Patent ID: 8578731

Claim:
A refrigerant charge compensator, comprising: a housing having an internal volume and first and second ports for allowing a passage of refrigerant therethrough, said internal volume being partitioned into an indirect refrigerant passageway that extends through said housing and first and second refrigerant storage areas being spaced apart, a storage access port connected to each of said first and second refrigerant storage areas and said first and second refrigerant storage areas contacting said indirect refrigerant passageway, wherein said indirect refrigerant passageway comprises; a volume separated from said first and second refrigerant storage areas and defined by a first wall attached to an interior surface of said housing and having an opening therethrough and a second wall attached to an interior surface of said housing and having an opening therethrough and spaced apart from said first wall, said volume being fluidly connected to a first refrigerant tube attached to said opening of said first wall and that extends outside of said housing through said first refrigerant storage area to provide said first port and a second refrigerant tube attached to said opening of said second wall and that extends outside of said housing through said second refrigerant storage area to provide said second port.