Heat Pump Outdoor-Unit Connecting Pipe with Refrigerant Filling Port

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heat pumps lack a refrigerant filling port, making it difficult for outdoor units to exchange refrigerant with indoor units when used as multiple heat pumps, leading to potential refrigerant insufficiency and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an outdoor-unit connecting pipe with a refrigerant filling port, an oil supply pipe, and an expansion valve to facilitate refrigerant and oil supply between outdoor units, allowing for efficient refrigerant exchange and filling between connected heat pumps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If outdoor units are connected to exchange refrigerant, then refrigerant exchange capability is improved, but refrigerant filling capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant exchange capabilityVSAvoidrefrigerant filling capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The outdoor-unit connecting pipe is segmented into multiple functional sections: a refrigerant exchange path for connecting between outdoor units, and a separate refrigerant filling path with a dedicated filling port. This segmentation allows independent operation of refrigerant exchange and filling functions without interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A three-way valve is introduced as an intermediary component to control and direct refrigerant flow between different paths. The valve enables selective connection between the refrigerant exchange path and the refrigerant filling path, allowing the system to switch between refrigerant exchange mode and refrigerant filling mode as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If outdoor units exchange refrigerant through connecting paths, then system versatility is improved, but refrigerant distribution control becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant exchange capabilityVSAvoidrefrigerant distribution control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The three-way valve acts as a control intermediary that simplifies the refrigerant distribution logic. By centralizing the flow control function in a single valve with clear positioning (first position for exchange, second position for filling), the system avoids complex multi-valve coordination while maintaining versatile refrigerant distribution capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between two operational modes through the three-way valve: refrigerant exchange mode for multi-unit operation and refrigerant filling mode for maintenance. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same physical infrastructure to serve multiple purposes without permanent complex routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11215370B2Heat pump

Publication Date: 2022.01.04 YANMAR POWER TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A heat pump system includes a first heat pump and a second heat pump. The first heat pump includes a first outdoor unit. The first outdoor unit includes a compressor, an outdoor-unit connecting pipe, and a refrigerant filling port. The outdoor-unit connecting pipe connects an intake path of the compressor and a second outdoor unit of the second heat pump for supplying a refrigerant to the second outdoor unit of the second heat pump. The refrigerant filling port is provided in a portion of the outdoor-unit connecting pipe.