Cooling/heating switching unit and air conditioner including the same
US10557648B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 2017 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 2, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B2500/222
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A cooling/heating switching unit includes first to third fittings, expansion valves and expansion-valve driving sections, a housing, a heat insulating material, and a refrigerant leak detection sensor. The first and second fittings respectively connect with a high/low-pressure-gas main pipe and a low-pressure-gas main pipe, which are linked to an outdoor unit. The third fitting connects with an indoor-unit connection pipe, which is linked to indoor units. The expansion valve for high/low-pressure-gas pipe, the expansion valve for low-pressure-gas pipe, and expansion-valve driving sections selectively connect the first or second fitting with the third fitting via a refrigerant pipe to control a flow direction of refrigerant. The housing houses the refrigerant pipe. The heat insulating material fills inside of the housing to insulate the refrigerant pipe arranged inside of the housing from heat. The refrigerant leak detection sensor is installed outside of the housing to detect leaked refrigerant.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.