Refrigerant accumulator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerant accumulator that can be manufactured at low cost and has a long service life.SOLUTION: A refrigerant accumulator (1), comprising a housing (2) with at least one inlet opening (3) and at least one outlet opening (4), where a device (5) is arranged in the housing (2), where the device is allocated to the inlet opening (3) and / or the outlet opening (4). The device includes a guide element (6) for influencing the flow of the refrigerant flowing into the housing (2) via the inlet opening (3).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerant accumulator, which comprises a housing with at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening.

[0002] Such refrigerant accumulators are often used in mobile air conditioning installations, for example vehicle air conditioning installations.

[0003] In air conditioning systems, a refrigerant circulates. This refrigerant is brought to a higher pressure level by a compressor. In order to ensure its functionality, it is necessary to supply the compressor with a lubricant. During the compression process, some of the lubricant reaches the refrigerant and thus circulates therein. So that the lubricant does not circulate permanently in the cooling circuit, but can be fed back to the compressor, it is separated from the refrigerant in a refrigerant accumulator. The accumulator often has a bottle-shaped housing, which is closed at the top by a cover, in which inlet and outlet openings are machined.

[0004] The refrigerant flows into the accumulator via the inlet opening and is influenced by devices arranged in the housing to form flows inside the housing which separate the lubricant from the refrigerant, which eventually collects in the bottom area of ​​the housing and can be led out of the accumulator via a suction pipe or the like and fed back to the compressor.

[0005] Another problem is water that finds its way into the refrigeration circuit, for example during installation. To remove this water, it is known from the prior art to place a desiccant, for example based on silica gel, in the accumulator. This desiccant is located in an air-permeable container and absorbs the water contained in the refrigerant flowing through the accumulator.

[0006] The problem underlying the present invention is to provide a refrigerant accumulator which is inexpensive to manufacture and has a long service life.

[0007] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous configurations are given in the dependent claims.

[0008] The refrigerant accumulator according to the invention comprises a housing with at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening, in which a device is arranged, which device is assigned to the inlet opening and / or the outlet opening.

[0009] A device arranged in the housing makes it possible to influence the flow of the coolant through the inlet opening and can also provide further functions, for example for removing lubricant trapped in the bottom region of the housing. The device is preferably a separate component inserted in the housing.

[0010] The device may have at least one guide element for influencing the flow of the coolant flowing through the inlet opening into the housing. The guide element may in particular have a partially curved passage. The coolant flowing through the inlet opening is guided through the passage into the interior of the housing, and the partially curved passage deflects the flow of the coolant. In this case, vortexes can be formed which improve the degree of separation of the lubricant, which is guided together in the coolant. Due to the centrifugal force acting on the lubricant, the lubricant is separated from the coolant at the wall of the housing and collected in the bottom area.

[0011] The housing is closed by a cover, and the inlet and outlet openings can be machined into the cover. This simplifies the manufacturability of the accumulator and also makes it possible to manufacture the cover and the housing from different materials. The cover can consist, for example, of a metal material and the housing of a fiber composite material. Alternatively, the housing can also consist of a metal material. The device is preferably made from an injection-moldable plastic.

[0012] The device may be held in a form-locking manner on the cover. In this arrangement, the device and the cover may form a preassembled unit that can be inserted into the housing. After the insertion of the cover, the housing and the cover are connected to one another in a medium-tight manner. Due to the form-locking connection between the device and the cover, the device is connected to the cover in a fixed and unlosable manner, which can be achieved simply and without additional auxiliary means. The connection between the housing and the cover may be implemented as a crimp connection. To improve the sealing, a seal may be arranged between the cover and the housing.

[0013] The guide element may be held in a form-locking manner in the inlet opening, so that the guide element is fixedly assigned to the inlet opening. Preferably, the device and / or the guide element are fixed in position on the cover via a snap connection, which can be produced simply and inexpensively and allows for tool-free assembly of the device on the cover. The snap connection preferably comprises snap hooks formed from the device, which have protrusions that engage in matching recesses machined into the cover, e.g. the inlet opening of the cover.

[0014] Alternatively or additionally, the device can be positively fixed in the outlet opening by a snap connection formed from the device, which positively engages with a corresponding formation on the outlet opening.

[0015] To produce a positively locking connection, in particular a snap connection, the device can have a tubular piece which is inserted into the inlet opening, and from the free end of this piece a number of tongue-shaped snap hooks can be formed in the circumferential direction, which engage in a positively locking manner in an annular groove, which can be machined into the inner wall of the inlet opening.

[0016] A locking means may be assigned to the snap connection, which prevents the snap connection from being unintentionally disengaged. For this purpose, a locking means in the form of a locking sleeve may be inserted into the free end of the tube piece. The locking means may be tubular and may have a radially outwardly projecting flange at one end face. If the snap hook is engaged in the groove, the outside diameter of the locking means preferably corresponds substantially to the inside diameter of the free end of the tube piece formed by the snap hook. In this case, the locking means locks the snap hook and prevents it from moving radially inwards and thus from coming out of the groove. This prevents the snap hook and thus the device from being unintentionally disengaged from the cover.

[0017] The device may comprise a holding device for mounting the desiccant container. In this configuration, the desiccant container may be arranged in a suspended manner in the housing. The desiccant container can influence the flow of the refrigerant. Particularly preferably, the desiccant container has a large contact area with the refrigerant and thus a particularly good drying effect.

[0018] The holding device can be designed in the form of a hook, in which case the desiccant container has a through-hole into which the holding device can be inserted, which allows for a simple assembly of the desiccant container in the housing.

[0019] The desiccant container preferably contains a porous material that may be formed in the form of a bag or the like. An advantageous porous material is a nonwoven fabric. As a desiccant, silica gel may be used that is introduced into the container. The desiccant container may be formed to be relatively flat, similar to a bag, and accordingly have two main faces, which may be curved.

[0020] A suction line can be assigned to the outlet opening, which extends from the cover to the bottom of the housing, via which lubricant collected in the bottom region of the housing can be removed from the accumulator and fed to the compressor.

[0021] The device may have an outlet passage opening into the outlet opening, to which a suction pipe is flow-connected. A cross-sectional constriction may be formed in the outlet passage. In the region of this cross-sectional constriction, the cross section is preferably reduced by ¼ to ½ of the outlet cross section. For flow uniformity, the transition to the cross-sectional constriction is formed conically on both sides.

[0022] Preferably, the suction pipe opens into the outlet passage in the region of the cross-sectional narrowing. The coolant flows through the outlet passage and is accelerated in the region of the cross-sectional narrowing. By means of the Venturi principle, a negative pressure is created in the region of the cross-sectional narrowing, so that the lubricant can first be sucked in from the bottom region of the housing via the suction pipe and then conveyed out of the accumulator together with the coolant via the outlet opening. The assembly consisting of the outlet passage and the suction pipe is particularly compact and makes it possible to suck in the lubricant collected at the bottom of the housing in the direction of the outlet passage assigned to the cover. Particularly advantageously, no auxiliary energy is required for the suction and conveyance of the lubricant. The suction pipe together with the device can form a preassembled unit.

[0023] The outlet channel can be positively fixed in the outlet opening. Preferably, the outlet channel is an integral part of the device.

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Several configurations of the refrigerant accumulator according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic three-dimensional cross-sectional view of a refrigerant accumulator. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the snap connection between the cover and the device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of a position fixing means for the device. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus including a desiccant container and a suction tube. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus including a desiccant container and a suction tube. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the device with the holding device and the desiccant container. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the device shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a housing with the device and a suction pipe. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device in the region of the outlet passage. [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a housing with a cover, an alternatively formed device, and a desiccant container. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of an alternatively formed device. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic three-dimensional view of the device shown in FIG. 13. [Figure 15] FIG. 14 is a schematic bottom view of the device shown in FIG. 13.

[0026] The drawing shows a refrigerant accumulator 1 which is a component of the air conditioning circuit of a mobile air conditioning system, in particular an air conditioning system for vehicles. This air conditioning system comprises a closed circuit in which a refrigerant circulates. The refrigerant is compressed by a compressor and then reaches a condenser where it is liquefied. After leaving this condenser, the refrigerant is fed to a throttle and then flows to an evaporator where it absorbs heat. The refrigerant is then fed to the accumulator 1. In this accumulator, the liquid components are separated from the refrigerant and are then fed back to the compressor.

[0027] The refrigerant accumulator 1 comprises a housing 2, which is substantially cylindrical and accordingly has a cylindrical wall 13 and a bottom 11. On the side facing away from the bottom 11, the housing 2 is closed by a cover 8, which is machined with an inlet opening 3 and an outlet opening 4. A device 5, which is assigned to the inlet opening 3 and the outlet opening 4, is arranged in the housing 2.

[0028] The device 5 has a guide element 6 for influencing the flow of the coolant entering the housing 2 through the inlet opening 3. The guide element 6 is molded from the device 5 and has a partially curved passage 7. The coolant entering the housing 2 through the inlet opening 3 is directed through the partially curved passage 7 into a circulation path, so that vortex flows are formed inside the housing 2. The liquid lubricant is separated from the coolant by centrifugal force. This lubricant is thrown from the coolant against the cylindrical wall 13 and collected at the bottom 11.

[0029] A suction pipe 10 is assigned to the outlet opening 4, which extends from the cover 8 to the bottom 11 of the housing 2. The device 5 has an outlet passage 12 which opens into the outlet opening 4. This outlet passage 12 is molded from the device 5. The suction pipe 10 opens into the outlet passage 12 in the region of a cross-sectional narrowing 15. When the refrigerant flows through the outlet passage 12, a negative pressure is created in the region of the cross-sectional narrowing 15. This negative pressure makes it possible to suck lubricant from the bottom 11 of the housing 2 via the suction pipe 10 and transport it together with the refrigerant out of the accumulator 1 via the outlet opening 4.

[0030] The device 5 is made of plastic and is produced by an injection molding process. The device 5 is held in a form-locking manner in the cover 8. Form-locking elements are formed from the guide element 6 and the outlet channel 12, which engage in correspondingly shaped recesses in the inlet opening 3 and the outlet opening 4. By means of these form-locking elements a snap connection is obtained between the device 5 and the cover 8.

[0031] The device 5 comprises a holding device 9 for mounting a desiccant container 20. The holding device 9 is made in the form of a hook and holds the desiccant container 20, which is held in the holding device 9 in a hanging state. The desiccant container 20 is made in the form of a pocket closed along its edges. The desiccant container is made from a porous material, here a nonwoven fabric. In the region of one edge of the desiccant container 20 there is provided a through hole 14 into which the holding device 9 is inserted.

[0032] In Fig. 1, the refrigerant accumulator 1 is shown in a three-dimensional cross-section. A guide element 6 formed from an arrangement 5 opens into an inlet opening 3 machined into a cover 8. A tube piece 25 is formed from the guide element 6 and projects into the inlet opening 3. At the free end of this tube piece 25, a number of tongue-shaped snap hooks 22 are formed in the circumferential direction. The snap hooks 22 engage in a form-locking manner into annular grooves 19 machined into the inner wall of the inlet opening 3.

[0033] Starting from the inlet opening 3, the tube piece 25 merges into a radially extending, spirally curved passage 7, through which the coolant flowing through is redirected into a circuit and flows along the cylindrical wall 13 of the housing 2 into the interior of the accumulator 1.

[0034] 2 shows the device 5 in more detail. It can be seen that a number of snap hooks 22 are formed in the circumferential direction both from the piece 25 assigned to the inlet opening 3 and from the piece assigned to the outlet opening 4. These snap hooks 22 engage in a form-locking manner in annular grooves 19 machined into the inner walls of the inlet opening 3 and the outlet opening 4. This attachment is also shown in more detail in FIG.

[0035] 4 shows in detail the snap connection between the cover 8 and the device 5 in the area of ​​the inlet opening 3. The device 5 has a tubular piece 25 which is inserted into the inlet opening 3. At its free end, the piece 25 is provided with a number of tongue-shaped snap hooks 22 arranged in the circumferential direction. The snap hooks 22 engage in a form-locking manner in annular grooves 19 machined into the inner wall of the inlet opening 3.

[0036] Inserted into the inlet opening 3 is a tube 26 which is fixed to the cover 8 via a flange 27 and a mounting element 28. The tube 26 is provided with a seal which makes tight contact with the inner wall of the inlet opening 3.

[0037] In the design shown in FIG. 4, a fixing means 21 in the form of a fixing sleeve is inserted into the free end of the tube 25. The fixing means 21 is tubular and has a radially outwardly projecting flange 24 at one end face. The flange 24 rests against the end face of the tube 25 and prevents the fixing means 21 from sliding completely into the tube 25. The outside diameter of the fixing means 21 corresponds essentially to the inside diameter of the free end of the tube 25 formed by the snap hook 22. The snap hook 22 is then engaged in the groove 19. The fixing means 21 then locks the snap hook 22 and prevents it from moving radially inwards. This prevents the snap hook 22 and thus the device 5 from being unintentionally detached from the cover 8. In particular, it prevents the snap hook 22 from being detached during the installation of the tube 26.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows in detail in a cross-sectional view the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, including the tube piece 25 of the device 5, including the snap hook 22, the cover 8 and the fixing means 21.

[0039] In Fig. 6, the assembly consisting of the device 5, the suction pipe 10 and the desiccant container 20 is shown in rear view. In Fig. 7, the assembly shown in Fig. 6 is shown in front view. In Fig. 8, the device 5 is shown in detail in the area of ​​the holding device 9, including the desiccant container 20 attached to the holding device 9. In Fig. 9, the device shown in Fig. 8 is shown in rear view. For better illustration, the desiccant container 20 is shown spaced apart from the holding device 9 by the through-hole 14. In the devices shown in Figs. 6 to 9, two desiccant containers 20 are provided in each case. The desiccant containers 20 are fixed in position in the device 5 in a suspended manner via the holding device 9. For this purpose, the holding device 9 passes through the through-hole 14 of the desiccant container 20.

[0040] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the housing 2 inside which the device 5 is arranged, with the suction pipe 10 and an alternatively shaped coupling element 16 for attaching the device 5 to the cover 8 .

[0041] 11 shows the device 5 in detail in a cross-section in the region of the outlet channel 12. In this configuration, a connecting element 16 is formed from the device 5, which engages in a form-locking manner in the cover 8. The connecting element 16 has a web 17 which extends radially in the direction of the cylindrical wall 13. At its free end, the web 17 is formed with a bent snap hook 18 which engages in a recess in the form of an annular groove 19 machined into the circumferential surface of the cover 8.

[0042] The device 5 has an outlet passage 12 opening into the outlet opening 4. This outlet passage 12 is molded from the device 5. The suction pipe 10 opens into the outlet passage 12 in the region of the cross-sectional narrowing 15. In the region of the cross-sectional narrowing 15, the cross-section of the outlet passage 12 is narrowed by ¼ to ½ of the outlet cross-section. When the refrigerant flows through the outlet passage 12, a negative pressure is created in the region of the cross-sectional narrowing 15 according to the Venturi principle. This negative pressure makes it possible to suck the lubricant from the bottom 11 of the housing 2 via the suction pipe 10 and transport it together with the refrigerant from the accumulator 1 via the outlet opening 4. The configuration of the outlet passage 12 with the cross-sectional narrowing 15 and the suction pipe 10 opening into this cross-sectional narrowing 15 is independent of the configuration of the mounting of the device 5 on the cover 8 and is realized accordingly in the device 5 shown in FIGS. 2 to 7.

[0043] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the housing 2 with the device 5 disposed therein, comprising a desiccant container 20 and an alternatively shaped coupling element 16 for attaching the device 5 to the cover 8.

[0044] In figure 13 the device 5 is shown in detail before assembly to the cover 8. In figure 14 the device 5 is shown in a three-dimensional view assembled to the cover, and in figure 15 the device 5 shown in figure 14 is shown in a bottom view.

Claims

1. The refrigerant accumulator (1) comprises a housing (2) with at least one inlet opening (3) and at least one outlet opening (4), in which a device (5) is arranged, the device being assigned to the inlet opening (3) and / or the outlet opening (4).

2. 2. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (5) has a guiding element (6) for influencing the flow of the refrigerant entering the housing (2) through the inlet opening (3).

3. 3. A refrigerant accumulator according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide element (6) has a partially curved passage (7).

4. 4. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 1, wherein the housing (2) is closed by a cover (8), and the inlet opening (3) and the outlet opening (4) are machined into the cover (8).

5. 5. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 4, characterized in that the device (5) is held in a form-locking manner in the cover (8).

6. 6. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 2, wherein the guide element (6) is held in the inlet opening (3) in a form-locking manner.

7. 7. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 4, wherein the device (5) and / or the guide element (6) are fixed in position on the cover (8) via a snap connection.

8. 8. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 7, characterized in that the snap connection is assigned a position fixing means (21).

9. 8. Refrigerant accumulator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (5) comprises a holding device (9) for mounting a desiccant container (20).

10. 10. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 9, characterized in that a desiccant container (20) held in the holding device (9) is arranged in the housing (2).

11. 11. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 4, wherein the outlet opening (4) is assigned a suction pipe (10) which runs from the cover (8) to a bottom (11) of the housing (2).

12. 12. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 1, wherein the device (5) has an outlet passage (12) opening into the outlet opening (4), and a suction pipe (10) is flow-connected to the outlet passage (12).

13. 13. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 12, characterized in that the outlet passage (12) has a narrow cross-sectional area (15).

14. 14. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 13, characterized in that the suction pipe (10) opens into the outlet channel (12) of the device (5) in the region of the cross-sectional narrowing (15).

15. 15. The refrigerant accumulator according to claim 12, wherein the outlet channel (12) is positively and securely fixed in the outlet opening (4).

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