US 6,840,746 B2 · Resistive suction muffler for refrigerant compressors

Abstract

A resistive muffler attenuates sound generated by the gas intake and suction valve during compressor operation of a refrigerant compressor. The resistive muffler is assembled inline with the suction gas flow of the compressor and is positioned within the compressor housing. The resistive muffler attenuates the sound generated by the compressor during its operation as refrigerant gas is drawn into the compressor from an evaporator and passes through the resistive muffler in transit to the suction valve and hence to the region of the compressor where the gas is physically compressed. The resistive muffler includes a muffler housing having an intake end and an exhaust end. An acoustic foam assembly is incorporated into the muffler housing. The acoustic foam assembly is selected on the basis of its ability to absorb sound over a broad range of frequencies and is the muffler containing the acoustic foam is assembled within the compressor so that the sound does not bypass the muffler and transmit significant amounts of the sound to the compressor housing. The acoustic foam remains chemically inert when exposed to the compressor fluids at elevated temperatures of operation, and retains its ability to absorb sound over a broad range of frequencies even when saturated with compressor fluids. The foam assembly should also be able to withstand very large pressure fluctuations without experiencing deterioration.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An acoustic muffler, comprising:

a muffler housing positioned within a compressor housing of a reciprocating refrigerant compressor;
an intake tube at a first end of the muffler housing for receiving a flow of refrigerant fluid;
an exhaust tube at a second end opposed of the muffler housing to exhaust the flow of refrigerant fluid;
an acoustic foam assembly positioned within the muffler housing adjacent to but outside the primary flow of the fluid, the foam assembly being chemically inert to compressor fluids, the acoustic foam assembly characterized by its ability to attenuate sound over a broad range of sound frequencies, even when saturated with compressor fluids, and further characterized by stability at high temperatures and fluctuating pressures experienced in normal compressor operation;
and
wherein the muffler housing and foam assembly are assembled within the compressor as a muffler so that sound generated by the flow of gas into a piston assembly of the compressor does not bypass the muffler, which attenuates noise resulting from compressor operation substantially reducing sound retransmitted to the compressor housing.

3 more elements

A refrigerant compressor comprising:

a compressor housing;
a suction line extending through the compressor housing to introduce refrigerant fluid into the compressor housing;
an intake tube within the compressor housing for receiving refrigerant fluid introduced into the compressor housing;
an exhaust tube to receive refrigerant fluid from the intake tube;
a resistive muffler positioned within the compressor housing between the intake tube and the exhaust tube, the resistive muffler including an acoustic foam assembly positioned within a muffler housing adjacent to but outside the primary flow of fluid through the muffler, the foam assembly being chemically inert to compressor refrigerant fluids, the acoustic foam assembly characterized by its ability to attenuate sound over a broad range of sound frequencies, even when saturated with compressor fluids, and further characterized by stability at high temperatures and fluctuating pressures experienced in normal compressor operation, and wherein the muffler attenuates sound generated by the operation of the compressor so that the sound does not bypass the muffler, substantially reducing sound retransmitted to the compressor housing;
a gas inlet port to receive refrigerant fluid from the exhaust tube;
a compressor mechanism that receives refrigerant fluid from the exhaust tube;
an electric motor to drive the compressor mechanism to compress the refrigerant fluid introduced from the exhaust tube;
and a gas discharge port the exhausts the compressed refrigerant fluid into a refrigerant system.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Resistive suction muffler for refrigerant compressors

Life of this patent

Resistive suction muffler for refrigerant compressors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25