Component assembly for refrigerating cycle and refrigerating cycle having the same

Abstract

At least two components for a refrigerating cycle are integrated into a component assembly before being fixed to an object. For example, a decompressing device and a gas-liquid separator are integrated into a component assembly, and then the component assembly is fixed to an object. Alternatively, the decompressing device and an internal heat exchanger are integrated into a component assembly, and then the component assembly is fixed to an object. As another example, the decompressing device, the gas-liquid separator and the internal heat exchanger are integrated into a component assembly, and then fixed to an object.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-133075 filed on May 11, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an assembly of components for a refrigerating cycle and a refrigerating cycle having the assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A refrigerating cycle for a vehicle air conditioner generally includes a compressor 10-, a radiator (e.g., condenser, gas cooler) 100, a decompressing device 300, an evaporator 400, a gas-liquid separator 500 and an internal heat exchanger 200, as shown in FIG. 8. The preceding components are for example connected through refrigerant pipes P1 to P6 and refrigerant hoses H1, H2, as shown in FIG. 9.

The compressor 10 is disposed to receive a driving force from a vehicle engine. The radiator 100 is disposed in front of a radiator 600, which is mounted at a front part of an engine compartment EC of the vehicle, to receive air while the vehicle is running. The evaporator 400 is disposed in an air conditioning unit (not shown) that is mounted in a passenger compartment PC of the vehicle. Also, the decompressing device 300, the gas-liquid separator 500 and the internal heat exchanger 200 are disposed at predetermined positions in the engine compartment EC.

The internal heat exchanger 200 has a high pressure refrigerant passage and a low pressure refrigerant passage for performing heat exchange between a high pressure refrigerant and a low pressure refrigerant flowing therethrough. Thus, plural refrigerant pipes are coupled to the internal heat exchanger 200 to make communication with the high pressure refrigerant passage and the low pressure refrigerant passage. Also, the decompressing device 300 has two refrigerant passages therein for controlling pressure of the high pressure refrigerant based on the temperature of the refrigerant downstream of the radiator. Thus, plural refrigerant pipe are coupled to the decompressing device 300 to make communication with the two refrigerant passages. Accordingly, arrangement of the refrigerant pipes are complicated, and coupling work of the refrigerant pipes increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made in view of the foregoing matter, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a component assembly for a refrigerating cycle, capable of simplifying connection of pipes. It is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerating cycle having the component assembly.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a component assembly for a refrigerating cycle has a decompressing device for decompressing a high pressure refrigerant and a gas-liquid separator for separating a low pressure refrigerant, which has been decompressed by the decompressing device, into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant. The decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator are integrated.

The gas-liquid separator is a relatively large component of components for the refrigerating cycle. The decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator are integrated into the assembly before being fixed to an object such as a vehicle body or an air conditioner chassis. Thus, the decompressing device is mounted to the object by fixing the gas-liquid separator to the object. Further, the decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator are constructed compact. Moreover, since the decompressing device is integrated with the gas-liquid separator before being fixed to the object, it is easily fixed. Furthermore, since the decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator are integrated into a single unit, these can be handled easily during transportation and assembling.

Further, the decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator are integrated into the assembly in various ways or means. For example, the decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator are integrally provided by sharing housings thereof. As another example, the decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator may be connected to each other such as by welding or by using fixing means such as clamps and screws.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a component assembly for a refrigerating cycle has a decompressing device for decompressing a high pressure refrigerant and an internal heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between the high pressure refrigerant and a low pressure refrigerant, which has been decompressed by the decompressing device. The decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are integrated.

In components of the refrigerating cycle, the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger have relatively large numbers of coupling portions. The decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are integrated into a unit, and then one of the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger is fixed to an object so that the other one of the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger is fixed.

In this case, because pipes for connecting the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are reduced, the structure of the refrigerating cycle is simplified. Further, the components of the refrigerating cycle are easily connected. Also, the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are constructed compact. Since the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are integrated into a single unit, these can be handled easily during transportation and assembling.

Further, the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are integrated into the assembly by various ways or means. For example, the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are integrally provided by sharing a portion such as a housing thereof. As another example, the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are connected to each other such as by welding or by using fixing means such as clamps and screws.

In the refrigerating cycle having the above assembly, assembling workability improves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numbers and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerating cycle for a vehicle having an assembly of components according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of components according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a heat exchanging part of an internal heat exchanger of the refrigerating cycle, partly including a cross-sectional view, according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerating cycle for a vehicle having an assembly of components according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly of components according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerating cycle for a vehicle having an assembly of components according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the assembly of components according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a refrigerating cycle mounted on a vehicle as a related art; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerating cycle shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerating cycle is for example employed as a supercritical vapor compression refrigerating cycle for a vehicle air conditioner. As a refrigerant, carbon dioxide is for example used. Alternatively, ethylene, ethane, nitrogen oxide or the like can be used as the refrigerant. In this embodiment, refrigerant discharged from a compressor has pressure equal to or greater than a critical pressure to thereby provide predetermined cooling (refrigerating) capacity.

The refrigerating cycle generally includes a compressor 10, a gas cooler 100 as a high pressure-side heat exchanger, an expansion valve 300 as a decompressing device, an internal heat exchanger 200, an evaporator 400 as a low pressure-side heat exchanger, and an accumulator 500 as a gas-liquid separator. In the refrigerating cycle, particularly, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 are integrated into a component assembly A1. Hereafter, the above components 10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 will be described in line with a flow of the refrigerant.

The compressor 10 is driven by an engine of a vehicle. The compressor 10 sucks and compresses the refrigerant. Here, a general compressor is employed as the compressor 10, and structure of the compressor 10 is not limited to a particular type. Thus, the structure of the compressor 10 is not described in detail. Also, the compressor 10 may be an electric compressor.

The compressor 10 is connected to the gas cooler 100 through a first refrigerant hose H1 having flexibility so that high pressure refrigerant compressed in the compressor 10 is introduced to the gas cooler 100. The gas cooler 100 is arranged so that air passes through the gas cooler 100 while the vehicle is running or air created by a cooling fan (not shown) passes through the gas cooler 100. The gas cooler 100 performs heat exchange between the high pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 10 and the air, thereby to cool the high pressure refrigerant. Here, the structure of the gas cooler 100 is not limited to a particular type, and the gas cooler 100 is constructed of a general gas cooler. Thus, the structure of the gas cooler 100 is not described in detail.

The gas cooler 100 is connected to a first inlet port 301 of the expansion valve 300 through a first refrigerant pipe P1. Thus, the refrigerant discharged from the gas cooler 100 is introduced to the first inlet port 301 of the expansion valve 300. The first refrigerant pipe P1 is made of metal. Here, the expansion valve 300 is constructed as a part of the assembly A1. The expansion valve 300 is a well-known box type expansion valve and has a first refrigerant passage and a second refrigerant passage therein. Also, the expansion valve 300 has a temperature sensing part (not shown) in the first refrigerant passage.

In the expansion valve 300, the high pressure refrigerant flows through the first refrigerant passage, which is in communication with the temperature sensing part, from the first inlet port 301 to a first outlet port 302. The first outlet port 302 is connected to a high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 of the internal heat exchanger 200 through a metallic second refrigerant pipe P2.

The internal heat exchanger 200 performs heat exchange between the high pressure refrigerant discharged from the gas cooler 100 and a low pressure refrigerant, which has a pressure lower than the pressure of the high pressure refrigerant and to be sucked into the compressor 10. The internal heat exchanger 200 has a heat exchanging part 201 shown in FIG. 3. The heat exchanging part 201 has a high pressure refrigerant passage 200a and low pressure refrigerant passages 200b.

For example, the high pressure refrigerant passage 200a extends along an axis of the heat exchanging part 201, and the low pressure refrigerant passages 200b are disposed to extend on a radial outer side of the high pressure refrigerant passage 200a. In other words, the high pressure refrigerant passage 200a and the low pressure refrigerant passages 200b are coaxially disposed, and hence the heat exchanging part 201 has a substantially double-passage (double-pipe) structure.

The internal heat exchanger 200 has the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and a high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 at ends of the heat exchanging part 201. The heat exchanging part 201 is bent into a U-shape. Thus, the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 are arranged adjacent to each other on one end of the internal heat exchanger 200. In this embodiment, the internal heat exchanger 200 is provided as an individual component and is fixed to an appropriate position in the engine compartment EC with a fixing member such as a clamp and a bracket (not shown). The structure of the internal heat exchanger 200 is not limited to the above discussed and illustrated type. The internal heat exchanger 200 may have another shape and structure.

The high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 of the internal heat exchanger 200 is connected to a second inlet port 303 of the expansion valve 300 through a metallic third refrigerant pipe P3. In the expansion valve 300, the second inlet port 303 is in communication with the second refrigerant passage in which a valve part (not shown) is provided. Thus, the high pressure refrigerant, which has passed through the high pressure refrigerant passage 200a of the internal heat exchanger 200, is introduced into the second refrigerant passage of the expansion valve 300 from the second inlet port 303.

The expansion valve 300 is configured to enthalpically decompress and expand the high pressure refrigerant. Also, the expansion valve 300 controls the pressure of the high pressure refrigerant based on the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the gas cooler 100.

The expansion valve 300 has a second outlet port 304 at a downstream end-of the second refrigerant passage. The second outlet port 304 is connected to the evaporator 400 through a metallic fourth refrigerant pipe P4. Thus, the refrigerant, which has been decompressed by the valve part in the second refrigerant passage, is discharged from the second outlet port 304 and introduced into the evaporator 400 through the fourth refrigerant pipe P4.

The evaporator 400 performs heat exchange between the low pressure refrigerant, which has been decompressed in the expansion valve 300, and air to be introduced into a passenger compartment PC of the vehicle. Namely, the evaporator 400 cools the air by evaporating the low pressure refrigerant. The evaporator 400 is housed in an air conditioning unit mounted in the passenger compartment PC. Here, the evaporator 400 is constructed of a well-known type heat exchanger, and structure of which is not limited to a particular type. Thus, the structure of the evaporator 400 is not described in detail.

Further, a discharge port of the evaporator 400 is connected to a refrigerant inlet 501 of the accumulator 500 through a metallic fifth refrigerant pipe P5. Thus, the low pressure refrigerant, which has been evaporated in the evaporator 400, is introduced into the refrigerant inlet 501 of the accumulator 500. The accumulator 500 separates the low pressure refrigerant into a gas-phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant therein, and accumulates surplus refrigerant therein as the liquid-phase refrigerant. Also, the accumulator 500 supplies the gas-phase refrigerant and refrigerating oil, which has been separated and extracted, toward a suction side of the compressor 10.

Here, the accumulator 500 is constructed of a well-known type accumulator and may have any structure. Thus, the structure of the accumulator 500 is not described in detail. The accumulator 500 has a refrigerant outlet 502 that is connected to a low pressure refrigerant inlet 204 of the internal heat exchanger 200 through a metallic sixth refrigerant pipe P6. Thus, the gas-phase refrigerant and refrigerating oil are introduced into the low pressure refrigerant passages 200b of the internal heat exchanger 200 through the sixth refrigerant pipe P6.

The accumulator 500 is integrated with the expansion valve 300 as into the assembly A1 before mounted to the vehicle. For example, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300 are integrated by using fixing means such as screws and the like, as shown in FIG. 2.

In this embodiment, the accumulator 500 has a rigid block on its upper portion. The rigid block is formed with the refrigerant inlet 501 and the refrigerant outlet 502 to which the fifth refrigerant pipe P5 and the sixth refrigerant pipe P6 are coupled, respectively. For example, the refrigerant inlet 501 and the refrigerant outlet 502 are open in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the accumulator 500. The expansion valve 300 is fixed to the rigid block. As such, the refrigerant inlet 501, the refrigerant outlet 502, pipe coupling portions for the refrigerant pipes P5, P6, and the expansion valve 300 are arranged on or adjacent to the upper portion of the accumulator 500 in a concentrated manner.

Further, the expansion valve 300 is disposed such that the first and second refrigerant passages are arranged next to each other in a horizontal direction. This arrangement contributes to reduce the height of the assembly A1.

The inlet and outlet ports 301, 302, 303, 304 of the expansion valve 300 are formed such that the ends of the refrigerant pipes P1, P2, P3, P4 are coupled in the same direction as the coupling direction of the ends of the refrigerant pipes P5, P6. For example, coupling portions of the first inlet port 301 and the second outlet port 304 are formed on a first side of the expansion valve 300 and are open in the same direction. Also, the first inlet port 301 and the second outlet port 304 are open in the same direction as the refrigerant inlet 501 formed on the rigid block of the accumulator 500.

Likewise, coupling portions of the first outlet port 302 and the second inlet port 303 are formed on a second side of the expansion valve 300 and are open in the same direction, the second side being opposite to the first side. Also, the first outlet port 302 and the second inlet port 303 are open in the same direction as the refrigerant outlet 502 formed on the rigid block of the accumulator 500. Namely, the coupling portions for the pipes P1, P2, P3, P4 are separately formed on the first and second sides of the expansion valve 300.

Further, the first side of the expansion valve 300 is formed with bolt holes 301a, 304a for receiving bolts for fixing the pipes P1, P4. The bolts holes 301a, 304a are open in the same direction as a bolt hole 501a formed on the rigid block for receiving a bolt for fixing the pipe P5. Thus, the refrigerant pipes P1, P4, P5 are coupled in the same direction.

Likewise, the second side of the expansion valve 300 is formed with bolt holes for receiving bolts for fixing the pipes P2, P3. The bolt holes of the second side may be open in the same direction as a bolt hole formed on the rigid block for receiving a bolt for fixing the pipe P6. Thus, the refrigerant pipes P2, P3, P6 are coupled in the same direction.

Also, the bolt holes 301a, 304a are formed on an upper portion of the expansion valve 300. In other words, the bolt holes 301a, 304a are formed on the opposite side of the bolt hole 501a of the rigid block with respect to the first inlet port 301 and the second outlet port 304. Thus, the refrigerant pipes P1, P4 are effectively coupled without interfering with the accumulator 500. Likewise, the bolt holes for fixing of the refrigerant pipes P2, P3 are formed on the upper portion of the second side of the expansion valve 300. Thus, the refrigerant pipes P2, P3 are effectively coupled without interfering with the accumulator 500.

Accordingly, the coupling portions for the pipes P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 associated with the assembly Al are arranged at or adjacent to the upper portion of the accumulator 500 in a concentrated manner. Thus, the pipes P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 are easily coupled and fixed.

The associated components are integrated with the accumulator 500 into the assembly A1 before mounted to the vehicle. The assembly A1 is integrally mounted to and fixed to a vehicle body by a bracket BKT as a support member. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the bracket BKT has a support portion for holding the assembly A1. The support portion contacts the accumulator 500 and only holds the accumulator 500. Namely, the support portion has a support wall that surrounds and contacts an outer surface of a columnar body (tank body) of the accumulator 500 and fastening walls at ends of the support wall to be fastened by fixing parts such as screws. Thus, the assembly Al is detachably held by the support portion of the bracket BKT.

The bracket BKT holds the assembly A1 at a position slightly higher than a middle portion of the accumulator 500 in a vertical direction, for example. The bracket BKT has a fixing wall to be fixed to the vehicle body. The fixing wall generally extends along an axis of the columnar body of the accumulator 500, and bolt holes are formed on the fixing wall at separate positions. Thus, the bracket BKT is fixed to the vehicle body by fastening bolts into the bolt holes.

The low pressure refrigerant discharged from the accumulator 500 is introduced to the low pressure refrigerant inlet 204 of the internal heat exchanger 200 through the sixth refrigerant pipe P6. In the internal heat exchanger 200, the low pressure refrigerant flows through the low pressure refrigerant passages 200b toward the low pressure refrigerant outlet 205 while cooling the high pressure refrigerant flowing through the high pressure refrigerant passage 200a. Then, the low pressure refrigerant is discharged from the low pressure refrigerant outlet 205 and sucked into the compressor 100 through a second refrigerant hose H2 having flexibility. In FIG. 1, double-dashed chain line 600 denotes a radiator. The gas cooler 100 is arranged in front of the radiator 600 in the engine compartment EC.

Next, effects of this embodiment will be described.

The accumulator 500 is a relatively large component of components of the refrigerating cycle. The associated components and parts such as the expansion valve 300 are integrated with the accumulator 500, and then the accumulator 500 is fixed to the vehicle body. Thus, the associated components are mounted to the vehicle together with the accumulator 500 by fixing the accumulator 500 to the vehicle body.

In the above discussion, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300 are exemplary integrated by using the rigid block, screws and the like. Further, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300 can be integrated by various ways or means. For example, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300 may be integrally provided by sharing a part of a housing of the accumulator 500 with a housing of the expansion valve 300. Alternatively, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300 may be connected such as by welding or using fixing means such as clamps and screws.

Accordingly, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300 are constructed compact. Also, the expansion valve 300 is easily assembled. In addition, the accumulator 500 and the expansion valve 300 are handled as a single unit, and hence easily transported and handled in assembling. The expansion valve 300 is constructed of a box-type expansion valve having the temperature sensing part in the refrigerant passage. Thus, the expansion valve 300 is easily integrated into the assembly A1.

The expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 are fixed to the vehicle body through the same bracket BKT. Therefore, the number of the fixing members such as clamp, bracket and screws is reduced, and hence the number of fixing work for fixing the fixing members are reduced. As a result, costs reduces. Moreover, spaces for the fixing members and working spaces for fixing the fixing members reduce. Furthermore, the weight of the refrigerating cycle reduces.

In the refrigerating cycle having the component assembly A1, assembling workability improves. In this embodiment, the refrigerating cycle has the internal heat exchanger 200. However, the refrigerating cycle may not have the internal heat exchanger 200.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Hereafter, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals, and a feature of this embodiment, which is different from the first embodiment, will be mainly described. As shown in FIG. 4, the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are integrated as into a component assembly A2 in the refrigerating cycle.

As shown in FIG. 5, the expansion valve 300 is integrated with the internal heat exchanger 200 such that the first outlet port 302 is directly connected to the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the second inlet port 303 is directly connected to the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 without using the second and third pipes P2, P3. The expansion valve 300 and the internal heat exchanger 200 are integrated into the assembly A2 beforehand, and then the assembly A2 is mounted to and fixed to the vehicle body using the bracket BKT. In this embodiment, the accumulator 500 is provided as an individual component and mounted to a predetermined portion in the engine compartment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the high pressure refrigerant discharged from the gas cooler 100 is introduced into the first inlet port 301 of the expansion valve 300 through the first refrigerant pipe P1. Then, the high pressure refrigerant flows toward the first outlet port 302 through the first refrigerant passage of the expansion valve 300. Further, the high pressure refrigerant flows into the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 of the internal heat exchanger 200 directly from the first outlet port 302.

In the internal heat exchanger 200, the high pressure refrigerant exchanges heat with the low pressure refrigerant that flows through the low pressure refrigerant passages 200b while flowing through the high pressure refrigerant passage 200a. Then, the high pressure refrigerant is introduced into the second inlet port 303 directly from the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 of the internal heat exchanger 200.

In the expansion valve 300, the high pressure refrigerant is decompressed by the valve part (not shown) in the second refrigerant passage. Then, the low pressure refrigerant is introduced into the evaporator 400 from the second outlet port 304 through the fourth refrigerant pipe P4.

Thereafter, the low pressure refrigerant flows through the evaporator 400 and then flows into the accumulator 500 through the fifth refrigerant pipe P5, in the similar manner as the first embodiment. Then, the low pressure refrigerant discharged from the accumulator 500 is introduced to the low pressure refrigerant inlet 204 of the internal heat exchanger 200 through the sixth refrigerant pipe P6. While flowing through the low pressure refrigerant passages 200b of the heat exchanging part 201, the low pressure refrigerant exchanges heat with the high pressure refrigerant. Then, the low pressure refrigerant is discharged from the low pressure refrigerant outlet 205 and sucked into the compressor 10 through the second refrigerant hose H2.

Next, effects of the second embodiment will be described.

The internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 have relatively large numbers of coupling portions. The internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are integrated into the assembly A2 before fixed to the vehicle body. The integrated internal heat exchanger 200 and expansion valve 300 are mounted together to the vehicle body by fixing one of the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 to the vehicle body.

Here, the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are integrated by various ways or means. For example, the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 may be integrally provided by sharing a housing thereof. Alternatively, the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are connected such as by welding or using fixing members such as clamps and screws.

As such, pipes for connecting the expansion valve 300 and the internal heat exchanger 200 are eliminated. Thus, coupling structure between the expansion valve 300 and the internal heat exchanger 200 is simplified. Also, since the number of pipes in the refrigerating cycle is reduced, the refrigerating cycle is easily assembled within the engine compartment.

Since the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are integrated and arranged compact, the components of the refrigerating cycle are mounted in a reduced space. Further, the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are easily assembled. In addition, the integrated internal heat exchanger 200 and expansion valve 300 are handled as a single unit, and hence are easily transported and handled in assembling.

In the refrigerating cycle, the internal heat exchanger 200 is disposed downstream of the gas cooler 100, and the expansion valve 300 is disposed downstream of the internal heat exchanger 200 with respect to the flow of the high pressure refrigerant. To control the pressure of the high pressure refrigerant in the expansion valve 300, the temperature of the high pressure refrigerant is sensed at a position downstream of the gas cooler 100. Since the internal heat exchanger 200 is configured such that the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 are arranged adjacent to each other, the pressure control in the expansion valve 300 is easily performed.

Since the box-type expansion valve 300 is employed, the first outlet port 302 and the second inlet port 303 of the expansion valve 300 are directly connected to the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 of the internal heat exchanger 200, respectively. Here, the structure of the internal heat exchanger 200 is not limited to the U-shape as long as the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 are disposed adjacent to each other.

Alternatively, when the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 are disposed at separated positions, a pipe is coupled to one of the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 and an end of the pipe is arranged to be close to the other one of the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203.

The heat exchanging part 201 of the internal heat exchanger 200 has the double-passage pipe structure in which the high pressure refrigerant passage 200a and the low pressure refrigerant passages 200b are coaxially aligned. The heat exchanging part 201 is formed by bending. Therefore, the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 and the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 are easily disposed adjacent to each other by bending the heat exchanging part 201 into the U-shape. Alternatively, the shape of the internal heat exchanger 200 may be arranged according to the space provided in the engine compartment. Thus, the assembly A2 can be provided compact.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 are integrated as into a component assembly A3 in the refrigerating cycle. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the expansion valve 300 is disposed such that the first outlet port 302 is directly connected to the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 of the internal heat exchanger 200 and the second inlet port 303 is directly connected to the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 of the internal heat exchanger 200.

Also, the refrigerant outlet 502 of the accumulator 500 is directly connected to the low pressure refrigerant inlet 204 of the internal heat exchanger 200. The internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 are integrated into the assembly A3 before fixed to the vehicle body. The assembly A3 is mounted to and fixed to a predetermined position in the engine compartment with the bracket BKT.

The high pressure refrigerant discharged from the gas cooler 100 is introduced to the first inlet port 301 of the expansion valve 300 through the first refrigerant pipe P1. In the expansion valve 300, the high pressure refrigerant flows through the first refrigerant passage and reaches the first outlet port 302. Then, the high pressure refrigerant directly flows in the high pressure refrigerant inlet 202 of the internal heat exchanger 200 from the first outlet port 302 of the expansion valve 300.

In the internal heat exchanger 200, the high pressure refrigerant exchanges heat with the low pressure refrigerant flowing through the low pressure refrigerant passages 200b while passing through the high pressure refrigerant passage 200a. Then, the high pressure refrigerant directly flows in the second inlet port 303 of the expansion valve 300 from the high pressure refrigerant outlet 203 of the internal heat exchanger 200.

In the expansion valve 300, the refrigerant is decompressed by the valve part (not shown) while flowing through the second refrigerant passage. The decompressed refrigerant is introduced to the evaporator 400 from the second outlet port 304 through the fourth refrigerant pipe P4.

After passing through the evaporator 400, the low pressure refrigerant flows through the fifth refrigerant pipe P5 and is introduced into the refrigerant inlet 501 of the accumulator 500. Then, the gas-phase refrigerant and the refrigerating oil, which have been separated in the accumulator 500, are introduced into the low pressure refrigerant inlet 204 of the internal heat exchanger 200 directly from the refrigerant outlet 502 of the accumulator 500.

In the internal heat exchanger 200, the low pressure refrigerant exchanges heat with the high pressure refrigerant flowing through the high pressure refrigerant passage 200a while flowing through the low pressure refrigerant passages 200b. Thereafter, the low pressure refrigerant is discharged from the low pressure refrigerant outlet 205 of the internal heat exchanger 200 and sucked into the compressor 10 through the second refrigerant hose H2.

The heat exchanging part 201 of the internal heat exchanger 200 for example has the double-passage pipe structure having an inner pipe providing the high pressure refrigerant passage 200a and an outer pipe housing the inner pipe and providing the low pressure refrigerant passages 200b between the outer pipe and the inner pipe. The internal heat exchanger 200 has coupling portions at the ends thereof as the high pressure refrigerant inlet and outlet 202, 203, and the coupling portions are arranged at predetermined positions to corresponds to the first outlet port 302 and the second inlet port 303 of the expansion valve 300. The coupling portions between the expansion valve 300 and the internal heat exchanger 200 are configured similar to those of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

The heat exchanging part 201 of the internal heat exchanger 200 has a generally U-shape. The heat exchanging part 201 extends along the side wail and the bottom wall of the columnar body of the accumulator 500 toward a radially opposite side. Also, the heat exchanging part 201 is spaced from outer surfaces of the columnar body of the accumulator 500.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the heat exchanging part 201 includes straight portions extending along the side wall of the columnar body of the accumulator 500 on one side, portions extending along the bottom wall of the columnar body toward the other side of the columnar body, portions extending along the side wall of the columnar body on the opposite side and a turn portion that makes a turn along the side wall of the columnar body on the opposite side.

The bracket BKT holds the columnar body of the accumulator 500 in the similar manner as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The internal heat exchanger 200 is supported by the accumulator 500 through the expansion valve 300 and the coupling portions between the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500.

Alternatively, the heat exchanging part 201 of the internal heat exchanger may be directly fixed by the bracket BKT. As another example, the internal heat exchanger 200 may be fixed to the accumulator 500 or another object by using auxiliary bracket. In this embodiment, the coupling portions associated with the assembly A3 are arranged at the upper portion of the accumulator 500 in the concentrated manner.

Next, effects of the third embodiment will be described.

The accumulator 500 is a relatively large component of the components of the refrigerating cycle. The expansion valve 300 and the internal heat exchanger 200 are integrated with the accumulator 500 into the assembly A3 before fixing to the vehicle body, and then the accumulator 500 is fixed to the vehicle body. Thus, the associated components are mounted to and fixed to the vehicle body by fixing the accumulator 500 to the vehicle body.

Here, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 are integrated in variable ways or by variable means. For example, the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are integrated with the accumulator 500 such that portions such as housings of the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are provided by portions of the housing of the accumulator 500. That is, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 may be constructed to shape a housing thereof. Alternatively, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 may be connected such as by welding or by using clamps or screws.

As such, the pipes for connecting between the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300, and the accumulator 500 are reduced, and hence the structures thereof are simplified. As a result, the refrigerant cycle is easily assembled in the engine compartment.

Further, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 are integrated into the assembly A3, i.e., into a single unit. Therefore, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 are constructed compact and mounted in a reduced space. In addition, since the internal heat exchanger 200 and the expansion valve 300 are easily assembled. Furthermore, the internal heat exchanger 200, the expansion valve 300 and the accumulator 500 are handled as the single unit, and hence are easily transported and handled in assembling.

In the above embodiments, the refrigerating cycle is employed as a supercritical refrigerating cycle in which carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant. However, the present invention is not limited to the above discussed and illustrated embodiments, but may be employed to a subcritical vapor compression refrigerating cycle in which the pressure of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is lower than the critical pressure and chlorofluorocarbon is used as the refrigerant. Further, one of or some of the refrigerant pipes P1 through P6 and the refrigerant hose H2 may be further integrally provided.

In the above embodiments, the bracket BKT is exemplary fixed to the vehicle body such as frame. However, the bracket BKT may be fixed to another object such as a chassis of an air conditioner.

The example embodiments of the present invention are described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example embodiment, but may be implemented in other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A component assembly for a refrigerating cycle, comprising:

a decompressing device for decompressing a high pressure refrigerant flowing through the refrigerating cycle into a low pressure refrigerant; and

a gas-liquid separator for separating the low pressure refrigerant into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant and accumulating surplus refrigerant therein, wherein

the decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator are integrated.

2. The component assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the decompressing device includes a box-type expansion valve that defines a first refrigerant passage therein and has a temperature sensing part disposed in communication with the first refrigerant passage for sensing a temperature of the high pressure refrigerant flowing in the first refrigerant passage.

3. The component assembly according to claim 2, wherein

the gas-liquid separator has a tank body, and

the decompressing device has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet that are in communication with the first refrigerant passage, and

the decompressing device is disposed at an end of the tank body such that the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet are open in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tank body.

4. The component assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a support member that supports at least one of the decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator.

5. The component assembly according to claim 4, wherein

the support member includes a fixing wall to be fixed to an object and a support wall that holds at least one of the decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator.

6. The component assembly according to claim 1, wherein the decompressing device and the gas-liquid separator are integrated before being fixed to a part of a vehicle.

7. A refrigerating cycle comprising the component assembly according to claim 1.

8. A component assembly for a refrigerating cycle, comprising:

a decompressing device for decompressing a high pressure refrigerant flowing through the refrigerating cycle into a low pressure refrigerant; and

an internal heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between the high pressure refrigerant and the low pressure refrigerant, wherein the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are integrated.

9. The component assembly according to claim 8, further comprising:

a gas-liquid separator for separating the low pressure refrigerant into a liquid-phase refrigerant and a gas-phase refrigerant and accumulating surplus refrigerant therein, wherein

the gas-liquid separator is integrated with the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger.

10. The component assembly according to claim 9, wherein

the gas-liquid separator has a refrigerant outlet for discharging the gas-phase refrigerant,

the internal heat exchanger has a low pressure refrigerant inlet and a low pressure refrigerant passage that is in communication with the low pressure refrigerant inlet for allowing the low pressure refrigerant to flow, and

the refrigerant outlet of the gas-liquid separator and the low pressure refrigerant inlet of the internal heat exchanger are directly connected.

11. The component assembly according to claim 8, wherein

the internal heat exchanger has a high pressure refrigerant passage for allowing the high pressure refrigerant to flow, and a high pressure refrigerant inlet and a high pressure refrigerant outlet that are in communication with the high pressure refrigerant passage, and

the high pressure refrigerant inlet and the high pressure refrigerant outlet of the internal heat exchanger are disposed adjacent to each other.

12. The component assembly according to claim 11, wherein

the decompressing device has a first refrigerant passage, a temperature sensing part disposed in communication the first refrigerant passage for sensing a temperature of the high pressure refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerant passage, a second refrigerant passage, and an expansion valve part disposed in communication with the second refrigerant passage for decompressing the high pressure refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant passage,

the decompressing device defines a first outlet at an end of the first refrigerant passage for discharging the high pressure refrigerant and a second inlet at an end of the second refrigerant passage for introducing the high pressure refrigerant into the second refrigerant passage, and

the first outlet of the decompressing device is directly connected to the high pressure refrigerant inlet of the internal heat exchanger and the second inlet of the decompressing device is directly connected to the high pressure refrigerant outlet of the internal heat exchanger.

13. The component assembly according to claim 8, wherein

the internal heat exchanger has a heat exchanging part for performing the heat exchange, and

the heat exchanging part has a double passage pipe structure in which a high pressure refrigerant passage for allowing the high pressure refrigerant to flow and a low pressure refrigerant passage for allowing the low pressure refrigerant to flow are coaxially disposed.

14. The component assembly according to claim 8, wherein

the decompressing device includes a box-type expansion valve that defines a first refrigerant passage therein and a temperature sensing part disposed in communication with the first refrigerant passage for sensing a temperature of the high pressure refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerant passage.

15. The component assembly according to claim 14, wherein

the gas-liquid separator has a tank body, and

the decompressing device has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet that are in communication with the first refrigerant passage, and

the decompressing device is disposed at an end of the tank body such that the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet are open in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tank body.

16. The component assembly according to claim 9, further comprising a support member that supports at least one of the decompressing device, the internal heat exchanger and the gas-liquid separator.

17. The component assembly according to claim 15, wherein

the support member includes a fixing wall to be fixed to an object and a support wall that holds at least one of the decompressing device, the internal heat exchanger and the gas-liquid separator.

18. The component assembly according to claim 8, wherein the decompressing device and the internal heat exchanger are integrated before being fixed to a part of a vehicle.

19. A refrigerating cycle comprising the component assembly according to claim 8.