Abstract:
A baffle for use in a refrigerator apparatus comprises a baffle plate comprising a first and a second opposing sides attached to an inner surface of the refrigerator apparatus, a baffle seal plate attached along a third side of the baffle plate, the baffle plate seal plate attached to the inner surface of the refrigerator apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (1) Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to baffle assembly for use in an economizer chamber for minimizing pressure pulsations. 
   (2) Description of the Related Art 
   Float valves are typically used in water cooled chillers to maintain a liquid seal and for controlling coolant flow to the evaporator. In screw chillers, capacity and performance are improved through the use of an economizer cycle. During such a cycle, the economizer flow is introduced into the screw compressor chamber between inlet and outlet ports. As the screw compressor is a positive displacement compressor, it produces high pressure pulsations. The float valve located in the economizer chamber is subjected to these pulsations and can experience failure. What is therefore needed is a design of an economizer which minimizes the pressure pulsations experienced by the float valve. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a baffle for use in an economizer chamber for minimizing pressure pulsations. 
   In accordance with the present invention, a baffle for use in a refrigerator apparatus comprises a baffle plate comprising a first and a second opposing sides attached to an inner surface of the refrigerator apparatus, a baffle seal plate attached along a third side of the baffle plate, the baffle seal plate attached to the inner surface of the refrigerator apparatus. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of an economizer known in the art. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective illustration of an economizer of the present invention 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the baffle of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a graph of acceleration experienced by a float valve both with and without the baffle of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of the baffle of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   It is therefore a central purpose of the present invention to provide a baffle for use in an economizer which serves to substantially reduce in intensity the magnitude of the pulsations experienced by a float valve. With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an economizer  15  known in the art. The economizer  15  is substantially cylindrical in nature terminated at both ends by end plates  31 ,  31 ′. Extending through one of the end plates  31  is spray pipes  13  which transmits fluid and gas from the condenser. Exiting from the body of the economizer  15  is discharge pipe  9 . Discharge pipe  9  carries gas to the compressor. 
   With reference to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated the inside of an economizer  15  of the present invention showing more clearly the composition of the spray pipe  13 . As is evident, spray pipe  13  extends in a direction generally perpendicular to either one of the end plates  31 , into the interior cavity of the economizer  15  bonded by the inner surface  25  of the economizer  15 . A series of orifices, or perforations, extend through the discharge pipe  9  through which liquid may be transmitted from inside spray pipe  13  into the interior cavity of the economizer  15 . There is further illustrated the baffle plate  11  of the present invention. Baffle plate  11  is a generally planer member having at least two opposing parallel sides or edges. These two parallel sides are attached along the inner surface  25  of the economizer  15 . In the preferred embodiment illustrated, baffle plate  11  is welded to the sides of the economizer  15 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 3 , there are illustrated the central elements of the present invention without the outer shell of the economizer  15 . In the preferred embodiment illustrated, baffle plate  11  is aligned along the axis of discharge pipe  9  such that baffle plate  11  is interposed between spray pipes  13  and discharge pipe  9 . As noted above there is a float valve suspended at a terminus of discharge pipe  9  which is not illustrated. In a preferred embodiment, baffle plate  11  is further attached along one edge to a baffle seal plate  21 . Baffle seal plate  21  is preferably welded to baffle plate  11  along a single edge of baffle seal plate  21 . In addition, baffle seal  21  is welded along a continuous, alternate edge to the inner surface of the economizer  15 . In this manner a concavity is created by the baffle plate  11 , the baffle seal plate  21  and the inner surface  25  of the economizer  15 . The concavity thus formed is continuous and preferably without interruption or perforations. The path of gas from the economizer to the compressor is shown by arrows in FIG.  5 . 
   In normal operation, liquid from the condenser enters into the economizer  15  chamber which is maintained at a lower pressure by the compressor. The liquid traveling into the spray pipe  13  expands into a two-phase flow with the vapor going into the compressor where it is compressed to higher pressure and is discharged into the condenser. This is achieved by movement of the liquid through the perforations in the spray pipe  13  as described above. Liquid from the economizer  15  chamber travels via a float valve which is not illustrated through discharge pipe  51 . In the absence of the baffle plate  11  of the present invention, the pressure pulsations in the economizer chamber are substantial. These pulsations result in a high deflection of the float valve. 
   However, the baffle of the present invention, comprised of the baffle plate  11  and the baffle seal plate  21 , acts as a barrier to reduce the pressure pulsations felt by the float valve and hence reduces the force experienced by the float valve. With reference to  FIG. 4  there is illustrated the acceleration experienced by a float valve in an economizer  15 .  FIG. 3  is a graph of the excitation frequency of the input pulsations versus the acceleration experience of the float valve both with a baffle and without a baffle. As is evident, there is a significant diminution in the acceleration experience by the float valve in the instance when the baffle of the present invention is added to the economizer  15 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated in cross-section the baffle of the present invention. Note that baffle plate  11  is separated from end plate  31  by a distance  51 . Baffle plate  11  is offset from endplate  31  by a distance  61  sufficient to position baffle plate  11  between spray pipe  13  and discharge pipe  9 . 
   It is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the present invention an economizer chamber for minimizing pressure pulsations which fully satisfies the objects, means, and advantages set forth previously herein. While the present invention has been described in the context of specific embodiments thereof, other alternatives, modifications, and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art having read the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace those alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.