Heat pump

Abstract: In a heat pump, the capillary tube (4) from the condenser (21) to the evaporator (31) passes inside a refrigerant conduit (9) from the evaporator (31) to the compressor (11). The capillary tube (4) enters and leaves the conduit (9) via branching members (2, 3).

Description: The present invention relates to a heat pump comprising an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant conduit connecting the evaporator and the compressor, and a refrigerant capillary tube connecting the condenser and the evaporator and extending within said conduit. Referring to Figure 4, which is a schematic view of the refrigerant circulatory system of a known refrigerator, a refrigerant circulatory system of a refrigerator comprises of a compressor 111 for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser 121 for condensing the gaseous refrigerant from the compressor 111 into the liquid state, and an evaporator 131 for evaporating the liquefied refrigerant to draw heat from the air in a storage space 141. A capillary tube 104 is installed between the condenser 121 and the evaporator 131 and is used as a passage for the liquefied refrigerant flowing into the evaporator 131 from the condenser 121. A connection pipe 109 is installed between the evaporator 131 and the compressor 111 and is used as a passage for the gaseous refrigerant flowing into the compressor 111 from the evaporator 131. A small amount of the liquid refrigerant which has not evaporated is mixed with the low temperature gaseous refrigerant which is flowing into the compressor 111. The liquid refrigerant flowing into the compressor 111 adversely affects the operation of the compressor 111. Thus, to enhance the efficiency of the refrigerator, the liquid refrigerant remaining in the gaseous refrigerant has to be removed. In order to remove the residual liquid refrigerant from the gaseous refrigerant, the connection pipe 109 is soldered to the capillary tube 104 positioned between the condenser and the evaporator 131. With this structure, heat is transferred from the capillary tube 104, through which the high temperature liquefied refrigerant passes, to the connection pipe 109 through which the low temperature gaseous refrigerant passes. Consequently, the residual liquid refrigerant in the gaseous refrigerant flow is evaporated. In another known refrigerant circulatory system, a connection pipe is positioned between an evaporator and a compressor and has two spaced holes therein. A capillary tube passes in one hole, along inside the connection tube and out of the other hole. The capillary tube is soldered to the connection pipe where it passes through the holes. Another example of a capillary tube passing through a connection tube is described in US-A-2776552, which reveals a heat pump according to the preamble of claim 1. The soldering process used to couple the connection pipe and the capillary tube in the known systems is undesirable, not least because of the toxicity of the lead used in the solder. A heat pump according to the present invention is characterised by first and second branching members coupled to respective ends of the conduit, each branching member having an inline element for conveying refrigerant flowing from the evaporator and a branch element through which the capillary tube extends, wherein the capillary tube extends into the conduit via one branching member and out of the conduit via the other branching member. The branch element of the first and/or second branching member may lie parallel to or project substantially perpendicularly from the inline element. Preferably, the inline element of one or both of the branching elements is internally threaded at both ends. Preferably, the or each inline element is a substantially straight tube. Preferably, packing material is used to form a seal between the capillary tube and one or both of the branch elements. A heat pump according to the present invention may be used in a refrigerator. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first refrigerant circulatory system according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of part of the refrigerant circulatory system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view of part of a second refrigerant circulatory system according to the present invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic view of the refrigerant circulatory system of a known refrigerator. Referring to Figure 1, the refrigerant circulatory system of a refrigerator comprises a compressor 11 for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser 21 for condensing the refrigerant from the compressor 11 into the liquid state, and an evaporator 31 for evaporating the liquefied refrigerant from the condenser 21 so that it draws heat from the air within a storage space 41. A condenser outlet pipe 21a connects the condenser 21 to the evaporator 31 for conveying hot, high pressure refrigerant from the condenser 21 to the evaporator 31. An inlet pipe 31b and an outlet pipe 31a are provided at the evaporator 31. The inlet pipe 31b conveys the hot, high pressure liquefied refrigerant into the evaporator 31 and the outlet pipe 21b conveys the cold, low pressure gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator 31 to the compressor 11. A capillary tube 4 is connected between the condenser outlet pipe 21a and the evaporator inlet pipe 31b. The capillary tube 4 conveys liquefied refrigerant to the evaporator 31 from the condenser 21. A connection pipe 9 is connected between the evaporator 31 and the compressor 11. The connection pipe 9 conveys gaseous refrigerant to the compressor 11 from the evaporator 31. A first coupling member 2 is provided at one end of the connecting pipe 9 and couples it to the inlet pipe 11a of the compressor 11. A second coupling member 3 is provided at the other end of the connecting pipe 9 and couples it to the outlet pipe 31a of the evaporator 31. The capillary tube 4 extends along the inside of the connecting pipe 9 and emerges at either end through respectively the first and second coupling members 2, 3. Referring to Figure 2, the first coupling member 2 comprises an inline element 5 having first and second open, internally threaded ends 5a, 5b and a branch element 7 lying parallel to the inline element 5. The branch element 7 has an open end 7a and a closed end 7b. An opening 6 provides communication between the inline element 5 and the branch element 7. The second coupling member 3 has the same configuration as the first coupling member 2. The end of the connection pipe 9 are externally threaded and are screwed respectively into second ends 5b of the first and second coupling members 2, 3. The first end 5a of the first coupling member 2 has the compressor inlet pipe 11a screwed into it. The first end 5a of the second coupling member 3 has the evaporator outlet pipe 31a screwed into it. The condenser end of the capillary tube 4 extends through the open end 7a of the branch element 7 of the first coupling member 2, through the opening 6 and then through the second end 5b of the inline element 5 into the connecting pipe 9. At the other end of the connecting pipe 9, the capillary tube 4 passes through the second end 5b of the second coupling member's inline element 5, through its opening 6 and out through the open end 7a of its branch element 7. After emerging from the second coupling member 3, the capillary tube 4 is connected to the evaporator inlet pipe 31b. The open ends 7a of the branch elements 7 are sealed with packing 8 to prevent leakage of refrigerant flowing through the connecting pipe 9. Referring to Figure 3, in a second embodiment, the first coupling member 52 comprises an inline element 5 having first and second open, internally threaded ends 5a, 5b and a branch element 7 extending perpendicular to the inline element 5. The branch element 7 has an open end 7a. An opening 6 provides communication between the inline element 5 and the branch element 7. The second coupling member 53 has the same configuration as the first coupling member 52. The end of the connection pipe 9 are externally threaded and are screwed respectively into second ends 5b of the first and second coupling members 52, 53. The first end 5a of the first coupling member 52 has the compressor inlet pipe 11a screwed into it. The first end 5a of the second coupling member 53 has the evaporator outlet pipe 31a screwed into it. The condenser end of the capillary tube 4 extends through the open end 7a of the branch element 7 of the first coupling member 52, through the opening 6 and then through the second end 5b of the inline element 5 into the connecting pipe 9. At the other end of the connecting pipe 9, the capillary tube 4 passes through the second end 5b of the second coupling member's inline element 5, through its opening 6 and out through the open end 7a of its branch element 7. After emerging from the second coupling member 53, the capillary tube 4 is connected to the evaporator inlet pipe 31b. The open ends 7a of the branch elements 7 are sealed with packing 8 to prevent leakage of refrigerant flowing through the connecting pipe 9. With the configurations described above, hot, high pressure gaseous refrigerant from the compressor 11 is liquefied by the condenser 21 and the liquefied refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 31 through the capillary tube 4. The gaseous refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator 31 draws heat from the storage space 41 and then passes through the second coupling member 3, 53, the connection pipe 9 and the first coupling member 2, 52. The liquid refrigerant in the gaseous refrigerant within the connection pipe 9 is evaporated by heat from the capillary tube 4 which is inside the connection pipe 9. As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator wherein the liquid refrigerant in the gaseous refrigerant flowing into the compressor from the evaporator can be effectively removed, without soldering of the capillary tube and the connection pipe.

Claims: A heat pump comprising an evaporator (31), a compressor (11), a condenser (21), a refrigerant conduit (9) connecting the evaporator (31) and the compressor (11), and a refrigerant capillary tube (4) connecting the condenser (21) and the evaporator (31) and extending within said conduit (9), characterised by first and second branching members (2, 3; 52, 53) coupled to respective ends of the conduit (9), each branching member (2, 3; 52, 53) having an inline element (5) for conveying refrigerant flowing from the evaporator (31) and a branch element (7) through which the capillary tube (4) extends, wherein the capillary tube (4) extends into the conduit (9) via one branching member (2; 52) and out of the conduit (9) via the other branching member (3; 53). A heat pump according to claim 1, wherein the branch element (7) of the first branching member (2) lies parallel to the inline element (5) of the first branching member (2). A heat pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the branch element (7) of the second branching member (3) lies parallel to the inline element (5) of the second branching member (3). A heat pump according to claim 1, wherein the branch element (7) of the first branching member (2) projects substantially perpendicularly from the inline element (5) of the first branching member (2). A heat pump according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the branch element (7) of the second branching member (3) projects substantially perpendicularly from the inline element (5) of the second branching member (3). A heat pump according to any preceding claim, wherein the inline element (5) of one or both of the branching elements is internally threaded at both ends. A heat pump according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each inline element is a substantially straight tube. A heat pump according to any preceding claim, including packing material forming a seal between the capillary tube (4) and one or both of the branch elements (7). A refrigerator including a heat pump according to any preceding claim. A refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the inline elements have a first end screw-coupled together with an inlet of the compressor (11) or an outlet of the evaporator (31) and a second end screw-coupled with the refrigerant conduit (9). A refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein each branch element (7) has an open end sealingly coupled to the capillary tube (4) and a closed end.

Inventors: PARK JUNG-HEE, PARK, JUNG-HEE
Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: F25B41
IPC codes: F25B40, F25B41, F25D19, F28F9, F25B1