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US 7,143,524 B2Granted
Desiccant cartridge having desiccant cap
AssigneeFlow Dry Technology, Inc.
InventorDavid V. Flaugher
Life of this patent
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AssigneeFlow Dry Technology, Inc.
InventorDavid V. Flaugher
Estimating the term…
This invention relates to a desiccant cartridge (10) adapted for use in a canister (14) of an integrated receiver/dryer or accumulator assembly of an automotive air conditioning system wherein the canister (14) has an offset inlet port (16). The desiccant cartridge (10) includes a desiccant cup (18) having a center tube (36) and a desiccant cap (12) including a planar portion (44) having a recessed port area (46) provided with a first aperture (56), or first tube (72), for cooperation with a side tube (78) and/or the offset inlet port (16) of the canister (14). The cap (12) further includes a docking piece (80) provided with a second aperture (88), or second tube (92), for cooperating with the center tube (36) of the cup (18) when the cap (12) is retained therein. Notably, the docking piece (80) is designed to cooperate with the recessed port area (46), preferably via a snap fit, to define a passageway (98) therebetween so that gas and/or fluid can enter the canister (14) via the inlet port (16), circulate through the desiccant cartridge (10), and finally exit via an outlet port (126).
In a desiccant cartridge, a combination comprising a generally circular cap for providing closure over said desiccant cartridge to retain desiccant therein and a docking piece for engagement with said cap, said combination having a central axis extending therethrough and a first aperture coaxial with said central axis for communication with said desiccant cartridge, said cap having a recess in the form of a port formed along a surface of said cap and extending radially outwardly along said surface from said central axis, said docking piece being detachably engaged in said port, said combination further comprising a second aperture therein radially spaced from said first aperture so as to be offset from the central axis and in communication with said first aperture through a passageway formed by the cap and the docking piece.
A desiccant cartridge comprising:
In a desiccant cartridge, a combination comprising a generally circular cap for providing closure over said desiccant cartridge to retain desiccant therein and a docking piece for engagement with said cap, said cap comprising a planar portion having a recessed port extending from a center axis of the cap radially outward and provided with an aperture through said cap offset from the center axis of said cap, and the docking piece detachably engaged in said recessed port provided with a central aperture coaxial with the central axis for communicating fluid and/or gas with said desiccant in the desiccant cartridge, said docking piece being engaged in said recessed port area and defining a passageway therebetween so that fluid and/or gas entering said offset aperture passes through said passageway and said central aperture into the desiccant cartridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.