Receiver and condenser for vehicle air conditioning system equipped with same

Abstract

To make a seal member hardly damaged, to avoid the impartment of irregular warpage to the seal member, and to easily perform the attachment work of a plug body when attaching the filter-part integrated plug body to a main body of a liquid receiver apparatus.SOLUTION: A plug body 4 comprises: a filter part 41 accommodated in a liquid receiver main body 2, and allowing the passage of a refrigerant; a fixing part 42 having a screw part 42a screwed to an internal peripheral face of the liquid receiver main body 2 at an external peripheral face; a seal member 43 abutting on the internal peripheral face of the liquid receiver main body 2, and preventing the leakage of the refrigerant to the fixing part 42 from a clearance between the filter part 41 and the liquid receiver main body 2; and a movable connecting part 44 arranged between the filter part 41 and the fixing part 42, and connecting the filter part 41 to the fixing part 42 so that the filter part is prohibited from following the rotation of the fixing part 42, and permitted to follow the movement of the fixing part 42 in an axial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a receiver that is provided on the outlet side of a condenser of a refrigeration cycle and temporarily stores a liquefied refrigerant, and a condenser for a vehicle air conditioner equipped with the receiver. [Background technology]

[0002] At the outlet side of the condenser of the refrigeration cycle, a receiver is provided to separate the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant condensed by the condenser into gas and liquid and temporarily store the liquid refrigerant. The receiver shown in Patent Document 1 has a cylindrical receiver body, which has an opening at one end (bottom) in the longitudinal direction and a plug for closing the opening. A female thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the receiver body, and a male thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the plug, and the plug is inserted and fixed through the opening of the receiver body by screwing the male thread into the female thread. The plug also has a filter and is configured to filter the refrigerant flowing through the receiver body.

[0003] The plug is fitted with a sealing O-ring on its outer periphery, which seals the gap between the plug's outer periphery and the inner periphery of the receiver body when the plug is fully inserted, preventing refrigerant leakage.

[0004] However, in this type of plug seal structure, the O-ring is compressed between the plug and the receiver body while the plug is being rotated and inserted, which may damage the O-ring or cause uneven distortion in the circumferential direction. Therefore, careful consideration must be given to this during production to prevent refrigerant leakage.

[0005] Here, a receiver has been proposed as shown in Patent Document 2. The plug is similar to the plug in Patent Document 1 in that it is equipped with an O-ring, but instead of a male screw, a screw hole for fixing is provided on the side. Also, a supporting hole is provided on the side of the corresponding receiver body.

[0006] In the receiver shown in Patent Document 2, the plug is inserted into the receiver body in the longitudinal direction without being rotated, and after the insertion is completed, the fixing screw can be passed through the support hole in the receiver body and screwed into the fixing screw hole in the plug. With this configuration, there is no need to screw the plug into the receiver body (no need to move it axially while rotating), and the O-ring is simply pushed into the receiver body in the axial direction, reducing the risk of the O-ring being damaged. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-324962 [Patent Document 2] JP 2000-97524 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, in the configuration of Patent Document 2, after inserting the plug into the receiver body, it is necessary to insert the fixing screw through the support hole of the receiver body and screw it into the fixing screw hole of the plug. In addition, the plug is fixed by the fixing screw attached in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the receiver body, and there is a risk that the plug may move due to the pressure of the refrigerant, leading to refrigerant leakage. In other words, in the process of fixing the plug with the fixing screw, not only is it necessary to insert the fixing screw through the support hole of the receiver body and screw it into the fixing screw hole of the plug, but it is also necessary to firmly fix the fixing screw to prevent refrigerant leakage, and there is room for improvement in productivity.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its main object is to provide a receiver in which the longitudinal opening of the receiver body is blocked by a plug, which ensures airtightness to prevent refrigerant leakage and improves the productivity of plug installation, and to provide a condenser for a vehicle air conditioning system equipped with such a receiver. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the receiver of the present invention is a receiver 1 having a cylindrical receiver body 2 for storing a refrigerant therein, and a plug 4 inserted into a first opening 2a provided at one end of the receiver body 2 in the longitudinal direction thereof to close the first opening 2a, The plug 4 is a filter section (41) accommodated inside the receiver body (2) and through which the refrigerant passes; a fixing portion 42 having a screw portion 42a on its outer peripheral surface which is screwed into the inner peripheral surface of the one-side opening 2a of the receiver body 2; a seal member 43 that is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the receiver body 2 to prevent refrigerant leakage from between the filter portion 41 and the receiver body 2 to the fixed portion 42; a movable connection portion 44 provided between the filter portion 41 and the fixed portion 42, which connects the filter portion 41 to the fixed portion 42 so as not to follow the rotation of the fixed portion 42 but to follow the axial movement of the fixed portion 42; Equipped with The filter portion has a cylindrical mesh member 41a and a bottom wall 41b that closes one axial end of the mesh member, The seal member 43 is disposed between the bottom wall 41b and the inner peripheral surface of the receiver body 2, The bottom wall of the filter portion is in contact with an annular wall 42d provided on the fixing portion 42. Between the filter portion 41 and the fixing portion 42 surrounded by the annular wall 42d, A movable connection part 44 that connects the filter part 41 to the fixed part 42 so as not to follow the rotation of the fixed part 42 but to follow the axial movement of the fixed part 42. It is provided with It is characterized by the following.

[0011] Therefore, when attaching the plug with the integrated filter section to one opening of the receiver body, the filter section is inserted together with the seal member from the one opening and pushed axially into the receiver body, and then the fixing section is rotated to screw the threaded section into the inner circumferential surface of the receiver body. In this attachment process, the movable connecting section provided between the filter section and the fixing section prevents the filter section from following the rotation of the fixing section, but allows it to follow the axial movement of the fixing section, so that when the fixing section is screwed into the receiver body, it is possible to insert the plug into the opening of the receiver body without rotating the seal member that abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the receiver body. The seal member is not damaged, and no uneven distortion occurs in the circumferential direction of the seal member, so high airtightness can be ensured by the seal member. In addition, the plug is fixed by threading the female thread of the receiver body and the male thread of the plug, so the productivity of attaching the plug to the receiver can be improved.

[0012] Here, the filter portion 41 is an injection molded product and has a seating surface 41e that supports the seal member 43, and this seating surface 41e is preferably formed at a position shifted from the partition line P of the molds 51, 52, and 53 that mold the filter portion 41.

[0013] In such a configuration, the seating surface that supports the sealing member is formed at a position offset from the partition line, so that burrs or the like are not formed on the seating surface, eliminating inconveniences such as damage to the sealing member or distortion of the shape of the sealing member, and making it possible to maintain high sealing performance.

[0014] Also, The receiver according to the present invention is a receiver 1 having a cylindrical receiver body 2 for storing a refrigerant therein, and a plug 4 inserted into a first opening 2a provided at one end of the receiver body 2 in the longitudinal direction thereof to close the first opening 2a, The plug 4 is a filter section (41) accommodated inside the receiver body (2) and through which the refrigerant passes; a fixing portion 42 having a screw portion 42a on its outer peripheral surface which is screwed into the inner peripheral surface of the one-side opening 2a of the receiver body 2; an intermediate portion 60 disposed between the filter portion 41 and the fixed portion 42 and fixed to the filter portion 41; a seal member 43 disposed between the intermediate portion 60 and the inner circumferential surface of the receiver body 2 to prevent refrigerant leakage from between the intermediate portion 60 and the receiver body 2 to the fixed portion 42; The intermediate portion 60 is in contact with an annular wall 42d provided on the fixed portion 42, Between the intermediate portion 60 surrounded by the annular wall 42d and the fixed portion 42, a movable connection portion 44 is provided to connect the intermediate portion 60 to the fixed portion 42 so as not to follow the rotation of the fixed portion 42 and to follow the axial movement of the fixed portion 42. It is characterized by the following.

[0015] In such a configuration, the sealing member that abuts against the inner surface of the receiver body 2 is provided between the filter portion and the intermediate portion, so that the rotational force of the fixing portion does not act on the sealing member at all, which more reliably prevents the sealing member from being damaged or from being distorted unevenly, thereby ensuring high airtightness.

[0016] Here, the plug 4 further includes another seal member 61 that is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the receiver body 2 to prevent refrigerant leakage from between the intermediate portion 60 and the receiver body 2 to the fixed portion 42, The other seal member 61 may be provided between the intermediate portion 60 and the fixed portion 42 . In such a configuration, two seal members are provided in the axial direction of the plug, so that the sealing effect can be further improved.

[0017] Even in this case, the intermediate portion 60 is an injection molded product and has a seating surface 60b that supports the sealing member 43 and another seating surface 60c that supports the other sealing member 61, and it is preferable that the seating surface 60b and the other seating surface 60c are formed at a position offset from the partition line P of the molds 71, 72 that mold the intermediate portion 60. Since the seating surfaces that support the two sealing members provided in the middle portion are formed at a position offset from the partition line, burrs or the like are not formed on the seating surfaces, and high sealing performance can be ensured.

[0018] The seal member 43 may be adapted to come into contact with a step 2e formed on the inner circumferential surface of the receiver body 2 and to be compressed in the axial direction. In such a configuration, the seal member can be compressed in the axial direction, so that higher sealing performance can be ensured. Here, the step portion 2e may be formed of a tapered surface.

[0019] The above-described receiver is suitable for use in the condenser 100 of a vehicle air conditioner that must reliably prevent refrigerant leakage even when used in a vibrating environment. Effect of the Invention

[0020] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a receiver in which the longitudinal opening of the receiver body is blocked by a plug, which ensures airtightness to prevent refrigerant leakage and improves the productivity of plug attachment, and to provide a condenser for a vehicle air conditioning system equipped with the receiver. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a condenser for a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a receiver fixed to the condenser for the vehicle air conditioner shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a plug used in a receiver, where (a) is a cross-sectional view cut along a plane including the axis of the plug, and (b) is a cross-sectional view rotated 90 degrees around the axis of the plug from (a). [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the components of the plug in FIG. 3, where (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the same plane as FIG. 3(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the same plane as FIG. 3(b). [Diagram 5] Figure 5 shows the state before the stopper body of Figure 3 is attached to one side opening (lower opening) of the receiver body, where (a) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 3(a) and (b) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 3(b). [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows the state in which the stopper body of Figure 3 is attached to one side opening (lower opening) of the receiver body, where (a) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 3(a) and (b) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 3(b). [Figure 7]Figure 7 is a diagram showing the manufacturing process for integrally molding the filter portion of the plug and the engaging arm of the movable connecting portion, and is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 3(a), where (a) is a diagram showing the state in which the filter is placed in the cavity before closing the mold (upper mold, lower mold, slide mold), (b) is a diagram showing the state in which the mold is closed from the state in (a) and resin is injected, (c) is a diagram showing the state in which the mold is opened after resin is injected, and (d) is a diagram showing the state in which the product is pushed up by the ejector pin after the mold is opened. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a diagram showing the manufacturing process for integrally molding the filter portion of the plug and the fixed side fitting portion of the movable connecting part, and is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 3(b), where (a) is a diagram showing the state in which the mesh member is placed in the cavity before closing the molds (upper mold, lower mold, slide mold), (b) is a diagram showing the state in which the molds are clamped from the state in (a) and resin is injected, (c) is a diagram showing the state in which the mold is opened after the resin has been injected, and (d) is a diagram showing the state in which the product is pushed up by an ejector pin after the mold is opened. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a placement core and a pull-out core which form the engagement arm of the movable connection portion. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows an example in which the plug is composed of a filter section, a fixed section, and an intermediate section interposed between them, and shows a case in which a sealing member that abuts against the inner surface of the receiver body is provided between the filter section and the intermediate section, where (a) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 6(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 6(b). [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows an example in which the plug is composed of a filter section, a fixed section, and an intermediate section interposed between them, and shows a case in which sealing members that abut against the inner surface of the receiver body are provided between the filter section and the intermediate section, and between the intermediate section and the fixed section, where (a) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 6(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 6(b). [Figure 12]Figure 12 is a diagram showing the manufacturing process for molding the middle section, and is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 11(a), where (a) shows the state after the mold is clamped and filled with resin, (b) shows the state after the core mold is rotated and pulled out from the middle section, (c) shows the state after the mold is open, and (d) shows the state after the product is pushed up by the ejector pin after the mold is opened. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows an example in which a sealing member provided on the outer periphery of the filter part of a plug consisting of a filter part and a fixed part is abutted against a step formed on the inner surface of the receiver body 2 and compressed in the axial direction, where (a) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 6(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 6(b). [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows an example in which a sealing member provided on the outer periphery of a filter portion of a plug body consisting of a filter portion, an intermediate portion, and a fixed portion is abutted against a step formed on the inner surface of the receiver body 2 and compressed in the axial direction, where (a) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 6(a), and (b) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 6(b). [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows an example configuration in which a sealing member is further provided on the outer periphery of the relay section in the configuration shown in Figure 14, where (a) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 6(a) and (b) is a cross-sectional view cut on the same plane as Figure 6(b). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 shows a condenser 100 for a vehicle air conditioner integrally equipped with a receiver 1 according to the present invention. The condenser 100 for a vehicle air conditioner (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the condenser 100) is used in the refrigeration cycle of a vehicle air conditioner, is made of an aluminum alloy, and is attached in an upright state, for example, to the front side of a radiator in an engine room of a vehicle where the radiator is likely to be exposed to the wind generated by the vehicle's running. In this example, the condenser 100 includes a condensing section A that condenses a high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from a compressor by heat exchange with the running wind (air outside the vehicle cabin) to produce a gas-liquid mixed refrigerant, and a supercooling section B that supercools the liquid refrigerant after the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant condensed in the condensing section A is separated into gas and liquid in the receiver 1.

[0023] To explain the structure of the condenser more specifically, the condenser 100 is composed of a pair of header pipes 101, 102, a plurality of tubes 103 installed between these header pipes 101, 102, and corrugated fins 104 fixed between each tube.

[0024] Each of the header pipes 101, 102 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape by extrusion molding or by rolling up a flat plate-like member, and openings formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction are closed by cap members 101a, 101b, 102a, 102b. One of the header pipes 101 is provided with partition walls 101c, 101d that divide the internal space into multiple spaces in the longitudinal direction (e.g., three spaces 101s1, 101s2, 101s3), and the other header pipe 102 is provided with a partition wall 102c that divides the internal space into multiple spaces in the longitudinal direction (e.g., two spaces 102s1, 102s2). The partition wall 101d of one header pipe 101 and the header pipe 102c of the other header pipe are arranged at the same height, and the heat exchange section consisting of the tubes 103 and the corrugated fins 104 has a portion above the partition walls 101d, 102c as the condensation section A through which a refrigerant including a gas phase flows, and a portion below the partition walls 101d, 102c as the subcooling section B through which a liquid phase refrigerant flows.

[0025] The tube 103 is formed into a flat shape by extrusion molding, its inside is partitioned into a plurality of flow paths extending in the longitudinal direction, one end of which is inserted and fixed at a predetermined interval into one header pipe 101, and the other end of which is inserted and fixed at a predetermined interval into the other header pipe 102. Further, a refrigerant inlet 105 communicating with the space 101s1 is provided near the upper end of one header pipe 101, and a refrigerant outlet 106 communicating with the space 102s2 is provided near the lower end of the other header pipe 102.

[0026] 2, the receiver 1 is brazed and fixed via brackets 107 and 108 along the longitudinal direction of the header pipe 101 to the outer peripheral surface of the side opposite to the side where the tube 103 of one header pipe 101 is inserted and fixed. The upper space (space 101S2 between partition wall 101c and partition wall 101d) of one header pipe 101 facing the partition wall 101d communicates with the inside of the receiver 1 and sends the refrigerant flowing in from the condensation section A to the receiver 1, and the lower space (space 101S3 between partition wall 101d and cap 101b) of one header pipe 101 facing the partition wall 101d communicates with the inside of the receiver 1 and sends the refrigerant flowing out from the receiver 1 to the subcooling section B.

[0027] The receiver 1 is mainly made of an aluminum alloy and includes a cylindrical receiver body 2 that stores a refrigerant therein, with an upper opening (an opening on the other side) 2b provided at the upper end in the longitudinal direction being closed by brazing a cap member 3. A lower opening (an opening on one side) 2a provided at the lower end in the longitudinal direction is closed by a plug 4, which will be described later. A desiccant 5 is filled between the cap member 3 and the plug 4 of the receiver body 2.

[0028] A refrigerant outlet hole 101e is formed in the side wall of one of the header pipes 101 near the upper side of the partition wall 101d, and a refrigerant inlet hole 2c is formed in the side wall of the receiver body 2 corresponding to this position. These refrigerant outlet hole 101e and refrigerant inlet hole 2c are connected via a through hole 108a provided in the bracket 108, so that the refrigerant flowing into the space 101S2 of the one of the header pipes 101 is sent to the space of the receiver 1 filled with the desiccant 5.

[0029] A refrigerant inlet hole 101f is formed in the side wall of one of the header pipes 101 below the partition wall 101d, and a refrigerant outlet hole 2d is formed in the side wall of the receiver body 2 corresponding to this position, and these refrigerant inlet hole 101f and refrigerant outlet hole 2d are communicated with each other via a through hole 108b formed in the bracket 108. The refrigerant outlet hole 2d is provided at a position facing the side of a filter section 41 (described later) of the plug 4, so that the refrigerant flowing from the header pipe 101 into the receiver 1 passes through the desiccant 5 and the filter section 41, and then flows out into a space 101S3 of one of the header pipes 101 leading to the supercooling section B.

[0030] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the plug 4 is composed of a filter section 41 that is accommodated inside the receiver body 2 and through which the refrigerant passes, a fixed section 42 that blocks the lower opening (one-side opening) 2a of the receiver body 2, a sealing member 43 consisting of an O-ring that seals the gap formed between the outer peripheral surface of the filter section 41 and the inner peripheral surface of the receiver body 2, and a movable connecting section 44 interposed between the filter section 41 and the fixed section 42.

[0031] The filter section 41 is manufactured by insert molding a cylindrical mesh member 41a with resin, a bottom wall 41b is formed to close one axial end (lower end) of the mesh member 41a, an annular frame 41c is provided on the opening edge of the mesh member 41a to open the other end (upper end), and the annular frame 41c and the bottom wall 41b are connected by a rib 41d extending in the axial direction, so that the mesh member 41a is exposed except for the part where the rib 41d is formed on the circumferential surface. Therefore, the refrigerant flows into the inside of the filter section 41 through the opening part of the filter section 41 (the inside of the annular frame 41c), collides with the bottom wall 41b, changes its flow to a radial direction, and flows out in the radial direction through the mesh member 41a.

[0032] The fixing part 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has a threaded part 42a on its outer circumferential surface, which is a male thread that screws with a female thread 2f formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lower opening (one side opening) 2a of the receiver body 2, and a flange part 42b that abuts against the periphery of the open end (lower end of the receiver body 2) of the lower opening 2a of the receiver body 2 is integrally formed at the end of the threaded part 42a. In addition, a tool fitting hole 42c is formed on the bottom surface of the fixing part 42, into which a tool for rotating the fixing part 42 is inserted. Furthermore, an annular wall 42d that abuts against the bottom wall 41b of the filter part 41 is provided on the opposite side of the flange part 42b of the fixing part 42.

[0033] The bottom wall 41b of the filter portion 41 has a seat surface 41e consisting of a stepped portion that supports the sealing member 43 on the lower peripheral edge against which the tip of the annular wall 42d abuts. The sealing member 43 is supported on this seat surface 41e and abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the receiver body 2, thereby preventing refrigerant leakage from between the filter portion 41 and the receiver body 2 (the gap formed between the outer peripheral surface of the filter 41 and the inner peripheral surface of the receiver body 2) to the fixed portion 42.

[0034] The movable connecting portion 44 is configured to have an engaging protrusion 46 erected at the center of the bottom surface 45a of a connecting recess 45 surrounded by the annular wall 42d of the fixed portion 42, and an engaging receiving portion 47 that protrudes downward from the bottom wall 41b of the filter portion 41 and engages with the engaging protrusion 46 so as to be able to rotate relatively.

[0035] The engagement protrusion 46 is composed of a cylindrical shaft portion 46a protruding from the bottom surface 45a of the connection recess 45, and a truncated cone-shaped engagement portion 46b integrally formed at the tip of this shaft portion 46a so as to have an expanded diameter.

[0036] The engagement receiving portion 47 has a pair of engagement arms 47a, 47b extending downward from the bottom wall portion 41b of the filter portion 41. The pair of engagement arms 47a, 47b face each other at a distance greater than the diameter of the shaft portion 46a of the engagement projection 46 and smaller than the diameter of the bottom surface of the engagement portion 46b, and engagement recesses 48a, 48b that match the shape of the engagement portion 46b are formed on the surfaces that face each other.

[0037] Therefore, when the engagement portion 46b of the engagement protrusion 46 is pushed from its tip into between the pair of engagement arms 47a, 47b of the engagement receiving portion 47, the engagement arms 47a, 47b are elastically spread apart by the outer peripheral surface of the engagement portion 46b, and when the entire engagement portion 46b is pushed all the way to the end between the pair of engagement arms 47a, 47b, the pair of engagement arms 47a, 47b return to their original shape by their own restoring force (including not only a state in which the shape is completely restored, but also a state in which the shape is restored to a certain extent while being elastically spread apart), and the engagement portion 46b becomes rotatably engaged with the engagement recesses 48a, 48b.

[0038] Furthermore, with the engaging projection 46 engaged with the engaging receiving portion 47, the tip of the annular wall 42d of the fixing portion 42 abuts against or is located in the vicinity of the bottom wall 41b of the filter portion 41, so that the seal member 43 does not come off the seating surface 41e when the plug 4 is attached to the receiver body 2. In order to prevent the seal member 43 from coming off the seating surface 41e, the outer diameter of the annular wall 42d is larger than the diameter of the seating surface 41e.

[0039] To attach the plug 4, in which the filter portion 41 is rotatably connected to the fixed portion 42 via the movable connecting portion 44, to the lower opening 2a of the receiver body 2, the plug 4 is inserted and pushed into the lower opening 2a of the receiver body 2 from the filter portion 41, as shown in Fig. 5. Then, the filter portion 41 passes through the female thread 2f formed on the inner surface of the open end of the receiver body 2, and is inserted axially along the subsequent inner circumferential surface of the receiver body 2. After the threaded portion 42a of the fixed portion 42 reaches the female thread 2f of the receiver body 2, a tool is inserted into the tool fitting hole 42c formed on the bottom surface of the fixed portion 42 to rotate the fixed portion 42, and the plug 4 is screwed in until the flange portion 42b abuts against the receiver body 2, as shown in Fig. 6.

[0040] During this process, the sealing member 43 moves axially while being pressed between the inner wall of the receiver body 2 and the filter section 41. However, since the movable connecting section 44 rotatably connects the filter section 41 and the fixed section 42, the frictional force between the sealing member 43 and the inner surface of the receiver body 2, and the frictional force between the sealing member 43 and the bottom wall 41b of the filter section 41, prevent the filter section 41 from rotating relative to the receiver body 2.

[0041] In this way, the movable connection part 44 is connected to the fixed part 42 so that the filter part 41 does not follow the rotation of the fixed part 42 and follows the axial movement of the fixed part 42, so that the seal member 43 is not forcibly rotated while being pressed against the inner wall of the liquid-receiving body 2, and the inconvenience of damaging the surface of the seal member 43 and the inconvenience of generating uneven distortion in the circumferential direction of the seal member 43 are eliminated. This makes it possible to maintain high airtightness by the seal member 43. In addition, since the diameter of the bottom surface of the engagement part 46b of the engagement projection 46 is larger than the distance between the engagement arms 47a, 47b facing each other, when the stopper 4 is removed from the liquid-receiving body 2 by rotating the fixed part 42, the filter part 41 can be moved toward the lower opening 2a by the engagement projection 46, and the filter part 41 can be prevented from remaining in the liquid-receiving body 2.

[0042] Meanwhile, the filter portion 41 and the engagement receiving portion 47 (engagement arms 47a, 47b) of the movable connecting portion 44 integral therewith are injection molded using a mold as shown in Figs. The mold used here includes a fixed mold 51 which forms the outer shape of the filter portion 41 and the engagement arms 47a, 47b, a movable mold 52 which forms the inner shape of the filter portion 41, a sliding mold 53 which forms the side opening of the filter portion 41, and a placement core 54 and a drawing core 55 which form the opposing surfaces of the pair of engagement arms 47a, 47b.

[0043] The fixed mold 51 is provided with a filter portion-forming recess 51a for forming the filter portion 41 and a core accommodating hole 51b formed adjacent to the center of the filter portion-forming recess 51a. The filter portion-forming recess 51a is also provided with a seat surface-forming step 51c for forming a seat surface 41e for supporting the seal member 43 in a portion (in this example, a portion below the contact surface with the slide mold 53 in the drawing) that is out of the portion where the molds contact each other (the partition line P between the fixed mold 51 and the movable mold 52 and the slide mold 53).

[0044] As shown in Figure 9, the placement core 54 and the drawing core 55 are configured so that the pair of drawing cores 55 are slidably attached so as to sandwich the placement core 54, and are placed in the core accommodating hole 51b of the fixed mold 51.

[0045] The stationary core 54 is fixed at a predetermined position in the core accommodating hole 51b and comprises a cylindrical portion 54a formed to match the inner diameter of the core accommodating hole 51b, and a guide wall 54b which includes the central axis of this cylindrical portion 54a and is formed to have the same width as the diameter of the cylindrical portion 54a. This guide wall 54b is gradually made thinner the further away from the cylindrical portion 54a (both side surfaces of the guide wall 54b are formed so as to be inclined relative to the axis), and locking ridges 54c extending in the axial direction are provided on both side surfaces of the guide wall 54b.

[0046] The extraction core 55 is slidably attached to both side surfaces of the guide wall 54b of the stationary core 54, and is formed to have approximately the same width and height as the guide wall 54b. When assembled to the stationary core 54 so that its upper end coincides with the upper end of the guide wall 54b, the extraction core 55 a abuts against the cylindrical portion 54a of the stationary core 54 and slidably abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the core accommodating hole 51b, and the slide wall portion 55b extends obliquely upward from the semi-cylindrical portion 55a. A locking groove 55c that slidably engages with the locking protrusion 54c is formed on the surface of the slide wall portion 55b facing the guide wall 54b, and a recess forming protrusion 55d that forms the engagement recesses 48a, 48b of the engagement arms 47a, 47b is provided on the back surface of the slide wall portion 55b.

[0047] Furthermore, through holes 54d for inserting an ejector pin 56 are formed on both sides of the guide wall 54b of the cylindrical portion 54a of the placement core 54. One end of this ejector pin 56 is inserted through this through hole 54d and abuts against the semi-cylindrical portion 55a of the extraction core 55, and the other end is connected to a push-up plate 58 that is disposed below the placement core 54 with a compression spring 57 interposed therebetween.

[0048] In the above configuration, to form the filter portion 41 and the engagement arms 47a, 47b integral therewith, as shown in Figures 7(a) and 8(a), a drawing core 55 is assembled to the placement core 54, and the semi-cylindrical portion 55a of the drawing core 55 is brought into contact with the cylindrical portion 54a of the placement core 54 by the biasing force of a compression spring 57. In addition, a mesh member 41a is placed in the filter portion forming recess 51a of the fixed mold 51 before the mold is clamped.

[0049] 7(b) and 8(b), the movable mold 52 is moved toward the fixed mold 51, and the slide mold 53 is moved toward the filter portion-forming recess 51a to clamp the mold. Molten resin is then injected into the gap portion surrounded by these molds through a gate (not shown).

[0050] Then, after the resin has hardened, the movable mold 52 and the slide mold 53 are removed as shown in Fig. 7(c) and Fig. 8(c), thereby forming the filter part 41 in which the inside of the mesh member 41a and the part not covered by the slide mold 53 are integrated with the resin. Thereafter, the push-up plate 58 is pushed up to push up the pulling core 55 with the ejector pin 56. Then, the pair of pulling cores 55 approach each other as they are pushed up, and when the recess forming projections 55d are disengaged from the engaging recesses 48a, 48b of the engaging arms 47a, 47b, the filter portion 41a can be removed from the fixed mold 51 together with the engagement receiving portion 47 (engagement arms 47a, 47b).

[0051] Furthermore, the seating surface 41e on which the seal member 43 of the filter portion 41 is attached is formed by the seating surface forming step 51c of the filter portion forming recess 51a of the fixed mold 51, and is formed at a position offset from the partition line P of the molds (fixed mold 51, movable mold 52, slide mold 53) that mold the filter portion 41, so that the seating surface 41e is free from the inconvenience of burrs being generated, and it is possible to ensure the molding accuracy of the seating surface. Therefore, when the seal member (O-ring) 43 is brought into contact with the seating surface, the seal member 43 is not damaged, and the sealing performance can be maintained.

[0052] In the above configuration, an example has been shown in which the filter portion 41 and the fixed portion 42 are connected by a movable connecting portion 44. However, as shown in Figure 10, the plug body 4 may have an intermediate portion 60 between the filter portion 41 and the fixed portion 42, and this intermediate portion 60 may be fixed to the filter portion 41 and connected to the fixed portion 42 via the movable connecting portion 44, and a sealing member 43 that abuts against the receiver body 2 may be provided between the filter portion 41 and the intermediate portion 60.

[0053] The intermediate portion 60 has an internal thread 60a formed in the axial direction on its upper surface (the surface facing the bottom wall 41b of the filter portion 41), and is fixed to the filter portion 41 by screwing a male thread 41f protruding from the bottom wall 41b of the filter portion 41 into this internal thread 60a. Further, an engagement receiving portion 47 (engagement arms 47a, 47b) protruding toward the connection recess 45 is formed on the lower surface of the intermediate portion 60 (the surface facing the connection recess 45 of the fixed portion 42).

[0054] The O-ring 43 is supported by a seat surface 60b provided on the upper peripheral edge of the intermediate portion 60 (the peripheral edge of the surface that abuts against the bottom wall 41b of the filter portion 41), and provides a seal between the intermediate portion 60 and the receiver body 2. Since other configurations are similar to those shown in FIG. 6, the same parts are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0055] In this configuration, the filter portion 41 is connected to the fixed portion 42 via the intermediate portion 60, and the seal member 43 is disposed between the intermediate portion 60 and the filter portion 41, where no rotational force acts when the fixed portion 42 is screwed in. This eliminates the inconvenience of damaging the seal member 43 and the inconvenience of uneven distortion occurring in the circumferential direction of the seal member 43, and makes it possible to ensure high sealing performance.

[0056] Figure 11 shows a modification of Figure 10. In this example, another seal member 61 is further provided which abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the receiver body 2 to prevent refrigerant leakage from between the intermediate portion 60 and the receiver body 2 to the fixed portion 42, and this other seal member 61 is supported by a seat surface 60c provided on the periphery of the lower surface of the intermediate portion 60 (the periphery of the surface that abuts against the annular wall 42d of the fixed portion 42) to seal between the intermediate portion 60 and the receiver body 2.

[0057] In such a configuration, a sealing member 43, on which no rotational force acts when screwing in the fixed portion 42, is positioned between the intermediate portion 60 and the filter portion 41, and another sealing member 61, which abuts against the inner surface of the receiver body 2, is also positioned between the intermediate portion 60 and the fixed portion 42, thereby making it possible to further improve the sealing performance.

[0058] The intermediate portion 60 and the engaging arms 47a, 47b of the movable connecting portion 44 which are integral with the intermediate portion 60 are injection molded using a mold as shown in FIG. 12, for example. The mold used here includes a fixed mold 71 which forms the lower half of the intermediate portion 60 and the outer shape of the engaging arms 47a, 47b, an intermediate mold 72 which forms the upper half of the intermediate portion 60, a core mold 73 having threads engraved on its outer peripheral surface, and a placement core 54 and a drawing core 55 which form the opposing surfaces of the pair of engaging arms 47a, 47b.

[0059] The fixed die 71 is provided with a middle portion recess 71a which forms the lower half of the middle portion 60, and a core accommodating hole 71b which is formed adjacent to the center of the middle portion recess 71a. The middle portion recess 71a is also provided with a seating surface forming step 71c which forms a seating surface 60c which supports another seal member 61 in a portion (in this example, a portion below the abutting surface in the figure) which is out of contact with the intermediate die 72 (the partition line P between the fixed die 71 and the intermediate die 72).

[0060] The intermediate mold 72 is provided with an intermediate portion recess 72a that forms the upper half of the intermediate portion 60, and a through hole 72b through which the core mold 73 is inserted. The intermediate portion recess 72a is also provided with a seating surface forming step 72c that forms a seating surface 60b that supports the seal member 43 in a portion (in this example, a portion above the abutting surface in the figure) that is out of contact with the fixed mold 71 (the partition line P between the fixed mold 71 and the intermediate mold 72).

[0061] The stationary core 54 and the drawn core 55 have the same configuration as in FIG. 9, and the pair of drawn cores 55 are slidably attached to the stationary core 54 and are arranged in the core receiving hole 71b.

[0062] In the above configuration, to form the intermediate portion 60 and the engagement arms 47a, 47b integral therewith, as shown in Figure 12(a), the pull-out core 55 is assembled to the placement core 54, and the pull-out core 55 is brought into contact with the cylindrical portion 54a of the placement core 54 by the biasing force of the compression spring 57. In this state, the intermediate mold 72 is butted against the fixed mold 71, and the molds are clamped so that the threaded portion of the core mold 73 protrudes into the cavity portion that forms the intermediate portion 60. Molten resin is then injected into the gap portion surrounded by these molds through a gate (not shown).

[0063] After the resin has hardened, as shown in Fig. 12(b), the core mold 73 is pulled out while rotating, and the threaded portion of the core mold 73 is removed from the intermediate portion 60. This forms a female thread 60a in the intermediate portion 60. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 12(c), the relay mold 72 is removed together with the core mold 73. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12(d), the push-up plate 58 is pushed up and the ejector pin 56 pushes up the pulled core 55, and when the recess forming protrusions 55d of the pulled core 55 disengage from the engagement recesses 48a, 48b of the engagement arms 47a, 47b, the engagement arms 47a, 47b can be removed from the fixed mold 71 together with the intermediate portion 60.

[0064] In addition, the two seating surfaces 60b, 60c for mounting the seal member of the intermediate portion 60 are formed at positions shifted from the partition line P of the mold (fixed mold 71 and relay mold 72) for molding the intermediate portion 60, so that the problem of burrs occurring on the molded seating surfaces is eliminated, and molding precision can be ensured. Therefore, when the seal members 43, 61 are supported by the seating surfaces 60b, 60c, the seal members 43, 61 are not damaged, and high sealing performance can be ensured.

[0065] Fig. 13 shows another sealing structure of the plug 4. In this example, the way in which the sealing member 43 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the receiver body 2 differs from that shown in Fig. 6. That is, the bottom wall 41b of the filter section 41 is protruded radially outward, and a seating surface 41e is formed on the side of the protruding section opposite to the side where the fixing section 42 abuts, to support the sealing member 43, and the sealing member 43 is compressed in the axial direction by abutting against a step 2e formed on the inner peripheral surface of the receiver body 2. Here, the step portion 2e may be formed perpendicular to the inner circumferential surface of the receiver body 2, but in this example, it is formed into a tapered surface in which the inner circumferential surface widens toward the lower opening 2a.

[0066] Therefore, in this example, it is possible to compress the seal member 43 in the axial direction, and by increasing the tightening force of the plug 42, it is possible to ensure high sealing performance.

[0067] The above-mentioned sealing structure for compressing in the axial direction may be used for a plug 4 having an intermediate portion 60. For example, as shown in Fig. 14, in comparison with the configuration in Fig. 10, the intermediate portion 60 may be protruded radially outward (the diameter of the filter portion 41 may be made smaller than that of the intermediate portion 60), and a seat surface 60d may be formed in this protruding portion to support the seal member 43, so that the seal member 43 comes into contact with a step portion 2e formed on the inner peripheral surface of the receiver body 2 and is compressed in the axial direction.

[0068] 15, in addition to the configuration in Fig. 14, the intermediate portion 60 may have another seat surface 60c for supporting another seal member 61. Since the other seal member 61 is disposed in addition to the seal member 43, it is possible to further improve the sealing performance.

[0069] In these examples, the step 2e may be formed perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface of the receiver body 2, or may be formed into a tapered surface as shown in the drawings. In these configurations, similarly to FIG. 13, the sealing performance can be improved by increasing the tightening force of the plug 4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1 Receiver 2 Receiver body 2a Lower opening (one side opening) 2b Upper opening (other side opening) 2e Stepped section 4 Plug body 41 Filter section 42 Fixed part 42a Threaded part 43 Sealing material 44 Movable joint 41e, 60b, 60c Seat 51 Fixed mold 52 Movable mold 53 Slide mold 54 Placed core 55 Draw core 60 Middle 100 Condenser P Partition Line

Claims

1. A receiver 1 includes a cylindrical receiver body 2 for storing a refrigerant therein, and a plug 4 inserted into a first opening 2a provided at one end of the receiver body 2 in the longitudinal direction thereof to close the first opening 2a, The plug 4 is a filter portion 41 accommodated inside the receiver body 2 and through which the refrigerant passes; a fixing portion 42 having a screw portion 42a on its outer peripheral surface which is screwed into the inner peripheral surface of the one-side opening 2a of the receiver body 2; a seal member 43 that is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the receiver body 2 to prevent refrigerant leakage from between the filter portion 41 and the receiver body 2 to the fixed portion 42; Equipped with The filter portion 41 has a cylindrical mesh member 41a and a bottom wall 41b that closes one axial end of the mesh member. The seal member 43 is disposed between the bottom wall 41b and the inner peripheral surface of the receiver body 2, An annular wall 42d provided on the fixing portion 42 is in contact with the bottom wall 41b of the filter portion 41, Between the filter part 41 surrounded by the annular wall 42d and the fixed part 42, a movable connection part 44 is provided to connect the filter part 41 to the fixed part 42 so as not to follow the rotation of the fixed part 42 and to follow the axial movement of the fixed part 42. A receiver characterized by:

2. The receiver according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter portion 41 is an injection molded product, has a seat surface 41e that supports the seal member 43, and the seat surface 41e is formed at a position offset from a partition line P of molds 51, 52, and 53 that mold the filter portion 41.

3. A receiver (1) having a receiver body (2) formed in a cylindrical shape and storing a refrigerant therein, and a plug (4) inserted into one side opening (2a) provided at one longitudinal end of the receiver body (2) to close the one side opening (2a), The plug 4 is a filter portion 41 accommodated inside the receiver body 2 and through which the refrigerant passes; a fixing portion 42 having a screw portion 42a on its outer peripheral surface which is screwed into the inner peripheral surface of the one-side opening 2a of the receiver body 2; an intermediate portion 60 disposed between the filter portion 41 and the fixed portion 42 and fixed to the filter portion 41; a seal member (43) disposed between the intermediate portion (60) and the inner circumferential surface of the receiver body (2) to prevent refrigerant leakage from between the intermediate portion (60) and the receiver body (2) to the fixed portion (42); An annular wall 42d provided on the fixed portion 42 is abutted against the intermediate portion 60, Between the intermediate portion 60 surrounded by the annular wall 42d and the fixed portion 42, a movable connecting portion 44 is provided to connect the intermediate portion 60 to the fixed portion 42 so as not to follow the rotation of the fixed portion 42 and to follow the axial movement of the fixed portion 42. A receiver characterized by:

4. The plug 4 further includes another seal member 61 that is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the receiver body 2 to prevent refrigerant leakage from between the intermediate portion 60 and the receiver body 2 to the fixed portion 42, 4. The receiver according to claim 3, wherein the other seal member is provided between the intermediate portion and the fixed portion.

5. The receiver of claim 4, characterized in that the intermediate portion 60 is an injection molded product and has a seating surface 60b that supports the sealing member 43 and another seating surface 60c that supports the other sealing member 61, and the seating surface 60b and the other seating surface 60c are formed at a position offset from the partition line P of the molds 71, 72 that mold the intermediate portion 60.

6. 6. The receiver according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is axially compressed by contacting a step formed on an inner peripheral surface of the receiver body.

7. 7. The receiver according to claim 6, wherein said step portion (2e) is formed as a tapered surface.

8. A condenser (100) for a vehicle air conditioner, comprising a receiver (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images