Patent ID: 6418751
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: F25B

Abstract:
An accumulator-dehydrator for use in an air conditioning system having an evaporator and compressor interconnected by a refrigerant line containing refrigerant, said accumulator-dehydrator comprising:a canister having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion being adapted to contain liquid refrigerant and oil from said refrigerant line and said upper portion being adapted to contain vaporized refrigerant, said canister having an inlet connected to said evaporator through said refrigerant line and an outlet connected to said compressor through said refrigerant line; a hollow delivery tube having first and second ends, said first end being unobstructed and positioned within the upper portion of said canister to draw in vaporized refrigerant, said second end being connected to said outlet to deliver vaporized refrigerant and entrained oil to said compressor, said delivery tube having a venturi portion defined by a restricted flow orifice; an oil pickup tube for drawing liquid refrigerant and oil from said lower portion into said delivery tube, said oil pickup tube being in operative communication with said delivery tube, said venturi portion drawing in the liquid refrigerant and oil and entraining said liquid refrigerant and oil in the vaporized refrigerant outlet flow of said delivery tube.