REFRIGERATION SYSTEM WITH SUCTION LINE ACCUMULATOR

• US 3,636,723 A
• Filed: 09/17/1969
• Issued: 01/25/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ardco, Inc. (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Daniel E. Kramer
• Inventors: Kramer, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Dea, William F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, P. D.
• Application Number:
  US04/858,749
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 62/196,276,278,412,472,471,503,197
• US Class Current: 62/197
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/0403 for the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/0411 for the expansion valve or capillary tube
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 43/006 Accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 47/022 hot gas defrosting

Abstract

A refrigerant accumulator in the suction line of a closed refrigeration system, provided with a controllably heated metering tube between the bottom of the accumulator and a downstream point in the suction line, to ensure at least adequate reevaporation of the refrigerant, to eliminate slugging and to return oil to the compressor, particularly during the hot gas defrosting portion of the refrigeration cycle, the heating being effected electrically or by means of hot gas from the compressor.

Claims

1. A refrigeration system comprising a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a refrigerant accumulator connected in a closed circuit by lines which includes a suction line from the accumulator to the compressor and a discharge line from the compressor to the condenser, and a restricted passage extending from the lower portion of the accumulator to a point in the suction line spaced downstream from the accumulator, said restricted passage being constituted by a bleed tube one end of which extends into the suction line and is provided with an opening facing upstream, and means for applying heat to said restricted passage.

2. A refrigeration system comprising in a closed circuit, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, an accumulator including a tank, an inlet, an outlet provided with an extension located below the tank, a conduit residing wholly beneath said tank and mechanically coupled to the bottom of the tank and said extension, one end of said conduit extending into said outlet and being provided with an opening facing upstream, an electric heater thermally connected to said conduit, and a suction line connecting said extension to the compressor inlet.

3. A refrigeration system comprising in a closed circuit, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, an accumulator including a tank, an inlet, an outlet provided with an extension located below the tank, a conduit residing wholly beneath said tank and mechanically coupled to the bottom of the tank and said extension, a suction line connecting said extension to the compressor inlet, said conduit having a trap portion provided with a downward flow side and an upward flow side, a heating means comprising a first electric heater adjacent to the downward flow side, a second electric heater adjacent to the upward flow side, and means for controlling at least one of said heaters.

4. A refrigeration system comprising in a closed circuit, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, an accumulator including a tank, an inlet, an outlet provided with an extension located below the tank, a conduit residing wholly beneath said tank and mechanically coupled to the bottom of the tank and said extension, an electric heater thermally connected to said conduit, a thermostat in the circuit of said electric heater, said thermostat having a sensing element responsive to changes in temperature, said sensing element being in thermal contact with said suction line.

5. A refrigeration system according to claim 4 and which includes a heater coacting with said sensing element.