Desiccant bag spacer and cage
AssigneeDENSO International America, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Basinski, Jonathan Radzicki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spacer for a body of a refrigerant tank—such as a modulator—in an automotive HVAC device is provided. In embodiments, the spacer is flexible to enable it to be inserted into the modulator, and expanded out against the walls of the modulator when released therein. The spacer inhibits a desiccant bag from contacting the inner wall of the modulator, namely the location where a hole (e.g., for an inlet or outlet) is provided. The spacer can be a cage that surrounds a lower portion of the desiccant bag. And end of the desiccant bag can wrap around a flange of the cage, and be attached to the flange by mechanical fastening (e.g., through a slot), or by welding, or other means.
Claims18
A receiver drier assembly for an automotive HVAC system, the receiver drier assembly comprising:
- a modulator having a tubular interior surface, the modulator having an inlet configured to receive fluid and an outlet configured to expel fluid;
- a desiccant bag disposed within the modulator;
- and
- a desiccant bag cage secured about a portion of the desiccant bag, wherein the desiccant bag cage prevents the portion of the desiccant bag from contacting the interior surface of the modulator;
- wherein the desiccant bag cage includes a main body and a flange extending outwardly from the main body, wherein the desiccant bag is secured to the flange.
A receiver drier assembly for an automotive HVAC system, the receiver drier assembly comprising:
- a modulator having a tubular interior surface, the modulator further having an inlet and an outlet;
- a desiccant bag disposed within the modulator;
- a cap assembly disposed within the modulator and including a filter, wherein the cap assembly is aligned with the outlet;
- and
- a spacer supported by the cap assembly within the modulator, wherein the spacer is aligned with the inlet, and wherein the spacer inhibits the desiccant bag from being aligned with the inlet;
- wherein the spacer includes a head having a plurality of head segments biased in a spaced-apart relationship from one another in a normal configuration, and compressed toward one another in a compressed configuration.
A method of assembling a receiver drier for an automotive HVAC, the method comprising:
- brazing or welding a thread within a modulator;
- then
- inserting a desiccant bag through the thread and into the modulator;
- then
- inserting a compressed spacer through the thread and into the modulator;
- then
- allowing the compressed spacer to expand within the modulator;
- and then
- inserting a plastic cap assembly through the thread.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.