Suction accumulator for refrigeration systems

Abstract

A suction accumulator for refrigeration systems having a tank with an inlet fitting for conveying it to refrigerant vapor from the evaporator which is mixed with oil and at times with liquid refrigerant. The tank has an outlet fitting for conveying away the refrigerant vapor from which the oil and liquid refrigerant have been separated. An oil return conduit is located underneath the tank. One end of the oil return conduit is connected into the bottom of the tank; the other end to the outlet fitting of the accumulator. Located within this oil return conduit is a thermostatic expansion valve whose bulb is located on the oil return conduit between the tank and the expansion valve. This bulb senses low superheat when liquid refrigerant is in the tank and in the conduit, and causes the expansion valve to close when liquid refrigerant is present, preventing the flow of large amounts of the liquid refrigerant into the outlet conduit. When no liquid refrigerant, but only oil, is present, the bulb senses superheat and causes the expansion valve to open, allowing relatively free flow of the oil from the accumulator tank into the outlet conduit. Another discriminating device is a float whose specific gravity is such that it floats in liquid halocarbon but sinks in oil.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.