Patent ID: 7093461

Claim:
A receiver-dryer comprising: a substantially cylindrical vessel having a base wall; a side wall having an outer surface, said side wall extending generally in a direction away from said base wall; and a concave end wall having an outer surface, said concave end wall terminating said side wall and disposed substantially opposite of said base wall to define an interior chamber, said interior chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion; a refrigerant inlet pipe mounted to said base wall extending into said interior chamber of said vessel, said refrigerant inlet pipe extending in a direction generally away from said base wall within said interior chamber of said vessel and terminating in an exit end facing said concave end wall, said refrigerant inlet pipe adapted for directing refrigerant into contact with said concave end wall such that said refrigerant impinges on said concave end wall to disperse said refrigerant into a gaseous phase that accumulates in said upper portion of said interior chamber and a liquid phase that drains down said concave end wall and said side wall for heat transfer cooling and for accumulation in said lower portion of said interior chamber; and means for cooling said concave end wall, said cooling means being mounted complementary to said outer surface of said concave end wall such that said liquid refrigerant that drains down said concave end wall is cooled by said means for cooling.