Muffler, indoor unit, and outdoor unit

Abstract

The invention discloses a silencer, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, the silencer is applied to a refrigerant circulating system, the silencer comprises a silencing shell and a filtering piece, and a silencing cavity is formed in the silencing shell; the filtering piece is installed in the silencing cavity and comprises a filtering main body and two installation supports connected with the two opposite ends of the filtering main body respectively, and the installation supports are connected with the inner side wall of the silencing cavity so that the filtering main body can be fixed in the silencing cavity and used for filtering fluid flowing through the filtering main body; the stability of the filter part installed in the silencing shell can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of air conditioning equipment, and in particular to a muffler, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. Background Art

[0002] In HVAC systems, when the refrigerant flows through the expansion valve, the pressure drops sharply due to the throttling effect. This process causes part of the liquid in the refrigerant to vaporize, forming a gas-liquid two-phase flow, which generates noise. When the refrigerant flows through the compressor, it is affected by the intermittent exhaust of the cylinder to form periodic pressure pulsations, which easily excite mechanical vibrations in the pipeline and radiate medium and low-frequency noise. In order to reduce noise, a muffler is installed in a location prone to noise. However, impurities may be mixed in the refrigerant, affecting the flow efficiency. Related technologies also install a filter in the muffler. However, the existing filter is only equipped with one mounting bracket. In actual application, the structure of this single mounting bracket makes the installation strength of the filter device in the pipeline insufficient, making it difficult to ensure stable fixation. This can easily cause the filter screen of the filter device to shift or tilt, which not only affects the filtering effect, but may also aggravate the noise problem due to improper position of the filter screen, and cannot meet the equipment's requirements for noise reduction and stable operation. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The embodiments of the present application provide a muffler, an indoor unit, and an outdoor unit, which can improve the stability of the filter element installed in the muffler shell.

[0004] In the first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a silencer for use in a refrigerant circulation system, comprising a silencer shell and a filter element, the silencer shell forming a silencer chamber; the filter element is installed in the silencer chamber, comprising a filter body and two mounting brackets respectively connected to the opposite ends of the filter body, the mounting brackets being connected to the inner side wall of the silencer chamber to fix the filter body in the silencer chamber for filtering the fluid flowing through the filter body.

[0005] In some embodiments, the mounting bracket abuts against an inner sidewall of the muffler chamber.

[0006] In some embodiments, further comprising: a first connecting pipe and a second connecting pipe, spaced apart and connected to the muffler shell, and both communicating with the muffler chamber, wherein an axis of a first opening communicating with the muffler shell by the first connecting pipe and an axis of a second opening communicating with the muffler shell by the second connecting pipe are not collinear; The two mounting brackets and the filter body separate the muffler chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber. One of the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe is connected to the first chamber, and the other is connected to the second chamber.

[0007] In some embodiments, the sound-absorbing shell comprises: a muffler cylinder connected to at least one of the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe; The filter body is cylindrical and extends along the axial direction of the silencer cylinder. The two mounting brackets are respectively connected to the two ends of the filter body along the axial direction of the silencer cylinder and are connected to the silencer cylinder. The outer side surfaces of the two mounting brackets, the outer side surfaces of the filter body and the inner wall of the silencer cylinder constitute the first chamber. The remaining chamber part of the silencer chamber except the first chamber and the filter element is the second chamber.

[0008] In some embodiments, the mounting bracket includes a fixed portion and a mounting portion connected to each other, the fixed portion abuts against the inner wall of the muffler chamber, and the diameter of the mounting portion is reduced in a direction away from the fixed portion; Wherein, the cylinder axis of the filter body and the tube axis of the muffler cylinder are arranged on the same line, so that the first chamber is formed into an annular chamber.

[0009] In some embodiments, in the axial direction of the filter body, the first opening is spaced equidistant from the two mounting brackets.

[0010] In some embodiments, the mounting portion is a tapered structure with a tapered, stepped or arc-shaped diameter; and / or, the filter body is fixed to the tapered end of the mounting portion by snap-fitting, interference fitting or welding; And / or, an elastic buffer layer is provided on the contact surface between the fixing portion and the inner wall of the muffler chamber; And / or, the filter body is a filter screen.

[0011] In some embodiments, the muffler shell further includes a first end cover and a second end cover provided at both ends of the muffler cylinder, and the muffler cylinder, the first end cover and the second end cover jointly define the muffler chamber; The first connecting pipe is connected to the silencer body and the first chamber, the second connecting pipe is connected to the silencer body and the second chamber, the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe are respectively arranged on different side walls of the silencer body, and the axis of the first opening and the extension axis of the axis of the second opening are parallel to each other or arranged in different planes.

[0012] In some embodiments, the number of the second connecting pipes is at least two, and includes a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe, the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe are located in the same axial plane as the first connecting pipe, and are symmetrically distributed on opposite sides of the first connecting pipe; Alternatively, the extension axis of the first branch pipe and the extension axis of the second branch pipe are located in the same radial plane and are staggered in the circumferential direction.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe are both connected to the second chamber and are located on opposite sides of the filter element.

[0014] In some embodiments, the muffler shell includes a muffler body and a first end cover and a second end cover provided at both ends of the muffler body, wherein the muffler body, the first end cover and the second end cover jointly define the muffler chamber; The first connecting pipe is connected to the muffler cylinder, the second connecting pipe is connected to the first end cover or the second end cover, and an extension axis of the second connecting pipe is perpendicular to an extension axis of the first connecting pipe.

[0015] In some embodiments, the number of the second connecting pipes is at least two, and the second connecting pipes include a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe, and the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe are respectively disposed on the first end cover and the second end cover.

[0016] In some embodiments, the extension axis of the first branch pipe and the extension axis of the second branch pipe are collinearly arranged; And / or, in the axial direction of the muffler cylinder, the interval between the axis of the first opening and the first end cover and the interval between the axis of the first opening and the second end cover are equal.

[0017] In some embodiments, the muffler shell includes a muffler body and a first end cover and a second end cover provided at both ends of the muffler body, wherein the muffler body, the first end cover and the second end cover jointly define the muffler chamber; It also includes a first connecting pipe and a second connecting pipe, the first connecting pipe is arranged on the first end cover or the second end cover, the second connecting pipe is arranged on the side wall of the silencer body, and the extension axis of the second connecting pipe is perpendicular to the extension axis of the first connecting pipe, the first connecting pipe is connected to the second chamber, and the second connecting pipe is connected to the first chamber.

[0018] In some embodiments, there are at least two second connecting pipes, including a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe, and the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe are located on the same axial plane or the same radial plane. In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an indoor unit, comprising: The indoor expansion valve is connected to the outdoor unit through a piping assembly; Indoor heat exchanger; and Like the above-mentioned muffler, the muffler is connected to the outlet of the indoor expansion valve and the refrigerant pipe of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0019] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an outdoor unit, comprising: compressors; and Like the above-mentioned muffler, the muffler is connected downstream of the exhaust port of the compressor and / or downstream of the injection port of the compressor.

[0020] In the present application, a filter element is installed in a muffler chamber and includes a filter body and two mounting brackets connected to opposite ends of a filter screen. The mounting brackets are connected to the inner sidewall of the muffler chamber to fix the filter body in the muffler chamber and filter the fluid flowing through the filter body. The filter body can be a filter screen. The filter screen has a suitable pore size and material, and can effectively intercept foreign particles in the fluid without affecting the normal flow of the fluid, preventing them from entering subsequent equipment or components.

[0021] Two mounting brackets ensure the filter element remains balanced and stable after installation, eliminating the filter screen shifting or tilting issues associated with a single mounting bracket. This not only ensures consistent filtering but also further enhances the reliability and durability of the entire muffler system. Furthermore, the stable filter element installation helps reduce additional noise caused by filter screen movement or displacement, and works in conjunction with the noise reduction function of the muffler housing to achieve even better noise reduction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a muffler according to a first embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of a muffler according to a first embodiment of the present application; Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a muffler according to a second embodiment of the present application; Figure 4 A schematic cross-sectional view of a muffler according to a second embodiment of the present application; Figure 5 An exploded schematic diagram of a muffler according to a second embodiment of the present application; Figure 6A schematic structural diagram of a muffler according to a third embodiment of the present application; Figure 7 A schematic structural diagram of a muffler according to a fourth embodiment of the present application; Figure 8 A schematic cross-sectional view of a muffler according to a fourth embodiment of the present application; Figure 9 A schematic structural diagram of a muffler according to a fifth embodiment of the present application; Figure 10 A schematic cross-sectional view of a muffler according to a fifth embodiment of the present application; Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the structure of a muffler provided in an embodiment of the present application provided in a HVAC system; Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the structure of a muffler provided in an embodiment of the present application, in which the muffler is disposed in an indoor unit; Figure 13 A schematic diagram of the structure of the muffler provided in an embodiment of the present application being disposed in the outdoor unit of the first embodiment; Figure 14 This is a structural schematic diagram of the silencer provided in an embodiment of the present application being arranged in the outdoor unit of the second embodiment.

[0024] Description of Figure Numbers: 80. Muffler; 81. Muffler shell; 811. Muffler cylinder; 8111. Cylinder body; 8112. Connecting pipe; 812. First end cap; 813. Second end cap; 814. Muffler chamber; 8141. First chamber; 8142. Second chamber; 82. First connecting pipe; 821. First opening; 831. First branch pipe; 83. Second connecting pipe; 832. Second branch pipe; 833. Second opening; 90. Filter element; 91. Mounting bracket; 911. Fixing part; 912. Mounting part; 92. Filter body; 101. Compressor; 101a. Exhaust port; 101b. Injection port; 101c. Return air port; 102. Four-way valve; 103. Subcooler; 1031. Main channel; 1032. Auxiliary channel; 104. Outdoor heat exchanger; 105. Liquid stop valve; 106. Gas stop valve; 107. Gas-liquid separator; 108. Oil separator; 109. Oil return capillary; 110. Filter; 111. Outdoor expansion valve; 112. On / off valve; 201. Indoor heat exchanger; 202. Indoor expansion valve.

[0025] The purpose, features and advantages of the present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with the embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear, the following part will further describe the embodiments of the present application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present invention. Instead, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present invention, as detailed in the appended claims.

[0028] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances. In addition, in the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and subsequent associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0029] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. The terms used in this specification are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0030] The present application provides a heating and ventilation system comprising an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, which are interconnected via circuit modules, refrigerant piping, and other modules. These modules operate in conjunction to regulate the indoor environment. Both the indoor and outdoor units are equipped with various components that together form a refrigerant circuit, achieving both cooling and heating functions.

[0031] Connected to the refrigerant piping are a four-way valve 102, a gas shutoff valve 106, and a liquid shutoff valve 105 for switching the refrigerant flow path. The first valve port D of the four-way valve 102 communicates with the exhaust port 101a of the compressor 101, the second valve port C communicates with the outdoor heat exchanger 104, the third valve port E communicates with the indoor heat exchanger 201, and the fourth valve port S communicates with the return air port 101c of the compressor 101. During cooling operation of the HVAC system, the first valve port D communicates with the second valve port C, and the third valve port E communicates with the fourth valve port S. During heating operation of the HVAC system, the first valve port D communicates with the third valve port E, and the second valve port C communicates with the fourth valve port S. Specifically, by switching the four-way valve 102, the refrigerant flow is reversed, allowing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 101 to be supplied to either the outdoor heat exchanger 104 or the indoor heat exchanger 201, enabling switching between cooling and heating operations. The gas shut-off valve 106 and the liquid shut-off valve 105 are used to open or close the refrigerant path from the outdoor unit to the indoor unit. A subcooler 103 is provided between the outdoor heat exchanger 104 and the liquid shut-off valve 105. The subcooler 103 includes a main channel 1031 and a secondary channel 1032. The refrigerant in the secondary channel 1032 absorbs heat from the refrigerant in the main channel 1031, thereby cooling the refrigerant in the main channel 1031. The two ends of the main channel 1031 are connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 104 and the liquid shut-off valve 105 via refrigerant piping MP. The outdoor unit also has a branch flow path that branches from the refrigerant piping MP between the outdoor heat exchanger 104 and the liquid shut-off valve 105, passes through the secondary channel 1032 of the subcooler 103, and leads to the injection port 101b of the compressor 101. The branch point a can be located between the subcooler 103 and the liquid shut-off valve 105, or between the subcooler 103 and the outdoor heat exchanger 104. The branch flow path includes two sections of refrigerant piping BP1. One end of the first section of refrigerant piping BP1 is connected to the refrigerant piping MP between the outdoor heat exchanger 104 and the liquid stop valve 105, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the auxiliary channel 1032 of the supercooler 103. A branch expansion valve is provided on the first section of refrigerant piping BP1 to regulate the amount of refrigerant passing through the auxiliary channel 1032, thereby regulating the subcooling degree of the refrigerant on the refrigerant piping MP. One end of the second section of refrigerant piping BP2 is connected to the outlet of the auxiliary channel 1032 of the supercooler 103, and the other end is connected to the injection port 101b of the compressor 101.

[0032] Specifically, in the cooling mode, the main circulation loop of the refrigerant is: exhaust from the compressor 101 → four-way valve 102 → outdoor heat exchanger 104 → main channel 1031 of the subcooler 103 → liquid stop valve 105 → indoor expansion valve 202 (throttling) → indoor heat exchanger 201 (evaporation) → gas stop valve 106 → four-way valve 102 → suction from the compressor 101.

[0033] In heating mode, the compressor 101 exhausts → the four-way valve 102 (switched to heating mode) → the indoor heat exchanger 201 (condensation heat release) → the indoor expansion valve 202 → the subcooler 103 → the liquid stop valve 105 → the outdoor expansion valve 111 (throttling) → the main channel 1031 of the subcooler 103 → the outdoor heat exchanger 104 (evaporation heat absorption) → the gas stop valve 106 → the four-way valve 102 → the compressor 101 inhales.

[0034] It is important to understand that in the outdoor unit, when high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant is discharged from the compressor 101, it is subjected to periodic pressure pulsations caused by the intermittent exhaust of the cylinders. This can easily excite mechanical vibrations in the pipeline and radiate medium- and low-frequency noise. In the indoor unit, the indoor expansion valve 202 delivers the refrigerant to the indoor heat exchanger 201. However, when the refrigerant flows through the indoor expansion valve 202, its pressure drops rapidly due to the throttling effect, causing some of the liquid in the refrigerant to vaporize, forming a gas-liquid two-phase flow, which generates noise. In addition to the gas-liquid two-phase flow noise caused by the sudden pressure drop, noise may also be generated by the movement of the valve core inside the indoor expansion valve 202 and the turbulence of the refrigerant flow.

[0035] Therefore, in order to reduce the noise generated by the indoor expansion valve 202 and transmitted to the indoor heat exchanger 201, the relevant technology usually sets a muffler at the outlet of the indoor expansion valve 202. In addition, in order to reduce impurities during the flow of refrigerant, a filter element is also set in the muffler. However, the existing filter device has obvious defects. It is only equipped with one mounting bracket. In actual application, the structure of this single mounting bracket makes the installation strength of the filter device in the pipeline insufficient, and it is difficult to ensure stable fixation. This can easily cause the filter screen of the filter device to shift or tilt, which not only affects the filtering effect, but may also aggravate the noise problem due to improper position of the filter screen, and cannot meet the equipment's requirements for noise reduction and stable operation.

[0036] The present application embodiment provides a muffler 80, see Figures 11 to 14 The muffler 80 can also be connected between the indoor expansion valve 202 and the indoor heat exchanger 201 to isolate the noise generated by the indoor expansion valve 202 from flowing through the refrigerant to the indoor heat exchanger 201. In addition, since the compressor of the outdoor unit forms periodic pressure pulsations due to the intermittent exhaust of the cylinder, it is also easy to generate noise. Therefore, the muffler 80 of the present application can also be connected downstream of the exhaust port 101a of the compressor 101 (that is, set in the exhaust pipe of the compressor 101), or connected upstream of the compressor 101b (that is, set in the second section of the refrigerant pipe BP2) to isolate the noise generated by the compressor 101 from flowing to the next component. In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 13 and Figure 14A switch valve 111 is provided upstream of the muffler 80. The switch valve 111 can open or close the second section of the refrigerant pipe BP2. The switch valve 111 can be either an electronic expansion valve or a solenoid valve. When the switch valve 111 is opened or closed, the refrigerant noise of the second section of the refrigerant pipe BP2 will increase, and the muffler 80 can effectively reduce the aforementioned noise.

[0037] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The muffler includes a muffler shell 81, a first connecting pipe 82, a second connecting pipe 83 and a filter element 90, and the muffler shell 81 forms a muffler chamber 814; the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 are spaced apart and connected to the muffler shell 81, and are connected to the muffler chamber 814, wherein the axis of the first opening 821 connecting the first connecting pipe 82 to the muffler shell 81 and the axis of the second opening 833 connecting the second connecting pipe 83 to the muffler shell 81 are not collinear.

[0038] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The filter element 90 is installed in the muffler chamber 814 and includes a filter body 92 and two mounting brackets 91 connected to opposite ends of the filter screen. The mounting brackets 91 are connected to the inner wall of the muffler chamber 814 to fix the filter body 92 in the muffler chamber 814 and filter the fluid flowing through the filter body 92. The filter body 92 can be a filter screen. The filter screen has a suitable pore size and material, and can effectively intercept foreign particles in the fluid without affecting the normal flow of the fluid, preventing them from entering subsequent equipment or components.

[0039] The two mounting brackets 91 ensure that the filter element 92 remains balanced and stable after installation, preventing the filter screen from shifting or tilting due to a single mounting bracket 91. This not only ensures the stability of the filtering effect, but also further enhances the reliability and durability of the entire muffler 80 system. Furthermore, the stable installation of the filter element 90 helps reduce additional noise caused by filter screen movement or displacement, and works in conjunction with the noise reduction function of the muffler shell 81 to achieve even better noise reduction.

[0040] The mounting bracket 91 and the muffler housing 81 can be mounted in various connection forms, such as welding, threaded connection, or clamping, as needed to ensure the stability and reliability of the connection. For example, the mounting bracket 91 abuts against the inner wall of the muffler chamber 814. This abutment method is relatively simple and does not require complex connection components and processes, thereby helping to reduce production costs and improve production efficiency.

[0041] See also Figure 2In some embodiments, the two mounting brackets 91 and the filter body 92 separate the muffler chamber 814 into a first chamber 8141 and a second chamber 8142. One of the first connecting tube 82 and the second connecting tube 83 connects to the first chamber 8141, while the other connects to the second chamber 8142. When fluid enters the muffler chamber 814 through the first connecting tube 82, it first enters one of the chambers (either the first chamber 8141 or the second chamber 8142), then passes through the filtering action of the filter element 90 before flowing into the other chamber and finally exiting through the second connecting tube 83. During this process, the fluid, flowing between the two chambers, experiences multiple collisions and reflections with the filter element 90 and the walls of the muffler chamber 814, further enhancing the muffler effect. This design also prevents short-circuiting of the fluid within the muffler chamber 814, ensuring that the fluid is fully filtered and muffled, thereby improving the overall performance of the muffler 80.

[0042] The expansion ratio of mufflers in related art is insufficient (the area of ​​the filter section divided by the area of ​​the inlet and outlet pipes), making it difficult to effectively utilize the muffler's effect. Increasing the expansion ratio of the muffler will cause the filter volume to increase, making it difficult to install. The present application further improves the structure of the muffler 80.

[0043] The muffler housing 81 is a tubular structure comprising a muffler body 811 and a first end cap 812 and a second end cap 813 disposed at each end of the muffler body 811. The muffler body 811, the first end cap 812, and the second end cap 813 collectively define a muffler chamber 814, wherein the muffler chamber 814 extends longitudinally along a first direction. The diameter of the muffler body 811 is larger than the diameters of the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83. The diameter of the refrigerant changes when it enters the muffler chamber 814 from the first connecting pipe 82 and when it enters the second connecting pipe 83 from the muffler chamber 814. This change in diameter acts as a buffer against pressure pulsations. When the refrigerant flows through the area where the diameter changes, the pressure of the refrigerant fluctuates due to the change in cross-sectional area. This pressure pulsation can interact with sound waves, dissipating their energy and reducing noise levels. Since the expansion of the muffler 80 of the present application is relatively large, it can effectively reduce noise while being relatively small, thereby improving space utilization and facilitating the installation of the filter element 90 .

[0044] The filter body 92 is cylindrical and extends axially along the muffler barrel 811. Two mounting brackets 91 are respectively connected to the two ends of the filter body 92 along the axial direction of the muffler barrel 811, and are connected to the muffler barrel 811. The outer side surfaces of the two mounting brackets 91, the outer side surface of the filter body 92, and the inner wall of the muffler barrel 811 constitute a first chamber 8141. The remaining chamber portion of the muffler chamber 814 except the first chamber 8141 and the filter element 90 is a second chamber 8142. In the present application, the filter body 92 is cylindrical and extends axially along the muffler barrel 811. It can make full use of the space of the muffler chamber 814, achieve a larger filtering area within a limited space, improve filtering efficiency, and at the same time do not take up too much extra space, making the overall structure of the muffler 80 more compact.

[0045] Furthermore, the axis of the filter body 92 and the axis of the muffler body 811 are collinearly arranged, forming the first chamber 8141 into an annular chamber, which facilitates uniform flow of the refrigerant within the muffler chamber 814. This allows the refrigerant to flow more smoothly through the filter body 92, reducing local pressure fluctuations and turbulence caused by uneven flow, lowering fluid flow noise, and also helping to improve the filtering effect, allowing impurities in the refrigerant to be more evenly intercepted.

[0046] At least one of the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 is connected to the muffler shell 81. Thus, the axis of the first opening 821, which facilitates communication between the first connecting pipe 82 and the muffler shell 81, and the axis of the second opening 833, which facilitates communication between the second connecting pipe 83 and the muffler shell 81, are not collinearly arranged. Furthermore, the filter element 90 and the muffler shell 81 naturally define an annular first chamber 8141. The first connecting pipe 82 or the second connecting pipe 83 is directly connected to the muffler shell 82, enabling more direct and smooth communication with the first chamber 8141.

[0047] The mounting bracket 91 includes a fixed portion 911 and a mounting portion 912 connected to each other. The fixed portion 911 abuts the inner wall of the silencer chamber 814. The diameter of the mounting portion 912 is reduced in the direction away from the fixed portion 911. The filter screen is fixed to the tapered end of the mounting portion 912 by snap fastening, interference fit, or welding. After the filter screen is installed on the mounting portion 912, the fixed portion 911 abuts the inner wall of the silencer chamber 814, thereby fixing the filter element 90 as a whole in the silencer chamber 814. Optionally, the abutting surface of the fixed portion 911 and the inner wall of the silencer chamber 814 is provided with an elastic buffer layer. The elastic buffer layer can also fill the small gap between the fixed portion 911 and the inner wall of the silencer chamber 814, thereby improving the sealing performance between the two, preventing the refrigerant from leaking from the connection between the fixed portion 911 and the inner wall of the silencer chamber 814, and improving the filtering effect. The elastic buffer layer may be a coating applied on the surface of the fixing portion 911 that contacts the inner wall of the silencing chamber 814 , and the coating may be made of materials such as rubber and silicone.

[0048] In the axial direction of the filter body 92, the first opening 821 of the first connecting tube 82 communicates with the first chamber 8141, and the spacing between the first opening 821 and the two mounting brackets 91 is equal. In this example, if two second connecting tubes 83 are provided, then after the refrigerant enters the muffler chamber 814 from the first connecting tube 82, it can be evenly distributed to the two second connecting tubes 83, thereby improving the noise reduction effect. Of course, in other embodiments, in the axial direction of the filter body 92, the spacing between the first opening 821 and the two mounting brackets 91 can also be unequal, and this application is not limited to this.

[0049] Optionally, the mounting portion 912 is a tapered structure with a conical, stepped or arc-shaped diameter reduction. The conical tapered structure has a smooth conical surface, and the refrigerant can flow along the conical surface to the filter body 92 for filtration. The stepped tapered structure enables the refrigerant to achieve staged acceleration during the flow process by setting steps of different diameters. The change in diameter between each step will cause a sudden change in the refrigerant flow rate, but this sudden change is controllable and can also achieve noise reduction. The arc-shaped transition is softer, making the flow rate of the refrigerant change more slowly during the flow process. Compared with the conical and stepped structures, the arc-shaped structure can reduce the pressure loss and turbulence of the refrigerant during the flow process. When the refrigerant flows in the arc-shaped structure, its flow rate gradually increases or decreases without obvious sudden changes, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the refrigerant flow.

[0050] The connection relationship between the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 and the silencer shell 81 can adopt a side-in-side-out structure, a side-in-straight-out, or a straight-in-side-out arrangement. In this way, the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 are not coaxially arranged, which facilitates the installation of the silencer 80 in the indoor unit.

[0051] When using the side-in and side-out structure, please refer to Figures 1 to 5The first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 are respectively arranged on opposite side walls of the muffler body 811, and the axis of the first opening 821 and the axis of the second opening 833 are parallel to each other or arranged in a non-planar manner. The non-planar arrangement of the axis of the first opening 821 and the axis of the second opening 833 can include the axis of the first opening 821 and the axis of the second opening 833 being perpendicular to each other, or can also be arranged in an oblique and staggered manner. For example, the axis of the first opening 821 and the axis of the second opening 833 can form a certain angle (such as 30°, 45°, 60° or other non-perpendicular and non-parallel angles) to form a non-planar relationship. In this way, the regularity of the refrigerant flow can be disrupted, the randomness of the sound wave reflection in the chamber can be increased, and the noise attenuation effect can be improved. Specifically, when the refrigerant enters the muffler chamber 814 from the first connecting pipe 82, it will produce lateral and / or longitudinal displacement due to the axis offset, increasing the probability of collision between the refrigerant and the chamber wall, further consuming the sound wave energy. In addition, the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 can reduce pipeline interference through spatial dislocation and improve the flexibility of installation layout.

[0052] Optionally, the first connecting tube 82 and the second connecting tube 83 discussed above and below in this application can both be straight tubes, with the extension axis of the first connecting tube 82 collinear with the axis of the first opening 821, and the extension axis of the second connecting tube 83 collinear with the axis of the second opening 833. First, straight tubes do not require bending, reducing manufacturing complexity and saving material costs. Furthermore, the flow path within a straight tube is straight, resulting in a low local resistance coefficient, which avoids the curvature effect of the inner wall of the curved tube, reduces secondary flow and vortex generation in the refrigerant flow, and thus reduces turbulent noise.

[0053] In order to adapt to different indoor heat exchanger pipe interfaces, the number of the second connecting pipe 83 can be one or more. For example, the number of the second connecting pipe 83 is two, and includes a first branch pipe 831 and a second branch pipe 832. In some embodiments, the first branch pipe 831 and the second branch pipe 832 are located in the same axial plane as the first connecting pipe 82, and are symmetrically distributed on opposite sides of the first connecting pipe 82. In this example, the extension axis of the first connecting pipe 82, the extension axis of the first branch pipe 831, and the extension axis of the second branch pipe 832 are all located in the same axial plane, and the first branch pipe 831 and the second branch pipe 832 are respectively distributed on opposite sides of the silencer cylinder 811, and the first branch pipe 831 and the second branch pipe 832 are symmetrically distributed on opposite sides of the first connecting pipe 82. In this way, while adapting to different indoor heat exchanger pipeline interfaces, the diversion effect can be improved. The symmetrically distributed second connecting pipe 83 makes the refrigerant evenly diverted in the silencer chamber 814, reducing the pressure pulsation difference caused by uneven flow, and can also suppress the deviation of the refrigerant in the chamber, avoid local vortex generation, and thus reduce high-frequency turbulent noise.

[0054] See also Figure 6 In yet other embodiments, the extension axis of the first branch pipe 831 and the extension axis of the second branch pipe 832 lie in the same radial plane and are circumferentially staggered. This ensures that, in the axial direction of the muffler barrel 811, the distance between the first branch pipe 831 and the second branch pipe 832 is consistent, improving the uniformity of the refrigerant entering the muffler chamber from the first connecting pipe 82 and being diverted to the first and second branch pipes 831 and 832.

[0055] The first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe are arranged in a side-in-side-out structure. Any one of the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 is connected to the first chamber 8141 , and the other is connected to the second chamber 8142 .

[0056] See also Figure 7 and Figure 8 When a side-in and straight-out structure is adopted, the first connecting pipe 82 is connected to the silencer cylinder 811, the second connecting pipe 83 is connected to the first end cover 812 or the second end cover 813, and the axis of the first opening 821 and the extension axis of the second opening 833 are perpendicular to each other. After the refrigerant enters the silencer chamber 814 from the side of the silencer cylinder 811, it needs to turn vertically to the first end cover 812 or the second end cover 813 to form an L-shaped flow path, so that the refrigerant diffuses laterally, breaks the inertia of linear flow, reduces local high-speed turbulence, and thus reduces high-frequency turbulent noise. The vertical turning allows the refrigerant to form a laminar transition in the chamber, with a more uniform flow velocity distribution, avoiding pressure pulsations caused by sudden changes in flow velocity, and suppressing medium and low-frequency noise.

[0057] In the case where there are two second connecting pipes 83, the first branch pipe 831 and the second branch pipe 832 are respectively arranged on the first end cover 812 and the second end cover 813. In this way, a symmetrical diversion is formed when the refrigerant flows out, which reduces the turbulent noise caused by flow bias and improves flow stability. In order to improve the effect of uniform diversion, the extension axis of the first branch pipe 831 and the extension axis of the second branch pipe 832 are collinearly arranged. Furthermore, in the axial direction of the silencer cylinder 811, the interval between the axis of the first opening 821 and the first end cover 812 and the interval between the axis of the first opening 821 and the second end cover 813 are equal. The first branch pipe 831 and the second branch pipe 832 are symmetrically distributed based on the first connecting pipe 82, and the refrigerant is evenly diffused in the silencer chamber 814, reducing local pressure pulsation and suppressing medium and low frequency noise).

[0058] See also Figure 9 and Figure 10If there are two second connecting pipes 83, the first branch pipe 831 and the second branch pipe 832 are spaced apart on either the first end cap 812 or the second end cap 813. The two second connecting pipes 83 are concentrated on the same end cap, saving space on the other end cap. This reduces refrigerant piping branches, lowers system complexity, and reduces the number of elbows and pressure drop. The two spaced second connecting pipes 83 are designed with diffusion angles (e.g., fan-shaped distribution) to achieve uniform refrigerant flow distribution and avoid localized high-speed turbulence.

[0059] When the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 are arranged in a side-in and straight-out structure, the first connecting pipe 82 is connected to the first chamber 8141 , and the second connecting pipe 83 is connected to the second chamber 8142 .

[0060] In a straight-in, side-out arrangement, the first connecting pipe 82 is mounted on either the first end cap 812 or the second end cap 813, while the second connecting pipe 83 is mounted on the side wall of the muffler housing 811. The axis of the second connecting pipe 83 extends perpendicularly to that of the first connecting pipe 82. After the refrigerant enters the muffler chamber 814 from the first connecting pipe 82 on the end cap, it is diverted laterally to the second connecting pipe 83 on the side wall, extending the flow distance and enhancing the dissipation of acoustic energy. This lateral diversion disrupts the refrigerant's linear flow inertia, reducing turbulence intensity and lowering high-frequency noise.

[0061] When there are two second connecting pipes 83, the first branch pipe 831 and the second branch pipe 832 are located in the same axial plane or the same radial plane. When the two second connecting pipes 83 are located in the same axial plane (e.g., symmetrically distributed bilaterally), the refrigerant forms a mirror-symmetrical flow pattern when flowing out of the muffler chamber 814, reducing turbulent noise caused by flow deviation and improving flow stability.

[0062] When the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe are arranged in a straight-in and side-out structure, the first connecting pipe is connected to the second chamber, and the second connecting pipe is connected to the first chamber.

[0063] In some embodiments, when the first connecting pipe 82 is connected to the silencer cylinder 811, in the axial direction of the silencer cylinder 811, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the first connecting pipe 82 to the cross-sectional area of ​​the silencer cylinder 811 is not less than 32 and not greater than 38; when the first connecting pipe 82 is connected to the first end cover 812 or the second end cover 813, in the radial direction of the silencer cylinder 811, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the first connecting pipe 82 to the cross-sectional area of ​​the silencer cylinder 811 is not less than 5 and not greater than 9.

[0064] Optionally, in the flow direction of the refrigerant, the cross-sectional area of ​​the second connecting pipe 83 is generally approximately the same as the cross-sectional area of ​​the first connecting pipe 82. Regardless of whether the second connecting pipe 83 is connected to the muffler cylinder 811, or is connected to the first end cover 812 or the second end cover 813, its cross-sectional area can refer to the setting requirements of the cross-sectional area ratio of the first connecting pipe 82 to the muffler cylinder 811 under the corresponding connection mode of the first connecting pipe 82. If the second connecting pipe 83 is connected to the muffler cylinder 811, in the axial direction of the muffler cylinder 811, the cross-sectional area ratio of the second connecting pipe 83 to the muffler cylinder 811 is within a range of not less than 32 and not more than 38. When the second connecting pipe 83 is connected to the first end cover 812 or the second end cover 813, in the radial direction of the muffler cylinder 811, the cross-sectional area ratio of the second connecting pipe 83 to the muffler cylinder 811 should be controlled to be not less than 5 and not more than 9. Such a design can not only achieve noise reduction by changing the pipe diameter, but also keep the overall volume of the muffler 80 within a reasonable range, and can be smoothly installed in an indoor unit with limited space, taking into account both the performance of the equipment and the convenience of installation and use.

[0065] In order to facilitate the connection between the first connecting pipe 82, the second connecting pipe 83 and the silencer cylinder 811, the silencer cylinder 811 includes a cylinder body 8111 and a connecting pipe portion 8112, and the cylinder body 8111 forms a silencer chamber 814; the connecting pipe portion 8112 is connected to the cylinder body 8111 and connected to the silencer chamber 814; the first connecting pipe 82 and / or the second connecting pipe 83 are both connected to the silencer chamber 814 by connecting to the connecting pipe portion 8112. When the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 adopt a side-in and straight-out arrangement or a straight-in and side-out arrangement, and there is only one second connecting pipe 83, only one connecting pipe portion 8112 is provided. When the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 adopt a side-in and side-out arrangement, or a side-in and straight-out arrangement or a straight-in and side-out arrangement, and there are more than two second connecting pipes 83, at least two connecting pipe portions 8112 are provided, and at least two connecting pipe portions 8112 are spaced apart and connected to the barrel body 8111 and communicate with the muffler chamber 814. By providing the connecting pipe portion 8112, a standardized connection interface is provided for the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83, making the installation process simpler and faster, and also enabling the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 to not extend into the muffler chamber 814.

[0066] In order to further improve the stability and sealing of the connection, the first connecting pipe 82 and the second connecting pipe 83 are embedded in the connecting pipe portion 8112. In this way, the first connecting pipe 82, the second connecting pipe 83 and the connecting pipe portion 8112 form a tight whole, reducing the connection gap and enhancing the integrity and reliability of the structure.

[0067] Specifically, the present application provides a variety of arrangements of the muffler 80 , so that the muffler 80 can have a variety of forms when installed.

[0068] In some embodiments, the extension axis of the muffler shell 81 extends in the horizontal direction, that is, the muffler shell 81 is installed horizontally. The extension axis of the first connecting pipe 82 and the extension axis of the second connecting pipe 83 can also both extend in the horizontal direction, so that they can adapt to the situation where the longitudinal installation space is limited. In some other embodiments, the extension axis of the first connecting pipe 82 and the extension axis of the second connecting pipe 83 can also both extend in the vertical direction; or one of the extension axis of the first connecting pipe 82 and the extension axis of the second connecting pipe 83 can also extend in the vertical direction, and the other can extend in the horizontal direction, so that they can adapt to the situation where the horizontal installation space is limited, or the horizontal installation space needs to avoid other components.

[0069] In some embodiments, the extension axis of the muffler housing 81 extends in the vertical direction, that is, the muffler housing 81 is installed vertically, while the extension axis of the first connecting pipe 82 extends in the vertical direction, and the extension axis of the second connecting pipe 83 extends in the horizontal direction; or, the extension axis of the first connecting pipe 82 extends in the horizontal direction, and the extension axis of the second connecting pipe 83 extends in the vertical direction. This can adapt to situations where the horizontal installation space is limited or the horizontal installation space needs to avoid other components.

[0070] In summary, the various muffler 80 arrangements provided in this application allow for flexible adjustment of the extension axis directions of the muffler housing 81 and the first and second connecting pipes 82, 83, allowing for selection of the most suitable installation method based on the different installation spaces and structural requirements of the indoor unit. This diverse design not only improves the compatibility of the muffler 80 with the indoor unit, but also effectively reduces noise and enhances the overall performance of the HVAC system.

[0071] The same or similar numbers in the drawings of this embodiment correspond to the same or similar parts; in the description of the present invention, it should be understood that if the terms "up", "down", "left", "right", etc. indicate directions or positional relationships, they are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings. This is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, the terms describing the positional relationship in the drawings are only used for illustrative purposes and cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0072] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A muffler, used in a refrigerant circulation system, characterized in that: include a muffler shell forming a muffler chamber; and The filter element is installed in the silencer chamber and includes a filter body and two mounting brackets connected to the opposite ends of the filter body. The mounting brackets are connected to the inner wall of the silencer chamber to fix the filter body in the silencer chamber for filtering the fluid flowing through the filter body.

2. The muffler according to claim 1, wherein: The mounting bracket abuts against the inner side wall of the muffler chamber.

3. The muffler according to claim 1, wherein: Also includes: a first connecting pipe and a second connecting pipe, spaced apart and connected to the muffler shell, and both communicating with the muffler chamber, wherein an axis of a first opening communicating with the muffler shell by the first connecting pipe and an axis of a second opening communicating with the muffler shell by the second connecting pipe are not collinear; The two mounting brackets and the filter body separate the muffler chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber. One of the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe is connected to the first chamber, and the other is connected to the second chamber.

4. The muffler according to claim 3, wherein: The muffler shell comprises: a muffler cylinder connected to at least one of the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe; The filter body is cylindrical and extends along the axial direction of the silencer cylinder. The two mounting brackets are respectively connected to the two ends of the filter body along the axial direction of the silencer cylinder and are connected to the silencer cylinder. The outer side surfaces of the two mounting brackets, the outer side surfaces of the filter body and the inner wall of the silencer cylinder constitute the first chamber. The remaining chamber part of the silencer chamber except the first chamber and the filter element is the second chamber.

5. The muffler according to claim 4, wherein: The mounting bracket includes a fixed portion and a mounting portion connected to each other, the fixed portion abuts against the inner wall of the muffler chamber, and the diameter of the mounting portion is reduced in a direction away from the fixed portion; Wherein, the cylinder axis of the filter body and the tube axis of the muffler cylinder are arranged on the same line, so that the first chamber is formed into an annular chamber.

6. The muffler according to claim 5, wherein: In the axial direction of the filter body, the first opening communicates with the first chamber and is spaced equidistant from the first opening and the first opening between the two mounting brackets.

7. The muffler according to claim 5, wherein: The mounting portion is a tapered structure with a tapered, stepped or arc-shaped diameter; and / or, the filter body is fixed to the tapered end of the mounting portion by snap-fitting, interference fitting or welding; And / or, an elastic buffer layer is provided on the contact surface between the fixing portion and the inner wall of the muffler chamber; And / or, the filter body is a filter screen.

8. The muffler according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that: The muffler shell further comprises a first end cover and a second end cover provided at both ends of the muffler cylinder, wherein the muffler cylinder, the first end cover and the second end cover jointly define the muffler chamber; The first connecting pipe is connected to the silencer body and the first chamber, the second connecting pipe is connected to the silencer body and the second chamber, the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe are respectively arranged on different side walls of the silencer body, and the axis of the first opening and the extension axis of the axis of the second opening are parallel to each other or arranged in different planes.

9. The muffler according to claim 8, characterized in that There are at least two second connecting pipes, including a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe, wherein the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe are located in the same axial plane as the first connecting pipe and are symmetrically distributed on opposite sides of the first connecting pipe; Alternatively, the extension axis of the first branch pipe and the extension axis of the second branch pipe are located in the same radial plane and are staggered in the circumferential direction.

10. The muffler according to claim 9, characterized in that The first branch pipe and the second branch pipe are both connected to the second chamber and are located on opposite sides of the filter element.

11. The muffler according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that: The muffler shell includes a muffler body and a first end cover and a second end cover provided at both ends of the muffler body, wherein the muffler body, the first end cover and the second end cover jointly define the muffler chamber; The first connecting pipe is connected to the muffler cylinder, the second connecting pipe is connected to the first end cover or the second end cover, and an extension axis of the second connecting pipe is perpendicular to an extension axis of the first connecting pipe.

12. The muffler according to claim 11, characterized in that There are at least two second connecting pipes, which include a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe. The first branch pipe and the second branch pipe are respectively arranged on the first end cover and the second end cover.

13. The muffler according to claim 12, characterized in that The extension axis of the first branch pipe and the extension axis of the second branch pipe are collinearly arranged; And / or, in the axial direction of the muffler cylinder, the interval between the axis of the first opening and the first end cover and the interval between the axis of the first opening and the second end cover are equal.

14. The muffler according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that The muffler shell includes a muffler body and a first end cover and a second end cover provided at both ends of the muffler body, wherein the muffler body, the first end cover and the second end cover jointly define the muffler chamber; It also includes a first connecting pipe and a second connecting pipe, the first connecting pipe is arranged on the first end cover or the second end cover, the second connecting pipe is arranged on the side wall of the silencer body, and the extension axis of the second connecting pipe is perpendicular to the extension axis of the first connecting pipe, the first connecting pipe is connected to the second chamber, and the second connecting pipe is connected to the first chamber.

15. The muffler assembly according to claim 14, wherein: There are at least two second connecting pipes, which include a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe. The first branch pipe and the second branch pipe are located on the same axial plane or the same radial plane.

16. An indoor unit, characterized in that: include: The indoor expansion valve is connected to the outdoor unit through a piping assembly; Indoor heat exchanger; as well as The muffler according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the muffler is connected to the outlet of the indoor expansion valve and the refrigerant pipe of the indoor heat exchanger.

17. An outdoor unit, characterized in that: include: compressor; as well as The muffler according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the muffler is connected downstream of the exhaust port of the compressor and / or downstream of the injection port of the compressor.

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