With Refrigerant Treater Patents (Class 62/474)
  • Patent number: 6260379
    Abstract: A condenser having an integral receiver dryer includes a first manifold, a second manifold, and a plurality of fluid carrying tubes extending between and in fluid communication with the first manifold and second manifold. The condenser also includes a receiver dryer being internal to and integral with a housing of one of the first manifold and the second manifold and including a dryer material disposed in the housing to dry fluid therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Lynn Manwill, Corey Homer, Greg Whitlow, John Joseph Meyer, Thaddeus J. Waskiewicz, William Meinyk
  • Patent number: 6260372
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery system and apparatus to connect with a refrigeration machine to selectively receive liquid and vapor refrigerant therefrom and to clean, purify and dry that refrigerant for present reuse; said apparatus includes a recovery line with an inlet connected with a related refrigeration machine, a particulate matter filter and de-acidifier devise with an inlet connected with an outlet end of the recovery line, a liquid-vapor refrigerant flow control devise operating to selectively conduct and cause liquid refrigerant flowing through it and expand to a gaseous state and to selectively and freely conduct and cause vaporous refrigerant to flow through it, said refrigerant flow control devise has an inlet connected with an outlet of the filter and de-acidifier devise and an outlet connected with an inlet of a refrigerant conducting vapor line, an oil separator devise with a refrigerant inlet connected with an outlet end of the vapor line, a refrigerant dryer devise with an inlet connected with an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Fredie Burke
  • Patent number: 6257015
    Abstract: An adsorbent unit for mounting relative to a U-bend pipe of a refrigerant accumulator having spaced pipes and a return bend including a porous container, adsorbent in the container, first and second end portions on the container, first and second bands on the first end portion for placement about the spaced pipes, and a mounting tab at the second end portion for mounting onto a filter housing on the return bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Multisorb Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel A. Incorvia, Peter R. Millen, John R. Semler
  • Patent number: 6258293
    Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigeration cycle comprising at least a compressor, a condenser, a dryer, an expansion mechanism and an evaporator, a refrigerant composed mainly of a fluorocarbon type refrigerant containing no chlorine and having a critical temperature of 40° C. or higher, and a refrigerating machine oil comprising as base oil an ester oil of one or more fatty acids which contains at least two ester linkages in the molecule and has a viscosity at 40° C. of 2 to 70 cSt and a viscosity at 100° C. of 1 to 9 cSt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Iizuka, Reishi Naka, Katsumi Fukuda, Makoto Tanaka, Yoshiharu Homma, Hiroaki Hata, Hirokatsu Kousokabe, Koji Nariyoshi, Hiroshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 6244055
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovering and recycling refrigerant from an air conditioning unit. The apparatus includes a combined oil separator and heat exchanger for condensing purified refrigerant and for vaporizing contaminated refrigerant. The combined oil separator and heat exchanger includes a canister having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a substantially cylindrical side wall. The canister further includes a high pressure region comprising heat exchange coils and having high pressure inlet for providing purified refrigerant vapor and high pressure outlet for removing purified refrigerant liquid, and a low pressure region having low pressure inlet for introducing contaminated refrigerant proximate the heat exchange coils, low pressure outlet through the top wall for removal of refrigerant vapor, and condensed oil outlet for removal of condensed oil. By introducing the contaminated refrigerant proximate the heat exchange coils, improved separation efficiency is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Century Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Arnold M. Hanson, Thomas Donald Chandler
  • Patent number: 6223555
    Abstract: An accumulator for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle includes a housing having an interior chamber and an inlet tube connected to the housing to allow refrigerant and oil to enter the interior chamber of the housing. The accumulator also includes an outlet tube connected to the housing to allow refrigerant and oil to exit the interior chamber of the housing and a single insert disposed in the interior chamber of the housing to allow refrigerant liquid/vapor separation, insulation, and oil return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Georg Schroeder, Hemant Sumentlal Shah, Jeffrey Paul Luther, Kevin Joseph Goulet, Randy John Hornby
  • Patent number: 6205809
    Abstract: An adsorbent unit including a porous container, adsorbent in the container, at least one tab extending outwardly from the container, side edges on the tab, and concave indentations in the side edges. The tab can have an aperture therein for mounting the tab on the filter body of a return bend of an accumulator. Another embodiment of the adsorbent unit can include two tabs extending outwardly from the opposite ends of the container, rigid outer ends on the tabs, and concave indentations in the sides of the tabs between the outer ends of the tabs and the adsorbent container. In use, the concave indentations of the various tabs receive the spaced pipes of a return bend pipe utilized in a refrigerant accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Multisorb Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel A. Incorvia, John R. Semler
  • Patent number: 6196019
    Abstract: An accumulator includes a tank, a refrigerant inlet port provided at an upper portion of the tank, a refrigerant outlet port provided at the upper portion of the tank, a dryer unit disposed in the tank at an intermediate portion along a direction of height of the tank, and a separating wall extending upwardly from the dryer unit and dividing an upper inner space of the tank above the dryer unit into an inlet side upper space located at the refrigerant inlet part side and an outlet side upper space located at the refrigerant outlet side port. The separating wall has a plurality of apertures formed in a scattered state for communicating the inlet side upper space and the outlet side upper space each other. The accumulator includes an oil returning tube having a lower inlet opening and an upper outlet opening. The oil returning tube is disposed in the tank such that the lower inlet opening and the upper outlet opening are located at a bottom portion of the tank and at the refrigerant outlet port, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Higo, Keiji Yamazaki, Takayuki Fujii
  • Patent number: 6189333
    Abstract: A refrigerant filter (40) designed for installation into a block fitting (10) of the type that detachably connects refrigerant lines (12,14) to an evaporator. The filter (40) includes a cylindrical mesh screen (42) and a supporting frame (44) that fits into the open end (30) of the liquid refrigerant supply (14) line before the supply line (14) is connected by the fitting (10) to the evaporator lines (16,18). The filter supporting frame (44) has an end plug (48) that fits closely into the line (14), assuring and all refrigerant flow is forced through the screen (42), without by passing the filter (40). The plug (48) also has a stop member (50) that both assures that the filter (40) is not over inserted at installation, and that the plug (48) is not ejected from the line (14) during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Donald Cummings, Jing Zheng
  • Patent number: 6176093
    Abstract: A method of preventing debris entrained in the refrigerant of an automotive air conditioning system from circulating through the compressor of the system is provided. The method comprises the steps of removing the compressor manifold from the compressor, pressing a mesh screen filter into at least one of the ports of the manifold with a manual press, and reinstalling the manifold on the compressor. The mesh screen filter traps debris entrained within the refrigerant and prevents the debris from entering the compressor. The invention also comprises a filter and press assembly for practicing the method of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: AirSept, Inc.
    Inventors: Myron Stein, Tommy P. Potate
  • Patent number: 6170288
    Abstract: An improved refrigerant receiver which includes an improved combined filter and adsorbent unit consisting of a filter extending outwardly from an elongated tube which is mounted on a refrigerant outlet conduit of the receiver and which has an outer edge with the wall of the receiver so that all refrigerant must pass through the filter, and at least one container of adsorbent material mounted within the receiver so as to be exposed to the flow of refrigerant passing through the filter without completely obstructing the portion of the receiver through which this flow passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Multisorb Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel A. Incorvia
  • Patent number: 6170287
    Abstract: A condenser (10) with a return header tank (14) has a receiver or reservoir canister (22) physically attached along side the return header tank (14), and open thereto through a discrete upper inlet (20) and lower outlet (21). The bottom of canister (22) is closed by an end cap (34) that is, preferably, welded or brazed in place. Before end cap (34) is attached, a tube of desiccant material (24) is installed and located within canister (22) by a standoff (26) comprised of a tight fitting, notched, disk shaped base (28) and narrow central post (30) which is comparable in length to the height of the inlet (20) above the lower end cap (34). The tight fit allows the tube (24) to be inserted up into the canister (22), well away from the bottom of canister (22) and free of heat damage as the end cap (34) is attached. Later, in operation, the central post (30) keeps the tube (24) located clear of the inlet (20) and outlet (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Joseph Leitch, Michael Czajkowski, Robert Charles Gmerek, Steve C. Brick
  • Patent number: 6167720
    Abstract: A dome-shaped baffle for an accumulator molded from desiccant material, which baffle separates and dries liquid and vapor components of an incoming flow of refrigerant while preventing the liquid refrigerant from entering an outlet tube. The dome-shaped baffle forces all of the refrigerant to contact the desiccant and has a barrier layer attached underneath that prevents liquid refrigerant from flowing through the baffle and directly into an inlet end of the outlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry H. Chisnell
  • Patent number: 6155072
    Abstract: An adsorbent package is provided for mounting to a filter or bleed nipple that is, in turn, attached to a bight tube or other fluid flow conduit in an auto or truck refrigerant accumulator or receiver-dryer. In a preferred form of the invention, a centrally disposed opening is provided in the adsorbent package and is surrounded by a rigid collar. The opening is dimensioned so that it will be force or snap fit over a flange or the like on the filter. Fluid flow passages are provided adjacent the opening to ensure free flow of liquid refrigerant and compressor lubricating oil through the filter into the fluid flow conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignees: Ford Motor Company, Stanhope Products Co.
    Inventors: Stephen F. Sullivan, Kevin Goulet
  • Patent number: 6141976
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for an air conditioner including the steps of: (a) assembling a refrigeration cycle by connecting an outdoor unit, which has a compressor containing a refrigerant and an outdoor heat exchanger to a dummy indoor unit, and a part including a moisture adsorbent, using connection piping; (b) operating the refrigeration cycle by either an intermittent heating operation or switching between cooling and heating operations to adsorb moisture contained in the refrigeration cycle using a moisture adsorbent; (c) disconnecting the part including the moisture adsorbent after adsorbing moisture from the refrigeration cycle, and (d) measuring the water content contained in the moisture adsorbent, to control the water contained in the outdoor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Toru Yasuda, Akira Fujitaka, Hiroshi Namura
  • Patent number: 6125651
    Abstract: An accumulator and a method of manufacturing same for use in an air-conditioning system wherein the accumulator is manufactured having a seamless housing and a cartridge that incorporates an inlet passage, an outlet passage and a baffle member into an integral cartridge which is inserted in an open end of the housing during production and secured in place by clips caught by a shoulder formed in the housing. A connector is used to complete the outlet passage of the cartridge of the accumulator. The open end of the housing is spun-closed shut to provide a nearby seamless accumulator. In an alternative embodiment the housing is manufactured to have an open end and a closed end and a disk having inlet and outlet holes is welded or brazed to the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry A. Tack, Daniel F. Kiblawi
  • Patent number: 6122929
    Abstract: A tank of an accumulator is divided into an upper room and lower room by a dryer unit. The upper room is divided into a right upper divided room located at a refrigerant inlet side and a left upper divided room located at a refrigerant outlet side by a separating wall formed with the dryer unit. The right and left upper divided rooms communicate with each other through a plurality of apertures that are provided in the separating wall. Further, an oil returning tube is integrally formed with the dryer unit, and a filter is provided in the dryer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6106596
    Abstract: A receiver/dryer includes a canister with a cylindrical sidewall, an integral lower end, and an open upper end. A pick-up tube is disposed centrally within the canister. The lower end of the pick-up tube has a wedged-shape and is supported by the lower end of the canister. The upper end of the pick-up tube has an annular groove that carries an O-ring seal. A lower baffle and lower filter pad are received over the pick-up tube with the lower baffle having a tight slip-fit therewith. Loose desiccant is supported by the lower baffle and filter pad. An upper filter pad and upper baffle are received over the pick-up tube, with the upper baffle having a slip-fit therewith. An upper end cap is secured to the open end of the canister, with the pick-up tube being received within an outlet passage in the upper end cap, and the O-ring seal providing a fluid-tight seal between the pick-up tube and the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Cary Haramoto, Michael L. Ford, Tom C. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6058711
    Abstract: The evaporator comprises a) a chamber (12) made of a porous material with an inlet for a heat exchanging fluid in liquid form, b) a shell (9) in which is located said chamber (12) to define around it, a chamber (15) for collecting said fluid in vapor form, said shell (9) having an outlet by which the vapor collected in said chamber (15) is evacuated. It further comprises a tube (22) which extends through the whole internal space of the chamber (12) with a porous wall, from one end (24) of the tube constituting the chamber (12) inlet for the heat exchanging fluid, said tube (22) being pierced over its whole length with holes (33) for injecting the heat exchanging liquid into the chamber (12) wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
    Inventors: Thierry Maciaszek, Jacques Mauduyt
  • Patent number: 6044649
    Abstract: An air conditioner comprises a refrigeration cycle consisting of a compressor, a heat exchanger, a throttling device, a dryer provided with an adsorbent, a connection piping and a refrigerant. The refrigerant contains a hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant, the adsorbent contains a plurality of bulk particles, and the dryer includes a container, wherein the adsorbent is located within the container, having a pressing means for holding the adsorbent by pressing it. The load of the pressing means is within a range of about 0.5 kg/cm.sup.2 to about 3 kg/cm.sup.2. The container is of a cylindrical shape having a sectional area of "A", the refrigerant is at a circulation rate of "B", and the value of B/A is within a range of about 100 g/min cm.sup.2 to about 400 g/min cm.sup.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Numoto, Yukio Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6038881
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system including a compressor, a condenser coupled to the compressor, an evaporator coupled to the condenser, and an accumulator coupled between the evaporator and the compressor, an adsorbent unit in the accumulator, the adsorbent unit including a casing and adsorbent in the casing, and the casing being fabricated of a fabric which does not produce a thumping noise emanating from the accumulator when the compressor is cycled on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Multisorb Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick M. Murray
  • Patent number: 6029459
    Abstract: A refrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigeration cycle comprising at least a compressor, a condenser, a dryer, an expansion mechanism and an evaporator, a refrigerant composed mainly of a fluorocarbon type refrigerant containing no chlorine and having a critical temperature of 40.degree. C. or higher, and a refrigerating machine oil comprising as base oil an ester oil of one or more fatty acids which contains at least two ester linkages ##STR1## in the molecule and has a viscosity at 40.degree. C. of 2 to 70 cSt and a viscosity at 100.degree. C. of 1 to 9 cSt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Iizuka, Reishi Naka, Katsumi Fukuda, Makoto Tanaka, Yoshiharu Homma, Hiroaki Hata, Hirokatsu Kousokabe, Koji Nariyoshi, Hiroshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 6023940
    Abstract: A split air conditioner unit having a distributor located indoors for delivering refrigerant to a plurality of evaporator flow circuits. The distributor is connected to an outdoor condenser by a refrigerant line containing an expansion device. A strainer is located at the entrance to the distributor that homogenizes the expanded two phase mixture so that refrigerant of equal quality is delivered to each of the evaporator flow circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alan D. Abbott, Keon-Woo Lee, Christopher G. Repice, S. Rudy Chou, Mark A. Daniels
  • Patent number: 5996371
    Abstract: A saddle type adsorbent unit including first and second porous fabric adsorbent containers, a connecting member connecting the first and second containers and for placement between the upstanding pipe portions of a U-shaped pipe of a receiver, tabs on the outer ends of the adsorbent containers having apertures therein for receiving a filter housing on the underside of a return bend of the U-shaped pipe to thereby fixedly mount the saddle type adsorbent unit onto the U-shaped pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Multisorb Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Riemenschneider
  • Patent number: 5992174
    Abstract: In known collectors for condensers of motor vehicle air conditioners, the dryer cartridge is inserted from an upper end into the collector via a spacing rod. According to the invention, the dryer cartridge can be secured by releasable connecting means to the sealing lid, and the sealing lid can be mounted on the end associated with the flow segment of the collector profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hagen Mittelstrass
  • Patent number: 5987915
    Abstract: An adsorbent unit consisting of first and second porous fabric containers having adsorbent therein, a connecting member connecting end portions of the containers to each other, and tabs connecting side edge portions of the containers to each other with the containers oriented in side-by-side relationship. The foregoing adsorbent unit is mounted on the U-shaped pipe of a refrigerant accumulator with the connecting member adjacent the return bend of the accumulator and the tabs adjacent the pipe portions of the U-shaped pipe. The adsorbent unit can be shrunk relative to the U-shaped pipe after it has been installed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Multisorb Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel A. Incorvia, Patrick M. Murray, Paul A. Riemenschneider
  • Patent number: 5970738
    Abstract: An improved oil filter unit for attachment to a bight portion of a "J" tube of an accumulator dehydrator includes a rigid, preferably metal pick-up tube or projection. The rigid projection prevents collapse of an extension of a disk held by the oil filter unit during assembly of the oil filter unit to the aperture in the "J" tube. The rigid projection also includes an extended lower end which extends closer to the bottom of the accumulator to allow less oil to be in the accumulator for lubricating the compressor of the air-conditioning system, thereby realizing a significant cost savings compared to prior art accumulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. DeNolf, John Fisk, Jerry A. Tack
  • Patent number: 5966810
    Abstract: A pressure vessel housing that can be brazed and leak tested before adding desiccant material, eliminating the risk of damaging desiccant bags during assembly. The desiccant is added to the housing of the pressure vessel through an existing inlet opening in the top of the accumulator housing, thereby eliminating the potential for damage to the desiccant and the desiccant container while maintaining the integrity of the housing because no additional openings in the housing are required to access the desiccant material. A screen permanently mounted inside the pressure vessel supports the loose desiccant material and another screen removably attached to the inlet opening provides access to the loose desiccant material housed within the pressure vessel. A method of making the pressure vessel allows the accumulator assembly to be leak tested before the desiccant is added, reducing scrap and allowing repair of accumulator assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry H. Chisnell, John D. Fisk
  • Patent number: 5934091
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovering and recycling refrigerant from an air conditioning unit. The apparatus includes a combined oil separator and heat exchanger for condensing purified refrigerant and for vaporizing contaminated refrigerant. The combined oil separator and heat exchanger includes a canister having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a substantially cylindrical side wall. The canister further includes a high pressure region comprising heat exchange coils and having high pressure inlet for providing purified refrigerant vapor and high pressure outlet for removing purified refrigerant liquid, and a low pressure region having low pressure inlet for introducing contaminated refrigerant proximate the heat exchange coils, low pressure outlet through the top wall for removal of refrigerant vapor, and condensed oil outlet for removal of condensed oil. By introducing the contaminated refrigerant proximate the heat exchange coils, improved separation efficiency is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Century Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Arnold M. Hanson, Thomas Donald Chandler
  • Patent number: 5911879
    Abstract: A filter/drier for receiving and discharging a flow of refrigerant having a header with an inlet passage forming a plenum and an outlet passage through the header. A louvered baffle plate has peripheral tabs crimped over an annular flange on the header to form a subassembly. A cup-shaped shell containing desiccant, with a layer of fibrous filter material over the desiccant, is assembled over the header subassembly and sealed to the header by weldment. The peripheral spaces between the crimped baffle tabs provide exclusive flow dispersion to an annular collector space in the header which communicates with the outlet passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: William N. Eybergen
  • Patent number: 5910165
    Abstract: A receiver/dryer (10) includes a canister (12) with a cylindrical sidewall (13), an integral lower end (14), and an open upper end (16). A pick-up tube (18) is disposed centrally within the canister. According to one aspect, the lower end (19) of the pick-up tube has a wedged-shape and which is supported by the lower end of the canister. The upper end (20) of the pick-up tube has an annular groove (21) which carries an O-ring seal (22). A lower baffle (23) and lower filter pad (40) are received over the pick-up tube with the lower baffle having a tight slip-fit therewith; loose desiccant (24) is introduced into the canister and supported by the lower baffle and filter pad; and then an upper filter pad (50) and upper baffle (44) are received over the pick-up tube, with the upper baffle having a slip-fit therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Cary Haramoto, Michael L. Ford, Tom C. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5899087
    Abstract: A device for use in a cooling appliance for fixing a dryer on a condenser having a plurality of pipe parts. The fixing device comprises a plate-shaped body, a supporting part formed at one end of the body and inserted between the pipe parts to elastically support the body, a fixing part formed at the other end of the body and accommodating one pipe part of the condenser to fix the body, and a circular-shaped holder part for elastically fixing the dryer. The fixing device is fixed at the condenser by inserting the supporting part between the pipe parts and pushing the fixing part to other pipe part, and the dryer is fixed at the fixing device by inserting the dryer in the holder part. Thus the dryer is fixed in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Keon Lee
  • Patent number: 5878594
    Abstract: A structure for supporting an electric fan and fixing it to the radiator of a vehicle having climate control, comprising a unitary injection-moulded plastics material body including a rectangular frame, a plurality of arms for fixing the structure to the body of a vehicle, a housing for receiving a rotatable cooling fan and a mount for the electric motor for driving the fan. The structure also includes a support surface and a seat for supporting and fixing a dehydration filter forming part of the climate control system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Climatizzazione S.p.A.
    Inventors: Maurizio Lazzaro, Luigi Cristante
  • Patent number: 5865038
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved refrigeration subcooler comprising an accumulator and receiver apparatus for use in a refrigeration unit or heat pump. Specifically, the present invention relates to a subcooler that requires less refrigerant and is operable at lower operating pressures than conventional subcoolers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: Ronal J. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 5802868
    Abstract: A saddle type adsorbent unit including first and second porous fabric adsorbent containers, a connecting member connecting the first and second containers and for placement between the upstanding pipe portions of a U-shaped pipe of a receiver, tabs on the outer ends of the adsorbent containers having apertures therein for receiving a filter housing on the underside of a return bend of the U-shaped pipe to thereby fixedly mount the saddle type adsorbent unit onto the U-shaped pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Multisorb Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Riemenschneider
  • Patent number: 5799504
    Abstract: A vapor compression refrigeration system having a condenser, a regulating device, and a capillary tube. The regulating device has a housing defining an inner chamber for receiving refrigerant from the condenser. A float is disposed within the chamber and includes a resilient surface. An outlet line connected to the capillary tube extends through a bottom wall of the housing and into the chamber. The float is movable in response to changes in level of refrigerant in the chamber. The float moves downward to close the outlet line when refrigerant in the chamber drops below a minimum level, and moves upward to open the outlet line when refrigerant in the chamber rises above the minimum level. A filter assembly for removing contaminants from the refrigerant is disposed within the chamber above the float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: William G. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5755113
    Abstract: There is disclosed a condenser for use in an air conditioning system. The condenser includes a receiver dryer fluidly communicating with it. The receiver dryer includes a fluid inlet for receiving a two-phase refrigerant mixture from the condenser and two outlets, both of which direct refrigerant back to the condenser after phase separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alan Ferguson, John Joseph Meyer
  • Patent number: 5729998
    Abstract: A heat shield for an accumulator used in automotive air conditioning systems is disclosed. The heat shield prevents overheating of the interior components of the accumulator while the accumulator is being manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David Donald Grohs, Fred Georg Schroeder
  • Patent number: 5711165
    Abstract: A regrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigeration cycle comprising at least a compressor, a condenser, a dryer, an expansion mechanism and an evaporator, a refrigerant composed mainly of a fluorocarbon type refrigerant containing no chlorine and having a critical temperature of 40.degree. C. or higher, and a refrigerating machine oil comprising as base oil an ester oil of one or more fatty acids which contains at least two ester linkages ##STR1## in the molecule and has a viscosity at 40.degree. C. of 2 to 70 cSt and a viscosity at 100.degree. C. of 1 to 9 cSt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Iizuka, Reishi Naka, Katsumi Fukuda, Makoto Tanaka, Yoshiharu Homma, Hiroaki Hata, Hirokatsu Kousokabe, Koji Nariyoshi, Hiroshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 5685163
    Abstract: A liquid injection type scroll compressor is used to a refrigerating apparatus using hydrocarbon fluoride refrigerant which does not contain chlorine (HFC-125/HFC-143a/HFC-134a) as an operating fluid and an amount of an injected liquid is controlled according to a discharge temperature of the compressor. Further, ester oil is used as refrigerator oil and a dryer is disposed in a refrigerating cycle. With this arrangement, a refrigerating cycle operation can be stably realized in a wide range without almost changing the arrangement of a conventional refrigerating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Fujita, Yoshikazu Amo
  • Patent number: 5666791
    Abstract: For a collector of a condenser of a vehicle air conditioner, an insert is provided which can be inserted into the collector and which is composed of two parts. One part contains a filter screen, whereas the other part is an extension part bridging the distance from the first part to the cover of the collector. This arrangement provides for production of the collector in a particularly economic manner and minimizes disposal problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Roland Burk
  • Patent number: 5651266
    Abstract: An aluminum header has spaced inlet and outlet ports formed thereon to closely interfit inlet and outlet tubes. A U-shaped standpipe has one end swaged in the outlet port and the opposite end spaced adjacent the header surface to control flow into the standpipe. A permeable dessicant filled pouch is folded over the standpipe and a deep drawn aluminum canister is received over the pouch and standpipe and welded to the header. An inlet tube with a convolution is received in the inlet port and header material deformed over the convolution to retain the tube. A separate outlet tube with a convolution adjacent one end is inserted in the outlet port from the side opposite the standpipe and header material deformed over the convolution to retain the tube in the outlet port. A bleed hole for lubricant is formed in the standpipe and a filter cartridge received over the standpipe and located over the bleed hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne K. Hutchison, William N. Eybergen, Kenneth R. Blackman
  • Patent number: 5636525
    Abstract: A saddle type adsorbent unit including first and second porous fabric adsorbent containers, a connecting member connecting the first and second containers and for placement between the upstanding pipe portions of a U-shaped pipe of a receiver, tabs on the outer ends of the adsorbent containers having apertures therein for receiving a filter housing on the underside of a return bend of the U-shaped pipe to thereby fixedly mount the saddle type adsorbent unit onto the U-shaped pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Multisorb Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Riemenschneider
  • Patent number: 5619865
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved refrigeration subcooler comprising an accumulator and receiver apparatus for use in a refrigeration unit or heat pump. Specifically, the present invention relates to a subcooler that requires less refrigerant and is operable at lower operating pressures than conventional subcoolers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Inventor: Ronal J. Maxwell
  • Patent number: 5596881
    Abstract: A refrigerant assembly includes a refrigerant housing for receiving and containing refrigerant. In one embodiment, the housing has an upper end cap extending over and covering an open upper end of the housing to define a central cavity for the refrigerant. The upper end cap has a bore extending from an inner surface of the end cap to the outer surface. A pick-up tube extends inwardly into the bore from the inner surface of the end cap and is dimensioned so as to be closely received therein. The pick-up tube includes an annular bead toward its outlet end which is received within a counterbore formed coaxial with the bore from the inner surface of the end cap. The counterbore is dimensioned to closely receive the bead on the pick-up tube. The inner surface of the end cap surrounding the counterbore is then mechanically deformed, preferably by staking, around the entire circumference of the pick-up tube such that end cap material is forced radially inward toward the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Tom C. Wilson, Howard Sims
  • Patent number: 5580451
    Abstract: An automotive-type air conditioning refrigerant fluid dryer assembly composed of a receiver tank and desiccant cup assembly that are configured to enhance the operation and durability of the refrigerant fluid dryer assembly, as well as facilitate its assembly. The receiver tank is formed to have a unitary construction. The desiccant cup is provided with a number of axially-spaced nib segments disposed adjacent its open end that form detents and a cap that is received in the open end of the cup such that a peripheral edge of the cap engages at least some of the nib segments so as to secure the cap to the cup. During assembly, the cap is pressed downward into the cup until contact is made with the desiccant within and is thereafter secured within the cup by the nib segments. As such, assembly of the cap with the cup involves a simple push-type operation, yet enables the cap to positively confine the desiccant within the cup, such that relative movement of the desiccant within the chamber is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry A. Tack
  • Patent number: 5562427
    Abstract: A porous filter having a pore size of no more than 80 .mu.m is provided in a refrigerant flow passage of a refrigeration system. The filter may be provided in a drier provided in the refrigerant flow passage or in a separate filter casing provided in the refrigerant flow passage. Alternatively, the filter may be provided in the refrigerant flow passage within a sealed casing of a refrigerant compressor which is incorporated in the refrigeration system. The filter is formed of a molded solid material constituted by alumina, silica gel, calcium sulfide and aluminosilicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Refrigeration Company
    Inventors: Masao Mangyo, Seishi Nakaoka, Shuichi Yakushi, Shinya Ito, Takao Kawashima, Satoshi Wada, Hideki Kawai
  • Patent number: 5557945
    Abstract: A filter formed of a filter material, such as, fluororesin, cellulose ester, polycarbonate or silica fiber is provided in a refrigerant flow passage of a refrigeration system. In the refrigerant flow passage, the filter is sandwiched by porous members, or the filter is attached to a porous member by means of, such as, heat sealing. The filter may be provided in a drier provided in the refrigerant flow passage. Alternatively, the filter may be provided in the refrigerant flow passage within a sealed casing of a refrigerant compressor which is incorporated in the refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Refrigeration Company
    Inventors: Masao Mangyo, Sinya Ito, Seishi Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 5537839
    Abstract: In a condenser for a vehicle air-conditioning system having a pipe-rib block (10) provided on both sides with collecting pipes (13, 14) which are divided by means of partitions (17, 18) into an upper condensing portion for gaseous refrigerant and a lower supercooling portion for liquid refrigerant, there is disposed parallel to a collecting pipe (14) a collector (23), which is connected by a first connecting opening (24) to the condensing portion and by a second connecting opening (25) to the supercooling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Roland Burk, Siegfried Tews
  • Patent number: 5515696
    Abstract: A receiver/drier/filter assembly for a refrigeration system such as a vehicle air conditioner and having a canister containing desiccant welded to a header having an inlet and outlet port. A tubular elbow with an annular convolution adjacent one end is received in the inlet and outlet port with the convolution sealing against a resilient seal ring in each port. A bracket with generally oppositely disposed bent up flanges has an L-shaped slot in each flange. The bracket is attached to the header with each slot having one of the elbows received therein and the edges of the slot bearing against the annular convolution for retaining the elbow in the port. The opposite end of each elbow extends through the vertical portion of the L-shaped slot and is oriented generally radially with respect to the port by the sides of the bracket slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne K. Hutchison