Distributor systems for heat exchangers

A header tube assembly comprising:

• a longitudinal housing having an open end with a first internal diameter and a closed end with a second internal diameter that is greater than the first internal diameter, the housing including a plurality of apertures extending through a sidewall of the housing, each of the plurality of apertures being configured to direct a flow of refrigerant between an internal volume of the housing and a corresponding refrigerant flow path of a heat exchanger, wherein the housing has a transition wall extending from the first internal diameter to a third internal diameter, wherein the housing has a tapered wall that tapers inwardly from the third internal diameter to the second internal diameter, and wherein the third internal diameter is a maximum internal diameter;
• and
• a flexible check valve disposed at the open end of the housing, the flexible check valve having an opening that is configured to transition between a first state having a first cross sectional area and a second state having a second cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area,
• wherein the flexible check valve is semi-closed in the first state and open in the second state, and wherein the flexible check valve is configured to transition to the second state when a flow of refrigerant flows through the housing in a direction extending from the closed end to the open end, and the flexible check valve is configured to resist deformation when the flexible check valve is in the first state and the flow of refrigerant flows through the housing in a direction extending from the open end to the closed end.

A header tube assembly comprising:

• a longitudinal housing having an open end with a first internal diameter and a closed end with a second internal diameter that is greater than the first internal diameter, the housing including:
• a plurality of apertures extending through at least one sidewall of the housing, each of the plurality of apertures being configured to direct a flow of refrigerant between an internal volume of the housing and a corresponding refrigerant flow path of a heat exchanger,
• wherein at least one of the sidewalls of the housing is a transition wall extending from the first internal diameter to a third internal diameter, wherein at least one of the sidewalls of the housing is a tapered wall that tapers inwardly as the tapered wall extends in a direction extending from the third internal diameter to the second internal diameter, and wherein the third internal diameter is a maximum internal diameter, and
• an inner tube located within the internal volume of the housing, the inner tube having (i) an open end proximate the open end of the housing, (ii) a closed end proximate the closed end of the housing, and (iii) an external diameter that is less than an internal diameter of the housing such that a gap exists between the inner tube and the housing, the inner tube including:
• a plurality of inner apertures extending through at least one sidewall of the inner tube, each of the plurality of inner apertures being configured to permit refrigerant to flow therethrough between an internal volume of the inner tube and the gap,
• wherein at least one of the sidewalls of the inner tube is a tapered wall that tapers inwardly as the tapered wall extends in a direction extending from the open end to the closed end of the inner tube, and wherein a distance between the tapered wall of the inner tube and the tapered wall of the housing is defined by the gap.