Refrigerant circuit accumulator and associated fabrication methods

A method of fabricating a refrigerant circuit accumulator, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first, generally U-shaped metal tube with first and second leg portions respectively having open refrigerant inlet and outlet ends, and a curved, closed end;
• forming a side wall refrigerant inlet opening in said first leg portion adjacent inwardly adjacent said open refrigerant inlet end thereof;
• forming a refrigerant outlet opening in said first leg portion between said side wall refrigerant inlet opening and said open refrigerant inlet end of said first leg portion;
• providing said first leg portion with deflector means interposed between said side wall refrigerant inlet opening and said refrigerant outlet opening and operative to intercept refrigerant exiting said refrigerant outlet opening and deflect the exiting refrigerant laterally outwardly from said first leg portion;
• forming an oil inlet metering orifice in said first metal tube adjacent said closed end thereof;
• mounting filter means on said first metal tube for filtering fluid externally approaching said oil inlet metering orifice;
• providing a second metal tube having open first and second open ends;
• using a spinning process to inwardly deform and close said open first end of said second metal tube;
• forming a spaced pair of holes in the closed first end of said second metal tube;
• inserting said first metal tube, open ends first, and said filter means through said second open end of said second metal tube and through the interior of said second metal tube in a manner causing said open refrigerant inlet and outlet ends of said first metal tube to pass outwardly through said spaced pair of holes in the closed first end of said second metal tube and position said closed end portion of said first metal tube axially inwardly of said second open end of said second metal tube;
• sealing said open refrigerant inlet and outlet ends of said first metal tube within said spaced pair of holes in the closed first end of said second metal tube;
• and
• using a spinning process to inwardly deform and close said open second end of said second metal tube in a manner completely enclosing said closed end of said first metal tube within said second tube.