems
• Doowon Climate Control Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Jeawan
• Lee Dongwook
• Cho Wan Je
• Kim Yeonho
• Jeong Hoyoung
• Park Man Hee
• Kim Yeong Jun
• Kim Jae Yeon
• An Hochan
• Lee Hae Jun
• Woo Sang Gu
• Kim Moo Joong
• Lee Won Suk
• Lee Soon-Jong
• Park Tae Min

Classifications

• B60H1/3223

  characterised by the arrangement or type of the compressor (B60H1/3222 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/00571 Primary

  of liquid ducts, e.g. for coolant liquids or refrigerants · CPC title

• B60H1/3229 Primary

  characterised by constructional features, e.g. housings, mountings, conversion systems (B60H1/3227, B60H1/3233 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60Y2304/072

  by preassembled subunits · CPC title

• B60Y2304/01

  Minimizing space with more compact designs or arrangements · CPC title