GRAVITY REFRIGERANT RECIRCULATION

• US 3,643,460 A
• Filed: 09/11/1970
• Issued: 02/22/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Milton W. Garland
• Original Assignee: Milton W. Garland
• Inventors: Garland, Milton W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perlin, Meyer
• Application Number:
  US05/071,487
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 62/218,174,512
• US Class Current: 62/174
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/16 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/00 Fluid-circulation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 43/02 for separating lubricants from the refrigerant
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 45/00 Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant

Abstract

A feed accumulator receives liquid refrigerant from the receiver and feeds it by gravity to the evaporator. Excess liquid refrigerant from the evaporator is temporarily stored in a lower level tank from which it is, from time to time, forced back to the accumulator by high-pressure refrigerant. Automatic controls and oil separator features are included.

Claims

1. In a refrigeration system having means for supplying liquid refrigerant and for compressing and condensing refrigerant vapor, a feed accumulator having an inlet from the supplying means for liquid refrigerant and an outlet to the compressing means for vapor, an evaporator connected to the feed accumulator, the feed accumulator positioned at a higher elevation than the evaporator, a first line form the accumulator to the evaporator for supplying liquid refrigerant thereto, a second line from the evaporator to the accumulator for returning a refrigerant vapor to the accumulator, a drain separator and a transfer tank, said drain separator connected to said second line and positioned at a level to receive liquid refrigerant from said second line by gravity flow, said transfer tank connected to said drain separator and positioned to receive liquid refrigerant from said drain separator by gravity flow, means connecting the transfer tank to the upper portion of said accumulator, liquid level responsive means in the transfer tank, and means for connecting highpressure vapor from the compressing means to the transfer tank for forcing liquid refrigerant therefrom into the feed accumulator.

2. The invention of claim 1 and means for selectively connecting high-pressure vapor from the compressing means to the outlet of the evaporator, and means for permitting liquid refrigerant in the evaporator to discharge into the drain separator as it is subjected to pressure from the high-pressure vapor.

3. The invention of claim 1 in which said transfer tank has upper and lower liquid level responsive means, said upper level liquid responsive means controlling valve means which connects the high-pressure vapor from the compressing means to the transfer tank and said lower liquid level responsive means operating to interrupt the flow of high-pressure vapor to the transfer tank.

4. The invention of claim 1 in which said first line is connected to the feed accumulator at a position which is laterally remote from the connection of said second line to the accumulator, and said feed accumulator has a well intermediate the said two connections for the collection of oil, oil separator means connected to said well, and means connecting the upper portion of the oil separator means to the upper portion of the feed accumulator for the return of any refrigerant vapor thereto.

5. The invention of claim 1 including pressure operated valve means between said drain separator and said transfer tank, and means for closing said pressure operated valve means by the high-pressure vapor from said compressor.

6. The invention of claim 1 including float control means for controlling the liquid level in said feed accumulator.