Patent ID: 9328972
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: F25B,F28F

Claim Text:
1. A sub-cooled condenser for use in an air conditioning system, comprising: a first header having two header partitions dividing the first header into a lower first header chamber, an upper first header chamber above the lower first header chamber, and a second chamber below the lower first header chamber with respect to the direction of gravity; a second header having two header partitions dividing the second header into a lower first header chamber, an upper first header chamber above the lower first header chamber, and a second chamber below the lower first header chamber with respect to the direction of gravity; three upstream groups of refrigerant tubes extending between and all of which are in hydraulic connection with the first header and said second header, a first one of the three upstream groups hydraulically connecting the lower first header chamber of the first header with the lower first header chamber of the second header, a second one of the three upstream groups hydraulically connecting the lower first header chamber of the second header with the upper first header chamber of the first header, and a third one of the three upstream groups hydraulically connecting the upper first header chamber of the first header with the upper first header chamber of the second header, thereby defining a condenser portion that condenses the refrigerant flowing therethrough to a liquid; an inlet opening of the sub-cooled condenser in fluid communication with the lower first header chamber of the first header; an outlet opening of the sub-cooled condenser in fluid communication with the second header chamber of the first header, the outlet opening located below the inlet opening with respect to the direction of gravity; a downstream group of refrigerant tubes extending between and in hydraulic connection with the second chamber of the first header and the second chamber of the second header, thereby defining a sub-cooler portion; the condenser portion is located above the sub-cooler portion with respect to the direction of gravity; an elongated receiver housing extending adjacently parallel to the second header, wherein the receiver housing includes a first fluid port in hydraulic connection with the upper first header chamber of the second header for receiving a liquid refrigerant from the upper first header chamber of the second header, and a second fluid port in hydraulic connection with the sub-cooler portion for discharging a liquid refrigerant to the sub-cooler portion; and a continuous refrigerant conduit disposed in the receiver housing, wherein the refrigerant conduit includes a top entry end and a bottom discharge end spaced from the top entry end, wherein the top entry end is in hydraulic communication with the first fluid port and the bottom discharge end is in hydraulic communication with the second fluid port, wherein the bottom discharge end extends below that of the second fluid port.