Abstract: An accumulator for an air conditioning system is adapted to ensure that any fluid exiting the accumulator has been filtered. Fluid comprising gaseous refrigerant, liquid refrigerant and oil enters the accumulator. Ideally, only gaseous refrigerant and oil will exit the accumulator. According to one embodiment, gaseous refrigerant is substantially separated from liquid refrigerant. Oil is entrained within the gaseous refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant with the entrained oil is filtered prior to exiting the accumulator. In another embodiment, gaseous refrigerant, which has been separated from the liquid refrigerant, is filtered before the oil is entrained with it. The oil is then separately filtered.

Abstract: An accumulator for an air conditioning system has a passage for oil to travel from an orifice to an outlet. To improve the percentage of oil flowing from the orifice to the outlet and/or the rate of flow, one or more oil vanes extend from or near the orifice to or near the outlet. Alternatively, instead of oil vanes, indentations could be used.

Abstract: A deflector for an accumulator for an air conditioning system acts as a barrier to substantially prevent incoming liquid from entering a conduit which is primarily for gas. Fluid entering the accumulator comprises gas and liquid. The deflector also assists with the separation of gas from liquid, with reduced turbulence, to decrease the likelihood of liquid becoming re-entrained within the gas. An initial contact surface of the deflector receives the incoming fluid. The initial contact surface is substantially convex, so that liquid reflecting off the surface will be travel in a direction away (or different) from the flow of incoming fluid. The initial contact surface is also angled to direct liquid reflecting off it (or flowing down it) downward and outward.