Abstract: Ease of service is provided in an integrated condenser (20) and receiver (22) including two nonhorizontal headers (24), a plurality of tubes (28) extending between the headers (24) to establish a plurality of hydraulically parallel flow pads between the headers (24); at least one partition (48, 50, 52) in each of the headers for causing refrigerant to make at least two passes, including an upstream pass and a downstream pass, through the condenser (20); and an elongated receiver (22) mounted on one of the headers (24). The elongated receiver (22) includes an interior chamber (61), an upper inlet (70) connected to a downstream side of the upstream pass for the flow of refrigerant form the upstream pass to the interior chamber (61), a lower liquid outlet (71) connected to an upstream side of the downstream pass for the flow of liquid refrigerant from the interior chamber (61) to the downstream pass, and a port (62) to allow access to interior chamber (61) for servicing the receiver (22).

Abstract: Loss of efficiency as a result of inadequate subcooling caused by the entry of gaseous refrigerant into the subcooling stage of a condenser (20) from a receiver (22) is avoided in a construction wherein an upper inlet (64) to the receiver (22) is canted at an angle (.alpha.,.beta.) with respect to the longitudinal axis (74) of the receiver to induce a vortex flow (130) of refrigerant in the receiver (22). A baffle (106,115,118,121) may advantageously be located between the upper inlet (64) and a lower outlet (66) of the receiver (22) to isolate turbulence within the receiver (22) from the lower outlet (66).

Abstract: A simple, reliable bypass valve construction (50) is provided for use in conjunction with a donut oil cooler (16) having an aluminum multi-piece housing (28). The bypass valve construction (50) is easily accessible and readily replaceable so as to lend itself to serviceability. The invention is incorporated in an oil cooler (16) having a housing (28) with a coolant inlet and outlet (42) and (44), and a surface (26) adapted to be sealed against an oil filter (14). The oil cooler (16) includes a plurality of interconnected heat exchange units (21) located inside the housing (28), with an oil inlet to one of the units and an oil outlet from another of the units. An oil bypass is provided through at least some of the interconnected heat exchange units (21) and communicates with a bypass outlet (62) in the housing surface (26).