IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,571,548
Granted Patent B2
US 12,571,548 · App. 18/433,549 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Water tank module for air-conditioning water system and air-conditioning water system

Inventor: Yu Zhu (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
F24F5/0003F24F11/89
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,571,548
App. No.
18/433,549
Granted
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A water tank module and an air-conditioning water system configured with the water tank module is disclosed. The air-conditioning water system comprises an outdoor unit, a water pump, an air-conditioning terminal, a leaving water pipe and a return water pipe. The water tank module comprises: a first buffer water tank disposed on the leaving water pipe, where the first buffer water tank is integrated with a first ball valve; and a second buffer water tank disposed on the return water pipe and arranged at or near the first buffer water tank, where the second buffer water tank is integrated with a second ball valve, a safety valve for pressure relief, an exhaust valve for gas exhaust, and a water replenishment valve for water replenishment, wherein, a bypass pipe having a bypass valve is disposed between the first buffer water tank and the second buffer water tank.

Claims (22)

1 . A water tank module for an air-conditioning water system, wherein the air-conditioning water system comprises an outdoor unit, a water pump, and an air-conditioning terminal, and a leaving water pipe and a return water pipe are provided between the outdoor unit and the air-conditioning terminal, the water tank module comprising:

a first buffer water tank disposed on the leaving water pipe, where the first buffer water tank is integrated with a first ball valve;

a second buffer water tank disposed on the return water pipe and arranged at or near the first buffer water tank, where the second buffer water tank is integrated with a second ball valve, a safety valve for pressure relief, an exhaust valve for gas exhaust, and a water replenishment valve for water replenishment, wherein the water tank module is constructed to include an integrated housing for accommodating the first buffer water tank and the second buffer water tank; and

wherein, a bypass pipe is disposed between the first buffer water tank and the second buffer water tank, and a bypass valve is disposed on the bypass pipe.

2 . The water tank module for an air-conditioning water system according to claim 1 , wherein the first ball valve is provided at the bottom of the first buffer water tank, and the second ball valve is provided at the bottom of the second buffer water tank.

3 . The water tank module for an air-conditioning water system according to claim 1 , wherein the water replenishment valve is provided at the bottom of the second buffer water tank and is connectable to the water pump.

4 . The water tank module for an air-conditioning water system according to claim 1 , wherein the first buffer water tank and the second buffer water tank are of the same size and arranged side by side.

5 . The water tank module for an air-conditioning water system according to claim 1 , wherein housing of the first buffer water tank and housing of the second buffer water tank are made of cast iron.

6 . The water tank module for an air-conditioning water system according to claim 1 , wherein the bypass valve is disposed on a connecting pipe at the top of the first buffer water tank and the second buffer water tank.

7 . An air-conditioning water system, wherein the air-conditioning water system is configured with the water tank module according to claim 1 .

8 . The water tank module for an air-conditioning water system according to claim 1 , wherein the first buffer water tank and the second buffer water tank are respectively provided with pressure gauges.

9 . The water tank module for an air-conditioning water system according to claim 8 , wherein the exhaust valve is provided at the top of the second buffer water tank.

10 . The water tank module for an air-conditioning water system according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is provided with thermal insulation material.

11 . The water tank module for an air-conditioning water system according to claim 10 , wherein the housing is fastened to a wall at or near the outdoor unit by bolts.

12 . A water tank module for an air-conditioning water system, wherein the air-conditioning water system comprises an outdoor unit, a water pump, and an air-conditioning terminal, and a leaving water pipe and a return water pipe provided between the outdoor unit and the air-conditioning terminal, the water tank module comprising:

a first buffer water tank disposed on the leaving water pipe;

a second buffer water tank disposed on the return water pipe and arranged at or near the first buffer water tank; and

wherein the water tank module is constructed to include an integrated housing for accommodating the first buffer water tank and the second buffer water tank.

13 . The water tank module according to claim 12 , wherein the housing is provided with thermal insulation material.

14 . The water tank module according to claim 12 , wherein the housing is fastened to a wall at or near the outdoor unit by bolts.

15 . The water tank module according to claim 12 , further comprising a bypass pipe disposed between the first buffer water tank and the second buffer water tank.

16 . The water tank module according to claim 15 , further comprising a bypass valve disposed on the bypass pipe.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2025
From: ZHU, YU
To: CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION R&D MANAGEMENT (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 072045/0756 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2025
From: CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION R&D MANAGEMENT (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
To: CARRIER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072045/0811 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202310140165.8 · Feb 8, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240263811A1 · Aug 8, 2024
References Cited (36)
US 3384155A · Newton · 1968 [cited by examiner]
US 4502289A · Kayama · 1985 [cited by examiner]
US 4739624A · Meckler · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 5623986A · Wiggs · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 6991028B2 · Comeaux · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 8308936B2 · Numata et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8997511B2 · Berrio · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 9194594B2 · Liu et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9885484B2 · Young et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10429090B2 · Usilton · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10760823B2 · Knoblett et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11149965B2 · Kusachi et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20070187521A1 · Wawak · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20100170658A1 · Seefeldt et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20120304677A1 · Fukunaga et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20190353401A1 · Hikone et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20220120472A1 · Zhao et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220252277A1 · Berrio · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CN 202885245U · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CN 203052989U · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CN 203687253U · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 205481251U · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 103868243B · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 107514815A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 207162703U · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 104515176B · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 208580945U · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 209877194U · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 210951760U · 2020 [cited by applicant]
CN 211823145U · 2020 [cited by applicant]
CN 115013850A · 2022 [cited by applicant]
EP 2282153A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 3412985A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 3977019A4 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021165902A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
Kaili Mini VWV Frequency Converter Water Multi-connected Home Microclimate Expert, Jun. 22, 2021 https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1fg411g7yv/. [cited by applicant]