Patent ID: 6519971
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: F25B

Abstract:
An air conditioner comprising:a plurality of compressors operative together or selectively depending on a required cooling/heating capacity for drawing, compressing, and discharging a refrigerant to heat exchangers; a flow path controlling means for selecting a refrigerant flow path depending on a cooling/heating condition; an outdoor heat exchanger connected between said flow path controlling means and an expansion valve which reduces a pressure of the refrigerant, for facilitating heat exchange between the refrigerant and a supply of external air; an indoor heat exchanger connected between the expansion valve and said flow path controlling means for facilitating heat exchange between the refrigerant from the expansion valve and ambient air and evaporating the refrigerant; and, an accumulator for receiving a two phased refrigerant from the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers, separating gaseous refrigerant and oil from the two phased refrigerant flow, and permitting a flow of the gaseous refrigerant and oil to the compressors, said accumulator including a body having an inlet formed in a top portion thereof, said inlet connecting the flow path controlling means; first means for filtering oil from contaminants being fitted near to the inlet in the body; second means for separating the gaseous refrigerant from liquid refrigerant being fitted under said first means for filtering oil; an outlet tube holder having a plurality of oil pass through holes permitting a flow of liquid refrigerant and oil to a lower portion of the accumulator; a plurality of outlet tubes, each of said outlet tubes having a one end positioned under said second means permitting a flow of gaseous refrigerant and passing through said outlet tube holder and an other end projecting from the body; and an oil hole at a lower portion of the other end of each outlet tube, each said outlet tube operatively connected to a respective compressor of said plurality of compressors.