Suction line flow stream separator for parallel compressor arrangements

A multiple compressor refrigeration system comprising:

• a first low-side compressor having a shell which defines an oil sump;
• a second low-side compressor having a shell which defines an oil sump;
• an oil level equalization conduit connecting the oil sumps of said first and said second compressors for flow;
• an evaporator;
• suction line conduit means connected to said evaporator for conducting a suction gas flow stream from said evaporator, said flow stream being a stream comprised of vaporized refrigerant gas in which oil is entrained;
• and
• means for unequally apportioning said gas stream to the shells of said first and second second compressors by causing said gas stream to diverge, said means for unequally apportioning having (i) a housing, connected to said suction line conduit mens, which defines both an expansion section and a separation chamber, said separation chamber having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of said suction line conduit menas and said expansion section being upstream of said separation chamber and causing said flow stream of diverge upstream thereof, said separation chamber being in flow communication at a downstream end with the interior of the shell of said first compressor and (ii) a takeoff conduit having a distal end, said takeoff conduit penetrating said housing and extending into said separation chamber so that said distal end is located in and spaced from the wall of said separation chamber downstream of said expansion section, said distal end facing generally into the flow stream conducted from said evaporator to said separation chamber the cross-sectional area of said distal end of said distal end of said takoff conduit being sized so that a majority of the contents of the gas flow stream communicated from said evaporator into said separation chamber bypass the distal end of said takeoff conduit.