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 can include a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, an abutment surface, and a cavity. The device can include a piston disposed in the cavity. The piston can have a primary channel. The device can include a secondary channel. A first refrigerant flow path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port can include the primary channel. A second refrigerant flow path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port can include the secondary channel. The second refrigerant flow path can be closed when the piston abuts against the abutment surface.
Claims20
A liquid slug protector device comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- an inlet port and an outlet port;
- an abutment surface upstream from the outlet port;
- and
- a cavity at least partially disposed between the inlet port and the abutment surface;
- and
- a piston disposed in the cavity, the piston comprising a primary channel and a secondary channel, wherein:
- the piston is configured to move between a first position and a second position, the piston being spaced apart from the abutment surface when the piston is in the first position, and the piston abutting the abutment surface when the piston is in the second position,
- a first refrigerant flow path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port includes the primary channel,
- when the piston is in the first position, a second refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the secondary channel, and
- when the piston is in the second position, the second refrigerant flow path is closed.
A liquid slug protector device comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- an inlet port and an outlet port;
- an abutment surface upstream from the outlet port;
- and
- a cavity at least partially disposed between the inlet port and the abutment surface;
- and
- a piston disposed in the cavity, the piston comprising a primary channel extending therethrough and a plurality of protrusions arranged at a periphery of the piston, each adjacent pair of the plurality of protrusions forming a secondary channel therebetween such that the liquid slug protector device comprises one or more secondary channels,
- wherein:
- the piston is configured to move between a first position and a second position, the piston being spaced apart from the abutment surface when the piston is in the first position, and the piston abutting the abutment surface when the piston is in the second position,
- a first refrigerant flow path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port includes the primary channel,
- when the piston is in the first position, one or more second refrigerant flow paths extending between the inlet port and the outlet port includes a corresponding one of the one or more secondary channels, and
- when the piston is in the second position, the second refrigerant flow path is closed.
A system comprising:
- a compressor;
- and
- a liquid slug protector device that is fluidly couples to the compressor, the liquid slug protector device comprising:
- an inlet port and an outlet port;
- an abutment surface upstream from the outlet port;
- and
- a cavity at least partially disposed between the inlet port and the abutment surface;
- and
- a piston disposed in the cavity, the piston comprising a primary channel and a secondary channel,
- wherein:
- the piston is configured to move between a first position and a second position, the piston being spaced apart from the abutment surface when the piston is in the first position, and the piston abutting the abutment surface when the piston is in the second position,
- a first refrigerant flow path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port includes the primary channel,
- when the piston is in the first position, a second refrigerant flow path from the inlet port to the outlet port includes the secondary channel, and
- when the piston is in the second position, the second refrigerant flow path is closed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.