Patent Description:
In general, a heat pump system circulates a refrigerant through an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve, and the evaporator absorbs a heat source and the condenser discharges the heat source. Here, the refrigerant absorbs the heat source so as to be changed from a liquid phase to a vapor phase (or a gas phase), and discharges the heat source so as to be changed from the vapor phase to a liquid phase. The gas phase refrigerant is compressed by the compressor and subsequently circulates the condenser, the expansion valve, the evaporator, and the compressor as one cycle.

If a liquid phase refrigerant is introduced together with a vapor phase refrigerant to the compressor, while the compressor operates, the liquid phase refrigerant is compressed, causing damage to the compressor.

Thus, in order to prevent this, a vapor-liquid separator (or an accumulator) is connected to a inlet side of the compressor to separate the liquid phase refrigerant and the vapor phase refrigerant.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a related art vapor-liquid separator.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a vapor-liquid separator <NUM> includes a refrigerant inlet pipe 2a provided at an upper portion of the casing <NUM> to allow a refrigerant discharged from the evaporator to be introduced to the inside of the casing <NUM>, includes a refrigerant discharge pipe 2b provided in a lower portion of the casing <NUM> to discharge a gas phase refrigerant separated due to a difference in specific gravity of the refrigerant to the compressor, and stores the liquid phase refrigerant separated from the gas phase refrigerant in the casing <NUM>.

However, since the related art vapor-liquid separator <NUM> is manufactured to be connected to a inlet side of a vertical compressor, it may not be applied to a horizontal compressor advantageously used when a height of an installation space of a compressor is small. If the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is connected to a inlet side of the horizontal compressor, the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> may protrude upwardly from the horizontal compressor, causing a problem that an overall height of the compressor and the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> is increased against what was intended in the horizontal compressor.

In order to solve the problem, <CIT> discloses a horizontal accumulator disposed in a horizontal direction to be parallel to the horizontal compressor.

Meanwhile, in a case in which a heat pump system is applied to a clothes treating apparatus such as a washing machine, and the like, since a drum and a tub accommodating clothes, or the like, occupies the greatest part of an internal space of the clothes treating apparatus, a disposition space to install all of an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, an expansion valve, a vapor-liquid separator, and the like, in the remaining space, excluding the drum and the tub, within the clothes treating apparatus is small.

Here, as illustrated in <FIG>, the horizontal accumulator of <CIT> is not problematic when a inlet <NUM> and a outlet <NUM> are positioned on the opposing sides, but in a case in which the horizontal accumulator of <CIT> is disposed in a narrow space, it is possible to form the inlet <NUM> and the outlet <NUM> on the same side or in the same direction to avoid interference with respect to other components, and even though the inlet <NUM> and the outlet <NUM> are formed on the same side, the following problems arise.

For example, in the structure of the horizontal accumulator of <CIT>, in a case in which the inlet <NUM> and the outlet <NUM> are positioned together on the left side, when a mixture of a liquid phase and gas phase refrigerant and oil introduced through a first communication opening <NUM> passes through an upper space of a liquid phase refrigerant storage space, the liquid phase refrigerant and oil are required to be separated and the gas phase refrigerant is required to be returned toward the outlet. However, since a hole allowing the gas phase refrigerant to be returned is not formed in a second partition plate <NUM>, the gas phase refrigerant is not able to be returned.

Here, even if a hold allowing the gas phase refrigerant to be returned is formed in the second partition plate <NUM>, the returned gas phase refrigerant meets the mixture including the sucked liquid phase refrigerant, or the like, causing a problem that it is impossible to separate the gas phase refrigerant and the liquid phase refrigerant, the intrinsic function of the vapor-liquid separator.

<CIT> relates to a gas-liquid separator for an ejector cycle having a tank body which is constructed such that a refrigerant sprayed from a refrigerant inlet forms a spiral stream in the tank body. The tank body has a horizontal longitudinal axis greater than a vertical axis. The refrigerant inlet is located at a distance from the horizontal longitudinal axis of the tank body such that the refrigerant sprayed from the refrigerant inlet generates a turning force and spirally flows.

<CIT> relates to a lateral type accumulator including a hermetic container which is divided into an intake cell, a discharge cell and a storage chamber between the cells in a horizontal direction by an intake side plate and a discharge side plate. An intake pipe is connected to the intake cell and a discharge pipe is connected to the discharge cell. The accumulator further includes a gas fluid passage from the intake cell to the discharge cell through the intake side and the discharge side plates.

<CIT> relates to a horizontal type accumulator comprising a container of cylindrical shape horizontally placed so that its center axis is horizontal. A lead-in pipe and a lead-out pipe of a refrigerant are connected to one end side which is a side facing the container. Additionally there are support plates for preventing vibration of the lead-in pipe and the lead-out pipe.

Therefore, an aspect of the invention is to provide a clothes treating apparats having a vapor-liquid separator which is compactly disposed within a cabinet in a small installation space.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a clothes treating apparatus having a vapor-liquid separator capable of separating a gas phase refrigerant and a liquid phase refrigerant although an inlet and an outlet are formed on the same side of a casing.

These objects are achieved with the features of the claims. An clothes treating apparatus according to the invention is defined in independent claim <NUM>.

Further scope of applicability of the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

Hereinafter, a vapor-liquid separator and a clothes treating apparatus having the same related to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numbers refer to like elements throughout although the embodiments are different.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an implementation example of a clothes treating apparatus according to the present invention.

A cabinet <NUM> forms an external frame and an appearance of a clothes treatment apparatus. The cabinet <NUM> may have a hexahedral shape. The cabinet <NUM> includes a top cover 10a forming an upper surface of the hexahedron, and may further include a side cover 10b forming opposing sides of the hexahedron, a base cover 10c forming a lower surface of the hexahedron, a front cover 10d forming a front surface of the hexahedron, and a back cover 10e forming a rear surface of the hexahedron.

Here, an opening for introducing the laundry such as clothes, or the like, is formed on the front cover 10d, and a door <NUM> opening and closing the opening is provided. The door <NUM> is coupled to a front cover 10d by a hinge on a left side of the opening and a right side of the door <NUM> may be rotated in a forward/backward direction. An automatic releasing device for automatically releasing the button type door may be provided on a right portion of the door <NUM> and on a right portion of the opening, so that when a right end portion of the door <NUM> is pushed to be closed, the door <NUM> is locked, and when the closed door <NUM> is pressed once, the door <NUM> may be opened.

A power button <NUM> may be provided on a right upper end of the front cover 10d to turn on and off power of the clothes treatment apparatus.

A display unit <NUM> and a touch type control panel may be formed on an upper end portion of the door <NUM>. When a user performs a washing, spin-drying, or drying operation, an operational state of the clothes treatment apparatus may be visible to the user through the display unit <NUM>. Various functions may be selected or selected functions may be released through the touch type control panel.

A detergent supply unit may be provided between a lower side of the tub <NUM> and the base cover 10c and may be drawn out or inserted in a drawer manner. A lower cover <NUM> may be rotatably provided below the front cover 10d in order to cover a front side of the detergent supply unit.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a configuration in which a heat pump module is disposed above a tub.

A cylindrical tub <NUM> is provided within the cabinet <NUM>. An opening communicating with the opening of the front cover 10d is formed on a front side of the tub <NUM> to allow laundry and a dry target to be taken in and out. A hollow part may be provided within the tub <NUM> to store washing water. A gasket 17a extends from the opening of the tub <NUM> to the opening of the front cover 10d in a circumferential direction to prevent leakage of washing water kept in the tub <NUM> to outside and prevent transmission of vibration generated in the tub <NUM> to the cabinet <NUM> when the drum <NUM> is rotated. The gasket 17a may be formed of a vibration insulating member such as rubber. An air outlet is formed on upper rear side of the tub <NUM> to allow air to be discharged from the tub <NUM>. An air inlet is formed in an upper portion of the gasket 17a of the tub <NUM> to allow air to be introduced to the tub <NUM>.

A cylindrical drum <NUM> is rotatably provided within the tub <NUM>. The drum <NUM> has an accommodation space for accommodating laundry and a dry target therein, and has an opening formed on a front side of the drum <NUM> and communicating with the opening of the tub <NUM>. The drum <NUM> has a plurality of through holes formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof to allow washing water and air to pass through the through holes between the drum <NUM> and the tub <NUM>. A lifter is installed at an interval in a circumferential direction within the drum <NUM>, to tumble laundry introduced to the inside of the drum <NUM>. For example, in a washing cycle, washing water supplied to the tub <NUM> is introduced to the inside of the drum <NUM> through the through holes, and when the drum <NUM> is rotated, the laundry introduced to the inside of the drum <NUM> is wet to be washed. Also, in a drying cycle, hot air supplied to the inside of the tub <NUM> is introduced to the inside of the drum <NUM> through the through holes, and as the drum <NUM> rotates, moisture of laundry introduced to the inside of the drum <NUM> is evaporated by hot air to dry the laundry.

The heat pump module <NUM> integrally modularizes an evaporator <NUM>, a compressor <NUM>, a condenser <NUM>, and an expansion valve <NUM> by the integral housing <NUM>. A circulation fan <NUM> providing power to air and the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> separating a gas phase refrigerant and a liquid phase refrigerant may also be integrally installed by the integral housing <NUM>.

The modularized heat pump module <NUM> is disposed between an upper portion of the tub <NUM> and a top cover 10a.

The integral housing <NUM> may include a heat exchange duct unit <NUM> accommodating the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> and a compressor base part <NUM> supporting the compressor <NUM>.

The heat exchange duct unit <NUM> is disposed on a front side in an upper portion of the tub <NUM>, accommodates and supports the heat exchanger <NUM> therein, and is connected to the tub <NUM> to serve as a circulation duct forming a circulation flow channel for circulating air. The heat exchanger <NUM> includes an evaporator <NUM> and a condenser <NUM>, and the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> may be installed within the heat exchange duct unit <NUM> and spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to a rotation central line of the drum.

The compressor base part <NUM> serves to support the compressor <NUM> disposed in a space between an upper portion of the tub <NUM> and a side corner of the cabinet <NUM>.

The integral housing <NUM> may be supported in a forward/backward direction by a front side of the cabinet <NUM>, for example, a front frame <NUM>, and an upper portion of the back cover 10e as a rear side of the cabinet <NUM>. A front side of the heat exchange duct unit <NUM> is in contact with a rear surface of the front frame <NUM> and fastened by a fastening member such as a screw, or the like. A rear side of the compressor base part <NUM> is in contact with a front side of the back cover 10e and fastened by a fastening member such as a screw.

The integral housing <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from an upper outer circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> to prevent transmission of vibrations generated by the drum <NUM> when the drum <NUM> rotates, to the heat pump module <NUM> through the tub <NUM>.

Also, since the evaporator <NUM>, the compressor <NUM>, the condenser <NUM>, the expansion valve, and the like, forming a heat pump cycle are integrated by the integral housing <NUM>, a disposition space of a heat pump system may be compactly optimized.

The heat pump module <NUM> intakes air discharged from the drum <NUM> and heat-exchanges it with the evaporator <NUM> to absorb heat from the air through the evaporator <NUM> and removes moistures in the air (dehumidification function of the heat pump module <NUM>). Also, the heat pump module <NUM> heat-exchanges air discharged from the evaporator <NUM> with the condenser <NUM> to discharge heat from a refrigerant passing through the condenser <NUM> as air to be re-supplied to the inside of the tub through the condenser <NUM> (air heating function of the heat pump module <NUM>).

The heat pump module <NUM> includes a circulation fan <NUM> intaking air discharged from the drum <NUM>. The circulation fan <NUM> may be accommodated and supported in the fan duct unit <NUM>, and may be integrally coupled to the right side of the heat exchange duct unit <NUM> by the fan duct unit <NUM>.

The vapor-liquid separator <NUM> is installed in a vapor-liquid separator mounting part <NUM> and compactly disposed on the rear side of the heat exchange duct unit <NUM> above the tub <NUM>. The vapor-liquid separator mounting part <NUM> is integrally formed between a rear side of the heat exchange duct unit <NUM> and the left side of the compressor base part <NUM>. The vapor-liquid separator <NUM> is disposed between the evaporator <NUM> and the compressor <NUM>, and may be connected to the evaporator <NUM> and the compressor by a refrigerant pipe. The vapor-liquid separator has a cylindrical shape. The vapor-liquid separator according to the present invention, as a horizontal vapor-liquid separator <NUM>, may be compactly disposed even in a narrow space above the tub <NUM>, and a inlet 1151a1 and a outlet 1151a2 are formed on the same side in order to avoid interference with other component. For example, the inlet 1151a1 and the outlet 1151a2 may be disposed to face each other toward the evaporator <NUM> of the heat exchange duct unit <NUM>. The horizontal vapor-liquid separator <NUM> is horizontally disposed so as to be positioned to be lower than a height of the compressor <NUM>.

A control unit controls a general operation of the clothes treatment apparatus, as well as the heat pump module <NUM>. The control unit may include a PCB case having a flat rectangular box shape in which a height thereof is lower than a width and a length thereof, a PCB installed within the PCB case <NUM>, and electric/electronic control components installed in the PCB.

<FIG> is a rear perspective view illustrating a fixing structure of a PCB case of <FIG>.

The PCB case <NUM> may be disposed on a left side of the heat pump module <NUM> in a diagonal direction (when viewed from the front cover 10d) by using a space between the upper side of the tub <NUM> and the left side corner of the cabinet <NUM>.

As for the PCB case <NUM>, a width of the PCB case <NUM> is longer than a space between the center above the tub <NUM> and the left side cover 10b. Thus, in order to avoid interference of the PCB case <NUM> with other components and compactly configure the PCB case <NUM> together with the heat pump module <NUM>, the PCB case <NUM> is preferably disposed in a downward direction of the left side from a central upper portion of the cabinet <NUM> when viewed from the front cover 10d. Here, the left side of the heat pump module <NUM> is positioned between the central upper portion of the cabinet <NUM> and the upper side of the tub <NUM> and a space from the left side corner of the cabinet <NUM> in a downward direction is larger than a space between the central upper portion of the cabinet <NUM> and the upper side of the tub <NUM>, and thus, the PCB case <NUM> is disposed in a diagonal direction such that a right side thereof is disposed to face the left side of the heat pump module <NUM> and a left side of the PCB case <NUM> is disposed to face the left side cover 10b of the cabinet <NUM>.

In order to stably support the PCB case <NUM> within the cabinet <NUM>, the PCB case <NUM> may have a fixing protrusion <NUM> protruding from one side of an upper surface of the PCB case <NUM>. An upper end portion of the fixing protrusion <NUM> may have a hook shape. Also, the cabinet <NUM> may have a fixing member <NUM> extending from one side of an upper end portion of the front cover 10d to one side of an upper end portion of the back cover 10e in order to support the PCB case <NUM>. Since the upper end portion of the fixing protrusion <NUM> is supported to be caught on the side surface of the fixing member <NUM>, the PCB case <NUM> may be stably supported between the left side corner of the cabinet <NUM> and the heat pump module <NUM> and compactly disposed.

The PCB case <NUM> is electrically connected to the heat pump module <NUM>, and thus, performance of the heat pump module <NUM> may be inspected in units of modules before a complete product of the clothes treatment apparatus is assembled. Here, since the PCB case <NUM> is connected to the heat pump module <NUM> for performance inspection of the heat pump module <NUM>, the PCB case <NUM> is preferably positioned to be close to the heat pump module <NUM>.

Thus, since the PCB case <NUM> is disposed in a diagonal direction to be close on the side surface of the heat pump module <NUM> and connected to the heat pump module <NUM>, the PCB case <NUM> may be compactly installed within the cabinet <NUM> together with the heat pump module <NUM>.

Also, the compressor <NUM> may be disposed in the following structure to compactly effectively utilize a space above the tub <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view of a compressor of <FIG>, viewed from the right side, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the compressor of <FIG>.

The compressor <NUM> may be provided as a horizontal compressor <NUM>. The horizontal compressor <NUM> may have an electric mechanism unit 113a and a compression mechanism unit 113b together within a compressor casing 113c and may be disposed to be parallel to a support surface. The compressor <NUM> may be disposed to lie down extendedly in a forward/backward direction of the cabinet <NUM>. The compressor <NUM> may be disposed such that an outer circumferential surface thereof faces in vertical and horizontal directions and a front surface and a rear surface thereof face a front surface and a rear surface of the cabinet <NUM>, respectively.

Also, the horizontal compressor <NUM> is provided such that a lower surface of the compressor base part <NUM>, a support surface, is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. For example, the horizontal compressor <NUM> is installed such that a rear portion of the compressor casing 113c is inclined downwardly with respect to a horizontal plane, allowing oil to gather in a side bearing of the compression mechanism unit 113b. Accordingly, an oil intake hole 1151a1 for intaking oil is immersed in oil all the time, and thus, oil may be smoothly supplied to the side bearing of the compression mechanism unit 113b. Preferably, a slope angle of the compressor <NUM> is ranges from <NUM>° to <NUM>° with respect to a horizontal line.

The electric mechanism unit 113a is integrally provided within the compressor <NUM> to provide a rotational force. The electric mechanism unit 113a may include a stator 113a1 fixed to the compressor casing 113c, a rotor 113a2 disposed within the stator 113a1, and a rotational shaft 113d press-fit to the inside of the rotor 113a2. The rotational shaft 113d may be disposed along a horizontal central line of the compressor casing 113c. The rotational shaft 113d is supported by a main bearing 113b3 and a sub-bearing 113b4.

The compressor <NUM> may be provided as a rotary compressor <NUM>. The compressor <NUM> may have a compression mechanism unit 113b. The compression mechanism unit 113b may include a cylinder 113b1 and a rolling piston 113b2. The rolling piston 113b2 may be eccentrically coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the rotational shaft 113d and compress a refrigerant, while rotating along an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 113b1. The main bearing 113b3 and the sub-bearing 113b4 allow a relative movement between the cylinder 113b1 and the rotational shaft 113d or between the cylinder 113b1 and the rolling piston 113b1.

An oil supply unit includes an oil cap 113b5 communicating with an end portion of an oil flow channel of the rotational shaft 113d, covering an outer surface of the sub-bearing 113b4, and having an oil accommodation space therein, an oil guide pipe 113b6 communicating with the oil cap 113b5, extending to a lower surface of the casing, and intaking oil of the lower surface of the casing to the oil cap 113b5, and an oil collecting pipe 113b7 communicating with a lower surface of the oil cap 113b5 and collecting oil to a lower surface of the casing.

Referring to an oil supply path of the compressor <NUM>, when power is applied to the stator 113a1 of the motor part 113a, the rotor 113a2 is rotated according to an interaction with the stator 113a1, and the rotational shaft 113d coupled to the rotor 113a2 is rotated to transmit rotational force to the rolling piston 113b2 of the compression part 113b. Here, as the rolling piston 113b2 eccentrically rotates in the internal space of the cylinder 113b1, a refrigerant is sucked into the suction chamber of the cylinder 113b1, is continuously compressed to predetermined pressure, moves to a high pressure portion of the casing, and subsequently moves to a heat pump cycle through an outlet <NUM> formed on a front surface of the casing. Here, oil at a low pressure portion is sucked to the oil cap 113b5 through the oil guide pipe 113b6, and the oil moves along an oil flow channel of the rotational shaft 113d and is supplied between the rolling piston 113b2 as a sliding portion of the compression part 113b and the cylinder 113b1 through an oil hole, thus performing a lubricating operation.

The compression mechanism unit 113b may be positioned on a front side of the compression casing 113c, the electric mechanism unit 113a may be positioned on a rear side of the compression casing 113c, and the side bearing of the compression mechanism unit is disposed to be sloped downwardly, whereby oil may be sufficiently supplied to the side bearing of the compression mechanism unit 113b.

The refrigerant outlet <NUM> of the compressor <NUM> may be formed on a front side of the compression casing 113c to face the front frame <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> or the circulation fan <NUM>, and a refrigerant inlet 1151a1 of the compressor <NUM> may be formed on a lower side of an outer circumferential surface of the compressor casing 113c.

In order to reduce vibrations and noise generated in the compressor <NUM>, a vibration-proof mount <NUM> is provided on the compressor base part <NUM> to absorb vibrations of the compressor <NUM>. Also, the fixed bracket <NUM> are welded to at least three positions so as to be fixed to an upper portion of the compressor <NUM> and cover a portion of an upper outer circumferential surface of the compressor <NUM>. The fixed bracket <NUM> transfers vibrations of the compressor <NUM> to the vibration-proof mount <NUM>.

The fixed bracket <NUM> and the vibration-proof mount <NUM> are fixed to an upper portion of a support formed on a side surface of the compressor base part <NUM> by a fastening bolt.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a vapor-liquid separator of <FIG>, <FIG> is a front view of the vapor-liquid separator of <FIG>, viewed from the front side, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of <FIG>, taken along line A-A.

<FIG> illustrates an appearance of the horizontal vapor-liquid separator <NUM>. The horizontal vapor-liquid separator <NUM> is compactly disposed in an internal space of the cabinet <NUM> together with the compressor <NUM>, in particular, between an upper portion of the tub and an upper surface of the cabinet <NUM>. For example, the horizontal vapor-liquid separator <NUM> is disposed such that a front side thereof is laid down to face a front side of the cabinet <NUM>. The front side of the horizontal vapor-liquid separator <NUM> refers to a side seen when the horizontal vapor-liquid separator <NUM> is viewed at a front side of the cabinet <NUM>. In a case in which the heat pump module is mounted above the tub, a front side of the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> may face a rear side of the heat exchange duct unit <NUM>. Thus, when the compressor <NUM> and the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> are viewed from the side cover 10b of the cabinet <NUM>, a height of the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> does not protrude upwardly or downwardly from the compressor <NUM>, not increasing an overall height of the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> and the compressor <NUM>. Thus, even in a case in which an installation space of the compressor <NUM> and the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> is narrow, the compressor <NUM> and the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> may be installed and the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> may be compactly disposed together with the compressor <NUM>.

The horizontal vapor-liquid separator <NUM> includes a cylindrical casing <NUM>. An outer circumferential surface (circular curved surface) of the casing <NUM> may be disposed to face in vertical and horizontal directions of the cabinet <NUM>. A front side and a rear side of the casing <NUM> may be formed as a flat surfaces, and a inlet and a outlet are formed on a front side of the casing. The inlet and outlet protrude in the same direction. A volume space having a predetermined size is provided within the casing <NUM>.

The cylindrical casing <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may include a first casing 1151a and a second casing 1151b having a cylindrical shape. The first casing 1151a may be disposed on the left side and the second casing 1151b may be disposed on the right side, facing each other, and end portions of the first casing 1151a and the second casing 1151b may be assembled in an overlapping manner in a thickness direction to form an airtight space within the casing <NUM>.

An inlet 1151a1 and an outlet 1151a2 are formed on a left side (front side of the casing in <FIG>) of the first casing 1151a. In order to suck a refrigerant to the inside of the casing <NUM>, the inlet 1151a1 is formed in an upper portion of a left side of the first casing 1151a, and the outlet is formed in a lower portion of the left side of the first casing 1151a in order to discharge a refrigerant to the outside of the casing <NUM>.

The inlet 1151a1 is formed at an upper end portion of the front side of the casing <NUM>, and the outlet is formed at a lower end portion of the front side of the casing <NUM>. The inlet 1151a1 of the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> is connected to a outlet of the evaporator by a suction pipe <NUM>, and the outlet of the vapor-liquid separator <NUM> is connected to an inlet of the compressor <NUM> by a discharge pipe <NUM>.

A first partition <NUM> and a second partition <NUM> are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a length direction within the casing <NUM> to divide an internal space of the casing <NUM> into three sections. The first partition <NUM> is disposed within the first casing 1151a, and the second partition <NUM> is disposed within the second casing 1151b. Both end portions of the first partition <NUM> and the second partition <NUM> are bent by a predetermined length and press-fit to the inside of the first casing 1151a and the second casing 1151b to reinforce strength of the casing <NUM>. The first partition <NUM> is disposed to be parallel to the left side of the first casing 1151a, and the second casing <NUM> is disposed to be parallel to the right side of the second casing 1151b. The first partition <NUM> and the second partition <NUM> are disposed in a direction perpendicular to an outer circumferential surfaces of the first and second casings 1151a and 1151b. The first partition <NUM> may be disposed to be adjacent to the left side of the first casing 1151a, and the second partition <NUM> may be disposed to be adjacent to the right side of the second casing 1151b.

Among the three internal spaces, an internal space partitioned between the first partition <NUM> and the second partition <NUM> is a liquid storage part 1151c1 storing a liquid. For example, a liquid phase refrigerant or oil may be temporarily stored in the liquid storage part 1151c1.

Also, among the three internal spaces, a first internal space partitioned between a left side of the first casing 1151a and the first partition <NUM> may form a flow channel for discharging a gas phase refrigerant, and a second internal space partition between a right side of the second casing 1151b and the second partition <NUM> may form a return flow channel 1151c3 for returning a mixture of a gas phase refrigerant, a liquid phase refrigerant, and oil.

The suction pipe <NUM> extends from a front side of the casing <NUM> (the left side of the casing 1151a in <FIG>) to an internal space of the casing <NUM> through the inlet 1151a1 and penetrates through the first partition <NUM> and the second partition <NUM>. Accordingly, a mixture of a gas phase refrigerant, a liquid phase refrigerant, oil, and the like, introduced through the suction pipe <NUM> is independently separated, without being mixed with other fluid, and introduced to the return flow channel 1151c3 formed between the second partition <NUM> and the right side of the casing <NUM>. The suction pipe <NUM> is disposed to be parallel to an outer circumferential surface of the casing <NUM>.

A return hole 1156a is formed below the second partition <NUM> and connects the return flow channel 1151c3 between the second partition <NUM> and the right side of the casing <NUM> and the liquid storage part 1151c1. Thus, a refrigerant mixture introduced along the suction pipe <NUM> is returned to the liquid storage part 1151c1 through the return hole 1156a. A diameter of the return hole 1156a may be within a range of <NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM> of a height of the second partition. The reason for forming the return hole 1156a to be large is to secure a large suction and return amount of a refrigerant mixture fluid which has passed through the suction pipe <NUM>. Also, it is to secure a storage space of a liquid phase refrigerant and oil as much as possible through the return hole 1156a. That is, a liquid phase refrigerant and oil stored in the liquid storage part 1151c1 may be moved to the return flow channel 1151c3 through the return hole 1156a.

The filter unit <NUM> may have a net shape, and may be formed of a material such as a metal having a predetermined strength to maintain a predetermined shape. A hole formed in the net may have a fine size, for example, a size of a few to hundreds of µm. For example, the filter unit <NUM> may filter out a foreign object such as an iron particle, or the like, having a size ranging from <NUM> to <NUM> generated in the compressor, the evaporator, and the like. When the net is formed of thread, a polymer resin, and the like, it may have a separate frame to maintain a predetermined shape. Also, the filter unit <NUM> is configured to surround a circumference of the return hole 1156a to filter out and remove all the foreign objects included in a returned refrigerant mixture fluid. The filter unit <NUM> may form a curved surface protruding from the second partition <NUM> toward the first partition <NUM>, rather than a planar shape. The filter unit <NUM> may include an installation part 1154a configured as an annular shape, a sloped portion 1154b slantingly extending from an end portion of the installation portion 1154a, and a connection portion 1154c extending in a vertical direction from an end portion of the sloped portion 1154b. The installation part 1154a of the filter unit <NUM> may be fixed to the second partition <NUM> through welding, or the like. Also, the installation part 1154a of the filter unit <NUM> may be insertedly coupled to the second partition <NUM> in an insertion manner. The second partition <NUM> includes an annular filter fixing part 1156b for a connection to the filter unit <NUM>.

While passing through the filter unit <NUM> from the liquid storage part 1151c1, a liquid phase refrigerant and oil having a specific gravity higher than that of the gas phase refrigerant sink to a lower surface of the liquid storage unit 1151c1, while a gas phase refrigerant having a low specific gravity may be moved to an upper side of the liquid storage unit 1151c1.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of <FIG>, taken along line B-B.

Referring to <FIG>, a communication hole 1155a has a rectangular shape in which a length is long in a horizontal direction in an upper portion of the first partition <NUM>. The suction pipe <NUM> penetrates through the first partition <NUM> through the communication hole 1155a. The communication hole 1155a is a hole for a gas phase refrigerant separated in the liquid storage space to move to the first internal space. A vertical length of the communication hole 1155a is substantially the same as a diameter of the suction pipe <NUM>, and a horizontal length of the communication hole 1155a is longer than a diameter of the suction pipe <NUM>, so that a gas phase refrigerant may move to the discharge flow channel 1151c2 through the communication hole 1155a, without being mixed with a gas/liquid phase refrigerant mixture, and may be moved to the compressor <NUM> through the outlet and the discharge pipe <NUM> connected to the outlet 1151a2.

A refrigerant of the heat pump module <NUM> includes a portion of oil stored in the compressor <NUM> in the process of being compressed by the compressor <NUM>, and may circulate to the compressor <NUM>, the condenser <NUM>, the expansion valve, and the evaporator <NUM>. Here, before the refrigerant is introduced to the compressor <NUM> from the evaporator <NUM>, the liquid-phase separator <NUM> may separate oil from the liquid phase refrigerant and return the oil to the compressor <NUM>.

In order to separate oil from the liquid phase refrigerant in the vapor-liquid separator <NUM>, a plurality of oil return holes 1155b are formed on the first partition <NUM>. The oil return hole 1155b may be spaced apart from a lower end of the first partition <NUM> in an upward direction.

Oil stored in the liquid storage part 1151c1 has specific gravity grater than that of a liquid phase refrigerant, and thus, oil may sink to be lower than the liquid phase refrigerant, and oil has a high possibility of being returned through the oil return hole 1155b positioned at the lowermost stage of the plurality of oil return holes 1155b.

Also, since the oil return hole 1155b is very small, ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>, for example. Thus, even through a portion of the liquid phase refrigerant stored in the liquid storage unit 1151c1 flows out through the oil return hole 1155b, since it is very small, it is evaporated. Here, the gas phase refrigerant and oil are not mixed with each other.

Claim 1:
A clothes treating apparatus comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>) with a top cover (10a);
a drum (<NUM>) rotatably provided within the cabinet (<NUM>) and receiving laundry or a dry target; and
a heat pump module (<NUM>) comprising an evaporator (<NUM>), a vapor-liquid separator (<NUM>), a compressor (<NUM>), a condenser (<NUM>), and an expansion valve (<NUM>), wherein said heat pump module is configured to circulate a refrigerant by the evaporator (<NUM>), the vapor-liquid separator (<NUM>), the compressor (<NUM>), the condenser (<NUM>), and the expansion valve (<NUM>), and to circulate air discharged from the drum (<NUM>) back to the drum (<NUM>) by way of the evaporator (<NUM>) and the condenser (<NUM>),
wherein the vapor-liquid separator (<NUM>) includes:
a casing (<NUM>) having an accommodation space therein, formed in a cylindrical shape;
an inlet (1151a1) formed in the casing (<NUM>) and allowing a refrigerant mixture fluid to be intaken to the accommodation space therethrough;
an outlet (1151a2) formed on the side of the inlet (<NUM>) and allowing a gas phase refrigerant separated from the refrigerant mixture fluid to be discharged therethrough;
a first partition (<NUM>) comprising a communication hole (1155a) dividing the accommodation space into a discharge flow channel (1151c2) discharging the gas phase refrigerant and a liquid storage part (1151c1) providing a storage space for a liquid phase refrigerant and/or oil separated from the refrigerant mixture fluid;
a suction pipe (<NUM>) extending to the accommodation space through the inlet (1151a1) and passing through the first partition (<NUM>) through the communication hole (1155a), wherein the communication hole (1155a) is larger than the diameter of the suction pipe (<NUM>) so as to allow for a flow of gaseous refrigerant towards the outlet (1151a2),
wherein the first partition (<NUM>) protrudes from a lower surface of the casing (<NUM>) in a direction perpendicular to an outer circumferential surface of the casing (<NUM>), facing the inlet (1151a1) and the outlet (1151a2), and disposed to be spaced apart from the side on which the inlet (1151a1) and the outlet (1151a2) are formed,
wherein an oil return hole (1155b) is formed in the first partition (<NUM>), wherein the casing (<NUM>) is disposed to be downwardly sloped toward the outlet (1151a2) with respect to the top cover (10a) of the cabinet (<NUM>).