US 12,304,280 B2
Heat pump for a vehicle
Rachael Shey, Ferndale, MI (US); Jeffrey Paul Brown, Farmington Hills, MI (US); Loren John Lohmeyer, Monroe, MI (US); and Manfred Koberstein, Troy, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on May 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/652,145.
Application 18/652,145 is a division of application No. 17/550,180, filed on Dec. 14, 2021, granted, now 12,017,509.
Prior Publication US 2024/0278620 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. B60H 1/00 (2006.01); B60H 1/32 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/00921 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00885 (2013.01); B60H 1/32284 (2019.05); B60H 2001/00928 (2013.01); B60H 2001/00942 (2013.01); B60H 2001/00957 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat pump, comprising:
a refrigerant loop comprising:
an accumulator having an inlet and an outlet;
a compressor having a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet, wherein the low-pressure inlet is downstream of the outlet of the accumulator;
a first heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet;
a first expansion valve positioned immediately upstream of the inlet of the first heat exchanger;
a second heat exchanger;
a first region of a third heat exchanger;
a fourth heat exchanger;
a fifth heat exchanger; and
a first coupling point positioned immediately downstream of the outlet of the accumulator and immediately upstream of the low-pressure inlet of the compressor, wherein the first coupling point is immediately downstream of the outlet of the first heat exchanger such that a first heat exchange fluid circulating through the refrigerant loop is directed to the low-pressure inlet of the compressor upon exiting the outlet of the first heat exchanger, and wherein the first heat exchange fluid that exits the outlet of the first heat exchanger bypasses the accumulator.
 
10. A heat pump for a vehicle, the heat pump comprising:
a refrigerant loop comprising:
an accumulator having an inlet and an outlet;
a compressor having a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet, wherein the low-pressure inlet is downstream of the outlet of the accumulator;
a first heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet;
a network of conduits fluidly coupling the accumulator, the compressor, and the first heat exchanger;
a first expansion valve positioned immediately upstream of the inlet of the first heat exchanger;
a second heat exchanger;
a first region of a third heat exchanger;
a fourth heat exchanger;
a fifth heat exchanger; and
a first coupling point joining at least three conduits in the network of conduits and positioned immediately downstream of the outlet of the accumulator and immediately upstream of the low-pressure inlet of the compressor, wherein the first coupling point is immediately downstream of the outlet of the first heat exchanger such that a first heat exchange fluid circulating through the refrigerant loop is directed to the low-pressure inlet of the compressor upon exiting the outlet of the first heat exchanger, and wherein the first heat exchange fluid that exits the outlet of the first heat exchanger bypasses the accumulator.