Refrigerant container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerant containers for heat pump systems in car air-conditioners have a complex structure due to the combination of receiver and accumulator functions, leading to increased component costs and machining complexities.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant container with a closed-bottomed tubular tank and a cap portion that includes separate outlet pipes for the receiver and accumulator, arranged side by side on a baffle plate, simplifying the cap structure and reducing the number of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single refrigerant container combines both receiver and accumulator functions, then the number of components is reduced and space is minimized, but the cap structure becomes complex and machining complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap structure is segmented into multiple independent components: a cap body, a receiver outlet pipe assembly, and an accumulator outlet pipe assembly. Each assembly can be manufactured and assembled separately, reducing the machining complexity of the overall cap structure while maintaining the integrated functionality of the single container design.
2Quantity of substance
If a single refrigerant container combines both receiver and accumulator functions, then the number of components is reduced, but component cost increases due to complex machining
Solution Approach 1:
The cap structure is divided into separable assemblies (cap body, receiver outlet pipe assembly, accumulator outlet pipe assembly) that can be manufactured using simpler processes and then assembled together. This segmentation allows for more economical manufacturing methods compared to machining a single complex integrated cap, thereby reducing overall component cost while maintaining the reduced component count.
3Ease of operation
If outlet pipes are arranged side by side on a baffle plate, then the cap structure is simplified and assembly is easier, but the internal space arrangement becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet pipes are arranged in the vertical dimension on the baffle plate rather than only in the horizontal plane. This vertical arrangement allows both receiver and accumulator outlet pipes to be positioned side by side, simplifying the cap structure and easing assembly, while effectively utilizing the three-dimensional internal space of the container.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces component costs and machining complexities, while also simplifying the structure and allowing for easier assembly, thereby minimizing space and weight while maintaining effective gas-liquid separation performance.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-liquid separator disposed in the tank at a position below the cap portion, the gas-liquid separator facing the gas/liquid inlet port
Implementation Method 2
a strainer for trapping foreign matter contained in a refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
the downward-feed flow channel portion is open at its upper end to the lower portion of the gas-liquid separator and is adapted to guide the gas-phase refrigerant in the upper portion of the tank to a portion around the bottom of the tank
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a refrigerant container with a rational structure, the refrigerant container having both the functions of a receiver and an accumulator and having a simplified structure of a cap member, for example, and thus having reduced component costs and machining and assembly costs. The refrigerant container includes an outlet pipe portion 20 for a receiver, an outlet pipe portion 30 for an accumulator, which has a double pipe structure of an inner pipe 31 and an outer pipe 32, and a strainer 40. The strainer 40 includes a tubular case portion 42 adapted to be placed at a bottom 13 of a tank 10, a baffle plate portion 43 partially covering an upper-face opening of the tubular case portion 42, and a mesh filter 45 covering at least a portion of the upper-face opening of the tubular case portion 42 not covered with the baffle plate portion 43. The outlet pipe portion 20 for the receiver and the outlet pipe portion 30 for the accumulator are arranged side by side on the baffle plate portion 43.