Refrigerant circuit system

Abstract

A refrigerant circuit for a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is disclosed, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a combined component including an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, and wherein a cost and difficulty of manufacture and assembly thereof are minimized, and an efficiency thereof is maximized.

1 . A refrigerant circuit comprising:
 a compressor;   a gas cooler in fluid communication with the compressor;   a combined component in fluid communication with the compressor and the gas cooler, the combined component including an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, the internal heat exchanger including a high-pressure entrance and a pair of high pressure exits, the accumulator including a pair of low pressure entrances and a low pressure exit;   a first branch including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein the first branch is in fluid communication with one of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and one of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator; and   a second branch including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein the second branch is in fluid communication with the other of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and the other of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein a refrigerant flowing through the internal heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a refrigerant in the accumulator. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the first branch and the second branch form parallel circuits in respect of the combined component. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a means for interconnecting the gas cooler to the compressor, the gas cooler to the combined component, and the combined component to the compressor. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 4 , wherein the means for interconnecting the gas cooler to the compressor, the gas cooler to the combined component, and the combined component to the compressor is a refrigerant line. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1 , wherein the evaporators are disposed downstream of the expansion members in each of the first branch and the second branch. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a manifold disposed on the combined component, wherein the manifold facilitates communication between the combined component and the first branch and the second branch. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 7 , wherein the manifold includes a first double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and manifold and the evaporator in the first branch. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 8 , wherein the manifold includes a second double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and the manifold and the evaporator in the second branch. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 9 , wherein the first double connection element is disposed in parallel and opposite to the second double connection element. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 9 , wherein the first double connection element is disposed in parallel and above the second double connection element. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the double connection elements includes a single screw for fastening. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the double connection elements includes two screws for fastening. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigerant circuit system comprising:
 a compressor;   a gas cooler in fluid communication with the compressor;   a combined component in fluid communication with the compressor and the gas cooler, the combined component including an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, the internal heat exchanger including a high-pressure entrance and a pair of high pressure exits, the accumulator including a pair of low pressure entrances and a low pressure exit;   a refrigerant line for interconnecting the gas cooler to the compressor, the gas cooler to the combined component, and the combined component to the compressor;   a first branch including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein the first branch is in fluid communication with one of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and one of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator; and   a second branch including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein the second branch is in fluid communication with the other of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and the other of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator, and wherein the evaporators of the first branch and the second branch are disposed downstream of the expansion members, the first branch and the second branch forming parallel circuits in respect of the combined component.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 14 , wherein a refrigerant flowing through the internal heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a refrigerant in the accumulator. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 14 , further comprising a manifold disposed on the combined component, wherein the manifold facilitates communication between the combined component and the first branch and the second branch. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 16 , wherein the manifold includes a first double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and the manifold and the evaporator in the first branch. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 17 , wherein the manifold includes a second double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and the manifold and the evaporator in the second branch. 
     
     
         19 . A refrigerant circuit system comprising:
 a compressor;   a gas cooler in fluid communication with the compressor;   a combined component in fluid communication with the compressor and the gas cooler, the combined component including an internal heat exchanger and an accumulator, the internal heat exchanger including a high-pressure entrance and a pair of high pressure exits, the accumulator including a pair of low pressure entrances and a low pressure exit;   a refrigerant line for interconnecting the gas cooler to the compressor, the gas cooler to the combined component, and the combined component to the compressor;   a pair of branches including an evaporator and an expansion member, wherein one of the branches is in fluid communication with one of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and one of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator and the other of the branches is in fluid communication with the other of the high pressure exits of the internal heat exchanger and the other of the low pressure entrances of the accumulator, and wherein the evaporators are disposed downstream of the expansion members, and the pair of branches form parallel circuits in respect of the combined component; and   a manifold disposed on the combined component, wherein the manifold facilitates communication between the combined component and the pair of branches, the manifold including a first double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and manifold and the evaporator in the one of the branches, and a second double connection element that facilitates communication between the manifold and the expansion member and the manifold and the evaporator in the other of the branches.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerant circuit according to  claim 19 , wherein a refrigerant flowing through the internal heat exchanger is in thermal communication with a refrigerant in the accumulator.