Refrigeration capillary tube inside suction line assembly

A heat exchanger assembly comprising:

• a refrigeration capillary tube;
• and
• a suction line assembly comprising a center portion and first and second connector portions, said center portion having opposite first and second ends, a first cut-out extending into said first end of said center portion and a second cut-out extending into said second end of said center portion,
• said first connector portion including an end portion for attaching to said first end of said center portion, a third cut-out extending into said end portion of said first connector portion, said first and third cut-outs, when said first connector portion is attached to said first end of said center portion, collectively forming a first aperture through which the refrigeration capillary tube enters said suction line assembly,
• said second connector portion including an end portion for attaching to said second end of said center portion, a fourth cut-out extending into said end portion of said second connector portion, said second and fourth cut-outs, when said second connector portion is attached to said second end of said center portion, collectively forming a second aperture through which the refrigeration capillary tube exits said suction line assembly,
• said refrigeration capillary tube extending through said center portion of said suction line assembly between said first and second apertures.

A method of manufacturing a refrigeration capillary tube inside a suction tube heat exchanger assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. inserting an axial cylindrical capillary tube, having two ends, into one of two opposed ends of an axial cylindrical center suction tube portion, each of said opposed ends having a longitudinal slot, with a shaped inner end portion;
• b. passing said capillary tube through said center suction tube portion until each of said capillary tube extends from an opposed end of said center suction tube portion;
• c. plastically deforming each of said two ends of said capillary tube so as to cause same to emerge from said center suction tube portion at locations abutting said shaped inner end portions of said center suction tube portion;
• d. locating in a slip-fit manner, an integral inner tubular sleeve portion of one of two opposed cylindrical female braze connectors, each connector having an outer longitudinal tubular main portion and said inner integral sleeve portion, over an adjacent tone of said opposed ends of said center suction tube portion;
• e. aligning and abutting a shaped recess, located at a free end of each of said sleeve portions, with a cooperating adjacent tone of said shaped inner end portions of said center suction tube portion longitudinal slots, so as to physically contact and locate said capillary tube relative to said shaped inner end portions of said opposed ends of said center suction tube portion and said shaped recesses of said abutting female braze connectors;
• and
• f. fixedly securing, in a pressure-tight manner, via a brazing operation, said deformed ends of said capillary tube relative to said center suction tube portion and said female braze connectors, thus completing said assembly.

A method of manufacturing a refrigeration capillary tube inside a suction tube heat exchanger assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. inserting an axial cylindrical capillary tube, having two ends, into one of two opposed ends of an axial cylindrical center suction tube portion, each of said opposed ends having a longitudinal slot, with a shaped inner end portion;
• b. passing said capillary tube through said center suction tube portion until each of said two ends of said capillary tube extends form an opposed end of said center suction tube portion;
• c. plastically deforming each of said two ends of said capillary tube so as to cause same to emerge form said center suction tube portion at locations abutting said shaped inner end portions of said center suction tube;
• d. causing a temporary affixation of at least one of said two plastically deformed ends of said capillary tube with an adjacent one of said opposed ends of said center suction tube portion, thus forming a center suction tube-capillary tube subassembly;
• e. additionally plastically deforming said subassembly to fit a specific end use application;
• f. releasing said temporary affixation of said at least one of said two deformed ends of said capillary tube;
• g. locating in a slip-fit manner, an integral inner sleeve portion of one of two opposed cylindrical female braze connectors, each connector having an outer longitudinal tubular main portion and said inner integral sleeve portion, over an adjacent one of said opposed ends of said center suction tube portion;
• h. aligning and abutting a shaped recess, located at a free end of each of said sleeve portions, with a cooperating adjacent one of said shaped inner end portions of said center suction tube portion longitudinal slots, so as to physically contact and locate said capillary tube relative to said shaped inner end portions of said opposed ends of said center suction tube portion and said shaped recesses of said abutting female braze connectors;
• and
• i. fixedly securing in a pressure-tight manner, via a brazing operation, said deformed ends of said capillary tube relative to said center suction tube portion and said female braze connectors.