Liquid receiver dryer for condensers

Abstract

A liquid dryer (1) for a condenser (2) of a heat exchange fluid includes an elongated cylindrical shell (100) forming an internal volume, the shell having a first end (110) with an inlet (111) and a second end (120) opposite the first end (110) with an outlet (121), and also includes an internal assembly (200) including a baffle (210) separating the internal volume of the shell (100) such that a first internal volume (V) is present on a first side (210a) of the baffle (210). Furthermore, there is a second internal volume (Vb) on the second side (210b) of the baffle (210), the baffle (210) including a through hole (213) and a tube (220) attached from the first side (210a) to the through hole (213) in the baffle (210), such that fluid can travel from the first side (210a) of the baffle (210) through the tube (220) to the second side (210b) of the baffle (210), wherein the tube (220) and the baffle (210) are a single integral component.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a liquid receiver dryer for a refrigerant fluid circuit in an equipment vehicle, particularly for a condenser in a motor vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Vehicles, especially motor vehicles, are typically equipped with ventilation, heating, and / or climate control equipment, also known as air conditioning systems. These systems are specifically designed to improve the comfort of the vehicle's passenger compartment. The air conditioning system works in conjunction with a closed loop, through which a cooling fluid, used by a heat exchanger included in the system, flows to heat-treat the air delivered into the passenger compartment.

[0003] Along the direction in which the refrigerant fluid flows, the refrigerant fluid circuit basically includes a compressor, condenser, expansion member, and evaporator. The gaseous refrigerant fluid is compressed by the compressor, turns into a liquid phase in the condenser, expands to a low pressure through the expansion member, then turns into a gaseous phase in the evaporator and is guided back to the compressor.

[0004] In this configuration, the refrigerant fluid circuit includes a refrigerant fluid receiver-dryer disposed between the condenser and the expansion member. The receiver-dryer provides a refrigerant fluid reserve, ensuring stable operation of the refrigerant fluid circuit over time. The receiver-dryer may also contain a particulate filter to retain any particles captured by the refrigerant fluid during its flow through the refrigerant fluid circuit. The receiver-dryer may further contain a material that absorbs moisture contained in the refrigerant fluid, hereinafter referred to as a desiccant.

[0005] A receiver-dryer mainly comprises a closed housing, which preferably houses a particulate filter and a desiccant. The housing has a fluid inlet for allowing refrigerant fluid to enter the housing and a fluid outlet for discharging refrigerant fluid from the housing after it has passed through the internal volume. Depending on the desired functionality of the receiver-dryer, the internal components can vary significantly between different models. On the other hand, reducing the overall cost of receiver-dryers is a continuous trend.

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a cost-effective and adaptable design for a liquid storage dryer. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention is particularly intended to provide a liquid storage dryer for a condenser of a heat exchange fluid, comprising an elongated cylindrical housing forming an internal volume, the housing having a first end with an inlet and a second end opposite the first end with an outlet, and further comprising an internal assembly including a baffle separating the internal volumes of the housing such that a first internal volume is present on a first side of the baffle and a second internal volume is present on a second side of the baffle, the baffle including a through-hole and a tube attached to the through-hole from the first side of the baffle such that fluid can travel through the tube from the first side of the baffle to the second side of the baffle, wherein the tube and the baffle are a single integral component.

[0008] Preferably, the inlet is associated with a first internal volume, while the outlet is associated with a second internal volume.

[0009] Preferably, the tube is attached to a through hole in the baffle at its first end and includes a positioning device that mates with the housing at its second end.

[0010] Preferably, the housing has a bottom cover, and the positioning device contacts the bottom cover.

[0011] Preferably, the positioning device has multiple legs extending substantially vertically from the tube.

[0012] Preferably, at least one leg has a support portion that extends obliquely between the leg and the tube relative to their overall extension axis.

[0013] Preferably, the positioning device includes a bottom filter for the heat exchange fluid.

[0014] Preferably, the bottom filtration device includes a chamber forming a bottom filtration volume, the chamber having an inlet opening covered by a bottom filter screen and an outlet, the second end of the tube being attached to the outlet.

[0015] Preferably, the liquid dryer includes a top filter for the heat exchange fluid on the second side of the baffle.

[0016] Preferably, the top filtration device includes a top cover supported on a baffle by side legs to form a top filtration volume, and also includes a top filter screen surrounding the top filtration volume, such that heat exchange fluid entering the top filtration volume from the pipe is forced to flow through the filter screen before leaving through the outlet.

[0017] Preferably, the tube extends eccentrically relative to the shell.

[0018] Preferably, the liquid storage dryer further includes a desiccant bag located within the first volume.

[0019] Preferably, the desiccant bag is placed on the support portion.

[0020] Preferably, the tube includes a hook to which the desiccant bag is attached.

[0021] Another object of the present invention is a condenser including the aforementioned liquid storage dryer. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Examples of the invention will become apparent and will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 A conventional condenser with a liquid receiver dryer is shown;

[0024] Figure 2 An isometric view of a partial cross-section of a liquid reservoir dryer according to an example is shown;

[0025] Figure 3 An example of the internal components of a liquid storage dryer is shown;

[0026] Figure 4 Another example of the internal components of a liquid reservoir dryer is shown;

[0027] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 A closer view of the end of the internal components;

[0028] Figure 6 Another example of the internal components of a liquid reservoir dryer is shown;

[0029] Figure 7 It shows Figure 6 A closer view of one of the ends of the internal components. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Figure 1 A conventional condenser 2 with a liquid receiver dryer 1 according to the invention is shown. The refrigerant enters the heat exchanger through inlet 3, travels through a first pipe to the inlet of the liquid receiver dryer, then leaves the liquid receiver dryer and returns through a second pipe. Subsequently, it leaves the heat exchanger through outlet 4.

[0031] Figure 2An isometric view of a partial cross-section of a reservoir dryer according to an example is shown. The reservoir dryer 1 includes an elongated cylindrical housing 100. The housing 100 forms an internal volume having a first end 110 with an inlet 111 and a second end 120 opposite the first end 110 with an outlet 121. The reservoir dryer 1 also includes an internal assembly 200, which includes a baffle 210 separating the internal volumes of the housing 100 such that there is a first internal volume Va on a first side 210a of the baffle 210 and a second internal volume Vb on a second side 210b of the baffle 210. The baffle 210 includes a through-hole 213. A pipe 220 is attached from the first side 210a to the through-hole 213 in the baffle 210, allowing fluid to travel through the pipe 220 from the first side 210a to the second side 210b of the baffle 210. The pipe 220 and the baffle 210 are a single integral component. This allows for reduced assembly costs.

[0032] Inlet 111 is associated with a first internal volume Va, while outlet 121 is associated with a second internal volume Vb. The reservoir dryer may also include a desiccant bag 270 located within the first volume Va.

[0033] Figure 3 An example of the internal components 200 of the liquid storage dryer 1 is shown. The tube 220 is attached at its first end to a through hole 213 of the baffle 210, and at its second end includes a positioning device 230 that mates with the housing 100.

[0034] In one variation, the reservoir dryer 1 may include a top filter 260 for the heat exchange fluid on the second side of the baffle 210. The top filter 260 includes a top cover 261 supported on the baffle 210 by side legs 262, thereby creating a top filter volume Vfa. It also includes a top filter screen 263, which surrounds the top filter volume Vfa, for example by being attached to the side legs 262, such that the heat exchange fluid entering the top filter volume Vfa from the pipe 220 is forced through the filter screen 263 before exiting through the outlet 121.

[0035] The internal component 200 may include a top spacer 264 for securing the internal component 200 relative to the housing 100.

[0036] Preferably, the tube 220 extends eccentrically relative to the housing 100.

[0037] The housing 100 may have a bottom cover 102. A positioning device 230 contacts the bottom cover 102. The positioning device 230 may include a plurality of legs 231, 232, 233 extending substantially vertically from the tube 220. At least one of the legs 231, 232, 233 may have a support portion 234 extending obliquely between the legs 231, 232, 233 and the tube 220 relative to their overall extension axis. A desiccant bag 270 may rest on the support portion 234.

[0038] The housing may also have a top cover 103. The top cover 103 may be removable or permanently fixed. In the case of a removable top cover 103, the liquid storage dryer and its internal components can be serviced.

[0039] Figure 4 Another example of the internal components of a reservoir dryer is shown. In this option, there is no filter in the reservoir dryer. Baffle 210 may include baffle spacer 211 for spacing and / or mounting the desiccant bag 270.

[0040] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 A closer view of one of the ends of the internal components. One or more legs 231, 231, 233 may form an arch with a spacing 235 below to facilitate the flow of refrigerant within the internal volume. Additional protrusions 236 may be present to balance the components on the bottom cover 102.

[0041] Figure 6 Another example of the internal components of a liquid reservoir dryer is shown. Tube 220 may include hook 221. A desiccant bag may be attached to said hook 221, for example, suspended on said hook 221.

[0042] Positioning device 230 may include bottom filtration device 250 for heat exchange fluid. Figure 7 It shows Figure 6 A closer view of one of the ends of the internal components. In this example, the bottom filter device 250 includes a chamber 251 forming a bottom filter volume Vfb. The chamber 251 has an inlet opening 252 covered by a bottom filter screen 253 and an outlet 254 to which a second end of the tube 220 is attached. The bottom filter screen 253 can be deployed between internal protrusions 255.

[0043] In one example, the liquid reservoir dryer includes a top filter 260 and a bottom filter 230.

[0044] By studying the accompanying drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims, those skilled in the art can understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments in practicing the claimed invention. The fact that certain measures are recited in dissimilar dependent claims does not imply that combinations of these measures cannot be utilized to obtain benefits.

Claims

1. A reservoir drier (1) for a condenser (2) of a heat exchange fluid, comprising an elongated cylindrical housing (100) forming an internal volume, said housing having a first end (110) with an inlet (111) and a second end (120) opposite to said first end (110) with an outlet (121), further comprising an internal assembly (200) comprising a baffle (210) separating the internal volume of said housing (100) so that there is a first internal volume (Va) on a first side (210a) of said baffle (210) and a second internal volume (Vb) on a second side (210b) of said baffle (210), said baffle (210) comprising a through hole (213), a tube (220) attached from said first side (210a) to said through hole (213) in said baffle (210) so that fluid can travel from the first side (210a) of said baffle (210) through said tube (220) to the second side (210b) of said baffle (210), wherein said tube (220) and said baffle (210) are a single integral component, wherein, The tube (220) is attached at its first end to the through hole (213) of the baffle (210) and comprises at its second end a positioning device (230) cooperating with the housing (100).

2. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to claim 1, wherein The inlet (111) is associated with the first internal volume (Va) and the outlet (121) is associated with the second internal volume (Vb).

3. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to claim 1, wherein The housing (100) has a bottom cover (102) and the positioning device (230) is in contact with the bottom cover (102).

4. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to claim 3, wherein The positioning device (230) has a plurality of legs (231, 232, 233) extending substantially perpendicularly from the tube (220).

5. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to claim 4, wherein At least one of the legs (231, 232, 233) has a support portion (234) extending obliquely between the leg (231, 232, 233) and the tube (220) with respect to their overall extension axis.

6. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The positioning device (230) comprises a bottom filtering device (250) for the heat exchange fluid.

7. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to claim 6, wherein The bottom filtering device (250) comprises a chamber (251) forming a bottom filtering volume (Vfb), the chamber (251) having an inlet opening (252) covered with a bottom filtering mesh (253) and an outlet (254) to which the second end of the tube (220) is attached.

8. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The liquid reservoir dryer comprises on the second side of the baffle (210) a top filtering device (260) for the heat exchange fluid.

9. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to claim 8, wherein The top filtering device (260) comprises a top cover (261) supported on the baffle (210) by side legs (262) so as to form a top filtering volume (Vfa) and further comprises a top filtering mesh (263) surrounding the top filtering volume (Vfa) so that the heat exchange fluid entering the top filtering volume (Vfa) from the tube (220) is forced to pass through the filtering mesh (263) before exiting through the outlet (121).

10. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The tube (220) extends eccentrically with respect to the housing (100).

11. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to claim 5, wherein, The liquid reservoir dryer further comprises a desiccant pouch (270) located within the first internal volume (Va).

12. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to claim 11, wherein The desiccant pouch (270) rests on the support portion (234).

13. The liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein The tube (220) comprises a hook (221) to which the desiccant pouch (270) is attached.

14. A condenser (2) comprising a liquid reservoir dryer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

Images