Receiver-drier for use in an air conditioning system

A receiver-drier for use in an air conditioning system, said receiver-drier comprising:

• a lower portion defining a lower chamber in said receiver-drier, said lower portion having an inlet adapted to receive an inlet pipe and for allowing a refrigerant of said air conditioning system to flow from said inlet pipe into said lower chamber and an outlet for allowing said refrigerant to flow out of said lower chamber, each of said inlet and said outlet being formed at a bottom of said lower portion;
• an upper portion defining an upper chamber in said receiver-drier, said upper chamber being on top of said lower chamber and being charged with a desiccant for removing moisture from said refrigerant;
• and
• a strainer for removing foreign particles from said refrigerant, said strainer being disposed at a position in a flow of said refrigerant from said inlet to said outlet,
• wherein said inlet adapted to receive said inlet pipe is such that said inlet pipe is essentially non-intrusive into the upper chamber;
• and
• wherein said lower portion comprises a block for closing a bottom opening of said receiver-drier, said block having said inlet and said outlet, said inlet and said outlet being sized to receive elastomeric seals which are disposed about end portions of said inlet and outlet pipes.

A receiver-drier, for use in an air conditioning system, said receiver-drier comprising:

• a lower portion defining a lower chamber in said receiver-drier, said lower portion having an inlet for allowing a refrigerant of said air conditioning system to flow into said lower chamber and an outlet for allowing said refrigerant to flow out of said lower chamber, each of said inlet and said outlet being formed at a bottom of said lower portion;
• an upper portion defining an upper chamber in said receiver-drier, said upper chamber being on top of said lower chamber and being charged with a desiccant for removing moisture from said refrigerant;
• and
• a strainer for removing foreign particles from said refrigerant, said strainer being disposed at a position in a flow of said refrigerant from said inlet to said outlet,
• wherein said strainer comprises a cylindrical head portion, a base portion, and a cylindrical net portion for removing foreign particles from said refrigerant, said cylindrical net portion being provided between said cylindrical head portion and said base portion,
• wherein said strainer further comprises a fluorescent dye for detecting a refrigerant leak of said air conditioning system, and wherein said cylindrical head portion of said strainer comprises a holder for holding said fluorescent dye,
• wherein said holder of said strainer comprises:
• a base surface for supporting thereon said fluorescent dye;
• and
• at least two flexible arms that extend from said base surface and are spaced from each other by a distance such that said fluorescent dye is held between said at least two flexible arms.

A receiver-drier for use in an air conditioning system, said receiver-drier comprising:

• a lower portion defining a lower chamber in said receiver-drier, said lower portion having an inlet adapted to receive an inlet pipe and for allowing a refrigerant of said air conditioning system to flow from said inlet pipe into said lower chamber and an outlet for allowing said refrigerant to flow out of said lower chamber, each of said inlet and said outlet being formed at a bottom of said lower portion;
• an upper portion defining an upper chamber in said receiver-drier, said upper chamber being on top of said lower chamber and being charged with a desiccant for removing moisture from said refrigerant;
• a strainer for removing foreign particles from said refrigerant, said strainer being disposed at a position in a flow of said refrigerant from said inlet to said outlet;
• and
• a sensor for sensing a pressure of said refrigerant in said receiver-drier,
• wherein said inlet adapted to receive said inlet pipe is such that said inlet pipe is essentially non-intrusive into the upper chamber.

A receiver-drier for use in an air conditioning system, said receiver-drier comprising:

• a first means for defining a lower chamber in said receiver-drier, said first means having an inlet adapted to receive an inlet pipe and for allowing a refrigerant of said air conditioning system to flow from said inlet pipe into said lower chamber and an outlet for allowing said refrigerant to flow out of said lower chamber, each of said inlet and said outlet being formed at a bottom of said lower portion;
• a second means for defining an upper chamber in said receiver-drier, said upper chamber being on top of said lower chamber and being charged with a desiccant for removing moisture from said refrigerant;
• and
• a third means for removing foreign particles from said refrigerant, said third means being detachably attached to said first means by inserting said third means from an outside of said receiver-drier into said outlet,
• wherein said inlet adapted to receive said inlet pipe is such that said inlet pipe is essentially non-intrusive into the upper chamber.

A receiver-drier for use in an air conditioning system, said receiver-drier comprising:

• a lower portion defining a lower chamber in said receiver-drier, said lower portion having an inlet adapted to receive an inlet pipe and for allowing a refrigerant of said air conditioning system to flow from said inlet pipe into said lower chamber and an outlet for allowing said refrigerant to flow out of said lower chamber, each of said inlet and said outlet being formed at a bottom of said lower portion;
• an upper portion defining an upper chamber in said receiver-drier, said upper chamber being on top of said lower chamber and being charged with a desiccant for removing moisture from said refrigerant;
• a strainer for removing foreign particles from said refrigerant, said strainer being disposed at a position in a flow of said refrigerant from said inlet to said outlet,
• wherein said inlet adapted to receive said inlet pipe is such that said inlet pipe is essentially non-intrusive into the upper chamber;
• and
• a holding mechanism comprising:
• a flange which engages a step diameter portion in said outlet;
• and
• a projection which extends radially outward from the strainer and which is so sized and constructed as to resist retraction of the strainer from said outlet.