Non-directional filter dryer

A filter-dryer for use in an air-conditioning system including a compressor, said filter-dryer comprising an elongated housing enclosing molecular sieve material, and first and second fluid ports at opposite ends of the housing, said molecular sieve material being supported by a first filter basket assembly at one end of the housing, and a screen and baffle assembly at the other end of the housing,

• said first filter basket assembly including a first cup-shaped filter basket, located adjacent the first port and opening away from the first port toward the molecular sieve material, and an annular flange supporting the open end of the basket and fixing the open end of the first filter basket to an inside surface of the housing,
• said screen and baffle assembly including a second filter basket assembly having a second cup-shaped filter basket, said second filter basket located adjacent the first port and opening toward the first port and away from the molecular sieve material, and an annular flange supporting the open end of the second basket, and fixing the open end of the second basket to the inside surface of the housing, said second filter basket including a radially-enlarged cylindrical portion toward the open end of the filter basket supported by the flange, and a radially-reduced cylindrical portion toward the closed end of the second end of the filter basket, and an annular shoulder between the radially-enlarged and radially-reduced portions of the basket,
• said screen and baffle assembly also including a perforated baffle plate disposed against the sieve material toward the end of the housing with the second filter basket, and a spring extending between the baffle plate and the shoulder of the second filter basket, and receiving and surrounding the radially-reduced portion of the second filter basket, said spring biasing the baffle plate against the molecular sieve material to maintain the molecular sieve material in a compacted state.

A method for assembling a filter-dryer, comprising the steps of:

• i) providing a tubular housing having an open first end, and a second end;
• ii) inserting a first filter basket assembly into the housing through the open first end, said first filter basket assembly including a first cup-shaped filter basket and an annular flange supporting the open end of the basket, said first filter basket being inserted through the first end such that the open end of the basket faces away from the second end and toward the first end, said flange retaining the first filter basket against the inside surface of the housing adjacent the second end;
• iii) loading loose molecular sieve material into the housing through the open first end, such that the filter basket assembly supports the molecular sieve material at the second end of the housing;
• iv) inserting a screen and baffle assembly into the housing through the open first end, said screen and baffle assembly including a circular baffle plate located against the molecular sieve material, a spring, and a second filter basket assembly, said second filter basket assembly having a second cup-shaped filter basket and an annular flange supporting the open end of the second filter basket, said second filter basket including a radially-enlarged cylindrical portion toward the open end of the basket supported by the flange, and a radially-reduced cylindrical portion toward the closed end of the basket, and an annular shoulder between the radially-enlarged and radially-reduced portions of the basket, said screen and baffle assembly being inserted through the open first end of the housing such that an open end of the second filter basket faces toward the open first end of the housing and away from the molecular sieve material and the reduced portion of the filter basket is received by and surrounded by the spring, said spring extending between the baffle plate and the shoulder of the second filter basket to bias the baffle plate against the molecular sieve material to maintain the molecular sieve material in a compacted state, said second flange retaining the second basket against the inner surface of the housing adjacent the open end;
• and
• v) forming the first end and the second end of the housing so as to provide necked-down first and second ports.