Air conditioning refrigerant fluid dryer assembly

• US 5,580,451 A
• Filed: 05/01/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Tack, Jerry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CINTINS, IVARS C
• Application Number:
  US08/431,770
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 62/474, 96/108, 96/152, 210/266, 210/282, 210/DIG. 6
• US Class Current: 210/266
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/00 Separating processes involving the treatment of liquids with solid sorbents using liquid sorbents B01D11/00; ion exchange processes or materials, sorbent materials in general B01J, e.g. sorbents for chromatography B01J20/281; for investigating or analysing materials G01N30/00; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 43/003 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/06 Dehydrators

Abstract

An automotive-type air conditioning refrigerant fluid dryer assembly composed of a receiver tank and desiccant cup assembly that are configured to enhance the operation and durability of the refrigerant fluid dryer assembly, as well as facilitate its assembly. The receiver tank is formed to have a unitary construction. The desiccant cup is provided with a number of axially-spaced nib segments disposed adjacent its open end that form detents and a cap that is received in the open end of the cup such that a peripheral edge of the cap engages at least some of the nib segments so as to secure the cap to the cup. During assembly, the cap is pressed downward into the cup until contact is made with the desiccant within and is thereafter secured within the cup by the nib segments. As such, assembly of the cap with the cup involves a simple push-type operation, yet enables the cap to positively confine the desiccant within the cup, such that relative movement of the desiccant within the chamber is restricted. The cup assembly also includes a sealing lip for preventing blowby and assembly problems. As such, the dryer assembly of this invention utilizes a minimal number of components so as to reduce the number of joining operations required, while the desiccant cup assembly has an uncomplicated configuration that readily accommodates variations in fill level of the desiccant.

Claims

1. A refrigerant fluid dryer assembly comprising:

a cup member having a closed end and an oppositely-disposed open end, said closed end having a central aperture and a plurality of holes formed therein;

a centrally-located tubular portion projecting axially within said cup member from said closed end, said tubular portion having a through-hole in fluidic communication with said central aperture in said closed end of said cup member, said tubular portion forming a radially-inward boundary of an annular-shaped chamber within said cup member;

a plurality of nib segments disposed on said cup member adjacent said open end;

desiccant disposed within said chamber; and

a closure member received in said open end of said cup member, said closure member having a peripheral edge engaging at least some of said plurality of nib segments so as to secure said closure member to said cup member and confine said desiccant within said chamber such that relative movement of said desiccant within said chamber is restricted, said closure member having a plurality of apertures formed therein so as to be penetrable by said refrigerant fluid.

2. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 1 wherein said tubular portion is integrally formed with said closed end of said cup member.

3. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 1 wherein said closed end of said cup member includes a sealing portion projecting axially outward from said closed end, said sealing portion being coaxial with said tubular portion and defining an opening in fluidic communication with said through-hole of said tubular portion.

4. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 1 wherein said tubular portion has a distal end disposed at said open end of said cup member, said through-hole of said tubular portion being tapered at said distal end so as to define a diameter that is larger than a diameter of said through-hole.

5. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 1 wherein said closure member has a dome-shaped portion so as to have a radially-inward portion that projects axially outward relative to said cup member and said peripheral edge of said closure member.

6. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of nib segments includes axially-spaced nib segments and circumferentially-spaced nib segments formed at said open end of said cup member and on said tubular portion adjacent said open end of said cup member.

7. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 1 further comprising a receiving member in which said cup member is enclosed, said receiving member comprising:

a tank having a first end and an oppositely-disposed second end, said first end having first and second ports formed therein; and

a centrally-located exit tube projecting axially within said tank from said first end of said tank, said exit tube having a passage formed therethrough in fluidic communication with said first port in said first end of said tank, said exit tube forming a radially-inward boundary of an annular-shaped receptacle within said tank, said cup member being received within said annular-shaped receptacle of said tank, said exit tube being received within said through-hole of said tubular portion of said cup member.

8. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 7 wherein said closed end of said cup member has a sealing portion sealably engaging said exit tube of said receiving member.

9. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 7 wherein said exit tube is integrally formed with said first end of said tank.

10. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 7 wherein said exit tube has a distal end disposed adjacent said second end of said tank, said exit tube being flared to retain said cup member on said exit tube.

11. A refrigerant fluid dryer assembly having a cup assembly received within a receiving member:

said receiving member comprising;

a tank having a first end and an oppositely-disposed second end, said first end being equipped with an inlet and an outlet; and

a centrally-located exit tube projecting axially within said tank from said first end of said tank, said exit tube having a passage formed therethrough in fluidic communication with said outlet of said tank, said exit tube forming a radially-inward boundary of an annular-shaped receptacle within said tank; and

said cup assembly being received within said annular-shaped receptacle of said tank, said cup assembly comprising;

a cup member having a closed end and an oppositely-disposed open end, said closed end having a central aperture and a plurality of holes formed therein;

a centrally-located tubular portion projecting axially within said cup member from said closed end, said tubular portion having a through-hole in fluidic communication with said central aperture in said closed end of said cup member, said through-hole receiving said exit tube of said receiving member, said tubular portion forming a radially-inward boundary of an annular-shaped chamber within said cup member;

a plurality of nib segments disposed on said cup member adjacent said open end of said cup member, said plurality of nib segments including axially-spaced nib segments and circumferentially-spaced nib segments;

a first filter element located next to said closed end of said cup member and covering said plurality of holes formed therein;

desiccant disposed within said chamber and on top of said first filter element;

a second filter element located on top of said desiccant; and

a closure member received in said open end of said cup member, said closure member having a peripheral edge engaging at least some of said plurality of nib segments so as to secure said closure member to said cup member and confine said desiccant within said chamber such that relative movement of said desiccant within said chamber is restricted, said closure member having a plurality of apertures formed therein so as to be penetrable by said refrigerant fluid.

12. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 11 wherein said tubular portion is integrally formed with said closed end of said cup member.

13. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 11 wherein said closed end of said cup member includes a sealing portion projecting axially outward and circumferentially inward from said closed end, said sealing portion being coaxial with said tubular portion and defining an opening in fluidic communication with said through-hole of said tubular portion, said sealing portion sealably engaging said exit tube of said receiving member.

14. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 11 wherein said tubular portion has a distal end disposed at said open end of said cup member, said through-hole of said tubular portion being tapered at said distal end so as to define a diameter that is larger than a diameter of said through-hole so as to facilitate entry of said exit tube in said through-hole.

15. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 11 wherein said closure member is dome-shaped so as to have a radially-inward portion that projects axially outward relative to said cup member and said peripheral edge of said closure member.

16. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 11 wherein said exit tube is integrally formed with said first end of said tank.

17. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 11 wherein said exit tube has a distal end disposed adjacent said second end of said tank, said distal end being flared so as to retain said cup assembly on said exit tube.

18. A refrigerant fluid dryer assembly having a cup assembly comprising:

a cup member having a closed end and an oppositely-disposed open end, said closed end having a central aperture and a plurality of holes formed therein;

a centrally-located tubular portion projecting axially within said cup member from said closed end, said tubular portion having a through-hole in fluidic communication with said central aperture in said closed end of said cup member, said tubular portion forming a radially-inward boundary of an annular-shaped chamber within said cup member;

a plurality of nib segments disposed on said cup member adjacent said open end of said cup member, said plurality of nib segments including axially-spaced nib segments and circumferentially-spaced nib segments;

desiccant disposed within said chamber; and

a closure member received in said open end of said cup member, said closure member having a peripheral edge engaging at least some of said plurality of nib segments so as to secure said closure member to said cup member and confine said desiccant within said chamber such that relative movement of said desiccant within said chamber is restricted, said closure member being dome-shaped so as to have a radially-inward portion that projects axially outward relative to said cup member and said peripheral edge of said closure member, said closure member having a plurality of apertures formed therein so as to be penetrable by said refrigerant fluid.

19. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 18 further comprising a receiving member in which said cup assembly is enclosed, said receiving member comprising:

a tank having a first end and an oppositely-disposed second end, said first end having first and second ports formed therein; and

a centrally-located exit tube projecting axially within said tank from said first end of said tank, said exit tube having a passage formed therethrough in fluidic communication with said first port in said first end of said tank, said exit tube forming a radially-inward boundary of an annular-shaped receptacle within said tank, said cup assembly being received within said annular-shaped receptacle of said tank, said exit tube being received within said through-hole of said tubular portion of said cup assembly so as to form a fluid-tight seal therewith.

20. The refrigerant fluid dryer assembly of claim 18 further comprising a first filter element disposed within said chamber and against said closure member and a second filter element disposed within said chamber and against said closed end of said cup member, said first filter element being adapted to filter larger particles than said second filter element.