U.S. patent application number 12/611401 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for connection pipe and refrigerant flowing system comprising the same.
Invention is credited to Hong Seong Kim, Han Choon LEE, Sang Yeul Lee, Yong Cheol Sa.
Application Number | 20100115980 12/611401 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41718333 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100115980 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Han Choon ; et
al. |
May 13, 2010 |
CONNECTION PIPE AND REFRIGERANT FLOWING SYSTEM COMPRISING THE
SAME
Abstract
The embodiment provides a connection pipe and a refrigerant
flowing system comprising the same. The connection pipe and the
refrigerant flowing system include: a connection pipe main body of
which both ends are coupled to first and second refrigerant pipes
through which refrigerant is flowed and that has a channel through
which refrigerant transferred from the first refrigerant pipe to be
transferred to the second refrigerant pipe is flowed; and a flow
interfering part that is provided on the channel to interfere the
flow of the refrigerant in the direction transferred from the first
refrigerant pipe to the channel.
Inventors: |
LEE; Han Choon; (Seoul,
KR) ; Kim; Hong Seong; (Seoul, KR) ; Lee; Sang
Yeul; (Seoul, KR) ; Sa; Yong Cheol; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KED & ASSOCIATES, LLP
P.O. Box 221200
Chantilly
VA
20153-1200
US
|
Family ID: |
41718333 |
Appl. No.: |
12/611401 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/259.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 41/40 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/259.1 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/00 20060101
F25D023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 10, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0111321 |
Claims
1. A connection pipe comprising: a connection pipe main body of
which both ends are coupled to first and second refrigerant pipes
through which refrigerant is flowed and that has a channel through
which refrigerant transferred from the first refrigerant pipe to be
transferred to the second refrigerant pipe is flowed; and a flow
interfering part that is provided on the channel to interfere the
flow of the refrigerant in the direction transferred from the first
refrigerant pipe to the channel.
2. The connection pipe according to claim 1, wherein the flow
interfering part is formed by radially extending a portion of the
inner circumferential surface of the connection pipe main body.
3. The connection pipe according to claim 1, wherein guide surfaces
that prevents swirling from being generated by the edges between
the inner circumferential surface of the connection pipe main body
and the upper and lower surfaces of the flow interfering part are
formed at the upper and lower surfaces of the flow interfering part
corresponding to the upstream side and the downstream side in the
direction that the flow is flowed.
4. The connection pipe according to claim 3, wherein the guide
surfaces are formed by rounding at least portions of the upper and
lower surfaces of the flow interfering part.
5. The connection pipe according to claim 1, wherein the flow
interfering part allows the refrigerant to be flowed in the
orthogonal direction to the direction that the refrigerant is
transferred from the first refrigerant pipe to the channel.
6. A connection pipe comprising: a first coupling part that is
coupled to a first refrigerant pipe through which refrigerant is
flowed and receives the refrigerant from the first refrigerant
pipe; a second coupling part that is coupled to a second
refrigerant pipe connected to the first refrigerant pipe and
transfers the refrigerant to the second refrigerant pipe; and a
mixing part that is positioned between the first and second
coupling parts and mixes the liquid-phase and gas-phase refrigerant
of the refrigerant transferred to the first coupling part with each
other to transfer it to the second coupling part.
7. The connection pipe according to claim 6, wherein a channel
provided inside the mixing part has a relatively smaller flow
cross-sectional area compared to the channels provided inside the
first and second coupling parts.
8. The connection pipe according to claim 6, wherein the inner
diameter of the mixing part has a relatively smaller value compared
to the inner diameter of the first and second coupling parts.
9. The connection pipe according to claim 8, wherein the outer
diameter of the mixing part has the same value as the outer
diameter of the first and second coupling parts.
10. The connection pipe according to claim 6, wherein the first and
second coupling parts are symmetrical with each other based on the
mixing part.
11. A refrigerant flowing system comprising: a first refrigerant
pipe through which refrigerant is flowed; a second refrigerant pipe
that receives the refrigerant flowed through the first refrigerant
pipe; and a connection pipe that includes a connection pipe main
body of which both ends are coupled to first and second refrigerant
pipes through which refrigerant is flowed and that has a channel
through which refrigerant transferred from the first refrigerant
pipe to be transferred to the second refrigerant pipe is flowed,
and a flow interfering part that is provided on the channel to
interfere the flow of the refrigerant in the direction transferred
from the first refrigerant pipe to the channel.
12. The refrigerant flowing system according to claim 11, wherein
the flow interfering part is formed by radially extending a portion
of the inner circumferential surface of the connection pipe main
body.
13. The refrigerant flowing system according to claim 11, wherein
guide surfaces that prevents swirling from being generated by the
edges between the inner circumferential surface of the connection
pipe main body and the upper and lower surfaces of the flow
interfering part are formed at the upper and lower surfaces of the
flow interfering part corresponding to the upstream side and the
downstream side in the direction that the flow is flowed.
14. The refrigerant flowing system according to claim 13, wherein
the guide surfaces are formed by rounding at least portions of the
upper and lower surfaces of the flow interfering part.
15. The refrigerant flowing system according to claim 11, wherein
the flow interfering part allows the refrigerant to be flowed in
the orthogonal direction to the direction that the refrigerant is
transferred from the first refrigerant pipe to the channel.
16. The refrigerant flowing system according to claim 11, wherein
the connection pipe main body includes: an inlet channel through
which liquid-phase and gas-phase refrigerant transferred from the
first refrigerant pipe is flowed; an outlet channel through which
the liquid-phase and gas-phase refrigerant transferred to the
second refrigerant pipe connected to the first refrigerant pipe is
flowed; and a mixing channel that has a relatively smaller flow
cross-sectional area compared to the inlet and outlet channels and
mixes the liquid-phase and gas-phase refrigerant transferred from
the inlet channel to transfer it to the outlet channel, wherein the
flow interfering part is positioned on the mixing part.
17. The refrigerant flowing system according to claim 16, wherein
the inlet and outlet channels are symmetrical with each other based
on the mixing channel.
18. The refrigerant flowing system according to claim 11, wherein
the first refrigerant pipe is formed in U shape or in J shape.
19. The refrigerant flowing system according to claim 11, wherein
the second refrigerant pipe distributes the refrigerant at least in
two directions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The embodiment relates to an air conditioner, and more
particularly, to a connection pipe that connects refrigerant pipes
through which refrigerant is flowed and a refrigerant flowing
system comprising the same.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In general, an air conditioner is an electric home appliance
that keeps the room cool or heat. The air conditioner as above
includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, and keeps the room
cool or heat as refrigerant circulating the outdoor unit and the
indoor unit performs a heat-exchange with outdoor air and indoor
air. Refrigerant pipes are provided for circulating the
refrigerant. A connection pipe is also provided for connecting the
ends of the refrigerant pipes adjacent to each other. One ends of
the refrigerant pipes adjacent to each other are inserted into both
ends of the connection pipe, respectively.
[0005] However, when any one of the refrigerant pipes connected to
the connection pipe is formed in a curved line shape such as U
shape in the related art, liquid-phase refrigerant of refrigerant
flowing through the refrigerant pipe is flowed along the inner
circumferential surface of the refrigerant pipe. Therefore, a
problem may arise in that the refrigerant flowing inside the
refrigerant pipe cannot be evenly flowed inside the refrigerant
pipe according to the phase.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The embodiment relates to a connection pipe. In the
embodiment, a flow cross-sectional area of a portion of channels
provided inside the connection pipe that connects two refrigerant
pipes is reduced so that liquid-phase refrigerant and gas-phase
refrigerant flowing through the channels are mixed. Therefore, the
embodiment has an advantage in that the refrigerant flowing through
the inside of the refrigerant can be flowed evenly irrespective of
the phase.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the first
embodiment of the connection pipe according to the present
invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state
where the refrigerant pipes are connected by the first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the second
embodiment of the connection pipe according to the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
[0011] In the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that
form a part hereof, and in which is shown byway of illustration
specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be
practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it
is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes
maybe made without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in
the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain
information known to those skilled in the art. The following
detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by
the appended claims.
[0012] Hereinafter, the constitution of a first embodiment of a
connection pipe according to the present invention will be
described in more detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the first
embodiment of the connection pipe according to the present
invention.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, the connection pipe 100 serves to
connect first and second refrigerant pipes 10 and 20 (see FIG. 2)
adjacent to each other. The connection pipe 100 includes a
connection pipe main body 110 and a plurality of channels 120. The
connection pipe main body 110 includes first and second coupling
parts 111 and 113 and a mixing part 115, and the channel 120
includes inlet and outlet channels 121 and 123 and a mixing channel
125.
[0015] More specifically, the first and second coupling parts 111
and 113 are provided at both ends of the connection pipe main body
110, respectively, as shown in the drawing. The first and second
coupling parts 111 and 113 are places where the first and second
refrigerant pipes 10 and 20 are coupled. At this time, the outer
diameter and the inner diameter of the first and second coupling
parts 111 and 113 are determined to have the same value.
[0016] The mixing part 115 is provided in the central portion of
the connection pipe main body 10 corresponding to between the first
and second coupling parts 111 and 113, as shown in the drawing. The
mixing part 115 is to mix refrigerant that is received from the
first refrigerant pipe 10 coupled to the first coupling part 111 to
be transferred to the second refrigerant pipe 20 coupled to the
second coupling part 113. More specifically, the mixing part 115
mixes the liquid-phase or gas-phase refrigerant transferred from
the first refrigerant pipe 10 to transfer it into the second
refrigerant pipe 20. At least the inner diameter of the mixing part
115 is determined to have a relatively smaller value compared to
the inner diameter of the first and second coupling parts 111 and
113. And, in the embodiment, although the outer diameter of the
mixing part 115 is determined to have the same value of the outer
diameter of the first and second coupling parts 113 and 113, it is
not always limited thereto.
[0017] The inlet and outlet channels 121 and 123 and the mixing
channel 125 are provided inside the first and second coupling parts
111 and 113 and the mixing part 115, respectively. In other words,
the inlet channel 121 is provided inside the first coupling part
ill, the outlet channel 123 is provided inside the second coupling
part 113, and the mixing channel 125 is provided inside the mixing
part 115. Therefore, the inlet and output channels 121 and 123 are
substantially communicated with each other by the mixing channel
125.
[0018] More specifically, the refrigerant transferred from the
first refrigerant pipe 10 is flowed inside the inlet channel 121.
The refrigerant transferred to the second refrigerant pipe 20 is
flowed inside the outlet channel 123. The refrigerant transferred
from the first refrigerant pipe 10 to be flowed through the inlet
channel 121 and is flowed through the outlet channel 123 to be
transferred to the second refrigerant pipe 20 is flowed inside the
mixing channel 125. In other words, the refrigerant transferred
from the first refrigerant pipe 10 is transferred to the second
refrigerant pipe 20 by being flowed through the inlet channel 121,
the mixing channel 125, and the outlet channel 123.
[0019] Meanwhile, the mixing channel 125 has a relatively smaller
flow cross-sectional area. This is to mix the liquid-phase and
gas-phase refrigerant of the refrigerant flowed through the inlet
channel 121 and to allow it to be flowed through the outlet channel
123. More specifically, the liquid-phase refrigerant has a
relatively larger specific gravity compared to the gas-phase
refrigerant. Therefore, for example, when the liquid-phase and the
gas-phase refrigerant flowed into the inlet channel 21 is flowed
having the trace of a curved line rather than a straight line such
as the case where the first refrigerant pipe 10 coupled to the
first coupling part 111 is formed in J shape, the liquid-phase
refrigerant is mainly flowed on one side of the inlet channel 121
adjacent to the inner circumferential surface of the first coupling
part 111 by the centrifugal force and the gas-phase refrigerant is
flowed on other portions of the inlet channel 121. And, the flow
direction of the liquid-phase and gas-phase refrigerant flowed
through the inlet channel 121, while being partitioned from each
other, is changed, while being flowed through the mixing channel
125 of the relatively smaller flow cross-sectional area, thereby
being mixed.
[0020] The relative reduction in the flow cross-sectional area of
the mixing channel 125 as described above is made by a flow
interfering part 130 positioned inside the mixing part 115, that
is, on the mixing channel 125. The flow interfering part 130 is
radially extended from the inner circumferential surface of the
mixing part 115. Therefore, the mixing channel 125 may be
considered to be formed as the diameter of the boundary portions
between the inlet and outlet channels 121 and 123 is relatively
reduced compared to that of other portions of the inlet and outlet
channels 121 and 123 by the flow interfering part 130.
[0021] Meanwhile, the connection pipe 100 may be considered to be
symmetrical in the orthogonal direction to the direction that the
refrigerant is substantially flowed. In other words, with the
connection 100, the first and second coupling parts 111 and 113 are
symmetrical with each other in the orthogonal direction to the
direction the refrigerant is flowed based on the mixing part 115.
Therefore, the inlet and outlet channels 121 and 123 may also be
symmetrical in the orthogonal direction to the direction that the
refrigerant is flowed based on the mixing channel 125. This is for
the connection pipe 100 to connect the first and second refrigerant
pipes 10 and 20, irrespective of the direction thereof. Therefore,
a worker can connect the first and second refrigerant pipes 10 and
20 to the connection pipe 100, irrespective of the direction of the
connection pipe 100.
[0022] Hereinafter, the application of the first embodiment of the
connection pipe according to the present invention will be
described in more detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state
where the refrigerant pipes are connected by the first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, the first and second refrigerant pipes
10 and 20 are connected by the connection pipe 100. At this time,
the first and second channels 11 and 21 are provided inside the
first and second refrigerant pipes 10 and 20, respectively. In the
embodiment, the first refrigerant pipe 10 is formed in J shape and
the second refrigerant pipe 20 is formed in Y shape to distribute
the refrigerant in two directions. And, one ends of the first and
second refrigerant pipes 10 and 20 are coupled to the first and
second coupling parts 111 and 113 of the connection pipe 100,
respectively.
[0025] Meanwhile, in a state where the first and second refrigerant
pipes 10 and 20 are coupled to the first and second coupling parts
111 and 113, respectively, the first and second channels 11 and 21
are connected to the inlet and outlet channels 121 and 123,
respectively. Therefore, the first and second channels 11 and 21
are substantially communicated with each other by the inlet and
outlet channels 121 and 123 and the mixing channel 125 that
communicates the inlet and outlet channels 121 and 123.
[0026] The refrigerant flowed through the first channel 11 is
transferred to the inlet channel 121. At this time, the refrigerant
transferred to the inlet channel 121 includes liquid-phase
refrigerant (indicated in dotted lines on the drawing) and
gas-phase refrigerant (indicated in dotted lines on the drawing).
Also, owing to the difference in centrifugal force according to the
difference in a specific gravity between the liquid-phase
refrigerant and gas-phase refrigerant, the liquid-phase refrigerant
will be mainly flowed through a portion of the first channel 11
adjacent to the inner circumferential surface of the first
refrigerant pipe 10 to be transferred to the inlet channel 121, and
the gas-phase refrigerant will be flowed through other portions of
the first channel 11 to be transferred to the inlet channel 121.
Also, the liquid-phase refrigerant of the refrigerant transferred
to the inlet channel 121 will be flowed along a portion of the
inlet channel 121 adjacent to the inner circumferential surface of
the first coupling part 111, and the gas-phase refrigerant will be
flowed through other portions of the inlet channel 121.
[0027] Meanwhile, the liquid-phase and gas-phase refrigerant flowed
through the inlet channel 121 is transferred to the mixing channel
125. And, the liquid-phase and gas-phase refrigerant transferred to
the mixing channel 125 is flowed through the mixing channel 125 to
be transferred to the outlet channel 123. However, the flow
cross-sectional area of the mixing channel 125 is relatively
reduced compared to the inlet channel 121, as described above.
Therefore, the liquid-phase and gas-phase refrigerant is
transferred to the outlet channel 123 in a mixed state, while being
flowed through the mixing channel 125.
[0028] More specifically, the flow of the liquid-phase and
gas-phase refrigerant flowed through the inlet channel 121 to be
transferred to the mixing channel 125 is interfered by the flow
interfering part 130. Therefore, the liquid-phase refrigerant
flowed through a portion of the inlet channel 121 adjacent to the
inner circumferential surface of the first coupling part 111 and
the gas-phase refrigerant flowed through other portions of the
inlet channel 121 may be mixed with each other.
[0029] And, the liquid-phase and gas-phase refrigerant mixed, while
being flowed through the mixing channel 125, is flowed through the
outlet channel 123 to be transferred to the second channel 21.
Therefore, while the refrigerant is branched by the second
refrigerant pipe 20, a phenomenon that the liquid-phase or
gas-phase refrigerant is concentrated in any one direction is
prevented.
[0030] Hereinafter, the constitution of a second embodiment of a
connection pipe according to the present invention will be
described in more detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the second
embodiment of the connection pipe according to the present
invention.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 3, the connection pipe 200 according to
the embodiment includes first and second coupling parts 211 and 213
and a mixing part 215. Inlet and output channels 221 and 223 and a
mixing channel 225 are provided inside the connection pipe 200, and
a flow interfering part 230 is provided on the mixing channel 225.
The constitution of the embodiment as described above is the same
as the aforementioned first embodiment.
[0033] Guide surfaces 231 are provided at upper and lower surfaces
of the flow interfering part 230 that the upstream side of the
inlet channel 221 and the downstream side of the outlet channel 223
face each other on the drawing. The guide surfaces 231 are to
prevent swirling phenomenon from being generated by the edges
between the inner circumferential surface of the first coupling
part corresponding to the upstream of the inlet channel 221 and one
surface of the flow interfering part 230, while the liquid-phase
and gas-phase refrigerant is transferred to the mixing channel
225.
[0034] Although the present invention has been described in detail
reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications
and equivalents can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention, as set forth in the appended
claims.
[0035] In the embodiment as described above, the constituent
forming the mixing channel is named as the flow interfering part
but the name thereof is not limited to the flow interfering part.
In other words, so far as the inlet direction of the refrigerant
flowed into the inlet channel can be substantially changed, if the
flow interfering part is named as other name, that is, a direction
changing part, it would be substantially the same constituent.
[0036] In the connection pipe and the refrigerant flowing system
comprising the same according to the present invention constituted
as described above, the liquid-phase and gas-phase refrigerant is
evenly mixed, passing through the connection pipe connecting the
refrigerant pipes adjacent to each other. Therefore, the phenomenon
that the refrigerant is locally concentrated on one side of the
inside of the refrigerants according to the phase can be
prevented.
* * * * *