Pumps – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-06
2004-04-27
Yu, Justine R. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Combined
C055S309000, C055S350100, C055S486000, C055SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06726456
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foreign matter removing structure, which can be applied to refrigerant circulating circuits (refrigeration cycles) for systems such as air conditioning systems, etc., and is used for removing foreign matter in a refrigerant gas flowing through the refrigerant circulating circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
As this kind of foreign matter removing structure, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-235569 discloses that a filter is disposed in a refrigerant passage.
However, in the art in the prior publication described above, a simple construction in which the filter is arranged so as to disturb the refrigerant flow is used. Therefore, if blockage of the element of the filter occurs, the refrigerant flow is unnecessarily reduced in the element, resulting in deterioration of the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle and a decrease of the capacity of the air conditioning system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a foreign matter removing structure, which maintains its removing function for foreign matter even if blockage of a filter element occurs and which disturbs a fluid flow as little as possible.
To realize the above-mentioned purpose, the first aspect of the present invention provides a foreign matter removing structure characterized in that it includes a filter which can remove foreign matter in a fluid flowing through a fluid circuit wherein the filter comprises; a cylindrical filter body which is disposed in a fluid passage of the fluid circuit, a lid portion installed so as to close an opening positioned downstream of the fluid passage in the filter body, communication holes which penetrate through the filter body and communicate the inside of the filter body with the outside thereof, and one or a plurality of filter elements which are disposed in the filter body and/or the lid portion so as to be positioned more downstream than the communication holes; wherein a gap between an outer circumferential surface of the filter body and an inner circumferential surface of the fluid passage is closed at the upstream side of the communication holes.
In the above construction, a fluid flowing into the fluid passage then flows into the filter body through an opening in an upstream side. A part of the fluid flowing into the filter body is discharged to the outside of the filter body while foreign matter is removed by the filter elements.
Also, a part of the fluid flowing into the filter body is discharged to the outside of the filter body through the communication holes. The fluid discharged to the outside of the filter body flows through a space between the outer circumferential surface of the filter body and the inner circumferential surface of the fluid passage to be discharged to the downstream side of the filter. The flow direction of the fluid passing through this flow route is sharply changed when it is discharged out of the filter body. As a result, the foreign matter in the fluid are centrifugally separated from the fluid when the fluid flow direction is sharply changed.
On the other hand, if a blockage occurs in the filter elements, it becomes difficult for the fluid in the filter body to flow through the filter elements and to be discharged from the filter body. However, other than a first route in which a fluid flows through the filter elements and is discharged, a second discharging route including the communication holes therein is provided as a route for discharging the fluid out of the filter body. Therefore, even if a blockage occurs in the filter elements, that is, in the first route, the second route allows the fluid to pass therethrough, so that the function of removing foreign matter can be maintained and at the same time it can be prevented, as much as possible, that the fluid flow is disturbed by the filter.
The second aspect of the present invention according to the first aspect thereof is characterized in that the filter elements are disposed in the filter body and the lid portion.
In this construction, the filter elements have a three dimensional arrangement as a whole, so that the filtering of the fluid by the element is accomplished widely on the surfaces provided in the three dimensional arrangement and the foreign matter removing capacity (the capacity preventing foreign matter from passing downstream) of the present structure is improved.
The third aspect of the present invention according to either of the first or the second aspect thereof is characterized in that, in the fluid passage, a foreign matter holding recess is formed below the communication holes.
In this construction, foreign matter separated in the second route is surely held in the foreign matter holding recess, so that the foreign matter removing capacity of the present structure is improved.
The fourth aspect of the present invention provides a foreign matter removing structure characterized in that it includes a filter which can remove foreign matter in a fluid flowing through a fluid circuit wherein the filter comprises; a cylindrical filter body which is disposed in a fluid passage of the fluid circuit, a lid portion installed so as to close an opening positioned upstream of the fluid passage in the filter body, communication holes which penetrate through the filter body and communicate the inside of the filter body with the outside thereof, and one or a plurality of filter elements which are disposed in the filter body so as to be positioned downstream of the communication holes; wherein a gap between an outer circumferential surface of the filter body and an inner circumferential surface of the fluid passage is closed downstream of the filter elements.
In the above construction, a fluid flowing into the fluid passage is then forced to flow through at the side of the lid portion by the lid portion opposing the fluid flow. A part of the fluid flowing through the side of the lid portion flows through a space between the outer circumferential surface of the filter body and the inner circumferential surface of the fluid passage to flow into the inside of the filter body, while foreign matter is removed by the filter elements. The fluid, flowing into the inside of the filter body after foreign matter is removed, is discharged out of the filter body through a hole on the downstream side.
The flow direction of a part of the fluid flowing through the side of the lid portion in the fluid passage is sharply changed and the fluid is turned around the outer circumferential edge of the lid portion and part of the fluid flows into the filter body through the communication holes. As a result, the foreign matter in the fluid is centrifugally separated from the fluid by the sharp change of the fluid flow direction and the foreign matter falls into a space between the outer circumferential surface of the filter body and the inner circumferential surface of the fluid passage, that is, inside the foreign matter holding recess positioned in the area lower than the communication holes, and is held in the space. The fluid, which flows into the filter body and from which the foreign matter is removed, is discharged out of the filter body through a hole located downstream.
In this aspect of the present invention, as in the first aspect thereof described above, other than the first route in which the fluid flows through the filter elements and is discharged, a second route, including the communication holes through which the fluid passes, is provided. Therefore, even if blockage of the filter elements, that is, in the first route, occurs, the second route allows the fluid to pass therethrough, so that the function of removing foreign matter can be maintained and at the same time it can be prevented, as much as possible, that the fluid flow is disturbed by the filter.
The fifth aspect of the present invention according to the fourth aspect thereof is characterized in that the filter element is also disposed in the lid portion.
In this constructi
Hayashi Shiro
Mera Minoru
Mizutani Hideki
Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
Solak Timothy P.
Woodcock & Washburn LLP
Yu Justine R.
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