Refrigeration – Refrigeration producer – Compressor-condenser-evaporator circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-28
2001-10-16
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Refrigeration
Refrigeration producer
Compressor-condenser-evaporator circuit
C062S512000, C165S132000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301926
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a condenser, in particular for a refrigerating fluid in an air conditioning device for the passenger compartment of an automobile, comprising a collection compartment and an intermediate reservoir, for the treatment and/or accumulation of a fluid, with channels linking it to the collection compartment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is well known, the intermediate reservoir in such a condenser can perform some or all of the following functions: filtration and/or dehydration of the refrigerating fluid, compensation for variations in its volume, and separation of the gaseous and liquid phases. Interposing it between upstream and downstream sections of the condenser ensures the fluid in the latter circulates only in the liquid state, which is thus supercooled to a point below the temperature at which the liquid changes to a gas, improving the performance of the condenser and making the former relatively independent of the amount of fluid contained in the circuit.
EP-A-0 480 330 describes an intermediate reservoir in a vehicle air conditioning condenser secured, so as to be removable, to a base fixedly attached to the collection compartment and traversed by two connecting channels. This reservoir is fitted at its lower end with a head embodied in its wall, which is secured to the base by means of a screw. The connecting channels extend partly into the base and partly into the reservoir head.
This conventional configuration is relatively complex and cumbersome. Furthermore, to replace the reservoir, it is necessary to slacken the fixing screw, which can generate serious difficulties related to accessibility within the vehicle.
one aim of the invention is to enable these disadvantages to be at least partly remedied.
Embodiments of the invention permit simple, convenient methods of fixing the reservoir to the base, thus ensuring these are protected against interior and exterior forces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a condenser, in particular for a refrigerating fluid in an air conditioning device for the passenger compartment of an automobile, comprising a collection compartment and intermediate reservoir for the treatment and/or Accumulation of a fluid, secured in such a way that it can be removed to a base which is fixedly attached to the collection compartment and traversed by two connecting channels for transferring fluid between the collection compartment and the reservoir, the reservoir and the base having matching threaded surfaces which are joined together to secure the reservoir to the base, with at least one sealing ring preventing the fluid contained in the reservoir from coming into contact with the said threaded surfaces and an additional stopping element protecting the former from external corrosive agents, wherein the topping element is a sleeve covering tightly two surface portions turned radially outwards, belonging to the reservoir and the base respectively and located next to each other in the axial direction.
The invention basically comprises a condenser with a collection compartment and an intermediate reservoir for the treatment and/or accumulation of a fluid, which is fixed to the base incorporated in the collection compartment so as to be removable, traversed by two connecting channels for transferring fluid between the collection compartment and the reservoir.
In accordance with the present invention, the reservoir and the base have matching threaded surfaces which interconnect to secure the reservoir on the base, at least one sealing ring preventing the fluid contained in the reservoir from coming into contact with the said threaded surfaces, and an inset stopping element protecting the former from external corrosive agents.
Some optional features of the invention, additional or alternative, are set out below:
The sealing ring is coaxial with the said threaded surfaces.
The said stopping element is coaxial with the said threaded surfaces.
The said stopping element is an elastic ring fitted axially between the surfaces of the reservoir and the base.
The stopping element is a sleeve which just covers two portions of the surface, turned radially outwards, belonging to the reservoir and the base respectively, meeting in the axial direction, the said portions of the surface being joined to the said threaded surfaces by quick-release fittings.
The sleeve is fitted tightly to the said portion of the reservoir surface and covers the said portion of the surface of the base loosely.
The threaded reservoir surface is an external surface joined to the said portion of the reservoir surface by a shoulder, the threaded surface and the said surface portion of the base being provided on the internal and external faces of an annular wall, adjacent to a free axial end of the former.
On its inner face, the sleeve has an annular rib fitting between the said collar and the said free end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Features and advantages of the invention will be described in greater detail in the following paragraphs, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a front elevation of a condenser in accordance with the invention.
FIGS. 2 and 3
are sectional views along the base and the lower part of the reservoir, each associated with a different method of manufacturing the condenser.
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Avequin Stéphane
Paquet Andre
Dahbour Fadi H.
Liniak Berenato Longacre & White
Valeo Thermique Moteur
Walberg Teresa
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