Compressor protection against liquid slug
AssigneeRheem Manufacturing Company
InventorMark O. Creason
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid slug protector device for air conditioning and heat pump systems includes a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a cavity. The device further includes a piston disposed in the cavity. The piston has an inflow channel. The device also includes a backing structure disposed in the cavity. The backing structure has an outflow channel, where a first refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the inflow channel and the outflow channel. The device further includes a peripheral channel that is at least partially bound by the piston. A second refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the peripheral channel and the outflow channel. The second refrigerant flow path is closed when the piston abuts against the backing structure.
Claims20
A liquid slug protector device, the device comprising:
- a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a cavity;
- a piston disposed in the cavity and comprising an inflow channel;
- a backing structure disposed in the cavity between the piston and the outlet port and comprising an outflow channel, wherein a first refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the inflow channel and the outflow channel;
- and
- a peripheral channel that is at least partially bound by the piston, wherein a second refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the peripheral channel and the outflow channel and wherein the second refrigerant flow path is closed when the piston abuts against an O-ring gasket that is positioned against the backing structure and between the piston and the backing structure.
A liquid slug protector device, the device comprising:
- a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a cavity;
- a piston disposed in the cavity, wherein the piston comprises a shaft portion that comprises an inflow channel therethrough;
- a backing structure disposed in the cavity between the piston and the outlet port and comprising an outflow channel, wherein a first refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the inflow channel and the outflow channel;
- and
- a peripheral channel that is at least partially bound by the shaft portion and protrusions extending outwardly from the shaft portion, wherein a second refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the peripheral channel and the outflow channel and wherein the second refrigerant flow path is closed when the piston abuts against the backing structure.
An air conditioning system, comprising:
- an evaporator coil;
- a compressor;
- and
- a liquid slug protector device that is fluidly coupled to the evaporator coil and the compressor, wherein the liquid slug protector device comprises:
- a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a cavity;
- a piston disposed in the cavity and comprising an inflow channel;
- a backing structure disposed in the cavity between the piston and the outlet port and comprising an outflow channel, wherein a first refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the inflow channel and the outflow channel;
- and
- a peripheral channel that is at least partially bound by the piston, wherein a second refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the peripheral channel and the outflow channel and wherein the second refrigerant flow path is closed when the piston abuts against an O-ring gasket that is positioned against the backing structure and between the piston and the backing structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.