Patent · US Expired

Refrigerant accumulator and charging apparatus and method for vapor-compression refrigeration system

US4474034A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
14References
23Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 23, 1982
Grant dateOct 2, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 23, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25B2400/16
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A refrigerant fluid accumulator and charging apparatus for vapor-compression refrigeration systems comprising a pressure vessel having an interior liquid/vapor separation chamber, a liquid reservoir, a refrigerant inlet conduit, a primary refrigerant vapor outlet conduit and a secondary refrigerant outlet conduit in communication with a sump portion of the reservoir and with the primary outlet conduit. The secondary refrigerant outlet conduit includes a sight glass for observation of the flow of fluid from the sump into the compressor suction line. Refrigeration systems may be accurately charged with refrigerant fluid by operating the system at design load conditions with the accumulator and charging apparatus interposed in the refrigerant circuit between the evaporator and the compressor and by venting refrigerant fluid from the system until the flow of fluid through the secondary outlet conduit changes from liquid or mixed phase to substantially the vapor phase.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.