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EP-4741734-A1 - COMBINED REFRIGERATOR AND AIR CONDITIONER UNIT SHARING SINGLE COMPRESSOR

EP4741734A1EP 4741734 A1EP4741734 A1EP 4741734A1EP-4741734-A1

Abstract

A combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit sharing a single compressor comprises a compressor, a condenser, an air conditioner evaporator, a refrigerator evaporator, a four-way reversing valve, and a three-way valve. One end of the condenser, the air conditioner evaporator, and the refrigerator evaporator is arranged in parallel via the three-way valve, while the other end of these components is connected to the compressor through the four-way reversing valve. A first throttling valve is arranged between the air conditioner evaporator and the three-way valve, and second throttling valves are arranged respectively between the refrigerator evaporator and the three-way valve. By using a single compressor and condenser in combination with the four-way reversing valve, as well as the first and second throttling valves, this configuration enables the single compressor to simultaneously support the refrigeration functions of both the air conditioner and the refrigerator.

Inventors

  • CHEN, Kaili
  • CHEN, XI

Assignees

  • Guangdong Peir Outdoor Products Co., LTD

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250929

Claims (8)

  1. A combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit sharing a single compressor, comprising: a compressor (1), a condenser (2), an air conditioner evaporator (4), a refrigerator evaporator (5), a four-way reversing valve (7), and a three-way valve (8), wherein one end of the condenser (2), the air conditioner evaporator (4), and the refrigerator evaporator (5) is arranged in parallel via the three-way valve (8), and the other end of the condenser (2), the air conditioner evaporator (4), and the refrigerator evaporator (5) is connected to the compressor (1) through the four-way reversing valve (7); a first throttling valve (13) is provided between the air conditioner evaporator (4) and the three-way valve (8), and a second throttling valve (14) is provided between the refrigerator evaporator (5) and the three-way valve (8).
  2. The combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit sharing a single compressor according to claim 1, wherein a second circuit (10) is provided between the condenser (2) and the four-way reversing valve (7) to connect the refrigerator evaporator (5), a first switch (11) is arranged on the second circuit (10), and a second switch (12) is arranged between the refrigerator evaporator (5) and the air conditioner evaporator (4) as well as the four-way reversing valve (7).
  3. The combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit sharing a single compressor according to claim 2, wherein the four-way reversing valve (7) comprises a first interface and a third interface connected to the inlet and outlet of the compressor (1) respectively, a second interface connected to the condenser (2), and a fourth interface connected simultaneously to the air conditioner evaporator (4) and the refrigerator evaporator (5), the second switch (12) being located between the fourth interface and the evaporators, so as to disconnect the refrigerator evaporator (5) from the fourth interface without interrupting the connection between the fourth interface and the air conditioner evaporator (4).
  4. The combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit sharing a single compressor according to claim 2, wherein one end of the second circuit (10) is connected between the refrigerator evaporator (5) and the second switch (12), and the other end is connected between the condenser (2) and the second interface; when the first switch (11) is closed, the condenser (2) can be directly connected to the refrigerator evaporator (5).
  5. The combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit sharing a single compressor according to claim 1, wherein an evaporator fan (41) is provided on the air conditioner evaporator (4), and a condenser fan (21) is provided on the condenser (2).
  6. The combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit sharing a single compressor according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator evaporator (5) includes at least a refrigeration evaporator (51) and a freezer evaporator (52), one end of the refrigeration evaporator (51) and the freezer evaporator (52) being connected to the three-way valve (8) via a solenoid valve (9), and a second throttling valve (14) and a third throttling valve (15) being respectively arranged between the solenoid valve (9) and the refrigeration evaporator (51) and between the solenoid valve (9) and the freezer evaporator (52).
  7. The combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit sharing a single compressor according to claim 1, wherein a dryer filter (3) is provided between the condenser (2) and the three-way valve (8).
  8. A combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit sharing a single compressor, comprising: a compressor (1), a condenser (2), an air conditioner evaporator (4), a refrigerator evaporator (5), a four-way reversing valve (7), and a three-way valve (8), wherein one end of the condenser (2), the air conditioner evaporator (4), and the refrigerator evaporator (5) is arranged in parallel via the three-way valve (8), and the other end of the condenser (2), the air conditioner evaporator (4), and the refrigerator evaporator (5) is connected to the compressor (1) through the four-way reversing valve (7); a first throttling valve (13) is provided between the air conditioner evaporator (4) and the three-way valve (8), and a second throttling valve (14) is provided between the refrigerator evaporator (5) and the three-way valve (8); during operation, the first interface of the four-way reversing valve (7) communicates with the second interface, and the third interface communicates with the fourth interface, the first switch (11) is open, the second switch (12) is closed, and the first throttling valve (13), the second throttling valve (14), and the third throttling valve (15) are all open (of course, the first throttling valve (13), the second throttling valve (14), and the third throttling valve (15) can each be independently controlled to open or close; in the operating mode, gas pumped from the compressor (1) enters the condenser (2) through the first and second interfaces, after being cooled by the condenser (2), the gas is dried and filtered by the dryer filter (3), then split by the three-way valve (8) to flow to the air conditioner evaporator (4) and the solenoid valve (9), and finally enters the air conditioner evaporator (4) and the refrigerator evaporator (5), thereby achieving air conditioning and refrigeration; the gas after heat exchange returns to the compressor (1) via the fourth and third interfaces of the four-way reversing valve (7), thus realizing a closed-loop circulation of the gas flow.

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of compressor-based refrigeration technology, and more specifically, to a combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit that utilizes a single compressor. Background of the Invention Currently, in daily life, refrigerators and air conditioners exist as separate household appliances, each requiring its own dedicated compressor for refrigeration. This arrangement not only demands a large amount of space for the appliances but also results in high energy consumption and heavy load, which is not conducive to energy conservation and emissions reduction. Existing combined refrigerator-air conditioner units are generally designed for home use and often employ the cold air inside the refrigerator as an air conditioning source. For example, Chinese Patent No. CN 215597581 U discloses a combined air conditioner and refrigerator solution. However, although the air conditioner unit and the refrigerator unit are integrated to save space, the solution still uses two independent compressors to separately fulfill the refrigeration functions of the air conditioner and the refrigerator, which leads to substantial energy consumption. In view of the above, the inventor has proposed the following technical solution. Summary of the Invention The objective of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit that shares a single compressor. To solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following first technical solution: First Technical Solution: A combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit sharing a single compressor, comprising: a compressor, a condenser, an air conditioner evaporator, a refrigerator evaporator, a four-way reversing valve, and a three-way valve. One end of the condenser, the air conditioner evaporator, and the refrigerator evaporator is arranged in parallel via the three-way valve, and the other end of the condenser, the air conditioner evaporator, and the refrigerator evaporator is connected to the compressor through the four-way reversing valve. A first throttling valve is provided between the air conditioner evaporator and the three-way valve, and a second throttling valve is provided between the refrigerator evaporator and the three-way valve. Further, in the above technical solution, a second circuit is provided between the condenser and the four-way reversing valve to connect the refrigerator evaporator. A first switch is provided on this second circuit, and a second switch is provided between the refrigerator evaporator and the air conditioner evaporator as well as the four-way reversing valve. Still further, the four-way reversing valve includes a first interface and a third interface connected to the compressor's inlet and outlet, respectively, a second interface connected to the condenser, and a fourth interface simultaneously connected to the air conditioner evaporator and the refrigerator evaporator. The second switch is located between the fourth interface and the evaporators, allowing the connection to the refrigerator evaporator to be cut off without interrupting the connection between the fourth interface and the air conditioner evaporator. Furthermore, in the above technical solution, one end of the second circuit is connected between the refrigerator evaporator and the second switch, and the other end is connected between the condenser and the second interface. When the first switch is closed, the condenser can be directly connected to the refrigerator evaporator. Further, in the above technical solution, an evaporator fan is provided on the air conditioner evaporator, and a condenser fan is provided on the condenser. Further, in the above technical solution, the refrigerator evaporator includes at least a refrigeration evaporator and a freezer evaporator. One end of the refrigeration evaporator and the freezer evaporator is connected to the three-way valve through a solenoid valve. A second throttling valve and a third throttling valve are respectively provided between the solenoid valve and the refrigeration evaporator and between the solenoid valve and the freezer evaporator. Further, in the above technical solution, a dryer filter is provided between the condenser and the three-way valve. Second Technical Solution: To solve the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention adopts a second technical solution: A combined refrigerator and air conditioner unit sharing a single compressor, comprising: a compressor, a condenser, an air conditioner evaporator, a refrigerator evaporator, a four-way reversing valve, and a three-way valve. One end of the condenser, the air conditioner evaporator, and the refrigerator evaporator is arranged in parallel via the three-way valve, and the other end of the condenser, the air conditioner evaporator, and the refrigerator evaporator is connected to the compressor through