U.S. patent application number 11/073888 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-07 for accumulator with oil vanes/indentations.
This patent application is currently assigned to Halla Climate Control Canada Inc.. Invention is credited to Daniel Leonard Corrigan, Jennifer Lynn Dexter, Timothy Russell Dickson.
Application Number | 20060196223 11/073888 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36942795 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060196223 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dexter; Jennifer Lynn ; et
al. |
September 7, 2006 |
Accumulator with oil vanes/indentations
Abstract
An accumulator for an air conditioning system has a passage for
oil to travel from an orifice to an outlet. To improve the
percentage of oil flowing from the orifice to the outlet and/or the
rate of flow, one or more oil vanes extend from or near the orifice
to or near the outlet. Alternatively, instead of oil vanes,
indentations could be used.
Inventors: |
Dexter; Jennifer Lynn;
(Belleville, CA) ; Corrigan; Daniel Leonard;
(Belleville, CA) ; Dickson; Timothy Russell;
(Kingston, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALTERA LAW GROUP, LLC
6500 CITY WEST PARKWAY
SUITE 100
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55344-7704
US
|
Assignee: |
Halla Climate Control Canada
Inc.
Belleville
CA
|
Family ID: |
36942795 |
Appl. No.: |
11/073888 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/503 ; 62/468;
62/84 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 43/003 20130101;
F25B 2400/03 20130101; F25B 43/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/503 ;
062/084; 062/468 |
International
Class: |
F25B 43/02 20060101
F25B043/02; F25B 43/00 20060101 F25B043/00 |
Claims
1. An accumulator for an air conditioning system comprising an
outlet, a passage for oil to travel towards the outlet, an orifice
to allow oil to enter the passage, and one or more oil vanes
projecting from a surface of the passage, but not projecting across
the passage, the one or more oil vanes extending from or near the
orifice towards the outlet.
2. The accumulator of claim 1 comprising two oil vanes, extending
from or near opposite edges of the orifice.
3. The accumulator of claim 2 further comprising an outer body and
a liner located inside and spaced from the outer body wherein the
passage comprises a gap formed between the liner and the outer
body.
4. The accumulator of claim 3 wherein the surface of the passage
from which the oil vanes project is an outer surface of the
liner.
5. The accumulator of claim 3 wherein the surface of the passage
from which the oil vanes project is an inner surface of the outer
body.
6. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein the passage is one of a
J-tube, a trumpet tube, a centre tube, and a pick-up tube.
7. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein the one or more oil vanes
extend longitudinally along the surface.
8. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein the one or more oil vanes
extend helically along the surface.
9. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein the one or more oil vanes
extend from or near the orifice to or near the outlet.
10. An accumulator for an air conditioning system comprising an
outlet, a passage for oil to travel towards the outlet, an orifice
to allow oil to enter the passage, and one or more indentations
formed within a surface of the passage, the one or more
indentations extending from or near the orifice towards the
outlet.
11. The accumulator of claim 10 comprising two indentations,
extending from or near opposite edges of the orifice.
12. The accumulator of claim 10 further comprising an outer body
and a liner located inside and spaced from the outer body wherein
the passage comprises a gap formed between the liner and the outer
body.
13. The accumulator of claim 12 wherein the one or more
indentations are formed within an outside surface of the liner.
14. The accumulator of claim 12 wherein the one or more
indentations are formed within an inner surface of the outer
body.
15. The accumulator of claim 10 wherein the passage is one of a
J-tube, a trumpet tube, a centre tube, and a pick-up tube.
16. The accumulator of claim 10 wherein the one or more
indentations extend longitudinally along the surface.
17. The accumulator of claim 10 wherein the one or more
indentations extend helically along the surface.
18. The accumulator of claim 10 wherein the one or more
indentations extend from or near the orifice to or near the outlet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to suction accumulators for
refrigeration or air/conditioning system use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Closed-loop refrigeration systems conventionally employ a
compressor that is meant to draw in gaseous refrigerant at
relatively low pressure and discharge hot refrigerant at relatively
high pressure. The hot refrigerant condenses into liquid as it is
cooled in a condenser. A small orifice or valve divides the system
into high and low-pressure sides. The liquid on the high-pressure
side passes through the orifice or valve and turns into a gas in
the evaporator as it picks up heat. (Some systems operate in
"transcritical" mode, in that the hot refrigerant is merely cooled
in a high side heat exchanger, now termed a "gas cooler", and turns
to gas plus liquid as it passes through the expansion device.) At
low heat loads, it is not desirable or possible to evaporate all
the liquid in the evaporator. However, excess liquid refrigerant
entering the compressor (known as "slugging") causes system
efficiency loss and can cause damage to the compressor. Hence it is
standard practice to include a reservoir between the evaporator and
the compressor to separate and store the excess liquid. It is also
a reservoir for excess refrigerant, which is typically added to the
system during manufacture to compensate for unavoidable leakage
during the working life of the system. This reservoir is called a
suction line accumulator, or simply an accumulator.
[0003] An accumulator is typically a metal can, welded together,
and often has fittings attached for a switch, transducer and/or
charge port. One or more inlet tubes and an outlet tube pierce the
top, sides, or occasionally the bottom, or attach to fittings
provided for that purpose. The refrigerant flowing into a typical
accumulator will impinge upon a deflector or baffle intended to
reduce the likelihood of liquid flowing out the exit, generally by
removing kinetic energy from the liquid so it settles quietly into
the reservoir area without churning or splashing.
[0004] A consequence of using a suction line accumulator is that
compressor oil can become trapped within it. Compressor oil is
circulated with the refrigerant in most systems in current usage.
Even if a separator is used, a small amount of oil escapes into the
system. This oil will find its way into the accumulator, and while
liquid refrigerant may be expected to evaporate and return to
circulation as needed, the oil does not evaporate. Some means must
be provided to return this oil to circulation. A known practice is
to use a J-shaped outlet tube to carry the exiting gaseous
refrigerant from the top of the accumulator down to the bottom and
then back up to the outlet from the accumulator. A carefully sized
orifice at the bottom of this "J-tube" entrains the oil from the
bottom of the liquid area into the stream of exiting gas.
Generally, the orifice has a filter around it, and the filter may
extend into a sump formed in the bottom of the accumulator to
collect the oil-rich liquid. The. J-tube also typically has a hole
near the top, which prevents the liquid from siphoning or flowing
out of the accumulator reservoir when the system is switched off.
The size of the hole is a balance between breaking any siphon and
reducing the effectiveness of oil pickup.
[0005] A recent development in accumulator design is to incorporate
a plastic liner in the accumulator to assist with the oil pick up
function (as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 06,612,128, U.S.
Pat. No. 06,463,757). However, existing designs and literature do
not teach how to optimize or improve the oil entraining function,
especially for those cases where the refrigerant flow is the
reverse of the flow in most previous accumulators using liners.
[0006] While previous accumulator designs have sought to return oil
to the compressor, the previous designs do not appear to have
considered improving the rate at which oil is returned to the
compressor. As well, it would also be desirable to increase the
amount of oil returned to the compressor and reduce the amount of
liquid refrigerant flowing to the compressor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention
relating to a liner-style accumulator, one or more vanes may
protrude from an outer surface of the liner, from or near an oil
bleed orifice and extend upward towards an outlet. The vanes
provide a path or channel for the oil exiting the oil bleed orifice
to follow towards the outlet of the accumulator. Gaseous
refrigerant with metered liquid will then exit the accumulator
through the outlet.
[0008] Embodiments of the accumulators and related designs
described herein may be used in air conditioning systems within
vehicles. Embodiments of the accumulators and related designs
described herein could also be used in stationary commercial or
industrial air conditioning systems.
[0009] According to a further aspect, the invention provides an
accumulator for an air conditioning system comprising an outlet, a
passage for oil to travel towards the outlet, an orifice to allow
oil to enter the passage, and one or more oil vanes projecting from
a surface of the passage, but not projecting across the passage,
the one or more oil vanes extending from or near the orifice
towards the outlet.
[0010] According to a further aspect, the invention provides an
accumulator for an air conditioning system comprising an outlet, a
passage for oil to travel towards the outlet, an orifice to allow
oil to enter the passage, and one or more indentations formed
within a surface of the passage, the one or more indentations
extending from or near the orifice towards the outlet.
[0011] Advantageously, different embodiments of the present
invention may provide some of the following: an accumulator having
a liner, where the liner has vanes to help direct oil to an outlet
which may allow for the size of an oil bleed orifice to be reduced,
which thereby reduces the amount of liquid refrigerant entering the
compressor, which thereby improves system performance; an
accumulator which more efficiently returns oil to the compressor;
an accumulator which returns oil to the compressor at a more
predictable rate; an accumulator which returns more oil to the
compressor with proportionally less liquid refrigerant; an
accumulator providing improved performance; an accumulator which is
more cost-effective.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described
with reference to the attached drawings in which
[0013] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a liner-style,
side-in-side-out (SISO) accumulator (with some of the internal
components shown in dotted outline) in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 1b is a vertical sectional view of the accumulator of
FIG. 1a, with arrows showing the direction of flow within the
accumulator;
[0015] FIG. 1c is an exploded view of the accumulator of FIG. 1a,
in which the oil vanes on the liner are visible;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the liner of FIG. 1c.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] An embodiment of an accumulator 20 is shown in FIGS. 1a-1c.
The accumulator 20 has an outer surface or housing formed by a top
canister 22 (FIG. 1c) and a bottom canister 24. The top canister 22
fits securely and sealingly with the bottom canister 24. The top
canister 22 comprises and inlet fitting 26 (FIG. 1b) and an outlet
fitting 30. In this embodiment, both the inlet fitting 26 and the
outlet fitting 30 extend from or are formed in the side(s) of the
top canister 22. The inlet fitting is adapted to accommodate an
inlet tube or conduit 28. The outlet fitting 30 is adapted to
accommodate an outlet conduit (not shown). The bottom canister 24
is generally cylindrical, with a closed bottom or floor 32 and an
open top.
[0018] Within the accumulator 20 depicted in FIGS. 1a-1c, is a
liner 36, which is secured within the bottom canister 24 of the
accumulator 20, a deflector 40, which is secured near a top portion
of the accumulator 20, and a gas flow tube or conduit 42, which
extends within the accumulator 20, partway along the height of the
accumulator 20. The accumulator may also incorporate a desiccant
container 44, among other features.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the liner 36 is generally cylindrical,
having an outer surface 46, with a diameter slightly less than that
of the bottom canister 24. The top of the liner is open. In this
embodiment, a hole 48 is located near the top of the liner 36. (In
other embodiments and accumulator designs, the hole 48 could be
omitted.) From the top of the liner 36, the outer surface 46
extends downward. Near a bottom portion of the liner 36, the outer
surface 46 extends inwardly to a nadir. From or near the nadir, the
outer surface 46 extends inwardly and upwardly, to form a generally
circular liner outlet 50. Formed within the liner 36,
advantageously at or near the nadir of the liner 36, is an oil
bleed orifice 52. (Different embodiments could incorporate two or
more oil bleed orifices.) Extending along, and spaced evenly around
the outer surface 46 of the liner 36 in this embodiment, are liner
ribs 54. Oil vanes or oil ribs 56 extend from or near the oil bleed
orifice 50 up along the outer surface 46 of the liner 36 towards
the outlet. In this embodiment, the oil vanes extend to or near the
outlet. The liner ribs 54 project outward further than the oil
vanes 56. There may be one or more oil vanes 56. Advantageously, in
the embodiment depicted, there are two oil vanes 56, on opposite
edges of the oil bleed orifice 52.
[0020] In this embodiment, the liner ribs 54 and the oil vanes 56
extend longitudinally upward along the outer surface 46 of the
liner 36. However, the liner ribs 54 and the oil vanes 56 could
also extend upward in a helical fashion (not shown) or in another
fashion.
[0021] The accumulator 20 is assembled as generally suggested by
FIG. 1c. The accumulator 20 may be assembled as follows. The
desiccant container 44 is lowered into the liner 36. The outer
surface of the desiccant container 44 and the inner surface of the
liner 36 are adapted to ensure that no fluid can flow between them.
For example, the inner surface of the liner 36 may incorporate a
small horizontal half bead (not shown), to provide a tight seal
between the two surfaces. Many other techniques could be used to
achieve the same result.
[0022] The gas flow tube 28 is then inserted through the opening
formed within the desiccant container 44. The outer diameter of the
gas flow tube 28 is sized such that it is slightly smaller than the
inner diameter of the opening formed within the desiccant container
44, but still forms a tight seal between the two surfaces.
[0023] The deflector 40, in this embodiment, is secured to the
ceiling of the top canister 22.
[0024] The liner 36 is then placed within the bottom canister 24.
There is a gap or passage between an inside surface of the bottom
canister 24 and the outer surface 46 of the liner 36 defined (in
this embodiment) by the extent to which the liner ribs 54 project
from the outer surface 46.
[0025] The top canister 22 is secured to the bottom canister 24.
The top canister 22 and the bottom canister 24 may be made of
aluminum or steel, for example, and welded together to form a
hermetic seal.
[0026] In this embodiment, the top of the liner 36 extends to the
ceiling of the top canister 22. The hole 48 in the liner 36 is
oriented in line with the inlet tube 28. The inlet tube 28 passes
through the hole 48 in the liner 36 (or the inlet tube 28 is
sealingly secured to the hole 48 in the liner 36).
[0027] In operation, fluid enters the accumulator 20 through the
inlet tube 28. The fluid passes through the hole 48 in the liner
36. The arrows shown in FIG. 1b illustrate the movement of the
different components of the fluid. The fluid comprises liquid
refrigerant, gaseous refrigerant ("gas") and oil. The fluid
entering the accumulator 20 flows against the deflector 40. The
deflector 40 acts as a barrier to prevent liquid refrigerant and
oil from entering the gas flow tube 42. The gaseous refrigerant is
separated from the liquid refrigerant and oil. The liquid
refrigerant and oil after contacting the deflector 40 flow downward
due to gravity. The liquid refrigerant and oil pass through the
desiccant container 44, which removes moisture from the liquid, and
the liquid then settles on the floor of the liner 36.
[0028] Meanwhile, the gas flows towards the gas flow tube 42. The
gaseous refrigerant flows into the entrance of the gas flow tube 42
and then down the gas flow tube 42. After leaving the gas flow tube
42, the gaseous refrigerant then flows through the gap between the
liner 36 and the bottom canister 24. Accordingly, the gas flows
below the liner 36 and then up to the outlet fitting 30, whereupon,
the gaseous refrigerant exits the accumulator though the outlet
conduit (not shown). As the gaseous refrigerant flows past the oil
bleed orifice 52 near the nadir of the liner 36, oil (and possibly
some liquid refrigerant) passes through the oil bleed orifice 52
and is entrained within the flow of gaseous refrigerant. As well,
the oil vanes 56 provide a direct path between the oil bleed
orifice 52 and the outlet fitting 30. The oil vanes 56 improve the
flow of oil from the oil bleed orifice 52 up the liner 36. When oil
exits the oil bleed orifice 52 it is immediately contained in the
oil vanes 56 and is channeled up the side of the liner 36 by the
passing gaseous refrigerant. The channeling effect helps maintain a
constant and predictable stream of oil from the oil bleed orifice
52 to the outlet fitting 30. Some oil is entrained in the gaseous
refrigerant and some oil is pulled up along or between the oil
vanes 56 through suction or is dragged by the flowing gaseous
refrigerant. The oil vanes 56 also help increase the amount of oil
exiting the accumulator and thereby allow a reduction in the size
of the oil bleed orifice 52. This, in turn, limits the amount of
liquid refrigerant that exits the oil bleed orifice 52 and
therefore limits the amount of liquid refrigerant entering the
compressor.
[0029] In the above-noted embodiment, the oil vanes 56 extend or
protrude from the outer surface 46 of the liner 36. Alternately,
the oil vanes 56 could instead protrude or extend inwardly from an
inner surface of the bottom canister 24.
[0030] The embodiments described above relate to a side-in-side-out
(SISO) liner-style accumulator. However, the principles described
above could also be applied to accumulators having other
configurations, such as a top-in-side-out (TISO) accumulator or
indeed other configurations as well as non-liner style
accumulators.
[0031] For example, the oil vanes described above could be applied
to a J-tube (or U-tube) style accumulator (not shown). The J-tube
incorporates an orifice which permits oil to enter the J-tube. In
the case of a J-tube style accumulator, oil vanes project inside
the J-tube and extend from or near the orifice to or near an
outlet. The interior of the J-tube may be referred to as a
"passage." The embodiments mentioned above describe oil vanes
projecting from a surface. In another embodiment, the relevant
surface could incorporate indentations or depressions instead of
oil vanes. In that case, oil would flow along or within or would be
directed by the oil indentation(s), toward the outlet.
[0032] The embodiments described above relate to liner-style
accumulators and J-tube-style accumulators. However, the principles
described herein could also be applied to other styles of
accumulators including trumpet tube-style accumulators (which have
a J-tube with a return down to the bottom of the accumulator (not
shown)) and pick-up tube-style accumulators (not shown). In such
cases, oil vanes or indentations would project within a passage (a
J-tube, or a trumpet tube, or a pick-up tube, or a centre tube,
etc.) and extend advantageously, from or near an orifice in the
passage (where oil enters the passage) towards an outlet in the
accumulator.
[0033] Numerous modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is
therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described herein. For example, in the embodiments
described above, an orifice is described as being formed within a
surface, and projections or indentations extend along a particular
surface to or near an outlet. Instead of the oil vanes or
indentations extending along a single surface, the oil vanes or
indentations could extend along two or more adjacent surfaces.
Similarly, the oil vanes or indentations could be formed within a
surface adjacent to a surface having the orifice, instead of the
same surface having the orifice. Accordingly, when the term
"surface" is used herein, it is intended to cover all of the
alternative embodiments described herein.
* * * * *