U.S. patent application number 11/346629 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-24 for condenser for a motor vehicle air conditioning system.
This patent application is currently assigned to BEHR GmbH & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Georg Feldhaus, Uwe Forster, Martin Kaspar, Kurt Molt.
Application Number | 20060185385 11/346629 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36481494 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060185385 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Feldhaus; Georg ; et
al. |
August 24, 2006 |
Condenser for a motor vehicle air conditioning system
Abstract
A condenser (1) for a vehicle air conditioning system comprises
a finned tube block (2) and laterally arranged header tubes (3, 4).
The finned tube block (2) has horizontally running tubes forming a
condensing section (P1 to P5) and a supercooling section (P6)
arranged above the condensing section. A collector (5) arranged
parallel to one of the header tubes accommodates a dryer-filter
insert (10) and an ascending pipe (15). The collector is connected
for refrigerant flow via a first overflow opening (8) to the
condensing section (P5) and via a second overflow opening (9) to
the supercooling section (P6). An inflow chamber (13) can be formed
in the region of the first overflow opening (8) in the collector
(5) and can be upwardly bounded by a stopper (11) and downwardly
bounded by the dryer-filter insert (10), or a downward flow pipe 21
can transport refrigerant from the first overflow opening to the
dryer-filter.
Inventors: |
Feldhaus; Georg; (Stuttgart,
DE) ; Forster; Uwe; (Erdmannhausen, DE) ;
Kaspar; Martin; (Fellbach, DE) ; Molt; Kurt;
(Bietigheim-Bissingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
BEHR GmbH & CO. KG
|
Family ID: |
36481494 |
Appl. No.: |
11/346629 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/509 ;
62/474 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 1/05375 20130101;
F25B 40/02 20130101; F25B 39/04 20130101; F28D 2021/0084 20130101;
F25B 2339/0441 20130101; F28D 2021/007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/509 ;
062/474 |
International
Class: |
F25B 43/00 20060101
F25B043/00; F25B 39/04 20060101 F25B039/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 3, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 005 187.1 |
Claims
1. A condenser for use in a vehicle air conditioning system,
comprising: a finned tube block having horizontally running tubes,
and a header tube at each end of the tubes in the tube block, the
finned tube block comprising a condensing section and a
supercooling section arranged above the condensing section; and a
collector arranged parallel to one of the header tubes, wherein the
collector includes a dryer-filter insert, a stopper and an
ascending flow pipe, the collector being connected for refrigerant
flow via a first overflow opening communicating with the condensing
section and via a second overflow opening communicating with the
supercooling section, wherein an inflow chamber is defined in the
region of the first overflow opening in the collector and is
bounded by the stopper on the upper side and is bounded by the
dryer-filter insert on the lower side.
2. A condenser according to claim 1, further comprising a storage
space for the refrigerant is located below the dryer-filter insert
in the collector.
3. A condenser according to claim 2, wherein the ascending flow
pipe passes through the dryer-filter insert and has an inlet
opening arranged in the storage space and an upper outlet end which
is connected via the stopper to the supercooling section.
4. A condenser for use in a vehicle air conditioning system,
comprising: a finned tube block having horizontally running tubes,
and a header tube at each end of the tubes in the tube block, the
finned tube block comprising a condensing section and a
supercooling section arranged above the condensing section; and a
collector arranged parallel to one of the header tubes and being
connected for refrigerant flow via a first overflow opening
communicating with the condensing section and via a second overflow
opening communicating with the supercooling section, wherein the
collector includes a dryer-filter insert, an ascending flow pipe
and a downward flow pipe having a first inlet pipe end connected to
the first overflow opening.
5. A condenser according to claim 4, further comprising a stopper
which extends from the first to the second overflow opening, and
wherein the inlet pipe end of the downward flow pipe is
accommodated in the stopper.
6. A condenser according to claim 4, wherein the downward flow pipe
comprises a pipe end on the outlet side which is arranged above the
dryer-filter.
7. A condenser according to claim 4, wherein the downward flow pipe
passes through the dryer-filter and opens in a chamber arranged
below the dryer-filter
8. A condenser according to claim 6, wherein the pipe end on the
outlet side of the downward flow pipe comprises diametrically
opposite outlet openings.
9. A condenser according to claim 4, wherein the dryer-filter is
arranged in the lower region of the collector and the ascending
flow pipe passes through the dryer-filter.
10. A condenser according to claim 1, wherein the ascending flow
pipe comprises an upper pipe end accommodated in the stopper and is
connected on the refrigerant side to the second overflow
opening.
11. A condenser according to claim 1, wherein the stopper comprises
a deflecting duct from the ascending flow pipe to the second
overflow opening.
12. A condenser according to claim 1, further comprising a
circumferential seal comprising an O-ring on the stopper.
13. A condenser according to claim 1, wherein the stopper and the
ascending flow pipe are formed integrally as a plastic
injection-molded part.
14. A condenser according to claim 1, wherein the stopper, the
ascending flow pipe and the dryer-filter insert comprise an
exchangeable constructional unit.
15. A condenser according to claim 1, wherein the collector
comprises a releasable closure member at its top end.
16. A condenser according to claim 4, wherein the stopper, the
ascending flow pipe and the downward flow pipe are formed
integrally as a plastic injection-molded part.
17. A condenser according to claim 4, wherein the stopper, the
ascending 9 flow pipe, the downward flow pipe and the dryer-filter
insert comprise an exchangeable constructional unit.
18. A condenser for use in a vehicle air conditioning system,
comprising: a finned tube block having horizontally running tubes,
and a header tube at each end of the tubes in the tube block, the
finned tube block comprising a condensing section and a
supercooling section arranged above the condensing section; a
collector arranged parallel to one of the header tubes, wherein the
collector includes a dryer-filter insert, a stopper and an
ascending flow pipe, the collector being connected for refrigerant
flow via a first overflow opening communicating with the condensing
section and via a second overflow opening communicating with the
supercooling section; and a refrigerant flow arrangement located in
the collector for decreasing the flow velocity of the refrigerant,
after it exits the first overflow opening, by an amount sufficient
to permit at least some gaseous phase refrigerant to separate from
liquid refrigerant.
19. A condenser according to claim 18, wherein the refrigerant flow
arrangement comprises an inflow chamber defined in the region of
the first overflow opening in the collector and is bounded by the
stopper on the upper side and is bounded by the dryer-filter insert
on the lower side
20. A condenser according to claim 18, wherein the refrigerant flow
arrangement comprises a downward flow pipe having a first inlet
pipe end connected to the first overflow opening.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] The right of foreign priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119(a) based on Federal Republic of Germany Application No.
10 2005 005 187.1, filed Feb. 3, 2005, the entire contents of
which, including the specification, drawings, claims and abstract,
are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a condenser for an air
conditioning system of the type generally disclosed in
commonly-owned DE 199 12 381 A1.
[0003] Condensers for air conditioning systems of motor vehicles
generally have the flow passing through them from the top to the
bottom in multiple flow paths or passes, with the lower region of
the condenser having a supercooling section in which the
refrigerant is cooled to below the condensation temperature.
Cross-flow condensers of this type, which also typically have an
integrated collector with a dryer, are disclosed in
commonly-assigned DE 103 06 192 A1; DE 103 38 526 A1 and DE 198 48
744 A1. In the case of certain installation situations in the
vehicle, this design with the supercooling section situated at the
bottom is less advantageous, namely, if a further heat exchanger,
for example, a charge air cooler, is connected upstream of the
condenser (in terms of air-flow) in the lower end surface region.
In this case, the supercooling section of the condenser is not
sufficiently cooled. Condensers with a supercooling segment
situated at the top have therefore already been proposed, as
disclosed in commonly-assigned DE 198 30 329 A1 and DE 199 12 381
A1, the disclosures of which are also incorporated herein by
reference. In the first case, the known cross-flow condenser has a
condensation section, which is situated in the lower portion and
through which the flow passes from the top to the bottom, and a
supercooling section, which is situated at the top and is connected
to the lower region of the collector via a refrigerant line
arranged in the collector or in the collecting pipe. In the second
case, the condenser developed by the present assignee has a
condensing section, which is situated in the lower region and
through which the flow passes from the bottom to the top, i.e., the
refrigerant leaves the condensing section in the upper region and
then passes into a collector which accommodates a dryer-filter
insert which has an ascending pipe passing through it. The
dryer-filter insert is arranged in the lower region of the
collector, while there is space in the central region of the
collector to receive liquid and gaseous refrigerant. Arranged below
the dryer is a deflecting space from which liquid refrigerant
passes, via the ascending flow pipe and via an upper chamber in the
collector, into the supercooling segment situated at the top.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is one object of the present invention to provide an
improved condenser of the general type mentioned at the beginning,
particularly regarding its collector, the refrigerant flow path in
the collector and the degassing of the refrigerant.
[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a condenser for use in a vehicle air conditioning system,
comprising: a finned tube block having horizontally running tubes,
and a header tube at each end of the tubes in the tube block, the
finned tube block comprising a condensing section and a
supercooling section arranged above the condensing section; and a
collector arranged parallel to one of the header tubes, wherein the
collector includes a dryer-filter insert, a stopper and an
ascending flow pipe, the collector being connected for refrigerant
flow via a first overflow opening communicating with the condensing
section and via a second overflow opening communicating with the
supercooling section, wherein an inflow chamber is defined in the
region of the first overflow opening in the collector and is
bounded by the stopper on the upper side and is bounded by the
dryer-filter insert on the lower side.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a condenser for use in a vehicle air conditioning system,
comprising: a finned tube block having horizontally running tubes,
and a header tube at each end of the tubes in the tube block, the
finned tube block comprising a condensing section and a
supercooling section arranged above the condensing section; and a
collector arranged parallel to one of the header tubes and being
connected for refrigerant flow via a first overflow opening
communicating with the condensing section and via a second overflow
opening communicating with the supercooling section, wherein the
collector includes a dryer-filter insert, an ascending flow pipe
and a downward flow pipe having a first inlet pipe end connected to
the first overflow opening.
[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a condenser for use in a vehicle air conditioning system,
comprising: a finned tube block having horizontally running tubes,
and a header tube at each end of the tubes in the tube block, the
finned tube block comprising a condensing section and a
supercooling section arranged above the condensing section; a
collector arranged parallel to one of the header tubes, wherein the
collector includes a dryer-filter insert, a stopper and an
ascending flow pipe, the collector being connected for refrigerant
flow via a first overflow opening communicating with the condensing
section and via a second overflow opening communicating with the
supercooling section; and a refrigerant flow arrangement located in
the collector for decreasing the flow velocity of the refrigerant,
after it exits the first overflow opening, by an amount sufficient
to permit at least some gaseous phase refrigerant to separate from
liquid refrigerant.
[0008] Further objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the detailed description of
preferred embodiments that follows, when considered together with
the accompanying figures of drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cross-flow condenser
with a supercooling segment situated at the top and with a
laterally arranged, integrated collector;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a cut-away view showing the collector with an
adjacent collecting pipe;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cut-away view showing the collector with a down
pipe (second exemplary embodiment of the invention);
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cut-away view showing the collector according to
FIG. 3, with views of the stopper and dryer-filter;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a cut-away view showing the collector with the
down pipe passing through the dryer-filter (third exemplary
embodiment of the invention); and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cut-away view showing the collector according to
FIG. 5, with views of the stopper and dryer-filter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] According to one preferred embodiment the invention, an
inflow chamber is situated in the collector in the region of the
overflow opening for the refrigerant from the condensing section.
The inflow chamber is upwardly bounded by a stopper and downwardly
bounded by the dryer. The refrigerant entering the inflow chamber
is therefore distributed uniformly over the entire cross section of
the collector and then enters the dryer, through which the
refrigerant inevitably passes from the top to the bottom. In the
process, the refrigerant is dried and filtered. The dryer is
therefore situated in the central to upper region of the collector,
i.e., directly below the overflow opening from the condensing
section. An effective drying of the refrigerant is therefore
achieved.
[0017] In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a storage
space for the refrigerant is provided below the dryer-filter insert
and serves not only to store refrigerant but also to degas the
refrigerant. Owing to the retarded flow velocity of the
refrigerant, gas bubbles can separate from the liquid and can rise
upwardly.
[0018] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the
ascending pipe passing through the dryer-filter insert is connected
at a lower end to the storage space and is connected at its upper
end to a stopper which causes the refrigerant to be deflected into
the supercooling section. The stopper is inserted into the
collector and is sealed circumferentially via an O-ring, between
the two overflow openings. This prevents refrigerant, which enters
the collector from the condensing section, from passing directly
into the supercooling section, i.e., without being dried, filtered
and degassed.
[0019] According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, a
downward flow pipe is provided in the collector and is
connected--indirectly--via a stopper to the overflow opening of the
condensing section and conducts the refrigerant as far as the
dryer-filter. This affords the advantage that a mixing of gaseous
and liquid phase of the refrigerant is restricted.
[0020] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
down pipe is guided through the dryer-filter into a chamber which
receives the refrigerant with a reduced flow velocity and while
simultaneously being degassed. The flow through the dryer-filter,
i.e., the molecular sieve, takes place in this case owing to
differences in the density of the refrigerant, rather than
inevitably. It is advantageous in this case that, by extending the
down pipe, the possibility of mixing gaseous and liquid refrigerant
is further restricted or suppressed, and therefore better degassing
of the refrigerant supplied to the supercooling segment is
obtained.
[0021] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
stopper, the ascending pipe and/or the downward flow pipe may be
formed integrally and may advantageously also be connected to the
dryer-filter insert to form a constructional unit which is inserted
as a pre-manufactured part or sub-unit into the collector. This
sub-unit can also be more easily exchanged for maintenance
purposes. The cooler is provided with a releasable closure for
maintenance.
[0022] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a cross-flow
condenser 1 through which the flow can pass in multiple paths or
passes and which has a finned tube block 2, laterally arranged
collecting tubes or headers 3, 4 and an integrated collector 5. The
arrows P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6, which point in alternating
directions, illustrate the directions of flow of the refrigerant in
individual passes or tube sub-groups (not illustrated in detail) of
the finned tube block 2. The refrigerant enters via a connector 3a
situated at the bottom and exits via a connector 3b situated at the
top. The finned tube block 2 comprises a condensing section, which
corresponds to arrows P1 to P5, and a supercooling section which is
arranged above the condensing section and is indicated by arrow P6.
Essentially, liquid refrigerant flows in the supercooling section
and is cooled to below the condensation temperature of the
refrigerant by the ambient air which acts upon the condenser 1. The
refrigerant subsequently leaves the condenser 1 via the connector
3b.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows the collector 5 with the header tube 4 of the
condenser 1, in a 3-D cut-off or sectional illustration. Only the
two upper chambers 4a, 4b are illustrated of the header 4, with
these chambers being respectively connected to the last tube
sub-group forming pass P5 of the condensing section of the
condenser and to the supercooling pass P6. The collector 5
typically comprises--as known from the publications mentioned at
the beginning--a cylindrical container which is composed of a pipe
5a and an extruded profiled piece 5b. The collector 5 is preferably
permanently closed (nonreleasably) at the bottom by a base 6, which
is typically soldered in, and is closed at the top by a releasable
closure stopper 7. The header chamber 4a is connected on the
refrigerant side to the interior of collector! via a first overflow
opening 8, and the chamber 4b is connected via a second overflow
opening 9 to the interior of the collector 5. In the interior of
the collector 5, a dryer-filter 10 (also called dryer-filter
insert) is arranged and is conventionally filled with a dryer
material, e.g., a molecular sieve. On its upper and lower sides,
i.e., the refrigerant inlet and refrigerant outlet sides, the
collector 5 has a sieve, for example, in the form of a fleece (not
illustrated in detail), for filtering the refrigerant. Arranged
above the dryer 10 is a stopper 11 which is sealed
circumferentially in relation to the interior of the profiled piece
5b, e.g., via an O-ring 12 in the region between the two overflow
openings 8, 9. Between the stopper 11 and the dryer 10, an inflow
chamber 13 is formed in the region of the overflow opening 8. Below
the dryer 10, there is a storage chamber 14 which serves to store
liquid and/or gaseous refrigerant. Furthermore, within the
collector 5, an ascending pipe 15 is arranged eccentrically and
preferably in the vicinity of the wall and is guided through the
dryer-filter 10. Pipe 15 enters the storage space 14 at the bottom
or reaches as far as the base 6 and extends upwardly into the
stopper 11, which connects the ascending pipe 15 via an opening 11a
to the chamber 4b and therefore to the supercooling section P6. A
deflection (not shown in detail here) of the refrigerant from the
ascending pipe 15 into the chamber 4b therefore takes place in the
stopper 11. In the region of the base 6, the ascending pipe 15 has
an opening 15a, via which refrigerant can enter the ascending pipe
15.
[0024] The function of the previously described collector 5 with
dryer-filter 10 is as follows: the refrigerant emerging from the
last pass P5 of the condensing section of the condenser 1 passes
via the overflow opening 8 into the inflow chamber 13, where the
refrigerant is uniformly distributed over the cross section of the
collector 5 and its flow velocity is therefore reduced. From the
inflow chamber 13, the refrigerant flows (inevitably) through the
dryer-filter 10 by means of which it is filtered and dried. After
exiting from the dryer-filter 10, the refrigerant passes into the
storage space 14, where its flow velocity is further reduced. In
the process, gaseous constituents of the refrigerant can separate,
these constituents rising upwardly and collecting in the upper
region of the storage space 14. In the lowermost region of the
storage space 14, e.g., at the base 6, the refrigerant passes via
the inlet opening 15a into the ascending pipe 15 and flows through
the latter from the bottom to the top, i.e., it traverses the
dryer-filter 10 in the ascending pipe 15 and passes into the
stopper 11, where it is deflected into the chamber 4b and enters
from there into the supercooling section P6.
[0025] Since the collector 5 has a realeasable closure stopper 7,
the dryer-filter 10, the ascending pipe 15 and the stopper 11 may
be exchanged for maintenance purposes. This is particularly simple
to handle if dryer-filter 10, ascending pipe 15 and stopper 11 are
designed as a pre-manufactured, cohesive constructional unit.
[0026] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a further exemplary embodiment of the
invention having collector 5 with a header tube 4. The same
reference numbers as previously are used for the same parts. The
chambers 4a and 4b of the header 4 are connected to the collector 5
via the overflow openings 8, 9. The dryer-filter 10, which is only
partially illustrated in FIG. 3, i.e., by an upper end flange 10a
and a lower end flange 10b, is arranged in the lower region of the
collector 5. The ascending flow pipe 15 penetrates and passes
through the dryer-filter 10. In the region of the overflow openings
8, 9, a stopper 16 is arranged in the collector 5, the stopper
having two duct openings 17, 18 which are aligned with the overflow
openings 8, 9 and between which an O-ring 16a is arranged for
sealing purposes. The duct opening 17 is connected via an inflow
duct 17a to a down pipe 19, the upper pipe end of which opens into
the inflow duct 17a and is accommodated by the stopper 16. The down
pipe 19 extends downwardly into the vicinity of the end flange 10a
of the dryer-filter 10 and has diametrically opposite outflow
openings 19a at the lower pipe end. Below the dryer-filter 10,
i.e., between the lower end flange 10b and the base 6, a deflecting
chamber 20 for the refrigerant is provided, and the lowermost end
15a of the ascending pipe projects into it with an inlet opening
(not illustrated in detail). The upper end 15b of the ascending
pipe 15 is accommodated in the stopper 16 and is connected to a
deflecting duct 18a which leads to the duct outlet opening 18 and
therefore into the chamber 4b of the supercooling segment P6.
[0027] The collector 5 with down pipe 19 operates as follows: the
refrigerant passes out of the last flow path P5 of the condensing
section via the chamber 4a and the inflow duct 17 directly into the
downward flow pipe 19, in which it flows downwardly. The
refrigerant exits from the down pipe 19 through the outflow
openings 19a on both sides and is therefore distributed over the
internal cross section of the collector 5, causing the flow
velocity to be retarded. The refrigerant then enters the
dryer-filter 10 and (inevitably) flows through it from the top to
the bottom. In the process, a filtering of the refrigerant takes
place at the inlet and outlet by means of fleeces (not illustrated
in detail). After leaving the dryer-filter 10, the dried
refrigerant passes into the lower deflecting chamber 20, then
enters the lower pipe end 15a of the ascending pipe 15 and flows
through the latter from the bottom to the top as far as the stopper
16, in which it is deflected and conducted into the chamber 4b to
the supercooling segment P6. The retardation of the refrigerant
flow when it leaves the down pipe 19 makes it possible for gaseous
constituents to be precipitated from the liquid refrigerant, with
these constituents rising upwardly. A further degassing takes place
on the path through the dryer-filter 10. The down pipe 19 and its
direct connection to the chamber 4a prevent separated gas
constituents from mixing with the liquid refrigerant fed in from
the condensing section. Below the stopper, it is therefore possible
to form a gas space for separated gas bubbles. This gas space is
separated and sealed off from the condensing section and the
refrigerant flowing into it.
[0028] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a third exemplary embodiment of the
invention with collector 5 with header pipe 4 (the same reference
numbers are again used for the same parts) and having a continuous
down pipe 21, i.e., passing through the dryer-filter 10. The
arrangement and design of the stopper 16 corresponds to the stopper
in the previous exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4.
Similarly, the upper pipe ends of down pipe 21 and ascending pipe
15 are accommodated in the stopper 16 and are connected via
deflecting ducts in the stopper 16 to the chambers 4a, 4b of the
header 4. A chamber 22 is arranged below the dryer-filter 10 and
the lower end flange 10b, and lower pipe end 21a of the down pipe
21 opens into chamber 22. The chamber 22 is bounded below by an end
flange 22a but is downwardly open. The deflecting space 20 is
situated at the lower pipe end 15a of the ascending pipe 15. The
dryer-filter has filters or sieves (not illustrated in detail),
which are designed as fleeces, on both sides in the region of the
end flanges 10a, 10b.
[0029] The embodiment of the collector 5 with a continuous down
pipe 21 in FIGS. 5 and 6 operates as follows: the refrigerant
enters (analogously to the previous exemplary embodiment) directly
into the down pipe 21 and flows through the latter from the top to
the bottom, and only exits from the down pipe 21 in the chamber 22
at the lower pipe end 21a. In the chamber 22, the refrigerant is
distributed to the cross section of the collector, thus resulting
in a retardation of the flow velocity and therefore in the
possibility of gaseous constituents separating. Some of the
refrigerant therefore flows upwardly through the dryer-filter 10
and thereby comes into contact with the dryer substance, as a
result of which drying takes place. In this case, the flow
therefore does not inevitably pass through the dryer-filter 10,
i.e., its dryer substance. The other part of the refrigerant flows
(corresponding to the arrow U) into the deflecting chamber 10 and
then enters the lower pipe end 15a of the ascending pipe 15. The
refrigerant subsequently flows (as in the preceding exemplary
embodiment) via the ascending pipe 15 and the stopper 16 into the
supercooling section P6.
[0030] The invention is not restricted to dryer-filters which are
filled with granules of hygroscopic material. Other types of
compact dryers, e.g., which are composed of a firm mass of plastic
material with a molecular sieve embedded in it, as described in
commonly-assigned DE 102 34 889 A1, are also within the scope of
the invention.
[0031] The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and
variations are possible and/or would be apparent in light of the
above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the
principles of the invention and its practical application to enable
one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various
embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and that the
claims encompass all embodiments of the invention, including the
disclosed embodiments and their equivalents.
* * * * *