Patent ID: 6430958
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: B01D,F25B

Abstract:
An accumulator providing a reservoir for liquid-phase of a heat transfer medium that circulates in a closed-loop air conditioning system, said accumulator comprising:a hollow container defined by a peripheral wall and closed upper and lower end; a supply pipe for delivering the medium from an evaporator in mixed liquid/gaseous phase into an upper region of said container; a delivery pipe in said container for passing medium predominantly in gaseous phase, from said container to a compressor in said system, said delivery pipe having an open inlet area located in said upper region of said container; and a deflector positioned in said upper region, said deflector being configured to prevent liquid phase medium from said supply pipe from entering the inlet area of the delivery pipe; said deflector having a recessed underside defined by a depending peripheral skirt having an outline that is closely spaced with respect to said peripheral wall to define therewith an annular gap; said deflector skirt adjoining the periphery of an upper wall of the deflector, said upper wall being positioned to be impinged by medium delivered from said supply pipe and being configured to include a plurality of channels on the upper side thereof, said channels extending both radially and peripherally with respect to the deflector to distribute radially and impart rotation to said medium, thus enhancing the separation of the liquid phase along the accumulator peripheral wall especially as the liquid and gaseous phase pass through the annular gap, the open inlet area of the delivery pipe being shielded within the recessed underside of the deflector.