Abstract: The present invention provides a system for effectively managing the refrigerant charge in a heat pump, and for separating a gaseous refrigerant from liquid refrigerant and oil mixture in a manner that allows oil entrapped with the refrigerant to transfer to the compressor, and to insure that only refrigerant in gaseous phase is allowed to enter the compressor through the suction line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low boiling point medium evaporator which generates low boiling point medium vapor in the mixture of two components with different boiling points by heating at the risers and mixes said heated two component mixture and said low boiling point medium liquid supplied from the outside of the system and has at least one device provided at the outlet portion of said risers and used both as a heat exchanger to generate saturated vapor of said low boiling point medium vapor by mixing said low boiling point medium liquid and the two phase flow comprised said low boiling point medium vapor and said mixture and passing said two phase flow through said low boiling point medium vapor and as a cyclone to separate said saturated vapor and said mixture.

Abstract: A refrigeration system which has a heat exchanger wherein refrigerant is evaporated to absorb heat from a fluid to be cooled, said heat exchanger receiving refrigerant from a vapor condensing economizer. The vapor condensing economizer receives liquid refrigerant from a condenser and has an orifice or a series of nozzles to maintain a pressure drop between the condenser and economizer so that a portion of the liquid refrigerant flashes to a vapor in the economizer to absorb heat from the remaining liquid refrigerant in the economizer. Condensing coils containing a cool heat exchange medium are positioned in the economizer to reduce the temperature and pressure in the economizer and to condense the refrigerant vapors back to a liquid for use in the refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: In a refrigerant system having a liquid trapping suction accumulator between the evaporator exit and the compressor entrance and a very short bore capillary as an expansion tube to replace the thermostatic expansion valve, a recirculating ejector is added to recirculate any liquid that may be trapped by the accumulator back into the evaporator inlet where it can be used to provide desired refrigerating effect without requiring additional work in the compressor. The expansion tube is positioned so that it functions as the primary nozzle of the ejector. Thus the high-pressure liquid refrigerant being expanded through the expansion tube becomes the prime mover that is needed to drive the liquid from the accumulator into the evaporator. Because the high-pressure liquid refrigerant must be expanded to the relatively lower evaporator pressure in any vapor cycle refrigeration system, the recirculating function is accomplished without using additional energy or penalizing system capacity.

Abstract: A vapor compression refrigeration system which has a multi-stage compressor, a condenser, a flash economizer, an economizer-condenser, a thermal economizer and a chiller. Liquid refrigerant is flashed in the flash economizer such that part of the liquid refrigerant changes state from a liquid to a gas absorbing heat from the remaining liquid refrigerant, the gaseous refrigerant being drawn into the compressor between stages or being condensed by the economizer-condenser within the flash economizer. An economizer damper valve is provided between the compressor and the flash economizer to regulate this flow of gaseous refrigerant to the compressor depending upon the thermal capability of the economizer-condenser to recondense the flashed refrigerant of the flash economizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an encapsulated refrigerator assembly of the type in which an integrated motor and compressor unit is resiliently mounted in a hermetically sealed casing or capsule. An oil sump at the bottom of the capsule is provided for lubricating oil. An externally disposed centrifugal separator with an oil collecting tank at the bottom thereof provides refrigerant in vapor form for the compressor and oil for the oil sump. The compressor has a main inlet for receiving refrigerant vapor from the separator and a throttled inlet for receiving a refrigerant vapor which is present in the capsule and which entered entrained in the oil received from the separator. The capsule has a single port and two tubes extend from this single port to the separator. An outer tube provides fluid communication between the separator oil collecting tank and the interior of the capsule which houses the motor and compressor unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an encapsulated refrigerator assembly of the type in which an integrated motor and compressor unit is resiliently mounted in a hermetically sealed casing or capsule. An oil sump at the bottom of the capsule is provided for lubricating oil. An externally disposed centrifugal separator with an oil collecting tank at the bottom thereof provides refrigerant in vapor form for the compressor and oil for the oil sump. The compressor has a main inlet for receiving refrigerant vapor from the separator and a throttled inlet for receiving refrigerant vapor which is present in the capsule and which entered entrained in the oil received from the separator. The capsule has a single port and two tubes extend from this single port to the separator. An outer tube provides fluid communication between the separator oil collecting tank and the interior of the capsule houses the motor and compressor unit.

Abstract: A compressor unit for use with a heat pump system wherein a motor-driven compressor is disposed within a casing which can be placed indoors or outdoors. Vapor from the suction side of the system is directed into and through the compressor, through an oil separator-muffler, and then into contact with liquid from the high side of the system, the liquid being directed onto a rotating disk to form a spray which contacts and thereby de-superheats the compressor discharge vapor. The de-superheated vapor then moves into and through the air gaps of the compressor motor in heat exchange relationship thereto where it is re-superheated. The re-superheated vapor then leaves the fan ports of the motor and enters the open top of a vertical standpipe which also receives the excess liquid collected in a trough surrounding the upper end bell of the motor. The liquid is entrained in the re-superheated vapor and moves therewith out of the casing toward the four-way valve and the condenser coil of the system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a compression refrigeration system having means for removing some of the oil refrigerant foam which is formed in a crankcase at startup. The removal of foam with entrained oil from the crankcase is to reduce the amount of oil pumped with the refrigerant through condenser and evaporator and at the same time rapidly return oil to the crankcase during startup. In one embodiment of the invention, oil refrigerant foam goes from the crankcase to a foam trap where the foam collapses, the oil drains back to the crankcase, and the refrigerant vapor is drawn to an intake of the compressor. In another embodiment, oil refrigerant foam passes to a suction accumulator where the foam collapses, refrigerant vapor is drawn to an intake of the compressor and the vapor carries droplets of separated oil to a point where they drain back to the crankcase.

Abstract: The specification and drawings disclose a method and apparatus for taking a sample of oil from the refrigerant fluid circulating in a refrigeration unit of the type including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. A pressure chamber is provided which may be conveniently connected to cause the hot vapor gas coming from either the compressor or condenser and pass through the chamber. As the hot vapor gas enters the chamber it is impinged against a baffle causing the oil within the vapor gas to collect as droplets and flow to the bottom of the chamber. The oil free refrigerant vapor gas is thereafter extracted from the chamber and returned to the refrigeration unit at a point on the low pressure side of either the compressor or condenser. The extraction from the chamber takes place at a point below the level at which the vapor gas is supplied to the chamber and at the opposite side of the baffle. The collected oil level within the chamber is regulated by the level of extraction.