Condensed Liquid Receiver, E.g., Surge Tank Patents (Class 62/509)
  • Patent number: 7007499
    Abstract: A condenser assembly for a vehicle air conditioning system is provided. The condenser assembly includes a core including first and second ends and a plurality of tubes extending therebetween, a first header located adjacent to the first end of the core, and a second header located adjacent to the second end of the core. The second header includes a receiver/dryer having a receiver/dryer chamber, a manifold cooperating with the receiver/dryer to define a manifold chamber, and a mounting rib unitarily formed with at least one of the receiver/dryer and the manifold. The mounting rib includes a first portion extending away from the at least one of the receiver/dryer and the manifold in a first direction and a second portion extending away from the first portion in a second direction that is substantially nonparallel with the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramchandra L. Patel
  • Patent number: 7003978
    Abstract: A receiver (24) in a condenser system (20) includes a body (32) in fluid communication with a header (28) of the condenser system (20). A service cartridge (154) is insertable into an interior cavity (106) of the body (32). The service cartridge (154) includes a substantially-rigid tubular member (156). Covers (166, 168), each having openings (170, 172), are coupled to opposing ends of the tubular member (78). A spindle (179) is non-detachably coupled to each of the first cover (166) and a cap (180). The cap (180) is configured for threaded attachment to a service end of the body (32) of the receiver (24). Refrigerant 150 is received by the tubular member (156) via the first openings (170), and is discharged from the tubular member (156) via the second openings (172). The service cartridge (154) includes multiple features for drying, filtering, and/or leak detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: CalsonicKansei North America, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Knecht, James D. Snow
  • Patent number: 6981390
    Abstract: A refrigerant cycle system includes a first heat-exchanging portion for condensing gas refrigerant discharged from a compressor, a gas-liquid separator into which all of refrigerant after passing through the first heat-exchanging portion and a part of gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor are introduced, and a second heat-exchanging portion for cooling and condensing refrigerant flowing from the gas-liquid separator. Because all of the condensed refrigerant from the first heat-exchanging portion is introduced into the gas-liquid separator, a passage area of a gas refrigerant introduction passage for introducing gas refrigerant from the compressor into the gas-liquid separator can be set relatively large. Therefore, a dimension difference of the gas refrigerant introducing passage in manufacturing is not greatly affected to an adjustment of a liquid refrigerant amount in the gas-liquid separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Etsuhisa Yamada, Shigeki Ito, Teruyuki Hotta, Yasushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6971251
    Abstract: An integrated condenser/receiver includes a multi-pass heat exchanger core, an elongated receiver housing, and a refrigerant conduit to direct refrigerant between the receiver housing and the multi-pass heat exchanger core. The heat exchanger core includes an elongate header extending along an axis, a plurality of tubes extending parallel to each other and transverse to the axis to direct a refrigerant through the core, with the tubes spaced along the header and having ends received therein to direct refrigerant to and from the header, and at least one baffle in the header to separate the header into a first portion that receives refrigerant from a first set of the tubes and a second portion that directs refrigerant to a second set of the tubes. Each of the set of tubes defines a refrigerant pass through the core. The receiver housing is mounted to the core, with the second set of tubes located between the receiver housing and the first set of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Viktor Brost
  • Patent number: 6959557
    Abstract: A vessel for containing a refrigerant fluid in a vapor compression system. The vessel includes a housing defining a fixed interior volume and an internal structure subdividing the interior volume into a storage chamber and a displacement chamber. The storage chamber is in fluid communication with the vapor compression system and stores both liquid phase and gas phase refrigerant during normal operation of the system. The displacement chamber may be repositionable or have a variable volume wherein varying the volume of the displacement chamber inversely varies the volume of the storage chamber. The volume of the displacement chamber may be controlled by the transfer of thermal energy to a working fluid within the displacement chamber to thereby thermally expand or contract the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Dan M. Manole, Alicia Frostick
  • Patent number: 6959563
    Abstract: An insert is provided for use in a refrigerant receiver of a vehicular air conditioning system. The receiver has an interior that receives the insert and a charge of desiccant. The receiver is connected to a header of a condenser by a refrigerant inlet to the interior from the header and a refrigerant outlet from the interior to the header. The insert includes a wall having a first and second oppositely facing sides. The first side lies closer to the inlet than the second side with the insert received in the interior of the receiver. A first portion of the wall is aligned with the inlet, and at least the first portion is substantially impervious to the refrigerant flow from the inlet to shield the desiccant charge from direct impingement by refrigerant flow from the inlet. In one embodiment, the second side cooperates with a surface of the interior to define a receptacle for the desiccant. In another embodiment, the second side defines a receptacle surrounding the desiccant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Siegbert Altendorfer, Norbert Operschall
  • Patent number: 6941769
    Abstract: A flash tank configuration for an economizer is provided that is inexpensive and simple to construct, reliable to operate, and efficient for use in an economizer compression refrigeration system. The configuration includes an upper baffle and a lower baffle configured and arranged within the flash tank so as to separate the liquid and gas phases of intermediate pressure refrigerant, and to convey each phase to other components in the refrigeration systems. The flash tank has a generally cylindrical shape, and is dimensioned so as to provide adequate internal volume for expansion of refrigerant to a desired pressure, separation of the resulting refrigerant gas and refrigerant liquid phases, and temporary storage of the refrigerant phases before conveying the liquid phase to the main refrigerant line between the condenser and the evaporator, and returning the gas phase to the compressor. Additionally, methods are provided for using the flash tank to separate refrigerant phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Highland Hill, IV, Curtis Christian Crane, Michael Lee Buckley, Blake Evan Stabley
  • Patent number: 6935413
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a pipe having an opening formed therein, and an insert positioned within the pipe. The heat exchanger also includes a cap member for sealing the opening, and a support member for resiliently supporting the insert. Specifically, the support member is positioned between the insert and the cap member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Kamishima, Hirotaka Kado, Kenichi Wada
  • Patent number: 6915659
    Abstract: A heat exchanger with a receiver-tank includes a heat exchanger main body, a receiver-tank and a block flange. The flange includes a main body, an embedding portion to be attached to one of headers in an embedded state, an inlet flow passage with an inlet side end portion disposed at an upper end of the embedding portion, the inlet flow passage communicating with a condensing portion of the heat exchanger main body, and an outlet flow passage with an outlet side end portion disposed at a side surface of the embedding portion, and the outlet flow passage communicating with a subcooling portion. A flange-like partition piece is formed at an upper end periphery of the embedding portion of the flange, and the peripheral edge of the partition piece is joined to the inner peripheral surface of one of the headers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Seno, Osamu Kamoshida, Keiji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6904770
    Abstract: A multi-function condenser for an air conditioning system includes a first header, a second header, a plurality of tubes, and a conduit. The tubes extend in parallel relationship between the headers for establishing fluid communication between the first header and the second header. The second header includes a header portion and a receiver portion. A conduit extends into and out of and is surrounded by the receiver portion to define a space between the conduit and the receiver portion. Heat is transferred between hot refrigerant flowing in the receiver portion, the header portion, and cooler refrigerant flowing through the conduit as the refrigerant flows through the conduit independently of the refrigerant flowing in the space and in the header portion to increase an overall efficiency of the air conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Telesz, Edward Douglas Pettitt, Scott Edward Kent, David A. Southwick
  • Patent number: 6889521
    Abstract: A heat exchanger with a receiver tank is provided with a multi-flow type heat-exchange body (10), a receiver tank (3), a block flange (4) having a side surface connected to the periphery of a condensing portion outlet of the heat exchanger body (10) and an upper en to which a lower end of the receiver tank (3) is attached and a bracket (6) for supporting the upper part of the receiver tank (3) to the heat exchanger body (10). A flange-shaped pressing stepped portion (31a) is formed on the upper periphery of the tank main body (31) of the receiver tank (3). The bracket (6) is provided with a joint portion (61b) to be secured to the peripheral surface of one of headers (11) and embracing portions (61a) and (62a) that surround the periphery of the tank main body (31) and are engaged with the upper side of the pressing stepped portion (31a) to downwardly press the receiver tank (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Seno, Osamu Kamoshida
  • Patent number: 6880362
    Abstract: In a refrigerating cycle, a heat radiation of a gas cooler is reduced by a heat radiation reduction member when one of a pressure and a temperature of a high pressure side refrigerant is equal to or less than a predetermined value. When a discharge pressure of the refrigerant discharged from a compressor is equal to or lower than the predetermined level, the heat radiation of the gas cooler is reduced by the heat radiation reduction member. Thus, the refrigerant pressure of the high pressure side is increased while the refrigerant pressure of a low pressure side is decreased. With this, a flow rate at a high pressure inlet of an ejector is increased. Also, a flow rate at a low pressure inlet of the ejector is increased. Accordingly, a temperature of air blown from an evaporator is decreased without frosting the evaporator even when a load of the cycle is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Gum Bae Choi, Masayuki Takeuchi, Yoshitaka Tomatsu
  • Patent number: 6877336
    Abstract: In a receiver-drier including a cylindrical body and a lower cap sealing a lower end portion of the body, the body includes a filter support portion sectioning the body into upper and lower portions and having at least one inwardly protruding portion supporting an upper end portion of the filter accommodated in the lower portion of the body, at least one refrigerant inlet formed in the upper portion of the body, a coupling portion formed by inwardly pressing the body between the filter support portion and the lower end portion of the body so that an inner surface of the pressed body is coupled to the lower cap, and at least one refrigerant outlet disposed between the filter support portion and the coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Sang Ok Lee, Eun Ki Min, Jin Hee Lee, Sun Ho Bae, Jun Young Shin, Hee Soo Yang, Jeong Chan Kang
  • Patent number: 6874569
    Abstract: Higher heat-exchange capacity and greater vapor-liquid throughflows are attained in a downflow condenser. The increased capacity is achieved by a new design in the manifold to encourage condensation and lessen entrainment of gas phase matter in subcooling flows of condensed liquid. The increased capacity is also achieved by tailoring the flowpaths for a two-phase mixture to avoid reduce liquid film buildup on tubewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Gawthrop, William Melnyk, Jan Xu
  • Patent number: 6871508
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit in an air conditioner comprises a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, a condenser that liquefies the refrigerant, a pressure reducing device that reduces the pressure of the compressed refrigerant, and an evaporator that exchanges heat by utilizing the refrigerant and generates an air-conditioning air. The condenser comprises plural fin tubes, through which the refrigerant passes, two headers, to which both ends of the fin tubes are connected and which has a firm structure, upper and lower mounting brackets that are fixed to the headers, and vibration insulating materials that collaborate with pin members and support the condenser via the upper and lower mounting brackets. The valve unit is fixed to the header or to the upper or lower mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Wanami, Mikiharu Kuwahara, Kazuo Kito, Toshiya Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 6857287
    Abstract: A refrigeration process comprising: compressing low pressure vapor refrigerant to a higher temperature and pressure vapor, compressing low pressure vapor refrigerant to a higher temperature and pressure vapor, condensing the higher pressure vapor refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant at the higher pressure, thermally isolating the higher pressure liquid, cooling the thermally isolated liquid refrigerant while remaining thermally isolated and then allowing thermal contact of the remaining low temperature and pressure liquid and a cooled substance causing the low temperature and pressure liquid to further reversibly boil to a vapor at the low pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Altech Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Herman Alsenz
  • Patent number: 6851277
    Abstract: A baffle for use in a refrigerator apparatus comprises a baffle plate comprising a first and a second opposing sides attached to an inner surface of the refrigerator apparatus, a baffle seal plate attached along a third side of the baffle plate, the baffle plate seal plate attached to the inner surface of the refrigerator apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Vishnu M. Sishtla
  • Patent number: 6851468
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular a refrigerant condenser, especially for a motor vehicle air-conditioning unit. The heat exchanger is comprised of a block of tubes and fins and of collecting tubes which are arranged on both sides and receive the ends of the tubes, and of a collector which is arranged parallel to a collecting tube. A method for manufacturing the heat exchanger is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Martin Kaspar, Michael Kohl, Gerrit Woelk
  • Publication number: 20040244394
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit R includes, a compressor 25 for compressing a refrigerant to a pressure higher than the critical pressure, a gas cooler 26, a motor-operated expansion valve 27, and an evaporator 28, and uses as a refrigerant a natural system refrigerant. A receiver 43 is provided to the high-pressure side of the refrigerant circuit R. There is provided an adjusting valve 44 for adjusting the refrigerant amount flowing through the inside of the receiver 43. A controller 55 adjusts the opening of the adjusting valve 44 so as to bring the temperature of the receiver 43 close to a target receiver temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakayama, Shinichi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20040244410
    Abstract: The invention relates to a condenser (1) comprising an integrated collector (5) which is arranged parallel to one of the collector tubes (2) and is connected to said connector tube via two overflow openings (8 and 9). Said collector (5) is used to receive a drying/filtering unit (11). The condenser (1), consisting of tubes (3), ribs (4) and collector tubes (2), is produced by welding. According to the invention, the drying/filtering unit (11) is introduced into the collector (5) before the welding process and is positioned therein or connected thereto in a fixed manner. The collector (5) is then closed and the entire condenser (1) is welded. The connection between the drying/filtering unit (11) and the collector (5) is thus carried out before or during the welding process by means of welding. The invention is preferably used for air conditioning systems in motor vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Patrick Jung, Siegfried Tews
  • Publication number: 20040200234
    Abstract: onents, improve the assembling work and decrease the costs.equipped with a heat exchanger main bodz 10, a receiver/tank 3 and a block flange 4. The flange 4 includes a main body 41, an embedding portion 42 to be attached to one of headers 11 in an embedded state, an inlet flow passage 4a with an inlet side end portion disposed at an upper end of the embedding portion 42, the inlet flow passage 4a communicating with a condensing portion 2 of the heat exchanger main body 10, and an outlet flow passage 4b with an outlet side end portion disposed at a side surface of the embedding portion 42, and the outlet flow passage communicating with a subcooling portion 3. A flange/like partition piece 50 is formed at an upper end periphery of the embedding portion of the flange 4, and the peripheral edge of the partition piece 50 is joined to the inner peripheral surface of one of the headers. Thus, the partition piece constitutes a partition for dividing the inside of the header.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Seno, Osamu Kamoshida, Keiji Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20040182553
    Abstract: A heat exchanger with a receiver tank is provided with a multi-flow type heat-exchange body (10), a receiver tank (3), a block flange (4) having a side surface connected to the periphery of a condensing portion outlet of the heat exchanger body (10) and an upper en to which a lower end of the receiver tank (3) is attached and a bracket (6) for supporting the upper part of the receiver tank (3) to the heat exchanger body (10). A flange-shaped pressing stepped portion (31a) is formed on the upper periphery of the tank main body (31) of the receiver tank (3). The bracket (6) is provided with a joint portion (61b) to be secured to the peripheral surface of one of headers (11) and embracing portions (61a) and (62a) that surround the periphery of the tank main body (31) and are engaged with the upper side of the pressing stepped portion (31a) to downwardly press the receiver tank (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Seno, Osamu Kamoshida
  • Publication number: 20040154331
    Abstract: This duplex-type heat exchanger is adapted to a vapor compression type refrigeration cycle in which a condensed refrigerant is decompressed and then evaporated. This duplex-type heat exchanger is integrally equipped with a subcooler S in which the condensed refrigerant exchanges heat with the ambient air A to be subcooled and an evaporator E in which the decompressed refrigerant exchanges heat with the ambient air A to be evaporated. Heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant passing through the subcooler S and the refrigerant passing through the evaporator E, to thereby cool the refrigerant in the subcooler S and heat the refrigerant in the evaporator E. Accordingly, according to this heat exchanger, a high refrigeration effect can be obtained while avoiding the pressure rise of the refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Hirofumi Horiuchi, Ryoichi Hoshino, Noburo Ogasawara, Takashi Tamura, Takashi Terada, Futoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6769269
    Abstract: The gas-liquid separating condenser of the present invention can enhance the sub-cooling rate in the pre-sub-cooling section as well as in the total sections. Moreover, the present invention can have designs according to calculated conditional expressions of relative dimensional ratios of the sections in condensation of refrigerant to realize the optimum condensing efficiency regardless of the overall size of the gas-liquid separating condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Kwangheon Oh, Sangok Lee, Taeyoung Park, Yongho Kim
  • Patent number: 6763679
    Abstract: A canister is attached to a header tank and includes an upper inlet and a lower outlet. Before end cap is brazed to close the bottom of canister, a tube of desiccant material is installed into the canister by a standoff. The standoff includes a disk shaped base and narrow central post which is comparable in length to the height of the inlet above the lower end cap. This is followed by inserting a spur of a higher melting temperature into the canister into a position and extending radially from the post and into an interference fit with the interior wall of the canister that is tighter than the interference fit between the base and the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Joseph Leitch, Ben V. Koss, Robert Charles Gmerek, Michael Czajkowski
  • Publication number: 20040118150
    Abstract: A refrigerant cycle system includes a first heat-exchanging portion for condensing gas refrigerant discharged from a compressor, a gas-liquid separator into which all of refrigerant after passing through the first heat-exchanging portion and a part of gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor are introduced, and a second heat-exchanging portion for cooling and condensing refrigerant flowing from the gas-liquid separator. Because all of the condensed refrigerant from the first heat-exchanging portion is introduced into the gas-liquid separator, a passage area of a gas refrigerant introduction passage for introducing gas refrigerant from the compressor into the gas-liquid separator can be set relatively large. Therefore, a dimension difference of the gas refrigerant introducing passage in manufacturing is not greatly affected to an adjustment of a liquid refrigerant amount in the gas-liquid separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Etsuhisa Yamada, Shigeki Ito, Teruyuki Hotta, Yasushi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20040118148
    Abstract: An accumulator for use in a motor vehicle air conditioning system. The accumulator comprises an accumulator housing, an outlet fluid pipe assembly and an inlet fluid pipe assembly. The accumulator housing has a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall connecting the top wall to the bottom wall. The outlet fluid pipe assembly has an inlet end. The inlet fluid pipe assembly includes a tubular first portion and a diverter/diffusing portion configured to direct refrigerant flowing through the first portion towards the sidewall and downwardly away from the top wall of the accumulator housing. The first tubular portion has an axis offset from the inlet end of the outlet fluid pipe assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: TI Group Automotives Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Joe Ther, Charles Thrift
  • Publication number: 20040103677
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to prevent refrigerant from flowing out into a vehicle compartment due to damage to an evaporator or piping associated therewith. A solenoid valve is arranged at an inlet of an evaporator, and a check valve is arranged at an outlet of the evaporator. When operation of a system is to be stopped, the solenoid valve is closed while a compressor is kept operating for a predetermined time to suck out refrigerant from the evaporator to a downstream side of the check valve, so that during stoppage of the operation, the check valve prevents the refrigerant from flowing back into the evaporator. Thus, even if the evaporator arranged in the vehicle compartment or piping associated therewith is damaged, a situation where a large amount of refrigerant flows out of the evaporator into the vehicle compartment does not occur because no refrigerant remains in the evaporator, making it possible to prevent occupants in the vehicle compartment from being put in a grave situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: TGK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hisatoshi Hirota
  • Patent number: 6708522
    Abstract: A receiver-tank for use in a refrigeration cycle of this invention is provided with a filtering layer 435 formed so that an upper space 402 is formed above the filtering layer 435 in a tank main body 401. An upper end of a refrigerant outlet 441 in a tank bottom wall 421 is opened toward the upper space 402. The refrigerant flowed into the tank main body 401 from the refrigerant inlet 431 passes through the filtering layer 435 upwardly, and forms liquid-stagnation R in the upper space 402. The liquefied refrigerant of liquid-stagnation R flows out of the refrigerant outlet 441. Thereby, only the stable liquefied refrigerant can be extracted more assuredly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Keiji Yamazaki, Yoshihiko Seno, Osamu Kamoshida, Yasuhiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6701730
    Abstract: In a refrigerating apparatus using an HFC group refrigerant, the performance is improved by increasing the refrigerating capacity and a stable operation is made possible. In order to achieve this, a cycle system in a refrigerator is structured so as to connect a compressor, a condenser, a liquid receiver and a supercooler in this order. In an air-cooled separation type refrigerator, the liquid receiver is disposed within an air-cooled type condenser unit. Further, in the case where a flush gas is liable to be generated in a liquid pipe, a vapor-liquid separator is disposed within the compressor unit integral with an accumulator and separated therefrom by a partition plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sakurai, Hideo Takemoto
  • Patent number: 6698236
    Abstract: A first heat exchange unit is for condensing a refrigerant discharged from a compressor. A second heat exchange unit is provided downstream from the first heat exchange unit. A gas-liquid separator, into which part of the refrigerant from the compressor and part of the refrigerant from the first exchange unit flow, is for separating the refrigerants into a gas and a liquid refrigerant to accumulate the liquid refrigerant. The gas refrigerant in the separator is lead to the second heat exchange unit. A primary refrigerant flow path, included in the first heat exchange unit, is for leading the refrigerant to the second heat exchange unit. A branch refrigerant flow path, included in the first heat exchange unit and independently partitioned from the primary refrigerant flow path, is for leading the refrigerant to the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kurato Yamasaki, Shigeki Ito, Teruyuki Hotta, Atsushi Inaba, Yasushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6698235
    Abstract: A refrigerant cycle system includes a condenser having a condensation portion for condensing refrigerant discharged from a compressor, and a receiver for separating refrigerant from the condensation portion into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and for storing the liquid refrigerant. In this system, refrigerant from the condensation portion flows into the receiver through a first communication hole, and liquid refrigerant in the receiver is discharged through a second communication hole in which a pressure loss is generated. Further, gas refrigerant at an upper side in the receiver is discharged to a downstream side of the second communication hole through a gas bypass pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuji Nobuta, Ryouichi Sanada, Satoshi Sumiya
  • Publication number: 20040031285
    Abstract: An insert is provided for use in a refrigerant receiver of a vehicular air conditioning system. The receiver has an interior that receives the insert and a charge of desiccant. The receiver is connected to a header of a condenser by a refrigerant inlet to the interior from the header and a refrigerant outlet from the interior to the header. The insert includes a wall having a first and second oppositely facing sides. The first side lies closer to the inlet than the second side with the insert received in the interior of the receiver. A first portion of the wall is aligned with the inlet, and at least the first portion is substantially impervious to the refrigerant flow from the inlet to shield the desiccant charge from direct impingement by refrigerant flow from the inlet. In one embodiment, the second side cooperates with a surface of the interior to define a receptacle for the desiccant. In another embodiment, the second side defines a receptacle surrounding the desiccant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Siegbert Altendorfer, Norbert Operschall
  • Patent number: 6691771
    Abstract: A plurality of cooling tubes (7) are connected and communicated with one another in multisteps in a vertical direction bridging a pair of header pipes (3). One of the header pipes (3) is provided with a liquid tank (9) for storing a cooling medium in a liquid phase which has been condensed and liquidized by cooling, and an auxiliary machinery part (23) is fitted to a peripheral wall face 9a of the liquid tank which serves as a large mounting face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Shinhama, Jinichi Hiyama
  • Patent number: 6688138
    Abstract: A heat exchanger including a plurality of thermally-conductive, fluid-conveyance tubes, and at least one header from which each of the plurality of fluid-conveyance tubes extends. The header includes an elongate outer tube and an elongate inner tube disposed eccentrically within the outer tube, with a fluid conduit being defined between the inner tube and the outer tube. The plurality of fluid-conveyance tubes are in fluid communication with the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Michael A. DiFlora
  • Patent number: 6684661
    Abstract: A receiver dryer mounting bracket (38) for a condenser system (20) includes a body (76) and an arm (78) coupled to and extending from the body (76). The body (76) has an opening (90) and seat sections (92, 94) positioned at opposing ends of a length of the opening (90). Flanges (71, 73) on inlet and outlet pipes (34, 36) of the condenser system (20) are seated in the seat sections (92, 94). An arcuate crimp section (102) of the body (76) is compressed to secure the inlet and outlet pipes (34, 36) in respective ones of the seat sections (92, 94) to form a pipe assembly (30). The pipe assembly (30) is coupled to a header (26) of the condenser system (20) prior to furnace brazing, and a receiver dryer (32) is subsequently mounted to the bracket (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin D. Beasley, Terry G. Reavis, James D. Snow, Norimitsu Takeshita
  • Patent number: 6681595
    Abstract: An improvement in a refrigeration circuit comprising a hermetic chamber (10), which is maintained in fluid communication with the refrigeration circuit, immediately downstream at least one of the parts defined by a condenser (5) and by a hermetic compressor (1), and which is dimensioned to store, in conditions of long stops of the hermetic compressor (1) and of a start thereof, a substantial volume of refrigerant fluid, said hermetic chamber (10) returning to the refrigeration circuit substantially all the refrigerant fluid stored therein, after said conditions have ended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Empresa Brasileira de Compressores S.A. -Embraco
    Inventor: Márcio Roberto Thiessen
  • Patent number: 6679319
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a connector (7) for connecting a receiver tank (4) brazed to a header pipe (3) and the receiver tank (4) connected to the connector (7) by male screw parts, wherein the connector (7) is formed to have a brazing face (7a) against the header pipe (3) narrower than a mating face (7b) against the receiver tank (4). The connector (7) has a plurality of holes (73), (73) into which a plurality of male screw parts are inserted or screwed, and the holes (73), (73) are formed symmetrically or substantially symmetrically on the brazing face (7a) against the header pipe (3) with respect to a straight line connecting the center of an outflow path (71) and that of an inflow path (72) on the mating face (7b) against the receiver tank (4). And, a groove (74) which divides the brazing face (7a) is formed between the inflow path (71) and the outflow path (72) on the brazing face (7a) against the header pipe (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Zexel Valeo Climate Control Corporation
    Inventor: Soichi Kato
  • Publication number: 20040007012
    Abstract: In a receiver-drier including a cylindrical body and a lower cap sealing a lower end portion of the body, the body includes a filter support portion sectioning the body into upper and lower portions and having at least one inwardly protruding portion supporting an upper end portion of the filter accommodated in the lower portion of the body, at least one refrigerant inlet formed in the upper portion of the body, a coupling portion formed by inwardly pressing the body between the filter support portion and the lower end portion of the body so that an inner surface of the pressed body is coupled to the lower cap, and at least one refrigerant outlet disposed between the filter support portion and the coupling portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: HALLA CLIMATE CONTROL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Ok Lee, Eun Ki Min, Jin Hee Lee, Sun Ho Bae, Jun Young Shin, Hee Soo Yang, Jeong Chan Kang
  • Patent number: 6668575
    Abstract: An ice cube-making machine that is characterized by noiseless operation at the location where ice cubes are dispensed and be lightweight packages for ease of installation. The ice cube-making machine has an evaporator package, a separate compressor package and a separate condenser package. Each of these packages has a weight that can generally by handled by one or two installers for ease of installation. The noisy compressor and condenser packages can be located remotely of the evaporator package. The maximum height distance between the evaporator package and the condenser package is greatly enhanced by the three package system. A pressure regulator operates during a harvest cycle to limit flow of refrigerant leaving the evaporator, thereby increasing pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator and assisting in defrost thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignees: Mile High Equipment Co., Scotsman Ice Systems
    Inventors: Gerald J. Stensrud, Daniel Leo Ziolkowski, Matthew W. Allison, David Brett Gist
  • Patent number: 6666041
    Abstract: A refrigerator comprising evaporator (1), cyclone separator (21), and supply pipe (8) between condensator and evaporator (1). The evaporator (1) is connected to an upper part of the cyclone separator (21) via delivery pipe (3). The cyclone separator (21) is disposed at a distance above the evaporator (1). The lower part of the cyclone separator (21), which is a liquid collecting compartment, is connected to the evaporator (1) via a down pipe (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Gram Equipment A/S
    Inventor: Povl Agergaard
  • Patent number: 6655172
    Abstract: A refrigeration system has a compressor which incorporates fluid injection into one or more of the fluid pockets. A source of fluid for injection into the pockets is attached directly to the shell of the compressor to eliminate the need for having fluid piping between the source of fluid and the compressor. The source of fluid can be a flash tank which increases the capacity and efficiency of the system or the source of fluid can be a heat exchanger which also increases the capability and efficiency of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Copeland Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Perevozchikov, Roy Doepker
  • Publication number: 20030217567
    Abstract: The gas-liquid separating condenser of the present invention can enhance the sub-cooling rate in the pre-sub-cooling section as well as in the total sections. Moreover, the present invention can have designs according to calculated conditional expressions of relative dimensional ratios of the sections in condensation of refrigerant to realize the optimum condensing efficiency regardless of the overall size of the gas-liquid separating condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Kwangheon Oh, Sangok Lee, Taeyoung Park, Yongho Kim
  • Patent number: 6644066
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to relieve liquid pressure from a receiver to a condenser in a cooling system that operates under a variety of ambient temperature conditions. To relieve excess pressure in the receiver and to prevent the venting of refrigerant through a relief valve, a pressure-balancing system is connected between the condenser and the receiver of the cooling system. In one embodiment, the pressure-balancing system includes a check valve and a pressure-balancing valve. The pressure-balancing valve bypasses the check valve. The check valve permits the flow of refrigerant in one direction from the condenser to the receiver. The pressure-balancing valve permits the flow of refrigerant in an opposite direction from the receiver to the condenser in order to maintain the pressure in the receiver below a maximum pressure level. The pressure-balancing valve may be installed on a bypass line parallel to the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventor: Benedict J. Dolcich
  • Patent number: 6640585
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigeration cycle and a method for determining a capacity of a receiver of a refrigeration cycle. According to the present invention, the capacity of the receiver can be determined according to the variations of the paths of the condenser, which provides an ability of fully coping with the variations of the cooling load. When the method for determining the capacity of the receiver according to the present invention is applied in the condenser integrated with the receiver, it is possible that an optimal capacity where no brazing failure occurs is obtained, which means the optimal capacity for the receiver can be easily determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Kwangheon Oh, Sangok Lee, Eunki Min, Hwangjae Ahn
  • Publication number: 20030192340
    Abstract: A heat exchanger including a plurality of thermally-conductive, fluid-conveyance tubes, and at least one header from which each of the plurality of fluid-conveyance tubes extends. The header includes an elongate outer tube and an elongate inner tube disposed eccentrically within the outer tube, with a fluid conduit being defined between the inner tube and the outer tube. The plurality of fluid-conveyance tubes are in fluid communication with the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Michael A. DiFlora
  • Patent number: 6631625
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a refrigeration heat exchanger section useful in circulating a substantially non-HCFC refrigerant mixture which comprises: a compressor means, an auxiliary condenser, a first condenser, a second condenser, a third condenser, a subcooler and a liquid/gas separator, wherein a subcooled refrigerant liquid mixture taken as bottoms from the liquid/gas separator is distributed and expanded by a first expansion means and a second expansion means to form first and second expanded streams, respectively, such that the first expanded stream is returned to the auxiliary condenser and compressor in order to avoid overheating of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: GSLE Development Corporation (DE Corp)
    Inventor: Chuan Weng
  • Patent number: 6626007
    Abstract: In order to ensure that a braising material applied onto the surface of a header pipe does not enter communicating passages for coolant intake/outlet at a connecting block during the furnace braising process implemented to weld the connecting block utilized to connect a liquid tank to the header pipe, pipe-like projections are formed at the pair of communicating passages for coolant intake/outlet formed at the connecting block for liquid tank connection on the side where the header pipe is connected and the pipe-like projections inserted at holes of the header pipe clad with a braising material are welded to a condenser to constitute an integrated part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Zexel Valeo Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Matsuzaki, Yoshihisa Eto, Isao Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20030177783
    Abstract: A first heat exchange unit is for condensing a refrigerant discharged from a compressor. A second heat exchange unit is provided downstream from the first heat exchange unit. A gas-liquid separator, into which part of the refrigerant from the compressor and part of the refrigerant from the first exchange unit flow, is for separating the refrigerants into a gas and a liquid refrigerant to accumulate the liquid refrigerant. The gas refrigerant in the separator is lead to the second heat exchange unit. A primary refrigerant flow path, included in the first heat exchange unit, is for leading the refrigerant to the second heat exchange unit. A branch refrigerant flow path, included in the first heat exchange unit and independently partitioned from the primary refrigerant flow path, is for leading the refrigerant to the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Kurato Yamasaki, Shigeki Ito, Teruyuki Hotta, Atsushi Inaba, Yasushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6622517
    Abstract: A condenser assembly for a vehicle air conditioning system. The condenser assembly includes a core comprised of a plurality of parallel tubes between which are located a plurality of fins. A pair of headers are located on opposite ends and in fluid communication with the tubes of the core. The headers are constructed such that their primary components exhibit constant cross sectional profiles along their lengths. This enables the volumetrics of the condenser assembly to be altered with a minimal amount of tooling change over being required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg A. Whitlow, Ian James Rawley, Ramchandra Patel, Wen Fei Yu