Integrated heat pump bundled module mounting manifold

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021086587-A1
Application number	US-201916577613-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 20, 2019
Priority date	Sep 20, 2019
Publication date	Mar 25, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle HVAC system including a heat pump system. The heat pumps system including a refrigerant module mounting manifold, the manifold including a first plate and a second plate. The first plate and the second plate are configured to couple together such that together they define a plurality of channels for directing the flow of refrigerant through the heat pump system. One or more auxiliary modules are fluidly coupled to the refrigerant module mounting manifold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerant manifold comprising:
a first plate; and a second plate coupled with the first plate to define a plurality of channels for directing the flow of refrigerant through the manifold.

2 . The refrigerant manifold of claim 1 , further comprising a manifold module integrally formed with one of the first plate and the second plate.

3 . The refrigerant manifold of claim 2 , wherein the manifold module comprises a liquid-gas separator valve.

4 . The refrigerant manifold of claim 2 , wherein the manifold module comprises an expansion valve integrally formed therewith, and wherein the manifold is configured to couple to an expansion valve motor for controlling operation of the expansion valve.

5 . The refrigerant manifold of claim 2 , wherein the manifold module comprises a valve integrally formed with the manifold and configured to direct the flow of refrigerant through the manifold.

6 . The refrigerant manifold of claim 1 , wherein one of the first plate and the second plate defines a plug and the other of the first plate and the second plate defines a socket configured to couple to the plug such that the socket and the plug together define a channel for directing the flow of refrigerant.

7 . The refrigerant manifold of claim 1 , wherein the first plate and the second plate are coupled together such that they form a seal for preventing a leakage of refrigerant from the plurality of channels.

8 . The refrigerant manifold of claim 1 , further comprising a gasket positioned between the first plate and the second plate to prevent a leakage of refrigerant from the manifold.

9 . The refrigerant manifold of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant manifold is operably coupled to an HVAC system of a vehicle.

10 . A heat pump system comprising:
a manifold for directing refrigerant flow through the system, the manifold comprising:
a first plate;
a second plate coupled to the first plate wherein the first plate and the second plate together define a plurality of channels configured to direct the flow of refrigerant through the system; and
a manifold module integrally formed with one of the first plate and the second plate; and
an auxiliary module fluidly coupled to the manifold.

11 . The heat pump system of claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary module comprises an accumulator.

12 . The heat pump system of claim 11 , wherein the accumulator comprises an accumulator case, an accumulator cartridge, and an accumulator cap, wherein the accumulator case is integrally formed with one of the first plate and the second plate and is configured to couple to the accumulator cartridge and the accumulator cap.

13 . The heat pump system of claim 11 , wherein each of the first plate and the second plate comprise a portion of an accumulator case integrally formed therewith, the accumulator case configured to couple to an accumulator cartridge and an accumulator cap.

14 . The heat pump system of claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary module comprises a heat exchanger, a muffler, a liquid-gas separator valve, an expansion valve, an accumulator, a compressor, a check valve, a stop valve, a three-way valve, a four-way valve, or a combination thereof.

15 . The heat pump system of claim 10 , wherein the heat pump system is operably connected to an HVAC system of a vehicle.

16 . A vehicle comprising:
a heat pump system comprising:
a refrigerant manifold comprising a first plate and a second plate wherein the first plate and the second plate coupled together such that together they define a plurality of channels for directing the flow of refrigerant through the heat pump system; and
an auxiliary module fluidly coupled to the refrigerant manifold.

17 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the refrigerant manifold further comprises a manifold module integrally formed with the refrigerant manifold.

18 . The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the manifold module comprises an expansion valve.

19 . The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the refrigerant manifold is coupled to an expansion valve motor for controlling the flow of refrigerant through the expansion valve.

20 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the refrigerant manifold further comprises an accumulator casing integrally formed therewith.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Koberstein Manfred
• Lohmeyer Loren John

Classifications

• B60H1/3229

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

• B60H2001/006

  Noise reduction · CPC title

• F25B30/02

  of the compression type · CPC title

• B60H1/00571 Primary

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

• B60H1/3204

  using compression (B60H1/3233 takes precedence) · CPC title