Condenser for automotive air conditioning systems

• US 5,178,209 A
• Filed: 04/30/1991
• Issued: 01/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Toru, Aoki, Hisao
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanigan, Allen J.
• Application Number:
  US07/696,328
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 165/110, 165/153, 165/173, 165/174
• US Class Current: 165/110
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0212 the partitions being separate elements attached to header boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0243 Header boxes having a circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0246 Arrangements for connecting header boxes with flow lines
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0256 Arrangements for coupling connectors with flow lines

Abstract

A condenser, for use in automotive air conditioning systems, including a first header, a second header, a plurality of parallel flat plate pipes arranged between the first and second headers, and corrugated fins between the flat plate pipes for contacting the flat surfaces thereof. A second union joint on the second header introduces refrigerant into the second header. A first union joint on the first header discharges refrigerant to a refrigeration circuit. The first union joint includes a union portion for connecting the first union joint with the refrigeration circuit, a fixed portion with a receiving surface which is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the first header, and a pipe which is connected to the union portion. The pipe extends downwardly within the first header to the bottom of the first header, and thus, the first union joint discharging liquid refrigerant can be disposed anywhere on the first header.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system condenser, comprising:

a condenser first header having an outer peripheral surface;

a condenser second header;

a plurality of parallel flat plate pipes positioned between said first and second headers, said flat plate pipes having flat surfaces;

corrugated fins positioned between said flat plate pipes and contacting said flat surfaces; and

first union joint means on said first header for discharging refrigerant in said first header to a condenser refrigeration circuit, said first union joint means comprising a union portion for connection with the condenser refrigeration circuit, a fixed portion having a receiving surface fitted on said outer peripheral surface, and a liquid-refrigerant extended discharge outlet pipe connected to said union portion, said extended discharge outlet pipe extending downwardly within said first header to a position adjacent an inside bottom of said first header.

2. The condenser of claim 1 wherein said union portion and said fixed portion are integrally formed.

3. The condenser of claim 1 wherein said first header has a top, and said first union joint means is positioned at said top of said first header.

4. The condenser of claim 1 wherein said first union joint means is positioned at a central location of said first header.

5. The condenser of claim 1 further comprising a second union joint means on said second header for introducing refrigerant vapor into said second header.

6. The condenser of claim 1 wherein said first header is divided into first and second chambers and said first union joint means communicates with said second chamber.

7. The condenser of claim 6 further comprising a second union joint means for introducing vapor refrigerant into said first chamber.

23. The condenser of claim 1 wherein said first and second headers are disposed upright.

24. The condenser of claim 1 further comprising introducing means for introducing vapor refrigerant into said first header.

25. The condenser of claim 1 further comprising introducing means for introducing vapor refrigerant into said second header.

26. The condenser of claim 5 wherein said second union joint means introduces refrigerant vapor from the refrigeration circuit into said second header.

8. An air conditioning system condenser, comprising:

a condenser first header having an inside bottom;

a condenser second header;

a plurality of parallel pipes positioned between and defining passageways in fluid communication with said first and second headers, said pipes being arranged to define at least one air path therebetween;

corrugated fins positioned between said pipes and in said air path;

fitting means on said first header and spaced a distance above said inside bottom for discharging liquid refrigerant from said first header;

introducing means for introducing vapor refrigerant into at least one of said first and second headers; and

pipe means for positively discharging liquid refrigerant from said inside bottom and out said fitting means.

9. The condenser of claim 8 wherein said fitting means is positioned at a top of said first header.

10. The condenser of claim 8 wherein said fitting means is positioned at a central location of said first header.

11. The condenser of claim 8 wherein said pipes extend at right angles to said first header and to said second header.

12. The condenser of claim 8 wherein said introducing means includes a fitting positioned on said second header.

13. The condenser of claim 8 wherein said introducing means includes a fitting positioned on said first header.

14. The condenser of claim 13 wherein said fitting is positioned spaced above said fitting means.

15. The condenser of claim 13 wherein said first header is divided into first and second chambers, said fitting means communicates with said first chamber and said fitting communicates with said second chamber.

16. The condenser of claim 8 wherein said fitting means comprises a union portion connectable with a refrigerant circuit and a fixed portion connected to said pipe means.

17. The condenser of claim 16 wherein said first header has an outer peripheral surface and said fixed portion has a receiving surface mounted on said outer peripheral surface.

18. The condenser of claim 16 wherein said union portion and said fixed portion are integrally formed.

19. The condenser of claim 16 wherein said pipe means comprises a pipe extending downwardly within said first header from said fixed portion to a position adjacent said inside bottom.

20. The condenser of claim 8 wherein said pipes comprise flat plate pipes.

21. The condenser of claim 20 wherein said flat plate pipes have flat surfaces and said corrugated fins contact said flat surfaces.

22. The condenser of claim 8 wherein said pipe means comprises a pipe extending downwardly within said first header from said fitting means to a position adjacent said inside bottom.

27. The condenser of claim 8 wherein said fitting means discharges the liquid refrigerant into a refrigeration circuit, and said introducing means introduces vapor refrigerant flowing from the refrigeration circuit.

28. The condenser of claim 8 wherein said first and second headers are both vertically disposed.

31. The condenser of claim 8 wherein said introducing means introduces the vapor refrigerant from a refrigeration circuit and said fitting means discharges the liquid refrigerant to that refrigeration circuit.

29. A condenser for use in an automotive air conditioning system, said condenser comprising:

a first header, said first header having an outer peripheral surface, and said first header being divided into first and second chambers;

a second header;

a plurality of parallel flat plate pipes positioned between said first and second headers, said flat plate pipers having flat surfaces;

corrugated fins positioned between said flat plate pipes for contacting said flat surfaces; and

a union joint on said first header discharging refrigerant to a refrigeration circuit, said union joint communication with said second chamber, said union joint comprising a union portion for connection with the refrigeration circuit, a fixed portion having a receiving surface fitted on said outer peripheral surface, and an extended pipe connected to said union portion, said extended pipe extending downwardly within said first header to a position adjacent an inside bottom of said first header.

30. The condenser of claim 29 wherein said union joint defines a first union joint, and further comprising a second union joint for introducing vapor refrigerant into said first chamber.