US 11,920,834 B2
Vapor injection heat pump
Rachael E. Shey, Clawson, MI (US); Jeffrey Paul Brown, Farmington Hills, MI (US); Leyuan Yu, Cypress, TX (US); and James C. Rollinson, Superior Township, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on May 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/740,580.
Prior Publication US 2023/0366595 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F25B 40/00 (2006.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01)
CPC F25B 40/00 (2013.01) [F25B 41/20 (2021.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat pump, comprising:
a refrigerant loop comprising:
a compressor having a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet;
a first region of a first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger is positioned immediately downstream of the outlet of the compressor;
a first branching point positioned immediately downstream of the first region of the first heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant loop splits into a first path and a second path at the first branching point;
a first shutoff valve positioned along the first path and immediately downstream of the first branching point;
a second shutoff valve positioned along the second path and immediately downstream of the first branching point;
a second heat exchanger positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger;
a vapor generator having a first region and a second region, wherein the second region is upstream of at least one of a third heat exchanger and a fourth heat exchanger;
a second branching point positioned immediately downstream of the second heat exchanger;
a third shutoff valve positioned immediately downstream of the second branching point;
an intersection point positioned immediately downstream of the third shutoff valve; and
a first expansion valve positioned immediately downstream of the intersection point.