Combined evaporator/accumulator/suctionline heat exchanger

Abstract

Extreme compactness is achieved in a combined evaporator 22 and suction line heat exchanger 20 through the use of a first, elongated, flattened, multi-port tube 34 having a major dimension DM, a minor dimension dm measured transverse to the major dimension DM and opposed ends 38, 42. The tube is formed in a serpentine configuration by bends 48 across the minor dimension dm with a plurality of generally parallel, spaced runs 46 extending between the ends 38, 42 to define the evaporator 22. An evaporator inlet fixture 30 is provided on one of the ends 38 and an evaporator outlet fixture 32 is provided on the other end 42. Fins 50 extend between adjacent ones of the runs 46. A second, elongated, flattened, multiport tube 70 having a length that is a minor fraction of that of the first tube includes opposed ends 72, 74 a major dimension DM, and a minor dimension dm measured transverse to the major dimension DM. The second tube, along a side wall substantially defining the major dimension DM is bonded to a corresponding side wall of the first tube 34 at a location 58 immediately upstream of the outlet fixture 32 to be in good heat exchange relation therewith to define a heat exchange suction line heat exchanger integral with the evaporator 22.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.